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
Masque or Masque of Heroes presented as an Entertainment for many worthy Ladies by Gentlemen of the same Ancient and Noble House printed 4o. Lond. 1640. This Play was writ twenty Years before it was printed and yet so well esteem'd by Mrs. Behn that she has taken part of it into the City Heiress Mayor of Quinborough a Comedy often acted with much applause by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1661. In this Play are several Dumb Shews explained by Rainulph Monk of Chester and the Author has chiefly followed his Polychronicon See besides Stow Speed Du Chesne c. in the Reign of Vortiger Michaelinass-Term a Comedy printed in quarto but where or when I know not thro' the imperfection of my Copy More Dissemblers besides Women a Comedy printed 8o. Lond. 1657. No Wit no Help like a Woman's a Comedy printed 8o. Lond. 1657. Phoenix a Tragi-comedy sundry times acted by the Children of Paul's and presented before his Majesty printed 4o. Lond. 1607. Roaring Girl a Comedy which I never saw Spanish Gypsie a Tragi-comedy acted with great applause at the Private-House in Drury-Lane and Salisbury-Court written by our Author and Mr. Rowley printed 4o. Lond. 1661. The Story of Roderigo and Clara has a near resemblance with if it be not borrow'd from a Spanish Novel writ by Mignel de Cervantes call'd The Force of Blood Trick to catch the Old One a Comedy often in Action both at Paul's the Black-fryars and before their Majesties printed 4o. Lond. 1616. This is an Excellent Old Play Triumphs of Love and Antiquity an Honourable Solemnity performed thro' the City at the Confirmation and Establishment of the Right Honourable Sir William Cockaine Kt. in the Office of His Majesties Lieutenant the Lord Mayor of the Famous City of London Taking beginning in the Morning at his Lordship's Going and perfecting it self after his Return from Receiving the Oath of Mayoralty at Westminster on the Morrow after Simon and Jude's Day Octob. 29 1619. printed 4o. Lond. and dedicated to the Honour of him to whom the Noble Fraternity of Skinners his Worthy Brothers have dedicated their Loves in Costly Triumphs The Right Honourable Sir William Cockaine Knight Lord Mayor of this Renowned City and Lord General of his Military Forces This Piece consists only of Speeches addrest to his Lordship at his Cavalcade thro' the City and I think no ways deserv'd either the Title of a Masque under which Species it has been hitherto rank'd nor so pompous a Title as the Author has prefix'd Women beware Women a Tragedy printed 8o. Lond. 1657. This Play with two others viz. More Dissemblers besides Women and No Wit like a Woman's are all in one Volume The Foundation of this Play is borrow'd from a Romance called Hyppolito and Isabella octavo This Drama if we give Credit to Mr. Richards a Poet of that Age was acted with extraordinary applause as he says in his Verses on that Play I that have see it can say having just cause Ne're Tragedy came off with more Applause World lost at Tennis a Masque divers times presented to the Contentment of many Noble and Worthy Spectators by the Princes Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1620. and dedicated to the truly Noble Charles Lord Howard Baron of Effingham and to his Virtuous and Worthy the Right Honourable Mary Lady Effingham Eldest Daughter of the truly Generous and Judicious Sir W. Cockain Knight Ld. Mayor of the City of London and Lord General of the Military Forces Your Five Gallants a Comedy often in Action at the Black-fryars and imprinted at London 4o. This Play has no Date and I believe was One of the first that our Author publishd John MILTON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr Had his Principles been as good as his Parts he had been an Excellent Person but his demerits towards his Sovereign has very much sullied his Reputation He has writ several Pieces both in Verse and Prose and amongst others two Dramas of which we shall first give an Account viz. Samson Agonistes a Dramatick Poem printed 8o. Lond. 1680. Our Author has endeavour'd to imitate the Tragedy of the Ancient Greek Poets 't is writ in Blank Verse of ten Syllables which the Author prefers to Rime His Reasons are too long to be transcribed but those who have the Curiosity may read them at the Entrance of his Paradice lost The Chorus is introduced after the Greek Manner and says my Author The Measure of its Verses is of all sorts called by the Greeks Monostrophic or rather Apolelymenon without regard had to Strophe Antistrophe or Epod which were a kind of Stanza's fram'd only for the Musick than used with the Chorus that sung not essential to the Poem and therefore not material or being divided into Stanza's or Pauses they may be called Allaeostropha Division into Act and Scene referring chiefly to the Stage to which this Work never was intended is here omitted In this the Author seems to follow Sophocles whose Plays are not divided into Acts. I take this to be an Excellent Piece and as an Argument of its Excellency I have before taken Notice that Mr. Dryden has transferred several Thoughts to his Aurengzebe The Foundation of the History is in Holy Writ See Judges Ch. 13 c. Josephus Antiq. l. 5. Torniel Salian c. Masque presented at Ludlow Castle 1634. on Michaelmass Night before the Right Honourable John Earl of Bridgwater Viscount Brackley Ld. President of Wales and One of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council printed 4o. Lond. 1637. and dedicated by Mr. Henry Laws the Publisher to the Right Honourable John Lord Viscount Brackley Son and Heir Apparent to the Earl of Bridgwater c. The Publisher acquaints his Patron that Altho not openly acknowledged by the Author yet it is a Legitimate Off-spring so lovely and so much desired that the often copying of it hath tir'd his Pen to give his several Friends Satisfaction and brought him to a Necessity of producing it to the publick view The principal Persons of this Masque were the Lord Brackley Mr. Thomas Egerton the Lady Alice Egerton Our Author 's other Pieces in Verse are his Paradice lost an Heroick Poem in twelve Books I know not when it was first printed but there came out not long since a very fair Edition in Fol. with Sculptures printed Lond. 1689. His Paradice regain'd a Poem in four Books is fitted likewise to be bound with it He publisht some other Poems in Latin and English printed 8o. Lond. 1645. Nor was he less Famous for History than Poetry witness his History of Brittain from the first Traditional Beginning of the Norman Conquest printed 4o. Lond. 1670. He writ several other Pieces as a Latin Piece called Pro populo Anglicano Defensio contra Salmasium 120. Lond. 1652. The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce in two Books printed 4o. Lond. 1644 this being answered by an Anonymous Writer was reply'd to by our Author in a Book which
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
the Compilers of former Catalogues because it consists of Speeches of Gratulation as the Author stiles them which were spoke to his Majesty at Fen-Church Temple-Bar and the Strand and therefore besides the presidents of former Catalogues which might in part justify me I might be blam'd should I omit it The Author has plac'd a Comment throughout to illustrate and authorise his Contrivance Entertainment in private of the King and Queen on May-day in the Morning at Sir William Cornwallis's House at High-gate 1604. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment of King James and Queen Anne at Theobalds when the House was deliver'd up with the possession to the Queen by the Earl of Salisbury May 22. 1607. The Prince of Janvile Brother to the Duke of Guise being then present printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment in particular of the Queen and Prince their Highnesses at Althrope at the Lord Spencer's on Saturday being the Twenty-fifth of June 1603. as they came first into the Kingdome printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Brittain and Denmark at Theobalds July 24 th 1606. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. This Entertainment is very short and consists chiefly of Epigrams Every Man in his Humour a Comedy acted in the Year 1598. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Most Learned and his Honour'd Friend Mr. Cambden Clarencieux This Play has been reviv'd since the Civil Wars and was receiv'd with general Applause There is a new Epilogue writ for this Play the latter part of which is spoken by Ben Johnson's Ghost The Reader may find it in a Collection of Poems on several Occasions printed 8o. Lond. 1673. See pag. 29. Every Man out of his Humour a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1599. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants with allowance of the Master of the Revels printed Fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Noblest Nurseries of Humanity and Liberty in the Kingdome The Inns of Court This Play was reviv'd at the Theatre-Royal in the Year 1675. at which time a new Prologue and Epilogue were spoken by Jo. Heyns which were writ by Mr. Duffet See his Poems 8o. pag. 72. c. This is accounted an excellent Old Comedy Fortunate Isles and their Union celebrated in a Masque design'd for the Court on the Twelfth-Night 1626. printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Golden Age restor'd in a Masque at Court 1615. by the Lords and Gentlemen the King's Servants and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Hymenaei or The Solemnities of a Masque and Barriers at a Marriage printed Fol. Lond. 1640. To this Masque are annext by the Author Learned Notes in the Margin for illustration of the Ancient Greek and Roman Customs Irish Masque at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. King's Entertainment at Welbeck in Nottingham-shire a House of the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle at his going into Scotland 1633. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love free'd from Ignorance and Folly a Masque of her Majesties printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love Restor'd in a Masque at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love's Triumph thro' Callipolis perform'd in a Masque at Court 1630. by his Majesty King Charles the First with the Lords and Gentlemen Assisting the Inventors being Mr. Johnson and Mr. Inigo Jones printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Love's Welcome the King and Queen's Entertainment at Bolsover at the Earl of Newcastle's the 30 th of July 1634. and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Magnetick Lady or Humours Reconcil'd a Comedy acted at the Black-fryars and printed Fol. Lond. 1640. This Play is generally esteem'd an Excellent Play tho' in those days it found some Enemies amongst which Dr. Gill Master of Pauls School or at least his Son writ a Satyr against it part of which the whole being too long I shall take the pains to transcribe But to advise thee Ben in this strist Age A Brick-kill's better for thee than a Stage Thou better know'st a Groundsil for to lay Then lay the Plot or Ground-work of a Play And better can'st direct to Cap a Chimney Then to converse with Clio or Polyhimny Fall then to work in thy old Age agen Take up thy Trug and Trowel gentle Ben Let Plays alone or if thou needs will write And thrust thy feeble Muse into the light Let Lowen cease and Taylor scorn to touch The loathed Stage for thou hast made it such But to shew how fiercely Ben could repartee on any one that had abus'd him I will present the Reader with his answer Shall the prosperity of a Pardon still Secure thy railing Rhymes infamous Gill At libelling Shall no Star-Chamber Peers Pillory nor Whip nor want of Ears All which thou hast incurr'd deservedly Nor Degradation from the Ministry To be the Denis of thy Father's School Keep in thy bawling Wit thou bawling Fool. Thinking to stir me thou hast lost thy End I 'll laugh at thee poor wretched Tike go send Thy blotant Muse abroad and teach it rather A Tune to drown the Ballads of thy Father For thou hast nought to cure his Fame But Tune and Noise the Eccho of his Shame A Rogue by Statute censur'd to be whipt Cropt branded slit neck-stockt go you are stript Masque at the Lord Viscount Hadington's Marriage at Court on Shrove-Tuesday at Night 1608. and printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Augurs with several Antimasques presented on Twelfth-night 1622. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Owls at Kenelworth presented by the Ghost of Captain Coxe mounted on his Hobby-horse 1626. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Queens celebrated from the House of Fame by the Queen of Great Britain with her Ladies at Whitehall Febr. 2. 1609. This Masque is adorned with learned Notes for the Explanation of the Author's Design He was assisted in the Invention and Architecture of the Scenes throughout by Mr. Inigo Jones Masque presented in the House of the Right Honourable the Lord Haye by divers of Noble Quality his Friends for the Entertainment of Monsieur Le Baron de Tour Extraordinary Ambassador for the French King on Saturday the 22. of Febr. 1617. printed fol. Lond. 1617. Metamorphos'd Gypsies a Masque thrice presented to King James first at Burleigh on the Hill next at Belvoyr and lastly at Windsor in August 1621. printed fol. Lond. 1641. Mercury Vindicated from the Alchymists at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed fol. Lond. 1640. Mortimer's Fall a Tragedy or rather a Fragment it being just begun and left imperfect by his Death tho' the Reader may see the Model of each Act by the Argument publisht before it printed fol. Lond. 1640. Neptune's Triumph for the Return of Albion celebrated in a Masque at Court on the Twelfth-Night 1644. printed fol. Lond. 1641. News from the New World discovered in the Moon a Masque presented at Court before King James 1620. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Oberon the Fairy Prince a Masque of Prince Henries printed fol. Lond. 1640. On
7. London Prodigal a Comedy This is One of the Seven Plays which are added to this Volume which tho' printed all of them in 4o. were never in Folio till 1685. Two of these viz. Cromwell and Locrine we have already handled the Remaining four viz. Old-castle Pericles Puritan Widow and Yorkshire Tragedy shall be treated in their order Loves Labour lost a Comedy the Story of which I can give no Account of Measure for Measure a Comedy founded on a Novel in Cynthio Giraldi viz. Deca Ottava Novella 51 The like Story is in Goulart's Histoires Admirables de nôtre temps Tome 1. page 216. and in Lipsii Monita L.2 C. 9 p. 125. This Play as I have observed was made use of with the Comedy Much ado about nothing by Sir William D' Avenant in his Law against Lovers Merchant of Venice a Tragi-comedy Merry Wives of Windsor a Comedy which Mr. Dryden allows to be exactly form'd and it was regular before any of Ben. Johnson's This is not wholly without the Assistance of Novels witness Mrs. Ford's conveying out Sir John Falstaff in the Basket of Foul Clothes and his declaring all the Intrigue to her Husband under the Name of Mr. Broom which Story is related in the first Novel of The Fortunate Deceived and Unfortunate Lovers which Book tho' written since Shakespear's Time I am able to prove several of those Novels are translated out of Cynthio Giraldi others from Mallespini and I believe the whole to be a Collection from old Novelists Mackbeth a Tragedy which was reviv'd by the Dukes Company and re-printed with Alterations and New Songs 4o. Lond. 1674. The Play is founded on the History of Scotland The Reader may consult these Writers for the Story viz. Hector Boetius Buchanan Du chesne Hollingshead c. The same Story is succinctly related in Verse in Heywood's Hierarchy of Angels B. 1. p. 508. and in Prose in Heylin's Cosmography Book 1. in the Hist of Brittain where he may read the Story at large At the Acting of this Tragedy on the Stage I saw a real one acted in the Pit I mean the Death of Mr. Scroop who received his death's wound from the late Sir Thomas Armstrong and died presently after he was remov'd to a House opposite to the Theatre in Dorset-Garden Midsummer Nights Dream a Comedy The Comical part of this Play is printed separately in 4o. and used to be acted at Bartholomew Fair and other Markets in the Country by Strolers under the Title of Bottom the Weaver Much ado about nothing a Comedy I have already spoke of Sir William D' Avenant's making use of this Comedy All that I have to remark is That the contrivance of Borachio in behalf of John the Bastard to make Claudio jealous of Hero by the Assistance of her Waiting-Woman Margaret is borrowed from Ariosto's Orlando Furioso see Book the fifth in the Story of Lurcanio and Geneuza the like Story is in Spencer's Fairy Queen Book 2. Canto 4. Oldcastle the good Lord Cobham his History The Protagonist in this Play is Sir John Oldcastle who was executed in the Reign of King Henry the Fifth See his Life at large in Fox his Martyrology Dr. Fuller and other Writers of Church History as well as Chronologers Othello the Moor of Venice his Tragedy This is reckoned an Admirable Tragedy and was reprinted 4o. Lond. 1680. and is still an Entertainment at the Theatre-Royal Our Author borrowed the Story from Cynthio's Novels Dec. 3. Nov. 7. The truth is Salustio Picolomini in his Letter to the Author extreamly applauds these Novels as being most of them fit Subjects for Tragedy as you may see by the following Lines Gli Heccatomithi vostri Signor Cynthio mi sono maravigliosa mente piaciuti Et fra le altre cose io ci ho veduti i più belli argomente di Tragedie che si possano imaginare quanto a i nodi quanto alle solutioni tanto felicemente ho viste legate le difficulta che pure ano impossibili ad essere slegate Mr. Dryden says That most of Shakespear's Plots he means the Story of them are to be found in this Author I must confess that having with great difficulty obtained the Book from London I have found but two of those mentioned by him tho' I have read the Book carefully over Pericles Prince of Tyre with the true-Relation of the whole History Adventures and Fortunes of the said Prince This Play was publish'd in the Author's Life-time under the Title of The much Admired Play of Pericles by which you may guess the value the Auditors and Spectators of that Age had for it I know not whence our Author fetch'd his Story not meeting in History with any such Prince of Tyre nor remembring any of that Name except the Famous Athenian whose Life is celebrated by Plutarch Puritan or The Widow of Wattling-street a Comedy sufficiently diverting Richard the Second his Life and Death a Tragedy which is extreamly commended even by Mr. Dryden in his Grounds of Criticisme in Tragedy printed before Troilus and Cressida and Mr. Tate who altered this Play in 1681. says That there are some Master-touches in this Play that will vye with the best Roman Poets For the Plot consult the Chronicles of Harding Caxton Walsingham Fabian Pol. Virgil Grafton Hollingshead Stow Speed c. Richard the Third his Tragedy with the landing of the Earl of Richmond and the Battle of Bosworth Field This Play is also founded on History See Fabian Caxton Pol. Virgil Hollingshead Grafton Trussel stow Speed Baker c. Romeo and Juliet a Tragedy This Play is accounted amongst the best of our Author's Works Mr. Dryden says That he has read the Story of it in the Novels of Cynthio which as yet I cannot find but set it down in my former Catalogue relying upon his Knowledge But I have since read it in French translated by M. Pierre Boisteau whose Sir-name was Launay who says it was writ by Bandello but not having as yet met with Bandello in the Original I must acquiesce in his Word The French Reader may peruse it in the first Tome of Les Histoires Tragicques extraictes des oeuvres Italiennes de Bandello imprimé 8o. à Turin 157c Taming of the Shrew a very diverting Comedy The Story of the Tinker is related by Pontus Heuteras Rerum Burdicarum lib. 4. and by Goulart in his Hist. Admirables Tom. 1. p. 360 Tempest a Comedy How much this Play is now in Esteem tho' the Foundation were Shakespear's all People know How it took at the Black-fryars let Mr. Dryden's Preface speak For his Opinion of Caliban the Monster 's Character let his Preface to Troilus and Cressida explain No Man except Shakespear ever drew so many Charactars or generally distinguish'd them better from one another except only Johnson I will instance but in one to shew the copiousness of his Invention t is that of Caliban or the Monster in the Tempest He seems here to
AN ACCOUNT OF THE English Dramatick POETS OR Some OBSERVATIONS And REMARKS On the Lives and Writings of all those that have Publish'd either Comedies Tragedies Tragi-Comedies Pastorals Masques Interludes Farces or Opera's in the ENGLISH TONGUE By GERARD LANGBAINE OXFORD Printed by L. L. for GEORGE WEST and HENRY CLEMENTS An. Dom. 1691. To The RIGHT HONOURABLE JAMES EARL of ABINGTON Baron NORREYS of RICOTT Their MAJESTIES L d Lieutenant of OXFORDSHIRE MY LORD I Should not have presum'd to have prefix'd so Great a Name to so mean a Work had I not been sufficiently assur'd that Candour and Goodness are not the least of those Excellent Qualities which have acquir'd You the Love and Esteem of all that have the Honour to know You. 'T is this Consideration joyn'd with the Experience of Your Lordship's former Favours which rais'd me to the Confidence of expressing my Obligations to Your Honour by dedicating not so much the following Sheets as My Self the Compiler of them to Your Lordship's Service But I am afraid both the Piece and its Author are so inconsiderable in themselves and so unworthy of Your Lordship's Eye Regard that my Offering will seem to most Men to have more of Presumption than Gratitude in it And truly MY LORD I am so sensible of the Objection That tho' I would willingly shroud my self under Your Lordship's Patronage yet I dare not in the least implore it for the Essay itself which hath so many faults that some may be apt to censure the whole Undertaking as an unpardonable One and I am unwilling that Your Lordship's Name shoud be used in the defence of a Trifle which it might have been perhaps more for the Author's Credit to have conceal'd than publish'd And now having said thus much in Excuse of my self I must confess I was never under a greater Temptation to say something according to the Modern Custome of Dedications in Praise of Your LP but that I fear I should need another kind of Apology should I attempt to give a Character of Your Personal Worth and Excellency or enlarge upon those Eminent Services with which You have oblig'd both Your Prince and Country in the most hazardous Tryals of Your Loyalty Affection to each when either the rights of the Crown or the Liberties of the People call'd for your Assistance Your Lordship being still one of the First that was content to have these Your Obligations cancell'd and forgotten and who never suffer'd either the Caresses of the Court or the Applause of the Populace to tempt You from Your Duty or Your Post But having adorn'd the Great Office You undertook and nobly defended the Religion You profess'd by steering betwixt the hot blasts of Zeal the colder calms of Indifferency You generously declin'd to make Your Services appear mercenary or by raising Your Self to a higher Station give the World occasion to suspect that You courted Virtue and Religion for any other than their own Rewards Which that Your Lordship may happily enjoy is the Constant and Affectionate Wish of YOUR LORDSHIP'S Most Oblig'd Faithful and Humble Servant GERARD LANGBAINE The PREFACE MY former Catalogue of Plays in spite of the Malice and poor Designes of some of the Poets and their Agents to destroy its Reputation by printing a Spurious Title-page and an uncorrected Preface has notwithstanding found so kind a Reception from the Generality of Unbyass'd Judges that I thought my self oblig'd by Gratitude as well as Promise to revise it tho' it were only to purge it of those Errata's contracted in the former Edition I am so far from relenting what I have enterpris'd as some have been pleas'd to report that I am only sorry that my Power is not equal to the Zeal I have for the Memory of those Illustrious Authors the Classicks as well as those later Writers of our own Nation Mr Shakespear Fletcher Johnson Cowley c. that I might be capable of doing them better Service in vindicating Their Fame and in exposing our Modern Plagiaries by detecting Part of their Thefts I say Part because I cannot be suppos'd to have trac'd them in All And having no Partners in my Discovery it cannot be expected but that many things will escape my Observation However this may serve for a Hint to others who being better vers'd in Books may build upon the Foundation which is here laid And who ever peruses the following Sheets will find the Observation of Paulus Jovius to be very applicable to most of the Poets of this Age Castrant alios ut Libros suos per se graciles alieno adipe suffarciant But how just soever my Design may seem to unprejudic'd Readers I must expect to be loudly exclaim'd against is not openly assaulted by those Poets who may think themselves injur'd in their Reputation by the following Remarks But I am already prepar'd for the worst having learnt from the Author of Absalom and Achitophel That how honest soever the Design be he who draws his Pen for One Party must expect to make Enemies of the Other and every Man is a Knave or an Ass to the contrary side I shall therefore leave the Poets to their own Management whilst I address my self to my disingag'd Reader whom I hope to find Favourable to One who aims only at his Diversion and intends never to trouble the World again on this Subject I have endeavour'd to make this Piece as useful as the Subject would bear or my Abilities reach and I am almost confident that they who were satisfied with my former Catalogue will be much more favourable to This Account of the Dramatick Poets since they will find This so different from That both in Form and Matter that it may justly be stil'd A New Book In the First place then I have given a succinct Account of the Time in which most of the Ancient Poets liv'd the place of their Nativity Quality Death Writings c. in a larger manner than either Mr. Philips or Mr. Winstanley and have collected all the material Passages of their Lives which I found scattered in Doctor Fuller Lloydd à Wood c. into One Volume for the greater Ease of the Reader and Advantage to the Work I have not indeed always cited my Authorities to avoid loading the Page tho' I here once for all make my publick Acknowledgment to the Fore-mention'd as well as other worthy Writers to whom I have been oblig'd in the compiling this Treatise Neither have I omitted to apply my self to several Persons now living for Information some of which promis'd me great matters which occasioned my deferring the Publication for some time but I found that the Memoires I expected from London were like to arrive with Cardinal Perron's Manuscripts from Rome which he was to make use of in his Vindication of Henry le Grand and that should I have stay'd for the completion of these Promises the Louvre would have sooner been finisht than my Book Secondly I have in this
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
ever finish'd of this Nature what few mistakes are found in his Play may be easily excus'd But besides its real faults the errors of the Press and what it suffers thro' the prejudice and malice of the Author's Adversaries I do not at all wonder if even the most impartial Reader too should look severely on it seeing he is promis'd in the Title-page what he can never find in the Book It would fain cozen him to believe that he shall meet with the Popish Plot represented in that Play though I have heard Mr. Bedloe often say he never intended any such thing The History he designed may as I am inform'd be read in several Authentick Authors but in Heylin's Geography I remember I met with it my self So may any that will peruse his History of Georgia Mr. Bedloe well knew it was against his Interest so for to ridicule the Plot as to compose a Play of it and he had more judgment in Poetry than to imagine that such a new thing would please in Tragedy And least any one should suspect that his design did in the least incline that way he writ an Epistle to assure his Reader of the contrary Which the Stationer supposing under that pretence the Play would vend much better thought it his interest to stifle and added these words to the Title-page Being the Popish Plot in a Play without the Author's consent or knowledge Mrs. Astraea BEHN A Person lately deceased but whose Memory will be long fresh amongst the Lovers of Dramatick Poetry as having been sufficiently Eminent not only for her Theatrical Performances but several other Pieces both in Verse and Prose which gain'd her an Esteem among the Wits almost equal to that of the incomparable Orinda Madam Katharine Phillips of whom we shall speak hereafter Her Plays are Sixteen in number having therein exceeded any of the Poets of this Age Sr. William Davenant and Mr. Dryden excepted Most of her Comedies have had the good fortune to please and tho' it must be confest that she has borrow'd very much not only from her own Country Men but likewise from the French Poets yet it may be said in her behalf that she has often been forc'd to it through haft and has borrow'd from others Stores rather of Choice than for want of a fond of Wit of her own it having been formerly her unhappiness to be necessitated to write for Bread as she has publisht to the world 'T is also to her Commendation that whatever she borrows she improves for the better a Plea which our late Laureat has not been asham'd to make use of If to this her Sex may plead in her behalf I doubt not but she will be allowed equal with several of our Poets her Contemporaries I shall now give an Account of her Plays in an Alphabetical Order as follows viz. Abdelazer or The Moor's Revenge a Tragedy Acted at his Royal Highness the Dukes Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1671. This Play is originally an old Play of Marloes call'd Lusts Dominion or The Lascivious Queen a Tragedy written above Forty years ago tho' printed in octavo Lond. 1661. She has much improv'd it throughout Amorous Prince or The Curious Husband a Comedy Acted at his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1671. The Plot of Antonio the curious Husband 's trying his Wives Chastity by his Friend Alberto's means is founded on a Novel in the Romance of Don Quixot call'd The Curious Impertinent See Part 4. Ch. 6 7 8. The City Night-Cap is founded on the same Story tho' Mrs. Behn has much out-done that Play and improv'd the Novel itself City-Heiress or Sr. Timothy Treat-all a Comedy Acted at his Royal Highness his Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1682. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable henry Earl of Arundel and Lord Mowbray This Play had the luck to be well receiv'd in the Town yet I cannot but take notice that most of the Characters are borrow'd as those of Sir Timothy Treat-all and his Nephew from Sir Bounteous Progress and Folly-wit in Middleton's Mad World my Masters and those of Sir Anthony Merrywell and his Nephew Sr. Charles from Durazzo and Caldoro in Massenger's Guardian Part of the Language in each Play is likewise transcrib'd As for the Plot of Sir Timothy's endeavouring to supplant his Nephew of his Mistress 't is the same Design with other Plays as Ram-Alley and Trick to Catch the Old One. Dutch Lover a Comedy Acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1673. The Plot of this Play is founded on a Spanish Romance written by the ingenious Don Francisco de las Coveras stiled Don Fenise see the Stories of Eufemie and Theodore Don Jame and Frederick Emperor of the Moon a Farce Acted by Their Majesty's Servants at the Queen's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1687. and Dedicated to the Lord Marquess of Worcester This Farce was originally Italian and Acted in France Eighty odd times without intermission under the Title of Harlequin l' Empereur dans le Monde de la Lune but much alter'd and adapted to our English Theatre Forc'd Marriage or The Jealous Bridegroom a Tragi-Comedy Acted at his Highness the Duke of York's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1671. This if I mistake not was the first Play that our Authress brought on the Stage False Count or A New Way to play an Old Game a Comedy Acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1682. The Hint of Isabella being deceiv'd by Guillaume the Chimney-sweeper is borrow'd from Molliere's Les Precieuses Ridicules Feign'd Courtezmis or a Nights Intrigue a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1679. and Dedicated to Mrs. Ellen Guin This Comedy I take to be One of the best she has written Luckey Chance or an Alderman's Bargain a Comedy acted by Their Majesties Servants printed 4 o Lond. 1687. and Dedicated to the R t Honble Laurence L d Hyde E. of Rochester Tho' some Criticks decry'd this Play yet whoever will consult the Author's Preface will find the Objections fully answer'd however I must observe that the Incident of Gayman's enjoying the Lady Fulbanck and taking her for the Devil is copied from Mr. Alexander Kickshaw and the Lady Aretina in the Lady of Pleasure Rover or The Banisht Cavaleers in two parts both of them Comedies Acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1677 and 1681. the Second Part being Dedicated to his Royal Highness the Duke These are the only Comedies for the Theft of which I condemn this ingenious Authoress they being so excellent in their Original that 't is pity they should have been alter'd and notwithstanding her Apology in the Postscript to the first part I cannot acquit her of prevarication since Angelica is not the only stol'n Object as she calls it she having borrow'd largely throughout The truth is the better to disguise her Theft she has as the ingenious Scarron
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
know of that are publisht under our Authors name except a Play which I have already mention'd viz. Eastward-Hoe a Comedy play'd in the Black Friars by the Children of her Majesties Revels made by George Chapman Ben Johnson and John Marston printed in quarto Lond. 1605. This Play was writ shortly after Decker's Westward Hoe as you may see by the Prologue which is writ in Blank Verse The Play it self hath lately appear'd on the present Stage being reviv'd by Mr. Tate under the Title of Cuckold's Haven Mr. Phillips I know not why has omitted half this Authors Plays as you may see in his Account of the Modern Poets p. 53. Having given an Account of his Plays I am now to speak of his other Works which were not in those days accounted less eminent particularly his Version of all Homer's Works viz. His Illiads Odysses and what he calls The Crown of all his Works his Batracomyomachia or The Battle of Frogs and Mice together with his Hymns and Epigrams If it be urg'd by some that he has been since out-done by Mr. Ogleby in the Two former it is chiefly to be ascrib'd to the ill choice of his measure of Verse and the obsolete Expressions in use in his time and besides Translation was then as I may say in its Infancy However I think Mr. Ogleby himself has since been as far exceeded by the exact and curious Pen of Mr. Hobbs and for for his Minor Poems they have never been attempted by any other Pen that I know of To these I must add his Translation of Hesiod his finishing Musaeus his Erotopaenion or The Loves of Hero and Leander a Piece begun by Christopher Marloe his Andromeda liberata with a Vindication of the same all which speak his Industry at least if not his Ingenuity and how slight an Opinion soever this Age may entertain of his Translations I find them highly extoll'd in an Old Copy call'd a Censure of the Poets which having spoke of the Eminent Dramatick Poets as Shakesprear Johnson Daniel c. it adds of Translators as follows placing our Author in the first Rank Others again there lived in my days That have of us deserved no less Praise For their Translations than the daintiest Wit That on Parnassus thinks he high doth sit And for a Claim may 'mongst the Muses call As the most curious Maker of them all First reverend Chapman who hath brought to us Musaeus Homer and Hesiodus Out of the Greek and by his skill hath rear'd Them to that height and to our tongue indear'd That were those Poets at this day alive To see their Books that with us thus survive They'd think having neglected them so long They had been written in the English Tongue Sir Aston COKAIN A Gentleman that in the Reign of K. Charles the Second liv'd at Ashbourn a Market-town An Darby-shire situate between the River Dove and Compton He was of an Ancient Family as Mr. Cambden observes in the Entrance of his Description of Darby-shire Nay further Mr. John Cokain of Rushton our Authors Kinsman and Cousin-German to the Lord Obrian Cokain Viscount Cullen in Ireland had an Ancient Evidence to prove that Sr. Cokain their Predecessor was anciently allyed to King William the Conqueror and in those days lived at Hemmingham-Castle in Essex But whether our Author fetcht his Pedigree from so Ancient a Stock or no certain it is that he was well descended and had a Liberal Education bestowed on him being in his youth bred in Trinity College in Cambridge and when he was about Four and Twenty years of Age he was sent to make a Journey through France and Italy which he compleated in a Twelve-months space An. 1632. an Account of which he has writ to his Son He was very much addicted to Books and the study of Poetry spending most of his time in the Muses company Amongst his other Poetical Productions he has written Three Plays and a Masque which are in print of which take the following Account Masque presented at Bretbie in Darby-shire on Twelfth-Night 1639. This Entertainment has hitherto been omitted in all former Catalogues as I suppose through an Over-sight it being but short and printed in the body of the Author's Poems amongst others of a different Nature It was presented as I find upon perusal of it before the Right Honourable Phillip the first Earl of Chesterfield and his Countess Two of their Sons acting in it The diversion terminated in a Ball. Obstinate Lady a Comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1658. This Play with other Poems were left in the Custody of a Friend at the Author's Removal from London who dying they were disperst into several Hands One Mr. William Godbid a Bookseller as I suppose got this Play into his Hands and tho' he found it imperfect the last Leaf being wanting wherein were the Authors Conclusion and Epilogue he procured some of his Acquaintance to supply that defect and so printed it And tho' this Comedy were very much of it writ in Number as the Author calls it he put it forth as if the most part of it were Prose In this Edition you have that defect much amended and the Authors own Conclusion and Epilogue added Sr. Aston's Obstinate Lady seems to be Cousin-German to Massinger's Very Woman as they that will compare Don John Antonio and Almira with Carionil and Lucora in this Play may easily perceive Ovid's Tragedy printed in octavo Lond. 1669. This Play was printed since the rest of his Works tho 't is frequently bound with them I know not why the Author gave this Play the Title of Ovid's Tragedy except that he lays the Scene in Tomos and brings him to fall down dead with grief at the News he received from Rome in sight of the Audience otherwise he has not much business on the Stage and the Play ought rather to have taken the Name from Bassanes Jealousy and the dismal effects thereof the murther of his new Bride Clorina and his Friend Pyrontus But this is an Error which Beaumont and Fletcher have heretofore committed as Mr. Rimer has observ'd in the King and no King and therefore the more excusable in our Author The passage of Captain Hannibal's inviting the dead Carcass of Helvidius to Supper is possibly borrow'd from the Italian Play called Il Atheisto Fulminato to which Language our Author was no Stranger and on which Foundation the Catastrophe of the Libertine is built Trapolin creduto Principe or Trapolin suppos'd a Prince an Italian Tragi-comedy printed in octavo Lond. 1658. The Design of this Play the Author borrow'd from One which he saw or rather heard twice Acted in Venice during his abode in that City since he built this on that Foundation So that as he pleads in his Proloque it is no Translation This Play was reviv'd on our Stage since the King's Return and a new Prologue writ by Duffet printed in his Poems pag. 82. and has since that been alter'd
eris Sin illum potius Phaebum velit esse Britannum Tum Daniele mihi tu Maro noster eris Nil Phaebo ulterius si quid foret illud haberet Spenserus Phaebus tu Daniele fores Quippe loqui Phaebus cuperet si more Britanno Haud scio quo poterat ni velit ore suo Sir William DAVENANT A Person sufficiently known to all Lovers of Poetry and One whose Works will preserve his Memory to Posterity He was Born in the City of Oxford in the Parish of St. Martins vulgarly call'd Carfax near the End of February in the year 1605. and was Christned on the Third of March following He was the Mercurial Son of a Saturnine Father Mr. John D' Avenant a Vintner by Profession who liv'd in the same House which is now known by the Sign of the Crown He was formerly of Lincoln College and instructed in Logick and Physicks by his Tutor Mr. Daniel Hough Fellow of that Society tho' his Genius rather inclin'd him to walk in the more flowry Fields of Poetry in which he made a Prodigious discovery advancing even without any Guide but his own Wit and Ingenuity as far as the Herculean Pillars if any such bounds are to be set of Poetry He was Poet Laureat to Two Kings whose Memory will always be Sacred to all good loyal and witty Men I mean King Charles the First the Martyr for and King Charles the Second the Restorer of the Protestant Religion according to the Church of England During this Honour of which his Wit and Parts render'd him Worthy he writ as I suppose his Dramatick Pieces of which I shall give some Account To speak of them in general I need only say that most of them have appear'd on the Stage with good applause and been receiv'd with like success in Print the greatest part publisht in the Authors Life time in Quarto and all since his Death collected into one Volume with his other Works printed in Folio Lond. 1673. and dedicated by his Widow to his Royal Highness the late King James Albovine King of the Lombards his Tragedy printed first in quarto and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Duke of Somerset This Play is commended by Eight Copies of Verses For the Design it is founded on History You may read the Story in several Historians See Paulus Diaconus de Gestis Langobardorum lib. 2 c. 28. Gregorius Epise Turonensis Hist. Francorum lib. 2. c. 28 Heylin's Cosinoraphy Part 1. Book 1. p. 57. This Story is likewise related at large in a Novel by Bandello which is translated by Belleforest See Histoires Tragiques Tome 4. Nov. 19. Cruel Brother a Tragedy printed first in quarto and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Weston Lord High Treasurer of England Distresses a Tragi-Comedy printed in folio Lond. 1673. First-days Entertainment at Ruthland-house by Declamation and Musick after the manner of the Ancients The subject of the former of these Declamations is concerning Publick Entertainment by Moral Representations the Disputants being Diogenes the Cynick and Aristophanes the Poet. The later Dispute is between a Parisian and a Londoner who declaim concerning the Preheminence of Paris and London The Vocal and Instrumental Musick was compos'd by Dr. Charles Coleman Capt. Henry Cook Mr. Henry Laws and Mr. George Hudson Fair Favourite a Tragi-Comedy printed in Folio 1673. Just Italian a Tragi-Comedy printed first in quarto and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Dorset and commended by the Verses of his Friends Mr. William Hopkins and Mr. Thomas Carew Law against Lovers a Tragi-Comedy made up of two Plays written by Mr. Shakespear viz Measure for Measure and Much Ado about Nothing Tho' not only the Characters but the Language of the whole Play almost be borrow'd from Shakespear yet where the Language is rough or obsolete our Author has taken care to polish it as to give instead of many one Instance Shakespear's Duke of Vienna says thus I love the People But do not like to Stage me to their Eyes Though it do well I do not relish well Their loud Applause and Aves vehement Nor do I think the Man of safe discretion That does affect it In Sr. William's Play the Duke speaks as follows I love the People But would not on the Stage salute the Croud I never relisht their Applause nor think The Prince has true discretion who affects it For the Plot I refer you to the abovemention'd Plays in the Account of Shakespear Love and Honour a Tragi-Comedy which I have several times seen acted with good applause first at the Play-house in Lincolns-Inn-Fields and since at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden This was first printed in quarto Man 's the Master a Comedy which I think I have seen acted at the Duke's House however I am sure the Design and part of the Language is borrow'd from Scarron's Jodelet ou Le Maistre valet and as I remember part from L'Heritier ridicule a Comedy of the same Authors Platonick Lovers a Tragi-Comedy which was first printed in octavo with The Wits Play-house to be Let. I know not under what Species to place this Play it consisting of several Pieces of different Kinds handsomely tackt together several of which the Author writ in the Times of Oliver and were acted separately by stealth as the History of Sr. Francis Drake exprest by Instrumental and Vocal Musick and by Art of Perpective in Scenes c. The Cruelty of the Spaniards in Peru. These two Pieces were first printed in quarto They make the third and fourth Acts of this Play The second Act consists of a French Farce translated from Molliere's Sganarelle ou Le Cocu Imaginaire and purposely by our Author put into a sort of Jargon common to French-men newly come over The fifth Act consists of Tragedie travestie or the Actions of Caesar Antony and Cleopatra in Verse Burlesque This Farce I have seen acted at the Theatre in Dorset-garden some years ago at the end of that excellent Tragedy of Pompey translated by the incomparable Pen of the much admired Orinda Siege of Rhodes in two Parts These Plays were likewise in the times of the Civil Wars acted with Stilo Recitativo and printed in quarto but afterwards enlarged by the Author and acted with applause at the Duke of York's Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields It is dedicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon Lord High Chancellor of England For the Plot as far as it is founded on History there are several Historians have writ of it in the Life of Solyman the second who took this City in the year 1522. See Thomas Artus Continuation de l'Histoire des Turcs Giov. Bosio L'Istoria della Sacra Religione Illma Militia di San Giovanni Gierosolimitano lib. 29. Boissardi Icones Vitae Sultanorum Turcicorum c. in Vit. Solym. 2. Knolles History of the Turks c. Siege a Tragi-Comedy News from Plimouth a Comedy formerly acted at the Globe with good success
Earl of Dorset and Middlesex There are two Copies of Verses that I have seen writ in Commendation of this Play one writ by Mr. Tate to the Author and printed with the Play the other writ by the late Mrs. A. Behn see the Miscellany Poems printed with Lycidas or the Lover in Fashion 8o. p. 102. The Plot of this admirable Tragedy is founded on the Story of Tamerlane and Bajazet Many are the Historians that have given an Account of the Affairs of these Great Men. Read Chalcocondylas lib. 3 Leunclavius lib. 6 The Life of Tamerlane by Mr. D'Assigny the same by P. Perondini Knolls his Turkish History in the Life of Bajazet the First This Play the Author wanting patience to attend the leisure of the Stage published without Action How much all Lovers of Poetry are indebted to him for it I must leave to those that are Poets to describe I that am none am glad to set my hand to an Address drawn up by Mr. Tate in the following Lines Accept our Thanks tho' you decline the Stage That yet you condescend the Press t' engage For while we thus possess the precious store Our Benefits the same your Glory more Thus for a Theatre the World you find And your Applauding Audience All Mankind 'T is not in Dramatick Poetry alone that our Author is a Master but his Talent is equal also in Lyricks Witness three Copies of Verses printed in Mr. Tate's Collection of Poems 8o. One to the Earl of Rochester upon the Report of his Sickness in Town in allusion to an Ode in Horace A second to a great Lord inviting him to Court or else to write a History in the Country being a Paraphrase upon Horace Lib. 2. Ode 12. A third to a perjur'd Mistress in imitation of another Ode of Horace Lib. 1. Ode 8. The Honble Sir Richard FANSHAW This Excellent Man was Brother to the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fanshaw of Ware-Park in Hertfordshire He had his Breeding in his younger Years in Cambridge and was so good a Proficient in Latin French Italian Spanish and Portugese that he understood them as well as his Mother-tongue He removed from Cambridge to Court where he serv'd his Majesty with all imaginable Fidelity and Dutiful Affection He was his Secretary in Holland France and Scotland and at Worcester Fight was wounded and taken prisoner in Defence of the Royal Cause His Loyalty and Abilities were so conspicuous to His Majesty King Charles the II. that at His happy Restauration He preferr'd him to be one of the Masters of the Requests and afterwards sent him into Portugal with the worthy Title of Lord Embassador of Honour to court the present Queen Dowager for this Master where he remain'd three Years and discharg'd his Employment with Honour In the Year 1644. he was sent Embassador into Spain to compleat a Treaty of Commerce and to strengthen the League between the two Crowns which Affair he managed with great Prudence and Integrity He died at Madrid in July 1666. leaving behind him the Character of an able Statesman a great Scholar and a sincere sweet natur'd and pious Gentleman At present we are only to consider his Scholarship which will sufficiently appear by the several Translations which he has publisht particularly those which are Dramatick the first of which in Order and the most Eminent is stil'd Il Pastor Fido The Faithful Shepherd a Pastoral printed 4o. Lond. 1646. and dedicated to the Hope and Lustre of three Kingdoms Charles Prince of Wales This Piece is translated from the Italian of the Famous Guarini of whose Life by way of Digression give me leave to speak succinctly He was a Native of Ferrara and Secretary to Alphonsus the II. Duke of that Principality who sent him into Germany Poland and Rome in the time of Pope Gregory the XIII After the death of Alphonsus he was Secretary to Vincent de Gonzaga Duke of Mantua to Ferdinand de Medicis Great Duke of Tuscany who created him Knight of the Order of Saint Stephen and to Francis Maria de la Rovera Duke of Urbin in all these Stations he was as much admir'd for his Politicks as Poetry How much he was esteem'd for this last the several Academies of Italy are a sufficient proof most of which elected him a Member into their several Societies as Gli Humoristi of Rome De la Crusca of Florence Gli Olympici of Vicenza and Gli Innominati of Parma and Gli Elevati of Ferrara He withdrew from pulick Affairs towards the latter end of his Life and dwelt privately at Padua afterwards at Venice where being about seventy five Years of Age he died in the Year 1613. Having given you this Abridgment of Guarini's Life I shall return to our English Author's Translation Tho' in his Epistle to the Prince He speaks modestly of his Performance as if this Dramatick Poem had lost much of the Life and Quickness by being poured out of one Vessel that is one Language into another besides the unsteadiness of the Hand that pours it and that a Translation at the best is but a Mock-Rainbow in the Clouds faintly imitating the true one into which Apollo himself had a full and immediate Influence I say notwithstanding this modest Apology yet Sir John Denham in his Verses on this Translation infinitely commends it and tho' he seems to assent to our Author's Notions touching Translations in general yet he shews that Sir Richard has admirably succeeded in this particular Attempt as the Reader may see by the following Lines where after having blam'd servile Translators he goes on thus A new and nobler Way thou dost pursue To make Translations and Translators too They but preserve the Ashes thou the Flame True to his Sense but truer to his Fame Foording his Current where thou find'st it low Let'st in thine own to make it rise and flow Wisely restoring whatsoever grace Is lost by change of Times or Tongues or Place Nor fetter'd to his Numbers and his Times Betray'st his Musick to unhappy Rimes Nor are the Nerves of his compacted strength Stretch'd and dissolv'd into unsinew'd length Yet after all lest we should think it thine Thy Spirit to his Circle dost confine I have already said that Guarini imitated Tasso's Aminta in this Pastoral and I may add that by the unquestionable Verdict of all Italy he outstript him which rais'd Tasso's Anger so high that he cry'd out in a great Passion Se non havuto visto il mio Aminta c. If he had not seen my Aminta he had not excell'd it Give me leave to enlarge further that this Pastoral was writ on the occasion of Charles Emmanuel the Young Duke of Savoy's Marriage with the Infanta of Spain The Author's Design is Allegorical and Instructive under the Name of Carino he personates himself and his chief End was to instill into his Princely Pupil under the disguise of a Dramatick Diversion the Principles of Divine Moral and Political Virtues
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
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
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
hard Stars tho' possibly Gipsy-like he begs with stoln Children that he may raise the more Compassion Nathaniel LEE An Author whose Plays have made him sufficiently remarkable to those who call themselves The Wits and One whose Muse deserv'd a better Fate than Bedlam How truly he has verified the Saying of the Philosopher Nullum fit Magnum-Ingenium sine mixtur â dementiae even to the Regret and Pity of all that knew him is manifest I heartily wish his Madness had not exceeded that Divine Fury which Ovid mentions and which usually accompanies the best Poet Est Deus in nobis agitante calescimus illo But alas his Condition is far worse as it has been describ'd in a Satyr on the Modern Poets There in a Den remov'd from human Eyes Possest with Muse the Brain-sick-Poet lyes Too miserably wretched to be nam'd For Plays for Heroes and for Passion fam'd Thoughtless he raves his sleepless Hours away In Chains all Nights in darkness all the Day And if he gets some intervals from pain The Fit returns he foams and bites his Chain His Eye-balls rowl and he grows mad again However before this misfortune befel him he writ several Dramatical Pieces which gave him a Title to the First Rank of Poets there being several of his Tragedies as Mithridates Theodosius c. which have forc'd Tears from the fairest Eyes in the World his Muse indeed seem'd destin'd for the Diversion of the Fair Sex so soft and passionately moving are his Scenes of Love written He has publisht Eleven Plays besides those two in which he joyn'd with Mr. Dryden and of which we have already spoken viz. Caesar Borgia Son to Pope Alexander the VI. a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre by their Royal-Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery For the Plot see Writers of those times as Guicciardine L. 5 6. Mariana L. 27 28. Sr. Paul Ricaut's Continuation of Platina in the Reign of Pope Alexander the VI. Constantine the Great a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1684. Many are the Authors that have writ the Actions of this Illustrious Emperor as Socrates Sozomen Eusebius Zonaras Eutropius Ruffinus Baronius c. The Story of Crispus and Fausta is particularly related as I think in Ammianus Marcellinus See besides Beard 's Theatre of God's Judgements Ch. 13. p. 225. Gloriana the Court of Augustus Caesar a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Portsmouth The Plot I take to be rather founded on Romance than History as the Reader will find by comparing the Play with the Romance of Cleopatra in the several Stories of Caesario Marcellus Julia Part 1. Book 3. Part 5. Book 3. Ovid Cypassis and Julia Part 7. Book 3. A Modern Poet in a Satyr writ in Imitation of Sir John Suckling's Session of the Poets writes thus of our Author and this Play Nat Lee stept in next in hopes of a Prize Apollo remember'd he had hit Once in Thrice By the Rubies in 's Face he could not deny But he had as much Wit as Wine could supply Confest that indeed he had a Musical Note But sometimes strain'd so hard that it rattled i' th' Throat Yet own'd he had Sense t' encourage him for 't He made him his Ovid in Augustus's Court. Lucius Junius Brutus Father of his Country a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre by their Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1681. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex This Play well deserv'd so great a Patron as his Lordship few Plays that I know being writ with more Manly Spirit Force and Vigour For the Plot our Author has partly follow'd History partly Romance For History consult Floras Lib. 1. Ch. 9 10. Livy Lib. 1. Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Eutropius Sextus Rufus Orosius c. For Fiction read in the Romance called Clelia The History of Junius Brutus Part 2. Book 1. p. 170. Part 3. Book 1. p. 229. Massacre of Paris a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1690. This Play is founded on that Bloody Massacre which was acted on St. Bartholomew Day in the Year 1572. For the Story consult Thuanus Davila Lib. 5. Pierre Matthieu or as some say Monliard his Continuation of De Serres Mezeray and other Historians in the Reign of Charles the IX Several passages in the Duke of Guise are borrow'd from this Play as the Reader may find by comparing p. 6. of the former with p. 4. of the latter p. 11. with p. 5. p. 13. with p. 5. and 6 c. Mithridates Kings of Pontus a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex This Play may be reckon'd amongst those of The First-Rank and will always be a Favourite of the Tender-hearted Ladies It is founded on History See Appian de Bell. Mithrid Florus l. 3.c.5 Vell. Paterculus l. 2. Plutarch in the Lives of Scylla Lucullus and Pompey c. Nero Emperor of Rome his Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Right Honble the Earl of Rochester This Play is writ in a mixt Stile part in Prose part in Rime and part in Blank Verse For the Plot consult Suetonius in his Life Aurelius Victor Tacitus Ann. lib. 13 14 c. Sulpicius Severus c. Princess of Cleve a Tragi-comedy acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden printed 4o. Lond. 1689. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex Lord Chamberlain of his present Majesty's Houshold and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council This Play is founded on a Romance call'd The Princess of Cleves translated from the French The Invective against Women spoken by Poltrot Act 5. Sc. 1. is printed in several Books of Poetry and may be read in a Romance call'd The French Rogue 8o. ch 21. p. 132. The Author tells his Patron That the Duke of Guise has wrested two Scenes from the Original but which they are I have not time to enquire Rival Queens or The Death of Alexander the Great a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed Lond. 1677. and dedicated to the Right Honourable John Earl of Mulgrave This Play has always been applauded by the Spectators and is acknowledg'd a Master-piece by Mr. Dryden himself in that Copy of Verses prefix'd to it which are a sufficient Testimony of its worth The Prologue was written by Sir Car Scroop For the Plot as far as the Author has follow'd History consult Arrian Q. Curtius Plutarch's Life of Alexander Justin lib. 11 12. Diodorus Siculus lib. 17. 18. Josephus lib. 11. cap. 8. Sophonisba or Hannibals
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
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
Fourteen Plays in print which we shall give an Account of in the Order we have begun viz. Alphabetically tho' by this means his last Play comes first upon our Stage viz. Amorous Bigotte with the Second Part of Tegue O Divelly a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Shrewsbury Bury Fair a Comedy acted by his present Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1689. and dedicated to the Rt. Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex the present Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houshold How difficult it is for Poets to find a continual Supply of new Humour this Poet has sufficiently shew'd in his Prologue and therefore he ought to be excus'd if Old Wit and Sir Humphry Noddy have some resemblance with Justice spoil Wit and Sr. John Noddy in the Triumphant Widow Skilfull Poets resemble excellent Cooks whose Art enables them to dress one Dish of Meat several ways and by the Assistance of proper Sawces to give each a different Relish and yet all grateful to the Palate Thus the Character of La Roche tho' first drawn by Molliere in Les ' Precieuses ridicules and afterwards copy'd by Sir W. D' Avenant Mr. Betterton and Mrs. Behn yet in this Play has a more taking Air than in any other Play and there is something in his Jargon more diverting than in the Original it self Epsom Wells a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle This is so diverting and withal so true a Comedy that even Forreigners who are not generally the kindest to the Wit of our Nation have extreamly commended it and it is no small credit to our Author that the Sieur De Saint Euvremont speaking of our English Comedies in his Essays has ranked this Play with Ben Johnson's Bartholmew Fair as two of our most diverting Comedies 'T is true that some endeavoured to fix a Calumny upon our Author alledging that this Play was not in Ingenious but this Stain was quickly wip'd off by the Plea he makes for himself in the Prologue spoken to the King and Queen at Whitehall where he says If this for him had been by others done After this Honour sure they 'd claim their own Humorists a Comedy acted by his Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1671. and dedicated to the most Illustrious Margaret Dutchess of Newcastle The Design of this Play was To reprehend some of the Vices and Follies of the Age which is certainly the most proper and most useful way of writing Comedy But notwithstanding the Author 's good Design it met with implacable Enemies who resolv'd to damn it right or wrong and the Author was forc'd to mutilate his Play by expunging the chief Design to prevent giving Offence These and other Disadvantages the particulars of which you may read in the Preface the Poet met with and yet I think a Candid Judge would let it pass without much Censure and pardon the faults of the Play for that Reparation that is made for it in the Preface Lancashire Witches and Teague O Divelly the Irish Priest a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1682. This Play was written in the Times of Whig and Tory therefore was opposed by Papists and their Adherents for the sake of their Dear-Joy Teague O Divelly but nevertheless there appeared so numerous a party in the Play 's Defence that the Play lived in spight of all their Malice However I wish our Author for his own sake had left out the Character of Smirk notwithstanding and the Defence he makes for it in the Preface and his Protestation of having a true value for the Church of England for 't is evident that her Sons the Clergy are abused in that Character particularly in the first Scene of the second Act and therefore Mr. Shadwell must allow me a little to distrust his sincerity when he makes such large Professions of Respect to Gowns-men to whom I believe his Obligations are greater than Kindness otherwise he would not have suffer'd such reflections to have passed his Pen as are to be met with in his Squire of Alsatia and the Epilogue to the Amorous Bigotte c. If Mr. Shadwell would therefore take a Friend's Counsel I would advise him to treat serious things with due Respect and not to make the Pulpit truckle to the Stage or Preface a Play with a a Treatise of Religion every Man has his Province and I think the Stating of Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance is none of Mr. Shadwell's He may remember that Mr. Dryden never miscarried more than when he inter-meddled with Church Matters and that all the Art and Beauty of his Absalom and Achitophel will hardly make Amends for the Spots and Blemishes that are to be found in his Hind and Panther But to return to our Subject Mr. Heywood and Mr. Brome have writ a Play on the same Story with our Author but how much this exceeds it will be evident to unbyassed Judges As to the Magick in the Play our Author has given a very good Account in his Notes from the Writings of Delrio Bodinus Wierus c. and I know nothing that we have in this Nature in Dramatick Poetry except Ben. Johnson's Masque of Queens which is likewise explained by Annotations Libertine a Tragedy acted by his Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to William Duke of Newcastle This Play if not regular is at least diverting which according to the Opinion of some of our First-Rate Poets is the End of Poetry The Play is built upon a Subject which has been handled by Spanish Italian and French Authors there being four Plays extant says my Author on this Story I have never seen but one viz. Molliere's L'Athée Foundroyé which it appear'd our Author has read There is a Character in Sir Aston Cockain's Ovid I mean that of Captain Hannibal whose Catastrophe is like that of Don John which as I have said may possibly be borrowed from Il Atheisto fulminato Miser a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles L d Buckhurst the present Earl of Dorset This Play the Author confesses is founded on Molliere's L'Avare which by the way is it self founded on Plautus his Autularia 'T was the last Play that was acted at the King's House before the fatal Fire there Whoever will peruse this Play will find more than half writ by our Author and the French part much improved Psyche a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the late James Duke of Monmouth This was the first Play that our Author writ in Rhime and on that Account he found most of the Crambo-Poets up in Arms against it who look'd upon our Author as an Incroacher on their Territories and Were as he says very much offended with him
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
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
Ingenious Person lately deceas'd being one of the Squire Bedles in the University of Oxford His Skill in Languages particularly in Latin and Greek is sufficiently known to the Learned World He translated out of Greek the Electra of Sophocles and presented it to Her Highness the Lady Elizabeth printed 120. at the Hague 1649. Several Translations besides he has publish'd as Gratius his Cynegeticon printed 8o. Lond. 1654. and Prioli's Hist. of France some of Tully's Orations and his Latin Dictionary besides other School-Books several of which have been often reprinted and all of them shew his Great Industry and Parts E. W. A Person who was tho' not the Author yet the occasion of the Publication of a Comedy call'd Apollo Shroving compos'd for the Scholars of the Free-School of Hadleigh in Suffolk and acted by them on Shrove-Tuesday Feb. 6. 1626. written by the School-Master of Hadleigh and printed octavo 1627. J. W. The Author of a Play call'd The Valiant Scot which was printed 4o. Lond. 1637. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Marquess Hamilton by the Publisher or Promoter of the Copy to the Press Mr. William Bowyer L. W. The Author of a Play call'd Orgula or The Fatal Error a Tragedy wherunto is annexed a Preface discovering the true Nature of Poesie with the proper use and Intention of such publick Divertisements printed 4o. Lond. 1658. and dedicated to the most accomplish'd Lady the Lady Frances Wildegoss M. W. Master of Arts. Another Author whose Play is bound in the Ternary of Plays 't is call'd The Marriage Broker or The Pander a Comedy printed 120. 1662. T. W. The third Author concern'd in that Volume having writ a Tragedy call'd Thornby-Abby or The London Maid All these Plays are dedicated to William Austin Esq by R. D. the Publisher W. W. The Translator of a Comedy writ by Plausus call'd Manaechmi printed 4o. Lond. 1515. This Author had translated several others in Manuscript tho' they were never permitted to come abroad in the World Unknown Authors WE are now come to the last Division of Authors I mean those whose Modesty or other Reasons have hinder'd the publication of their Names and as we have Decyphered some Authors in the foregoing Division upon Conjecture so we shall not pretermit to take Notice of such Plays whose Authors we can any ways guess at in this I shall Rank these as I did the former in an Alphabetical Method A. Abdicated Prince or The Adventures of Four Years a Tragi-comedy lately acted at Alba-Regalis by several Persons of Great Quality and printed Lond. 4 o 1690. This Play contains the Transactions of the Court and Nation during the Reign of the late King James under seigned Names there needs no Clavis the Persons being obvious to all Intelligent Persons The time of the Action is from the Coronation of King James to the Landing of his present Majesty Abraham's Sacrifice a Play which I never saw but do believe that it may possibly be a Translation from Theodore Beza Alarum for London or The Siege of Antwerpe with the Venturous Acts and Valiant Deeds of the Lame Souldier play'd by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlain his Servants printed Lond. 1602. Albion an Interlude mention'd by Kirkman which I never saw Albion's Triumph personated in a Masque at Court by the King and Queens Majesties and the Lords the Sunday after Twelfth-Night 1631. printed 4o. Lond. 1631. Mr. Inigo Jones had a Share in the Contrivance of this Masque Albumazar a Comedy presented before the King's Majesty at Cambridge by the Gentlemen of Trinity Colledge printed 4o. Lond. 1634. This was reviv'd at the King's House and a Prologue writ by Mr. Dryden see Miscellan Poems publish'd by him 8o. p. 279. Aminta a Pastoral translated from the Italian of Torquato Tasso to which is added Arriadne's Complaint in Imitation of Anguilara written by our Translator both printed in quarto Lond. 1628. Amorous Gallant or Love in Fashion a Comedy in Heroick Verse as it was acted and printed 4o. Lond. 1675. This Play has appeared abroad under the Title of The Amorous Orontus It is translated from a French Play written by Th. Corneille and call'd L'Amour à la mode It is founded on a Spanish Play writ by Ant. de Solis call'd by the same Name towit El Amor al uso Amorous Old Woman or 'T is well if it take a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1684. I have been told this Play was writ by Tho. Duffet 't is printed with a New Title-page call'd The Fond Lady Arden of Feversham his True and Lamentable Tragedy who was most wickedly murthered by the means of his disloyal Wife who for the love she bare to one Mosebie hired two desperate Ruffins Black-will and Shak-bag to kill him printed 4o. Lond. 1599. in a Black Letter The Story is to be found in the Reign of Edward the Sixth see Hollingshead Goodwin Hayward Baker Beard 's Theatre of God's Judgment Book 2. Ch. 10. Edit 4. and the second part Chap. 6. added by Dr. Tho. Taylour Arraignment of Paris a Pastoral which I never saw but it is ascribed by Kirkman to Mr. W. Shakespear B. Battle of Aliazar fought in Barbary between Sebastian King of Portugal and Abdelmelech King of Morocco with the Death of Captain Stukeley play'd sundry times by the Lord High Admiral 's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1594. For the Plot several Authors mention the Story the English Reader may find it in Heylin's Cosmography and Fuller's Worthies Band Ruff and Cuff an Interlude which other Catalogues mention but which I never saw Bastard a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1652. The Plot of this Tragedy and part of the Language concerning Clare Rodriguez Balthazar and Mariana is borrow'd from the Loves of Schiarra and Florelia in the English Lovers and Catilina's Supplying her Mistress Mariana's Room on the Wedding Night is founded on the Story of Roberto and Isdaura in Gerardo the Unfortunate Spaniard p. 87. Bloody Duke or The Adventures for a Crown a Tragi-comedy acted at the Court of Alba Regalis by several Persons of Great Quality by the Author of the Abdicated Prince printed 4 o Lond. 1690. This Play comprises the publick Affairs from the first Discovery of the Popish-plot to the Death of King Charles the Second The Persons are as easily known as in the former C. Caesar's Revenge a Tragedy which I never saw Charles the First King of England his Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1649. and dedicated to King Charles the Second commended by a Copy of Verses Combat of Caps a Masque of which I can give no Account Commons Condition a Comedy which I never saw Constant Nymph or The Rambling Shepheard a Pastoral acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1678. Costly Whore a Comical History acted by the Company of Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1633. Contention between York and Lancaster with the Death of the Good Duke Humphrey and the Banishment and Death of the Duke of
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
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 quarto Lond. For the Historical part of this Play consult Grafton Hollingshead Pol. Virgil Lloyd c. 'T is not devided into Acts. O. Old Wives Tale a Play of which I can say nothing having never seen it Orlando Furioso One of the Twelve Peers of France his History acted before the Queen's Majesty and printed quarto Lond. 1594. This Play is not divided into Acts but is founded upon the Epick Poem of Ariosto so called and translated into English by Sir John Harrington P. Pastor Fido or The Faithful Shepheard a Pastoral translated out of Italian into English printed quarto Lond. 1602. This was the first Version of the Famous Guarini into English and was Excellent for those Times The Author tho' his Name be unknown was nearly related to Sir Edward Demock Queen Elizabeth's Champion to whom after the Author's Decease the Bookseller dedicated it Pathomachia or The Battle of Affections shadowed by a Feigned Siege of the City Pathopolis printed quarto Lond. 1630. This Play was written some Years before and published by Fr. Constable a Friend of the Deceas'd Author's and by him dedicated to the Lord Hundsdon This is the same Play with that called Love's Loadstone Patient Grissel a Comedy say ancient Authors which tho' I never saw I presume is founded on that Famous Story in Boccacio I mean the last Novel in his Book Pedlers Prophecy a Comedy mentioned in former Catalogues of which I can give no Account Philotus a very Excellent and Delectable Comedy as we are told in the Preface wherein we may perceive the great Inconveniencies that fall out in the Marriage between Old Age and Youth This Play is printed at Edinburgh in an Old Black Letter An. Dom. 1612. Some People have mistaken this Play for Daniel's Philotas but this is of a different Subject and kind of Verse and is printed in Stanzas Pinder of Wakefield a Comedy which I have once seen printed in 4o. as I remember Lond. 1632. or thereabouts Piso's Conspiracy a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. This Play is only the Tragedy of Nero before mention'd Reviv'd and printed verbatim For the Plot see Suetonius Tacitus c. Presbyterian Lash or Noctroffe's Maid whipt a Tragi-comedy acted in the Great Room at the Pye Tavern at Algate by Noctroff the Priest and several of his Parishioners at the Eating of a Chine of Beef The First part printed for the use of Mr. Noctroffe's Friends This Play is dedicated to Mr. Zach. Noctroffe by F.K. which I take to be Fr. Kirkman I know not whether ever there were a Second part extant or no. Promises of God manifested this I never saw Promus and Cassandra in Two parts These are mention'd in other Catalogues though I can give no Account of either Q. Queen or The Excellency of her sex an Excellent Old Play found out by a Person of Honour and given to the Publisher Alexander Goughe printed 4o. Lond. 1653. This Play is dedicated by him to the Lady Katherine Mohun Wife to Lord Warwick Mohun Baron of Oakehamton This Publisher is applauded by two Copies of Verses before the Play The Plot of Salassa's Swearing Velasco not to fight is founded on a Novel said to be Bandello's which the Reader may peruse in Les Dixhuit Histoires Tragicques par Fr. De Belleforest 8o. Nov. 13 p. 285. R. Rampant Alderman or News from the Exchange a Farce printed quarto Lond. 1685. This Farce is patcht up out of several Plays as Fine Companion c. Reformation a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play is ascribed to Mr. Arrowsmith and is a very good Comedy Rehearsal a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4 th Edit quarto Lond. 1683. This Play is ascribed to the Late Duke of Buckingham and will ever be valued by Ingenious Men. There are some who pretend to furnish a Clavis to it my Talent not lying to Politicks I know no more of it than that the Author lashes several Plays of Mr. Dryden as Conquest of Granada Tyranick Love Love in a Nunnery and some passages of other Plays as The Siege of Rhodes Virgin Widow Slighted Maid Villain English Monsieur c. Religious Rebel a Tragi-comedy in quarto which I have only once seen but can give no Account of Return from Parnassus or The Scourge of Simony a Comedy publickly acted by the Students of St. John's Colledge in Cambridge printed quarto Lond In this Play the Poets of those times are censured and this is the Original of Dr. Wild's Benefice which is now in print Revenge or A Match in New-gate a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1680. This Play is ascribed to Mrs. Behn but is indeed a Play of Marston's revived and called The Dutch Curtezan Rivals a Tragi-comedy in quarto which at present I have not but have heard Mr. Cademan for whom as I think it was printed say it was writ by Sir Will. D' Avenant Robin Hood's Pastoral May Games which I know not Robin Hood and his Crew of Souldiers of the same Stamp and which I never saw Romulus and Hersilia or The Sabine War a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1683. For the Plot see Livy lib. 1. Ovidii Met. lib. 14. Plut. in Vit. Romuli Florus Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Velleius Paterculus Eutrop. c. Royal Masque at Hampton-Court presented on Sunday Night being the Eighth of January 1604. and personated by the Queen 's Most Excellent Majesty attended by Eleven Ladies of Honour printed quarto Lond. 1604. Royal Voyage or The Irish Expedition a Tragi-comedy printed quarto Lond. 1690. The Subject of this Play is known by the Title S. Salmacida Spolia a Masque presented by the King and Queen's Majesties at Whitehall on Tuesday the 21st of January 1639. and printed quarto Lond. 1639. The Invention Ornament Scenes and Machines with their Descriptions were made by Mr. Inigo Jones Surveyor General of His Majesty's Works What was spoken or sung by Sir Will. D'Avenant and the Musick was compos'd by Mr. Lewis Richard Master of Her Majesties Musick Sicelides a Piscatory acted in Kings Colledge in Cambridge and printed quarto Lond. 1631. The Serious parts of this Play are most writ in Verse with Chorus's between the Acts. Perindus telling to Armillus the Story of Glaucus Scylla and Circe Act 1. Sc. 4. is taken from Ovid's Met. lib. 13. Atychus fighting with and killing the Ork that was to have devoured Olynda is an Imitation of Perseus Andromeda Ovid Met. lib. 4. or else Orlando Furioso Book eleventh Shoomaker 's Holyday or The Gentle-Craft with the Humorous Life of Simon Eyre Shoomaker and Lord Mayor of London a Comedy acted before the Queen's most Excellent Majesty on New-Year's Day at Night by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham Lord High Admiral his Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1657. This Play is dedicated To all Good Fellows Professors of the Gentle-Craft
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
4o. Lond. 1690. How this Play succeeded on the Stage I know not but I think 't is far from the worst of his Comedies and I believe is wholy free from Plagiary Thomas SOUTHERN An Author that has contributed three Plays to the Stage which have gain'd him no small Reputation Two of them I have already mention'd p. 489. This last Play is stil'd Sir Anthony Love or The Rambling Lady a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to his Friend Thomas Skipwith Esq This Play was acted with extraordinary Applause the Part of Sir Anthony Love being most Masterly play'd by Mrs. Montfort and certainly who ever reads it will find it fraught with true Wit and Humour and in the Characters of M. L'Abbé and Palmer the Pilgrim our Author has given us some Sketches of the Hypocrisie of those pretended Saints Mr. WILSON I am apt to believe this Writer is the same with the Author of the Cheats I mean John Wilson already mention'd p. 512. Whoever he is he has publisht a New Play call'd Belphegor or The Marriage of the Devil a Tragi-comedy lately acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden printed quarto Lond. 1690. This Play notwithstanding it was decryed on the Stage I think far surpasses many others that have lately appear'd there For the Foundation of the Play the Author has directed the Reader to Matchiavel and Straparola both which have played with the same Story And I may add That those who delight in French Poetry may read it ingeniously translated in Les Contes de M. de la Fontaine octavo 1. partie page 180. derniere Edit and the English Reader may find it pleasantly related not only in the Folio Translation of Matchiavel but likewise at the end of Quevedo's Novels Engl. octavo Unknown Authors I Am in the last place to give an Account of those Plays whose Authors are unknown do in the former Method beginning with a Play call'd Banish'd Duke or The Tragedy of Infortunatus acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1690. The Reader will easily find that under the Character of Infortunatus the Poet design'd to portray the late Unfortunate Duke of Monmouth under that of Romanus and Papissa the late King and Queen Braggadocio or The Bawd turn'd Puritan a New Comedy by a Person of Quality printed 4o. Lond. 1690. This Comedy I take to be instructive and undoubtedly in the Character of Flush he has hit some Features which belong to some private Enemies of Universities Edward the Third with the Fall of Mortimer Earl of March an Historical Play acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Viscount Sidney of Sheppey by Mr. Mountfort to whom the Play was made a Present This Play I take to exceed most of the Plays that have been lately publisht and I think in the Characters of Tarleton Chancellor of England and Serjeant Etherside he has somewhat detected the Misdemeanours of some Great Men in the last Reign For the Plot as far as concerns History consult Harpsfield Walsingham Pol. Vigil Froissard Du Chesne Math. Westminster Hollingshead Grafton Stow Daniel Speed c. Englishmen for Money or a pleasant Comedy call'd A Woman will have her Will divers times acted with great Applause printed 4o. Lond. 1626. This Comedy is not divided into Acts. Folly of Priestcraft a Comedy printed quarto Lond. 1690. Though the Modesty or Prudence of this Author will not permit him to to be known yet I think he deserves a place amongst the Eldest Sons of Apollo and if I may presume to speak my Judgment I believe no Satyr since The Plain Dealer has been more judiciously or ingeniously penn'd and I question not but it will deserve a good Character from all Readers except the Priests and Bigots of the Romish Religion Robin Conscience a Play which I never could obtain the sight of tho finding it mentioned in former Catalogues I was unwilling to omit it Royal Flight or The Conquest of Ireland a New Farce printed quarto Lond. 1690. The Subject of this Play is evident from its Title-page and the Author has no ways disguised his Characters Tho' had he treated some Persons in his Farce with more Modestie it had been no less for his Reputation Thus I have finish'd My ACCOUNT of Our English Dramatick Poets and their Writings and having laid a Foundation I shall leave it to Others who may think it worth their while to perfect the Edifice hoping those that will attempt it will alter or supply what ever they dislike or find defective in the whole Essay FINIS ERRATA PAge 106 Line 6 for suo read tuo p. 158 l. 34 after Albibech r. of Abdalla Abdelmelech p. 169 l. 26 for his r. this p. 215 l. 7. for Thirry r. Thierry p. 224 l. 15 for Walton's r. Watson's p. 242 l. 19 after Account r. of J. Cook p. 255 l. 24 for benefy'd r. benefic'd p. 260 l. 3 for I began r. he began p. 274 l. 29 for Women's r. Woman's p. 304 l. the last for last r. lasted p. 310 l. 3 for Person r. Judges p. 352 l. 2 for their r. his Id. l 6 for eti r. eris p. 376 l. 20 for 1687 r. 1637. p. 377 l. 1 for Oracle r. Paradice p. 382 l. 3 for Lover r. Mother p. 388 l. 18 for Soleil r. Soleisel p. 405 l. 13 for Corse r. Cork p. 415 l. 12 for his own r. this One p. 446 l. 8 for Ingenious r. Genuine p. 454 l. 16 for Ben Johnson r. our Author p. 492 l. 27 to the end belongs to Tho. St. Serf p. 435. p. 508 l. 10 for more r. longer Id. l 16 for Waver r. Weaver p. 514 l. 13 for Talisbury r. Salisbury p. 519 l. 12 for Basker r. Barker Id. l 14 dele was p. 522 l. 20 for Thorpy r. Thorny p. 527 l. 2 for Aliazer r. Alcazer Id. l. 14 for Chare r. Clare p. 534 l. 12. for Tornelli Annals r. Tornielli Annales p. 535 l. 7 for Bellimperin r. Bellimperia p. 538 l. 19 for Lactus r. Tactus p. 543 l. 15 for before r. after Some other Literal faults not here inserted the Reader is desired to correct
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