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.

Nathaniel FIELD.

An Author that liv'd in the Reigns of King James, and King Charles the First; who was not only a Lover of the Muses, but belov'd by them, and the Poets his Contemporaries. He was adopted by Mr. Chapman for his Son, and call'd in by Old Massinger, to his Assistance, in the Play call'd The Fatal Dowry, of which Play more hereafter. He writ himself two Plays, which will still bear Reading, viz.

Amends for Ladies; with the merry Pranks of Moll Cut-purse, or The Humour of Roaring; a Comedy full of honest Mirth and Wit. Acted at the Black-Friars, both by the Prince's Ser∣vants, and the Lady Elizabeth's; and printed 4^o Lond. 1639. The Plot of Subtles tempting the married Wife, at her Husbands intreaty, seems to be founded on Don Quixote's Novel of the Cu∣rious Impertinent, and has been the Subject of many Plays, as The City Night-cap, Amourous Prince, of The Curious Husband, &c. This Play was writ by our Author as Amends to the Fair Sex, for a Play which he had writ some Years before, and whose very Title semm'd a Satyr on Womankind; viz.

Woman's Weather-cock, a Comedy acted be∣fore the King in White-hall, and several times privately at the White-Friars, by the Children of her Majesty's Revels, printed 4^o. Lond. 1612. and dedicated to any Woman that hath been no Weather-cock. This Play is commended by a Copy of Verses writ by Mr. Chapman. There is one thing remarkable in this Play; and which for

the Author's Credit, I must take notice of, that the Time of the Action is circumscrib'd within the compass of twelve Hours; as the Author himself observes in the Conclusion of his Play.

Nere was so much (what cannot Heavenly Powers) Done and undone, and done in twelve short hours.