_Many Godly Citizens, and other well disposed Gentlemen of_ London, _considering that_ Play-Houses _and_ Dicing-Houses, _were Traps for Young Gentlemen and others, and perceiving the many Inconveniencies and great damage that would ensue upon the long suffering of the same, not only to particular Persons but to the whole City; And that it would also be a great disparagement to the Governours, and a dishonour to the Government of this Honourable City, if they should any longer continue, acquainted some Pious Magistrates therewith, desiring them to take some Course for the suppression of Common_ Play-Houses, _&c. within the City of_ London _and Liberties thereof; who thereupon made humble suit to Queen_ Elizabeth _and her Privy Council, and obtain'd leave of her Majesty to thrust the Players out of the City and to pull down all_ Play-Houses, _and_ Dicing-Houses _within their Liberties, which accordingly was effected.[464] And the Play-Houses in_ Grace-Church-street _&c. were quite put down and suppress'd_. I shall give a Modern Instance or two from _France_ and so conclude these Authorities. In the Year 1696. we are inform'd by a Dutch _Print_,[465] M. _L' Archevéque appuyé_ &c. That the Lord Arch-Bishop 'support'd by the interest of some Religious Persons at Court, has done his utmost to suppress the _Publick Theatres_ by degrees; or at least to clear them of Profaness.' And last Summer the _Gazetts_ in the _Paris Article_ affirm.[466] That the King has 'order'd the _Italian Players_ to retire out of _France_ because they did not observe his _Majesties Orders_, but represented immodest _Pieces_, and did not correct their _Obscenities_, and indecent _Gestures_.' The same _Intelligence_ the next week after, acquaints us, 'that some Persons of the first _Quality_ at Court, who were the Protectors of these _Comedians_, had solicited the French King to recal his _Order_ against them, but their Request had no success.' And here to put an end to the Modern Authorities, I shall subjoyn a sort of _Pastoral Letter_ publish'd about two years since by the Bishop of _Arras_ in _Flanders_. The _Reader_ shall have as much of it as concerns him in both Languages. MANDEMENT DE MONSEIGNEUR _L'Illustrissime Et Reverendissime_ EVEQUE D'ARRAS CONTRE LA COMEDIE.