ance.

The most we can boast of is, that we are not so inconsiderable as to want enemies, whom we have raised to ourselves on no other account than that we are not of their number; and since that is their quarrel, they shall have daily occasion to hate us more. It is not, my Lord, that any man delights to see himself pasquined and affronted by their inveterate scribblers; but on the other side it ought to be our glory, that themselves believe not of us what they write. Reasonable men are well satisfied for whose sakes the venom of their party is shed on us, because they see that at the same time our adversaries spare not those to whom they owe allegiance and veneration. Their despair has pushed them to break those bonds; and it is observable, that the lower they are driven, the more violently they write; as Lucifer and his companions were only proud when angels, but grew malicious when devils. Let them rail, since it is the only solace of their miseries, and the only revenge which we hope they now can take. The greatest and the best of men are above their reach; and for our meanness, though they assault us like foot-padders, in the dark, their blows have done us little harm: we yet live to justify ourselves in open day, to vindicate our loyalty to the government, and to assure your Lordship, with all submission and sincerity, that we are

Your LORDSHIP's most obedient,

faithful servants,

JOHN DRYDEN,-NAT. LEE.

THE

VINDICATION:

OR

THE PARALLEL

OF

THE FRENCH HOLY LEAGUE

AND THE

ENGLISH LEAGUE AND COVENANT

TURNED INTO A SEDITIOUS LIBEL AGAINST THE KING AND HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS;

BY THOMAS HUNT, AND THE AUTHORS of the REFLECTIONS UPON THE PRETENDED PARALLEL IN THE PLAY CALLED

THE DUKE OF GUISE.

FIRST PRINTED IN QUARTO, IN 1683.

THE

VINDICATION

OF

THE DUKE OF GUISE."

IN N the year of his Majesty's happy Restora tion, the first play I undertook was THE DUKE OF GUISE, as the fairest way which the Act of Indemnity had then left us of setting forth the rise of the late rebellion; and by exploding the villainies

THE DUKE OF GUISE, Soon after its representation, was attacked in two pamphlets, one of which was entitled -"A Defence of the Charter and Municipal Rights of the City of London, and the Rights of other Municipal Cities and Towns of England. Directed to the Citizens of London." By Thomas Hunt. The title of the other was-"Some Reflections on the pretended Parallel in the Play called THE DUKE OF GUISE." These attacks gave rise to the following Advertisement, which was annexed to the play:

"There was a Preface intended to this play in vindication of it, against two scurrilous libels lately printed; but it was judged that a defence of this nature would require more room than a Preface reasonably could allow. For this cause, and for the importunities of the stationers,