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
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
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
the worst of Times but afterwards I suppose the Authors Preface to which I refer the Reader dispell'd all those Clouds rais'd by the Faction and I have seen it acted with universal Applause and I believe generally speaking all unbyass'd Judges that have read or seen it acted will give it the Approbation of an excellent Comedy and for those who are unsatisfied concerning his Fidelity to his King I must refer them to that admirable Defence writ by the Reverend Bishop of Rochester in behalf of this excellent Man it being too copious to be inserted here Love's Riddle a Pastoral Comedy written at his time of being King's Scholar in Westminster School printed first with his Poetical Blossoms in quarto Lond. 1633. but since printed in the Second Volume of his Works in Fol. Lond. 1681. and dedicated by a Copy of Verses to the truly Worthy and Noble Sr. Kenelm Digby If this Play be consider'd according to the Authors years at that time 't will certainly be allow'd standard or at least needs no other Apology then what the Author makes for it in his Dedication to his Patron Take it as early Fruits which rare appear Though not half ripe but worst of all the year And if it please your Taste my Muse will say The Birch which crown'd her then it s grown a Bay It might be expected that I should give some Account either of the Plots of these Plays or whence he has borrow'd but let those that think so be satisfied from the Famous Denham's Character That he is noâ— an Author of that Stamp I hope it will not be thought Foreign to my purpose to transcribe part of that Copy which he writ on this Admirable Poets Death and Burial amongst the Ancient Poets The whole Copy deserves to be engraved in Brass but I shall here transcribe only what is to our purpose Old Mother Wit and Nature gave Shakespear and Fletcher all they have In Spencer and in Johnson Art Of slower Nature got the start But both in him so equal are None knows which bears the happy'st share To him no Author was unknown Yet what he wrote was all his own He melted not the ancient Gold Nor with Ben Johnson did make bold To plunder all the Roman Stores Of Poets and of Orators Horace his Wit and Virgil's State He did not steal but emulate And when he would like them appear Their Garb but not their Cloaths did weas As to his other Works in English they consist both of Verse and Prose amongst which are his Love Verses call'd The Mistress which were first printed in octavo Lond. 1647. from a Correct Copy written by the Author himself and since they are printed in Folio with several of his other Pieces These Poems are highly applauded by the generality of judicious Men and notwithstanding the nice scruples of some it is an undeniable Truth which the knowing Writer of his Life lays down That never yet so much was written on a Subject so Delicate that can less offend the severest rules of Morality I dare not persume to give a particular Character of his Works therefore I shall refer them to the large Account of his Life written by the exact and ingenious Author above-mentioned or to the Readers own judgment They consist of Miscellanies Anacreontiques and Pindariques or some Copies of Verses translated Paraphrastically out of Anacreon and Pindar on the later he has writ Notes as replete with Learning as his Odes with Wit and Fancy and which most admirably explain the most difficult and abstruse Passages Besides these he has publisht an Epique Poem call'd Davideis a Sacred Poem of the Troubles of David in Four Books tho' design'd by the Author to be continu'd and extended to Twelve not for the Tribes sake but in imitation of Virgil. As it is a great grief to the Lovers of Poetry that he liv'd not to finish the Work so 't is the Opinion of an eminent Critick That as it may be lamented that he carried not on the Work so far as he design'd so it might he wisht that he had liv'd to Revise what he did leave us I think the Troubles of David is neither Title nor Matter proper for an Heroick Poem seeing it is rather the Actions than his Sufferings that make an Heroe nor can it be defended by Homer's Odysseis since Ulysses's Sufferings conclude with one great and perfect Action Yet notwithstanding this judicious Author allows That in the Davideis Fragment and imperfect as it is there shines something of a more fine more free more new and more noble air than appears in the Hierusalem of Tasso which for all his care is scarce perfectly purg'd from Pedantry And after all says That in the Lyrick way however Cowley far exceeds him and all the rest of the Italians Tho' Jacobus Philippus Tomasinus Laur. Crasso and other great Men give Tasso an extraordinary Character But to return to our Author whatever faults Mr. Cowley may have committed in the Oeconomy of his Poem as Mr. Rymer reckons up others if it be consider'd That he writ the greatest part of it as the Author of his Life observes whilst he was a young Student in Trinity College in Cambridge and withal reflect on the vastness of the Argument and his manner of Handling it he may seem like one of the Miracles he there adorns like a Boy attempting Goliah The rest of his Verses are written on several Occasions and for what remains unspoken of in his Second Volume they are Verses which he made when he was a King's Scholar and to which he gave the Title of Sylva As to his Pieces in English Prose they are Discourses by way of Essays upon grave and serious Subjects where he gives the truest and best Character of himself and his thoughts during his Retirement These with several others which he design'd to add he intended had not Death prevented him to have dedicated to his old Patron the Earl of St. Albans As a Testimony of his entire Respects to him and a kind of Apology for having left humane Affairs in the strength of his Age while he might still have been serviceable to his Country But not withstanding his Death his intentions are made good by his worthy Friend the careful Overseer to his Writings who has paid in this Legacy according to the will and intention of the deceased Testator His Latine Works contain the two former Books of his Davideis a Latine Comedy call'd Naufragium Joculare which was acted before the University of Cambridge by the Members of Trinity Colledge the second day of February 1638. and his Poemata Latina printed in octavo 1668. consisting of Six Books of Plants and One of Miscellanies of whose several Character you will find an account in his Life where you may likewise find a description of his Temper Conversation c. which would swell this Volume beyond its design'd Bulk to relate All that I shall acquaint you
by a Copy of Verses printed at the End writ by his Friend Mr. Samuel King Woman kill'd with Kindness a Comedy oftentimes acted by the Queens Majesties Servants and printed quarto Lond. 1617. These are all the Plays that our Author has extant except we will reckon his Dialogues under the Species of Dramatick Poetry such as Jupiter and Io Apollo and Daphne Amphrise or The Forsaken Shepherdess c. all which with several Translations above-mention'd the Reader may peruse in a Book intituled Pleasant Dialogues and Drammas collected out of Lucian Erasmus Textor Ovid c. printed octavo Lond. 1637. There may be another Reason added to those already mention'd why no more of our Author's Plays have been published which he himself gives us in his Epistle to The Rape of Lucrece That he used to sell his Copy to the Players and therefore suppos'd he had no further right to print them without their Consent which is the Reason that so few are in print and that some of these Plays that are so have been copy'd by the Ear and printed uncorrect without his Knowledge As to his other Pieces he has publisht several in Verse and Prose In the former he has written a Poem called The Hierarchy of the Blessed Angels with Notes printed fol. Lond. 1635. In reading over this Book I find our Author informing the World That he intended to commit to the publick View the Lives of the Poets Forreign and Modern from the first before Homer to the Novissimi and last of what Nation or Language soever so far as any History or Chronology would give him warrant But this Work notwithstanding our Author's Intention I presume was never compleated or at least publisht His chief Pieces in Prose are An Apology for Actors printed 4o. Lond. 1612. which was highly commended by several Copies of Verses written in Greek Latin and English This piece was answer'd or rather rail'd against by One J. G. in a Pamphlet call'd A Refutation of the Apology for Actors printed 4o. Lond. 1615. Whether Mr. Prynn's Piece call'd Histriomastix printed 4o. Lond. 1633. were particularly levell'd against this Book I cannot positively determine but I think Sir Richard Baker who answer'd it in a little Piece call'd The Theatre vindicated printed 8o. Lond. has sufficiently made out the Character he gives of it That all his Book is but a Bundle of Scolding Invectives and Railing instead of Reasoning He has writ besides The Life and Troubles of Queen Elizabeth from her Cradle to her Crown printed 8o. Lond. 1631. The Examplary Lives and Acts of Nine Women Worthies three Jews three Gentiles and three Christians printed 4o. 1640. The General History of Women of the most Holy and Profane the most Famous and Infamous in all Ages printed 8o. Lond. 1657. The usual Motto which he prefix'd to most of his Works and which shew'd the chief design of his Writing was this of Horace Aut prodesse solent aut delectare Barten HOLLYDAY A Gentleman that flourisht in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second He was born about the latter End of Queen Elizabeths Reign in Oxford in the Parish of All-Saints He was enter'd young at Christ-Church in the time of Dr. Ravis his Relation and Patron by whom he was chose Student and having taken his Degrees of Batchelor and Master of Arts he at length became Arch-Deacon of Oxfordshire He died soon after the King's Return at Eifly the Corps of his Arch-Deaconry near Oxford in the Year 1661. and was buried in Christ-Church having left behind him the Character of a general Scholar a good Preacher a skilful Philosopher and an excellent Poet. As a proof of this I must refer my Reader to his Works in general it being my province at present only to enumerate his Writings and make remarks on nothing but what he has publisht in Dramatick Poetry which is a Play call'd TEXNOTAMIA or The Marriages of the Arts a Comedy acted by the Students of Christ-Church in Oxford before the University at Shrove-tide printed 4o. Lond. 1630. The Author has sufficiently shew'd his Learning in the Contexture of this Comedy and has introduc'd several things from the Ancients particularly two Odes from Anacreon viz. Act 2. Sc. 2. Act 3. Sc. the last He has shew'd how well he was able to imitate another Author by this Play as the Reader may see by comparing the Challenge of Logicus to Poeta Act 2. Sc. 2. with that of Dametas to Clinias drawn by the Pen of the Admirable Sir Philip Sidney He has several other Pieces of Poetry which tho' Translations have gain'd him a considerable Reputation as the Translation of the Satyrs of Juvenal and Persius Illustrated with Notes and Sculptures printed Fol. Oxon. 1673. His Version of the Odes of Horace mention'd by Mr. Wood to have been printed Lond. 1652. He has likewise publisht several Sermons as Three Sermons preach'd at Oxford and two Sermons at St. Pauls-Cross printed 1626. A Sermon of the Nature of Faith printed 4o. Lond. 1654. Motives to a godly Life printed 4o. Oxon. 1657. In Latin he has printed two Pieces viz. Philosophiae Politico-barbarae Specimen de Animâ 4o. Oxon. 1635. Orbis terrarum Inspectio lib. 10. Oxon. 1661. Charles HOOL A Gentleman living in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second and possibly still in Being He was born at Wakefield in Yorkshire and at eighteen Years of Age came up to the University of Oxford and was enter'd of Lincoln Colledge After having taken his Degree of Master of Arts he withdrew into his own Countrey where he took upon him the Profession of a School Master he taught in several places particularly at Rotheram a Market-Town in the West Riding in Yorkshire and afterwards being sent for up to London by several Eminent Citizens he taught School in Red-Cross-street near Alders-gate Parish and afterwards remov'd to Arundel-Buildings not far from the Royal-Exchange At the King's Return he left the City and remov'd into Wales where possibly he still follows that useful Profession He has been very laborious not only in Instructing Youth but also in publishing many Books to their Advancement One of which is the Subject of his being mention'd in our Catalogue viz. Six Comedies of that Excellent Poet Publius Terentius an African of Carthage in English and Latin for the use of Young Scholars that they may the more readily obtain the purity of the Latin Tongue for common Discourse printed 8o. 1676. This Translation was undertaken by our Author at the Request of the Company of Stationers for whom it was printed and was castrated in some places as in particular see Eunuchus Act 3. Sc. 4 5. to spare the Modesty of the Youth under his Tuition Those who would know more of Terence and his Works let them turn back to Richard Bernard The rest of his Works consist chiefly in Translations of Books for the use of young Scholars as Corderius Cato AEsop's Fables Commenii Orbis pictus
Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1652. and dedicated to the Worthily Honoured Friend Sir Edmund Bowyer The Queen 's Courting Rosania under the Disguise of a Page and the King 's Surprizing them has Resemblance to a Story in the English Adventures 8o. part 3. between King Henry Izabella and Horatio Imposture a Tragi-comedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars and printed 8o. Lond. 1652. 'T is dedicated to Sir Robert Bolles Baronet Sisters a Comedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars and printed 8o. Lond. 1652. 'T is dedicated to William Paulet Esq Having given an Account of these Six Plays I am now to speak of Two others which are printed together in 8o. Lond. 16 viz. Honoria and Mammon a Comedy which is built upon that Entertainment before mentioned called Contention for Honour and Riches I shall refer my Reader to the Author's Epistle for further Satisfaction of the Reason of his Undertakings Contention of Ajax and Ulysses for the Armour of Achilles This Interlude was nobly represented says the Author by Young Gentlemen of Quality at a private Entertainment of some Persons of Honour The Design is taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis Book the 13. See the beginning There rests only his Poems to be spoken of printed octavo Lond. 1646. to which is added a Masque call'd Triumph of Beauty personated by some Young Gentlemen for whom it was intended at a private Recreation The Subject of this Masque is that known Story of the Judgment of Paris upon the Golden-Ball which you may read in Lucians Dialogues But our Author has imitated Shakespear in the Comical part of his Midsummer Nights Dream and Shirley's Shepheard Bottle is but a Copy of Shakespear's Bottom the Weaver I shall conclude this Account with Four Lines writ in our Author's Commendation by One Mr. Hall who in the Title of his Panegyrick stiles him The Surviving Honour and Ornament of the English Scene and in the End concludes thus Yet this I dare assert when Men have nam'd Johnson the Nations Laureat the fam'd Beaumont and Fletcher he that cannot see Shirley the fourth must forfeit his best Eye Sir Charles SIDLEY A Gentleman whose Name speaks a greater Panegyrick than I am able to express and whose Wit is so well known to this Age that I should but tarnish its Lustre by my Endeavouring to deliver it over to the next His Wit is too Noble a Subject to need any Herald to proclaim its Titles and Pedigree or if it did my Voice and Skill are too weak to sound out his Praises in their due measures I shall therefore only content my self as the Vallys that have no Voice of their own to eccho out his Merits at the Second-hand and give you part of his Character from a Person whose Honour and Pride it is to have a considerable share in his Friendship I mean Mr. Shadwell who in his Epistle Dedicatory to The True Widow says That he has heard him speak more Wit at a Supper than all his Adversaries with their Heads joyn'd together could write in a Year That his Writings are not unequal to any Man 's of this Age not to speak of Abundance of Excellent Copies of Verses That he has in the Mulberry Garden shown the true Wit Humour and Satyr of a Comedy and in Anthony and Cleopatra the true Spirit of a Tragedy But least this might be thought Partiality or Flattery in our Laureat give me leave to transcribe another part of his Character from an Unquestionable Judge of Poetry the great Ornament of the Muses the Lord Rochester in his Imitation of Horace's Tenth Satyr of the First Book Sidley has that prevailing gentle Art That can with a resistless Charm impart The loosest Wishes to the chastest Heart Raise such a Conflict kindle such a Fire Betwixt declineing Virtue and Desire Till the poor vanquisht Maid dissolves away In Dreams all Night in sighs and tears all Day The Plays this Great Wit has oblig'd the World with are but three all which appear to be writ with Design at least they may serve to be Patterns for succeeding Poets Imitation which I shall only mention in their Alphabetical Order viz. Anthony and Cleopatra a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. For the History see Plutarch's Life of Anthony Appian Dion Cassius Diodorus Florus c. Bellamira or The Mistress a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants and printed Lond. 1687. This Play is an Imitation as the Author informs us of Terence's Eunucbus Mulberry Garden a Comedy acted by his Majesty's Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1668. and dedicated to Her Grace the Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox which Epistle is not the least Ornament to the Play and shews the Neatness of his Stile in Prose I dare not say that the Character of Sir John Everyoung and Sir Samuel Fore-cast are Copies of Sganarelle and Ariste in Molliere's L'Escole des Maris but I may say that there is some Resemblance tho' whoever understands both Languages will readily and with Justice give our English Wit the preference and Sir Charles is not to learn to Copy Nature from the French Give me Leave to conclude with what the Learned Mr. Evelyn has said with no less Truth than Ingenuity in his Imitation of Ovid's Fifteenth Elegy of this Excellent Poet and his Friend Sir George Etheridge While Fathers are severe and Servants cheat Till Bawds and Whores can live without deceit Sidley and easy Etheridge shall be Great John SMITH A Gentleman as I suppose now living at Snenton in Yorkshire the Author of a Comedy call'd Cytherea or The Enamouring Girdle printed 4 o Lond. 1677. This Play was refused to be acted by the Players of the Duke's Theatre as you may see by the Epistle Dedicatory to the Northern Gentry I leave the Play to the Judgment of those that have read it William SMITH An Author that lived in the Reign of King James the First who publish'd a Play call'd Hector of Germany or The Palsgrave Prime Elector an Honourable History publickly acted at the Red-bull and at the Curtain by a Company of Young Men of this City printed 4o. Lond. 1615. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Sir John Swinnerton Lord Mayor of London in the Year 1611. This Play is not divided into Acts I am not certain where this Story is to be found tho' possibly Albertus Argentinensis or Henry Monk of Rebdorf may make some Mention of this Palatin Our Author writ another Play called The Freeman's Honour to dignify the Worthy Company of Taylors but whether ever it was printed or no I know not This Author joyned with One W. Webbe in writing a Book called The Description of the Counry Palatine of Chester Lond. 1656. Hieronymo is ascribed by Mr. Philips and Winstanley thro' their old Mistake to our Author it being an Anonymous Play Thomas SOUTHERN An Author of whom I can give no further Account than that he has two Plays in print viz. Disappointment or