An account of the English dramatick poets, or, Some observations and remarks on the lives and writings of all those that have publish'd either comedies, tragedies, tragi-comedies, pastorals, masques, interludes, farces or opera's in the English tongue by Gerard Langbaine.

John LILLY.

An Ancient Writer, living in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth: he was a Kentish Man, and in his younger Years brought up in St. Mary Magdalen Colledge in Oxon. where in the Year 1575. he took his Master of Arts Degree. He was a very close Student, and much addicted to Poetry; a Proof of which he has given the World in Nine Plays, he has bequeath'd to Po∣sterity, and which in that Age, were well e∣steem'd both by the Court and the University. He was One of the first Writers, that in those Days attempted to reform our Language, and purge it from obsolete Expressions. Mr. Blount, a Gentleman, who has made himself known to the

World, by the several Pieces of his own Wri∣ting, (as Horae Subsecivae, his Microcosmography, &c.) and who publisht fix of these Plays; in his Title-page stiles him, The only Rare Poet of that Time, The Witty, Comical, Facetiously-Quick, and Unparalell'd John Lilly.

'Tis not to be expected that I should any where trace this Author, if the Character Mr. Blount gives of him in his Epistle Dedicatory, be true;

That he sat at Apollo's Table; that Apollo gave him a Wreath of his own Bayes, without Snatching; and that the Lyre he play'd on, had no borrow'd Strings.

The Rea∣der therefore is only to expect a short Account of his Titles Alphabetically.

Alexander and Campaspe, a Tragical-Comedy play'd before the Queens Majesty, on Twelfth-day at Night, by her Majesties Children, and the Children of Paul's, and afterwards at the Black-fryars; printed 120. Lond. 1632. The Story of Alexander's bestowing Campaspe on the Enamour'd Apelles, is related by Pliny in his his Natural History, Lib. 35 L.10.

Endymion, a Comedy presented before Queen Elizabeth, by the Children of her Majesties Chappel, and the Children of Pauls; printed 120 Lond. 1632. For the Story of Endimion's being belov'd by the Moon, with Comments upon it, may be met with in most of the My∣thologists: See Lucian's Dialogues between Ve∣nus and the Moon; Natalis Comes, Lib. 4. C 8. Hygini Poeticon Astronomicon; Fulgentii My∣thologia; Galtruchius's History of the Heathen Gods, Lib. I. C. 9. M. Gombauld has writ a Ro∣mance,

call'd Endymion, translated in English, printed octavo 1639.

Galathea, a Comedy play'd before the Queens Majesty at Greenwich, on New-Years Day at Night, by the Children of Paul's; printed 120. Lond. 1632. In the Characters of Galathea and Phillidia, the Poet has copy'd the Story of Iphis and Janthe, which the Reader may find at large In Ovid's Metamorphosis, Lib.9.Cap.12.

Love's Metamorphosis, a Witty and Courtly Pastoral, first play'd by the Children of Paul's, and now by the Children of the Chappel; printed 4^o. Lond. 1601.

Maid's Metamorphosis, a Comedy, sundry times acted by the Children of Paul's; printed 4^o. Lond. 1600. The first Act is wholy writ in Verse, and so is the greatest part of the Play.

Mother Bombie, a Pleasant Conceited Co∣medy, sundry times play'd by the Children of Paul's; printed 120. Lond. 1632.

Mydas, a Comedy, play'd before the Queens Majesty upon Twelfth-day at Night; printed 120. Lond. 1632. For the Story, see Ovid's Me∣tamorphosis, Lib. II. Fab.4. Natalis Comes, Lib. 9. Cap. 15. Galtruchius, Book 2. Ch.5. Apuleius has writ the Story at large in his Aureus Asinus, &c.

Sapho and Phao, a Comedy, play'd before the Queens Majesty on Shrove-Tuesday, by her Ma∣jesties Children, and the Children of Paul's, and afterwards at the Black-fryars; printed 120. Lond. 1632. This Story the Reader may learn from Ovid's Epistle of Sapho, to Phaon, Ep. 21.

Woman in the Moon, a Comedy, presented be∣fore Her Highness, printed 4^o. Lond. 1667.

Six of these Plays, viz. Alexander and Cam∣paspe, Endymion, Galathea, Mother Bombie, My∣das, Sapho and Phao, are printed together, under the Title of Six Court Comedies, 120. Lond. 1632. and dedicated by the above mention'd Mr. Blount, to the Right Honourable Richard Lum∣ley, Viscount Lumley of Waterford. The other three are printed single in 4^o. By which it appears how and Mr. Philipsm 1.1 and his Tran∣scriber Mr. Winstanleyn 1.2 are mistaken, in af∣firming, That all Mr. Lilly's Plays are printed together in a Volume: Not are they less mista∣ken in ascribing to him a Play call'd Warning for fair Women, it being writ by an Anonymous Author.

I presume our Author may have other Pieces in print, tho' I have not been so happy to see them: Mr. Blount seems to mention a Book sti∣led Euphues,o 1.3

Our Nation (says he) are in his Debt for a new English which he taught them; Euphues and his England began first, that Language: All our Ladies were then his Schollars; and that Beauty in Court, which could not Parley Eupheisme, was as little re∣garded, as She which now there, speaks not French.

Notes

• m 1.1

  Pag. 113.
• n 1.2

  Pag. 97.
• o 1.3

  Epistle to the Reader.