And in great Choller offer'd to go out But Those that were there thought it not fit To discontent so ancient a Wit And therefore Apollo call'd him back agen And made him mine Host of his own New-Inn I know nothing else published by our Author only I have read a Letter from Mr. James Howell to Dr. Duppa then Bishop of Chichester and Tutor to King Charles the Second when Prince of Wales that he was publishing a Piece call'd Johnsonus Verbius to which Mr. Howell contributed a Decastick I know not what Reception Mr. Howell's Verses met with in the World but I am confident he had willingly allowed Mr. Oldham's Ode had he then liv'd a place in the first Rank of Poets The Title sufficiently explains the Design and the Reader may find it commended by an Ingenious Copy of Verses addrest to the Bishop by Sir W. D'Avenant See his Poems Fol. Edit p. 253. He died An. D. 1637. being aged 63. and was buried in St. Peter's Church in Westminster on the West-side near the Belfry having only a plain Stone over his Grave with this Inscription O RARE BEN. JOHNSON 'T is manifest that a better Monument was design'd him by some Friends but the Civil Wars breaking out hindred their good Intentions tho' it shall not prevent me from transcribing an Elegy written by a Studious Friend and Admirer of Ben. Johnson which I wish were set upon his Grave Hic Johnsonus noster Lyricorum Dramaticorumque Coryphaeus qui Pallade auspice laurum à Graecia ipsaque Roma rapuit fausto Omine in Brittaniam transtulit nostram nunc invidia major fato nec tamen aemulis cessit An Dom. 1637. Id. Nov. Thomas JORDAN An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who could both write and act Plays as appears from three Drammas he has publisht and from a Tragedy call'd Messalina in which he acted the part of Lepida Mother to that shameless Empress His Plays are two Comedies and a Masque viz. Fancies Festivals a Masque printed 4o. Lond. 16 This I have not at present but have formerly read it with satisfaction and still retain the following Lines spoken by a Souldier God and the Souldier Men alike adore Just at the brink of danger and no more The danger past both are alike requited God is forgotten and the Souldier slighted Money is an Ass a Comedy acted with good applause printed 4o. Lond. 1668. I suppose by the Stile this was writ and possibly publish'd some Years before it being a common thing with Mr. Kirkman to publish old Plays as Any thing for a Quiet Life Cure for a Cuckold Gammer Gurton's Needle and many others Walks of Islington and Hogsdon with the Humors of Woodstreet-Compter a Comedy publickly acted Nineteen Days together with extraordinary applause printed 4o. Lond. 1657. and dedicated to the true Lover of Ingenuity the much Honour'd Richard Cheyny of Hackney Esq This Play in those days was commended by a Copy of Verses written by R. C. Master of Arts part of which are thus These Walks 'twixt Islington Hogsdon will Like those 'twixt Tempe and Parnassus Hill Show how the Muses in their sportfull Rage Set all the Town a walking to your Stage With so much Wit and Art and Judgment laid That Nineteen dayes together they were play'd Now by the bounty of the Press we be Possess'd of that which we before did see Not pleasing only Nineteen times read o're But Nineteen Ages or till Times no more William JOYNER A Gentleman born in Oxfordshire and Educated in Magdalen Colledge where he was sometime Fellow but upon the Change of his Religion or in order to it he voluntarily quitted his Place in the beginning of the Wars After he left the Colledge he betook himself to a retir'd Life never intermedling with the Controversies of Religion or the Affairs of State which prudent Demeanor joyned with the Sweetness of his Disposition continued him in the Favour and Good-will of the Society till the New-modelling of the Colledge under the Ecclesiastical Commissioners by whom he was re-placed in his former Station but did not long enjoy it the Colledge being shortly after again restored to its former Settlement That he did not wholly bid Adieu to the Muses when he first withdrew from the University may appear by a Dramma that he publish'd under the Name of The Roman Empress a Tragedy acted at the Royal Theatre by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1671. and dedicated to the Honourable Sir Charles Sidley This Play in spight of a dead Vacation and some other Impediments found the applause and approbation of the Theatre as oft as it appear'd The Author has propos'd the Oedipus and Hippolitus for his pattern and I think it may justly deserve to be observ'd That his Tragedy is writ in a more Masculine and lofty Stile than most Plays of this Age and Terror and Compassion being the chief hinges on which he design'd his Tragedy should turn he has judiciously rejected what he calls the Gingling Antitheses of Love and Honour By the Advice of Friends he tells us that he hath disguis'd the Names yet that this Emperour was One of the Greatest that ever Rome boasted I am apt to believe that under the Character of Valentius the Author means Constantine the Great and that Crispus and his Mother-in-law Faustina are shadow'd under the Characters of Florus and Fulvia but this being only Conjecture I must leave it to the Criticks Decision Our Author has nothing else in print that I know of except a little Book entituled Some Observations on the Life of Cardinal Reginal dus Polus where he disguises his Name under these two Letters G. L. which I take to be Guilielmus Lyde the Ancient Name of that Family 'T is printed 8o. Lond. 1686. In this Book the Reader is made acquainted not only with the Authors Reading Stile and Judgment but his skill in the French and Italian Languages K. Henry KILLEGREW AN Author who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and writ a Play call'd Conspiracy a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1638. This Play was design'd for an Entertainment of the King and Queen at York-House at the Nuptials of the Lady Mary Villiers and the Lord Charles Herbert 'T was afterwards acted on the Black-fryars Stage and found the approbation of the most Excellent Persons of this kind of Writing which were in that time if there were ever better in any time Ben Johnson being then alive who gave a Testimony of this Perce even to be envy'd Some Cavillers at its first Representation at Blackfryars exclaim'd against the Indecorum that appear'd in the part of Cleander who being represented as a Person of seventeen years old is made to speak words that would better sute with the Age of Thirty saying It was monstrous and impossible but the Author was sufficiently vindicated by the Lord Viscount Faulkland who made the following Repartee to One of these Hypercriticks
1667. The Story of Thalestris may be read in Q. Curtius lib. 6. c. 5. Just. lib. 3. Strabo lib. 5. c. Tho' our Author makes her somewhat nice in her Amours This Play was never acted by reason of the Author 's hearing of two Plays besides on the same Subject that were intended for the Stage WHITAKER The Author of a Play call'd Conspiracy or The Change of Government a Tragedy acted at His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1680. This Play is written in Heroick Verse as to its Character I shall leave it to the Judgment of abler Criticks Dr. Robert WILD A Doctor of the Presbyterian Leven but yet who it seems in his Juvenile Years was the Author of a Comedy call'd The Benefice which was printed 4o. Lond. 1689. His Opinion of the Orthodox Clergy may easily be collected from this Play tho' he is beholding to another Play call'd The Return from Pernassus or The Scourge of Simony for his Design His Poems are well known octavo 1605. Leonard WILLAN A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Second This Author publish'd a Play call'd Astraea or True Loves Mirrour a Pastoral in Verse printed 8o. Lond. 1651. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Mary Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox This Play is founded on the Romance of Astraea writ by Mr. D'Urfé On this Author Mr. Herrick has writ a Copy of Verses which the Reader may peruse at leisure p. 354. of his Poems in octavo George WILKINS An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who was the Writer of a single Comedy besides that in which he joyn'd with Day and Rowley I mean The Travels of three English Brothers The Play I am speaking of is call'd Miseries of Inforced Marriage play'd by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1637. This Comedy has been a great part of it reviv'd by Mrs. Behn under the Title of The Town Fop or Sir Timothy Tawdry Robert WILMOT An Author in the time of Queen Elizabeth who at the desire of the Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple compos'd a Play call'd Tancred and Gismund their Tragedy acted before Her Majesty by the Gentlemen of the Temple printed 4o. Lond. 1592. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful and Vertuous Ladies the Lady Mary Peter and the Lady Anne Grey This Play is founded on a Story in Boccace see Day the fourth Novel the first John WILSON A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the Second if not still alive whose Muse has been applauded on the Stage His Play call'd The Cheats having the general Approbation of being an Excellent Comedy He has writ three Plays in Number of which take the following Account Andronicus Comnenus a Tragedy printed Lond. 1663. For the Plot consult Glycas Leunclaius Chorriates Cantacusenus c. Cheats a Comedy written in the Year 1662. and printed 2 d Edit 4o. Lond. 1671. The Author has sufficiently Apologiz'd for this Play in his Preface to which I refer you Projectors a Comedy printed 40. Lond. 1665. Robert WILSON A Gentleman that flourish'd in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was the Author of a Comedy call'd The Coblers Prophecy printed 4o. Lond. 1655. Nathaniel WOODS An Author that was a Minister in Norwich in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and who writ an Old Comedy call'd Conflict of Conscience containing a most Lamentable Example of the doleful Desperation of a miserable Worldling by the Name of Philologus who forsook the Truth of God's Gospel for fear of the Loss of Life and worldly Goods The Actors Names divided into six parts most convenient for such as be dispos'd either to shew this Comedy in private Houses or otherwise printed 4o. Lond. 1581. John WRIGHT A Writer still living who has publisht two Plays the one being writ in Heroick Verse and the other disguis'd En Travesty They both bear the same Title and are bound together viz. Thyestes a Tragedy translated out of Seneca printed in octavo Lond. 1674. and dedicated to Bennet Lord Sherrard Mock Thyestes a Farce in Burlesque Verse and printed 4o. Lond. 1674. In commendation of these two Plays there is a Copy of Verses written by Mr. O. Salisbury which begins thus Did Seneca now live himself would say That your Translation has not wrong'd his Play But that in every Page in every Line Your Language does with equal splendor shine c. William WYTCHERLEY A Gentleman whom I may boldly reckon amongst the Poets of the First Rank no Man that I know except the Excellent Johnson having outdone him in Comedy in which alone he has imploy'd his Pen but with that Success that few have before or will hereafter match him His Plays are four in Number viz. Country Wife a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1683. This is reckon'd an Admirable Play Gentleman Dancing-Master a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1673. Love in a Wood or Saint James's Park a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Cleveland Plain Dealer a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to Madam B Of this Play and its Author Mr. Dryden says thus The Author of the Plain Dealer whom I am proud to call My Friend has oblig'd all Honest and Virtuous Men by One of the most Bold most General and most Useful Satyrs which has been presented on the English Theatre But notwithstanding this Admirable Character I must take the Freedom to alledge That our Author has borrow'd his chief Characters of Manly and Olivia from Molliere's Le Misanthrope that of Major Old-fox from Scarron's City Romance and that of Vernish his seizing Fidelia and discovering her Sex may possibly be founded on Silvia Molliere's Memoires But notwithstanding all this the Play is Excellent in its kind and the Author's Character is justly drawn by Mr. Evelyn As long as Men are false and Women vain While Gold continues to be Virtues bane In pointed Satyr Wycherley shall Reign Y. Robert YARRINGTON An Ancient Writer in Queen Elizabeth's Time who has publisht a Play call'd Two Tragedies in One. The One of the Murther of Mr. Beech a Chandler in Thames-street and his Boy done by Thomas Mern The Other of a Young Child murther'd in a Wood by two Ruffins with the Consent of his Uncle printed in quarto Lond. 1601. Supposed Authors WE are now arriv'd at those Authors whose Names are not certainly known who discover themselves only to their Friends in private and disguise themselves from the Knowledge of the World by Two Letters only part of which we shall unriddle in the following Account R. A. Gent. This Author writ a Play call'd The Valiant Welchman or The True Chronicle History of the Life and Valiant Deeds of Charadoc the Great King of Cambria now call'd Wales This Play has been sundry times acted
by the Prince of Wales his Servants but printed 4o. Lond. 1663. For the Plot of this Play 't is founded on true History see Tacitus Annals Milton's History of England c. See besides Ubaldine Le Vite delle Donne Illustre p. 6. H. H. B. The Author of a Play call'd The World's Idol or Plutus a Comedy written in Greek by Aristophanes and translated by our Author together with his Notes and a short Discourse upon it printed octavo Lond. 1650. P. B. i. e. Peter BELON Gent. An Author now living who is supposed to write a Play call'd The Mock Duellist or The French Vallet acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesty's Servants printed quarto Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Virtuous Accomplisht Lady Madam S. C. J. C. The Author of a pleasant Comedy call'd The two Merry Milk-maids or The best Words wear the Garland acted before the King with General approbation by the Company of the Revels printed quarto Lond. 16 Part of the Plot of this Play viz. Dorigene's promise to Dorillus of Enjoyment when he presented her with a Garland that should contain all sorts of Flowers in January and the Consequence is founded on Boccace Day 10. N. 5. and is the Foundation of other Plays as Fletcher's Four Plays in one c. R. C. There are two Plays which no otherwise discover the Author than by these two Letters The first call'd Alphonsus King of Arragon a History which I never saw the other nam'd Ignoramus a Comedy several times acted with extraordinary applause before the Majesty of King James with a Supplement which out of Respect to the Students of the Common Law was hitherto wanting Written in Latin by R. Ruggles sometimes Master of Arts in Clare Hall in Cambridge and translated by R. C. sometimes Master of Arts in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford printed 4o. Lond. 1662. J. D. The Author of a Comedy call'd The Mall or The Modish Lovers acted by his Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1674. and dedicated to William Whitcom Junior Esq This Play is ascribed by Dr. Hyde the Proto-Bibliothecarius to the University to Mr. Dryden tho' methinks the Stile of the Epistle Dedicatory is not like the rest of his Writings R. D. The Author of a Play call'd New Trick to cheat the Devil a Comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1639. The Plot of Fryar John's Discovering the Constable and the Woman 's Intrigue and pretending to conjure for Victuals at the Husband's Return Act 3. Sc. 1. is the same with that made use of in the London Cuckolds and which is related since the Writing of this Play by M. D'Ouville in his Tales part 2. page 257. Slight-all's teaching the Art of Love to the two Gentlemen in the second Scene of the first Act is borrow'd from Ovid De Arte Amandi Lib. 2. T. D. Under these Letters is a Play in print call'd The Bloody Banquet a Tragedy printed 1620. This Play by some old Catalogues is ascrib'd to Thomas Basker S. H. Concerning this Author was I know no more than that he was a Batchelor of Arts of Exeter Colledge in Oxford and writ a Play call'd Sicily and Naples or The Fatal Union a Tragedy printed 4o. Oxon. 1640. This Play is commended by Seven Copies of Verses which are prefix'd most of them being writ by Young Academics B. J. The Author of a Tragedy call'd Guy of Warwick which I have once seen in quarto Lond. and the Gentleman that shew'd it me told me it was writ by Ben Johnson tho' by that little I read I guess'd it to be writ by a Pen far inferiour to that Great Master in Poetry E. M. The Author of a Tragedy call'd Saint Cecilie or The Converted Twins printed quarto Lond. 1667. This Play was publish'd by Mr. Medbourn the Comedian and dedicated to Queen Katherine For the Plot consult Ecclesiastical Writers as Epiphanius Eusebius Baronius c. T. P. Under these Letters are printed two Plays One of which is call'd The French Conjurer a Comedy acted at the Duke of York's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1678. This Play is founded on two Stories in the Romance of Guzman the Spanish Rogue one call'd Dorido and Clorinia the other The Merchant of Sevil. The second Play is stiled A witty Combat or The Female Victor a Tragi-comedy acted by Persons of Quality in Whitson Week with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1663. This Play is founded on the Story of Mary Carleton the German Princess See her Life in octavo Monsieur P. P. The Author of an Opera call'd Ariadne or The Marriage of Bacchus being a Vocal Representation translated out of French and put into Musick by Mr. Grabut Master of his Majesty's Musick and acted by the Royal-Academy of Musick at the Theatre-Royal in Covent Garden printed 4o. Lond. 1674. and dedicated to King Charles the Second S. P. An Author which I take to be Samuel Pordage who publish'd a Play of Seneca's with Notes call'd Troades to which is annex'd some Poems on several Occasions all which are printed together octavo Lond. 1660. T. R. An Author that publisht a Play call'd The Extravagant Shepheard a Pastoral Comedy translated from the French of M. Corneille Junior printed 4o. Lond. 1654. and dedicated to Mrs. Thornhill Wife to Coll. Rich. Thornhill of Ollantigh in Kent This Play is founded on a Romance call'd Lysis or The Extravagant Shepheard in Folio W. R. The Author of a Piece which I never saw call'd Three Lords and Ladies of London Mr. S. Mr. of Arts. The Author of a Right Pithy Pleasant and Merry Comedy Entituled Gammer Gorton's Needle play'd on the Stage near a hundred Year ago in Christs Colledge in Cambridge printed in a Black Letter 4o. Lond. 1661. J. S. Four Plays are printed under these Letters viz. a Masque call'd Masquarade du Ciel presented to the Great Queen of the Little World printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Queen A Pastoral call'd Phillis of Scyros translated from the Italian of C. Guidubaldo di Bonarelli and printed 4o. Lond. 1655. A Tragedy whose Name is Andromana or The Merchant's Wife printed 4o. Lond. 1660. This Play is founded on Sr. Phil. Sidney's Romance call'd Arcadia in Fol. see the Story of Plangus p. 155. And a Comedy call'd The Prince of Priggs Revels or The Practices of that Grand Thief Captain James Hinde printed 4o. Lond. 16 S. S. The Author of a Play call'd The Honest Lawyer a Comedy acted by the Queens Majesty's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1616. J. T. Under these Letters are two Plays the first call'd Grim the Collier of Croyden or The Devil and his Dame with the Devil and St. Dunstan printed octavo Lond. 1662. This Play is bound with two others viz. Thorpy Abby or Marriage Broker under the Title of Gratiae Theatrales or A Choice of Ternary of English Plays The second Play is L. Annaeus Seneca's Troas a Tragedy translated from the Latin and printed 4o. Lond. 1686. C. W. i.e. Christopher WASE An
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
Dutchess of Malsy which is excusable only on the account of the Author's Youth he being but 17 Years of age when he compos'd that Romance which was the reason that it was so highly commended by twelve Copies of Verses writ by his Friends and printed with his Book Mirza a Tragedy really acted in Persia in the last Age Illustrated with Historical Annotations printed octavo Lond. and dedicated to his Majesty by a Copy of Verses This Play is much beyond either of the former and has the repute of a good Play It is commended by five Copies of Verses written by the Author's Cambridge-Friends On this very Subject the famous Denham had before writ a Play called The Sophy Tho' our Author had finished three compleat Acts of this Tragedy before he saw that nor was he then discouraged seeing the most Ingenious Author of that has made his seem quite another Story from this Mr. Baron has follow'd not only the Honourable Sr. Thomas Herbert's printed Account in his Travels but likewise made use of a Manuscript Letter which Sr. Dodmore Cotton Embassador to Abbas King of Persia from King Charles the First in the Year 1626. sent to a Friend of his in Cambridge according to which Letter he prosecuted the Story throughout The Author seems to have propos'd for his pattern the famous Catiline writ by Ben Johnson and has in several places not only hit the model of his Scenes but even imitated the Language tolerably for a young Writer Whoever pleases to compare the Ghost of Emir-hamze-mirza with that of Scilla may easily see his Imitation but that being too long to transcribe I shall set down the first words of Catiline in that admirable Play and afterwards those of Abbas and then submit my opinion to my Reader 's judgment Catiline Act first It is decreed Nor shall thy fate O Rome Resist my Vow Though hills were set on hills And seas met seas to guard thee I would thro' I 'll plough up Rocks steep as the Alpes in dust And lave the Tyrhene waters into clouds But I would reach thy head thy head proud City Mirza Act first The vow is made nor shall thy flattering Fate O Mirza contradict it though thy Troops Stood like a wall about thee nay tho' Jove Press all the gods to guard thee and should arm Them every one with thunder I would through I 'll tear the groundsells of thy Towers up And make their nodding Spires kiss the centre But I will reach thy heart thy heart proud Victor This is the first Author taken notice of either by Mr. Phillips in his Theatrum Poetarum or his Transcriber Mr. Winstanley in his Lives of the English Poets and though neither of them give any other Account of our Author but what they collected from my former Catalogue printed 1680. yet through a mistake in the method of that Catalogue they have ascrib'd many Anonymous Plays to the foregoing Writers which belonged not to them and thus have committed mistakes in almost all the Dramatick Writers they have handled To give an Instance in this Author they both ascribe to him Don Quixote or The Knight of the ill-favoured Countenance a Comedy I know not whence they had their Intelligence but I never heard or read any such Play nor do I believe there is any other Book which bears that title except the fam'd Romance written by the admirable Pen of that famous Spanish Author Miguel de Cervantes They have likewise ascribed several other Dramatick Pieces to this Author which I dare be confident are not of his Writing as Dick Scorner Destruction of Jerusalem Marriage of Wit and Science Masques and Interludes and have omitted two other Pieces written by him viz. Poems octavo and a Book intituled An Apology for Paris Neither do I believe Mr. Phillips's Account that any of his Pieces appear'd on the Stage I shall conclude all with the following Anagram written by his Friend Mr. John Quarles sometimes of St. Peter's College in Cambridge Anagram ROBERTUS BARONUS Anagram RARUS AB ORBE NOTUS Rarus haud cuiquam peperit Natura secundum Notus es scriptis Baron ab orbe tuis Lodowick BARREY An Author that liv'd in the middle of the Reign of King James the First who writ a Play call'd Ram-Alley or Merry Tricks a Comedy divers times heretofore Acted by the Children of the Kings Revels and printed in quarto Lond. 1611. The Plot of Will Smallshank's decoying the Widow Taffeta into Marriage is borrow'd as I suppose from the same Author from whence Kirkman took the Story which is to be found in the English Rogue Part the IV Chap. 19. and is an Incident in other Plays besides this particularly in Killegrew's Parjon's Wedding Francis BEAUMONT See Fletcher Captain William BEDLOE A Person so remarkable in this Nation not many years since on the Account of the Popish Plot that few are ignorant of his part of the discovery I shall not pretend here to give you an account of his Life but refer you to that which was written by an Unknown Hand intituled The Life and Death of Captain William Bedloe printed in octavo Lond. 1681. The Reason why we mention him in our Catalogue is on account of a Play writ by him called The Excommunicated Prince or The false Relick a Tragedy Acted by his Holiness's Servants being The Popish Plot in a Play printed in folio Lond. 1679. Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Buckingham I must confess I was very desirous to read this Piece for the sake of the Title-page and came to it with great expectations but found them altogether frustrated and only a Story which I had formerly read in Dr. Heylin's Geography described in it But afterwards when his Life came out I was satisfied with the Account the Publisher gave of it which for the Readers Information and the Justification of the Deceased I shall quote word for word In the next place I desire leave to speak something of his Dramatick Poem call'd The Excommunicated Prince or The False Relick As to the worth of the Play I do own my self so unskilful in Poetry that I will not rashly pretend to give my opinion of it But that which I know let me assert in its vindication viz. That it was both began and finisht in the space of two Months which every one must needs acknowledge was but a very short time considering the great business that then more earnestly imploy'd his thoughts which must necessarily be a weighty clog to the ablest Muse. Whereas some of the chiefest Poets of this Age have thought it no disparagement to confess that a correct Play to be perfected will require at least twelve Months time And I remember in some Prologue I think in that to the Virtuoso I have read this Distick to the same purpose A Play like Ground must a Year Fallow lye E're it can ripen to good Comedy This consider'd and it being the first Essay he
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
observes of the Writers of Romances Flea'd the Eel by beginning at the Tail yet notwithstanding what she has omitted of worth in her first part she has taken into the second and therefore could not justly call these Plays her own Round-heads or The good Old Cause a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1682. and Dedicated to the Most Illustrious Prince Henry Fitz-Roy Duke of Grafton A great part of the Language of this Play is borrow'd from Tateham's Rump or a Mirror of the Times but yet she has a better Title to this Play than the former having much improv'd the Humor of the Round-heads Sr. Patient Fancy a Comedy Acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1678. The Hint of Sr. Patient Fancy is borrow'd from a French Play called Le Malade imaginaire and the Characters of Sr. Credulous Easy and his Groom Curry are stol'n from Sr. Amphilus the Cornish Knight and his Man Trebasco in Brome's Play called The Damoseille Town Fop or Sr. Timothy Tawdrey a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1677. The foundation of this Play is a Comedy writ by George Wilkins call'd The Miseries of inforc'd Marriage from which not only the Plot but a great part of the Language is stol'n Widow Ranter or The History of Bacon in Virginia a Tragi-Comedy acted by Their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Much Honored Madam Weldon by G. J. a Friend to the Authress by whom this Play was publisht after her Decease I refer the Reader to this Epistle for the Plays justification only I cannot but observe that the Prologue was written Ten years since and publisht before Mr. Shadwell's True Widow and if I mistake not the Epilogue is Old likewise For the Story of Bacon I know no History that relates it but his Catastrophe is founded on the known story of Cassius who perished by the Hand of his freed-Man Dandorus believing his Friend Brutus vanquished Young King or The Mistake a Tragi-Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1683. and dedicated to some Gentleman her particular Friend under the Name of Philaster The Design of this Play is borrow'd from Monsieur Calpranede's Cleopatra see the History of Alcamenes and Menalippa Part VIII Besides these Plays this Ingenious Woman has publisht several other Works both in Verse and Prose As a Collection of Poems in octavo Lond. 1684. and a Collection of several Others in octavo Lond. 1685. Another Volume in octavo Lond. 1688. amongst all which are many of her own Composures Her several Versions from the French are commended by those who think themselves Judges of Wit amongst which the chiefest are A Voyage to the Island of Love Lycidas or The Lover in Fashion and The Lover's Watch. These Pieces in the Original may be found in the second and third Tomes of Le Receueil des Pieces Gallantes en Prose en Vers 8 o Paris 1684. Those who will take the pains to compare them will find the English rather Paraphrases than just Translations but which sufficiently shew the Fancy and excellent Abilities of our Authress She has written other Pieces in prose which have had the fortune to please as The Love Letters between a Nobleman and his Sister in Three Volumes octavo Lond. 1684. c. Three Histories printed in octavo Lond. 1688. viz. Oroonoko or The Royal Slave The fair Jilt or Tarquin and Miranda Agnes de Castro or The Force of Generous Love There are two other small Novels under her Name viz. History of the Nun or The fair Vow-breaker 120 London 1689. The Lucky Mistake 120 Lond. 1689. What Opinion the Wits of the Age had of her may appear from several Copies of Verses written before her Translation of Monsieur Bonnecorse's La Montre or The Watch amongst whom Mr. Charles Cotton who was no contemptible Poet gives her the following Character Some hands write some things well are elsewhere lame But on all Theams your power is the same Of Buskin and of Sock you know the Pace And tread in both with equal Skill and Grace But when you write of Love Astrea then Love dips his Arrows where you wet your Pen. Such charming Lines did never Paper grace Soft as your Sex and smooth as Beauty's Face Dawbridge-court BELCHIER An English-man who liv'd in the Reign of King James the First but one who was an Inhabitant of the Town of Utreicht in the Low Countries at the time of his writing an Interlude called Hans Beer-pot his invisible Comedy of See me and see me not acted by an honest Company of Health-Drinkers printed in quarto Lond. 1618. and dedicated to the Honourable Sr. John Ogle Colonel of our English Regiment of Foot under the Lords the Estates General of the United Provinces and Lord Governor of the Town and Garison of Utreicht This Piece is neither Comedy nor Tragedy as wanting First the just number of Speakers Secondly those Parts or Acts it should have which should be at the least Five but a plain Conference of so many Persons consisting of Three Acts and no more Richard BERNARD This Person flourish'd at Epworth in Lincoln-shire in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was as I suppose the first Translator of Terence's Comedies entire which tho'not so well translated into English as into French by the famous Abbot de Villeloin Monsieur de Marolles or by Monsieur de Martignac yet certainly it is passable for the time in which he liv'd Besides the bare Translation of the whole Six Comedies viz. Andraea Adelphi c. he has taken notice in each Scene of the most remarkable forms of Speech Theses and moral Sentences in imitation possibly of an old French Translation printed at Paris in octavo 1574. This Version is printed with the latine 4o. Cambridge 1598. and dedicated to Mr. Christopher Wray Son and Heir to Sr. William Wray and his Brothers Having given this short account of the Translator and his Work give me leave to speak somewhat of the Author Publius Terentius was a Native of Carthage but being taken Prisoner when he was very young he was sent to Rome He was brought up in Literature and all good Education by his Patron Terentius Seneca and afterwards freed by him on account of his Wit and good Meen He luckily found the best way of writing Comedy and he left some Pieces in that kind that few Persons have been able to imitate He was in great Esteem not only with the People in general by reason of his Dramatick Performances but particularly belov'd and cherish'd by Men of the best Quality as Publius Scipio Laelius and others His purity of Stile was so conspicuous that his Adversaries endeavour'd to perswade the People that he was assisted in his Plays by great Men which he handsomely takes notice of in his Prologue to the Adelphi Nam quod illi dicunt malevoli homines
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
Quarter-quibble or a bare Pun serves his turn as well as his Friend Bur in his Wild Gallant and therefore he might have spar'd this Reflection if he had given himself the liberty of Thinking As to his Reflections on this Triumvirate in general I might easily prove that his Improprieties in Grammar are equal to theirs and that He himself has been guilty of Solecisms in Speech and Flaws in Sence as well as Shakespear Fletcher and Johnson but this would be to wast Paper and Time and besides ' I consider that Apollos Laws like those of our own Nation allow no Man to be try'd twice for the same Crime and Mr. Dryden having already been arraign'd before the Wits upon the Evidence of the Rota and found Guilty by Mr. Clifford the Foreman of the Jury I shall suppress my further Evidence till I am serv'd with a Subpaena by him to appear before that Court or have an Action clapp'd upon me by his Proctor as guilty of a Scandalum Archi-Poetae and then I shall readily give in my Depositions For these and the like Reasons I shall at present pass by his dis-obliging Reflections on several of his Patrons as well as the Poets his Cotemporaries his little Arts to set up himself and decry others his dexterity in altering other Mens Thoughts so as to make them pass for his own his Tautologies his Petty-Larcenies which notwithstanding his stiling of himself Saturnine shew him sufficiently Mercurial at least if Plagiaries may be accounted under the Government of that Planet In fine if Old Moody will allow me to borrow that word he resembles Vulgar Painters who can tolerably copy after a good Original but either have not judgment or will not take the pains themselves to design any thing of value This will easily appear in the following Account of his Plays of which I come now to speak Viz. Albion and Albanius an Opera perform'd at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden and printed in Folio Lond. 1685. The Subject of it as the Author says is wholly Allegorical and the Allegory it self so very obvious that it will no sooner be read than understood I need not therefore take the pains to acquaint my Reader that by the Man on the Pedestal who is drawn with a long lean pale Face with Fiends Wings and Snakes twisted round his Body and incompast by several Phanatical Rebellious Heads who suck Poyson from him which runs out of a Tap in his Side is meant the late Lord Shaftsbury and his Adherents I shall not pretend to pass my censure whether he deserv'd this usage from our Author or no but leave it to the judgments of Statesmen and Polititians How well our Author has drawn his other Characters I shall leave to the decision of the Criticks as also whether Monsieur Grabut or our Poet deserves the preference or either of them merit those Applauses which Mr. Dryden in both their Names challenges as their due since I find an Author of a different Opinion who thus describes them Grabut his Yoke-mate ne're shall be forgot Whom th' God of Tunes upon a Muse begot Bays on a double score to him belongs As well for writing as for setting Songs For some have sworn th' Intrigue so od is laid That Bayes and He mistook each others Trade Grabut the Lines and He the Musick made All for Love or The World well Lost a Tragedy acted at the Theatre Royal and written in imitation of Shakespear's stile printed in quarto Lond. 1678. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Thomas Earl of Danby That our Author has nearly imitated Shakespear is evident by the following Instance In the Comedy call'd Much Ado about Nothing the Bastard accuses Hero of Disloyalty before the Prince and Claudio her Lover who as surpris'd at the News asks Who Hero Bast. Even she Leonato's Hero your Hero every Mans Hero In this Play on the like occasion where Ventidius accuses Cleopatra Antony says Not Cleopatra Ven. Even she my Lord Ant. My Cleopatra Ven. Your Cleopatra Dollabella's Cleopatra Every Mans Cleopatra Ex homine hunc natum dicas Our Author with justice prefers the Scene betwixt Antonius and Ventidius in the first Act to any thing he has written in that kind but as to his defence of the Scene between Octavia and Cleopatra in the end of the third Act there are some Criticks who are not yet satisfied that it is agreeable to the Rules of Decency and Decorum to make Persons of their Character demean themselves contrary to the Modesty of their Sex For the Plot see Plutarch in Vit. M. Ant. Suetonius in Aug. Dion Cassius Lib. 48. 51. Orosius Lib. 6. Cap. 7. Florus L. 4. C. 11. Appian de Bellis Civilibus L.5 Amboyna a Tragedy acted at the Theatre Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1673. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Clifford of Chudleigh The Plot of this Play is founded chiefly on History being an Account of the Cruelty of the Dutch to our Country-Men in Amboyna An. Dom. 1618. There was a Book publisht by the East-India Company which I never saw but I have read a Relation extracted from thence by Mr. Purchas and printed in his Pilgrimage Vol. II. L. 10. Ch. 16. There are several other Authors that have mention'd this Story as Sanderson's History of King James pag. 577. Stubb's Relation of the Dutch Cruelties to the English at Amboyna printed in quarto Lond. 1632. Wanley's History of Man Lib. 4. Ch. 10. Ex. 1. The Plot of the Rape of Isabinda by Harman Junior is founded on a Novel in Cynthio Gyraldi Deca 5a Nov. 10. Assignation or Love in a Nunnery a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1678. and dedicated to his most Honour'd Friend Sir Charles Sidley Baronet This Play was Damn'd on the Stage or as the Author phrases it it succeeded-ill in the Representation I shall not pretend to determine any more than the Author Whether the fault was in the Play it self or in the lameness of the Action or in the number of its Enemies who came resolv'd to damn it for the Title but this I know that his Reflections on Mr. Ravencrofts Play call'd Mamamouchi provok'd him to a retort in another Prologue to a new Play of his acted the Vacation following part of which as relating to this Play I shall transcribe An Author did to please you let his Wit run Of late much on a Serving-man and Cittern And yet you would not like the Serenade Nay and you damn'd his Nuns in Masquerade You did his Spanish Sing-song too abhor Ah! que locura con tanto rigor In fine the whole by you so much was blam'd To act their parts the Players were asham'd Ah! how severe your Malice was that Day To damn at once the Poet and his Play But why was your Rage just at that time shown When what the Poet writ was all his own Till then he borrowâ—d from Romance and did
some for an Admirable Poet but it is by those who are not acquainted much with Authors and therefore are deceiv'd by Appearances taking that for his own Wit which he only borrows from Others for Mr. Durfey like the Cuckow makes it his business to suck other Birds Eggs. In my Opinion he is a much better Ballad-maker than Play-wright and those Comedies of his which are not borrow'd are more ally'd to Farce than the true Comedy of the Ancients The Plays to which he lays claim are Thirteen in Number viz. Banditti or A Ladies Distress a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1686. This Play was affronted in the Acting by some who thought themselves Criticks and others with Cat-calls endeavour'd at once to stisle the Author's Profit and Fame which was the occasion that through Revenge he dedicated it to a certain Knight under this Ironical Title To the extream Witty and Judicious Gentleman Sir Critick-Cat-call The chief Plot of this Play is founded on a Romance written by Don Francisco de las Coveras call'd Don Fenise translated into English in 8o. See the History of Don Antonio Book 4. p. 250. The design of Don Diego's turning Banditti and joining with them to rob his supposed Father resembles that of Pipperollo in Shirley's Play call'd The Sisters Common-wealth of Women a Tragi-Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by Their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1686. and dedicated to the truly Noble and illustrious Prince Christopher Duke of Albermarle This Play is Fletcher's Sea-Voyage reviv'd with the Alteration of some few Scenes tho' what is either alter'd or added may be as easily descern'd from the Original as Patches on a Coat from the main Piece Fond Husband or The Plotting Sisters a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1678. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond This is One of his best Comedies and has been frequently acted with good Applause tho' methinks the business of Sneak Cordelia and Sir Roger Petulant end but abruptly Fool turn'd Critick a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesties Servants and printed in quarto Lond. 1678. The Prologue to this Play is the same with that of Mr. Anthony and was I suppose borrow'd from thence The Characters of Old Wine-love Tim and Small-wit resemble those of Simo Asotus and Balio in the Jealous Lovers Fools Preferment or The Three Dukes of Dunstable a Comedy acted at the Queens Theatre in Dorset-Garden by their Majesties Servants with the Songs and Notes to them Composed by Mr. Henry Purcel printed in quarto Lond. 1688. and dedicated to the Honourable Charles Lord Morpeth with this familiar Title My Dear Lord and subscrib'd like a Person of Quality only with his Sir-name D'Urfey Nor is his Epistle less presumptuous where he arrogates to himself a Play which was writ by another and owns only a hint from an old Comedy of Fletcher's when the whole Play is in a manner trascrib'd from the Noble Gentleman abating the Scene that relates to Basset which is borrow'd from a late traslated Novel call'd The Humours of Basset As to part of the first Paragraph of his Dedication 't is borrow'd from the translation of Horace's Tenth Satyr by the Earl of Rochester and any Man that understands French and should read a Place he there quotes out of Montaigne would be so far from taking him to be as he stiles himself Nephew to the famous D'Urffee the Author of the Excellent Astraea that they would rather think he understood not the Language or was extreamly negligent in suffering such Errata to go uncorrected For my part I should rather take him to be lineally descended from the Roman Celsus whom Horace makes mention of in his Epistle to his Friend Julius Florus at least I am sure the Character will fit our Author Quid mihi Celsus agit monitus multumque monendus Privatas ut quaerat opes tangere vitet Scripta Palatinus quaecunque recepit Apollo Ne si fortè suas repetitum venerit olim Grex avium plumas moveat cornicula risum Furtivis nudata coloribus Injur'd Princess or The fatal Wager a Tragi-Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by His Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1682. The Design and the Language of this Play is borrow'd from a Play call'd the Tragedy of Cymbeline In this Play he is not content with robbing Shakespear but tops upon the Audience an old Epilogue to the Fool turn'd Critick for a new Prologue to this Play So that what Mr. Clifford said of Mr. Dryden is more justly applicable to our Author That he is a strange unconscionable Thief that is not content to steal from others but robbs his poor wretched Self too Madam Fickle or The Witty false One a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1677. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond This Play is patch up from several other Comedies as the Character of Sir Arthur Old Love is borrow'd from Veterano in the Antiquary Zechiel's creeping into the Tavern Bush and Tilbury Drunk in the Street under it with a Torch Act 5. Sc. 2. is borrow'd from Sir Reverence Lamard and Pimp-well in the Walks of Islington and Hogsden There are other Hints likewise borrow'd from the Fawn so that the Author did well to prefix that Verse of Horace before his Play Non cuivis Homini contingit adire Corinthum plainly implying that he could not write a Play without stealing Royalist a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed in quarto Lond. 1682. This Comedy was well receiv'd on the Stage but patcht up from Novels as the former from Plays Witness the Tryals which Camilla put upon her Husband Sir Oliver Old-cut for the Love of Sir Charles King-love which the Author borrow'd from Boccace Day 7. Nov. 9 Les Contes de M. de la Fontaine pag. 47. and other Hints Nay our Author who sets up himself for Madrigals has stoln the Song of Hey Boys up go We c. in the fourth Act from The Shepherds Oracle an Eclogue printed in quarto Lond. 1644. Siege of Memphis or The Ambitious Queen a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1676. This Play is writ in Heroick Verse and dedicated to the Truly Generous Henry Chivers Esq who shew'd himself truly such in defending a Play so full of Bombast and Fustian There goes more to the making of a Poet than capping Verses or taging Rimes 't is not enough concludere versum as Horace calls it but a Poet must be such a One Ingenium cui sit cui mens divinior atque os Magna sonaturum des nominis hujus honorem I would therefore advise all these Poetasters in the words of a Modern Prologue Rimesters get Wit e're ye pretend to shew it Nor think a game at Crambo makes a Poet. Squire Old-sap or The Night Adventurers a Comedy acted
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
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
he called Collasterion printed 4o. Lond. 1645. He writ besides a Piece called Tetrachordon or An Exposition on the Four Chief places of Scripture concerning Marriage and Divorce printed Lond. 1645. Sr. Robert Filmer if I mistake not writ against him in his Observations concerning the Original of Government printed 4o. Lond. 1652. Walter MOUNTAGUE Esq A Gentleman who liv'd at Court in the Reign of King Charles the First and during the times of Peace before the Muses were disturb'd by the Civil Wars writ a Play call'd Shepheard's Oracle a Pastoral privately acted before King Charles by the Queen's Majesty and Ladies of Honour printed octavo Lond. 1649. I shall not be so presumptuous to criticise on a Play which has been made Sacred by the Protection of Majesty it self besides I am deterr'd from Criticism by the Stationers Friend's Advice in his Verses in Commendation of the Play at least good Manners sayes They first should understand it e're dispraise William MOUNTFORT One who from an Actor sets up for an Author and has attempted both Tragedy and Comedy with what success I leave to those who have seen his Plays to determine Had I been of the number of his Friends I should have endeavour'd to have perswaded him still to act Sir Courtly Nice in bestowing only Garniture on a Play as he calls it as a Song or a Prologue and let alone sine Language as belonging only to Pedants and poor Fellows that live by their Wits He has publisht two Plays viz. Injur'd Lovers or The Ambitious Father a Tragedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. London 1688. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Arran Son to his Grace the Duke of Hamilton There are some Surlyes who think that in this Play Sir Courtly writ for his Diversion but never regarded Wit Successful Strangers a Tragi-comedy acted by their Majesties servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Thomas Wharton Comptroller of his Majesty's Houshold This Play far exceeds the Other tho' the Author as well as his predecessors is beholding to others for part of his Plot he having made use of Scarron's Novel call'd The Rival Brothers in working up the Catastrophe of his Comedy I have seen some Copies of Verses in Manuscript writ by our Author but not being in print that I know of I forbear to mention them N. Thomas NABBES A Writer in the Reign of Charles the First who we may reckon amongst Poets of the Third-rate and One who was pretty much respected by the Poets of those Times Mr. Richard Brome and Mr. Robert Chamberlain before mention'd having publickly profest themselves his Friends and Sir John Suckling being his Patron He has Seven Plays and Masques extant besides other Poems of which we may say That if they are not to be compar'd with some Dramatick Pieces of this Age at least wise what our Author has published is His own and not borrow'd from others and in that Respect deserves Pardon if not Applause from the Candid Reader This he averrs in his Prologue to Covent Garden and which I believe may be urged for the rest of his Labours viz. He justifies that 't is no borrow'd Strain From the Invention of another's Brain Nor did he steal the Fancy 'T is the same forth He first intended by the Proper Name 'T was not a Toyl of Years few Weeks brought This Rugged Issue might have been more worth If he had lick'd it more Nor doth he raise From th' Imitation of Authentick Plays Matter or Words to height nor bundle up Conceits at Taverns where the Wits do sup His Muse is solitary and alone Doth practice her low Speculation c. The Reader therefore is to expect little more from me than a bare Account of the Titles of his Works as followss Bride a Comedy acted in the Year 1638. at the Private-House in Drury-Lane by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Generality of his Friends Gentlemen of the several Honourable Houses of the Inns of Court Covent Garden a pleasant Comedy acted in the Year 1632. by the Queen's Majesty's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Worthy of his Honour Sir John Suckling Hannibal and Scipio an Historical Tragedy acted in the Year 1635. by the Queen's Majesties Servants at their Private-House in Drury-Lane printed Lond. 1637. The Play is addrest in Verse by the Author to the Ghosts of Hannibal and Scipio with an Answer printed in their Names directed to our Author It was acted before Women came on the Stage the part of Sophonisba being play'd by one Ezekiel Fenne For the Plot the Title-page speaks the Foundation to be History see the Life of of Hannibal writ by Cornelius Nepos that of Scipio by Plutarch see besides Livy Florus and other Authors mention'd p. 326. Microcosmus a Moral Masque presented with general liking at the Private-House in Salisbury-Court and here set down according to the Intention of the Author printed 4o. Lond. 1637. and dedicated to the Service and Delight of all Truly Noble Generous and Honest Spirits This Masque is introduc'd by two Copies One of which was writ by Mr. Richard Brome Spring 's Glory vindicating Love by Temperance against the Tenet Sine Cerere Baccho friget Venus Moralized in a Masque with other Poems Epigrams Elegies and Epithalamiums of the Author's printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to Peter Balle Esq At the end of these Poems is a piece call'd A Presentation intended for the Prince his Highness's Birth-day the 29. of May 1638. annually celebrated this in former Catalogues was stiled an Interlude These Masques and Poems are commended by two Copies one of which was penned by Mr. Robert Chamberlain Tottenham-Court a pleasant Comedy acted in the Year 1637. at the Private-House in Salisbury-Court printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Worshipful William Mills Esq Unfortunate Lover a Tragedy never acted but set down according to the Intention of the Author printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Richard Brathwaite Esq This Play is attended by three Copies written in its Commendation by several of our Author's Friends and a Proeme in Verse by the Author wherein he justifies it to be writ according to the Rules of Art A Constant Scene the buisiness it intends The two Hours of Time of Action comprehends Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley according to their old Custom have ascrib'd two other Anonymous Plays to our Author The Woman-Hater arraigned a Comedy and Charles the First a Tragedy the Reason of their Mistake has been already given p. 13. and more at large in the Preface to my former Catalogue Thomas NASH A Gentleman that liv'd about the time with the foremention'd Author and was sometime educated in the University of Cambridge His Genius was much addicted to Dramatick Poetry and Satyr and he writ some things in Prose all which gain'd
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
The Mother in Fashion acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Ossory the present Duke of Ormond This has somewhat of the Story of The Curious Impertinent in Don Quixot Loyal Brother or The Persian Prince a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1682. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Richmond The Play is founded on a Novel called Tachmas Prince of Persia octavo Thomas STANLEY Esq A Gentleman who flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the First at Camberloe-Green in Hertfordshire One who is sufficiently known to all Learned Men not only for his Skill in Languages as appears by his several Versions but by his Great Learning Exquisite Fancy and Admirable Judgment For the One to wit his Fancy he is here mention'd in Quality of a Poet and the rather because we owe to him the Version of an Excellent Piece of Antiquity which he calls Clouds a Comedy which he translated from Aristophanes his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Play as AElian observes in his Various History was writ at the Instigation of Anytas purposely to abuse Socrates and is subjoyn'd by our Author to the Life of that Excellent Philosopher not as a Comical Divertisement for the Reader who can expect little in that Kind from a Subject so ancient and particular but as a Necessary Supplement to the Life of Socrates This Play is printed with Mr. Stanley's History of Philosophy printed Fol. Lond. 1687. Second Edit a Work which will always be valued by all Learned Men In which the Reader will find also translated a Dramma of Ausonins inscribed Ludus Septem Sapientum His Translation of AEschylus his Tragedies into Latin with his Excellent Comment printed Fol. Lond. 1664. deserves the highest Commendation and for his Poems in English not only those which are properly his own sufficiently shew his Genius for Poetry But even his various Translations from the Greek of Anacreon Moschus from the Latin of Ausonius Catullus Bion Secundus Barclaius to which I may add Picus Mirandula his Discourse of Platonick Love from the Spanish of Lope de Vega Gongora and Montalvan the Italian of Guarini Marino Tasso Petrarch Cassone Preti Boscan c. the French of St. Amant Tristan Ronsard Theophile and De Voiture shew how much he was vers'd in those Languages His Poems receiv'd several Editions that which I take to be the best was printed 8o. Lond. 1651. Besides these Poems he has in print two little Romances or Novels translated from the Spanish of Don Juan Perez de Montalvan call'd Aurora Ismenia and The Prince which with the Poem of Oronta translated from the Italian of Signor Girolamo Preti are printed octavo Lond. 1655. Sir Robert STAPLETON A Gentleman who I presume is still living He was well known at Court by the Honourable Station he was in being One of the Gentlemen-Ushers of his Majesty King Charles the Second's most Honourable Privy-Chamber But his Writings have made him not only Known but Admired throughout all England and whilst Musaeus and Juvenal are in Esteem with the Learned Sir Robert's Fame will still survive the Translation of those two Famous Authors having plac'd his Name in the Temple of Immortality As to Musaeus he had so great a Value for him that after he had translated him he built the Story into a Dramatick Poem call'd Hero and Leander their Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1669. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Monmouth Whether this Play were ever acted or no I know not or where tho' the Prologue and Epilogue seem to imply that it had appeared on the Stage Slighted Maid a Comedy written likewise by our Author and acted with great Applause at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields by his Highness the Duke of York's Servants printed 8o. Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the late Duke of Monmouth The Epitaph made by Decio upon Iberio and Pyramena is borrowde from Arria and Petus see Martial Epigr. L. 1. Ep. L. 4. Stapleton's Juvenal the best Edition with Cuts is printed Fol. Lond. 1663. and his Musaeus or Hero and Leander in Verse is printed 8o. Lond. 1647. to which is added Leander's Letter to Hero and her Answer translated from Ovid's Epistles Besides these he Englished Strada de Bello Belgich printed Lond. 1650. Of these Pieces Jo. Leigh Esq in his Verses on Carthwright says thus Brave Stapleton translates Old Wit and New Musaeus Juvenal and Strada too I know nothing else that our Author has extant but a Translation from the French of Mr. De Marmet L d of Valcroisant call'd Entertainments of the Course or Academical Conversations printed 8o. Lond. 1658. and Mr. De Bergerac's History of the World in the Moon in twelves Lond. John STEPHENS An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First who has published a Play called Cynthia's Revenge a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1613. This is One of the longest Plays that I ever read and withall the most tedious The Author seems to have a great Value for Lucan for he not only makes King Menander repeat part in the Original but in the Fourth Act he makes him speak a Speech containing the beginning of the First Book of Lucan to the 24 th Verse but how far short he falls of Mr. May I leave to the Readers Judgment In the Fifth Act the Poet introduces an Interlude of the Contention of Ajax and Ulysses for the Armour of Achilles which I take to be but Indifferent He has writ besides a Piece called Satyrical Essays in octavo Lond. 1615. This Play was in former Catalogues ascrib'd to John Swallow but I believe this to be the Genuine Author William STRODE A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr of a Good Family in Devonshire being Countryman and Collegiate with the Witty Dr. Main He was enter'd in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford at Nineteen Years of Age and soon after was elected Student He took his several Degrees and was chosen for his Excellent Parts Oratour of the University Tho' he was in Orders he was sent for by the Dean and Chapter to write a Play for the Diversion and Entertainment of their Majesties which was call'd Floating Island a Tragi-comedy acted before his Majesty at Oxf. Aug. 1639. by the Students of Christ-Church The Airs and Songs were set by Mr. Henry Laws Servant to his Majesty in publick and private Musick This Play was not printed till Eleven Years after the Author's Death and above Eighteen Years after 't was acted being printed Lond. 1655. and dedicated even in Manuscript and in the Author's Life-time to his most Honoured Patron Sir John Helle by a Copy of Verses This Play was too full of Morality to please the Court tho' at the same time 't was commended by the King as was apparent by his bestowing a Cannon's Dignity upon him not long after at which time he took the Degree of Doctor
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