Bell-guard and Crack in Sir Courtly Nice extreamly resembles Don Patricio and Tarugo in this Play Nay more the Plots of both are alike I leave it to the Decision of Mr. Crown or any other who have seen the Spanish Play In the mean time I desire no Man to rely upon my Judgment but if what I have said cannot save him excuse him upon his own Plea in his own Words If this prevail not he hopes he 's safe from danger For Wit and Malice ought not to reach a Stranger William SAMPSON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First He was sometimes a Retainer to the Family of Sir Henry Willoughby of Richley in Derbyshire and was the Author of a Play call'd Vow-breaker or The Fair Maid of Clifton in Nottinghamshire divers times acted by several Companies with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1633. and dedicated to Mrs. Anne Willoughby Daugther to Sir Henry in which Epistle the Author concludes thus Heaven keep you from Fawning Parasites and busie Gossips and send you a Husband and a Good One or else may you never make a Holyday for Hymen As much Happiness as Tongue can speak Pen can write Heart think or Thoughts imagine ever attend on you your Noble Father and all his Noble Family to whom I ever rest as my bounden Duty a Faithful Servant Will. Sampson This Play seems founded upon Truth I have likewise in my younger Years read a Ballad compos'd upon the same Subject Our Author besides this Play joyned with Mr. Markham in Herod and Antipater which I forgot before But as for the Valiant Scot and How to chuse a Good Wife from a Bad they are in my Judgment none of our Author's writing tho' Mr. Philips and his Follower Mr. Winstanley have ascribed them to him George SANDYS Esq A Gentleman who flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr if one may so say of a Person who sympathiz'd so deeply with his Prince and Country in their misfortunes He was Son to his Grace Edwin Arch-bish of York and was born in the Year 1577 at Bishops-Thorp in the same County being his Father's youngest Child He was sent to the University that memorable Year 1588. being then eleven Years of Age and was enter'd of St. Mary Hall in Oxford how long he stay'd I know not but in the Year 1610. memorable for the Murder of that Great Hero Henry the Fourth of France by that Villain Ravaillac he began his Travels thro' France Italy Turky AEgypt Palestine c. an Account of which you may read in his Travels printed Fol. Lond. 1658. But 't is not on this Account but his Poetry that he is here mentioned and therefore I shall hasten to speak of his Writings in that kind and first of that excellent Piece of Dramatick Poetry which he has left us and chiefly in this Account challenges a particular place viz. Christ's Passion a Tragedy with Annotations printed 8o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to King Charles the First This Play is translated from the Latin Original writ by Hugo Grotius This Subject was handled before in Greek by that Venerable Person Apollinarius of Laodicea Bishop of Hierapolis and after him by Gregory Nazianzen tho' this of Hugo Grotius in our Author's Opinion transcends all on this Argument As to the Translator I doubt not but he will be allow'd an Excellent Artist by Learned Judges and as he has follow'd Horace's Advice of Avoiding a servile Translation Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus Interpres So he comes so near the Sence of the Author that nothing is lost no Spirits evaporate in the decanting of it into English and if there be any Sediment it is left behind This Book was reprinted with Figures 8o. Lond. 1688. Nor are his other Translations less valu'd especially Ovid's Metamorphosis printed with Cuts Fol. Oxon. 1632. This Translation was so much esteem'd in former times that I find two old Copies of Verses speaking in praise of our Author In the first called A Censure of the Poets are these Lines Then dainty Sands that hath to English done Smooth sliding Ovid and hath made him One With so much sweetness and unusual Grace As tho' the neatness of the English Pace Should tell your setting Latin that it came But slowly after as though stiff or lame The other on the Time Poets sayes thus Sands Metamorphos'd so into another We know not Sands and Ovid from each other To this I may add the Translation of the first Book of Virgil's AEneis by which Specimen we may see how much he has excell'd Mr. Ogilby For his other Divine Pieces as his Paraphrase on the Psalms Job Ecclesiastes Lamentatiöns of Jeremiah c. I have heard them much admired by Devout and Ingenious Persons and I believe very deservingly Having done with his Translations give me leave to conclude with His to another World which happen'd at his Nephew Mr. Wiat's House at Boxley-Abbey in Kent in the Chancel of which Parish-Church he lyes buried tho' without a Monument and therefore I shall follow my Author from whence I collected this Account by transcribing what deserves to be inscrib'd on a Monument viz. Georgius Sandys Poetarum Anglorum sui saecult Princeps sepultus fuit Martii 70 Stilo Anglico A.D. 1643. Charles SAUNDERS A Young Gentleman whose Wit began to bud as early as that of the Incomparable Cowley and was like him a King's Scholar when he writ a Play call'd Tamberlane the Great a Tragedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal as likewise at Oxford before his late Majesty King Charles the Second at his meeting the Parliament there 'T was printed in quarto Lond. 1681. and the Design was drawn as the Author owns from the Novel of Tamerlane and Asteria in octavo I have so great a value for this Author's Play that I cannot but wish well to his Muse but being no Poet I must set my Hand to another Man's Wishes I mean Mr. Banks who has writ a Copy of Verses on this Play part of which are as follow Launch out young Merchant new set up of Wit The World 's before thee and thy stock is great Sail by thy Muse but never let her guide Then without danger you may safely glide By happier Studies steer'd and quickly gain The promised Indies of a hopeful Brain Bring home a Man betimes that may create His Country's Glory in the Church or State Elkanah SETTLE An Author now living whose Muse is chiefly addicted to Tragedy and has been tragically dealt withal by a Tyranical Laureat which has somewhat eclips'd the glory he at first appeared in But Time has her vicissitudes and he has lived to see his Enemy humbled if not justly punished for this Reason I shall not afresh animadvert upon his fault but rather bury them in Oblivion and without any Reflections on his Poetry give a succinct Account of those Plays which he has published being Nine in Number viz. Cambyses
Suffolk and the tragical End of the proud Cardinal of Winchester with the notable Rebellion of Jack Cade and the Duke of York's first Claim to the Crown printed 4o. Lond. 1600. This Play is only the Second part of Shakespear's Henry the Sixth with little or no Variation Counterfeits a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1679. This Comedy is ascribed by some to Leanard but I believe it too good to be his Writing 't is founded on a translated Spanish Novel call'd The Trapanner trapann'd octavo Lond. 1655. and I presume the Author may have seen a French Comedy writ by Tho. Corneille on the same Subject call'd D. Caesar D'Avalos Counterfeit Bridegroom or The Defeated Widow a Comedy acted at His Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This Play is only an Old Play of Middleton's call'd No Wit like a Woman's printed octavo Cromwell's Conspiracy a Tragi-comedy which I never saw Cruel Debtor a Play only nam'd by Mr. Kirkman Cupid's Whirligig a Comedy sundry times acted by the Children of his Majesty's Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1616. and dedicated by the Publisher to Mr. Robert Hayman This Play is part founded on Boccace as for Instance the Conveyance of the Captain and Exhibition out of the Lady's Chamber is founded on the Sixth Novel of the Seventh Day and is the Ground-work of many other Plays Cyrus King of Persia a Tragedy mention'd by Kirkman which I never saw D. Damon and Pythias a History of which I can give no Account Debauchee or The Credulous Cuckold a Comedy acted at his Highness the Duke of York's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This Play is by some ascrib'd to Mrs. Behn but is indeed only a Play of Brome's reviv'd call'd A mad Couple well matcht Destruction of Jerusalem a Play which I never saw but in the Catalogue printed with the Old Law 't is ascrib'd to one Thomas Legge Dick Scorner a Play mention'd in Mr. Kirkman's Catalogue but which I never saw nor do I know what species of Dramatick Poetry it is Divine Masque printed in quarto Lond. The Title-page of mine is lost but 't is dedicated to General Monk by One Anthony Sadler who I take to be the Author E. Edward the Third his Reign a History sundry times play'd about the City of London printed 4o. Lond. 1599. The Plot is founded on English Chronicles See Walsingham M. Westminster Fabian Froissart Pol. Virgil Hollingshead Stow Speed c. See besides AEschasius Major and a Novel call'd The Countess of Salisbury octavo translated from the French Elvira or The worst not always true a Comedy written by a Person of Quality suppos'd to be the Lord Digby and printed 4o. Lond. 1667. Empress of Morocco a Farce acted by His Majesty's Servants said to be writ by Thomas Duffet and printed 4o. Lond. 1674. English Princess or The Death of Richard the Third a Tragedy in Heroick Verse ascribed to Mr. John Carel and printed 4o. Lond. 1673. For the Plot see Fabian Pol. Virgil Hollingshead Grafton Stow Speed Baker c. English-men for Money or A Woman will have her Will a pleasant Comedy divers times acted with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1626. Enough 's as good as a Feast a Comedy which I never saw but mentioned by Mr. Kirkman Every Woamn in her Humour a Comedy printed quarto Lond. 1609. F. Factious Citizen or The Melancholy Visioner a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1685. Fair Em the Miller's Daughter of Manchester with the Love of William the Conqueror a pleasant Comedy sundry times publickly acted in the Honourable City of London by the Right Honourable the Lord Strange his Servants printed quarto Lond. 1631. Fair Maid of Bristow a Comedy play'd at Hampton before the King and Queen's most Excellent Majesties printed quarto Lond. 1605. in a Black Letter False Favourite disgrac'd and the Reward of Loyalty a Tragi-comedy never acted printed octavo Lond. 1657. This Play is ascribed to George Gerbier D'Ouvilly Fatal Jealousie a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and ascribed by some to Mr. Pane printed quarto Lond. 1673. Part of the Plot is in Johannes Gigas's Postills See besides Theatre of God's Judgments 2 d part p. 55. Unfortunate Lovers Nov. 1. Feigned Astrologer a Comedy translated from the French of Monsieur Corneille and printed 4o. Lond. 1668. The Plot of this Play which is borrow'd from Calderon's El Astrologo fingido is made use of in the Story of the French Marquess in the Illustrious Bassa when he play'd the part of the Feigned Astrologer Fidele and Fortunatus I know not what sort of Play it is whether Comedy or Tragedy having never seen it but in Old Catalogues 't is ascribed to Thomas Barker Flora's Vagaries a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesty's Servants ascribed to Mr. Rhodes and printed quarto Lond. 1670. This Plot of Orante's making use of the Fryar to carry on her Intrigue with Ludovico is founded on Boccace Day 3. Nov. 3. Free-Will a Tragedy which I know not where or when printed the Title-page of Mine being lost 'T was written Originally in Italian by F. N. B. which I take to be Franciscus Niger Bassentinus and was translated into English by H. C. that is Henry Cheek 'T is printed in an Old English Character Fulgius and Lucrelle a Piece of which I can give no Account having never seen it G. Ghost or The Woman wears the Breeches a Comedy writ in the Year 1640. and printed quarto Lond. 1650. H. Hell's Higher Court of Justice or The Tryal of the Three Politick Ghosts viz. Oliver Cromwell King of Sweden and Cardinal Mazarine printed quarto Lond. 1661. Histriomastix or The Player whipt printed quarto Lond. 1610. This Play was writ in the time of Queen Elizabeth tho' not printed till afterwards as appears by the last Speech spoken by Peace to Astraea under which Name the Queen is shadowed Henry the Fifth his Victories containing the Honourable Battle of Agin-court a History acted by the Kings Majesties Servants printed quarto Lond. 1617. For the Plot see the English Chronicles as Hollingshead Stow Speed c. Hector or The False Challenge a Comedy written in the Year 1655. and printed quarto Lond. 1656. I know not the Author of this Play but I think it may vye with many Comedies writ since the Restauration of the Stage Hyppolitus a Tragedy which as I have been told is printed in octavo and translated from Seneca by Edmund Prestwith For the Plot see the Poets as Ovid's Epistle of Phaedra to Hyppolitus his Metamorphosis Lib. 6. Virgil. AEn Lib. 7. c. Hoffman his Tragedy or A Revenge for a Father acted divers times with great applause at the Phoenix in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1631. This Play was adopted by One Hugh Perry and by him sent to the Press and dedicated to his Honoured Friend Mr. Richard Kilvert How a Man may chuse a Good Wife from a Bad a pleasant
Querer por solo querer To love only for Love's sake a Dramatick Romance represented at Aranjuez before the King and Queen of Spain to celebrate the Birth-day of that King Phil. IV. by the Meninas which are a Set of Ladies in the Nature of Ladies of Honour in that Court Children in Years but Higher in Degree being Daughters and Heirs to Grandees in Spain than the Ladies of Honour Attending likewise that Queen This Play was written in Spanish by Don Antonio de Mendoza 1623. and dedicated to the Queen of Spain which was Elizabeth Daughter to Henry the Great of France It was paraphras'd by our Author in English in 1654. during his Confinement to Tankersly Park in Yorkshire by Oliver after the Battle of Worcester in which as I have already observ'd he was taken prisoner serving his Majesty King Charles the Second as Secretary of State At that time he writ on this Dramatick Romance 3 Stanzas both in Latin and English which may give the Reader a Taste of his Vein in both these Languages and therefore may not be improper for me to transcribe or unpleasant to the Reader to perufe I shall give the preference to the Latin Verses Learning and Learned Men being to be preferr'd before Vulgar Readers Ille ego qui dubiis quondam jactatus in Undis Qui dum nunc Aulae nunc mibi Castra Strepunt Leni importunas mulceban Carmine Curas In quo PASTORIS Flamma FIDELIS erat At nunc Castris Aulisque ejectus Undis Nam mihi Naufragium Portus Ira Quies Altius insurgens Regum haud intactus Amores Et Reginarum fervidus Arma Cano Quae vinclis Hymenaee tuis spretisque Coronis Nec juga ferre virûm nec dare Jur a velint Dulce prosellosos audire ex Litore fluctus Eque truci Terram dulce videre Mari. In English thus Time was when I a Pilgrim of the Seas When I midst noise of Camps Courts disease Purloin'd some Hours to charm rude Cares with Verse Which Flame of FAITHFUL SHEPHERD did rehearse But now restrain'd from Sea from Camp from Court And by a Tempest blown into a Port I raise my Thoughts to muse on higher things And Eccho Arms Loves of Queens Kings Which Queens despising Crowns and Hymen's Band Would neither Men Obey nor Men Command Great Pleasure from rough Seas to see the Shore Or from firm Land to hear the Billows rore Tho' this Play was during the Author's Imprisonment translated 't was not printed till long after his Death viz. 4o. Lond. 1671. to which is added Fiestas de Aranjuez Festivals represented at Aranjuez written by the same Author and on the same Occasion and translated by the same Hand The Play it self consists but of three Acts which the Spaniards call Jornadas according to the Spanish Custom their Poets seldom or never exceeding that number As to his other Works he writ several Poems in Latin as a Copy on the Escurial another on the Royal Sovereign and a third on Mr. May's Translation of and Supplement to Lucan He translated other Pieces into that Learned Tongue as two Poems written by Mr. Thomas Carew Several Pieces he translated out of Latin into English as the fourth Book of Virgil's AEneids an Epigram out of Martial Lib. 10. Epig. 47. Two Odes out of Horace relating to the Civil Wars of Rome the First Carm. Lib. 3. Ode 24. The Second Epod. 16. with some Sonnets translated from the Spanish and other Poems writ in his Native Language with several Pieces which you will find bound up with Pastor Fido printed 8o. Lond. 1671. Nor was it out of these Languages only that he translated what pleas'd him but even so uncourted a Language as he terms that of Portugal employ'd his Pen during his Confinement For he translated Luis de Camoens whom the Portugals call their Virgil his Lusiad or Portugal's Historical Poem This Poem was printed fol. Lond. 1665. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Strafford Son and Heir to that Glorious Protomartyr of Monarchy the Noble Thomas Earl of Strafford Lord Deputy of Ireland on whose Tryal our Author writ a Copy of Verses printed amongst his Poems p. 302. Besides these Pieces Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley attribute to him the Latin Version of Mr. Edmund Spencer's Shepherds Calendar which I take to be a mistake of Mr. Philips ' whose Errors Mr. Winstanley generally copies not having heard of any other Translation than that done by Mr. Theodore Bathurst sometime Fellow of Pembroke-Hall in Cambridge and printed at the end of Mr. Spencer's Works in fol. Lond. 1679. Henry L d Viscount FAULKLAND This Worthy Person was as I suppose Father of the present Right Honourable Cary Viscount Faulkland A Person Eminent for his Extraordinary Parts and Heroick Spirit He was well known and respected at Court in the Parliament and in Oxfordshire his Country of which he was Lord Lieutenant When he was first elected to serve in Parliament some of the House oppos'd his Admission urging That he had not sow'd his Wild-oats he reply'd If I have not I may sow them in the House where there are Geese enough to pick them up And when Sir J. N. told him That He was a little too wild for so grave a Service he reply'd Alas I am wild and my Father was so before me and I am no Bastard as c. But what need I search for Wit when it may be sufficiently seen in a Play which he writ the occasion of our making mention of him call'd The Marriage Night a Tragedy printed 4 o Lond. 1664. I know not whether this Play ever appear'd on the Stage or no. He was cut off in the prime of his Years as much miss'd when dead as belov'd when living Nathaniel FIELD An Author that liv'd in the Reigns of King James and King Charles the First who was not only a Lover of the Muses but belov'd by them and the Poets his Contemporaries He was adopted by Mr. Chapman for his Son and call'd in by Old Massinger to his Assistance in the Play call'd The Fatal Dowry of which Play more hereafter He writ himself two Plays which will still bear Reading viz. Amends for Ladies with the merry Pranks of Moll Cut-purse or The Humour of Roaring a Comedy full of honest Mirth and Wit Acted at the Black-Friars both by the Prince's Servants and the Lady Elizabeth's and printed 4 o Lond. 1639. The Plot of Subtles tempting the married Wife at her Husbands intreaty seems to be founded on Don Quixote's Novel of the Curious Impertinent and has been the Subject of many Plays as The City Night-cap Amourous Prince of The Curious Husband c. This Play was writ by our Author as Amends to the Fair Sex for a Play which he had writ some Years before and whose very Title semm'd a Satyr on Womankind viz. Woman's Weather-cock a Comedy acted before the King in White-hall and several times privately at the
Worthy Ancients which by any of my Country-men are Naturaliz'd I shall give some Account of them and their Writings as opportunity shall offer it self and therefore I crave leave to lay hold of this to speak a word or Two of Euripides This Poet was stil'd the Tragick Philosopher and was born at Phyla a Town in Attica in the 75 Olympiade and in the 274 Year after the Building of Rome Prodius taught him Rhetorick after which he made a Voyage to AEgypt with Plato to visit the Learned Men there and to improve himself by their Conversation He was also a Friend of Socrates and some have believed that this Philosopher assisted him in the Composition of his Tragedies He went from Athens dissatisfied with the People for preferring the Comick Writers before him and retir'd to the Court of Archelaus King of Macedonia about the year of Rome 338. This Prince confer'd many Favours on him and had a great value for him It happen'd at that time that a certain person nam'd Decamnion having raillied him about his Breath which was not over agreeable Archelaus sent him to Euripides to be punisht at his pleasure This so exasperated Decamnion both against the King and the Poet that for the sake of Revenge he join'd with other Conspirators in the Assassination of the Former and set Dogs upon the later which soon devour'd the Object of his Hatred Some say that this Misfortune proceeded from the Brutality of those irrational Creatures by accident and not design Others again relate that he receiv'd his Death from some inhumane Women against whom he had somewhat too bitterly inveigh'd I remember a pleasant Story in Ford's Apothegms that Sophocles being once ask'd the Reason why in his Tragedies he always represented Women Good and Euripides Wicked answer'd That Euripides describ'd them as they were he as they ought to be But Digression apart the time of his Death no more than the manner of it is agreed upon Some say he Dy'd about the 65 year of his Age in the 93 Olympiade and in the Year of Rome 348. being 406 years before the Incarnation of our Saviour Others say that he Dy'd not till the Year of Rome 351. The Ancients mention Ninety odd Tragedies writ by him of which at present we enjoy but Nineteen Supposes a Comedy Englisht from the Italian of Ariosto a famous Poet a Ferarese and Favuorite of Alphonsus the First Duke of Ferrara and of the Cardinal Hippolito d' Este his Brother He Dy'd the 13 of July in the Year 1533. I purposely decline to give a larger Account of his Life because it would swell my Book too much and the English Reader may satisfy his Curiosity by perusing his Life at the End of Sr. John Harrington's Translation of Orlando Furioso Those Vers'd in Italian may read his Life writ by Gierolamo Poro of Padoua Gierolamo Guarafola of Ferrara Simon Fornari of Rheggio c. This Play was presented at Gray's Inn and printed in quarto Lond. 1566. The Prologue as well as the Play is writ in prose This Prologue I suppose gave the Grounds for that writ by Mr. Duffet to the Play call'd Trappolin suppos'd a Prince as that did to the Epilogue of The Duke and No Duke Pleasure at Kenelworth Castle a Masque as Mr. Kirkman informs us in his Catalogue which I never saw Our Author has written several Poems of a Different Species which he calls Herbs and which with his Plays make a considerable Vollume and are printed together in quarto Lond. 1587. Henry GLAPTHORN An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who publisht several Plays which I presume in those days past with good Approbation at the Globe and Cock-pit Play-houses tho' I cannot agree with Mr. Winstanley That he was One of the chiefest Dramatick Poets of this Age. He writ Five Plays viz. Albertus Wallenstein Duke of Fridland and General to the Emperor Ferdinand the Second his Tragedy acted with good Allowance at the Globe on the Bank-side by His Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Great Example of Virtue and true Mecaenas's of Liberal Arts Mr. William Murrey of His Majesties Bed-chamber For the Plot see the Historians who have writ on the last German Wars in the Reign of Ferdinand the Second See besides M. Sarasins Walstein's Conspiracy translated into English 8 o Lond. 1678. Spondanus's Continuation of Baronius Fierzen L'Hist de Liege c. Argalus and Parthenia a Tragi-comedy acted at the Court before their Majesties and at the Private-house in Drury-lane by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1639. The Plot of this Play is founded on Sr. Philip Sidney's Arcadia a Romance in the Story of Argalus and Parthenia see pag. 16. c. Mr. Quarles has writ a pretty Poem on the same Foundation Hollander a Comedy written in the Year 1635. and then acted at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane by their Majesties Servants with good Allowance and at the Court before Both their Majesties printed in quarto Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the great Hope of growing Nobleness his Honourable Friend Sir Thomas Fisher. Lady's Priviledge a Comedy acted with good Allowance at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane and before Their Majesties at White-hall twice printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the true Example of Heroick Virtue and Favourer of Arts Sir Frederick Cornwallis Wit in a Constable a Comedy writ in the Year 1639. and then acted at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane by Their Majesties Servants with good Allowance printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Right Honourable his singular good Lord Thomas Lord Wentworth Besides these Plays he has a Book of Poems extant in which are several Copies directed to his Mistress under the Name of Lucinda printed 4 o Lond. 1639. Thomas GOFF. A Gentleman that flourisht in the Reign of King James the First He was born in Essex towards the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's Reign about the Year 1592. In his Youth he was sent to Westminster-School and at the Age of Eighteen he was brought in Student of Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford Being an Industrious Scholar he arrived to be a good Poet a skilful Oratour and an Excellent Preacher In the Year 1623. he proceeded Batchelour of Divinity and was preferr'd to a Living in Surrey call'd East-Clandon there he got him a Wife which prov'd as great a plague to him as a Shrew could be and became a true Xantippe to our Ecclesiastical Socrates insomuch that she gave him daily opportunities of exercising his Patience and t is believ'd by some that this Domestick-scourge shortned his days He was buried at his own Parish-Church at Clandon the 27. of July 1627. He writ several Pieces on several Subjects amongst which are reckon'd five Plays viz. Careless Shepherdess a Tragi-comedy acted before the King and Queen at Salisbury-Court with great applause printed 4 o Lond. 1656. with an Alphabetical Catalogue of all such Plays that ever were
Hertfordshire near St. Albans He was most familiar with Sr. Thomas More whose Neighbour he was and by whom I suppose he was introduc'd to the knowledge of Queen Mary in whose Favour he grew exceedingly After her Death he fled beyond Sea on Account of his Religion and Died an Exile at Mechlem An. Dom. 1556. He was I believe One of the first Dramatick Writers in our English Tongue and publisht Seven Pieces which he calls Interludes and which according to Mr. Kirkman were printed with the first of our English Printing Notwithstanding his suffering for Religion he has as much exploded the Vices of the Romish Clergy as Nic. de Clemangiis He says of his own Writings ` That he applied Mirth more than Thrift `made mad Plays and did few good Works Of all his Plays I never saw but one which I have by me in quarto tho' I have been told that the rest of his Plays are printed in fol. of which in Order Four P's a Merry Interlude of a Palmer a Pardoner a Potycary and a Pedler Imprinted at London in Fleet-street at the Sign of the George by Will. Middleton in 4o. Take a Sample of his Stile that you may judge of the rest Palmer Nowe God be here who kepeth this Place Now by my Faith I crye you mercy Of Reason I must sew for grace My Rewdness sheweth me no so homely Where of your pardon art and wonne I sew you as Curtesy doth me binde To tell this which shall be begonne In order as may come best in mindy I am a Palmer as yee se c. Play between John the Husband and Tib his Wife Play between the Pardoner the Fryar the Curate and Neighbour Prat. Play of Gentleness and Nobility 2 Parts Play of Love Play of the Weather Besides these Plays he has written Three hundred Epigrams upon 300. Proverbs printed in quarto London A Fourth hundred of Epigrams printed in quarto Lond. 1598. A Fifth hundred of Epigrams printed in quarto Lond. 1598. Dr. Fuller mentions a Book writ by our Author intituléd Monumenta Literaria which are said to be Non tam labore condita quà m lepore condita The Author of The Art of English Poetry speaking of several of our Old English Bards says thus of this our Poet John Heywood who in King Edward the Sixth's time for the Mirth and Quickness of his Conceits more than for any good Learning that was in him came to be well benefy'd by the King That the Reader may judge of his Epigrams to which certainly the forementioned Writer alludes I will transcribe one writ by him on himself Of Heywood's Fifth Hund. Numb 100. Art thou Heywood with thy mad Merry Wit Yea forsooth Master that Name is even hit Art thou Heywood that apply'st Mirth more than Thrift Yes Sir I take merry Mirth a Golden Gift Art thou Heywood that hast made many mad Plays Yea many Plays few good Works in my Days Art thou Heywood that hath made Men merry long Yea and will if I be made merry among Art thou Heywood that wouldst be made merry now Yes Sir help me to it now I beseech you 'T is not unlikely that our Author may have more Plays in Print than we have mention'd but I am very confident that The Pinder of Wakefield and Philotas Scotch notwithstanding the Allegations of Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley are not of that number the One being written as I suppose at least printed above Twenty the Other more than Fourty Years after his Death Thomas HEYWOOD An Author that liv'd in the Time of Queen Elizabeth and the Reign of King James the First Tho' he were but an Actor as is manifest by Mr. Kirkman's Testimony and apparent from a Piece writ by him call'd The Actors Vindication yet his Plays were in those Days accounted of the Second-Rate He was the most Voluminous Writer that ever handled Dramatick Poetry in our Language and I know none but the Famous Spaniard Lopez de Vega that can vye with him if at least we give Credit to his own Attestation in the Preface to One of his Plays This Tragi-comedy as he says being One reserv'd amongst two Hundred and Twenty in which I have had either an entire Hand or at the least a main Finger Of this Number we have that I know of but Five and Twenty entire Plays remaining the Reason of which the Author gives us in the same Epistle True it is that my Plays are not exposed unto the world in Volumes to bear the Title of Works as others one Reason is That many of them by shifting and change of Companies have been negligently lost Others of them are still retained in the Hands of some Actors who think it against their peculiar profit to have them come in Print and a third That it was never any great Ambition in me to be Voluminously read These seem to me to be more plausible Reasons than what Mr. Winstanley gives for their Miscarriage 'T is said that he not only acted himself almost every day but also wrote each day a Sheet and that he might loose no time many of his Plays were compos'd in the Tavern on the back-side of Tavern Bills which may be the occasion that so many of them be lost Certainly the Tavern Bills were very large or Mr. Winstanley must think his Readers Credulity of the same extent with his own who would subscribe to the belief of so ridiculous a Story This Report Mr. Winstanley partly borrows from Mr. Kirkman's Advertisement at the End of his Catalogue and as Stories lose nothing in the carriage Mr. Winstanley had added the Contrivance of making use of Tavern Bills to save Paper But tho' many of these Plays being written loosely in Taverns as Mr. Kirkman observes might occasion their being so mean yet it did not in probability much contribute to their loss as Mr. Winstanley would have it To do our Author justice I cannot allow that his Plays are so mean as Mr. Kirkman has represented them for he was a general Scholar and an indifferent Linguist as his several Translations from Lucian Erasmus Textor Beza Buchanan and other Latine and Italian Authors sufficiently manifest Nay further in several of his Plays he has borrow'd many Ornaments from the Ancients as more particularly in his Plays call'd The Ages he has intersperst several Things borrow'd from Homer Virgil Ovid Seneca Plautus c. which extreamly set them off What Opinion the Wits of the last Age had of him may appear from the following Verses extracted from a Copy of the Poets of those Times viz. The squibbing Middleton and Heywood Sage Th' Apologetick Atlas of the Stage Well of the Golden Age he could entreat But little of the Mettal he could get Three score sweet Babes he fashion'd at a Lump For he was Christen'd in Parnassus Pump The Muses Gossip to Aurora's Bed And ever since that time his Face was Red. I shall now give the Reader an
c. To which I may add his Edition of the Greek Testament in which the Young Grecian will find all the Themes of Greek Words according to Passor's Lexicon plac'd in the Margin He has publisht besides An Entrance to the Latin Tongue octavo Lond. 1659. An Explanation of the Accidence octavo Lond. 1683. with other Books of the like Nature Edward HOWARD Esq A Gentleman as I suppose now living who has addicted himself to the Study of Dramatick Poetry how well he has succeeded therein I shall leave to the Readers Judgment who may find four Plays of his under the Titles of Man of New-Market a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4 o Lond. 1678. Six Days Adventure or The New Utopia a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed 4 o Lond. 1671. This Play miscarried in the Action as the Author himself acknowledges in his Preface and indeed that sharp Wit the late Earl of Rochester writ an Invective against it but the Ingenious Mrs. Behn Mr. Ravenscroft and other Poets of the Age sent the Author Recommendatory Verses which are printed with the Play and in return he writ a Pindarick to Mrs. Behn which she gratefully publisht in a Collection of Poems printed 8 o Lond. 1685. Usurper a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1668. Whether the Author design'd in the Caracter of Damocles to personate Oliver Cromwel and intended his Play a paralel of those times I leave to more discerning Judgments Womens Conquest a Tragi-comedy acted by his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This I take to be the best Play our Author has publisht Besides these Plays Mr. Howard hath publisht an Epick Poem in octavo call'd The British Princess which the late Earl of Rochester has likewise handled severely There is ascrib'd to him another Book of Poems and Essays with a Paraphrase on Cicero's Laelius or Tract of Friendship printed in octavo London 16 James HOWARD Esq I am not able to acquaint the Reader whether or no this Gentleman be of the same Family with the former but I am oblig'd to mention him on Account of two Plays writ by him viz. All mistaken or The Mad Couple a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4 o Lond. 1672. This Play is commended by some for an excellent Comedy English Monsieur a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4 o Lond. 1674. Whether the late Duke of Buckingham in his Character of Prince Volscius's falling in Love with Parthenope as he is pulling on his Boots to go out of Town design'd to reflect on the Characters of Comely and Elsbeth I pretend not to determine but I know there is a near Resemblance in the Characters Sir Robert HOWARD This Ingenious Person is equally conspicuous for the Lustre of his Birth and the Excellency of his Parts being as I suppose Brother to the present Earl of Berkshire and One whose Plays will remain Eternal Testimonies to Posterity of his Skill in Dramatick Performances His Committee and Indian Queen are deservedly admir'd by the best Judges of Dramatick Poetry and even our late Laureat in spite of Envy must acknowledge his Worth both as a Poet and Patron His Plays are six in number viz. Blind Lady a Comedy printed octavo Lond. 16 Committee a Comedy printed fol. Lond. 1665. This is an admirable Comedy and highly commended Great Favourite or The Duke of Lerma a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1668. For the Plot see the Historians of those Times as Mariana de Mayerne Turquet c. This Play as I have before observ'd p. 165. was reflected on by Mr. Dryden tho' had he consulted Reason Gratitude or his own Reputation he had otherwise imploy'd his time it being a true Observation which Sr. Robert has made in his Prologue to the Vestal Virgin This doth a wretched Dearth of Wit betray When things of Kind on One another prey Indian Queen a Tragedy writ in Heroick Verse and formerly acted with great applause at the Theatre-Royal printed fol. Lond. 1665. Surprisal a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed fol. Lond. 1665. Vestal Virgin or The Roman Ladies a Tragedy acted by the King's Servants and printed fol. Lond. 1665. Some Readers who are strangers to the Excellent Tallents of Sir Robert might expect from me some Discoveries of what he has borrow'd but I am to Inform them That this Admirable Poet has too great a Stock of Wit of his own to be necessitated to borrow from others All that I can observe is That The Vestal Virgin has a double Fifth Act the One of which ends Tragically the Other successfully which possibly might be done in Imitation of Sir John Suckling the only Gentleman that I know fit for his Imitation who has done the same thing in his Aglaura He has writ besides some Poems which are printed with his Blind Lady in octavo and four of his Plays viz. Surprisal Committee Indian Queen and Vestal Virgin are printed together in fol. Lond. 1665. James HOWEL A Gentleman of Wales born at Abernalies in the County of Caermarden in the Year 1594. He was Bred up at the Free-School in Hereford and at 16. Years of Age sent to the University of Oxford where he became a Member of Jesus Colledge About March in the Year 1618. he travelled beyond Sea being sent on Buisiness by Sir Robert Mansel where he visited the Low-Countries and afterwards made a Tour thro' France and Italy as appears by the Letters he has publisht In which the Reader may not only be inform'd of the Chief Occurences of those Times but of our Author 's several Imployments as His being sent by King James into Spain for the Recovery of a Vessel of great value seiz'd on by the Vice-Roy of Sardinia under pretence of being laden with prohibited Goods His being chosen Fellow of Jesus Colledge during his absence His being Secretary to the Lord Scroop when he was President of the Councel in the North His being Imploy'd about the Clerks of the Councel c. Notwithstanding his various Employs and multiplicity of Business he found leisure to publish abundance of Books to the number of Fourty-nine Many of them were Translations out of French Italian Spanish Portuguese Of which Nature is the Play which occasions his mention in our Catalogue viz. Nuptials of Peleus and Thetis consisting of a Masque and a Comedy or The Great Royal Ball acted in Paris six times by the King in person the Duke of Anjou the Duke of York with divers other Noblemen Also by the Princess Royal Henriette Marie the Princess of Conty c. printed 4o. Lond. 1654. and dedicated to the most Excellent and High Born Lady the Lady Katherine Marchioness of Dorchester The Masque was extracted from an Italian Comedy which the
parantur Obsonator Coquus convivarum gulae periti sunto De Discubitu non contenditur Ministri à Dapibus oculati muti A poculis auriti celeres sunto Vina puris fontibus ministrantur aut vapulet hospes Moderatis poculis provocare sodales fas esto At sabulis magis quà m vino velitatio fiat Convivae nec muti nec loquaces sunto De seriis aut sacris poti saturine disserunto Fidicen nisi accersitus non venito Admisso risu tripudiis choreis saltibus Omni gratiarum festivitate sacra celebrantur Joci sine felle sunto Insipida Poemata nulla recitantur Versus scribere nullus cogitur Argumentationis totius strepitus abesto Amatoriis querelis ac suspiriis liber angulus esto Lapitharum more scyphis pugnare vitrea collidere Fenestras excutere supellectilem dilacerare ne fas esto Qui foras dicta vel facta eliminet eliminatur Neminem reum pocula jaciunto Focus perennis esto As to his Poetry I dare not pretend to give a Judgment on it it deserving somewhat above what my faint Praise can reach or describe therefore those who would be better satisfy'd must have recourse to his Character drawn by Dr. Fuller and Mr. Anthony Wood in Prose and by Mr. Carthwright and the late Mr. Oldham in Verse to the foregoing I might add Mr. Dryden's Dramatick Essay which had it been writ after his Postscript to Granada might have aton'd for that unbecoming Character and had serv'd for a Palinode but since he has not that I know of thought fit to retract it give me leave to insert an old Copy of Verses which seems to wipe off the Accusations of Mr. Johnson's Enemies Ad Benjaminum Johnsonum In jus te voco Jonsoni venito Adsum qui plagii malae rapinae Te ad Phoebi peragam reum tribunal Assidente choro NovemDearum Quaedam Dramata scilicet diserta Nuper quae Elysii roseti in umbrâ Faestivissimus omnium Poeta Plautus composuit Diisque tandem Stellato exhibuit poli in Theatro Movendo superis leves cachinnos Et risos tetrico Jovi ciendo Axe plausibus intonante utroque Haec tu Dramata scilicet diserta Clepsisti superis negotiosis Quae tu nunc tua venuitare pergis In jus te voco Jonsoni venito En pro te Pater ipse Rexque Phoebus Assurgit modò Jonsoni palamque Testatur tua serio fuisse Illa Dramata teque condidisse Sese non modò conscio at juvante Unde ergò sibi Plautus illa tandem Nactus exhibuit Jovi Deisque Maiae Filius Nepos Atlantis Pennatus celeres Pedes at ungues Viscatus volucer puer vaferque Furto condere quidlibet jocoso Ut quondam facibus suis Amorem Per ludos videavit Pharetrâ Sic nuper siquidem solet frequenter Tecum ludere plaudere jocari Neglectas tibi ilepsit has papyrus Secumque ad Superos abire jussit Jam victus taceo pudore vincis Phoebo Judice Jonsoni Patrono I might here appositely enough bring in a pleasant Story or two of Ben. Jonson's as Instances of his Debonaire Humor and Readiness at Repartee did I not fear to be condemn'd by Mr. Dryden and reckon'd by him and his Admirers in the number of those grave Gentlemen whose Memory he says is the only Plea for their being Wits for this reason I shall forbear and hasten to give an Account of his Works He has writ above fifty several Pieces which we may rank under the Species of Dramatick Poetry of which we shall give an Account in Order beginning with one of his best Comedies viz. Alchymist a Comedy acted in the Year 1610. by the Kings Majesties Servants with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Lady most deserving her Name and Blood the Lady Mary Wroth the Author of the Urania Mr. Dryden supposes this Play was copy'd from the Comedy of Albumazer as far as concerns the Alchymist's Character as the Reader may observe from the following Lines being part of his Prologue to Albumazer reviv'd Subtle was got by our Albumazer That Alchymist by this Astrologer Here he was fashion'd and we may suppose He lik'd the Fashion well who wore the Cloaths Whether this Accusation be true I pretend not to determine but sure I am that this last Couplet is borrow'd from Mr. Dryden's Dramatick Essay where he says of Mr. Johnson thus You will pardon me therefore if I presume he lov'd the Fashion when he wore their Cloaths Bartholomew Fair a Comedy acted at the Hope on the Bank-side Oct. 31. in the Year 1614. by the Lady Elizabeth's Servants and then dedicated to King James the First and printed fol. Lond. 1640. This Play has frequently appear'd on the Stage since the Restauration with great applause Cataline his Conspiracy a Tragedy first acted in the Year 1611. by the Kings Majesties Servants with Allowance from the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the great Example of Honour and Virtue the most Noble William Earl of Pembroke This Play is still in Vogue on the Stage and always presented with success It was so well approv'd of by the Judicious Beaumont that he writ a Copy of Verses in praise of it which the Reader may find before our Authors Works Nevertheless I must take notice that Mr. Johnson has borrow'd very much from the Ancients in this Tragedy as for Instance part of Sylla's Ghost in the very Entrance of the Play is copy'd from the Ghost of Tantalus in the beginning of Seneca's Thyestes Thus our Author has translated a great part of Salust's History tho' with great Judgment and Elegance and inserted it into his Play For the Plot see Salust Plutarch in the Life of Cicero Florus Lib. 4. C. 1. Challenge at Tilt at a Marriage a Masque printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Christmass his Masque presented at Court 1516. printed Fol Lond. 1640. Cloridia or Rites to Cloris and her Nymphs personated in a Masque at Court by the Queens Majesty and her Ladies at Shrove-tide 1630. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. The Inventors of this Masque were Mr. Johnson and Mr. Inigo Jones Cynthia's Revels or The Fountain of Self-love a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1600. by the then Children of Queen Elizabeth's Chappel with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed Folio Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Special Fountain of Manners The Court. Devil is an Ass a Comedy acted in the Year 1616. by his Majesties Servants and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Tho' our Author seldome borrows any part of his Plot yet in this Play if I mistake not Wittipol's giving his Cloak to Fitz-dotterel to court his Wife one quarter of an Hour is founded on a Novel in Boccace Day 3. Nov. 5. Entertainment of King James in passing to his Coronation printed in Fol. Lond. 1640. This Entertainment was mention'd I suppose by
Virtuoso Act 3. towards the End The Epilogue to this Play is writ by Mr. Shadwell Jasper MAIN A Person of Fame and Note as well for Natural Parts as acquired Learning He was Born in the Reign of King James the First at Hatherleigh c. His Education was at Westminster School from whence be was transplanted to Christ-Church and admitted Student A.D. 1624. In this Colledge he gradually advanced in the Study of Arts and Sciences till he took both his Degrees and enter'd into holy Orders and was prefer'd to two Livings both in the Gift of the Colledge and one hard-by Oxford About this time the Civil Wars breaking out and the Pious King being forc'd by wicked Subjects to fly for shelter to this Seat of the Muses our Author was made choice of amongst others deputed to Preach before His Majesty Soon after which Mr. Wood tells us he was created Dr. of Divinity and resided in Oxford till the time of the Mock Visitation sent to the University when he amongst other Worthies eminent for their Loyalty was ejected not only from the Colledge but both his Livings During this Storm he found an Asylum in the House of the Right Honourable the Earl of Devonshire where for the most part he resided till the Happy Return of King Charles the Second to his Kingdomes at which time he was not only restored to his Places but made Canon of Christ-church and Arch-deacon of Chichester which Preferments he enjoy'd to his Death He was a Person of a ready and facetious Wit and yet withal a sound Orthodox Preacher In his younger years he was very much addicted to Poetry in which time he writ two Plays which are very much esteem'd by the generality of those who delight in Dramatick Poetry Amorous War a Tragi-comedy printed 4 o Oxon. 1658. City Match a Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall and afterwards on the Stage at Black-friars with general Applause and printed 4o. Oxon. 1658. These two Plays have been printed in Folio 4o. and 8o. and are bound together Besides these Dramatick Pieces our Author writ a Poem upon the Naval Victory over the Dutch by the Duke of York printed 1665. and added some Dialogues to those of Lucian translated by Mr. Francis Hicks printed Fol. Lond. 1638. He publisht likewise many serious Pieces as several Sermons in 4o. 1646 47 52 62. Amongst which none was so much talkt of as that concerning false Prophets It was if I mistake not writ against by Mr. Francis Cheynel which occasion'd our Authors Vindication publisht 1647. He writ besides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or The Peoples War examined according to the Principles of Scripture and Reason in answer to a Letter for the satisfation of a Person of Quality printed 4o. 1647. with several other Pieces which I have not seen He Died on the Sixth day of December An. 1672. and was Buried in Christ-Church on the North-side of the Quire having in his Will left several Bequests to Pious uses As Fifty Pounds to the Re-building of St. Pauls A Hundred Pounds to be distributed by the Two Vicars of Cassington and Purton for the use of the Poor of those Parishes with many other Legacies amongst which I cannot forget One which has frequently occasion'd Mirth at the relation He had a Servant who had long liv'd with him to whom he bequeath'd a Trunk and in it Somewhat as he said that would make him Drink after his Death The Doctor being dead the Trunk was speedily visited by his Servant with mighty Expectation where he found this promising Legacy to be nothing but a Red-Herring So that it may be said of him that his propensity to innocent Raillery was so great that it kept him Company even after Death Cosmo MANUCH A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and One that as I suppose took up Arms for his Majesty under the Quality of a Major tho' whether of Horse or Foot I am ignorant Mr. Phillips supposes him an Italian stiling him Manuci but whatever his Country be he has writ Two Plays which shew him well vers'd in the English Language viz. Just General a Tragi-comedy printed quarto Lond. 1650. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Northampton and Isabella his most Virtuous Lady This is the first Play our Author writ and which was intended for the Stage but never acted not that it is any ways contemptible and therefore the Major did not forfeit his Modesty when he said of it In spite of Malice venture I dare thus far Pack not a Jury and I 'll stand the Bar. Loyal Lovers a Tragi-comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1652. In this Play our Author lashes the old Committee-men and their Informers in the Persons of Gripeman and Sodom and I believe he meant to expose Hugh Peters's Adventure with the Butcher's Wife of St. Sepulcher's with his Revenge thereupon under the Characters of Phanaticus and Fly-blow If my Conjecture prove true I hope no sober man will be angry that Peters should be personated on the Stage who himself had ridicul'd others when he acted the Clown's part in Shakespear's Company of Comedians as I have read in Dr. Young's Relation of his Life If it be consider'd that our Author's Muse was travesté en Cavileer that he made Writing his Diversion and not his Business that what he writ was not borrow'd but propriâ Minervâ I hope the Criticks will allow his Plays to pass Muster amongst those of the third Rate Gervase MARKHAM A Gentleman who flourisht under the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles the First for the later of whom he took up Arms in the time of the Rebellion being honour'd by His Majesty with a Captain 's Commission He was the Son of Robert Markham of Cotham in the County of Nottingham Esq and was eminently Famous for his numerous Volumes of Husbandry and Horsemanship besides what he has writ on Rural Recreations and Military Discipline He understood the Practick as well as the Theory of the Art of War and was esteem'd a good Scholar and an excellent Linguist understanding perfectly the French Italian and Spanish Languages from all which he collected Notes of Husbandry In the enumeration of his Works the Reader will be satisfied of his excellent Parts and Abilities and that he was tà m Marti quà m Mercurio vers'd in the Employments of War and Peace and One piece of Dramatick Poetry which he has publisht will shew that he Sacrific'd to Apollo and the Muses as well as to Mars and Pallas This Play is extant under the Title of Herod and Antipater a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1622. where or when this Play was acted the imperfection of my Copy hinders my information For the Foundation 't is built on History See Josephus Ant. Jud. Lib. 14 15 16 17. Torniel Salian Spondanus Baronii Ann. c I shall now mention his Works and first those which treat of Horsemanship which have
acted and printed 4o. Lond. 1632. That passage of the Widows finding her Wedding-Ring which she dropp'd in crossing the Thames in the Belly of a Fish which her Maid bought accidentally in the Market is founded either upon the Story of Polycrates of Samos as the Author may read at large in Herodotus Lib. 3. sive Thalia or upon the like Story related of one Anderson of Newcastle by Doctor Fuller in his Worthies of England I know of nothing else written by our Author neither can I tell the time of his Death and therefore I must leave it to Persons of better Information to acquaint the World with more particulars of his Life whilst I hasten to an Account of his Names sake Samuel ROWLEY Whether this Author was related to as well as Contemporary with the former I know not only this I know that he writ himself a Servant to the Prince of Wales He is the Author of two Historical Plays of which we are to give an Account in their Alphabetical Order viz. Noble Spanish Souldier or A Contract broken justly revenged a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1634. This is a Posthumous Piece and if we believe the Printer's Preface has received applause in Action Where it was acted I know not nor the Foundation of the Story it not being mentioned what King of Spain it was that committed that act of Perjury with Onaelia When you see me you know me or The Famous Chronical History of Henry the Eighth with the Birth and Virtuous Life of Edward Prince of Wales being play'd by the High and Mighty Prince of Wale's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1632. For the Plot see the L d Herbert's Life of Hen. the VIII and other Writers of his Life as Polydore Virgil Hollingshead Hall Grafton Stow Speed Martin Baker c. Joseph RUTTER An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First He belong'd to the Earl of Dorset's Family and attended on his Son the Father of the present Earl At the Command of the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Dorset and Lord Chamberlain to the Queen he undertook the Translation of the Cid out of French and Mr. Kirkman ascribes another Play to him besides of both which I shall speak in their Order Cid a Tragi-comedy acted before their Majesties at Court and on the Cock-pit Stage in Drury-Lane by the Servants to both their Majesties and printed 8o. Lond. 1637. This first Part is dedicated to Edward Earl of Dorset aforesaid part of it being translated by the young Lord his Son on whom our Author attended Cid Part the second printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Lady Theophila Cook This Part was undertaken by our Author at his Majesties Command who was pleas'd to think it worth the translating and commanded it to be put into our Author's Hands Both these Plays are usually bound together in actavo As to these Plays in the Original they are much commended tho' I never saw but the first Part in French I shall not here transcribe the Author 's own Sentiments of it but leave it to those who understand the French to peruse the Examen of the Second Part it being too long for this place But what M. Boileau says of it in his 9 th Satyr may be sufficient to shew the Sentiments of the publick in its Favour His Words are these En vain contre le Cid un Ministre se ligue Tout Paris pour Climene a les yeux de Rodrigue L' Academie en Corps a beau le censurer Le Public revolté s'obstine à l'admirer To speak of the Translation in general I think if the Time be considered when it was undertaken it may pass muster with candid Readers The Author having at least so far improv'd it as to bring several things in Action which in the Original are delivered in Narration an Excellency commended by Horace in those Lines so well known to all Scholars Aut agitur res in Scenis aut Acta refertur Segnius irritant animos demissa per aurem Quam quae sunt oculis subjecta fidelibus quae Ipse sibi tradit spectator It is true our Author has altered in the Original some places but not many Two Scenes he has left out as being Soliloquies and things little pertinent to the Business and give me leave to observe by the by That the French are much addicted to bring in these Monologues in their serious Plays Some things likewise our Author has added but scarce discernable and where M. Corneille would give him leave he says he has follow'd close both his Sense and Words tho' as he has observed many things are received Wit in one Tongue which are not in another As to the Play 't is founded on true History and the Author has follow'd Roderic de Tolede and Mariana The Reader may consult other Historians that have writ of the Affairs of Don Fernando the First King of Castille Shepherds Holyday a Pastoral Tragi-comedy acted before their Majesties at Whitehall by the Queen's Servants and printed 8o. Lond. 1635. This Play is ascrib'd by Mr. Kirkman to our Author tho' only J.R. is affix'd to the Title-page This Play is of the Nobler sort of Pastorals and is writ in Blank Verse At the End is a Pastoral Elegy on the Death of the Lady Venetia Digby in the Person of Sir Kenelm Digby her Husband and a Latin Epigram on her Tomb. I know nothing else of our Authors Writing Thomas RYMER Esq This Gentleman is now living and was once if he be not at present a Member of the Honourable Society of Grays-Inn He has excellent Talent towards Criticism as appears by his Preface to the Translation of Rapin's Reflections on Aristotle's Treatise of Poetry 8o. and his Tragedies of the last Age consider'd but I think for Dramatick Poetry there are other Poets now alive that at least equal that Tragedy which he has publisht viz. Edgar or The English Monarch an Heroick Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1678. This Tragedy is dedicated to King Charles the Second and written in Heroick Verse If it be compared with Mr. Ravenscroft's King Edgar and Alfreda it far exceeds it For the Plot see the Historians before mentioned viz. Malmesbury Huntingdon Hoveden Ingulfus Higden c. Grafton Stow c. S. Thomas St. SERF A Gentleman who in the Reign of King Charles the Second writ a Play call'd Tarugo's Wiles or The Coffee-house a Comedy acted at his Highnesses the Duke of York's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1668. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Marquess of Huntley This Comedy if not equal with those of the first Rank yet exceeds several which pretend to the second especially the third Act which discovers the several Humours of a Coffee-house As to the other part of the Play 't is founded as I suppose on the Spanish Play No puedeser or It cannot be but not having the Original I cannot be positive but this I know That the Lord
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.
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
Soul's Warfare and is grounded on the Danger of the Soul in this World S. TUKE A Collonel now living as I have been inform'd in Sussex the Author of One of the best Plays now extant for Oeconomy and Contrivance viz. Adventures of five Hours a Tragi-comedy the second Edition printed 4o. Lond. 1662. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Howard of Norfolk attended with Eight Copies of Verses writ by very Eminent Persons as Mr. Cowley Evelyn Carlisle and others This Play I believe ows its Foundation to one in Spanish Cyril TURNEUR This Author liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and published Two Tragedies viz. Atheist's Tragedy Of the Date of this Play or to whom dedicated I can give no Account the Title-page and Epistle if there were any of my Copy being lost The Plot of Levidulcia her Conveying Sebastian and Fresco out of her Chamber when she was surpris'd by her Husband Belleforrest's Coming is borrow'd from Boccace Day the 7. Nov. the 6. Revenger's Tragedy sundry times acted by the Kings Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Of these two Plays Mr. Winstanley quotes a Distich I know not from what Author as follows His Fame unto that pitch so only rais'd As not to be despis'd nor too much prais'd John TUTCHIN An Author of our Times who has a Pastoral extant call'd Unfortunate Shepherd a Pastoral printed 8o. Lond. 1685. This Play with the rest of his Poems on several Occasions and a Piece in Prose call'd A Discourse of Life were all printed octavo Lond. 1685. W. Lewis WAGER A Learned Clerk living in the begining of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth who was the Author of an Interlude call'd Mary Magdalen her Life and Repentance printed in a Black Letter 4o. Lond. 1567. This Interlude may easily be acted by Four Persons For the Plot take an Account from the following Lines being part of the Prologue and will give you a Taste of the Author's Stile Of the Gospel we shall rehearse a fruitful Story Written in the 7th of Luke with words plaine The Story of a Woman that was right sorry For that she had spent her Life in sinne vile and vaine By Christ's preaching she was converted againe To be truly penitent by hir fruictes she declared And to shew hir self a sinner she never spared Edmund WALLER A Gentleman not many Years deceas'd whose Name will ever be dear to all Lovers of the Muses His Compositions are universally applauded and they are thought fit to serve as a Standard for all succeeding Poems He was a Friend to the Ingenious Fletcher as appears by his Verses printed at the beginning of those Plays and was so far a Lover of Dramatick Poetry that he translated part of a Play in which the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex was concerned viz. Pompey the Great a Tragedy acted by the Servants of His Royal Highness the Duke of York printed 4o. Lond. 1664. Besides this Play he has a Volume of Poems extant which have been several times reprinted the Fourth Edition was printed octavo Lond. 1682. There is newly publish'd a Second part containing his Alteration of The Maid's Tragedy and whatsoever of his was left unprinted publisht octavo Lond. 1690. George WAPUL An Author whose Writings are as unknown as any of the former to whom is ascribed a Comedy call'd Tide tarrieth for no Man William WAYER An Author of whose Time and Writings I can give no further Account than that he is accounted the Author of a Comedy which I never saw called The more thou liv'st the more Fool thou art There are two other Plays whose Authors are unknown ascribed by Mr. Philips and Winstanley to our Author viz. Tryal of Chivalry and Tom Tyler and his Wife tho' I believe they were never writ by him R. WAVER The Author of a Play which I have never seen call'd Lusty Juventus who or whence this Author was I know not John WEBSTER An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was in those Days accounted an Excellent Poet. He joyn'd with Decker Marston and Rowley in several Plays and was likewise Author of others which have even in our Age gain'd Applause As for Instance Appius and Virginia Dutchess of Malfy and Vittoria Corrombona but I shall speak of these in their Order Appius and Virginia a Tragedy printed according to my Copy 4o. Lond. 1659. I suppose there may be an older Edition than mine but this is that which was acted at the Duke's Theatre and was alter'd as I have heard by Mr. Carthwright by Mr. Betterton For the Plot consult Livy Florus c. Devil's Law-case or When Women go to Là w the Devil is full of business a Tragi-comedy approvedly well acted by Her Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1623. and dedicated to Sir Thomas Finch An Accident like that of Romelio's stabbing Contarino out of Malice which turned to his preservation is if I mistake not in Skenkius his Observations At least I am sure the like happened to Phaereus Jason as you may see in Q. Val. Maximus lib. 1. cap. 8. The like Story is related in Goulart's Histoires Admirables tome 1. page 178. Dutchess of Malfy a Tragedy presented privately at the Black-fryars and publickly at the Globe by the King's Majesty's Servants and I have seen it since acted at the Duke of York's Theatre 'T was first printed 4o. Lond. 1623. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Lord Barkeley and since reprinted 4o. Lond. 1678. For the Plot consult Bandello's Novels in French by Belleforest N. 19. Beard 's Theatre of God's Judgments Book 2. Ch. 24. The like Story is related by Goulart in his Histoires admirables de nôtre temps p. 226. White Devil or The Tragedy of Paulo Giordano Ursini Duke of Brachiano with the Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona the Famous Venetian Curtezan acted by the Queen's Majesty's Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1612. and since acted at the Theatre-Royal and reprinted 1665. Besides these Plays our Author has been assisted by Mr. Rowley in two others which because he had the least part in their Composition I place to our Author viz. Cure for a Cuckold a Comedy several times acted with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1661. Thracian Wonder a Comical History several times acted with great applause printed quarto Lond. 1661. Mr. Philips has committed a great Mistake in ascribing several Plays to our Author and his Associate Mr. Decker One of which belong to another Writer whose Name is annexed and the rest are Anonymous As for Instance The Noble Stranger was writ by Lewis Sharpe and The New Trick to cheat the Devil Weakest goes to the wall and Woman will have her will to unknown Authors John WATSON Esq An Author who in the Reign of King Charles the Second writ a Play in Heroick Verse call'd Amazon Queen or The Amours of Thalestris to Alexander the Great a Tragi-comedy in Heroick Verse and printed 4o. Lond.
to acquaint my Readers with concerning his private Affairs or Family is only this short account that he was much in Favour with his Sovereign and Father to the present Earl of Sterline The Occasion of his being mention'd in our Catalogue is from four Monarchick Tragedies as he stiles them which are in Print under his Name viz. The Alexandraean Tragedy Croesus Darius and Julius Caesar. These Plays seem to be writ with great Judgment and if I mistake not the Author has propos'd the Ancients for his Pattern by bringing in the Chorus between the Acts. They are grave and sententious throughout like the Tragedies of Seneca and yet where the softer and more tender Passions are touch't they seem as moving as the Plays so much in vogue with the Ladies of this Age. The greatest objection that I know against them is the Choice the Author has made of his Verse which is alternate like the Quatrains of the French Poet Pibrach or Sr. William Davenant's Heroick Poem call'd Gondibert This measure of Verse has lately been found fault with by an Eminent Critick notwithstanding what Sr. William has urg'd in its Defence I shall not pretend to decide the Controversy but leave it to my Reader to peruse both their Arguments at leisure It may possibly be objected that his Stile is not pure but as the Author has already pleaded his Country so he ought to be excus'd by all English Criticks having given the preference to our Tongue as exceeding the Scotch Dialect both in Elegance and Perfection His Tragedies are all of them founded on History and he has so strictly ty'd himself to it that even his Episodes which usually are the sole Invention of every Author are founded on Truth likewise The Alexandraean Tragedy is a proof of this for after the First Act which is wholly employed by Alexander's Ghost possibly in imitation of Seneca's Thyestes the rest of the Play is wholly circumscrib'd by History The The Play is built upon the Differences about the Succession that arose between Alexander's Captains after his Decease The Second Act begins with the Councel held by Perdiccas Meleager and the rest of the Commanders The Author has chiefly followed Q. Curtius lib. 10. cap. 6. seq and Justin lib. 13. But there are other Authors that have toucht upon this Story as well Annalists as Historians which for the Reader 's satisfaction I shall set down Such are Diodorus Siculus lib. 18. Oâ—osius lib. 3. cap. 21. Josephus lib. 12 cap. 1 Appian de Bellis Syriacis Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici A. M. 3730. Num. 30. c. Torniel A. M. 3730. N. 5. c. Raleigh's Hist. lib. 4 c. 3 Heylin 's Hist. of Greece Howell c. Croesus is chiefly borrow'd from Herodotus See lib. 1. sive Clio. You may consult likewise Justin lib. 1. cap. 7. Plutarch's Life of Solon â—ee besides Salian Torniel A. M. 3510. In the fifth Act there is an Episode of Abradates and â—anthaea which the Author has copied from Xenophon's Cyropaideia Or the Life and Institution of Cyrus Lib. 7. and the Ingenious â—â—cudery has built upon this Foundation in that diverting Romance call'd Grand Cyrus See Part 5. Book 1. I leave it to the Readers which Romance is best the Copy or the original Darius was the first Present our Author made the world at which time he was Lord Menstrie He printed this Tragedy at Edinborough in quarto 1603. and dedicated it to K. James VI by a Copy of three Stanzas It was first compos'd in a mixt Dialect of English and Scoth and even then was commended by two Copies of Verses The Author has since pollished and corrected much of his Native Language and even the Play it self is alter'd and 't is now reprinted with the Rest of his Works For the Plot of this Play read Q. Curtius lib. 3 4 and 5. and Justin lib. 11. cap. 5. c. See besides Diodorus lib. 17 Arrian de Expeditione Alexandri lib. 2. Plutarch's Life of Alexander Salian A. M. 2719. c. Julius Caesar is founded on History and the Reader may find many Authors that give an account of his Actions particularly Plutarch and Suetonius each of which writ his Life See besides Appian de Bellis Civilibus lib. 2 Florus lib. 4. cap. 2. Salian Torniel c. Besides these Plays he writ several other Poems of a different Species viz. Doomsday or the great day of the Lord's Judgment Poem divided into Twelve Books which the Author calls Hours A Paraenaesis to Prince Henry who dying before it was publish'd he dedicated it to Prince Charles afterwards King and Martyr Jonathan an Heroick Poem intended but the first Book only extant He writ all these Poems in the Ottava Rima of Tasso or as Michael Drayton calls it A Stanza of Eight Lines Six interwoven and Couplet in Base I shall leave their Excellency to the judgment of Criticks who may view them at leisure his Plays and Poems being all printed together in Folio under the Title of Recreations with the Muses printed at Lond. 1637 and dedicated to His Sacred Majesty K. Charles the First of Blessed Memory This being all the Account I am able to give of our Author and his Works I must have recourse to an old Copy of Verses stiled The Censure of the Poets which tho' mean in themselves shew the Opinion the unknown Author had of our Poet Part of which Copy take as follows So Scotland sent us hither for our own That Man whose Name I even would have known To stand by mine that most ingenious Knight My Alexander to whom in his right I want extreamly yet in speaking thus I do but shew that Love that was 'twixt us And not his Numbers which were brave high So like his Mind was his clear Poesy I have likewise seen an Anagram written by One Mr. William Quin on our Author's Name which being short I will transcribe GULIELMUS ALEXANDER Anagramma I LARGUS MELLE EXUNDA Tetrasticon Cum tibi det Genius Musa ingeniumque Poesis Floribus é variis Attica mella legas I largus melle exunda Mell taque funde Carmina sic facias nomine fata jubent Robert ARMIN. The Author of a Play called The Maids of Moor-clack stiled in former Catalogues a History I am able to give no Account either of the Author or his Play having no knowledge of either All that I can say is that I have seen a Book written by one of the same Name called A Discourse of Elizabeth Caldwell who with some other accomplices attempted to poyson her husband This Book is in quarto printed in London 1604. B. Abraham BAILY A Gentleman of whom I can give no other Information than that he has extant a Play called The Spightful Sister printed in 4 o but where or when I am not able to give an Account the Title-page Dedication and Preface if there be any being deficient in my Copy But if I may be
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
observes of the Writers of Romances Flea'd the Eel by beginning at the Tail yet notwithstanding what she has omitted of worth in her first part she has taken into the second and therefore could not justly call these Plays her own Round-heads or The good Old Cause a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1682. and Dedicated to the Most Illustrious Prince Henry Fitz-Roy Duke of Grafton A great part of the Language of this Play is borrow'd from Tateham's Rump or a Mirror of the Times but yet she has a better Title to this Play than the former having much improv'd the Humor of the Round-heads Sr. Patient Fancy a Comedy Acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1678. The Hint of Sr. Patient Fancy is borrow'd from a French Play called Le Malade imaginaire and the Characters of Sr. Credulous Easy and his Groom Curry are stol'n from Sr. Amphilus the Cornish Knight and his Man Trebasco in Brome's Play called The Damoseille Town Fop or Sr. Timothy Tawdrey a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1677. The foundation of this Play is a Comedy writ by George Wilkins call'd The Miseries of inforc'd Marriage from which not only the Plot but a great part of the Language is stol'n Widow Ranter or The History of Bacon in Virginia a Tragi-Comedy acted by Their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Much Honored Madam Weldon by G. J. a Friend to the Authress by whom this Play was publisht after her Decease I refer the Reader to this Epistle for the Plays justification only I cannot but observe that the Prologue was written Ten years since and publisht before Mr. Shadwell's True Widow and if I mistake not the Epilogue is Old likewise For the Story of Bacon I know no History that relates it but his Catastrophe is founded on the known story of Cassius who perished by the Hand of his freed-Man Dandorus believing his Friend Brutus vanquished Young King or The Mistake a Tragi-Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1683. and dedicated to some Gentleman her particular Friend under the Name of Philaster The Design of this Play is borrow'd from Monsieur Calpranede's Cleopatra see the History of Alcamenes and Menalippa Part VIII Besides these Plays this Ingenious Woman has publisht several other Works both in Verse and Prose As a Collection of Poems in octavo Lond. 1684. and a Collection of several Others in octavo Lond. 1685. Another Volume in octavo Lond. 1688. amongst all which are many of her own Composures Her several Versions from the French are commended by those who think themselves Judges of Wit amongst which the chiefest are A Voyage to the Island of Love Lycidas or The Lover in Fashion and The Lover's Watch. These Pieces in the Original may be found in the second and third Tomes of Le Receueil des Pieces Gallantes en Prose en Vers 8 o Paris 1684. Those who will take the pains to compare them will find the English rather Paraphrases than just Translations but which sufficiently shew the Fancy and excellent Abilities of our Authress She has written other Pieces in prose which have had the fortune to please as The Love Letters between a Nobleman and his Sister in Three Volumes octavo Lond. 1684. c. Three Histories printed in octavo Lond. 1688. viz. Oroonoko or The Royal Slave The fair Jilt or Tarquin and Miranda Agnes de Castro or The Force of Generous Love There are two other small Novels under her Name viz. History of the Nun or The fair Vow-breaker 120 London 1689. The Lucky Mistake 120 Lond. 1689. What Opinion the Wits of the Age had of her may appear from several Copies of Verses written before her Translation of Monsieur Bonnecorse's La Montre or The Watch amongst whom Mr. Charles Cotton who was no contemptible Poet gives her the following Character Some hands write some things well are elsewhere lame But on all Theams your power is the same Of Buskin and of Sock you know the Pace And tread in both with equal Skill and Grace But when you write of Love Astrea then Love dips his Arrows where you wet your Pen. Such charming Lines did never Paper grace Soft as your Sex and smooth as Beauty's Face Dawbridge-court BELCHIER An English-man who liv'd in the Reign of King James the First but one who was an Inhabitant of the Town of Utreicht in the Low Countries at the time of his writing an Interlude called Hans Beer-pot his invisible Comedy of See me and see me not acted by an honest Company of Health-Drinkers printed in quarto Lond. 1618. and dedicated to the Honourable Sr. John Ogle Colonel of our English Regiment of Foot under the Lords the Estates General of the United Provinces and Lord Governor of the Town and Garison of Utreicht This Piece is neither Comedy nor Tragedy as wanting First the just number of Speakers Secondly those Parts or Acts it should have which should be at the least Five but a plain Conference of so many Persons consisting of Three Acts and no more Richard BERNARD This Person flourish'd at Epworth in Lincoln-shire in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was as I suppose the first Translator of Terence's Comedies entire which tho'not so well translated into English as into French by the famous Abbot de Villeloin Monsieur de Marolles or by Monsieur de Martignac yet certainly it is passable for the time in which he liv'd Besides the bare Translation of the whole Six Comedies viz. Andraea Adelphi c. he has taken notice in each Scene of the most remarkable forms of Speech Theses and moral Sentences in imitation possibly of an old French Translation printed at Paris in octavo 1574. This Version is printed with the latine 4o. Cambridge 1598. and dedicated to Mr. Christopher Wray Son and Heir to Sr. William Wray and his Brothers Having given this short account of the Translator and his Work give me leave to speak somewhat of the Author Publius Terentius was a Native of Carthage but being taken Prisoner when he was very young he was sent to Rome He was brought up in Literature and all good Education by his Patron Terentius Seneca and afterwards freed by him on account of his Wit and good Meen He luckily found the best way of writing Comedy and he left some Pieces in that kind that few Persons have been able to imitate He was in great Esteem not only with the People in general by reason of his Dramatick Performances but particularly belov'd and cherish'd by Men of the best Quality as Publius Scipio Laelius and others His purity of Stile was so conspicuous that his Adversaries endeavour'd to perswade the People that he was assisted in his Plays by great Men which he handsomely takes notice of in his Prologue to the Adelphi Nam quod illi dicunt malevoli homines
a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1653. Covent-Garden weeded or The Middlesex Justice of Peace printed in octavo Lond. 1658. Court Beggar a Comedy acted at the Cock-pit by His Majesties Servants Anno 1632. and printed in octavo Lond. 1653. Damoiselle or The New Ordinary a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1653. English Moor or The Mock Marriage a Comedy often acted with general applause by her Majesties Servants printed in octavo Lon. 1659. Jovial Crew or The Merry Beggars a Comedy presented at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane in the year 1641 printed in quarto Lond. 1652. and dedicated to the Right Noble Ingenious and Judicious Gentleman Thomas Stanley Esq This Play was reviv'd by the Actors at the Duke's Theatre and reprinted 1686. Love-sick Court or The Ambitious Politick a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1658. What Opinion the Author himself had of this Comedy may be gathered by the following Distick prefixt in his Title-page Nil mea ceu mos est comendes carmina curo Se nisi comendent carmina dispereant Mad Couple well Matcht a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1653. This Play was reviv'd on the Stage by the Duke's Actors under the Title of The Debaunchee or The Credulous Cuckold and reprinted in quarto Lond. 1677. New Academy or The New Exchange a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1658. Northern Lass a Comedy acted with great Applause at the Theatre Royal by His Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the Right Worthy and no less Judicious than Ingenious Gentleman Rich. Holford Esquire This Play is commended not only by the above-mentioned Ben Johnson but by Five other Copies of Verses printed before the Play This Play was reviv'd by the Players since the Union of the Two Houses and reprinted in quarto Lond. 1684. with a new Prologue and Epilogue the former written by Jo. Haynes the Comedian Novella a Comedy acted at the Black-friars by His Majesties Servants Anno 1632. and printed in octavo Lond. 1653. This I take to exceed many of our modern Comedies Queen and Concubine a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1659. Queen's Exchange a Comedy acted with general applause at the Black-fryars by His Majesties Servants and printed in quarto 1657. Sparagus Garden a Comedy acted in the year 1635. by the then Company of Revels at Salisbury-Court printed in quarto Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle c. Governor to the Prince his Highness This Comedy is applauded by Two Copies of Verses writ by two of the Author's Friends He joyn'd with Thomas Heywood in a Play called The late Lancashire Witches an Account of which see in that Author Ten of these Plays are printed in two Volumes in octavo each under the Title of Five New Plays by Richard Brome Mr. Phillips I know not for what Reason has omitted several of our Authors Plays viz. Damoyselle New Academy Queen and Concubine Queen's Exchange and Lancashire Witches Fulk Grevile Lord BROOK This Honourable Person was Son to Sr. Fulk Grevile the Elder of Beauchamp-Court in Warwick-shire and after having been Educated some time at Cambridge he removed to Court in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and in the Seventeenth year of King James the First he was made a Baron He was eminently Famous for Learning and Courage He was bred up with the Fam'd Sr. Philip Sidney and in his youth writ several Poems of different Kinds amongst which are two Dramatick Pieces viz. Alaham a Tragedy printed in Folio 1633. This Play seems an Imitation of the Ancients The Prologue is spoken by a Ghost one of the Old Kings of Ormus an Island Scituate at the Entrance of the Persian Gulf where the Scene of the Dramma lies This Spectre gives an Account of each Character which is possibly done in Imitation of Euripides who usually introduced one of the chief Actors as the Prologue whose business was to explain all those Circumstances which preceded the opening of the Stage The Author has been so careful in observing the Rules of Aristotle and Horace that whereas Horace says nec quarta loqui persona laboret He has in no Scene throughout introduc'd above two Speakers except in the Chorus between each Act and even there he observes all the Rules laid down by that great Master in the Art of Poetry part of whose Directions to the Chorus are as follows Ille dapes laudet mensae brevis ille salubrem Justitiam legesque apertis otia Portis For the Plot of this Tragedy I know not whence it is taken neither can I find the Name of any such King as Alaham amongst those Princes that Reigned there which are enumerated by Mr. Herbert in his Account of Ormus Mustapha a Tragedy printed in Folio 1633. What I have spoken of the former may be applied to this Play likewise as to the Rules of the Ancients since both seem to be built on their Model All I have to say further is that an imperfect Copy of this Play appeared in print in quarto Lond. 1609. tho' I suppose without his Lordship's Knowledge since it may rather be stiled a Fragment than a Tragedy But those Imperfections are amended in the Folio Edition As to the Foundation of the Play 't is the same with that of my Lord Orrery's Tragedy therefore I refer you to the same Authors viz. Paulus Jovius Thuanus c. Both these Plays are printed together in Folio Lond. 1633. with several other Poems as A Treatise of Humane Learning An Inquisition upon Fame and Honour A Treatise of Wars All these are written in a Stanza of Six Lines four interwoven and a Couplet in Base which the Italians call Sestine Caelica containing One Hundred and Nine Sonnets of different Measures on different Subjects There are in this Volume two Letters the One to an Honourable Lady the Subject of which is how to behave her self in a Married State The other written to his Cosen Grevil Varney then in France containing Directions for Travel His Lordship has other Pieces ascribed to him besides these publisht under his Name as the Life of his Friend and Companion Sir Philip Sidney printed at the beginning of the Arcadia under the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 His Remains or Poems of Monarchy and Religion printed in octavo Lond. 1670. and other Pieces which because of their uncertainty I omit Only I cannot pass by a Mistake committed by Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanley who ascribe another Play to him called Marcus Tullius Cicero's Tragedy This Play was not written at least not printed as I suppose till long after his Lordships Death who was unhappily kill'd by an ungrateful Servant who afterwards to avoid the Sentence of the Law made his own Hand the Executioner of Justice making Death his Choice which should have been his Punishment This Worthy Nobleman lies Buried as Dr. Fuller says in Warwick Church under a Monument of black and white Marble whereon
he is stiled Servant to Queen Elizabeth Councellor to King James and Friend to Sr. Philip Sidney Dying Anno 16 without Issue and unmarried Those who would read his Character more at large may have recourse to that excellent Author above-mentioned Henry BURKHEAD This Author liv'd in the Reign of K. Charles the Martyr being a Merchant in Bristol He writ a Play in the year 1645. called Cola's Furie or Lirenda's Misery a Tragedy dedicated to the Right Honourable Edward Somerset Lord Herbert The Subject of this Play is the Irish Rebellion which broke out the twenty-third day of October 1641. 'T is couch'd under feign'd Names as Osirus for the late Duke of Ormond Berosus for Sr. John Borlace c. the other Characters are easily discovered by reading Sr. John Temple's History of the Irish Rebellion printed Lond. 1646. and Sr. John Borlace his History on the same Subject Folio Lond. 16 This Play was never acted but introduc'd into the world by two Recommendatory Copies of Verses written by his Friends both which may seem to the Reader to be too partial in their Judgments as may be judg'd by the following Lines which are part of a Copy writ by Mr. Paul Aylward What tho' of Terence Seneca we hear And other modern Scenicks in our Sphere You I prefer Johnson for all his Wit Could never paint out Times as you have hit The Manners of our Age The Fame declines Of ne're enough prais'd Shakespear if thy lines Come to be publisht Beaum Fletcher's skill Submits to yours and your more learned Quill Henry BURNEL Esq This Gentleman liv'd in Ireland in the Reign of King Charles the First He writ a Play called Landgartha a Tragi-Comedy presented in the New Theatre in Dublin with good applause being an ancient Story printed in quarto Dublin 1641. and dedicated To all Fair indifferent Fair Virtuous that are not Fair and magnanimous Ladies This Play is usher'd into the world with Four Copies of Verses three Latine and one English but being guilty of the same partiality with the former I shall omit to insert any The Play it self was first acted on St. Patrick's-day 1639. with allowance of the Master of the Revels The Author it seems miscarried in a former Play and therefore in imitation of Ben Johnson whom he stiles The Best of English Poets he has introduc'd his Play by a Prologue spoken by an Amazon with a Battle-Ax in her Hand which succeeded to the Author's satisfaction The Plot is founded on the Conquest of Fro which the Author calls Frollo King of Suevia or Suethland by Regner or as the Author calls him Reyner King of Denmark with the Repudiation of Landgertha Queen to Regner See Krantzius lib. 4. c. 6. Saxo Grammaticus lib. 9. Jo. Magnus lib. 17. c. 4 5. c. C. Lady Elizabeth CAREW A Lady that flourisht in the Reign of Qu Elizabeth of whom I am able to give no other Account than what I collect from the Title-page of a Play call'd Mariam the Fair Queen of Jewry her Tragedy written says the Publisher by that Learned Virtuous and truly Noble Lady Elizabeth Carew and printed in quarto Lond. 1613. The Play is writ in the same measure of Verse with the Tragedies of the Earl of Sterline viz. in Alternate Verse and the Chorus is writ in Settines or a Stanza of Six Lines four interwoven and a Couplet in Base For the Play itself it is very well Pen'd considering those Times and the Lady's Sex I leave it to the Readers to compare it with that modern Tragedy of Herod and Mariamne Her Story is written at large in Josephus his History of the Jews See lib. 14 and 15. Salian Tom. 6. A.M. 4012. c. Torniel Tom. 2. A. M. 4026. Thomas CAREW A Courtier much in Favour with K. Charles the First being One of the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber and Sewer in Ordinary He was the Author of a Masque call'd Coelum Britanicum which was performed at White-hall in the Banqueting-house on Shrove-Tuesday Night the Eighteenth of February 1633. by the King's Majesty the Duke of Lenox the Earls of Devonshire Holland Newport c. with several other Lords and Noblemen's Sons He was assisted in the contrivance by Mr. Inigo Jones that Famous Architect and all the Songs were set by Mr. Henry Lawes Gentleman of the King's Chappel and one of the private Musick to King Charles the First It being written by the King 's express Command our Author placed this Distick in the Front when printed Non habet Ingenium Caesar sed jussit habebo Cur me posse negem posse quod ille putat He writ besides several Poems Songs and Sonnets which are received with good Esteem by the Wits of this Age and are printed with the foregoing Masque These Poems have been several times Reprinted the Fourth Edition being printed in octavo Lond. 1670. This Masque is not mentioned by either Mr. Philips or Mr. Winstanley because it was formerly through a mistake ascrib'd to Sr. William Davenant Sr. John Suckling that gay Wit who delighted to Railly the best Poets and spar'd not Ben Johnson himself has thus play'd upon our Author in his Sessions of Poets Tom Carew was next but he had a Fault That would not well stand with a Laureat His Muse was hide-bound the issue of 's brain Was seldome brought forth but with trouble and pain All that were there present did agree That a Laureat Muse should be easy and free Yet sure 't was not that but 't was thought that His Grace Consider'd he was well he had a Cup-bearer's Place But this is not to be taken for the real Judgment of that Excellent Poet and he was too good a Judge of Wit to be ignorant of Mr. Carew's Worth and his Talent in Poetry and had he pleas'd he could have said as much in his Commendation as Sr William D'Avenant in those Stanzas writ to him with part of which we shall conclude Not but thy Verses are as smooth and high As Glory Love and Wine from Wit can raise But now the Devil take such Destiny What should commend them turns to their dispraise Thy Wits chief Virtue is become its Vice For every Beauty thou hast rais'd so high That now course Faces carry such a Price As must undo a Lover that would buy Lodowick CARLELL Esq This Gentleman flourisht in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second He was an Ancient Courtier being Gentleman of the Bows to King Charles the First Groom of the King and Queen's Privy-chamber and served the Queen-Mother many years His Plays which are Eight in number were well esteem'd of and most of them appeared on the Stage at the Private-house in Black-friars notwithstanding the prohibition of the Stage in those days The Names follow Arviragus and Philicia a Tragi-Comedy in two parts acted at the Private-house in Black Friars by his Majesties Servants and printed in octavo Lond. 1639. This Play was
and shall Honor haue While there 's or Slavish Lord or Royal Slave Robert CHAMBERLAIN A Gentleman that flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the First the Author of a Play called The Swaggering Damsel a Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1640. I know not whether this Play was ever acted but 't is usher'd into the world by Three Copies of Verses one of which was writ by Mr. Rawlins in requital of a Copy writ by our Author in praise of his Tragedy called The Rebellion A Complement which has in this Age been practiced by Mr. Dryden to Mr. Lee's Rival Queens in Return of that past by him on Mr. Dryden's State of Innocence Mr. Phillips and Winstanley have ascrib'd to our Author a Play call'd Sicellides which they stile a Pastoral tho'it is distinguish'd by the Anonymous Author by the Title of a Piscatory the Dramatis Personae being most of them Fishermen William CHAMBERLAIN A Dorset-shire Gentleman who in the Reign of King Charles the First liv'd at Shaftsbury a Market-town of sufficient Note for giving the Title to the famous Lord Cooper first Earl of Shaftsbury He writ a Play called Love's Victory a Tragi-Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1658. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Sr. William Portman He writ this Play during the late Troubles and design'd to have it acted but the Powers then in being having suppressed the Stage he contented himself with Printing it tho' it has since appeared at least a great part of it upon the Stage in 1678. under the Title of Wits led by the Nose or A Poet's Revenge This Author writ besides an Heroick Poem called Pharonnida in Five Books printed in octavo Lond. 1659. and dedicated likewise to Sr. William Portman This Poem tho' it hath nothing extraordinary to recommend it yet appear'd abroad in Prose 1683. under the Title of a Novel called Eromena or The Noble Stranger George CHAPMAN A Gentleman of no mean Repute for his Poetical Writings and Versions amongst the Wits of the Age wherein he liv'd to wit in the later part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and that of King James I can give him no greater Commendation than that he was so intimate with the famous Jhonson as to engage in a Triumvirate with Him and Marston in a Play called Eastward-Hoe a Favour which the haughty Ben could seldome be perswaded to I might add to this that he was so much valued in his time by the Gentlemen of the Middle-Temple and Lincoln's-Inn that when those two Honourable Societies agreed to Present Their Majesties with a Masque at Whitehall on the joyful Occasion of the Marriage between the Princess Elizabeth only Daughter to King James the First and Frederick the Fifth of that Name Count Palatine of the Rhine and afterwards King of Bohemia they chose Mr. Chapman for their Poet to suit Language to the Occasion and Mr. Inigo Jones for their Ingineer to order the Machines and Decoration of the Scenes He has writ many Dramatick Pieces to the number of Eighteen besides several other Poems and Translations of all which his Tragedy of Bussy d' Amboise has the Preference I know not how Mr. Dryden came to be so possest with Indignation against this Play as to resolve to burn One annually to the Memory of Ben Johnson but I know very well that there are some who allow it a just Commendation and others that since have taken the liberty to promise a solemn annual Sacrifice of The Hind and Panther to the Memory of Mr. Quarles and John Bunyan so that should this last Humour continue The Hind and Panther would grow as scarce as this Old Tragedy is at present But I leave this Digression to give the Reader an Account of his Plays in order All Fools a Comedy presented at the Black-friars and afterwards before his Majesty King James the First in the Begining of his Reign and printed in quarto Lond. 1605. This was in those days accounted an Excellent Comedy and will still bear Reading it seems to be built in part upon the same Fabrick with Terence's Heautontimorumenos as those who will compare the Characters of the two Fathers Gostanzo and Mar. Antonio with Chremes and Menedemus and their Sons Valerio Fortunio and Rynaldo with Clinia Antipho and Syrus may easily perceive The Prologue and Epilogue writ in Blank Verse shew that in those days Persons of Quality and those that thought themselves Judges of Wit instead of sitting in Boxes as now in use sat on the Stage what influence those Sparks had on the meaner Auditors may be seen by the following Lines Great are the Gifts given to united Heads To Gifts Attire to fair Attire the Stage Helps much for if our other Audience see You on the Stage depart before we end Our Wits go with you all and we are Fools c Alphonsus Emperor of Germany a Tragedy very often acted with great Applause at the Private-house in Black-friars by the Servants to King Charles the First printed in quarto Lond. 1654. This Play tho' it bear the Name of Alphonsus was writ as I suppose in Honor of the English Nation in the Person of Richard Earl of Cornwal Son to King John and Brother to King Henry the Third He was chosen King of the Romans in 1257. and Crown'd at Aix the Seventeenth day of May being Ascension day About this time Alphonsus the Tenth King of Castile the subject of this Tragedy was chosen by other Electors Tho'this King was accounted by some a Pious Prince yet our Author represents his as a Bloody Tyrant and contrary to other Historians brings him to an unfortunate End he supposing him to be kill'd by Alexander Son to Lorenzo de Cipres his Secretary in revenge of his Father who was poyson'd by him and to compleat his Revenge he makes him first deny his Saviour in hopes of Life and then stabs him glorying that he had at once destroyed both Body and Soul This Passage is related in several Authors as Bolton's Four last Things Reynolds of the Passions Clark's Examples Wanley's History of Man For the true Story consult Mariana de Reb. Hisp. Lib. 13 C. 10 c. Loüis de Mayerne Turquet Hist. Generale d' Espagne Lib. 12 Bzovius An. 1257 c. Blind Beggar of Alexandria a Comedy most pleasantly discoursing his variable Humours in disguised shapes full of Conceit and Pleasure sundry times publickly Acted in London by the Right Honourable the Earl of Notingham Lord High Admiral his Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1598. This Play is neither divided into Acts nor Scenes Bussy d' Amboise a Tragedy often presented at Pauls in the Reign of King James the First and since the Restauration of King Charles the Second acted at the Theatre-Royal with good Applause For the Plot see Thuanus Jean De Serres and Mezeray in the Reign of King Henry the Third of France The Intrigue between Bussy and Tamyra is related by Rosset in his Histoires
by Mr. Tate and acted at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden 1685. Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley have committed mistakes in this Author having omitted the Tragedy of Ovid and plac'd two anonymous Plays to him which I dare be confident are none of his viz. Thersites and Tyranical Government All his Poems being collected and publisht together in octavo Lond. 1669 by Mr. Kirkman who knew Plays far better than either of these Authors Having given you this Account of his Plays I am next to speak of his other Poems and Pieces but since the Author has reckon'd them up in Verse in an Epigram directed to his Honoured Friend Major William Warner I shall transcribe his own Lines which may inform the Reader of his Stile as well as his Poems Plays Eclogues Songs a Satyr I have writ A Remedy for those i' th amorous Fit Love Elegies and Funeral Elegies Letters of things of divers Qualities Encomiastick Lines to Works of some A Masque and an Epithalamium Two Books of Epigrams All which I mean Shall in this Volume come upon the Scene Some Divine Poems which when first I came To Cambridge I writ there I need not name Of Dianea neither my Translation Omitted here as of another Fashion For Heavens sake name no more you say I cloy you I do obey you Therefore Friend God b'wy you Edward COOK Esq A Gentleman of whom I can give no other account than that he has publisht a Play call'd Love's Triumph or The Royal Union a Tragedy in Heroick Verse never acted but printed in quarto Lond. 1678. and dedicated to her Highness the Most Illustrious MARY Princess of Orange This Play is founded on Cassandra a fam'd Romance as you will find by reading Part 5th Book 4th to the End John COOK The Author of a Play call'd Green's Tu Quoque a Comedy printed in quarto Lond. I cannot tell the Date or the Place where 't was first acted the Title-page of my Copy being lost tho' I suppose at the Red-Bull by a Passage in the Play but I can inform the Reader that it is commended by Thomas Heywood who purposely writ an Epistle to gratulate as he says the Love and Memory of his Worthy Friend the Author and his intirely beloved Friend the Actor He says further That it past the Test of the Stage with general Applause And I have seen it acted since the King's Return at the Play-house as I think in little Lincolns-Inn-Fields with good success tho' the printed Copy be not divided into Acts. The Plot of Spend-all's gaining the Widow Raysby has a near resemblance with that of Will. Small shanks and Widow Taffety tho' I think the Design is better wrought up in this Play because the Widow by a Counter-plot frees her self from Spend-all and after having made a Tryal of the Sincerity of his Love consents of her own accord to Marry him This Play had its Title given it by the Author in respect of the admirable Comedian Thomas Green who acted the part of Bubble whose universal Repartee to all Complement is Tu Quoque Mr. Heywood gives him this Character That there was not an Actor of his Nature in his Time of better ability in performance of what he undertook more applauded by the Audience of greater Grace at the Court or of more general Love in the City At the Entrance of this Play is a Distick which Mr. Winstanley applies to Mr. Robert Green of whom I shall give an account in his proper place tho' had he put on his Spectacles he would have found it printed thus Upon the Death of Thomas Green How fast bleak Autumn changeth Flora's dye What yesterday was Green now 's sear and dry W. R. John COREY A Gentleman who is pleas'd to stile himself the Author of a Play call'd The Generous Enemies or The Ridiculous Lovers a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants and printed in quarto Lond. 1672. Tho'he has so little share in it that we may justly say of him as Appolodorus the Athenian said of the Books of Chrysippus If a Man should extract the things which he hath borrow'd from others the Paper would be left blank To prove this I am to acquaint the Reader that this Play like a Botcher's Cushion is made out of several Pieces he having stollen from Four Eminent Poets Fletcher and Randolph Th. Corneille and Quinault The chief Design of the Play that of the Generous Enemies is borrow'd from Quinault's La Genereuse Ingratitude as will be evident to those who will compare the Characters of Don Alvarez and Signior Flaminio with those of the French Zegry and Abencerage Semena in Disguise under the Name of Lisander with Zelinda under the Name of Ormin c. For the Ridiculous Lovers 't is chiefly borrow'd from a Comedy of Th. Corneille's call'd D. Bertran de Cigarral which Play is founded on a Spanish Comedy written by D. Francisco de Roxas and stiled Entre bobos anda el juego The Quarrel between Bertran and Robatzy in the fifth Act is stollen verbatim from Love's Pilgrimage Act 2. Sc. 1. and Act 3. Sc. 3. The testy Humour of Bertran to his Servants in the third Act is part of it taken from the Muses Looking-glass Act 2. Sc. 1. Act 3. Sc. 3. and 4. Charles COTTON Esq An Ingenious Gentleman lately as I am inform'd Deceas'd who sometimes dwelt at Beresford in the County of Stafford He was an excellent Lyrick Poet but particularly famous for Burlesque Verse but mention'd here on account of a Translation of his call'd Horace a French Tragedy of Monsieur Corneille printed in quarto Lond. 1671. and dedicated to his Dear Sister Mrs. Stanhope Hutchinson This Play was first finished in 1665. But neither at that time nor of sevaral years after was it intended for the publick view it being writ for the private divertisement of a fair young Lady and ever since it had the honor first to kiss her Hands so intirely hers that the Author did not reserve so much as the Broüillon to himself However she being prevail'd upon tho' with some difficulty to give her consent it was printed in Octo. 1670. I shall not extol or particularise the Excellencies of this Play in the Original 't is sufficient to tell you that the French Author thought it might pass for the best of his Productions if the three last Acts had been equal to the two First and this he says was the general Opinion as you may read in the beginning of his Examen of this Play As to the Performance of this our Countryman notwithstanding his Modesty and Generosity in giving the preference to Madam Phillips her Translation I think it no ways inferior to it at least I dare aver that it far transcends that Version publisht by Sr. William Lower The Plot of this Play as far as it is founded on History may be read in several Authors See Livy lib. 1. Florus lib. 1. c.
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
further with is that this best of Poets that ever our Nation produc'd and a Man of so excellent a Temper in the Opinion of King Charles the Second that he was pleas'd to say of him upon the news of his death that Mr. Cowley had not left a better Man behind him in England This Excellent Man I say Died after a Fortnights Sickness of a Stoppage in his Breast and Throat accompanied with a violent Defluction He was Buried at Westminster Abby near Two of our most eminent English Bards Chaucer and Spencer his Corps being attended with a numerous Train of Persons of the most eminent Rank both for Birth and Virtue The late Duke of Buckingham his Noble Friend and Patron has erected a Magnificent Monument over his Ashes in testimony of his Affection whose Sculpture you may see at the beginning of his Second Volume Tho' I take it for granted that every Lover of Poetry hath the Works of this Worthy Ornament of our Nation since in my weak judgment what was said of d'Urffé's Astraea by the great Cardinal Richlieu may more truly be said of our Authors Works That he was not fit to be admitted into the Academy who had not been before well read in Astraea yet since his Epitaph may prove an Embellishment to this Work I shall transcribe it ABRAHAMUS COWLEIUS Anglorum Pindarus Flaccús Maro Deliciae Decus Desiderium AEvi sui Hic juxta situs est Aurea dum volitant latè tua scripta per orbem Et Famâ aeternùm vivis Divine Poeta Hic placidâ jaceas requie Custodiat urnam Cana fides vigilentque perenni lampade Musae Sit sacer iste Locus Nec quis temerarius ausit Sacrilegâ turbare manu Venerabile Bustum Intacti manèant maneant per secula Dulcis COULEI cineres serventque immobile saxum Sic Vovet Votumque suum apud Posteros sacratum esse voluit Qui viro Incomparabi possuit sepulcrale marmor GEORGIUS DUX BUCKINGHAMIAE I forgot to acquaint the Reader that there have been two Pieces falsly ascrib'd to this Author One a Poem call'd The Iron Age which was publisht during our Authors residence in France on which he himself has sharply reflected at the Entrance of his Preface to his Works The other Poem is father'd upon him by Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanley which they call Antonius and Mellida which in truth is not a Poem but a Play in Two Parts written by John Marston Tho' I can give no Account how Mr. Phillips fell into this mistake yet I know very well that the little Poem he speaks of is call'd Constantia and Philetus As for Mr. Winstanley he like blind Bayard boldly follows the former at a venture but he may by this learn the truth of that old Proverb Mali Corvi malum ovum Like Carpenter like Chips There is an Ode written by Mr. Cowley for her Majesty Queen to King Charles the First printed in the begining of Mr. Tate's Collection of Poems on several Occasions printed in octavo Lond. 1685. There was a New Edition of his Works with a Table and the Verses that were made on his Death by the Wits of the Age printed in Fol. Lond. 1688. I shall close all with the Commendation given him by Mr. Evelyn in his Imitation of Ovid's Elegy ad Invidos So long shall Cowley be admir'd above The Croud as David's Troubles pity move Till Woman cease to charm and Youth to love Robert Cox An Excellent Comedian that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First One who when the Ring-leaders of the Rebellion and Reformers of the Nation supprest the Stage betook himself to making Drolls of Farces such as were Actaeon and Diana Oenone with the Humours of Bumkin Hobbinal Singing Simkin and Simpleton the Smith which under the Colour of Rope-dancing were allow'd to be acted at the Red-Bull Play house by stealth and the connivance of those straight lac'd Governors These Parts he usually acted himself and so naturally that once after he had play'd Young Simpleton at a Country Fair a noted Smith in those parts who saw him act came to him and offer'd to take him as his Journey-man and to allow him Twelve-pence a Week more than the rest Nor was it in London only but in the University likewise that our Actor was applauded insomuch that a Poetical Butler took such a Fancy to his Acting that he was pleased to oblige him with a Prologue that he might appear in form as he had seen the Members of the Colledge he belonged to at the Acting a Play in Christmass part of which for the Readers Diversion and as a Sample of the Talent of this Chip of Pernassus I have set down as follows Courteous Spectators we are your Relators Neither Tylers nor Slators nor your Vexators But such as will strive to please will you sit at your Ease And speak such words as may be spoken And not by any be mistoken c. These Drolls were printed in quarto Lond. 1656. Second Edition but first printed by Tho. Newcomb for the use of the Author They are since printed in a Collection of Drolls call'd Spart upon Sport for Kirkman in octavo Lond. 1673. John CROWN A Person now living who has attempted all sorts of Dramatick Poetry with different success If I may be allow'd to speak my Sentiments I think his Genius seems fittest for Comedy tho' possibly his Tragedies are no ways contemptible of all which in my weak judgement his Destruction of Jerusalem seems the best He has written Fifteen Plays of which Alphabetically Andromache a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1675. This Play Mr. Crown claims no farther share in than the turning it into Prose it being translated from the French of Monsieur Racine by a young Gentleman who had a great esteem for all French Plays and particularly for this but whose Genius in Verse it seems was not very fortunate In a word Mr. Crown has written as Epistle to clear himself of the Scandal as he terms it of so poor a Translation This Play tho well esteem'd in the Original had not its expected success on our English Stage The French Author has followed Virgil in his Story See Lib. 3. He transcribes the Passage begining at Verse 292. Littoraque Epiri legimus portuque subimus Chaonio celsum Buthroti ascendimus urbem And then skipping seven Verses which relate to her Marriage with Hellenus he ends with the death of Pyrrhus by Orestes at the Altar of Apollo or as some would have it One which he erected in memory of his Father Achilles The Author has followed Euripides his A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Character of Hermione and her jealous Transports but in that of Andromache he rather chuses to shew her on the Stage as the Widow of Hector than Pyrrhus and sollicitous to preserve the Life of Astyanax than Molossus this being conformable to the general Idea which People have of
conspire a secret flight For Day they say is gone away by Night The Day is past but Landlord where 's your Rent You might ha'seen that Day was almost spent Day sold and did put off what e're he might Tho' it was ne're so Dark Day would be Light Thomas DECKER A Poet that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was Contemporary with that admirable Laureat Mr. Benjamin Johnson He was more famous for the contention he had with him for the Bays than for any great Reputation he had gain'd by his own Writings Yet even in that Age he wanted not his Admirers nor his Friends amongst the Poets in which number I reckon the Ingenious Mr. Richard Brome who always stil'd him by the Title of Father He clubb'd with Webster in writing Three Plays and with Rowley and Ford in another and I think I may venture to say that these Plays as far exceed those of his own Brain as a platted Whip-cord exceeds a single Thread in strength Of those which he writ alone I know none of much Esteem except The Untrussing the Humourous Poet and that chiefly on account of the Subject of it which was the Witty Ben Johnson He has had a Hand in Twelve Plays Eight whereof were of his own Writing Of all which I shall give an account in their Alphabetical Order as follows Fortunatus a Comedy of which I can give no other account than that I once barely saw it and is printed in quarto Honest Whore the First Part a Comedy with the Humours of the Patient Man and the longing Wife acted by her Majesties Servants with great applause printed in 4 o Lond. 1635. Honest Whore the Second Part a Comedy with the Humours of the Patient Man the Impatient Wife the Honest Whore perswaded by strong Arguments to turn Curtizan again her brave refuting those Arguments and lastly the Comical passage of an Italian Bridewel where the Scene ends printed in quarto Lond. 1630. This Play I believe was never acted neither is it divided into Acts. The passage between the Patient Man and his Impatient Wife 's going to fight for the Breeches with the happy Event is exprest by Sr. John Harrington in Verse See his Epigrams at the end of Orlando Furioso Book 1. Epigr. 16. If this be not a good Play the Devil is in it a Comedy acted with great applause by the Queen's Majesties Servants at the Red Bull printed Lond. 16 and dedicated to his loving and loved Friends and Fellows the Queens Majesties Servants by which he means the Actors The beginning of his Play seems to be writ in imitation of Matchiavel's Novel of Belphegor where Pluto summons the Devils to Councel Match me in London a Tragi-Comedy often presented first at the Bull in St. John's Street and lately at the Private-house in Drury-lane call'd the Phoenix printed in quarto Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the Noble Lover and deservedly Beloved of the Muses Lodowick Carlel Esquire Some account this a tolerable old Play Northward-Ho a Comedy sundry times acted by the Children of Pauls printed in quarto Lond. 1607. This Play was writ by our Author and John Webster The Plot of Greenshield and Featherstone's pretending to Mayberry that they had both lain with his Wife and how they came to the knowledge of each other by her Ring Act 1. Sc. 1. is founded on a Novel which is in the Ducento Novelle del Signior Celio Malespini Par. 1. Nov. 2. Satyromastix or The Untrussing the Humourous Poet a Comical Satyr presented publickly by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlain's Servants and privately by the Children of Pauls printed in quarto Lond. 1602. and dedicated to the World This Play was writ on the occasion of Ben Johnson 's Poetaster where under the Title of Chrispinus Ben lash'd our Author which he endeavour'd to retaliate by Untrussing Ben under the Title of Horace Junior This Play is far inferior to that of Mr. Johnson as indeed his abilities in Poetry were no ways comparable to his but this may be said in our Author's behalf that 't was not only lawful but excusable for him to defend himself pray therefore hear part of his Defense in his own language and then censure as you please Horace says he trail'd his Poetasters to the Bar the Poetasters Untruss'd Horace how worthily either or how wrongfully World leave it to the Jury Horace questionless made himself believe that his Burgonian-wit might desperately challenge all Comers and that none durst take up the Foyles against him It s likely if he had not so believ'd he had not been so deceiv'd for he was answer'd at his own Weapon And if before Apollo himself who is Coronator Poetarum an Inquisition should be taken touching this lamentable merry murdering of Innocent Poetry all Mount Hellicon to Bun-hill would find it on the Poetasters side se defendando Westward-Ho a Comedy divers times acted by the Children of Pauls and printed in quarto Lond. 1607. This was writ by our Author and Mr. Webster Whore of Babylon an History acted by the Prince's Servants and printed in quarto Lond. 1607. The design of this Play is under feign'd Names to set forth the admirable Virtues of Queen Elizabeth and the Dangers which she escap'd by the happy discovery of those Designs against her Sacred Person by the Jesuites and other Biggoted Papists The Queen is shadow'd under the Title of Titania Rome under that of Babylon Campian the Jesuite is represented by the Name of Campeius Dr. Parry by Parridel c. Wyat's History a Play said to be writ by Him and Webster and printed in quarto Tho' I never saw this Play yet I suppose the subject of it is Sr. Thomas Wyat of Kent who made an Insurrection in the First year of Queen Mary to prevent her Match with Philip of Spain but as this is only conjecture I must rest in suspence till I can see the Play Besides these Plays he joyn'd with Rowley and Ford in a Play call'd The Witch of Edmonton of which you will find an account in William Rowley There are Four other Plays ascrib'd to our Author in which he is said by Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley to be an Associate with John Webster viz. Noble Stranger New Trick to Cheat the Devil Weakest goes to the Wall Woman will have her Will. In all which they are mistaken for the first was written by Lewis Sharp and the other by anonymous Authors Sir John DENHAM Knight of the BATH A Poet of the first Form whose Virtue and Memory will ever be as dear to all Lovers of Poetry as his Person was to Majesty it self I mean King Charles the First and Second He was the only Son of Sir John Denham of little Horesly in Essex but Born at Dublin in Ireland His Father being at the time of his Nativity a Judge of that Kingdome and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer But before the Foggy Air of that
Verse and several Hints are borrow'd from other Authors but much improv'd Only I cannot but observe that whenever the Criticks pursue him he withdraws for shelter under the Artillery of the Ancients and thinks by the discharge of a Quotation from a Latine Author to destroy their Criticisms Thus in the Preface to his Play he vindicates the following Line in his Prologue And he who servilely creeps after Sence Is safe By that Quotation of Horace Serpit humi tutus So he justifies the following Line in the end of the Fourth Act With Empty Arms embrace you whilst you sleep From this Expression in Virgil Vacuis amplectitur Ulnis I could cite you other passages out of his Conquest of Granada Indian Emperor State of Innocence c. but these are sufficient to shew how much Self-justification is an Article of our Author's Creed As to the Plot of this Tragedy 't is founded on History see Zosimus L.4 Socrates L.5 C. 14 Herodiani Hist. L.7 and 8. Jul. Capitolinus in Vit. Max. Jun. Wild Gallant a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal by Their Majesties Servants and printed in quarto Lond. 1669. This Play tho' the last mention'd by reason of the Alphabetical Order throughout observ'd was yet the first attempt which our Author made in Dramatick Poetry and met with but indifferent Success in the Action The Plot he confesses was not originally his own but however having so much alter'd and beautified it we will do him the Honour to call him the Author of the Wild Gallant as he has done Sr. Robert Howard the Author of the Duke of Lerma and by way of Excuse I shall transcribe his own Lines in behalf of a New Brother of Parnassus 'T is Miracle to see a first good Play All Hawthorns do not bloom on Christmass-day A slender Poet must have time to grow And spread and burnish as his Brothers do Who still looks lean sure with some Pox is curst But no Man can be Falstaff Fat at first I am next to give the Reader an Account of his other Writings and Transactions as far as they are come to my Knowledge and I shall begin with those in Verse because nearer ally'd to my present Subject There are several pieces of this Nature said to be writ by him as Heroick Stanzas on the late Usurper Oliver Cromwel written after his Funeral and printed in quarto Lond. 1659. Annus Mirahilis The Year of Wonders 1666. An Historical Poem describing the Dutch War and the Fire of London printed in octavo Lond. 1667. Absalom and Achitophel printed in quarto Lond. 1682. This last with several other of his Poems as the Medal Mack Flecknoe c. are printed in A Collection of Poems in octavo Lond. 1684. Sylva or a Second Volume of Poetical Miscellanies in octavo Lond. 1685. Religio Laici printed in quarto Lond. 1682. Threnodia Augustalis or a Funeral-Pindarique Poem on King Charles the Second printed in quarto Lond. 1685. Hind and Panther in quarto Lond. 1687. Britannia Rediviva a Poem on the Birth of the Prince in Fol. Lond. 1688. In Prose he has writ An Essay of Dramatick Poetry in quarto Lond. 1668. Vindication of the Duke of Guise in quarto Lond. 1683. The Life of Plutarch in octavo Lond. 1683. And some Theological Pieces which I have not by me at present He has translated The History of the League The Life of St. Xavier c. Now that Mr. Dryden may not think himself slighted in not having some Verses inserted in his Commendation I will present the Reader with a Copy written by Mr. Flecknoe and leave him to Judge of his Wit and Mr. Dryden's Gratitude by comparing the Epistle Dedicatory to his Kind Keeper and his Satyr call'd Mack Flecknoe with the following Epigram To Mr. John Dryden Dryden the Muses Darling and delight Than whom none ever flew so high a flight Some have their Vains so drossy as from Earth Their Muses only seem to have ta'ne their Birth Other but Water-Poets are have gone No farther than to th' Fount of Helicon And they 'r but airy Ones whose Muse soars up higher No higher than to Mount Pernassus top Whilst thou with thine dost seem to have mounted Than he who fetcht from Heaven Celestial Fire And dost as far surpass all others as Fire does all other Elements surpass Thomas DUFFET An Author altogether unknown to me but by his Writings and by them I take him to be a Wit of the third Rate and One whose Fancy leads him rather to Low-Comedy and Farce than Heroick Poetry He has written three Plays Two of which were purposely design'd in a Burlesque Stile but are intermixt with so much Scurrility that instead of Diverting they offend the modest Mind And I have heard that when one of his Plays viz. The Mock Tempest was acted in Dublin several Ladies and Persons of the best Quality left the House such Ribaldry pleasing none but the Rabble as Horace says Offenduntur enim quibus est equus pater res Nec si quid fricti ciceris probat nucis emptor AEquis accipiunt animis donant-ve coronâ Mock Tempest or The Enchanted Castle a Farce acted at the Theatre-Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1675. The Design of this Play was to draw the Town from the Duke's Theatre who for a considerable time had frequented that admirable reviv'd Comedy call'd The Tempest What success it had may be learnt from the following Lines The dull Burlesque appear'd with Impudence And pleas'd by Novelty for want of Sence Ali except trivial points grew out of Date Parnassus spoke the Cant of Billingsgate Boundless and Mad disorder'd Rime was seen Disguis'd Apollo chang'd to Harlequin This Plague which first in Country Towns began Cities and Kingdoms quickly over-ran The dullest Scriblers some Admirers found And the Mock-Tempest was a while renown'd But this low stuff the Town at last despis'd And scorn'd the Folly that they once had priz'd Psyche Debauch'd a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal and printed 8 o Lond. 1678. This Mock Opera was writ on purpose to Ridicule Mr. Shadwell's Psyche and to spoil the Duke's House which as has been before observ'd was then more frequented than the King 's This Play is as Scurrilous as the former Spanish Rogue a Comedy acted by His Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1674. and dedicated to Madam Ellen Guin Tho' this Play far exceed either of the former yet I cannot commend it neither do I think Comedy a fit subject for Heroick Verse few of them being writ in Rime in our Language and those few scarce any of them have succeeded on the English Stage Our Author has writ nothing else that I know of but a Book of Poems Songs Prologues and Epilogues printed in octavo Lond. 1676. Thomas DURFEY A Person now living who was first bred to the Law but left that rugged way for the flowry Fields of Poetry He is accounted by
White-Friars by the Children of her Majesty's Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1612. and dedicated to any Woman that hath been no Weather-cock This Play is commended by a Copy of Verses writ by Mr. Chapman There is one thing remarkable in this Play and which for the Author's Credit I must take notice of that the Time of the Action is circumscrib'd within the compass of twelve Hours as the Author himself observes in the Conclusion of his Play Nere was so much what cannot Heavenly Powers Done and undone and done in twelve short hours Richard FLECKNOE Esq This Gentleman liv'd in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second and was as Famous as any in his Age for indifferent Metre His Acquaintance with the Nobility was more than with the Muses and he had a greater propensity to Riming then a Genius to Poetry He never could arrive with all his Industry to get but one Play to be acted and yet he has printed several He has publisht sundry Works as he stiles them to continue his Name to Posterity tho' possibly an Enemy has done that for him which his own Endeavours would never have perfected For whatever become of his own Pieces his Name will continue whilst Mr. Dryden's Satyr call'd Mack Flecknoe shall remain in Vogue He has publisht several Pieces both in Prose and Verse which I have seen and he hath others in print which I could never obtain a view of as in particular that Epistle Dedicatory to a Nobleman which Mr. Dryden raillys so severely in his Dedication of Limberham As to what Works I have seen of his I shall give the Reader a particular Account beginning first with his Plays Damoiselles à la mode a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1667. and dedicated to their Graces the Duke and Dutchess of Newcastle more humbly than by way of Epistle This Comedy was design'd by the Author to have been acted by the Kings Servants as the Reader may see by the Scheme drawn by the Poet shewing how he cast the several Parts but I know not for what reason they refus'd it The Poet indeed seems to give one which whether true or false is not much material but methinks it will serve to shew the Reader his Humour For the acting this Comedy says he those who have the Governing of the Stage have their Humours and would be intreated and I have mine and won't intreat them and were all Dramatick Writers of my mind they should wear their Old Plays Thread-bare ere they should have any New till they better understood their own Interest and how to distinguish betwixt good and bad I know not whether the late Duke of Buckingham thought of Mr. Flecknoe when he drew the Character of Mr. Bayes but methinks there is some resemblance between his Anger at the Players being gone to Dinner without his leave and Mr. Flecknoe's Indignation at their Refusing his Play Mr. Bays seeming to me to talk much at the same rate How are the Players gone to Dinner If they are I 'll make them know what 't is to injure a Person that does them the Honour to write for them and all that A Company of Proud Conceited Humorous Cross-grain'd Persons and all that I 'll make them the most Contemptible Despicable Inconsiderable Persons and all that in the whole World for this Trick This Play as the Author in his Preface acknowledges is taken out of several Excellent Pieces of Molliere The main Plot of the Damoiselles out of his Les Precieuses Ridicules the Counterplot of Sganarelle out of his L'Escole des Femmes and the Two Naturals out of his L'Escole des Maris Erminia or The Chast Lady printed 8 o Lond. 1665. and dedicated to the Fair and Virtuous Lady the Lady Southcot This Play tho' the Actors Names design'd by the Authors be printed over against the Dramatis Personae was never acted Love's Dominion a Dramatick Piece full of Excellent Morality written as a Pattern for the Reformed Stage printed 8 o Lond. 1654. and dedicated to the Lady Elizabeth Claypole In this Epistle the Author insinuates the use of Plays and begs her Mediation to gain License to act them Whether the Play answer the Title-page or whether Mr. Flecknoe have so regularly observ'd the three Unities I shall leave to the Criticks Love's Kingdom a Pastoral-Tragi-comedy not as it was acted at the Theatre near Lincolns-Inn but as it was written and since corrected printed 8 o Lond. 1664. and dedicated to his Excellency William Lord Marquess of Newcastle This Play is but the former Play a little alter'd with a new Title and after the King 's Return it seems the Poet got leave to have it acted but it had the misfortune to be damn'd by the Audience which Mr. Flecknoe stiles The people and calls them Judges without Judgment for want of its being rightly represented to them He owns that it wants much of the Ornament of the Stage but that he says by a lively Imagination may easily be supply'd To the same purpose he says of his Damoiselles à la mode That together with the Persons represented he had set down the Comedians that he design'd should represent them that the Reader might have half the pleasure of seeing it acted and a lively Imagination might have the pleasure of it all entire M r John Fletcher Marriage of Oceanus and Britannia a Masque which I never saw and therefore am not able to give any Account of it Whether our Author have any more Plays in print I know not but I remember a Prologue amongst his Epigrams intended for a Play call'd The Physician against his will which I believe might be a Translation of Molliere's Le Medecin malgré luy but it was never publisht that I know of As to his other Works they consist of Epigrams and Enigmatical Characters which are usually bound up with his Love's Dominion at the end of which is a short Discourse of the English Stage which I take to be the best thing he has extant There is another Book of his Writing call'd Diarium or The Journal divided into twelve Jornadas in Burlesque Verse with some other Pieces printed 120 Lond. 1656 John FLETCHER and Francis BEAUMONT Esq I am now arriv'd at a brace of Authors who like the Dioscuri Castor and Pollux succeeded in Conjunction more happily than any Poets of their own or this Age to the reserve of the Venerable Shakespear and the Learned and Judicious Johnson 'T is impossible for me to reach their Characters and therefore as the Witty Dr. Fuller cites Bale's saying of Randal Higden That 't is no shame to crave aid in a Work too weighty for any ones back to bear I must have recourse to others Assistance for the Characters of this worthy pair of Authors To speak first of Mr. Beaumont he was Master of a good Wit and a better Judgment he so admirably well understood the Art of the Stage that even Johnson himself thought it
Triumph of Death The Triumph of Time I know not whether ever these Representations appear'd on the Stage or no. The Triumph of Honour is founded on Boccace his Novels Day 10. Nov. 5. The Triumph of Love on the same Author Day 5. Nov. 8. The Triumph of Death on a Novel in The Fortunate Deceiv'd and Unfortunate Lovers part 3. Nov. 3. See besides Palace of Pleasure Nov. 4o. Belle-forest c. The Triumph of Time as far as falls within my discovery is wholly the Authors Invention Honest Man's Fortune a Tragi-Comedy As to the plot of Montaign's being prefer'd by Lamira to be her Husband when he was in Adversity and least expected the like Story is related by Heywood in his History of Women Book 9. pag. 641. Humourous Lieutenant a Tragi-Comedy which I have often seen acted with Applause The Character of the Humourous Lieutenant refusing to fight after he was cured of his Wounds resembles the Story of the Souldier belonging to Lucullus describ'd in the Epistles of Horace lib. 2. Ep. 2. but the very Story is related in Ford's Apothegms p. 30. How near the Poet keeps to the Historian I must leave to those that will compare the Play with the Writers of the Lives of Antigonus and Demetrius the Father and the Son See Plutarch's Life of Demetrius Diodorus Justin Appian c. Island Princess a Tragi-Comedy This Play about three Years ago was reviv'd with Alterations by Mr. Tate being acted at the Theatre Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1687. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Walgrave King and No King a Tragi-Comedy which notwithstanding its Errors discover'd by Mr. Rymer in his Criticisms has always been acted with Applause and has lately been reviv'd on our present Theatre with so great success that we may justly say with Horace Haec placuit semel haec decies repetita placebit Knight of the burning Pestle a Comedy This Play was in vogue some years since it being reviv'd by the King's House and a new Prologue instead of the old One in prose being spoken by Mrs. Ellen Guin The bringing the Citizen and his Wife upon the Stage was possibly in imitation of Ben Johnson's Staple of News who has introduc'd on the Stage Four Gossips Lady-like attir'd who remain during the whole Action and criticise upon each Scene Knight of Malta a Tragi-Comedy Laws of Candy a Tragi-Comedy Little French Lawyer a Comedy The Plot is borrow'd from Gusman or The Spanish Roque part 2. ch 4. The Story of Dinant Clerimont and Lamira being borrow'd from Don Lewis de Castro and Don Roderigo de Montalva The like Story is in other Novels as in Scarron's Novel called The Fruitless Precaution and in The Complaisant Companion 8 o p. 263. which is copied from the above-mentioned Original Love's Cure or The Martial Maid a Comedy Love's Pilgrimage a Comedy This I take to be an admirable Comedy The Foundation of it is built on a Novel of Miguel de Cervantes called The Two Damsels The Scene in the first Act between Diego the Host of Ossuna and Lazaro his Ostler is stoln from Ben Johnson's New Inn which I may rather term borrow'd for that Play miscarrying in the Action I suppose they made use of it with Ben's Consent Lovers Progress a Tragi-Comedy This Play is built on a French Romance written by M. Daudiguier call'd Lisander and Calista Loyal Subject a Tragi-Comedy Mad Lover a Tragi-Comedy The Design of Cleanthe's Suborning the Priestess to give a false Oracle in favour of her Brother Syphax is borrow'd from the Story of Mundus and Paulina describe'd at large by Josephus Lib. 18. Cap. 4. This Play Sr. Aston Cockain has chiefly commended in his Copy of Verses on Mr. Fletcher's Plays See the Verses before the old Edition printed 1647. and Cockain's Poems pag. 101. Maid in the Mill a Comedy This Play amongst othershas likewise been reviv'd by the Duke's House The Plot of Antonio Ismenia and Aminta is borrowed from Gerardo a Romance translated from the Spanish of Don Gonzalo de Cespides and Moneces see the Story of Don Jayme pag. 350. As to the Plot of Otrante's seizing Florimel the Millers supposed Daughter and attempting her Chastity t is borrow'd from an Italian Novel writ by Bandello a Translation of which into French the Reader may find in Les Histoires Tragiques par M. Belleforest Tom. 1. Hist. 12. The same Story is related by M. Goulart see Les Histoires admirables de nôtre temps 8o. Tom. 1. p. 212. Maids Tragedy a Play which has always been acted with great Applause at the King's Theatre and which had still continu'd on the English Stage had not King Charles the Second for some particular Reasons forbid its further Appearance during his Reign It has since been reviv'd by Mr. Waller the last Act having been wholly alter'd to please the Court as the Author of the Preface to the second part of his Poems informs us and give us further the following Account T is not to be doubted who sat for the Two Brothers Characters 'T was agreeable to the Sweetness of Mr. Waller's Temper to soften the Rigor of the Tragedy as he expresses it but whether it be agreeable to the Nature of Tragedy it self to make every thing come off easily I leave to the Criticks This last Act is publisht in the Second Part of Mr. Waller's Poems printed in quarto Lond. 1690. Masque of Grays-Inn Gentlemen and the Inner-Temple This Masque was written by Mr. Beaumont alone and presented before the King and Queen in the Banqueting-house of Whitehall at the Marriage of the Illustrious Frederick and Elizabeth Prince and Princess Palatine of the Rhine Monsieur Thomas a Comedy which not long since appear'd on the present Stage under the Name of Trick for Trick Nice Valour or The Passionate Mad-man a Comedy Night Walker or The Little Thief a Comedy which I have seen acted by the King's Servants with great Applause both in the City and Country Noble Gentleman a Comedy which was lately reviv'd by Mr. Durfey under the Title of The Fools Preferment or The Three Dukes of Dunstable Philaster or Love lies a Bleeding a Tragi-Comedy which has always been acted with Success and has been the diversion of the Stage even in these days This was the first Play that brought these Excellent Authors in Esteem and this Play was One of those that were represented at the old Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields when the Women acted alone The Prologue and Epilogue were spoken by Mrs. Marshal and printed in Covent-garden Drollery pag. 18. About this Time there was a Prologue written on purpose for the Women by Mr. Dryden and is printed in his Miscellany Poems in octavo p. 285. Pilgrim a Comedy which was reviv'd some years since and a Prologue spoke which the Reader may find in Covent-garden Dollery p. 12. Prophetess a Tragical History which has lately been reviv'd by Mr. Dryden under the Title of The Prophetess or The History of Dioclesian with
Edmonton of which see an Account in Rowly and with Decker in The Sun's Darling but writ likewise himself seven Plays most of which were acted at the Phoenix and the Black-Friars and may be known by an Anagram instead of his Name generally printed in the Title-page viz. FIDE HONOR He was more addicted to Tragedy than Comedy which occasion'd an Old Poet to write thus of him Deep in a Dump John Ford was alone got With folded Arms and melancholy Hat I shall give an Account of his Plays Alphabetically and place The Sun's Darling in its order because the greatest part of it was writ by our Author Broken Heart a Tragedy acted by the Kings Majesties Servants at the private House in Black-Fryars printed 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the most Worthy Deserver of the Noblest Titles in Honour William Lord Craven Baron of Hamstead Marshal The Speakers Names are fitted to their Qualities and most of them are deriv'd from Greek Etimologies Fancies Chast and Noble a Tragi-comedy presented by the Queen Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Noble Lord the Lord Randell Macdonell Earl of Antrim in the Kingdom of Ireland This Play is usher'd into the World by a Copy of Verses written by Mr. Edward Greenfield Ladies Tryal a Tragi-comedy acted by both their Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1639. and dedicated to his Deservingly Honoured John Wyrley Esq and to the Virtuous and Right worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. Mary Wyrley his Wife Lovers Melancholy a Tragi-comedy acted at the private House in the Black-Fryars and publickly at the Globe by the Kings Majesties Servants printed 4 o Lond. 1629. and dedicated to his most worthily Respected Friends Nathaniel Finch John Ford Esquires Mr. Henry Blunt Mr. Robert Ellice and all the rest of the Noble Society of Grays-Inn This Play is commended by four of the Author's Friends one of which who stiles himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writ the following Tetrastick 'T is not the Language nor the fore-plac'd Rimes Of Friends that shall commend to after-times The Lovers Malancholy It s own Worth Without a borrow'd Praise shall set it forth The Author has Embellisht this Play with several Fancies from other Writers which he has appositely brought in as the Story of the Contention between the Musician and the Nightingale describ'd in Strada's Academical Prolusions Lib. 2. Prol. 6 which begins Jam Sol è medio pronus defluxerat Orbe c. A Definition and Description of Melancholy copied from the Ingenious Mr. Rob. Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy c. Love's Sacrifice a Tragedy receiv'd generally well acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to his truest Friend his worthiest Kinsman John Ford of Gray's Inn Esquire There is a Copy of Verses printed before this Play written by that Dramatick Writer Mr. James Shirley Perkin Warbeck a Chronicle History and a Strange Truth acted sometimes by the Queens Majesties Servants in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1634. and dedicated to the Rightly Honourable William Cavendish Earl of Newcastle This Play as several of the former is attended with Verses written by Four of the Author's Friends one of which is his Kinsman above-mentioned The Plot is founded on Truth and may be read in most of the Chronicles that have writ of the Reign of King Henry the VII See Caxton Polidore Virgil Hollingshead Speed Stow Salmonet Du Chesne Martyn Baker Gaynsford's History of Perkin Warbeck c. Sun's Darling a Moral Mask often presented by their Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane with great applause printed 4 o Lond. 1657. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Thomas Wriathesley Earl of Southampton This Play was written as I have said by our Author and Decker but not publisht till after their Decease A Copy of Verses written by Mr. John Tateham is the Introduction to the Masque at the Entry whereof the Reader will find an Explanation of the Design alluding to the Four Seasons of the Year 'T is pity she 's a whore a Tragedy printed 4 o I can give no further Account of the Title-page or Dedication mine being lost All that I can say is that it equalls any of our Author's Plays and were to be commended did not the Author paint the incestuous Love between Giovanni and his Sister Annabella in too beautiful Colours Mr. Winstanly says that this Author was very beneficial to the Red-Bull and Fortune Play-Houses as may appear by the Plays which he wrote tho' the Reader may see by the fore-going Account that he takes his Information upon trust or else the Plays he has seen are of different Editions from those I have by me but I rather believe the former since I have found him subject to several Mistakes of this Nature Thomas FORD An Author who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who publisht a Dramatick Poem call'd Love's Labyrinth or The Royal Shepherdess a Tragi-comedy printed 8 o Lond. 1660. This Play is commended by two Copies of Verses but whether ever it appear'd on any Stage I cannot determine only this I know that part of this Play is stollen from Gomersal's Tragedy of Sforza Duke of Millain Mr. Philips thro' mistake ascribes this Play to the above-mention'd Mr. John Ford. This Author has writ several other Pieces Virtus Rediviva a Panegyrick on King Charles the Martyr A Theatre of Wits being a Collection of Apothegms Fenestra in Pectore or a Century of Familiar Letters Fragmenta Poetica or Poetical Diversions A Panegyrick on the Return of King Charles the Second All these Pieces with the fore-going Play are printed together in 8 o Lond. 1661. John FOUNTAIN A Gentleman who flourish'd in Devonshire at the time of his Majesty King Charles the Second his Return and was the Author of a single Play nam'd Reward of Virtue a Comedy printed in 4o. Lond. 1661. This Play was not design'd for the Stage by the Author but about eight Years after the first printing Mr. Fountain being dead it was reviv'd with Alterations by Mr. Shadwell and acted with good Applause under the Title of The Royal Shepherdess Abraham FRAUNCE An Ancient Writer who liv'd in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was the Author of a Book called The Countess of Pembroke's Ivy Church which Title in former Catalogues was set down as the Name of a Play in 2 Parts tho' in reality there is but one Dramatick Piece call'd Amintas's Pastoral being the first part of the Book printed 4 o Lond. 1591. and dedicated to the Right Excellent and most Honourable Lady the Lady Mary Countess of Pembroke This Play is writ in English Hexameters and is a Translation from Tasso's Aminta which was done into Latin by one Mr. Watson before this Version was undertaken by our Author He owns that he has somewhat alter'd Sigr. Tasso's Italian
and Mr. Watson's Latine Amintas to make them both one English Notwithstanding Mr. Chapman in his Translation of Homer and Sir Philip Sidney in his Eclogues have practic'd this way of Writing yet this way of Imitating the Latin Measures of Verse particularly the Hexameter is now laid aside and the Verse of Ten Syllables which we stile Heroick Verse is most in use If this Translation be allow'd grains for the time when 't was writ 't will be excus'd by the more moderate Criticks tho' if compar'd with the Translation which was afterwards printed in 1628. or that more Modern Version done by Dancer at the King's Return 't will appear inferior to either in Value The Second Part goes under the Title of Phillis Funeral and it is writ in the form of Eclogues being divided by the Author into twelve Parts which he stiles Days This Poem is likewise writ in Hexameters to which is annext in the same Measure The Lamentation of Corydon for the Love of Alexis This is a Translation of the second Eclogue of Virgil Verse for Verse The Author added likewise the begining of The AEthiopick History of Heliodorus in the same Species of Metre With these Pieces are commonly join'd another of our Authors Writing call'd The Countess of Pembrokes Emanuel Containing the Nativity Passion Burial and Resurrection of Christ together with certain Psalms of David all in English Hexameters printed in quarto Lond. 1591. and dedicated to the Right Excellent and most Honourable Lady the Lady Mary Countess of Pembroke by the following Distick Mary the best Mother sends her best Babe to a Mary Lord to a Ladies Sight and Christ to a Christian Hearing Mr. Phillips says That he writ some other things in Hexameter and Pentameter and the same writes Mr. Winstanley tho' I doubt the former takes his Opinion upon Trust and the later does not I believe know a Pentameter from an Asclepiade Verse The truth is there are no Pentameters throughout the Volume but in the last Act there is a Scene between Phillis and Amintas which whether it be in the Original I question where this pair of Lovers sing some Asclepiades which I suppose is the Occasion of the mistake tho' I cannot but wonder at Mr. Winstanley's negligence that when he copied out the begining of Heliodorus he should not inform himself better but I hope my small pains may be serviceable to his next Impression Neither is his Conjecture less probable concerning the time of our Author's Death which he supposes was about the former part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth this can not be since our Author was alive at the publication of his Book which was in the Year 1591. and in the Thirty-third Year of her Reign tho' how long after he surviv'd I know not Sir Ralph FREEMAN A Gentleman who during the late Troubles busied himself in Poetry and writ an excellent Tragedy call'd Imperiale printed in quarto Lond. 1655. and dedicated to his Ancient and Learned Friend John Morris Esquire I know not whether ever this Play was acted but certainly it far better deserv'd to have appear'd on the Theatre than many of our modern Farces that have usurp'd the Stage and depos'd its lawful Monarch Tragedy The Compositor maim'd the last Act by setting the Sheet I false so that 't is pretty difficult to make out the five first Scenes The Catastrophe of this Play is as moving as most Tragedies of this Age and therefore our Author chose a proper Lemma for the Frontispiece of his Play in that Verse of Ovid. Omne Genus Scripti gravitate Tragoedia vincit The Story on which this Play is built is related by many Authors as Pontanus Budaeus's Treasury of Ancient and Modern Times Beard 's Theatre of Gods Judgments part 1. p. 427. and part 2. p. 45. Wanley's History of Man Book 4. Chap. 11. Goulart Histoires admirables de nôtre temps tom 1. p. 362. The Story is related at large in Bandello's Italian Novels see the French Translation by Belleforest Tom. 2. p. 242. Ulpian FULWEL An Ancient Writer of whom I can give no other Account than that he lived in the Reign of Q. Elizab. and publisht a Dramatical Piece call'd Like will to Like qouth the Devil to the Collier an Interlude wherein is declared what punishments follow those that will rather live Licentiously than esteem and follow good Counsel And what Benefits they receive that apply themselves to virtuous Living and good Exercises printed in quarto Lond. 1587. This Interlude is so contriv'd that Five may easily play it 'T is printed in an old Black Letter the Prologue is writ in Alternate Verse and the whole Play is writ in Rime such as it is however it might have suited with Mr. Dyrden's Design to prove the Antiquity of Crambo far better than the Tragedy of Gorbuduc which was writ in Blank Verse whereas this Play is tag'd with Rimes throughout and is Three Years Older than the other that not being printed till the Year 1590. G. George GASCOIGNE Esq THis Gentleman I can give no further Account of than that he flourisht in the begining of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth that he was a Member of the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn and was the Parent of feveral Poetical Works amongst which are Four Dramatick Pieces of which I shall first discourse Glass of Government a Tragical Comedy so intituled because therein are handled as well the Rewards for Virtues as also the Punishments for Vices Seen and allowed according to the Order appointed in the Queens Majesties Injunctions printed in quarto Lond. 1575. At the begining of this Play I find the following Hexastick In Comoediam Gascoigni Carmen B.C. Haec nova non vetus est Angli Comoedia Vatis Christus adest Sanctos nil nisi sancta decent Graecia vaniloquos genuit turpesque Poetas Vix qui syncerè scriber at unus erat Idvereor nostro ne possit dicier aevo Vana precor valeant ver a precor placeant This Play is printed in a Black Letter as are all his Works 't is writ in prose with a Chorus between each Act which with the Prologue are all in Verse Jocasta a Tragedy written in Greek by Euripides translated and digested into Acts by our Author and Mr. Francis Kinwelmershe of Gray's Inn and there presented and printed in quarto Lond. 1556. Each Act of this Play is introduc'd by a Dumb shew which in those times was the mode in Tragedies and concluded by a Chorus The First Fourth and last Acts were translated by Mr. Kinwelmershe the Second and Third by our Author and the Epilogue was writ by Mr. Christopher Yelverton in Alternate Rime This is the only Play of that ancient Tragedian that to my Knowledge is translated into English tho' our Language and the Knowledge of this Age be far more proper for Translations now than in that time our Author flourisht That I may not be wanting in my Respect to those
parts under a different Title suitable to their Subject The first which was writ when he was a Suitor to his Wife is usher'd in by a Character writ in Prose of a Mistress The second being Copies writ to her after Marriage by a Character of a Wife After which is a Character of a Friend before several Funeral Elegies The third part consists of Divine Poems some of which are Paraphrases on several Texts out of Job and the Book of Psalms before which is the Portraict of a Holy Man I know not when those Poems were first printed but the last Edition which I have by me augmented and corrected was printed 8o. Lond. 1640. and his Poetry is commended by his Friend and Kinsman Mr. John Talbot I know nothing that he has writ in Prose except his Chronicle of K. Edward the Fourth printed fol. Lond. 1640. Of what esteem it is in the World is well known to Historians Peter HAUSTEAD A Gentleman that was born at Oundle a Market Town in Northamptonshire and flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the First of Blessed Memory He was after some Years sent to the University of Cambridge where in Queens Colledge he took the Degree of Master of Arts. He challenges a Place in our Catalogue on Account of his Play call'd Rival Friends a Comedy acted before the King and Queens Majesties when out of their Princely Favour they were pleas'd to visit the University of Cambridge upon the nineteenth day of March 1631. Cry'd down by Boys Faction Envy and confident Ignorance approv'd by the Judicious and Expos'd to the publick Censure by the Author printed 4 o Lond. 1632. and dedicated by a Copy of Verses to the Right Honble Right Reverend Right Worshipful or whatsoever he be shall be or whom he hereafter may call Patron The Play is commended by a Copy of Latin Verses and Two writ in English The Prologue is a Dialogue betwixt Venus Thetis and Phoebus sung by two Trebles and a Base Venus being Phosphorus as well as Vesper appearing at a window above as risen calling to Sol who lay in Thetis Lap at the East-side of the Stage canopy'd with an Azure Curtain Our Author seems to me to be much of the Humor of Ben Johnson whose greatest weakness was that he could not bear Censure and has so great a Value for Ben's Writings that his Scene betwen Love-all Mungrel Hammershin Act 3. Sc. 7. is copy'd from that in Johnson's Play called The Silent Woman between True-wit Daw and La-fool Act. 4. Sc. 5. I know not whether our Author were in Orders when he writ this Play but I know there are Eleven Sermons in print under his Name published 4 o Lond. 1646. Richard HEAD This Author liv'd in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second He was born in Ireland of English Parents being the Son of a Clergy-man who was murther'd in the deplorable Massacre of Ireland in the beginning of the Rebellion which broke out there on the 2 d day of October 1641. He was educated for some small time in the University of Oxford and afterwards exchang'd his Study for a Booksellers Shop I remember him a Bookseller and Partner with Kirkman if I mistake not in the Alley that fronts the North-gate of Pauls call'd Cannon-Alley He was a Man extreamly given to pleasure and yet of excellent Natural Parts had they been improv'd by Virtue or fix'd by Solidity He writ a Play call'd Hic ubique or The Humour 's of Dublin a Comedy acted privately with good Applause printed in quarto Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the Illustrious Charles Duke of Monmouth and Orkney He has writ several other Pieces of different Subjects tho' all of them trivial and which betray'd his Conversation as The first part of the English Rogue Venus Cabinet unlock'd The Art of Wheedling The Floating Island or A Voyage from Lambethania to Ram-allia A Discovery of O Brasil Jackson's Recantation The Red-sea and some Pieces against Dr. Wild all which I have borrow'd from Mr. Winstanley and shall be ready to return him Interest for it in the Next Edition of his Book if he pleases to command me Our Author according to Mr. Winstanley was cast away at Sea in his passage to the Isle of Wight William HEMMINGS A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and was Master of Arts of the University of Oxford tho' I cannot inform my self of what Colledge He writ two Tragedies which in his time were in some esteem and one of them has appear'd on the Stage since the Restitution of his late Majesty and the Muses with Approbation It is call'd Fatal Contract a Tragedy acted with good Applause by Her Majesties Servants and printed quarto Lond. 1653. This Play was published after the Author's Death having pass'd thro' many Hands as a Curiosity of Wit and Language and was dedicated to the Right Honourable James Compton Earl of Northampton and to Isabella his Virtuous Countess It was reviv'd not many Years since under the Title of Love and Revenge with some Alterations the Old Play being out of print it was about three Years ago reprinted as a New Play under the Title of The Eunuch For the Plot 't is founded on the French Chronicle in the Reigns of Chilperic the First and Clotaire the Second Consult Gregoire de Tours Lib. 4 5. c. Aimoin Fredegaire Sigebert Fortunat Valois De Serres Mezeray c. Jews Tragedy or their fatal and final Overthrow by Vespasian and Titus his Son agreeable to the Authentick and Famous History of Josephus printed 4 o Lond. 1662. This Play was not published till some Years after the Author's Death For the History consult Josephus Lib. 6 7. Jasper HEYWOOD This Author was Son to John Heywood the Famous Epigramatist of which by and by and was bred in his younger Years at Merton Colledge and afterwards was a Member of All-Souls Colledge in Oxford In some few Years he changed the University for S. Omers where he became a fierce Bigotted Jesuite and was the first Jesuite that set foot in England Dr. Fuller says He was executed in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth but Sir Richard Baker tells us That he was one of the Chief of those seventy Priests that were taken in the Year 1585. and when some of them were condemn'd and the rest in danger of the Law that Gracious Queen caus'd them all to be Ship'd away and sent out of England During his Residence in the University he imploy'd part of his time in translating three of Seneca's Tragedies of which we shall give an Account But first with the Readers permission since an hansome Opportunity offers it self we will present you with an Abridgment of the Life of this our Poetical-Stoick Lucius Annaeus Seneca was born at Cordoüa in Spain a little before the Death of Augustus Caesar. He bore his Father's Name which Conformity has mis-led some Authors causing them to ascribe to the Son
Gray's Inn. Our Author in the Epistle both to this Play and The English Traveller pleads Modesty in not exposing his Plays to the publick view of the World in numerous Sheets and a large Volume under the Title of Works as others By which he would seem tacitly to arraign some of his Contemporaries for Ostentation and want of Modesty I am apt to believe that our Author levell'd his Accusation at Ben Johnson since no other Poet that I know of in those day gave his Plays the pompous Title of Works of which Sir John Suckling has taken notice in his Sessions of the Poets The first that broke silence was good Old Ben Prepar'd before with Canary Wine And he told them plainly that he deserv'd the Bays For his were call'd Works where others were but Plays This puts me in mind of a Distick directed by some Poet of that Age to Ben Johnson Pray tell me Ben where does the myst'ry lurk What others call a Play you call a Work Which was thus answer'd by a Friend of his The Author's Friend thus for the Author say's Ben's Plays are Works when others Works are Plays Fair Maid of the West or A Girl worth Gold the second Part acted before the King and Queen with approved Liking by the Queens Majesties Comedians printed 4 o Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the true Favourer of the Muses and all good Arts Thomas Hammond Esq of Grays-Inn These Plays as our Author acquaints his Patron ` Not only past the ` Censure of the Plebe and Gentry but of the Patricians and Pretextatae as also of our Royal-Augustus and Livia I know not where our Poet met with this Story but as Poets usually take the Foundation of a Play from a History or a Romance so these two Plays have serv'd for the Subject of a Romance which on this Model was writ by John Dancer above-mentioned to whom I refer you Fortune by Land and Sea a Tragi-comedy acted with great applause by the Queen's Servants written by our Author and the Well-Esteem'd William Rowly but not printed till after their Decease 4 o Lond. 1655. Four Prentices of London with the Conquest of Jerusalem a History divers times acted at the Red-Bull by the Queens Majesties Servants with good applause printed 4 o Lond. 1635. and dedicated to the Honest High-Spirited Prentices the Readers This Play was written as the Author says in his Infancy of Judgement in this kind of Poetry and his first Practice and that as Plays were then some sixteen Years before its Publication it was in the Fashion This Play is founded on the Exploits of the Famous Godfrey of Bulloign who took Jerusalem from the Infidels the 15. of July A.D. 1099. For the Story see Tasso's Il Gosredo Dr. Fuller's Holy War The late History of the Croïsades c. If you know not me you know no Body or The Troubles of Queen Elizabeth a History in two Parts printed 4 o Lond. 1623. This Play was printed without the Author's Knowledge or Consent and that so corruptly it not being divided into Acts that at the Reviving of it at the Cock-pit after having been acted for the space of one and twenty Years he writ a Prologue which particularly inveigh'd against this Imperfect Copy as will appear by the following Lines 'T was ill nurst And yet receiv'd as well perform'd at first Grac'd and frequented for the Cradle-Age Did throng the Seats the Boxes and the Stage So much that some by Stenography drew The Plot put it in print scarce one word true And in that lameness it has limpt so long The Author now to vindicate that wrong Hath took the pains upright upon it's feet To teach it walk so please you sit and see 't For the Plot see the Writers of the Life of Q. Elizabeth as Cambden Speed Du Chesne c. And our Author had so great a Veneration for that Heroick Pricess that he writ a little Historical Piece call'd England's Elizabeth printed 8 o Lond. 1631. Lancashire Witches a well receiv'd Comedy acted at the Globe on the Bank-side by the Kings Majesties Actors written by our Author and the Ingenious Rich. Brome and printed 4o. Lond. 16 I have read in my younger Days if I mistake not the Foundation of this Play in an old English Quarto but as to that part of the Plot where Whetstone revenges himself by his Aunt 's means on Arthur Shakstone and Bantam for calling him Bastard Act 4. Sc. the last 't is founded on the Story of John Teutonicus of Holberstad a place in High-Germany who was a known Bastard and a Magician Our Author has related this Story in Verse in his Hierarchy of Angels Lib. 8. pag. 512 c. Loves Mistris or The Queen's Masque three times acted before their Majesties within the space of eight Days in the presence of sundry Forreign Embassadours Publickly acted by the Queen's Comedians at the Phoenix in Drury-Lane The Second Impression corrected by the Author printed 4 o Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Dorset The Play is founded on Apuleius's Golden Ass a kind of Romance in Latin and English'd by W. Addington 4 o Lond. 1634. Maidenhead well lost a pleasant Comedy publickly acted in Drury-Lane with much applause by her Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1634. Rape of Lucrece a true Roman Tragedy with the several Songs in their appointed places by Valerius the merry Lord among the Roman Peers The Copy revis'd and sundry Songs before omitted now inserted in their right places acted by the Majesties Servants at the Red-Bull printed 4 o Lond. 1638. For the Plot see Livy Dec. 1. C. 58. Florus Lib. 1. C. 7. Val. Max. Lib. 6. C. 11. Ex. 1. Robert Earl of Huntington's Downfall afterwards call'd Robin Hood of Merry Sherwoode with his Love to Chaste Matilda the Lord Fitz-water's Daughter afterwards his Fair Maid Marian acted by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham the Lord High Admiral of England his Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1601. Robert Earl of Huntington's Death otherwise call'd Robin Hood of Merry Sherwoode with the Lamentable Tragedy of Chaste Matilda his Fair Maid Marian poyson'd at Dunmow by the King and printed 4o. Lond. 1601. Both these Plays are printed in Black-Letter but neither of them are divided into Acts. The first part is introduc'd by John Shelton Poet Laureat to King Henry the Eighth and the the second by Fryar Tuck For the Plot see our English Chronicles in the Reign of King Richard the First as Du Chesne Speed Baker c. See besides Fullers Worthies in the Account of Nottinghamshire p. 315 Drayton's Polyolbion Song 26. Royal King and Loyal Subject a Tragi-comedy acted with great applause by the Queens Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. The Plot of this Play extreamly resembles that of Fletcher's Loyal Subject Wise-Woman of Hogsden a Comedy sundry times acted with good applause printed quarto Lond. 1638. This Play is commended
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
Author has made English by a nearer adherence to the Original than to the French Translation For the Plot 't is founded on Ovid's Metamorphosis lib. 11. See besides Catulli Aurgonautica sive Epithalamium 'T is not to be expected that I should spare room to give an Account of our Authors Works in particular they being so numerous I shall therefore only mention some of the most Emiment and refer the Reader for further Satisfaction to the perusal of a Catalogue of them published with a former Edition of his Letters printed 8o. Lond. 1655. His chief Pieces are Dodona's Grove a Book much priz'd and translated into French 1652. His Letters which were formerly in four distinct Volumes and are reduc'd into one amongst which are several to Ben. Johnson which speak their Intimacy Besides these he has writ a Book of the Precedency of Kings printed Fol. Lond. 1664. Survey of the Seniorie of Venice Fol. Lond. 1652. Life of Lewis the Thirteenth and Cardinal Richelieu Fol. Lond. 1646. Morphandra or The Queen of the Enchanted Island a Poem in Fol. The Vote a Poem Royal in 4 o c. He died about the beginning of November 1666. and was buried on the North-side of the Temple-Church with this Inscription fix'd upon the Wall Jacobus Howell Cambro-Britannus Regius Historiographus in Anglia primus qui post varias peregrinationes tandem naturae cursum peregit Satur Annorum Famae domae forisque huc usque erraticus heic fixus 1666. I. Thomas JEVORN A Person lately dead and one sufficiently known to all that frequent the Theatre both for his Excellency in Dancing and Action He has writ a Play or rather a Farce call'd The Devil of a Wife or A Comical Transformation acted by their Majesties Servants at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden printed 4o. Lond. 1686. and dedicated to his Friends that frequent Locket's Ordinary This Farce is founded on a Tale as well known as that of Mopsa in Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia tho' I think if compar'd with our French Farces so frequent on our English Stage it may deserve the Preheminence Thoms INGELAND A Student in Cambridge in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth The Author of a Play which he stiles A Pretty and Merry Interlude call'd The Disobedient Child 'T is writ in old Verse of Ten Syllables and printed 4o. in an old Black Letter without any Date by Thomas Colwell in Fleet-street John JONES An Author who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and writ a Play nam'd Adrasta or The Womans Spleen and Loves Conquest a Tragi-comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1635. and dedicated to Eugenius by which Name he desires to comprehend all his Friends subscribing himself Musophilus This Play the Actors refus'd and I think with Justice it being very indifferently written The Intrigue between Damasippus Frail-ware and their Wives in the third Act is borrow'd from Boccace's Novels Day 8. Nov. 8 However the Author was of Opinion it deserved to appear in publick and therefore prefix'd the following Saying of Horace in his Title-page volet haec sub luce videri Judicis argutum quae non formidat acumen Benjamin JOHNSON I have already drawn some strokes of this Great Man's Character in my Defence of him against the Attempts of Mr. Dryden and therefore shall less need to make a curious and exact Description of all his Excellencies which otherwise are very Great Noble and Various and have been remark'd in parcells by several Hands but exceed my small Capacity to collect them into one full View I shall therefore rather let them lye dispers'd as Scaliger did Virgil's Praises thro' his whole Book of Poetry contenting my self at present with giving the Reader an Account of the private Occurrencies of his Life To begin then with his Nativity He was born in the City of Westminster and tho' he sprang from mean Parents yet his Admirable Parts have made him more Famous than those of a more Conspicuous Extraction Nor do I think it any Diminution to him that he was Son-in-law to a Bricklayer and work'd at that Trade since if we take a Survey of the Records of Antiquity we shall find the Greatest Poets of the meanest Birth and most lyable to the Inconveniencies of Life Witness Homer who begg'd from door to door Euripides traded in Herbs with his Mother Plautus was forc'd to serve a Baker Naevius was a Captain's Man Terence was a Slave to the Generous Lucan Virgil was the Son of a Basket-maker and yet these thought the Obscurity of their Extraction no Diminution to their Worth nor will any Man of Sence reflect on Ben. Johnson on this Account if he seriously call to Mind that saying of Juvenal Nobilitas sola est atque unica Virtus He was Bred first at a Private-School in St. Martin's Church then plac'd at Westminster under the Famous Mr. Cambden to whom in Gratitude he dedicated his Fourteenth Epigram afterwards he was sent to Saint John's Colledge in Cambridge from thence he remov'd to Oxford and was enter'd of Christ-Church Colledge where in the Year 1619. as Mr. Wood says he took his Master of Arts Degree tho' Dr. Fuller says He continu'd there but few Weeks for want of Maintenance being fain to return to the Trade of his Father-in-law where he assisted in the New Building of Lincolns Inn with a Trowel in his Hand and a Book in his Pocket But this English Maro was not long before he found a Maecenas and a Varus to manumit him from an Employment so painful and furnisht him with means to enjoy his Muse at liberty in private 'T was then that he writ his Excellent Plays and grew into Reputation with the most Eminent of our Nobility and Gentry 'T was then that Carthwright Randolph and others of both Universities sought his Adoption and gloried more in his Friendship and the Title of his Sons than in their own Well-deserv'd Characters Neither did he less love or was less belov'd by the Famous Poets of his Time Shakspear Beaumont and Fletcher witness his Copy which he writ on Shakspear after his Death and his Verses to Fletcher when living He was a Man of a very free Temper and withal blunt and somewhat haughty to those that were either Rivals in Fame or Enemies to his Writings witness his Poetaster wherein he falls upon Decker and his answer to Dr. Gill who writ against his Magnetick Lady otherwise of a good Sociable Humour when amongst his Sons and Friends in the Apollo from whose Laws the Reader may possibly better judge of his Temper a Copy of which I have transcrib'd for the Learn'd Readers perusal Leges Convivales quod foelix faustumque Convivis in Apolline sit Nemo asymbolus nisi umbra huc venito Idiota insultus tristis turpis abesto Eruditi Urbani Hilares Modesti adsciscuntur Nec lectae Foeminae repudiantur In apparatu quod convivis corruget nares nil esto Epulae delectu potius quam sumptu
this Play the Author has writ Annotations Pan's Anniversary or The Shepherd's Holy-day a Masque presented at Court before King James 1625. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. In the Decorations our Author was assisted by the above mention'd Mr. Jones Pleasure reconcil'd to Virtue a Masque presented at Court before King James 1619. to which were made some Additions for the Honour of Wales This in former Catalogues was mention'd as a Masque distinct from the other Poetaster or His Arraignment a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1601. by the then Children of his Majesties Chappel with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Vertuous and his Worthy Friend Mr. Richard Martin I have already spoken of this Play in the Account of Decker's Satyromastix and I must further add I heartily wish for our Author's Reputation that he had not been the Agressor in this Quarrel but being altogether ignorant of the Provocations given him I must suspend my Judgment and leave it to better Judges to determine the Controversy Our Author has adorn'd this Play with several Translations from the Ancients as Ovid. Amor. lib. 1. Eleg. 15. Horatii Sat. lib. 1. Sat. 9. lib. 2. Sat. 1. Virgilii AEneid lib. 4. with others Queen's Masques the first of Blackness personated at the Court at Whitehall on the Twelfth-Night 1605. the second of Beauty was presented in the same Court at Whitehall on the Sunday Night after the Twelfth-Night 1608. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Sad Shepherd or A Tale of Robin Hood a Pastoral printed fol. Lond. 1641. This Play is left imperfect there being but two Acts and part of the third finisht Sejanus's Fall a Tragedy first acted in the Year 1603. by the Kings Majesties Servants with the Allowance of the Master of the Revells printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the No less Noble by Virtue than Blood Esme Lord Aubigny This Play is generally commended by all Lovers of Poetry and usher'd into the World by nine Copys of Verses one of which was writ by Mr. George Chapman 'T is founded on History and the Author in a former Edition published 4o. Lond. 1605. has printed Quotations throughout the Reasons whereof take in his own Words being part of the Preface to that Edition The next is least in some nice Nostrils the Quotations might favour affected I do let you know That I abhor nothing more and have only done it to shew my Integrity in the Story and save my self in those common Torturers that bring all Wit to the Rack whose Noses are ever like Swine spoiling and rooting up the Muses Gardens and their whole Bodies like Moles as blindly working under Earth to cast any the least hills upon Vertue For the Story the Reader may consult Tacitus's Annals lib. 3 4 5. Suetonius in the Life of Tiberius Dion c. Silent Woman a Comedy first acted in the Year 1609. by the Children of her Majesties Revels with the Allowance of the Master of the Revels printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the truly Noble by all Titles Sir Francis Stuart Part of this Play is borrow'd from the Ancients as Act 1. Sc. 1. part from Ovid de Arte Amandi Act 2 Sc. 2. part from Juvenal Sat. 6. Act 2. Sc. 5. part from Plautus's Aulularia Act 3. Sc. 5. with other passages Notwithstanding which this Play is Accounted by all One of the best Comedies we have extant and those who would know more may be amply satisfied by the perusal of the judicious Examen of this Play made by Mr. Dryden Speeches at Prince Henry's Barriers printed fol. Lond. 1640. These Speeches being printed amongst his other Masques and always reckoned under that Species of Poetry by others in former Catalogues I could not omit their Mention in this place Staple of News a Comedy acted in the Year 1625. by his Majesties Servants and printed fol. Lond. 1631. The Author introduces four Gossips on the Stage who continue during the Action and criticise on the Play This was practised more than once witness Every man out of his Humor and Magnetick Lady and herein he was follow'd by Fletcher as I have already observ'd in His Knight of the Burning-pestle Tale of a Tub a Comedy printed fol. Lond. 1640. Time vindicated to himself and to his Honours a Masque presented at Court on Twelfth-Night 1623. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Vission of Delight a Masque presented at Court in Christmas 1617. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Vulpone or The Fox a Comedy first acted in the Year 1605. by the Kings Majesties Servants with the Allowance of the Master of the Revells printed fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to both Universities in the following form To the most Noble and most Equal Sisters the two Famous Universities for their Love and Acceptance shewn to his Poem in the Presentation Ben. Johnson the grateful Acknowledger dedicates both it and himself This Play is writ in Imitation of the Comedy of the Ancients and the Argument is form'd into an Acrostick like those of Plautus which are said to be writ by Priscian or some other Eminent Grammarian It is still in vogue at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden and its value is sufficiently manifested by the Verses of Mr. Beaumont and Dr. Donne All these Plays with several other Poems and Translations and an English Grammar are printed together in two Volumes in Folio He has three other Plays which are omitted in these Volumes tho' for what reason I know not two of which are printed in 4o. and the third in 8o. of which we are now to speak Case is alter'd a pleasant Comedy sundry times acted by the Children of the Black-fryars and printed 4o. Lond. 1609. In this Comedy our Author hath very much made use of Plautus as the Learned Reader may observe by comparing His Aulularia and Capteivei with this Comedy Widow a Comedy acted at the Private House in Black-fryars with great applause by his late Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1652. This Play was writ by Mr. Johnson Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Middleton and first publisht by Mr. Alexander Gough a great lover of Plays who helpt Mr. Mosely the Bookseller to this and several other Dramatick Manuscripts as the Passionate Lovers 2. parts The Queen or The Excellency of her Sex c. It was reviv'd not many Years ago at the King's House with a new Prologue and Epilogue which the Reader may find in London Drollery p. 11 12. New-Inn or The Light Heart a Comedy never acted but most negligently play'd by some the Kings Servants and more squeamishly beheld and censured by others the Kings Subjects 1629. Now at last set at liberty to the Readers his Majesties Servants and Subjects to be judg'd printed 8o. Lond. 1631. The Reader may see by this Title-page that the Play succeeded not answerable to our Author's Expectation and the just Merit as he thought of his Play which may be conjectured from the Ode
And in great Choller offer'd to go out But Those that were there thought it not fit To discontent so ancient a Wit And therefore Apollo call'd him back agen And made him mine Host of his own New-Inn I know nothing else published by our Author only I have read a Letter from Mr. James Howell to Dr. Duppa then Bishop of Chichester and Tutor to King Charles the Second when Prince of Wales that he was publishing a Piece call'd Johnsonus Verbius to which Mr. Howell contributed a Decastick I know not what Reception Mr. Howell's Verses met with in the World but I am confident he had willingly allowed Mr. Oldham's Ode had he then liv'd a place in the first Rank of Poets The Title sufficiently explains the Design and the Reader may find it commended by an Ingenious Copy of Verses addrest to the Bishop by Sir W. D'Avenant See his Poems Fol. Edit p. 253. He died An. D. 1637. being aged 63. and was buried in St. Peter's Church in Westminster on the West-side near the Belfry having only a plain Stone over his Grave with this Inscription O RARE BEN. JOHNSON 'T is manifest that a better Monument was design'd him by some Friends but the Civil Wars breaking out hindred their good Intentions tho' it shall not prevent me from transcribing an Elegy written by a Studious Friend and Admirer of Ben. Johnson which I wish were set upon his Grave Hic Johnsonus noster Lyricorum Dramaticorumque Coryphaeus qui Pallade auspice laurum à Graecia ipsaque Roma rapuit fausto Omine in Brittaniam transtulit nostram nunc invidia major fato nec tamen aemulis cessit An Dom. 1637. Id. Nov. Thomas JORDAN An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who could both write and act Plays as appears from three Drammas he has publisht and from a Tragedy call'd Messalina in which he acted the part of Lepida Mother to that shameless Empress His Plays are two Comedies and a Masque viz. Fancies Festivals a Masque printed 4o. Lond. 16 This I have not at present but have formerly read it with satisfaction and still retain the following Lines spoken by a Souldier God and the Souldier Men alike adore Just at the brink of danger and no more The danger past both are alike requited God is forgotten and the Souldier slighted Money is an Ass a Comedy acted with good applause printed 4o. Lond. 1668. I suppose by the Stile this was writ and possibly publish'd some Years before it being a common thing with Mr. Kirkman to publish old Plays as Any thing for a Quiet Life Cure for a Cuckold Gammer Gurton's Needle and many others Walks of Islington and Hogsdon with the Humors of Woodstreet-Compter a Comedy publickly acted Nineteen Days together with extraordinary applause printed 4o. Lond. 1657. and dedicated to the true Lover of Ingenuity the much Honour'd Richard Cheyny of Hackney Esq This Play in those days was commended by a Copy of Verses written by R. C. Master of Arts part of which are thus These Walks 'twixt Islington Hogsdon will Like those 'twixt Tempe and Parnassus Hill Show how the Muses in their sportfull Rage Set all the Town a walking to your Stage With so much Wit and Art and Judgment laid That Nineteen dayes together they were play'd Now by the bounty of the Press we be Possess'd of that which we before did see Not pleasing only Nineteen times read o're But Nineteen Ages or till Times no more William JOYNER A Gentleman born in Oxfordshire and Educated in Magdalen Colledge where he was sometime Fellow but upon the Change of his Religion or in order to it he voluntarily quitted his Place in the beginning of the Wars After he left the Colledge he betook himself to a retir'd Life never intermedling with the Controversies of Religion or the Affairs of State which prudent Demeanor joyned with the Sweetness of his Disposition continued him in the Favour and Good-will of the Society till the New-modelling of the Colledge under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners by whom he was re-placed in his former Station but did not long enjoy it the Colledge being shortly after again restored to its former Settlement That he did not wholly bid Adieu to the Muses when he first withdrew from the University may appear by a Dramma that he publish'd under the Name of The Roman Empress a Tragedy acted at the Royal Theatre by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1671. and dedicated to the Honourable Sir Charles Sidley This Play in spight of a dead Vacation and some other Impediments found the applause and approbation of the Theatre as oft as it appear'd The Author has propos'd the Oedipus and Hippolitus for his pattern and I think it may justly deserve to be observ'd That his Tragedy is writ in a more Masculine and lofty Stile than most Plays of this Age and Terror and Compassion being the chief hinges on which he design'd his Tragedy should turn he has judiciously rejected what he calls the Gingling Antitheses of Love and Honour By the Advice of Friends he tells us that he hath disguis'd the Names yet that this Emperour was One of the Greatest that ever Rome boasted I am apt to believe that under the Character of Valentius the Author means Constantine the Great and that Crispus and his Mother-in-law Faustina are shadow'd under the Characters of Florus and Fulvia but this being only Conjecture I must leave it to the Criticks Decision Our Author has nothing else in print that I know of except a little Book entituled Some Observations on the Life of Cardinal Reginal dus Polus where he disguises his Name under these two Letters G. L. which I take to be Guilielmus Lyde the Ancient Name of that Family 'T is printed 8o. Lond. 1686. In this Book the Reader is made acquainted not only with the Authors Reading Stile and Judgment but his skill in the French and Italian Languages K. Henry KILLEGREW AN Author who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and writ a Play call'd Conspiracy a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1638. This Play was design'd for an Entertainment of the King and Queen at York-House at the Nuptials of the Lady Mary Villiers and the Lord Charles Herbert 'T was afterwards acted on the Black-fryars Stage and found the approbation of the most Excellent Persons of this kind of Writing which were in that time if there were ever better in any time Ben Johnson being then alive who gave a Testimony of this Perce even to be envy'd Some Cavillers at its first Representation at Blackfryars exclaim'd against the Indecorum that appear'd in the part of Cleander who being represented as a Person of seventeen years old is made to speak words that would better sute with the Age of Thirty saying It was monstrous and impossible but the Author was sufficiently vindicated by the Lord Viscount Faulkland who made the following Repartee to One of these Hypercriticks
Sir 't is not altogether so monstrous and impossible for One of Seventeen Years to speak at such a rate when He that made him speak in that manner and writ the whole Play was Himself no Older This Impression was printed without the Authors consent from a false and an imperfect Transcript the Original Copy being with the Author in Italy so that it might rather be call'd the First Design or Foul Draught than a True Copy This occasioned a new Edition and the Publisher impos'd on it a New Title that it might shew as little Affinity as possible to what he calls its Anti-type stiling it Pallantus and Eudora a Tragedy printed fol. Lond. 1653. To this Edition I recommend the Reader remembring that of Martial Multum crede mihi refert à fonte bibatur Quae stuit an pigro quae stupet unda lacu Thomas KILLEGREW A Gentleman well known at Court having been Page of Honour to King Charles the First and Groom of the Bed-chamber to King Charles the Second with whom he endur'd twenty Years Exile During his abode beyond Sea he took a view of France Italy and Spain and was Honoured by his Majesty with the Creditable Employ of Resident at the State of Venice whither he was sent in August 1651. During his Absence from his Country he diverted himself with the Muses writing several Playes of which Sir John Denham in a jocular way takes notice in his Copy of Verses on our Author's Return from his Embassie from Venice I. Our Resident Tom From Venice is come And hath left the Statesman behind him Talks at the same pitch Is as wise is as rich And just where you left him you find him II. But who says he was not A man of much Plot May repent that false Accusation Having plotted and penn'd Six Plays to attend The Farce of his Negotiation Tho' Sir John Denham mentions but six our Author writ nine Plays in his Travells and two at London amongst which his Don Thomaso in two parts and his Parson's Wedding will always be valu'd by the best Judges and Admirers of Dramatick Poetry Of these Eleven Plays I shall speak in their Order Bellamira her Dream or Love of Shadows a Tragi-comedy the first Part printed fol. Lond. 1663. written in Venice and dedicated to the Lady Mary Villiers Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox Bellamira her Dream the second Part a Tragi-comedy written in Venice printed fol. Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the Lady Anne Villiers Countess of Essex Cicilia and Clorinda or Love in Arms a Tragi-comedy the first Part printed fol. Lond. 1663. written in Turin and dedicated to the Lady Anne Villiers Countess of Morton Cicilia and Clorinda the second Part a Tragi-comedy printed fol. Lond. 1663. written in Florence in August 1651. and dedicated to the Lady Dorothy Sidney Countess of Sunderland The first Scene between Amadeo Lucius and Manlius seems copied from the Characters of Aglatidas Artabes and Megabises in the Grand Cyrus see the History of Aglatidas and Amestris Part 1. Book 3. Claracilla a Tragi-comedy printed Folio Lond. 1663. written in Rome and dedicated to his Dear Sister the Lady Shannon On this Play and The Prisoners Mr. Carthwright has writ an ingenious Copy of Verses which the Reader may find amongst his Poems p. 258. Parson's Wedding a Comedy printed Folio Lond. 1663. written at Basil in Switzerland and dedicated to the Lady Ursula Bartu Widow This Play was reviv'd at the Old Theatre in little Lincolns-Inn-fields and acted all by Women a new Prologue and Epilogue being spoken by Mrs. Marshal in Man's Cloaths which the Reader may find printed in Covent-Garden Drollery 8o. pag. 3. c. The Intrigue of Careless and Wild circumventing the Lady Wild and Mrs. Pleasance into Marriage is an Incident in several Plays as Ram-Alley Antiquary c. but in none so well manag'd as in this Play Pilgrim a Tragedy printed Fol. Lond. 1663. written in Paris in the Year 1651. and dedicated to the Countess of Carnarvan Princess or Love at first sight a Tragi-comedy printed Fol. Lond. 1663. written in Naples and dedicated to his Dear Neece the Lady Anne Wentworth Wife to the Lord Lovelace Prisoners a Tragi-comedy printed Fol. Lond. 1663. written in London and dedicated to his Dear Neece the Lady Crompton Thomaso or The Wanderer a Comedy in two Parts printed Fol. Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the Fair and Kind Friends of Prince Palatine Polexander In the first part of this Play the Author has borrow'd several Ornaments as the Song sung by Angelica Act 2. Sc. 3. is taken from Fletcher's Play call'd The Captain Act 4. He has made use of Ben Johnson considerably for not only the Character of Lopus but even the very Words are copied from Johnson's Fox where Vulpone personates Scoto of Mantua as the Reader will see by comparing Act 4. Sc. 2. of this Play with that of the Fox Act 2. Sc. 2. I do not believe that our Author design'd to conceal his Theft since he is so just to acknowledge a Song against Jealousy which he borrow'd and was written by Mr. Thomas Carew Cup-bearer to King Charles the First and sung in a Masque at Whitehall An. 1633. This Chorus says he I presume to make use of here because in the first design 't was writ at my request upon a Dispute held betwixt Mrs. Cicilia Crofts and my self where he was present she being then Maid of Honor this I have set down lest any man should believe me so foolish as to steal such a Poem from so famous an Author or so vain as to pretend to the making of it my self Certainly therefore if he scrupled to rob Mr. Carew he would much more Mr. Johnson whose Fame as much exceeded the others as his Writings and Compositions are better known However it be I am sure he is not the only Poet that has imp'd his Wings with Mr. Johnson's Feathers and if every Poet that borrows knew as well as Mr. Killegrew how to dispose of it 't would certainly be very excusable All these Plays are printed together in One Volume in Folio Lond. 1664. Sir William KILLEGREW A Gentleman who by his Writings and honourable Station in the Court being Vice-Chamberlain to the Queen Dowager is well known He is the Author of Four Plays which have been applauded whether with Justice or no I leave to the Criticks by Men who have themselves been reputed Eminent for Poetry as Mr. Waller Sr. Robert Stapleton Mr. Lodowick Carlell and others I shall therefore only acquaint the Reader with their several Titles and submit them to his further judgment Ormasdes or Love and Friendship a Tragi-Comedy Pandora or The Converts a Comedy Selindra a Tragi-comedy Siege of Urbin a Tragi-comedy All these Plays were printed together in Folio Oxon 1666. There is another Play ascrib'd to our Author call'd The Imperial Tragedy printed Fol. Lond. 1669. the chief part was taken out of a Latine Play and very much alter'd by him for
his own diversion But upon the Importunity of Friends he was prevailed with to have it publisht but without Name because many do censure Plays according to their Opinions of the Author The Plot is founded on the History of Zeno the Twelfth Emperor of Constantinople after Constantine Several Authors have writ his Story as Marcellinus Cassiodorus Cedrenus Evagrius Zonoras Baronius c. John KIRKE A Writer in the Reign of King Charles the First of a Play call'd The Seven Champions of Christendome acted at the Cock-pit and at the Red Bull in St. John's Street with a general liking printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to his much respected and worthy Friend Mr. John Waite This Play is written in a mixt stile and founded on that well known Book in prose which bears the same Title See besides Dr. Heylin's History of St. George Ralph KNEVET An Author that liv'd about the same time with the former He writ a Play call'd Rhodon and Iris a Pastoral presented at the Florists Feast in Norwich May the Third 1631. printed 4o. Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Mr. Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham Esquire This Pastoral is commended by Four Copies of Verses Thomas KYD. An Ancient Writer or rather Translator in the time of Queen Elizabeth who publisht a Play call'd Pompey the Great his Fair Cornelia's Tragedy effected by her Father and Husband 's Down-cast Death and Fortune printed 4o. Lond. 1595. and dedicated to the Virtuously Noble and rightly Honour'd Lady the Countess of Sussex This Play is translated from the French of Robert Garnier who in the Reigns of Charles the Ninth Henry the Third and Henry the Fourth was accounted an Excellent Poet tho' M. Rapin says His Tragedies with those of Rotrou Serre and others of that time are of a mean Character 'T is evident to any that have read his Tragedies which are Nine in Number that he propos'd Seneca for his Model and he was thought in those days to have happily succeeded in his Design This Translation is writ in blank Verse only here and there at the close of a Paragraph if I may so speak the Reader is presented with a Couplet The Chorus's are writ in several Measures of Verse and are very sententious L. John LACY A Comedian whose Abilities in Action were sufficiently known to all that frequented the King's Theatre where he was for many years an Actor and perform'd all Parts that he undertook to a miracle in so much that I am apt to believe that as this Age never had so the next never will have his Equal at least not his Superiour He was so well approv'd of by King Charles the Second an undeniable Judge in Dramatick Arts that he caus'd his Picture to be drawn in three several Figures in the same Table viz. That of Teague in the Committee Mr. Scruple in The Cheats and M. Galliard in The Variety which piece is still in being in Windsor-Castle Nor did his Talent wholly ly in Acting he knew both how to judge and write Plays and if his Comedies are somewhat allied to French Farce 't is out of choice rather than want of Ability to write true Comedy We have Three Plays extant under his Name viz. Dumb Lady or The Farriar made Physitian a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the High-born and most Hopeful Prince Charles Lord Limrick and Earl of Southampton This Play is founded on a Comedy of Molliere's call'd Le Medecin malgré luy If the Reader will take the pains to compare them together he will easily see that our Author has much improv'd the French Play Old Troop or Monsieur Ragou a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the young Prince George Third Son to the Dutchess of Cleveland I fancy by the stile this Play likewise is founded on some French Original tho' my small Acquaintance with French Poets makes me speak only on Conjecture Both these Plays were acted with universal Applause Sir Hercules Buffoon or The Poetical Squire a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1684. This Play was brought upon the Stage and publisht after the Author's Decease the Prologue was writ by Mr. Durfey the Epilogue by Jo. Heyns the Comedian and both spoken by the later I know not how this Play succeeded on the Theatre but I am confident had the Author been alive to have grac'd it with his Action it could not have fail'd of Applause This Mr. Durfey has observ'd in the beginning of his Prologue Ye Scribling Fops cry mercy if I wrong ye But without doubt there must be some among ye Know that fam'd Lacy Ornament o' th' Stage That Standard of true Comedy in our Age Wrote this New Play And if it takes not all that we can say on 't Is we 've his Fiddle not his Hands to play on 't John LEANARD A confident Plagiary whom I disdain to stile an Author One who tho' he would be esteem'd the Father is at best but the Midwife to the Labour of others I mean those Two Dramatick Pieces which go under his Name I know not how they were receiv'd on the Stage but I am sure the Author deserv'd tho' the Plays might not to be damn'd for his vain-glorious Humour of re-printing another Man's Play under his own Name as he has done Mr. Brewer's Country Girl under the Title of Country Innocence or The Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1677. and dedicated to his Honour'd Friend Sr. Francis Hinchman Whether his Patrons Instructions rais'd him to that height of presumption as to publish another man's Play as his own I pretend not to judge but I am sure he has sufficiently made appear to the World that he is One of those Authors he speaks of whose Arrogance and Impudence are their chief dependency Had our Author been as well acquainted with Martial as he pretends to be with Homer he would have weigh'd his Opinion before he had made any progression as he calls it in his Thefts Mutare dominum non potest liber notus Aliena quisquis recitat petit famam Non emere Librum sed silentium debet Rambling Justice or The Jealous Husbands with the Humours of Sir John Twiford a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1680. A great part of it is stoln from a Comedy of Middleton's call'd More Dissemblers besides Women As the Scene between Sir Generall Amorous and Bramble Act 2. Sc. 1. is stoln from the Scene between Lactantio and Dondolo Act 3. Sc. 1. Petulant Easy disguis'd like a Gipsy in the same Act is borrow'd from Aurelia's Disguise in Middleton's Play Act 4. Sc. 1. The Scene between Bramble and the Gipsies is stoln from the same Play but since our Author is forc'd to strole like One of that Tribe for a Livelihood with the Issue of other Men's Brains I leave him to his
England began first that Language All our Ladies were then his Schollars and that Beauty in Court which could not Parley Eupheisme was as little regarded as She which now there speaks not French Thomas LODGE A Doctor of Physick in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth who was not so entirely devoted to AEsculapius but that during his Residence in the University of Cambridge he sometimes sacrificed to Apollo and the Nine Sisters Mr. Philips says That he was One of the Writers of those pretty old Pastoral Songs and Madrigals which were very much the Strain of those Times But 't is not in Lyrick Poetry alone that he exercis'd his Pen but sometimes he exercis'd it in Dramatick likewise in which way he has publish two Pieces viz. Looking-Glass for London and England a Tragi-comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1598. in an old Black-Letter In this Play our Author was assisted by Mr. Robert Green of whom we have given an Account p. 241. This Drama is founded on Holy Writ being the History of Jonas and the Ninevites form'd into a Play I suppose they chose this Subject in Imitation of others who had writ Dramas on Sacred Subjects long before them as Ezekiel a Jewish Dramatick Poet writ the Deliverance of the Israelites out of Egypt Gregory Nazianzen or as some say Apollinaris of Laodicea writ the Tragedy of Christ's Passion as I learn from the Learned Vossius To these I might add Hugo Grotius Theodore Beza Petavius c. all which have built upon the Foundation of Sacred History Wounds of Civil War lively set forth in the true Tragedies of Marius and Silla publickly Play'd in London by the Right Honourable the Lord High Admiral his Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1594. For the Plot consult Plutarch in the Lives of Marius and Silla Velleius Paterculus Lib. 2 Salust de Bello Jugurth T. Livius Lib. 66 Brev. Florus Lib. 3. C. 3. Aurelius Vistor Eutropius c. This Author as Mr. Winstanley says was an Eminent Writer of Pastoral Songs Odes and Madrigals of which he cites a pretty Sonnet which is said to be of his Composure and he has transcrib'd another in praise of Rosalinde out of his Euphue's Golden-Legacy This Book I never saw and know nothing else of our Author 's Writing except a Treatise of the Plague printed 4o. Lond. 1600. As to the Plays ascrib'd to him by Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley in which he is made an Associate with Mr. Robert Green I have already shewed their mistakes in the Account of that Author to which I refer the Reader Sir William LOWER A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who during the beat of our Civil Wars took Sanctuary in Holland where in peace and privacy he enjoy'd the Society of the Muses He was a great Admirer of the French Poets and bestowed some times and pains in dressing some Plays in an English Garb besides what he has writ himself in his Mother-Tongue So that we are obliged to him for six Plays viz. Amorous Phantasin a Tragi-comedy printed at the Hague 120. 1658. and dedicated to her Highness The Princess Royal. This Play is translated from the French of M. Quinault's Le Fantōme Amoureux which appear'd with success on the French Stage Enchanted Lovers a Pastoral printed at the Hague 120. 1658. Horatius a Roman Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1656. This Play is Translated from the French of Mr. Corneille and as it is the first Version we had of that Admirable Play I think it ought to be excused if it come short of the Excellent Translation of Mr. Cotton and the Incomparable Orinda For the Story consult Livy Lib. 1. Florus Lib. 1. C. 3 Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Cassiodorus c. Noble Ingratitude a Pastoral Tragi-comedy printed at the Hague 120. 1658. and dedicated to Her Majesty the Queen of Bohemia Our Author is fully perswaded that this Play is in the Original One of the best Dramatick Pieces that has been presented on the French Stage and undoubtedly M. Quinault is an Excellent Poet notwithstanding the Raillery of the Sharp-witted Boileau Si je pense exprimer un Auteur sans default La Raison dit Virgile la Rime Quinault Phoenix in her Flames a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful his most Honoured Cousin Thomas Lower Esquire This Play was written before our Author was Knighted and I take it to be the first he writ Polyeuctes a Tragedy Printed 4o. Lond. 1655. For the true Story consult Coeffeteau Hist. Rom. Surius de Vitis Sanctorum As to the Incidents of the Dream of Paulina the Love of Severus the Effectual Baptism of Polyeuctes the Sacrifice for the Emperours Victory the Dignity of Felix the Death of Nearchus the Conversion of Felix and Paulina they are all of them the Author's Invention Three of these Plays viz. Amorous Phantasm Enchanted Lovers Noble Ingratitude were printed together at the Hague during the Author's Exile and at His Majesty's Return the Remainder of the Copies were purchas'd by Mr. Kirkman who printed new Titles in the Year 1661. Thomas LUPON I am able to recover nothing of this Author either as to the time of his Birth the Place where he liv'd or any thing he writ besides a Tragedy mention'd in former Catalogues called All for Money which I never saw M. Lewis MACHIN A Gentlemen that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr the Author of a single Play called Dumb Knight an Historical Comedy acted sundry times by the Children of his Majesties Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1633. Our Author has borrow'd several Incidents from Novels as the Story of Mariana her Swearing Prince Philocles to be Dumb Act 2. is borrow'd from Bandello's Novells as I have read the Story translated by Belleforest Tom. 1. Nov. 13. The same Incident is in a Play called The Queen or The Excellency of her Sex Alfonsos ' Cuckolding Prate the Oratour Act 3. and the latter appearing before the Council and pleading in Alfonso's Cloathes whilst he is brought before the King in the Orator's Habit Act 5. is borrow'd as I remember from another of Bandello's Novels and the English Reader may meet with the same Story in The Complaisant Companion octavo p. 246. John MAIDWEL An Ingenious Person still living as I suppose in London where some time ago he undertook the Care and Tuition of young Gentlemen and kept a Private School during which Employment besides some other Performances with which he has obliged the World he has borrow'd so much time as to write a Play stiled Loving Enemies a Comedy acted at his Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the Honourable Charles Fox Esquire The part of Circumstantio seems to me to resemble the Humor of Sir Formal Trifle especially the Description of the Magpies sucking a Hen's Egg Act 4. Sc. 1. is writ much after the same way with that of the Mouse taken in a Trap See
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
Leonardo from Lucretia's Lodging where he got in by her Maid's Assistance is an Incident as I have already shew'd in several Plays Fine Companion a Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall and sundry times with great applause at the Private House in Salisbury-court by the Prince's Servants printed quarto Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the truly Noble and his worthy Kinsman in all respects Sir Ralph Dutton The Reader will find that Captain Porpuss in Sir Barnaby Whig is beholding to Captain Whibble in his Play for some of his Expressions Holland's Leaguer an Excellent Comedy often acted with great Applause by the High and Mighty Prince Charles his Servants at the Private House in Salisbury-court printed quarto Lond. 1632. The Author in this Play has shewed his Reading having borrow'd several things from Juvenal Petronius Arbyter c. Mr. Winstanley has made no mention of our Author and Mr. Philips to prove his Character of him that he is not an Obscure or Uncopious Writer of English Comedy has ascrib'd two Comedies to him which belong to other Men the Fleire being writ by Edward Sharpham and the Fair Maid of the Exchange if we may believe Kirkman's Account by Thomas Heywood John MARSTON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First who was a Contributor to the Stage in his Time by Eight Plays which were approv'd by the Audience at the Black-fryars and one of them viz. Dutch Curtezan was some few Years since reviv'd with success on the present Stage under the Title of The Revenge or The Match in New-gate The place of our Author's Birth and Family are to me unknown neither can I recover other Information of him than what I learnt from the Testimony of his Bookseller That he was free from all Obscene Speeches which is the chief cause that makes Plays to be so odious unto most Men. That he abhorr'd such Writers and their Works and profest himself an Enemy to all such as stufft their Scenes with Ribaldry and larded their Lines with Scurrilous Taunts and Jests So that whatsoever even in the Spring of his Years he presented upon the private and publick Theatre in his Autumn and Declining Age he needed not to be asham'd of An Excellent Character and fit for the Imitation of our Dramatists most of whom would be thought to have throughly studyed Horace I could wish therefore that they which know him so well would call to Mind and practice his Advice which is thus exprest Silvis deducti caveant me judice Fauni Ne nimiū teneres juvenentur versibus unquam Aut immunda crepent ignominiosaque dicta Offenduntur enim quibus est equus pater res But leaving this I shall give the Reader an Account of his Plays in their Accustom'd Order having first inform'd him that six of our Author's Plays are collected into one Volume being publisht under the Title of The Works of Mr. John Marston printed octavo Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Carie Viscountess Faulkland According to the Alphabet I am to begin with viz. Antonio and Melida a History acted by the Children of Paul's printed octavo Lond. 1633. Antonio's Revenge or The Second part of Antonio and Melida frequently acted by the Children of Paul's printed in octavo These two Plays were likewise printed in quarto above 30 Years before this new Edition viz. 1602. Dutch Curtezan a Comedy divers times presented at the Black-fryars by the Children of the Queens Majesties Revels printed in octavo Lond. 1633. This Play was publisht long before in quarto viz. 1605. Cockledemoy's cheating Mrs. Mulligrub the Vintner's Wife of the Goblet and the Salmon is borrow'd from an old French Book called Les Contes du Monde see the same Story in English in a Book of Novels call'd The Palace of Pleasure in the last Novel Insatiate Countess a Tragedy acted at the White-fryars printed quarto Lond. 1603. It being a common custom with our Author to disguise his Story and to personate real Persons under feign'd Characters I am perswaded that in this Play under the Title of Isabella the Insatiable Countess of Suevia he meant Joane the First Queen of Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and I doubt not but the Reader who will compare the Play with the History will assent to my conjecture Many are the Writers that have related her Life as Collenuccio Simmoneta Villani Montius c. but I refer my English Reader to Dr. Fuller's Prophane State Ch. 2. That her Life has been the Subject not only of History but of Poetry and Novels also is manifest from this Play and the Novels of Bandello who has related her Story under the Title of The Inordinate Life of The Countess of Celant This Novel is translated into French by Belleforest Tom. 2. Nov. 20. and possibly our Author might build his Play on this Foundation The like Story is related in God's Revenge against Adultery under the Name of Anne of Werdenberg Dutchess of Ulme See Hist. 5. Male Content a Tragicomedy the first Design being laid by Mr. Webster was corrected and augmented by our Author printed 4o. Lond. 1604. and dedicated in the following Stile to Ben Johnson Benjamini Johnsonio Poetae Elegantissimo Gravissimo Amico suo candido cordato Johannes Marston Musarum Alumnus asperam hanc suam Thaliam D. D. Notwithstanding our Authors profession of Friendship he afterwards could not refrain from reflecting on Mr. Johnson on Account of his Sejanus and Catiline as the Reader will find in the perusal of his Epistle to Sophonisba Know says he that I have not labour'd in this Poem to relate any thing as an Historian but to enlarge every thing as a Poet. To transcribe Authors quote Authorities and translate Latin Prose Orations into English Blank-Verse hath in this Subject been the least aim of my Studies That Mr. Johnson is here meant will I presume be evident to any that are acquainted with his Works and will compare the Orations in Salust with those in Catiline On what provocations our Author thus censured his Friend I know not but this Custom has been practic'd in all Ages the Old Proverb being verify'd in Poets as well as Whores Two of a Trade can never agree 'T is within the Memory of Man that a Play has been dedicated to the late witty Earl of Rochester and an Essay upon Satyr from the same Hand has bespatter'd his Reputation So true it is that some Poets Are still prepar'd to praise or to abhor us Satyr they have and Panegyrick for us But begging pardon for this Digression I return to the Play which I take to be an honest general Satyr and not as some malicious Enemies endeavour'd to perswade the World design'd to strike at any particular Persons Parasitaster or The Fawn a Comedy divers times presented at the Black-fryars by the Children of the Queens Majesties Revels printed 80. Lond. 1633. This Play was formerly printed
in quarto 1606. The Plot of Dulcimel her cozening the Duke by a pretended Discovery of Tiberio's Love to her is borrow'd from Boccace's Novels Day 3. Nov. 3. This Novel is made use of as an Incident in several other Plays as Flora's Vagaries Souldiers Fortune and Nymphadoro's Humour of Loving the whole Sex Act. 3. Sc. 1. is copy'd from Ovid's Amor. Lib. 2. Eleg. 4. What you will a Comedy printed 8o. Lond. 1633. Francisco's zanying the Person and Humour of Albano is an incident in several Plays as Mr. Cowley's Guardian Albumazer c. tho' I presume the Design was first copy'd from Plautus his Amphitruo This I take to be one of our Authors best Plays Wonder of Women or Sophonisba her Tragedy sundry times acted at the Black-fryars and printed in 8o. Lond. 1633. This Play is founded on History see Livy Dec. 3. Lib. 10. Corn. Nepos in Vit. Annibal Polibius Appian Orosius The English Reader may read this Story lively describ'd by the Judicious Sir W. Rawleigh in his History of the World Book the 5. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanley have created him the Author of a Play call'd The Faithful Shepherd which I am confident is none of his and have ommitted his Satyrs which render'd him more eminent than his Dramatick Poetry The Title is The Scourge of Villany in three Books of Satyrs printed in 8o. Lond. 1598. Mr. Fitz-Geoffry above-mention'd in the Account of Daniel and Johnson writ in their Commendation the following Hexastick Ad Johannem Marstonem Gloria Marstoni Satyrarum proxima primae Primaque fas primas si numerare duas Sin primam duplicare nefas tua gloria saltem Marstoni primae proxima semper eris Nec te paeniteat stationis Jane secundus Cū duo sint tantùm est neuter at ambo pares John MASON I can give the Reader no Account of this Author further than he was a Master of Arts in the time of King James the First about the middle of whose Reign he publisht a Play stil'd Muleasses the Turk a Worthy Tragedy divers times acted by the Children of his Majesties Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1610. Whether this Play deserv'd the Title of Worthy I shall not determine but that the Author had a good Opinion of it seems apparent from his Lemma in the Title-page borrow'd from Horace Sume superbiam quaesitam meritis Philip MASSINGER PHILIP MASSINGER Our Author has publisht Fourteen Plays of his own Writing besides those in which he join'd with other Poets We shall begin with a Play call'd Bashful Lover a Tragi-comedy often acted at the private House in Black-friars by His Majesties Servants with great Applause printed 8o. 1655. Bondman an ancient Story often acted with good allowance at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane by the most Excellent Princess the Lady Elizabeth her Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Honourable and his Singular good Lord Philip Earl of Montgomery The Plot of the Slaves being seduc'd to Rebellion by Pisander and reduc'd by Timoleon and their flight at the sight of the Whips is borrow'd from the Story of the Scythian Slaves Rebellion against their Master See Justin L.1 C. 5 City Madam a Comedy acted at the private House in Black-friars with great Applause printed 4o. Lond. 1659. for Andrew Pennycuicke One of the Actors and dedicated by him to the truly Noble and Virtuous Lady Anne Countess of Oxford This is an Excellent old Play Duke of Millain a Tragedy printed in 4o. tho when or where acted I know not my Copy being imperfect As to the Plot I suppose Sforza's giving orders to his Favourite Francisco to murther his beloved Wife the Dutchess Marcelia was borrow'd from the History of Herod who on the like occasion left orders with his Uncle Joseph to put his beloved Mariamne to Death as the Reader may see in Josephus Lib. 15. Cap. 4. Emperor of the East a Tragi-comedy divers times acted at the Black-friars and Globe Play-houses by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1632. and dedicated to the Right Honourable and his very good Lord John Lord Mohune Baron of Oke-hampton This Play is commended by three Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Sir Aston Cockain For the Play 't is founded on the History of Theodosius the Younger See Socrates L. 7. Theodoret L.5 Nicephorus L. 14. Baronius Godeau c. Fatal Dowry a Tragedy often acted at the private House in Black-friars by His Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1632. This Play was writ by our Author and Mr. Nathaniel Field of whom I have already spoken The behaviour of Charalois in voluntarily choosing imprisonment to ransom his Fathers Corps that it might receive Funeral Rights is copied from the Athenian Cymon that admirable Example of Piety so much celebrated by Valerius Maximus Lib. 5. C. 4 Ex. 9 Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos notwithstanding make it a forc'd Action and not voluntary Guardian a Comical History often acted at the private House in Black-fryars by his late Majesties Servants with great Applause printed 8o. Lond. 1655. Severino's cutting off Calipso's Nose in the dark taking her for his Wife Jolantre is borrow'd from the Cimerian Matron a Romance 8o. the like Story is related in Boccace Day 8. Nov. 7. Great Duke of Florence a Comical History often presented with good allowance by her Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1636. and dedicated to the truly Honoured and his noble Favourer Sir Robert Wiseman of Thorrel's Hall in Essex This Play is commended by two Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Mr. John Ford of whom we have already spoken p. 219. The false Character given the Duke of the Beauty of Lidia by Sanasarro resembles the Story of King Edgar and Duke Ethelwolph in his Account of the Perfections of Alphreda As the Reader may find the Story related in our English Chronicles that have writ the Reign of Edgar as Speed Stow Baker c. Maid of Honour a Tragi-comedy often presented with good allowance at the Phoenix in Drury-lane by the Queen's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1632. and dedicated to his most Honoured Friends Sir Francis Foliambe and Sir Thomas Bland A Copy of Verses is prefixt to the Play writ by Sir Aston Cokain New way to pay Old Debts a Comedy often acted at the Phoenix in Drury-lane by the Queens Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Carnarvan This Play is deservedly commended by the Pens of Sir Henry Moody and Sir Thomas Jay above-mention'd Old Law or A new Way to please you an excellent Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Salisbury-house and at several other places with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1656. In this Play our Author was assisted by Mr. Middleton and Mr. Rowley At the End of it is printed a Catalogue of Plays which tho' stil'd perfect in the Title-page is far from it for besides abundance of
Typographical Faults there are many other gross Errors several pieces being mention'd under the Title of Plays which are of a different Species for Instance Virgil's Eclogues are inserted under the Name of a Tragedy c. Picture a Tragi-comedy often presented with good allowance at the Globe and Black-Fryars Play-houses by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1636. and dedicated to his Honour'd and Selected Friends of the Noble Society of the Inner-Temple This Play was acted by those excellent Players of the last Age Lowin Taylor Benfield c. and is commended by his true Friend Sir Thomas Jay The Plot of Sophia's decoying the two debaucht Courtiers Richardo and Ubaldo who attempted her Chastity is related in a Book of Novels in octavo call'd The Fortunate Deceiv'd and Unfortunate Lovers see Nov. 4. of the Deceiv'd Lovers but this Story is I suppose originally Italian this Book being a Collection from Italian Novels Renegado a Tragi-comedy often acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the private Play-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1630. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Harding Baron of Barkley of Barkley-Castle and Knight of the Honourable Order of the Bath This Play is likewise commended by two Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Mr. James Shirley Roman Actor a Tragedy acted divers times with good allowance at the private House in the Black-fryars by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. 1629. and dedicated to his much Honour'd and most True Friends Sir Philip Knivet Sir Thomas Jay and Thomas Bellingham of Newtimber in Sussex Esquire This Play is commended by Six Copies of Verses writ by several Dramatick Poets of that Age as May Goss Ford c. For the Plot read Suetonius in the Life of Domitian Aurelius Victor Eutropius Lib. 7. Tacitus Lib. 13. c. Very Woman or The Prince of Tarent a Tragi-comedy often acted at the private House in the Black-fryars by His late Majesties Servants with great applause printed 8o. Lond. 1655. Our Author owns this Play to be founded on a Subject which long before appear'd on the Stage tho' what Play it was I know not I have already acquainted the Reader with the Resemblance between the Plot of this Tragi-comedy and The Obstinate Lady This Play with The Bashful Lover and The Guardian are printed together Virgin Martyr a Tragedy acted by His Majesties Servants with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1661. In this Play our Author took in Mr. Thomas Decker for Partner I presume the Story may be met with in the Martyrologies which have treated of the Tenth Persecution in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian See Rossweidus Valesius c. Unnatural Combat a Tragedy presented by the King's Majesties Servants at the Globe printed 4o. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to his much Honour'd Friend Anthony Sentliger of Oukham in Kent Esquire This Old Tragedy as the Author tells his Patron has neither Prologue nor Epilogue it being composed in a time when such By-ornaments were not advanced above the Fabrick of the whole work I know nothing else of our Authors Writings and therefore must hasten to the last Act of his Life his Death which happen'd at London in March 1669. On the Seventeenth of the same Month he was Buried in St. Mary Overies Church in Southwark in the same Grave with Mr. Fletcher What Monument or Inscription he has I know not but shall close up our Account of this Ingenious Poet with the following Epitaph writ by Sir Aston Cokain An Epitaph on Mr. John Fletcher and Mr. Philip Massinger who lay both buried in one Grave in St. Mary Overy's Church in Southwark In the same Grave Fletcher was buried here Lies the Stage Poet Philip Massinger Plays they did write together were great Friends And now one Grave includes them in their Ends. So whom on Earth nothing did part beneath Here in then Fame they lie in spight of Death Thomas MAY. This Gentleman was born in Sussex of an ancient but somewhat declining Family in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth He was for some Years bred a Scholar in the University of Cambridge being Fellow-Commoner of Sidney Colledge During his Abode there he was a very close Student and what Stock of Learning he then treasur'd up is apparent from his Works which are in print He remov'd afterwards to London following the Court where he contracted Friendship with several Eminent Courtiers amongst others with the accomplisht Endymion Porter Esq One of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Bedchamber a Gentleman so dear to Sir William D'Avenant that he stiled him Lord of his Muse and Heart Whilst he resided at Court he writ the five Plays which are extant and possibly his other Pieces Dr. Fuller says of him That some Disgust at Court was given to or taken by him as some would have it because his Bays were not guilded richly enough and his Verses rewarded by King Charles according to expectation Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley insinuate That being Candidate with Sir William D'Avenant for the Honourable Title of the Queen's Poet and being frustrate in his Expectations out of meer Spleen as it is thought for his Repulse he vented his Spite in his History of the late Civil Wars of England wherein Mr. Winstanley says he shew'd all the Spleen of a Male-contented Poet making thereby his Friends his Foes and rendring his Name odious to Posterity Whether this Accusation be true or no I know not but I am sure his Enemies must allow him to be a good Poet tho' possibly he fell short of Sir William D'Avenant and tho' I no ways abet his self Opinion yet I learn from Horace that even Ill Poets set a value on their Writings tho' they are despis'd by others Ridentur mala qui componunt Carmina verùm Gaudent Scribentes se venerantur ultrò Si taceas laudant quicquid scripsere beati And therefore I hope the moderate Critick will bear with the Frailty of our Author and I doubt not but if they will read his Works with Candor and especially his Plays they will find he had some Reason for his Opinion of what he writ I shall first give the Reader a succinct Account of his Plays as follows Agrippina Empress of Rome her Tragedy printed 120. Lond. 1639. Our Author has follow'd Xiphilinus Tacitus and Suetonius in the Designing his Tragedy and besides has translated and inserted above 30. Lines from Petronius Arbyters Satyricon being a Translation of those Verses recited by Eumolpus beginning Orbemjam totum victor Romanus habebat c. and concluding with Siculo scarus aequore mersus Ad mensam vivus perducitur Now altho' this is patly enough apply'd by our Author he having introduced Nero at a Banquet commanding Petronius to write a Satyr against those Pleasures he us'd to commend yet methinks Mr. May having such a particular Value for Lucan as to translate his Pharsalia he should not have inserted what was
he called Collasterion printed 4o. Lond. 1645. He writ besides a Piece called Tetrachordon or An Exposition on the Four Chief places of Scripture concerning Marriage and Divorce printed Lond. 1645. Sr. Robert Filmer if I mistake not writ against him in his Observations concerning the Original of Government printed 4o. Lond. 1652. Walter MOUNTAGUE Esq A Gentleman who liv'd at Court in the Reign of King Charles the First and during the times of Peace before the Muses were disturb'd by the Civil Wars writ a Play call'd Shepheard's Oracle a Pastoral privately acted before King Charles by the Queen's Majesty and Ladies of Honour printed octavo Lond. 1649. I shall not be so presumptuous to criticise on a Play which has been made Sacred by the Protection of Majesty it self besides I am deterr'd from Criticism by the Stationers Friend's Advice in his Verses in Commendation of the Play at least good Manners sayes They first should understand it e're dispraise William MOUNTFORT One who from an Actor sets up for an Author and has attempted both Tragedy and Comedy with what success I leave to those who have seen his Plays to determine Had I been of the number of his Friends I should have endeavour'd to have perswaded him still to act Sir Courtly Nice in bestowing only Garniture on a Play as he calls it as a Song or a Prologue and let alone sine Language as belonging only to Pedants and poor Fellows that live by their Wits He has publisht two Plays viz. Injur'd Lovers or The Ambitious Father a Tragedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. London 1688. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Arran Son to his Grace the Duke of Hamilton There are some Surlyes who think that in this Play Sir Courtly writ for his Diversion but never regarded Wit Successful Strangers a Tragi-comedy acted by their Majesties servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Thomas Wharton Comptroller of his Majesty's Houshold This Play far exceeds the Other tho' the Author as well as his predecessors is beholding to others for part of his Plot he having made use of Scarron's Novel call'd The Rival Brothers in working up the Catastrophe of his Comedy I have seen some Copies of Verses in Manuscript writ by our Author but not being in print that I know of I forbear to mention them N. Thomas NABBES A Writer in the Reign of Charles the First who we may reckon amongst Poets of the Third-rate and One who was pretty much respected by the Poets of those Times Mr. Richard Brome and Mr. Robert Chamberlain before mention'd having publickly profest themselves his Friends and Sir John Suckling being his Patron He has Seven Plays and Masques extant besides other Poems of which we may say That if they are not to be compar'd with some Dramatick Pieces of this Age at least wise what our Author has published is His own and not borrow'd from others and in that Respect deserves Pardon if not Applause from the Candid Reader This he averrs in his Prologue to Covent Garden and which I believe may be urged for the rest of his Labours viz. He justifies that 't is no borrow'd Strain From the Invention of another's Brain Nor did he steal the Fancy 'T is the same forth He first intended by the Proper Name 'T was not a Toyl of Years few Weeks brought This Rugged Issue might have been more worth If he had lick'd it more Nor doth he raise From th' Imitation of Authentick Plays Matter or Words to height nor bundle up Conceits at Taverns where the Wits do sup His Muse is solitary and alone Doth practice her low Speculation c. The Reader therefore is to expect little more from me than a bare Account of the Titles of his Works as followss Bride a Comedy acted in the Year 1638. at the Private-House in Drury-Lane by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Generality of his Friends Gentlemen of the several Honourable Houses of the Inns of Court Covent Garden a pleasant Comedy acted in the Year 1632. by the Queen's Majesty's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Worthy of his Honour Sir John Suckling Hannibal and Scipio an Historical Tragedy acted in the Year 1635. by the Queen's Majesties Servants at their Private-House in Drury-Lane printed Lond. 1637. The Play is addrest in Verse by the Author to the Ghosts of Hannibal and Scipio with an Answer printed in their Names directed to our Author It was acted before Women came on the Stage the part of Sophonisba being play'd by one Ezekiel Fenne For the Plot the Title-page speaks the Foundation to be History see the Life of of Hannibal writ by Cornelius Nepos that of Scipio by Plutarch see besides Livy Florus and other Authors mention'd p. 326. Microcosmus a Moral Masque presented with general liking at the Private-House in Salisbury-Court and here set down according to the Intention of the Author printed 4o. Lond. 1637. and dedicated to the Service and Delight of all Truly Noble Generous and Honest Spirits This Masque is introduc'd by two Copies One of which was writ by Mr. Richard Brome Spring 's Glory vindicating Love by Temperance against the Tenet Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus Moralized in a Masque with other Poems Epigrams Elegies and Epithalamiums of the Author's printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to Peter Balle Esq At the end of these Poems is a piece call'd A Presentation intended for the Prince his Highness's Birth-day the 29. of May 1638. annually celebrated this in former Catalogues was stiled an Interlude These Masques and Poems are commended by two Copies one of which was penned by Mr. Robert Chamberlain Tottenham-Court a pleasant Comedy acted in the Year 1637. at the Private-House in Salisbury-Court printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Worshipful William Mills Esq Unfortunate Lover a Tragedy never acted but set down according to the Intention of the Author printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Richard Brathwaite Esq This Play is attended by three Copies written in its Commendation by several of our Author's Friends and a Proeme in Verse by the Author wherein he justifies it to be writ according to the Rules of Art A Constant Scene the buisiness it intends The two Hours of Time of Action comprehends Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley according to their old Custom have ascrib'd two other Anonymous Plays to our Author The Woman-Hater arraigned a Comedy and Charles the First a Tragedy the Reason of their Mistake has been already given p. 13. and more at large in the Preface to my former Catalogue Thomas NASH A Gentleman that liv'd about the time with the foremention'd Author and was sometime educated in the University of Cambridge His Genius was much addicted to Dramatick Poetry and Satyr and he writ some things in Prose all which gain'd
a Tragi-comedy Natures three Daughters Beauty Love and Wit a Comedy in two parts Presence a Comedy To this are added twenty nine single Scenes which the Dutchess design'd to have inserted into this Play but finding it would too much lengthen it she printed them separately Publick Wooing a Comedy in which the Duke writ several of the Suitors Speeches as that of the Souldier the Countryman the Spokesman for the Bashful Suitor besides two other Scenes and the two Songs at the End of the Comedy Religious a Tragi-comedy Several Wits a Comedy Sociable Companions or The Female Wits a Comedy Unnatural Tragedy The Prologue and Epigue were of the Duke's making Act 2. Sc. 3. the Dutchess inveighs against Mr. Cambden's Brittannia tho' whether with Justice I leave it to the Determination of others Wits Cabal a Comedy in two parts His Grace writ the Epilogue to the first part Youth's Glory and Death's Banquet a Tragedy in two parts Two Scenes with the Speeches at the first part in commendation of Mile Sans pareille were writ by his Grace so were all the Songs and Verses in the second part The Blazing World Bridal Convent of Pleasure Presence and Sociable Companions are printed together in one Volume and the rest in another As to her other Works I shall only mention the Titles and the Dates when printed and I shall begin with the Crown of her Labours The Life of the Duke of Newcastle in English printed Folio Lond. 1667. and in Latin Folio Lond. 1668 Nature's Picture drawn by Fancy's Pencil to the Life printed Fol. Lond. 1656. at the End of it she has writ her own Life Philosophical Fancies printed Fol. Lond. 1653. Philosophical and Physical Opinions Fol. Lond. 1655. Philosophical Letters Fol. Lond. 1664. Two Hundred and Eleven Sociable Letters Fol. Lond. 1664. Orations Fol. 1662. Poems Fol. 1653. Thomas NEWTON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of Queâ—â— Elizabeth and joyn'd with Jasper Heywood and Alexander Nevil above-named and others in the Translation of Seneca's Tragedies Tho' our Author translated but one Play yet he published all the Ten and dedicated them to Sir Thomas Henage Treasurer of her Majesties Chamber The Play which our Author has render'd into English is intituled Thebais a Tragedy This by some is believed not to be Seneca's because in this Tragedy Jocasta appears alive and in Oedipus she is kill'd and it is not likely that he would wâ—ite two Drammas that should so very much differ in the Catastrophe But if it be Seneca's 't is the shortest of his Tragedies and has no Chorus and is said by One to be Perpetuum Canticum nullis diverbiis incorruptum THOMAS OTWAY Thomas NUCE An Author of the same Time and joyn'd in the same Design with the former We are owing to his pains for the Version of One Play of Seneca's called Octavia a Tragedy This is the only Tragedy of the Ancients that I know of that is founded on History so near the time of the Author I shall not pretend to determine whether it was writ by Seneca or no tho' Delrio and others deny it For the History see Suetonius in Vit. Claud. Nero. Tacitus L.12 C. 14 Dion c. O. Thomas OTWAY AN Author who was well known to most Persons of this Age who are famous for Wit and Breeding He was formerly as I have heard bred for some time in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford From thence he removed to London where he spent some time in Dramatick Poetry and by degrees writ himself into Reputation with the Court His Genius in Comedy lay a little too much to Libertinism but in Tragedy he made it his business for the most part to observe the Decorum of the Stage He was a man of Excellent parts and daily improved in his Writing but yet sometimes fell into plagiary as well as his Contemporaries and made use of Shakespear to the advantage of his Purse at least if not his Reputation He has publisht ten Dramatick Pieces if we may be allow'd to reckon his Farces as Distinct Plays of which we shall give the Reader a particular Account beginning with Alcibiades a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Middlesex This Play is writ in Heroick Verse and was the first Fruits of our Author's Muse He has made Alcibiades a Person of true Honour chusing rather to loose his Life than wrong his Defender King Agis or his betrothed wife Timandra whereas Plutarch gives him a different Character telling us that in the King's Absence he abused his Bed and got his Queen Timaea with Child and that Timandra was not his Wife but his Mistress and Justin sayes That he was informed of the design of the Lacedmoonian Princes against his Life by the Queen of King Agis with whom he had committed Adultery Atheist or the Second part of The Souldiers Fortune a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Lord Elande Eldest Son to the Marquess of Hallifax The Plot between Beaugard and Portia is founded on Scarron's Novel of The Invisible Mistress Cheats of Scapin a Farce acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1677. 'T is printed with Titus and Berenice and dedicated to the Right Honourable John Earl of Rochester This Play is translated from a French Comedy of Molliere though 't is not printed amongst his Plays of the Amsterdam Edition in 5 Tomes which I have by me yet that it is his I collect from M. Boileau's Art of Poetry where speaking of Molliere in the third Canto he says thus Estudiez la Cour connoissez la Ville L'une l'autre est toûjours en Modeles fertile C'est par là que Moliere illustrant ses Ecrits Peut-estre de son Art eust remporté le prix Si moins ami du Peuple en ses doctes peintures Il n'eust point fait souvent grimacer ses Figures Quittè pour le Bouffon l'agreable le fin Et sans honte à Terence allié Tabarin Dans ce sac ridicule où Scapin s'enveloppe Je ne reconnois point l' Auteur du Misanthrope But notwithstanding the Farce in this Comedy Molliere has borrow'd the Design from Terence his Phormio as may be visible to those that will compare them Caius Marius his History and Fall a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the L d Viscount Faulkland A great part of this Play is borrow'd from Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet as the Character of Marius Junior and Lavinia the Nurse and Sulpitius which last is carried on by our Author to the End of the Play though Mr. Dryden says in his Postscript to Granada That Shakespear said himself that he was forc'd to kill Mercurio in the 3d. Act to prevent being kill'd by him For the true History of Marius Senior see Plutarch's Life of C. Marius Lucan's Pharsalia lib. 2. Florus
lib. 3. c. 21. Don Carlos Prince of Spain a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1679. and dedicated to his Royal Highness the Duke This Play is writ in Heroick Verse as well as Alcibiades that being the first this the second that ever he writ or thought of writing For the History consult the Spanish Chronicles as Loüis de Mayerne Turquet's Chronicle of Spain Cabrera's Life of Philip the Second Thuanus Brantome c. Tho' I believe our Author chiefly follow'd the Novel of Don Carlos translated from the French and printed 8o. Lond. 1674. which is the most perfect Account of that Tragical Story that I have met with Friendship in Fashion a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex This is a very diverting Play and was acted with general applause Orphan or The Unhappy Marriage a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to her Royal Highness the Dutchess This is a very moving Tragedy and is founded on a Novel call'd English Adventures See the History of Brandon p. 17. Souldiers Fortune a Comedy acted by their Royal Highness's Servants at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1681. This Play is dedicated to Mr. Bentley his Stationer and is as he says a sort of Acquittance for the Money receiv'd for the Copy There are several passages in this Play that have been touch'd before by others As for Instance the Plot of My Lady Dunce making her Husband the Agent in the Intrigue between Beaugard and her to convey the Ring and Letter is the Subject of other Plays writ before this as The Fawne and Flora's Vagaries and the Original Story is in Boccace's Novels Day 3. Nov. 3. Sir Jolly boulting out of his Closet and surprising his Lady and Beaugard kissing and her Deportment thereupon is borrow'd from Scarron's Comical Romance in the Story of Millamant or The Rampant Lady p. 227. tho' by the way that Story is not in the French Copy and I suppose was not writ by Scarron but was rather translated from Les Amours des Dames Illustres de nôtre Siecle The Behaviour of Bloody-bones is like the Bravo in the Antiquary and that of Courtine at Silvia's Balcony like Monsieur Thomas his Carriage to his Mistress in that Play of Fletcher's so called Titus and Berenice a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1677. and dedicated with the Cheats of Scapin as aforesaid This Play is translated from the French of Monsieur Racine it consists of three Acts and is written in Heroick Verse For the Story of Titus and Berenice see Suetonius in his Life Ch. 7. See besides Josephus Dion c. Venice preserved or A Plot discovered a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1682. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Portsmouth I have not at present any particular History of Venice by me but suppose this Story may be found in some of the Writers on the Venetian Affairs as Bembus Sabellicus Maurocenus Paruta c. Besides his Dramatick Poems our Author writ a Stitcht Poem call'd The Poet's Complaint to his Muse printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and a Pastoral on King Charles the Second printed with Mrs. Behn's Lycidas 8o. p. 81. Add to these his Translation out of French being a Book call'd The History of the Triumvirates printed since his Decease 8o. Lond. 1686. P. John PALSGRAVE AN Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth He was Bachelor of Divinity but of what University I know not and was Chaplain to the King He printed a Play in an Old English Character call'd Accolastus a Comedy printed 4o. 1540. and dedicated to King Henry the Eighth This Play was translated from the Latine Accolastus written by Gulielmus Fullonius the English being printed after the Latine The Plot is the Parable of the Prodigal Son in the Gospel and the Author has endeavour'd to imitate Terence and Plautus in the Oeconomy 'T was set forth by the Author Fullonius before the Burgesses of the Hague in Holland An. Dom. 1529. This Author publisht besides L'Eclaircissement de la Langue Francoise 1530. George PEEL An Author that liv'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and was formerly Student and Mr. of Arts of Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford He is the Author of Two Plays which are in print viz. David and Bethsabe their Love with the Tragedy of Absalom divers times play'd on the Stage and printed 4o. Lond. 1599. This Play is founded on Holy Scripture See Samuel Kings c. Edward the First Sirnamed Edward Longshanks with his Return from the Holy Land Also the Life of Llewellin Rebel in Wales Lastly the sinking of Queen Elinor who sunk at Charing-Cross rose again at Potters Hithe now named Queen-hithe printed 4o. Lond. 1593. For the Story see the Authors that have writ of those times as Walsingham Fabian Matth. Westm. Pol. Virgil Grafton Hollingshead Stow Speed Martyn Baker c. I am not ignorant that another Tragedy to wit Alphonsus Emperor of Germany is ascribed to him in former Catalogues which has occasion'd Mr. Winstanley's mistake but I assure my Reader that that Play was writ by Chapman for I have it by me with his Name affixt to it Mr. Philips mentions some Remnants of his Poetry extant in a Book call'd England's Hellicon which I never saw Mary Countess of PEMBROKE The belov'd Sister of the Admirable Sr. Philip Sidney to whom he dedicated his Arcadia and Patron to the Ingenious Daniel A Lady whose Inclinations led her not only to the Patronage but love of the Muses as appears by a Tragedy of Hers in print call'd Antonius which to my regret I never yet saw though I have earnestly desired it it is thus commended by Mr. Daniel in his Dedication of Cleopatra I who contented with an humble Song Made Musick to my self that pleas'd me best And only told of Delia and her wrong And prais'd her Eyes and plain'd mine own unrest A Text from whence my Muse had not digrest Had I not seen thy well grac'd Anthony Adorn'd by thy sweet stile in our fair Tongue Requir'd his Cleopatra's Company Mr. Philips through mistake as formerly has ascrib'd another Play to her viz. Albion's Triumph a Masque I know nothing else of this Admirable Lady's Writing KATHARINE PHILLIPS Mrs. Katherine PHILIPS A Lady of that admirable Merit and Reputation that her Memory will be honour'd of all Men that are Favourers of Poetry One who not only has equall'd all that is reported of the Poetesses of Antiquity the Lesbian Sapho and the Roman Sulpitia but whose Merit has justly found her Admirers amongst the greatest Poets of our Age and though I will not presume to compare our Poets with Martial who writ in praise of Sulpitia or Horace Ausonius and Sydonius who commended Sapho least I offend their Modesty who are still living yet I
will be so far bold as to assert that the Earls of Orrery and Roscommon the Incomparable Cowley and the Ingenious Flatman with others amongst whom I must not forget my much respected Countryman James Tyrrel Esq would not have employ'd their Pens in praise of the Excellent Orinda had she not justly deserv'd their Elogies and possibly more than those Ladies of Antiquity for as Mr. Cowley observes in his third Stanza on her Death Of Female Poets who had Names of old Nothing is shewn but only told And all we hear of them perhaps may be Male Flattery only and Male Poetry Few Minutes did their Beauties Lightning waste The Thunder of their Voice did longer last But that too soon was past The certain proofs of our Orinda's Wit In her own lasting Characters are writ And they will long my Praise of them survive Tho' long perhaps that too may live The Trade of Glory manag'd by the Pen Tho' great it be and every where is found Does bring in but small profit to us Men 'T is by the numbers of the Sharers drown'd Orinda in the Female Courts of Fame Engrosses all the Goods of a Poetick Name She doth no Partner with her see Does all the buisiness there alone Which we Are forc'd to carry on by a whole Company The Occasion of our mention of this Excellent Person in this place is on the Account of two Dramatick Pieces which she has translated from the French of Monsieur Corneille and that with such exquisite Art and Judgment that the Copies of each seem to transcend the Original Horace a Tragedy which I suppose was left imperfect by the untimely Death of the Authress and the fifth Act was afterwards supply'd by Sir John Denham This Play acted at Court by Persons of Quality the Duke of Monmouth speaking the Prologue Part of which being in Commendation of the Play I shall transcribe This Martial Story which thro' France did come And there was wrought in Great Corneille's Loom Orinda's Matchless Muse to Brittain brought And Forreign Verse our English Accents taught So soft that to our shame we understand They could not fall but from a Lady's Hand Thus while a Woman Horace did translate Horace did rise above a Roman Fate For the Plot of this Play consult Livy's History Lib. 1. Florus Lib. 1. C. 3. Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus c. Pompey a Tragedy which I have seen acted with great applause at the Duke's Theatre and at the End was acted that Farce printed in the fifth Act of The Play-house to be Let. This Play was translated at the Request of the Earl of Orrery and published in Obedience to the Commands of the Right Honourable the Countess of Corse to whom it is dedicated How great an Opinion My L d Orrery had of this Play may appear from the following Verses being part of a Copy addrest to the Authress You English Corneille's Pompey with such Flame That you both raise our wonder and his Fame If he could read it he like us would call The Copy greater than the Original You cannot mend what is already done Unless you 'l finish what you have begun Who your Translation sees cannot but say That 't is Orinda's Work and but his Play The French to learn our Language now will seek To hear their Greatest Wit more nobly speak Rome too would grant were our Tongue to her known Caesar speaks better in 't than in his own And all those Wreaths once circled Pompey's Brow Exalt his Fame less than your Verses now Both these Plays with the rest of her Poems are printed in one Volume in Fol. Lond. 1678. This Lady to the Regret of all the Beau Monde in general died of the Small-pox on the 22d. of June 1664. being but One and Thirty Years of Age having not left any of her Sex her Equal in Poetry Sam. PORDAGE Esq A Gentleman who was lately if he be not so at present a Member of the Worthy Society of Lincolns-Inn He has publisht two Plays in Heroick Verse viz. Herod and Mariamne a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play was writ a dozen Years before it was made publick and given to Mr. Settle by a Gentleman to use and form as he pleas'd he preferr'd it to the Stage and dedicated it to the Dutchess of Albermarle For the Plot I think the Author has follow'd Mr. Calpranede's Cleopatra a Romance in the Story of Tyridates but for the true History consult Josephus Philo-Judaeus Eberus Egysippus c. Siege of Babylon a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre dedicated to her Royal Highness the Dutchess and printed 4o. Lond. 1678. This Play is founded on the Romance of Cassandra Henry PORTER An Author in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth who writ a pleasant History called The two Angry Women of Abington with the humorous Mirth of Dick Coomes and Nicholas Proverbs two Servingmen play'd by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham L d High Admiral 's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1599. Thomas PORTER Esq An Author that has writ in our Times two Plays which are receiv'd with Candor by all Judges of Wit viz. Carnival a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1664. Villain a Tragedy which I have seen acted at the Duke's Theatre with great applause the part of Malignii being incomparably play'd by Mr. Sandford What this Author may have writ besides I know not and am sorry I can give no better Account of One whose Writings I love and admire George POWEL A Person now living the Author of a Tragedy call'd The treacherous Brother acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1690. 'T is dedicated to the Patentees and Sharers of their Majesties Theatre and commended by a Copy of Latin Verses writ by his Fellow-Actor Mr. John Hudgson For the Foundation of the Play I take it to be borrow'd from a Romance in Fol. call'd The Wall Flower and tho' they are not alike in all particulars yet any One that will take the pains to read them both will find the Soporifick Potion given to Istocles and Semanthe to be the same in quantity with that given to Honoria Amarissa and Hortensia in the asoresaid Romance Thomas PRESTON A very ancient Author who writ a Play in old fashion'd Metre which he calls A Lamentable Tragedy mixed full of pleasant Mirth containing the Life of Cambises King of Persia from the beginning of his Kingdom unto his Death his one good deed of Execution after the many wicked Deeds and tyrannous Murders committed by and through him and last of all his odious Death by Gods Justice appointed Done in such order as followeth printed 4o. Lond. by John Allde In stead of naming more than Justin and Herodotus for the true Story I shall set down the beginning of this Play spoke by King Cambises not only to give our Reader a Taste of our Author's Poetry but because I believe it was
prize at least the greatest part Dame Dobson or The Cunning Woman a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1684. This Play is translated from a French Comedy call'd La Devineresse ore Les faux Enchantements Notwithstanding this Play was so followed and applauded in France as the Epistle to the Original informs me yet it was damned in its Action at the Theatre at London I pretend not to give the Reason of it only I have Mr. Dryaen's Testimony That Corneille's Le Menteur since published under the Title of The Mistaken Beauty or The Lyer was notwithstanding Mr. Hart's acting Dorant to Admiration judg'd far Inferiour to many Plays writ by Fletcher and Ben Johnson and I question not but this last will obtain the preference from the other if they are read by unbyass'd Judges English Lawyer a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1678. This Play was written originally in Latin by Mr. R. Ruggles sometime Master of Arts in Clare Hall in Cambridge and was acted several times with extraordinary applause before King James the First by the Gentlemen of that University There was a Version done by a Master of Arts of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford printed near thirty Years ago tho' translated some Years before and I believe Mr. Ravenscroft made more use of that than the Original at leastwise they who understand not the Latin and yet would see a true Copy this of our Author being drawn in Miniature may read it under the Title of Ignoramus King Edgar and Alphreda a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This Play I suppose if any to be of the Author 's own Minerva tho' the Story of it be sufficiently Famous not only in Novels both French and Italian but in almost all the Historians of those Times For Novels see the Annals of Love octavo For Historians see W. Malmesbury H. Huntingdon Rog. Hoveden Ingulfus Ranulph Higden M. Westminster Pol. Virgil. Grafton Stow Speed Baker c. Ubaldino Le Vite delle Donne Illustri p. 28. London Cuckolds a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1683 This Play tho' the most diverting of any that he has writ is patcht up from several Novels I may truly aver that Wise-acre and Peggy are borrowed from Scarron's Fruitless Precaution Nov. first at least that part of it where Peggy in Armour watcheth her Husband's Night-cap Tho' possibly these two Characters were drawn from Arnolphe and Agnes in Molliere's L'Escole des Femmes Loveday's Discovering Eugenia's Intrigue and pretending to conjure for a Supper is borrowed from Les Contes d'Ouville part 2. pag. 235. Eugenia's Contrivance to have Jane lye in her place by her Husband whilst she went to Ramble is borrowed possibly from the Mescolanza dolce Cap. 16. at the End of Torriano's Grammar or else from Scarron's Fruitless Precaution where is such a like passage The Contrivance of Eugenia to bring off Ramble and Loveday by obliging the former to draw his Sword and counterfeit a Passion is borrowed from Les Contes d'Ouville 2. part page 257. or from Boccace Day 7. Nov. 6. Doodle's Obliging his Wife Arabella to answer nothing but No in his Absence and the Consequence of that Intrigue with Townly is borrowed from Les Contes d'Ouville 2. part page 121 Eugenia's making a false Confidence to her Husband Dashwell and sending him into the Garden to Loveday in her Habit where he is beaten by him is borrowed from Les Contes d'Ouville 2. part page 250. The same Story is in Baccace Day 7. Nov. 7. and in Les Contes de M. de la Fontaine Nov. 2. p. 21. and is the Subject of several Plays as City Night-cap c. This is sufficient to shew how much our Author borrows in his Plots and that his own Genius is either lazy or very barren of Invention Mamamouchi or The Citizen turn'd Gentleman a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1675. This Play is dedicated to his Highness Prince Rupert Our Author had that good Opinion of Molliere's Monsieur de Pourceaugnac that what he left untoucht in that Play when he writ The Careless Lovers he has taken into this So that his Sir Simon Soft-head is M. de Pourceaugnac in an English Dress and the rest of his Play is stollen from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme a Comedy writ by the same Author So that here is a whole Play borrow'd and yet nothing own'd by the Author a procedure which savours of the highest Ingratitude and which as I have elsewhere observ'd has been long ago thus inveigh'd against by the Excellent Pliny Obnoxii profecto Animi infelicis Ingenii est deprehendi in furto malle quam mutuum reddere cum praesertim sors fiat ex usurâ Scaramouch a Philsopher Harlequin a School-Boy Bravo Merchant and Magician a Comedy after the Italian Manner acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This Play was fore-stall'd in the Action by the Duke's House they having brought upon the Stage the Cheats of Scapin as the Author complains in the Prologue Our Author would be thought to have taken a great deal of pains in this Play and to have brought a new sort of Comedy on our Stage as he says The Poet does a dang'rous tryal make And all the common ways of Plays forsake Upon the Actors it depends too much And who can hope ever to see two such As the fam'd Harlequin and Scaramouch This he well knew Yet rather chose in New Attempts to fail Than in the Old indifferently prevail But notwithstanding our Author's Boasting he is but a Dwarf drest up in a Giant 's Coat stufft out with Straw for I believe he cannot justly challenge any Part of a Scene as the Genuine Off-spring of his own Brain and may rather be reckon'd the Midwife than the Parent of this Play This Author has followed his old Custom of sweeping clean and leaving nothing behind him for what he left of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme he has taken into this Play as will appear to them that will compare the first Act with that Dramma Almost all Le Marriage forcé is taken into this Play likewise and for the Cheats of Scapin I suppose our Author has not only seen that Play but borrow'd from thence I have already taken notice that part of it resembles Terence's Phormio Wrangling Lovers or The Invisible Mistress a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This Play is founded upon a Spanish Romance in 8o. translated and called Deceptio visûs or Seeing and Believing are two things Th. Corneille has a Play writ on the same Subject called Les Engagements du Hazard I know nothing else of our Author 's Writing without I should reckon his Alteration of Titus Andronicus of which I shall speak by and by in the Account of Shakespear Thomas RAWLINS A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who
Epistle to the Reader speaks thus of both For the Man his Muse was much courted but no common Mistress and tho' but seldom abroad yet ever much admired at This Work not the meanest of his Labours has much adorned not only One but many Stages with such general Applause as it has drawn even the Rigid Stoicks of the Time who tho' not for pleasure yet for profit have gathered something out of his plentiful Vineyard This Play is founded on History during the time of the Eighth Persecution see Victor Episc. Uticensis de Vandalica Persecutione Isodorus Hispalensis Baronius c. James SHIRLEY A Gentleman of the same Name and Age with the former and was if not Poet Laureat yet Servant to her Majesty One of such Incomparable parts that he was the Chief of the Second-rate Poets and by some has been thought even equal to Fletcher himself He had a great Veneration for his Predecessors as may be seen by his Prologue to the Sisters and particularly for Mr. Johnson whom in an Epistle to the Earl of Rutland he stiles Our acknowledg'd Master the Learned Johnson and in all his Writings shews a Modesty unusual seldom found in our Age and in this I cannot refrain from comparing his Carriage to the Civil and Obliging Gentleman of Rome I mean Ovid who speaking of Virgil in the first of his two Epigrams if at least they are his which Heinsius questions says thus Quantum Virgilius magno concessit Homero Tantum ego Virgilio Naso Poëta meo Nec me praelatum cupio tibi ferre poëtäm Ingenio si te subsequor hoc satis est I need not take pains to shew his Intimacy not only with the Poets of his Time but even the Value and Admiration that Persons of the first Rank had for him since the Verses before several of his Works and his Epistles Dedicatory sufficiently shew it He has writ several Dramatick Pieces to the Number of 37. which are in print besides others which are in Manuscript Of these I have seen four since my Remembrance two of which were acted at the King's House and the other two presented at the Duke's Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields viz. Court Secret Chances Grateful Servant School of Compliments with what success I leave it to the Players now in being Permit me to bring you the Testimonium of an Old Writer on the Time-Poets in behalf of our Author who delivers this Distich in his praise Shirley the Morning Child the Muses bred And sent him born with Bays upon his Head But I shall cease any further Enlargement on his Commendation and leave you to the perusal of his Works which will shew him in his Native Excellence far better than I am able to describe him or them however take the following Account for want of a better and first of those in Quarto which are Twenty Nine Arcadia a Pastoral acted by Her Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1640. This Play is founded on the incomparable Romance written by Sir Philip Sidney and call'd The Arcadia Ball a Comedy presented by Her Majesties Servants in the private House in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1539. In this Play our Author was assisted by Geo. Chapman as likewise another which in its Order I forgot in his Account to take notice of Bird in a Cage a Comedy presented at the Phoenix in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 16 This Play is an Excellent Old Comedy and is dedicated by an Ironical Epistle to the Famous Mr. William Prinne that Great Antagonist to Plays Amongst other Sentences give me leave to transcribe One which may give the Reader a taste of the whole Proceed Inimitable Mecaenas and having such convenient Leisure and an indefatigable Pegasus I mean your Prose which scorneth the Road of Common Sence and despiseth any Stile in his Way travel still in the pursuit of New Discoveries which you may publish if you please in your next Book of Digressions If you do not happen presently to convert the Organs you may in time confute the Steeple and bring every Parish to one Bell. Changes or Love in a Maze a Comedy presented at the private House in Salisbury Court by the Company of His Majesty's Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1632. This Play is dedicated to the Honourable the Lady Dorothy Shirley by a Copy of Verses The passage in the first Act where Goldsworth examining his Daughters Chrysolina and Aurelia find them both in Love with Gerard is better manag'd in the Maiden-Queen tho' this Play has been received with Success as I said in our Time and as I remember the deceas'd Mr. Lacy acted Jonny Thump Sir Gervase Simple's Man with general Applause Chabot Philip Admiral of France his Tragedy presented by Her Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1639. This is the Second Play in which Mr. Chapman joyn'd with our Author For the Plot see the French Chronologers and Historians in the Reign of Francis the First such as Paulus Jovius Arnoldus his Continuation of Paulus AEmilius Mart. Longeus De serres Mezeray c. Constant Maid or Love will find out the way a Comedy acted at the New Play-house called The Nursery in Hatton-Garden printed 4o. Lond. 1667. Hardwell Courting Mrs. Bellamy the Widow by the Advice of his Friend Play-fair is the Subject of several Plays Old and New as I might instance were it material tho' I mention it here because it occasions most of the business in the Play Contention for Honour and Riches printed 4o. Lond. 1633. I know not what to call this whether Interlude or Entertainment but I think I may call it A Useful Moral and which being enlarged under the Title of Honoria and Mammon I shall speak more of anon 'T is dedicated to Edward Golding of Colston in Nottinghamshire Esq Coronation a Comedy which tho' printed in the Folio Edition of Fletcher's Works was writ by Shirley as the Reader may see by the Catalogue of his Six Plays octavo Lond. 1653. Cupid and Death a private Entertainment represented with Scenes and Musick Vocal and Instrumental printed 4o. Lond. 1659. I cannot call to Mind at present whence the Poet took originally his History which is the Changing of Arrows between them which produce dismal Effects but the English Reader may read the same Story in Ogilby's AEsop's Fables Vol. 1. Fab. 39. Dukes Mistress a Tragi-comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1638. Example a Tragi-comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. Gamester a Comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. The Intrigue between Wilding and his Kinswoman his Wife and Hazard is borrow'd from Ducento Novelle del Signor Celio Malespini secunda parte Nov. 96. The same Story in Q. Margaret's Novels Day first Nov. 8. tho' manag'd to greater Advantage by our
Poet and I must do Mr. Shirley this Justice to say in his behalf That whatever he borrowes from Novels Loses nothing in his Hands any more than in in Mr. Dryden tho' our modest Author would never have said so much were he living Gentleman of Venice a Tragi-comedy presented at the Private-house in Salisbury Court by Her Majesty's Servants and printed quarto Lond. 1655. This Play is dedicated to the Honourable Sir Thomas Nightinghale Baronet and the Intrigue between Florelli Cornari and Claudiana is borrowed as I suppose from a Novel out of Gayton's Festivous Notes on Don Quixote see Book 4. Chap. 6 7 8. Grateful Servant a Comedy presented with good Applause in the Private house in Drury-lane by Her Majesty's Servants This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable Francis Earl of Rutland and printed 4o. Lond. Lodowik's Contrivance to have Piero tempt his Wife Artella that he might be Divorc'd is the same with Contarini's Humour and Contrivance Giotto in the Humorous Courtier Hide Park a Comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Holland This was the first Earl of that Name created in 23. Jac. Apr. 3. and was Beheaded with Duke Hamilton and the Lord Capel March the ninth dying a Martyr to retrive his former forfeited Loyalty to his Prince To this Earl I presume Hide Park once might belong since the Title was occasion'd by his Command to the Author Humorous Courtier a Comedy presented with good Applause at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1640. Lady of Pleasure a Comedy acted by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable Richard Lord Lovelace of Hurley The Plot of Alex. Kickshaw his Enjoying of Aretina and thinking her the Devil resembles Lodowick in Grateful Servant Love Tricks or The School of Compliments acted by His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Servants at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields and printed 4o. Lond. 1667. Love's Cruelty a Tragedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to Cornet George Porter and Mr. Charles Porter The Concealment of Hyppolito and Chariana's Adultery from her Servant by her Husband Bellamente's Contrivance is borrow'd from Queen Margaret's Novels Day 4. Nov. 6. The like Story is related in Cynthio's Heccatomithi Dec. terza Novella sesta Maid's Revenge a Tragedy acted with good Applause at the Private-house in Drury-lane by Her Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to Henry Osborn Esquire The Play is founded on a History in Mr. Reynolds his God's Revenge against Murther see Book 2. Hist. 7. Opportunity a Comedy presented by her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane printed Lond. and dedicated to Captain Richard Owen The Resemblance of Aurelio to Borgia is founded on the same with Measure for measure and other English Plays all which as I have observ'd took their Original from Plautus Politician a Tragedy presented at Salisbury Court by Her Majesty's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1655. This Play is dedicated to Walter Moyle Esquire A Story resembling this I have read in the first Book of the Countess of Montgomery's Urania concerning the King of Romania the Prince Antissius and his Mother-in-Law Royal Master a Tragi-comedy acted in the New Theatre in Dublin and before the Right Honourable the Lord Deputy of Ireland in the Castle and printed 4o. Lond. 1638. This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable George Earl of Kildare and is accompanied with Ten Copies of Verses in its Commendation Traytor a Tragedy acted by Her Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1635. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle afterwards Marquess and Duke This Play is recommended by a Copy of Verses writ by Mr. William Atkins a Gentleman of the Worthy Society of Grays-Inn Triumph of Peace a Masque presented by the Four Honourable Houses or Inns of Court before the King and Queen's Majesties in the Banquetting-house at Whitehal Feb. the third 1633. The Scene and Ornament was the Contrivance of Mr. Inigo Jones the Musick was Composed by Mr. William Laws and Mr. Simon Ives The Masque is dedicated to the Four Equal Honourable Societies of the Inns of Court Mr. Shirley being at that time of Grays-Inn The Masquers went in a Solemn Cavalcade from Ely House to Whitehall and the Author himself says That this Masque for the Variety of the Shews and the Richness of the Habits was the most Magnificent that hath been brought to Court in his Time 'T is printed 4o. Lond. 1633. I have a little Piece by me call'd The Inns of Court Anagrammatist or The Masquers masqued in Anagrammes written by Mr. Francis Lenton One of Her Majesty's Poets and printed 4o. Lond. 1634. This Piece not only names the Masquers and of what House they were but commends each in an Epigram Saint Patrick for Ireland the First part printed 4o. Lond. 1640. Tho' our Title-page calls it the First part I know not whether there was ever a Second part printed tho' the Prologue seems to promise one in the following Lines Saint Patrick whose large Story cannot be bound in the limits of One Play if Ye First welcome this you 'l grace our Poets Art And give him courage for a Second Part. For the Story see Bede's Life of St. Patrick Sigebert Baronius Balaeus Seven Champions of Christendom His Life in English in Twelves Lond. 16 Wedding a Tragi-comedy acted by Her Majesty's Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to William Gowre Esquire This is an Excellent Comedy considering the Time in which 't was writ Witty Fair One a Comedy presented at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1633. This Play is dedicated to Sir Edmund Bushel Young Admiral a Tragi-comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1637. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Lord Barkley of Barkley-Castle These are all the Plays that our Author has in print in Quarto we are now to give an Account of Nine Dramatick pieces printed in Octavo We shall begin with Six Plays which are printed together viz. Brothers a Comedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1652. and dedicated to his Noble Friend Thomas Stanley Esq Cardinal a Tragedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1652. and dedicated to his Friend G. B. Esq Court Secret a Tragi-comedy prepared for the Scene at Black-fryars but not acted till after it appeared in print it being printed 8o. Lond. 1653. and dedicated to William Earl of Strafford Son and Heir to that Great Soul of Honour Thomas Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Proto-martyr for Religion and Loyalty in the Year 1641. Doubtful Heir a Tragi-comedy acted at the Private-house in
The Mother in Fashion acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Ossory the present Duke of Ormond This has somewhat of the Story of The Curious Impertinent in Don Quixot Loyal Brother or The Persian Prince a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1682. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Richmond The Play is founded on a Novel called Tachmas Prince of Persia octavo Thomas STANLEY Esq A Gentleman who flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the First at Camberloe-Green in Hertfordshire One who is sufficiently known to all Learned Men not only for his Skill in Languages as appears by his several Versions but by his Great Learning Exquisite Fancy and Admirable Judgment For the One to wit his Fancy he is here mention'd in Quality of a Poet and the rather because we owe to him the Version of an Excellent Piece of Antiquity which he calls Clouds a Comedy which he translated from Aristophanes his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Play as AElian observes in his Various History was writ at the Instigation of Anytas purposely to abuse Socrates and is subjoyn'd by our Author to the Life of that Excellent Philosopher not as a Comical Divertisement for the Reader who can expect little in that Kind from a Subject so ancient and particular but as a Necessary Supplement to the Life of Socrates This Play is printed with Mr. Stanley's History of Philosophy printed Fol. Lond. 1687. Second Edit a Work which will always be valued by all Learned Men In which the Reader will find also translated a Dramma of Ausonins inscribed Ludus Septem Sapientum His Translation of AEschylus his Tragedies into Latin with his Excellent Comment printed Fol. Lond. 1664. deserves the highest Commendation and for his Poems in English not only those which are properly his own sufficiently shew his Genius for Poetry But even his various Translations from the Greek of Anacreon Moschus from the Latin of Ausonius Catullus Bion Secundus Barclaius to which I may add Picus Mirandula his Discourse of Platonick Love from the Spanish of Lope de Vega Gongora and Montalvan the Italian of Guarini Marino Tasso Petrarch Cassone Preti Boscan c. the French of St. Amant Tristan Ronsard Theophile and De Voiture shew how much he was vers'd in those Languages His Poems receiv'd several Editions that which I take to be the best was printed 8o. Lond. 1651. Besides these Poems he has in print two little Romances or Novels translated from the Spanish of Don Juan Perez de Montalvan call'd Aurora Ismenia and The Prince which with the Poem of Oronta translated from the Italian of Signor Girolamo Preti are printed octavo Lond. 1655. Sir Robert STAPLETON A Gentleman who I presume is still living He was well known at Court by the Honourable Station he was in being One of the Gentlemen-Ushers of his Majesty King Charles the Second's most Honourable Privy-Chamber But his Writings have made him not only Known but Admired throughout all England and whilst Musaeus and Juvenal are in Esteem with the Learned Sir Robert's Fame will still survive the Translation of those two Famous Authors having plac'd his Name in the Temple of Immortality As to Musaeus he had so great a Value for him that after he had translated him he built the Story into a Dramatick Poem call'd Hero and Leander their Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1669. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Monmouth Whether this Play were ever acted or no I know not or where tho' the Prologue and Epilogue seem to imply that it had appeared on the Stage Slighted Maid a Comedy written likewise by our Author and acted with great Applause at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields by his Highness the Duke of York's Servants printed 8o. Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the late Duke of Monmouth The Epitaph made by Decio upon Iberio and Pyramena is borrowde from Arria and Petus see Martial Epigr. L. 1. Ep. L. 4. Stapleton's Juvenal the best Edition with Cuts is printed Fol. Lond. 1663. and his Musaeus or Hero and Leander in Verse is printed 8o. Lond. 1647. to which is added Leander's Letter to Hero and her Answer translated from Ovid's Epistles Besides these he Englished Strada de Bello Belgich printed Lond. 1650. Of these Pieces Jo. Leigh Esq in his Verses on Carthwright says thus Brave Stapleton translates Old Wit and New Musaeus Juvenal and Strada too I know nothing else that our Author has extant but a Translation from the French of Mr. De Marmet L d of Valcroisant call'd Entertainments of the Course or Academical Conversations printed 8o. Lond. 1658. and Mr. De Bergerac's History of the World in the Moon in twelves Lond. John STEPHENS An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First who has published a Play called Cynthia's Revenge a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1613. This is One of the longest Plays that I ever read and withall the most tedious The Author seems to have a great Value for Lucan for he not only makes King Menander repeat part in the Original but in the Fourth Act he makes him speak a Speech containing the beginning of the First Book of Lucan to the 24 th Verse but how far short he falls of Mr. May I leave to the Readers Judgment In the Fifth Act the Poet introduces an Interlude of the Contention of Ajax and Ulysses for the Armour of Achilles which I take to be but Indifferent He has writ besides a Piece called Satyrical Essays in octavo Lond. 1615. This Play was in former Catalogues ascrib'd to John Swallow but I believe this to be the Genuine Author William STRODE A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr of a Good Family in Devonshire being Countryman and Collegiate with the Witty Dr. Main He was enter'd in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford at Nineteen Years of Age and soon after was elected Student He took his several Degrees and was chosen for his Excellent Parts Oratour of the University Tho' he was in Orders he was sent for by the Dean and Chapter to write a Play for the Diversion and Entertainment of their Majesties which was call'd Floating Island a Tragi-comedy acted before his Majesty at Oxf. Aug. 1639. by the Students of Christ-Church The Airs and Songs were set by Mr. Henry Laws Servant to his Majesty in publick and private Musick This Play was not printed till Eleven Years after the Author's Death and above Eighteen Years after 't was acted being printed Lond. 1655. and dedicated even in Manuscript and in the Author's Life-time to his most Honoured Patron Sir John Helle by a Copy of Verses This Play was too full of Morality to please the Court tho' at the same time 't was commended by the King as was apparent by his bestowing a Cannon's Dignity upon him not long after at which time he took the Degree of Doctor
1667. The Story of Thalestris may be read in Q. Curtius lib. 6. c. 5. Just. lib. 3. Strabo lib. 5. c. Tho' our Author makes her somewhat nice in her Amours This Play was never acted by reason of the Author 's hearing of two Plays besides on the same Subject that were intended for the Stage WHITAKER The Author of a Play call'd Conspiracy or The Change of Government a Tragedy acted at His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1680. This Play is written in Heroick Verse as to its Character I shall leave it to the Judgment of abler Criticks Dr. Robert WILD A Doctor of the Presbyterian Leven but yet who it seems in his Juvenile Years was the Author of a Comedy call'd The Benefice which was printed 4o. Lond. 1689. His Opinion of the Orthodox Clergy may easily be collected from this Play tho' he is beholding to another Play call'd The Return from Pernassus or The Scourge of Simony for his Design His Poems are well known octavo 1605. Leonard WILLAN A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Second This Author publish'd a Play call'd Astraea or True Loves Mirrour a Pastoral in Verse printed 8o. Lond. 1651. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Mary Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox This Play is founded on the Romance of Astraea writ by Mr. D'Urfé On this Author Mr. Herrick has writ a Copy of Verses which the Reader may peruse at leisure p. 354. of his Poems in octavo George WILKINS An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who was the Writer of a single Comedy besides that in which he joyn'd with Day and Rowley I mean The Travels of three English Brothers The Play I am speaking of is call'd Miseries of Inforced Marriage play'd by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1637. This Comedy has been a great part of it reviv'd by Mrs. Behn under the Title of The Town Fop or Sir Timothy Tawdry Robert WILMOT An Author in the time of Queen Elizabeth who at the desire of the Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple compos'd a Play call'd Tancred and Gismund their Tragedy acted before Her Majesty by the Gentlemen of the Temple printed 4o. Lond. 1592. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful and Vertuous Ladies the Lady Mary Peter and the Lady Anne Grey This Play is founded on a Story in Boccace see Day the fourth Novel the first John WILSON A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the Second if not still alive whose Muse has been applauded on the Stage His Play call'd The Cheats having the general Approbation of being an Excellent Comedy He has writ three Plays in Number of which take the following Account Andronicus Comnenus a Tragedy printed Lond. 1663. For the Plot consult Glycas Leunclaius Chorriates Cantacusenus c. Cheats a Comedy written in the Year 1662. and printed 2 d Edit 4o. Lond. 1671. The Author has sufficiently Apologiz'd for this Play in his Preface to which I refer you Projectors a Comedy printed 40. Lond. 1665. Robert WILSON A Gentleman that flourish'd in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was the Author of a Comedy call'd The Coblers Prophecy printed 4o. Lond. 1655. Nathaniel WOODS An Author that was a Minister in Norwich in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and who writ an Old Comedy call'd Conflict of Conscience containing a most Lamentable Example of the doleful Desperation of a miserable Worldling by the Name of Philologus who forsook the Truth of God's Gospel for fear of the Loss of Life and worldly Goods The Actors Names divided into six parts most convenient for such as be dispos'd either to shew this Comedy in private Houses or otherwise printed 4o. Lond. 1581. John WRIGHT A Writer still living who has publisht two Plays the one being writ in Heroick Verse and the other disguis'd En Travesty They both bear the same Title and are bound together viz. Thyestes a Tragedy translated out of Seneca printed in octavo Lond. 1674. and dedicated to Bennet Lord Sherrard Mock Thyestes a Farce in Burlesque Verse and printed 4o. Lond. 1674. In commendation of these two Plays there is a Copy of Verses written by Mr. O. Salisbury which begins thus Did Seneca now live himself would say That your Translation has not wrong'd his Play But that in every Page in every Line Your Language does with equal splendor shine c. William WYTCHERLEY A Gentleman whom I may boldly reckon amongst the Poets of the First Rank no Man that I know except the Excellent Johnson having outdone him in Comedy in which alone he has imploy'd his Pen but with that Success that few have before or will hereafter match him His Plays are four in Number viz. Country Wife a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1683. This is reckon'd an Admirable Play Gentleman Dancing-Master a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1673. Love in a Wood or Saint James's Park a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Cleveland Plain Dealer a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to Madam B Of this Play and its Author Mr. Dryden says thus The Author of the Plain Dealer whom I am proud to call My Friend has oblig'd all Honest and Virtuous Men by One of the most Bold most General and most Useful Satyrs which has been presented on the English Theatre But notwithstanding this Admirable Character I must take the Freedom to alledge That our Author has borrow'd his chief Characters of Manly and Olivia from Molliere's Le Misanthrope that of Major Old-fox from Scarron's City Romance and that of Vernish his seizing Fidelia and discovering her Sex may possibly be founded on Silvia Molliere's Memoires But notwithstanding all this the Play is Excellent in its kind and the Author's Character is justly drawn by Mr. Evelyn As long as Men are false and Women vain While Gold continues to be Virtues bane In pointed Satyr Wycherley shall Reign Y. Robert YARRINGTON An Ancient Writer in Queen Elizabeth's Time who has publisht a Play call'd Two Tragedies in One. The One of the Murther of Mr. Beech a Chandler in Thames-street and his Boy done by Thomas Mern The Other of a Young Child murther'd in a Wood by two Ruffins with the Consent of his Uncle printed in quarto Lond. 1601. Supposed Authors WE are now arriv'd at those Authors whose Names are not certainly known who discover themselves only to their Friends in private and disguise themselves from the Knowledge of the World by Two Letters only part of which we shall unriddle in the following Account R. A. Gent. This Author writ a Play call'd The Valiant Welchman or The True Chronicle History of the Life and Valiant Deeds of Charadoc the Great King of Cambria now call'd Wales This Play has been sundry times acted
conceited Comedy sundry times acted by the Earl of Worcester's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1634. The Story of Anselme's saving of Young Arthur's Wife by taking her out of the Grave and carrying her to his Mother's House is the Subject of other Plays and such a Story is related in several Novels see the 9. Nov. of the Pleasant Companion printed octavo Lond. 1684. call'd Love in the Grave But the Novel which I take to be the foundation of this Play is in Cynthio Giraldi Dec. 3. Nov. 5. I. Jacob and Esau an Interlude mentioned in former Catalogues which I never saw tho' 't is easy to guess that 't is founded on Scripture Story see Genesis Ch. 25 26 c. See besides Josephus Lib. 1. Tornelli Annals c. Jack Drum's Entertainment or The Comedy of Pasquil and Katherine sundry times acted by the Children of Paul's and printed 4 o Lond. 1616. Mammon's poysoning Katherine's Face resembles the Usage of Demagoras to Parthenia in Argalus and Parthenia Jack Juggler stiled a Comedy by Old Catalogues of which having never seen it I can give no Account Jack Straw's Life and Death a Notable Rebel in England who was killed in Smith-fields by the Lord Mayor of London printed quarto Lond. 1593. This Play I know not for what reason is divided into but four Acts. For the Plot see the English Chronicles as Pol. Virgil Hollingshead Stow Speed c. in the Reign of King Richard the Second James the Fourth a History mentioned in former Catalogues which I never saw but I suppose the Play is founded on the Story of the King of Scotland of that Name Jeronymo the First part with the Wars of Portugal or The Spanish Tragedy containing the Life and Death of Don Andraea a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1605. Jeronymo is mad again or The Spanish Tragedy containing the Lamentable End of D. Horatio and Bellimperia with the pittiful Death of Jeronymo printed quarto Lond. 1623. This Play has been divers times acted and several Lines have been quoted out of it by several Authors as those may see that will read over Every man in his Humour Bird in a Cage Love will find out the way c. Impatient Poverty stiled a Comedy by some Catalogues This Play I never saw Imperial Tragedy taken out of a Latin Play and very much altered by a Gentleman for his own Diversion who on the importunity of Friends consented to have it published but without his Name Because many says he do censure Plays according to their Opinion of the Author This Play was printed Fol. Lond. 1669. and has been acted if I mistake not at the Nursery in Barbican For the Story see Marcellinus and Cassiodorus in their Chronicles concerning Zenon See besides Zonaras Baronius Godeau c. Interlude of Youth an Old Serious Instructive Piece written in Verse and printed at London in quarto in an Old Character As to the Date hereof or the Title-page I am ignorant mine being lost John the Evangelist a Piece which I never saw Joseph's Afflictions another tho' the Title-page of both shew the Subject Divine Tovial Crew or The Devil turned Ranter an Interlude which I never saw tho' being mentioned in Mr. Kirkman's Catalogue I could not omit it K. King and Queen's Entertainment at Richmond after their Departure from Oxford in a Masque presented by the most Illustrious Prince Prince Charles Sept. 12. 1636. printed 4o. Lond. 1636. and dedicated to the Majesty of the Queen of Great Britain by a Copy of Verses of Ten Lines The Occasion of the Masque was the Queen's Desire to see the Prince not much above six Years of Age dance The Dances were compos'd by Simon Hopper the Musick by Mr. Charles Hopper and the parts of the Captain and Druyd were acted so well by the then Ld. Buckhurst and Mr. Edward Sackvile that it proved that Genuine Action was not so much confined to the Stage but that a Gentleman might reach it if not transcend it Knack how to know an Honest Man a Comedy which I could never meet with Knack how to know a Knave a most pleasant and merry Comedy sundry times play'd by Edw. Allen with Kemp's Applauded Merriments of the Men of Goteham in Receiving the King into Goteham printed quarto Lond. 1594. The Serious part of this Play is the Story of King Edgar Ethenwald and Alfreda See Malmesbury Pol. Virgil Walsingham Grafton Stow c. The Play is printed in Old Black Letter and lays open the Vices of the Age being detected by Honesty Knave in grain new vampt a Comedy acted at the Fortune many Days together with great applause and printed 4o. Lond. 1640. This Play has given Subject to the late Novels as Julio's Cheating his Drunken Guests Act 3 d is repeated by Kirkman in the Third part of the English Rogue Ch. 13. His Cheating the Countryman of the piece of Gold Act 5 th is revived in the Account of the last Frost 1684. in octavo p. 46. Knavery in all Trades or The Coffee-House a Comedy acted in the Christmas Holy-days by several Apprentices with great Applause printed quarto Lond. 1664. I know not with what Applause it might be acted privately but I presume it would not meet with Success on the Stage in Dorset Garden nay nor in the Nursery for I can find no Plot in it L. Lady Alimony or The Alimony-Lady an Excellent pleasant Comedy duly authorised daily acted and frequently followed printed 4o. Lond. 1659. Late Revolution or The Happy Ghange a Tragi-comedy acted throughout the English Dominions in the Year 1688. Written by a Person of Quality and printed Lond. 1690. This Play begins from the Birth of the late Prince of Wales to the Arrival of Our present Majesty at Exeter and concludes the whole Catastrophe of our late Affairs Laws of Nature a Play which I never saw Levellers levelled or The Independents Conspiracy to root out Monarchy an Interlude written by Mercurius Pragmaticus printed quarto 1647. Who this Author is under this Disguise I know not but 't is easy to discover him a Royalist by his Dedication to King Charles the Second and an Enemy to Lilly the Almanack-maker whom he lashes under the Name of Orlotto Liberality and Prodigality a Comedy which I can give no Account Lingua or The Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses for Superiority a pleasant Comedy printed quarto Lond. Mr. Winstanley says That the late Usurper Oliver acted the part of Tactus in Cambridge which first inspired him with Ambition See his Account of Ant. Brewer to whom through mistake he ascribes this Play London Chanticleers a Witty Comedy full of Various and Delightful Mirth often acted with great applause and printed quarto Lond. 1659. This Play or rather Interlude for 't is not divided into Acts is of the Basse Comedy writ by the French the Scene lying entirely amongst Persons of the lowest Rank Look about you a pleasant Comedy played by the Right Honourable the Lord High Admiral 's
Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1600. For the Historical part see the Chronicles in the Reign of King Henry the Second viz. Pol. Virg. Speed Baker Daniel c. Love in its Extasie or The large Prerogative a kind of Royal-Pastoral written long since by a Gentleman supposed by Mr. Kirkman I know not on what ground to be One Peaps Student at Eaton and printed quarto Lond. 1649. The Author was not seventeen Years of Age when this was writ on which Account I think the Play may pass Muster with others of those Times Lost Lady a Tragi-comedy which I never read or saw but once and which I remember was printed in Folio Love a-la-mode a Comedy acted with great applause at Middlesex House written by a Person of Honour and printed 4o. Lond. 1663. This Play is justified by the Author in his Preface and ushered into the World by three Copies of Verses nor is the Play altogether undeserving Commendation Luminalia or The Festival of Light personated in a Masque at Court by the Queen's Majesty and Her Ladies on Shrove-Tuesday Night 1637. and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. The Famous Mr. Inigo Jones Surveyor of Her Majesty's Works had a Hand in the Contrivance of this Masque by Her Majesty's Command The Invention consisting of Darkness and Light the Night presented the first Antimasque and the Subject of the Main-masque is Light But for the clearer Information of the Reader I refer him to the Masque it self M. Manhood and Wisdom a Play mentioned by other Authors of which I can give no Account never having seen it Marcus Tullius Cicero that Famous Roman Orator his Tragedy printed quarto Lond. 1651. I know not whether even this Play was acted but it seems to me to be written in Imitation of Ben. Johnson's Cataline For the Plot see Plutarch in his Life See likewise his own Works Hist. Ciceroniana Lambin as also Dion Appian c. Marriage of Wit and Science an Interlude which I never saw Masque of Flowers presented by the Gentlemen of Grays-Inn at the Court at Whitehall in the Banquetting-house upon Twelfth-Night 1631. Being the last of the Solemnities and Magnificences which were performed at the Marriage of the Right Honourable the Earl of Sommerset and the Lady Frances Daughter of the Earl of Suffolk Lord Chamberlain printed 4o. Lond. 1614. This Masque is dedicated to Sir Francis Bacon Attorney General to King James the First Massenello but rightly Tomaso Amello di Malfa General of the Neopolitans his Tragedy or The Rebellion of Naples printed in octavo Lond. 1631. This Play was written by a Gentleman who was an Eye-witness where this was really acted upon that Bloody Stage the Streets of Naples An. D. 1647. 'T is dedicated to Iohn Caesar of Hyde-Hall in the County of Hertford Esquire by his Kinsman T. B. the Publisher For the Plot or rather the History read Alexander Giraffi's History of Naples translated by J. Howell See besides Du Verdier Histoire Universelle c. Mercurius Britannicus or The English Intelligencer a Tragi-comedy acted at Paris with great applause printed 1641. The Subject of this Play is about the Business of Ship-money the Judges being arraign'd under feigned Names as for Example Justice Hutton is called Hortensius and Justice Cook Corvus Acilius Prin is also introduced under the Name of Prinner There are but Four Acts and of the Fifth the Epilogue gives the following Account It is determined by the AEdils the Mistress of publick Plays that the next Day by Jove's Permission the Fifth Act shall be acted upon Tyber I should say Tyburne by a New Society of Abalamites Vive le Roy. Merry Devil of Edmonton a Comedy acted sundry times by his Majesty's Servants at the Globe on the Bank-side and printed 4o. Lond. 1655. This Play is said by Kirkman to be writ by Shakespear tho' finding no Name to it I have plac'd it amongst those that are Anonymous This Play is founded on the History of One Peter Fabel of whom see Fuller's Worthies in Middlesex p. 186. See other Chronicles in the Reign of Henry the Sixth Morning Ramble or The Town Humours a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play is said to be written by One Mr. Pane and may be accounted a good Comedy Mucedorus the King's Son of Valencia and Amadine the King's Daughter of Arragon with the Merry Conceits of Mouse a Comedy acted by his Highness's Servants at the Globe and before the King's Majesty at Whitehall on Shrove-Tuesday Night printed 4o. 1668. This Play is said by former Catalogues to have been writ by Shakespear and was I presume printed before this Edition It has been frequently the Diversion of Country-people in Christmas Time Muse of New-market containing Three Drolls viz. Merry Milk-maids of Islington or The Rambling Gallants defeated Love lost in the Dark or The Drunken Couple Politick Whore or The Conceited Cuckold acted at New-market and printed quarto Lond. 1681. All these Three Drolls are stollen as I remember from Plays but not having them by me I cannot tell the particulars Mistaken Beauty or The Lyar a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed quarto Lond. 1685. This Comedy is translated from a Play of P. Corneilles call'd Le Menteur N. Nero's Tragedy printed Lond. in quarto This Play was in former Catalogues call'd Nero newly written because 't was writ after that of Claudius Tiberius Nero which through Kirkman's want of Knowledge in History he call'd Nero's Life and Death which led me into the same Mistake till I came to read both Plays I know not when either of them were printed or when printed the Title-pages of both my Plays being wanting For the History of Domitius Nero consult Suetonius in Vit. Neronis Aurelius Victor Tacitus Sulpitius Severus Augustinus de Civit. Dei Eusebius c. New Custom an Interlude no less witty if we believe the Title-page than pleasant printed in a Black Letter quarto Lond. 1573. This Play is so contriv'd that Four Persons may act it and the Design of it is against Propery and to justify Reformation which then flourished in Queen Elizabeth's Reign This Play consists of 3. Acts but is written in Verse throughout so that had Mr. Dryden ever seen this Play he might better have quoted it than Gondibert which besides being writ seventeen Years before this is not in Rime to prove the Antiquity of Verse New-market Fair a Tragi-comedy in Two parts the First of which I never saw but the Second part I have by me and the Title of it is New-market Fair or Mistress Parliaments New Figaries written by the Man in the Moon and printed at You may go look in quarto 1649. The Design of it is to expose the Rebels then in power Nice Wanton a Comedy which I never saw No Body and Some Body with the true Chronicle History of Elydure who was fortunately three several times crown'd King of England acted by the Queen's Majesties
quarto Lond. 1678. This is said in the Title-page to be writ by a Person of Quality tho' I have been told it was writ by Mr. Rawlins But whoever was the Author 't is certainly inferiour to Epsom Wells in point of Humour and Repartee Tyrannical Government another Play which I never saw U. Unfortunate Usurper a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1663. This Play is dedicated by the Author who ever he was to his Honoured and Highly Esteemed Friend Mr. Edward Umfreville Fox the Plot 't is founded on History being the Story of Andronicus Comnenus See Glycas Leunclaius Choniates Cantacusenus Nicetas Baronius c. This Play is short of that of Willson's on the same Subject but in the Fifth Act Sc. 3 there is a paralel between those Times and Ours in Reference to the Late Rebellion which I take to be the best thing in the Play Ungrateful Favourite a Tragedy written by a Person of Honour and printed quarto Lond. 1664. The Scene of this Play lies in Naples but in what King 's Reign this happened I am not able to guess so that whether it be founded on Romance or History I leave to the Enquiry of those who have read Pandulphus Collenuctius Jov. Pontanus Guicciardine or others Writers of the Affairs of Naples W. Warning for Fair Women a Tragedy containing the most Tragical and Lamentable Murther of Mr. George Sanders of London Merchant near Shooters Hill consented unto by his own Wife acted by Capt. George Brown Mrs Drury and Trusty Roger Agents therein with their several Ends. This Play was in Vogue in Queen Elizabeth's Time and divers times acted by the Right Honourable the L d Chamberlain's Servants 'T is not divided into Acts and full of Dumb-shews according to the Mode of those Times the Prologue and Epilogue being spoken by Tragedy 'T is printed in a Black Letter 4o. Lond. 1599. Wealth and Health a Play of which I can give no Account Weakest goes to the Wall a Tragi-comedy played sundry times by the Right Honourable the Earl of Oxenford Lord Great Chamberlain of England's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1618. Wily beguiled a pleasant Comedy wherein the Chiefest Actors be these a Poor Scholar a Rich Fool and a Knave at a Shift printed quarto Lond. 16 Wine Beer Ale and Tobacco contending for Superiority a Dialogue tho' in other Catalogues stiled an Interlude printed 4o. Lond. 1658. Wisdom of Dr. Dodipol a Comedy acted by the Children of Pauls and printed quarto Lond. 1600. The Earl Cassimeere's Friendship in marrying Deformed Cornelia and Sharing his Estate with her Father Flores when he was in Affliction and Arrested by the Duke's Order is copy'd from Lucian's Story of Zenothemis and Menecrates Wits or Sport upon Sport a Collection of Drolls and Farces presented at Fairs by Stroling Players and printed last Edition octavo Lond. 1675. These are most of them taken out of the Plays of Shakespear Fletcher Shirley Marston c. There is a former Edition that has a Table prefixed which shews from what Play each Droll is borrowed Wit of a Woman a pleasant merry Comedy printed quarto Lond. 1604. Tho' the Author stiles it so I think it no ways answers the Title Wit led by the Nose or A Poet's Revenge a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed quarto Lond. 1678. The greatest part of this Play except a Scene or two is stollen from Chamberlain's Love's Victory Woman turn'd Bully a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1675. This I take to be a very Diverting Comedy FINIS * In the Epistle Fuller's Chr. Hist. p. 43. * Pref. to 4 Plays Fol. a Mr. Rymer's Pref. to Kapin's Reflections on Aristotle's Treatise of Poetry b Preface to Gondibert c Epistle to Darius 4o. Edin Edingh 1603. d Epistle to Baron's Hars a Epistle to the Reader b pag. 16◠c pag. 113. d See his Life pag. 110. e Pref. to Sir Patient Fancy f Pref. to Mock Astrologer g City Romance pag. 2. h See Epistle Dedicatory i Poems pag. 151. k Pref. to Scarron's Novels l Davenants Poems p. 275. m Lives of the Poets p. 114. n Volume the Second o Cockain's Poems p. 204. p Theatrum Poetarum pag. 157. q De Arte Poetica r De Arte Poetica s See his Travels third Edit p. 114. t Worthies Warwick-shire pag. 127. u See Prologue to Poetaster a Poems pag. 8. b See Davenant's Works c See Dryden's Misc. Poems p. 281. d L.5 c. 6 e Sat. 4. * Epilogue to the Play f Memoires pag. 422. g Antiq. Oxoniens p. 274. g Antiq. Oxoniens pag. 274. h Pref. to Spanish Friar i Pref. to Reasons for Bays Changing his Religion k Prologue to the Play l Epistle Dedicatory m Trane du Poeme Epique lib. 1. cap. 7 n Pref. to Troilus and Cressida o De Arte Poetica p See Cokain's Epigrams l. 2. Ep. 7. q See his Poems p. 93. r See pag. 118. s Pag. 57. t Pag. 13. u Pag. 163. x Epigr. L. 2. Ep. 124. y A Romance Translated from the Italian of Giovanni Francisco Lovedano z Epistle to the Reader a See the Epistle to the Reader b See Theatre de Corneille tom 2 d The Title of his Book e Sat. 1. f Essay of Himself pag. 143. g Idem p. 144. h Dr. Sprat See his Life in the last page i Preface to his Works Pag. 2. k Idem l Life pag. 6. m Denham's Poems p. 90. n See his Life p. 11. o Mr. Rymer's Pref. to Aristotle's Treatie of Poesy Excessit è vita An. AEt 49. honorifica pompa elatus ex AEd. Buckinghamianis viris Illustribus omnium Ord. exsequias celibrantibus sepultus est die 30. M. Aug. A.D. 1667. q Modern Poets p. 1. r Tate's Collection of Poems p. 45. f Rochester's Poems p. 109. t See the Play p. 16. u Epistle Dedicatory a Fuller's Worthies Somerset-shire p. 28. b Antiq. Oxon. p. 372. c Mr. Crown 's Epistle to Andromache d Act 1. Sc. 2. e Act. 2. Sc. 4. f Act. 2. Sc. 7. g Mr. Bobun's Translation of Mr. Whear's Meth. Legendi Hist. 8o. p. 171. h Choice Drollery 8o. Lond. 1656. p. 6. i Sportive Wit 8o. p. 70. k Epigram 8o. Oxon. 1601. l Measure for Measure Act. 1. Sc. 1. m Law against Lovers Act 1. Sc. 1. n Antiq. Oxon. 2. 168. o Pag. 5. p Pag. 14. q Wits Metriment 8o. p. 20. r Preface to Tempest s Pag. 107. c. t Fancy's Theatre u See Epistle Dedicatory x Modern Poets p. 116. y Lives of the Poets p. 137. z See his Epistle to King Charles the Second a Ep. Ded. to Rival Ladies b See Pag. 83. c De Arte Poetica d Epistle Dedicatory e Preface to Mock Astrologer f Love in a Nunnery p. 59. g The Chief Hero in a Romance call'd Almatride h Poesies de M. de Voiture p. 457. i Act. 5. Sc. 1. k Postscript