KING CHARLES I.

AN HISTORICAL TRAGEDY.

As written by Mr. HAVARD.

DISTINGUISHING ALSO THE

VARIATIONS OF THE THEATRE,

AS PERFORMED AT THE

Theatre Royal in Dury-Lane.

Regulated from the Prompt-Book.

By PERMISSION of the MANAGERS.

-Quis talia fando

Temperet à lachrymis ?-

VIRG

LONDON:
Printed for JoHN BELL, near Exeter-Exchange, in the Strand.

MDCCLXXVII

To Her GRACE the

DUCHESS

OF

MARLBOROUGH.

MADAM,

A

DDRESSES, unauthorised by merit, are too frequent, and (what should be more furprising) often fuccessful.

I would willingly approach in what I think the beft shape, and choose rather to appear dreffed in the opinion of the town, than my own.

I have been favoured with the general approbation, yet am still confcious of weakness, and know not where to fue more properly for protection, than to your Grace: believe this, Madam, when I affure you, that I will always facrifice my interest-to my fincerity.

I am an enemy to flattery; and, therefore, to be fure to be thoroughly difengaged from it, apply to a perfon who wants it not.

The greatnefs of mind I have conftantly confidered beyond that of the perfon; and when I fay that you are a good woman, I think I fay more than I fhould by ftiling you a great duchefs. By confirming yourself the first, you have eminently proved yourself the latter. In this laft opinion I apply myfelf to the world-not to your Grace, confcious that you are the only perfon that will not join in it.

I have little title to addrefs your Grace, more than in the affurance that the smallest merit does not go unregarded

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garded by you. I confefs myself obfcure; but fhall not think fo, if your Grace looks upon me with the eye of favour: for, believe me, I have more ambition to merit your Grace's esteem, than any other confideration that may be fuggefted; and fhall ever think myself honoured in fubfcribing myself,

Your Grace's most devoted,

Moft obedient,

And most humble fervant,

THE

[5]

THE

PREFACE.

Th

O obviate any criticism that may justly fall upon the inaccuracy of this play, I judged it neceffary to publish a few lines as an apology for the liberties I have taken with the history, and the faults that may appear to the judicious reader. And though the uncommon and general applause it has met with in the reprefentation: may feem to make it unneceffary, yet, without it, I could not acquit myself to my own judgment.

And first, as to the liberties I have taken with history,. I hope I may be forgiven my introducing the queen, who was in France at the time I have laid the action of the: play; but it being a story barren of female characters, L was induced to make her appear; and because I thought there would very naturally arise a pleafing distress at their parting, which I have introduced at the beginning of the: fourth act.

Again, to heighten the distress in the last act, and to bring on one supposed to receive and convey the advice better, that the king fends by him to his eldest son, Charles, James appears, who, at that juncture, was in: Holland. I have made an excufe for Cromwell's coming to the king, because I thought an interview between them. was neceffary, and would add to the spirit of the whole.

I am not confcious of any other liberties I have taken, except heightening the characters of Fairfax and his lady; which has added a warmth to the piece, and in fome mea fure fupplied the want of real matter to conftitute five ts. The other perfons in the drama are as ftrongly characterised, and as impartially, as I had ability, andi the fhortness of the time would permit..

A. 3

Thare