However he had his Faults, and from particular Prejudices has bore a little too feverely upon fome of our best POETS; he is a little too fanciful in his Conjectures, from whence Authors drew their PLOTS, and having read much himself, imagin'd that every one elfe had done fo too. What occafional Ufe I have made of him, I always freely acknowledge.

Befide these, I receiv'd great Helps from private Hands, and have had the Opportunity of perufing a great many old Catalogues of PLAY S, which they never faw; one of these was continu'd with great Care and Diligence, and communicated to me by a Friend.

As

As to the Accounts of the Living AUTHORS, Moft of them came from their own Hands, excepting fuch Parts as relate to the Fame of their Writings, where I thought my self at liberty to give fuch Characters of Praise or Difpraise, as the best Judges before me had pass'd upon their Performances.

I am in particular oblig'd to Mr. CONGREVE for his free and early Communication of what relates to himself, as well as his kind Directions for the Compofing of this Work. I have tried to follow his Advice, and been very sparing in my Reflections on the Merits of Writers, which is indeed nothing but anticipating the Judgment of the Reader, and who after

all

all will judge for himself. I forbear to mention the Names of other Gentlemen who have tranfmitted their Accounts to me, hoping a general Acknowledgment will be fufficient.

; In a Work of this Nature there must be fome Imperfections as well as Omiffions, which I shall take a great pleasure in correcting upon better Information, and which I promise the World to do in a Supplement to this Treatife, when Occasion shall require it.

TO THE

RIGHT HONOURABLE

GEORGE

Lord Viscount Lanfdown.

03

My LORD,

HE following Papers contain an Account of Men Eminent in

different Ages, for adornA 3 ing

ing their Native Language with the Charms of Poetry, and who now appear in a Body before Your Lordship, as One who can beft diftinguifh their feveral Claims and Merits. They come to You both as to their Patron and their Judge, as well to Protect their Names with the generous Spirit of an English Nobleman, as to Determine their Shares of that Reverfionary Fame they expected from their Writings, by one unquestiona

ble