Dutchess of Malsy which is excusable only on the account of the Author's Youth he being but 17 Years of age when he compos'd that Romance which was the reason that it was so highly commended by twelve Copies of Verses writ by his Friends and printed with his Book Mirza a Tragedy really acted in Persia in the last Age Illustrated with Historical Annotations printed octavo Lond. and dedicated to his Majesty by a Copy of Verses This Play is much beyond either of the former and has the repute of a good Play It is commended by five Copies of Verses written by the Author's Cambridge-Friends On this very Subject the famous Denham had before writ a Play called The Sophy Tho' our Author had finished three compleat Acts of this Tragedy before he saw that nor was he then discouraged seeing the most Ingenious Author of that has made his seem quite another Story from this Mr. Baron has follow'd not only the Honourable Sr. Thomas Herbert's printed Account in his Travels but likewise made use of a Manuscript Letter which Sr. Dodmore Cotton Embassador to Abbas King of Persia from King Charles the First in the Year 1626. sent to a Friend of his in Cambridge according to which Letter he prosecuted the Story throughout The Author seems to have propos'd for his pattern the famous Catiline writ by Ben Johnson and has in several places not only hit the model of his Scenes but even imitated the Language tolerably for a young Writer Whoever pleases to compare the Ghost of Emir-hamze-mirza with that of Scilla may easily see his Imitation but that being too long to transcribe I shall set down the first words of Catiline in that admirable Play and afterwards those of Abbas and then submit my opinion to my Reader 's judgment Catiline Act first It is decreed Nor shall thy fate O Rome Resist my Vow Though hills were set on hills And seas met seas to guard thee I would thro' I 'll plough up Rocks steep as the Alpes in dust And lave the Tyrhene waters into clouds But I would reach thy head thy head proud City Mirza Act first The vow is made nor shall thy flattering Fate O Mirza contradict it though thy Troops Stood like a wall about thee nay tho' Jove Press all the gods to guard thee and should arm Them every one with thunder I would through I 'll tear the groundsells of thy Towers up And make their nodding Spires kiss the centre But I will reach thy heart thy heart proud Victor This is the first Author taken notice of either by Mr. Phillips in his Theatrum Poetarum or his Transcriber Mr. Winstanley in his Lives of the English Poets and though neither of them give any other Account of our Author but what they collected from my former Catalogue printed 1680. yet through a mistake in the method of that Catalogue they have ascrib'd many Anonymous Plays to the foregoing Writers which belonged not to them and thus have committed mistakes in almost all the Dramatick Writers they have handled To give an Instance in this Author they both ascribe to him Don Quixote or The Knight of the ill-favoured Countenance a Comedy I know not whence they had their Intelligence but I never heard or read any such Play nor do I believe there is any other Book which bears that title except the fam'd Romance written by the admirable Pen of that famous Spanish Author Miguel de Cervantes They have likewise ascribed several other Dramatick Pieces to this Author which I dare be confident are not of his Writing as Dick Scorner Destruction of Jerusalem Marriage of Wit and Science Masques and Interludes and have omitted two other Pieces written by him viz. Poems octavo and a Book intituled An Apology for Paris Neither do I believe Mr. Phillips's Account that any of his Pieces appear'd on the Stage I shall conclude all with the following Anagram written by his Friend Mr. John Quarles sometimes of St. Peter's College in Cambridge Anagram ROBERTUS BARONUS Anagram RARUS AB ORBE NOTUS Rarus haud cuiquam peperit Natura secundum Notus es scriptis Baron ab orbe tuis Lodowick BARREY An Author that liv'd in the middle of the Reign of King James the First who writ a Play call'd Ram-Alley or Merry Tricks a Comedy divers times heretofore Acted by the Children of the Kings Revels and printed in quarto Lond. 1611. The Plot of Will Smallshank's decoying the Widow Taffeta into Marriage is borrow'd as I suppose from the same Author from whence Kirkman took the Story which is to be found in the English Rogue Part the IV Chap. 19. and is an Incident in other Plays besides this particularly in Killegrew's Parjon's Wedding Francis BEAUMONT See Fletcher Captain William BEDLOE A Person so remarkable in this Nation not many years since on the Account of the Popish Plot that few are ignorant of his part of the discovery I shall not pretend here to give you an account of his Life but refer you to that which was written by an Unknown Hand intituled The Life and Death of Captain William Bedloe printed in octavo Lond. 1681. The Reason why we mention him in our Catalogue is on account of a Play writ by him called The Excommunicated Prince or The false Relick a Tragedy Acted by his Holiness's Servants being The Popish Plot in a Play printed in folio Lond. 1679. Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham I must confess I was very desirous to read this Piece for the sake of the Title-page and came to it with great expectations but found them altogether frustrated and only a Story which I had formerly read in Dr. Heylin's Geography described in it But afterwards when his Life came out I was satisfied with the Account the Publisher gave of it which for the Readers Information and the Justification of the Deceased I shall quote word for word In the next place I desire leave to speak something of his Dramatick Poem call'd The Excommunicated Prince or The False Relick As to the worth of the Play I do own my self so unskilful in Poetry that I will not rashly pretend to give my opinion of it But that which I know let me assert in its vindication viz. That it was both began and finisht in the space of two Months which every one must needs acknowledge was but a very short time considering the great business that then more earnestly imploy'd his thoughts which must necessarily be a weighty clog to the ablest Muse. Whereas some of the chiefest Poets of this Age have thought it no disparagement to confess that a correct Play to be perfected will require at least twelve Months time And I remember in some Prologue I think in that to the Virtuoso I have read this Distick to the same purpose A Play like Ground must a Year Fallow lye E're it can ripen to good Comedy This consider'd and it being the first Essay he
since revived on our Stage a new Prologue being writ by Mr. Dryden and spoke by Mr. Hart. there is another Prologue printed in London Drollery pag. 10. Several of our Historians speak of the Actions of this Illustrious Prince See Matth. Westmonast A.D. 44. pag. 93. Galf. Monumentens lib. 4. c. 16. Pol. Vergil lib. 2. Grafton Part 7. p. 77. These all agree that he Reign'd in the time of Claudius Caesar but Mr. Speed will have it that he liv'd in the time of Domitian Caesar from Juvenal who introduces Fabritius Vejento a Roman Senator flattering Domitian at the Councel held about the Turbot as follows Regem aliquem capies aut de Temone Britanno Excidet Arviragus But in this he is mistaken for Arviragus was dead before the Reign of Domitian so that the Sycophant could not mean that he should overcome Him but some British or Foreign Warrier as stout as that Arviragus subdued by his his Father Vespasian Deserving Favourite a Tragi-Comedy presented before the King and Queen's Majesties at White-hall and very often at the Private House in Black-friars with great Applause by King Charles the First his Servants printed in octavo Lond. 1659. and dedicated to his very Noble and Approved Friends Mr. Thomas Cary Son to the Earl of Monmouth and Mr. William Murrey both of the Bed-chamber to His Majesty Fool would be a Favourite or The Discreet Lover often acted by the Queen's Majesties Servants with great applause and printed in octavo Lond. 1657. Osmond the Great Turk otherwise called The Noble Servant his Tragedy acted by the Queens Servants with great applause and printed with the former octavo Lond. 1657. The Action of this Play is the taking of Constantinople in the year 1453. I know not why the Author has alter'd his Scene from Greece to Barbary or the Names of Mahomet and Irene for Melchosus and Despina except in imitation of Beaumont and Fletcher who have transfer'd the Names of Rollo and Otto on Antoninus and Geta and degraded those Emperors of Rome by Creating them Dukes of Normandy Many Authors have treated of this Story in the Life of Mahomet the Second consult Chalcocondylus lib. 8. cap. 6. Knolles's Turkish History This Story is likewise in Bandello's Novels see the French Translation by Belleforest Tome 1. Hist. 2. See Painter's Palace of Pleasure a Book of Novels printed in quarto Lond. 1566. Nov. 4o. For the Underplot of Orcanes Calibeus and Ozaca 't is founded on the Story of Mustapha Son to Mahomet the Second Achmet Bassa and his Wife See Lipsii Monita lib. 2. cap. 9. pag. 125. Artus le Contin de l'Hist des Turcs L. 11. Knolles c. Passionate Lover a Tragi-Comedy in two parts twice presented before the King and Queen's Majesties at Somerset-house and very often at the Private-house in Black-friars with great applause by King Charles the First 's Servants printed in octavo Lond. 1655 and Dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Mary Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox by the Publisher Mr. Alexander Goughe On this Play the ingenious Alexander Brome has writ a Copy of Verses which seem to reflect on the Character of the Passionate Lover and may be found by the Curious in his Poems 8o. pag. 256 Edition the Second Heraclius Emperor of the East a Tragedy translated from the French of Monsieur P. Corneille and printed in quarto Lond. 1664. This Play was never acted tho' intended by the Translator for the Stage but another Translation formerly design'd after this seem'd to be accepted being perfected was prefer'd by the Players and this not return'd to the Author until the very day the other was Acted But notwithstanding the Preference given to the other certainly this Version is not contemptible at least if the Author's Reasons in the Prologue make take place All things have proper Idioms of their own Their Elegance in Ours is hardly shown This but a Copy and all such go less Great Beauties may be altered by the Dress Having given you the Author's Excuse for his Translation let me give you his Opinion of Translations in general in the following Distick Those who translate hope but a Labourer's praise Who well invent contrive deserve the Bays In the design of this Play the French Author follows Baronius's Ecclesiastical Annals but does not as he himself acknowledges in his Examen of this Play strictly follow truth in many things See Le Theatre de Corneille tom 3. Je n'ay conservé icy pour toute verité Historique que l'ordre de la Succession des Empereurs Tibere Maurice Phocas Heraclius c. Many are the Historians that have treated on this Story as Nicephorus Calistus Eccl. Hist. Cedreni Annal. Zonaras Annal. Baronius c. Mr. Phillips has omitted Three of these Plays viz. Deserving Favourite Fool would be a Favourite and Heraclius the later is forgot likewise by Mr. Winstanley who has in requital Father'd another Play on him which belongs to Dr. Lodge viz. Marius and Scylla James CARLILE A young Author now living who has lately publisht a Play call'd The Fortune Hunters or Two Fools well met a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1689. I know not how it succeeded on the Stage but if it be consider'd as the First Play of a young Poet I think it deserv'd Applause and exceeds several Comedies printed in this Age. Only I think the Author's as well as Mr. Spruce's Brains were a little Doz'd when he writ the end of the Second Act where he mistakes young Wealthy's Hand for the Handle of the Pump and the Orange-flower-for Pump-water That he meant well is all he has to plead Faith then be kind and let his Play succeed And take for once the Good-will for the Deed. Richard CARPENTER The Author of a Play called The Pragmatical Jesuit new leaven'd printed in quarto but when or where I know not through the defect of my Copy All that I can acquaint the Reader with is that it is a very instructive Play chiefly tending to Morality shewing the difference between true Religion and Hypochrisy The Author has made it his business to expose all the Subtleties and Inventions of the Romish Clergy to gain Proselites and promote their Religion I know not whether or no it might not be writ by a Divine of that Name the Author of several Sermons particularly Three of keeping a good Conscience printed in quarto Lond. 1623. William CARTHWRIGHT A Person as Eminent for Loyaty and Learning his years consider'd as any this Age has produc'd One whose Character has been written by several Pens and therefore has afforded me who fetch my knowledge from Books more than verbal Information the larger subject to expatiate on The Place of this Author's Nativity the time and his Father's Name are differently represented by those Authors that have mention'd him Mr. Lloyd says that he was the Son of Thomas Carthwright of Burford in Oxford-shire and Born Aug. 16.
know of that are publisht under our Authors name except a Play which I have already mention'd viz. Eastward-Hoe a Comedy play'd in the Black Friars by the Children of her Majesties Revels made by George Chapman Ben Johnson and John Marston printed in quarto Lond. 1605. This Play was writ shortly after Decker's Westward Hoe as you may see by the Prologue which is writ in Blank Verse The Play it self hath lately appear'd on the present Stage being reviv'd by Mr. Tate under the Title of Cuckold's Haven Mr. Phillips I know not why has omitted half this Authors Plays as you may see in his Account of the Modern Poets p. 53. Having given an Account of his Plays I am now to speak of his other Works which were not in those days accounted less eminent particularly his Version of all Homer's Works viz. His Illiads Odysses and what he calls The Crown of all his Works his Batracomyomachia or The Battle of Frogs and Mice together with his Hymns and Epigrams If it be urg'd by some that he has been since out-done by Mr. Ogleby in the Two former it is chiefly to be ascrib'd to the ill choice of his measure of Verse and the obsolete Expressions in use in his time and besides Translation was then as I may say in its Infancy However I think Mr. Ogleby himself has since been as far exceeded by the exact and curious Pen of Mr. Hobbs and for for his Minor Poems they have never been attempted by any other Pen that I know of To these I must add his Translation of Hesiod his finishing Musaeus his Erotopaenion or The Loves of Hero and Leander a Piece begun by Christopher Marloe his Andromeda liberata with a Vindication of the same all which speak his Industry at least if not his Ingenuity and how slight an Opinion soever this Age may entertain of his Translations I find them highly extoll'd in an Old Copy call'd a Censure of the Poets which having spoke of the Eminent Dramatick Poets as Shakesprear Johnson Daniel c. it adds of Translators as follows placing our Author in the first Rank Others again there lived in my days That have of us deserved no less Praise For their Translations than the daintiest Wit That on Parnassus thinks he high doth sit And for a Claim may 'mongst the Muses call As the most curious Maker of them all First reverend Chapman who hath brought to us Musaeus Homer and Hesiodus Out of the Greek and by his skill hath rear'd Them to that height and to our tongue indear'd That were those Poets at this day alive To see their Books that with us thus survive They'd think having neglected them so long They had been written in the English Tongue Sir Aston COKAIN A Gentleman that in the Reign of K. Charles the Second liv'd at Ashbourn a Market-town An Darby-shire situate between the River Dove and Compton He was of an Ancient Family as Mr. Cambden observes in the Entrance of his Description of Darby-shire Nay further Mr. John Cokain of Rushton our Authors Kinsman and Cousin-German to the Lord Obrian Cokain Viscount Cullen in Ireland had an Ancient Evidence to prove that Sr. Cokain their Predecessor was anciently allyed to King William the Conqueror and in those days lived at Hemmingham-Castle in Essex But whether our Author fetcht his Pedigree from so Ancient a Stock or no certain it is that he was well descended and had a Liberal Education bestowed on him being in his youth bred in Trinity College in Cambridge and when he was about Four and Twenty years of Age he was sent to make a Journey through France and Italy which he compleated in a Twelve-months space An. 1632. an Account of which he has writ to his Son He was very much addicted to Books and the study of Poetry spending most of his time in the Muses company Amongst his other Poetical Productions he has written Three Plays and a Masque which are in print of which take the following Account Masque presented at Bretbie in Darby-shire on Twelfth-Night 1639. This Entertainment has hitherto been omitted in all former Catalogues as I suppose through an Over-sight it being but short and printed in the body of the Author's Poems amongst others of a different Nature It was presented as I find upon perusal of it before the Right Honourable Phillip the first Earl of Chesterfield and his Countess Two of their Sons acting in it The diversion terminated in a Ball. Obstinate Lady a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1658. This Play with other Poems were left in the Custody of a Friend at the Author's Removal from London who dying they were disperst into several Hands One Mr. William Godbid a Bookseller as I suppose got this Play into his Hands and tho' he found it imperfect the last Leaf being wanting wherein were the Authors Conclusion and Epilogue he procured some of his Acquaintance to supply that defect and so printed it And tho' this Comedy were very much of it writ in Number as the Author calls it he put it forth as if the most part of it were Prose In this Edition you have that defect much amended and the Authors own Conclusion and Epilogue added Sr. Aston's Obstinate Lady seems to be Cousin-German to Massinger's Very Woman as they that will compare Don John Antonio and Almira with Carionil and Lucora in this Play may easily perceive Ovid's Tragedy printed in octavo Lond. 1669. This Play was printed since the rest of his Works tho 't is frequently bound with them I know not why the Author gave this Play the Title of Ovid's Tragedy except that he lays the Scene in Tomos and brings him to fall down dead with grief at the News he received from Rome in sight of the Audience otherwise he has not much business on the Stage and the Play ought rather to have taken the Name from Bassanes Jealousy and the dismal effects thereof the murther of his new Bride Clorina and his Friend Pyrontus But this is an Error which Beaumont and Fletcher have heretofore committed as Mr. Rimer has observ'd in the King and no King and therefore the more excusable in our Author The passage of Captain Hannibal's inviting the dead Carcass of Helvidius to Supper is possibly borrow'd from the Italian Play called Il Atheisto Fulminato to which Language our Author was no Stranger and on which Foundation the Catastrophe of the Libertine is built Trapolin creduto Principe or Trapolin suppos'd a Prince an Italian Tragi-comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1658. The Design of this Play the Author borrow'd from One which he saw or rather heard twice Acted in Venice during his abode in that City since he built this on that Foundation So that as he pleads in his Proloque it is no Translation This Play was reviv'd on our Stage since the King's Return and a new Prologue writ by Duffet printed in his Poems pag. 82. and has since that been alter'd
3. Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus c. There are other Works of this Author's writing which speak him a great Wit and Master of an excellent Fancy and Judgment Such as his Poem call'd The Wonders of the Peak printed in octavo Lond. 1681. His Burlesque Poems call'd Scarronides or Virgil Travestie a mock Poem on the first and fourth Books of Virgil's AEneis printed in octavo Lond. 1678. Tho' the Title seems to imply as if this Poem were an Imitation of Scarron who has translated Eight Books of Virgil in the same manner yet those who will compare both these Pieces will possibly find that he has not only exceeded the French but all others that have attempted in that kind to the reserve of the incomparable Butler the fam'd Author of Hudibras and I think we may with little variation apply the following Tetrastick written by Scarron's Uncle to this our Author Si punctum omne tulit qui miscuit utile dulcis Ludendo scribens seria quid meruit Virgilii miranda legens ridere jubetur Hoc debet Cotton Anglica Musa tibi ABRAHAM COWLEY Abraham COWLEY I have generally hitherto contented my self with giving a succinct Account of each Authors Affairs of Life or Family and chose rather to enlarge on their Works but Mr. Cowley was a Person of so great Merit and Esteem in the world when Living and his Memory so fresh in the minds of Learned Men that I am oblig'd not to pass him slightly over 'T is true my Predecessors in this Work I mean Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanley have given but an imperfect account of Him or his Writings but as I propose not them for my Pattern in this Subject so I must publickly own that I have so great a Veneration for the Memory of this great Man that methinks his very Name seems an Ornament to my Book and deserves to be set in the best Light I can place it Wherefore I shall be as careful in copying his Picture from his Writings as an Artist would be in hitting the Features of his Sovereign To begin first with his Birth the place of his Nativity was London and the time which made his Virtuous Parents happy in him was the year of our Lord 1618. Tho' his Mother had no prescience like Maia the Parent of the great Virgil who the Night before her delivery dreamt she brought forth a sprig of Lawrel which upon the setting forthwith became a Tree yet it may be said that this our English Maro grew ripe with equal speed as that famous Poplar Bough planted at the Roman Poets Birth sprung up into a beautiful tall Tree which overtopt several others of far riper Age. Virgil at Thirteen years of Age began his Studies at Millain but this our Author writ his Tragical History of Pyramus and Thisbe when he was but Ten years old his Constantia and Philetus at Twelve and at Thirteen had publisht not only these but several other Poetical Blossoms which sufficiently prov'd the pregnancy of his Wit and all this whilst he was yet but a Westminster Schollar before he could say with Juvenal Et nos ergo manum ferulae subduximus Nor is the Character he gives of himself less full of Admiration That even when he was a very young Boy at School instead of running about on Holidays and playing with his Fellows he was wont to steal from them and walk into the Fields either alone with a Book or with some One Companion if he could find any of the same Temper His first Inclinations to Poetry proceeded from his falling by chance on Spencer's Fairy Queen With which he was so infinitely delighted and which by degrees so fill'd his head with the tinkling of the Rhime and dance of the Numbers that he had read him all over before he was Twelve years old and was thus made a Poet as immediately as a Child is made an Eunuch Thus he gradualy grew up to that maturity both of Fancy and Judgment that in the opinion of a great Man now living Whoever would do him right should not only equal him to the principal Ancient Writers of our own Nation but should also rank his Name amongst the Authors of the true Antiquity the best of the Greeks and Romans Nor is this the sence only of this Worthy Person and Excellent Poet but the general Opinion of the Wits of both Universities and which will appear obvious to All that shall diligently read his Works most of which were writ or at least design'd whilst he was of Trinity Colledge in Cambridge and of which I shall give a succinct Account begining first with his English Plays which are Three in Number viz. Guardian a Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1650. Made says the Author and acted before the Prince or rather neither made nor acted but rough-drawn only and repeated for the hast was so great that it could neither be revised or perfected by the Author nor learned without Book by the Actors nor set forth in any Measure tolerably by the Officers of the Colledge This Mr. Cowley thought fit to acquaint the Prince with in the Prologue which was spoken to him at that time as the Reader may see by the following Lines being part of it Accept our hasty Zeal a thing that 's play'd E're 't is a Play and acted e're 't is made Our Ignorance but our Duty too we show I would all ignorant People would do so At other times expect our Wit and Art This Comedy is acted by the Heart After the Representation the Author tells us he began to look it over and changed it very much striking out some whole Parts as that of the Poet and the Souldier but he having lost the Copy durst not think it deserv'd the pains to write it again which made him omit it in the publication of his Works in Folio though at that time he acknowledg'd there were some things in it which he was not asham'd of taking the Excuse of his Age when he made it But as it was he accounted it only the hasty first-sitting of a Picture and therefore like to resemble him accordingly This Comedy notwithstanding Mr. Cowley's modest Opinion of it was acted not only at Cambridge but several times after that privately during the prohibition of the Stage and after the King's Return publickly at Dublin and never fail'd of Applause This I suppose put our Author upon revising it and there being many things in it which he dislik't and finding himself at leisure in the Country he fell upon altring it almost throughout and then permitted it to appear publickly on the Stage under a new Title as indeed 't was in a manner a new Play calling it Cutter of Coleman-street acted at his Royal Highness's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1663. This Play met with some Opposition at its Representation under this new Name from some who envyed the Authors unshaken Loyalty to the Prince and the Royal Cause in
and Mr. Watson's Latine Amintas to make them both one English Notwithstanding Mr. Chapman in his Translation of Homer and Sir Philip Sidney in his Eclogues have practic'd this way of Writing yet this way of Imitating the Latin Measures of Verse particularly the Hexameter is now laid aside and the Verse of Ten Syllables which we stile Heroick Verse is most in use If this Translation be allow'd grains for the time when 't was writ 't will be excus'd by the more moderate Criticks tho' if compar'd with the Translation which was afterwards printed in 1628. or that more Modern Version done by Dancer at the King's Return 't will appear inferior to either in Value The Second Part goes under the Title of Phillis Funeral and it is writ in the form of Eclogues being divided by the Author into twelve Parts which he stiles Days This Poem is likewise writ in Hexameters to which is annext in the same Measure The Lamentation of Corydon for the Love of Alexis This is a Translation of the second Eclogue of Virgil Verse for Verse The Author added likewise the begining of The AEthiopick History of Heliodorus in the same Species of Metre With these Pieces are commonly join'd another of our Authors Writing call'd The Countess of Pembrokes Emanuel Containing the Nativity Passion Burial and Resurrection of Christ together with certain Psalms of David all in English Hexameters printed in quarto Lond. 1591. and dedicated to the Right Excellent and most Honourable Lady the Lady Mary Countess of Pembroke by the following Distick Mary the best Mother sends her best Babe to a Mary Lord to a Ladies Sight and Christ to a Christian Hearing Mr. Phillips says That he writ some other things in Hexameter and Pentameter and the same writes Mr. Winstanley tho' I doubt the former takes his Opinion upon Trust and the later does not I believe know a Pentameter from an Asclepiade Verse The truth is there are no Pentameters throughout the Volume but in the last Act there is a Scene between Phillis and Amintas which whether it be in the Original I question where this pair of Lovers sing some Asclepiades which I suppose is the Occasion of the mistake tho' I cannot but wonder at Mr. Winstanley's negligence that when he copied out the begining of Heliodorus he should not inform himself better but I hope my small pains may be serviceable to his next Impression Neither is his Conjecture less probable concerning the time of our Author's Death which he supposes was about the former part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth this can not be since our Author was alive at the publication of his Book which was in the Year 1591. and in the Thirty-third Year of her Reign tho' how long after he surviv'd I know not Sir Ralph FREEMAN A Gentleman who during the late Troubles busied himself in Poetry and writ an excellent Tragedy call'd Imperiale printed in quarto Lond. 1655. and dedicated to his Ancient and Learned Friend John Morris Esquire I know not whether ever this Play was acted but certainly it far better deserv'd to have appear'd on the Theatre than many of our modern Farces that have usurp'd the Stage and depos'd its lawful Monarch Tragedy The Compositor maim'd the last Act by setting the Sheet I false so that 't is pretty difficult to make out the five first Scenes The Catastrophe of this Play is as moving as most Tragedies of this Age and therefore our Author chose a proper Lemma for the Frontispiece of his Play in that Verse of Ovid. Omne Genus Scripti gravitate Tragoedia vincit The Story on which this Play is built is related by many Authors as Pontanus Budaeus's Treasury of Ancient and Modern Times Beard 's Theatre of Gods Judgments part 1. p. 427. and part 2. p. 45. Wanley's History of Man Book 4. Chap. 11. Goulart Histoires admirables de nôtre temps tom 1. p. 362. The Story is related at large in Bandello's Italian Novels see the French Translation by Belleforest Tom. 2. p. 242. Ulpian FULWEL An Ancient Writer of whom I can give no other Account than that he lived in the Reign of Q. Elizab. and publisht a Dramatical Piece call'd Like will to Like qouth the Devil to the Collier an Interlude wherein is declared what punishments follow those that will rather live Licentiously than esteem and follow good Counsel And what Benefits they receive that apply themselves to virtuous Living and good Exercises printed in quarto Lond. 1587. This Interlude is so contriv'd that Five may easily play it 'T is printed in an old Black Letter the Prologue is writ in Alternate Verse and the whole Play is writ in Rime such as it is however it might have suited with Mr. Dyrden's Design to prove the Antiquity of Crambo far better than the Tragedy of Gorbuduc which was writ in Blank Verse whereas this Play is tag'd with Rimes throughout and is Three Years Older than the other that not being printed till the Year 1590. G. George GASCOIGNE Esq THis Gentleman I can give no further Account of than that he flourisht in the begining of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth that he was a Member of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn and was the Parent of feveral Poetical Works amongst which are Four Dramatick Pieces of which I shall first discourse Glass of Government a Tragical Comedy so intituled because therein are handled as well the Rewards for Virtues as also the Punishments for Vices Seen and allowed according to the Order appointed in the Queens Majesties Injunctions printed in quarto Lond. 1575. At the begining of this Play I find the following Hexastick In Comoediam Gascoigni Carmen B.C. Haec nova non vetus est Angli Comoedia Vatis Christus adest Sanctos nil nisi sancta decent Graecia vaniloquos genuit turpesque Poetas Vix qui syncerè scriber at unus erat Idvereor nostro ne possit dicier aevo Vana precor valeant ver a precor placeant This Play is printed in a Black Letter as are all his Works 't is writ in prose with a Chorus between each Act which with the Prologue are all in Verse Jocasta a Tragedy written in Greek by Euripides translated and digested into Acts by our Author and Mr. Francis Kinwelmershe of Gray's Inn and there presented and printed in quarto Lond. 1556. Each Act of this Play is introduc'd by a Dumb shew which in those times was the mode in Tragedies and concluded by a Chorus The First Fourth and last Acts were translated by Mr. Kinwelmershe the Second and Third by our Author and the Epilogue was writ by Mr. Christopher Yelverton in Alternate Rime This is the only Play of that ancient Tragedian that to my Knowledge is translated into English tho' our Language and the Knowledge of this Age be far more proper for Translations now than in that time our Author flourisht That I may not be wanting in my Respect to those
permitted to speak my Sentiments of the Play it self I believe the Author has stollen neither his Characters nor Language from any other and I presume those that have read the Character of My Lord Occus in particular Winifred and the rest in general will be of my opinion John BANCROFT A Gentleman who is the Author of a Tragedy called Sertorius acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1679. 'T is dedicated to Captain Richard Savage and the Epilogue was writ by Mr. Ravenscroft The Elder Corneille has writ a Play on the same subject which I have read but shall leave it to the decision of better judgments to determine which is best Those who would read the foundation of this Play may consult Plutarch's Life of Sertorius Velleius Paterculus lib. 2. Florus lib. 2. c. 22. c. John BANKS A Person now living and if I mistake not a Member of the Honourable Society of New-Inn One whose Genius to Poetry led him to make several Attempts on the Stage with different success but of whom I may say with justice that if he be not accounted a Poet of the first form yet he bears up with his Contemporaries of the second His Genius lays wholly to Tragedy and he has had the Fortune to please the fair Sex in the Earl of Essex and Anna Bullen He has five Plays in print of which in their Alphabetical Order Destruction of Troy a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1679. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Katherine Roos If this Play fall short of Shakspear's Troilus and Cressida at least it surpasses Heywood's Iron Age and how unkind soever the Criticks were to it I believe they have seen worse Tragedies on the Stage Various are the Authors that have toucht on this subject as Homer Virgil Ovid c. but none more fully than Dares Phrygius and Dictis Cretensis though Learned Men suppose those pieces we have under their Names to be spurious yet Natalis Comes has turned Daxes into Latin Verse and our Countryman Lydgate into old English Meetre Island Queens or The Death of Mary Queen of Scotland a Tragedy published only in defence of the Author and the Play against some mistaken Censures occasioned by its being prohibited the Stage printed in Quarto Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Mary Dutchess of Norfolk Most Historians of those Times have written her Story as well Forreigners as our own See Buchanan Speed in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth Camden Du chesne Brantome's Memoirs Causin's Holy Court Nay even Writers of Romances have thought her Story an ornament to their Work witness the Princess Cloria where part 2. her Story is succinctly related and she pourtrayed under the title of Minerva Queen of Mysta Rival Kings or The Loves of Oroondates and Statira a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Theatre-Royal printed in quarto 1677. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Katherine Herbert The Play is founded chiefly on Cassandra a famed Romance in Fol. As to what concerns Alexander I refer you to Curtius and Justin. Vertue betrayed or Anna Bullen a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1682. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Elizabeth Dutchess of Somerset The Author has followed a little Novel translated from the French and called The Novels of Elizabeth Queen of England containing the History of Queen Ann Bullen For the Story most of our Chronicles relate it See Speed's Chron. in the Reign of Hen. VIII Ld. Herbert Duchesne Dr. Burnet's Hist. Reform Book the 2. c. Unhappy Favourite or The Earl of Essex a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto London 1682. and dedicated to the most High and most Illustrious Princess the Lady Ann Daughter to his Royal-Highness the present Princess of Denmark This Play was acted with good success The Prologue and Epilogne were written by Mr. Dryden and the play it self founded on a Novel called The Secret History of the most Renowned Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex printed in 120. Lond. 1680. For the true Story see Cambden's Elizabeth Speed Duchesne Stow Baker c. in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth There have been two French Plays one by Monsieur Calpranede the other by the Younger Corneille which I have read and am of opinion that the English play is not short of the French notwithstanding the high commendations given it by the Mercury Gallant January 1687. Barnaby BARNES This Person lived in the Reign of K. James the First and writ a Play called The Devil's Charter a Tragedy containing the Life and Death of Pope Alexander the VI. play'd before the King's Majesty upon Candlemas Night by his Majesty's Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1607. and dedicated to the Honourable and his very dear Friends Sir W. Herbert and Sir W. Pope Knights Associates in the Noble Order of the Bath This Tragedy seems to be written in imitation of Shakspear's old Play of Pericles Prince of Tyre for as Shakspear raises Gower an old English Bard for his Interlocutor or Introductor in that Play so this Author revives Guicciardine for the same design This was the common practice of the Poets of the last Age as Shakspear Heywood c. at which time they frequently introduced dumb Shews which took much with the Spectators of those times 'T is evident the Author followed Guicciardine who has largly treated to this Pope in his History of the Wars of Italy see the first six Books Other Authors have likewise treated of him as Du Preau Hist. de l'Estat succes de l'Eglise tom 2 p. 293 seq Vollateranus tit 22. sub fine Massonius de Gestis Pontificum Romanorum c. This Author has extant besides four Books of Offices about Princes how they ought to be administred printed fol. Lond. 1606. Robert BARON Esq This Author was a young Gentleman bred first at Cambridge and afterwards brought up in the worthy Society of Grays-Inn During his abode there he writ a Romance called The Cyprian Academy printed octavo Lond. 1647. He dedicated it to the famous Traveller Mr. James Howel in particular and to the Ladies and Gentlewomen of England in general In his Romance are included two Dramaticks which Mr. Kirkman has inserted in his Catalogue tho' they are not entire Tracts of themselves nor of any signal Eminence but since they have been mention'd in former Catalogues I shall not omit them Deorum Dona a Masque presented before Flaminius and Clorinda King and Queen of Cyprus at their Regal Palace in Nicosia Part of this piece is borrow'd from Mr. Waller's Poem to the King on his Navy Gripus and Hegio or The Passionate Lovers a Pastoral acted by the Lady Julio's Servants for the Entertainment of Flaminius This Play consists but of three Acts and is borrow'd very much from Waller's Poems and Webster's
hard Stars tho' possibly Gipsy-like he begs with stoln Children that he may raise the more Compassion Nathaniel LEE An Author whose Plays have made him sufficiently remarkable to those who call themselves The Wits and One whose Muse deserv'd a better Fate than Bedlam How truly he has verified the Saying of the Philosopher Nullum fit Magnum-Ingenium sine mixtur â dementiae even to the Regret and Pity of all that knew him is manifest I heartily wish his Madness had not exceeded that Divine Fury which Ovid mentions and which usually accompanies the best Poet Est Deus in nobis agitante calescimus illo But alas his Condition is far worse as it has been describ'd in a Satyr on the Modern Poets There in a Den remov'd from human Eyes Possest with Muse the Brain-sick-Poet lyes Too miserably wretched to be nam'd For Plays for Heroes and for Passion fam'd Thoughtless he raves his sleepless Hours away In Chains all Nights in darkness all the Day And if he gets some intervals from pain The Fit returns he foams and bites his Chain His Eye-balls rowl and he grows mad again However before this misfortune befel him he writ several Dramatical Pieces which gave him a Title to the First Rank of Poets there being several of his Tragedies as Mithridates Theodosius c. which have forc'd Tears from the fairest Eyes in the World his Muse indeed seem'd destin'd for the Diversion of the Fair Sex so soft and passionately moving are his Scenes of Love written He has publisht Eleven Plays besides those two in which he joyn'd with Mr. Dryden and of which we have already spoken viz. Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the VI. a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre by their Royal-Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery For the Plot see Writers of those times as Guicciardine L. 5 6. Mariana L. 27 28. Sr. Paul Ricaut's Continuation of Platina in the Reign of Pope Alexander the VI. Constantine the Great a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1684. Many are the Authors that have writ the Actions of this Illustrious Emperor as Socrates Sozomen Eusebius Zonaras Eutropius Ruffinus Baronius c. The Story of Crispus and Fausta is particularly related as I think in Ammianus Marcellinus See besides Beard 's Theatre of God's Judgements Ch. 13. p. 225. Gloriana the Court of Augustus Caesar a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Portsmouth The Plot I take to be rather founded on Romance than History as the Reader will find by comparing the Play with the Romance of Cleopatra in the several Stories of Caesario Marcellus Julia Part 1. Book 3. Part 5. Book 3. Ovid Cypassis and Julia Part 7. Book 3. A Modern Poet in a Satyr writ in Imitation of Sir John Suckling's Session of the Poets writes thus of our Author and this Play Nat Lee stept in next in hopes of a Prize Apollo remember'd he had hit Once in Thrice By the Rubies in 's Face he could not deny But he had as much Wit as Wine could supply Confest that indeed he had a Musical Note But sometimes strain'd so hard that it rattled i' th' Throat Yet own'd he had Sense t' encourage him for 't He made him his Ovid in Augustus's Court. Lucius Junius Brutus Father of his Country a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre by their Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1681. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex This Play well deserv'd so great a Patron as his Lordship few Plays that I know being writ with more Manly Spirit Force and Vigour For the Plot our Author has partly follow'd History partly Romance For History consult Floras Lib. 1. Ch. 9 10. Livy Lib. 1. Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Eutropius Sextus Rufus Orosius c. For Fiction read in the Romance called Clelia The History of Junius Brutus Part 2. Book 1. p. 170. Part 3. Book 1. p. 229. Massacre of Paris a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1690. This Play is founded on that Bloody Massacre which was acted on St. Bartholomew Day in the Year 1572. For the Story consult Thuanus Davila Lib. 5. Pierre Matthieu or as some say Monliard his Continuation of De Serres Mezeray and other Historians in the Reign of Charles the IX Several passages in the Duke of Guise are borrow'd from this Play as the Reader may find by comparing p. 6. of the former with p. 4. of the latter p. 11. with p. 5. p. 13. with p. 5. and 6 c. Mithridates Kings of Pontus a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex This Play may be reckon'd amongst those of The First-Rank and will always be a Favourite of the Tender-hearted Ladies It is founded on History See Appian de Bell. Mithrid Florus l. 3.c.5 Vell. Paterculus l. 2. Plutarch in the Lives of Scylla Lucullus and Pompey c. Nero Emperor of Rome his Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Right Honble the Earl of Rochester This Play is writ in a mixt Stile part in Prose part in Rime and part in Blank Verse For the Plot consult Suetonius in his Life Aurelius Victor Tacitus Ann. lib. 13 14 c. Sulpicius Severus c. Princess of Cleve a Tragi-comedy acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden printed 4o. Lond. 1689. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of his present Majesty's Houshold and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council This Play is founded on a Romance call'd The Princess of Cleves translated from the French The Invective against Women spoken by Poltrot Act 5. Sc. 1. is printed in several Books of Poetry and may be read in a Romance call'd The French Rogue 8o. ch 21. p. 132. The Author tells his Patron That the Duke of Guise has wrested two Scenes from the Original but which they are I have not time to enquire Rival Queens or The Death of Alexander the Great a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed Lond. 1677. and dedicated to the Right Honourable John Earl of Mulgrave This Play has always been applauded by the Spectators and is acknowledg'd a Master-piece by Mr. Dryden himself in that Copy of Verses prefix'd to it which are a sufficient Testimony of its worth The Prologue was written by Sir Car Scroop For the Plot as far as the Author has follow'd History consult Arrian Q. Curtius Plutarch's Life of Alexander Justin lib. 11 12. Diodorus Siculus lib. 17. 18. Josephus lib. 11. cap. 8. Sophonisba or Hannibals
Typographical Faults there are many other gross Errors several pieces being mention'd under the Title of Plays which are of a different Species for Instance Virgil's Eclogues are inserted under the Name of a Tragedy c. Picture a Tragi-comedy often presented with good allowance at the Globe and Black-Fryars Play-houses by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1636. and dedicated to his Honour'd and Selected Friends of the Noble Society of the Inner-Temple This Play was acted by those excellent Players of the last Age Lowin Taylor Benfield c. and is commended by his true Friend Sir Thomas Jay The Plot of Sophia's decoying the two debaucht Courtiers Richardo and Ubaldo who attempted her Chastity is related in a Book of Novels in octavo call'd The Fortunate Deceiv'd and Unfortunate Lovers see Nov. 4. of the Deceiv'd Lovers but this Story is I suppose originally Italian this Book being a Collection from Italian Novels Renegado a Tragi-comedy often acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the private Play-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1630. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Harding Baron of Barkley of Barkley-Castle and Knight of the Honourable Order of the Bath This Play is likewise commended by two Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Mr. James Shirley Roman Actor a Tragedy acted divers times with good allowance at the private House in the Black-fryars by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. 1629. and dedicated to his much Honour'd and most True Friends Sir Philip Knivet Sir Thomas Jay and Thomas Bellingham of Newtimber in Sussex Esquire This Play is commended by Six Copies of Verses writ by several Dramatick Poets of that Age as May Goss Ford c. For the Plot read Suetonius in the Life of Domitian Aurelius Victor Eutropius Lib. 7. Tacitus Lib. 13. c. Very Woman or The Prince of Tarent a Tragi-comedy often acted at the private House in the Black-fryars by His late Majesties Servants with great applause printed 8o. Lond. 1655. Our Author owns this Play to be founded on a Subject which long before appear'd on the Stage tho' what Play it was I know not I have already acquainted the Reader with the Resemblance between the Plot of this Tragi-comedy and The Obstinate Lady This Play with The Bashful Lover and The Guardian are printed together Virgin Martyr a Tragedy acted by His Majesties Servants with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1661. In this Play our Author took in Mr. Thomas Decker for Partner I presume the Story may be met with in the Martyrologies which have treated of the Tenth Persecution in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian See Rossweidus Valesius c. Unnatural Combat a Tragedy presented by the King's Majesties Servants at the Globe printed 4o. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to his much Honour'd Friend Anthony Sentliger of Oukham in Kent Esquire This Old Tragedy as the Author tells his Patron has neither Prologue nor Epilogue it being composed in a time when such By-ornaments were not advanced above the Fabrick of the whole work I know nothing else of our Authors Writings and therefore must hasten to the last Act of his Life his Death which happen'd at London in March 1669. On the Seventeenth of the same Month he was Buried in St. Mary Overies Church in Southwark in the same Grave with Mr. Fletcher What Monument or Inscription he has I know not but shall close up our Account of this Ingenious Poet with the following Epitaph writ by Sir Aston Cokain An Epitaph on Mr. John Fletcher and Mr. Philip Massinger who lay both buried in one Grave in St. Mary Overy's Church in Southwark In the same Grave Fletcher was buried here Lies the Stage Poet Philip Massinger Plays they did write together were great Friends And now one Grave includes them in their Ends. So whom on Earth nothing did part beneath Here in then Fame they lie in spight of Death Thomas MAY. This Gentleman was born in Sussex of an ancient but somewhat declining Family in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth He was for some Years bred a Scholar in the University of Cambridge being Fellow-Commoner of Sidney Colledge During his Abode there he was a very close Student and what Stock of Learning he then treasur'd up is apparent from his Works which are in print He remov'd afterwards to London following the Court where he contracted Friendship with several Eminent Courtiers amongst others with the accomplisht Endymion Porter Esq One of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Bedchamber a Gentleman so dear to Sir William D'Avenant that he stiled him Lord of his Muse and Heart Whilst he resided at Court he writ the five Plays which are extant and possibly his other Pieces Dr. Fuller says of him That some Disgust at Court was given to or taken by him as some would have it because his Bays were not guilded richly enough and his Verses rewarded by King Charles according to expectation Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley insinuate That being Candidate with Sir William D'Avenant for the Honourable Title of the Queen's Poet and being frustrate in his Expectations out of meer Spleen as it is thought for his Repulse he vented his Spite in his History of the late Civil Wars of England wherein Mr. Winstanley says he shew'd all the Spleen of a Male-contented Poet making thereby his Friends his Foes and rendring his Name odious to Posterity Whether this Accusation be true or no I know not but I am sure his Enemies must allow him to be a good Poet tho' possibly he fell short of Sir William D'Avenant and tho' I no ways abet his self Opinion yet I learn from Horace that even Ill Poets set a value on their Writings tho' they are despis'd by others Ridentur mala qui componunt Carmina verùm Gaudent Scribentes se venerantur ultrò Si taceas laudant quicquid scripsere beati And therefore I hope the moderate Critick will bear with the Frailty of our Author and I doubt not but if they will read his Works with Candor and especially his Plays they will find he had some Reason for his Opinion of what he writ I shall first give the Reader a succinct Account of his Plays as follows Agrippina Empress of Rome her Tragedy printed 120. Lond. 1639. Our Author has follow'd Xiphilinus Tacitus and Suetonius in the Designing his Tragedy and besides has translated and inserted above 30. Lines from Petronius Arbyters Satyricon being a Translation of those Verses recited by Eumolpus beginning Orbemjam totum victor Romanus habebat c. and concluding with Siculo scarus aequore mersus Ad mensam vivus perducitur Now altho' this is patly enough apply'd by our Author he having introduced Nero at a Banquet commanding Petronius to write a Satyr against those Pleasures he us'd to commend yet methinks Mr. May having such a particular Value for Lucan as to translate his Pharsalia he should not have inserted what was
and when the Enthusiastick Fit was past he has acknowledged him in his Dramatick Essay Equal at least if not Superiour to Mr. Johnson in Poesie I shall not here repeat what has been before urged in his behalf in that Common Defence of the Poets of that Time against Mr. Dryden's Account of Ben. Johnson but shall take the Liberty to speak my Opinion as my predecessors have done of his Works which is this That I esteem his Plays beyond any that have ever been published in our Language and tho' I extreamly admire Johnson and Fletcher yet I must still aver that when in competition with Shakespear I must apply to them what Justus Lipsius writ in his Letter to Andraeas Schottus concerning Terence and Plautus when compar'd Terentium amo admiror sed Plautum magis He has writ about Forty six Plays all which except three are bound in one Volume in Fol. printed Lond. 1685. The whole Book is dedicated to the Earls of Pembroke and Montgomery being usher'd into the World with several Copies of Verses but none more valued than those Lines made by Ben Johnson which being too long to be here transcribed I shall leave them to be perus'd by the Reader with his Works of which I shall give some Account as follows All 's well that ends well a Comedy This Play is founded on a Novel written by Jean Boccacio see his Nov. Day the 3. Nov. the 9. concerning Juliet of Narbona and Bertrand Count of Rossilion Anthony and Cleopatra a Tragedy The Ground of this Play is founded on History see Plutarch's Life of Anthony Appian Dion Cassius Diodorus Florus c. As you like it a Comedy Comedy of Errors This Play is founded on Plautus his Maenechmi and if it be not a just Translation 't is at least a Paraphrase and I think far beyond the Translation call'd Menechmus which was printed 4o. Lond. 1595. Coriolanus a Tragedy This is founded on History see Livy Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Plutarch's Life of Coriolanus c. Part of this Play appear'd upon the Stage seven Years since under the Title of Ingratitude of a Common-Wealth Cromwell Thomas Ld. the History of his Life and Death This Play is likewise founded on History See Fox's Martyrology Fuller's Church History Stow Speed Hollingshead Herbert Baker Dr. Burnet c. The Story of Cromwell and Mr. Frescobald the Merchant is related in Dr. Hakewell's Apology and Wanley's History of Man Book 3. Ch. 20 Cymbeline his Tragedy This Play tho' the Title bear the Name of a King of Brute's Linage yet I think ows little to the Chronicles of those Times as far as I can collect from Graston Stow Milton c. But the Subject is rather built upon a Novel in Boccace viz. Day 2. Nov. 9. This Play was reviv'd by Durfey about seven Years since under the Title of The Injured Princess or The Fatal Wager Henry the Fourth the First part with the Life of Henry Percy sirnamed Hot-spur This Play is built upon our English History see the four former Years of his Reign in Harding Buchanan Caxton Walsingham Fabian Polydore Virgil Hall Grafton Hollingshead Heyward Trussel Martin Stow Speed Baker c. As to the Comical part 't is certainly our Author 's own Invention and the Character of Sir John Falstaff is owned by Mr. Dryden to be the best of Comical Characters and the Author himself had so good an Opinion of it that he continued it in no less than four Plays This part used to be play'd by Mr. Lacy and never fail'd of universal applause Henry the Fourth the Second part containing his Death and the Coronation of King Henry the Fifth For the Historical part consult the fore-mentioned Authors The Epilogue to this Play is writ in Prose and shews that 't was writ in the Time of Q. Elizabeth Henry the Fifth his Life This Play is likewise writ and founded on History with a Mixture of Comedy The Play is continued from the beginning of his Reign to his Marriage with Katherine of France For Historians see as before Harding Caxton Walsingham c. This Play was writ during the time that Essex was General in Ireland as you may see in the beginning of the first Act where our Poet by a pretty Turn compliments Essex and seems to foretell Victory to Her Majesties Forces against the Rebels Henry the Sixth the First part Henry the Sixth the Second part with the Death of the Good Duke Humphrey Henry the Sixth the Third part with the Death of the Duke of York These three Plays contain the whole length of this Kings Reign viz. Thirty eight Years six Weeks and four Days Altho' this be contrary to the strict Rules of Dramatick Poetry yet it must be own'd even by Mr. Dryden himself That this Picture in Miniature has many Features which excell even several of his more exact Strokes of Symmetry and Proportion For the Story consult the Writers of those Times viz. Caxton Fabian Pol. Virgil. Hall Hollingshead Grafton Stow Speed c. Henry the Eighth the Famous History of his Life This Play frequently appears on the present Stage the part of Henry being extreamly well acted by Mr. Betterton This Play is founded on History likewise Hollingsh Hall Grafton Stow Speed Herbert Martin Baker c. Hamlet Prince of Denmark his Tragedy I know not whether this Story be true or false but I cannot find in the List given by Dr. Heylin such a King of Denmark as Claudius All that I can inform the Reader is the Names of those Authors that have written of the Affairs of Denmark and Norway and must leave it to their further search such are Saxo-Grammaticus Idacius Crantzius Pontanus c. This Play was not many Years ago printed in quarto all being mark'd according to the Custom of the Stage which was cut out in the Action John King of England his Life and Death For the Plot see Matth. Paris R. Higden Walsingham Westminster Fabian Pol. Virgil Hollingshead Grafton Stow Speed c. Julius Caesar his Tragedy This Play is founded on History see Livy Plutarch Suetonius c. This Play was reviv'd at the Theatre-Royal about fifteen Years ago and printed 4o. Lond. 1684. There is an Excellent Prologue to it printed in Covent Garden Drollery p. 9. Lear King of England his Tragedy This Play is founded on History see such Authors as have written concerning Brutes History as Leland Glocester Huntingdon Monmouth c. But the Subject of this Story may be read succinctly in Milton's History of England 4o. Book 1. p. 17. c. This Play about eight Years since was reviv'd with Alterations by Mr. Tate Locrine Eldest Son to King Brutus his Tragedy This Tragedy contains his Reign with the loss of Estrildis and Sabra which according to Isaacson's Chronology was twenty Years For the Authors consult those aforemention'd particularly Milton Book 1. p. 14. Supplement to Theatre of Gods Judgments Ch. 6 Ubaldino Le vite delle Donne Illustri p.
Servants and printed quarto Lond. For the Historical part of this Play consult Grafton Hollingshead Pol. Virgil Lloyd c. 'T is not devided into Acts. O. Old Wives Tale a Play of which I can say nothing having never seen it Orlando Furioso One of the Twelve Peers of France his History acted before the Queen's Majesty and printed quarto Lond. 1594. This Play is not divided into Acts but is founded upon the Epick Poem of Ariosto so called and translated into English by Sir John Harrington P. Pastor Fido or The Faithful Shepheard a Pastoral translated out of Italian into English printed quarto Lond. 1602. This was the first Version of the Famous Guarini into English and was Excellent for those Times The Author tho' his Name be unknown was nearly related to Sir Edward Demock Queen Elizabeth's Champion to whom after the Author's Decease the Bookseller dedicated it Pathomachia or The Battle of Affections shadowed by a Feigned Siege of the City Pathopolis printed quarto Lond. 1630. This Play was written some Years before and published by Fr. Constable a Friend of the Deceas'd Author's and by him dedicated to the Lord Hundsdon This is the same Play with that called Love's Loadstone Patient Grissel a Comedy say ancient Authors which tho' I never saw I presume is founded on that Famous Story in Boccacio I mean the last Novel in his Book Pedlers Prophecy a Comedy mentioned in former Catalogues of which I can give no Account Philotus a very Excellent and Delectable Comedy as we are told in the Preface wherein we may perceive the great Inconveniencies that fall out in the Marriage between Old Age and Youth This Play is printed at Edinburgh in an Old Black Letter An. Dom. 1612. Some People have mistaken this Play for Daniel's Philotas but this is of a different Subject and kind of Verse and is printed in Stanzas Pinder of Wakefield a Comedy which I have once seen printed in 4o. as I remember Lond. 1632. or thereabouts Piso's Conspiracy a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. This Play is only the Tragedy of Nero before mention'd Reviv'd and printed verbatim For the Plot see Suetonius Tacitus c. Presbyterian Lash or Noctroffe's Maid whipt a Tragi-comedy acted in the Great Room at the Pye Tavern at Algate by Noctroff the Priest and several of his Parishioners at the Eating of a Chine of Beef The First part printed for the use of Mr. Noctroffe's Friends This Play is dedicated to Mr. Zach. Noctroffe by F.K. which I take to be Fr. Kirkman I know not whether ever there were a Second part extant or no. Promises of God manifested this I never saw Promus and Cassandra in Two parts These are mention'd in other Catalogues though I can give no Account of either Q. Queen or The Excellency of her sex an Excellent Old Play found out by a Person of Honour and given to the Publisher Alexander Goughe printed 4o. Lond. 1653. This Play is dedicated by him to the Lady Katherine Mohun Wife to Lord Warwick Mohun Baron of Oakehamton This Publisher is applauded by two Copies of Verses before the Play The Plot of Salassa's Swearing Velasco not to fight is founded on a Novel said to be Bandello's which the Reader may peruse in Les Dixhuit Histoires Tragicques par Fr. De Belleforest 8o. Nov. 13 p. 285. R. Rampant Alderman or News from the Exchange a Farce printed quarto Lond. 1685. This Farce is patcht up out of several Plays as Fine Companion c. Reformation a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play is ascribed to Mr. Arrowsmith and is a very good Comedy Rehearsal a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4 th Edit quarto Lond. 1683. This Play is ascribed to the Late Duke of Buckingham and will ever be valued by Ingenious Men. There are some who pretend to furnish a Clavis to it my Talent not lying to Politicks I know no more of it than that the Author lashes several Plays of Mr. Dryden as Conquest of Granada Tyranick Love Love in a Nunnery and some passages of other Plays as The Siege of Rhodes Virgin Widow Slighted Maid Villain English Monsieur c. Religious Rebel a Tragi-comedy in quarto which I have only once seen but can give no Account of Return from Parnassus or The Scourge of Simony a Comedy publickly acted by the Students of St. John's Colledge in Cambridge printed quarto Lond In this Play the Poets of those times are censured and this is the Original of Dr. Wild's Benefice which is now in print Revenge or A Match in New-gate a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1680. This Play is ascribed to Mrs. Behn but is indeed a Play of Marston's revived and called The Dutch Curtezan Rivals a Tragi-comedy in quarto which at present I have not but have heard Mr. Cademan for whom as I think it was printed say it was writ by Sir Will. D' Avenant Robin Hood's Pastoral May Games which I know not Robin Hood and his Crew of Souldiers of the same Stamp and which I never saw Romulus and Hersilia or The Sabine War a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1683. For the Plot see Livy lib. 1. Ovidii Met. lib. 14. Plut. in Vit. Romuli Florus Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Velleius Paterculus Eutrop. c. Royal Masque at Hampton-Court presented on Sunday Night being the Eighth of January 1604. and personated by the Queen 's Most Excellent Majesty attended by Eleven Ladies of Honour printed quarto Lond. 1604. Royal Voyage or The Irish Expedition a Tragi-comedy printed quarto Lond. 1690. The Subject of this Play is known by the Title S. Salmacida Spolia a Masque presented by the King and Queen's Majesties at Whitehall on Tuesday the 21st of January 1639. and printed quarto Lond. 1639. The Invention Ornament Scenes and Machines with their Descriptions were made by Mr. Inigo Jones Surveyor General of His Majesty's Works What was spoken or sung by Sir Will. D'Avenant and the Musick was compos'd by Mr. Lewis Richard Master of Her Majesties Musick Sicelides a Piscatory acted in Kings Colledge in Cambridge and printed quarto Lond. 1631. The Serious parts of this Play are most writ in Verse with Chorus's between the Acts. Perindus telling to Armillus the Story of Glaucus Scylla and Circe Act 1. Sc. 4. is taken from Ovid's Met. lib. 13. Atychus fighting with and killing the Ork that was to have devoured Olynda is an Imitation of Perseus Andromeda Ovid Met. lib. 4. or else Orlando Furioso Book eleventh Shoomaker 's Holyday or The Gentle-Craft with the Humorous Life of Simon Eyre Shoomaker and Lord Mayor of London a Comedy acted before the Queen's most Excellent Majesty on new-New-Year's Day at Night by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham Lord High Admiral his Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1657. This Play is dedicated To all Good Fellows Professors of the Gentle-Craft