The lives and characters of the English dramatick poets also an exact account of all the plays that were ever yet printed in the English tongue, their double titles, the places where acted, the dates when printed, and the persons to whom dedicated, with remarks and observations on most of the said plays / first begun by Mr. Langbain ; improv'd and continued down to this time, by a careful hand.

THE Lives and Characters OF THE English Dramatick Poets: WITH AN ACCOUNT OF ALL THE PLAYS, Printed to the Year, 1698.

A

William Alexander, Earl of Sterline.

THE Title of this Nobleman makes it evident that he de∣rives his Birth from Scotland, as the Dedication of his Works affords us a Proof that he liv'd in the Time of King Iames the First, for there he has this Stanza:

Of this dived Isle the Nurselings brave Earst from intestine Wars cou'd not desist, Yet did in Foreign Fields their Names engrave, Whilst whom one spoild, the other wou'd assist. These now have One; whilst such a Head they have, What World of Words were able to resist?

Thus has Thy Worth (Great IAMES) conjoin'd them now, Whom Battels oft did break, but never bow.

That he was in Favour with King Iames, is evident from Sir Robert Ayton's Verses before his Tragedies. As ••or any Particulars of his Family and Private Affairs I can give you no Account, but that it may be reasonably drawn from his Quality, Nation, and Favour at that time, that he was not unhappy in any of them, at least that depended on Fortune.

This Nobleman has by his Writings shew'd Posterity, that he had a just Right to his King's Favour, as any one that reads his Recreations of the Muses will allow. Mr. Langbain tells us of former Editions, but the best is in Folio, London, Printed for Tho. Harper, 1637. and dedicated to King Iames, not King Charles the First, as Mr. Langbain mistakes. In this Volume are Four Plays, which he calls, Monarchick Tragedies; The Alexandrean Tragedy, Croesus, Darius, and Iulius Caesar. Nor can I agree with Mr. Langbain, that he has proposed the Ancients for his Model, whom he has fol∣low'd in nothing but the Chorus: For as for the Unities of Action, Time and Place, always observed by them, he seems to know no∣thing of them. He seems to mistake the very Essence of the Dra∣ma, which consists in Action, most of his being Narration; and may rather be term'd Historical Dialogues, than Dramatick Pieces. There is scarce one Action perform'd in View of the Audience; but several Persons come in, and tell of Adventures perform••d by others or themselves, and which often have no more to do with the Business of the Play, than the Persons that speak, as in the First Scene of the Fifth Act of the Alexandrean Tragedy, Aristotle and Phoceon, who have no hand in the various Revolutions of that Play, spend a long Scene on the Uncertainty of Humane Grandeur, only to tell a few Lines of Business done by some of Alexander's Captains. This Play is so far from being after the Model of the An∣cients, the Action so far from being one, that 'tis multiplied enough for at least Ten Plays, it containing the various Revolutions, and Murders of the Commanders of the Macedonean Army, after the Death of Alexander; and here, as in the rest, he runs too far back to bring things ab ovo, that have no Relation to the Action, as the Scene between Harpagus and Cyrus, and Craesus and Sandanis, and many more will evince. If he has not followed the Model of the Ancients, he has yet borrowed very freely their Thoughts, transla∣ting whole Speeches from Seneca, Virgil, and others, as the First Act of Iulius Caesar from Iuno's Speech in the First of the AEneids; and many of his Sentences, as well as the Defect of his Sententi∣ousness, he owes to Seneca. The Two First Acts generally are whol∣ly foreign to the Business of the Play, as indeed the greatest part of the other Acts are too. This at least may be said of my Lord,

that he is a very good Historian, and from his Plays the Reader may gather a great deal of the Affairs of Greece, and Rome. Iuno in the first Act of Iulius Caesar, gives us the History of all the In∣vasions of the Roman Empire, by the barbarous Nations, whether Gauls or the Cimbri, &c. to the time of Iulius Caesar, and finding none of them effectual enough to ruin the Power of the Roman State, which deriving it self originally from the Trojan Race, she could not but hate, therefore she now resolves to destroy it by Civil Wars, and to raise her Brothers Servants, the Furies, always obse∣quious to mischievous Commands,

Whilst Furies furious by my Fury made.

Says, she shall at last do the Work; with which, after a Speech of Two or Three Hundred Lines she ends the Act. Indeed my Lord seems often to have a peculiar Fancy to punning, and that in all his chief Characters; as Caesar says in the Second Act,

Great Pompey's Pomp is past—

and

To seem uncivil in these Civil Wars.

But not to wrong my Lord in the Iudgment of the Readers, by these ridiculous Quotations; they are to consider, First, that this was the Vice of the Age, not the Poet; he having in that, as well as some other things, imitated the Vices of our admira∣ble Shakespear, and next that these punning Fits come not very of∣ten upon him. To shew that he writes in another ••Strain some∣times, I must give you Three or Four Lines, (my Brevity denying more large Quotations) which will give you a Taste of his better Parts.

Love is a Ioy, which upon Pain depends; A Drop of sweet drown'd in a Sea of Sowers: What Folly doth begin, that Fury ends; They Hate ••or Ever, who have Lov'd for Hours.

'Tis the Reflection of Adrastus in Craesus, the most moving Play of the Four; but to return to Caesar. in the Second Act, Caesar thinks it a part of his Grandeur to boast his Deeds to Anthony (who knew 'em well enough before) and betwixt 'em both, we have an Account of his Commentaries, and almost a Diary of his Actions. I can't omit one thing in this Play, in the Fifth Act he brings Brutus, Cassius, Cicero, Anthony, &c. together after the Death of Caesar, almost in the same Circumstances as Shakespear had done in his Play of this Name. But Shakespear's Anthony and

Brutus ravish you, while my Lord's Brutus, Cicero, and Anthony would make you sleep, so much our English Poet excels. This must be said for my Lord's Iulius Caesar, that it is much the most re∣gular of all his Plays, at least in the Unity of Action, which is only Caesar's Death, tho' the whole last Act is almost redundant, for when Caesar is once dead, we have no occasion to hear of the Consequence of it, either in the Grief of Calpurnia, or the Disa∣greements of the Noblemen and Commons; but this may be ob∣jected likewise to Shakespear, who gives us a History, not a Play.

But 'tis time now to give over our Reflections on this Poet, and give the Reader a more particular account of their Plots, in their Alphabetical Order.

The Alexandrean Tragedy, For the Plot you may consult Quintus Curtius, and the 13th Book of Iustin, Diodorus Sciculus, l. 18. Orosius, l. 3. c. 21. Iosephus l. 12. c. 1. Appian de Bellis Syriacis. Saliani Annales Ecclesiastici A. M•• 3730. N. 30. &c. Torniel. A. M. 3730. N. 5. Raleigh's Hist. l. 4. c. 3. Heylin's Hist. of Greece, Howel, &c.

Croesus, Taken from Herodot. Clio. Iustin, l. 1. c. 7. Plutarch's Life of Solon. Salian. Torniel. A. M. 3510. Xenophon's Cyropaideia.

Darius, This, as Mr. Langbain assures us, was the First Fruit of his Lordship's Dramatick Muse, Publish'd at Edinburgh, 1603. when he was yet Lord Menstrie: The Language and design very much improv'd in this last Folio Edition. As to the Plot, consult Quin∣tus Curtius, lib. 3, 4, & 5. Iustin, l. II. c. 5. &c. Diodorus, l. 17. Arrian, de Expeditione Alexandri, l. 2. Plutarch's Life of Alexander, Salian, A. M. 2719, &c.

Iulius Caesar, The Story of this Play will be exactly found in the Roman Histories, Plutarch and Suetonius in the Life of Caesar, Appian de Bellis Civilibus, lib. 2. Florus, l. 4. c. 2. Salian, Tor∣niel, &c.

He has writ besides these Plays, Doomsday. A Paraenaesis to Prince Henry, on whose Death he dedicated it to Prince Charles, afterwards King Charles I. A Fragment of an intended Heroick Poem of Ionathan, of which he has left but one Book.

Robert Armin.

THE Author of a Play which Mr. Langbain never saw, and is called,

The History of the Two Maids of Moor Clack, with the Life and Simple Manner of Iohn in the Hospital; Play'd by the Children of the King's Majesty's Revels, and Printed in 4to. Lon∣don, 1609. I believe the Plot may be taken from some Old Story

in those Times. This Author lived in the Reign of King Iames I. and in the Title Page discovers himself to be one of his Majesty's Servants, and was, I believe, of the then Company of Actors, for I find his Name Printed in the Drama of Ben. Iohnson's Alchymist, among the rest of the eminent Players of that Age; and indeed the Preface of his Play seems to intimate as much.

B

Abraham Baily.

A Gentleman of the Honourable Society of Lincolns-Inn, and the Author of a Comedy call'd,

The Spightful Sister; London, Printed in 4to. 1667. which I presume never was Acted, being Printed without Prologue, Epilogue, or Dedication, and with Mr. Langbain, I must acquit him entirely of being a Plagiary, either as to Characters of Lan∣guage, and if it fall to any ones Chance to read it, and to ob∣serve my Lord Occa's and Winifred's Characters, will easily allow that what he has writ is surely all his own.

Iohn Bancroft.

THIS Author was born in London, and tho' by Profession a Chyrurgeon, was infected by the Vicinity of the Wits with Poetry, and has left behind him Two Tragedies, dying about a Year and half ago, he lyes inter'd in St. Paul's Covent-Garden.

Henry the Second, with the Death of Rosamond, a Tragedy Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, London Printed 4to. 1693. This Play has not our Author's Name prefixt to it, but is dedicated by Mr. Mountfort to Sir Tho. Cook, Knight, Alderman and Sheriff of the City of London. For the Plot consult Daniel, Stow, Speed, Sir Richard Baker, and the rest of the English Chro∣nicles.

Sertorius, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Ma∣jesties Servants, and London, Printed 1679. 'tis Dedicated to Cap∣tain Richard Savage, and the Epilogue was writ by Mr. Ravenscroft. The Elder Corneil has writ on the same Subject. The Story is to be found in Plutarch's Life of Sertorius, Velleius Paterculus, l. 2. Florus, l. 2. c. 22. &c. Whatever the Fate of this Play was, his other had no ill Success, and may claim a Place of equal Rank with several celebrated Tragedies of this Age.

Iohn Banks.

THIS Author is now living, and was once a Member of the worthy Society of New-Inn; who quitted the more profita∣table Practice of the Law, for some Years, in pursuit of the Bays, till Experience convinc'd him of his Error, and that the ingrateful Stage, like other Friends we often esteem, forgets the Obligations it has to one. And tho' of late he has given us a Cyrus, yet it was ••rit some Years ago, he wholly applying himself to a more gain∣ful employ. If the Golden Age of Poetry carried him from that in the Luxurious Reign of Charles II. when more People run Mad af∣ter the Muses than even now; the Iron Age that soon ensu'd, re∣call'd him from so fruitless a Pursuit. Tho' by his Episodes, being generally inartificial, we may conclude he has not much studied Aristotle, and the Art of the Stage, yet in Two of his Plays he has gain'd the true End of Tragedy, the moving Terror and Pity, which many more celebrated Authors are so far from, that they seem never to have aim'd at it: And this indeed makes some A∣mends for the Defects of Language, in which he seems to me very faulty. He has Seven Plays in Print, of which the Alphabetical Order brings the last first.

• Cyrus the Great, a Tragedy, Acted at the New Theatre in Lin∣colns-Inn-Fields, Dedicated to her Royal Highness the Princ••ss Ann of Denmark, 4to. 1696. The Plot of this Play is taken out of Scudery's Romance of the Grand Cyrus, and for the true Sto∣ry of Cyrus, you may consult Herodotus, Iustin, Xenophon's Cyro∣paideia, &c. Tho' this Play had been formerly refus'd the Acti∣on, yet it held up its Head about Six Days together, and has been since Acted several Times.
• Destruction of Troy, a Tragedy, Acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre. Lhndon, Printed 4to. 1679. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Katharine Roos: This Play wanted the Success the Poet desired on the Stage. For the Story you may read Homer, Virgil, Ovid, Dares Phrygius, Dictys Cretensis, &c.
• The Innocent Vsurper, or the Death of the Lady Iane Gray, a Tra∣gedy, 4.to. London, Printed 1694. and dedicated to Mr. Bently the Bookseller that Publish'd it, in which he complains of the mistaken Cause of its Prohibition of the Stage, appealing from the false In∣sinuations of his Enemies, to Mr. Bently's Knowledge of its being writ Ten Years before, so that he could design no Reflection on the present Government. His Defense seems reasonable, and I think him as much in the Right, when he tells us, that this Trage∣dy is inferior to none of his former, and that he's confident it wou'd move the Ladies Tears. He assures us, he has nicely follow'd the

• Truth of the Story, which you may find in our Chronicles. This Play I look on to be much better than any of the late Tragedies; tho' in his Metaphors, he seems not to 've consulted that Iustness which the Rules of good Rhetorick requires; but like all other human Performances, as it has its Beauties, it has also its Faults, but not enough of the later to over-ballance the former.
• The Island Queen, or the Death of Mary Queen of Scotland, 4to. 1684. This Play too had the ill fortune to be denyed the Iustice of appearing on the Stage, but Published by the Author in defence of himself and the piece, The Story you may read in Bucha∣nan, Speed, Camden, Du Chesne, Brantons's Memoirs, Causon's Holy Court, &c.
• Rival Kings, or the Loves of Oroondates and Statira a Tragedy, 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1677. Dedicated to the Lady Catharine Herbert. For the Plot consult the Romance of Cassan∣dra, Quintus Curtius, and Iustin.
• Virtue Betray'd, or Anna Bullen, a Tragedy, Acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre, 4to. Lon. Printed 1682. Dedicated to the illustrious Princess, Elizabeth Dutchess of Somerset; for the Plot consult a Book call'd, The Novels of Elizabeth Queen of Eng∣land, &c. Speed, Herbert, Du Chesne, Dr. Burnet's History of the Reformation, &c.
• Vnhappy Favourite, or the Earl of Essex, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, 4to. Lon. 1682. Dedicated to the most High and most Illustrious Princess, the La∣dy, Ann, Daughter to his Royal Highness. This has always been Acted with Success, and never fail'd to draw Tears from the Eyes of the fair Sex. For the Story, see the Novel call'd, The Secret History of the most Renowned Queen Elizabeth, and the Earl of Essex. Camden's Elizabeth, Speed, Du Chesne, Stow, Baker, &c.

Barnaby Barns.

AN Author who liv'd in the time of King Iames I. he writ but one Play Published, which bears the Name of the

Devil's Charter, a Tragedy. 4 to. 1607. It seems to be written in imitation of Shakespear's Pericles, Prince of Tyre; an antient Play, and is an Account of the Life and Death of Pope Alex∣ander VI. See Guiccardin's Hist. Italy: and Massonius de Gestis Pon∣tificum Romanum.

There is also Published under this Author's Name, a Book of Offices, about Princes, fol. 1606.

Robert Baron, Esq

A Young Gentleman who Liv'd in the Reign of King Charlaes I. and the Interregnum of Oliver, first bred at Cambridge, and afterwards was a Member of the Honourable Society of Grays-Inn: He writ these three Plays,

• Deorum Dona, a Mask, 8vo. This is part of a Romance, writ by Baron, call'd the Cyprian Academy, Printed at L••nd. 1647.
• Gripus and Hegio, Past. 8vo. A Play consisting of three Acts only, and borrowed a great part from a Play of Webster's, call'd, The Dutchess of Malfey, and the aforesaid Romance.
• Mirza, Trag. 8vo. Plot from Herbert's Travels, fol. accounted by his Friends a good Play, is Dedicated to the King, and re∣commended to the World by divers Copies of Verses; for most of the Scenes and Language he seems to have Consulted Ben. Iohn∣son's Catiline. Sir Iohn Denham's Sophy is on the same Subject, and writ about the same time.

Lodow Barrey.

THIS Author Liv'd in the time of King Charles I. he writ one Play call'd, Ram-Alley, or Merry Tricks, C. 4to. 1611.

Francis Beaumont.

See Fletcher.

Capt. William Bedloe.

THIS Author was a Famous Evidence in the Popish Plot, be∣fore the Expiration of which he Dy'd, leaving behind him one Play, call'd,

The Excommunicated Prince: or, The False Relick, T.C. Fol. 1679. The Plot taken out of Heylin's Geography, in his Account of Georgia. His Life is Pr••nted in 8vo. 1681.

Aphara Behn.

THIS Authoress, whose Name was Aphara, not Astrea, as ma∣ny have thought, was Born in the City of Canterbury in Kent, her Maiden Sirname Iohnson; she was much admired in her Youth for her Beauty, as afterwards for her Poetick Works, in which

she excell'd not only all that went before her of her own Sex, but great part of her Contemporary Poets of the other: She had a great Facility in Writing, a•••• much of Nature in all she writ, was employ'd by Charles II. in the Discovery of the Dutch Intreagues, in the Dutch War; Liv'd belov'd, and Dy'd lamented by all that knew her, and lyes Buried in the Cloysters of Westminster Abbey, under a great Marble Stone, on which is inserted these two Verses:

Here lies a Proof that Wit can never be, Defence enough against Mortalitie.

Her Plays, Seventeen in Number, are as follow in their Alphabe∣tical Order;

• Abdelazer, or the Moor's Revenge, T. 4to. Compare this Play with one of Christopher Marlo's, call'd Lust's Dominion, 8vo. and you will find it almost the same.
• Amorous Prince, or Curious Husband, T. C. 4to. Part of it ta∣ken from the Story of the Curious Impertinent in Don Quixot, Part 4. Ch. 6,7,8.
• City Heiress, or Sir Timothy Treat-All, C. 4to. Part of it from a Play of Middleton's, call'd, A mad World, my Masters, 4to. and part from another of Massengers, call'd, the Guardian, 8vo.
• Dutch Lover, C. 4to. Plot from Don Fenise, 8vo. See the Stories of Eufheme, Theodore, Don Iame, and Frederic in that Ro∣mance.
• Emperor of the Moon, F. 4to. Taken from Harlequin, Empereur dans le Monde de la lune.
• Forced Marriage, or The Iealous Bridegroom, T.C. 4to. The first Play the Writ.
• False Count, or a New way to play an Old Game, C. 4to. Isabella's being deceiv'd by the Chimney Sweeper, taken from Molieres des pre∣cieuses Ridicules.
• Feign'd Courtezans or a Nights Intreague, C. 4to. This Play was well accepted, and accounted one of the best she writ.
• Lucky Chance, or the Alderman's Bargain, C. 4to. Gayman's enjoying Lady Fulbank, and taking her for the Devil, taken from Mr. Alexander Kickshaw, and Lady Aritina, in the Lady of Pleasure, written by Shirley, 4to.
• Rover, or The Banish'd Cavaliers, two Parts, C. 4to. Taken from Tho. Killegrew's Don Thomaso, or The Wanderer, fol.
• Round Heads, or The good Old Cause, C. 4to. A Play of Iohn Tate∣ham's, call'd, The Rump, altered, 4to.
• Sir Patient Fancy, C. 4to. Part of this Play taken from Richard Broom's Damoyselle, 8vo. and Le Malade Imaginaire.
• ...

• Town Fop, or Sir Timothy Tawdry, C. 4to. A great part of this Play borrowed from a Play, call'd, The Miseries of Forced Marriage, written by George Wilkins, 4to.
• Widow Ranter, or The History of Bacon in Virginia, F. 4to. This Play was Published after her Death by G. I. Plot from the known Story of Cassius.
• Young King, or, The Mistake: A Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1683. This Play is Dedicated to a particular Friend of hers, under the name of Philaster. The Design is borrowed from Calpranedes Cleopatra. See the History of Alcamenes and Menalippa Part 8th.
• Younger Brother, or The Amorous Iilt, C. 4to. This Play was Pub∣lished after her Death (with her Life added) the Story was of her own Knowledge, and written above ten years before she dyed, it was much esteemed by her, and it must be owned, in spight of the ill success it met with, that there is a great deal of Wit at least in the beginning of it, the first two Acts being very well received but the tedious Scenes in Blank Verse, betwixt Mirtilla and Prince Frederick, lost the Diversion they would have given in another more easie Dress. Taken from a true Story of the Brother of Coll. Henry Martin, and a Lady that must be nameless. See the Novel call'd Hatige.

These Plays were all written between the Years 1670. and 1690.

Dawbridgcourt Belchier.

THIS Gentleman writ one Interlude in the time of King Iames I. whilst he lived at Vtreicht, in the United Provinces, which he entituled,

Hans Beer-pot, his Invisible Comedy of See me, and See me not, Int. 4to. 1618. Acted by an honest Company of Health-Drin∣kers, says the Title. He was an English Man, and in his Epi∣stle calls it neither Comedy nor Tragedy, wanting both number of Speakers, and Parts or Acts it should have, it consisting of three Acts only.

Richard Bernard.

A Gentleman that Liv'd in Lincolnshire, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and gave us then a Translation of Terrences Come∣dies, in a Language and Stile suitable to the time he Liv'd in. Pub. Terentius was a Carthaginian born, and brought a Slave to Rome in his Youth, there well Educated by his Patron Terent. Seneca, and by him made Free for his Wit, and left behind him six Comedies

(viz.) Andrea, Adelphi, Eunuchus, Heutontimorumenos. Hecyra and Phormio, the Fourth Edition in 4to. 1614. The four first of these Co∣medies are borrowed from Menander. The two last taken from Apol∣lodorus. He generally brought two of Menander's into one of his. He was thought to have the help of Laelius and Pub. Scipio, in his Writings which he thought an Honour, not Disgrace.

Mrs. Frances Boothby.

WHether this Authoress be yet Living, I know not, she Liv'd, and Writ in the time of King Charles II. a Play call'd, Marcelia, or The Treacherous Friend, T. C. 4to. 1670.

Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery.

A Noble Man of the Kingdom of Ireland, eminent both in Arts and Arms, as a Poet and as a Patron; he dyed Octob. 1679. and has Published these following Plays,

• Black Prince: For the Story consult Walsinghami Hist. Angl. Wi∣gornensis Chronicon. Polid. Virgilii. Florentii Monarch. Froissard Chron. de France, & d' Angleterre, English Chronicles in Reign of Edw. III.
• Tryphon: Consult the first Book of Maccabes, Iosephus, lib. 13. Appian de Bellis Syriacis, &c.
• Henry V. See the English Chronicles in the Reign of that King, and the Reign of King Charles VI. in the French Chronicles, as Iean Iuvenal des Vrsins, Le Hist. de Charles VI. Mezeray, &c.
• Mustapha: Consult for the Plot Thuanus, lib. 12. Tho. Ar∣tus la continuacon de le Hist. des Toure's, and Knowles's Turkish Hist. These four in Folio; the two first Published 1672. the other two in 1677.

Guzman, A Comedy Acted at the Theatre Royal. 1693. The Plot of this Play is taken from a Romance of that Name.

Herod the Great, a Tragedy, Printed 1694. I do not find that this Play was ever Acted. The Story of this Prince you will find in Iosephus, and his Life in Caussin's Holy Court.

These two Plays are bound up with the rest of his Plays, in fol. and tho' the Title Page tells us that the first was Acted, yet there is no Drammatis Personae before it.

He also writ one other Play, call'd, Master Anthony, 4to. 1690. The Prologue to this, is the same of that to one of Durfey's Plays, call'd, The Fool turn'd Critick.

Samuel Brandon.

HE Liv'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and writ this Play towards the latter part of her time, call'd,

The Virtuous Octavia, T. C. 8vo. 1598. and tho' this Play was never Acted, yet the Author had a very good Opinion of it; and his Epistles Printed with it, Compos'd in imitation of Ovid's. Plot from Plutarch's Life of M. Antony. See also the Life of Au∣gustus in Suetonius. Dion. Cassius, &c.

Nicholas Breton.

HE has Writ and Published nothing more then this one Inter∣lude, call'd,

The old Man's Lesson, and Young Mans Love. Interl. 4to. a very old Piece.

Anthony Brewer.

AN Author in the Reign of King Charles I. Published these two Plays following (viz.)

• The Country Girl, C. 4to. 1647. This Play was Reviv'd just thirty years after its first Publishing, by one Leanard, who gave it a new Title, calling it, Country Innocence, or the Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker. 4to. 1677.
• Love-sick King, T. C. 4to. 1655. This Play was also Reviv'd, and Acted at the King's House, under the Title of The Perjured Nun, 4to. 1680. See Speed, Polyd. Virgill, Gu. Malmsb. Ingulfus, Higden, Du Chesne, &c.

Alexander Brome.

HE Liv'd in Charles I. time, and was a Stirring Attorney and Poet in the Royal Cause, during the Government of those Times. He Published but one Play of his own, entituled,

• The Cunning Lovers, C. 4to. 1654. The Story of the Cunning Lovers, taken from the 7 Wise Masters. See also the Nov. of the Fortunate Deceived, and Vnfortunate Lovers.

Yet he took care to give the World a Volume of Mr. Richard Bromes after his Decease, Printed in 8vo. This Author has Pub∣lished also a Volume of Poems, which he writ in the late Trouble∣some Times, together with Epistles and Epigrams, Translated from divers Authors, Printed about the time of the Restauration of King Charles II. and again 1664. Besides these, we have under his Name Horace, 8vo. tho' not wholly Translated by him.

Richard Brome.

HE Liv'd in the time of King Charles I. was servant to Ben. Iohn∣son, and writ himself into Reputation by his Comedies; was Complimented with Copies of Verses, from most of the Poets of his time, and even from his Master Ben. His Plots are his own, and studying more Men then Books, he has not fallen into Plagi∣arism. Besides those Plays writ by himself, he joyn'd with Hey∣wood, in a Play call'd, The Lancashire Witches. His Plays, in all fifteen, as they were Published follow (viz.) City Wit, or The Wo∣man wears the Breeches, Court Beggar, Damoyselle, or The New Or∣dinary; Mad Couple well Match'd; Reviv'd under the Title of De∣bauchee, or The Credulous Cuckold, 1677. Novella: These five are Printed together in one Vol. 8vo. 1653.

Covent Garden Weeded; English Moor, or The Mock Marriage; Love-sick Court, or The Ambitious Politick; New Academy, or The New Exchange; Queen and Concubine: These five are Printed in ano∣ther Vol. 8vo. 1659.

Antipodes, C. 4to. 1640. Iovial Crew, or The Merry Beggars, C. 4to. 1659. Revived and Reprinted 1686. Northern Lass, C. 4to. 1663. Revived and Reprinted 1684. with new Prologue and Epilogue. Queens Exchange, C. 4to. 1657. Sparagus Garden, C. 4to. 1640. Most of these Plays were Acted with general Ap∣plause.

Fulk Grevile, Lord Brook,

see Grevile.

Ruben Bourne.

I Can say no more of this Author, but that I'm inform'd he is or lately was of one of the Temples, and has a Play in Print under this Title:

The Contented Cuckold, or The Womans Advocate, 4to. C. 1692. This Play was never Acted, but Dedicated to his Worthy Friends Iohn Huxly of Wyerhall in Edmonton, in the County of Middlesex, Esq ••nd Richard Andrews of the same Gentleman.

Henry Burkehead.

THIS Author was a Merchant in Bristol, in the Reign of King Charles I. his Play call'd,

Colas Fury, or Lyrindas Misery, T. 4to. was never Acted, it repre∣sents the Troubles of Ireland under feigned Names.

Henry Burnel, Esq

A Gentleman that Liv'd in Ireland in King Charles I. time, Writ a Play call'd,

Landgartha, T.C. 4to. 1641. Acted at Dublin with good Applause, and some time after Printed there. The Plot which is founded on the Conquest of Fro (and call'd by our Author Frollo) King of Suethland, by Regner King of Denmark, which the Repudiation of Landgartha Q. to Regner. See Krantzius, Lib. 4. c. 6. Io. Magnus, Lib. 17. cap. 4, 5. & Saxo Gramat. Lib. 9.

C

Lady Elizabeth Carew.

THIS Lady lived in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and has left be∣hind her a Tragedy call'd,

Mariam the Fair Queen of Iury, 4to. There is another Tragedy written by Pordage, more Modern, on the same Subject, call'd, Herod and Mariamne. Plot taken from Ioseph. Hist. Iews, lib. 14 & 15. Salian. Tom. 6. A. M. 4012. Torniel. Tom. 2. A. M. 4026•• &c.

Thomas Carew.

ONE of the Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber, and Sewer in Or∣dinary to King Charles I. by whose command, and the Assi∣stance of Inigo Iones, he composed a Masque, called,

Coelum Britannicum, 8vo. performed in the Banqueting House at White-Hall, by his said Majesty, King Charles I. and his No∣bles, An. Dom. 1633. (Mr. Hen. Lawes, one of the King's Pri∣vate Musick, and Gentleman of the Chappel Royal, set all the Musick to the same. This Author Published a Volume of Poems and Songs, which have been divers times (with this Masque) Re∣printed, the last Edition, 1670.

Lodowick Carlell, Esq

THIS Gentleman was an Old Courtier, and liv'd in the Time of both the King Charles's, and possest the Places of Gentleman of the Bowes to King Charles I. and of Groom of the King and Queen's Privy-Chamber. He has Publish'd Eight Plays (viz.)

• Arviragus and Philicia, in Two Parts, T.C. 12••, 1639•• (revived since with a new Prologue writ by Mr. Dryden, and spoke by the famous Actor, Mr. Hart. For the Story on which this Play is grounded, see Ge••f. Monmouth, lib. 4. c. 16. Pol. Virgil, lib. 2. Matth. West. pag. 93. Grafton, Part 7. pag. 7••.
• Deserving Favourite, T. C. 8vo. 1659. This Play was represen∣ted before King Charles I. and his Queen at White-Hall, and o••ten in Black-Fryars, with great Applause.
• Fool would be a Favourite; or, The Discreet Lover, 8vo. 1657. Osmond the Great Turk; or, The Noble Servant, Tragedy, 8vo. 1657. (The Action of this Play is, the taking of Constantinople, in the Year 1453. See Knolles's Turkish Hist. in the Life of Maho∣met II. Bandello's Novels, Tom. 1. Hist. 2. Lipsii Monita, lib. 2. Cap. 9. Artus le Contin. de l' Hist. des Tur••s. Lib. 11. This Play, with the two preceding, are Printed together in 8vo. 1657.
• Passionate Lover, in Two Parts, T. C. 8vo. 1655. This Play was published by Mr. Alex. Gough, it having been before twice pre∣sented before the King and Queen's Majesties at Somerset-House.
• Her〈7 letters〉〈7 letters〉〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the East, Trag. 4to. 1664. This transla∣••••••n 〈…〉〈…〉 the Fr••••h of Monsieur Corre••lle, was designed by the〈◊〉〈◊〉 for the Stage, but never Acted. See Zonar, Baronius, &c.

Iames Carlile.

HE was born, as I'm informed, in Lancashire, he first appear'd in the World as a Player, and gave no small Promises of ma∣king considerable Progress in that way; he left the Stage while he was yet young, and took to the Wars; got no little Reputation in the Irish Expeditions under his Present Majesty, and with his Bro∣ther, lost his Life in the Bed of Honour. He gave us a Play called,

The Fortune Hunters; or, Two Fools well met. Com. 4to. This was Acted with Applause, as it has been lately revived by the Patentees Company.

Richard Carpenter.

THIS Author lived in the latter end of King Iames I. and the beginning of King Charles I. Publish'd one Play called,

The Pragmatical Iesuit new Leaven'd, 4to. A Play tends to Morality and Vertue; so 'tis doubted whether the Author was not a Divine, there being Three Sermons Publish'd under the same Name, in the latter end of the Reign of King Iames I.

George Cartwright.

OF this Gentleman I can only say, that he liv'd at Fulham, and that he has writ a Play called,

Heroick Love; or, The Infanta of Spain, a Tragedy, dedicated to King Charles II. and Printed, London, 1661. 8vo.

William Car••wright

THE Name of our Author's Father and Place of Nativity, are differently Related by Mr. Wood, (a) 1.1 the late Antiquarian in his Antiquit. Oxon. and (b) 1.2 Mr. Loyd in his Memoirs, the first making him Gloucestershire, and the latter Oxofordshire; but all agree he was brought up a King's Schollar at Eaton, under Dr. Olbaston, and chose Student of Christ-Church-Colledge in Oxon, where he passed thro' his Degrees of Batchelor and Master of Arts: The House made choice of him for Proctor, and was admitted by the University with Mr. Wake of Magdalen Colledge in the Year 1643. in the Winter that Year he Dy'd of a Malignant Fever, and lies Buried in the South Isle of that Church. He was belov'd by the King and Queen, and lamented by all his Acquaintance and Friends. He was expert in the Latin, Greek, French, and Italian Tongue••; was extream modest, as well as handsome; and admired, not only by his Acquaintance but Strangers. Ben. Iohnson among the rest writ in his Praise; and Bishop Fell gives him the highest, if not Hyper∣bolical Praise, in saying, He was the utmost that Man could come to. He writ four Plays, viz.

• Lady Errant, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1657. This was esteemed by many about that time a good Play.
• ...

• Ordinary, a Comedy 8vo. 1657. Part of the first Act is insert••ed in a Book call'd, Wits Interpreter, as a Love Dialogue, unde the Title of the Old Widow, p. 81.
• Royal Slave, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1651. This Play was first presented to the King and Queen, by the Students of Christ-Church-Colledge, Oxon, Dr. Busby, late Schoolmaster of Westminster, act∣ing a part therein; and afterwards at Hampton Court, to both Their Majesties, by the Players, at the Queens Command; and tho' the Poet gave equal Instructions, the Students carryed the Prize.
• Seige, or Loves Convert, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1651. Occasion in Plutarch's Life of Cymon, and part from Boccaces Novels, Day 9th. Nov. 1st.

These Plays are Printed together with his Poems in 8vo. where you may find most of the Wits in the University appear with Copies of Verses, to shew the great Esteem they had for him.

Our Author has also extant other Pieces, viz. a Sermon Print∣ed 1652. a Latin Book entituled, Dies in Mense Novemb. maxime notabiles Coronam, &c. 1671.

Robert Chamberlain.

THIS Anthor Liv'd in the time of King Charles I. and Writ a Play call'd,

The Swaggering Damsel•• a Comedy 4to. 1640. Whether ever this Play was Acted I cannot learn, nether can I say it deserved Acting.

William Chamberlain.

A Doctor of Physick who Lived and Dyed in Shaftsbury in Dor∣setshire, was an old Cavalier, and had received several Marks of his venturing in those Wars. He gave us a Testimony of his Poetick Capacity in an Heroick Poem, entituled Pharonida, 8vo. 1659. and since has appeared in Prose, with the Title of Erome∣na, or The Noble Stranger, a Novel, 1683. He writ but one Play Printed, call'd,

Loves Victory, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1658. This has appeared since under a new Title and Acted, call'd, The Wits led by the Nose, or A Poet's Revenge, 4to. 1678.

George Chapman.

THIS Poet Flourished in the latter part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames I. He was received among the for∣most of the Poetick Writers of that Age, for his Translations, as well as Original Writings. He joyn'd with Ben. Iohnson and Mar∣ston, in the Composing one Play call'd, Eastward Hoe. He also Translated all Homer, Hesiod, and Musaeus, which Works were esteemed well done in that Infancy of Translation: His Plays which follow, are 18 in Number.

• All Fools, a Comedy, 4to. 1605. Then accounted a good Play; it is Built on Terence's Heautontimorumenos or Self-Denyer, and was Acted before King Iames I.
• Alphonsus Emperor of Germany, a Tragedy 4to. 1654. Plot from Chron. de Rebus Germanicis, see also Reynolds on the Passions, Wan∣ley's Hist of Man, Mariana de Reb. Hist. lib. 13. c. 10. Hist. Gene∣rale d'Espagne, lib. 12.
• Blind Beggar of Alexandria, a Comedy, 4to. 1598. Acted by the Earl of Nottingham, then Lord High Admiral his Servants; this Play is neither divided into Acts nor Scenes.
• Bussy d'Amboise, a Tragedy 4to. This hath been presented for∣merly at St. Pauls, and since the Restauration by the Kings Servants, with good Applause. Plot from the French Chron. Hen. III. Thu∣an••s, Déserres, & Rossets Hist. Trag. de notre temps, (under the names of Lysis and Silvie) Hist. 17. p. 363.
• Bussy d'Amboise his Revenge, a Tragedy, 4to. 1613. This Play met not with that Esteem as the former, nor is it founded on so great Truth as the other.
• Conspiracy and Tragedy of Charles Duke of Byron, Marshal of France, two Plays 4to. 1608. For the Plot which is founded on History, see Davilas Hist. France, Mezeray and other French Chron. in the time of H. IVth of France.
• Caesar and Pompey, a Tragedy, 4to. 1631. Divers are the Au∣thors that have treated on this Story, as Lucan in his Pharsalia, Svetonius in the Life of Iulius Caesar, Plutarch, Vill. Paterculus, Florus, Dion, &c.
• Gentleman Vsher, a Comedy 4to. 1606. A Play which de∣serves no great Commendation, and I question whether ever 'twas Acted.
• Humorous days Mirth, a Comedy, 4to. 1599. A Play of indif∣ferent Repute, but entituled, A Pleasant Comedy, as it has been sundry times Pulickly Acted by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral's Servants.
• ...

• Masque of the Middle Temple and Lincolns-Inn, 4to. 1614.
• This was presented at Court before the King, at the Celebrati∣on of the Nuptials between the Palsgrave and the Princess Eliza∣beth, Mr. Inigo Iones was the Ingineer to order the Machines and Decoration of the Scenes.
• May-Day, a Comedy 4to. 1611. Divers times Acted with good Applause.
• Monsieur d'Olive, a Comedy, 4to. 1606. This Play was often Acted by her Majesty's Children with good Success.
• Revenge for Honour, a Tragedy, 4to. 1654. When the Nur∣sery Acted in Barbican, since the Restauration they sometimes made use of this Play.
• Temple, a Masque, 4to. As I Conjecture, may be the same with that before of the Middle Temple, and Licolns-Inn; Mr. Lang∣bain, nor any other that I could ever learn, having seen any of this Title.
• Two Wise Men, and all the rest Fools, 4to. 1619. Mr. Langbain's former Remark on this Play was, that it exceeded in the Number of Acts any Play of what Language whatever. But if he had seen the Spanish Baud, either in the Original, or the Folio Edition in English, he might have found one with three times as many Acts; the Prologue and Epilogue of this Play are both writ in Prose, as was sometimes used in those times: Mr. Chapman's Name not be∣ing to the Title of this Play, it's a question whether it be really his, tho' former Catalogues make it so.
• Widows Tears, a Comedy, 4to. 1612. Plot from Petroni∣us Arbiter. See also the Ephesian Matron, Printed in 8vo. 1668.
• Eastward Hoe, a Comedy, 4to. 1605. This was his but in part, Ben Iohnson and Marston having joyned with him in it; 'twas thought worth the reviving by Mr. Tate, our present Poet Laureat, who gives it the Title of Cuckolds-Haven.

Colley Cibber.

AN Author now Living, he is of Foreign Extraction, his Fa∣ther being a Native of Holstein, and a very skilful Statuary. I cannot understand that his Education ever reached either of the Universities; he having been early by his Fancy led to the Stage, tho' it was not till the division of the Houses that he made any considerable Figure there, and then he at once exerted both the Poet and the Player, in his first Play call'd, Loves last Shift, and in the part of Sir Novelty fashion, which he played himself, and so encreased both his Profit and his Reputation; he has already Pub∣lished two Plays of something a different Character, of which in their Order.

Loves last Shift, or The Fool in Fashion, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants. London, Printed 1696. 4to. And Dedicated to Richard Norton of Southwick, Esq.

In the Epistle our Author informs us that the usual Enmity at the Success of an unknown Author, had produced some Surmises that this Play was not his own; but he assures his Patron, that he should think he affronted him, if he should dedicate a Play to him that he could not entirely call his own; no part of this, either of the Plot or the Expression being borrowed from either the Dead or the Living. He indeed took a very rational Way to that Suc∣cess, which his Epistle lets us know this Performance of his met with, by making use of the extensive Acquaintance of Mr. Southern. For that Author that will stand on the bare Merit of his Play, may satisfie himself in its Iustness and Perfection, but will seldom or never reap that Profit from his Labours, that will answer either his Hopes or his Merit. Being sensible of this, I suppose Mr. Cibber took care to engage the Interest of a great many, by obliging their Vanity, in submitting his Play to their Perusal and Censure; for there is no Complement so prevailing with Mankind, as that which is made to their Wit.

Mr. Cibber has taken Care to avoid the Guilt of an unconfessed Theft, in avowing his Innocence, only so far as he could remem∣ber. The Plot indeed seems to be new, as it is surprising and ad∣mirable; but some of the Criticks will have it founded on a very great improbability, viz. on Loveless's not knowing his Wife: Tho' it may be urged in defence of it, That young Worthy's Con∣firmation of her Uncle's former Account of her Death might very much contribute to his being impos'd on. But were this insuffici∣ent, yet the Beauty of the Incident, and the excellent Moral that flows from it, abundantly outweigh the Fault. The Characters of Sir Novelty, Snap, Narcissa, and the Elder Worthy, seem to be good Copies of Sir Fopling, Ierry in Love for Love, Setter in the Old Batchelor, &c. Of Melantha in Marriage Alamode, &c. and Vain-love in the Old Batchelor.

Womans Wit, or The Lady in Fashion, a Comedy acted at the The∣atre Royal by his Majesty's Servants, 4to. 1697.

This Play is much short of the former in the Easiness of Wit and Style, as in the Artful working up of the Plot. The Chara∣cters of Rakeish, Father and Son, with the Plot of their Walk, is much borrowed from the Fortune Hunters; from Otway's Dare De∣vil; from Sir Thomas Revel and his Son in Greenwich-Parke; and indeed among the other Characters there is not much new.

Sir Aston Cockain.

THIS worthy Knight lived (about the Restoration) at his Seat at Ashbourn, a Market Town in Derbyshire, his Family Ancient, pretending an Alliance with * 1.3 William the First: He had Edu∣cation in Trinity Colledge in Cambridge, made the Tour of France and Italy in his Five and Twentieth Year, finishing it in the Year 1632. † 1.4 Poetry being his darling Study. Among other Pieces, he has left us Three Plays and a Masque, of which in their Order.

• Masque, presented at Berthie in Derbyshire, 1639. before the then Earl of Chesterfield, on a Twelfth-Night, his Two Sons acting Par••s in the same.
• Obs••inate Lady, a Comedy, 8vo. 1658. This Play seems a meer Imitation of Massenger's Very Woman.
• Ovid's Tragedy, 8vo. 1669. Some part taken from his Elegies, and pa••t from Il Atheisto Fulminato, an Italian Play.
• Trappolin supposed a Prince, a Tragy-Comedy, 8vo. 1658. Plot from Trapolén credulo Principe, which he owns to have seen acted at Venice. It has been revived by Mr. Tate, and acted in the Year 1685. by the Dukes Servants in Dorset Garden.
• Thersites, and Tyranical Government, which may well be suppo∣sed to be none of his, tho' placed to him by Winstanly and Phi∣lips, you may find it in their Alphabet among the Anonymous Plays. These are all printed with his Poems, Epigrams, &c. in 8vo.

William Congreve.

A Gentleman now living, who derives himself from an Ancient Family in Staffordshire of that Name. His Politer Knowledge he owes to Dublin Colledge, from whence being returned to Eng∣land, his first Applications were to the Law. But Mr. Congreve was of too delicate a Taste, had a Wit of too fine a turn, to be long pleas'd with that crabbed, unpalatable Study; in which the labo∣rious dull plodding Fellow, generally excells the more sprightly and vivacious Wit; for the Law is something like Preferment at Court, won by Assurance and Assiduity; this concurring with his Na∣tural Inclinations to Poetry, diverted him from the Bar to the de∣clining Stage, which then stood in need of such a Support; and from whence the Town justly receiv'd him as Rome's other Hope.

Rochfoncault truly observes, that Merit alone will never make a

Heroe, without the friendly Assistance of Fortune; and therefore Mr. Congreve must be said to be as much oblig'd to her for his Suc∣cess, as to Nature for his Wit, which truly deserv'd it, and of which all those that read his Plays, must allow him a more than ordinary Share. And indeed he took the most certain way to make sure of Fortune, by the Intimacy he contracted with the most active part of the establish'd and receiv'd Wits and Poets of the Age, before he ventur'd his Reputation to the Publick. For as a celebrated French Writer has observ'd, an Author should never expect to raise his Fame in the World, from an unknown State, by the Single Force of his own Genius, and without the Help and Concurrence of the Men of Wit, that have an Influence over the Opinion of the World in things of that Nature. But then on the other side, it must be confess'd, that his Merit was certainly of more than ordinary Power, to oblige them to forget their habitual Ill-Nature; and criminal Emulation or Iealousy (to give it no worse Name) of all those, whom they have any Cause to fear, will once prove any considerable Rivals in their Fickle Mistress, Fame. Mr. Congreve has already given us Four Plays, of whi••h in their Al∣phabetical Order.

The Double Dealer, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, 1694. 4to. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Montague, Esq. one of the Lords of the Trea∣sury. This Play not meeting with that Success as was expected, the Author, as Poets are generally apt to do, engages a little too violently in a Defence of his Comedy. The Character of Mask-well I take to be an Image of Vernish in The Plain Dealer.

Love for Love, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre in Little Lin∣colns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1695. 4to. and Dedi∣cated to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middle∣sex. This Play, tho' a very good Comedy in it self, had this Ad∣vantage, that it was Acted at the Opening of the New House, when the Town was so prepossess'd in Favour of the very Actors, that before a Word was spoke, each Actor was Clapt for a considerable Time. And yet all this got it not more Applause than it really de∣serv'd: For there is abundance of Wit in it, and a great deal of diverting Humour. The Characters are justly distinguish'd, and the Manners well marked. Yet in the Plot he has not given himself the Pains of avoiding that so often repeated Improbability of Marry∣ing in Masques and Disguises, which Mr. Tattle, nor Mrs. Frail had Sense enough to avoid, if we may judge by the rest of their Cha∣racters; yet it must be own'd, that he has much better prepar'd this Incident to gain it, at least some shew of Probability, than in the Old Batchelor, or than I have generally met with in other Plays. I leave the nicer Criticks to decide whether the unravelling of the Plot, and the Conduct of Angelica in it, be extreamly just or no: I

shall only say it pleas'd, and that is a considerable Defence, what∣ever some may think to the contrary.

The Mo••rning Bride, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by His Majesty's Servants, and Dedicated to her Royal Highness the Princess ANN of Denmark, 1697. 4to•• This Play had the greatest Success, not only of all Mr. Congreve's, but indeed of all the Plays that ever I can remember on the Eng∣lish Stage, excepting none of the incomparable Otway's; and if what Dr. Blackmore says of it be true, it deserved even greater than it met with; for the learned Doctor in the Seventh Page of his Preface to King Arthur, says thus:

—Since the writing of this, I have seen a Tragedy, called, The Mourning Bride, which I think my self obliged to take No∣tice of in this Place. This Poem has receiv'd, and, in my Opi∣nion, very justly, universal Applause; being look'd on as the most perfect Tragedy that has been wrote in this Age. The Fa∣ble, as far as I can judge at first sight, is a very Artful and Ma∣sterly Contrivance; the Characters are well chosen, and well de∣lineated; that of Zara is admirable. The Passions are well touch'd, and skilfully wrought up. The Diction Proper, Clear, Beautiful, Noble, and Diversified agreeably to the Variety of the Subject. Vice, as it ought to be, is punish'd; and oppress'd In∣nocence at last reward••d. Nature appears very happily imitated excepting one or two doubtful Instances, thro' the whole Piece; in which there are no immodest Images, or Expressions; no wild, unnatural Rants, but some few Exceptions being allow'd, all things are Chast, Iust, and Decent. This Tragedy, as I said before, has mightily Obtain'd, and that without the unnatural, and foolish Mixture of Farce and Buffoon'ry; without so much as a Song or a Dance to make it more agreeable. By this it ap∣pears, that as a sufficient Genius can recommend it self, and fur∣nish out abundant Matter of Pleasure and Admiration, without the paultry Helps above named: So likewise, that the Tast of the Nation is not so far deprav'd, but that a Regular and Chast Play, will not only be forgiven, but highly applauded.

Thus far the Learned Doctor, of whom I will not say, as the Plain Dealer says of my Lord Plausible, That rather than not Flat∣ter, he will Flatter the Poets of the Age, &c. Yet I must needs say, so very great a Commendation, will make some of the Censo∣rious Criticks imagine what it was that oblig'd him to take such particular Notice of this Play; which, tho' I should be never so willing to allow a Place in the first Form, yet I can never prefer it to the All for Love of Mr. Dryden, The Orphan, and Venice Preserv'd of Mr. Otway, or the Lucius Iunius Brutus of Mr. Lee, either in true Art in the Contrivance and Conduct o•• the Plot; or the Choice and Delineation of the Characters for the true End of Tra∣gedy,

Pitty and Terror; or the true and natural Movement of the Passions, in which Particular, none of the Ancients (I was going to say equal'd, but I will boldly say) surpass'd our English dead Bards in those Plays, and our living Poet in this of his that I have mention'd. Or the Diction, either in regard to its Propriety, Clear∣ness, Beauty, Nobleness, or Variety. Let any impartial Iudge read but All for Love, and tell me if there is or can be a Style more Pure, or more Sublime, more adapted to the Subject in all its Parts: And I believe, notwithstanding all that some Gentlemen have urg'd against the Language in Otway's Plays, it seldom wants any of those Qualities that are necessary to the Perfection of the Piece he has undertaken; he has seldom given us any Persons of Kings or Prin∣ces, and if his Stile swell not so much in the Mouths of those of a Lower Degree, whom he has chosen, it was because he had too much regard to the Nature of the Person he introduces. And in Lee (with the Critick's permission let me speak it) you find always something Wildly Noble, and Irregularly Great; and I am un∣willing, with some, to think his Stile puffie or tumid; I'm sure in his Play of Lucius Iunius Brutus he is generally Iust, both in his Thoughts and his Expressions; and it is rather for want of a true Taste of him, than his want of Merit, that he is condemn'd in that Play, I mean, if there be any that do not exempt that from the Faults of his other Plays.

I urge not this as any Reflection on Mr. Congreve's Performance, for which I have all the just Value the Merit o•• the Play commands; but to do Iustice to his great Predecessors on the Stage, at the de∣pressing whose Praise, the Doctor, both in this and his former Pre∣face, seems rather to aim, than at the raising that of Mr. Con∣greve. No, had I a mind to exert the Critick, I might, like ma∣ny other of that Denomination, urge those Defects that either the Malice, or too nice Palate of others have descover'd in the Play it self. But I think 'tis a very ungenerous Office (and not to be ex∣cus'd by any thing but some extraordinary Provocation) to dissect the Works of a Man of Mr. Congreve's undoubted Merit, when he has done his Endeavour to please the Town, and so notoriously obtain'd his End; and when the Faults that may perhaps be found in 'em, are of a Nature that makes them very disputable, and in which both his Predecessors and Contemporaries have offended; and I ••uppose he does not pretend to infallibility in Poetry. But tho•• I purposely omit all Critical Reflections, yet the Duty of this Undertaking, and the Foundation I build on, obliges me to examine what he may have borrowed from others; which indeed is not much, tho' the Incident of the Tomb, seems to be taken from the Meeting of Artaban and Eliza, at the Tombe of Tyridates, in the Romance of Cleopatra. And Zara has many Features re∣••embling Nourmahal in Aurenge Zebe, and Almeria in the Indian

Emperor; I know some will have the whole Play a kind of a Copy of that; but I confess I cannot discover likeness enough to justify their Opinion: unless it be Zara's coming to the Prison to Osmin, as Almeria does to Cortez. I believe our Poet had the Bajazet of Racine in view, when he formed his Design, at least there is as much Ground for this as the former Opinion. Perez resenting the Blow the King gave him, is like an Incident in Caesar Borgia; but the Spaniard's Revenge is more generous, and less cruel than that of the Italian.

Thus much for the Mourning Bride, of which, if I may be al∣low'd to speak my impartial Sense, I must needs say, that in spite of its Excellence, it discovers Mr. Congreve's Genius more inclin'd and turn'd to Comedy, than Tra••edy, tho' he has gain'd an un∣common Praise for both; however, it being his first Poem of that Kind, it promises more perfect Products hereafter; and for which all Lovers of Poetry long with Impatience.

Old Batchelor, a Comedy, Acted ••t the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Lord Clifford, of Lanesborough, 1693. 4to. This Comedy was Acted with so general an Applause, that it gave both Fame and For∣tune to our Author; at once made him known to the Town, and to an Honourable Mecaenas; who, to the Satisfaction of all Lo∣vers of Learning, Wit, and Poetry, has ever since prov'd a gene∣rous Friend to our Poet. The Old Batchelor was usher'd into the World with several Copies of Verses of his Friends, and which the Merit of the Play abundantly justifies: For there's a genteel and sprightly Wit in the Dialogue, where it ought to be; and the humorous Characters are generally within the Compass of Nature, which can scarce be truly said of those of several Poets, who have met with Succe••s enough on the Stage. Bluff seems an Imitation of the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus; of Bounce in Greenwich Park; and Hac∣kum in the Squire of Alsatia, &c. The Incident of Sir Ioseph Wittoll's Marrying Sylvia, and Captain Bluff, Lucy, in Masques, has been too often an Incident on the Stage, since I'm confident it was scarce ever done in reality. Some other Characters are not entire∣ly new, but that is very excusable in a Young Poet, especially in a Play, which I have been assur'd was writ, when our Author was but Nineteen Years Old, and in nothing alter'd, but in the Length, which being consider'd, I believe few Men that have writ, can shew one half so good at so unripe an Age.

Edward Cook, Esq.

THIS Gentleman, only known to me by a single Play, never Acted, but Printed, (viz.)

Love's Triumph, or The Royal Vnion, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1678. Plot from Cassandra, Romance, Part 5. Book 4.

Iohn Cook.

THIS Author has but one Play in Print, called,

Green's Tu Quoque, a Comedy, 4to. Publish'd with a Preface by Tho. Heywood, who says in his * 1.5 Epistle, That it past the Stage with ge∣neral Applause, and that the Title had its Nam•• in regard that excel∣lent Commedian, Thomas Green, Acted the chief Part in it, whose general Repartee to all Complements was, Tu Quoque; and gives him this Character, That there was not an Actor of his Nature in his time, of better Ability in Performance of what he undertook, more applauded by the Audience, of greater Grace at the Court, or of more general Love in the City. The Printed Copy is not di∣vided into Acts, but has since King Charles the Second's Restaura∣••ion, been Revived and Acted with good Applause.

Iohn Corey.

A Gentleman that has set together a Play, called:

The Generous Enemies, or The Ridiculous Lovers, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal, 4to. 1672. This Play is patch'd up out of four several Poets: The chief Design is borrowed from Quinault's La Genereuse Ingratitude; that of the Ridiculous Lovers from Corneille's D. Bert••am de Cigarral, which is also founded on the Spanish Play, Entre bobos anda el juego; Bertran's Testy Humour is partly borrowed from Randolph's Muses Looking-Glass, Act 2. Scene 1. and Act. 3. Scene 3, and 4. and the Quarrel betwixt him and Robatzi, Act 5. wholly stollen from Love's Pilgrimage, Act 2. Scene 1. Act 3. Scene 3.

Charles Cotten, Esq.

A Gentlemen of a good Family in Staffordshire, who has written many Originals besides Translations, but nothing with more Success than his Burlesque on Virgil, in Imitation of the French Scarron; among the rest, he translated one of Corneille's Plays, called,

Horra••••, T. 4to. 1671. This Play has been translated by Two other Hands, viz. Sir William Lower, and Mrs. Katharine Phillips; but

this has been accounted equal to Madam Phillips's Translation, and far to exceed that Version of Sir William Lower. For the Plot con∣sult Livii Hist. Lib. 1. L. Florus, Lib. 1. C. 3. Cassiodorus, Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus, &c.

This Author has publish'd (besides this Play) divers other Pieces; as a Volume of Poems on several Occasions, 8vo. 1689. The Com∣pleat Angler, being a Second Part of that Book on the same Subject written by Mr. Isaac Walton, 8vo. 1676. in which Book are excel∣lent Instructions how to Angle for a Trout or Grayling in a clear Stream. The Wonder of the Peak, a Poem, 8vo. 1681. Scaroni∣des, or Virgil Travestie, a Mock Poem on the 1st and 4th Books of Virgil's AEneis, 8vo. 1678. And one more attributed to him, tho' his Name not thereto, called, The Scoffer Scoft; which are several of Lucian's Dialogues put into Burlesque Verse, Printed 8vo. 1675.

Abraham Cowley.

THIS eminent Author was Born in London, 1618. at Ten Years Old (whilst he was a Westminster Schollar) he writ the Tragical Story of Pyramus and This••e; at Twelve that of Constantia and Philetus. By Thirteen he had published several Poetical Pieces. From a Boy he was very Studious, and his Chance lighting on Spencer's Fairy Queen, rous'd his Inclinations to Poetry, which never forsook him till he Died. Whoever would read a just Account of his Life, will find it admirably writ by the present Bishop of Rochester. He Died of a Stoppage in his Breast and Throat, having lain Ill a Fortnight; and was Buried the 30th of August, 1667. in Westminster-Abbey, next Chaucer, and near Spencer and Drayton, with a neat Marble Monument erected (as the Inscription informs us) to him, by the late Duke of Buckingham. He has publish'd Three English Plays, of which in their Order.

• Cutter of Coleman-Street, a Comedy, 4to. 1663. This Play was Represented at the Duke's Theatre in Salisbury-Court, with good Applause; yet met with Opposition by some few, who at that time envied the Author for his Loyalty to his Prince, but was afterwards Acted with universal Applause, it being a revis'd Comedy, and much alter'd and enlarg'd from that Mr. Cowly had about Ten Years before hastily drawn up, under the Name of the
• Guardian, a Comedy, 4to. 1650. Acted several times privately during the Prohibition of the Stage; as also at Cambridge before Prince Charles, and after the Restauration publickly Acted at Dub∣lin with good Applause.
• ...

• Love's Riddle, a Pastoral Comedy, 4to. 1633. This Play was written in the Author's Youth, whilst a King's Schollar at West∣minster, first printed with his Poetical Blossoms; and since that, in the Second Volume of his Works.

In any of his Plays he cannot be taxed with borrowing from any other.

The Works of this admirable Author are eminent enough to the Ingenious, so needless to be here characteriz'd. He left Two Vo∣lumes in Folio, Verse and Prose, also a Volume in 8vo. Entituled, Poemata Latina. It is a great Pity he liv'd not to finish that in∣comparable Epick Poem of Davideis, being only Four Books of the Troubles of David; which he design••d to extend in all, to Twelve. For his Life and Works I refer you further, to Dr. Sprat, Bishop of Rochester's Account thereof.

Robert Cox.

THIS Author was a celebrated Comedian in King Charles the First's time: On the Suppression of the Stage he made seve∣ral Drolls, and, with his Companions, Acted them by stealth, both in London and the Country Towns: He Acted the chief Parts him∣self, and so very naturally, that at Oxon he gain'd great Applause. He publish'd one Interlude, called,

Actaeon and Diana, Interl. 4to. The Plot from Ovid's Metamorph. This, with some Drolls of his, may be found a second time printed 1656. in 4to. the first Edition being printed for the Author's own Use, and in the Year 1673. they were again printed, with other Drolls collected by Kirkman, under the Title of Sport upon Sport, 8vo.

Iohn Crown.

A Gentleman yet living, whose Father having ventured most of his Estate (which was considerable) in a Foreign Plantation, that was afterwards taken by the French, and all King Charles's Reign neglected, he took, by the Encouragement of the late famous Lord Rochester, to Dramatick Writing, and has perform'd very well both in Tragedy and Comedy; tho', with Mr. Langbain, I look on Comedy to be his Talent; he has given us a Proof of his Abi∣lity in these following Plays:

• Ambitious Statesman, or The Loyal Favourite, a Tragedy, 4to. 16-9. Acted at the Theatre Royal, and Dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Albermarle. This Play met not with the Applause the Author and his Friends expected. For the Plot, See De Serres, Ma∣zeray, and other French Chronicles.
• ...

• Andromache, a Tragedy 4to. 1657. Acted at the Duke's Thea∣tre in Dorset-Garden. This Play was translated from the French of Monsieur Racine, by another Hand, into Prose, and turn'd into English Verse by Mr. Crown, as he owns, and tho' the Original is well esteem'd, yet this had not its expected Success on our English Stage. It seems founded on Virgil, Lib. 3. Ver. 292. and in some things the Author follows the Andromache of Euripides.
• Calligula, Emperor of Rome, a Tragedy, London, Printed 4to. 1698. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesties Servants. For the Plot consult Suetonius in his Life: for the Poet has very nicely follow'd his Character given us by that Author.
• Calisto, or, The Chast Nimph, a Masque, 4to. 1675. This was writ by the Command of her late Majesty, and often tim••s repre∣sented at Court, by Persons of great Quality, with Songs between the Acts. The Foundation from Ovid Metam. Lib. 2. Tab. 5, 6.
• Charles the Eighth of France, or The Invasion of Naples by the French; an Hist. Tragedy 4to. 1680. writ in Heroick Verse; Acted at the Duke's Theatre in Salisbury-Court. Plot taken from Guic∣ciardine's Hist. Philip de Comines's Memoires: Andre de la Vigne, and other French Chronicles in the Reign of Charles VIII.
• City Politicks, a Comedy, 4to. 1683. Acted at the Theatre Roy∣al in Drury-Lane, with good Applause. This Play the Whiggish Party in those times took to be a severe Satyr on them.
• Country Wit, a Comedy, 4to. 1675. This Play, tho' but one Degree above Farce, was Acted at the Duke's Theatre in Dorset Garden, and approv'd of by his then Majesty, King Charles II. Part of the Plot and Language is taken from that Comedy of M••l∣liere's, called Le Sicilien, ou L'Amour Peintre.
• Darius, King of Persia, a Tragedy, 4to. 1688. Acted by their Majesties Servants. For the Plot see Quint. Curt. Lib. 3, 4, and 5. Iustin. Lib. 11. Cap. 5. and Diodorus, Lib. 17, &c.
• Destruction of Ierusalem by Titus Vespasian, in Two Parts, T. 4to. 1677. Both these Tragedies are writ in Heroick Verse, and when first appeared on the Stage, were Acted at the Theatre Royal, with great Applause. For the Plot see Iosephus Hist. Lib. 6, & 7. Taci∣tus Hist. Lib. 5. Suetonius, Eusebius, &c.
• English Fryar, or The Town Sparks, a Comedy, 4to. 1690. This Play was Acted by their Majesties Servants; but met not with that Success the Author expected. See his Preface thereto.
• Henry the Sixth, the First Part, with the Death of the Duke of Gloucester, a Tragedy, 4to. 1681. This Play was Dedicated to Sir Charles Sidley, and Acted at the Duke's Theatre with good Ap∣plause at first, but at length, the Romish Faction opposing it, by their Interest at Court, got it supprest. See the Second Part of Shakespear's Henry VI. from whence part of this is borrowed.
• ...

• Henry the Sixth, the Second Part, or The Miseries of Civil War, a Tragedy, 4to. 1681. Acted also at the Duke's Theatre, with good Applause. Part of it is likewise borrowed from Shakespear. For the Plot see the English Chronicles writ in those times, by Grafton, Hollingshed, Stow, Speed, &c.
• Iuliana, or The Princess of Poland, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1671. This Play was Acted at the Duke's Theatre, and Dedicated to the Earl of Orrery, being the first of this Author's Production.
• The Married Beau, or The Curious Impertinent, a Comedy, 4to. 1694. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants; and Dedicated to the Lord Marquis of Normanby, Earl of Mul∣grave, &c. To this Play the Author has also prefixt a Preface in Vindication of himself from the Aspersions cast on him by some of his Enemies, as to his Morals and Loyalty, which I think he suffi∣ciently clears, particularly in Mr. Lovely's, yielding to Polidos, and I think Mr. Crown in the Right, when he tells us, 'tis hard to find which offends the Ladies, the Sin, or the Confession; the latter Example perhaps they like worst. This is accounted a good Play, and has been often Acted with general Approbation. The Story is taken out of the Comical History of Don Quixot.
• Regulus, a Tragedy, 4to. 1694. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesty's Servants; it has no Dedication, and met with no very good Success, though the Design be Noble; the Example of Regulus being the most celebrated for Honour and Constancy of any of Antiquity: nor is it confin'd to the Roman Historians; Horace has writ an Ode upon it. You may read the History in Livy, Lucius Florus, &c.
• Sir Courtley Nice, or It cannot be, a Comedy, 4to. 1685. Acted by his Majesty's Servants, and Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond. The Plot and Part of the Play from a Spanish Play, No Pued-eser; another Play called, Tarugo's-Wiles, first Acted 1668. hath the same Plot, and much resembles this in many Parts there∣of. The Song of stop Thief is taken out of Flecknoe's Demoisell a la Mode, who likewise had it from the French of Molliere. This Play was often Acted with good Success.
• Thyestes, a Tragedy, 4to. 1681. Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesty's Servants. Plot from Poetical History. There are Two other Plays on the same Subject, one in Spanish, the other in French, which are also founded on Seneca's Thiestes.

Iohn Dancer.

THIS Anthor liv'd a great part of his Time in Ireland, if not born there; about the Year 1670. he came over into England, and understanding well the Italian and French Tongues, he then Translated Two Plays, as also a Pastoral before. The first in Order is,

• Agrippa King of Alba, or The False Tiberinus, T. C. 4to. 1675. written in Heroick Verse; printed in London, with Amendments from what it was before, when Acted divers times with great Applause in Dublin, before his Grace the Duke of Ormond, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; and Dedicated to the Lady Cavindish, Daughter of the said Duke: Translated from the French of Mon∣sieur Quinault.
• Aminta, a Pastoral, 8vo. 1660. This has been translated into Five several Tongues, from that celebrated Wit, Torquato Tasso, accounted the Father of Pastorals, and is, above all others he ever writ, the most esteem'd; this is printed with several Love Verses, &c. of the same Author.
• Nicomede, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1671. Acted at the Theatre Royal in Dublin; and Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Ossery. Translated from the French of Monsieur Corneille, be∣ing a Piece he much valued. Story from Iustin, Book 34. He writ besides, a Romance, called, The English Lovers and (if we believe Mr. Winstanly) A compleat History of the late Times, and A Chronicle of the Kingdom of Portugal.

Samuel Daniel.

A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames I. he was born near Taunton in Somersetshire, and was entred Commoner of St. Mary Magdalen-Hall, Oxon, 1581. ••n the 19th Year of his Age; from whence, after Three Years Stu∣dy, his Merit, and his Brother-in-law, Florio, prefer'd him to be one of the Grooms of Queen Ann. Most of his Plays he writ at a little Retreat from London: weary of the World, he at last retired into Wiltshire or Somersetshire, and there turn'd Farmer, living in those Parts till he was near Eighty Years Old, to whose Memory a Monument was erected in the Parish-Church, at the Charge of the

Lady Ann Clifford (to whom he had been Tutor) afterwards Coun∣tess of Pembrook, Dorset, and Montgomery. Besides his excellent History of England, Printed in Folio, and continued by Trussel, he left behind him several Poetical Pieces, among them Five Drama∣tick, of which in their Order:

• Cleopatra, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1611. and 4to. 1622. Dedica∣ted to the Right Honourable the Countess of Pembrook: The last Edition is much amended, and far excels the first. For the Story see Plutarch's Lives of Pompey and Anthony; Florus, lib. 4. c. 11. Appian de Bel. Civil. lib. 5. but chiefly, Otway's Translation of a French Book called, The History of the Three Triumvirates, 8vo. 1686. This Play was much esteemed in its time.
• Hymen's Triumph, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. This was presented at the Queen's Court, at the Nuptials of the Lord Roxborough, and Dedicated in Verse to the most excellent Majesty of the Highest Born Princess, Ann of Denmark, Queen of England, &c.
• Philotas, his Tragedy, 4to. 1623. and Dedicated to King Charles the First, when he was Prince. This was the first Play our Author writ, and then esteemed, tho' at first met with some Opposition, the Reason you may find by his Apology, at the End of the Play; where he handsomly acquits himself from the Imputation cast on him. Plot from Plutarch's Life of Alexander; Quint. Curt. Book 6, &c.
• Queen's Arcadia, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. This Play was presented to the Queen and her Ladies, by the Uni∣versity of Oxon in Christ Church Colledge, 1605. Dedicated to the Queen's Majesty. Act. 1. Scene 2. of Carinus and Amintas, resem∣ble Quinault's Philene, and Daphnis, in his Comedy Sans Comedie, and Scene 4. Act 2. and the 7th Scene of the same Act, are very like Randolph's Amintas.
• Vision of the Twelve Goddesses, a Masque, 4to. 1623. Presented by the Queen and her Ladies at Hampton Court, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Lucy, Countess of Bedford, and be∣cause this was first publish'd imperfect, the Author soon after pub∣lish'd it from his own Copy to prevent its suffering for the Future.

Sir William D'avenant,

THE Son of Iohn D'avenant, Vintner of Oxford, in that very House that has now the Sign of the Crown near Carfax; a House much frequented by Shakespear in his frequent Iourneys to Warwick-shire; whither for the Beautiful Mistress of the House, or the good Wine, I shall not determine. Our Author was Born there in the Year 1605. in February, and Christen'd on the 3d of

March following, he was admitted a Member of Lincoln Colledge, 1621. the same Year that his Father was Mayor of that City: After some Smattering in Logick, he quitted those Studies for Poetry, which prov'd more advantagious to him than to any Mo∣dern Professor of that Art. From Lincoln-Colledge he went first into the Service of the Dutchess of Richmond, and afterwards to that of Foulk Lord Brook; after whose Death he apply'd himself to Writing of Plays. In the Year 1637. he succeeded Ben. Iohn∣son as Poet Laureat; 1641 he was accused of endeavouring to Se∣duce the Army; Flying on a Proclamation, he was taken at Fe∣versham in Kent, committed Prisoner to a Serjeant at Arms, was Bail'd, and fled for France; returning he was made General of the Ordinance, by the Marquess of New-Castle, he was Knighted by the King, 1643. toward the end of the Civil Wars he retired again into France, and began his Gondibert, in the Year 1650. he was taken at Sea by an English Ship, carried Prisoner to the Isle of Weight; thence removed to the Tower, and had been tried for his Life, 1651. had not the Mediation of the Divine Milton prevented it, and got him his Liberty, as Prisoner at Large. His Patrons Endimion Porter, and Mr. Iermin (afterwards Lord St. Al∣bans) got him as a Reward of his Poetry and Services, the Place of Commissioner of the Customs, and a Patent for a Company of Actors, who first set up in the same Tenniscourt in Little Lin∣colns-Inn-Fields, where they now Act: But finding the good Act∣ing of the other Company won the Favour of the Town, he set up the Whim of Opera's. He was Laureat to Charles the I. & II. he dy'd the 7th of April, 1668. Aged 63, and is Buried among the Poets in Westminster-Abbey. His Works are Published Fol. 1673.

His Plays which follow in Order, were most of them Acted with Applause, and Printed in the Author's Life-time separately in 4to. and since together in Folio.

• Albovin King of the Lombards, his Tragedy 4to. and fol. The Design is founded on History, and the whole Story related in Ban∣dello's Histoires Tragiques, Tom. 4. Nov. 19. Paulus Diaconus de Gestis Longobardorum, lib. 2. c. 28. Greg. Episc. Turonensis Hist. Franconum, lib. 2. c. 28. Heylin's Cosmog. Part 1. Book 1. Page 57.
• Britannia Triumphans, a Masque, 4to. written by him, and Inigo Iones the King's Surveyor.
• Cruel Brother, a Tragedy 4to. and fol. Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Weston, Lord High Treasurer of Eng∣land.
• The Distresses, a Tragi-Comedy, Printed in Fol. 1673.
• Entertainment at Rutland House, Printed in fol. 1673. This was presented by way of Declamation, and Musick, after the manner

• of the Ancients: The Musick, Vocal and Instrumental was Com∣pos'd by Dr. Coleman, Captain Cook, Mr. Lawes, and Mr. Hud∣son, all eminent at the time it was first represented••
• The Fair Favourite, a Tragi-Comedy, first Printed in 4to. and since in fol. 1673.
• The Iust Italian, a Tragi-Comedy, first Printed in 4to. and since in fol. 1673. Dedicated at first Publishing to the Right Honourable Earl of Dorset, with Recommendatory Verses of Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Carew.
• The Law against Lovers, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. 1673. Taken from two Plays of Shakespear, viz. Measure for Measure, and, Much ado about nothing; the Language much amended and polish'd by our Author.
• Love and Honour, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. and fol. Acted both at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, and in Dorset-Garden, with Applause.
• The Man's the Master, a Comedy, 4to. and fol. often Acted with Applause. Plot from Scarron's Ioddelet, ou Le Maistre Valet, &c.
• The Platonick Lovers, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. and fol. first Print∣ed in 8vo. with the Wits, another Play of this Authors.
• The Play-House to be Lett, fol. The second Act consists of a French Farce Translated from Mollieres Sagnarelle: The third and fourth Acts contain the History of Sir Francis Drake, and the Cruelty of the Spaniands in Peru: The fifth Act relates the Actions of Caesar Anthony and Cleopatra; most of these Acted in Oliver's time, sepa∣rately by stealth, and some of them Printed first in 4to.
• The Siege, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. 1673.
• The Siege of Rhodes, in two Parts, 4to. and fol. Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon, Lord High Chancellor of England, Acted with good Applause at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. For the true Story see Boissardi Icones & vitae Sultanorum Turcicorum in Vit. Solym. 2. Tho. Artus Continuation de la Histoire des Turc's, and our English History of the Turks, by Knolles.
• News from Plymouth, a Comedy, fol. 1673. Acted formerly at the Globe.
• The Temple of Love, a Masque, fol. 1673. This was in King Charles the Ist's time, presented at Court by his Queen, and divers of the Nobility, both Lords and Ladies, the Scenes and Habits were very magnificent and Glorious.
• The Triumphs of the Prince d' Amour, a Masque, presented by his Highness, at his Palace in the Middle Temple, fol. 1673. Acted by the Members of that Honourable Society, as an Entertainment to the Prince Elector. The Author Compos'd it in three Days time; the Musick of the Songs set by Mr. Henry, and Mr. Willi∣am Lawes.
• The Wits, a Comedy, 8vo. 4to. and fol. first Acted at Black Fryers, and since at the Duke's Theatre, with Applause.••

Dr. Charles Davenant.

THIS Gentleman is the eldest Son of Sir William, and Dr. of Laws; he is yet Living, and has given us one Proof that Horoum filii noxae, is not always true in his Play call'd,

Circe, an Oper••, 4to. 1677. Acted at the Duke's Theatre with Applause. Plot founded on Poetical History; see Ovid's Meta∣morph. Natal. Comes, Boccace, &c.

Robert Davenport.

HE liv'd in the time of King Charles I. writ two Plays, which were not Printed till the succeeding Reign; he is Author of two Dramatick pieces, Acted with great Applause.

The City Night-Cap, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1661. Plot from Don Quixot's Novel of the Curious Impertinent, and Boccaces Novels, Day 7. Nov. 7.

Iohn and Matilda, a Tragedy, 4to. 1655. This Play is Dedi∣cated to the Right Honourable Montague Bertie, Earl of Lindsey. For the Plot see Hollingshead, Martin, Stow, Speed and Baker's Chronicles in the Reign of King Iohn.

Robert Dauborn.

THIS Author was both Poet and Divine; he liv'd in the time of K. Iames I. was Master of Arts, but of which University is uncertain. He writ these two Plays following,

• The Christian turn'd Turk, a Tragedy, 4to. 1612. The Story from a Printed Book, entituled, The Overthrow of Captain Ward and Dan∣siker, two Pirates, written by one Barker, and Published 1609. 4to.
• The Poor Man's Comfort, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. Printed 1665. but Acted many Years before.

Iohn Day.

HE liv'd in the time of King Iames I. was once Student of Gonvile and Caius Coll. in Cambridge, and has Writ Six Plays, (viz.)

• The Blind Beggar of Bednal-Green, with the merry Humour of Tom. Stroud the Norfolk Yeoman, a Comedy, 4to. 1659. For the true Story see our English Chronicles in the Reign of King Henry VI.
• Humour out of Breath, a Comedy, 4to. 1608.
• Isle of Gulls, a Comedy, 4to. 1633. This Play was often Acted in the Black Fryers, by the then Children of the Reve••s; Plot from Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.
• ...

• Law Tricks, or who would have thought it, a Comedy, 4to. 1608. This Play was also divers times Acted by the Children of the Re∣vels.
• Parliament of Bees, with their proper Characters, or (says the Title) A Bee-hive, furnish'd with Twelve Honey-Combs, as plea∣sant as profitable: This in former Catalogues is accounted a Masque. Printed 4to. 1607. Dedicated to a worthy Gentle∣man (viz.) Mr. George Butler, who has Writ and Published a Trea∣tise of Bees.
• Travels of the Three English Brothers, Sir Thomas, Sir Anthony, and Mr. Robert Shirley, an Historical Play, 4to. 1607. Ro••ley and Wilkins joined with this Author in Composing this History for the Stage. See Dr. Fuller's Worthies, in his Description of Sussex, p. 107. see also our English Chronicles.

Thomas Deckar.

THis Author was a Contemporary of Ben. Iohnson's, in the Reign of K. Iames I. and his Antagonist for the Bays; he Writ Eight Plays entire, and four others assisted with Webster, Rowley, and Ford, in all Twelve, which take as follow.

• Fortunatus, a Comedy, 4to. 1600. stiled, Old Fortunatus. This Play is not divided into Acts; the story is taken from the stitch'd Book of Fortunatus.
• Honest Whore, the First Part, with the Humours of the Patient Man, and the Longing Wife; a Comedy, 4to. 1635. Acted by her Maje∣sties Servants with great Applause.
• Honest Whore, the Second Part, with the Humors of the Patient Man, and the Impatient Wife, also the Comical passage of an Ita∣lian Bridewel, a Comedy, 4to. 1630. This Play is not divided into Acts, nor ever, (I suppose) Acted. See Harrington's Epig. at the end of his Orlando Furioso.
• If this b'ent a good Play, the Devil's in't; a Comedy, 4to. 16 a Play then Acted with great Applause by the Queen's Majesties Servants. See Machiavel's Novel of Belphegor.
• Match me in London, a Comedy, 4to. 1631. This was then ac∣counted a good Play and often Acted both at the Bull in St. Iohn's street, and in Drury-Lane.
• Northward Hoe, a Comedy, 4to. 1607. sundry times Acted by the Children of Paul's. Iohn Webster joined with our Author in this Play. See Ducento Novelle del Signior Celio Malespini, part 1. Nov. 2.
• Satyromastyx, or, The Vntrussing the Humorous Poet, a Comedy, 4to. 1602. presented Publickly by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlain's Servants, and privately by the Children of St. Paul's.

• Ben. Iohnson's Poetaster (wherein he is severe on this our Author) occasioned the Writing of this Play.
• Westward Hoe, a Comedy, 4to. 1607. This Play was divers times Acted by the Children of Paul's. Mr. Webster also was concerned in producing this Play.
• The Whore of Babylon, a History, 4to. 1607. Acted by the Prince's Servants. This Play was design'd to expose the Roman Catholicks, especially the Iesuits at that time, and sets forth the excel∣lent Virtues of Queen Elizabeth, and the many Dangers she escaped.
• Wyat's History, 4to. 16 In this Mr. Webster joined with him, and is a Play Mr. Langbain never saw. See the English Chron. in the Reign of Queen Mary.
• The Witch of Edmonton, a Tragedy, 4to. 1658 In this Play Mr. Rowley and Mr. Ford joined with him.
• The Wonder of a Kingdom, a Comedy, 4to. 1636.

He likewise writ with Mr. Philip Massenger, the Virgin Martyr, and with Mr. Middleton, the Roaring Girl.

Sir Iohn Denham, Knight of the Bath.

HE was born in Ireland, tho' his Father was Sir Iohn Denham of Horsley in Essex, but was at the Birth of this his only Son a Iudge in that Kingdom, and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer; on his being promoted to the Exchequer in England, he brought over our Author very young. In the year 1631. he was sent to Trinity-Colledge in Oxon: After some few years he left Oxon for London, where he applied himself to the Study of the Civil Law. By the Assistance of Hugh Peters, he got admission to Charles I. then in the Armies Hands at Causham, being then employed on a Message to him by the Queen, to whom he had offered his Ser∣vice, which Negotiation he perform'd, so that he was further em∣ploy'd by the King: but being discover'd by Mr. Cowley's Hand being known, he escaped beyond Sea, where he afterwards gave his Attendance on King Charles II. who oftentimes gave him Sub∣jects to write on. He made him Surveyor General of his Royal Buildings, and at his Coronation Knight of the Bath. He dy'd at his House near Whitehall, March 10th, 1668. and was Buried a∣mong the Poets in Westminster-Abbey. He hath writ divers Poems and Translations in 8vo. among them Cooper's Hill, a Piece much commended; at the end of these Poems is one Play of this Au∣thor's, wherein he shews his Ability in Dramatick Poesy. It is Entituled,

The Sophy, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1671. Acted at the Black Friers with good Applause; it was first Printed in 4to. 1642. Plot from Herbert's Travels, Life of Abbas. The same Story is differently handled by Mr. Baron in his Tragedy of Mirza.

Iohn Dennis.

THis Gentleman now Living, has made himself a Name by se∣veral Books, both in Prose and Verse, which he has Publish∣ed, but for none more than his Critical Observations on the so much Celebrated Prince Arthur, writ by Sir Richard Blackmore, in which he has shewed himself a perfect Critick, and Master of a great deal of Penetration and Iudgment; his Remarks being be∣yond Controversy just, and the Faults he finds undeniably such. I am not able to give any Account of his Parents. He was Born in London, his Education was at Gonvile and Caius College in Cam∣bridge, which he improv'd afterwards by Travel and the best Con∣versation; but the occasion of his being mentioned here, is a Dra∣matick piece he has lately Publish'd, called,

A Plot and no Plot, a Comedy, 4to. Acted at the Theatre Roy∣al, 1697. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Robert, Earl of Sunderland, Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houshold. The Plot of this Play is our Author's own, tho' I confess, an Incident or two are not so new as the rest of the Play may justly be said to be; for old Bulls being perswaded, that he is in Newgate, when he's in his own House, is not unlike an incident in the City-Politicks, and young Bulls being married by Baldernoe has been in the Old Batchelor, The City Match, &c. This Play is exactly regu∣lar, and discovers it self writ by a Master of the Art of the Stage, as well as by a Man of Wit; the justness, fineness, and delicacy of the Reflections, the pleasantness of the Humours, the Novelty and Distinction of the Characters, the admirable Conduct and De∣sign of the whole, with the useful Moral of the Play, places it in the Rank of the best Comedies of this latter Age of Poetry; and tho' he himself term it low Comedy, gives us a Desire, as well as Hopes, of some more Noble Performance.

Thomas Dilke.

A Gentleman now living, who (as I am informed) was some time a Student of Oriel Coll. in Oxon, has since quit∣ted the Camp for the Theatre, and Mars for Apollo; he has given the World two Plays with different Success, the last of which comes first in order.

• The City Lady, or Folly Reclaimed, a Comedy Acted by his Ma∣jesty's Servants, at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, 4to. 1697. Dedicated to Fisher Wentworth, Esq This Play, as the Author tells us in the Epistle, miscarried in the first Night's Representa∣tation,

• and owns he has not hit the Humours of the Town in some of his principal parts••
• The Lover's Luck, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesties Servants, 4to. 1696. Dedica∣ted to the Right Honourable the Lord Raby.

This Play, as the Author takes care to inform us, met with a general Applause. As to the Characters, they are most but Copies, Sir Nicholas Purflew, of the Antiquary of Marmion; Goosandelo, of Sir Courtly, and Sir Fopling, &c. I won't say, that the Poet had the Sharpers in the Squire of Alsatia in his Eye, when he drew Ea∣ger, &c. but there is some resemblance.

Tho. Dogget.

AN excellent Comedian, now living, who dealing daily in the Products of Parnassus, found himself inspired with the Vein of Poetry, that has spread so far among his Brothers of the Stage, and has given us a very diverting Play called,

The Country Wake, a Comedy, Acted at the New Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1696. 4to. Dedica∣ted to the Illustrious and truly Noble Iames, Duke, Marquess and Earl of Ormond, in England and Ireland, &c. This Play was well received, but whether it was owing to the admirable Account of the Author, or his Writing, or to both, I leave to the Reader; that it has Merit, is not to be doubted, nor do I know of any re∣markable Thefts from other Plays, unless the imitation of Shake∣spear's Clowns, in the Character of Hob, which I look on as a praise to Mor. Dgget, and no Fault.

Iohn Dover.

A Gentleman of Grays-Inn, in the time of Charles II. whe∣ther he be yet living, I know not; he Writ one Play, (viz.)

The Roman Generals, or, The Distressed Ladies, 4to. 1697. De∣dicated to the Right Honourable the Lord Brook. For the Plot see Plutarch's Lives of Caesar and Pompey. See also Lucan, Sue∣t••nius, &c.

Dr. Iames Drake.

A Member of the Colledge of Physitians, and formerly of Gon∣vile and Caius College in Cambridge. He has lately Publish'd a Play, call'd,

The Sham Lawyer, or, The Lucky Extravagant, a Comedy, 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1697. This Play, as it wanted Suc∣cess, so it is for the most part borrowed from two of Fletcher's, (viz.) The Spanish Curate, and Wit without Money; but whether our Author has improv'd the Materials, or not, I leave to the Criticks.

Iohn Dryden, Esq

THis Gentleman, who was Poet Laureat, and Historiographer to the late King Iames, is of a good Family, (if I mistake not) in Northamptonshire, was Bred at the University of Cambridge, and had some thoughts once (as I have been told) of entring a more profitable state of Life than Poetry, where Learning met with more Encouragement, I mean the Church: How early his Genius led him to Poetry, I am not able to inform you; but he was above thirty before he gave us his first Play, which met with so little Success, that if he had not had a peculiar force of Inclinati∣on to Writing, he had been Discouraged, for that Play indeed made no Promises of that great Man he was afterwards to be. He is a Poet that has met with Applause often above his Merit; tho' in many of his Writings, it must be confe••s'd, he deserv'd the highest: But I must own, I think, his Dramatick Pieces, if we must take our Standard of their Excellence from the Ancients, the most incorrect of his Productions. There is generally indeed the sublime, but very rarely the Pathetick; for in all his Plays he has not touch'd Compassion above thrice, and that but weakly; Ter∣ror he has often hit on; but 'tis not for me to Censure a Man of no Vulgar Genius; but what is necessary for the making this of a piece in its Impartiality. I shall give some Instances of his play∣ing the Plagiary, omitting all those scurrilous and Digressory•• Re∣flections with which Mr. Langbain has bespatter'd him, and through which indeed runs all along a great evidence of private and unge∣nerous Malice, brought in, tho' nothing to the Business before him.

On the other hand, it must be confess'd, that he has, (where he detects his Thefts) urged a great deal of Truth; for Mr. Dryden has borrow'd from the French, at the same time that he seems

to contemn them; unless it may be pretended, that he has us'd them as Virgil did Ennius of old, to extract Gold out of their Dung. For I never found him in any Theft indeed, but what he gave a new Lustre too, when taken, ev'n from the best of the Ancients; and I may therefore believe the same of what he has taken from the French. I shall not therefore pursue Mr. Langbain's steps in his Excursions; on∣ly at the Foot of each Play, lay down the places from whence he has borrowed. But the Reader must not expect I shall give him all that he owes for in each Play, for that wou'd exceed the Limits of this Compendium; it must suffice that I give some Instances of each, to put him in mind of his own Deeds, and so mollify his Reflections on those young Men that are now coming up, and who may think it not below them to follow that Path which they have seen Conduct him to so much Glory; of which in their Order.

Albion and Albanus, an Opera, fol. 1685. presented at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden.

All for Love, or The World well Lost, a Tragedy, 4to. 1678. For the Plot and some of the Descriptions, especially Cleopatra's sailing down the Cydnus, see Plutarch's Life of Antony, Suetonius in Aug. Dion Cassius, lib. 48. 51. Orosius, lib. 6. c. 7. Cluny, lib. 4. c. 11. Appian de bellis Civilibus, l. 5.

Amboyna, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1673. acted at the Theatre Royal, see Purchas's Pilgrimage, Vol. II. l. 16. c. 16. Sanderson's History of King Iames, p. 577. Stubb's Relation of the Dutch Cruelties to the English at Amboyna; Wanley's History of Man, lib. 4. c. 10. ex. 1. The Rape of Isabinda by Horman, is built on a Novel of Cynthais Gyraldi, Idea 5. Nov. 10.

Amphitryon, or, The Two Socia's, a Comedy, 4to. from Moliere and Plautus of the same N••me.

Assignation; or, Love in a Nunnery, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Theatre Royal. Most of the Incidents borrowed, as well as Characters. The Characters of the Duke of Mantua, Frederick and Lucretia, from Constance the fair Nun in The Annals of Love, p. 81. those of Aurelian, Camillo, Laura, and Violetta, from Scarron's Comical Romance; San's Destiny, and Madam Star. cap. 13. p. 43. Benito's Affectation of Musick, from Quinault's Ia∣dolet, in his Comedie sous Comedie, Frontonas throwing Water on L••ura, from Les contes de M. de la Fontaine, Par. 1. Nov. 11. p. 74. See likewise Les Cent. Novelles, La Damoiselle a ceur ouvert, &c.

Aureng-zebe, a Tragedy, 4to. 1676. Acted at the Theatre Royal; for the Plot consult Tavernier's Travels, vol. 1. part 2. C. 2. I will not determine with Mr. Langbain, that the Characters of Anreng-zebe and Nourmahal, are borrowed from Seneca's Phaedra and Hippolytus; since I see nothing alike through their whole Sto∣ry, but the Love of a Son-in-Law, and his Aversion; but that

does by no means constitute the Character, (which is a thing Mr. Langbain seems never to understand) Hippolytus has an Aver∣sion to Love, Aureng-zebe is in Love, and much more Polite; Hippolytus was a Hunter indeed, and Aureng-zebe a Warrior: Nour∣mahal is a degree beyond the Lewdness of ev'n Seneca's Phaedra, who Degenerated extremely from her Original in Euripides, and indeed shews none of her Qualities, but Revenge for disappointed Love: It must be own'd, that these Lines which Mr. Langbain instances are borrowed from Seneca in that place;

Aur. Heavens! Can you this without just Vengeance bear? When will you Thunder, if you now are clear? Yet her alone let not your Thunder seize, I too deserve to dye, because I please.

Hip. Magne Regnator deum Tam lentus audis scelera tam lentus vides Ecquando saeva fulmen emittes Manu Si nunc serenum est —Me velox cremet. Transactus ignis sum Nocens; merui mori Placui Novercae.

Here, what is uncommon with Mr. Dryden, he seems to have lost the Beauty of Seneca's Expression of Me velox cremet Transa∣c••us ignis, which gives you some Image of the stroak of a Thun∣der-Bolt, whereas Mr. Dryden

Yet her alone let not your Thunder seize,

looks more like the taking a Thief or Debtor by a Constable or Bay∣liff; for seizing is too calm, and impotent a word to express the force of a Bolt sent from the Arm Trisulci Iovis. But this is the effect of Writing in Rhime; for I'm confident he had never us'd that word in Blank Verse.

Hipp.—Thesei vultus amo Illos priores, quos tulit quondam puer Cum prima turas signare barba Genas.

I am not chang'd, I love my Husband still, But love him as he was when youthful Grace, And the first Bloom began to shade his Face.

Again from Milton's Sampson Agonistes.

Dal. I see thou art implacable, more Deaf To Prayers, than Winds and Seas; yet Winds to Seas Are reconcil'd at length, and Sea to Shoar Thy anger unappeaseable still rages; Eternal Tempest never to be calm'd.

Eng. Vnmov'd he stood, and deaf to all my Prayers, As Seas and Winds to sinking Mariners: But Seas grow calm, and Winds are reconcil'd; Her Tyrant Beauty never grows more mild.

Cleomenes, The Spartan Heroe, Trag. 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1692. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Rochester, Knight of the most Noble Order of the Garter: To which is prefix'd the Life of Cleomenes, Translated from the Greek of Plutarch, by Mr. Creech. This Play was by some Enemies of the Poets, so mis∣represented at Court, that it was stop'd; but by the generous Friendship of the late Lord Falkland, clear'd from the Aspersions cast on it, and Acted with great Applause. As for the Plot or Story, the Author in his Preface owns it taken from Plutarch, and that he has closely followed the Truth as he found it there; only that he has chang'd, for the sake of their sound, some Names, as that of Agathoclea, the King's Mistress, into Cassandra, and that of Nicagoras into Caenus. To the Story he has added the Love of Cassandra for Cleomenes, and has given him a second Wife, which the Story only gave him a small hint for. And indeed our Au∣thor has trod upon Plutarch so close, that the very words of that Author, are Transplanted with little variation, into the Play. You may read more of Cleomenes in Polybius, and Cornelius Nepos in his Life.

Conquest of Granada by the Spaniards, Two Parts, a Tragi-Co∣medy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Theatre Royal. Almanzor is ve∣ry like Ponce de Leon, in Almahide, as Mr. Langbain observes; but in my Opinion, tho' there may be many Features like Ponce in the Draught, yet Almanzor seems rather to be a Copy of the Achil∣les of Homer, ill understood, for he does more alone, and with∣out an Army to back him, than Achilles with his Myrmidons; Achilles was injur'd, and desisted from fighting, but Almanzor goes over to their Enemies; nor is he fix'd there, but receiving ano∣ther Injury from Abdalla, returns to B••abdelin, takes it ill that he is mistrusted, and tells them he will again change his side, if pro∣voked: But of him enough, since no Man of good sence can think that Play's Success owing to the Excellency o•• the Poet's Performance, but the Extravagance; for I have always observ'd it to have the Effect of Comedy on the Audience: But Mr. Lang∣bain will indeed have him a Knight of the Shire almost, and Repre∣sent

the Extravagant Heroes of two or three Romances more; as the Osmin of Gusman, and Artaban of Cleopatra, Boabdeline, Almahide, Ferdinand, Isabella, Arcos, Hamet, Gomel, from the Ro∣mance of Almahide, Ozmin and Benzaida, from Ozmin and Alibech in Ibraim, &c. see also Grand Cyrus, S. ix. Book 1. for Abdelmelech, Lydaraxa, &c. so much for the Characters, now for the thoughts; the Description of the Bull-Feast, if allowing for the Rhime, al∣most entirely taken from Gusman's Iuego de Toores, and Cannas; Con∣••ult the Story of Ozmin and Daraxa, Pt. ••. page 82, 85•• the De∣scription of the Factions from Almahide, page 1. The four ensu∣ing lines spoke by Boabdeline, from Prince Massa's Advice to Alma∣hide, p. 6. the King's Speech going betwixt the Factions, p. 5. ta∣ken from Almahide, pt. 3. p. 63. Tariffa and Ozmin's Quarrel, and the Rise of the Famlies, from Abindacray's Speech, Al. p. 2. Al∣manzor's killing Gomel, his quelling the Tumult, from Alm. p. 64, 65. His Victory, Act 2d. and taking Acaos Prisoner, ibid. The Scene betwixt Lindaraxa and Abdalla, from Al. p. 62. and from the Sto∣ry of Elibesis in Cyrus, pt. 9. B. 1. p. 20. Zulemus Plea for Abdal∣la••s Right to the Crown, which one wou'd scarce think is so child∣ish a fancy, from Al. p. 62. and Cyrus as above; Almanzor's Descrip∣tion of Boabd. p. 18. from Al. p. 55. &c. nay, the Alarm after the Zambra-Dance, in which there is an absurdity of bringing in the Images of a Heathen Deity. The first meeting of Alman. and Almahide, p. 69. of Abdalem and Almanzor, p. 71. and the Con∣troversy betwixt Almanzor and Zulema, ibidem, and his returning to Boabdelin, from the same Romance, p. 72. Abdelmeleck's Visit to Lynidaraxa, in Disguise, from Elibesis in Grand Cyrus, p. 25. and Abdalla's Visit, from the same, p. 67. Almanzor's deliv'ring Alma∣hide, copied from Almahide, p. 73. Abdalla's Converse with Lynda∣raxa, under the Walls of Albayzin, from the fore cited Story of Cyrus, p. 61. his flying to the Christians from p. 72. of the same; Osmin and Benzaida's Flight, from p. 8. of Ibrahim.

This is e••ough for the two Parts, to give a taste of how many Feathers are borrowed from other Pieces; now I shall proceed to another.

Don Sebastion King of Portugal, a Tragedy, 4to. 1690. Acted at the Theatre Royal; Founded on a French Novel of the same Name. See also Vasconcellos's Anacephaleosis, sine summa capitum Actorum Re∣gum Lusitaniae. Anace. 20. and other Writers of that time, it being 1578. when Sebastian was kill'd.

The Duke of Guise, a Tragedy, 4to. 1683. Acted by their Majesty's Servants. Mr. Lee join'd in this. For the Plot consult Davila, Mezeray, and other Writers of the Reign of Charles IX. or rather the Reigns of Henry III. &c. the ridiculous Story of Malicorn you may find in Rosset's Histoires Tragiques en la vie de Canope 8vo. p. 449.

Ev'ning's Love, or The Mock Astrologer, a Comedy, 4to. 1671. Acted at the Theatre Royal. Almost wholly made up out of Cor∣neilles le feint Astrologue; Molliers depetit Amoreux; and Les Pre∣cieuses Ridicules; Quinault's L'Amant Indiscret; some hints too from Shakespear, Petronius Arbiter, and the main Plot on Calde∣ron's El Astrologo fingido: But to be a little particular, Aurelia's Affectation in her Speech from Les Precieuses Ridicules; Scene be∣tween Alonzo and Lopez, p. 39. is from Mollieres de petit Amoreux, Act 2. Scene 6. Camilla••s begging a Boon of Don Melchor, from the same; the Love-Quarrel betwixt Iacinta and Wild Blood, and Mascal and Beatrix, from the same Play, Act 4. Scene 3, 4. Au∣relia's falling into Alonzo's Arms, from L'Amant indiscret Act 5. Scene 4.

Kind Keeper, or, Mr. Limberham, a Comedy 4to. 1680. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. Mrs. Faintlies discovery of Love All in the Chest; See pt. 1. Cynthio Giraldi, dec. 3. N. 3. Mrs. Brainsick's pricking and pickling him. See a Novel, call'd, The Triumph of Love over Fortune.

King Arthur, or The British Worthy, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden, 1691. and Dedicated to the Marquess of Halifax. This Play is writ more for the sake of the Singing part and Machines, than for any Excellence of a Dramatick Piece; for in it shines none of Mr. Dryden's great Genius, the Incidents being all extravagant, many of them Childish; the Inchanted Wood, as well as the rest of the Wonders of Osmond's Art, he en∣tirely owes to Tasso; where Rinaldo performs what Arthur does here. I shall not presume to expose any of the Faults of this great Man in this particular piece, he having suffered so much under the Hands of my Predecessor in this Undertaking. The fabulous Sto∣ry of this King Arthur, you may read in Geffery of Monmouth, and in the Preface of a late famous Poem, that bears his Name, as well as in the first Volume of Mr. Tyrrell's History of England.

Indian Emperor; or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, be∣ing the sequel of the Indian Queen, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1670. Acted at the Theatre Royal. For the true Story consult Lopez de Gamara. Hist. general de las Incas & de Conquista de Mexico, de Bry. Americae pars 9. l. 7. Ogilby's America, Chap. 3. Sect. 10. Mariana de Reb. Hisp. lib. 26. cap. 3. Sir Paul Ricaut's Hist of Inca's.

Love Triumphant, or Nature will Prevail, a Tragi-Comedy, Act∣ed at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, 4to. 1694. De∣dicated to the Right Honourable Iames Earl of Salisbury, &c. In the Epistle Mr. Dryden informs us, That it is the last he intends for the Theatre. I take this Play to be Founded on the Story of the King and no King of Fletcher, at least on the Corrections of the Fa∣ble of that Play made by Mr. Rymer, in his Reflections on the Tra∣gedies of the first Age. Tho' this Play had not that Success which

most of Mr. Dryden's met with, yet it must be confess'd, That in several parts the Genius of that Great Man breaks out, especially in the Scene of the Discovery of Alphonso's Victorious Love, and the very last Scene, where the Catastrophe is extremely moving, tho' contrary to Aristotle it be made from the change of Will in Veramond.

Marriage A-la-mode, a Comedy, 4to. 1673. Acted at the Thea∣tre Royal. The serious part built on the Story of Sesostris and Timareta, in B. 3. pt. 9. of Cyrus. The Characters of Palamede and Rodophil from the Story of Tyrianthes and Parthenia, in the same Romance, pt. 6. B. 1. some Features at least of Doralice drawn from Nogaret, in the Annals of Love. Melanth•••• making Love to her self, from Les Contes D'Ouville, pt. 1. p. 13.

The Mistaken Husband, a Comedy, 4to. 1675. Acted at the Theatre Royal. This is is not Mr. Dryden's, who only added a Scene; for the Plot consult Plautus's Maenechmi.

Oedipus King of Thebes a Tragedy, 4to. 1679. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. This Play was writ by Mr. Lee and Mr. Dryden; there∣fore to whom to attribute the Faults is difficult; and we have so little to accuse them of being Plagiaries here, that the most under∣standing Iudges wish they had followed Sophocles yet closer, it had then been the best of our Modern Plays, as 'tis of the Ancients; but as it is, they have destroyed the Character of Oedipus, and made it absolutely Contradictory. For Oedipus that fled from a Crown, for fear of threatned Incest, and had pull'd out his Eyes on the Discovery of it, can relish an Embrace of Iocasta too well, in the 5th Act, till the Ghost of Laius frights him; but this place admits not all those just Criticisms that might be made on this Play.

The Rival Ladies, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1679. Acted at the Theatre Royal. The Dispute betwixt Amideo and Hypolito, and Gonsalva's fighting with the Pyrates, borrowed from Encolpius, Giton, Eu∣molpus and Tryphena's, on Boarding the Vessel of Lyca's, in Petroni∣us Arbiter, and the Catastrophe resembles Scarron's Rival Bro∣thers.

Secret Love, or, The Maiden Queen, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1679. Acted at the Theatre Royal. The serious part founded on Cle••bu∣line Queen of Corinth, pt. 7. B. 7. Celadon, Florimel, Olinda, and Sabina, from the History of Pisistratus and Cerintha, in the said Cyrus, pt. 9. B. 3. and the French Marquess Ibra. Part 2. Book 1.

Fign'd Innocence, or Sir Martin Mar-all, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. The greatest part, both Plot and Lan∣guage of Sir Martin and Warner, stol'n from Quinault's L'Ama•••• in∣dis••ret, and Mollieres L'Etourdy ou le Contre temps. Sir Martin's foo∣lish Discovery of his not Playing on the Lute, from Firmur••n, L. 7. and

Sir Iohn Moody's being set up in their Altitudes, from Shakerly's Marmion's Fine Companions, Act 4. Sc. 1. &c.

The Spanish Fryar, or, The double Discovery, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1681. Acted at the King's Theatre. The Comical part built on the Novel, call'd, The Pilgrim.

The State of Innocence, or, The Fall of Man, an Opera, 4to. 1678. Taken from Milton's Paradice Lost, tho' guilty of many absurdi∣ties, which are not in Milton, whose being a Narration of things done long since, made room for several things, which had he pla∣ced it in Action, cou'd never have been brought in; to give one Instance; Mr. Dryden makes Lucifer (before the World was made, or at least before the Devil knew any thing of its Form, Matter or Vicissitudes,) compare the prostrate Devils to Leaves in Autumn, before there was an Autumn, &c.

The Tempest, or, Inchanted Island, a Comedy, 4to. 1676. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. This is an Alteration only of one of Shake∣spear's, by Sir William D'Avenant and Mr. Dryden.

Troilus and Cressida, or, Truth found out too late, a Tragedy 4to. 1679. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. One of Mr. Shakespear's, altered by Mr. Dryden. The Story is to be found in Lellius a Lombard, in La∣tin, and in our old Chaucer in ancient English.

Tyrannick Love, or, The Royal Martyr, a Tragedy, 4to., 1679. Acted at the Theatre Royal. For the Plot see Zosimus, lib. 4. So∣crates, lib. 5. c. 14. Herodian, l. 6, 7; and 8. Iul. Capit. in cit. Mac. Iun.

The Wild Gallant, a Comedy, 4to. 1669. Acted at the Theatre Royal. This was his first Play, published 1669. being about Twenty eight Years since, and by which he was near Thirty eight years old when this was Play'd.

Iohn Dryden, Iunior.

THis Gentleman is second Son to the abovesaid great Poet of that Name, and is now living in Rome, in the Pope's Ser∣vice, as a Gentleman of the Bed-Chamber, where he wrote a Play, call'd,

The Husband his own Cuckold, a Comedy 4to. 1696. Acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Sir Robert Howard, &c. and is usher'd into the World by a Preface of his Father, who in it in∣deed shews the tenderness of a Parent•• but I think not the Impar∣tiality and Iustice of a true Critick, when he excludes all from Po∣etry and Nature but his Friends, at least since the Revolution. The young Gentleman in his Epistle, has gone a little too far for a Be∣ginner,

as yet too uncertain of his own Success, to fall upon the other Writers of the Age.

Thomas Duffet.

HE was before he became a Poet, a Milliner in the New Ex∣change, he has writ four Plays, two of them in a Burlesque Stile, their Names follow.

• The Mock Tempest, or, The Enchanted Castle, a Farce, 4to. 1675. Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants. Writ on purpose to draw Campany from the other Theatre, where was great resort about that time, to see that reviv'd Comedy, call'd, The Tem∣pest, then much in vogue.
• Psyche Debauch'd, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants. This Mock Opera is a Burlesque on Shadwell's Psyche, and writ for the same purpose as that above.
• Spanish Rogue, a Comedy, 4to. 1674. Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants, and Dedicated to Madam Ellinor Guin. this Play had no great Success.
• There is likewise a Masque under his Name omitted by Mr. Lang∣bain, 'tis call'd.
• Beauties Triumph, presented by the Scholars of Mr. Ieoffery Banister, and Mr. Iames Hart, at the new Boarding School at Chelsey, Printed, London 4to. 1676.

This Author has also writ a small Volume of Poems, Songs, Prologues and Epilogues which were first disposed of to one Book∣seller, and laying long in the Licenser's Hands, were again disposed of to another, without Consent of the first Purchaser, and Print∣ed 8vo. 1676.

Thomas Durfey.

THis Gentleman (if I am not misinformed) was Born in Devon∣shire, and design'd for some part of the Law; whatever pro∣vok'd him to Poetry I cann't tell; but whatever it was, he has with various Success given us above Twenty Plays, and if the prosperous Success of the Major part will give him the Credit of a Poet, he has a just pretence to it, and may justly Challenge it from all the Vindicators of Dr. Blackmores's Poem from that Topic. For my part, I can only say, that I have laught heartily at his Plays, which is one end of Comedy, or Farce at least; and if the Criticks will deny him to be a good Writer of Comedy, they must allow him a Master of Farce. His Plays follow in Alphabetical Order.

• The Banditti; or, A Ladies Distress, a Comedy, 4to. 1686. Act∣ed at the Theatre Royal. Plot from Don Fenise, 8vo. See also the History of Don Antonio, B. 4. p. 250, Diego's turning Banditti, &c. from Pipperollo in Shirley's Sisters.
• Bussy D'Ambois; or, The Husbands Revenge, a Tragedy, 〈◊◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊◊〉 Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1691. newly Revised by Mr. Durfey, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable, Edward, Earl of Carlisle, Viscount Howard of Morpeth, &c. In his Epistle he owns it to be Chapman's, only challenges to himself the Merit of having Pur∣ged it of a great deal of Obsol••te Phrases, and intolerable Fustain; tho' some are of Opinion, that with those Defects, he has injudici∣ously par'd away many of its Beauties. The Character of Ta∣myra, he will have us believe, he has alter'd for the better; tho' he'll hardly perswade, that Pity is due to a Woman, that quits her Honour and Virtue on any Account. You may find the Story in Thuanus Iean de Serres, and Mezeray, in the Reign of Henry III. of France, and the particular Intrigue of Bussy with Tamyra in Rosset, in his Histoires Tragiques de Nôtre temps, under the Names of Lysis and Siluie, Hist. 17. p. 363.
• Commonwealth of Women, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1686. Acted by their Majesty's Servants at the Theatre Royal, and Dedicated to the truly Noble and Illustrious Prince Christopher, Duke of Albe∣marle. This Play is borrowed from Fletcher's Sea Voyage.
• Cinthia and Endimion; or, Loves of the Deities; a new Opera, as it was designed to be Acted at Court before the late Queen, and now Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants, 1697. 4to. Dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry, Earl of Rumney, Viscount Sidney, &c. Our Author is not contented in the Title Page, to let his Patron know the Honour her late Majesty design'd this Off'ring of his Muse, but repeats it in the Epistle, which had in∣deed been the more pardonable piece of Vanity; but that's a small fault in a Poet, especially when there are so many greater in the Work it self. For by a sort of Poetick License, unknown to our great Master Horace, he perverts all those known Characters given us by Ovid; he has made the Chaste Favourite of Diana, (Daphne) both a Whore and a Iilt; and so sordid, as to contemn the God of Wit and Light, for a pitiful dull Country Lad: and fair Syrinx must loose her Reputation, in the unknown ignomy o•• an envious, jilting, mercenary, infamous Woman. Tho' this Play ••ook, yet it merits not a nice Enquiry into its Virtues and Vices; but as I have given a specimen of one, my impartiality obliges me to own, that there are many Lines in it above the Genius which generally ap∣pears in his other Works. The Ver••ification is often good, and the Expression often significant and Poetical. The Story of Cynthia and Endimion, as well as the others contained in this Opera, you may find beautifully done in their Original, in the several parts

• of Ovid's Metamorphoses, and that of Psyche in the 4th, 5th, and 6th Books of Lucius Appuleius de Asino Aureo.
• The Comical History of Don Quixot, Acted at the Queens Theatre in Dorset-Garden, by their Majesties Servants, Part I. 1694. 4to. Dedicated to the Dutchess of Ormond. This Play met with an ex∣traordinary Applause; and is taken entirely from that famous, and much Celebrated Antick Romance of the same Name, written by Michael Cervantes, a Spaniard.
• Part II. Acted at the same Theatre, in the same Year, and Dedi∣cated by an Epistle in Heroick Verse, to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, &c. This as well as the for∣mer, is taken from the foresaid Romance, and met with great Ap∣plause, which encouraged our Author to proceed to
• Part III. adding to the Title of that only, With the Marriage of Mary the Buxome. This was Acted and Printed 1696. and Dedica∣ted to the Right Honourable Charles Montague, Esq one of the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, &c. in which he will not allow that its innate Defects are so obnoxious as are supposed; but owns its want of Success, which never Poet yet attributed to himself: This is as the other two Parts borrowed from the incomparable Cervantes.
• The Fond Husband; or, The Plotting Sisters, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Dukes Theatre, and Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond: This when Presented first was accounted a good Play.
• The Fool turn'd Critick, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Thea∣tre Royal by their Majesties Servants. The Characters of Old Wine Love, Tim, and Small Wit, are something like Simo, Asotus, and Balio in Randolph's Iealous Lovers.
• A Fool's Preferment; or, The Three Dukes of Dunstable, a Com. 4to. 1688. Acted at the Queens Theatre in Dorset-Garden, by their Majesties Servants, with Songs set by Mr. Henry Purcell, and Dedi∣cated to the Honourable Charles, Lord Morpeth, transcribed from Fletcher's Noble Gentleman, except one Scene from the Novel of the Hum••urs of Bassett.
• The Injured Princes; or, The Fatal Wager, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1682. Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants; the Prologue to this Play is the same with the Epilogue of another of his own, call'd, The Fool turn'd Critick; and the Foundation of the whole Play from Shakespear.
• The Intrigues of Versailles; or, A Iilt in all Humours, a Co∣medy; Acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields. 1697. 4to. This Play had not the Success the Author desired; who in his Epi∣stle to the two Sir Charles Sidley's, is pleased to Condemn the Taste of the Town for not liking it, when they had approv'd others of his Plays of less value, and Merit, it having been ap∣prov'd by two such Iudges as Mr. Congreve and Mr. Betterton, as he

• tells us it would be a sort of presumption to dissent from them, tho' with the Town on ones side; for of them, as of Cato, it may be said, Viatrix causa diis placuit sed victa Catoni; yet 'tis to me unaccountable, that Ramlure should be introduced speaking broken English, or a sort of Iargon between French and English, when all the Persons in the Play except Guillamour are French, and the Scene laid at Versailes. Nor can I imagine how Mr. Durfey and his two Iudges cou'd oversee the young Count Tornese absconding in the very Court of the King, in so thin a Disguise as that of a Woman, when he had committed so unpardonable a Fault as a Duel is there, and have such a Confident of his Disguise as Vou∣dosm, who had a better way of Attacking him than with a pru∣ning Knife: But Nequid Nimis. As for the Thefts they are numerous enough. Tornezres Disguise, and Count Brisack's falling in Love with his Wifes Gallant in Womans Cloaths, are Borrowed from a Novel call'd, The Double Cuckold. Vandosms Character seems to be a fairer Copy of Olivia in The Plain Dealer, and Mirtilla in Mrs. Behn's Play, call'd, The Amorous Iilt; but Vandosms Lan∣guage is more Billinsgate than either, wanting the Wit of the first, and the Genteelness of the last.
• Love for Money; or, The Boarding-School, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1691. 4to. and Dedicated to the Right Honoura∣ble Charles, Lord Viscount Lansdown, Count of the Sacred Roman Empire, &c. This Play it seems in the first Days Representation met with Enemies, which endeavoured to Damn it, especially the Dancing-Masters, and other Friends to the Boarding-Schools, who supposed themselves, and their Livelihood expos••d; from which the Poet clears himself, and lets us understand, that all this Opposition could not oppress the Merit of the Play; which is, without doubt, a sufficient Proof that there was something in it that pleas'd more than ordinary. I do not find many new Cha∣racters; Deputy Nicompoop, Ned Bragg, &c. being the Refuge of ev'ry Cinic Writer, at least of late. The Plot in general I take to be his own.
• Madam Fickle; or, The Witty False One, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. Acted at his Royal Highness the Dukes Theatre, and Dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Ormond. Old Love resembles Veterano in Marmion's Antiquary, Zechiel's creeping into the Tavern-Bush, and Tilb••••y's being drunk under it, &c. from Sir Reverence Lamard and Pimpwell in Isling••••n and Hogsden-Walks. See also a Play call'd The Fawn, writ by Marston.
• The Marriage Hater Match'd; a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants, 1693. 4to. and Dedicated to the Illustrious, and truly Noble Prince Iames, Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Ormond in England and Ireland, &c. This Play was very well received, and in it Mr. Dogget gave the first Proofs that were taken great notice of, what an admirable Actor he was. Before

• this Play is prefix'd a Letter to the Author in Defence of it; and with that I do agree, that this is by much the best of his Comedies, tho' I can never allow the rest of that Epistle free from Flattery; and we may conclude that Friendship, or some other Motive blind∣ed his Eyes very much, when he made so large an Encomium of it.
• The Richmond Heiress; or, a Woman once in the Right, a Come∣dy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, 1693. 4to. Dedicated to the Honourable, and my very good Friend Sir Nicholas Garrard, Bar. whom he is pleas'd to inform, that in the piece offer'd him, there appears no defect of Genius, whatever there might be of Iudgment; whether the Poet be in the Right or no the Reader must Determine; but 'tis evident, it was not Re∣ceived with an Applause Answerable to his Expectations; tho' up∣on a Revival and Alterations he has pleas'd the Town.
• The Royallist; a Comedy, 4to. 1682. Acted at the Dukes Theatre. Camillas Trick of Sir O••iver Old-Cut, for Sir Charles King-Love, borrowed from Boccace's Novels, Day 7. Nov. 9. and the Song of Hey boys up go we, stollen from an E••clogue, 4to. in The Shepherd's Oracle.
• The Siege of Memphis; or, The Ambitious Queen, a Tragedy, 4to. 1676. Acted at the Theatre Royal, and Dedicated to Henry Chi∣vers, Esq This Play met not with that Success the Author de∣sired.
• Sir Barnaby Whig; or, No Wit like a Womans; a Comedy, 4to. 1681. Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable George, Earl of Berkley. Plot from The Fine Companion, a Play of Marmion's, and part from a Novel call'd The Double Cuckold, 8vo.
• Trick for Trick; or, The Debauch'd Hypocrite, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. This is only Monsieur Thomas (a Play of Fletcher's) Reviv'd.
• The Virtuous Wife; or, Good Luck at last; a Comedy, 4to. 1680. Several Hints stollen from other Plays (viz.) The Fawn, Marriage A-la-mode, &c.

He has written besides the above-mentioned Plays, some Volumes of Songs and Poems, as Butler's Ghost, Collins's Walk, &c.

E

Edward Eccleston.

THis Author is (I suppose) still living, and has writ a Play set off with Sculptures, and several Titles to make it sell; it was first call'd,

Noah's Flood; or, The Destruction of the World, an Opera, 4to. 1679. Dedicated to the Dutchess of Monmouth; the second Ti∣tle was The Cataplasm, or General Deluge of the World, 4to. 1684. and again the third time, under the Name of The Deluge, or, The Destruction of the World, 4to. 1691. The Foundation of it is from Sacred Writ.

Sir George Etheridge.

A Gentleman very famous in the Reign of King Charles the Se∣cond; his Country I am ignorant of; but his first Ap∣plications were to the Law; his Love in a Tub, and his Wit brought him into good Acquaintance, and general E∣steem, till for Marrying a Fortune he was Knighted, and by King Iames the Second, he being in particular esteem with the late Queen his Consort, sent him Envoy to Hamburgh. After the Revolution he went for France to his Master, and dyed there, or very soon after his arrival in England from thence; He is the Au∣thor of three Plays; two of them are admirable; and were the first divided from the serious part, it would not want a considerable Praise, at least it still meets with a general Ap∣plause.

• The Comical Revenge; or, Love in a Tub, a Comedy, 4to. 1679. Acted at the Duke of York's Theatre then in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields. This Play, tho' part serious, and part Comical, yet (as before) met with a general Applause.
• The Man of Mode; or, Sir Fopling Flutter, a Comedy, 4to. 1676. Acted at the Duke of York's Theatre, and Dedicated to his Dutchess. This Play met with extraordinary Success; all agree∣ing it to be true Comedy, and the Characters drawn to the Life.
• ...

• She wou'd if she cou'd, a Comedy, 4to. 1671. Acted also at the Duke of York's Theatre. This Comedy is accounted by Mr. Lang∣bain, with whom I agree, one of the first Rank, and by Mr. Shad∣well (in his Preface to his Humorists) the best Comedy written since the Restauration of the Stage.

F

Sir Francis Fane, Iun. Knight of the Bath.

THIS Honourable Author is lately deceased, his late Resi∣dence was at Fulbeck in Lincolnshire; he was Grandson to the Earl of Westmorland, and has given us the two following Plays:

• L••ve in the Dark; or, The Man of Business; a Comedy, 4to. 1675. Acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesties Servants, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Iohn, Earl of Rochester. The Plot taken from the Invisible Mistress in Scarron's Novels, 8vo. Boccace's Novels, Day 3. Nov. 3. and Day 7. Nov. 7. Loves of Great Men, p. 59.
• The Sacrifice, a Tragedy 4to. 1686. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. This Play tho' Published without Acting, was highly commended by two Copies of Verses to the Author by Mr. Tate and Mrs. Behn; For the Plot see Chalcoco••dyla••, lib. 3. Leundavius, lib. 6. See also the Lives of Bajazet and Tamerlain, the last by Mr. D'Assigny, and the former by Knoll's in his Turkish History.

Sir Richard Fanshaw.

BRother to the Right Honourable Thomas Lord Fanshaw of Ware-Park in Hert••ordshire; he was Educated at Cambridge, from thence removed to Court; he perfectly understood Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese; was Secretary to the King in Holland, France, and Scotland, was after the Restauration sent Am∣bassador to Portugal, to Consummate the Match between the present Queen Dowager and Charles the Second. In the Year 1664. he was s••nt into Spain, Ambassador, to confirm the Treaty of Commerce and League between the two Crowns, and dyed at Madrid, 1666. to say nothing of his Capacity as a States-man, we confine our selves only to his Poetry, and particularly his Dramatick Pieces.

• Pastor Fido, The Faithful Shepherd, a Pastoral, 8vo, and 4to. De∣dicated to King Charles the Second, when Prince of Wales. Translated from Guarini's Italian, and Printed with his Po∣ems, 8vo.
• Querer por Solo querer, To Love only for Love's sake, 4to. 1671. This is a Dramatick Romance, Translated from the Spanish of Men∣doza, when Sir Richard was a Pri••oner in Tankersly-Castle in York∣shire, after the Battle of Worcester, where he was on the King's side, this Play consists but of three Acts, the Spanish Poets seldom exceeding that Number.

Henry Lord Viscount Faulkland.

FAther to the late Lord Faulkland, celebrated by Cowley. He was of Oxfordshire, and Lord Lieutenant of that County, and a Member of Parliamen••t; his Diversion led him to write one Play, call'd,

The Marriage Night, a Tragedy, 4to. 1664. This Play never ap∣peared publick on the Stage.

Nathaniel Field.

THis Poet Liv'd in the time of King Iames I. and King Charles I. he was assistant to old Massenger in the writing a Play call'd, The Fatal Dowry, and commonly call'd Son by Mr. Chapman, who, as well as most of the then Poets, had our Author in good Esteem, he was an Actor, and writ himself two Plays, (viz.)

• Amends for Ladies, with the merry Pranks of Moll Cut-purse, or the Humour of Roaring, a Comedy, 4to 1639. Acted at the Black Fryars, by the Prince's and Lady Elizabeth's Servants. This Play the Author writ to please the Ladies whom he had offended by his other Play. The Plot in part taken from the Novel of the Curious Impertinent in Don Quixot.
• Woman's a Weather-Cock, a Comedy, 4to. 1612. Acted before the King at Whitehall, and several times privately at the White Fryars by the Children of her Majesty's Revels. This Play pleas'd much in those Days, and highly commended by Mr. Chapman.

Edward Filmer.

AN Author that has been pleas'd to visit the Town with a Play in the Autumn of his Age, if I am rightly informed; 'tis therefore no great wonder if it wanted fire and force enough to

preserve its Life above three Days. He is a Doctor of the Civil-Law, and otherwise esteemed a Man of good Sense and Iudg∣ment; and some Lines in this Play confirm that Opinion, 'tis call'd,

The Vnnatural Brother, a Tragedy, 4to. Acted at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, 1697. by his Majesty's Servants; he owns the Plot to be taken from Cassandra, particularly the Story of Alcinoe in that Romance.

Mr. Fishbourn.

A Gentleman who writ an unlicensed Play without his Name, call'd,

Sodom; before this Play are put the two Letters E. R. the Printer having a mind to have it pass for one of the Works of the late Earl of Roche••••er, as it had been formerly imputed to him, and which he denies and detests in a Copy of Verses made on purpose against the Author of it, who was, as I'm very well assu∣red, one Mr. Fishbourn, an Inns of Court Gentleman; nor indeed has it an•• of my Lord Rochester's Wit to make amends for the abo∣minable ••ilth of the Obscenity which must nauseate every Reader of any tolerable Iudgment.

Richard Flecknoe.

THis memorable Author liv'd in the Reign of both the Charle's, was (as I have had it from good hands) a Iesuit, but forsook the knavish part of his O••fice for Poetry, tho' his Works, if I may credit those that have read him with more regard than my self, is not enough to quit him of all the tricks of that Order, he is for no∣thing so ••amous, as for naming a Poem of Mr. Dryden's call'd, Mac Flecknoe, he has Published several Plays, but whether any of 'em were Acted or not, I'm not able to determine.

• Damoyselles A-la-mode, a Comedy, 8vo. 1667. Dedicated to their Graces the Duke and Dutchess of New Castle, borrowed from Moliere's Precieuses Ridicules, L'Escole des Femes, & L'Escole des Maris.
• Erminia; or, The Chast Lady, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1667. Dedicated to the fair and virtuous Lady the Lady Southcott.
• Loves Dominion, a Postoral, 8vo. 1654. Dedicated to the Lady Elizabeth Claypole: A Play full of Morality, and written as a Pa••••ern for the Reformed Stage.
• Love's Kingdom, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1664. Dedica∣ted to his Excellency the Marquess of Newcas••le. This Publish∣ed

• with a fresh Title ten years after; the other going before, is almost the same, only Corrected, and a very little alter'd.
• Marriage of Oceanus and Britania, a Masque.

This Author has written divers Epigrams and Enigmatical Cha∣racters; also a short Discourse of the English Stage, Published at the end of his Love's Dominion, 8vo. Diarium, or The Iournal, another piece of his in Burlesque Verse, 12ves. 1656. &c.

Iohn Fletcher, and Francis Beaumont.

MR. Fletcher was the Son of Dr. Fletcher, created Bishop of Bristol by Queen Elizabeth, and afterwards translated to the See of London, 1593. He dy'd the first year of Charles I. of the Plague in London, 1625. in his Forty ninth Year, and was Buri∣ed in St. Mary Overy's Church, Southwark. His Colleague in wri∣ting most of his Plays, Mr. Beaumont, I can say little of, but what the Reader may gather from the Verses of the Poets in that Age, before their Works; that he was a Man of Learning none can question; but to imagine, as Mr. Langbain does, that he was perfectly vers'd in the Dramatick Laws, is more than can be drawn from their Plays, of which there is scarce one regular. Their Comedies are much the best; yet of them take away five or six, and they will not bear Acting, scarce reading by a nice Iudge. I say not this to derogate from Men of undoubted Merit, but only prompted by my impartiality, a Character which Mr. Langbain pro∣fesses but has no where preserved. Their Plays are Fifty two in Num∣ber, all which are Printed and Published in one large Volume Folio, 1679. They follow in Alphabetical Order.

• The Beggars Bush; a Comedy, fol. often Acted formerly with good Applause.
• Bonduca, a Tragedy, fol. This Play has been twice reviv'd, Plot from Tacitus's Annals, Book 14. See also Milton's History of England, Book 2.
• The Bloody Brother; or, Rollo Duke of Normandy, a Tragedy, fol. This Play hath been sometimes Acted of late Days in Dorset Gar∣den, with good Success. Plot from Herodian. Hist. Lib. 4. and part of the Language from Seneca's Thebais.
• The Captain, a Comedy, fol. This Play has not been Acted of late years.
• The Chances; a Comedy, fol. Reviv'd by the late Duke of Buc∣kingham, and Printed with Alterations 4to. 1682. oftentimes Acted with great Applause of late days at the Theatre in Dor∣set Garden, &c. Plot from the Lady Cornelia in Exemplary Novels, fol. or the Novels of Cornelia in Miguel des Cervantes Novels, tran∣slated by Dr. Pope.
• ...

• The Coronation; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. not Acted these many years. This Play, tho' Printed in this folio Edition, is claimed by Shirley to be his.
• The Coxcomb, a Comedy, fol. This Play has been Revived and Act••d at the Theatre Royal, but met with little Success.
• Cupid's Revenge, a Tragedy, fol.
• The Custom of the Country; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. The Plot of Rutilio, Duarte, and Guyomar, built on Malispinis Novels, Decad. 6. Nov. 6.
• The Double Marriage; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. This Play was Revived some Years since, but met not with that Success ex∣pected.
• The Elder Brother; a Comedy fol. oftentimes Acted formerly, and met with indifferent Success.
• The Faithful Shepherdess; a Pastoral, fol. This was entirely Flet∣cher's, and commended by (* 1.6) Copies of Verses by Mr. Beaumont and Ben. Iohnson. 'Twas first Acted on a Twelfth Night, at Somerset-house; instead of a Prologue was a Song in Dialogue, writ by Sir William D'avenant, and Sung between a Priest and a Nimph; and the († 1.7) Epilogue was then spoken by the Lady Mordant.
• The Fair Maid of the Inn; a Comedy, fol. Marianus disown∣ing Caesario, and the Duke's Injunction to Marry him, you may find in Causin's Holy Court, and Wanly's Hist. of Man, Book 3 Cap. 26.
• The False One, a Tragedy, fol.•• See Plutarch, Suetonius, Dion, Appi∣an, Florus, Orosius, &c.
• Four Plays; or, Moral Representations in One, Tragi-Comedy, fol. (viz.) The Triumphs of Honour; built on Boccace's Novels, Day 10. Nov. 5. Triumph of Love, on Nov. 8. Day 5. Triumph of Death, on Nov. 3. Part 3. of the Fortunate Deceiv'd, and Vnfortunate Lo∣vers, also The Palace of Pleasure, Nov. 4. And The Triumph of Time, the Author's own Invention.
• An Honest Man's Fortune; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. See Heywood's Hist. of Women, Book 9. p. 641.
• The Humorous Lieutenant; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. Some hint may be taken from Horace, Lib. 2. Ep. 2. but rather from Ford's Apothegms, p. 30. See also Plutarch's Life of Demetrius, Appian, Iustin, &c.
• Island Princess, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. and 4to. This Play was about ten Years since Reviv'd by Mr. Tate, the present Poet Lau∣reat, with Alterations. Acted at the Theatre Royal, and Dedica∣ted to the Right Honourable Henry, Lord Walgrave, the Quarto Edi∣tion, Printed 1687.
• ...

• A King and no King; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. Reviv'd since the Re∣stauration, and Acted with Applause at the Theatre Royal.
• The Knight of the Burning Pestle; a Comedy, fol. Reviv'd also in King Charles the Second's time, and Acted at the Theatre Roy∣al, with a new Prologue, spoken by the famous Madam Ellen Guin.
• A Knight of Malta, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. not Acted of late years.
• The Laws of Candy; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. not Acted these many years.
• The Little French Lawyer, a Comedy, fol. Plot from Gusman's Don Lewis•• de Castro, and Don Roderigo de Montalvo. See also Scarroon's Novel of the Fruitless Precaution.
• Loves Cure; or, The Martial Maid, a Comedy, fol.
• Love's Prilgrimage, a Comedy, fol. The Plot from a Novel, call'd, The Two Damsels, in a Book Entituled Exemplary Novels, and part of the Play taken from Iohnson's New Inn.
• The Lovers Progress, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. Plot from a French Romance, call'd Lysander and Calista.
• The Loyal Subject; a Tragi-Comedy, fol.
• The Mad Lover, a Comedy, fol. See the Story of Mundus and Paulina, in Iosephus Hist. of the Iews, Book 18. Chap. 4.
• The Maid in the Mill, a Comedy; This Play was Reviv'd, and some∣times Acted at the Dukes Theatre after the Fire of London. Plot of the serious part from Gerardo, a Romance, and the Comical part from Bandello's Novels.
• The Maid's Tragedy, a Tragedy, fol. This Play was often Acted at the King's Theatre since the Restauration; but somewhat in it dis∣pleasing King Charles the Second, it was for some time forbid com∣ing on the Stage, till Mr. Waller Reviving it, and wholly altering the last Act (which is Printed in his Poems) appeared again pub∣lickly.
• A Masque of Grays-Inn and the Inner Temple-Gentlemen, fol. This was presented at the Marriage of the Princess Elizabeth, and the Prince Palatine of the Rhyne, in the Banquetting House of White••all; written by Mr. Beaumont alone.
• Monsieur Thomas, a Comedy, fol. This has appeared since on the Stage, with a new Title, call'd, Trick for Trick.
• Nice Valour; or, The Passionate mad Man; a Comedy, fol.
• The Night Walker; or, The little Thief, a Comedy, fol. This has been Acted since the Restauration, by the King's Ser∣vants.
• The Noble Gentleman; a Comedy, fol. This Play has appear∣ed of late years with a new Title, call'd, The Fool's Pre••er∣ment; or, The Three Dukes of Dunstable, Riviv'd by Mr. Dur∣fey.
• ...

• Philaster; or, Love lies a Bleeding; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. A Play often Acted formerly, and sometimes of late Years, is accoun∣ted one of the best our Authors have Published.
• The Pilgrim; a Comedy, fol. Reviv'd and Acted some Years since.
• The Prophetess; a Tragi-Comedy, fol. This is Reviv'd under the name of the Prophetess; or, The History of Dioclesian, an Opera, 4to. 1690. I know not what reason Mr. Langbain has to attribute the revival to Mr. Dryden, when 'twas Mr. Betterton's. The true Hi∣story you may find in Nicephorus, lib. 6. and 7. Eusebius lib. 8. Baronii An. 204. &c.
• The Queen of Corinth; a Tragi-Comedy, fol.
• Rule a Wife, and have a Wife, a Comedy, fol. This Play has been sometimes Acted of late days with good Applause.
• The Scornful Lady, a Comedy, fol. Acted often in these days with good Applause. This Play is likewise Printed in Quarto, 1691.
• The Sea Voyage, a Comedy, fol. This Play has been Reviv'd by Mr. Durfey, with a new Title, call'd, The Common-wealth of Women, and in part resembles Shakespear's Tempest.
• The Spanish Curate, a Comedy. Plot from Gerardo's Hist. of Don Iohn p. 202. and from the Spanish Curate of the same Author, p. 214.
• Thiery and Theodoret, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. imperfect in the last Act in the folio Edition, but supplied in the 4to. Plot from the French Chronicles, in the Reign of Clotair II. See Fredegarius, De Serres, Mezeray, &c.
• Two Noble Kinsmen, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. Mr. Shakespear assisted in the writing of this Play.
• Valentinian, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. This Play, has been Re∣viv'd and Alter'd by the late Earl of Rochester, and so Acted at the Theatre Royal with great Applause. The Quarto Edition, Pub∣lished 1685. with a Preface relating to the Author and his Works. Plot from Amm. Marcellinus. Procopius. Hist. Evagri∣us, and other Writers of those times.
• A Wife for a Month, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. See the Story hereof in Mariana, and Louis de Mayerne Turquet, and the History of Sancho VIII. King of Leon.
• The Wild Goose Chase, a Comedy, fol. This Play has been in good repute.
• Wit at several Weapons, a Comedy, fol. built on the Wits; writ by Sir William D'avenant.
• Wit without Money, a Comedy, fol. This Play was Reviv'd and Acted in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, immediately after the Theatre in Drury Lane was burnt, with a new Prologue by Mr. Dryd••n.
• ...

• The Woman Hater, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. Reviv'd by Sir William D'avenant, with a * 1.8 new Prologue writ in Prose. Mr. Fletcher writ this Play without the Assistance of Mr. Beaumont.
• The Womans Prize; or, The Tamer Tam'd; a Comedy, fol. built on the Taming of the Shrew, writ by Mr. Shakespear, and may be ta∣ken as a Counter part thereof.
• Women Pleas'd; a Comedy, fol. See the most Comical parts hereof taken from Nov. 6. Day 7. and Day 8. Nov. 8. &c. of Boccace's Novels.

Mr. Fletcher join'd with Ben. Iohnson and Middleton, in one other Comedy, call'd, The Widow, placed under Iohnson; and Mr. Beau∣mont has writ a Book of Poems, Elegies, Sonnets, &c. last Edition, 8vo. 1653.

Iohn Ford.

A Gentleman of the Middle Temple, in the Reign of King Charles I. and besides those Plays he has join'd with Rowley and Decker, he has writ seven entirely alone.

• The Broken Heart, a Tragedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by his Majesty's Servants, at the private House in Black Fryers, and Dedicated to the Lord Craven.
• Fancies Chast and Noble; a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1638. Acted at the Phoenix in Drury-Lane, by the Queens Majesties Servants, and Dedicated to the Lord Macdonel, Earl of Antrim•• in Ireland.
• The Ladies Tryal; a Tragi-Comed•••• 4to. 1639. Acted by their Ma∣jesties Servants in Drury Lane, and Dedicated to Iohn Wyrley, Esq and Mrs. Mary Wyrley his Wife.
• Lovers Melancholy; a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1629. Acted at the private House in Black Fryers, and publickly at the Globe by the King's Servants, and Dedicated to several of his Friends of Grays-Inn in particular, and to the whole Society in general.
• Loves Sacrifice; a Tragedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by the Queens Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane, and Dedicated to Iohn Ford of Grays-Inn, Esq.
• Perkin Warbeck; an Historical Play, 4to. 1634. Acted by the Queens Servants in Drury Lane, and Dedicated to the Right Ho∣nourable William, Earl of New Castle. For the truth of the Story see Gainsford's Hist. of Perkin Warbeck, 4to. and our English Chroni∣cles in the Reign of Henry VII.
• 'Tis Pity she's a Whore; a Tragedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the Phaenix in Drury Lane, and Dedi∣cated

• to the truly Noble Iohn, Earl of Peterborough, Lord Mordant, Baron of Turney.
• The Suns Darling; a Mask, 4to. 1657. Presented by their Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable the Earl of Southampton. This Play was not wholly written by this Author, but Decker join'd with him therein.

Thomas Ford.

THIS Author liv'd in the Reign of King Charles I. and has writ one Play, call'd,

Loves Labyrinth; or, The Royal Shepherdess, a Tragi-Come∣dy, 8vo. 1660. Part of it taken from Gomersal's Tragedy of S••••rza, Duke of Millain, and is bound up with his other Works in 8vo. 1661.

Iohn Fountain.

A Devonshire Gentleman who liv'd in the Reign of K. Charles II. and writ one Play, call'd,

The Reward of Virtue; a Comedy, 4to. 1661. never Acted whilst the Author liv'd, but after his Death Mr. Shadwell Reviv'd and Al∣ter'd it; and then under another Title, (viz.) The Royal Shepher∣dess, it was Acted with Applause.

Abraham Fraunce.

THIS Poet liv'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; in a Book writ by him, call'd, The Countess of Pembroke's Ivy-Church, is one Dramatick Pastoral, entituled.

Amintas Pastoral; 4to. 1591. writ in Hexameters, and is a Tran∣slation of Tasso's.

Sir Ralph Freeman.

THis Gentleman after the Martyrdom of K. Charles I. writ one Play, call'd,

Imperiale; a Tragedy, 4to. 1655. and Dedicated to Iohn Morris, Esq For the Plot consult Pontanus, Budaeus's Treasury of Ancient and Modern Times, Beard's Theatre of God's Iudgments, part 2. page 45. Wanley's History of Man, Book 4. Chapt. 2. Goulart

Hist. Admirables de Notre temps, Tom. 1. p. 362. and Bandello's Novels.

Vlpian Fulwell.

AN Author in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, who writ in Rhime one Play, call'd,

Like will to like quoth the Devil to the Collier; an Interlude 4to. 1587. This ancient piece was so contriv'd, that it might be Act∣ed by five Persons; shews what Punishments overtake the Licenti∣ous, and what Rewards the Virtuous receive; its printed in an old black English Letter.

G

George Gascoign, Esq.

AN ancient Poet who writ in the beginning of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, he was of Grays-Inn, and has left us four Dramatick pieces, of which in their order.

• The Glass of Government; a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1575. This Play was also printed in an old black Letter, like that of Fulwell's, and shews the Punishments for Vice, and the Rewards for Virtue.
• Iocasta; a Tragedy, 4to. 1556. Translated from the Greek of Euripides by this Author, and one Mr. Kinwelmersh of Grays-Inn, where it was presented.
• Supposes; a Comedy, 4to. 1566. presented also at Grays-Inn, En∣lished from the famous Italian Oriosto. This and the former, are two of the Antients Plays in our English Tongue.
• Pleasure at Kenelworth-Castle; a Masque, but what year when Printed I cannot tell. This Play was play'd before the Queen for her Entertainment there.

The Author has Publish'd divers Poems with his Plays, printed 4to. 1587.

Henry Glapthorn.

I Know no more of this Author, than that he writ five Plays in the time of K. Charles I. which follow;

• Albertus Wallenstein; a Tragedy, 1640. Acted at the Globe on the Bank side by his Majesty's Servants. See the German Writers of Ferdinand the 2d's Reign. Spondanus••s Continuation of Baronius, &c.
• Argalus and Parthenia, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1639. This Play was presented before the King and Queen at Court; and after∣wards Acted at the private House in Drury Lane by their Majesties Servants. Plot from Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia, sol.
• The Hollander; a Comedy, 4to. 1640. Acted at the Cock-Pit in Drury Lane, as also at Court before their Majesties.
• The Ladies Priviledge; a Comedy, 4to. 1640. Acted both at Court before their Majesties, and at the Cock-Pit in Drury Lane, by their Majesties Servants.
• Wit in a Constable; a Comedy, 4to. 1640. Acted at the Cock-Pit in Drury Lane, by their Majesties Servants.

He also Published a Poem call'd Whitehall, which are Printed in Quarto 1639.

Tho. Goff.

HE was born about the year 1592. began his Studies at Westmin∣ster-School, finish'd them at Christ-Church, Oxon, whether he remov'd at Eighteen. He went out Batchelor of Divinity, and had the Living of East-Clandon in Surrey, and a Xantippe to his Wife, whose Tongue, &c. he could not bear so indifferently as sometimes, but as my Author observes, let it shorten his Days. He was Buried in the said Parish-Church, 1627. and has written divers Poetical Pieces: His Plays five in Number, follow:

• The Careless Shepherdess, a Pastoral, 4to. 1656. Acted at Salisbury-Court, before their Majesties the King and Queen with good Applause. To which Play is added an Alphabetical Catalogue of all Plays till that time published i•• English, but very Er∣ronious.
• The Couragious Turk; or, Amurath the First; a Tragedy, 8vo. 1656. Acted by the Students of Christ-Church in Oxon. For the Plot, see Leunclavius, Chalcocondylas, Knolles, &c. in the Reign of Amurath.
• Orestes his Tragedy, 8vo. 1656. Acted also by the Students of Christ-Church in Ox••n. Plot from Euripides's Orestes; or, Sophocles's Electra.
• ...

• Raging Turk; or, Bajazet the Second; a Tragedy, 8vo. 1656. which was likewise Acted by the Students of Christ-Church, Ox••n. For the Plot consult the same Turkish Histories before mentioned.
• Solimus Emperor of the Turks, a Tragedy, 4to. 1638. For the Plot consult also the Turkish Historians, as Paul. Iovius, Mezeray, &c. in the Reign of Solimus the First.

Three of these five Plays mentioned to be Acted at Oxon, are Printed together in one Volume 8vo.

Robert Gomersal.

THis Author, like the last, a Divine, born 1602. at London, at Fourteen was entred at Christ-Church in Oxon, and chosen Student of that Royal Foundation, past through his several De∣grees to Batchelor of Divinity, and dy'd 1646. He writ one Play by the Name of,

Lodovick Sforza, Duke of Millain, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1632. For the Story see Guiccardine, lib. 1,2. &c. Mezeray and Philip de Comines in the Reign of Ch. VIII. This Author has writ several Poems, some of them Divine, which are Printed with this Play in 8vo. Also some Sermons Printed 4to. 1663.

Robert Gould.

A Gentleman now living, formerly a Domestick of the Right Ho∣nourable Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex; and since teaches School in the Country. He has given us One Play, called,

The Rival Sisters, or the Violence of Love, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants 4to. 1696. and Dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iames, Earl of Abingdon, &c. This Play was well received, tho' delay'd for some time the Acting, as the Author complains in his Epistle. The Plot is almost entirely taken out of Shirly's Maids Revenge, tho' he has left out the Characters of Signior Sharkino, a sharking Doctor, and his Man Scarabeo; the Story is taken originally out of Reynolds's God's Revenge against Murder, Book 2. Hist. 7.

Francis Gouldsmith, Esq

I Can only say, this Author liv'd in Charles the First's time, and writ a Play, called,

Sophompaneos, or the History of Ioseph, a Tragedy, 4to. 1640. with Annotations, this Divine Dramma was writ in Latin by Hugo

Grotius, translated by our Author in Heroick Verse. For the Plot, ••ee the 44th, and 45th Chapter of Genesis, Philo, in the Life of Iosephus, Iustin, Book 36. Eusebius's Preparation to the Gospel, &c.

George Granville, Esq

THIS Gentleman is of the Noble Family of the Right Honou∣rable the Earl of Bath, and his Nephew: A Person of uncom∣mon Qualifications, and one that gives as much Honour to the Name he bears, as he has receiv'd from it; whose Wit, Personal Bravery, and Sweetness of Temper, have made him the Delight of all that know him. The great Mr. Waller has expressed his Esteem of him, in a Copy of Verses in return of some made to him by Mr. Granville. He has already given the World Two Plays.

• Heroick Love, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre in Little Lin∣colns-Inn-Fields. This Play is one of the best of our Modern Tra∣gedies, and writ after the manner of the Ancients, which is much more natural and easie than that of our Modern Dramatists. The Plot is built on the First Book of Homer, &c.
• The She-Gallants, a Comedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal in Lit∣tle Lincolns-Inn-Fields, 1696. 4to.

This Play has, next the Plain Dealer, more just and substantial Reflections and Satyrical Observations, than any of our English Co∣medies; the Dialogue is not only easy, but nervous; and indeed he makes his Persons speak more Wit than the Stage is generally us'd to, which arm'd a Faction against it, tho' ev'n that was not suf∣ficient totally to suppress its Success, for it was very often Acted to the Satis••action of most that saw it with impartiality, and would be contented to be pleas'd. The Episode of the Four Sisters is ta∣ken out of the French Marquiss, in the Romance of Ibraim.

Alexander Green.

HE liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the Second, and writ a Play, called,

The Polititian Cheated, a Comedy, 4to. 1663. This Play I do not find to be ever Acted.

Robert Green.

T••IS Poet liv'd and writ One Play and part of another in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, was Master of Arts in Cambridge, and has Published some other Pieces.

The Honourable History of Fryar Bacon, and Fryar Bungy, a Come∣dy, 4to. For the Plot consult Plot's Hist. of Oxonshire, and Wood Antiquit. Oxon. &c.

Looking-Glass for London and England. For this see the Account of Dr. Lodge, with whom he joined in this Divine Drama. This Au∣thor has writ divers other Pieces, most of them Printed in an old Black Letter.

H.

William Ha••ington, Esq

OUR Poet in the midst of the late Civil Wars, devoted himself to the Muses, and among their Productions is a Play, called,

The Queen of Arragon, a Tragi-Comedy, Fol. 1640. Acted both at Court and the Black-Fryars. He has a Book of Poems, called, Castara, 8vo. 1640. also the History or Chronicle of Edward the Fourth, Fol. 1640.

Ioseph Harris.

A Player yet living, and Brother to the Famous Organist of the City of London; he has been more than once aiming at Au∣thority, by the Help of his Friends; he has Publish'd Two Plays under his Name, called,

• The Mistakes, or the False Report, a Comedy, 4to. 169. which Play, as I am inform'd, was originally compos'd by another, and put into his Hands, and so he made shift, by altering it, to spoil it.
• The City-Bride, or the Merry Cuckold, a Comedy, Acted at the new Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants; 4to. 1696. and dedicated to the Honourable Sir Iohn Walter, Bar. This Play miscarried, tho' borrowed from Iohn Webster's Cure for a Cuckold, whole Scenes being the same, but spoil'd by the Transpo∣ser; for which he wou'd seem to make amends, by the Performan∣ces of the Musicians, and ••o far he is in the Right.

Peter Hausted.

HE was born at Oundle, in Northamptonshi••e, proceeded to Master of Arts, in Queens-College, Cambridge, in the Reign of Charles

the First; he was impatient of Censure, as well as his admired Ben. and writ a Play, called.

The Rival Friends, a Comedy, 4to. 1632. Acted before the King and Queen at Cambridge. The Scene betwixt Love-all and Hamer∣shin, Act 3. Scene 7. from that betwixt True-wit, Daw, and La-Fool, in Ben's Silent Woman.

Ioseph Haynes.

THIS Person is mentioned here, for the sake of an abomina∣ble Play that is mentioned under his Name, but he is not the Author of it, called,

A Fatal Mistake, or the Plot spoil'd, Printed 4to. 1696. but ne∣ver Acted.

Richard Head.

THIS Author, born in Ireland of English Parents, his Father was a Minister, and murdered in the Massacree 1641. He had a little smattering of the University of Oxon, but was soon remo∣ved to a Book-seller in St. Paul's Church-Yard, London. He writ one Play, call'd,

Hic & Vbique, or the Humours of Dublin, a Comedy, 4to. 1663. Dedicated to Charles, Duke of Monmouth. He writ the First, and most of the Third Parts of the English Rogue, The Art of Wheedling, 8vo. The Complaisant Companion, 12mo. Venus's Cabinet unlock'd, 12mo. with several other small Treatises.

William Hemmings.

AN Author, of whom I can only say, That he liv'd in the Reign of Charles the First, was Master of Arts of Oxford, and he writ Two Plays, viz.

• Fatal Contract, a Tragedy, 4to. 1653. Acted by her Majesty's Servants, and Dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iames, Earl of Northampton, and to Isabella, his Vertuous Countess. Since the Re∣stauration of King Charles the Second, it has been twice reviv'd, first under the Title of Love and Revenge, with little Alterations; and about Ten Years ago, under the Title of the Eunuch. For the Plot, consult Gregorie de Tours, lib. 4, 5, &c. Aimion, Valois, De Ser∣res, Mezeray, &c. in the Reigns of Chilperic the First, and Clo∣t••air the Second.
• ...

• Iews Tragedy, a Tragedy, Printed 4to. 1662. For the Plot, consult Iosephus's History of the Iews, Book 6, and 7. where you may find the fatal Overthrow by Vespasian and Titus his Son, agreeable to that famous History by Iosephus, Printed 4to. 1662.

Iasper Heywood.

SON of Iohn Heywood, first of Merton, and then of All-Souls-College, Oxon, which he left for St. Omers, where he prov'd a zealous Biggotted Iesuit, and the first that seminary sent for Eng∣land: some say he was (a) 1.9 Hanged; others, That he was, with Seventy more, of that and other Orders, taken the Year 1585. and (b) 1.10 sent away beyond Sea. While he was of Oxford, he tran••la∣ted Three of Seneca's Plays, (viz.)

• Hercules Furens, a Tragedy, 4to. Compare this with a Tragedy of Euripides, bearing the same Title.
• Thyestes, a Tragedy 4to. which our Author translated, whilst he was of All-Souls, in Oxon; he has added a Scene at the End of the Fifth Act.
• Tr••as, a Tragedy, 4to. Farnaby stiles this, a Divine Tragedy, and highly commends it; Dan. Heinsius also commends and prefers it before the Troades of Euripides.

These Three Tragedies, translated by our Author from Seneca, are printed together in a Black Letter, 4to. 1581.

Iohn Heywood.

FATHER of the foregoing Poet, and liv'd in the Reigns of Edward the Sixth, and Queeen Mary the First, at North-Mims, in Hertfordshire, was Sir Tho. More's Neighbour, and in Favour with Queen Mary; after whose Death, flying for Religion, he died at Mechlem, 1556. was one of our first Dramatick Writers; and•• tho' a Papist, severe on their Regular Clergy, as they call 'em.

Four P••s, an Interlude, 4to.

A Play between Iohn the Husband and Tib his Wife.

A Play between the Pardoner, the Fryar, the Curate and Neigh∣bour Prat.

A Play of Gentleness and Nobility, Two Parts.

A Play of Love.

A Play of the Weather, styl'd, A new and very merry Interlude of all manner of Weathers, Fol. 1533.

These being some of the first Plays appeared in our English Lan∣guage, nothing in Commendation will be expected of them. This Author writ Two or Three Books of Epigrams, Publish'd in 4to. also a Book called Monumenta Literaria.

Thomas Heywood.

THIS Author was both Actor and Poet, liv'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and King Iames I. He writ, or had assisted in composing Two Hundred and Twenty Plays, of which there are but Twenty Five remain entire. (a) 1.11 Mr. Langbain sets up for a Vindication of this Author, in the same Book that he con∣demns Mr. Dryden, which indeed is enough to render his Iudgment very much suspected, and that the Variety of Plays he had read, either corrupted his Taste, or else that he never had any.

• The Golden Age, or The Lives of Iupiter and Saturn, &c. 4to. 1611. Acted at the Red Bull, by the Queen's Majesty's Servants. See Galtruchius's Poetical Hist. Ross's M••stagogus Poeticus•• Hollyoak, Littleton, and other Dictionaries.
• The Silver Age, a History, 4to. 1613. See Plautus, Ovid's Me∣tamorph. lib. 3. and other Poetical Hist.
• Brazen Age, a History, 4to. 1613. See Ovid's Metamorph. lib. 4, 7, 8, and 9.
• Iron Age, Part I. a History, 4to. 1632. For the Plot, &c. see Virgil, Homer, Lucian, Ovid, &c.
• Iron Age, Part II. 4to. 1632. For the Plot, consult the same Authors before mentioned.
• A Challenge for Beauty, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1636. Acted at the Black-Fryars, and at the Globe on the Bank Side, by his Maje∣sty's Servants.
• The Dutchess of Suffolk, her Life, a History, 4to 1631. Acted then with good Applause. For the Plot, see Fox's Martyrology, An. Dom. 1558. and Clark's Martyrology, pag. 521.
• Edward the Fourth, Two Parts, a History, 4to. 16••••. See the Story hereof, in the Chronicles of Hollingshead, Speed, Du Chesne, &c.
• The English Traveller, a Tragi-Comidy, 4to. 1633. Acted at the Cock-Pit in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants. Both Plot and Language of Lyonel and Reignald, stollen from Plautus's Mostellaria. See the Story of Wincote, Geraldine, and Dalavil, in the History of Women, by this Author, where he affirms the said Stories at large to be true.
• ...

• Fair Maid of the Exchange, a Comedy, 4to. 1637. wherein are rela∣ted the pleasant Passages, and merry Humours of the Cripple of Fanchurch. Mr. Kirkman, and others, reckon this Play to our Au∣thor; but Mr. Langbain makes a Question thereof,* 1.12 since his Name is not prefixt; nor, says he, the Stile and Oeconomy does not re∣semble the rest of his Labours.
• Fair Maid of the West, or, A Girl worth Gold, a Tragi-Comedy, Part I. 4to. 1631. Acted before the King and Queen, by her Ma∣jesty's Servants.
• Fair Maid of the West, or, A Girl worth Gold, Part II. 4to. 1631. Acted likewise before the King and Queen, by her Majesty's Ser∣vants. Both these Plays had, in those Times, good Repute; and afterwards serv'd for the Subject of a Romance, called, The English Lover, writ by Iohn Dancer, one of our foregoing Authors.
• Fortune by Land and Sea, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1655. Acted by the Queen's Majesty's Servants, with good Applause. Our Author was join'd, in composing this Play, by William Rowley, hereafter mentioned.
• Four London Prentices, with the Conquests of Ierusalem, History, 4to. 1635. Acted at the Red Bull, by the Queen's Servants. Foun∣ded on Godfrey of Bulloign. See Tasso, Fuller's Hist. of the Holy War, and Dr. Nalson's History of the Crasaide.
• If you know not me, you know no body, or, The Troubles of Queen Elizabeth, in Two Parts, 4to. 1623. Plot from Cambden's History of Queen Elizabeth, also Speed, and other our English Chronicles in her Reign.
• The Lancashire Witches, 4to. London, 16••••. See this Story in Verse, in a large Volume of the same Author, called, The Hierar∣chy of Angels, Fol. lib. 8.
• Love's Mistriss, or, The Queen's Mask, 4to. 1640. Acted before their Majesties, and divers Ambassadors, at the Phenix in Drury-Lane. Plot from Apuleius's Golden Ass. 4to.
• Maiden-head, well lost, A Comedy, 4to. 1634. Acted by her Majesty's Servants in Drury-Lane, with good Applause.
• Rape of Lucrece, a Tragedy, 4to. 1638. Acted at the Red Bull, Plot from Tit. Livius, dec. 1. cap. 58, &c.
• Robert, Earl of Huntingdon's Down-fall, a History, 4to. 1601. Acted by the Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral of England's Servants. Plot from Stow, Speed, and Baker's Chronicles, in the Life of King Richard the First; Fuller's Worthies in the Account of Nottinghamshire.
• Robert, Earl of Huntingdon's Death, a Tragedy, 4to. 1601. This Earl was usually called, Robin Hood, of merry Sherwood, Plot from the aforesaid English Chronicles.
• ...

• Royal King, and Loyal Subject, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1627. Act∣ed by the Queen's Servants, with good Applause. Compare this with the Loyal Subject, writ by Beaumont and Fletcher.
• Wise Woman of Hogsden, a Comedy, 4to. 1638. often times Act∣ed with good Applause.
• Woman Kill'd with Kindness, a Comedy. 4to. 1617. Acted by the Queen's Servants, with good Applause.

Our Author has Published several other Pieces, in Verse and Prose, as The Hierarchy of Angels, Fol. The Life and Troubles of Queen Eli∣zabeth, 8vo. The Lives of Nine Women Worthies, 4to. The General History of Women, 8vo. An Apology for Actors, 4to. and Pleasant Dialogues and Drama's 8vo.

Henry Higden, Esq

I Know not whether this Gentleman be yet living or not; but he was a Barrister of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple: A Person known to all the conversable part of the Town, for his Pleasant and Facetious Company; and allow'd to be a Man of Wit, tho' it were to be wish'd he had not Publish'd his Play of

The wary Widdow, or, Sir Noisy Parrat, a Comedy, 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, 1693. and Dedi∣cated to the Right Honourable, Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middle∣sex, &c. The ill Success of this Play, the Author gives us in the Preface, which complains of the ungenerous Usage the Bear-garden Criticks gave it with Catealls, &c. which, how short soever it may be of what might be expected from so celebrated a Wit, as Mr. Higden was esteemed, it could never deserve; since Sir Charles Sidley could think it worthy a Prologue of his making. 'Tis usher'd into the World by Five Copies of English Verse, and One of Latin.

Barton Holyday.

HE was born in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, in All-Saints Parish in Oxon; his Cousin, Dr. Ravis, early entred, and chose him Student of Christ-Church; after his Degrees of Batche∣lor and Master of Arts, was made Archdeacon of Oxonshire, died 1661. at Ei••ly, near Oxon, and was buried at Christ-Church in Oxon. He writ One Play, under the Title of

TEXNOTAMIA, or, The Marriage of the Arts, a Comedy, 4to. 1630. Acted by the Students of Christ-Church, aforesaid, at Shrove-tide. This Play was then in good Esteem. He hath written divers Pieces, as his Translation of the Satyrs of Iuvenal and Perseus,

with Notes and Sculptures, Fol. A Version of the Odes of Horrace; divers Sermons, 4to. and Two Tracts in Latin.

Charles Hool.

THIS Gentleman liv'd in the Reigns of the Two Charles's, being born at Wakefield, in York-shire, was entred at Lincoln-College in Oxon, at Eighteen, and afterwards taking his Master's Degree, he taught School at these several Places (viz.) Rotheram in York-shire, Red-Cross-Street, and Arundel-Buildings, in London. And, after the King's Restauration, in Wales, he translated

Terrence's Comedies, in all, Six, 8vo. 1676. Printed in English and Latin, for the use of Young Schollars, in many Places Castra∣ted.

He hath translated divers other things, as AEsop's Fables, Corde∣rius, Cato, Comenii Orbis Pictus, &c. He has also Publish'd a Grammar, an Explanation of the Accidence, and a Greek Testa∣ment with Themes in the Margin, &c.

Charles Hopkins.

A Young Gentleman that is now living, his Father was that eminently Learned and Pious Divine, Ezekiel Hopkins, Bishop of London-Derry, in the Kingdom of Ireland. Our Poet was born in Devonshire, but carried, when a Child, to his Father's See; and when he had past his Childhood under so good a Fa••her, he remo∣ved first to Dublin-College, and thence to Cambridge; whence he went to the Wars of Ireland, and having there exerted his early Valour, in so Glorious a Cause as that of his Country, Religion, and Liberty, he returned to England, and made London his Aboad; where he fell into the Acquaintance of Gentlemen of the best Wit, and Parts, whose Age and Genius were most agreeable to his own. He is one of those who is, beyond Controversy, born a Poet, which he has shown in all the Pieces he has already Publish'd; the Sweet∣ness of his Numbers, and Easiness of his Thoughts, in the several Copies of Verses he has Publish'd, particularly his Translations out of Ovid, Printed for Mr. Tonson, shew him born to translate that Author; for, if that Opinion of Pythagoras were true, we should conclude, the Soul of the tender Naso, were transmigrated into Mr. Hopkins: All the other Translators of that Po••t, have lost his Genius, his Versification and Softness. But the Occasion of his being mentioned here is, his having Publish'd Two Plays, with dif∣ferent Success.

Boadicea, Queen of Britain, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, 1697. 4to. and Dedicated, in Verse, to Mr. Congreve. This Play met with great Applause, pleasing both the Ladies and Gentlemen; and indeed, besides the peculiar Sweetness of his Numbers, for it is written in Heroick Verse, he has in this Play touch'd the Passions, and the First Scene of the Fourth Act, betwixt Cassibellan and Camilla, where she discovers her Rape, is most Masterly perform'd. The Story is the same with Bonduca, she being sometimes called, Boadicea, and sometimes Bonduca. You may read of her in the Fourteenth Book of Tacitus's Annals, the Second Book of Milton's History of England, the Seventh Page of Vbaldino de cita delle donne illus••ri del Regno d' Ingelterra & Scotia, and Mr. Tyrrell's History of England, lately Publish'd, Vol. 1.

Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, a Tragedy, Acted at the new Theatre, in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1695. 4to. and Dedicated to his illustrious Highness, the Duke of Gloucester. This was our Author's First Play, in which there is a great deal that shews him a Poet, but not enough, it seems, to gain it that Suc∣cess which he desired: He was very Young when it was writ, and therefore may be well excus'd for wanting that Correctness, which a more Mature Author, perhaps, wou'd have observ'd. The Histo∣ry of Pyrrhus is to be found in Livy, Book Plutarch, in the Life of that King, Lucius Florus, &c.

Edward Howard, Esq

BRother to the Right Honourable, Sir Robert Howard, and of the Noble Family of Berk-shire, 'tis to be wish'd, that his Friends cou'd either have prevail'd with him to have Publish'd none of his Poetry, or have been less severe upon him, he has Four Plays in Print, viz.

• Man of New-Market, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the The∣atre Royal, but with little Applause.
• Six Days Adventure, a Comedy, 4to. 1671. Acted at the Duke of York's Theatre, in Dorset-Garden. This Play met with no good Success.
• The Vsurper, a Tragedy, 4to. 1668. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants.
• Woman's Conquest, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1677. Acted by the Duke of York's Servants, in Dorset-Garden. This Author has writ∣ten Two Books of Poetry, in 8vo. One call'd, The British Princess; the other, Poems and Essays, with a Paraphrase on Cicero's Laelius; Printed 1675.

Iames Howard, Esq

A Gentleman of the Noble Family of the Howards, that has Two Plays in Print, under the Titles of

• All Mistaken, or, The Mad Couple, a Comedy, 4to. 1672. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants.
• English Monsieur, a Comedy, 4to. 1674. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants. These Two Plays met with somewhat better Success than those of the beforegoing Author.

Sir Robert Howard.

THIS Honourable Person is Brother to the above mentioned Mr. Edward Howard, and to the Earl of Berks, who has long since quitted the barren Fields of Poetry, for the more advantagi∣ous Post of the State, in which he has, for many Years, made a considerable Figure, being Auditor of the Exchequer, &c. I have not the Honour to say much of my own Knowledge of him, but I am told, that it is no small Part of his Character, to be a Pa∣tron and Encourager of Learning; which is a peculiar Merit, in an Age when the selfish Vices of the trading Part of the Nation, are got into the first Ranks of Men, who will not be so expensive, to keep a Creature meerly for its Wit, as Mr. Prior says of one. He has writ these Six following Plays, viz.

• The Blind Lady, a Comedy, 8vo. This is usually bound with divers other Poems of his, and are Re-printed, or at least, a new Title Printed, 1696.
• The Committee, a Comedy, Fol. 1665. This is esteemed an ex∣cellent Play, and often times Acted in these Times.
• The Great Favourite, or, The Duke of Lerma, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1688. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants. See Mariana, Turquet, De Mayern, &c.
• The Indian Queen, a Tragedy, Fol. 1665. This Play is writ in Heroick Verse, and formerly Acted with general Applause, at the Theatre Royal, but now turn'd into an Opera, and many times of late represented at the same Theatre, with the like Success.
• The Surprisal, a Tragi-Comedy, Fol. 1665. This was formerly Acted at the same Theatre, by his Majesty's Servants.
• The Vestal Virgin, or, the Roman Ladies, a Tragedy, Fol. Acted also at the same Place, and by the same Actors, but not of late Years. This Play has a double Fifth Act, one ending Tragically, the other Succesfully. Four of his above Plays, are Printed toge∣ther Fol.

Iames Howel, Esq

A Gentleman born at Abermarlis, in Caermarthenshire, in South-Wales, 1594. the Seat now of a worthy Gentleman of the Noble Name and Family of Cornwallis, he was at Sixteen sent from Hereford-School, to Iesus-College, Oxon. In the Year 1618. he was sent beyond Sea, by Sir Robert Mansel; he travelled the Low Coun∣tries from Italy, &c. was employed by King Iames, in Negotiati∣ons in Spain; was Secretary to the Lord Scroop, when he was Pre∣sident of the North, &c. He writ and translated Nine and Forty Books: He died about the Beginning of November, 1666. and lies buried on the North Side of the Temple-Church, with this Inscrip∣tion over him on the Wall; Iacobus Howel, Cambro Britannus, Regius Historiographus, in Anglia primus; qui post varias peregrinati∣ones, tandem Naturae Cursum peregit, Satur Annorum, & famae Do∣mi, foris{que} huc us{que} erraticus, hic fixus, 1666. He writ One Play, called,

The Nuptials of Peleus and Thetis, a Masque and Comedy, 4to. 1654. Acted at Paris, by the French King, Duke of York, Duke of Anjou, Henrietta Maria, Princess of Conti, with others of the Nobility there. The Author translated it from an Italian Comedy. The Plot is taken from Ovid's Metamorph. Lib. 11. aud Catulli Ar∣gonoutica ••ive Epithalamium.

I

Thomas Ievorn.

A Dancing-Master and Player, was a Man of uncommon Acti∣vity, liv'd in the Time of Charles and Iames the Second, writ one Play, intituled,

The Devil of a Wife, or, The Comical Transformation, a Farce, 4to. 1686. Acted by their Majesties Servants, at the Queens Thea∣tre Dorset-Garden. Taken from the Story of Mopsa in Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.

Thomas Ingeland.

HE was of Cambridge, in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, writ a Play, intituled,

The Disobedient Child, 4to. which he calls, A Pretty Merry In∣terlude. 'Tis Printed in an old Black Letter, so long since, that it had not any Date of the Year.

Benjamin Iohnson.

WEstminster gave him Birth, and the First Rudiments of his Learning, under Mr. Cambden; which St. Iohn's-College of Cambridge, and Christ-Church of Oxon finish'd, where he took his Master of Arts Degree; Necessity drove him thence, to follow his Father-in-Law's Trade of a Bricklayer; working at Lincolns-Inn, with a Trowel in his Hand, and Horace in his Pocket, he found a Patron that set him free from that Slavish Employment. He was of an open, free Temper; blunt and haughty to his Antagonists and Criticks; a Iovial and Pleasant Companion; was Poet Laureat to Iames and Charles the First. He died in the Sixty Third Year of his Age, An. Dom. 1637. and is buried in Westminster-Abby, near the Belfry, with only this Epitaph:

O RARE BEN. IOHNSON.

His Dramatick Pieces, about Fifty in Number, follow:

• The Alchymist, a Comedy, Acted by the King's Majesty's Servants, first, 1610. and afterwards printed, viz. 1640. and 1692.
• Bartholomew-Fair, a Comedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. Acted first at the Hope, on the Bank-side, 1614. by the Lady Elizabeth's Ser∣vants, and Dedicated to King Iames the First; and Acted with good Applause, since King Charles the Second's Restauration.
• Cateline his Conspiracy, a Tragedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. and in 4to. 16. Acted first by the King's Majesty's Servants, 1611. and sometimes since the Restauration, with good Applause. Is Dedicated to William, then Earl of Pembrock. Plot from Salust. Hist. Plutarch in Vit. Cic.
• Challenge at Tilt, at a Marriage, a Masque, Fol. 1640. and 1692.
• Christmas's Masque, Fol. 1640. and 1692. This was first Present∣ed at Court, 1616.
• ...

• Cloridia, or, Rites to Cloris, a Masque, Fol. 1692. presented by the Queen's Majesty, and her Ladies at Court, at Shrovetide, 1630. Mr. Inigo Iones assisted in the Invention hereof.
• Cynthia's Revels, or, the Fountain of Self-Love; a Comedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. Acted by the Children of Queen Elizabeth's Chappel. 1600.
• Devil's an Ass, a Comedy, Fol. 1641. and 1692. Acted by his Majesty's Servants, 1616. See Boccace's Novels, Day 3. Nov. 5.
• Entertainment at King Iames the First his Coronation. Fol. 1692. This contains only Gratulatory Speeches at the said Coronation, with a Comment by the Author to illustrate the same.
• Entertainment of King Iames and Queen Ann, at Theobalds, Fol. 1640. and 1692.
• Entertainment of the King of England, and the King of Denmark, at Theobalds, Iuly 24. 1606. Fol. 1640. and 1692.
• Entertainment of the King and Queen on May-Day, at Sir Wil∣liam Cornwallis's House at High-gate, 1604. Fol. 1640. and 1692.
• Entertainment of the Queen and Prince at Althrop; this was the 25th of Iune, 1603. at the Lord Spencer's House there, at their coming First into the Kingdom. Fol. 1640. and 1692.
• Every Man in his Humour, a Comedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. Acted first in the Year 1598. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Ser∣vants, and Dedicated to Mr. Cambden, Clarenceux. It has been re∣viv'd and Acted since the Restauration, with good Applause, and a new * 1.13 Epilogue writ for the same, part of it spoken by Ben. Iohnson's Ghost.
• Every Man out of his Humour, a Comedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. Acted by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants. This was also re∣vived and Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1675. with a new † 1.14 Pro∣logue and Epilogue, writ by Mr. Duffet, and spoken by Ioseph Haynes.
• Fortunate Isles, a Masque, Fol. 1641. and 1692. design'd for the Court on Twelfth Night, 1626.
• Golden Age Restored, a Masque, Fol. 1641. and 1692. This was presented at Court by the Lords and Gentlemen, the King's Servants 1626.
• Hymnaei, or, The Solemnities of a Masque and Barriers at a Mar∣riage, F••l. 1692. See the Learned Marginal Notes, for the Illu∣stration of the Greek and Roman Customs.
• ...

• Irish Masque at Court Fol. 1692. presented at Court by Gentle∣men, the Kings Servants.
• King's Entertainment, at Welbeck, in Nottinghamshire, Fol. 1692. This Entertainment was at the then Earl, since Duke of Newcastle's House, 1633.
• Love freed from Ignorance and Folly, a Masque, Fol. 1692.
• Love Restored, a Masque, Fol. 1692. presented at Court by Gen∣tleman the King's Servants.
• Love's Triumph thro' Callipolis, a Masque Fol. 1692. perform'd at Court by his late Majesty King Charles the First, with the Lords and Gentlemen assisting, 1630. Mr. Iohnson and Mr. Inigo Iones join'd in the Invention.
• Love's Welcome, an Entertainment for the King and Queen, at the then Earl of Newcastle's at Bolsover, 1634. and Printed Fol. 1692.
• Magnetick Lady, or, Humours Reconciled, a Comedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. Acted at the Black Fryars. This Play occasioned some Difference or Iarring, between Dr. Gill, Master of Paul's School, and our Author, Ben. as appears by a Satyrical Copy of Verses writ by the former, and as sharp a Repartee by the latter.
• Masque at the Lord Hadington's Marriage, presented at Court on Shrove-Tuesday-Night, 1608. Printed Fol. 1692.
• Masque of Augurs, Fol. 1692. This was presented on Twel••th-Night, 1622. with several Anti-masques.
• Masque of Owls, at Kenelworth, Fol. 1692. In this Presenta∣tion there was the Ghost of Captain Cox, mounted on his Hobby-Horse.
• Masque of Queens, celebrated from the House of Fame, by the Queen of Great Britain, with her Ladies, at White-Hall, Feb. 2•• 1609. Fol. 1692. See the Marginal Notes. The Author was as∣sisted by Mr. Inigo Iones, in the Invention and Architecture of the Scenes belonging thereto.
• Masque at the Lord Hayes House, Fol. 1692. This was presented by divers Noblemen, for the Entertainment of Monsieur Le Baron de Tour, Ambassador Extraordinary from the French King. 1617.
• Metamorphosed Gipsies, A Masque, Fol. 1692. presented to King Iames the First, at Burleigh on the Hill, at Belvoyr, and at Windsor-Castle. 1621.
• Mercury Vindicated from the Alchymists at Court, a Masque, Fol. 1692. presented by Gentlemen, the King's Servants.
• Mortimer's Fall, a Tragedy, Fol. 1640. and 1692. This was not quite finish'd by the Author, but left imperfect, by reason of his Death.
• Neptune's Triumph for the Return of Albion, a Masque, Fol. 1692. presented at Court on Twelfth-Night, 1624.
• ...

• News from the New World discovered in the Moon, a Masque, Fol. 1692. presented ••lso before King Iames the First, 1620.
• Oberon, the Fa••••y Prince, a Masque of Prince Henry's, Fol. 1692. The Author has divers Annotations on this Play.
• Pan's Anniversary, or, The Shepherds Holyday, a Masque, Fol. 1692. This was presented at Court before King Iames the First. Mr. Inigo Iones assisted our Author in the Decorations.
• Pleasure reconciled to Vertue, a Masque, Fol. 1692. This was also presented at Court, before King Iames the First, 1619. Here∣to were some Additions for the Honour of Wales.
• Poetaster, or, His Arraignment, a Comedy, Fol. 1692. Acted by the Children of his Majesty's Chappel, 1601. This Play is adorned with several Translations from the Ancients. See Ovid's Elegies, Lib. 1. Eleg. 15. Horat. Sat. Lib. 2. Sat. 9. and Lib. 2. Sat. 1, &c.
• Queen's Masque of Blackness, Fol. 1692. This was Personated at the Court at White-Hall, on the Twelfth-Night, 1605.
• —Her Masque of Beauty, Fol. 1692. This also was presented at the same Court, at White-Hall, on the Sunday-Night after the Twelfth-Night, 1608.
• Sad Shepherd, or, A Tale of Robin Hood, a Pastoral, Fol. 1692. This Play has but Two intire Acts, finish'd, and a Third left imper∣fect.
• Sejanus's Fall, a Tragedy, Fol. 1692. first Acted by the King's Majesties Servants, 1603. Plot from Tacitus, Suetonius, Seneca, &c. There is an Edition of this Play 4to. 1605. by the Author's own Orders, with all the Quotations from whence he borrowed any thing of his Play.
• Silent Woman, a Comedy, fol. 1692. Acted First by the Children of her Majesty's Revels, 1609. Act I. Scene. I. borrowed from Ovid de Arte Amandi: Act. II. Scene II. Part from Iuvenal•• Sat. 6. Act II. Scene V. from Plaut Auricular, Act 3. Scene 5, &c. This Play has been in good Esteem, and for a farther Commendation you are refer'd to Mr. Dryden's Examen.* 1.15
• Speeches at Prince Henry's Barriers, Fol. 1692. These are indeed Printed among his M••sques, but cannot be accounted one; only reckoned so in former Catalogues.
• Staple of News, a Comedy, Fol. 1692. Acted by his Maje••ty's Servants. In this Play Four Gossips appear on the Stage, critici∣sing on the same, during the whole Action.
• Tale of a Tub, a Comedy, Fol. 1692.
• Time vindicated to himself and his Honors, a Masque, Fol. 1692. This was presented at Court on Twelfth-Night, 1623.
• ...

• Vision of Delight, a Masque, Fol. 1692. This was also presented at Court in Christmas, 1617.
• Vulpone, or, The Fox, a Comedy, Fol. 1692. Acted by the King's Majesty's Servants. This is writ in Imitation of the Comedies of the Ancients.

The before mentioned Plays, and other Poems, &c. were for∣merly printed together in Two Volumes, Fol. 1640, and 1641. but Three other Pla•••• which are there omitted, are hereunder menti∣oned, a••d may be found in the late Edition, printed 1692.

• The Case is Altered, a Comedy, 4to. 1609. and fol. 1692. This was sundry times Acted by the Children of the Black Fryars. See Plautus's Comed. &c.
• The Widow, a Comedy, 4to. 1652. and fol. 1692. Acted at the Private House in Black Fryars, by his late Majesty's Servants, with good Ap∣plause. Fletcher and Middleton joyn'd with the above Author in this Play, which has been reviv'd since the Restauration, at the King's House, with a new * 1.16 Prologue and Epilogue.
• The New-Inn, or, The Light Heart, a Comedy, 8vo. 1631. This Play (says our Author's Title) was never Acted, but most negligently play'd, by some of the King's Servants, and more squeamishly be∣held, and censured by others, the King's Subjects, 1629. Now at last set at Liberty to the Readers, his Majesty's Servants and Sub∣jects, to be judged.

These last, with all the beforegoing Plays, Masques and Enter∣tainments, with an English Grammar, are now published together in one large Volume, fol. 1692.

Iohn Iones.

HE writ, in the Time of King Charles the First, One Play, call'd,

Adrasta, or The Woman's Spleen and Loves Conquest, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1635. Part of it from Boccace's Novels, Day 8. Nov. 8.

Thomas Iordan.

A Player and Poet of King Charles the First his Reign, who writ and published One Masque and Two Comedies; viz.

• Fancies Festivals, a Masque, 4to. 16.
• Money's an Ass, a Comedy, 4to. 1668.

The Walks of Islington and Hogsdon, with the Humours of Wood-street-Compter; a Comedy, 4to. 1657. This Play had good Success, it being Acted Nineteen Days successively.

William Ioyner.

THIS Gentleman was born in Oxonshire, sometime Fellow of Magdalen-College; which, with his Religion, he quitted, till in King Iames's Time he was again re-placed in the same College, with the other Popish Fellows; who were all soon after displaced, by an Apprehension of the Revolution. He has one Play in Print, called,

The Roman Empress, a Tragedy, 4to. 1671. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants, and dedicated to Sir Charles Sid∣ley. For the Plot, consult Zosomi Histor. * 1.17 Mr. Langbain supposes this to be the Story of Constantine, and his Wife and Son, Crispus and Faustina. The Author has imitated Oedipus and Hippolitus.

K

Henry Killegrew.

A Person of eminent Wit in K. Charles the First's Time, he writ a Play at Seventeen Years of Age, call'd first,

The Conspiracy, a Tragedy, 4to. 1638. Afterwards alter'd, under the Name of Pallantus and Eudora, a Tragedy, Fol. 1653. This Play was first Acted at the Black Fryars, with Applause, and the first Impression Printed without the Author's Consent, whilst beyond Sea, which occasion'd afterwards a new Impression with a new Ti∣tle. At the first Acting of the aforegoing Play, it met with some few Cavillers against some part thereof; but that was soon over, when Ben. Iohnson, and the Lord Viscount Falkland gave it ano∣ther Encomium.

Tho. Killegrew,

A Gentleman of a good Family, and a celebrated Wit in the Reigns of the Two K. Charles's; he was Page of Honour to the First, and Groom of the Bed-Chamber to the Second: during the King's Exile, he saw France, Italy, and Spain; was resident at

Venice 1651. In his Banishment he writ most of these Plays, and died several Years after the Restauration.

• Bellamira, her Dream; or, Love of Shadows, in Two Parts, a Tragedy, fol. written at Venice, and the first dedicated to the then Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox, and the second to her Sister, Ann Villiers, then Countess of Essex.
• Cicilia and Clorinda; or, Love in Arms, in Two Parts, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. the first writ at Turin, the second at Florence. The Scene betwixt Amadeo, Ducius, and Manlius, seem copied from Aglatidas, Artabes, and Megabises, in the Grand Cyrus, Part 1. Lib. 3. Story of Aglatidas and Amestris.
• Claracilla, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. written at Rome, and dedica∣ted to the Lady Shannon.
• The Parson's Wedding, a Comedy, fol. writ at Bazil in Switzer∣land. The chiefest Incidents in this Play, are to be found in for∣mer Plays; as the Antiquary, Ram-Alley, &c.
• The Pilgrim, a Tragedy, fol. writ whilst at Paris, and dedica∣ted to the Countess of Carnarvan.
• The Princess; or, Love at first Sight, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. writ at Naples, and dedicated to the Lady Lovelace, his Niece.
• The Prisoners, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. writ at London, and dedica∣ted to the Lady Compton, another of his Nieces.
• Thomaso; or, The Wanderer, in Two Parts, a Comedy, fol. The Author has here borrowed, not only a Story from Fletcher's Cap∣tain, but several things from Iohnson's Fox.

The above named Plays, belonging to this Author, are all printed in one Volume, Fol. 1664.

Sir William Killegrew.

A Gentleman lately deceased, being in his Life time Vice-Cham∣berlain to the Queen Dowager, and has writ several Plays; as

• Ormasdes, a Tragi-Comedy, fol.
• Pandora; or, The Converts, a Tragi-Comedy, fol.
• Selindra, a Tragi-Comedy, fol.
• The Siege of Vrbin, a Tragi-Comedy, fol.

There's another Play ascrib'd to him, call'd,

The Imperial Tragedy, fol. The chief Part of this Play out of Latin, for the Plot see Marcelinus, Cassiodorus, Cedrenus, Evagrius, Zonatus, Baronius, &c. of Zeno, the Twelfth Emperor from Con∣stantine.

These Plays are Printed in one Volume, fol. Oxon, 1666.

Iohn Kirk.

THIS Author we find in the time of the First K. Charles, when writ a Play, call'd,

The Seven Champions of Christendom, a History, 4to. 1638. Plot from the old History of the Seven Champions of Christendom, and Heylin's Hist. of St. George.

Ralph Knevet.

A Norfolk Gentleman, of the same time with the former, writ a Pastoral represented at Norwich, call'd,

Rhodon and Iris, a Pastoral, 4to. 1631. Dedicated to Nicholas Bacon, Esq.

Thomas Kyd.

THIS Translator Liv'd in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and Pub∣lish'd One Play call'd,

Pompey the Great, his Fair Cornelias Tragedy, 4to. 1595. dedi∣cated to the Countess of Sussex. This he translated from the French of Robert Garnier.

L

Iohn Lacey.

AN Excellent Comedian of the King's Company, was born near Doncaster in York-shire, originally a Dancing Master, of a rare Shape of Body, and good Complexion; was a Lieutenant and Quarter Master under Col. Gerrard, after∣wards Earl of Macclesfield; he died, Sept. 17. 1681. King Charles the Second fancied him so much, as to have his Picture drawn in Three several Figures, in the same Table, as Teague in the Commit∣tee, Scruple in the Cheats, and Gallyard in the Varieties. He was not satisfied to excel only in Acting, but attempted these Three following Plays, or rather, Farces; besides which, he added the—of Sauny the Scot, to the Taming of the Shrew.

• The Dumb Lady; or, The Farrier made Physician, a Comedy, 4to. 1672. Plot and Language from Mollieres le Medicin Malgre luy.
• The Old Troop; or, Monsieur Ragou, a Comedy, 4to. 1672.
• Sir Hercules Buffoon; or, The Poetical Squire, a Comedy, 4to. 1684. publish'd after his Death.

I. Leanard.

A Plagiary of extraordinary Assurance•• that set up with other Mens Writings for the Name of an Author. He published Two Plays under these Titles, (viz.)

• The Country Innocence; or, The Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. Taken from a Play, call'd, The Country Girl, by Brewer.
• The Rambling Iustice; or, The Iealous Husbands, a Comedy 4to. 1680. Most part from a Play, call'd More Dissemblers besides Wo∣men, a Comedy, 4to. by Middleton.

Nath. Lee.

ALL the Account I can give you of our Author, is, That he was Son of a Minister of the Church of England, had part of his Education at Cambridge, was received with general Applause in most of his Plays. He run Mad, and was some Years in Bethlem, and after he was let out he was never perfectly well; so died in the Street in the Night Time. That he has shewn a Master-piece in Lucius Iunius Brutus, which scarce one of his Contemporaries have equal'd, and none excel'd, can never be doubted.

• Caesar Borgia, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. See Guiciardine, lib. 5, 6. Mariana, lib. 27, 28. Sir Paul Ricaut's Contin. of Platina, in the Reign of Pope Alexander the Sixth.
• Constantine the Great, a Tragedy, 4to. 1684. Acted at the The∣atre Royal, by their Majesty's Servants. Plot from Eusebius de vitâ Constantini, Zonarus, Eutropius, Baronius, Ammianus Marcellinus, and Beard's Theatre of God's Iudgments.
• Gloriana, the Court of Augustus Caesar, a Tragedy, 4to. 1676. Act∣ed at the Theatre Royal, by their M••jesties Servants, and dedica∣ted to the Dutchess of Portsmouth. See the Stories of Caesario, Mar∣cellus and Iulia, in Cleopatra, Part 1. Book 3. Part 5. Book 3. &c.
• Lucius, Iunius Brutus, Father of his Country, a Tragedy, 4to. 1681. Acted at the Duke's Theatre, and dedicated to the Right Honoura∣ble, the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. See the Story of Iunius Brutus in Clelia, a Romance, Par. 2. Book 1. and Part 3. Book 1.

• And for the true History, consult Florus, Livy, Dion, Hallicar, Orosius, &c.
• Massacre of Paris, a Tragedy, 4to. 1690. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants. See Thuanus Pierre Mathieu, Davila, Mezeray, &c. If you compare a Play, call'd, The Duke of Guise, with this, you may find divers Passages there borrowed from hence.
• Mithridates, King of Pontus, a Tragedy, 4to. 1678. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. Plot from Appian, Alexand. Roman Hist. Florus, Vell. Paterculus, and Plutarch in the Lives of Scylla, Lucullus, Pompey, &c.
• Nero, Emperor of Rome, his Tragedy, 4to. 1675. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, and dedicated to the Right Honourable, the Earl of Rochester. Plot from Suetonius in vita Neronis, Aurelius Victor, Tacitus Annal. &c.
• The Princess of Cleve, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1689. Acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset Garden; and dedicated to the Right Ho∣nourable, Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex, Lord Chamber∣lain of his Majesty's Houshold. Founded on a Romance of the same Title; see also a Book called, the French Rogue, 8vo.
• The Rival Queens; or, The Death of Alexander the Great, a Tra∣gedy, 4to. 1677. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iohn, Earl of Mulgrave. Plot from Quint. Curt. Plutarch's Life of Alexander the Great, Iustin, Iosephus, &c.
• Sophonisba; or Hannibal's Overthrow, a Tragedy, 4to. 1676. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants; and de∣dicated to the Dutchess of Portsmouth. Plot from Sir Walter Raleighs Hist. of the World, Book 5. Chap. 3. Sect. 18. Livy, Florus, Appian, Diodorus, Polibius, Iustin, &c.
• Theodosius; or, The Force of Love, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. Acted at the Duke's Theatre, by their Royal Highnesses Servants; and dedicated to her Grace, the Dutchess of Richmond. Plot from Pharamond, a Romance; Euseb. Hist. Ecclesiastica; Varannes; Martian, and Theodosius.

Most of these Plays have been applauded by the Spectators, and their Worth acknowledged by Dryden, and other Poets, in divers Copies of Verses before some of them. He joined with Mr. Dryden, in Two other Plays, viz. The Duke of Guise, and Oedipus, both Tragedies, for which see under Dryden Senior.

Iohn Lilly.

ONE of the first Reformers of our Language, in Queen Eli∣zabeth's Days; he was born in Kent, bred in Magdalen-Col∣lege, Oxon, and there took his Degree of Master of Arts, 1575. The Time of his Death I know not; he has published these Nine Plays following.

• Alexander and Campaspe, a Tragi-Comedy, 12mo. 1632. Acted on a Twelfth Night, before the Queen, by her Majesty's Children, and those of Paul's, and sometimes after at Black Fryars. Plot from Pliny's Natural Hist. Lib. 35. Cap. 10.
• Endimion, a Comedy, 12mo. 1632. Presented also before Queen Elizabeth, by the same Children. Plot from Lucian's Dialogue be∣tween Venus and the Moon, Natales Comes, and Galtruchius's Hist. of the Heathen Gods.
• Galathea, a Comedy, 12mo. 1632. Presented likewise before the Queen at Greenwich, by the Children of Paul's on New-Year's-Day. See the Story of Iphis and Ianthe, in Ovid Metamorph. Lib. 9. Tab. 12, &c.
• Love's Metamorphosis, a Pastoral 4to. 1601. First play'd by the Children of Paul's, and afterwards by her Majesty's Children of the Chappel.
• The Maid's Metamorphosis, a Comedy 4to. 1600. Acted sundry times by the Children of Paul's.
• Mother Bombie, a pleasant conceited Comedy (says the Title) printed 12mo. 1632. and sundry times play'd by the Children of Paul's.
• Mydas, a Comedy, 12mo. 1632. This was also play'd before the Queen on Twelfth Day at Night, Apuleius has writ this Story at large in his Aureus Asinus. See also Natales Comes, Galtruchius's Hist. of the Heathen Gods, and Ovid's Metamorph. Lib. 11.
• Sapho and Phaon, a Comedy, 12mo. 1632. Presented before the Queen on Shrove Tuesday, and afterwards at the Black Fryars. Plot Ovid Epist.
• Woman in the Moon, a Comedy, 4to. 1667.

Six of the above Plays are printed together 12mo. and published by one Mr. Blount, called Court Comedies; the other three are printed single in 4to. Mr. Lilly also writ a Book called, Eupheus and his England, 4to. at that time much esteemed.

Thomas Lodge.

THis Author we find was a Doctor of Physick, in the Time of Queen Elizabeth, who, during his Study at Cambridge, writ several pieces of Poetry; among the rest, Two Plays.

• A Looking-Glass for London and England, a Tragedy, 4to. 1598. One Green joined with our Author towards compleating this Play, which is founded on the Story of Ionas and the Ninevites, in the Holy Scripture.
• The Wounds of Civil War; or, The Tragedies of Marius and Scylla. Plot from Plutarch in vit. Mar. & Silla: see also Aurelius Victor, Eutropius, Vell. Paterculus, Salustius, and T. Livius.

Sir William Lower.

A Cavalier that left these Nations during the Civil Wars, and, in Holland, gave himself the Diversion of Poetry; among the rest, six Plays.

• The Amorous Phantasm, a Tragi-Comedy, 12mo. printed at the Hague, 1658. translated from Quinault's Le Fantome Amoreux.
• The Inchanted Lovers, a Pastoral, 12mo. printed also at the Hague, 1658.
• Horatius, a Roman Tragedy, 4to. 1656. translated from Cor∣neille; consult Dion. Hallicarnasceus, Cassiodorus, T. Livius, and L. Florus.
• The Martyr; or, Polyeucte, a Tragedy, 4to. 1655. For the Sto∣ry, see Coeffeteau Hist. Rom. Surius de Vitis Sanctorum, &c.
• Noble Ingratitude, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 12mo. London, 1658. translated from the French of Monsieur Quinault.
• Phaenix in her Flames, a Tragedy, 4to, 1639. This was the first the Author writ, and published before he was a Knight.

Thomas Lupon.

ALL I know of him is, That 'tis said he writ this one Play, called,

All for Money, a Tragedy, 4to.

M

Lewis Macchin.

THIS Author liv'd in the Time of King Charles the First, and writ one Play, called,

The Dumb Knight, a Comedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by the Children of his Majesty's Revels. Compare this Play with one called, The Queen; or, The Excellency of her Sex: see also, The Complaisant Companion, 8vo. and 12mo. and Bandello's Novels, Tom. 1. Nov. 13, &c.

Maidwell.

A Gentleman yet living, who having made it his Business for some Years, to educate young Gentlemen, and initiate them in the Learned Tongues, has at length quitted this Ludum Literari∣um, for a quiet retreat, during his Application to this Business, he found time to write a Play, called,

The Loving Enemies, a Comedy, 4to. 1680. Acted at the Duke of York's Theatre in Dorset Garden, and dedicated to the Honou∣rable, Charles Fox, Esq The Author seems to have imitated the Virtuoso, in this Play.

Dr. Iasper Maine.

THis learned Author was * 1.18 born at a place called, Hatherleigh, a Market Town in Devonshire, An. Dom 1604. and in the Time of King Iames the First, passed from Westminster-School, to Christ-Church, Oxon, An. Dom. 1623. in the Condition of a Servi∣tor, where he was encouraged in his Studies by Dr. Duppa, and the next Year chosen into the Number of Students on that noble Foundation. He passed his Degrees till he entred into Orders, and Plurality of Two Livings near that University, both in the Gift of the College. After his being made Doctor of Divinity, and turn'd out by the Visitation of the late Government of Oliver Cromwel, he was received into the Family of the Earl of Devon, having lost both his Livings. In the Restauration of the King, he

found his Two Livings, and Advancement to a Canon of Christ-Church, as also Archdeacon of Chichester. He died Decemb. 6. 1672. and was buried on the North side of the Cathedral of Christ-Church, where is to be seen a short † 1.19 Epitaph on a Marble Stone, placed over his Grave by his Executors, Dr. South and Dr. Lam∣phire. He gave by his Will 500. l. towards re-building of St. Paul's, and to Cassington, and Pyrton, near Watlington, (of which Places he was Vicar) 100 l. each. He writ and published the two following Plays:

• The Amorous War, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. Oxon, 1658. also printed fol. and 8vo.
• The City Match, a Comedy, 4to. Oxon, 1658. printed also Fol. and 8vo. This Comedy was acted before their Majesties at White-Hall, and divers times afterwards at Black Fryars, with great Ap∣plause.

These two Plays are usually bound together.

This Author published divers other Books; as part of Lucian's Dialogues, Eng. Fol. divers Sermons, 4to. and a Poem on the Victo∣ry over the Dutch, 1665, &c.

Mrs. Delarivier Manley.

THis Lady has very happily distinguish'd her self from the rest of her Sex, and gives us a living Proof of what we might rea∣sonably expect from Womankind, if they had the Benefit of those artificial Improvements of Learning the Men have, when by the meer Force of Nature they so much excel. Rules indeed are but the Leading-strings to support and carry the Weaker, and more unobserving Heads, and which those of a strong Genius and Pene∣tration will have no need of, since a just Consideration of Nature will conduct them with more Ease and Success. Of this our pre∣sent Authress is an evident Proof, for in the Two Plays she has al∣ready published, we find no part of Art wanting, but what is the Mechanick Part, and by much the least valuable. There is a Force and a Fire in her Tragedy, that is the Soul that gives it Life, and for want of which, most of our Modern Tragedies are heavy, lan∣guid, unmoving, and dull. In her Comedy there is an easy Free∣dom of adding, which confesses a Conversation in the Authress no less genteel and entertaining. This Lady was born in the Isle of Iersey, her Father, Sir Roger Manley, being then Governor of it; a Gentleman of a double Merit, both the Gown, and the Sword claiming no small share in his Glory, and the Republick of Learn∣ing

ow'd as much to his Wit and Iudgment, in those Books which he was pleased to publish, as his King and Country to his Loyalty, Valour and Conduct. And well might our Delarivier prove a Muse, being begot by such a Father. She has as yet given us but two Plays, of which in their Order:

• The Royal Mischief, a Tragedy, 4to. Acted by his Majesty's Ser∣vants, at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, 1696. and dedicated to his Grace, William, Duke of Devonshire, &c. The Story, as she owns, is originally taken from Sir Iohn Chardin's Travels, but has receiv'd this Advantage, that the Criminals are here punish'd for their Guilt, who in the Story escape; a Poetick Iustice, which ought ever to be observed in all Plays; for a Iust Audience could never have been pleas'd with the Prosperity of Homais, and Lea∣van, after so very criminal an Amour. I cou'd here give the Rea∣der a Proof how well the Rules of Aristotle are observ'd in this Tragedy, by a Lady who never read him; and how just all her Metaphors and Allegories are: but that wou'd exceed the Bounds I am prescribed by the Model I'm oblig'd to build on. I shall there∣fore proceed to
• The Lost Lover; or, The Iealous Husband, a Comedy, 4to. acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesty's Servants, 1696. To this Play is no Epistle Dedicatory, and the Preface informs us of its ill Suc∣cess, which we cou'd never gather from the reading of it; and if we wou'd, as we ought, give any Allowance for the Sex that wrote it, the Time it was wrote in, and its being the first Essay of that Nature, we shou'd agree with her, that it met with a much seve∣rer Fate than it deserved.

This Lady has Publish'd several other Books, which have not her Name to 'em, and which, for that Reason, I shall forbear to men∣tion their Titles.

Cosmo Manuch.

A Major in the King's Army, in the late Civil War, and Author of two Plays, call'd,

• The just General, a Tragedy, 4to. 1650. This the Author de∣sign'd for the Stage, but was not ever acted.
• The Loyal Lovers, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1652. The Author, in this Play, represents divers of the Committee Men and their In∣formers.

Gervase Markham.

THis Author was Son to Robert Markham, of Cotham in Notting∣hamshire, Esq was born in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and liv'd to have a Captain's Command in the Civil War, under King Charles the First. He writ curious Pieces of Husbandry, Horse∣manship, and War, and one Play, in which one Sampson assisted, intituled,

Herod and Antipater, a Tragedy, 4to. 1622. Plot from Iosephus Hist. Iews, Book 14, 15, &c. Spondanus, Baronii Ann. Salian Torniel, &c.

Christopher Marlow.

A Famous Poet of Queen Elizabeth and King Iames's Time, con∣temporary with the Immortal Shakespear, was Fellow-Actor with Heywood, and others, he writ a Poem called, Hero and Leander, much commended, as also these seven Plays following:

• Dr. Faustus his tragical History, 4to. 1661, being the last Editi∣on, printed with the Addition of many Scenes. Plot, Camerarii Opera Subsc. Cent. 1. Cap. 70. Wierus de Praestig. Daemonum, Lib. 2. Cap. 4. Lonicerus, &c.
• Dido, Queen of Carthage, a Tragedy, 4to. 16. In this he was joined by Nash. Plot from Virgil's AEneids, Book 4.
• Edward the Second, a Tragedy, 4to. 16. Plot from Thomas de la More, Sir Francis Hubert, and other English Historians of that Time.
• Iew of Malta, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by her Ma∣jesty's Servants at the Cock-pit, and at Whitehall, before the King and Queen. A Play of great Esteem in those Days.
• Lust's Dominion; or, The Lascivious Queen, a Tragedy 8vo. 1661. This Play has been acted of late Years, under the Title of Abdela∣zar; or, The Moor's Revenge: with few Alterations, by Mrs. Behn.
• Massacre at Paris, with the Death of the Duke of Guise, a Trage∣dy, 8vo. Acted by the Lord Admiral's Servants. Is not divided into Acts. Plot from Davila, Thuanus, Dupleix, and Mezeray, in the Reigns of Char. IX. and Hen. III. of France,
• Tamberlain the Great; or, The Scythian Shepherd, in Two Parts, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1593. Acted also by the Lord Admiral's Servants. Plot, Iean du Bec, Laonicus, Chalcocondilas, Pet. Bizarus, Knolles Hist. Turks, L'Histoire de Tamerlain, 8vo. and his Life in English, 8vo.

Shakerly Marmion.

AN Author born at Ainoe, in Northamptonshire, Ianuary, 1602. initiated in Letters at Thame-School, Oxonshire; from thence about sixteen Years of Age, was sent to Wadham-College, Oxon, and continued a Member thereof, till after he took his Master of Arts Degree. He writ these three Comedies:

• The Antiquary, a Comedy 4to. 1641. Acted at the Cock-pit, by their Majesties Servants. Aurelio's Marriage is an Incident in some other Plays.
• The Fine Companion, a Comedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by Prince Charles's Servants, in Salisbury-Court, as also before the King and Queen at White-Hall, with great Applause. It is dedicated to Sir Ralph Dutton.
• Holland's Leaguer, a Comedy, 4to. 1632. Acted also by Prince Charles's Servants in Salisbury-Court, with good Applause. Several Things in this Play borrowed from Petronius Arbiter.

Iohn Marston.

THis Poet liv'd in the Reign of King Iames the First, and writ eight Plays, six of which are usually bound together in one Volumn, 8vo. 1633. and one of them reviv'd not many Years since, and acted with Success, under the Name of The Revenge; or, The Match in Newgate.

Antonia and Melida, Two Parts, a Tragedy, 4to. 1602. and 8vo. 1633. frequently acted by the Children of Paul's.

• The Dutch Courte••an, a Comedy, 4to. 1605. and 8vo. 1633. Acted at the Black-Fryars, by the Children of the Queen's Majesty's Revels. The Story of Cockledemoy, in this Play, is borrowed from a French Book, entituled, des Contes du Monde, also from the English Book of Novels call'd, the Palace of Pleasure.
• The Insatiate Countess, a Tragedy, 4to. 1603. Acted at the Black Fryars. Plot from Montius Hist. of Naples: see also Dr. Fuller's Prophane State, Chap. 2. and God's Revenge against Adultery, &c. Hist. 5.
• The Male Content, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1604. Mr. Webster laid the Plat-Form, and our Author Marston, moulded it into a Play.
• Parasitaster; or, The Fawn, a Comedy, 4to. 1606. and 8vo. 1633. Act 3. Scene 1. from Ovid's Amor. Lib. 2. Eleg. 4. see Boccace's Novels, Day 3. Nov. 3.
• ...

• Sophonisba, her Tragedy; or, The Wonder of Women, a Tragedy, 4to. 1633. Plot from Sir Walter Raliegh, Polibius, Appian, Livy's Hist. &c.
• What you will, a Comedy, 8vo. 1633. Copied from Plautus Amphitrio. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanly have made him Author of another Play, called, the Faithful Shepherd, but his Name not being thereto, nor he ever owning it, I conclude, with Mr. Lang∣bain, that 'tis none of his.

Iohn Mason.

THis Poet was Master of Arts in King Iames the First's Time, and writ one Play call'd,

Muleasses, the Turk; a Tragedy, 4to 1610. Acted by the Chil∣dren of his Majesty's Revels. This Author, in his Title Page, calls it, A Worthy Tragedy, and had a great Conceit of its meeting with Success, adding in the Front, this Sentence of Horace,

Sume Superbiam quaesitam meritis.

Philip Massenger.

A Poet who was born at Salisbury in the Reign of Charles the First, his Father liv'd and dy'd in the Service of the then Earl of Montgomery, and sent his Son, our Poet, to St. Alban-Hall, in Oxon, where he remain'd a Student for three or four Years. He was intimate with Rowley, Middleton, Field, Decker, and even Fletcher. He left this World in March, 1669. and on the seventeenth Day of that Month, was buried in St. Mary Overies-Church in Southwark, in the Grave where Mr. Fletcher had been before buried. In Sir Ast••n Cockain's Epigrams you may find an Epitaph on him, Book 1. Ep. 100. He writ fourteen Plays intire, and joined with Middleton and Rowley in some others; of which in their Order:

• The Bashful Lover, a Comedy, 8vo. 1655. Acted at the private House in Black-Fryars, by his Majesty's Servants, with good Ap∣plause.
• The Bondman, a Comedy, 4to. 1638. Acted at the Cock-Pit in Drury-Lane, by the most excellent Princess, the Lady Elizabeth, her Servants: Dedicated to the Right Honourable, Philip, Earl of Montgomery. The reducing the Slaves by the Sight of the Whips, is taken from the Story of the Scythian Slaves.
• The City Madam, a Comedy, 4to. 1659. Acted at the Private House in Black-fryars, with great Applause, and Dedicated to the

• t••uly Noble and Virtuous Lady, Ann, Countess of Oxon. This has been esteemed a good Play.
• The Duke of Millain, a Tragedy, 4to. 1638. as it had been often acted by his Majesty's Servants, at the Black-fryars. Plot from Io∣sephus's Hist. Iews, Book 15. Chap. 4.
• The Emperor of the East, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1632. Acted at the Black-fryars and Globe, by his Majesty's Servants: Dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iohn, Lord Mohun, Baron of Oke-hampton. Plot from Socrates, Lib. 7. Nicephorus, Lib. 14. Baronius, &c.
• The fatal Dowry, a Tragedy, 4to. 1632. Acted at the Black-fry∣ars, by his Majesty's Servants; Mr. Field, an Author before-menti∣oned, joyn'd with him in this Play. Charlois Ransoming his Fa∣ther's Corps by his own Imprisonment, taken from Cymon, in Val. Max. Lib. 5. Cap. 4. Ex. 9.
• The Great Duke of Florence, a Comedy, 4to. 1636. The Title calls it, a Comical History, often presented with good Allowance, by her Majesty's Servants, at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane. The De∣dication to the truly Honoured, and his Noble Favourer, Sir Robert Wiseman, of Thorrells-Hall, in Essex. Plot from Speed, Stow, and other our English Chronicles, in the Reign of King Edgar.
• The Guardian, a Comedy, 8vo. 1655. The Title also calls this, a Comical History, often acted at the private House in Black-fryars, by his late Majesty's Servants, with great Applause. Plot from Boccace's Novels, Day 8. Nov. 7. and from the Cimmerian Matron, 8vo.
• The Maid of Honour, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1632. This was oftentimes acted with good Allowance, at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants; and dedicated to Sir Francis Fo∣liambe, and Sir Tho. Bland. The Play is recommended by Sir Aston Cokain, who prefix'd a Copy of Verses thereto.
• A New Way to pay Old Debts, a Comedy, 4to. 1633. often acted at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane, by the Queen's Majesty's Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Robert, Earl of Carnarvan. Sir Thomas Iay, and Sir Henry Moody have very much commended this Play.
• ... The Old Law. Vide Middleton.
• The Picture, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1636. Acted at the Globe and Black-fryars Play-Houses, by his Majesty's Servants; and de∣dicated to the Noble Society of the Inner-Temple. Plot from the Fortunate deceived, and Vnfortunate Lovers, Nov. 4. of the Decei∣ved Lovers.
• The Renegado, a Comedy, 4to. 1630. Acted at the private Play-House, in Drury-Lane, by her Maiesty's Servants; dedicated to the Right Honourable, George Harding, Baron of Barkley-Castle, and Knight of the Honourable Order of the Bath. Mr. Shirley, &c. have commended this Play by Copies of Verses.
• ...

• The Roman Actor, a Tragedy, 4to. 1629. Acted at the private House in the Black-fryars, by the King's Majesty's Servants; dedi∣cated to Sir Philip Knivet, Sir Tho. Iay, and Tho. Bellingham, of Newtimber, in Sussex, Esq This Play is recommended by divers Copies of Verses from Ford, Goff, May, and other Dramatick Poets. Plot from Tacitus, Aurelius, Victor, and Suetonius in the Life of Domitian.
• A Very Woman, or the Prince of Tarent, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1655. The Plot of this resembles that of the Obstinate Lady, writ by Sir Aston Cokain.
• The Virgin Martyr, a Tragedy, 4to. 1661. Acted by his Majesty's Servants with great Applause. Mr. Decker assisted our Author in this Play. Plot from Valesius, Roswedius, Eusebii Hist. Lib. 8. Cap. 17.
• The Vnnatural Combat, a Tragedy, 4to. 1639. presented by the King's Majesty's Servants, at the Globe; and dedicated to his much honoured Friend, Anthony Sentliger, of Oukham in Kent, Esq This Play is without Prologue or Epilogue.
• The Bashful Lover, the Guardian, and the Very Woman, are print∣ed together in one Volume, 8vo.

Thomas May.

A Gentleman of a good Family in Sussex, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; he was some Years a Fellow-Commoner of Sidney-College in Cambridge•• whence removing to London, and the Court, he grew to an Intimacy with Endymion Porter, Esq and others; but disgusted with the little Encouragement he met with, which is indeed no Place for Reward of Merit, he retired. In the Year 1652. he died suddenly, being Five and Fifty Years Old, and lies buried in the West Side of the North Isle of Westminster-Abby, near Mr. Cambden. But now to his Plays.

• Agrippina, Empress of Rome, her Tragedy, 12mo. 1639. In the first Act of this Play, the Printer committed an Error, by print∣ing some few Pages twice over. Plot, see Tacitus, Suetonius, and Petronius Arbiter.
• Antigone, the Thebane Princess, her Tragedy, 8vo. 1631. Dedicated to the most Worthily Honoured Endymion Porter, Esq Plot from Sophocles's Antigone, and Seneca's Thebais; see also Statius's The∣bais.
• Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, her Tragedy, 12mo. 1639. Acted some Years before printed, and dedicated to the accomplish'd Sir Kenelm Digby. Plot from Appian de Bellis Civ. L. Florus, Lib. 4. Suetonius in vit. August. and Plutarchus in Vit. M. Antonii. he has also made bold with Calimachus's Epig. on Timon, &c.
• ...

• The Heir, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1633. Acted by the Company of Revels. This was accounted an ingenious and modest Play, and much commended by Mr. Thomas Carew, who has a Copy of Verses to that purpose, printed with the Play.
• The Old Couple, a Comedy, 4to. 1651. This Play has been for∣merly in repute, and the chief Design of it seems to be against Co∣veteousness.

Two of the above Plays, (viz.) Agrippina and Antigone, are usu∣ally bound together in a small Volume, 12mo. This Author has publish'd a Translation of Lucan's Pharsalia, 8vo. 1635. and Virgil's Georgicks, with Annotations, 1622. also a History of the late Ci∣vil Wars in England, which he calls, A Breviary.

Robert Mead.

HE liv'd in the Time of King Iames and King Charles the First, was of Christ-Church-College, Oxon, and writ one Play, which was publish'd after his Death. The Title of his Play is,

The Combat of Love and Friendship, a Comedy, formerly present∣ed by the Gentlemen of Christ-Church in Oxon, 4to. printed at London, 1654.

Matthew Medbourn.

AN Actor in the Duke's Company, being a Papist and commit∣ted to Newgate about the Popish Plot, where he died; but some Years before he published one Play, called,

Tartuffe; or, the French Puritan, a Comedy, 4to. 1670. Acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Henry, Lord Howard, of Norfolk. Translated from the French of Molliere.

Thomas Meriton.

THis Scribler liv'd since the Restauration, and accounted the dullest and most impotent of Dramatick Poets in his Time, he publish'd Two Plays:

• Love and War, a Tragedy, 4to. 1658. and dedicated to the truly Noble, Iudicious Gentleman, and his most esteemed Brother, Mr. Geo. Meriton. I do not find this Play was ever acted, or deserved acting.
• ...

• The Wandring Lover, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1658. The Title makes you believe it was acted several times privately, at sundry Places, by the Author and his Friends, with great Applause; and the Dedication is to the Ingenious, Iudicious, and much Honoured Gentleman, Francis Wright, Esq

Tho. Middleton, vide Fletcher.

THis Author liv'd in the Time of King Iames and King Charles the First; was Contemporary and Associate with Deckar, Rowley, Massinger, Fletcher and Iohnson. Under the Title of Iohn∣son, you have an Account that he join'd with him and Fletcher, in one Play, call'd, the Widow. He was assisted by Massinger and Rowley, in writing another Play, call'd, the Old Law: by Deckar, in the Roaring Girl, and by Mr. Rowley, in three others; besides those he writ and publish'd, entirely his own.

• Any thing for a Quiet Life, a Comedy, 4to. 1662. This was not printed till that Year, tho' long before acted at the Black-Fry∣ars, with good Success.
• Blurt, Mr. Constable; or, the Spaniard's Night-Walk; 4to. 1602. Acted sundry times privately, by the Children of Paul's. Our Au∣thor's Name is not in the Title Page; but nevertheless, on good Grounds, attributed to him by Kirkman, &c.
• The Changeling, a Tragedy, 4to. 1653. Acted at the Private House in Drury-Lane, and Salisbury-Court, with great Applause. This is one of those Plays in which he was assisted by Mr. Rowley. For the Plot, consult the Story of Alsemero, and Beatrice Ioanna, in God's Revenge against Murther, fol. writ by Dr. Reynolds.
• The Chast Maid in Cheapside, a Comedy, 4to. 1620. This is en∣tituled, A pleasant conceited Comedy, often acted at the Swan on the Bank-Side, by the Lady Elizabeth, her Servants.
• A fair Quarrel, a Comedy, 4to. 1622. This is another of those Plays, in which Mr. Rowley join'd, and is dedicated to the nobly dispos'd, and faithful Breasted, Robert Grey, Esq one of the Grooms of his Highness's Chamber. Plot from Cynthio Giraldi, a Novel, Dec. 4. Nov. 5.
• The Family of Love, a Comedy, 4to. 1608. Acted by the Chil∣dren of his Majesty's Revels.
• A Game at Chess, a Comedy, 4to. Acted at the Globe on the Bank-Side. The Game being play'd before Loyola, between one of the Church of England, and the other of the Church of Rome, the latter loses.
• ...

• Inner-Temple Masque; or, Masque of Heroes, 4to. 1640. present∣ed by Gentlemen of the same ancient and noble House, as an En∣tertainment for many eminent Ladies. Tho' this Play was writ about Twenty Years before printed, yet Mrs. Behn approv'd of it so much, that when she writ her Comedy called, the City Heiress, she borrowed part thereof.
• A Mad World, my Masters, a Comedy, 4to. This Play is said to be often acted, with good Applause.
• The Mayor of Queenborough, a Comedy, 4to. 1661. often acted with much Applause, by his Majesty's Servants. You have in this Play, several Dumb Shews. Plot, see the Reign of Vortiger, in Du Chesne, Stow, Speed, and other English Chronicles.
• Michaelmas-Term, a Comedy, 4to. I know not whether ever acted.
• More Desemblers besides Women, a Comedy, 8vo. 1657.
• No Wit, no Help like a Woman's, a Comedy, 8vo. 1657. This and the other preceding Play, with Women, beware Women, may be had bound together, in a small 8vo. or 12mo.
• The Old Law; or, A New Way to Please you, 4to. 1656. The Title calls it, An Excellent Comedy, acted before the King and Queen, with great Applause. Mr. Rowley and Massenger join'd with him in this Play.
• The Phaenix, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1607. Acted several times by the Children of Paul's, before his Majesty, with good Ap∣plause. See the Story writ by Mignel de Cervantes, called, the Force of Love, being a Spanish Novel.
• The Roaring Girl; or, Mall Cut-Purse, a Comedy, 4to. 1611. as it has lately been acted on the Fortune Stage, by the Prince's Players. Mr. Langbain says, he never saw this Play, and Ranks it under Middleton; but I take most part of it to be Deckar's, who joyn'd in it. This Play has an odd sort of an Epistle Dedicatory, to the Comick Play-Readers, Venery and Laughter.
• The Spanish Gipsies, a Comedy, 4to. 1661. acted both at the Private House in Drury-Lane, and Salisbury-Court, with great Ap∣plause. In this Play he was join'd by Mr. Rowley. See part of the Plot in a Spanish Novel, call'd, the Force of Blood, writ by M. de Cervantes.
• A Trick to catch the Old One, a Comedy, 4to. 1616. The Ti∣tle says, it has been often in Action at Paul's and Black-Fryars, be∣fore their Majesties. This was, in those Times, accounted a good Play.
• Triumphs of Love and Antiquity, a Masque, 4to. 1619. Dedica∣ted to the Right Honourable, Sir William Cockain, Knight, then Lord Mayor of the City of London, and Lord General of his Ma∣jesty's Military Forces. This, tho' accounted by other Catalogues

• a Masque, is little more than Speeches spoke, as now in these Days, to the Lord Mayors, in Pageants, &c.
• Women, beware Women, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1657. See Hippolito and Isabella, a Romance, 8vo. This is usually bound with two others of his before-mentioned, 8vo.
• The World toss'd at Tennis, a Masque, 4to. 1620. said to be di∣vers times acted to the Contentment of many Noble and Worthy Spectators, by the Prince's Servants. The Dedication is to the truly Noble, Charles, then Lord Howard, Baron of Effingham; and to his Vertuous and Worthy Wife, the Right Honourable, Mary, then Lady Effingham, the Eldest Daughter of Sir William Cockain, Knight, then Lord Mayor of London, &c.
• Your Five Gallants, a Comedy 4to. Acted at the Black-Fryars. A Play printed without any Date, and in all probability, the first he ever writ.

Iohn Milton.

AN Author of that Excellence of Genius and Learning, that none of any Age or Nation, I think, has excel'd him: du∣ring the Civil Wars, and after the Death of King Charles the First, he was advanced to considerable Posts in the Government, as Under Secretary of State, &c. and he was a strenuous Defender of the Power and Liberty of the People, upon which that Go∣vernment immediately stood. His Controversy with Salmatius was very famous all over Europe, and his Victory cost his Adver∣sary his Life, tho' he himself lost his Eyes. I have been told, that after the Restauration of King Charles the Second, he taught School at, or near Greenwich. The Time or Place of his Birth, Education or Death, I am ignorant of. He writ two Dramatick Pieces, viz.

• Samson Agonistes, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1680. Mr. Dryden Sen. has, in his Aureng-zebe, borrowed some Thoughts from this Poem, which is founded on Scripture. Consult the Thirteenth Chapter of Iudges, &c. also Tornier, Salian, and Ioseph. Antiq. lib. 5.
• A Masque presented at Ludlow-Castle, 1634. Printed 4to. 1687. It was published by Mr. Laws, who compos'd the Musick, dedi∣cating it to the Right Honourable, Iohn, Lord Viscount Brackley, Son and Heir Apparent to Iohn, Earl of Bridgewater, Viscount Brackley, Lord President of Wales, and one of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council; before whom it was presented. He writ besides, divers Pieces in Poetry and History, as Paradise Lost, 8vo. and Fol. with Sculptures; Paradise Regain'd, 8vo. Hist. of Britain, 4to. Pro populo Anglicano defensio, 12mo. The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce, 4to. &c.

Walter Montague, Esq

THE Shepherds Paradise, a Pastoral, 8vo. 1649. This was pri∣vately acted before King Charles the First, by the Queen's Ma∣jesty, and Ladies of Honour; and was then well esteem'd.

Peter Motteux.

AN Author now living, who, tho' born and bred at Roan in Nor∣mandy, has made himself so far Master of our Language, as to be able to divert the Town in Two Plays, the first call'd,

• Love's a Iest, a Comedy, 4to. Acted at the new Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1696. and dedicated to Charles, Lord Clifford, of Lanesborough. The Author owns, in his Preface, himself indebted to the Italians, for the hint of the two Scenes where Love is made in Iest; as also some Speeches and Thoughts here and there.
• The Loves of Mars and Venus, a Play set to Musick, as it is acted at the New Theatre, in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 4to. 1696. and dedicated to the Honourable Collone Codrington. In his Preface he owns the Story to be Ovid's, an•• that he has taken the Dance of the Cyclops from Mr. Shadwell's Psyche.

The Novelty, every Act a Play, being a short Pastoral, Comedy, Masque, Tragedy, and Farce; acted at the new Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 4to. 1697. and de∣dicated to Charles Caesar, of Bonnington, Esq In the Preface he lets us know, that the Pastoral, call'd, Thyrsis, is written by his ingenious Friend, Mr. I. Oldmixon. The Tragedy, which he calls, The Vnfortunate Couple, is the latter and most moving part of Dr. Filmer's Vnnatural Brother. That the Farce, call'd, Natural Magick, is an Imitation of Part of a French Comedy, of one Act, after the Italian Manner, as you may find many in the Theatre Italien. Her∣cules, the Masque, is his own, tho' I have seen one on the same Subject by a French Author, and represented at Brussels. The Co∣medy is his own too, call'd, All without Money.

Tho' this bears the Name of The Novelty, it can be call'd so on∣ly as some of our modern Opinions in Philosophy are call'd new, that is, because they have laid by unthought of a great while; for as these are to be met with among the Old Philosophers, so is this Model to be found in Sir William Davenant's Play-House to be Lett. I shall only add, That the greatest Novelty is the odd sort

of Numbers us'd in his Friends Pastoral: What Authority he may have for it, I don't know.

William Mountford.

THE Birth and Parentage of this Author I know nothing of; the first Figure he made was, in the part of Tall-Boy, on the Stage, for which, being taken Notice, he was advanc'd on the Theatre, till he got into the Family of the late Lord Chancellor Iefferies; from whence he return'd to the Stage, where he continued till he was kill'd in Norfolk-Buildings, London. He has publish'd three Plays.

• Greenwich-Park, a Comedy, 4to. 1691. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Algernon, Earl of Essex, Viscount Malden, &c. This is a very pretty Comedy, and has been always received with gene∣ral Applause.
• The Injur'd Lovers; or, The Ambitious Father, a Tragedy, 4to. 1688. the Dedication is to the Right Honourable, Iames, Earl of Arran, Son to his Grace, the Duke of Hamilton. This Play did not succeed as the Author wish'd.
• The Life and Death of Dr. Faustus, made into a Farce, with the Humours of Harlequin and Scaramauch, as they were several times acted by Mr. Lee and Mr. Ievoa, at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden, newly reviv'd at the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields.
• The Succesful Strangers, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1690. Acted by their Majesties Servants, at the Theatre Royal. Its Dedication is to the Right Honourable, Thomas (now Lord) Wharton, Comptroller of his Majesty's Houshold. The Catastrophe from The Rival Bro∣thers, in Scarron's Novels. This Play somewhat exceeded the pre∣ceding one.

N.

Thomas Nabbs.

HE was accounted a Third Rate Poet, who liv'd in King Charles the First's Time, there is published of his Writings, Eight Dramatick Pieces, which follow in Alphabetical Order:

• The Bride, called, a pleasant Comedy, 4to. 1640. Acted first, Two Years before, at the Private House in Drury-Lane, by their

• Majesties Servants. Dedicated to several Gentlemen of the Hono∣rable Houses of the Inns of Court, his Friends.
• Covent-Garden, a Comedy, 4to. 1638. first acted by the Queen's Majesty's Servants, 1632. The Dedication is to the Right Worthy, Sir Iohn Suckling.
• Hanibal and Scipio, called, An Historical Tragedy, 4to. 1637. but acted first in the Year 1635. by the Queen's Majesty's Servants, at the private House in Drury-Lane. Plot founded on History; see the Lives of Hanibal and Scipio, in Corn. Nepos, and Plutarch; see also Livy, L. Florus, &c.
• An Entertainment on the Prince's Birth-Day, 4to. This is ranked under Nabbs, in Mr. Langbain's Catalogue, as also in Kirkman's and others, but omitted in Mr. Langbain's Account of the Poets, for what Reason I know not.
• Microcosmos, a Masque, 4to. 1637. presented (says the Title) with general liking, at the private House in Salisbury-Court, and here set down, according to the Intention of the Author. The Dedication is to the Service and Delight of all truly Noble, Gene∣rous, and Honest Spirìts. This is a Masque which has good Mora∣lity in it, and (as I find) was commended by Bro••e, and others.
• Spring's Glory, Vindicating Love by Temperance, a Masque, 4to. 1638. This has much of Morality also, and is commended by Mr. Chamberlain, a then noted Poet, and others. It's dedicated to Peter Ball, Esq. There is joined with this A Presentation, as in∣tended for Prince Charles's Birth-Day, (viz.) May 29. which, in other Catalogues has been stiled an Interlude. There are besides, many Poems, Epigrams, Elegies and Epithalamiums.
• Tottenham-Court, a Comedy, 4to. printed 1638. but acted five Years before, in Salisbury-Court: And is dedicated to the Wor∣shipful, Will. Mills, Esq.
• Vnfortunate Mother, a Tragedy, 4to. 1640. It is dedicated to the Right Worshipful, Richard Brathwait, Esq. Some of the Au∣thor's Friends bestowed commendatory Verses on this Play, tho' it did not bear acting.
• The Woman-Hater Arraigned, a Comedy, and Charles the First, a Tragedy, have been by Philips and Winstanly, plac'd to this Au∣thor, but without any Ground or Reason: for which see among the Anonymous Plays, hereafter mentioned.

Thomas Nash.

A Contemporary with the former, tho' of a more eminent Cha∣racter; he was bred at Cambridge, and writ two Plays, called,

• Dido, Queen of Carthage, a Tragedy, 4to. This was not wholly writ by him, for Marlow did somewhat assist therein. The Story from Virgils AEneids, lib. 1, & 4.
• Summers Last Will and Testament, a Comedy, 4to. This Author has writ divers other small Pieces, both in Verse and Prose; but not that Play of See me, and see me not, as alledged by Mr. Philips and Winstanley.

Alexander Nevile.

A Young Gentleman, that at sixteen undertook to translate the Oedipus of Seneca, and liv'd in the Reign of Queen Eli∣zabeth.

Oedipus, a Tragedy, 4to. printed 1581. but was Englished by him about twenty Years before, and is dedicated to Dr. Wotton, then one of the Queen's Majesty's Privy Council.

Robert Nevile.

A Fellow of King's-College, Cambridge, in King Charles the First's Time, and writ a Play, entituled,

The Poor Scholar, a Comedy, 4to. 1662. written divers Years before printed, but I do not find it was ever acted, tho recom∣mended by some Copies of Verses by three other Poets of that Time.

William, Duke of Newcastle.

MR. Langbain has always, a good Word for Quality, he can see no Blemish in that Person that has a Title, tho' he be so sharp sighted in all those of a lower Station; and he is so transport∣ed on this worthy Nobleman, that he baulks the Curiosity of his Read∣er, for some Account of his Life, to vent a clumsey Flattery. He was of the Illustrious and Ancient Family of Cavendish, a zealous Follower of the Royal Cause, and with it exil'd; during his Aboad at Antwerp, he writ a Book of Horsemanship. He was an Encou∣rager of Poetry, and a Poet himself. You may find his Life at large, written by his Dutchess. We have four Comedies of his in Print; as

• The Country Captain, a Comedy, 8vo. 1649. It was acted at the Black-Fryars, by his Majesty's Servants, with good Applause; and ••sually bound up with another of his, called, The Variety.
• The Humorous Lovers, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. Acted by his Roy∣al Highness the Duke of York's Servants, with great Applause.
• ...

• The Triumphant Widow; or, The Medley of Humours, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. and acted by his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Ser∣vants. This was esteemed a good Play, and Mr. Shadwell had so good an Opinion of it, that he borrowed a great part thereof, to compleat his Comedy, call'd, Bury-Fair.
• The Variety, a Comedy, 8vo. 1649. presented by his Majesty's Servants at the Black••Fryars. Tho' the Duke's Name be not to this, or The Country Captain, which is usually bound with it; yet, by Mr. Cartwright's Works, and others, we find Satisfaction enough to believe them his.

Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle.

THE Honourable Consort of the fore-mentioned Duke, whose Plays and Poetry have made some Noise in the World, and have at least met with Mr. Langbain for an Admirer and Defender. I know not her Family, nor Time of Birth or Death. She has published six and Twenty Plays, reckoning those writ in two Parts, each of them for two. They are usually bound in two Vo∣lumes fol. 1662, and 1668. Their Names follow:

• The Apocriphal Ladies, a Comedy, fol. 1662. This Play is not divided into Acts, but has variety of Scenes, to the Number of three and twenty.
• Bell in Campo, a Tragedy, in two Parts, fol. 1662. In the last Part you may find several Copies of Verses writ by his Grace, the Duke, her Husband.
• The Blazing World, a Comedy, fol. 1668. This, tho stil'd a Comedy, yet was never perfected by the Authoress.
• The Bridalls, a Comedy, fol. 1668.
• The Comical Hash, a Comedy, fol. 1662. This Play was, by Accident, omitted in Mr. Langbain's Catalogue of Plays, and igno∣rantly by other Catalogue Publishers.
• The Convent of Pleasure, a Comedy, fol. 1668.
• The Female Accademy, a Comedy, fol. 1662.
• Lady Contemplation, in two Parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662. The Duke assisted in some Scenes of both Parts.
• Love's Adventures, in two Parts, a Comedy, ••ol. 1662. The Duke writ also the Epithalamium and Song in the last Part.
• Matrimonial Troubles, in two Parts, the first Comedy, the last Tragedy, fol. 1662.
• Nature's Three Daughters (viz.) Beauty, Love, and Wit, in two parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662.
• The Presence, a Comedy, fol. 1668. The Scenes designed for this Play, were so numerous, that the Dutchess thought it would lengthen it too much, therefore printed them seperately.
• ...

• Publick Wooing, a Comedy, fol. 1662. Two Scenes and two Songs at the End of this Play, with divers Speeches therein, are writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.
• Religions, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. 1662.
• Several Wits, a Comedy, Fol. 1662.
• The Sociable Companions; or, The Female Wits, a Comedy, fol. 1668.
• The Vnnatural Tragedy, fol. 1662. The Prologue and Epilogue of this Play, were writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.
• Wits Cabal, in two Parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662. The Epilogue of the first Part was also writ by his Grace, the Duke of New∣castle.
• Youth's Glory, and Death's Banquet, in two Parts, a Tragedy, fol. 1662. Two Scenes, and the Speeches of the first Part, as also the Songs and Verses in the second Part, were also writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.

Besides these Dramatick Works, she has writ divers other Pie∣ces; as, The Life of the Duke of New-Castle, 1667. also the same in Latin, 1668. Philosophical Fancies, 1653. A Volume of Poems, 1653. Philosophical Opinions, 1655. Nature's Picture, drawn by Fan∣cies Pencil, to the Life; at the End of which was her own Life, 1656. A Volume of Orations, 1662. Philosophical Letters, 1664. Two hundred and eleven So••••••bl•• Letters, 1664. All which Volumes are printed in fol.

Thomas Newton.

ONE of the Translators of Seneca, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, he translated one entirely, and club'd with Iasper Heywood and Alexander Nevile in the rest; but publish'd them all together, with a Dedication to Sir Thomas Henage, then Trea∣surer of her Majesty's Chamber. Philips, in his Theatrum Poetarum, ascribes one other Play to this Author, call'd, Tamberlain the Great, which is none of his, but Marlo's.

Thebais, a Tragedy, 4to. Translated from Seneca, as before inti∣mated, it has no Chorus, and is the shortest of all that Author's Tragedies.

Thomas Norton, and Tho. Sackvile.

THese Twin Authors liv'd in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, the latter was Lord Buckhurst, and in 1 Iac. created Earl of Dorset, Mar. 13. 1603.

Ferrex and Porrex, a Tragedy, 8vo. first printed 1665. but since by the Title of

Gorboduc, a Tragedy, 4to. re-printed, 1590. This Play was present∣ed by the Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple, before the Queen's most excellent Majesty; and accounted an excellent Play, full of Mora∣lity. Plot from our British Chronicles.

Thomas Nuce.

AN Author likewise in Queen Elizabeth's Time, who translated one of Seneca's Plays, called,

Octavia, a Tragedy, 4to. Consult Sueton. in vit. Claud. Tacitus, lib. 12. c. 14. Dion. Nero, &c.

O

Thomas Otway.

THE Place of Mr. Otway's Birth I know not; but he was of a good Family, and has a Nephew a Captain in the present Service. He was bred at Christ-Church, in Oxford, and thence remov'd to London, not going on with the Design of being of the Clergy. Tho' at first he met with but little Encou∣ragement here, but what a small Allowance and Sallery from the Play-house afforded (for he was first a Player) but after he had writ Don Carlos, he began to have a Name, having in that Play disco∣vered some Touches of a Tallent, very few of our English Poets have been Master of, in moving the Passions, that are, and ought to be the Aim of all Tragick Poets, Terror and Pity; and in which none equal'd him, in his two following Tragedies of The Orphan, and Venice Preserv'd. He was a Iovial Companion, and a great Lo∣ver of the Bottle, and Particularly of Punch; the last thing he made before his Death, being an excellent Song on that Liquor. We have in Print of his, ten Plays; another more excellent than all of them, is, by some malicious or designing Person suppress'd, either hereafter to set up a Reputation to themselves, by owning it, or to procure a Profit by selling it for their own.

• Alcibiades, a Tragedy, 4to. 1675. acted at the Duke's Theatre. The Dedication is to the Right Honourable, Charles, Earl of Middle∣sex. This was the first Product of our Author. The Plot from

• ... Corn. Nepos, and Plutarch, both in the Life of Alcibiades; but he has varied from the Story, making Alcibiades a more scrupulous Man than the Historians do, who accuse him of Adultery with the Queen of Agis, &c.
• The Atheist; or the second Part of The Soldier's Fortune, a Come∣dy, 4to. 1684. The Dedication is to the Lord Eland, Eldest Son to the Marquess of Hallifax. Plot, in Part, taken from The Invisible Mistress, in Scarron's Novels.
• The Cheats of Scapin, a Farce, 4to. 1667. acted at the Duke's Theatre: It is printed with Titus and Berenice, a Tragedy after mentioned, writ by the same Author. 'Tis translated from Mol∣liere, which, originally is Terrences Phormio.
• Caius Marius, his History and Fall, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. acted at the Duke's Theatre; and its Dedication to the Lord Viscount Faulkland. Part of it stollen from Shakespear's Romeo and Iuliet. Plot from Plutarch, in his Life of Caius Marius, and Lucan's Phar∣salia, Book 2.
• Don Carlos, Prince of Spain, a Tragedy, 4to. 1679. The Dedi∣cation is to his Royal Highness, the Duke. This is the second Play our Author ever writ, and gain'd him great Reputation. Plot from the Novel so called, 12mo. you may also consult the Spanish Chronicles in the Life of Philip the Second.
• Friendship in Fashion, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. acted at the Duke's Theatre, with good Applause. Its Dedication is to the Right Ho∣nourable, Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex.
• The Orphan; or, The Vnhappy Marriage, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. acted at the Duke's Theatre. Its Dedication to her Royal Highness, the Dutchess. This is acccounted an excellent Play, and often acted of late Days. Plot from the History of Brandon, p. 17. and The English Adventures, a Novel.
• The Soldiers Fortune, a Comedy, 4to. 1681. acted by their Roy∣al Highnesses Servants, at the Duke's Theatre. The Lady Dunce, making her Husband Agent, is from Moliere Escole de Maris, &c. See also Boccace's Novels, Day 3. Nov. 3. and Scarron's Comical Romance, p. 227.
• Titus and Berenice, a Tragedy, 4to. 1677. to which is joined The Cheats of Scapin, acted at the Duke's Theatre; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iohn, Earl of Rochester. Translated from Monsieur Racine; it wants two Acts of the usual Number. The Story of Titus and Berenice you may find in Suetonius, Dioni∣sius, Iosephus, &c.
• Venice Preserv'd; or, A Plot discovered; a Tragedy, 4to. 1688. acted at the Duke's Theatre; dedicated to the Dutchess of Ports∣mouth. This is an incomparable Play, and often acted of late Days. The Plot is taken from a little Book, printed 8vo. being an Account of the Conspiracy of the Spaniards against Venice.

This Author writ a small Piece, called, The Poet's Complaint to his Muse, 4to. 1680. also a Pastoral on King Charles the Second, which is publish'd in Mrs. Behn's Lycidas, 8vo. p. 81. and since his Death, is printed a Translation of his from the French, called, The History of the Triumvirates, 8vo. 1686.

I. Oldmixon.

THis Gentleman is of an ancient Family of Oldmixon, near Bridge∣water in Somersetshire. As for the particulars of his Life, I can say little of them, only that he has given the World a Pa∣storal, called,

Amintas, acted at the Theatre Royal. The Title Page lets us know, that it is taken from the Aminta of Tasso, and the Pre∣face informs us of the ill Success it met with on the Stage: which indeed cannot be attributed to the English Author's Performance, which is as well as the Original wou'd allow; but, with Submission to our Author's better Iudgment, I must needs say, that Pastoral it self, tho' never so well writ, is not a Subject fit for so long an Entertainment as that of the Stage. This the Ancients very well knew, and therefore they wisely confin'd it to a narrower Compass, as is evident from the Idyllia of Theocritus, and the Bucolics of Virgil: For the sedater Passions (which our Author himself attri∣butes to a Shepherd's Life) of these Innocent People represented in a Pastoral, cannot afford so lively Pleasure to an Audience, as may ballance the Length of their Attention, that must of necessity grow languid, and tyr'd, with so very calm an Emotion, which is still kept active by the more violent Passions, proper for Tragedy. This extending of the ancient Pastoral to so unreasonable a length was, as well as Farce, an Italian Invention, and not one jot the better, because cover'd with so great a Name as Tasso's. I cou'd never find that Authority wou'd silence the Sentiments of Nature and Reason; and Tasso, that has been guilty of Absurdeties enough in his Epic Poem, must not be suppos'd infallible in his Pastoral. After all, I am of Opinion, that it is but a weak Refuge to fly to the Opinion or Taste of a Foreign Nation, from the Iudgment of our own; for I'm satisfy'd that there are not fewer Men of Sence, in England, and a great many more of Learning, than Italy affords us. A∣minta might please there, but if we judge by our Taste of Poetry, and with ours by the Ancients, it pleas'd without Reason, and on∣ly perhaps for the Novelty, or, which is yet most likely, because it was sung in Italy, that Musical Nation minding more the Perfor∣mance of the Composer, than Poet. All that can be said for our Author is, that in an ill Choice, he has equal'd his Original, and in some Places improv'd it.

P

Iohn Palsgrave.

THIS Author was a Batchelor of Divinity, and Chaplain to King Henry the Eighth. He published one Play under the Title of

Acolastus, a Comedy, 4to. 1540. dedicated to King Henry th•• Eighth; translated from the Latin Play of the same Name, writ by Guil. Fullonius, and printed in Old English Character. 'Tis the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Peaps.

A Scholar of Eaten School, who at seventen, writ a Play, called, Love in its Extasy, a Pastoral, 4to. 1649. but written ma∣ny Years before 'twas printed.

George Peel.

THis Author was Master of Arts in Christ-Church-College, Oxon, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, writ two Plays.

• David and Bethshabe, their Love, with the Tragedy of Absalom, 4to. 1599. This Play, as the Title says, was divers times play'd on the Stage. Plot from Holy Scripture.
• Edward the first, a History 4to. 1593. This King was sirnamed Long-Shanks, and the Play gives an Account of his return from the Holy Land, with the Life of Kewellin, Rebel in Wales; it also re∣lates the Story of Queen Eleanor's sinking by Chairing-Cross, and rising again at Queen-Hithe, before called Potters-Hithe. See Graf∣ton, Martin, Hollingshead, Stow, and other English Chronicles.

The Tragedy of Alphonsus, Emperor of Germany, by mistake, plac'd to him, in ••ome Catalogues, is not his, but Chapman's.

Mrs. Catharine Philips.

SHE was, if I mistake not, born in Brecknock-shire, in Wales•• Contemporary of Cowley, and much praised by him. I must confess, I cannot but prefer Mrs. Behn infinitely before her; she

seems to be a very cold Writer, while you may find in Aphra both Fire and Easiness, which Mrs. Philips wanted. She dy'd of the Small Pox, Iune, 22. 1664. Aged 31.

Horace, a Tragedy, Fol. 1678. Translated from the French of Corneille. This Authress leaving the Play unfinish'd at her Death, Sir Iohn Denham compleated it, by adding the fifth Act; after which, it was acted at Court by Persons of Quality. Plot from Livy, lib. 1. c. 2. L. Florus, &c.

Pompey, a Tragedy, fol. 1678. acted at the Duke's Theatre, with great Applause. There was usually at the End acted a Farce of Sir William Davenant's, which you may find in his Play-House to be Lett. The Earl of Orrery, and Countess of Cork, were the Chief Instruments of bringing this Play in English, to light. Transla∣ted also from Corneille, and Plot from Lucan's Pharsalia.

Mrs. Mary Pix.

THis is a Lady yet living, and in this Poetick Age, when all Sex∣es and Degrees venture on the Sock or Buskins, she has boldly given us an Essay of her Talent in both, and not without Success, tho' with little Profit to her self.

Ibrahim, the Thirteenth Emperor of the Turks, a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, 1696. 4to. and dedicated to Richard Min∣chal, of Burton, Esq This Play, if it want the Harmony of Num∣bers, and the Sublimity of Expression, has yet a Quality, that at least ballances that Defect, I mean the Passions; for the Distress of Morena never fail'd to bring Tears into the Eyes of the Audience; which few Plays, if any since Otway's, have done; and yet, which is the true End of Tragedy. She informs us, that by mistake it was called Ibrahim the Thirteenth, when it should have been called, Ibra∣him the Twelfth, the Story you may find in Sir Paul Ricaut's Con∣tinuation of the Turkish History.

The Innocent Mistress, a Comedy, acted at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1697. 4to. The Prologue and Epilogue writ by Mr. Motteux. This is a di∣verting Play, and met with good Success, tho' acted in the hot Sea∣son of the Year, our Poetress has endeavoured to imitate the Easi∣ness and Way of the Author of Vertue in Danger, and The Provok'd Wife. She has borrowed some Incidents from other Plays; as Mrs. Beauclair's carrying of Mrs. Flywife from Sir Francis Wildlove, from the Vertuous Wife doing the same to her Husband's Mistress. Then the Scene in the Park betwixt Sir Francis and her in her Mask, is a kind of Copy in young Bellair, and Harriots in Sir Fopling. Miss Peggy seems a Copy of Miss Hoyden, as Chattal is of several of the parts written of late for Mr. Dogget. But notwithstanding these

Imitations, which ever have been allowed in Poets, the Play has its peculiar Merit; and as a Lady carried the Prize of Poetry in France this Year, so in Iustice, they are like to do in England; tho' indeed we use them more barbarously, and defraud them both of their Fame and Profit.

The Spanish Wives, a Farce, acted at the Theatre in Dorset-Gar∣dens, by his Majesty's Servants, 1696. and dedicated to the Ho∣nourable Collonel Tipping, of Whitfield. This Farce had the good Fortune to please, and it must be own'd, there are two or three pleasant Turns in it. For the Plot consult the Novel of the Pilgrim.

Samuel Pordage, Esq

Lately, if not still, a Member of Lincolns-Inn, and Author of two Plays, call'd,

• Herod and Mariamne, a Tragedy, 4to. 1673. acted at the Duke's Theatre, dedicated to the Dutchess of Albermarle. A Play writ many Years before it was prefer'd to the Stage, where it was re∣ceiv'd with great Satisfaction. Plot from Ioseph. Hist. Philo Iuda∣us, and Cleopatra, a Romance, in the Story of Tyridates.
• Siege of Babylon, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1678. dedicated to her Royal Highness the Dutchess of York. Plot from the aforesaid Ro∣mance of Cleopatra.

Henry Porter.

AUthor of an Historical Play, in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, call'd,

Two Angry Women of Abingdon, with the humourous Mirth of Dick Coomes, and Nicholas Proverbs, two Serving-men, a Comedy, 4to. 1599. acted by the Right Honourable, the Earl of Nottingham, Lord High Admiral's Servants.

Thomas Porter.

THis Gentleman liv'd in the Time of the two Charles's, and writ, 1664. a Play, call'd.

• The Carnival, a Comedy, 4to. 1664. acted at the Theatre Roy∣al, by his Majesty's Servants.
• The Villain, a Comedy, 4to. 16. acted at the Duke's Theatre. This Play is now sometimes acted, Mr. Sandford having gain'd great Reputation by playing the part of Malignii.

George Powell.

SON of Mr. Powell, an ancient Player, lately dead; he is more eminent for playing than writing, tho' there are some Plays under his Name; as,

• Alphonso King of Naples, a Tragedy, 4to. 1691. Acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Ormond. The Prologue is written by Io. Haynes, and Epilogue by Mr. Durfey.
• Brutus of Alba; or, Augustus's Triumph, a new Opera, acted at the Theatre in Dorset Garden, by his Majesty's Servants, 1690, 4to. and dedicated by Sam. Briscoe, Bookseller to George Powel, and Iohn Verbruggen. This Play has not so much as the whole Title new, for Brutus of Alba is a Play of Mr. Tate's, and all the Design taken out of several old Plays.
• The treacherous Brother, a Tragedy, 4to. 1690. acted by their Majesties Servants, at the Theatre Royal, and dedicated to the Pa∣tentees and Sharers of their Majesties Theatre. Plot from The Wall-Flower, a Romance, fol. writ by Dr. Baily, formerly President of St. Iohn's, Oxon.
• A very good Wife, a Comedy, 4to. 1695. acted by their Maje∣sties Servants, at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the honour∣ed Alexander Popham, Esq The Prologue is writ by Mr. Congreve. This Play is taken whole Pages together out of Brome.

Thomas Preston.

I Know no more of this Author, than that he has writ one Play, called,

Cambyses, King of Persia, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. a very ancient Play with an odd, long Title, which runs thus, (viz.) A lamenta∣ble Tragedy, mixt full of pleasant Mirth; containing the Life of Cambyses, King of Persia, from the beginning of his Kingdom un∣to his Death; his one good Deed of Execution, after the many Wicked Deeds, and Tyrannous Murders committed by and through him: and last of all, his odious Death, by God's Iustice appointed. Done in such Order as followeth. London, Printed by Iohn Alde. It is writ in old fashion'd Metre, and has no Date. Plot from Hero∣dotus and Iustin.

Edmund Prestwich.

OF whom I know no more, than that 'tis said, he has writ a Play, called,

• Hippolitus, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1641. A Play, which Mr. Langbain says, he never saw; the Author's Name is to it, who took the Plot from that of Seneca, or the Phaedra of Euripides.
• The Hectors, another Play, has been by some Catalogues attribu∣ted to this Author; but I cannot learn for any Reason it should be his, so you find it placed among the Anonymous Plays.

Q

Francis Quarles.

HE was born at Stewards, a Seat in Rumford, in the Parish of Horn-Church, Essex, his Father was Iames Quarles, Esq Clerk of the Green Cloth, and Purveyor to Quen Elizabeth. He studied first at Christ-Church, Cambridge, then at Lincolns-Inn; was Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia, Secretary to Bishop Vsher, and Cronologer to the City of London. He suffered Perse∣cution by the Government then it being, for a Book called, The Loyal Convert. The Troubles of Ireland brought him to die at Home, in the Two and Fiftieth Year of his Age, Sept. 8. 1644. Home had Eighteen Children by one Wife, and lies buried in St. Foster's Church, London. He writ one Play, called,

The Virgin Widow, a Comedy, 4to. 1649.

He writ divers other Pieces, as a Book of Emblems, which has born many Editions; a Book of Poems, wherein is the History of Sampson, Ionah, Esther, and Iob Militant; Argalus and Parthenia; Enchiridion of Meditations, Divine and Moral; Pentalogia, or, The Quintessence of Meditation; The Loyal Convert, with some others.

R

Thomas Randolph.

HOughton in Northamptonshire gave Birth, Westminster School, and Trinity Colledge, Cambridge, (where he was Fellow) a learned Education to this Poet. He was an adopted Son of Ben. Iohnson; and dyed Young, tho' his exact Age I know not; he writ these following Plays.

• Amintas; or, The Impossible Dowry, a Pastoral, 8vo. 1688. This was acted before the King and Queen at White-Hall.
• Aristippus; or, The Iovial Philosopher, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1688. to which is added, The Conceited Pedlar. This was present∣ed in a private Shew.
• Hey for Honesty, Down with Knavery, a Comedy, 4to. 1651. Translated from Aristophanes's Plautus. This was since augmented and published in 8vo. by another Hand, (viz.) F. I.
• The Iealous Lovers, a Comedy, 8vo. 1668. This was presented to their Majesties at Cambridge, by the Students of Trinity-Colledge, and has been accounted the best of his Plays, it was revised by the Author in his Life-time, and since reviv'd on the Stage, 1682. It is dedicated to Dr. Comber, Dean of Carlisle.
• The Muses Looking-Glass, a Comedy, 8vo. 1681. before called, The Entertainment. Sir Aston Cockain, and one Mr. Rich, formerly of Christ-Church Colledge, Oxon, have given great Commendation of this Play.

The two first and two last of these Plays are printed at Oxon with his Poems.

Edward Ravenscroft.

A Gentleman of an Ancient Family, and tho' design'd for the Law, and once a Member of the Middle Temple, was pleased to quit the rugged Paths of Business for Poetry, in which he has performed with various Success. So omitting Mr. Langbain's Per∣sonal Reflections, which ••avour strongly of the University, I shall proceed to an Account of the Plays.

• The Anatomist; or, The Sham Doctor, a Comedy, 4to. 1697. acted at the Duke's Theatre in Little-Lincolns-Inn-Fields, and de∣dicated to Thomas Ravenfcroft, Esq late High-Sheriff of Flintshire. This Play met with extraordinary Success having the Advantage of the excellent Musick of The Loves of Mars and Venus perform'd with it.
• ...

• The Canterbury Guests; or, A Bargain Broken, a Comedy, 4to 1695. acted at the Theatre Royal, and dedicated to Rowland Eyre Esq this Play had not that Success the Poet desired, as may be gathered from the Epistle.
• The Careless Lovers, a Comedy, 4to. 1673. Acted at the Duke's Theatre. Part of this Play borrowed from Molliere's Monsieur de Pourceaugnac, 8vo.
• The Citizen turn'd Gentleman, a Comedy, 4to. 1675. acted at the Duke's Theatre, and dedicated to his Highness, Prince Rupert. Borrowed from the same Author he made use of in the fore-going Play, and Molliere's le Burgois Gentlehome.
• Dame Dobson; or, The Cunning Woman, a Comedy, 4to. 1684. acted at the Duke's Theatre. Translated from La Deveniresse, a French Comedy.
• English Lawyer, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. acted at the Theatre Royal, translated from the Latin Ignoramus.
• The Italian Husband, a Tragedy, 4to. 1697. acted at the Thea∣tre in Little-Lincolns-Inn-Fields. To this Play, besides the Pro∣logue, is prefixt a Dialogue, which he calls, The Prelude. This Discourse is managed by the Poet, a Critick, and one Mr. Peregrine, the Poet's Friend; Mr. Peregrine and the Poet would make it out, that the Italian Way of writing a Tragedy in Three Acts, is very commendable; That I shall leave to the Decision of our great Ma∣ster Horace, who will have the Dramma neither more nor less than Five. Then the Poet seems under another Mistake, in thinking, that because an Italian Lady would esteem you a dull, heavy and Phlegmatick Lover, if you should waste time in idle Ceremony and Complement; it is Excuse enough for her yielding so soon in his Play: For if they are such, they are no fitter for a Tra∣gedy, than one of our English Prostitutes, and can here merit no more Pity. And tho' it is an extraordinary thing to make us pity the Guilty, (which I know none but Otway could do) yet the Audience must be very Compassionate, to pity so willing an Adul∣tery as this; and her Repentance proceeds from Fear, more than a Sense of the Crime, or at least from the seeming Generosity of the Husband, join'd with a Fear of Death. Our Poet is under the same Mistake with other of our modern Writers, who are fond of cruel, barbarous, and bloody Stories, and think no Tragedy can be good, without some Villain in it; but of this elsewhere. As for the Laconic Way he effects, I shall only say this, That it was in use only with the Lacedemonians, who were also Masters of their Passions; and never the more natural for being short, for very few Passions, and only some part of them, are to be drawn in that snip••snap way. I only say this in respect to the Ancients, whose Practice is natural, and directly contrary to our Author's.
• ...

• King Edgar and Alfreda, a Tragedy, 4to. 1677. Plot from English Chronicles; see also The Annals of Love, 8vo.
• The London Cuckolds, a Comedy, 4to. 1683. acted at the Duke's Theatre. Plot part from Scarron's Novels, 8vo. Nov. 1. (viz.) The Fruitless Precaution. Part from Les-Contes Du-Sieur D'ouville, 8vo. part 2. pag. 121. And part from Boccace's Novels, Day 7. Nov. 6, 7.
• Scaramouch a Philosopher, Harloquin a School-Booy, Bravo a Mer∣chant and Magician; a Comedy after the Italian Manner, 4to•• 1677. acted at the Theatre Royal. Part of this Play taken from Molliere's Le Bourgeois Gentlehomme; and part from Le Marriage Force, 8vo.
• The Wrangling Lovers; or, The Invisible Mistress, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. acted at the Duke's Theatre. Compare this with a Play called, Les Engagements du Hazard, by Corneille; and a Romance, called, Deceptio Visus; or, Seeing and Believing are two Things, 8vo.
• The Tragedy of Titus Andronicus, by Shakespear, was about the time of the Popish Plot, revived and altered by this our Au∣thor; who, in his Epistle, denies it to be Shakespear's, and then boasts of his own Labour and Pains therein, by making great Alte∣rations and Additions, and that he had not only refined the Lan∣guage, but made many Scenes entirely new.

Thomas Rawlins.

PRincipal Graver of the Mint to both the K. Charles's, till he died, 1670. and when he was very young, writ a Play, called,

The Rebellion, a Tragedy, 4to. 1640. acted by his Majesty's Company of Revels, Nine Days successively, as also divers times since with good Applause, and dedicated to a Kinsman of his, Ro∣bert Ducie, of Aston in the County of Stafford, Esq There is print∣ed 11 Copies of Verses with this Play, in Commendation of the Author.

Edward Revet.

THE Author of a Play, published 1671. called,

The Town Shifts; or, The Suburbs Iustice, a Comedy, 4to. 1671. acted at his Royal Highness, the Duke of York's Theatre. This is an instructive Play.

Nathaniel Richards.

AN Author in the time of King Charles the First, and published one Play about the beginning of the Civil Wars, called,

Messalina, the Roman Empress, her Tragedy, 8vo. 1640. This was acted divers times by the Company of his Majesty's Revels, with great Applause; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iohn Cary, Viscount Rochford. Plot from Suetonius, Claudian, Pliny, Iuvenal, and Plutarch.

William Rider.

THis Author was Master of Arts, and writ one Play, called,

The Twins, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1655. acted at the pri∣vate House in Salisbury-Court, with general Applause.

William Rowley, vide Webster, &c.

HE studied once at Pembrook-Hall, Cambridge, and was in writing Associate with Shakespear, Fletcher, Massinger, Hey∣wood, &c.

All's lost by Lust, a Tragedy, 4to. 1633. acted at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane, by the Lady Elizabeth's Servants. Plot, Lipsii Monita, Lib. 1. Cap. 5. &c. Turquet, Lib. 5. Cap. 30. Vnfortunate Lo∣vers, Nov. 3.

A Match at Midnight, a pleasant Comedy, 4to. 1633. Plot of Bloodhound's being hid under the Widow's Bed, taken from an old Story, you may also find in The English Rogue, part 4. chap. 19.

A Shoemaker's a Gentleman, a Comedy, 4to. 1638. styled, A merry and Pleasant Comedy, as it has been sundry times acted at the Red Bull. Plot from The History of the Gentle Craft, 4to.

A new Wonder, a Woman never vext, a Comedy, 1632. The Widow's finding her Wedding Ring in a Fishes Belly, founded on the Story of Polycrates, in Thalia of Herodotus.

The Spanish Gipsies, a Comedy, 4to. See Middleton, who join∣ed with him in this.

The Witch of Edmonton, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1658. acted by the Prince's Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury-Lane, as also once at Court, with great Applause.

Samuel Rowley.

THis Author writes himself Servant to the Prince of Wales, which by the Date of his Play must be Charles II.

The Noble Spanish Soldier; or, A Contract broken justly revenged, a Tragedy, 4to. 1634. This Play was printed after the Author's Death.

When you see me, you know me, or the famous Chronical History of Henry VIII. with the Birth and vertuous Life of Edward, Prince of Wales, 4to. 1632. This was play'd by the Prince of Wales's Servants. Plot from English Chronicles; see also the Life of King Henry VIII. by the Lord Herbert, of Cherbury.

Ioseph Rutter.

A Dependant of the Family of the Lord Dorset, and Servant to his Son, and at his Command, translated the Cid of Cor∣neille.

The Cid, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1637. acted before their Maje∣sties at Court, and at the Cock-Pit in Drury-Lane, by their Maje∣sties Servants; dedicated to Edward, Earl of Dorset, whose Son put his Hand to some part of the Translation from Corneille.

The Cid, Part II. a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1640. dedicated to the Lady Theophil a Cook. This part was also translated from Corneille, by our Author, at the Command of his Majesty. These Plays are generally bound together, and are founded on History; see Rode∣ric de Tolede, and Mariana, &c.

The Shepherds Holiday, a Pastoral Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1635. acted before their Majesties at White-Hall, by the Queen's Servants. This is written in Blank Verse, and attributed to our Author by Kirkman, in his former Catalogues, though there is no more than I. R. affixed to the Title Page.

Thomas Rymer.

A Gentleman born in the North of England, the Country of his Family, but I cannot be positive to the County; of which U∣niversity he was I know not, but his first Applications in this Town were to the Law in Grays-Inn. However, his Learning and Love to Poetry led him to a Consideration of those Authors, which set him up for a Critic; and it must be confess'd, that he has me∣rited some Praise in his Preface to Rapin, and the first part of this

View of the Tragedies of the last Age; tho' I cannot so much as agree with those that allow most of the Errors he has found in Shakespear, Iust; for I'm confident it may be made Evident, that not the fifth part have any Iustice. He, since the Death of Mr. Shadwell, has the Place of Historiographer to his Majesty, for which Office 'tis certain his Learning very well qualifies him.

Edgar; or, The English Monarch, an Heroick Tragedy, 4to. 1678. dedicated to King Charles the Second. Mr. Ravencro••t hath writ a Play on the same Subject, published the Year before this. For the Plot, consult W. Malmsbury, H. H. Huntingdon, Rog. Hoveden, Pol. Virgil, and other English Chronicles: see also The Annals of Love, 8vo.

S

Thomas Sackvile, see Norton. Thomas St. Serf.

THE Author of one Play, called,

Tarugo's Wiles; or, The Coffee-House, a Comedy, 4to. 1668. acted at the Duke of Y••rk's Theatre; dedicated to the Right Ho∣nourable, George, Marquess of Huntley. One part of this Play is built on No Puedeser; or, It cannot be, a Spanish Play: and another part on Si•• Courtly Nice, written by Mr. Crown.

William Sampson.

A Retainer of Sir Henry Willoughby's Family of Richley in Derby-shire, in the Reign of King Charles the First. He writ one Play and part of another.

The Vow breaker; or, The Fair Maid of Clifton, in Nottingham-shire; a Tragedy, 4to. 1633. acted by several Companies with great Applause; and dedicated to•• Mrs. Ann Willoughby, Daughter to Sir Henry, aforesaid.

Herod and Antipater, a Tragedy, 4to. See Markham, with whom he joined in this.

George Sandys, Esq

THis Poet was Son of Edwin, Archbishop of York, born at Bi∣shops-Th••rp, in York-shire, 1577. was ••nter'd in St. Mary-Hall, Oxon, at Eleven Years old; began his Travels about the World 1610. the Year of the Murder of Henry IV. of France. among his Poetical Works he translated a Latin Play of Hugo Grotius, entitu∣led, Christ's Passi••n. He died at Boxley-Abby, in Kent, being his Nephew Mr. W••at's Seat, and buried in the Chancel of that Church, March 7. 1643.

Christ's Passion, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1640. dedicated to King Charles the First. Translated from the Latin of Hugo Grotius, with An∣notations. It was reprinted with Sculptures, 8vo. 1688.

This Author also translated Ovid's Metamorphosis, published like∣wise with Sculptures, Fol. 1632.

Charles Saunders.

THis young Gentleman writ a Play, whilst a King's Scholar, called,

Tamberlain the Great, a Tragedy, 4to. 1681. acted by his Ma∣jesty's Servants at the Theatre Royal, as also before the King at Oxon. This Play was highly commended by Mr. Banks, and other Poets. Plot from Asteria and Tamerlane, a Novel, 8vo.

Thomas Scot.

AN Author yet living, he was a Westminster Scholar, and lately a Student in Cambridge, who has given the Town two new Plays in Appearance, at least two new Titles, the first in Order, and writing, is,

• The Mock Marriage, a Comedy, 4to. acted at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden, by his Majesty's Servants, 1696. This Author has given us no Proof of his Talent in Flattery, for he has dedicated neither of those Plays he has appeared in; but he has that part of a Poet however, of flattering himself (as indeed every Man does more or less) in defending what the Town has once condemned, for tho' a bad Play may take, yet we hear very few Instances that a good one miscarried; 'tis true, this is like other general Rules, not without its Exception. This particular Play met with pretty good Success, for the Season of the Year, considering it the first Essay of a young Writer, unacquainted with the Town.
• ...

• The Vnhappy Kindness; or, A Fruitless Revenge, a Tragedy•• 4to. acted at the Theatre Royal, 1696. This Play is only the Wife for a Month of Fletcher's alter'd, tho' he has thought fit to retain its greatest Faults, in the Character of the Wife, whose Behaviour to her Husband, to provoke him to ease her of her Maiden-head, is by no means agreeable to the Modesty of the Sex, which is a Sin against the Manners.

Elkanah Settle.

AN Author now living, who was some time at Trinity-Colledge, Oxon; but coming to London, and having been there possessed with Poetry, spent a very good Fortune, and then stuck to the Stage, which yet would not stick to him; his ••ickleness in po∣litical Principles (having once been an active Man for the Whigg-Party) lost him too his Friends on the other Side, without any Re∣ward for his Desertion. Whatever his Plays are (which if com∣par'd with the best of our present Writers, I mean some of them, far excel 'em) in the Opinion of his Enemies, he has perform'd in some, with no less applause than Merit; in his Dispute with Mr. Dryden, he had evidently the better of him; tho', being a modest Man, he suffer'd himself to be run down by his Antago∣nist in his Interest in the Town.

The Ambitious Slave; or, A Generous Revenge, a Tragedy acted at the Theatre Royal, 4to. 1694. and dedicated to the Honoured Iohn Bright, Esq which Dedication the Author begins with the ••ll Fortune of the Play. The Scene he has plac'd in Persia, from whence I find he is scarce to be got.

Cambyses, King of Persia, a Tragedy, 4to. 1675. acted at the Duke's Theatre; dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Ann, Dutchess of Monmouth. This Play sold two Impressions before this time of printing, and is in Heroick Verse. Plot, Iustin, Lib. 1. Cap. 9. Amianus Marcellinus, Lib. 23. Herodotus, &c.

The Conquest of China by the Tartars, a Tragedy, 4to. 1676. ••cted at the Duke's Theatre; and dedicated to the Lord Castle-Ri∣s••••g. This Play is founded on History, and writ in Heroick Verse. Plot, Heylin's Cosmography, Book 3. Conquest of China by Signior Palafax, Englished, 8vo. Lewis de Gusman, and Gonzales de Men∣doza.

Distressed Innocence; or, The Princess of Persia, a Tragedy, 4to. 1691. acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Iohn, Lord Cutts, Baron of Gowram.

This Play our Author writ after ten Years Silence, and pays his publick Acknowledgment to Mr. Betterton, for his several ex∣traordinary hints to the heightning of its best Characters, and how he was indebted to Mr. Montfort for the last Scene thereof, who also writ the Epilogue. The Story of Hormidas and Cleomira built on true History.

The Empress of Morocco, a Tragedy, 4to. 1673. writ in Hero∣ick Verse, with Sculptures; acted at the Duke's Theatre; and de∣dicated to the Right Honourable, Henry, Earl of Norwich, and Earl Marshal of England. This Play was writ against by Mr. Dry∣den, Mr. Shadwell, and Mr. Crown, and called, Notes and Observations on the Empress of Morocco; or, Some few Erratas to be printed in∣stead of the Sculptures, with the second Edition of that Play. 4to, 1674. Which Pamphlet was answered by another.

Fatal Love; or, The forc'd Inconstancy, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to Sir Rob. Owen. Plot from Achilles Tatius's Clitophon and Lucippe, a Romance, Book 5. which Romance is likewise in English, printed 8vo.

The Female Prelate; or, The History of the Life and Death of Pope Ioan, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Anthony, Earl of Shaftsbury. Plot from Platina's Lives of the Popes, Englished by Sir Paul Ri∣caut, and the Life and Death of Pope Ioan, 8vo. 1675. wherein is a List of such Authors who affirm, and others who deny the Truth of this Story. There is also another small Book of the Life and Death of Pope Ioan, writ Dialogue-wise, by one Mr. Cook, formerly Fellow of Vniversity-Colledge, Oxon. which Piece was so much va∣lued then, that 'twas translated into French by I. de la Mon∣taign.

The Heir of Morocco, with the Death of Gayland; a Tragedy, 4to. 1682. acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Lady Henrietta Wentworth, Baroness of Nettlested.

Ibrahim, the Illustrious Bassa; a Tragedy, 4to. 1677. acted at Duke's Theatre; and dedicated to the Dutchess of Albermarle; it is writ in Heroick Verse. Plot from The Illustrious Bassa, a Ro∣mance, Fol.

Love and Revenge, a Tragedy, 4to. 1675. acted at the Duke's Theatre; and dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle. A great part of this Play taken from another, called, Fatal Contract, writ by Mr. Hemmings, formerly of the University of Oxon.

Pastor Fido; or, The Faithful Shepherd, a Pastoral, 4to. 1677. acted at the Duke's Theatre, and dedicated to the Lady Elizabeth Delaval. It was first translated by Sir Richard Fanshaw, from the Italian of Guarini, which Translation our Author has endeavoured to improve.

The World in the Moon, an Opera; 4to. 1698. as it is performed at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden, by his Majesty's Servants; and de∣dicated to Christopher Roth, Esq This is something unusual, being a comical•• Opera. I think great part of the Run betwixt Palmerin, Worthy, Sir Dotterel, and Iacin••ha, pleasant enough, tho' the first and late Essay of our Author in the Soc.

Tho. Shadwell, Esq

A Gentleman of a good Family in the County of Norfolk, was well received by the Noblemen of Wit, especially the present Earl of Dorset, the late Duke of Newcastle, &c. he was on the Revolution made Poet Laureat, which place he held till his Death, which happened about three or four Years since. His Co∣medies, at least some of them, shew him to understand Humour; and if he cou'd have drawn the Character of a Man of Wit, as well as that of a Coxcomb, there wou••d have been nothing want∣ing to the Perfection of his Dramatick Fables. But to his Plays in their Order, being Seventeen in Number, (viz.)

• The Amorous Bigotte, with the Second part of Teague O Divelly, a Comedy 4to. 1690. acted by their Majesties Servants; and dedi∣cated to the Right Honourable Charles, then Earl, now Duke of Shrewsbury.
• Bury Fair, a Comedy, 4to. 1689. acted by his Majesty's Ser∣vants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Dor∣set and Middlesex, then Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Hoshold. Part of this Play taken from the Duke of Newcastle's Triumphant Widow, and part from Molliere's Precieuses Ridicules.
• Epsom Wells, a Comedy, 4to. 1676. acted at the Duke's Theatre; and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. 'Tis a pleasant Commendation of Mr. Langbain, (whose 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mr. Shadwell is) to bring Monsieur St. Euveremont's Praise of it who cannot speak a Word of English, and by Consequence none of the best Iudges of the Goodness of our English Plays, which require a Mastery of our Tongue.
• The Humourists, a Comedy, 4to. 1671. acted by his Royal High∣ness's Servants; and dedicated to the most Illustrious Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle. This Play (tho' the Design of it was good) met with many Enemies at its first appearance on the Stage.
• The Lancashire Witches, and Teague O Divelly, the Irish Priest; a Comedy, 4to. 1682. acted at the Duke's Theatre. Heywood and Brome have writ on the same Subject, but not so diverting.
• The Libertine, a Comedy, 4to. 1676. acted by his Royal High∣nesses Servants; and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle. This is accounted one of his best Plays, and is diverting enough.

• Plot from Molliere's L'Athee Foudroye, & H. Atheisto Fulmi∣nato.
• The Miser, a Comedy, 4to. 1672. acted by his Majesty's Servants, at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Lord Buckhurst, now Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. Plot from Mollieres L'avaree.
• Psyche, an Opera, 4to. 1675. acted at the Duke's Theatre, and dedicated to his Grace Iames, Duke of Monmouth. This being the first Play he writ in Rhime, met with divers Enemies. Our Author made use of the French Psyche, and of Apuleius's Asinus Au∣reus, which is also in English, 4to. 1639.
• The Royal Shepherdess, a Tragi-Comedy. 4to. 1669. acted by his Highness the Duke of York's Servants. This Play is taken from The Reward of Vertue, writ by Mr. Fountain.
• The Scowrers, a Comedy, 4to. 1691. acted by their Majesties Servants; and dedicated by his Widow, to the late Queen, of ever blessed Memory. I think in this Comedy there is a great deal of noisy Humour, and that not unpleasant. The Characters of Eugenia, and Clara are Copies of Sir George Etheridge, at least that of Eugenia is of Harriot, and so is Sir William Rant, a faint one of Dorimant, and Sir Frederic Frolick.
• The Squire of Alsatia, a Comedy, 4to. 1688. acted by their Ma∣jesties Servants; and dedicated to the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. This Play, which met with good Success, is founded on Terence's Adelphi.
• The sullen Lovers; or, The Impertinents, a Comedy, 4to. 1670. and dedicated to his Grace William, Duke of Newcastle. Plot from Molliere's Les Facheaux.
• Timon of Athens; or, The Man-hater, a Tragedy, 4to. 1678. acted at the Duke's Theatre, and dedicated to the late Duke of Buckingham. Most part of this Play is Shakespear's; nay, and the Criticks say, all of it that is good for any thing.
• The True Widow, a Comedy, 4to. 1679. acted at the Duke's The∣atre, and dedicated to Sir Charles Sidley. This Play has not ap∣peared very often on the Stage, tho' Mr. Langbain commends the Characters and Humours to be as well drawn as any of this Age.
• The Volunteers; or, The Stock-Iobbers, a Comedy, 4to. 1693. and dedicated by his Widow to the Queen. Sir Timothy Castrils growing Valiant on his Rencounter with Nickum, is very like the Little French Lawyer of Fletcher; only Sir Timothy preserves his Va∣lour to the end of the Play; tho' we have not the Experiment whether the sight of his Blood would not have had the same Effect on him.
• ...

• The Woman Captain, a Comedy, 4to. 1680. acted at the Duke's Theatre, by his Royal Highness's Servants; and dedicated to Hen∣ry, Lord Ogle, Son to the Duke of Newcastle.

William Shakespear.

HE was born and buried in Stratford upon Avon, in Warwick∣shire. I have been told that he writ the Scene of the Ghost in Hamlet, at his House which bordered on the Charnel-House and Church-Yard. He was both Player and Poet; but the greatest Po∣et that ever trod the Stage, I am of Opinion, in spight of Mr. Iohnson, and others from him, that though perhaps he might not be that Critic in Latin and Greek as Ben; yet that he understood the former, so well as per••ectly to be Master of their Histories, for in all his Roman Characters he has nicely followed History, and yo•• find his Brutus, his Cassius, his Anthony, and his Caesar, his Corio∣lanus, &c. just as the Historians of those times describe 'em. He died on the 23d of April, 1616. and is buried with his Wife and Daughter in Stratford-Church afore-said, under a Monument on which is a Statue leaning on a Cushion, and this Inscription:

Ingenio Pylum, genio Socratem, arte Maronem, Terra tegit, Populus moerit, Olympus habet.

Stay, Passenger, why dost thou go so fast? Read, if thou canst, whom envious Death has plac'd Within this Monument, Shakespear, with whom Quick Nature died, whose Name doth deck the Tomb Far more than cost, since all that he hath writ Leaves living Art, but Page, to serve his Wit. Obiit An. Dom. 1616. AEt. 53. Die 23. Apr.

Near the Wall on a plain Stone, which covers him, is this Epitaph:

Good Friend, for Iesus Sake forbear To dig the Dust enclosed here. Blest be the Man that spares these Stones, And curst be he that moves my Bones.

All's well that ends well, a Comedy. Plot from Boccace's Novels, Day 3. Nov. 9. Iuliet of Narbona, &c.

Anthony and Cleopatra, a Tragedy, fol. Plot from Plutarch in vi∣ta Antonii.

As you like it, a Comedy, Fol.

The Birth of Merlin; or, The Child has lost his Father, a Tra∣gi-Comedy, 4to. 1662. Mr. Rowley join'd with our Author in this Play. Plot, Ethelword, G. Monmouth, Bede, Polidor, Virgil, Stow, Speed, &c.

A Comedy of Errors, a Comedy, fol. The Ground from Plautus, Amphitruo, and Maenechmi.

Coriolanus, a Tragedy, fol. Plot from Plutarch's Life of Coriola∣nus, from Livy's History, Dionisius Hallicarnassaeus, &c.

Cromwell, (Thomas, Lord) his Life and Death, a History, fol. and 4to. Plot from Fox's Martyrology, Fuller's Church Hist. Dr. Bur∣net's Hist. Reformation, Wanly's Hist. of Man. Hacwell's Apology, and Lloyd's English Worthies.

Cymbeline, his Tragedy; fol. Mr. Durfey's Injured Princess; or, The Fatal Wager, is only this Play reviv'd. The Plot from Boccace's Novels, Day 2. Nov. 9.

Henry the Fourth, Two Parts, History, fol. the first Part con∣taining the Life of Henry Percy, sirnamed Hotspur; and the comi∣cal part the Character of Sir Iohn Falstaff, which has been play'd by the late famous Mr. Lacey, to Admiration. In the second part you have an Act of the Death of this King, and the Coronation of his Successor. See Geoffry of Monmouth, Caxton, Harding, Hall, Grafton, Martin, Hollingshead, Stow, and other our English Chro∣nicles.

Henry the Fifth, his Life; History, fol. A Comical part is mixt with the Historical, and contains the Reign of this King, to his Marriage with Katharine of France. See the afore-said English Chronicles.

Henry the Sixth, Three Parts, History, fol. In the Second is the Death of the good Duke Humphrey, in the Third the Death of the Duke of York; all the Pa••ts contain the whole Reign of this King. See the same English Chronicles.

Henry the Eighth, his Life; History, fol. The part of King Hen∣ry was often in King Charles the Second's Time extraordinary well acted by Mr. Betterton. See our English Chronicles before-men∣tioned.

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark; a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. For the Plot see Saxo-Grammaticus, Crantzius, Pontanus, Idacius &c.

Iohn, King of England; History, fol. for the Plot see our Eng∣lish Chronicles.

Iohn, King of England, his troublesom Reign, in two parts, Histo∣ry, 4to. 1611. with the Discovery of King Richard Caeur de Lyons, Base Son (as vulgarly called) Fawconbridge; also the Death of the said King Iohn at Swinstead Abby. These Plays were several times acted by the Queen's Majesty's Players, tho not divi∣ded into Acts, and differ much from the other Play in Folio.

Iulius Caesar, a Tagedy, fol. and 4to Founded on History. It was reviv'd and acted divers times in the Reign of the late King Charles II. For the Prologue, which was highly commended, see a small Book, called Covent-Garden Drollery, pag. 9. and for the History, see Plutarch, Livy, Suetonius.

Lear, King of England; a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. This Play has been reviv'd with Alterations by our present Poet Laureat. For the true Story, see Milton's Hist. of England, beginning pag. 17. see also Leland, Monmouth, Gloucester, &c.

Locrine, Eldest Son to King Brutus, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. For the Plot, see Milton's Hist. of England, and the afore-said Au∣thors.

London Prodigal, a Comedy, fol. and 4to.

Love••s Labour lost, a Comedy, fol.

Mackbeth, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. revived and re-printed with Alterations and Songs, and now often acted. For the Plot consult Buchanan, and others who have written Scottish Affairs; see also Heywood of Angels, p. 508. Heylin's Cosmography, Book 1.

Measure for Measure, a Comedy, fol. For the Plot see Cynthio Giraldi, Dec. 8. Nov. 5. Lipsii Monita, p. 125. Histoirs Admirabiles de nôtre temps. p. 216.

The Merchant of Venice, a Tragi-Comedy, fol.

Midsummer-Nights Dream, a Comedy, fol. The comical part hereof is printed 4to. under the Title of Bottom the Weaver, and acted by small Parties at Bartholomew Fair, and other Places: and since publish'd under the Name of The Fairy Queen.

Much ado about nothing, a Comedy, fol. Sir William D'avenant made use of this Play, and Measure for Measure, in composing his Law against Lovers. For the Plot see Ariosto's Orlando Furioso, Book 5. and Spencer's Fairy Queen, Book 2.

Oldcastle, Lord Cobham's Life and Death, a Tragedy, fol. See Fuller's Church Hist. and Fox's Book of Martyrs, where you may find Sir Iohn Oldcastle's Life at large.

Othello, Mo••r of Venice, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. This is still often acted, and esteemed one of the best of our Author's Plays. Plot from Cynthio's Novels, Dec. 3. Nov. 7.

Pericles, Prince of Tyre, History, fol. This Play was much ad∣mired in the Author's Life time and published before his Death.

The Puritan; or, The Widow of Watling-Street, a Comedy, fol. This was accounted a very diverting Play.

Richard the Second, History, fol. 4to. Our Poet Laureat, Mr. Tate, altered it, An. 1681. he and Mr. Dryden have much applau∣ded this Play. Plot from English Chronicles.

Richard the Third, with the Landing of the Earl of Richmond, and the Battle of Bosworth-Field, History, fol. for the Plot consult our English Chronicles.

Romeo and Iuliet, a Tragedy, fol. Plot from Bandello's Novels.

The Taming of the Shrew, a Comedy, fol. The Story of the Tinkar, so diverting, may be found in Goulart's Hist. Admirabiles and Pontus Heuterus, Rerum Burdicarum.

The Tempest, a Comedy, fol. and 4to. This has been reviv'd and alter'd by Mr. Dryden, who brought it much in esteem, and is of late Days often acted.

Titus Andronichus, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. This Play has been reviv'd and altered by Mr. Ravenscroft.

Timon of Athens, a Tragedy, fol. and 4to. This Play, as publish'd first by our Author, was not divided into Acts, but has been reviv'd with Alterations, by Mr. Shadwell, and for a few Years past, as often acted at the Theatre Royal, as any Tragedy I know.

Troilus and Cressida, a Tragedy, fol. This was reviv'd with Al∣terations, by Mr. Dryden; who added divers new Scenes. Plot from Chaucer's Troilus and Cressida.

Twelfth-Night; or, What you will; a Comedy, fol. Plot from Plautus, Amphitruo, Maenechmi, &c.

Two Gentlemen of Verona, a Comedy. fol.

A Winters Tale, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. Plot from Dorastus and Fawnia, 4to.

The York-shire Tragedy, fol. When this Play was first printed, the Title then told you, the Story was new, lamentable, and true. The Play, being but very short, is not divided into Acts, and may rather be accounted an Interlude than a Tragedy.

The Arraignment of Paris, which you may find among the Ano∣nymous Plays, has been by Kirkman ascribed to this Author, but not being in any Edition of Shakespear, I much question whether it be any of his.

Our Author writ little else, we find in print only two small pie∣ces of Poetry publish'd by Mr. Quarles, viz. Venus and Adonis, 8vo. 1602. and The Rape of Lucrece, 8vo. 1655.

Lewis Sharp.

THis Author, who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First, writ but one Play, viz.

The Noble Stranger, a Comedy, 4to. 1640. acted at the private House in Salisbury-Court, by her Majesty's Servants; dedicated to Sir Edmund Williams.

Edward Sharpham.

A Member of the Middle-Temple, in the time of King Iames the First, writ and published one Play, called,

The Fleir, a Comedy, 4to. 1615. acted in the Black-Fryars, by the Children of the Revels. Compare this with a Play of Marston's, called, The Fawne.

S. Shepheard.

A Zealous Cavalier in the Civil Wars, writ a Play against the Parliament Party, stil'd,

The Committee-Man curried, a Comedy, in Two Parts, 4to. 1647. Much of it stollen from Sir Iohn Suckling, and Sir Robert Stapleton's Translation of Iuvenal.

Edward Sherburn, Esq

THis Gentleman Translated Two of Seneca's Tragedies, and is, for ought I know, yet living.

Medea, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1648. with Annotations. Mr. Stanly in his Poems has writ a Vindication of this Play.

Troades; or, The Royal Captives; a Tragedy, 8vo. 1679. These are printed together, with some Poems of the same Au∣thor.

Tho. Shipman, Esq.

THis Gentleman dy'd in King Charles the Second's Time, having writ one Play, called,

Henry the Third of France, Stab'd by a Fryar; with the Fall of the Guises; a Tragedy, 4to. 1678. acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry, Lord Marquess of Dorchester. Plot from Davila, and the Duke of Espernon's Life, fol.

Henry Shirley.

AN Author who liv'd in the〈◊〉〈◊〉 King Charles the First, and writ one Play, which was publish'd after his Death, call'd,

The Martyr'd Soldier, a Tragedy, 4to. 1638. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, and other publick Theatres by her Majesty's Servants, with great Applause. Plot, Baronius, &c.

Iames Shirley.

A Contemporary, as well as Namesake of the Former•• he was once of Grays-Inn, and Servant to the King, and a Poet esteemed in the Days of Charles the First. Mr. Langbain gives him no small Praise, and indeed he does to most of the indifferent Poets, so that shou'd a Stranger to our Poets read him•• they wou'd make an odd Collection of our English Writers, for they wou'd be sure to take Heywood, Shirley, &c. and leave Dryden, &c. He has printed 37 Plays, of wh••ch in their Order. He dy'd since the Restauration.

• Arcadia, a Pastoral, 4to. 1640. acted at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants. Plot from Sir Philip Sidney's Ar∣cadia, fol.
• The Ball, a Comedy, 4to. 1639. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants. Our Author was assisted by Chapman in this Play.
• A Bird in a Cage, a Comedy, 4to. 16••••. acted at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane; and dedicated to Mr. William Prinne.
• The Brothers, a Comedy, 8vo. 1652. acted at the private House in Black-Fryars; and dedicated to his noble Friend, Thomas Stan∣ley, Esq
• The Cardinal, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1652. acted at the private House in Black-Fryars; and dedicated to his Friend, G. B. Esq
• The Changes; or, Love in a Maze; a Comedy, 4to. 1632. pre∣sented at the private House in Salisbury-Court, by the Company of his Majesty's Revels; and dedicated to the Honourable, the Lady Dorothy Shirley, in Verse. Compare this and the Maiden Queen.
• Chabot, Admiral of France, a Tragedy, 4to. 1639. acted by her Majesty's Servants at the private House in Drury-Lane. Mr. Chap∣man join'd with our Author in this Play. Plot, Paul Iovius, Paul AEmilius, Mezeray, and other French Chronicles and Histories in the Reign of Francis the First.
• ...

• The Constant Maid; or, Love will find out the Way; a Comedy, 4to. 1667. This was acted at a new House, called, The Nursery in Hatton-Garden. You may find Hadwell's courting of the Widow Bellamy, by the Advice 〈…〉〈…〉fair, to be the Subject of divers other Plays.
• Contention for Honour and ••••••••es, a Masque, 4to. 1633. dedica∣ted to Edward Golding〈◊〉〈◊〉 Colston, in Narthamptonshire, Esq This Author, with this and ••ome other Matter, composed a Comedy, called, Honoria and Mammon, hereafter mentioned.
• The Contention of Ajax and Vlysses for Achilles's Armour, a Masque, 8vo. 1658. Plot from Ovid's Metamorposis, Book 13.
• The Coronation, a Comedy, 4to. Which Play by some means or other, was printed with Beaumont's and Fletcher's Plays, tho' none of theirs.
• A Cou•••• Secret, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. firs•• printed 1653. then acted at the Black-Fryars; and dedicated to William, Earl of Strafford.
• Cupid and Death, a Masque, 4to. 1659. For the Plot, see Ogilby's AEsop's Fables, Vol. 1. Fab. 39.
• The Doubtful Heir, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1652. acted at the Black-Fryars; and dedicated to Sir Edmund Bowyer. For part of the Story, see The English Adventurers. 8vo. part 3.
• The Duke's Mistress, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1638. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants.
• The Example, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1637. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants.
• The Gamester, a Comedy, 4to. 1637. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane. Plot, Queen Margaret's Novels, Day 1. Nov. 8. and Vnlucky Citizen, 8vo.
• The Gentleman of Venice, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1655. acted at the private House in Salisbury-Court, by her Majesty's Servants, and dedicated to Sir Tho. Nightingale, Baronet. For the Plot, consult Gayton's Notes on Don Quixot, Book 4. Chap. 6. &c.
• The Grateful Servant, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1655. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants, with good Applause; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Francis, Earl of Rutland. Compare this Play with The Humerous Courtier, writ by the same Author.
• Hide-Park, a Comedy, 4to. 1637. presented by her Majesty's Servants at the private House in Drury-Lane; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Henry, Earl of Holland.
• Honoria and Mammon, a Comedy, 8vo. Plot grounded on a Masque of the same Author's, call'd, Contention for Honour and Riches.
• ...

• The Humorous Courtier, a Comedy, 4to. 1640. presented at the private House in Drury-Lane, with good Applause.
• The Imposture, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. 1652. acted at the private House in Black-Fryars; and dedicated to Sir Rob. Bolles, Baronet.
• The Lady of Pleasure, a Comedy, 4to. 1637. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Richard, Lord Lovelace, of Hurley. Part of this Play resembles part in The Grateful Servant.
• Love Tricks; or, the School of Compliments; a Comedy, 4to. 1667. acted at the Theatre in Little-Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Royal Higness, the Duke of York's Servants.
• Love's Cruelty, a Tragedy, 4to. 1640. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants; and dedicated to Cor∣net George Porter, and Mr. Charles Porter. See Cynthio's Novels, Dec. 3. Nov. 6. and Q. Margaret's Novels, Day 4. Nov' 6.
• The Maid's Revenge, a Tragedy, 4to. 1639. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane, with good Applause, by her Majesty's Ser∣vants. This Play is dedicated to Henry Osborn, Esq Plot from Reynold's God's Revenge against Murther, fol. Book 2. Hist. 7.
• The Opportunity, a Comedy, 4to. acted at the private House in Dru∣ry-Lane, by her Majesty's Servants; it is d••dicated to Capt. Richard Owen. Compare this Play with Shakespear's Measure for Measure.
• The Politician, a Tragedy, 4to. 1655. presented at Salisbury-Court, by her Majesty's Servants; and dedicated to Walter Moyle, Esq For the Plot see the Countess of Montgomery's Vrania.
• The Royal Master, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1638. acted at the Theatre in Dublin, and in the Castle there before the Right Ho∣nourable, the Lord Deputy of Ireland; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, George, Earl of Kildare. By the many Copies of Verses in Commendation of this Play, we may guess it was well esteem'd.
• St. Patrick for Ireland, a History, 4to. 1640. There is but one part of this Play printed; a second was designed by the Author for the Press, but never publish'd. See Bedes Life of St. Patrick, Sigibert, Baleus, Baronius, &c.
• The Sisters, a Comedy, 8vo. 1652. acted at the private House in Black-Fryars; and dedicated to William Paulet, Esq
• The Traytor, a Tragedy, 4to. 1635. acted by her Majesty's Ser∣vants; and dedicated to the Duke of Newcastle. This Play was one Mr. Rivers's, a Iesuit, tho' alter'd a little and introduc'd into the House by Shirley.
• The Triumph of Beauty, a Masque, 8vo. 1646. Compare this to the comical Part of the Midsummer-Nights Dream, and another part to Bottom the Weaver, both by Shakesp••ar: see also Lucian's Dialogues. This is printed with the Author's Poems, 8vo.
• ...

• The Wedding, a Comedy, 4to. 16. acted by her Majesty's Ser∣va••••s at the Phenix in Drury-Lane; and dedicated to William Gow∣er, Esq
• The Witty Fair one, a Comedy, 4to. 1633. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane; and dedicated to Sir Edward Bushell.
• The Young Admiral, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1637. acted at the private House in Drury-Lane; and dedicated to the Right Honou∣rable, George, Lord Barkley.

Sir Charles Sidley.

THis Noble Gentleman is yet living, and has been esteem'd a Man of the First Rank of Wit. He writ these three follow∣ing Plays:

• Anthony and Cleopatra, a Tragedy, 4to. 1677. acted at the Duke's Theatre. Plot from Appian, Dion Cassius, Plutarch's Life of M. Anthony.
• Bellamira; or, The Mistress; a Comedy, 4to. 1687. acted by his Majesty's Servant. The Ground from Terrence's Eunuchus.
• The Mulberry Garden, a Comedy, 4to. 1668. acted at the The∣atre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants. This Play is dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox. Sir Iohn Ever∣young, and Sir Samuel Forecastle copied from Molliere's L'Escole de Maris.

Iohn Smith.

A Gentleman of Snenton, in York-shire, and now (or lately) li∣ving; he writ a Play that was never acted, called,

Cytherea; or, The Enamouring Girdle, a Comedy, 4to. 1677. This Play the Author dedicated to the Northern Gentry.

William Smith.

THis Autho•• writ one Play in King Iames the First his Reign, call'd,

The Hector of Germany; or, The Palsgrave Prime Elector; a Hi∣story, 4to. 1615. acted at the Red Bull, &c. by a Company of young Citizens, and dedicated to the right Honourable, Sir Iohn Swinnerton, Lord Mayor of London. This Play is not divided into Acts. He writ, with the Assistance of one Mr. Webbe, a Book call'd, The Description of the County Palatine of Chester.

Thomas Southern.

A Gentleman now living, who, as I have been inform'd, made his first Application to the Law; but quitted those rougher Studies for the more pleasing Entertainment of the Muses; and after the writing of two Plays, with no ill Success, at least with very good Iudges, mov'd by his active Temper, he left, for some Years, the calmer retreat of Poetry for the War; till, in the Year 1690. he presented the Town with that diverting Comedy of Sir Anthony Love, and Six more, but of all in their order:

• The Disappointment; or, The Mother in Fashion; acted at the The∣atre Royal, 1684. 4to. and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Iames, Earl of Ossery (the present Duke of O••mond). The Curious Impertinent of the incomparable History of Don Quixot, seems to have given our Author an Hint of the Plot.
• The Loyal Brother; or, The Persian Prince; a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, 1682. 4to. and dedicated to his Grace, the Duke of Richmond. This was his first Play, and is built on the Novel of Tachmas, Prince of Per∣sia, 8vo.
• The Fatal Marriage; or, The Innocent Adultery; a Play, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, 1694. 4to. and dedicated to Anthony Hammond, of Somersham Place, Esq In the Dedication our Author owns his taking a hint of the Tragical part of this Play, from a Novel of Mrs. Behn's, call'd, The Nun; or, The Fair Vow-breaker. This Play was receiv'd with vast Ap∣plause, and is yet acted with Success; the Distress of the Story being extreamly moving, and the Passions very well touch'd by the Author; tho' had he made Villeroy and Biron Friends, it wou'd have something heighten'd the Distress. In the Comical part, the Hint of Fernando being persuaded to believe that he had been dead, buried, and in Purgatory, seems to be owing to The Little Thief of Fletcher.
• The Maids Last Prayer; or, Any thing rather than Fail; a Come∣dy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majesties Servants, 1693. 4to. and dedicated to the Honourable, Mr. Charles Boyl.
• Oroonoko, a Tragedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants, 1696. 4to. and dedicated to his Grace, William, Duke of Devonshire, &c. in which the Author makes this ingenuous Ac∣knowledgement, which few Poets have formerly done; viz.

  I stand engaged to Mrs. Behn for the occasion of a most passionate Distress in my last Play, (which was The Innocent Adultry) and in a Conscience that I had not made her a sufficient Acknowledg∣ment, I have run farther into her Debt, with a Design to oblige

• me to be Honest, and that every one may find me out for Ingra∣titude, when I don't say all that's fit for me upon that Subject: she had a great Command of the Stage, and I have often won∣der'd that she should bury her Favourite Hero in a Novel, when she might have reviv'd him in the Scene.

  I have quoted this, because 'tis very uncommon with Authors to speak well of those they borrow from in their Writings, for I have known a great Man perpetually rail at the French Authors, and yet contradict his Reflections on them, by filling his Writings with their•• Wit and Designs; and I have so often experienc'd this Par∣ticular, among the Writers of our Age, that when I hear any of them condemn, either our Ancient or Modern Authors, I conclude, he has been robbing there, and would deter us from finding out his Theft. But as to this Play of Oroonoko, you find our Poet has allow'd the Plot of it Mrs. Behn's; for on that Prince she has com∣pos'd the best of her Novels: and as it must be confess'd that the Play had not its mighty Success without an innate Excellence; so in my Opinion, the necessary regularities a Dramatick Poet is ob∣liged to observe, has left many Beauties in the Novel, which our Author cou'd not transfer to his Poem. As Mrs. Barrey did the Poet all the Iustice so admirable an Actress, when she most exerts her self, could do, in the Innocent Adultery; so Mr. Verbruggen, in the Part of Oroonoko, by doing the Author Right, got himself the Re∣putation of one of the best Actors of his time.
• Sir Anthony Love; or, The Rambling Lady; a Comedy, 4to. 1690. acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants; and dedi∣cated to Tho. Skipwith, Esq (now Sir Thomas). This Play met with extraordinary Success.
• The Wives excuse; or, Cuckolds make themselves; a Comedy, acted at the Theatre Royal, by their Majestses Servants, 1692. 4to. This Play it seems did not take as well as was expected, but is ush∣er'd into print by a Copy of Verses of his Friend, Mr. Dryden; in which he ••ustly reflects on the depraved Taste of the Age, espe∣cially in these Two Lines, on the Fault of those Poets, who de∣bauch the Palate of the Audience.

  Far••e in it self is of a nasty Scent; But the Gain smells not of the Excrement.

  For if there be not so intricate a Plot, there is certainly a gaity of Conversation, and Purity of Language, which few of our Poets observe.

Thomas Stanley, Esq

A Learned Gentleman of Cumberloe-Green, in Hertfordshire, who in the time of King Charles the First, writ the History of the Philosophers, and in that a Play of Aristophanes, called,

The Clouds, a Comedy, fol. 1687. Translated from Aristopha∣nes, printed with his History of Philosophy, Re-printed about Ten Years since. He translated AEschylus's Tragedies into Latin; also Anacreon and Moschus, from the Greek. He has publish'd like∣wise divers Translations from Latin, Spanish, and Italian; besides his Poems in English, 8vo. and two small Romances or Novels, 8vo.

Sir Robert Stapleton.

A Learned Author who was Gentleman Usher of the Privy Cham∣ber to King Charles the Second; and is, I suppose, still living. He writ Two Plays:

• Hero and Leander, a Tragedy, 4to. 1669. dedicated to her Grace, the Dutchess of Monmouth. Plot from Ovid's Epistles, and Musaeus's Erotopagnion, Greek, and Latin.
• The Slighted Maid, a Comedy, 4to. 1663. dedicated to his Grace, the Duke of Monmouth. Plot from Mart. Epigr. 4. &c.

Iohn Stephens.

THis Author, who liv'd in the Reign of King Iames the first, writ one very long Play, call'd,

Cynthia's Revenge, a Tragedy, 4to. 1613. Plot from Lucan's Pharsalia, and Ovid's Metamorphosis, lib. 13.

William Strode.

POet and Divine in the Reign of King Charles the Frst; he was born in Devonshire, entred at Nineteen, and admitted Student of Christ-Church, Oxon; having taken most of his Degrees, was chose University-Orator, and after that commenc'd Doctor, and was made a Cannon by the King. He died March 11. 1644. and was buried at Christ-Church afore-said.

The Floating Island, a Comedy, 4to. 1655. acted by the Students of Christ-Church, before his Majesty, at Oxon. 1639. The Airs and Songs were set by Mr. Henry Lawes. The Author had transcri∣bed

and dedicated the Play to his honoured Patron, Sir Iohn Helle, but it was not printed till some Years after his Death. This Play is full o•• Morality. The Author publish'd three Sermons besides the Play.

I. Studley.

ANother Translator of Seneca's Tragedies, in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, of which he English'd Four: viz.

• Agamemnon, a Tragedy, 4to. Our Author has added a whole Scene in the Fifth Act.
• Hippolitus, a Tragedy, 4to. This is a very regular Play, as to Time, Place, and Action.
• Hercules Oetaeus, a Tragedy, 4to. A Resemblance of Sophocles Trachiniai.
• Medea, a Tragedy, 4to. In this Seneca imitates Euripides, but at too great a distance, and is also regular, as most of his Tragedies are. This Translator has altered the Chorus of the First Act.

Sir Iohn Suckling.

WAS born at Witham, in Middlesex, 1631. in the beginning of the Eleventh Month; he spoke Latin at Five Years old, and writ it at Nine. He was Comptroller to King Charles the First. An excellent Musician and Poet: made a Campaign with Gusta∣vus, and was in Five Sieges, Three Battles, &c. he was at the Ex∣pence of 12000 l. to raise a Troop for the King. He writ Four Plays, viz.

• Aglaura, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. and 8vo. presented at the pri∣vate House in Black-Fryars. The Author has so alter'd the last Act, that 'tis at the Pleasure of the Actors to make it a Tragedy or Tra∣gi-Comedy.
• Brenoralt; or, The Discontented Colonel; a Tragedy, 8vo. pre∣sented by his Majesty's Servants, at the private House in Black-Fryars.
• The Goblins, a Tragi-Comedy, 8vo. presented by his Majesty's Servants at the private House in Black-Fryars.
• The Sad One, a Tragedy, 8vo. This Play Sir Iohn never finish'd.

These Plays, with his other Works, are printed together 8vo. the last Edition printed 1676. If you would see a farther Chara∣cter of this Author, see Lloyd's Memoirs, fol. pag. 159.

Gilbert Swinhoe.

A Northumberland Gentleman, who in the Reign of King Charles the First, writ a Play, call'd,

The Vnhappy Fair Irene, a Tragedy, 4to. 1658. Plot from Ban∣dello's Novels, and Turkish Chronicles, Life of Mahomet the First.

T

Nahum Tate, Esq

OUR present Poet Laureat, a Person of great Probity of Manners, Learning, and good Nature: His Birth and E∣ducation (as I have been told) he owes to the Kingdom of Ireland: He has, for several Years, had the Patronage of the pre∣sent Earl of Dorset, and has Merit to deserve more than he has met with from others: He is guilty of Modesty, of which few of his Profession know much; and it is the noisy pushing Man in Poe∣try, as well as other things, that prevails with Fame as well as Fortune. But now to his Drammatick Composures.

Brutus of Alba, an Opera, 4to. 1678. acted at the Duke's The∣atre; it is dedicated to the Right Honourable, Charles, Earl of Dorset and Middlesex. Plot from Virgil's AEneids, Book 4.

The Cuckold's Haven; or, An Alderman no Conjurer, a Farce, 4to. 1685. acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden; and dedica∣ted to Col. Edmund Ashton. Plot from Eastward Hoe, and The De∣vil's an Ass.

A Duke and no Duke, a Farce, 4to. 1685. acted by their Maje∣sties Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Sir Iohn Hewyt. In this Play are divers Songs set to Musick with thorough Basses for the Theorbo or Bass-Viol. Plot from Trappolin supposed a Prince.

The Ingratitude of a Common-Wealth; or, The Fall of Caius Mar∣tius Coriolanus; a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1682. acted at the Theatre Royal; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Charles, Lord Herbert, Mar∣ques of Worcester. Part of this Play borrowed from Shakespear's Coriolanus••

The Island Princess, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1687. and dedicated to the Right Honourable, Henry, Lord Walgrave. Reviv'd with Alterations from Fletcher.

The Loyal General, a Tragedy, 4to. 1680. acted at the Duke's Theatre; and is dedicated to Edward Taylor, Esq

Lear, King of England, and his Three Daughters; an Historical Play, 4to. 1687. acted at the Duke's Theatre; it is Dedicated to Thomas Boteler, Esq and reviv'd with Alterations from Shakespear; and now call'd, The Ancient History of King Lear, &c.

Richard the Third; or, The Sicilian Vsurper; a History, 4to. 1681. acted at the Theatre Royal, and dedicated to George Rayns∣ford, Esq with a Prefatory Epistle in Vindication of the Author by Reason of the Prohibition of this Play on the Stage. Reviv'd from Shakespear.

This our Author has publish'd divers Poems on several Occasi∣ons, some of them printed 8vo. one Volume whereof are all his own, another Volume by several Hands.

Iohn Tateham.

CIty Poet in King Charles the First's Time. Mr. Langbain has found out a pleasant Compensation for his want of Wit, viz. his Loyalty, which might be something to attone for the Defects of a Servants Brains, but I think very little for those of a Poet.

The Distracted State; a Tragedy, 4to. 1651. This Play was written Ten Years before printed, and is dedicated to Sir Iohn Sidley.

The Rump; or, The Mirrour of the late Times; a Comedy, 4to. 1661. acted at the private House in Dorset-Court, and dedicated to Walter Iames, Esq This Play has been reviv'd under the Title of The Roundheads. For the Plot consult our English Chronicles of the Civil Wars.

Scots Vagaries; or, A Knot of Knaves; a Comedy, 4to. 1652. and dedicated to Robert Dormer, Esq This Play is writ in a Sc••tch Dialect.

Love Crowns the End, a Tragi-comedy, 8vo. 1657. acted by the Scholars of Bringham in the County of Nottingham. This Play is very short and not divided into Acts; you may find it printed with his Poems, 1657. 8vo.

Robert Taylor.

THE Author of one Play, call'd,

The Hog has lost his Pearl, a Comedy, 4to. 1611. divers times publickly acted by certain London Prentices.

Thomas Thompson.

A Poor Plagiary, that could not disguise or improve his Thefts.

These two following Plays go under his Name; viz.

• The English Rogue, a Comedy, 4to. 1668. acted (says the Title) before several Persons of Honour, with great Applause, and dedica∣ted to Mrs. Alice Barret.
• Mother Shipton, her Life; 4to. The Author hereof says, 'twas acted Nine Days together, with great Applause. Plot from a Book so called in Prose, 4to. but most of the Characters and Lan∣guage from The City Madam, and The Chast Maid of Cheapside.

Nicholas Trot.

HE writ one Play, call'd,

Arthur, a Tragedy.

Richard Tuke.

AUthor of a Play that represents the Danger of the Soul in this World, and was once called The Souls Warfare; now,

The Divine Comedian; or, The right Vse of Plays, improv'd in a Sacred, Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1672. and dedicated to the Right Ho∣nourable, Mary, Countess of Warwick.

S. Tuke.

AN Essex Gentleman, a Collonel, who in 1661. translated a Play from the Spanish, called,

The Adventurers of Five Hours, a Tragi-Comedy 4to. 1662. be∣ing the Second Edition; it is dedicated to the Right Honourable, Henry Howard, of Norfolk. This Play is of good Repute.

Cyril Turner.

AN Author who writ in the Time of King Iames the First, two Plays, entituled,

• The Atheists Tragedy, 4to. The Conveyance away of Sebastian and Fresco, on her Husband's approach, is taken from Boccace's No∣vels, Day 7. Nov. 6.
• The Loyal Brother; or, The Revenger's Tragedy, 4to.

Iohn Tutchin.

A Gentleman of those Times, who has writ one Play, call'd,

The Vnfortunate Shepherd, a Pastoral, 8vo. 1683. This is printed with a Piece call'd, A Discourse of Life, in Prose; and some Poems on several Occasions, 8vo.

V

Captain Van Brug.

THO' this Gentleman's Modesty has hitherto hindred him from setting his Name to any of the Plays that he has Writ, yet they are so Universally known to be his, and own'd by him to the Stage by all other ways, that it cannot reasonably be taken amiss by him, to find his Name here, since it is not in the Power of En∣vy to mention it, without the highest Value and Esteem. This Gentleman, as I am informed, was born in Cheshire, and by more than a Common Education, and Converse with the best Company qualified for these Performances, which have got him the Prefe∣rence to all our Modern Writers of Comedy, since Mr. Wycherly, and Sir. George Etheridge have left the Stage; and with all the due Respect that I owe those two great Men, I must place Mr. Van Brug in their Form, for the sprightliness of his Wit, the ea∣••iness, and at the same time, force of the Conversation of his Plays are such, that none else can stand in Competition with him. Methinks in the Comparison of his Plays, with most of our other Drammatic Pieces, there is the same difference, which there is be∣twixt the Draughts of Van Dike, Titian, and other great Masters of former Days, and some of our best Painters now; these are in∣deed

good Representations, but his are the things they Represent; (if you'll pardon that seeming Contradiction of the Expression) many of our Writers have given us good Images of the Fools of our Age, but they are still but Images; but, when you read or see Mr. Van Brug's, you see the very Originals, all is so free, so easie and so bold, as perswade them to be no Copies, you evidently see the Lineaments of Nature, without the stifness of Art, which would but debase his Work. Others of our Comic Writers, who have succeeded most in that way, pick out Characters that are in∣deed diverting enough on the Stage, but which scarce one sensible Man in a Thousand can read in his Chamber, so much is left to the Action: But Mr. Van Brug's Characters are Compos'd of that part of Nature, which is not so Monstrous to shock the Reader, or Nauseate his Palate, but which yield a pleasing Entertainment; he puts Folly into such a Light, that it is as diverting to the Reader as Spectator; and his Fools are so pleasing, that you are not weary of their Company before they leave you.

Another Quality distinct from many of our Received Poets, is, That his Men of Wit are really so, and not like Mr. Shadwell's the dullest in the Play: I have ventured to say all this, without either the Prospect of Encolpius in Petronius Arbiter, Vt foris Cena∣ris Poetam Laudasti, or the fear of that Wity Censure of The Plain Dealer, for choosing to flatter the Poets of the Age, rather than not flatter at all. Because one that is unknown, can have but little ex∣pectations of the former, or justly deserve the latter, when he speaks but what is justly his due; unless the Praise of Wit be as unallow∣able as superfluous. He has Honoured his Country with three Plays that he owns: Of these in their Order.

• ...

  AEsop, A Comedy 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1697. In the Preface we learn both the Fate of the Play, and that the Author owes his Foundation to the French; for it was writ Originally in French by Mr. Boursaut, and had almost the same Fate there as here, as to its Success; the first day it was not lik'd, the next it scarce gain'd Ground, the third it held up its Head, and the fourth Tri∣umphed, and was in Paris Acted for near a Month together. It is so far from wanting any Beauties of the French, that it e'ry where excels it; and that extreamly diverting Scene of Sir Polydorus Hog∣stye, may be said to be entirely his own, as are all the three Scenes that were since added of the Players, the Senator and the Beau, and which were receiv'd with Universal Applause, as indeed they justly merited. It will perhaps be wondered that it should Act so very often in Paris, and not hold out a Fortnight nor ten days here; for which there may be two Reasons Assigned: First, in Paris there is not that foolish and extravagant Prejudice against the Stage, as is entertain'd in a numerous Party of this City, who rail against that and Common Prayer with an equal Zeal: So that in

• ...

  Paris almost e'ry one goes to the Theatre, here not the tenth part, for Hypocrisie and Business here, divide the greater part to their several and different Offices: Another Reason is, That the Gover∣nours of the House were unwilling to wear it out, and so balk'd the Run of it.

  I am not ignorant of the several Objections made against this Play by the Criticks, viz. that the Scenes are loose, and not at all akin to the Plot•• and may be cut out and alter'd in perpetuum, without the least Injury or Advantage to the thin and frail Design of the Play; that in Lydia, before the time of Alexander the Great, they talk of Iustices of the Peace, Fox Hunting, Flanders Horses and other things which are entirely Modern; but at the same time that these Accusations must be confess'd not to be ill grounded; it must be own'd, that without these Faults we must have lost Beauties of greater Consequence. This I'm sure, there has never been on the Stage, a Play of more general Satyr since the Plain Dealer; and there are such Publick and useful Morals re∣commended to the Audience, that will be as beneficial to the Common-weal, as diverting to the immediate Spectators.

• The Provok'd Wife, a Comedy 4to. Acted at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields, by his Majesty's Servants, 1697. To speak of this Play as I ought, I shou'd have the Pen of the Author who Writ it, and the recommending the Reader to a Perusal of it, is the greatest Praise I can give it. But I cannot omit the Objections I have heard made to it, by some of our Criticks, viz. That it is a loose Play, without Design, or if there be a Design, 'tis such a one as the just Rules of Comedy exclude, since it teaches the Wives how they ought to return the Brutality of their Husbands. I cannot by any means allow this Objection; for the Design seems to me as just as the Reflections and Wit of it are poinant, the Con∣versation lively and genteel; for it rather teaches Husbands how they ought to expect their Wives shou'd make them a Return, if they use them as Sir Iohn Brute did his; such Husbands may learn, that slighted and abused Virtue and Beauty, may be provoked to hearken to the prevailing Motives of Revenge. I can never think any reasonable Man shou'd suppose a Woman entirely divested of a sense of Humanity, or insensible either of the Power of an agree∣able Temptation, or of the Pleasure it yields: and as most of our Vices are the surest Guard, if not source of our Virtues, I'm con∣fident, when the Husbands ill Usage of his Wife deprives himself of her Love, he dismisses the surest Guard of their common Ho∣nour; and the other, that is her Pride and Care of her Reputa∣tion will not be of force enough against Revenge; and the strong sollicitations of an agreeable Person, that demonstrates a value for what the Possessor slights: So that it cannot be deny'd, that this Moral is of admirable Use; and offers a Truth to our considera∣tion,

• which wou'd often prevent the Ruin of Families, which generally begins with the Husbands Faults. I know of no Thefts in this Play, or indeed any of this Gentlemans, but what he has own'd in his Preface.
• The Relapse, or Virtue in Danger, being the sequel to Loves last Shift or The Fool in Fashion, 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1697. This Play was received with mighty applause, and spight of the broken Scenes, which must be allowed an irregularity that might have been avoided, has its just and uncommon Merits; and I think the Character of my Lord Foppington, if it at all fall short of that Masterpiece of Sir Fopling Flutter, at least challenges the next place, in preference to all of that kind, for the Stage has been almost as Fruitful in Beaux, as the Boxes.

The time when these three Plays were written is uncertain; but all appeared in a little time of one another, and this which comes last in the Alphabet, was the first in the Representation; and as he informs us in the Prologue, was Wrote in six Weeks, a sign of a double Blessing, of bringing forth without Pain, and even Chil∣dren Perfect and Beautiful, without the usual nine Months Travel.

W

Lewis Wager.

THIS Author (who was a Clerk in Queen Elizabeth's time) was then accounted a Man of great Learning. He writ in the beginning of her Reign an Interlude, stil'd,

Mary Magdalen, her Life and Repentance, 4to. 1567. This was printed in an old Black Letter, it may be acted by four or five Persons.

Edmund Waller, Esq

THis Gentleman was of a good Family, and Estate, the last ••n∣common with so good a Poet•• he was belov'd by all that knew him, for his personal Merit and Affability, as well as admir'd for his Poetry. He died about Eight Years ••ince.

The Maid's Tragedy, 8vo. 1690. This was a Play of Fletcher's and is reviv'd with great Alterations by this our Author, and printed with his Works.

Pompey the Great, a Tragedy, 4to. 1664. acted by his Highness the Duke of York's Servants. Translated from Corneille, in which the Right Honourable, the Earl of Dorset and Middlesex assisted.

George Wapul.

AN Author who has writ one Play, call'd,

Tide tarrieth for no Man, a Comedy, 4to. 1611. printed so long since, that Mr. Langbain could not find what Volume or Date it was of. It is stiled, A most pleasant and merry Comedy, right pithy and full of Delight.

William Wayer.

HE has a Play so long since printed, that Mr. Langbain could never gain a Sight of it. The Title is,

The longer thou Liv'st the more Fool thou art, a Comedy, 4to. but so old that it has no Date. It has also this Title. A very merry and pithy Comedy, &c.

R. Waver.

AN Author as unknown as the two former: he publish'd but one Play, which Mr. Langbain says he never saw, entituled,

Lusty Iuventus, an Interlude, 4to. printed without any Date. Tho' Mr. Langbain attributes this Play to R. Waver, yet his Name is not to the Title Page, nor any where about the Play, to give him that Assurance; but I suppose he depended on former Catalogues.

Iohn Webster.

THis Author was Clerk of St. Andrews Parish in Hol••ourn, as he was Contemporary with Decker, Marston, and Rowley; so he join'd with 'em in several Plays, besides several he writ him∣self; as,

• Appius and Virginia, a Tragedy, 4to. 1659. acted at the Duke's Theatre. There are more Editions than one of this Play, and has been reviv'd and alter'd by Mr. Betterton. For the Plot see Livii Hist. Florus, &c.
• ...

• The Devil's Law-Case; or, When Women go to Law, the Devil is full of Business, a Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1623. acted by her Maje∣sty's Servants, and dedicated to Sir Tho. Finch. Plot in part from Skenkii Observat. Medic. p. 2••. Goulart's Histoires Admirabiles de nôtre Temps, Tom. 1. and V. Maximus, lib. 1. cap. 8.
• The Dutchess of Malfey, a Tragedy, 4to. 1623. and 1678. first acted privately at Black-Fryars, then publickly at the Globe, by his Ma∣jesty's Servants; and dedicated to the Right Honourable, George, Lord Barkley. Reviv'd and acted at the Duke of York's Theatre. Plot from Bandello's Novels, Nov. 19. Goulart Hist. Admirab. p. 226. Beard's Theatre of God's Iudgments, Book 2. Ch. 24.
• The White Devil; or, The Tragedy of P. Giordano Vrsini, Duke of Brachiano, with the Life and Death of Vittoria Corombona, the Fa∣mous Venetian Curtezan; 4to. 1612. and 1665. first acted at the Phaenix in Drury-Lane, by the Queen's Majesty's Servants, and since reviv'd and acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants.

In these two following Plays our Author was assisted by Mr. Rowley.

• A Cure for a Cuckold, a Comedy, 4to. 1661. This was several Times formerly acted with great Applause.
• The Thracian Wonder, 4to. 1661. our Authors call this a Comical History, several times acted with great Applause.

Iohn Weston, Esq

THis Author, whose Name is not Watson, as Mr. Langbain mi∣stakes, writ a Play in King Charles the Second's Time, stil'd,

The Amazon Queen; or, The Amours of Thalestris to Alexander the Great; Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1667. This Play writ in Heroick Verse, appeared not on the Stage. Plot from Strabo, lib. 11. Q. Curt. lib. 6. and Iustin, lib. 3.

Mr. Whitaker.

THis Author, in King Charles the Second's Reign, publish'd a Play, call'd,

The Conspiracy,; or, the Change of Government; a Tragedy 4to. 1680. in Heroick Verse, and acted at the Duke of York's The∣atre.

Dr. Robert Wild.

THis Author, tho' a Presbyterian Doctor, writ one Play and divers Poems, but is most famous for his Iter Boreale. The Play is intituled,

The Benefice, a Comedy, 4to. 1689. The Design taken from another Play, call'd, The Return from Parnassus; or, A Scourge for Simony.

Leonard Willan.

THE Author of a Play, publish'd one Pastoral in Verse, call'd,

As••raea; or, True Love's Mirrour; a Pastoral, 8vo. •• 1651. It is dedicated to the Illustrious Princess, Mary, Dutchess of Rich∣mond and Lenox. Plot from a Romance so called.

George Wilkins.

HE liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First, and writ (be∣sides one he join'd with Day and Rowley in) a Play, call'd,

The M••series of Inforced Marriage, a Tragi-comedy, 4to. 1637. Mrs. Behn took her Plot and great part of the Language of this Play, to her Town Fop; or, Sir Timothy Tawdry. The other Play he join'd in, is called, The Travels of Three English Brothers.

Robert Wilmot.

A Poet of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, and at the Request of the Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple, writ,

Tanc••ed and Grismond, a Tragedy, 4to. 1592. acted before her Majesty by the Gentlemen of the Inner-Temple; and dedicated it to the Right Worshipful and Vertuous Ladies, the Lady Mary Pe∣ter, and the Lady Ann Grey. Plot, Nov. 1. Day 4. of Boccace's Novels.

Iohn Wilson.

AN Author of the Place of whose Birth I am ignorant; he was once Recorder of Londonderry, and sometime resided in Dub∣lin, where he writ Belphegor, which was afterwards acted in London

He died about three Years since, near Leicester-Fields, but where buried I know not. He is Author of four Plays; viz.

• Andronicus Commenius, a Tragedy, 4to. 1663. Plot from Heylin's Cosmography in the Description of Greece, Cantacusenus, Leunclavi∣us, &c.
• Belphegor; or, The Marriage of the Devil; a Comedy, 4to. 1690. acted at the Queen's Theatre in Dorset-Garden. Plot taken from a Novel of Machiavel, and Quevedo's Novels, 8vo.
• The Cheats, a Comedy, 4to. Printed two Editions, the last 1671. This Play met with Applause when first acted, and is a diverting Comedy.
• The Projectors, a Comedy, 4to. 1665. This Play met with no great Success.

Robert Wilson.

A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, and writ one Play, call'd,

The Cobler's Prophecy, a Comedy, 4to. 1655.

Nathaniel Wood.

HE was a Clergy-man, and liv'd in the Reign of Queen Eliza∣beth, in the City of Norwich; writ one Play, calling it,

The Conflict of Conscience, a Pastoral, 4to. 1581. This is a Play of Morality, and may be presented by six Persons.

Iohn Wright.

A Gentleman, if I mistake not, of the Middle-Temple, and is yet living; has writ Two Plays, of which in their Order:

• Thyestes, a Tragedy, 8vo. 1674. dedicated to Bennet, Lord Sherrard. Translated from Seneca.
• Mock Thyestes, a Farce, 8vo. 1674. This is writ in Burlesque Verse, and printed to be bound up with the former.

Thomas Wright.

I Can give no Account of this Author, only that he has a Play in print, call'd,

The Female Vertuoso's, a Comedy, 4to. 1693. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles, Earl of Winchelsea. The Design our

Author owns none of his own, but of some Fri••nd from the French. The Prologue written and spoke by Mr. Dogget; yet all not enough to make it take.

William Wycherley.

A Shropshire Gentleman, who has excell'd all Writers in all Lan∣guages, in Comedy, and most of the Poets of the present Age in generous Dealing with those he owns his Friends, he has writ Four Plays,

• The Country Wise, a Comedy, 4to. 1683. acted at the Theatre Royal. This Play from the beginning has been frequently acted with great Applause.
• The Gentleman Dancing-Master, a Comedy, 4to. 1673. acted at the Duke's Theatre.
• Love in a Wood; or, St. Iames's Park; a Comedy, 4to. 1672. acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants; and dedica∣ted to the Dutchess of Cleveland.
• The Plain Dealer, a Comedy, 4to. 1678. acted at the Theatre Royal, by his Majesty's Servants. This is accounted the most ex∣cellent of all his Comedies, of which and the Author, Mr. Dryden and Mr. Evelyn gives a large Encomium. Some of the Characters are in Molliere's Le Misanthrope, and Scarron's City Romance, 8vo.

Y

Robert Yarrington.

AN Author in Queen Elizabeth's Reign, who writ one Play, entituled,

Two Tragedies in one, 4to. 1601. Two Murthers, one of a Chandler and his Boy, the other of a Child in a Wood, by Or∣der or Contrivance of his Uncle, are the Subject of this Play.

Notes

• (a) 1.1

  Antiquit. Oxon. p. 274.
• (b) 1.2

  Lloyd's Memoirs, p. 422.
• * 1.3

  Cockain's Epigr. Lib. 2. Epig. 7.
• † 1.4

  See his Poems p. 93. and 118.
• * 1.5

  Heywood's Epistle to the Reader.
• * 1.6

  See Beaumont and Fletcher's Plays, last Edition, fol. p. 233.
• † 1.7

  Covent Garden Drollery, p. 86.
• * 1.8

  Si•• William D'avenant's Works, fol. p. 249.
• (a) 1.9

  Fuller's Worthies, p. 222.
• (b) 1.10

  Baker's Chron. Reign of Queen Eliz. p. 364.
• (a) 1.11

  Langbain's Account of the Dram. Poets, p. 258.
• * 1.12

  Langbain's Account of Dramatick Poets. p. 263.
• * 1.13

  Collection of Poems on several Occasions, 8vo. 1673. pag. 29.
• † 1.14

  Duffet's Poems, 8vo. pag. 72.
• * 1.15

  Dryden's Dramatick Essay, page. 50.
• * 1.16

  London Drollery, pag. 11. 12.
• * 1.17

  Langbain's Dram. Poets, pag. 308.
• * 1.18

  Wood Athenae Oxonienses Vol. 2. p. 372, 373.
• † 1.19

  Hist. and Antiquit. Oxon. Lib. 2. p. 282.