Some people not sufficiently read in the history of those times, may be startled at the extraordinary nature of the facts which constitute the action of the Drama; and may consider them exaggerated, if not altogether improbable. I intended a National Drama, and I have adhered to history. I shall be borne out by authority. Those who are well informed, will recognise in the first Act the actual picture our seaboard presented at the time. The pious Catholic may feel scandalized at the treatment of the Pope, and the sack of Rome by the generals of Charles the Fifth at the head of a Spanish army. I have not invented the transaction. It would be impossible to exaggerate its atrocity. And Philip with all his zeal for his professed religion, so long as it subserved his ambition, was quite ready to repeat his father’s lesson, if the Pope had trespassed on his dominion. Further, though he was anxious to have Elizabeth assassinated, he was entirely opposed to the Bull of Excommunication, or the Pope’s interference in the temporal government of her kingdom. With respect to myself and the literary merits of my work, I am very sensible of the little fame (as small as the emolument) that can accrue to me. It was not my aim to contest the palm of genius and eloquence with the great Dramatists of the age, who with so much talent and success, minister to the amusement of the Public. My humble effort must be regarded as a literary experiment—I was anxious to TEST whether TRUTH was not stronger than FICTION, and if so, whether the Drama might not, in abler hands, become the great Pioneer, if not the exponent and teacher of history. Secondly, whether it could not be conducted on PRINCIPLES free from the OBJECTIONS which Moralists now raise against it. I have therefore carefully excluded everything having a tendency to excite those emotions, which the wisdom of Philosophers, and the guides of society in every age have agreed ought to be kept in abeyance. The Greeks, in timid foresight of the abuse, forbade that women should appear upon the stage. Without going so far I have shunned the evil they feared. There is not a love scene in my Drama, nor anything which could minister to that dangerous passion. I had a HIGHER AIM! to call the attention of my country to the origin and principles of her greatness; to hold up to her view the valour, the achievements, the glory of our ancestors; to excite in their descendants a generous rivalry, and to rouse again the national pride: the spirit and the patriotism of England. If I shall have succeeded in this, I shall have attained the summit of my ambition—I shall have reaped the priceless reward—the satisfaction of having done my DUTY!