The =Second= is an Essay towards a more large Account of the =Basis= on which each Play is built, whether it be founded on any Story or Passage either in =History=, =Chronicle=, =Romance=, or =Novel=. By this means the curious Reader may be able to form a Judgment of the Poets ability in working up a =Dramma=, by comparing his =Play= with the =Original= Story. I have not been so large and full in this as I intend hereafter, not having by me several =Chronicles= and =Novels=, which might have been subservient to my Design, as the =Chronicles= of =particular= Countries, and the =Novels= of =Cynthio Geraldi=, =Loredano=, =Bandello=, =Sansorino Belleforreste=, &c. For this reason, in the Notes on several Plays which I have taken notice of, I have been forc'd to refer to the Chronicles of a Country in =general=, not have had time or opportunity to make an exact search what Historian the Author has =chiefly= follow'd, or what Author has most largely treated on that particular Action which is the subject of the Dramma. So in Novels I have been forc'd through Necessity to quote some which have been printed since the Plays were written to which they are referred: because I knew that they were extracted and collected from the Originals, whence the Plot was taken, though I had them not by me: of which I could produce many instances, were it material. I would desire my Readers leave to make this Observation by the by, that a =Drammatick Poet= is not ty'd up to the Rules of =Chronology=, or =History=, but is at liberty to new-model a Story at his pleasure, and to change not only the Circumstances of a true Story, but even the principal Action it self. Of this opinion are most of our modern Critics; and =Scaliger= observes, not only that 'tis the priviledge of =Epick= Poets, but also of =Tragedians=.[42] =Quis nescit omnibus Epicis Poetis Historiam esse pro argumento? quam illi aut adumbratam, aut illustratam certe alia facie quam ostendunt ex Historia consiciunt, Poema. Nam quid alius Homeras? Quid Tragicis ipsis faciemus. Sic multâ Lucano ficta. Patriæ Imago quæ sese offerat Cæsari: excitam ab Interis animam, atq; alia talia.=[43] This instance of =Lucan=, makes me call to mind what Sir =William Davenant= says on account of the same Author, whom he blames for making choice of an Argument so near his own time, that such an Enterprize rather beseem'd an Historian, than a Poet. =For= (says he) =wise Poets think it more worthy to seek out truth in the Passions, than to record the truth of Actions; and practise to describe mankind just as we are perswaded or guided by instinct, not particular persons, as they are lifted, or levelled by the force of Fate, it being nobler to contemplate the general History of Nature, than a selected Diary of Fortune=. So that we see the busineß of a Poet is to =refine= upon History; and Reformation of Manners is so much his busineß, that he is not to represent things on the Stage, as he finds