nobiles Eum adjutare assiduéque unà scribere Quod illi maledictum vehemens esse existimant Eam laudē hic ducit maxumā cùm illis placet Qui vobis universis populo placent Quorum operâ in bello in otio in negotio Suo quisque tempore usus est sine superbia The Plots of these Comedies he borrow'd from the Greeks the Four first from the Comedies of Menander and the Two last from Apollodorus He was beholding to Menander likewise for some other Comedies which in his Return from Greece by Sea were lost with himself in the Year of Rome 595 and the second year of the 155 th Olympiad Some say that he Died in Arcadia but the former Account is confirm'd by Volcatius in the following Verses Sed ut Afer sex populo edidit Comoedias Iter hinc in Asiam fecit navim cum semel ' Conscendit visus nunquam est sic vita vacat Consult further Crinitus de Poetis Latinis Scaliger in Poetic Lilius Gyraldus Hist. Poet. Vossius de Poetis Latinis c. Mrs. Frances BOOTHBY The Authress of a Play called Marcelia or The Treacherous Friend a Tragi-Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1670. and dedicated to the Honourable and most Accomplisht Lady Yate of Harvington in Worcester-shire to whom she was related Roger BOYLE Earl of Orrery An Irish Nobleman whose Abilities in Arts and Arms have render'd him better known to this Nation than any Character I can give him so that I may justly say of him with Madam Phillips Of him I cannot which is hardest tell Or not to praise him or to praise him well However I must observe that he is not only a Poet himself but a Patron of Poets likewise as Mr. Dryden and Mr. Crown must acknowledge so that methinks his Lordship's Reputation joyn'd with the Earl of Roscomon's might be sufficient to attone for their Country's Character in point of Wit He has publisht Four Plays in Heroick Verse wherein not only the true English Courage is delineated to the Life but likewise the very Infidels and Barbarians are taught by his Pen not only Humanity but the Highest Morality and Virtue But his Wit is as far above my Abilities to describe as to imitate and therefore I shall hasten to give an Account of his Plays viz. Black Prince a Tragedy acted at the Theatre Royal printed at Lond. folio 1672. Tho' this Play in the Title-page be call'd a Tragedy yet it ends successfully and therefore I presume was rather stiled so by the Author from the Quality and Grandeur of the Persons in the Dramma than from any unfortunate Catastrophe For the foundation of this Play as far as it concerns History consult Walsinghami Historia Angliae Florentii Monarch Wigorniensis Chronicon Pol Vergilii Historiae Angliae Froissard Croniques de France d'Angleterre Du Chesne Speed and other English Historians in in Reign of Edward the Third Tryphon a Tragedy acted by his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Servants and printed in folio Lond. 1672. Of this Usurper you have an account in Maccabees lib. 1. See besides Josephus lib. 13. Appian de Bellis Syriacis c. These two Plays are printed together Henry the Fifth a History acted at his Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed in folio Lond. 1677. For the Plot see the Chronicles of England in the Reign of that King such as Walsingham Polydore Vergil Hollingshead Speed c. and the French Chronicles in the Reign of King Charles the Sixth as Les Chroniques d'Enguerrand de Monstrelet Jean Juvenal des Ursins L'Histoire de Charles VI. F. de Belleforest L'Histoire de neuf Roys Charles de France Mezeray c. Mustapha Son of Solyman the Magnificent a Tragedy acted at the Dukes Theatre printed in folio Lond. 1677. See Paulus Jovius lib. 40. Thuanus lib. 12. Tho. Artus la Continuation de l'Histoire des Turcs Knolles's Turkish History Besides these Plays there is a Comedy lately publisht tho' writ as I suppose some years ago under the Title of Mr. Anthony a Comedy acted by Their Majesties Servants and printed in quarto Lond. 1690. This Play I believe was acted formerly at the Dukes Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields because I find Mr. Angel and Mrs. Long amongst the Actors Names who if I mistake not have been dead some years The Prologue to this Play is the same with that of The Fool turn'd Critick but whether it be borrow'd or genuine I know not Besides these Plays our Author has writ a Romance called Parthenissa which yields not either in Beauty Language or Design to the Works of the famous Scudery or Calpranede however Eminent they may be amongst the French for Pieces of this Nature and what Mr. Davis of Kidwelly says of Scarron's Comical Romance may with more Justice be applied to our Illustrious Author and this Work 'T is a thousand pities That the Author prevented by death hath left the Work imperfect so that we are and ever shall beat a loss to know what period he might bring so many noble Adventures to He his written a Treatise in Folio call'd The Art of War I have been told it has been commended by many expert Captains for the best Piece extant in English but this I must leave to the judgment of others more experienced in the Art Military I know not where or when our Noble Author Died but those who would view his Character more at large must read Sr. William Davenant's Poem to his Lordship which will make them regret the Loss of so great a Man Samuel BRANDON This Author liv'd in the later part of Queen Elizabeths Reign and publisht a Play called The Tragi-Comedy of the Virtuous Octavia never acted but printed 120. Lond. 1598. and dedicated by a Copy of Verses to the Right Honourable and truly Virtuous Lady the Lady Lucia Audelay accompanied with two other Copies in commendation of the Play It is writ in alternate Verse with a Chorus at the end of each Act. For the Ground of this Play read Suetonius's Life of Augustus Plutarch's Life of M. Anthony Dion Cassius c. At the End of this Play are printed two Epistles between Octavia and her Husband M. Anthony in imitation of Ovid's Stile but writ in long Alexandrins They are dedicated to the Honourable Virtuous and Excellent Mrs. Mary Thin The Author had that good Opinion of his Play that besides his Prosopopeia al Libro at the beginning of his Book he has concluded with this Italian Sentence L'aqua non temo de l' eterno oblio Anthony BREWER A Writer in the Reign of King Charles the First to whom is ascrib'd by Mr. Kirkman two Plays viz. The Country Girl and The Love-sick King tho' I question whether the former belong to him it being ascrib'd to T. B. in the Title-page However I am sure Mr. Winstanley is much mistaken in the Account that he gives of our Author
made him Famous all over England Of these he has writ A Discourse of Horsemanship printed 4o. without Date and dedicated to Prince Henry Eldest Son to King James the First Cure of all Diseases incident to Horses 4o. 1610. English Farriar 4o. 1649. Master-piece 4o. 1662. Faithful Farriar 8o. 1667. Perfect Horseman 120. 1671. For Husbandry he publisht Liebault's Le Maison Rustique or The Country Farm Fol. Lond. 1616. This Treatise which was at first translated by Mr. Richard Surflet a Physitian our Author enlarg'd with several Additions from the French Books of Serres and Vinet the Spanish of Albiterio and the Italian of Grilli and others The Art of Husbandry first translated from the Latine of Conr. Heresbachius by Barnaby Googe he revis'd and augmented 4o. 1631. He writ besides Farewel to Husbandry 4o. 1620. Way to get Wealth wherein is compris'd his Country Contentments printed 4o. 1668. To this I may add Hungers Prevention or his Art of Fowling 8o. His Epitome 120. c. In Military Discipline he has publisht The Souldiers Accidence and Grammar 4o. 1635. Besides these the second part of the First Book of The English Arcadia is said to be writ by him insomuch that he may be accounted if not Unus in Omnibus at least a Benefactor to the Publick by those Works he left behind him which will without doubt eternise his Memory Christopher MARLOE An Author that was Cotemporary with the Incomparable Shakespear and One who trod the Stage with Applause both from Queen Elizabeth and King James Nor was he accounted a less Excellent Poet by the Judicious Johnson and Heywood his Fellow Actor stiles him the Best of Poets In what esteem he was in his time may be gathered from part of a Copy of Verses writ in that Age call'd a Censure of the Poets where he is thus Characteriz'd Next Marlow bathed in the Thespian Springs Had in him those brave Sublunary things That your First-Poets had his Raptures were All Air and Fire which made his Verses clear For that fine Madness still he did retain Which rightly should possess a Poet's Brain His Genius inclin'd him wholly to Tragedy and he has obliged the world with Seven Plays of this kind of his own Composure besides One in which he join'd with Nash call'd Dido Queen of Carthage which I never saw Of the others take the following Account Dr. Faustus his Tragical History printed 4o. Lond. 1661. There is an old Edition which I never saw but this is printed with new Additions of several Scenes The Plot or the Foundation of this Play may be read in several Authors as Camerarei Hor. Subcisiv Cent. 1. Wierus de Praestigiis Daemonum Lib. 2. Cap. 4. Lonicerus c. Edward the Second a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. I know not the Date or the Stage where this Play was acted thro' the defect of my Title-page For the Plot consult the Historians that have writ on those Times as Ranulphus Higden Walsingham Math. Westminster Especially those that have more particularly writ his Life as Thomas de la More Sr. Fr. Hubert c. Jew of Malta a Tragedy play'd before the King and Queen in her Majesties Theatre at Whitehall and by her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit printed 4o. Lond. 1633. after the Author's Decease and dedicated by Mr. Thomas Heywood the Publisher To his Worthy Friend Mr. Thomas Hammon of Gray's Inn. This Play was in much esteem in those days the Jew's Part being play'd by Mr. Edward Allen that Ornament both to Black-friars Stage and to his Profession to the One on Account of of his excellent Action to the Other of his exemplary Piety in founding Dulwich Hospital in Surrey What Opinion Mr. Heywood had of the Author and Actor may be seen by the beginning of his Prologue spoke at the Cock-pit We know not how our Play may pass this Stage But by the best of Poets in that Age The Malta Jew had being and was made And He then by the best of Actors play'd In Hero and Leander one did gain A lasting Memory in Tamberlain This Jew with others many th' other wan The Attribute of peerless being a Man Whom we may rank with doing no one wrong Proteus for Shapes and Roscius for a Tongue Lust's Dominion or The Lascivious Queen a Tragedy publisht by Mr. Kirkman 8o. Lond. 1661. and dedicated to his worthily honour'd Friend William Carpenter Esquire This Play was alter'd by Mrs. Behn and acted under the Title of Abdelazer or The Moor's Revenge Massacre of Paris with the Death of the Duke of Guise a Tragedy play'd by the Right Honourable the Lord Admiral 's Servants printed octavo Lond. This Play is not divided into Acts it begins with that fatal Marriage between the King of Navarre and Marguerite de Valois Sister to King Charles the Ninth the Occasion of the Massacre and ends with the Death of Henry the Third of France For the Plot see the Writers of those times in the Reigns of these two Kings Ch. IX and Henry III. Thuanus Davila Pierre Matthieu Dupleix Mezeray c. Tamburlain the Great or The Scythian Shepherd a Tragedy in two parts sundry times acted by the Lord Admiral 's Servants printed in an old Black-Letter octavo Lond. 1593. Had I not Mr. Heywood's Word for it In the fore-mention'd Prologue I should not believe this Play to be his it being true what an ingenious Author said That whoever was the Author he might ev'n keep it to himself secure from Plagiary For the Story see those that have writ his Life in particular as Pietro Perondini M. St. Sanctyon Du Bec c. and those that have treated of the Affairs of Turks and Tartars in general in the Reigns of Bajazet and Tamerlane as Laonicus Chalcocondylas Pet. Bizarus Knolles c. He writ besides a Poem call'd Hero and Leander Whose mighty Lines says One Mr. Benjamin Johnson a Man sensible enough of his own Abilities was often heard to say that they were Examples sitler for Admiration than Paralel This Poem being left imperfect by our our Author who according to Mr. Philips In some riotous Fray came to an untimely and violent End it was finished by Mr. Chapman and printed octavo Lond. 1606. Shakerley MARMION A Gentleman born in the Reign of King Charles the First at Ainoe in Sutton Hundred in the County of Northampton about the beginning of January A. D. 1602. He was bred up at Thame-School in Oxfordshire and at fifteen Years of Age was sent to the University of Oxford where he became a Member of Wadham Colledge and in 1624. he took his Master of Arts Degree What further became of him I know not all that I am able to inform the Reader is that he was the Author of three Comedies which have formerly been well approv'd viz. Antiquary a Comedy acted by her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit and printed quarto Lond. 1641. Aurelio's declaring his Marriage to the Duke and
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.
have created a Person which was not in Nature a boldness which at first sight would appear intolerable For he makes him a species of himself begotten by an Incubus on a Witch but this is not wholly beyond the bounds of Credibility at least the Vulgar I suppose still believe it But this is not the only Character of this Nature that Mr. Shakespear has written for Merlin as he introduces him is cozen-German to Caliban by Birth as those may observe who will read that Play As to the Foundation of this Comedy I am ignorant whether it be the Author 's own Contrivance or a Novel built up into a Play Titus Andronicus his Lamentable Tragedy This Play was first printed 4o. Lond. 1594. and acted by the Earls of Derby Pembroke and Essex their Servants 'T was about the time of the Popish-plot revived and altered by Mr. Ravenscroft In his Preface to the Reader he says That he thinks it a greater theft to rob the Dead of their Praise than the Living of their Money Whether his Practice agree with his Protestation I leave to the Comparison of his Works with those of Molliere and whether Mr. Shadwell's Opinion of Plagiaries reach not Mr. Ravenscroft I leave to the Reader I says he ingeniously freely confess my Theft and am asham'd on 't tho' I have the Example of some that never yet wrote a Play without stealing most of it and like Men that Lye so long till they believe themselves at length by continual Thieving reckon their stollen Goods their own too which is so Ignoble a thing that I cannot but believe that he that makes a common practice of stealing other Men's Wit would if he could with the same Safety steal any thing else Mr. Ravenscroft in the Epistle to Titus says That the Play was not originally Shakespear's but brought by a private Author to be acted and he only gave some Master-touches to one or two of the principal Parts or Characters afterwards he boasts his own pains and says That if the Reader compare the Old Play with his Copy he will find that none in all that Author's Works ever receiv'd greater Alterations or Additions the Language not only refined but many Scenes entirely new Besides most of the principal Characters heightened and the Plot much encreased I shall not engage in this Controversy but leave it to his Rivals in the Wrack of that Great Man Mr. Dryden Shadwell Crown Tate and Durfey But to make Mr. Ravenscroft some Reparation I will here furnish him with part of his Prologue which he has lost and if he desire it send him the whole To day the Poet does not fear your Rage Shakespear by him reviv'd now treads the Stage Under his sacred Lawrels he sits down Safe form the blast of any Criticks Frown Like other Poets he 'll not proudly scorn To own that he but winnow'd Shakespear's Corn So far he was from robbing him of 's Treasure That he did add his own to make full Measure Timon of Athens his Life This Play was thought fit to be presented on the Stage with some Alterations by Mr. Shadwell in the Year 1678. I shall say more of it in the Accounts of his Works The Foundation of the Story may be read in Plutarch's Life of M. Anthony see besides Lucian's Dialogues c. Troilus and Cressida a Tragedy Of this Play I have already given an Account see the Name in the Remarks on Mr. Dryden who altered this Play in the Year 1679. Twelfth-Night or What you will a comedy I know not whence this Play was taken but the Resemblance of Sebastian to his Sister Viola and her change of Habit occasioning so many mistakes was doubtless first borrowed not only by Shakespear but all our succeeding Poets from Plautus who has made use of it in several Plays as Amphitruo Maenechmi c. Two Gentlemen of Verona a Comedy Winter's Tale a Tragi-comedy The Plot of this Play may be read in a little Stitcht-pamphlet which is call'd as I remember The Delectable History of Dorastus and Fawnia printed 4o. Lond. Yorkshire Tragedy not so new as lamentable and true This may rather deserve the Old Title of an Interlude than a Tragedy it being not divided into Acts and being far too short for a Play These are all that are in Folio there rest yet three Plays to be taken notice of which are printed in quarto viz. Birth of Merlin or The Child has lost his Father a Tragi-comedy several times acted with great applause and printed quarto Lond. 1662. This Play was writ by our Author and Mr. W. Rowly of which we have already spoken For the Plot consult the Authors of those times such as Ethelwerd Bede G. Monmouth Fabian Pol. Virgil Stow Speed c. Ubaldino Le Vite delle Donne Illustri p. 18. John King of England his troublesome Reign the First and Second Part with Discovery of King Richard Coeur de lyon's Base Son vulgarly named the Bastard Fawconbridge Also the Death of King John at Swinstead Abbey As they were sundry times acted by the Queens Majesties Players printed quarto Lond. 1611. These Plays are not divided into Acts neither are the same with that in Folio I am apt to conjecture that these were first writ by our Author and afterwards revised and reduced into one Play by him that in the Folio being far the better For the Plot I refer you to the Authors aforementioned in that Play which bears the same Title Besides these Plays I know Mr. Kirkman ascribes another Pastoral to him viz. The Arraignment of Paris but having never seen it I dare not determine whether it belongs to him or no. Certain I am that our Author has writ two small Poems viz. Venus and Adonis printed 8o. Lond. 1602. and The Rape of Lucrece printed 8o. Lond. 1655. publish'd by Mr. Quarles with a little Poem annext of his own production which bear the Title of Tarquin banished or The Reward of Lust. Sr. John Sucklin had so great a Value for our Author that as Mr. Dryden observes in his Dramatick Essay he preferred him to Iohnson and what value he had for this small Piece of Lucrece may appear from his Supplement which he writ and which he has publisht in his Poems which because it will give you a taste of both their Muses I shall transcribe I. One of her Hands one of her Cheeks lay under Cozening the Pillow of a lawfull Kiss Which therefore swell'd seem'd to part asunder As angry to be robb'd of such a Bliss The One lookt pale and for Revenge did long Whilst t' other blusht 'cause it had done the wrong II. Out of the Bed the other fair Hand was On a green Sattin Quilt whose perfect white Lookt like a Dazie in a field of Grass And shew'd like unmelt snow unto the sight There lay this pretty perdue safe to keep The rest o' th' Body that lay fast asleep III. Her Eyes and
jam Trigessimus Scriptu dignissima fecit factu dignissima scripsit Calamo pariter Gladio celebris pacis artium gnarus belli Gilbert SWINHOE Esq A Gentleman who liv'd in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second a North-country Man by Birth being Born in Northumberland the Author of a Play call'd Unhappy fair Irene her Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1658. This Play is accompany'd with three Copies of Verses in its Commendation tho' I think it scarce deserve them The Play is founded on History see Knolles his Turkish History in the Life of Mahomet the First which Story is the Subject of a Novel in Bandello which is translated into French by Pierre Boisteau see Histoires Tragicques tome premier Nov. 2. The same is translated into English by Wil. Painter in his Palace of Pleasure in quarto Nov. 4o. T. Nathaniel TATE AN Author now living who tho' he be allow'd to be a Man of Wit and Parts yet for Dramatick Poetry he is not above the common Rank What he has extant for the most part is borrow'd at least we may say That generally he follows other Mens Models and builds upon their Foundations for of Eight Plays that are printed under his Name Six of them owe their Original to other Pens as we shall shew in the following Account Brutus of Alba or The enchanted Lovers a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex This Play is founded on Virgil's AEneids Book the 4 th and was finished under the Names of Dido and AEneas but by the Advice of some Friends was transformed to the Dress it now wears Cuckold's Haven or An Alderman no Conjurer a Farce acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden printed 4o. Lond. 1685. and dedicated to Colonel Edmund Ashton This Play is borrow'd from Johnson's Eastward-hoe and Devil is an Ass. Duke and no Duke a Farce acted by their Majesties Servants with the several Songs set to Musick with Thorough-Basses for the Theorbo or Bass-Viol printed 4o. Lond. 1685. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Sir George Hewyt This Play is founded on Sir Aston Cockain's Trappolin suppos'd a Prince Ingratitude of a Common-wealth or The Fall of Caius Martius Coriolanus acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1682. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Lord Herbert Marquess of Worcester This Play is borrowed from Shakespear's Coriolanus Island Princess a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal revived with Alterations printed 4o. Lond. 1687. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Walgrave This Play is Fletcher's Originally Loyal General a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to Edward Taylor Esquire Lear King of England his History acted at the Dukes Theatre revived with Alterations printed 4o. Lond. 1687. and dedicated to Thomas Boteler Esq This Play in the Original was writ by W. Shakespear Richard the Third a History acted at the Theatre-Royal under the Name of The Sicilian Usurper with a Prefatory Epistle in Vindication of the Author occasioned by the Prohibition of this Play on the Stage printed 4o. Lond. 1681. and dedicated to George Raynford Esq This Play owns its Birth likewise to Shakespear Besides these Plays our Author has two Volumes of Poems in print One wholy writ by him call'd Poems writ on several Occasions second Edit enlarg'd printed 8o. Lond. 1684. The other call'd Poems by several Hands and on several Occasions collected by our Author and printed octavo Lond. 1685. John TATEHAM An Author that flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and was says Mr. Winstanley the City Poet. If he was not an Extraordinary Wit at least he was Loyal in the highest Degree as may appear by his Plays and equally hated the Rump and the Scots He has Four Plays in print Three in quarto and One printed with his Poems in octavo Distracted State a Tragedy written in the Year 1641. but not printed till 1651. 4o. and dedicated to John Sidley This Play suited well with the Times and his Hatred to the Scots appears in this Play where he introduces a Scotch Mountebank in the fourth Act to poyson Archias the Elected King at the Instigation of Cleander This I take to be the best of our Author's Writings Rump or The Mirrour of the late Times a Comedy acted many times with great applause at the Private-house in Dorset Court printed the second Edit 4o. Lond. 1661. and dedicated to Walter James of Rambden-House in Smarden in the County of Kent Esq This Play has lately been reviv'd on our Stage under the Name of The Roundheads Scots Figaries or A Knot of Knaves a Comedy printed 4 o Lond. 1652. and dedicated to Robert Dormer Esq Most of this Play is writ in the Scotch Dialect and displays them to the Life Love crowns the End a Tragi-comedy acted by the Scholars of Bingham in the County of Nottingham This Play is not divided into Acts and is much shorter than most usually are being fitted purposely as I suppose for those Youths than acted it 'T is printed with his Poems call'd The Mirrour of Fancies in octavo Lond. 1657. and dedicated to Sir John Winter Secretary of State to his Majesty in his Exile Robert TAYLOUR An Author to whose Person and Writings I am wholy a Stranger only I find in former Catalogues a Comedy ascribed to him call'd Hog-huth lost his Pearl Thomas THOMSON Another Author of the meanest Rank and a great Plagiary if One of the Plays be own'd by him which Mr. Kirkman has ascribed to him viz. English Rogue a Comedy acted before several Persons of Honour with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1668. and dedicated to Mrs. Alice Barret Mother Shipton her Life acted Nine Days together with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 16 I suppose the Occasion of the Success of this Play was from what he stole for all the Characters except what relate to Shipton are borrow'd as the Characters of Shift-hose Monylack Sir Oliver Whore-hound David c. are stollen verbatim from Massinger's City Madam and Middleton's Chast Maid in Cheapside This Play has not the Author's Name to it but the two first Letters it may be he was asham'd to set his Name to other Mens Labours As to the Story of Shipton I know not how to direct the Reader except to an old Book in quarto call'd The Life and Death of Mother Shipton Nicholas TROTT An Author who writ a Tragedy call'd Arthur which I never saw neither can I give any Account of the Author himself or the time he liv'd in Richard TUKE An Author of whom I can give no further Account than that he writ a Play call'd Divine Comedian or The Right Use of Plays improved in a Sacred Tragi-comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the Right Honourable and no less Virtuous Mary Countess of Warwick This Play was call'd first by the Author The
purposely writ against this particular Work as may be gather'd from the foregoing Speech Ecce Belli Civilis ingens Opus c. but rather have left it to such a Man as Douza who as a French Author has observ'd could no longer endure the Fire and Tempest of Lucan when he read the Taking of Troy or that little Essay of the War of Pharsalia which he declar'd to love much better quam trecenta Cordubensis illius Pharsalicorum versuum Volumiua The first Act of this Play has been ill corrected four pages of it being printed twice over Antigone the Thebane Princess her Tragedy printed 8o. Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the most Worthily Honoured Endymion Porter Esquire Our Author in the Contexture of this Tragedy has made use of the Antigone of Sophocles and the Thebais of Seneca The Reader may see besides Statius's Thebais c. Cleopatra Queen of AEgypt her Tragedy acted 1626. and printed 120. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to the Accomplish'd Sir Kenelme Digby The Author has follow'd the Historians of those times as Appian de Bellis Civilibus lib. 5. Plutarch's Life of M. Anthony Suetonius's Life of Augustus Florus lib. 4. Dion c. He has borrow'd besides several other Embelishments as Calimaccus's Epigram upon Timon the Misanthropist an Account of the Ancient Lybian Psylls so famous for curing the Venemous Bites of Serpents by sucking the wound related by Pliny lib. 7. c. 2. and by Solinus c. Heir a Comedy acted by the Company of Revels 1620. printed 4o. Lond. 1633. This Comedy is extreamly commended by the already mention'd Mr. Thomas Carew in a Copy of Verses affix'd to the Play where amongst other Commendations bestow'd on the Stile and the Natural working up of the Passions he says thus of the Oeconomy of the Play The whole Plot doth alike it self disclose Thro' the Five Acts as doth a Lock that goes With Letters for till every one be known The Lock 's as fast as if you had found none I believe there are few Persons of Judgment that are true lovers of Innocent and inoffensive Comedy but will allow this to be an Excellent Play Old Couple a Comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1651. This Play is not much short of the former and is chiefly design'd an Antidote against Covetousness Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley ascribe two other Plays to our Author viz. The Old Wives Tale and Orlando Furioso the first of these I never saw but for the latter I assure my Reader it was printed long before our Author was born at least before he was able to guide a Pen much less to write a Play it being printed 4o. Lond. 1594. But tho' he has no more Plays he has other pieces extant in print as the Translation of Lucan's Pharsalia 8o. Lond. 1635. which Poem our Author has continued down to the Death of Julius Caesar in VII Books both in Latin and English Verse I have already given you Douza's Character of this Poem to which I might add that of Scaliger Rapin and other Criticks but this being somewhat forreign to my present Subject I shall wave it and content my self with acquainting my Reader That however pompous and splendid the French Version of Brebeuf has appear'd in France our English Translation is little inferiour to it and is extreamly commended by our Famous Johnson in a Copy of Verses prefix'd before the Book well worth the Reader 's perusal He translated besides Virgil's Georgicks printed with Annotations 8o. Lond. 1622. Mr. Philips mentions a History of Henry the Second writ by him in Verse and a History of the late Civil Wars of England in Prose neither of which have I seen and therefore pretend not to determine whether he were a partial Writer or no. Only give me leave to conclude in the Words of Dr. Fuller That if he were a byassed and partial Writer yet that he lyeth buried near a good and true Historian indeed viz. Mr. Cambden in the West-side of the North-Isle of Westminster Abbey dying suddenly in the Night A.D. 1652. in the 55 th Year of his Age. I know not how Mr. Winstanley happened to omit the Transcript of so memorable a passage since he has elsewhere borrow'd so largely from this Worthy Author as well as Mr. Philips without either of them acknowledging the least obligation to him Robert MEAD An Author that liv'd in the Reigns of King James and King Charles the First and was sometime a Member of Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford as I learn from the Title-page of a Play call'd Combat of Love and Friendship a Comedy formerly presented by the Gentlemen of Christ-Church in Oxford and printed 4o. Lond. 1654. This Play was published after the Authors decease at that time when the Muses were banish'd the Theatre I wish I were able to give the Reader a better Account of our Author But being destitute of other Information this Gentleman having wholly escaped the Industry of Mr. Wood I must be beholding for what I have borrow'd to the Stationer's Epistle to the Reader where he tells us That he had been a Person whose Eminent and General Abilities have left him a Character precious and honourable to our Nation and therefore the Reader is not to look upon this Composition but as at a stoop when his youth was willing to descend from his then higher Contemplation He tells us that he could say more in his Honour but that he was so great a lover of Humility in his Life that he was almost afraid being dead he might be displeas'd to hear his own worth remembred Mr. Philips thro' his old Mistake ascribes to him The Costly Whore tho' I am almost confident the Play is not of his Writing and that those that believe it so have taken up their Opinion upon Conjecture Matthew MEDBOURN An Actor belonging to the Duke's Theatre in the Reign of King Charles the Second One whose good parts deserv'd a better fate than to die in Prison as he did in the time of the late Popish-Plot thro' a too forward and indiscreet Zeal for a mistaken Religion Ten Years before the Discovery of that Conspiracy our Author publisht a Play call'd Tartuffe or The French Puritan acted at the Theatre-Royal written in French by Molliere and rendred into English with much Addition and Advantage printed 4o. Lond. 1670. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Howard of Norfolk This Play was recceiv'd with universal Applause on our English Stage if we believe our Author and is accounted by him the Master-piece of Molliere's Productions or rather that of all French Comedy I presume the Translator who was a great Bigot esteem'd this Play the more it being design'd as a Satyr against the French Hugonots tho' at the same time it must be acknowledg'd that the French Author has made an Admirable Defence for the Character of his Protagonist Tartuffe in his Preface to which I refer the Reader who is vers'd in the French Tongue
King of Persia a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. 3 d Edit Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Anne Dutchess of Monmouth This Tragedy is written in Heroick Verse and founded on History For the Plot see Justin Herodotus Ammianus Marcellinus c. Conquest of China by the Tartars a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to the Lord Castle-Rizing This is also writ in Heroick Verse and founded on History See Signior Palafax his History of China translated in octavo John Gonzales de Mendoza Lewis de Guzman c. Empress of Morocco a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Duke's Theatre printed with Sculptures 4o. Lond. 1673. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Norwich and Earl-Marshal of England This Play Mr. Dryden writ particularly against in a Pamphlet called Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco or some few Erratas to be printed instead of the Sculptures with the second Edition of that Play printed 4o. Lond. 1674. This as I have already observ'd was answered by another Pamphlet which shewed Mr. Dryden was not Infallible but that notwithstanding his Bravadoes he himself was as faulty as others and that he had verified the Spanish Proverb No es tan bravo el Leon come le pintan The Lyon is not so fierce as they paint him Fatal Love or The forc'd Inconstancy a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to Sir Robert Owen This Play is founded on Achilles Tatius his Romance called Clitiphon and Leucippe see Book the fifth The English Reader may peruse it translated in octavo printed Oxon. 1638. Female Prelate being the History of the Life and Death of Pope Joan a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the late Earl of Shaftsbury This Play being founded on History see Marianus Scotus Sigibert Sabellicus and for the English he may read Platina translated in Fol. by Sir Paul Ricault and the Life and Death of Pope Joan written heretofore in a Dialogue by Mr. Alexander Cooke a Gentleman formerly a Fellow of University Colledge in Oxford a Piece so much cry'd up and admir'd in those Times that it was translated into French by J. De la Montaigne 'T is now published in a set Discourse 8o. Lond. 1675. The Reader will find there a List of those Authors who affirm and those who deny the truth of this Story Heir of Morocco with the Death of Gayland acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1682. and dedicated to the Lady Henrietta Wentworth Baroness of Nettlested Ibraim the Illustrious Bassa a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1677. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Albermarle The Play is founded on M. Scudery's Romance so called Love and Revenge a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Late Duke of Newcastle 'T is a great part borrowed from a Play called The Fatal Contract and is founded on the French Chronicles see Mezeray De Serres c. 'T is pitty our Author was so little considerate to fall upon Mr. Shadwell in his Postscript when he lay so open to an Attaque himself and if our Laureat reply'd too severely upon him in his Preface to the Libertine 't was but se defendendo and he being the Aggressor ought to forgive it Pastor Fido or Faithful Shepherd a Pastoral acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1677. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Delaval The Play was written in Italian by Guarini and afterwards translated by Sir Ric. Fanshaw This Translation our Author has follow'd being a stranger to the Italian tho' possibly it may by ill natur'd Criticks be thought a presumption to attempt to improve either the Original or the Copy Our Author I think has several Copies of Verses in print besides Prose but because some of them will not advance his Reputation and of others I know not exactly which he writ I shall omit further mentioning of them in this place Tho. SHADWELL Esq Poet Laureat to their present Majesties A Gentleman whose Dramatick Works are sufficiently known to the World but especially his Excellent Comedies which in the Judgment of some Persons have very deservedly advanced him to the Honour he now enjoys under the Title of Poet Laureat to their present Majesties An Advancement which he ingeniously consesses is chiefly owing to the Patronage of the Noble Earl of Dorset that Great Judge of Wit and Parts in whose Favour it has been Mr. Shadwell's particular Happiness sor several Years to have had an Eminent Share Mr. Dryden I dare presume little imagined when he writ that Satyr of Mack-Flecknoe that the Subject he there so much exposes and ridicules should have ever lived to have succeeded him in wearing the Bays But I am willing to say the less of Mr. Shadwell because I have publickly profess'd a Friendship for him and tho' it be not of so long date as some former Intimacy with others so neither is it blemished with some unhandsome Dealings I have met with from Persons where I least expected it I shall therefore speak of him with the Impartiality that becomes a Critick and own I like His Comedies better than Mr. Dryden's as having more Variety of Characters and those drawn from the Life I mean Men's Converse and Manners and not from other Mens Ideas copyed out of their publick Writings tho' indeed I cannot wholly acquit our Present Laureat from borrowing his Plagiaries being in some places too bold and open to be disguised of which I shall take Notice as I go along tho' with this Remark That several of them are observed to my Hand and in a great measure excused by himself in the publick Acknowledgment he makes in his several Prefaces to the Persons to whom he was obliged for what he borrowed That Mr. Shadwell has propos'd B. Johnson for his Model I am very certain of and those who will read the Preface to the Humorists may be sufficiently satisfied what a value he has for that Great Man but how far he has succeeded in his Design I shall leave to the Reader 's Examination So far only give me leave to premise in our Laureat's Defence that the Reader is not to measure his Merit by Mr. Dryden's Standard since Socrates never was more persecuted by the Inhumane Aristophanes than Mr. Shadwell by Mr. Dryden's Pen and with the same injustice tho' I think whoever shall peruse the Modest Defence of the former in his Epistle to the tenth Satyr of Juvenal will not only acquit him but love him for his good Humour and gentle Temper to One who endeavour'd to destroy his Reputation so dear to All Men but the very Darling of Poets as Ovid says Quid petitur sacris nisi tantum fama Poetis Hoc votum nostri summa laboris habet Mr. Shadwell has
Fourteen Plays in print which we shall give an Account of in the Order we have begun viz. Alphabetically tho' by this means his last Play comes first upon our Stage viz. Amorous Bigotte with the Second Part of Tegue O Divelly a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Shrewsbury Bury Fair a Comedy acted by his present Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1689. and dedicated to the Rt. Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex the present Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houshold How difficult it is for Poets to find a continual Supply of new Humour this Poet has sufficiently shew'd in his Prologue and therefore he ought to be excus'd if Old Wit and Sir Humphry Noddy have some resemblance with Justice spoil Wit and Sr. John Noddy in the Triumphant Widow Skilfull Poets resemble excellent Cooks whose Art enables them to dress one Dish of Meat several ways and by the Assistance of proper Sawces to give each a different Relish and yet all grateful to the Palate Thus the Character of La Roche tho' first drawn by Molliere in Les ' Precieuses ridicules and afterwards copy'd by Sir W. D' Avenant Mr. Betterton and Mrs. Behn yet in this Play has a more taking Air than in any other Play and there is something in his Jargon more diverting than in the Original it self Epsom Wells a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle This is so diverting and withal so true a Comedy that even Forreigners who are not generally the kindest to the Wit of our Nation have extreamly commended it and it is no small credit to our Author that the Sieur De Saint Euvremont speaking of our English Comedies in his Essays has ranked this Play with Ben Johnson's Bartholmew Fair as two of our most diverting Comedies 'T is true that some endeavoured to fix a Calumny upon our Author alledging that this Play was not in Ingenious but this Stain was quickly wip'd off by the Plea he makes for himself in the Prologue spoken to the King and Queen at Whitehall where he says If this for him had been by others done After this Honour sure they 'd claim their own Humorists a Comedy acted by his Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1671. and dedicated to the most Illustrious Margaret Dutchess of Newcastle The Design of this Play was To reprehend some of the Vices and Follies of the Age which is certainly the most proper and most useful way of writing Comedy But notwithstanding the Author 's good Design it met with implacable Enemies who resolv'd to damn it right or wrong and the Author was forc'd to mutilate his Play by expunging the chief Design to prevent giving Offence These and other Disadvantages the particulars of which you may read in the Preface the Poet met with and yet I think a Candid Judge would let it pass without much Censure and pardon the faults of the Play for that Reparation that is made for it in the Preface Lancashire Witches and Teague O Divelly the Irish Priest a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1682. This Play was written in the Times of Whig and Tory therefore was opposed by Papists and their Adherents for the sake of their Dear-Joy Teague O Divelly but nevertheless there appeared so numerous a party in the Play 's Defence that the Play lived in spight of all their Malice However I wish our Author for his own sake had left out the Character of Smirk notwithstanding and the Defence he makes for it in the Preface and his Protestation of having a true value for the Church of England for 't is evident that her Sons the Clergy are abused in that Character particularly in the first Scene of the second Act and therefore Mr. Shadwell must allow me a little to distrust his sincerity when he makes such large Professions of Respect to Gowns-men to whom I believe his Obligations are greater than Kindness otherwise he would not have suffer'd such reflections to have passed his Pen as are to be met with in his Squire of Alsatia and the Epilogue to the Amorous Bigotte c. If Mr. Shadwell would therefore take a Friend's Counsel I would advise him to treat serious things with due Respect and not to make the Pulpit truckle to the Stage or Preface a Play with a a Treatise of Religion every Man has his Province and I think the Stating of Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance is none of Mr. Shadwell's He may remember that Mr. Dryden never miscarried more than when he inter-meddled with Church Matters and that all the Art and Beauty of his Absalom and Achitophel will hardly make Amends for the Spots and Blemishes that are to be found in his Hind and Panther But to return to our Subject Mr. Heywood and Mr. Brome have writ a Play on the same Story with our Author but how much this exceeds it will be evident to unbyassed Judges As to the Magick in the Play our Author has given a very good Account in his Notes from the Writings of Delrio Bodinus Wierus c. and I know nothing that we have in this Nature in Dramatick Poetry except Ben. Johnson's Masque of Queens which is likewise explained by Annotations Libertine a Tragedy acted by his Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to William Duke of Newcastle This Play if not regular is at least diverting which according to the Opinion of some of our First-Rate Poets is the End of Poetry The Play is built upon a Subject which has been handled by Spanish Italian and French Authors there being four Plays extant says my Author on this Story I have never seen but one viz. Molliere's L'Athée Foundroyé which it appear'd our Author has read There is a Character in Sir Aston Cockain's Ovid I mean that of Captain Hannibal whose Catastrophe is like that of Don John which as I have said may possibly be borrowed from Il Atheisto fulminato Miser a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles L d Buckhurst the present Earl of Dorset This Play the Author confesses is founded on Molliere's L'Avare which by the way is it self founded on Plautus his Autularia 'T was the last Play that was acted at the King's House before the fatal Fire there Whoever will peruse this Play will find more than half writ by our Author and the French part much improved Psyche a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the late James Duke of Monmouth This was the first Play that our Author writ in Rhime and on that Account he found most of the Crambo-Poets up in Arms against it who look'd upon our Author as an Incroacher on their Territories and Were as he says very much offended with him
4o. Lond. 1690. How this Play succeeded on the Stage I know not but I think 't is far from the worst of his Comedies and I believe is wholy free from Plagiary Thomas SOUTHERN An Author that has contributed three Plays to the Stage which have gain'd him no small Reputation Two of them I have already mention'd p. 489. This last Play is stil'd Sir Anthony Love or The Rambling Lady a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to his Friend Thomas Skipwith Esq This Play was acted with extraordinary Applause the Part of Sir Anthony Love being most Masterly play'd by Mrs. Montfort and certainly who ever reads it will find it fraught with true Wit and Humour and in the Characters of M. L'Abbé and Palmer the Pilgrim our Author has given us some Sketches of the Hypocrisie of those pretended Saints Mr. WILSON I am apt to believe this Writer is the same with the Author of the Cheats I mean John Wilson already mention'd p. 512. Whoever he is he has publisht a New Play call'd Belphegor or The Marriage of the Devil a Tragi-comedy lately acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden printed quarto Lond. 1690. This Play notwithstanding it was decryed on the Stage I think far surpasses many others that have lately appear'd there For the Foundation of the Play the Author has directed the Reader to Matchiavel and Straparola both which have played with the same Story And I may add That those who delight in French Poetry may read it ingeniously translated in Les Contes de M. de la Fontaine octavo 1. partie page 180. derniere Edit and the English Reader may find it pleasantly related not only in the Folio Translation of Matchiavel but likewise at the end of Quevedo's Novels Engl. octavo Unknown Authors I Am in the last place to give an Account of those Plays whose Authors are unknown do in the former Method beginning with a Play call'd Banish'd Duke or The Tragedy of Infortunatus acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1690. The Reader will easily find that under the Character of Infortunatus the Poet design'd to portray the late Unfortunate Duke of Monmouth under that of Romanus and Papissa the late King and Queen Braggadocio or The Bawd turn'd Puritan a New Comedy by a Person of Quality printed 4o. Lond. 1690. This Comedy I take to be instructive and undoubtedly in the Character of Flush he has hit some Features which belong to some private Enemies of Universities Edward the Third with the Fall of Mortimer Earl of March an Historical Play acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Viscount Sidney of Sheppey by Mr. Mountfort to whom the Play was made a Present This Play I take to exceed most of the Plays that have been lately publisht and I think in the Characters of Tarleton Chancellor of England and Serjeant Etherside he has somewhat detected the Misdemeanours of some Great Men in the last Reign For the Plot as far as concerns History consult Harpsfield Walsingham Pol. Vigil Froissard Du Chesne Math. Westminster Hollingshead Grafton Stow Daniel Speed c. Englishmen for Money or a pleasant Comedy call'd A Woman will have her Will divers times acted with great Applause printed 4o. Lond. 1626. This Comedy is not divided into Acts. Folly of Priestcraft a Comedy printed quarto Lond. 1690. Though the Modesty or Prudence of this Author will not permit him to to be known yet I think he deserves a place amongst the Eldest Sons of Apollo and if I may presume to speak my Judgment I believe no Satyr since The Plain Dealer has been more judiciously or ingeniously penn'd and I question not but it will deserve a good Character from all Readers except the Priests and Bigots of the Romish Religion Robin Conscience a Play which I never could obtain the sight of tho finding it mentioned in former Catalogues I was unwilling to omit it Royal Flight or The Conquest of Ireland a New Farce printed quarto Lond. 1690. The Subject of this Play is evident from its Title-page and the Author has no ways disguised his Characters Tho' had he treated some Persons in his Farce with more Modestie it had been no less for his Reputation Thus I have finish'd My ACCOUNT of Our English Dramatick Poets and their Writings and having laid a Foundation I shall leave it to Others who may think it worth their while to perfect the Edifice hoping those that will attempt it will alter or supply what ever they dislike or find defective in the whole Essay FINIS ERRATA PAge 106 Line 6 for suo read tuo p. 158 l. 34 after Albibech r. of Abdalla Abdelmelech p. 169 l. 26 for his r. this p. 215 l. 7. for Thirry r. Thierry p. 224 l. 15 for Walton's r. Watson's p. 242 l. 19 after Account r. of J. Cook p. 255 l. 24 for benefy'd r. benefic'd p. 260 l. 3 for I began r. he began p. 274 l. 29 for Women's r. Woman's p. 304 l. the last for last r. lasted p. 310 l. 3 for Person r. Judges p. 352 l. 2 for their r. his Id. l 6 for eti r. eris p. 376 l. 20 for 1687 r. 1637. p. 377 l. 1 for Oracle r. Paradice p. 382 l. 3 for Lover r. Mother p. 388 l. 18 for Soleil r. Soleisel p. 405 l. 13 for Corse r. Cork p. 415 l. 12 for his own r. this One p. 446 l. 8 for Ingenious r. Genuine p. 454 l. 16 for Ben Johnson r. our Author p. 492 l. 27 to the end belongs to Tho. St. Serf p. 435. p. 508 l. 10 for more r. longer Id. l 16 for Waver r. Weaver p. 514 l. 13 for Talisbury r. Salisbury p. 519 l. 12 for Basker r. Barker Id. l 14 dele was p. 522 l. 20 for Thorpy r. Thorny p. 527 l. 2 for Aliazer r. Alcazer Id. l. 14 for Chare r. Clare p. 534 l. 12. for Tornelli Annals r. Tornielli Annales p. 535 l. 7 for Bellimperin r. Bellimperia p. 538 l. 19 for Lactus r. Tactus p. 543 l. 15 for before r. after Some other Literal faults not here inserted the Reader is desired to correct