after Ages, as much as we know the other has in the former:  But every one is Fool or Knave that is not of this Gentlemans kidney.  A little while after, at the usual rate of his own accustom’d civility, he falls upon the Renown’d Shakespear, and says, he is so guilty, that he is not fit to make an Evidence. [Footnote:  Collier, p. 50.] Why now it ’twere possible for his Complexion to blush, there’s ne’re a Robe of any Friend Cardinal the Absolver has at Rome, that can be redder than his would be for such a Position:  Nor does it end here, but is mixt with some more foolish and insolent Remarks in another place, upon the admirable Tragedy of Hamlet.  And here he has no other way to shew his malice, but by ridiculously quibbling upon the prettiest Character in it, the innocent young Virgin Ophelia, who, because the Poet makes her run mad for the death of her Father, and loss of her Lover, and consequently makes her sing and speak some idle extravagant things, as on such an occasion is natural, and at last drown her self, he very masterly tells us, the Poet, since he was resolv’d to drown her like a Kitten, should have set her a swimming a little sooner; to keep her alive, only to sully her Reputation, is very cruel. [Footnote:  Collier, p. 10.] Yes, but I would fain ask Doctor Absolution in what she has sullied her Reputation, I am sure five hundred Audiences that have view’d her could never find it out, tho he has; but the Absolver can’t help being positive and partial to his own humour, tho he were to be hang’d, as the Lady was drown’d, for he is very angry in another place with the aforesaid Author, for making Sir Hugh Evens in the Merry Wives of Windsor, a silly, eating, chattering Welch Priest, but vindicates and speaks well, of Sir John, Parson of Wrotham, in the History of Sir John Oldcastle; [Footnote:  Collier, p. 125.] tho he swears, games, wenches, pads, tilts and drinks, and does things which our Reformers Guts are ready to come up at another time, only, forsooth, because he is stout; but ’tis indeed only because he is a Parson, and sullen, which he thinks wise, for he cannot endure that Copyhold should be touch’d, as you may see more plainly a little further, where he says in Loves Labour Lost, the Curate plays the fool egregiously; and so does the Poet too:  there he clenches the Nail, there he gives Shakespear a bold stroke, there obstinacy and malice appear in true colours:  And yet if a parcel of the ones Plays, were set up by way of Auction against t’others Sermons and Essays; nay, tho the Loyal and Politick Desertion discussd was thrown in to boot, I know not what the Grave would do, but I am sure the Wise would quickly find difference.  And yet to Remark him nicely, this humour of railing is only where the Poets do not suit with his design; for in another place you’ll find this same Shakespear, that was before too guilty to make an Evidence, a