in quarto 1606. The Plot of Dulcimel her cozening the Duke by a pretended Discovery of Tiberio's Love to her is borrow'd from Boccace's Novels Day 3. Nov. 3. This Novel is made use of as an Incident in several other Plays as Flora's Vagaries Souldiers Fortune and Nymphadoro's Humour of Loving the whole Sex Act. 3. Sc. 1. is copy'd from Ovid's Amor. Lib. 2. Eleg. 4. What you will a Comedy printed 8o. Lond. 1633. Francisco's zanying the Person and Humour of Albano is an incident in several Plays as Mr. Cowley's Guardian Albumazer c. tho' I presume the Design was first copy'd from Plautus his Amphitruo This I take to be one of our Authors best Plays Wonder of Women or Sophonisba her Tragedy sundry times acted at the Black-fryars and printed in 8o. Lond. 1633. This Play is founded on History see Livy Dec. 3. Lib. 10. Corn. Nepos in Vit. Annibal Polibius Appian Orosius The English Reader may read this Story lively describ'd by the Judicious Sir W. Rawleigh in his History of the World Book the 5. Mr. Phillips and Mr. Winstanley have created him the Author of a Play call'd The Faithful Shepherd which I am confident is none of his and have ommitted his Satyrs which render'd him more eminent than his Dramatick Poetry The Title is The Scourge of Villany in three Books of Satyrs printed in 8o. Lond. 1598. Mr. Fitz-Geoffry above-mention'd in the Account of Daniel and Johnson writ in their Commendation the following Hexastick Ad Johannem Marstonem Gloria Marstoni Satyrarum proxima primae Primaque fas primas si numerare duas Sin primam duplicare nefas tua gloria saltem Marstoni primae proxima semper eris Nec te paeniteat stationis Jane secundus Cū duo sint tantùm est neuter at ambo pares John MASON I can give the Reader no Account of this Author further than he was a Master of Arts in the time of King James the First about the middle of whose Reign he publisht a Play stil'd Muleasses the Turk a Worthy Tragedy divers times acted by the Children of his Majesties Revels printed 4o. Lond. 1610. Whether this Play deserv'd the Title of Worthy I shall not determine but that the Author had a good Opinion of it seems apparent from his Lemma in the Title-page borrow'd from Horace Sume superbiam quaesitam meritis Philip MASSINGER PHILIP MASSINGER Our Author has publisht Fourteen Plays of his own Writing besides those in which he join'd with other Poets We shall begin with a Play call'd Bashful Lover a Tragi-comedy often acted at the private House in Black-friars by His Majesties Servants with great Applause printed 8o. 1655. Bondman an ancient Story often acted with good allowance at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane by the most Excellent Princess the Lady Elizabeth her Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Honourable and his Singular good Lord Philip Earl of Montgomery The Plot of the Slaves being seduc'd to Rebellion by Pisander and reduc'd by Timoleon and their flight at the sight of the Whips is borrow'd from the Story of the Scythian Slaves Rebellion against their Master See Justin L.1 C. 5 City Madam a Comedy acted at the private House in Black-friars with great Applause printed 4o. Lond. 1659. for Andrew Pennycuicke One of the Actors and dedicated by him to the truly Noble and Virtuous Lady Anne Countess of Oxford This is an Excellent old Play Duke of Millain a Tragedy printed in 4o. tho when or where acted I know not my Copy being imperfect As to the Plot I suppose Sforza's giving orders to his Favourite Francisco to murther his beloved Wife the Dutchess Marcelia was borrow'd from the History of Herod who on the like occasion left orders with his Uncle Joseph to put his beloved Mariamne to Death as the Reader may see in Josephus Lib. 15. Cap. 4. Emperor of the East a Tragi-comedy divers times acted at the Black-friars and Globe Play-houses by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1632. and dedicated to the Right Honourable and his very good Lord John Lord Mohune Baron of Oke-hampton This Play is commended by three Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Sir Aston Cockain For the Play 't is founded on the History of Theodosius the Younger See Socrates L. 7. Theodoret L.5 Nicephorus L. 14. Baronius Godeau c. Fatal Dowry a Tragedy often acted at the private House in Black-friars by His Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1632. This Play was writ by our Author and Mr. Nathaniel Field of whom I have already spoken The behaviour of Charalois in voluntarily choosing imprisonment to ransom his Fathers Corps that it might receive Funeral Rights is copied from the Athenian Cymon that admirable Example of Piety so much celebrated by Valerius Maximus Lib. 5. C. 4 Ex. 9 Plutarch and Cornelius Nepos notwithstanding make it a forc'd Action and not voluntary Guardian a Comical History often acted at the private House in Black-fryars by his late Majesties Servants with great Applause printed 8o. Lond. 1655. Severino's cutting off Calipso's Nose in the dark taking her for his Wife Jolantre is borrow'd from the Cimerian Matron a Romance 8o. the like Story is related in Boccace Day 8. Nov. 7. Great Duke of Florence a Comical History often presented with good allowance by her Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1636. and dedicated to the truly Honoured and his noble Favourer Sir Robert Wiseman of Thorrel's Hall in Essex This Play is commended by two Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Mr. John Ford of whom we have already spoken p. 219. The false Character given the Duke of the Beauty of Lidia by Sanasarro resembles the Story of King Edgar and Duke Ethelwolph in his Account of the Perfections of Alphreda As the Reader may find the Story related in our English Chronicles that have writ the Reign of Edgar as Speed Stow Baker c. Maid of Honour a Tragi-comedy often presented with good allowance at the Phoenix in Drury-lane by the Queen's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1632. and dedicated to his most Honoured Friends Sir Francis Foliambe and Sir Thomas Bland A Copy of Verses is prefixt to the Play writ by Sir Aston Cokain New way to pay Old Debts a Comedy often acted at the Phoenix in Drury-lane by the Queens Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Robert Earl of Carnarvan This Play is deservedly commended by the Pens of Sir Henry Moody and Sir Thomas Jay above-mention'd Old Law or A new Way to please you an excellent Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Salisbury-house and at several other places with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1656. In this Play our Author was assisted by Mr. Middleton and Mr. Rowley At the End of it is printed a Catalogue of Plays which tho' stil'd perfect in the Title-page is far from it for besides abundance of
he is stiled Servant to Queen Elizabeth Councellor to King James and Friend to Sr. Philip Sidney Dying Anno 16 without Issue and unmarried Those who would read his Character more at large may have recourse to that excellent Author above-mentioned Henry BURKHEAD This Author liv'd in the Reign of K. Charles the Martyr being a Merchant in Bristol He writ a Play in the year 1645. called Cola's Furie or Lirenda's Misery a Tragedy dedicated to the Right Honourable Edward Somerset Lord Herbert The Subject of this Play is the Irish Rebellion which broke out the twenty-third day of October 1641. 'T is couch'd under feign'd Names as Osirus for the late Duke of Ormond Berosus for Sr. John Borlace c. the other Characters are easily discovered by reading Sr. John Temple's History of the Irish Rebellion printed Lond. 1646. and Sr. John Borlace his History on the same Subject Folio Lond. 16 This Play was never acted but introduc'd into the world by two Recommendatory Copies of Verses written by his Friends both which may seem to the Reader to be too partial in their Judgments as may be judg'd by the following Lines which are part of a Copy writ by Mr. Paul Aylward What tho' of Terence Seneca we hear And other modern Scenicks in our Sphere You I prefer Johnson for all his Wit Could never paint out Times as you have hit The Manners of our Age The Fame declines Of ne're enough prais'd Shakespear if thy lines Come to be publisht Beaum Fletcher's skill Submits to yours and your more learned Quill Henry BURNEL Esq This Gentleman liv'd in Ireland in the Reign of King Charles the First He writ a Play called Landgartha a Tragi-Comedy presented in the New Theatre in Dublin with good applause being an ancient Story printed in quarto Dublin 1641. and dedicated To all Fair indifferent Fair Virtuous that are not Fair and magnanimous Ladies This Play is usher'd into the world with Four Copies of Verses three Latine and one English but being guilty of the same partiality with the former I shall omit to insert any The Play it self was first acted on St. Patrick's-day 1639. with allowance of the Master of the Revels The Author it seems miscarried in a former Play and therefore in imitation of Ben Johnson whom he stiles The Best of English Poets he has introduc'd his Play by a Prologue spoken by an Amazon with a Battle-Ax in her Hand which succeeded to the Author's satisfaction The Plot is founded on the Conquest of Fro which the Author calls Frollo King of Suevia or Suethland by Regner or as the Author calls him Reyner King of Denmark with the Repudiation of Landgertha Queen to Regner See Krantzius lib. 4. c. 6. Saxo Grammaticus lib. 9. Jo. Magnus lib. 17. c. 4 5. c. C. Lady Elizabeth CAREW A Lady that flourisht in the Reign of Qu Elizabeth of whom I am able to give no other Account than what I collect from the Title-page of a Play call'd Mariam the Fair Queen of Jewry her Tragedy written says the Publisher by that Learned Virtuous and truly Noble Lady Elizabeth Carew and printed in quarto Lond. 1613. The Play is writ in the same measure of Verse with the Tragedies of the Earl of Sterline viz. in Alternate Verse and the Chorus is writ in Settines or a Stanza of Six Lines four interwoven and a Couplet in Base For the Play itself it is very well Pen'd considering those Times and the Lady's Sex I leave it to the Readers to compare it with that modern Tragedy of Herod and Mariamne Her Story is written at large in Josephus his History of the Jews See lib. 14 and 15. Salian Tom. 6. A.M. 4012. c. Torniel Tom. 2. A. M. 4026. Thomas CAREW A Courtier much in Favour with K. Charles the First being One of the Gentlemen of the Privy-Chamber and Sewer in Ordinary He was the Author of a Masque call'd Coelum Britanicum which was performed at White-hall in the Banqueting-house on Shrove-Tuesday Night the Eighteenth of February 1633. by the King's Majesty the Duke of Lenox the Earls of Devonshire Holland Newport c. with several other Lords and Noblemen's Sons He was assisted in the contrivance by Mr. Inigo Jones that Famous Architect and all the Songs were set by Mr. Henry Lawes Gentleman of the King's Chappel and one of the private Musick to King Charles the First It being written by the King 's express Command our Author placed this Distick in the Front when printed Non habet Ingenium Caesar sed jussit habebo Cur me posse negem posse quod ille putat He writ besides several Poems Songs and Sonnets which are received with good Esteem by the Wits of this Age and are printed with the foregoing Masque These Poems have been several times Reprinted the Fourth Edition being printed in octavo Lond. 1670. This Masque is not mentioned by either Mr. Philips or Mr. Winstanley because it was formerly through a mistake ascrib'd to Sr. William Davenant Sr. John Suckling that gay Wit who delighted to Railly the best Poets and spar'd not Ben Johnson himself has thus play'd upon our Author in his Sessions of Poets Tom Carew was next but he had a Fault That would not well stand with a Laureat His Muse was hide-bound the issue of 's brain Was seldome brought forth but with trouble and pain All that were there present did agree That a Laureat Muse should be easy and free Yet sure 't was not that but 't was thought that His Grace Consider'd he was well he had a Cup-bearer's Place But this is not to be taken for the real Judgment of that Excellent Poet and he was too good a Judge of Wit to be ignorant of Mr. Carew's Worth and his Talent in Poetry and had he pleas'd he could have said as much in his Commendation as Sr William D'Avenant in those Stanzas writ to him with part of which we shall conclude Not but thy Verses are as smooth and high As Glory Love and Wine from Wit can raise But now the Devil take such Destiny What should commend them turns to their dispraise Thy Wits chief Virtue is become its Vice For every Beauty thou hast rais'd so high That now course Faces carry such a Price As must undo a Lover that would buy Lodowick CARLELL Esq This Gentleman flourisht in the Reigns of King Charles the First and Second He was an Ancient Courtier being Gentleman of the Bows to King Charles the First Groom of the King and Queen's Privy-chamber and served the Queen-Mother many years His Plays which are Eight in number were well esteem'd of and most of them appeared on the Stage at the Private-house in Black-friars notwithstanding the prohibition of the Stage in those days The Names follow Arviragus and Philicia a Tragi-Comedy in two parts acted at the Private-house in Black Friars by his Majesties Servants and printed in octavo Lond. 1639. This Play was
and shall Honor haue While there 's or Slavish Lord or Royal Slave Robert CHAMBERLAIN A Gentleman that flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the First the Author of a Play called The Swaggering Damsel a Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1640. I know not whether this Play was ever acted but 't is usher'd into the world by Three Copies of Verses one of which was writ by Mr. Rawlins in requital of a Copy writ by our Author in praise of his Tragedy called The Rebellion A Complement which has in this Age been practiced by Mr. Dryden to Mr. Lee's Rival Queens in Return of that past by him on Mr. Dryden's State of Innocence Mr. Phillips and Winstanley have ascrib'd to our Author a Play call'd Sicellides which they stile a Pastoral tho'it is distinguish'd by the Anonymous Author by the Title of a Piscatory the Dramatis Personae being most of them Fishermen William CHAMBERLAIN A Dorset-shire Gentleman who in the Reign of King Charles the First liv'd at Shaftsbury a Market-town of sufficient Note for giving the Title to the famous Lord Cooper first Earl of Shaftsbury He writ a Play called Love's Victory a Tragi-Comedy printed in quarto Lond. 1658. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Sr. William Portman He writ this Play during the late Troubles and design'd to have it acted but the Powers then in being having suppressed the Stage he contented himself with Printing it tho' it has since appeared at least a great part of it upon the Stage in 1678. under the Title of Wits led by the Nose or A Poet's Revenge This Author writ besides an Heroick Poem called Pharonnida in Five Books printed in octavo Lond. 1659. and dedicated likewise to Sr. William Portman This Poem tho' it hath nothing extraordinary to recommend it yet appear'd abroad in Prose 1683. under the Title of a Novel called Eromena or The Noble Stranger George CHAPMAN A Gentleman of no mean Repute for his Poetical Writings and Versions amongst the Wits of the Age wherein he liv'd to wit in the later part of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth and that of King James I can give him no greater Commendation than that he was so intimate with the famous Jhonson as to engage in a Triumvirate with Him and Marston in a Play called Eastward-Hoe a Favour which the haughty Ben could seldome be perswaded to I might add to this that he was so much valued in his time by the Gentlemen of the Middle-Temple and Lincoln's-Inn that when those two Honourable Societies agreed to Present Their Majesties with a Masque at Whitehall on the joyful Occasion of the Marriage between the Princess Elizabeth only Daughter to King James the First and Frederick the Fifth of that Name Count Palatine of the Rhine and afterwards King of Bohemia they chose Mr. Chapman for their Poet to suit Language to the Occasion and Mr. Inigo Jones for their Ingineer to order the Machines and Decoration of the Scenes He has writ many Dramatick Pieces to the number of Eighteen besides several other Poems and Translations of all which his Tragedy of Bussy d' Amboise has the Preference I know not how Mr. Dryden came to be so possest with Indignation against this Play as to resolve to burn One annually to the Memory of Ben Johnson but I know very well that there are some who allow it a just Commendation and others that since have taken the liberty to promise a solemn annual Sacrifice of The Hind and Panther to the Memory of Mr. Quarles and John Bunyan so that should this last Humour continue The Hind and Panther would grow as scarce as this Old Tragedy is at present But I leave this Digression to give the Reader an Account of his Plays in order All Fools a Comedy presented at the Black-friars and afterwards before his Majesty King James the First in the Begining of his Reign and printed in quarto Lond. 1605. This was in those days accounted an Excellent Comedy and will still bear Reading it seems to be built in part upon the same Fabrick with Terence's Heautontimorumenos as those who will compare the Characters of the two Fathers Gostanzo and Mar. Antonio with Chremes and Menedemus and their Sons Valerio Fortunio and Rynaldo with Clinia Antipho and Syrus may easily perceive The Prologue and Epilogue writ in Blank Verse shew that in those days Persons of Quality and those that thought themselves Judges of Wit instead of sitting in Boxes as now in use sat on the Stage what influence those Sparks had on the meaner Auditors may be seen by the following Lines Great are the Gifts given to united Heads To Gifts Attire to fair Attire the Stage Helps much for if our other Audience see You on the Stage depart before we end Our Wits go with you all and we are Fools c Alphonsus Emperor of Germany a Tragedy very often acted with great Applause at the Private-house in Black-friars by the Servants to King Charles the First printed in quarto Lond. 1654. This Play tho' it bear the Name of Alphonsus was writ as I suppose in Honor of the English Nation in the Person of Richard Earl of Cornwal Son to King John and Brother to King Henry the Third He was chosen King of the Romans in 1257. and Crown'd at Aix the Seventeenth day of May being Ascension day About this time Alphonsus the Tenth King of Castile the subject of this Tragedy was chosen by other Electors Tho'this King was accounted by some a Pious Prince yet our Author represents his as a Bloody Tyrant and contrary to other Historians brings him to an unfortunate End he supposing him to be kill'd by Alexander Son to Lorenzo de Cipres his Secretary in revenge of his Father who was poyson'd by him and to compleat his Revenge he makes him first deny his Saviour in hopes of Life and then stabs him glorying that he had at once destroyed both Body and Soul This Passage is related in several Authors as Bolton's Four last Things Reynolds of the Passions Clark's Examples Wanley's History of Man For the true Story consult Mariana de Reb. Hisp. Lib. 13 C. 10 c. Loüis de Mayerne Turquet Hist. Generale d' Espagne Lib. 12 Bzovius An. 1257 c. Blind Beggar of Alexandria a Comedy most pleasantly discoursing his variable Humours in disguised shapes full of Conceit and Pleasure sundry times publickly Acted in London by the Right Honourable the Earl of Notingham Lord High Admiral his Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1598. This Play is neither divided into Acts nor Scenes Bussy d' Amboise a Tragedy often presented at Pauls in the Reign of King James the First and since the Restauration of King Charles the Second acted at the Theatre-Royal with good Applause For the Plot see Thuanus Jean De Serres and Mezeray in the Reign of King Henry the Third of France The Intrigue between Bussy and Tamyra is related by Rosset in his Histoires
Account of the Plays our Author has written but crave his leave to begin first with those which are usually stiled The Ages because they are generally sold together and depend upon each other and on another score they deserve the Preference as being accounted by most the Flower of all his Plays I shall rank them in the same manner as Ovid has describ'd them in his Divine Work the Metamorphosis Golden Age or The Lives of Jupiter and Saturn with the Deifying of the Heathen Gods a History sundry times acted at the Red-Bull by the Queens Majesties Servants and printed 4 o Lond. 1611. This Play the Author stiles The Eldest Brother of three Ages that have adventur'd the Stage but the only yet that hath been judg'd to the Press The Author in this Play and the Two following introduces Homer as the Expositor of each Dumb shew in imitation as I suppose of Shakespear's practice in Pericles Prince of Tyre where Gower is suppos'd to do the same piece of Service to the Audience I shall leave it to the Learned Readers Judgment how far our Poet has follow'd the Writers of Poetical History whilst I refer my English Readers to Ross's Mistagogus Poeticus and to Galtruchius's Poetical History for satisfaction or if they please to the Historical Dictionaries of Gouldman Littleton c. Silver Age a History including the Love of Jupiter to Alcmena the Birth of Hercules and the Rape of Proserpine concluding with the Arraignment of the Moon printed 4 o Lond. 1613. The Author in this Epistles acquaints the Reader That tho' He began with Gold follow with Silver proceed with Brass and purpose by God's Grace to end with Iron He hopes the declining Titles shall no whit blemish the Reputation of the Works but he rather trusts that as those Mettals decrease in value so è contrario their Books shall increase in substance weight and estimation Our Author in this Play has borrow'd several Passages from the Ancients as the Intrigue of Jupiter and Alcmena is translated from the Amphitruo of Plautus The Rape of Proserpine is borrow'd from Ovid's Metamorphosis lib. 3 with other places too many to repeat Brazen Age a History the First Act containing the Death of the Centaure Nessus the Second the Tragedy of Meleager the Third the Tragedy of Jason and Medea the Fourth Vulcan's Net the Fifth the Labours and Death of Hercules printed 4 o Lond. 1613. All these Stories are to be found in Ovid's Metamorphosis For the Story of Nessus see Lib. 9 Fab. 2 Of Meleager Lib. 8 Fab. 4 Of Jason Lib. 7 Fab. 1 Of Vulcan's Net Lib. 4 Fab. 5 Of Hercules Lib. 9 Fab. 3 Iron Age the first part an History containing the Rape of Hellen the Siege of Troy the Combat between Hector and Ajax Hector and Troilus slain by Achilles Achilles slain by Paris Ajax and Ulysses contend for the Armour of Achilles the Death of Ajax c. printed 4 o Lond. 1632. and dedicated to his Worthy and Much Respected Friend Mr. Thomas Hammond of Gray's Inn Esquire The Author in his Epistle acquaints the Reader That this Iron Age beginneth where the other left holding on in a plain and direct course from the second Rape of Hellen not only to the utter ruine and devastation of Troy but it with the second part stretcheth to the Deaths of Hellen and all those Kings of Greece who were the undertakers of that Ten years bloody and fatal Siege Lastly he desires the Reader to take notice That these were the Plays often and not with the least applause publickly acted by two Companies upon One Stage at once and have at sundry times thronged three several Theatres with numerous and mighty Auditories The Author has borrow'd in many places of this Play as the Reader may see by comparing the Contention between Ajax and Ulysses with Ovid's Metamorphosis Lib. 13 and other the like too numerous to particularise For the main Plot consult Homer Vigil Dares Phrigius c. for the Episodes Ovid's Epistles Metamorphosis Lucian's Dialogues c. Iron Age the second part a History containing the Death of Penthesilea Paris Priam and Hecuba The burning of Troy The Deaths of Agamemnon Menelaus Clitemnestra Hellena Orestes Egistus Pylades King Diomed Pyrbus Cethus Synon Thersites printed 4 o Lond. 1632. and dedicated to his Worthy and much Respected Friend Mr. Thomas Manwaring Esquire For the Plot consult the foremention'd Authors Mr. Heywood design'd a new Edition of all these Ages together And to illustrate as he says the whole Work with an Explanation of the difficulties and an Historical Comment upon every hard Name which might appear obscure and intricate to such as were not frequent in Poetry but design of his I know not for what reason was laid aside Having given the Reader a full if not too tedious Account of these Plays I hasten to speak of the rest in our accustom'd order as follows Challenge for Beauty a Tragi-comedy sundry times acted by the Kings Majesties Servants at the Black fryars and at the Globe on the Bank-side printed 4 o Lond. 1636. Dutchess of Suffolk her Life a History divers and sundry times acted with good Applause printed 4 o Lond. 1631. The PLot is built on History see the Story at large in Fox's Martyrology in the Reign of Queen Mary An. Dom. 1558. in the Story of Lady Katherine Dutchess of Suffolk See besides Clark's Martyrology Chap. 11. pag. 521. Edward the Fourth a History in Two Parts printed 4 o Lond. 16 The Foundation of this Play is built upon Chronicle See the Story of this King writ by Polydore Virgil Du Chesue Speed c. English Traveller a Tragi-comedy publickly acted at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane by her Majesties Servants prited 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Sir Henry Appleton Knight Baronet The Plot and Language of young Lyonel and Reginald is stoln from Plautus's Mostellaria The Story of old Wincote and his Wife Geraldine and Dalavil the Author affirms to be true in his History of Women where 't is related at large lib. 4. pag. 269. 8 o Edition Fair Maid of the Exchange a Comedy together with the merry Humours and pleasant Passages of the Cripple of Fanchurch furnisht with variety of delectable Mirth printed 4o. Lond. 1637. The Parts are so cast by the Author that tho' there are Twenty Actors Eleven may easily act this Comedy tho' in my opinion it is not worth reviving Nay further I question notwithstanding Mr. Kirkman has ascrib'd it to our Author whether it be his since his Name is not prefixt neither does the Stile or Oeconomy resemble the rest of his Labours Fair Maid of the West or A Girlworth Gold a Tragi-comedy the First Part lately acted before the King and Queen with approved liking by the Queens Majesties Comedians printed 4 o Lond. 1631. and dedicated to his much Worthy and his most Respected John Othow Esquire Counsellor at Law in the Noble Society of
the Compilers of former Catalogues because it consists of Speeches of Gratulation as the Author stiles them which were spoke to his Majesty at Fen-Church Temple-Bar and the Strand and therefore besides the presidents of former Catalogues which might in part justify me I might be blam'd should I omit it The Author has plac'd a Comment throughout to illustrate and authorise his Contrivance Entertainment in private of the King and Queen on May-day in the Morning at Sir William Cornwallis's House at High-gate 1604. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment of King James and Queen Anne at Theobalds when the House was deliver'd up with the possession to the Queen by the Earl of Salisbury May 22. 1607. The Prince of Janvile Brother to the Duke of Guise being then present printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment in particular of the Queen and Prince their Highnesses at Althrope at the Lord Spencer's on Saturday being the Twenty-fifth of June 1603. as they came first into the Kingdome printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Entertainment of the Two Kings of Great Brittain and Denmark at Theobalds July 24 th 1606. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. This Entertainment is very short and consists chiefly of Epigrams Every Man in his Humour a Comedy acted in the Year 1598. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Most Learned and his Honour'd Friend Mr. Cambden Clarencieux This Play has been reviv'd since the Civil Wars and was receiv'd with general Applause There is a new Epilogue writ for this Play the latter part of which is spoken by Ben Johnson's Ghost The Reader may find it in a Collection of Poems on several Occasions printed 8o. Lond. 1673. See pag. 29. Every Man out of his Humour a Comical Satyr first acted in the Year 1599. by the then Lord Chamberlain's Servants with allowance of the Master of the Revels printed Fol. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Noblest Nurseries of Humanity and Liberty in the Kingdome The Inns of Court This Play was reviv'd at the Theatre-Royal in the Year 1675. at which time a new Prologue and Epilogue were spoken by Jo. Heyns which were writ by Mr. Duffet See his Poems 8o. pag. 72. c. This is accounted an excellent Old Comedy Fortunate Isles and their Union celebrated in a Masque design'd for the Court on the Twelfth-Night 1626. printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Golden Age restor'd in a Masque at Court 1615. by the Lords and Gentlemen the King's Servants and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Hymenaei or The Solemnities of a Masque and Barriers at a Marriage printed Fol. Lond. 1640. To this Masque are annext by the Author Learned Notes in the Margin for illustration of the Ancient Greek and Roman Customs Irish Masque at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. King's Entertainment at Welbeck in Nottingham-shire a House of the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle at his going into Scotland 1633. printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love free'd from Ignorance and Folly a Masque of her Majesties printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love Restor'd in a Masque at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed Fol. Lond. 1640. Love's Triumph thro' Callipolis perform'd in a Masque at Court 1630. by his Majesty King Charles the First with the Lords and Gentlemen Assisting the Inventors being Mr. Johnson and Mr. Inigo Jones printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Love's Welcome the King and Queen's Entertainment at Bolsover at the Earl of Newcastle's the 30 th of July 1634. and printed Fol. Lond. 1641. Magnetick Lady or Humours Reconcil'd a Comedy acted at the Black-fryars and printed Fol. Lond. 1640. This Play is generally esteem'd an Excellent Play tho' in those days it found some Enemies amongst which Dr. Gill Master of Pauls School or at least his Son writ a Satyr against it part of which the whole being too long I shall take the pains to transcribe But to advise thee Ben in this strist Age A Brick-kill's better for thee than a Stage Thou better know'st a Groundsil for to lay Then lay the Plot or Ground-work of a Play And better can'st direct to Cap a Chimney Then to converse with Clio or Polyhimny Fall then to work in thy old Age agen Take up thy Trug and Trowel gentle Ben Let Plays alone or if thou needs will write And thrust thy feeble Muse into the light Let Lowen cease and Taylor scorn to touch The loathed Stage for thou hast made it such But to shew how fiercely Ben could repartee on any one that had abus'd him I will present the Reader with his answer Shall the prosperity of a Pardon still Secure thy railing Rhymes infamous Gill At libelling Shall no Star-Chamber Peers Pillory nor Whip nor want of Ears All which thou hast incurr'd deservedly Nor Degradation from the Ministry To be the Denis of thy Father's School Keep in thy bawling Wit thou bawling Fool. Thinking to stir me thou hast lost thy End I 'll laugh at thee poor wretched Tike go send Thy blotant Muse abroad and teach it rather A Tune to drown the Ballads of thy Father For thou hast nought to cure his Fame But Tune and Noise the Eccho of his Shame A Rogue by Statute censur'd to be whipt Cropt branded slit neck-stockt go you are stript Masque at the Lord Viscount Hadington's Marriage at Court on Shrove-Tuesday at Night 1608. and printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Augurs with several Antimasques presented on Twelfth-night 1622. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Owls at Kenelworth presented by the Ghost of Captain Coxe mounted on his Hobby-horse 1626. printed fol. Lond. 1640. Masque of Queens celebrated from the House of Fame by the Queen of Great Britain with her Ladies at Whitehall Febr. 2. 1609. This Masque is adorned with learned Notes for the Explanation of the Author's Design He was assisted in the Invention and Architecture of the Scenes throughout by Mr. Inigo Jones Masque presented in the House of the Right Honourable the Lord Haye by divers of Noble Quality his Friends for the Entertainment of Monsieur Le Baron de Tour Extraordinary Ambassador for the French King on Saturday the 22. of Febr. 1617. printed fol. Lond. 1617. Metamorphos'd Gypsies a Masque thrice presented to King James first at Burleigh on the Hill next at Belvoyr and lastly at Windsor in August 1621. printed fol. Lond. 1641. Mercury Vindicated from the Alchymists at Court by Gentlemen the King's Servants printed fol. Lond. 1640. Mortimer's Fall a Tragedy or rather a Fragment it being just begun and left imperfect by his Death tho' the Reader may see the Model of each Act by the Argument publisht before it printed fol. Lond. 1640. Neptune's Triumph for the Return of Albion celebrated in a Masque at Court on the Twelfth-Night 1644. printed fol. Lond. 1641. News from the New World discovered in the Moon a Masque presented at Court before King James 1620. and printed fol. Lond. 1641. Oberon the Fairy Prince a Masque of Prince Henries printed fol. Lond. 1640. On
Bell-guard and Crack in Sir Courtly Nice extreamly resembles Don Patricio and Tarugo in this Play Nay more the Plots of both are alike I leave it to the Decision of Mr. Crown or any other who have seen the Spanish Play In the mean time I desire no Man to rely upon my Judgment but if what I have said cannot save him excuse him upon his own Plea in his own Words If this prevail not he hopes he 's safe from danger For Wit and Malice ought not to reach a Stranger William SAMPSON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First He was sometimes a Retainer to the Family of Sir Henry Willoughby of Richley in Derbyshire and was the Author of a Play call'd Vow-breaker or The Fair Maid of Clifton in Nottinghamshire divers times acted by several Companies with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1633. and dedicated to Mrs. Anne Willoughby Daugther to Sir Henry in which Epistle the Author concludes thus Heaven keep you from Fawning Parasites and busie Gossips and send you a Husband and a Good One or else may you never make a Holyday for Hymen As much Happiness as Tongue can speak Pen can write Heart think or Thoughts imagine ever attend on you your Noble Father and all his Noble Family to whom I ever rest as my bounden Duty a Faithful Servant Will. Sampson This Play seems founded upon Truth I have likewise in my younger Years read a Ballad compos'd upon the same Subject Our Author besides this Play joyned with Mr. Markham in Herod and Antipater which I forgot before But as for the Valiant Scot and How to chuse a Good Wife from a Bad they are in my Judgment none of our Author's writing tho' Mr. Philips and his Follower Mr. Winstanley have ascribed them to him George SANDYS Esq A Gentleman who flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr if one may so say of a Person who sympathiz'd so deeply with his Prince and Country in their misfortunes He was Son to his Grace Edwin Arch-bish of York and was born in the Year 1577 at Bishops-Thorp in the same County being his Father's youngest Child He was sent to the University that memorable Year 1588. being then eleven Years of Age and was enter'd of St. Mary Hall in Oxford how long he stay'd I know not but in the Year 1610. memorable for the Murder of that Great Hero Henry the Fourth of France by that Villain Ravaillac he began his Travels thro' France Italy Turky AEgypt Palestine c. an Account of which you may read in his Travels printed Fol. Lond. 1658. But 't is not on this Account but his Poetry that he is here mentioned and therefore I shall hasten to speak of his Writings in that kind and first of that excellent Piece of Dramatick Poetry which he has left us and chiefly in this Account challenges a particular place viz. Christ's Passion a Tragedy with Annotations printed 8o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to King Charles the First This Play is translated from the Latin Original writ by Hugo Grotius This Subject was handled before in Greek by that Venerable Person Apollinarius of Laodicea Bishop of Hierapolis and after him by Gregory Nazianzen tho' this of Hugo Grotius in our Author's Opinion transcends all on this Argument As to the Translator I doubt not but he will be allow'd an Excellent Artist by Learned Judges and as he has follow'd Horace's Advice of Avoiding a servile Translation Nec verbum verbo curabis reddere fidus Interpres So he comes so near the Sence of the Author that nothing is lost no Spirits evaporate in the decanting of it into English and if there be any Sediment it is left behind This Book was reprinted with Figures 8o. Lond. 1688. Nor are his other Translations less valu'd especially Ovid's Metamorphosis printed with Cuts Fol. Oxon. 1632. This Translation was so much esteem'd in former times that I find two old Copies of Verses speaking in praise of our Author In the first called A Censure of the Poets are these Lines Then dainty Sands that hath to English done Smooth sliding Ovid and hath made him One With so much sweetness and unusual Grace As tho' the neatness of the English Pace Should tell your setting Latin that it came But slowly after as though stiff or lame The other on the Time Poets sayes thus Sands Metamorphos'd so into another We know not Sands and Ovid from each other To this I may add the Translation of the first Book of Virgil's AEneis by which Specimen we may see how much he has excell'd Mr. Ogilby For his other Divine Pieces as his Paraphrase on the Psalms Job Ecclesiastes Lamentatiöns of Jeremiah c. I have heard them much admired by Devout and Ingenious Persons and I believe very deservingly Having done with his Translations give me leave to conclude with His to another World which happen'd at his Nephew Mr. Wiat's House at Boxley-Abbey in Kent in the Chancel of which Parish-Church he lyes buried tho' without a Monument and therefore I shall follow my Author from whence I collected this Account by transcribing what deserves to be inscrib'd on a Monument viz. Georgius Sandys Poetarum Anglorum sui saecult Princeps sepultus fuit Martii 70 Stilo Anglico A.D. 1643. Charles SAUNDERS A Young Gentleman whose Wit began to bud as early as that of the Incomparable Cowley and was like him a King's Scholar when he writ a Play call'd Tamberlane the Great a Tragedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal as likewise at Oxford before his late Majesty King Charles the Second at his meeting the Parliament there 'T was printed in quarto Lond. 1681. and the Design was drawn as the Author owns from the Novel of Tamerlane and Asteria in octavo I have so great a value for this Author's Play that I cannot but wish well to his Muse but being no Poet I must set my Hand to another Man's Wishes I mean Mr. Banks who has writ a Copy of Verses on this Play part of which are as follow Launch out young Merchant new set up of Wit The World 's before thee and thy stock is great Sail by thy Muse but never let her guide Then without danger you may safely glide By happier Studies steer'd and quickly gain The promised Indies of a hopeful Brain Bring home a Man betimes that may create His Country's Glory in the Church or State Elkanah SETTLE An Author now living whose Muse is chiefly addicted to Tragedy and has been tragically dealt withal by a Tyranical Laureat which has somewhat eclips'd the glory he at first appeared in But Time has her vicissitudes and he has lived to see his Enemy humbled if not justly punished for this Reason I shall not afresh animadvert upon his fault but rather bury them in Oblivion and without any Reflections on his Poetry give a succinct Account of those Plays which he has published being Nine in Number viz. Cambyses
Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1652. and dedicated to the Worthily Honoured Friend Sir Edmund Bowyer The Queen 's Courting Rosania under the Disguise of a Page and the King 's Surprizing them has Resemblance to a Story in the English Adventures 8o. part 3. between King Henry Izabella and Horatio Imposture a Tragi-comedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars and printed 8o. Lond. 1652. 'T is dedicated to Sir Robert Bolles Baronet Sisters a Comedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars and printed 8o. Lond. 1652. 'T is dedicated to William Paulet Esq Having given an Account of these Six Plays I am now to speak of Two others which are printed together in 8o. Lond. 16 viz. Honoria and Mammon a Comedy which is built upon that Entertainment before mentioned called Contention for Honour and Riches I shall refer my Reader to the Author's Epistle for further Satisfaction of the Reason of his Undertakings Contention of Ajax and Ulysses for the Armour of Achilles This Interlude was nobly represented says the Author by Young Gentlemen of Quality at a private Entertainment of some Persons of Honour The Design is taken from Ovid's Metamorphosis Book the 13. See the beginning There rests only his Poems to be spoken of printed octavo Lond. 1646. to which is added a Masque call'd Triumph of Beauty personated by some Young Gentlemen for whom it was intended at a private Recreation The Subject of this Masque is that known Story of the Judgment of Paris upon the Golden-Ball which you may read in Lucians Dialogues But our Author has imitated Shakespear in the Comical part of his Midsummer Nights Dream and Shirley's Shepheard Bottle is but a Copy of Shakespear's Bottom the Weaver I shall conclude this Account with Four Lines writ in our Author's Commendation by One Mr. Hall who in the Title of his Panegyrick stiles him The Surviving Honour and Ornament of the English Scene and in the End concludes thus Yet this I dare assert when Men have nam'd Johnson the Nations Laureat the fam'd Beaumont and Fletcher he that cannot see Shirley the fourth must forfeit his best Eye Sir Charles SIDLEY A Gentleman whose Name speaks a greater Panegyrick than I am able to express and whose Wit is so well known to this Age that I should but tarnish its Lustre by my Endeavouring to deliver it over to the next His Wit is too Noble a Subject to need any Herald to proclaim its Titles and Pedigree or if it did my Voice and Skill are too weak to sound out his Praises in their due measures I shall therefore only content my self as the Vallys that have no Voice of their own to eccho out his Merits at the Second-hand and give you part of his Character from a Person whose Honour and Pride it is to have a considerable share in his Friendship I mean Mr. Shadwell who in his Epistle Dedicatory to The True Widow says That he has heard him speak more Wit at a Supper than all his Adversaries with their Heads joyn'd together could write in a Year That his Writings are not unequal to any Man 's of this Age not to speak of Abundance of Excellent Copies of Verses That he has in the Mulberry Garden shown the true Wit Humour and Satyr of a Comedy and in Anthony and Cleopatra the true Spirit of a Tragedy But least this might be thought Partiality or Flattery in our Laureat give me leave to transcribe another part of his Character from an Unquestionable Judge of Poetry the great Ornament of the Muses the Lord Rochester in his Imitation of Horace's Tenth Satyr of the First Book Sidley has that prevailing gentle Art That can with a resistless Charm impart The loosest Wishes to the chastest Heart Raise such a Conflict kindle such a Fire Betwixt declineing Virtue and Desire Till the poor vanquisht Maid dissolves away In Dreams all Night in sighs and tears all Day The Plays this Great Wit has oblig'd the World with are but three all which appear to be writ with Design at least they may serve to be Patterns for succeeding Poets Imitation which I shall only mention in their Alphabetical Order viz. Anthony and Cleopatra a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. For the History see Plutarch's Life of Anthony Appian Dion Cassius Diodorus Florus c. Bellamira or The Mistress a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants and printed Lond. 1687. This Play is an Imitation as the Author informs us of Terence's Eunucbus Mulberry Garden a Comedy acted by his Majesty's Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1668. and dedicated to Her Grace the Dutchess of Richmond and Lenox which Epistle is not the least Ornament to the Play and shews the Neatness of his Stile in Prose I dare not say that the Character of Sir John Everyoung and Sir Samuel Fore-cast are Copies of Sganarelle and Ariste in Molliere's L'Escole des Maris but I may say that there is some Resemblance tho' whoever understands both Languages will readily and with Justice give our English Wit the preference and Sir Charles is not to learn to Copy Nature from the French Give me Leave to conclude with what the Learned Mr. Evelyn has said with no less Truth than Ingenuity in his Imitation of Ovid's Fifteenth Elegy of this Excellent Poet and his Friend Sir George Etheridge While Fathers are severe and Servants cheat Till Bawds and Whores can live without deceit Sidley and easy Etheridge shall be Great John SMITH A Gentleman as I suppose now living at Snenton in Yorkshire the Author of a Comedy call'd Cytherea or The Enamouring Girdle printed 4 o Lond. 1677. This Play was refused to be acted by the Players of the Duke's Theatre as you may see by the Epistle Dedicatory to the Northern Gentry I leave the Play to the Judgment of those that have read it William SMITH An Author that lived in the Reign of King James the First who publish'd a Play call'd Hector of Germany or The Palsgrave Prime Elector an Honourable History publickly acted at the Red-bull and at the Curtain by a Company of Young Men of this City printed 4o. Lond. 1615. and dedicated to the Right Worshipful Sir John Swinnerton Lord Mayor of London in the Year 1611. This Play is not divided into Acts I am not certain where this Story is to be found tho' possibly Albertus Argentinensis or Henry Monk of Rebdorf may make some Mention of this Palatin Our Author writ another Play called The Freeman's Honour to dignify the Worthy Company of Taylors but whether ever it was printed or no I know not This Author joyned with One W. Webbe in writing a Book called The Description of the Counry Palatine of Chester Lond. 1656. Hieronymo is ascribed by Mr. Philips and Winstanley thro' their old Mistake to our Author it being an Anonymous Play Thomas SOUTHERN An Author of whom I can give no further Account than that he has two Plays in print viz. Disappointment or
Return from Parnassus 547 Revenge Ibid. Revengers Tragedy 506 Reward of Virtue 223 Rhodon and Iris. 316 Richard the Second 462 Rival Friends 245 Kings 8 Ladies 167 Queens 325 Rivals 547 Roaring Girl 373 Robert Earl of Huntingdon's Downfal and Death 267 Hood's Pastoral May-games 547 and his Crew of Souldiers Ibid. Roman Actor 358 Empress 308 Generals 129 Romeo and Juliet 462 Romulus and Hersilia 547 Roundheads 21 Rover. 20 Royalist 183 Royal King and Loyal Subject 268 Masque at Hampton-Court 547 Master 481 Shepherdess 450 Slave 43 Voyage 548 Rule a Wife and have a Wife 214 Rump 503 S. SAcrifice 184 Sad One 498 Shepheard 295 Saint Cicely 520 Salmacida Spolia 548 Sampson Agonistes 375 Sapho and Phaon 329 Scaramouch c. 429 School of Complements 480 Scornful Lady 214 Scots Figaries 503 Sea Voyage 214 Seven Champions of Christendom 315 See me and see me not 24 Sejanus 295 Selimus 315 Sertorius 6 Several Wits 393 Sforza Duke of Millain 237 Shepheards Holyday 433 Paradice 377 Shoomaker 's a Gentleman 429 Sicelides 548 Sicily and Naples 519 Siege 54 110 of Babylon 406 of Constantinople 549 of Memphis 183 of Rhodes 110 of Urbin 315 Silent Woman 296 Silver Age. 259 Sir Barnaby Whig 184 Courtly Nice 96 Giles Goose-cap 549 Hercules Buffon 318 Martin Mar-all 170 Patient Fancy 21 Solomon 549 Sister 484 Six Days Adventure 274 Slighted Maid 492 Sociable Companions 393 Soliman and Perseda 550 Sophister Ibid. Sophonisba 325 351 Sophy 128 Souldiers Fortune 399 Spanish Bawd 550 Curate 214 Fryar 170 Gypsies 373 Rogue 178 Sparagus Garden 37 Speeches at Pr. Henry's Barriers 296 Spightful Sister 6 Sport upon Sport 90 Springs Glory 381 Squire of Alsatia 450 Old Sap. 183 Staple of News 296 State of Innocence 172 Step-mother 551 Strange Discovery Ib. Successful Strangers 378 Sullen Lovers 450 Summers's last Will and Testament 383 Sun's Darling 221 Supposes 231 Surprisal 277 Susanna's Tears 551 Swaggering Damois 56 Sweetnam the Woman-hater arraigned 551 T. TAle of a Tub. 297 Tamberlain the Great 344 Taming of the Shrew 463 Tancred and Gismond 512 Tartuff 367 Tarugo's Wiles 434 Tempe restor'd 551 Tempest 172 463 Temple 64 of Love 110 The longer thou liv'st the more fool thou art 508 Thebais 394 Theodosius 326 Thersytes 552 Thomaso 313 Thornby Abby 524 Thracian Wonder 510 Three Lords and Ladies of London 521 Thyerry and Theodoret 215 Time vindicated to himself and to his Honours 297 Timon of Athens 451 Titus Andronicus 464 Titus and Berenice 399 Tom Essence 552 Tyler and his Wife 508 Tottenham Court 381 Town Fop. 22 Shifts 425 Trapolin supposed a Prince 70 Travels of 3 English Brothers 119 Traytor 481 to himself 553 Treacherous Brother 407 Trick for Trick 184 to catch the Old One. 373 Triumph of Beauty 485 Love and Antiquity 373 Peace 482 the Prince D'Amour 111 Triumphant Widdow 387 Troades 472 521 Troas 251 Troylus and Cressida 173 True Trojans 553 Widdow 451 Tryal of Chivalry 508 Treasure 554 Tryphon 28 Tunbridge Wells 554 Twelfth Night 466 Twins 427 Two Angry Women of Abington 407 Noble Kinsmen 215 Two Tragedies in One. 516 Wise Men and all the rest Fools 64 Tide tarrieth for no Man 508 Tyranical Government 554 Tyranick Love 173 V. VAlentinian 215 Valiant Scot. 523 Welchman 516 Varieties 387 Venice preserv'd 400 Very Woman 359 Vestal Virgin 277 Vilain 407 Virgin Martyr 359 Widow 410 Virtuoso 451 Virtuous Octavia 30 Wife 185 Virtue betray'd 8 Vision of Delight 297 the Twelve Goddesses 103 Unfortunate Lovers 112 Mother 382 Shepheard 506 Usurper 554 Ungrateful Favorite Ib. Unhappy Fair One. 499 Favorite 9 Unnatural Combat 359 Tragedy 393 Untrussing the Humorous Poet. 123 Vow-breaker 437 Usurper 274 W. WAlks of Islington and Hogsden 307 Wandring Lover 368 Warning for fair Women 555 Weakest goes to the wall Ib. Wealth and Health Ib. Wedding 483 Westward-hoe 124 What you will 351 When you see me you know me 430 White Devil 509 Whore of Babylon 124 Wiat's History 125 Widow 298 Ranter 22 's Tears 65 Wife for a Month. 216 Wild Gallant 174 Goose-chase 216 Wily beguil'd 555 Wine Beer Ale and Tobacco 555 Winters Tale. 466 Wise Women of Hogsden 268 Wit at several Weapons 216 of a Woman 556 in a Constable 233 without Money 216 Wits 111 Cabal 393 led by the Nose 556 Witty Combat 520 Fair One 483 Woman Captain 452 Hater 216 in the Moon 330 kill'd with Kindness 268 turn'd Bully 556 Woman 's a Weather-cock 198 Conquest 374 Prize 217 Women beware Women 374 pleas'd 217 Wonder a Woman never vex'd 429 World lost at Tennis 374 Wrangling Lovers 423 Y. YOrkshire Tragedy 466 Young Admiral 483 King 22 Your five Gallants 375 Youths Glory Deaths Banquet 393 The Plays in the Appendix ALphonso King of Naples Amphytryon Banish'd Duke Belphegor Bragadocio Distressed Innocence Edward the Third Ferrex and Porrex Folly of Priestcraft Gorboduc Mad World my Masters Mistakes Robin Conscience Royal Flight Scowrers Sir Anthony Love Unfortunate Lovers Witch of Edmonton Woman will have her will Wonder of a Kingdom The APPENDIX THe Occasion of adding this following Appendix is to compleat the Account of all the Plays that have been printed as far as this present Time since several new Ones have been publisht after the Fore-going Sheets were sent to the Press and some others thro' oversight omitted in the Body of the Book I have chose rather to place them here than leave the whole imperfect I shall follow the same Method as before beginning first with the Known Authors in an Alphabetical Order and afterwards mention those whose Authors are conceal'd I begin with Sir William DAVENANT I have already given an Account of this Author p. 106 c. to which I refer my Reader only beg his Pardon for the Omission of a Play to be found in the Body of his Works nam'd Unfortunate Lovers a Tragedy printed in Folio Thomas DECKER An Author already mention'd p. 122. to have a hand in Twelve Plays tho' thro' mistake I have given an Account but of Ten of them 'T is true I referr'd the Reader p. 125. to the Account of Will. Rowley for The Witch of Edmonton but quite forgot a Play which was writ wholly by our Author stil'd Wonder of a Kingdom a Tragi-comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1636. This I take to be a very diverting old Play John DRYDEN Esq The Reader will find an Account of this Author's Writings p. 130 c. but he having lately publisht a new Play I am here to give the Reader some Account of it Amphytryon or The Two Socias a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal to which is added the Musick of the Songs compos'd by Mr. Henry Purcel printed 4o. Lond. 1691. and dedicated to the Honourable Sir Levison Gower Baronet This Play is founded on Plautus's Amphytruo and Molliere's Amphytryon as the Author himself acknowledges in his Epistle Dedicatory The Reader that will take the pains to compare them will find that Mr. Dryden has more closely followed the French than
Edition given the Reader a large Account of the Title-page of each Play which I have seen as the Double Titles the Place where acted the Date when printed and the Person to whom Dedicated with other Observations which might obiter occur or relate more immediately to each Play Thirdly As to those Plays founded on History instead of One or Two as formerly I have cited most of the Historians that have treated on that Subject that the Reader might compare the Play with the Original Story I have not mention'd so many Authors out of hopes of being counted Industrious or to beget an Opinion in the World of my Reading Tho' as an Ingenious Author observes This Humor possesseth many Men that brag of many Books Coming under their Discovery as if not only with the Mice they had crept through the Crannies of all Libraries but also with the Mothes had got betwixt the Leaves of all Treatises therein I am so far from affecting Title-Learning in which every Bookseller would perhaps excel me that I am willing to acknowledge to the Reader that I am owing to the Compendious Collections of Historians and Chronologers for their Directions to find any Story or Action in the Original Author and therefore shall account it no lessening to my Reputation to be trac'd in Calvisius Spondanus Lloyd Moreri and the like Fourthly As to the Drammas which are founded on Romances or Forreign Plays I have much enlarg'd my Remarks having employ'd a great part if not too much of my Time in reading Plays and Novels in several Languages by which means I have discovered many more Thefts than those in the former Catalogue and have for the Readers Ease as well as my own Vindication cited the particulars of each Plagiary to obviate an Objection of a certain Poet who professes he has not stollen half of what I then accused him of What Reception this Piece may find in the World I am not very sollicitous nor greatly concern'd since as the Judicious Sr. Robert Howard has observ'd Things of this Nature tho' never so Excellent or never to Mean have seldome prov'd the Foundation of Men's New-built Fortunes or the Ruine of their Old I am so far from valuing my self upon this Performance that if there be any thing in it worth Commendation the Poets are at liberty to father it upon whom they please or claim it as their own without my taking any offence at it And if I can but be so happy as to obtain a Pardon from the more solid part of Mankind for having mis-spent my Time in these Lighter Studies I promise for the future to imploy my self on Subjects of more Weight and Importance GER LANGBAINE The AUTHORS Names A. WIlliam Alexander E. of Sterline 1 Robert Armin. 6 B. Abraham Baily 6 John Banckroft 6 John Banks 7 Barnaby Barnes 9 Robert Baron 10 Lodowick Barrey 14 Francis Beaumont 14 Capt. Will. Bedloe 15 Mrs. Astraea Behn 17 Dabridgec Belchier 24 Richard Bernard 24 R. Boyle E. Orrery 27 Mrs. Fran. Boothby 26 Samuel Brandon 30 Anthony Brewer 30 Alexander Brome 31 Richard Brome 33 Fulk Lord Brook 38 Henry Burkhead 41 Henry Burnel 42 C. Lady Eliz. Carew 43 Thomas Carew 43 Lodowick Carlell 45 James Carlisle 49 Richard Carpenter 50 Will. Carthwright 51 Rob. Chamberlain 56 Will. Chamberlain 56 George Chapman 57 Sir Aston Cockain 67 Edward Cook 71 John Cook 72 John Corey 73 Charles Cotton 74 Abraham Cowley 77 Robert Cox 89 John Crown 90 D. John Dancer 97 Samuel Daniel 100 Dr. Ch. Davenant 116 Sr. Will. Davenant 106 Robert Davenport 116 Robert Dabourn 117 John Day 118 Thomas Decker 121 Sr. John Denham 125 John Dover 129 John Dryden 130 Thomas Duffet 177 Thomas Durfey 179 E. Edw. Eccleston 185 Sr. Gec Etheridge 186 F. Sr. Fr. Fane Jun. 188 Sr. Rich. Fanshaw 190 L. Visc. Falkland 197 Nathaniel Field 198 Richard Fleknoe 199 John Fletcher 203 John Ford. 219 Thomas Ford. 222 John Fountain 223 Abraham Fraunce 223 Sr. Ralph Freeman 226 Ulpian Fulwel 227 G. George Gascoigne 228 Henry Glapthorn 231 Thomas Goff 233 Robert Gomersal 237 Franc. Goldsmith 238 Alex. Green 241 Robert Green 241 H. Will. Habington 243 Peter Haustead 244 Richard Head 246 Will. Hemmings 247 Jasper Heywood 248 John Heywood 253 Thomas Heywood 256 Barten Hollyday 270 Charles Hool 272 Edw. Howard 274 James Howard 275 Sr. Rob. Howard 276 James Howel 277 I. Thomas Jevorn 280 Thomas Ingeland 280 Benjamin Johnson 280 Thomas Jordan 306 William Joyner 308 K. Henry Killegrew 309 Thomas Killegrew 311 Sr. Will. Killegrew 314 Thomas Kirke 315 Ralph Knevet 316 Thomas Kyd. 316 L. John Lacy. 317 John Leanard 319 Nathaniel Lee. 320 John Lilly 327 Thomas Lodge 330 Sr. William Lower 332 Thomas Lupon 334. M. Lewis Machin 334 John Maidwell 335 Dr. Jasper Main 336 Cosino Manuch 338 Gervase Markham 340 Christoph. Marloe 342 Shakerley Marmion 345 John Marston 347 John Mason 352 Phil. Massinger 352 Thomas May. 360 Robert Mead. 365 Matth. Medhourn 366 Thomas Meriton 367 Tho. Middleton 370 John Milton 375 Walt. Mountague 377 Will. Mountfort 378 N. Thomas Nabbes 379 Thomas Nash. 382 Alex. Nevile Ib. Robert Nevile 384 Duke of Newcastle 385 Dutch Newcastle 390 Thomas Newton 394 Thomas Nuce 395 O. Thomas Otway 395 P. John Palsgrave 400 George Peel 401 Lady Pembroke 402 Mrs. Kath. Philips 403 Sam. Pordage 406 Henry Porter Ib. Thomas Porter 407 George Powel Ib. Thomas Preston 408 Edm. Prestwith 409 Q. Francis Quarles 409 R. Thomas Randolph 411 Edw. Ravenscroft 417 Thomas Rawlins 424 Edward Revet 425 Nath. Richards 426 William Rider 427 William Rowley 428 Samuel Rowley 430 Joseph Rutter Ib. Thomas Rymer 433 S. Tho. St. Serf 434 William Sampson 435 George Sandys 436 Charles Saunders 438 Elkanah Settle 439 Tho. Shadwell 442 Will. Shakespear 453 Lewis Sharpe 469 Edw. Sharpham 470 S. Shepheard 471 Ed. Sherbourn 472 Tho. Shipman 473 Hen. Shirley Ibid. James Shirley 474 Sir Charles Sidley 485 John Smith 488 Will. Smith Ibid. Tho. Southern 489 Tho. Stanley Ibid. Sir Rob. Stapleton 491 John Stephens 492 Will. Strode Ibid. John Studley 494 Sir John Suckling 496 Gilbert Swinhoe 499 T. Nathaniel Tate 500 John Tateham 502 Robert Taylour 503 Tho. Thomson Ibid. Nich. Trott 504 Rich. Tuke Ibid. Coll. S. Tuke 505 Cyril Turneur Ibid. John Tutchin 506 W. Lewis Wager 506 Edm. Waller 507 Geo. Wapul 508 Will. Wayer 508 R. Weaver 508 John Webster 508 John Watson 510 Whitaker 511 Dr. Rob. Wild. Ib. Leon. Willan Ib. George Wilkins 512 Rob. Wilmot Ibid. John Wilson Ibid. Rob. Wright 514 Will. Wytcherley Ib. Y. Rob. Yarrington 516 The Names of the Authors in the APPENDIX Joseph Harris Tho. Sackvile and Tho. Norton Mr. Wilson AN ACCOUNT OF THE Dramatick Poets A. William ALEXANDER Earl of Sterline OUR Alphabet begins with this worthy Nobleman who was a Scot by Birth and liv'd in the Time of King James the First of England and the Sixth of Scotland All that I am able
permitted to speak my Sentiments of the Play it self I believe the Author has stollen neither his Characters nor Language from any other and I presume those that have read the Character of My Lord Occus in particular Winifred and the rest in general will be of my opinion John BANCROFT A Gentleman who is the Author of a Tragedy called Sertorius acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1679. 'T is dedicated to Captain Richard Savage and the Epilogue was writ by Mr. Ravenscroft The Elder Corneille has writ a Play on the same subject which I have read but shall leave it to the decision of better judgments to determine which is best Those who would read the foundation of this Play may consult Plutarch's Life of Sertorius Velleius Paterculus lib. 2. Florus lib. 2. c. 22. c. John BANKS A Person now living and if I mistake not a Member of the Honourable Society of New-Inn One whose Genius to Poetry led him to make several Attempts on the Stage with different success but of whom I may say with justice that if he be not accounted a Poet of the first form yet he bears up with his Contemporaries of the second His Genius lays wholly to Tragedy and he has had the Fortune to please the fair Sex in the Earl of Essex and Anna Bullen He has five Plays in print of which in their Alphabetical Order Destruction of Troy a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1679. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Katherine Roos If this Play fall short of Shakspear's Troilus and Cressida at least it surpasses Heywood's Iron Age and how unkind soever the Criticks were to it I believe they have seen worse Tragedies on the Stage Various are the Authors that have toucht on this subject as Homer Virgil Ovid c. but none more fully than Dares Phrygius and Dictis Cretensis though Learned Men suppose those pieces we have under their Names to be spurious yet Natalis Comes has turned Daxes into Latin Verse and our Countryman Lydgate into old English Meetre Island Queens or The Death of Mary Queen of Scotland a Tragedy published only in defence of the Author and the Play against some mistaken Censures occasioned by its being prohibited the Stage printed in Quarto Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Mary Dutchess of Norfolk Most Historians of those Times have written her Story as well Forreigners as our own See Buchanan Speed in the Reign of Q. Elizabeth Camden Du chesne Brantome's Memoirs Causin's Holy Court Nay even Writers of Romances have thought her Story an ornament to their Work witness the Princess Cloria where part 2. her Story is succinctly related and she pourtrayed under the title of Minerva Queen of Mysta Rival Kings or The Loves of Oroondates and Statira a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Theatre-Royal printed in quarto 1677. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Katherine Herbert The Play is founded chiefly on Cassandra a famed Romance in Fol. As to what concerns Alexander I refer you to Curtius and Justin. Vertue betrayed or Anna Bullen a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1682. and dedicated to the Illustrious Princess Elizabeth Dutchess of Somerset The Author has followed a little Novel translated from the French and called The Novels of Elizabeth Queen of England containing the History of Queen Ann Bullen For the Story most of our Chronicles relate it See Speed's Chron. in the Reign of Hen. VIII Ld. Herbert Duchesne Dr. Burnet's Hist. Reform Book the 2. c. Unhappy Favourite or The Earl of Essex a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto London 1682. and dedicated to the most High and most Illustrious Princess the Lady Ann Daughter to his Royal-Highness the present Princess of Denmark This Play was acted with good success The Prologue and Epilogne were written by Mr. Dryden and the play it self founded on a Novel called The Secret History of the most Renowned Queen Elizabeth and the Earl of Essex printed in 120. Lond. 1680. For the true Story see Cambden's Elizabeth Speed Duchesne Stow Baker c. in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth There have been two French Plays one by Monsieur Calpranede the other by the Younger Corneille which I have read and am of opinion that the English play is not short of the French notwithstanding the high commendations given it by the Mercury Gallant January 1687. Barnaby BARNES This Person lived in the Reign of K. James the First and writ a Play called The Devil's Charter a Tragedy containing the Life and Death of Pope Alexander the VI. play'd before the King's Majesty upon Candlemas Night by his Majesty's Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1607. and dedicated to the Honourable and his very dear Friends Sir W. Herbert and Sir W. Pope Knights Associates in the Noble Order of the Bath This Tragedy seems to be written in imitation of Shakspear's old Play of Pericles Prince of Tyre for as Shakspear raises Gower an old English Bard for his Interlocutor or Introductor in that Play so this Author revives Guicciardine for the same design This was the common practice of the Poets of the last Age as Shakspear Heywood c. at which time they frequently introduced dumb Shews which took much with the Spectators of those times 'T is evident the Author followed Guicciardine who has largly treated to this Pope in his History of the Wars of Italy see the first six Books Other Authors have likewise treated of him as Du Preau Hist. de l'Estat succes de l'Eglise tom 2 p. 293 seq Vollateranus tit 22. sub fine Massonius de Gestis Pontificum Romanorum c. This Author has extant besides four Books of Offices about Princes how they ought to be administred printed fol. Lond. 1606. Robert BARON Esq This Author was a young Gentleman bred first at Cambridge and afterwards brought up in the worthy Society of Grays-Inn During his abode there he writ a Romance called The Cyprian Academy printed octavo Lond. 1647. He dedicated it to the famous Traveller Mr. James Howel in particular and to the Ladies and Gentlewomen of England in general In his Romance are included two Dramaticks which Mr. Kirkman has inserted in his Catalogue tho' they are not entire Tracts of themselves nor of any signal Eminence but since they have been mention'd in former Catalogues I shall not omit them Deorum Dona a Masque presented before Flaminius and Clorinda King and Queen of Cyprus at their Regal Palace in Nicosia Part of this piece is borrow'd from Mr. Waller's Poem to the King on his Navy Gripus and Hegio or The Passionate Lovers a Pastoral acted by the Lady Julio's Servants for the Entertainment of Flaminius This Play consists but of three Acts and is borrow'd very much from Waller's Poems and Webster's
Andromache Ambitious Statesman or The Loyal Favorite a Tragedy acted at the Theatre Royal by his Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1679. and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Albermarle This Play is in the Poets Opinion the most vigorous of all his Labours but born in a time so unhealthy to Poetry that it met not with the Applause which some people thought it deserv'd I know not what Author Mr. Crown has follow'd or whence he hath taken his Plot but I suppose by his Ambitious Statesman he means Bernard d' Armagnac the seventh Comte d' Armagnac and Constable of France in the Reign of King Charles the Sixth My Reason for this Conjecture is that he speaks of Henry the Fifth's Landing in France which was in the time of that King Those Authors who have treated of his Reign are J. de Laboureur Hist. de Ch. VI. Enguerand de Monstrelet Chron. J. Froissard Chron. de Fr. de Angleterre Memoires de Mart. du Bellay Jean Juvenal des Ursins Hist. de Ch. VI. De Serres Mezeray c. to which I refer the Reader for better satisfaction Calisto or The Chast Nymph a Masque at Court frequently presented there by Persons of great Quality with the Prologue and the Songs between the Acts printed in quarto Lond. 1675. and dedicated to her Highness the Lady Mary Eldest Daughter of his Royal Highness the Duke This Masque was writ at the Command of her present Majesty and was rehearsed near Thirty times all the Representations being follow'd by throngs of Persons of the greatest Quality and very often grac'd with their Majesties and Royal Highnesses Presence The Play was alter'd by the Poet from what it was at first that which remains of the first design may be known by its being written in the Pindarick way that which has been alter'd being in Heroick Verse The Plot is founded on a Story in Ovid's Metamorphosis see Lib. 2. Fab. 5 6. Charles the Eighth of France or The Invasion of Naples by the French a History writ in Heroick Verse acted at his Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the Right Honourable John Earl of Rochester This Play notwithstanding the Patronage of his Lordship could not escape his Railery for in his Imitation of Boyleau's third Satyr he brings in Mr. Crown as follows Kickum for Crown declar'd said in Romance He had out-done the very Wits of France Witness Pandion and his Charles the Eight Where a young Monarch careless of his Fate Tho foreign Troops and Rebels shock his State Complains another sight afflicts him more viz. The Queens Galleys rowing from the Shore Fitting their Oars and Tackling to be gone Whilst sporting Waves smil'd on the rising Sun Waves smiling on the Sun I 'm sure that 's new And 't was well thought on give the Devil his due For the Plot of this Play as far as it concerns History consult those who have written the Affairs of Charles VIII as Philip de Commines's Memoires Robertus Gaguinus Rer. Gal. Annal. Guillaume de Jaligny Hist. de Ch. VIII F. de Belleforest l'Hist de neuf Roys Charles de France André de la Vigne Guicciardine Mezeray c. City Politiques a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1683. This Play which I have seen acted with Applause is a severe Satyr upon the Whiggish Faction but tho' the Author was accus'd for abusing an Eminent Serjeant at Law and his Wife under the Characters of Bartoline and Lucinda and a certain Doctor under the Name of Panchy yet he has sufficiently clear'd himself self in his Epistle to the Reader to which I refer you Country Wit a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Middlesex This Comedy is of that Kind which the French call Basse Comedie or Low Comedy one degree remov'd from Farce This Play notwithstanding the Faction against it pass'd the Test and was approv'd by his Majesty King Charles the Second whom the judicious part of Mankind will readily acknowledge to be a sovereign Judge of Wit Part of the design is borrow'd from a Comedy of Molliere's call'd Le Sicilien ou l'Amour Peintre and I must take the freedome to tell our English Author that part of the Language as well as the Plot is stollen from that Play Witness Rambles turning Picture-drawer to gain an Opportunity to discourse Betty Frisque which the Reader may be pleased to compare with the Intrigue between Adraste and Isidore Act. 1. Sc. 10. c. besides other places I shall leave it to those who understand French to judge whether our Author has put in practice the Rule which he has laid down in his Epistle to the Destruction of Jerusalem That all Forreign Coin must be melted down and receive a new Stamp if not addition of Mettal before it will pass currant in England and be judged Sterling Darius King of Persia a Tragedy acted by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1688. and dedicated to Sr. George Hewytt Baronet One of the Lieutenants of his Majesties Horse-Guard If I mistake not the Author has copyed or at least imitated Euripides his Hippolitus and Phaedra in the Characters of Memnon and Barzana For the Plot as far as it concerns Darius I have already mention'd in the Account of the Earl of Sterline pag. 4 as Qu. Curtius Justin c. Destruction of Jerusalem by Titus Vespasian in Two Parts acted at the Theatre Royal printed in quarto Lond. 1677. and dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Portsmouth These Tragedies are written in Heroick Verse and were acted with good Applause As to the Authors Character of Phraartes I leave it to the Criticks and refer the Reader to his Epistle for satisfaction The Historical part of these Plays may be read at large in Josephus de Bello Judaico Other Authors have likewise toucht upon it as Baronius Annal. Tom. 1. A.C. 72. Eusebius l. 3. c. 6. Xiphilinus Epitome Hist. Dion in Vit. Vespasiani Suetonius Life of T. Vespas Tacitus Hist. l. 5. c. English Friar or The Town Sparks a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Devonshire What Success this Play met with the objections against it and the Authors defence the Preface will inform you Henry the Sixth the First Part with the Death of the Duke of Gloucester a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1681. and dedicated to Sr. Charles Sidley This Play is if I mistake not very much borrow'd from the Second Part of Shakespear's Henry the Sixth tho' Mr. Crown with a little too much assurance affirms that he has no Title to the Fortieth part of it This Play was oppos'd by the Popish Faction who by their Power at Court got it supprest however it was well receiv'd
dixisset Dr. Charles DAVENANT This Gentleman as I suppose is now living being Son of the above-mention'd Sr. William Davenant and Dr. of Laws He has as I have been inform'd a share in the present Theatre in right of his Father and is jointly impower'd with the Master of the Revels to inspect the Plays design'd for the Stage that no Immoralities may be presented This Gentleman has writ a Play call'd Circe a Tragedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed in quarto Lond. 1677. The Prologue was writ by Mr. Dryden and the Epilogue by the late Earl of Rochester This Play I have seen acted with good applause The Plot is founded on Poetical History See Ovid's Metamorph. lib. 14. See besides Boccace Phil Bergomensis Nat. Comes c. The Scenes and Machines may give it a Title to that Species of Dramatick Poetry call'd an Opera Robert DAVENPORT The Author of Two Plays in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr tho' not publisht till the Reign of King Charles the Second viz. City Night-Cap or Crede quod habes habes a Tragi-Comedy acted with great applause by her Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed in quarto Lond. 1661. The Plot of Lorenzo Philippo and Abstemia is borrow'd from the Novel of the Curious Impertinent in the Romance of Don Quixot Part 4. Ch. 6 7 8. and that of Lodovico Francisco and Dorothea from Boccace's Novels Day 7. Novel 7. on which likewise part of Mr. Ravenscroft's London Cuckolds is built King John and Matilda a Tragedy acted with great applause by her Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane printed in quarto Lond. 1655. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Mountague Bertie Earl of Lindsey by the Publisher Andrew Pennycuicke who acted the part of Matilda Women in those times not having appear'd on the Stage For the Plot read the English Chronicles that have given an account of the Reign of King John as Mathew Paris Polydore Vergil Hollingshead Grafton Danyel Martin Stow Speed Baker Churchil c. Robert DABORN alias DAUBORNE This Gentleman liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was a Master of Arts tho' of which University I am uncertain He writ Two Plays viz. Christian turn'd Turk or The Tragical Lives and Deaths of the two Famous Pirates Ward and Dansiker a Tragedy printed in quarto Lond. 1612. For the Story I refer you to a Piece call'd Barker's Overthrow of Captain Ward and Dansiker two Pirates printed in quarto Lond. 1609. from which Narrative I suppose our Author borrow'd the Story Poor Man's Comfort a Tragi-Comedy divers times acted at the Cock-pit in Drury-lane with great applause and printed in 4 o Lond. 1665. Tho' this Author in his Epistle to his Christian turn'd Turk speaks of his former Labours It has not been my fortune to have seen any of them There is a Sermon written by One Robert Daborn on Zach. 11. 7. printed in octavo Lond. 1618. whether this were the same with our Author I know not but 't is probable it might be and that he was a Divine by this Distick which I find in an old Copy on the Time Poets Dawbourn I had forgot and let it be He dy'd Amphibion by the Ministry John DAY This Author liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was sometime Student of Cains-Colleage in Cambridge He has written Six Plays if his Parliament of Bees may pass under that Species as the Authors of all former Catalogues have plac'd it Blind Beggar of Bednal-Green with the merry Humour of Tom Stroud the Norfolk Yeoman divers times publickly acted by the Princes Servants printed in quarto London 1659. For the Plot as far as it concerns History consult the Writers on the Reign of King Henry the Sixth as Fabian Caxton Du Chesne Pol. Vergil Grafton Stow Speed c. Humour out of Breath a Comedy said to be writ by our Author but which I never saw and therefore can say nothing of it Isle of Gulls a Comedy often acted in the Black Fryars by the Children of the Revels printed in 4 o Lond. 1633. This is a good Play and is founded on the incomparable Sr. Philip Sidney's Arcadia A Romance of that esteem that besides the frequent Editions of it in English I have seen it translated for the use of Forreigners both in the French and Dutch Tongues Law Tricks or Who would have thought it a Comedy divers times acted by the Children of the Revels and printed in quarto Lond. 1608. Parliament of Bees with their proper Characters or A Bee-hive furnisht with Twelve Honey-combs as pleasant as profitable being an allegorical description of the Actions of good and bad men in these our days printed in quarto Lond. 1641. and dedicated to the Worthy Gentleman Mr. George Butler Professor of the Arts Liberal and true Patron of neglected Poesy Travels of the Three English Brothers Sr. Thomas Sr. Anthony and Mr. Robert Shirley a History play'd by her Majesties Servants printed in quarto Lond. 1607. and dedicated to Honors Favourites and the intire Friends of the Family of the Shirleys In the Composure of this Play our Author was assisted by Mr. William Rowley and Mr. George Wilkins The foundation of it may be read in several English Writers and Chronicles particularly I have seen it in Dr. Fuller's Worthies in his Description of Sussex Where the Author speaking of the subject of this Comedy says thus As to the Performances of these Three Brethren I know the Affidavit of a Poet carries but a small credit in the Court of History and the Comedy made of them is but a Friendly Foe to their Memory as suspected more accommodated to please the present Spectators than to inform Posterity However as the belief of Mitio when an Inventory of his adopted Sons Misdemeanors was brought to him embrac'd a middle and moderate way nec omnia credere nec nihil neither to believe all things nor nothing of what was told him so in the List of their Atchievements we may safely pitch on the same Proportion and when abatement is made for Poetical Embelishments the remainder will speak them worthy in their Generations When our Author Died I know not but I have read an Elegy written on him by his Friend Mr. Tateham which begins thus Don Phoebus now hath lost his Light And left his Rule unto the Night And Cynthia she hath overcome The day and darkned the Sun Whereby we now have lost our hope Of gaining Day in 's Horoscope c. At this jingling rate he runs on the end much after the rate of a Gentleman of Lincolns Inn who writ a more ingenious Poem upon the Transactions between a Landlord and his Tenant Day who privately departed from him by Night printed in a single Sheet Lond. 1684. To shew the Parallel give me leave to transcribe the first six Lines by which the Reader may guess at the Rest. Here Night and Day
conspire a secret flight For Day they say is gone away by Night The Day is past but Landlord where 's your Rent You might ha'seen that Day was almost spent Day sold and did put off what e're he might Tho' it was ne're so Dark Day would be Light Thomas DECKER A Poet that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First and was Contemporary with that admirable Laureat Mr. Benjamin Johnson He was more famous for the contention he had with him for the Bays than for any great Reputation he had gain'd by his own Writings Yet even in that Age he wanted not his Admirers nor his Friends amongst the Poets in which number I reckon the Ingenious Mr. Richard Brome who always stil'd him by the Title of Father He clubb'd with Webster in writing Three Plays and with Rowley and Ford in another and I think I may venture to say that these Plays as far exceed those of his own Brain as a platted Whip-cord exceeds a single Thread in strength Of those which he writ alone I know none of much Esteem except The Untrussing the Humourous Poet and that chiefly on account of the Subject of it which was the Witty Ben Johnson He has had a Hand in Twelve Plays Eight whereof were of his own Writing Of all which I shall give an account in their Alphabetical Order as follows Fortunatus a Comedy of which I can give no other account than that I once barely saw it and is printed in quarto Honest Whore the First Part a Comedy with the Humours of the Patient Man and the longing Wife acted by her Majesties Servants with great applause printed in 4 o Lond. 1635. Honest Whore the Second Part a Comedy with the Humours of the Patient Man the Impatient Wife the Honest Whore perswaded by strong Arguments to turn Curtizan again her brave refuting those Arguments and lastly the Comical passage of an Italian Bridewel where the Scene ends printed in quarto Lond. 1630. This Play I believe was never acted neither is it divided into Acts. The passage between the Patient Man and his Impatient Wife 's going to fight for the Breeches with the happy Event is exprest by Sr. John Harrington in Verse See his Epigrams at the end of Orlando Furioso Book 1. Epigr. 16. If this be not a good Play the Devil is in it a Comedy acted with great applause by the Queen's Majesties Servants at the Red Bull printed Lond. 16 and dedicated to his loving and loved Friends and Fellows the Queens Majesties Servants by which he means the Actors The beginning of his Play seems to be writ in imitation of Matchiavel's Novel of Belphegor where Pluto summons the Devils to Councel Match me in London a Tragi-Comedy often presented first at the Bull in St. John's Street and lately at the Private-house in Drury-lane call'd the Phoenix printed in quarto Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the Noble Lover and deservedly Beloved of the Muses Lodowick Carlel Esquire Some account this a tolerable old Play Northward-Ho a Comedy sundry times acted by the Children of Pauls printed in quarto Lond. 1607. This Play was writ by our Author and John Webster The Plot of Greenshield and Featherstone's pretending to Mayberry that they had both lain with his Wife and how they came to the knowledge of each other by her Ring Act 1. Sc. 1. is founded on a Novel which is in the Ducento Novelle del Signior Celio Malespini Par. 1. Nov. 2. Satyromastix or The Untrussing the Humourous Poet a Comical Satyr presented publickly by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlain's Servants and privately by the Children of Pauls printed in quarto Lond. 1602. and dedicated to the World This Play was writ on the occasion of Ben Johnson 's Poetaster where under the Title of Chrispinus Ben lash'd our Author which he endeavour'd to retaliate by Untrussing Ben under the Title of Horace Junior This Play is far inferior to that of Mr. Johnson as indeed his abilities in Poetry were no ways comparable to his but this may be said in our Author's behalf that 't was not only lawful but excusable for him to defend himself pray therefore hear part of his Defense in his own language and then censure as you please Horace says he trail'd his Poetasters to the Bar the Poetasters Untruss'd Horace how worthily either or how wrongfully World leave it to the Jury Horace questionless made himself believe that his Burgonian-wit might desperately challenge all Comers and that none durst take up the Foyles against him It s likely if he had not so believ'd he had not been so deceiv'd for he was answer'd at his own Weapon And if before Apollo himself who is Coronator Poetarum an Inquisition should be taken touching this lamentable merry murdering of Innocent Poetry all Mount Hellicon to Bun-hill would find it on the Poetasters side se defendando Westward-Ho a Comedy divers times acted by the Children of Pauls and printed in quarto Lond. 1607. This was writ by our Author and Mr. Webster Whore of Babylon an History acted by the Prince's Servants and printed in quarto Lond. 1607. The design of this Play is under feign'd Names to set forth the admirable Virtues of Queen Elizabeth and the Dangers which she escap'd by the happy discovery of those Designs against her Sacred Person by the Jesuites and other Biggoted Papists The Queen is shadow'd under the Title of Titania Rome under that of Babylon Campian the Jesuite is represented by the Name of Campeius Dr. Parry by Parridel c. Wyat's History a Play said to be writ by Him and Webster and printed in quarto Tho' I never saw this Play yet I suppose the subject of it is Sr. Thomas Wyat of Kent who made an Insurrection in the First year of Queen Mary to prevent her Match with Philip of Spain but as this is only conjecture I must rest in suspence till I can see the Play Besides these Plays he joyn'd with Rowley and Ford in a Play call'd The Witch of Edmonton of which you will find an account in William Rowley There are Four other Plays ascrib'd to our Author in which he is said by Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley to be an Associate with John Webster viz. Noble Stranger New Trick to Cheat the Devil Weakest goes to the Wall Woman will have her Will. In all which they are mistaken for the first was written by Lewis Sharp and the other by anonymous Authors Sir John DENHAM Knight of the BATH A Poet of the first Form whose Virtue and Memory will ever be as dear to all Lovers of Poetry as his Person was to Majesty it self I mean King Charles the First and Second He was the only Son of Sir John Denham of little Horesly in Essex but Born at Dublin in Ireland His Father being at the time of his Nativity a Judge of that Kingdome and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer But before the Foggy Air of that
no disparagement to submit his Writings to his Correction What a great Veneration Ben. had for him is evident by those Verses he writ to him when living Mr. Fletcher's Wit was equal to Mr. Beaumont's Judgment and was so luxuriant that like superfluous Branches it was frequently prun'd by his Judicious Partner These Poets perfectly understood Breeding and therefore successfully copy'd the Conversation of Gentlemen They knew how to describe the Manners of the Age and Fletcher had a peculiar tallent in expressing all his thoughts with Life and Briskness No Man ever understood or drew the Passions more lively than he and his witty Raillery was so drest that it rather pleas'd than disgusted the modest part of his Audience In a word Fletcher's Fancy and Beaumont's Judgment combin'd produc'd such Plays as will remain Monuments of their Wit to all Posterity Nay Mr. Fletcher himself after Mr. Beaumont's Decease compos'd several Dramatick Pieces which were well worthy the Pen of so great a Master Of this the following Lines writ by that Excellent Poet Mr. Carthwright are a proof Tho' when All Fletcher writ and the entire Man was indulg'd unto that sacred fire His thoughts his thoughts dress appear'd both such That 't was his happy fault to do too much Who therefore wisely did submit each Birth To knowing Beaumont e're it did come forth Working again until he said 't was fit And made him the sobriety of his Wit Tho' thus he call'd his Judge into his Fame And for that aid allow'd him half the Name 'T is known that sometimes he did stand alone That both the spunge and pencil were his own That himself judg'd himself could singly do And was at last Beaumont and Fletcher too Else we had lost his Shepherdess a piece Even and smooth sprung from a finer fleece Where Softness reigns where passions passions greet Gentle high as floods of Balsam meet Where drest in white Expressions sit bright Loves Drawn like their fairest Queen by milky Doves A Piece which Johnson in a Rapture bid Come up a glorify'd Work and so it did They who would read more of these admirable Poets worth may peruse at their leisure those excellent Copys of Verses printed with their Works written by the prime Wits of the Age as Waller Denham Sir John Berkenhead Dr. Main c. I am extreamly sorry that I am not able to give any Account of the Affairs of these Great Men Mr. Beaumont's Parentage Birth County Education and Death being wholly unknown to me And as to Mr. Fletcher all I know of him is That he was Son to the Eminent Richard Fletcher created Bishop of Bristol by Queen Elizabeth An. 1559. and by her preferr'd to London 1593. He died in London of the Plague in the First Year of King Charles the Martyr 1625. being Nine and fourty Years of Age and was bury'd in St. Mary Overies Church in Southwarke I beg my Reader 's Leave to insert the Inscription which I find writ under his Picture by that well known Wit Sir John Berkenhead which will give the Reader a fuller Knowledge of his Abilities and Merit than I am able to express Felicis aevi ac Praesulis Natus comes Beaumontio sic quippe Parnassus Biceps FLETCHERVS unam in Pyramida furcas agens Struxit chorum plùs simplicem Vates Duplex Plus Duplicem solus nec ullum transtulit Nec transferrendus Dramatum aeterni sales Anglo Theatro Orbi Sibi superstitites FLETCHERE facies absque vultu pingitur Quantus vel umbram circuit nemo tuam Where or when Mr. Beaumont died I know not but I have met with an Epitaph writ by Dr. Corbet immediately after his Death that well deserves the Reader 's perusal On Mr. Francis Beaumont Then newly dead He that hath such Acuteness and such Wit As would ask Ten good Heads to husband it He that can write so well that no man dare Refuse it for the best let him beware BEAUMONT is dead by whose sole Death appears Wit 's a Disease consumes men in few years There are two and fifty Plays written by these worthy Authors all which are now extant in one Volume printed fol. Lond. 1679. each of which I shall mention Alphabetically Beggers Bush a Comedy This Play I have seen several times acted with applause Bonduca a Tragedy The plot of this Play is borrow'd from Tacitus's Annals Lib. 14. See Milton's History of England Book 2. Ubaldino de Vita delle Donne Illustri del Regno d' Inghelterra Scotia pag. 7 c. Bloody Brother or Rollo Duke of Normandy a Tragedy much in request and notwithstanding Mr. Rymer's Criticisms on it has still the good fortune to Please it being frequently acted by the present Company of Actors at the Queen's Play-House in Dorset-Garden The Design of this Play is History See Herodian lib. 4. Xiphilini Epit. Dion in Vit. Ant. Caracallae Part of the Language is copy'd from Seneca's Thebais Captain a Comedy Chances a Comedy reviv'd by the late Duke of Buckingham and very much improv'd being acted with extraordinary applause at the Theatre in Dorset-Garden and printed with the Alterations Lond. 4 o 1682. This Play is built on a Novel written by the Famous Spaniard Miguel de Cervantes call'd The Lady Cornelia which the Reader may read at large in a Fol. Vol. call'd Six Exemplary Novels Coronation a Tragi-comedy Coxcomb a Comedy which was reviv'd at the Theatre-Royal the Prologue being spoken by Jo. Hains Cupid's Revenge a Tragedy Custome of the Country a Tragi-comedy This is accounted an excellent Play the Plot of Rutilio Duarte and Guyomar is founded on one of Malespini's Novels Deca 6. Nov. 6. Double Marriage a Tragedy which has been reviv'd some years ago as I learn from a new Prologue printed in Covent-Garden Drollexy p. 14. Elder Brother a Comedy which has been acted with good applause Faithful Shepherdess a Pastoral writ by Mr. Fletcher and commended by two Copies written by the Judicious Beaumont and the Learned Johnson which the Reader may read at the end of the Play See the last Edit Fol. p. 233. When this Pastoral was first acted before their Majesties at Sommerset House on Twelfth-Night 1633. instead of a Prologue there was a Song in Dialogue sung between a Priest and a Nymph which was writ by Sir William D'Avenant and an Epilogue was spoken by the Lady Mary Mordant which the Reader may read in Covent-Garden Drollery pag. 86. Fair Maid of the Inn a Tragi-comedy Mariana's disowning Caesario for her Son and the Duke's Injunction to marry him is related by Causin in his Holy Court and is transcrib'd by Wanley in his History of Man Fol. Book 3. Chap. 26. False One a Tragedy This Play is founded on the Adventures of Julius Caesar in AEgypt and his Amours with Cleopatra See Suetonius Plutarch Dion Appian Florus Eutropius Orosius c. Four Plays or Moral Representations in One viz. The Triumph of Honour The Triumph of Love The
Edmonton of which see an Account in Rowly and with Decker in The Sun's Darling but writ likewise himself seven Plays most of which were acted at the Phoenix and the Black-Friars and may be known by an Anagram instead of his Name generally printed in the Title-page viz. FIDE HONOR He was more addicted to Tragedy than Comedy which occasion'd an Old Poet to write thus of him Deep in a Dump John Ford was alone got With folded Arms and melancholy Hat I shall give an Account of his Plays Alphabetically and place The Sun's Darling in its order because the greatest part of it was writ by our Author Broken Heart a Tragedy acted by the Kings Majesties Servants at the private House in Black-Fryars printed 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the most Worthy Deserver of the Noblest Titles in Honour William Lord Craven Baron of Hamstead Marshal The Speakers Names are fitted to their Qualities and most of them are deriv'd from Greek Etimologies Fancies Chast and Noble a Tragi-comedy presented by the Queen Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Right Noble Lord the Lord Randell Macdonell Earl of Antrim in the Kingdom of Ireland This Play is usher'd into the World by a Copy of Verses written by Mr. Edward Greenfield Ladies Tryal a Tragi-comedy acted by both their Majesties Servants at the private House in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1639. and dedicated to his Deservingly Honoured John Wyrley Esq and to the Virtuous and Right worthy Gentlewoman Mrs. Mary Wyrley his Wife Lovers Melancholy a Tragi-comedy acted at the private House in the Black-Fryars and publickly at the Globe by the Kings Majesties Servants printed 4 o Lond. 1629. and dedicated to his most worthily Respected Friends Nathaniel Finch John Ford Esquires Mr. Henry Blunt Mr. Robert Ellice and all the rest of the Noble Society of Grays-Inn This Play is commended by four of the Author's Friends one of which who stiles himself 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 writ the following Tetrastick 'T is not the Language nor the fore-plac'd Rimes Of Friends that shall commend to after-times The Lovers Malancholy It s own Worth Without a borrow'd Praise shall set it forth The Author has Embellisht this Play with several Fancies from other Writers which he has appositely brought in as the Story of the Contention between the Musician and the Nightingale describ'd in Strada's Academical Prolusions Lib. 2. Prol. 6 which begins Jam Sol è medio pronus defluxerat Orbe c. A Definition and Description of Melancholy copied from the Ingenious Mr. Rob. Burton's Anatomy of Melancholy c. Love's Sacrifice a Tragedy receiv'd generally well acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the Phoenix in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1633. and dedicated to his truest Friend his worthiest Kinsman John Ford of Gray's Inn Esquire There is a Copy of Verses printed before this Play written by that Dramatick Writer Mr. James Shirley Perkin Warbeck a Chronicle History and a Strange Truth acted sometimes by the Queens Majesties Servants in Drury Lane printed 4 o Lond. 1634. and dedicated to the Rightly Honourable William Cavendish Earl of Newcastle This Play as several of the former is attended with Verses written by Four of the Author's Friends one of which is his Kinsman above-mentioned The Plot is founded on Truth and may be read in most of the Chronicles that have writ of the Reign of King Henry the VII See Caxton Polidore Virgil Hollingshead Speed Stow Salmonet Du Chesne Martyn Baker Gaynsford's History of Perkin Warbeck c. Sun's Darling a Moral Mask often presented by their Majesties Servants at the Cock-pit in Drury Lane with great applause printed 4 o Lond. 1657. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Thomas Wriathesley Earl of Southampton This Play was written as I have said by our Author and Decker but not publisht till after their Decease A Copy of Verses written by Mr. John Tateham is the Introduction to the Masque at the Entry whereof the Reader will find an Explanation of the Design alluding to the Four Seasons of the Year 'T is pity she 's a whore a Tragedy printed 4 o I can give no further Account of the Title-page or Dedication mine being lost All that I can say is that it equalls any of our Author's Plays and were to be commended did not the Author paint the incestuous Love between Giovanni and his Sister Annabella in too beautiful Colours Mr. Winstanly says that this Author was very beneficial to the Red-Bull and Fortune Play-Houses as may appear by the Plays which he wrote tho' the Reader may see by the fore-going Account that he takes his Information upon trust or else the Plays he has seen are of different Editions from those I have by me but I rather believe the former since I have found him subject to several Mistakes of this Nature Thomas FORD An Author who liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First who publisht a Dramatick Poem call'd Love's Labyrinth or The Royal Shepherdess a Tragi-comedy printed 8 o Lond. 1660. This Play is commended by two Copies of Verses but whether ever it appear'd on any Stage I cannot determine only this I know that part of this Play is stollen from Gomersal's Tragedy of Sforza Duke of Millain Mr. Philips thro' mistake ascribes this Play to the above-mention'd Mr. John Ford. This Author has writ several other Pieces Virtus Rediviva a Panegyrick on King Charles the Martyr A Theatre of Wits being a Collection of Apothegms Fenestra in Pectore or a Century of Familiar Letters Fragmenta Poetica or Poetical Diversions A Panegyrick on the Return of King Charles the Second All these Pieces with the fore-going Play are printed together in 8 o Lond. 1661. John FOUNTAIN A Gentleman who flourish'd in Devonshire at the time of his Majesty King Charles the Second his Return and was the Author of a single Play nam'd Reward of Virtue a Comedy printed in 4o. Lond. 1661. This Play was not design'd for the Stage by the Author but about eight Years after the first printing Mr. Fountain being dead it was reviv'd with Alterations by Mr. Shadwell and acted with good Applause under the Title of The Royal Shepherdess Abraham FRAUNCE An Ancient Writer who liv'd in the time of Queen Elizabeth and was the Author of a Book called The Countess of Pembroke's Ivy Church which Title in former Catalogues was set down as the Name of a Play in 2 Parts tho' in reality there is but one Dramatick Piece call'd Amintas's Pastoral being the first part of the Book printed 4 o Lond. 1591. and dedicated to the Right Excellent and most Honourable Lady the Lady Mary Countess of Pembroke This Play is writ in English Hexameters and is a Translation from Tasso's Aminta which was done into Latin by one Mr. Watson before this Version was undertaken by our Author He owns that he has somewhat alter'd Sigr. Tasso's Italian
Gray's Inn. Our Author in the Epistle both to this Play and The English Traveller pleads Modesty in not exposing his Plays to the publick view of the World in numerous Sheets and a large Volume under the Title of Works as others By which he would seem tacitly to arraign some of his Contemporaries for Ostentation and want of Modesty I am apt to believe that our Author levell'd his Accusation at Ben Johnson since no other Poet that I know of in those day gave his Plays the pompous Title of Works of which Sir John Suckling has taken notice in his Sessions of the Poets The first that broke silence was good Old Ben Prepar'd before with Canary Wine And he told them plainly that he deserv'd the Bays For his were call'd Works where others were but Plays This puts me in mind of a Distick directed by some Poet of that Age to Ben Johnson Pray tell me Ben where does the myst'ry lurk What others call a Play you call a Work Which was thus answer'd by a Friend of his The Author's Friend thus for the Author say's Ben's Plays are Works when others Works are Plays Fair Maid of the West or A Girl worth Gold the second Part acted before the King and Queen with approved Liking by the Queens Majesties Comedians printed 4 o Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the true Favourer of the Muses and all good Arts Thomas Hammond Esq of Grays-Inn These Plays as our Author acquaints his Patron ` Not only past the ` Censure of the Plebe and Gentry but of the Patricians and Pretextatae as also of our Royal-Augustus and Livia I know not where our Poet met with this Story but as Poets usually take the Foundation of a Play from a History or a Romance so these two Plays have serv'd for the Subject of a Romance which on this Model was writ by John Dancer above-mentioned to whom I refer you Fortune by Land and Sea a Tragi-comedy acted with great applause by the Queen's Servants written by our Author and the Well-Esteem'd William Rowly but not printed till after their Decease 4 o Lond. 1655. Four Prentices of London with the Conquest of Jerusalem a History divers times acted at the Red-Bull by the Queens Majesties Servants with good applause printed 4 o Lond. 1635. and dedicated to the Honest High-Spirited Prentices the Readers This Play was written as the Author says in his Infancy of Judgement in this kind of Poetry and his first Practice and that as Plays were then some sixteen Years before its Publication it was in the Fashion This Play is founded on the Exploits of the Famous Godfrey of Bulloign who took Jerusalem from the Infidels the 15. of July A.D. 1099. For the Story see Tasso's Il Gosredo Dr. Fuller's Holy War The late History of the Croïsades c. If you know not me you know no Body or The Troubles of Queen Elizabeth a History in two Parts printed 4 o Lond. 1623. This Play was printed without the Author's Knowledge or Consent and that so corruptly it not being divided into Acts that at the Reviving of it at the Cock-pit after having been acted for the space of one and twenty Years he writ a Prologue which particularly inveigh'd against this Imperfect Copy as will appear by the following Lines 'T was ill nurst And yet receiv'd as well perform'd at first Grac'd and frequented for the Cradle-Age Did throng the Seats the Boxes and the Stage So much that some by Stenography drew The Plot put it in print scarce one word true And in that lameness it has limpt so long The Author now to vindicate that wrong Hath took the pains upright upon it's feet To teach it walk so please you sit and see 't For the Plot see the Writers of the Life of Q. Elizabeth as Cambden Speed Du Chesne c. And our Author had so great a Veneration for that Heroick Pricess that he writ a little Historical Piece call'd England's Elizabeth printed 8 o Lond. 1631. Lancashire Witches a well receiv'd Comedy acted at the Globe on the Bank-side by the Kings Majesties Actors written by our Author and the Ingenious Rich. Brome and printed 4o. Lond. 16 I have read in my younger Days if I mistake not the Foundation of this Play in an old English Quarto but as to that part of the Plot where Whetstone revenges himself by his Aunt 's means on Arthur Shakstone and Bantam for calling him Bastard Act 4. Sc. the last 't is founded on the Story of John Teutonicus of Holberstad a place in High-Germany who was a known Bastard and a Magician Our Author has related this Story in Verse in his Hierarchy of Angels Lib. 8. pag. 512 c. Loves Mistris or The Queen's Masque three times acted before their Majesties within the space of eight Days in the presence of sundry Forreign Embassadours Publickly acted by the Queen's Comedians at the Phoenix in Drury-Lane The Second Impression corrected by the Author printed 4 o Lond. 1640. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Edward Earl of Dorset The Play is founded on Apuleius's Golden Ass a kind of Romance in Latin and English'd by W. Addington 4 o Lond. 1634. Maidenhead well lost a pleasant Comedy publickly acted in Drury-Lane with much applause by her Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1634. Rape of Lucrece a true Roman Tragedy with the several Songs in their appointed places by Valerius the merry Lord among the Roman Peers The Copy revis'd and sundry Songs before omitted now inserted in their right places acted by the Majesties Servants at the Red-Bull printed 4 o Lond. 1638. For the Plot see Livy Dec. 1. C. 58. Florus Lib. 1. C. 7. Val. Max. Lib. 6. C. 11. Ex. 1. Robert Earl of Huntington's Downfall afterwards call'd Robin Hood of Merry Sherwoode with his Love to Chaste Matilda the Lord Fitz-water's Daughter afterwards his Fair Maid Marian acted by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham the Lord High Admiral of England his Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1601. Robert Earl of Huntington's Death otherwise call'd Robin Hood of Merry Sherwoode with the Lamentable Tragedy of Chaste Matilda his Fair Maid Marian poyson'd at Dunmow by the King and printed 4o. Lond. 1601. Both these Plays are printed in Black-Letter but neither of them are divided into Acts. The first part is introduc'd by John Shelton Poet Laureat to King Henry the Eighth and the the second by Fryar Tuck For the Plot see our English Chronicles in the Reign of King Richard the First as Du Chesne Speed Baker c. See besides Fullers Worthies in the Account of Nottinghamshire p. 315 Drayton's Polyolbion Song 26. Royal King and Loyal Subject a Tragi-comedy acted with great applause by the Queens Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. The Plot of this Play extreamly resembles that of Fletcher's Loyal Subject Wise-Woman of Hogsden a Comedy sundry times acted with good applause printed quarto Lond. 1638. This Play is commended
c. To which I may add his Edition of the Greek Testament in which the Young Grecian will find all the Themes of Greek Words according to Passor's Lexicon plac'd in the Margin He has publisht besides An Entrance to the Latin Tongue octavo Lond. 1659. An Explanation of the Accidence octavo Lond. 1683. with other Books of the like Nature Edward HOWARD Esq A Gentleman as I suppose now living who has addicted himself to the Study of Dramatick Poetry how well he has succeeded therein I shall leave to the Readers Judgment who may find four Plays of his under the Titles of Man of New-Market a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4 o Lond. 1678. Six Days Adventure or The New Utopia a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed 4 o Lond. 1671. This Play miscarried in the Action as the Author himself acknowledges in his Preface and indeed that sharp Wit the late Earl of Rochester writ an Invective against it but the Ingenious Mrs. Behn Mr. Ravenscroft and other Poets of the Age sent the Author Recommendatory Verses which are printed with the Play and in return he writ a Pindarick to Mrs. Behn which she gratefully publisht in a Collection of Poems printed 8 o Lond. 1685. Usurper a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1668. Whether the Author design'd in the Caracter of Damocles to personate Oliver Cromwel and intended his Play a paralel of those times I leave to more discerning Judgments Womens Conquest a Tragi-comedy acted by his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1677. This I take to be the best Play our Author has publisht Besides these Plays Mr. Howard hath publisht an Epick Poem in octavo call'd The British Princess which the late Earl of Rochester has likewise handled severely There is ascrib'd to him another Book of Poems and Essays with a Paraphrase on Cicero's Laelius or Tract of Friendship printed in octavo London 16 James HOWARD Esq I am not able to acquaint the Reader whether or no this Gentleman be of the same Family with the former but I am oblig'd to mention him on Account of two Plays writ by him viz. All mistaken or The Mad Couple a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4 o Lond. 1672. This Play is commended by some for an excellent Comedy English Monsieur a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4 o Lond. 1674. Whether the late Duke of Buckingham in his Character of Prince Volscius's falling in Love with Parthenope as he is pulling on his Boots to go out of Town design'd to reflect on the Characters of Comely and Elsbeth I pretend not to determine but I know there is a near Resemblance in the Characters Sir Robert HOWARD This Ingenious Person is equally conspicuous for the Lustre of his Birth and the Excellency of his Parts being as I suppose Brother to the present Earl of Berkshire and One whose Plays will remain Eternal Testimonies to Posterity of his Skill in Dramatick Performances His Committee and Indian Queen are deservedly admir'd by the best Judges of Dramatick Poetry and even our late Laureat in spite of Envy must acknowledge his Worth both as a Poet and Patron His Plays are six in number viz. Blind Lady a Comedy printed octavo Lond. 16 Committee a Comedy printed fol. Lond. 1665. This is an admirable Comedy and highly commended Great Favourite or The Duke of Lerma a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1668. For the Plot see the Historians of those Times as Mariana de Mayerne Turquet c. This Play as I have before observ'd p. 165. was reflected on by Mr. Dryden tho' had he consulted Reason Gratitude or his own Reputation he had otherwise imploy'd his time it being a true Observation which Sr. Robert has made in his Prologue to the Vestal Virgin This doth a wretched Dearth of Wit betray When things of Kind on One another prey Indian Queen a Tragedy writ in Heroick Verse and formerly acted with great applause at the Theatre-Royal printed fol. Lond. 1665. Surprisal a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal and printed fol. Lond. 1665. Vestal Virgin or The Roman Ladies a Tragedy acted by the King's Servants and printed fol. Lond. 1665. Some Readers who are strangers to the Excellent Tallents of Sir Robert might expect from me some Discoveries of what he has borrow'd but I am to Inform them That this Admirable Poet has too great a Stock of Wit of his own to be necessitated to borrow from others All that I can observe is That The Vestal Virgin has a double Fifth Act the One of which ends Tragically the Other successfully which possibly might be done in Imitation of Sir John Suckling the only Gentleman that I know fit for his Imitation who has done the same thing in his Aglaura He has writ besides some Poems which are printed with his Blind Lady in octavo and four of his Plays viz. Surprisal Committee Indian Queen and Vestal Virgin are printed together in fol. Lond. 1665. James HOWEL A Gentleman of Wales born at Abernalies in the County of Caermarden in the Year 1594. He was Bred up at the Free-School in Hereford and at 16. Years of Age sent to the University of Oxford where he became a Member of Jesus Colledge About March in the Year 1618. he travelled beyond Sea being sent on Buisiness by Sir Robert Mansel where he visited the Low-Countries and afterwards made a Tour thro' France and Italy as appears by the Letters he has publisht In which the Reader may not only be inform'd of the Chief Occurences of those Times but of our Author 's several Imployments as His being sent by King James into Spain for the Recovery of a Vessel of great value seiz'd on by the Vice-Roy of Sardinia under pretence of being laden with prohibited Goods His being chosen Fellow of Jesus Colledge during his absence His being Secretary to the Lord Scroop when he was President of the Councel in the North His being Imploy'd about the Clerks of the Councel c. Notwithstanding his various Employs and multiplicity of Business he found leisure to publish abundance of Books to the number of Fourty-nine Many of them were Translations out of French Italian Spanish Portuguese Of which Nature is the Play which occasions his mention in our Catalogue viz. Nuptials of Peleus and Thetis consisting of a Masque and a Comedy or The Great Royal Ball acted in Paris six times by the King in person the Duke of Anjou the Duke of York with divers other Noblemen Also by the Princess Royal Henriette Marie the Princess of Conty c. printed 4o. Lond. 1654. and dedicated to the most Excellent and High Born Lady the Lady Katherine Marchioness of Dorchester The Masque was extracted from an Italian Comedy which the
Virtuoso Act 3. towards the End The Epilogue to this Play is writ by Mr. Shadwell Jasper MAIN A Person of Fame and Note as well for Natural Parts as acquired Learning He was Born in the Reign of King James the First at Hatherleigh c. His Education was at Westminster School from whence be was transplanted to Christ-Church and admitted Student A.D. 1624. In this Colledge he gradually advanced in the Study of Arts and Sciences till he took both his Degrees and enter'd into holy Orders and was prefer'd to two Livings both in the Gift of the Colledge and one hard-by Oxford About this time the Civil Wars breaking out and the Pious King being forc'd by wicked Subjects to fly for shelter to this Seat of the Muses our Author was made choice of amongst others deputed to Preach before His Majesty Soon after which Mr. Wood tells us he was created Dr. of Divinity and resided in Oxford till the time of the Mock Visitation sent to the University when he amongst other Worthies eminent for their Loyalty was ejected not only from the Colledge but both his Livings During this Storm he found an Asylum in the House of the Right Honourable the Earl of Devonshire where for the most part he resided till the Happy Return of King Charles the Second to his Kingdomes at which time he was not only restored to his Places but made Canon of Christ-church and Arch-deacon of Chichester which Preferments he enjoy'd to his Death He was a Person of a ready and facetious Wit and yet withal a sound Orthodox Preacher In his younger years he was very much addicted to Poetry in which time he writ two Plays which are very much esteem'd by the generality of those who delight in Dramatick Poetry Amorous War a Tragi-comedy printed 4 o Oxon. 1658. City Match a Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall and afterwards on the Stage at Black-friars with general Applause and printed 4o. Oxon. 1658. These two Plays have been printed in Folio 4o. and 8o. and are bound together Besides these Dramatick Pieces our Author writ a Poem upon the Naval Victory over the Dutch by the Duke of York printed 1665. and added some Dialogues to those of Lucian translated by Mr. Francis Hicks printed Fol. Lond. 1638. He publisht likewise many serious Pieces as several Sermons in 4o. 1646 47 52 62. Amongst which none was so much talkt of as that concerning false Prophets It was if I mistake not writ against by Mr. Francis Cheynel which occasion'd our Authors Vindication publisht 1647. He writ besides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or The Peoples War examined according to the Principles of Scripture and Reason in answer to a Letter for the satisfation of a Person of Quality printed 4o. 1647. with several other Pieces which I have not seen He Died on the Sixth day of December An. 1672. and was Buried in Christ-Church on the North-side of the Quire having in his Will left several Bequests to Pious uses As Fifty Pounds to the Re-building of St. Pauls A Hundred Pounds to be distributed by the Two Vicars of Cassington and Purton for the use of the Poor of those Parishes with many other Legacies amongst which I cannot forget One which has frequently occasion'd Mirth at the relation He had a Servant who had long liv'd with him to whom he bequeath'd a Trunk and in it Somewhat as he said that would make him Drink after his Death The Doctor being dead the Trunk was speedily visited by his Servant with mighty Expectation where he found this promising Legacy to be nothing but a Red-Herring So that it may be said of him that his propensity to innocent Raillery was so great that it kept him Company even after Death Cosmo MANUCH A Gentleman that liv'd in the Reign of King Charles the First and One that as I suppose took up Arms for his Majesty under the Quality of a Major tho' whether of Horse or Foot I am ignorant Mr. Phillips supposes him an Italian stiling him Manuci but whatever his Country be he has writ Two Plays which shew him well vers'd in the English Language viz. Just General a Tragi-comedy printed quarto Lond. 1650. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Northampton and Isabella his most Virtuous Lady This is the first Play our Author writ and which was intended for the Stage but never acted not that it is any ways contemptible and therefore the Major did not forfeit his Modesty when he said of it In spite of Malice venture I dare thus far Pack not a Jury and I 'll stand the Bar. Loyal Lovers a Tragi-comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1652. In this Play our Author lashes the old Committee-men and their Informers in the Persons of Gripeman and Sodom and I believe he meant to expose Hugh Peters's Adventure with the Butcher's Wife of St. Sepulcher's with his Revenge thereupon under the Characters of Phanaticus and Fly-blow If my Conjecture prove true I hope no sober man will be angry that Peters should be personated on the Stage who himself had ridicul'd others when he acted the Clown's part in Shakespear's Company of Comedians as I have read in Dr. Young's Relation of his Life If it be consider'd that our Author's Muse was travesté en Cavileer that he made Writing his Diversion and not his Business that what he writ was not borrow'd but propriâ Minervâ I hope the Criticks will allow his Plays to pass Muster amongst those of the third Rate Gervase MARKHAM A Gentleman who flourisht under the Reigns of Queen Elizabeth King James and King Charles the First for the later of whom he took up Arms in the time of the Rebellion being honour'd by His Majesty with a Captain 's Commission He was the Son of Robert Markham of Cotham in the County of Nottingham Esq and was eminently Famous for his numerous Volumes of Husbandry and Horsemanship besides what he has writ on Rural Recreations and Military Discipline He understood the Practick as well as the Theory of the Art of War and was esteem'd a good Scholar and an excellent Linguist understanding perfectly the French Italian and Spanish Languages from all which he collected Notes of Husbandry In the enumeration of his Works the Reader will be satisfied of his excellent Parts and Abilities and that he was tà m Marti quà m Mercurio vers'd in the Employments of War and Peace and One piece of Dramatick Poetry which he has publisht will shew that he Sacrific'd to Apollo and the Muses as well as to Mars and Pallas This Play is extant under the Title of Herod and Antipater a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1622. where or when this Play was acted the imperfection of my Copy hinders my information For the Foundation 't is built on History See Josephus Ant. Jud. Lib. 14 15 16 17. Torniel Salian Spondanus Baronii Ann. c I shall now mention his Works and first those which treat of Horsemanship which have
Leonardo from Lucretia's Lodging where he got in by her Maid's Assistance is an Incident as I have already shew'd in several Plays Fine Companion a Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall and sundry times with great applause at the Private House in Salisbury-court by the Prince's Servants printed quarto Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the truly Noble and his worthy Kinsman in all respects Sir Ralph Dutton The Reader will find that Captain Porpuss in Sir Barnaby Whig is beholding to Captain Whibble in his Play for some of his Expressions Holland's Leaguer an Excellent Comedy often acted with great Applause by the High and Mighty Prince Charles his Servants at the Private House in Salisbury-court printed quarto Lond. 1632. The Author in this Play has shewed his Reading having borrow'd several things from Juvenal Petronius Arbyter c. Mr. Winstanley has made no mention of our Author and Mr. Philips to prove his Character of him that he is not an Obscure or Uncopious Writer of English Comedy has ascrib'd two Comedies to him which belong to other Men the Fleire being writ by Edward Sharpham and the Fair Maid of the Exchange if we may believe Kirkman's Account by Thomas Heywood John MARSTON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First who was a Contributor to the Stage in his Time by Eight Plays which were approv'd by the Audience at the Black-fryars and one of them viz. Dutch Curtezan was some few Years since reviv'd with success on the present Stage under the Title of The Revenge or The Match in New-gate The place of our Author's Birth and Family are to me unknown neither can I recover other Information of him than what I learnt from the Testimony of his Bookseller That he was free from all Obscene Speeches which is the chief cause that makes Plays to be so odious unto most Men. That he abhorr'd such Writers and their Works and profest himself an Enemy to all such as stufft their Scenes with Ribaldry and larded their Lines with Scurrilous Taunts and Jests So that whatsoever even in the Spring of his Years he presented upon the private and publick Theatre in his Autumn and Declining Age he needed not to be asham'd of An Excellent Character and fit for the Imitation of our Dramatists most of whom would be thought to have throughly studyed Horace I could wish therefore that they which know him so well would call to Mind and practice his Advice which is thus exprest Silvis deducti caveant me judice Fauni Ne nimiū teneres juvenentur versibus unquam Aut immunda crepent ignominiosaque dicta Offenduntur enim quibus est equus pater res But leaving this I shall give the Reader an Account of his Plays in their Accustom'd Order having first inform'd him that six of our Author's Plays are collected into one Volume being publisht under the Title of The Works of Mr. John Marston printed octavo Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Elizabeth Carie Viscountess Faulkland According to the Alphabet I am to begin with viz. Antonio and Melida a History acted by the Children of Paul's printed octavo Lond. 1633. Antonio's Revenge or The Second part of Antonio and Melida frequently acted by the Children of Paul's printed in octavo These two Plays were likewise printed in quarto above 30 Years before this new Edition viz. 1602. Dutch Curtezan a Comedy divers times presented at the Black-fryars by the Children of the Queens Majesties Revels printed in octavo Lond. 1633. This Play was publisht long before in quarto viz. 1605. Cockledemoy's cheating Mrs. Mulligrub the Vintner's Wife of the Goblet and the Salmon is borrow'd from an old French Book called Les Contes du Monde see the same Story in English in a Book of Novels call'd The Palace of Pleasure in the last Novel Insatiate Countess a Tragedy acted at the White-fryars printed quarto Lond. 1603. It being a common custom with our Author to disguise his Story and to personate real Persons under feign'd Characters I am perswaded that in this Play under the Title of Isabella the Insatiable Countess of Suevia he meant Joane the First Queen of Jerusalem Naples and Sicily and I doubt not but the Reader who will compare the Play with the History will assent to my conjecture Many are the Writers that have related her Life as Collenuccio Simmoneta Villani Montius c. but I refer my English Reader to Dr. Fuller's Prophane State Ch. 2. That her Life has been the Subject not only of History but of Poetry and Novels also is manifest from this Play and the Novels of Bandello who has related her Story under the Title of The Inordinate Life of The Countess of Celant This Novel is translated into French by Belleforest Tom. 2. Nov. 20. and possibly our Author might build his Play on this Foundation The like Story is related in God's Revenge against Adultery under the Name of Anne of Werdenberg Dutchess of Ulme See Hist. 5. Male Content a Tragicomedy the first Design being laid by Mr. Webster was corrected and augmented by our Author printed 4o. Lond. 1604. and dedicated in the following Stile to Ben Johnson Benjamini Johnsonio Poetae Elegantissimo Gravissimo Amico suo candido cordato Johannes Marston Musarum Alumnus asperam hanc suam Thaliam D. D. Notwithstanding our Authors profession of Friendship he afterwards could not refrain from reflecting on Mr. Johnson on Account of his Sejanus and Catiline as the Reader will find in the perusal of his Epistle to Sophonisba Know says he that I have not labour'd in this Poem to relate any thing as an Historian but to enlarge every thing as a Poet. To transcribe Authors quote Authorities and translate Latin Prose Orations into English Blank-Verse hath in this Subject been the least aim of my Studies That Mr. Johnson is here meant will I presume be evident to any that are acquainted with his Works and will compare the Orations in Salust with those in Catiline On what provocations our Author thus censured his Friend I know not but this Custom has been practic'd in all Ages the Old Proverb being verify'd in Poets as well as Whores Two of a Trade can never agree 'T is within the Memory of Man that a Play has been dedicated to the late witty Earl of Rochester and an Essay upon Satyr from the same Hand has bespatter'd his Reputation So true it is that some Poets Are still prepar'd to praise or to abhor us Satyr they have and Panegyrick for us But begging pardon for this Digression I return to the Play which I take to be an honest general Satyr and not as some malicious Enemies endeavour'd to perswade the World design'd to strike at any particular Persons Parasitaster or The Fawn a Comedy divers times presented at the Black-fryars by the Children of the Queens Majesties Revels printed 80. Lond. 1633. This Play was formerly printed
Typographical Faults there are many other gross Errors several pieces being mention'd under the Title of Plays which are of a different Species for Instance Virgil's Eclogues are inserted under the Name of a Tragedy c. Picture a Tragi-comedy often presented with good allowance at the Globe and Black-Fryars Play-houses by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1636. and dedicated to his Honour'd and Selected Friends of the Noble Society of the Inner-Temple This Play was acted by those excellent Players of the last Age Lowin Taylor Benfield c. and is commended by his true Friend Sir Thomas Jay The Plot of Sophia's decoying the two debaucht Courtiers Richardo and Ubaldo who attempted her Chastity is related in a Book of Novels in octavo call'd The Fortunate Deceiv'd and Unfortunate Lovers see Nov. 4. of the Deceiv'd Lovers but this Story is I suppose originally Italian this Book being a Collection from Italian Novels Renegado a Tragi-comedy often acted by the Queens Majesties Servants at the private Play-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1630. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Harding Baron of Barkley of Barkley-Castle and Knight of the Honourable Order of the Bath This Play is likewise commended by two Copies of Verses One of which was writ by Mr. James Shirley Roman Actor a Tragedy acted divers times with good allowance at the private House in the Black-fryars by the King's Majesties Servants printed 4o. 1629. and dedicated to his much Honour'd and most True Friends Sir Philip Knivet Sir Thomas Jay and Thomas Bellingham of Newtimber in Sussex Esquire This Play is commended by Six Copies of Verses writ by several Dramatick Poets of that Age as May Goss Ford c. For the Plot read Suetonius in the Life of Domitian Aurelius Victor Eutropius Lib. 7. Tacitus Lib. 13. c. Very Woman or The Prince of Tarent a Tragi-comedy often acted at the private House in the Black-fryars by His late Majesties Servants with great applause printed 8o. Lond. 1655. Our Author owns this Play to be founded on a Subject which long before appear'd on the Stage tho' what Play it was I know not I have already acquainted the Reader with the Resemblance between the Plot of this Tragi-comedy and The Obstinate Lady This Play with The Bashful Lover and The Guardian are printed together Virgin Martyr a Tragedy acted by His Majesties Servants with great applause printed 4o. Lond. 1661. In this Play our Author took in Mr. Thomas Decker for Partner I presume the Story may be met with in the Martyrologies which have treated of the Tenth Persecution in the time of Dioclesian and Maximian See Rossweidus Valesius c. Unnatural Combat a Tragedy presented by the King's Majesties Servants at the Globe printed 4o. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to his much Honour'd Friend Anthony Sentliger of Oukham in Kent Esquire This Old Tragedy as the Author tells his Patron has neither Prologue nor Epilogue it being composed in a time when such By-ornaments were not advanced above the Fabrick of the whole work I know nothing else of our Authors Writings and therefore must hasten to the last Act of his Life his Death which happen'd at London in March 1669. On the Seventeenth of the same Month he was Buried in St. Mary Overies Church in Southwark in the same Grave with Mr. Fletcher What Monument or Inscription he has I know not but shall close up our Account of this Ingenious Poet with the following Epitaph writ by Sir Aston Cokain An Epitaph on Mr. John Fletcher and Mr. Philip Massinger who lay both buried in one Grave in St. Mary Overy's Church in Southwark In the same Grave Fletcher was buried here Lies the Stage Poet Philip Massinger Plays they did write together were great Friends And now one Grave includes them in their Ends. So whom on Earth nothing did part beneath Here in then Fame they lie in spight of Death Thomas MAY. This Gentleman was born in Sussex of an ancient but somewhat declining Family in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth He was for some Years bred a Scholar in the University of Cambridge being Fellow-Commoner of Sidney Colledge During his Abode there he was a very close Student and what Stock of Learning he then treasur'd up is apparent from his Works which are in print He remov'd afterwards to London following the Court where he contracted Friendship with several Eminent Courtiers amongst others with the accomplisht Endymion Porter Esq One of the Gentlemen of his Majesties Bedchamber a Gentleman so dear to Sir William D'Avenant that he stiled him Lord of his Muse and Heart Whilst he resided at Court he writ the five Plays which are extant and possibly his other Pieces Dr. Fuller says of him That some Disgust at Court was given to or taken by him as some would have it because his Bays were not guilded richly enough and his Verses rewarded by King Charles according to expectation Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley insinuate That being Candidate with Sir William D'Avenant for the Honourable Title of the Queen's Poet and being frustrate in his Expectations out of meer Spleen as it is thought for his Repulse he vented his Spite in his History of the late Civil Wars of England wherein Mr. Winstanley says he shew'd all the Spleen of a Male-contented Poet making thereby his Friends his Foes and rendring his Name odious to Posterity Whether this Accusation be true or no I know not but I am sure his Enemies must allow him to be a good Poet tho' possibly he fell short of Sir William D'Avenant and tho' I no ways abet his self Opinion yet I learn from Horace that even Ill Poets set a value on their Writings tho' they are despis'd by others Ridentur mala qui componunt Carmina verùm Gaudent Scribentes se venerantur ultrò Si taceas laudant quicquid scripsere beati And therefore I hope the moderate Critick will bear with the Frailty of our Author and I doubt not but if they will read his Works with Candor and especially his Plays they will find he had some Reason for his Opinion of what he writ I shall first give the Reader a succinct Account of his Plays as follows Agrippina Empress of Rome her Tragedy printed 120. Lond. 1639. Our Author has follow'd Xiphilinus Tacitus and Suetonius in the Designing his Tragedy and besides has translated and inserted above 30. Lines from Petronius Arbyters Satyricon being a Translation of those Verses recited by Eumolpus beginning Orbemjam totum victor Romanus habebat c. and concluding with Siculo scarus aequore mersus Ad mensam vivus perducitur Now altho' this is patly enough apply'd by our Author he having introduced Nero at a Banquet commanding Petronius to write a Satyr against those Pleasures he us'd to commend yet methinks Mr. May having such a particular Value for Lucan as to translate his Pharsalia he should not have inserted what was
a Tragi-comedy Natures three Daughters Beauty Love and Wit a Comedy in two parts Presence a Comedy To this are added twenty nine single Scenes which the Dutchess design'd to have inserted into this Play but finding it would too much lengthen it she printed them separately Publick Wooing a Comedy in which the Duke writ several of the Suitors Speeches as that of the Souldier the Countryman the Spokesman for the Bashful Suitor besides two other Scenes and the two Songs at the End of the Comedy Religious a Tragi-comedy Several Wits a Comedy Sociable Companions or The Female Wits a Comedy Unnatural Tragedy The Prologue and Epigue were of the Duke's making Act 2. Sc. 3. the Dutchess inveighs against Mr. Cambden's Brittannia tho' whether with Justice I leave it to the Determination of others Wits Cabal a Comedy in two parts His Grace writ the Epilogue to the first part Youth's Glory and Death's Banquet a Tragedy in two parts Two Scenes with the Speeches at the first part in commendation of Mile Sans pareille were writ by his Grace so were all the Songs and Verses in the second part The Blazing World Bridal Convent of Pleasure Presence and Sociable Companions are printed together in one Volume and the rest in another As to her other Works I shall only mention the Titles and the Dates when printed and I shall begin with the Crown of her Labours The Life of the Duke of Newcastle in English printed Folio Lond. 1667. and in Latin Folio Lond. 1668 Nature's Picture drawn by Fancy's Pencil to the Life printed Fol. Lond. 1656. at the End of it she has writ her own Life Philosophical Fancies printed Fol. Lond. 1653. Philosophical and Physical Opinions Fol. Lond. 1655. Philosophical Letters Fol. Lond. 1664. Two Hundred and Eleven Sociable Letters Fol. Lond. 1664. Orations Fol. 1662. Poems Fol. 1653. Thomas NEWTON An Author that liv'd in the Reign of Queâ—â— Elizabeth and joyn'd with Jasper Heywood and Alexander Nevil above-named and others in the Translation of Seneca's Tragedies Tho' our Author translated but one Play yet he published all the Ten and dedicated them to Sir Thomas Henage Treasurer of her Majesties Chamber The Play which our Author has render'd into English is intituled Thebais a Tragedy This by some is believed not to be Seneca's because in this Tragedy Jocasta appears alive and in Oedipus she is kill'd and it is not likely that he would wâ—ite two Drammas that should so very much differ in the Catastrophe But if it be Seneca's 't is the shortest of his Tragedies and has no Chorus and is said by One to be Perpetuum Canticum nullis diverbiis incorruptum THOMAS OTWAY Thomas NUCE An Author of the same Time and joyn'd in the same Design with the former We are owing to his pains for the Version of One Play of Seneca's called Octavia a Tragedy This is the only Tragedy of the Ancients that I know of that is founded on History so near the time of the Author I shall not pretend to determine whether it was writ by Seneca or no tho' Delrio and others deny it For the History see Suetonius in Vit. Claud. Nero. Tacitus L.12 C. 14 Dion c. O. Thomas OTWAY AN Author who was well known to most Persons of this Age who are famous for Wit and Breeding He was formerly as I have heard bred for some time in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford From thence he removed to London where he spent some time in Dramatick Poetry and by degrees writ himself into Reputation with the Court His Genius in Comedy lay a little too much to Libertinism but in Tragedy he made it his business for the most part to observe the Decorum of the Stage He was a man of Excellent parts and daily improved in his Writing but yet sometimes fell into plagiary as well as his Contemporaries and made use of Shakespear to the advantage of his Purse at least if not his Reputation He has publisht ten Dramatick Pieces if we may be allow'd to reckon his Farces as Distinct Plays of which we shall give the Reader a particular Account beginning with Alcibiades a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Middlesex This Play is writ in Heroick Verse and was the first Fruits of our Author's Muse He has made Alcibiades a Person of true Honour chusing rather to loose his Life than wrong his Defender King Agis or his betrothed wife Timandra whereas Plutarch gives him a different Character telling us that in the King's Absence he abused his Bed and got his Queen Timaea with Child and that Timandra was not his Wife but his Mistress and Justin sayes That he was informed of the design of the Lacedmoonian Princes against his Life by the Queen of King Agis with whom he had committed Adultery Atheist or the Second part of The Souldiers Fortune a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Lord Elande Eldest Son to the Marquess of Hallifax The Plot between Beaugard and Portia is founded on Scarron's Novel of The Invisible Mistress Cheats of Scapin a Farce acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1677. 'T is printed with Titus and Berenice and dedicated to the Right Honourable John Earl of Rochester This Play is translated from a French Comedy of Molliere though 't is not printed amongst his Plays of the Amsterdam Edition in 5 Tomes which I have by me yet that it is his I collect from M. Boileau's Art of Poetry where speaking of Molliere in the third Canto he says thus Estudiez la Cour connoissez la Ville L'une l'autre est toûjours en Modeles fertile C'est par là que Moliere illustrant ses Ecrits Peut-estre de son Art eust remporté le prix Si moins ami du Peuple en ses doctes peintures Il n'eust point fait souvent grimacer ses Figures Quittè pour le Bouffon l'agreable le fin Et sans honte à Terence allié Tabarin Dans ce sac ridicule où Scapin s'enveloppe Je ne reconnois point l' Auteur du Misanthrope But notwithstanding the Farce in this Comedy Molliere has borrow'd the Design from Terence his Phormio as may be visible to those that will compare them Caius Marius his History and Fall a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1680. and dedicated to the L d Viscount Faulkland A great part of this Play is borrow'd from Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet as the Character of Marius Junior and Lavinia the Nurse and Sulpitius which last is carried on by our Author to the End of the Play though Mr. Dryden says in his Postscript to Granada That Shakespear said himself that he was forc'd to kill Mercurio in the 3d. Act to prevent being kill'd by him For the true History of Marius Senior see Plutarch's Life of C. Marius Lucan's Pharsalia lib. 2. Florus
Fourteen Plays in print which we shall give an Account of in the Order we have begun viz. Alphabetically tho' by this means his last Play comes first upon our Stage viz. Amorous Bigotte with the Second Part of Tegue O Divelly a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles Earl of Shrewsbury Bury Fair a Comedy acted by his present Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1689. and dedicated to the Rt. Honourable Charles Earl of Dorset and Middlesex the present Lord Chamberlain of his Majesty's Houshold How difficult it is for Poets to find a continual Supply of new Humour this Poet has sufficiently shew'd in his Prologue and therefore he ought to be excus'd if Old Wit and Sir Humphry Noddy have some resemblance with Justice spoil Wit and Sr. John Noddy in the Triumphant Widow Skilfull Poets resemble excellent Cooks whose Art enables them to dress one Dish of Meat several ways and by the Assistance of proper Sawces to give each a different Relish and yet all grateful to the Palate Thus the Character of La Roche tho' first drawn by Molliere in Les ' Precieuses ridicules and afterwards copy'd by Sir W. D' Avenant Mr. Betterton and Mrs. Behn yet in this Play has a more taking Air than in any other Play and there is something in his Jargon more diverting than in the Original it self Epsom Wells a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Newcastle This is so diverting and withal so true a Comedy that even Forreigners who are not generally the kindest to the Wit of our Nation have extreamly commended it and it is no small credit to our Author that the Sieur De Saint Euvremont speaking of our English Comedies in his Essays has ranked this Play with Ben Johnson's Bartholmew Fair as two of our most diverting Comedies 'T is true that some endeavoured to fix a Calumny upon our Author alledging that this Play was not in Ingenious but this Stain was quickly wip'd off by the Plea he makes for himself in the Prologue spoken to the King and Queen at Whitehall where he says If this for him had been by others done After this Honour sure they 'd claim their own Humorists a Comedy acted by his Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1671. and dedicated to the most Illustrious Margaret Dutchess of Newcastle The Design of this Play was To reprehend some of the Vices and Follies of the Age which is certainly the most proper and most useful way of writing Comedy But notwithstanding the Author 's good Design it met with implacable Enemies who resolv'd to damn it right or wrong and the Author was forc'd to mutilate his Play by expunging the chief Design to prevent giving Offence These and other Disadvantages the particulars of which you may read in the Preface the Poet met with and yet I think a Candid Judge would let it pass without much Censure and pardon the faults of the Play for that Reparation that is made for it in the Preface Lancashire Witches and Teague O Divelly the Irish Priest a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1682. This Play was written in the Times of Whig and Tory therefore was opposed by Papists and their Adherents for the sake of their Dear-Joy Teague O Divelly but nevertheless there appeared so numerous a party in the Play 's Defence that the Play lived in spight of all their Malice However I wish our Author for his own sake had left out the Character of Smirk notwithstanding and the Defence he makes for it in the Preface and his Protestation of having a true value for the Church of England for 't is evident that her Sons the Clergy are abused in that Character particularly in the first Scene of the second Act and therefore Mr. Shadwell must allow me a little to distrust his sincerity when he makes such large Professions of Respect to Gowns-men to whom I believe his Obligations are greater than Kindness otherwise he would not have suffer'd such reflections to have passed his Pen as are to be met with in his Squire of Alsatia and the Epilogue to the Amorous Bigotte c. If Mr. Shadwell would therefore take a Friend's Counsel I would advise him to treat serious things with due Respect and not to make the Pulpit truckle to the Stage or Preface a Play with a a Treatise of Religion every Man has his Province and I think the Stating of Passive Obedience and Non-Resistance is none of Mr. Shadwell's He may remember that Mr. Dryden never miscarried more than when he inter-meddled with Church Matters and that all the Art and Beauty of his Absalom and Achitophel will hardly make Amends for the Spots and Blemishes that are to be found in his Hind and Panther But to return to our Subject Mr. Heywood and Mr. Brome have writ a Play on the same Story with our Author but how much this exceeds it will be evident to unbyassed Judges As to the Magick in the Play our Author has given a very good Account in his Notes from the Writings of Delrio Bodinus Wierus c. and I know nothing that we have in this Nature in Dramatick Poetry except Ben. Johnson's Masque of Queens which is likewise explained by Annotations Libertine a Tragedy acted by his Royal Highnesses Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1676. and dedicated to William Duke of Newcastle This Play if not regular is at least diverting which according to the Opinion of some of our First-Rate Poets is the End of Poetry The Play is built upon a Subject which has been handled by Spanish Italian and French Authors there being four Plays extant says my Author on this Story I have never seen but one viz. Molliere's L'Athée Foundroyé which it appear'd our Author has read There is a Character in Sir Aston Cockain's Ovid I mean that of Captain Hannibal whose Catastrophe is like that of Don John which as I have said may possibly be borrowed from Il Atheisto fulminato Miser a Comedy acted by his Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Charles L d Buckhurst the present Earl of Dorset This Play the Author confesses is founded on Molliere's L'Avare which by the way is it self founded on Plautus his Autularia 'T was the last Play that was acted at the King's House before the fatal Fire there Whoever will peruse this Play will find more than half writ by our Author and the French part much improved Psyche a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1675. and dedicated to the late James Duke of Monmouth This was the first Play that our Author writ in Rhime and on that Account he found most of the Crambo-Poets up in Arms against it who look'd upon our Author as an Incroacher on their Territories and Were as he says very much offended with him
therefore it was Night close laid Strove to imprison Beauty till the Morn But yet the Doors were of such fine stuff made That it broke through shew'd it self in scorn Throwing a kind of light about the place Which turn'd to smiles still as 't came near her Face I have now no more to do but to close up all with an Account of his Death which was on the 23 d of April Anno Dom. 1616. He lyeth Buried in the Great Church in Strasford upon Avon with his Wife and Daughter Susanna the Wife of Mr. John Hall In the North Wall of the Chancel is a Monument fixed which represents his true Effigies leaning upon a Cushion with the following Inscription Ingenio Pylum genio Socratem arte Maronem Terra tegit Populus moeret Olympus habet Stay Passenger why dost thou go so fast Read if thou canst whom envious Death has plac't 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 where this Monument is Erected lyeth a plain Free-stone underneath which his Body is Buried with this Epitaph Good Friend for Jesus sake forbear To dig the Dust enclosed here Blest be the Man that spares these Stones And curs'd be he that moves my Bones Lewis SHARPE An Author of a Play in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr stiled Noble Stranger acted at the private House in Salisbury Court by her Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to Sir Edmund Williams 'T is commended by a Copy of Verses writ by Rich. Woolfall of which these are part Yet do not fear the danger Of Critick Readers since thy Noble Stranger With pleasing straines has smooth'd rugged Fate Of oft-cramn'd Theaters and prov'd Fortunate Smile at their frowns for I dare boldly say Who ere dislikes it cannot mend thy Play If this Play be look'd upon with mild Eyes it will weigh against some Plays writ in our Time There is somewhat in the Characters of Pupillus and Mercutio which might take in this Age and I believe old Lacy had read this Play before he writ the Character of several Poets of his Poetical Squire Buffon In the fourth Act he has given the Characters of several Poets particularly of Ben. Johnson under the Title of a Confident Poetical Wit as may be guessed from the Epilogue to Cynthia's Revels This from our Author I was bid to say By Jove 't is good and if you 'l lik 't you may But I leave this to the Judgment of the Curious Reader and hasten to the next Poet. Edward SHARPHAM A Gentleman of the Middle-Temple who liv'd in the Reign of King James the First He writ a Play called Fleire a Comedy often paly'd in the Black-fryars by the Children of the Revels and printed 4o. Lond. 1615. I take the Character of Antifront the Duke of Florence to be a pattern taken from Hercules Duke of Ferrara and Marston's Fawne to be the Father of Sharpham's Fleire but this I leave to the Judgment of others to decide they please S. SHEPHEARD One who lived in the time of the late Unhappy Civil Wars and whose Loyalty seems to have been far better than his Poetry He writ in the time of the Prohibition of the Stage two Pamphlets which he stiles Comedies but indeed are no longer than one single Act of a Play that I have seen His Comedies are stiled Committee-man curried a Comedy in two parts represented to the View of all men A piece discovering the Corruption of Committee-men and Excise-men the unjust Sufferings of the Royal-party the devilish Hypocrisy of some Roundheads the Revolt for Gain of some Ministers Not without pleasant Mirth and Variety and printed 4o. Lond. 1647. This Title-page led me to great Expectations but I soon found Horace's Observation true Parturient Montes nascetur ridiculus Mus. The Author indeed has shew'd his Reading if not his Fancy for there is scrace a piece of Sir John Suckling that he has not plundered His Aglaura Goblins Brenoralt all have pay'd tribute to our Excise-Poet neither his Verses nor Prose have escaped him This with what he has borrow'd from Sir Robert Stapleton's Translation of Juvenal Sat. 1. and 3. make up the greatest part of the two Comedies But however I am so far oblig'd by my Charity and Respect and good Intention of asserting Loyalty to set down his own Apology in the Prologue to the Second part The Author prays you for to think the Store Of Wit is wasted by those went before And that the Fatness of the Soil being spent Men's Brains grown barren you 'd not raise the Rent Edward SHERBURN Esq A Gentleman as I suppose still living and Famous for his Versions particularly of Manilius his Sphere or Five Books of Astronomy in Fol. Lond. 1675. Besides that famous Work he has translated two of Seneca's Tragedies viz. Medea a Tragedy with Annotations Printed octavo Lond. 1648. to which is added Seneca's Answer to Lucilius his Query Why Good Men suffer misfortunes On this Play see Mr. Stanley's Vindication of the Author in his Poems octavo p. 75. Troades or The Royal Captives a Tragedy with Annotations printed 4o. Lond. 1679. These Tragedies I look upon as the best Versions we have extant of any of Seneca's and shew the Translator a Gentleman of Learning and Judgment What he writ besides I know not tho' there was the 16 th Idillium of Theocritus printed in Tate's Miscellanies and ascribed to Sir Edw. Sherburn whether the same Person I know not Thomas SHIPMAN Esq A Gentleman not many Years since deceas'd who as a Friend of his says was a Man every way accomplish'd To the advantage of his Birth his Education had added whatsoever was necessary to fit him for Conversation and render him as he was desirable by the best Wits of the Age. He was the Author of a Play called Henry the Third of France stabb'd by a Fryar with the Fall of the Guises a Tragedy in Heroick Verse acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1678. and dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Lord Marquess of Dorchester For the Plot see Davila M. Girard D. of Espernon's Life c. Besides this Play he has a Book call'd Carolina or Loyal Poems printed octavo Lond. 1683. which sufficiently evince the Ingenuity and Parts of the Author Henry SHIRLEY A Gentleman who flourisht in the time of King Charles the Martyr of whom I can give no further Account than that he was the Author of One Play call'd Martyred Souldier a Tragedy sundry times acted with great Applause at the private House in Drury-lane and at other publick Theatres by Her Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to the Famous Sir Kenelm Digby by the Publisher J. K. who gave it to the Press after the Author's Decease and in his
Poet and I must do Mr. Shirley this Justice to say in his behalf That whatever he borrowes from Novels Loses nothing in his Hands any more than in in Mr. Dryden tho' our modest Author would never have said so much were he living Gentleman of Venice a Tragi-comedy presented at the Private-house in Salisbury Court by Her Majesty's Servants and printed quarto Lond. 1655. This Play is dedicated to the Honourable Sir Thomas Nightinghale Baronet and the Intrigue between Florelli Cornari and Claudiana is borrowed as I suppose from a Novel out of Gayton's Festivous Notes on Don Quixote see Book 4. Chap. 6 7 8. Grateful Servant a Comedy presented with good Applause in the Private house in Drury-lane by Her Majesty's Servants This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable Francis Earl of Rutland and printed 4o. Lond. Lodowik's Contrivance to have Piero tempt his Wife Artella that he might be Divorc'd is the same with Contarini's Humour and Contrivance Giotto in the Humorous Courtier Hide Park a Comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable Henry Earl of Holland This was the first Earl of that Name created in 23. Jac. Apr. 3. and was Beheaded with Duke Hamilton and the Lord Capel March the ninth dying a Martyr to retrive his former forfeited Loyalty to his Prince To this Earl I presume Hide Park once might belong since the Title was occasion'd by his Command to the Author Humorous Courtier a Comedy presented with good Applause at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1640. Lady of Pleasure a Comedy acted by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable Richard Lord Lovelace of Hurley The Plot of Alex. Kickshaw his Enjoying of Aretina and thinking her the Devil resembles Lodowick in Grateful Servant Love Tricks or The School of Compliments acted by His Royal Highness the Duke of York's Servants at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields and printed 4o. Lond. 1667. Love's Cruelty a Tragedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1640. and dedicated to Cornet George Porter and Mr. Charles Porter The Concealment of Hyppolito and Chariana's Adultery from her Servant by her Husband Bellamente's Contrivance is borrow'd from Queen Margaret's Novels Day 4. Nov. 6. The like Story is related in Cynthio's Heccatomithi Dec. terza Novella sesta Maid's Revenge a Tragedy acted with good Applause at the Private-house in Drury-lane by Her Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1639. and dedicated to Henry Osborn Esquire The Play is founded on a History in Mr. Reynolds his God's Revenge against Murther see Book 2. Hist. 7. Opportunity a Comedy presented by her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane printed Lond. and dedicated to Captain Richard Owen The Resemblance of Aurelio to Borgia is founded on the same with Measure for measure and other English Plays all which as I have observ'd took their Original from Plautus Politician a Tragedy presented at Salisbury Court by Her Majesty's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1655. This Play is dedicated to Walter Moyle Esquire A Story resembling this I have read in the first Book of the Countess of Montgomery's Urania concerning the King of Romania the Prince Antissius and his Mother-in-Law Royal Master a Tragi-comedy acted in the New Theatre in Dublin and before the Right Honourable the Lord Deputy of Ireland in the Castle and printed 4o. Lond. 1638. This Play is dedicated to the Right Honourable George Earl of Kildare and is accompanied with Ten Copies of Verses in its Commendation Traytor a Tragedy acted by Her Majesty's Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1635. and dedicated to the Right Honourable William Earl of Newcastle afterwards Marquess and Duke This Play is recommended by a Copy of Verses writ by Mr. William Atkins a Gentleman of the Worthy Society of Grays-Inn Triumph of Peace a Masque presented by the Four Honourable Houses or Inns of Court before the King and Queen's Majesties in the Banquetting-house at Whitehal Feb. the third 1633. The Scene and Ornament was the Contrivance of Mr. Inigo Jones the Musick was Composed by Mr. William Laws and Mr. Simon Ives The Masque is dedicated to the Four Equal Honourable Societies of the Inns of Court Mr. Shirley being at that time of Grays-Inn The Masquers went in a Solemn Cavalcade from Ely House to Whitehall and the Author himself says That this Masque for the Variety of the Shews and the Richness of the Habits was the most Magnificent that hath been brought to Court in his Time 'T is printed 4o. Lond. 1633. I have a little Piece by me call'd The Inns of Court Anagrammatist or The Masquers masqued in Anagrammes written by Mr. Francis Lenton One of Her Majesty's Poets and printed 4o. Lond. 1634. This Piece not only names the Masquers and of what House they were but commends each in an Epigram Saint Patrick for Ireland the First part printed 4o. Lond. 1640. Tho' our Title-page calls it the First part I know not whether there was ever a Second part printed tho' the Prologue seems to promise one in the following Lines Saint Patrick whose large Story cannot be bound in the limits of One Play if Ye First welcome this you 'l grace our Poets Art And give him courage for a Second Part. For the Story see Bede's Life of St. Patrick Sigebert Baronius Balaeus Seven Champions of Christendom His Life in English in Twelves Lond. 16 Wedding a Tragi-comedy acted by Her Majesty's Servants at the Phoenix in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1690. and dedicated to William Gowre Esquire This is an Excellent Comedy considering the Time in which 't was writ Witty Fair One a Comedy presented at the Private-house in Drury-lane and printed 4o. Lond. 1633. This Play is dedicated to Sir Edmund Bushel Young Admiral a Tragi-comedy presented by Her Majesty's Servants at the Private-house in Drury-lane printed 4o. Lond. 1637. and dedicated to the Right Honourable George Lord Barkley of Barkley-Castle These are all the Plays that our Author has in print in Quarto we are now to give an Account of Nine Dramatick pieces printed in Octavo We shall begin with Six Plays which are printed together viz. Brothers a Comedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1652. and dedicated to his Noble Friend Thomas Stanley Esq Cardinal a Tragedy acted at the Private-house in Black-fryars printed 8o. Lond. 1652. and dedicated to his Friend G. B. Esq Court Secret a Tragi-comedy prepared for the Scene at Black-fryars but not acted till after it appeared in print it being printed 8o. Lond. 1653. and dedicated to William Earl of Strafford Son and Heir to that Great Soul of Honour Thomas Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and the Proto-martyr for Religion and Loyalty in the Year 1641. Doubtful Heir a Tragi-comedy acted at the Private-house in
The Mother in Fashion acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4o. Lond. 1684. and dedicated to the Right Honourable James Earl of Ossory the present Duke of Ormond This has somewhat of the Story of The Curious Impertinent in Don Quixot Loyal Brother or The Persian Prince a Tragedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by their Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1682. and dedicated to his Grace the Duke of Richmond The Play is founded on a Novel called Tachmas Prince of Persia octavo Thomas STANLEY Esq A Gentleman who flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the First at Camberloe-Green in Hertfordshire One who is sufficiently known to all Learned Men not only for his Skill in Languages as appears by his several Versions but by his Great Learning Exquisite Fancy and Admirable Judgment For the One to wit his Fancy he is here mention'd in Quality of a Poet and the rather because we owe to him the Version of an Excellent Piece of Antiquity which he calls Clouds a Comedy which he translated from Aristophanes his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This Play as AElian observes in his Various History was writ at the Instigation of Anytas purposely to abuse Socrates and is subjoyn'd by our Author to the Life of that Excellent Philosopher not as a Comical Divertisement for the Reader who can expect little in that Kind from a Subject so ancient and particular but as a Necessary Supplement to the Life of Socrates This Play is printed with Mr. Stanley's History of Philosophy printed Fol. Lond. 1687. Second Edit a Work which will always be valued by all Learned Men In which the Reader will find also translated a Dramma of Ausonins inscribed Ludus Septem Sapientum His Translation of AEschylus his Tragedies into Latin with his Excellent Comment printed Fol. Lond. 1664. deserves the highest Commendation and for his Poems in English not only those which are properly his own sufficiently shew his Genius for Poetry But even his various Translations from the Greek of Anacreon Moschus from the Latin of Ausonius Catullus Bion Secundus Barclaius to which I may add Picus Mirandula his Discourse of Platonick Love from the Spanish of Lope de Vega Gongora and Montalvan the Italian of Guarini Marino Tasso Petrarch Cassone Preti Boscan c. the French of St. Amant Tristan Ronsard Theophile and De Voiture shew how much he was vers'd in those Languages His Poems receiv'd several Editions that which I take to be the best was printed 8o. Lond. 1651. Besides these Poems he has in print two little Romances or Novels translated from the Spanish of Don Juan Perez de Montalvan call'd Aurora Ismenia and The Prince which with the Poem of Oronta translated from the Italian of Signor Girolamo Preti are printed octavo Lond. 1655. Sir Robert STAPLETON A Gentleman who I presume is still living He was well known at Court by the Honourable Station he was in being One of the Gentlemen-Ushers of his Majesty King Charles the Second's most Honourable Privy-Chamber But his Writings have made him not only Known but Admired throughout all England and whilst Musaeus and Juvenal are in Esteem with the Learned Sir Robert's Fame will still survive the Translation of those two Famous Authors having plac'd his Name in the Temple of Immortality As to Musaeus he had so great a Value for him that after he had translated him he built the Story into a Dramatick Poem call'd Hero and Leander their Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1669. and dedicated to the Dutchess of Monmouth Whether this Play were ever acted or no I know not or where tho' the Prologue and Epilogue seem to imply that it had appeared on the Stage Slighted Maid a Comedy written likewise by our Author and acted with great Applause at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn Fields by his Highness the Duke of York's Servants printed 8o. Lond. 1663. and dedicated to the late Duke of Monmouth The Epitaph made by Decio upon Iberio and Pyramena is borrowde from Arria and Petus see Martial Epigr. L. 1. Ep. L. 4. Stapleton's Juvenal the best Edition with Cuts is printed Fol. Lond. 1663. and his Musaeus or Hero and Leander in Verse is printed 8o. Lond. 1647. to which is added Leander's Letter to Hero and her Answer translated from Ovid's Epistles Besides these he Englished Strada de Bello Belgich printed Lond. 1650. Of these Pieces Jo. Leigh Esq in his Verses on Carthwright says thus Brave Stapleton translates Old Wit and New Musaeus Juvenal and Strada too I know nothing else that our Author has extant but a Translation from the French of Mr. De Marmet L d of Valcroisant call'd Entertainments of the Course or Academical Conversations printed 8o. Lond. 1658. and Mr. De Bergerac's History of the World in the Moon in twelves Lond. John STEPHENS An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the First who has published a Play called Cynthia's Revenge a Tragedy printed 4o. Lond. 1613. This is One of the longest Plays that I ever read and withall the most tedious The Author seems to have a great Value for Lucan for he not only makes King Menander repeat part in the Original but in the Fourth Act he makes him speak a Speech containing the beginning of the First Book of Lucan to the 24 th Verse but how far short he falls of Mr. May I leave to the Readers Judgment In the Fifth Act the Poet introduces an Interlude of the Contention of Ajax and Ulysses for the Armour of Achilles which I take to be but Indifferent He has writ besides a Piece called Satyrical Essays in octavo Lond. 1615. This Play was in former Catalogues ascrib'd to John Swallow but I believe this to be the Genuine Author William STRODE A Gentleman that flourish'd in the Reign of King Charles the Martyr of a Good Family in Devonshire being Countryman and Collegiate with the Witty Dr. Main He was enter'd in Christ-Church Colledge in Oxford at Nineteen Years of Age and soon after was elected Student He took his several Degrees and was chosen for his Excellent Parts Oratour of the University Tho' he was in Orders he was sent for by the Dean and Chapter to write a Play for the Diversion and Entertainment of their Majesties which was call'd Floating Island a Tragi-comedy acted before his Majesty at Oxf. Aug. 1639. by the Students of Christ-Church The Airs and Songs were set by Mr. Henry Laws Servant to his Majesty in publick and private Musick This Play was not printed till Eleven Years after the Author's Death and above Eighteen Years after 't was acted being printed Lond. 1655. and dedicated even in Manuscript and in the Author's Life-time to his most Honoured Patron Sir John Helle by a Copy of Verses This Play was too full of Morality to please the Court tho' at the same time 't was commended by the King as was apparent by his bestowing a Cannon's Dignity upon him not long after at which time he took the Degree of Doctor
Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1600. For the Historical part see the Chronicles in the Reign of King Henry the Second viz. Pol. Virg. Speed Baker Daniel c. Love in its Extasie or The large Prerogative a kind of Royal-Pastoral written long since by a Gentleman supposed by Mr. Kirkman I know not on what ground to be One Peaps Student at Eaton and printed quarto Lond. 1649. The Author was not seventeen Years of Age when this was writ on which Account I think the Play may pass Muster with others of those Times Lost Lady a Tragi-comedy which I never read or saw but once and which I remember was printed in Folio Love a-la-mode a Comedy acted with great applause at Middlesex House written by a Person of Honour and printed 4o. Lond. 1663. This Play is justified by the Author in his Preface and ushered into the World by three Copies of Verses nor is the Play altogether undeserving Commendation Luminalia or The Festival of Light personated in a Masque at Court by the Queen's Majesty and Her Ladies on Shrove-Tuesday Night 1637. and printed 4o. Lond. 1637. The Famous Mr. Inigo Jones Surveyor of Her Majesty's Works had a Hand in the Contrivance of this Masque by Her Majesty's Command The Invention consisting of Darkness and Light the Night presented the first Antimasque and the Subject of the Main-masque is Light But for the clearer Information of the Reader I refer him to the Masque it self M. Manhood and Wisdom a Play mentioned by other Authors of which I can give no Account never having seen it Marcus Tullius Cicero that Famous Roman Orator his Tragedy printed quarto Lond. 1651. I know not whether even this Play was acted but it seems to me to be written in Imitation of Ben. Johnson's Cataline For the Plot see Plutarch in his Life See likewise his own Works Hist. Ciceroniana Lambin as also Dion Appian c. Marriage of Wit and Science an Interlude which I never saw Masque of Flowers presented by the Gentlemen of Grays-Inn at the Court at Whitehall in the Banquetting-house upon Twelfth-Night 1631. Being the last of the Solemnities and Magnificences which were performed at the Marriage of the Right Honourable the Earl of Sommerset and the Lady Frances Daughter of the Earl of Suffolk Lord Chamberlain printed 4o. Lond. 1614. This Masque is dedicated to Sir Francis Bacon Attorney General to King James the First Massenello but rightly Tomaso Amello di Malfa General of the Neopolitans his Tragedy or The Rebellion of Naples printed in octavo Lond. 1631. This Play was written by a Gentleman who was an Eye-witness where this was really acted upon that Bloody Stage the Streets of Naples An. D. 1647. 'T is dedicated to Iohn Caesar of Hyde-Hall in the County of Hertford Esquire by his Kinsman T. B. the Publisher For the Plot or rather the History read Alexander Giraffi's History of Naples translated by J. Howell See besides Du Verdier Histoire Universelle c. Mercurius Britannicus or The English Intelligencer a Tragi-comedy acted at Paris with great applause printed 1641. The Subject of this Play is about the Business of Ship-money the Judges being arraign'd under feigned Names as for Example Justice Hutton is called Hortensius and Justice Cook Corvus Acilius Prin is also introduced under the Name of Prinner There are but Four Acts and of the Fifth the Epilogue gives the following Account It is determined by the AEdils the Mistress of publick Plays that the next Day by Jove's Permission the Fifth Act shall be acted upon Tyber I should say Tyburne by a New Society of Abalamites Vive le Roy. Merry Devil of Edmonton a Comedy acted sundry times by his Majesty's Servants at the Globe on the Bank-side and printed 4o. Lond. 1655. This Play is said by Kirkman to be writ by Shakespear tho' finding no Name to it I have plac'd it amongst those that are Anonymous This Play is founded on the History of One Peter Fabel of whom see Fuller's Worthies in Middlesex p. 186. See other Chronicles in the Reign of Henry the Sixth Morning Ramble or The Town Humours a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play is said to be written by One Mr. Pane and may be accounted a good Comedy Mucedorus the King's Son of Valencia and Amadine the King's Daughter of Arragon with the Merry Conceits of Mouse a Comedy acted by his Highness's Servants at the Globe and before the King's Majesty at Whitehall on Shrove-Tuesday Night printed 4o. 1668. This Play is said by former Catalogues to have been writ by Shakespear and was I presume printed before this Edition It has been frequently the Diversion of Country-people in Christmas Time Muse of New-market containing Three Drolls viz. Merry Milk-maids of Islington or The Rambling Gallants defeated Love lost in the Dark or The Drunken Couple Politick Whore or The Conceited Cuckold acted at New-market and printed quarto Lond. 1681. All these Three Drolls are stollen as I remember from Plays but not having them by me I cannot tell the particulars Mistaken Beauty or The Lyar a Comedy acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal printed quarto Lond. 1685. This Comedy is translated from a Play of P. Corneilles call'd Le Menteur N. Nero's Tragedy printed Lond. in quarto This Play was in former Catalogues call'd Nero newly written because 't was writ after that of Claudius Tiberius Nero which through Kirkman's want of Knowledge in History he call'd Nero's Life and Death which led me into the same Mistake till I came to read both Plays I know not when either of them were printed or when printed the Title-pages of both my Plays being wanting For the History of Domitius Nero consult Suetonius in Vit. Neronis Aurelius Victor Tacitus Sulpitius Severus Augustinus de Civit. Dei Eusebius c. New Custom an Interlude no less witty if we believe the Title-page than pleasant printed in a Black Letter quarto Lond. 1573. This Play is so contriv'd that Four Persons may act it and the Design of it is against Propery and to justify Reformation which then flourished in Queen Elizabeth's Reign This Play consists of 3. Acts but is written in Verse throughout so that had Mr. Dryden ever seen this Play he might better have quoted it than Gondibert which besides being writ seventeen Years before this is not in Rime to prove the Antiquity of Verse New-market Fair a Tragi-comedy in Two parts the First of which I never saw but the Second part I have by me and the Title of it is New-market Fair or Mistress Parliaments New Figaries written by the Man in the Moon and printed at You may go look in quarto 1649. The Design of it is to expose the Rebels then in power Nice Wanton a Comedy which I never saw No Body and Some Body with the true Chronicle History of Elydure who was fortunately three several times crown'd King of England acted by the Queen's Majesties
Servants and printed quarto Lond. For the Historical part of this Play consult Grafton Hollingshead Pol. Virgil Lloyd c. 'T is not devided into Acts. O. Old Wives Tale a Play of which I can say nothing having never seen it Orlando Furioso One of the Twelve Peers of France his History acted before the Queen's Majesty and printed quarto Lond. 1594. This Play is not divided into Acts but is founded upon the Epick Poem of Ariosto so called and translated into English by Sir John Harrington P. Pastor Fido or The Faithful Shepheard a Pastoral translated out of Italian into English printed quarto Lond. 1602. This was the first Version of the Famous Guarini into English and was Excellent for those Times The Author tho' his Name be unknown was nearly related to Sir Edward Demock Queen Elizabeth's Champion to whom after the Author's Decease the Bookseller dedicated it Pathomachia or The Battle of Affections shadowed by a Feigned Siege of the City Pathopolis printed quarto Lond. 1630. This Play was written some Years before and published by Fr. Constable a Friend of the Deceas'd Author's and by him dedicated to the Lord Hundsdon This is the same Play with that called Love's Loadstone Patient Grissel a Comedy say ancient Authors which tho' I never saw I presume is founded on that Famous Story in Boccacio I mean the last Novel in his Book Pedlers Prophecy a Comedy mentioned in former Catalogues of which I can give no Account Philotus a very Excellent and Delectable Comedy as we are told in the Preface wherein we may perceive the great Inconveniencies that fall out in the Marriage between Old Age and Youth This Play is printed at Edinburgh in an Old Black Letter An. Dom. 1612. Some People have mistaken this Play for Daniel's Philotas but this is of a different Subject and kind of Verse and is printed in Stanzas Pinder of Wakefield a Comedy which I have once seen printed in 4o. as I remember Lond. 1632. or thereabouts Piso's Conspiracy a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1676. This Play is only the Tragedy of Nero before mention'd Reviv'd and printed verbatim For the Plot see Suetonius Tacitus c. Presbyterian Lash or Noctroffe's Maid whipt a Tragi-comedy acted in the Great Room at the Pye Tavern at Algate by Noctroff the Priest and several of his Parishioners at the Eating of a Chine of Beef The First part printed for the use of Mr. Noctroffe's Friends This Play is dedicated to Mr. Zach. Noctroffe by F.K. which I take to be Fr. Kirkman I know not whether ever there were a Second part extant or no. Promises of God manifested this I never saw Promus and Cassandra in Two parts These are mention'd in other Catalogues though I can give no Account of either Q. Queen or The Excellency of her sex an Excellent Old Play found out by a Person of Honour and given to the Publisher Alexander Goughe printed 4o. Lond. 1653. This Play is dedicated by him to the Lady Katherine Mohun Wife to Lord Warwick Mohun Baron of Oakehamton This Publisher is applauded by two Copies of Verses before the Play The Plot of Salassa's Swearing Velasco not to fight is founded on a Novel said to be Bandello's which the Reader may peruse in Les Dixhuit Histoires Tragicques par Fr. De Belleforest 8o. Nov. 13 p. 285. R. Rampant Alderman or News from the Exchange a Farce printed quarto Lond. 1685. This Farce is patcht up out of several Plays as Fine Companion c. Reformation a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play is ascribed to Mr. Arrowsmith and is a very good Comedy Rehearsal a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal printed 4 th Edit quarto Lond. 1683. This Play is ascribed to the Late Duke of Buckingham and will ever be valued by Ingenious Men. There are some who pretend to furnish a Clavis to it my Talent not lying to Politicks I know no more of it than that the Author lashes several Plays of Mr. Dryden as Conquest of Granada Tyranick Love Love in a Nunnery and some passages of other Plays as The Siege of Rhodes Virgin Widow Slighted Maid Villain English Monsieur c. Religious Rebel a Tragi-comedy in quarto which I have only once seen but can give no Account of Return from Parnassus or The Scourge of Simony a Comedy publickly acted by the Students of St. John's Colledge in Cambridge printed quarto Lond In this Play the Poets of those times are censured and this is the Original of Dr. Wild's Benefice which is now in print Revenge or A Match in New-gate a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1680. This Play is ascribed to Mrs. Behn but is indeed a Play of Marston's revived and called The Dutch Curtezan Rivals a Tragi-comedy in quarto which at present I have not but have heard Mr. Cademan for whom as I think it was printed say it was writ by Sir Will. D' Avenant Robin Hood's Pastoral May Games which I know not Robin Hood and his Crew of Souldiers of the same Stamp and which I never saw Romulus and Hersilia or The Sabine War a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1683. For the Plot see Livy lib. 1. Ovidii Met. lib. 14. Plut. in Vit. Romuli Florus Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus Velleius Paterculus Eutrop. c. Royal Masque at Hampton-Court presented on Sunday Night being the Eighth of January 1604. and personated by the Queen 's Most Excellent Majesty attended by Eleven Ladies of Honour printed quarto Lond. 1604. Royal Voyage or The Irish Expedition a Tragi-comedy printed quarto Lond. 1690. The Subject of this Play is known by the Title S. Salmacida Spolia a Masque presented by the King and Queen's Majesties at Whitehall on Tuesday the 21st of January 1639. and printed quarto Lond. 1639. The Invention Ornament Scenes and Machines with their Descriptions were made by Mr. Inigo Jones Surveyor General of His Majesty's Works What was spoken or sung by Sir Will. D'Avenant and the Musick was compos'd by Mr. Lewis Richard Master of Her Majesties Musick Sicelides a Piscatory acted in Kings Colledge in Cambridge and printed quarto Lond. 1631. The Serious parts of this Play are most writ in Verse with Chorus's between the Acts. Perindus telling to Armillus the Story of Glaucus Scylla and Circe Act 1. Sc. 4. is taken from Ovid's Met. lib. 13. Atychus fighting with and killing the Ork that was to have devoured Olynda is an Imitation of Perseus Andromeda Ovid Met. lib. 4. or else Orlando Furioso Book eleventh Shoomaker 's Holyday or The Gentle-Craft with the Humorous Life of Simon Eyre Shoomaker and Lord Mayor of London a Comedy acted before the Queen's most Excellent Majesty on New-Year's Day at Night by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham Lord High Admiral his Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1657. This Play is dedicated To all Good Fellows Professors of the Gentle-Craft
of what Degree soever For the Plot I can direct you to no other but the Book of the Gentle-Craft in Quarto Siege of Constantinople a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed quarto Lond. 1675. For the Plot see Chalcocondylas Constantinopolis a Mahammada Secund. Expugnata Paulus Jovius Hen. Pantaleon Knolles c. Sir Clyomon Knight of the Goledn-shield Son to the King of Denmark and Clamydes the White Knight Son to the King of Swavia both Valiant Knights their History printed quarto Lond. 1599. This Play is written in Old Fashion'd Verse and is very heavy in Reading Sir Gyles Goose-cappe Knight a Comedy acted with great applause at the Private-house in Salisbury Court printed quarto Lond. 636. and dedicated by the Publisher Hugh Perry to Rich. Young Esq of Wooley-Farm in the County of Berks. Sir Salomon or The Cautious Coxcomb a Comedy acted at his Royal Highness the Duke of York's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 1671. This Play is Originally French being a Translation from Moliere's L'Ecole des Femmes It was translated as I have heard by John Carell and own'd in the Epilogue as a Translation What we have brought before you was not meant For a New Play but a new Precedent For we with modesty our Theft avow There is some Conscience shewn in stealing too And openly declare that if our Cheere Doth hit your Palates you must thank Molliere This Play was frown'd and pelted at to use the Author 's own Expression by many Persons who thought themselves Criticks but notwithstanding it met with Success in the Action And the Author has sufficiently justified his Play in his La Critique de L'Ecole des Femmes to whom I refer the Reader Solyman and Perseda their Tragedy wherein is laid open Love's Constancy Fortune's Inconstancy and Death's Triumphs printed quarto Lond. 1599. This Play I presume was never acted neither is it divided into Acts. Sophister a Comedy printed 4o. 1638. I know not where this was acted or printed the Title-page of my Play being lost Spanish Bawd represented in Celestina or Calisto and Melibea a Tragi-comedy wherein is contained besides the Pleasantness and Sweetness of the Stile many Philosophical Sentences and profitable Instructions fit for the Younger Sort Shewing the Deceits and Subtilties housed in the Bosom of false Servants and Cunny-catching Bawds printed Fol. Lond. 1631. This Play is originally Spanish and translated into English by a Spaniard One Don Diego Puede-ser and by him dedicated to Sir Thomas Richardson the same Author translated Miguel de Cervantes his Exemplary Novels Fol. Lond. 1664. Step-mother a Tragi-comedy acted with great applause at the Theatre in Little Lincolns-Inn-Fields by his Highness the Duke of York's Servants printed quarto Lond. 1664. Strange Discovery a Tragi-comedy printed in quarto I know not when this Play was acted or where printed mine having not the Title-page but I know very well that both the Plot and the Language is borrowed from Heliodorus his AEthiopick History which I take to be One of the most Ancient if not the first Romances extant Susanna's Tears a Play which I never saw Swetnam the Woman-hater arraign'd by Women a Comedy acted at the Red-Bull by the Queen's Servants and printed quarto Lond. 1620. Tho' this Play seems designed chiefly as a Scourge for Joseph Swetnam's Scandalous Pamphlet against the Female Sex called The Arraignment of lew'd idle froward and unconstant Woman printed quarto Lond. 1617. Yet the Play is founded on Story much elder which I have read in Spanish in Twelves and is Intitled Historia de Aurelia y Isabella Hija del Rey de Escotia donde se disputa quien da mas occasion de peccar el Hombe a la muger o la muger al Homber T. Tempe restored a Masque presented by the Queen and Fourteen Ladies to the King's Majesty at Whitehall on Shrove-Tuesday 1631. and printed quarto Lond. 1631. This Masque is founded on the Story of â—irce see Ovid's Metamorphosis Book 14. The Verses were writ by Mr. Aurelian To â—nsend The Subject and Allegory of the Masque with the Descriptions and Apparatus of the Scenes were invented by Mr. Inigo Jones Surveyor of His Majesties Works Thersites an Interlude which I never saw Tom Essence or The Modish Wife a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre printed 4o. Lond. 16 This Play is founded on two French Plays viz. Molliere's Sganarelle ou Le Cocu Imaginaire and Tho. Corneille's D. Caesar D'Avalos in the part of Love-all's Intrigue with Luce without the Reader will suppose that he follow'd a Spanish Novel call'd The Trapanner trapann'd and for the Business of Tom Essence and his Wife copyed Sir William D'Avenant's Play-House to be Let Act fifth which is a Translation from the former This Play is said to be writ by One Mr. Rawlins Tiberius Claudius Nero his Tragical Life and Death a Tragedy in quarto This Play used to be placed under the Title of Nero's Life and Death which made People mistake it for the Life of Nero Caesar who was the Sixth Emperour of Rome this being the Third I know not when this Play was printed or where acted mine wanting the Title-page but for the Plot read Suetonius Tacitus Dion Victor Eutropius c. Tom Tyler and his Wife an Excellent Old Play acted about a Hundred and thirty Years ago and printed quarto Lond. 1661. This Play is printed in an Old English Letter and is writ in a kind of Burlesk Verse where the Author affects an odd sort of Chiming in the middle of each Line The Design of the Play is to represent a Shrew and teach the way to humble her The Plot of this Play has some Resemblance with Mr. Poisson's Le Sot vengé Traytor to himself or Man's Heart his greatest Enemy a Moral Interlude in Heroick Verse Representing the Careless Hardned Returning Despairing and Renewed Heart with Intermasques at the Close of each several Act. Acted by the Boys of a Publick School at a Breaking-up and published so as it may be useful on the like Occasion printed Oxon. 1678. I find nothing Remarkable in this Play but that 't is writ without Womens parts which the Author says he never thought fit to put on Boys I remember not any Play but Plautus his Captivei that is thus writ and yet notwithstanding it is generally accounted an Admirable Play True Trojans or Fuimus Troes being a Story of the Britains Valour at the Romans first Invasion publickly presented by the Gentlemen Students of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and printed quarto Lond. 1633. For the Plot or Story the Author has follow'd Livy lib. 3. Caesar's Commentaries lib. 4. 5 and Galfridus Monumetensis lib. 4. as you may see by the perusal of the Drammatis Personae Tryal of Chivalry a Play of which I can give no Account having never seen it Tryal of Treasure a Play to which I am as much a stranger Tunbridge Wells or A Days Courtship a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed
will be so far bold as to assert that the Earls of Orrery and Roscommon the Incomparable Cowley and the Ingenious Flatman with others amongst whom I must not forget my much respected Countryman James Tyrrel Esq would not have employ'd their Pens in praise of the Excellent Orinda had she not justly deserv'd their Elogies and possibly more than those Ladies of Antiquity for as Mr. Cowley observes in his third Stanza on her Death Of Female Poets who had Names of old Nothing is shewn but only told And all we hear of them perhaps may be Male Flattery only and Male Poetry Few Minutes did their Beauties Lightning waste The Thunder of their Voice did longer last But that too soon was past The certain proofs of our Orinda's Wit In her own lasting Characters are writ And they will long my Praise of them survive Tho' long perhaps that too may live The Trade of Glory manag'd by the Pen Tho' great it be and every where is found Does bring in but small profit to us Men 'T is by the numbers of the Sharers drown'd Orinda in the Female Courts of Fame Engrosses all the Goods of a Poetick Name She doth no Partner with her see Does all the buisiness there alone Which we Are forc'd to carry on by a whole Company The Occasion of our mention of this Excellent Person in this place is on the Account of two Dramatick Pieces which she has translated from the French of Monsieur Corneille and that with such exquisite Art and Judgment that the Copies of each seem to transcend the Original Horace a Tragedy which I suppose was left imperfect by the untimely Death of the Authress and the fifth Act was afterwards supply'd by Sir John Denham This Play acted at Court by Persons of Quality the Duke of Monmouth speaking the Prologue Part of which being in Commendation of the Play I shall transcribe This Martial Story which thro' France did come And there was wrought in Great Corneille's Loom Orinda's Matchless Muse to Brittain brought And Forreign Verse our English Accents taught So soft that to our shame we understand They could not fall but from a Lady's Hand Thus while a Woman Horace did translate Horace did rise above a Roman Fate For the Plot of this Play consult Livy's History Lib. 1. Florus Lib. 1. C. 3. Dionysius Hallicarnassaeus c. Pompey a Tragedy which I have seen acted with great applause at the Duke's Theatre and at the End was acted that Farce printed in the fifth Act of The Play-house to be Let. This Play was translated at the Request of the Earl of Orrery and published in Obedience to the Commands of the Right Honourable the Countess of Corse to whom it is dedicated How great an Opinion My L d Orrery had of this Play may appear from the following Verses being part of a Copy addrest to the Authress You English Corneille's Pompey with such Flame That you both raise our wonder and his Fame If he could read it he like us would call The Copy greater than the Original You cannot mend what is already done Unless you 'l finish what you have begun Who your Translation sees cannot but say That 't is Orinda's Work and but his Play The French to learn our Language now will seek To hear their Greatest Wit more nobly speak Rome too would grant were our Tongue to her known Caesar speaks better in 't than in his own And all those Wreaths once circled Pompey's Brow Exalt his Fame less than your Verses now Both these Plays with the rest of her Poems are printed in one Volume in Fol. Lond. 1678. This Lady to the Regret of all the Beau Monde in general died of the Small-pox on the 22d. of June 1664. being but One and Thirty Years of Age having not left any of her Sex her Equal in Poetry Sam. PORDAGE Esq A Gentleman who was lately if he be not so at present a Member of the Worthy Society of Lincolns-Inn He has publisht two Plays in Heroick Verse viz. Herod and Mariamne a Tragedy acted at the Duke's Theatre and printed 4o. Lond. 1673. This Play was writ a dozen Years before it was made publick and given to Mr. Settle by a Gentleman to use and form as he pleas'd he preferr'd it to the Stage and dedicated it to the Dutchess of Albermarle For the Plot I think the Author has follow'd Mr. Calpranede's Cleopatra a Romance in the Story of Tyridates but for the true History consult Josephus Philo-Judaeus Eberus Egysippus c. Siege of Babylon a Tragi-comedy acted at the Theatre dedicated to her Royal Highness the Dutchess and printed 4o. Lond. 1678. This Play is founded on the Romance of Cassandra Henry PORTER An Author in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth who writ a pleasant History called The two Angry Women of Abington with the humorous Mirth of Dick Coomes and Nicholas Proverbs two Servingmen play'd by the Right Honourable the Earl of Nottingham L d High Admiral 's Servants and printed 4o. Lond. 1599. Thomas PORTER Esq An Author that has writ in our Times two Plays which are receiv'd with Candor by all Judges of Wit viz. Carnival a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal by his Majesties Servants printed 4o. Lond. 1664. Villain a Tragedy which I have seen acted at the Duke's Theatre with great applause the part of Malignii being incomparably play'd by Mr. Sandford What this Author may have writ besides I know not and am sorry I can give no better Account of One whose Writings I love and admire George POWEL A Person now living the Author of a Tragedy call'd The treacherous Brother acted by their Majesties Servants at the Theatre-Royal and printed 4o. Lond. 1690. 'T is dedicated to the Patentees and Sharers of their Majesties Theatre and commended by a Copy of Latin Verses writ by his Fellow-Actor Mr. John Hudgson For the Foundation of the Play I take it to be borrow'd from a Romance in Fol. call'd The Wall Flower and tho' they are not alike in all particulars yet any One that will take the pains to read them both will find the Soporifick Potion given to Istocles and Semanthe to be the same in quantity with that given to Honoria Amarissa and Hortensia in the asoresaid Romance Thomas PRESTON A very ancient Author who writ a Play in old fashion'd Metre which he calls A Lamentable Tragedy mixed full of pleasant Mirth containing the Life of Cambises King of Persia from the beginning of his Kingdom unto 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 Gods Justice appointed Done in such order as followeth printed 4o. Lond. by John Allde In stead of naming more than Justin and Herodotus for the true Story I shall set down the beginning of this Play spoke by King Cambises not only to give our Reader a Taste of our Author's Poetry but because I believe it was
this Play Shakespear meant when he brought in Sir John Falstaff speaking in K. Cambyses Vein My Counsaile grave and sapient with Lords of Legal Train Attentive eares towards us bend and mark what shall be sain So you likewise my valiant Knight whose manly acts doth fly By brute of Fame the sounding trump doth perse the azure Sky My sapient words I say perpend and so your skill delate You know that Mors vanquished hath Cyrus that King of state And I by due Inheritance possess that Princely Crown Ruling by sword of mighty force in place of great Renown Edmund PRESTWITH The Author of a Tragedy called Hyppolitus which as I suppose is translated from Seneca tho' I never saw it but have heard 't was printed in octavo Mr. Philips and Mr. Winstanley have placed another Play to his Account viz. The Hectors but it was a fault which I suppose they were led into by my Catalogue printed 1680. as I my self was tho' I must now assure my Reader That that Play has no Name to it and in Mr. Kirkman's Catalogue is set down as an Anonymal Play Q. Francis QUARLES Esq THis Gentleman was Son to James Quarles Esq who was Clerk of the Green-Cloth and Purveyor to Queen Elizabeth He was Born at Stewards in the Parish of Rumford in Essex He was sent to Cambridge and was bred for some time in Christ-Church Colledge afterwards he became a Member of Lincolns-Inn in London He was sometime Cup-bearer to the Queen of Bohemia Secretary to the Reverend James Usher Archbishop of Armagh and Chronologer to the Famous City of London He was a Poet that mix'd Religion and Fancy together and was very careful in all his Writings not to intrench upon Good Manners by any Scurrility in his Works or any ways offending against his Duty to God his Neighbour and himself The Occasion of our Mentioning him in this place is from his being the Author of an Innocent Innosfensive Play called The Virgin Widow a Comedy printed 4o. Lond. 1649. As to his other Works they are very numerous those which I have seen are his History of Sampson in Verse Jonah Esther Job Militant His Emblems are reputed by some a Copy of Hermannus Hugo's Pia Desideria Anniversaries upon his Paranete Pentalogia or The Quintessence of Meditation Argalus and Parthenia being founded on a Story in Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia Enchiridion of Meditations Divine and Moral Nor must I forget his Loyal Convert tho' I never saw it being a Cause of his Persecution by the Usurped Authority then in being The troubles of Ireland forc'd him from thence so that he dy'd in his Native Country Sept. 8. 1644. being aged 52 Years and the Father of eighteen Children by one Wife and was buried at St. Foster's Church London R. Thomas RANDOLPH HE Flourisht in the Reign of King Charles the First and was Born at Houghton in Northamptonshire from whence he was sent for Education to Westminster School and thence was remov'd to Cambridge where he became Fellow of Trinity Colledge in that University He was accounted one of the most pregnant Wits of his Time and was not only admir'd by the Wits of Cambridge but likewise belov'd and valu'd by the Poets and Men of the Town in that Age. His Gay Humour and Readiness at Repartee begat Ben. Johnson's Love to that Degree that he Adopted him his Son on which Account Mr. Randolph writ a Gratulatory Poem to him which is printed these Lines being part of the Copy When my Muse upon obedient knees Asks not a Father's Blessing let her leese The Fame of this Adoption 't is a Curse I wish her 'cause I cannot think a worse How true a Filial Love he pay'd to his Reputation may appear from his Answer to that Ode which Ben. writ in Defence of his New-Inn and which Mr. Feltham reply'd upon so sharply Having given you the two former in my Account of Mr. Johnson give me leave likewise to transcribe this in Honour of Mr. Randoph whose Memory I reverence for his Respect to that Great Man An Answer to Mr. Ben Johnson's Ode to perswade him not to leave the Stage I. Ben do not leave the Stage 'Cause 't is a loathsome Age For Pride and Impudence will grow too bold When they shall hear it told They frighted thee stand high as is thy Cause Their Hiss is thy Applause More just were thy Disdain Had they approv'd thy Vein So thou for them and they for thee were born They to incense and thou as much to scorn II. Will't thou engross thy Store Of Wheat and pour no more Because their Bacon-brains have such a tast As more delight in Mast No! set them forth a board of Dainties full As thy best Muse can cull Whilst they the while do pine And thirst midst all their Wine What greater plague can Hell it self devise Than to be willing thus to Tantalize III. Thou can'st not find them stuff That will be bad enough To please their Pallates let 'em them refuse For some Pye-Corner Muse She is too fair an Hostess 't were a sin For them to like thine Inn 'T was made to entertain Guests of a Nobler Strain Yet if they will have any of thy Store Give them some scraps and send them from thy dore IV. And let those things in plush Till they be taught to blush Like what they will and more contented be With what Brome swept from thee I know thy worth and that thy lofty Strains Write not to Cloaths but Brains But thy great Spleen doth rise 'Cause Moles will have no Eyes This only in my Ben I faulty find He 's angry they 'l not see him that are blind V. Why should the Scene be mute Cause thou canst touch thy Lute And string thy Horace let each Muse of Nine Claim thee and say Th' art mine 'T were fond to let all other Flames expire To sit by Pindar's Fire For by so strange Neglect I should my self suspect The Palsie were as well thy Brains disease If they could shake thy Muse which way they please VI. And tho' thou well canst sing The Glories of thy King And on the wings of Verse his Chariot bear To Heaven and fix it there Yet let thy Muse as well some Raptures raise To please him as to praise I would not have thee chuse Only a treble Muse But have this Envious Ignorant Age to know Thou that canst sing so high canst reach as low There was another Copy of Verses writ by Mr. Carew to Mr. Johnson on occasion of his Ode of Defiance annexed to his Play of the New-Inn See his Poems 8o. p. 90. Having given you a taste of his Lyrick Poetry I now proceed to his Dramatick Performance of which according to our Custom I shall speak Alphabetically Amyntas or The Impossible Dowry a Pastoral acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall Aristippus or The Jovial Philosopher presented in a private Shew to which is added The Conceited