Playes written by the thrice noble, illustrious and excellent princess, the Lady Marchioness of Newcastle.

AN INTRODUCTION.

Enter 3. Gentlemen.

1. Gentleman.

Come Tom will you goe to a play?

2. Gentleman.

No

1. Gentleman.

Why?

2. Gentleman.

Because there is so many words, and so little wit, as the words tire me more than the wit delights me; and most commonly there is but one good part or humour, and all the rest are forced in for to enterline that part, or humour;

Likewise not above one or two good Actors, the rest are as ill Actors as the parts they Act, besides their best and principle part or humour is so redious, that I hate at last what I liked at first, for many times a part is very good to the third Act, but continued to the fifth is stark naught.

1. Gentleman.

The truth is, that in some Playes the Poets runs so long in one humour, as he runs himself out of breath.

3. Gentleman.

Not only the Poet but the humour he writes of seems to be as broken-winded.

1. Gentleman.

I have heard of a broken-winded Horse, but never heard of a broken-winded Poet, nor of a broken-winded Play before.

3. Gentleman.

I wonder why Poets will bind themselves, so as to make every humour they write, or present, to run quite through their Play.

2. Gentleman.

Bind say you? they rather give themselves line and liberty, nay they are so far from binding, as for the most part they stretch the Line of a humour into pieces.

3. Gentleman.

Let me tell you, that if any man should write a Play wherein he should present an humour in one Act, and should not continue it to the end: although it must be stretched, as you say, to make it hold out, he would be con∣demned, and not only accounted an ill Poet, but no Poet, for it would be ac∣counted as ill as wanting a Rhime in a Copie of Verses, or a word too short, or too much in a number, for which a Poet is condemned, and for a word that is not spell'd right, he is damned for ever.

1. Gentleman.

Nay, he is only damned if he doth not write strictly to the Orthographie.

3. Gentleman.

Scholars only damne Writers and Poets for Orthographie, but for the others, they are damned by the generality: that is, not only all rea∣ders, but all that are but hearers of the works.

1. Gentleman.

The generality for the most part is not foolishly strict, or rigid as particulars are.

3. Gentleman.

Yes faith, they are led by one Bell-weather like a company of silly Sheep.

1. Gentleman.

Well, if I were to write a Play, I would write the length of a humour according to the strength of the humour and breadth of my wit. Let them judge me and condemn as they would; for though some of the past, and present ages be erroniously or malitiously foolish in such cases; yet the future Ages may be more wise, and better natur'd as to applaud what the others have condemned.

But prithy Tom let us goe.

2. Gentleman.

No, I will not goe for the reasons before mentioned, which is, they tire me with their empty words, dull speeches, long parts, tedious Acts, ill Actors; and the truth is, theres not enough variety in an old play to please me.

1. Gentleman.

There is variety of that which is bad, as you have divided it, but it seemes you love youth and variety in playes, as you doe in Mistresse••.

3. Gentleman.

Playes delights A••sorous men as much as a Mistris doth.

1. Gentleman.

Nay, faith more, for a man and his Mistris is soon out of breath in their discourse, and then they know not what to say, and when they are at a Non-pluss, they would be glad to be quit of each other, yet are asha∣med to part so soon, and are weary to stay with each other long, when a Play entertaines them with Love, and requires not their answers, nor forceth their braines, nor pumps their wits; for a Play doth rather fill them than empty them.

2. Gentleman.

Faith most Playes doth rather fill the spectators with wind, than with substance, with noise, than with newes;

1. Gentleman.

This Play that I would have you go to, is a new Play.

2. Gentleman.

But is there newes in the Play, that is (is there new wit, fancyes, or new Scenes) and not taken our of old storyes, or old Playes newly translated.

1. Gentleman.

I know not that, but this Play was writ by a Lady, who on my Conscience hath neither Language, nor Learning, but what is native and naturall.

2. Gentleman.

A woman write a Play!

Out upon it; out upon it, for it cannot be good, besides you say she is a Lady, which is the likelyer to make the Play worse, a woman and a Lady to write a Play; fye, fye.

3. Gentleman.

Why may not a Lady write a good Play?

2. Gentleman.

No, for a womans wit is too weak and too conceived to write a Play.

1. Gentleman.

But if a woman hath wit, or can write a good Play, what will you say then.

2. Gentleman.

Why, I will say no body will believe it, for if it be good, they will think she did not write it, or at least say she did not, besides the ve∣ry being a woman condemnes it, were it never so excellent and care, for men will not allow women to have wit, or we men to have reason, for if we allow them wit, we shall lose our prehemency.

1. Gentleman.

If you will not goe Tom, farewell; for I will go set this Play, let it be good, or bad.

2. Gentleman.

Nay stay, I will go with thee, for I am contented to cast away so much time for the sake of the sex. Although I have no saith of the Au••••••esses wit.

3. Gentleman.

Many a reprobate hath been converted and brought ••••re∣pentance by hearing a good Sermon, and who knowes but that you may be converted from your erroneous opinion; by seeing this Play, and brought to co∣confesse that a Lady may have wit.