Transcriber's note: Text enclosed by underscores is in italics (_italics_).
The errata have been applied without further annotation. Otherwise no attempt has been made to distinguish likely typographical errors from the natural variability of 17th century orthography.
A few short phrases proved illegible on the scan: these are marked
<IlacunaI>.
The marginal notes have been changed to footnotes, marked thus [123].
A SHORT
VIEW
OF THE
_Immorality, and Profaneness_
OF THE
English Stage,
TOGETHER
With the Sence of Antiquity upon this Argument,
By _JEREMY COLLIER_, M.A.
_London_, Printed for S. Keble at the _Turk's-Head_ in _Fleetstreet_, R. Sare at _Gray's-Inn-Gate_, and H. Hindmarsh against the _Exchange_ in
_Cornhil_. 1698.
THE
PREFACE
_Being convinc'd that nothing has gone farther in Debauching the Age than the_ Stage Poets, _and_ Play-House, _I thought I could not employ my time better than in writing against them. These Men sure_, take Vertue and Regularity, _for_ great Enemies, _why else is their_ Disaffection _so very_ Remarkable? _It must be said, They have made their_ Attack _with great_ Courage, _and_ gain'd _no inconsiderable_ Advantage. _But it seems_ Lewdness without Atheism, _is but_ half their Business. Conscience _might possibly recover, and_ Revenge _be thought on; and therefore like_ Foot-Pads, _they must not only_ Rob, _but_ Murther. _To do them …