Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the English Stage | Page 3

refers to a quotation from Tillotson which
appears on pages 8-9 of 'Some Thoughts' and begins his reference to
the pamphlet by designating it as a "Letter written by you [Collier], tho'
without Name." In any event, both 'A Representation' and 'Some
Thoughts' stem from the renewed opposition to the stage which arose in
the winter of 1703-1704 and were activated in part by the belief that the
great storm of 1703 was a judgment brought on England by, among

other faults, the licentiousness of the stage.
Both of the items printed in this issue are reproduced, with permission,
from copies in the library of the University of Michigan.
Emmett L. Avery State College of Washington

A REPRESENTATION OF THE Impiety & Immorality OF THE
English Stage,
WITH Reasons for putting a Stop thereto: and some Questions Addrest
to those who frequent the Play-Houses.
The Third Edition.
LONDON, Printed, and are to be Sold by J. Nutt near Stationers-Hall,
1704.

A REPRESENTATION OF THE Impiety & Immorality OF THE
English Stage.
The various Methods that have been used for Preventing the outragious
and insufferable Disorders of the STAGE, having been in a great
measure defeated: It is thought proper, under our present Calamity, and
before the approaching FAST, to collect some of the Prophane and
Immoral Expressions out of several late PLAYS, and to put them
together in a little Compass, that the Nation may thereby be more
convinced of the Impiety of the Stage, the Guilt of such as frequent it,
and the Necessity of putting a Stop thereto, either by a total
Suppression of the _Play-Houses_, as was done in the Reign of Queen
Elizabeth, or by a Suspension for some considerable time, after the
Example of other Nations; where, we are informed, the Stages were
very chaste, in respect of ours of this Nation, who are of a Reformed
Religion, and do with so much Reason glory in being of the best
constituted Church in the World; nay, 'tis out of doubt but the Theatres
even of Greece and Rome under Heathenism were less obnoxious and
offensive, which yet by the Primitive Fathers and General Councils
stood condemned.
And is not the dangerous and expensive War we are engaged in,
together with the present Posture of Affairs, a sufficient Reason for this,
tho' the Play-Houses were less mischievous to the Nation than they are?
Are we not also loudly called upon to lay aside this prophane Diversion,

by the late dreadful Storm, terrible beyond that which we are told was
felt in the Year 1636? which, as a Right Reverend Prelate has observ'd,
some good Men then thought presag'd further Calamity to this Nation,
and was accordingly followed by the Commotions in Scotland the very
next Year, and not long after by the Civil War in England.
And if we go on to countenance such open and flagrant Defiances of
Almighty God, have we not great Reason to fear his heavy Judgments
will consume us?
But further, Her Majesty having now, upon Occasion of the late great
Calamity, appointed a Day of Solemn Fasting and Humiliation
throughout the Kingdom, for the deprecating of God's Wrath, surely the
Players have little Reason to expect that they shall still go on in their
abominable Outrages; who, 'tis to be observed with Indignation, did, as
we are assured, within a few Days after we felt the late dreadful Storm,
entertain their Audience with the ridiculous Representation of what had
fill'd us with so great Horror in their Plays call'd 'Mackbeth' and the
'Tempest' as if they design'd to Mock the Almighty Power of God,
_who alone commands the Winds and the Seas, and they obey him_.
No surely, it cannot but be hoped, that a Suspension at least of the
Players acting for some considerable time will follow, when the
Prophaneness and Immorality of the Stage comes to Her Majesty's
Knowledge, who, 'tis to be remembred, has never once given any
Countenance to the Play-House by Her Royal Presence, since Her
happy Accession to the Throne.
The abominable obscene Expressions which so frequently occur in our
Plays, as if the principal Design of them was to gratifie the lewd and
vicious part of the Audience, and to corrupt the virtuously dispos'd, are
in this black Collection wholly omitted; lest thereby fresh Poison
should be administred instead of an Antidote.
_After the Endeavours used by Sir Richard Blackmore, Mr. Collier,
and others, to Correct and Reform the Scandalous Disorders and
Abuses of the Stage were found too unsuccessful; in the Year _1699_,
several of the Players were prosecuted in the Court of
_Common-Pleas_, upon the Statute of _3 Jac. 1._ for prophanely using
the Name of GOD upon the Stage, and Verdicts were obtained against
them._
_And in _Easter-Term, 1701_, the