Edmonton of which see an Account in Rowly and with Decker in The Sun's Darling but writ likewise himself seven Plays most of which were acted at the Phoenix and the Black-Friars and may be known by an Anagram instead of his Name generally printed in the Title-page viz. FIDE HONOR He was more addicted to Tragedy than Comedy which occasion'd an Old Poet to write thus of him Deep in a Dump John Ford was alone got With folded Arms and melancholy Hat I shall give an Account of his Plays Alphabetically and place The Sun's Darling in its order because the greatest part of it was writ by our Author Broken Heart a Tragedy acted by the Kings Majesties Servants at the private House in Black-Fryars printed 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the most Worthy Deserver of the Noblest Titles in Honour William Lord Craven Baron of Hamstead Marshal The Speakers Names are fitted to their Qualities and most of them are deriv'd from Greek Etimologies Fancies Chast and Noble a Tragi-comedy presented by the Queen Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Noble Lord the Lord Randell Macdonell Earl of Antrim in the Kingdom of Ireland This Play is usher'd into the World by a Copy of Verses written by Mr. Edward Greenfield Ladies Tryal a Tragi-comedy acted by both their Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1639. and dedicated to his Deservingly Honoured John Wyrley Esq and to the Virtuous and Right worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. Mary Wyrley his Wife Lovers Melancholy a Tragi-comedy acted at the private House in the Black-Fryars and publickly at the Globe by the Kings Majesties Servants printed 4 o Lond. 1629. and dedicated to his most worthily Respected Friends Nathaniel Finch John Ford Esquires Mr. Henry Blunt Mr. Robert Ellice and all the rest of the Noble Society of Grays-Inn This Play is commended by four of the Author's Friends one of which who stiles himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writ the following Tetrastick 'T is not the Language nor the fore-plac'd Rimes Of Friends that shall commend to after-times The Lovers Malancholy It s own Worth Without a borrow'd Praise shall set it forth The Author has Embellisht this Play with several Fancies from other Writers which he has appositely brought in as the Story of the Contention between the Musician and the Nightingale describ'd in Strada's Academical Prolusions Lib. 2. Prol. 6 which begins Jam Sol è medio pronus defluxerat Orbe c. A Definition and Description of Melancholy copied from the Ingenious Mr. Rob. Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy c. Love's Sacrifice a Tragedy receiv'd generally well acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to his truest Friend his worthiest Kinsman John Ford of Gray's Inn Esquire There is a Copy of Verses printed before this Play written by that Dramatick Writer Mr. James Shirley Perkin Warbeck a Chronicle History and a Strange Truth acted sometimes by the Queens Majesties Servants in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1634. and dedicated to the Rightly Honourable William Cavendish Earl of Newcastle This Play as several of the former is attended with Verses written by Four of the Author's Friends one of which is his Kinsman above-mentioned The Plot is founded on Truth and may be read in most of the Chronicles that have writ of the Reign of King Henry the VII See Caxton Polidore Virgil Hollingshead Speed Stow Salmonet Du Chesne Martyn Baker Gaynsford's History of Perkin Warbeck c. Sun's Darling a Moral Mask often presented by their Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane with great applause printed 4 o Lond. 1657. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Thomas Wriathesley Earl of Southampton This Play was written as I have said by our Author and Decker but not publisht till after their Decease A Copy of Verses written by Mr. John Tateham is the Introduction to the Masque at the Entry whereof the Reader will find an Explanation of the Design alluding to the Four Seasons of the Year 'T is pity she 's a whore a Tragedy printed 4 o I can give no further Account of the Title-page or Dedication mine being lost All that I can say is that it equalls any of our Author's Plays and were to be commended did not the Author paint the incestuous Love between Giovanni and his Sister Annabella in too beautiful Colours Mr. Winstanly says that this Author was very beneficial to the Red-Bull and Fortune Play-Houses as may appear by the Plays which he wrote tho' the Reader may see by the fore-going Account that he takes his Information upon trust or else the Plays he has seen are of different Editions from those I have by me but I rather believe the former since I have found him subject to several Mistakes of this Nature Thomas FORD An Author who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who publisht a Dramatick Poem call'd Love's Labyrinth or The Royal Shepherdess a Tragi-comedy printed 8 o Lond. 1660. This Play is commended by two Copies of Verses but whether ever it appear'd on any Stage I cannot determine only this I know that part of this Play is stollen from Gomersal's Tragedy of Sforza Duke of Millain Mr. Philips thro' mistake ascribes this Play to the above-mention'd Mr. John Ford. This Author has writ several other Pieces Virtus Rediviva a Panegyrick on King Charles the Martyr A Theatre of Wits being a Collection of Apothegms Fenestra in Pectore or a Century of Familiar Letters Fragmenta Poetica or Poetical Diversions A Panegyrick on the Return of King Charles the Second All these Pieces with the fore-going Play are printed together in 8 o Lond. 1661. John FOUNTAIN A Gentleman who flourish'd in Devonshire at the time of his Majesty King Charles the Second his Return and was the Author of a single Play nam'd Reward of Virtue a Comedy printed in 4o. Lond. 1661. This Play was not design'd for the Stage by the Author but about eight Years after the first printing Mr. Fountain being dead it was reviv'd with Alterations by Mr. Shadwell and acted with good Applause under the Title of The Royal Shepherdess Abraham FRAUNCE An Ancient Writer who liv'd in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was the Author of a Book called The Countess of Pembroke's Ivy Church which Title in former Catalogues was set down as the Name of a Play in 2 Parts tho' in reality there is but one Dramatick Piece call'd Amintas's Pastoral being the first part of the Book printed 4 o Lond. 1591. and dedicated to the Right Excellent and most Honourable Lady the Lady Mary Countess of Pembroke This Play is writ in English Hexameters and is a Translation from Tasso's Aminta which was done into Latin by one Mr. Watson before this Version was undertaken by our Author He owns that he has somewhat alter'd Sigr. Tasso's Italian
the worst of Times but afterwards I suppose the Authors Preface to which I refer the Reader dispell'd all those Clouds rais'd by the Faction and I have seen it acted with universal Applause and I believe generally speaking all unbyass'd Judges that have read or seen it acted will give it the Approbation of an excellent Comedy and for those who are unsatisfied concerning his Fidelity to his King I must refer them to that admirable Defence writ by the Reverend Bishop of Rochester in behalf of this excellent Man it being too copious to be inserted here Love's Riddle a Pastoral Comedy written at his time of being King's Scholar in Westminster School printed first with his Poetical Blossoms in quarto Lond. 1633. but since printed in the Second Volume of his Works in Fol. Lond. 1681. and dedicated by a Copy of Verses to the truly Worthy and Noble Sr. Kenelm Digby If this Play be consider'd according to the Authors years at that time 't will certainly be allow'd standard or at least needs no other Apology then what the Author makes for it in his Dedication to his Patron Take it as early Fruits which rare appear Though not half ripe but worst of all the year And if it please your Taste my Muse will say The Birch which crown'd her then it s grown a Bay It might be expected that I should give some Account either of the Plots of these Plays or whence he has borrow'd but let those that think so be satisfied from the Famous Denham's Character That he is noâ— an Author of that Stamp I hope it will not be thought Foreign to my purpose to transcribe part of that Copy which he writ on this Admirable Poets Death and Burial amongst the Ancient Poets The whole Copy deserves to be engraved in Brass but I shall here transcribe only what is to our purpose Old Mother Wit and Nature gave Shakespear and Fletcher all they have In Spencer and in Johnson Art Of slower Nature got the start But both in him so equal are None knows which bears the happy'st share To him no Author was unknown Yet what he wrote was all his own He melted not the ancient Gold Nor with Ben Johnson did make bold To plunder all the Roman Stores Of Poets and of Orators Horace his Wit and Virgil's State He did not steal but emulate And when he would like them appear Their Garb but not their Cloaths did weas As to his other Works in English they consist both of Verse and Prose amongst which are his Love Verses call'd The Mistress which were first printed in octavo Lond. 1647. from a Correct Copy written by the Author himself and since they are printed in Folio with several of his other Pieces These Poems are highly applauded by the generality of judicious Men and notwithstanding the nice scruples of some it is an undeniable Truth which the knowing Writer of his Life lays down That never yet so much was written on a Subject so Delicate that can less offend the severest rules of Morality I dare not persume to give a particular Character of his Works therefore I shall refer them to the large Account of his Life written by the exact and ingenious Author above-mentioned or to the Readers own judgment They consist of Miscellanies Anacreontiques and Pindariques or some Copies of Verses translated Paraphrastically out of Anacreon and Pindar on the later he has writ Notes as replete with Learning as his Odes with Wit and Fancy and which most admirably explain the most difficult and abstruse Passages Besides these he has publisht an Epique Poem call'd Davideis a Sacred Poem of the Troubles of David in Four Books tho' design'd by the Author to be continu'd and extended to Twelve not for the Tribes sake but in imitation of Virgil. As it is a great grief to the Lovers of Poetry that he liv'd not to finish the Work so 't is the Opinion of an eminent Critick That as it may be lamented that he carried not on the Work so far as he design'd so it might he wisht that he had liv'd to Revise what he did leave us I think the Troubles of David is neither Title nor Matter proper for an Heroick Poem seeing it is rather the Actions than his Sufferings that make an Heroe nor can it be defended by Homer's Odysseis since Ulysses's Sufferings conclude with one great and perfect Action Yet notwithstanding this judicious Author allows That in the Davideis Fragment and imperfect as it is there shines something of a more fine more free more new and more noble air than appears in the Hierusalem of Tasso which for all his care is scarce perfectly purg'd from Pedantry And after all says That in the Lyrick way however Cowley far exceeds him and all the rest of the Italians Tho' Jacobus Philippus Tomasinus Laur. Crasso and other great Men give Tasso an extraordinary Character But to return to our Author whatever faults Mr. Cowley may have committed in the Oeconomy of his Poem as Mr. Rymer reckons up others if it be consider'd That he writ the greatest part of it as the Author of his Life observes whilst he was a young Student in Trinity College in Cambridge and withal reflect on the vastness of the Argument and his manner of Handling it he may seem like one of the Miracles he there adorns like a Boy attempting Goliah The rest of his Verses are written on several Occasions and for what remains unspoken of in his Second Volume they are Verses which he made when he was a King's Scholar and to which he gave the Title of Sylva As to his Pieces in English Prose they are Discourses by way of Essays upon grave and serious Subjects where he gives the truest and best Character of himself and his thoughts during his Retirement These with several others which he design'd to add he intended had not Death prevented him to have dedicated to his old Patron the Earl of St. Albans As a Testimony of his entire Respects to him and a kind of Apology for having left humane Affairs in the strength of his Age while he might still have been serviceable to his Country But not withstanding his Death his intentions are made good by his worthy Friend the careful Overseer to his Writings who has paid in this Legacy according to the will and intention of the deceased Testator His Latine Works contain the two former Books of his Davideis a Latine Comedy call'd Naufragium Joculare which was acted before the University of Cambridge by the Members of Trinity Colledge the second day of February 1638. and his Poemata Latina printed in octavo 1668. consisting of Six Books of Plants and One of Miscellanies of whose several Character you will find an account in his Life where you may likewise find a description of his Temper Conversation c. which would swell this Volume beyond its design'd Bulk to relate All that I shall acquaint you
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
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