and shall Honor haue While there 's or Slavish Lord or Royal Slave Robert CHAMBERLAIN A Gentleman that flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the First the Author of a Play called The Swaggering Damsel a Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1640. I know not whether this Play was ever acted but 't is usher'd into the world by Three Copies of Verses one of which was writ by Mr. Rawlins in requital of a Copy writ by our Author in praise of his Tragedy called The Rebellion A Complement which has in this Age been practiced by Mr. Dryden to Mr. Lee's Rival Queens in Return of that past by him on Mr. Dryden's State of Innocence Mr. Phillips and Winstanley have ascrib'd to our Author a Play call'd Sicellides which they stile a Pastoral tho'it is distinguish'd by the Anonymous Author by the Title of a Piscatory the Dramatis Personae being most of them Fishermen William CHAMBERLAIN A Dorset-shire Gentleman who in the Reign of King Charles the First liv'd at Shaftsbury a Market-town of sufficient Note for giving the Title to the famous Lord Cooper first Earl of Shaftsbury He writ a Play called Love's Victory a Tragi-Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1658. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Sr. William Portman He writ this Play during the late Troubles and design'd to have it acted but the Powers then in being having suppressed the Stage he contented himself with Printing it tho' it has since appeared at least a great part of it upon the Stage in 1678. under the Title of Wits led by the Nose or A Poet's Revenge This Author writ besides an Heroick Poem called Pharonnida in Five Books printed in octavo Lond. 1659. and dedicated likewise to Sr. William Portman This Poem tho' it hath nothing extraordinary to recommend it yet appear'd abroad in Prose 1683. under the Title of a Novel called Eromena or The Noble Stranger George CHAPMAN A Gentleman of no mean Repute for his Poetical Writings and Versions amongst the Wits of the Age wherein he liv'd to wit in the later part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and that of King James I can give him no greater Commendation than that he was so intimate with the famous Jhonson as to engage in a Triumvirate with Him and Marston in a Play called Eastward-Hoe a Favour which the haughty Ben could seldome be perswaded to I might add to this that he was so much valued in his time by the Gentlemen of the Middle-Temple and Lincoln's-Inn that when those two Honourable Societies agreed to Present Their Majesties with a Masque at Whitehall on the joyful Occasion of the Marriage between the Princess Elizabeth only Daughter to King James the First and Frederick the Fifth of that Name Count Palatine of the Rhine and afterwards King of Bohemia they chose Mr. Chapman for their Poet to suit Language to the Occasion and Mr. Inigo Jones for their Ingineer to order the Machines and Decoration of the Scenes He has writ many Dramatick Pieces to the number of Eighteen besides several other Poems and Translations of all which his Tragedy of Bussy d' Amboise has the Preference I know not how Mr. Dryden came to be so possest with Indignation against this Play as to resolve to burn One annually to the Memory of Ben Johnson but I know very well that there are some who allow it a just Commendation and others that since have taken the liberty to promise a solemn annual Sacrifice of The Hind and Panther to the Memory of Mr. Quarles and John Bunyan so that should this last Humour continue The Hind and Panther would grow as scarce as this Old Tragedy is at present But I leave this Digression to give the Reader an Account of his Plays in order All Fools a Comedy presented at the Black-friars and afterwards before his Majesty King James the First in the Begining of his Reign and printed in quarto Lond. 1605. This was in those days accounted an Excellent Comedy and will still bear Reading it seems to be built in part upon the same Fabrick with Terence's Heautontimorumenos as those who will compare the Characters of the two Fathers Gostanzo and Mar. Antonio with Chremes and Menedemus and their Sons Valerio Fortunio and Rynaldo with Clinia Antipho and Syrus may easily perceive The Prologue and Epilogue writ in Blank Verse shew that in those days Persons of Quality and those that thought themselves Judges of Wit instead of sitting in Boxes as now in use sat on the Stage what influence those Sparks had on the meaner Auditors may be seen by the following Lines Great are the Gifts given to united Heads To Gifts Attire to fair Attire the Stage Helps much for if our other Audience see You on the Stage depart before we end Our Wits go with you all and we are Fools c Alphonsus Emperor of Germany a Tragedy very often acted with great Applause at the Private-house in Black-friars by the Servants to King Charles the First printed in quarto Lond. 1654. This Play tho' it bear the Name of Alphonsus was writ as I suppose in Honor of the English Nation in the Person of Richard Earl of Cornwal Son to King John and Brother to King Henry the Third He was chosen King of the Romans in 1257. and Crown'd at Aix the Seventeenth day of May being Ascension day About this time Alphonsus the Tenth King of Castile the subject of this Tragedy was chosen by other Electors Tho'this King was accounted by some a Pious Prince yet our Author represents his as a Bloody Tyrant and contrary to other Historians brings him to an unfortunate End he supposing him to be kill'd by Alexander Son to Lorenzo de Cipres his Secretary in revenge of his Father who was poyson'd by him and to compleat his Revenge he makes him first deny his Saviour in hopes of Life and then stabs him glorying that he had at once destroyed both Body and Soul This Passage is related in several Authors as Bolton's Four last Things Reynolds of the Passions Clark's Examples Wanley's History of Man For the true Story consult Mariana de Reb. Hisp. Lib. 13 C. 10 c. Loüis de Mayerne Turquet Hist. Generale d' Espagne Lib. 12 Bzovius An. 1257 c. Blind Beggar of Alexandria a Comedy most pleasantly discoursing his variable Humours in disguised shapes full of Conceit and Pleasure sundry times publickly Acted in London by the Right Honourable the Earl of Notingham Lord High Admiral his Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1598. This Play is neither divided into Acts nor Scenes Bussy d' Amboise a Tragedy often presented at Pauls in the Reign of King James the First and since the Restauration of King Charles the Second acted at the Theatre-Royal with good Applause For the Plot see Thuanus Jean De Serres and Mezeray in the Reign of King Henry the Third of France The Intrigue between Bussy and Tamyra is related by Rosset in his Histoires
dixisset Dr. Charles DAVENANT This Gentleman as I suppose is now living being Son of the above-mention'd Sr. William Davenant and Dr. of Laws He has as I have been inform'd a share in the present Theatre in right of his Father and is jointly impower'd with the Master of the Revels to inspect the Plays design'd for the Stage that no Immoralities may be presented This Gentleman has writ a Play call'd Circe a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1677. The Prologue was writ by Mr. Dryden and the Epilogue by the late Earl of Rochester This Play I have seen acted with good applause The Plot is founded on Poetical History See Ovid's Metamorph. lib. 14. See besides Boccace Phil Bergomensis Nat. Comes c. The Scenes and Machines may give it a Title to that Species of Dramatick Poetry call'd an Opera Robert DAVENPORT The Author of Two Plays in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr tho' not publisht till the Reign of King Charles the Second viz. City Night-Cap or Crede quod habes habes a Tragi-Comedy acted with great applause by her Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed in quarto Lond. 1661. The Plot of Lorenzo Philippo and Abstemia is borrow'd from the Novel of the Curious Impertinent in the Romance of Don Quixot Part 4. Ch. 6 7 8. and that of Lodovico Francisco and Dorothea from Boccace's Novels Day 7. Novel 7. on which likewise part of Mr. Ravenscroft's London Cuckolds is built King John and Matilda a Tragedy acted with great applause by her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane printed in quarto Lond. 1655. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Mountague Bertie Earl of Lindsey by the Publisher Andrew Pennycuicke who acted the part of Matilda Women in those times not having appear'd on the Stage For the Plot read the English Chronicles that have given an account of the Reign of King John as Mathew Paris Polydore Vergil Hollingshead Grafton Danyel Martin Stow Speed Baker Churchil c. Robert DABORN alias DAUBORNE This Gentleman liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was a Master of Arts tho' of which University I am uncertain He writ Two Plays viz. Christian turn'd Turk or The Tragical Lives and Deaths of the two Famous Pirates Ward and Dansiker a Tragedy printed in quarto Lond. 1612. For the Story I refer you to a Piece call'd Barker's Overthrow of Captain Ward and Dansiker two Pirates printed in quarto Lond. 1609. from which Narrative I suppose our Author borrow'd the Story Poor Man's Comfort a Tragi-Comedy divers times acted at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane with great applause and printed in 4 o Lond. 1665. Tho' this Author in his Epistle to his Christian turn'd Turk speaks of his former Labours It has not been my fortune to have seen any of them There is a Sermon written by One Robert Daborn on Zach. 11. 7. printed in octavo Lond. 1618. whether this were the same with our Author I know not but 't is probable it might be and that he was a Divine by this Distick which I find in an old Copy on the Time Poets Dawbourn I had forgot and let it be He dy'd Amphibion by the Ministry John DAY This Author liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was sometime Student of Cains-Colleage in Cambridge He has written Six Plays if his Parliament of Bees may pass under that Species as the Authors of all former Catalogues have plac'd it Blind Beggar of Bednal-Green with the merry Humour of Tom Stroud the Norfolk Yeoman divers times publickly acted by the Princes Servants printed in quarto London 1659. For the Plot as far as it concerns History consult the Writers on the Reign of King Henry the Sixth as Fabian Caxton Du Chesne Pol. Vergil Grafton Stow Speed c. Humour out of Breath a Comedy said to be writ by our Author but which I never saw and therefore can say nothing of it Isle of Gulls a Comedy often acted in the Black Fryars by the Children of the Revels printed in 4 o Lond. 1633. This is a good Play and is founded on the incomparable Sr. Philip Sidney's Arcadia A Romance of that esteem that besides the frequent Editions of it in English I have seen it translated for the use of Forreigners both in the French and Dutch Tongues Law Tricks or Who would have thought it a Comedy divers times acted by the Children of the Revels and printed in quarto Lond. 1608. Parliament of Bees with their proper Characters or A Bee-hive furnisht with Twelve Honey-combs as pleasant as profitable being an allegorical description of the Actions of good and bad men in these our days printed in quarto Lond. 1641. and dedicated to the Worthy Gentleman Mr. George Butler Professor of the Arts Liberal and true Patron of neglected Poesy Travels of the Three English Brothers Sr. Thomas Sr. Anthony and Mr. Robert Shirley a History play'd by her Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1607. and dedicated to Honors Favourites and the intire Friends of the Family of the Shirleys In the Composure of this Play our Author was assisted by Mr. William Rowley and Mr. George Wilkins The foundation of it may be read in several English Writers and Chronicles particularly I have seen it in Dr. Fuller's Worthies in his Description of Sussex Where the Author speaking of the subject of this Comedy says thus As to the Performances of these Three Brethren I know the Affidavit of a Poet carries but a small credit in the Court of History and the Comedy made of them is but a Friendly Foe to their Memory as suspected more accommodated to please the present Spectators than to inform Posterity However as the belief of Mitio when an Inventory of his adopted Sons Misdemeanors was brought to him embrac'd a middle and moderate way nec omnia credere nec nihil neither to believe all things nor nothing of what was told him so in the List of their Atchievements we may safely pitch on the same Proportion and when abatement is made for Poetical Embelishments the remainder will speak them worthy in their Generations When our Author Died I know not but I have read an Elegy written on him by his Friend Mr. Tateham which begins thus Don Phoebus now hath lost his Light And left his Rule unto the Night And Cynthia she hath overcome The day and darkned the Sun Whereby we now have lost our hope Of gaining Day in 's Horoscope c. At this jingling rate he runs on the end much after the rate of a Gentleman of Lincolns Inn who writ a more ingenious Poem upon the Transactions between a Landlord and his Tenant Day who privately departed from him by Night printed in a single Sheet Lond. 1684. To shew the Parallel give me leave to transcribe the first six Lines by which the Reader may guess at the Rest. Here Night and Day
the Compilers of former Catalogues because it consists of Speeches of Gratulation as the Author stiles them which were spoke to his Majesty at Fen-Church Temple-Bar and the Strand and therefore besides the presidents of former Catalogues which might in part justify me I might be blam'd should I omit it The Author has plac'd a Comment throughout to illustrate and authorise his Contrivance Entertainment in private of the King and Queen on may-May-day in the Morning at Sir William Cornwallis's House at High-gate 1604. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment of King James and Queen Anne at Theobalds when the House was deliver'd up with the possession to the Queen by the Earl of Salisbury May 22. 1607. The Prince of Janvile Brother to the Duke of Guise being then present printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment in particular of the Queen and Prince their Highnesses at Althrope at the Lord Spencer's on Saturday being the Twenty-fifth of June 1603. as they came first into the Kingdome printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Brittain and Denmark at Theobalds July 24 th 1606. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. This Entertainment is very short and consists chiefly of Epigrams Every Man in his Humour a Comedy acted in the Year 1598. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Most Learned and his Honour'd Friend Mr. Cambden Clarencieux This Play has been reviv'd since the Civil Wars and was receiv'd with general Applause There is a new Epilogue writ for this Play the latter part of which is spoken by Ben Johnson's Ghost The Reader may find it in a Collection of Poems on several Occasions printed 8o. Lond. 1673. See pag. 29. Every Man out of his Humour a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1599. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants with allowance of the Master of the Revels printed Fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Noblest Nurseries of Humanity and Liberty in the Kingdome The Inns of Court This Play was reviv'd at the Theatre-Royal in the Year 1675. at which time a new Prologue and Epilogue were spoken by Jo. Heyns which were writ by Mr. Duffet See his Poems 8o. pag. 72. c. This is accounted an excellent Old Comedy Fortunate Isles and their Union celebrated in a Masque design'd for the Court on the Twelfth-Night 1626. printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Golden Age restor'd in a Masque at Court 1615. by the Lords and Gentlemen the King's Servants and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Hymenaei or The Solemnities of a Masque and Barriers at a Marriage printed Fol. Lond. 1640. To this Masque are annext by the Author Learned Notes in the Margin for illustration of the Ancient Greek and Roman Customs Irish Masque at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. King's Entertainment at Welbeck in Nottingham-shire a House of the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle at his going into Scotland 1633. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love free'd from Ignorance and Folly a Masque of her Majesties printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love Restor'd in a Masque at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love's Triumph thro' Callipolis perform'd in a Masque at Court 1630. by his Majesty King Charles the First with the Lords and Gentlemen Assisting the Inventors being Mr. Johnson and Mr. Inigo Jones printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Love's Welcome the King and Queen's Entertainment at Bolsover at the Earl of Newcastle's the 30 th of July 1634. and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Magnetick Lady or Humours Reconcil'd a Comedy acted at the Black-fryars and printed Fol. Lond. 1640. This Play is generally esteem'd an Excellent Play tho' in those days it found some Enemies amongst which Dr. Gill Master of Pauls School or at least his Son writ a Satyr against it part of which the whole being too long I shall take the pains to transcribe But to advise thee Ben in this strist Age A Brick-kill's better for thee than a Stage Thou better know'st a Groundsil for to lay Then lay the Plot or Ground-work of a Play And better can'st direct to Cap a Chimney Then to converse with Clio or Polyhimny Fall then to work in thy old Age agen Take up thy Trug and Trowel gentle Ben Let Plays alone or if thou needs will write And thrust thy feeble Muse into the light Let Lowen cease and Taylor scorn to touch The loathed Stage for thou hast made it such But to shew how fiercely Ben could repartee on any one that had abus'd him I will present the Reader with his answer Shall the prosperity of a Pardon still Secure thy railing Rhymes infamous Gill At libelling Shall no Star-Chamber Peers Pillory nor Whip nor want of Ears All which thou hast incurr'd deservedly Nor Degradation from the Ministry To be the Denis of thy Father's School Keep in thy bawling Wit thou bawling Fool. Thinking to stir me thou hast lost thy End I 'll laugh at thee poor wretched Tike go send Thy blotant Muse abroad and teach it rather A Tune to drown the Ballads of thy Father For thou hast nought to cure his Fame But Tune and Noise the Eccho of his Shame A Rogue by Statute censur'd to be whipt Cropt branded slit neck-stockt go you are stript Masque at the Lord Viscount Hadington's Marriage at Court on Shrove-Tuesday at Night 1608. and printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Augurs with several Antimasques presented on Twelfth-night 1622. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Owls at Kenelworth presented by the Ghost of Captain Coxe mounted on his Hobby-horse 1626. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Queens celebrated from the House of Fame by the Queen of Great Britain with her Ladies at Whitehall Febr. 2. 1609. This Masque is adorned with learned Notes for the Explanation of the Author's Design He was assisted in the Invention and Architecture of the Scenes throughout by Mr. Inigo Jones Masque presented in the House of the Right Honourable the Lord Haye by divers of Noble Quality his Friends for the Entertainment of Monsieur Le Baron de Tour Extraordinary Ambassador for the French King on Saturday the 22. of Febr. 1617. printed fol. Lond. 1617. Metamorphos'd Gypsies a Masque thrice presented to King James first at Burleigh on the Hill next at Belvoyr and lastly at Windsor in August 1621. printed fol. Lond. 1641. Mercury Vindicated from the Alchymists at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed fol. Lond. 1640. Mortimer's Fall a Tragedy or rather a Fragment it being just begun and left imperfect by his Death tho' the Reader may see the Model of each Act by the Argument publisht before it printed fol. Lond. 1640. Neptune's Triumph for the Return of Albion celebrated in a Masque at Court on the Twelfth-Night 1644. printed fol. Lond. 1641. News from the New World discovered in the Moon a Masque presented at Court before King James 1620. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Oberon the Fairy Prince a Masque of Prince Henries printed fol. Lond. 1640. On
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
and was printed as I believe in quarto Temple of Love presented by the Queens Majesty Wife to King Charles the First and her Ladies at Whitehall viz. The Lady Marquess Hamilton the Lady Mary Herbert Countess of Oxford Berkshire Carnarvan c. The Lords and others that represented the noble Persian Youths were The Duke of Lenox the Earls of Newport Desmond c. This Masque says the Author for the newness of the Invention variety of Scenes Apparitions and richness of Habits was generally approv'd to be one of the most Magnificent that hath been done in England Triumphs of the Prince d'Amour a Masque presented by his Highness at his Pallace in the Middle-Temple This Masque at the Request of that Honourable Society was devis'd and written by our Author in Three days and was presented by the Members thereof as an Entertainment to the Prince Elector A Lift of the Masquers Names as they were rank'd by their Antiquity in that noble Society is to be found at the end of the Masque to which I refer the curious Reader The Musick of the Songs and Symphonies were excellently compos'd by Mr. Henry and Mr. William Lawes his Majesties Servants Wits a Comedy heretofore acted at the Black-friars and since at the Duke's Theatre printed both in octavo and quarto before this New Edition and dedicated to the chiefly belov'd of all that Ingenious and Noble Endimion Porter of his Majesties Bed-Chamber This Play is commended by a Copy fo Verses written by Mr. Thomas Carew and has often appear'd on the Stage with Applause Having done with his Plays I am now to speak of his other Works which consist of Poems of several sorts and on several Occasions amongst which Gondibert an Epick Poem has made the greatest noise This Poem was design'd by the Author to be an Imitation of an English Dramma it being to be divided into Five Books as the other is into Five Acts The Canto's to be the Parallel of the Scenes with this difference that this is deliver'd Narratively the other Dialogue-wise The Reader may find a long account of the Author's design and his Reasons in the Preface which is directed to his Friend the so well known Mr. Hobbs who not only approves his Design but in the Close of his Letter fixes an extraordinary Complement upon him viz. The Virtues you distribute in your Poem amongst so many Noble Persons represent in the Reading the image but of One Man's Virtue to my fancy which is your own Nor was Mr. Hobbs the only Person that commended this Poem for the first and second Books were usher'd into the world by the Pens of two of our best Poets viz. Mr. Waller and Mr. Cowley which One would have thought might have prov'd a sufficient Defence and Protection against the snarling Criticks Notwithstanding which Four Eminent Wits of that Age two of which were Sr. John Denham and Mr. Donne publisht several Copies of Verses to Sr. William's discredit under this Title Certain Verses written by several of the Authors Friends to be reprinted with the second Edition of Gondibert in octavo Lond. 1653. These Verses were answer'd as Mr. Wood says by the Author himself with as much or rather more Wit and little or no concern for their Raillery rather seeming to sport at and pity their want of Sence The Title of his Answer is The Incomparable Poem Gondibert vindicated from the Wit-Combats of Four Esquires Clinias Dametas Sancho and Jack Pudding printed in octavo Lond. 1655. The Books being scarce I shall for the Readers diversion chuse one out of each of these as a Sample of the rest and amongst the former I shall pitch upon that Copy which reflects on the Commendations given by those great Men above-mention'd The Author upon Himself I am Old Davenant with my Fustian Quill Tho' skill I have not I must be writing still On Gondibert That is not worth a Fart Waller Cowley 't is true have prais'd my Book But how untruly All they that read may look Nor can Old Hobbs Defend me from dry Bobbs Then no more I 'll dabble nor pump Fancy dry To compose a Fable Shall make Will. Crofts to cry O gentle Knight Thou writ'st to them that shite Sr. William's Answer The Author upon Himself False as Foolish What turn felo de me Davenant kill Davenant No the whole World does see My Gondibert To be a piece of Art Waller and Cowley true have prais'd my Book And deservedly Nay I did for it look He both us robbs That blames for this Old Hobbs Write on jeer'd Will and write in Pantofle That 's over Pump-ho And for Will Crofts his baffle Thou may'st long write That writ'st to them that shite Many other Railleries were broacht against him by his Enemies as those Lines in Sr. John Sucklin's Session of the Poets the Ballad entitled How Daphne pays his Debts and others which I might insert but I think 't is time to leave these trifles and acquaint my Readers who are delighted with Criticismes that they may find more serious Animad versions on this Poem in the English Preface written by that admirable Critick Mr. Rymer to his Translation of Monsieur Rapin's Reflections on Aristotle's Treatise of Poesy printed 8 o Lond. 1674. This great Man Died on the Seventh day of April 1668. Aged 63 and was Buried amongst the Poets in Westminster-Abby near to his old Antagonist and Rival for the Bays Mr. Thomas May. 'T was observ'd that at his Funeral his Coffin wanted the Ornament of his Laureats Crown which by the Law of Heraldry justly appertain'd to him but this omission is sufficiently recompenc'd by an Eternal Fame which will always accompany his Memory he having been the first Introducer of all that is splendid in our English Opera's and 't is by his means and industry that our Stage at present rivals the Italian Theatre I shall conclude his Character with that Account which Mr. Dryden has formerly given of him which is the more valuable because the commendation of his Predecessors is seldome the Subject of his Pen. In the time says he that I writ with Sr. William Davenant I had the opportunity to observe somewhat more nearly of him than I had formerly done when I had only a bare acquaintance with him I found him then of so quick a Fancy that nothing was propos'd to him on which he could not suddenly produce a Thought extreamly pleasant and surprising and those first Thoughts of his contrary to the old Latine Proverb Were not always the least happy And as his Fancy was quick so likewise were the Products of it remote and new He borrow'd not of any other and his Imaginations were such as could not enter into any other Man His Corrections were sober and judicious and he corrected his own Writings much more severely than those of another Man bestowing twice the labour and time in Polishing which he us'd in Invention Si sic omnia
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
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
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
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
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