Gratiae theatrales, or, A choice ternary of English plays composed upon especial occasions by several ingenious persons.

A Prelude to THORNY-ABBEY.

Enter a Fool with a Paper in his hand for a Prologue.

Fool.

HA! ha! I'me come now at last, or at first, which you will: for I am first here. D'ye call't a Tragedy? so they tell me it is, and that no fools must be in Tragedies: for they are se∣rious matters, forsooth. But I say there may, and there must be fools in Tragedies, and you call them Tragedies, or there will be no Tragedies. And I tell you more, they are all fools in the Tragedy; and you are fools, that come to see the Tragedy; and the Poet's a fool, who made the Tragedy, to tell a Story of a King and a Court, and leave a fool out on't; when in Pacy's, and Sommers's and Patche's, and Archer's times, my venerable Predecessours, a fool was alwayes the Principal Verb; and, as I sup∣pose, was so too long b••fore that; and, as I sup∣pose, when Thorny buil•• his Abbey ••oo; I, and as I suppose, we shall by his good leave, or with∣out it, continue so still to the end of the Chapter. But, now I talk of the Principal Verb, I have a part to say to you, if the Prompter would come to tell me, when I am out.

Enter Prompter, and takes the Fool's Paper, and stands behind him.

Fool.

We're to present you — (Ha! ha! he thinks I have pigs in my belly.)

Prompter.

Si••rah! go on▪ We're to present you —

Fool.

I won't have't non-sence We're to present you— but I'le hav't I am to present you —

Prompter.

And what are you to present them, I pray?

Fool.

A P—a P—a P— a Pick-pocket.

Prompter.

A fool's head: are not you? a Pick-pocket, quoth he; a Prologue you mean.

Fool.

Why? I was sure, it began with a P. And though you will have it a Prologue, I say, it is a Pick-pocket too, I and a Pick-pocket Prologue too: for ask um, if all their pockets be'nt the worse for it.

The Prompter offers to strike him, and he runs in.

Prompter.

Though he's unready in's part, I dare say, He did intend to bid you Welcome to our Play, What more he had to tell you in his mind, I finde not by the Notes h'has left behind: But within gather from their studied parts, And ti••ing-habits, they will use their arts, To shew how Royal bloud's reveng'd when spilt, And THORNY-Abbey first came to be built, A place for great devotion of much fame, Which since to Westminster hath chang'd its name. Then, if you'l silent sit, and mum not say, The Actors enter, and begin the Play.