The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets

Front matter

Epistle Dedicatory,

CHARLES CÆSAR, Esq;

Bonnington in Hertfordshire.

William Alexander, Earl of Sterline

Lives and Characters

English Dramatick Poets:

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Printed to the Year, 1698.

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William Alexander, Earl of Sterline.

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

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

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

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

This Nobleman has by his Writings shew'd Posterity, that he had a just Right to his King's Favour, as any one that reads his Recreations of the Muses will allow. Mr. Langbain tells us of former Editions, but the best is in Folio, London, Printed for Tho. Harper, 1637. and dedicated to King James, not King Charles the First, as Mr. Langbain mistakes. In this Volume are Four Plays, which he calls, Monarchick Tragedies; The Alexandrean Tragedy, Crœsus, Darius, and Julius Cæsar. Nor can I agree with Mr. Langbain, that he has proposed the Ancients for his Model, whom he has follow'd in nothing but the Chorus: For as for the unities of Action, Time, and Place, always observed by them, he seems to know nothing of them. He seems to mistake the very Essence of the Drama, which consists in Action, most of his being Narration; and may rather be term'd Historical Dialogues, than Dramatick Pieces. There is scarce one Action perform'd in View of the Audience; but several Persons come in, and tell of Adventures perform'd by others or themselves, and which often have no more to do with the Business of the Play, than the Persons that speak, as in the First Scene of the Fifth Act of the Alexandrean Tragedy, Aristotle and Phoceon, who have no hand in the various Revolutions of that Play, spend a long Scene on the Uncertainty of Humane Grandeur, only to tell a few Lines of Business done by some of Alexanders Captains. This Play is so far from being after the Model of the Ancients, the Action so far from being one, that 'tis multiplied enough for at least Ten Plays, it containing the various Revolutions, and Murders of the Commanders of the Macedonean Army, after the Death of Alexander; and here, as in the rest, he runs too far back to bring things ab ovo, that have no Relation to the Action, as the Scene between Harpagus and Cyrus, and Cræsus and Sandanis, and many more will evince. If he has not followed the Model of the Ancients, he has yet borrowed very freely their Thoughts, translating whole Speeches from Seneca, Virgil, and others, as the First Act of Julius Cæsar from Junos Speech in the First of the Æneids; and many of his Sentences, as well as the Defect of his Senteniousness, he owes to Seneca. The Two First Acts generally are wholly foreign to the Business of the Play, as indeed the greatest part of the other Acts are too. This at least may be said of my Lord, that he is a very good Historian, and from his Plays the Reader may gather a great deal of the Affairs of Greece, and Rome. Juno in the first Act of Julius Cæsar, gives us the History of all the Invasions of the Roman Empire, by the barbarous Nations, whether Gauls or the Cimbri, &c. to the time of Julius Cæsar, and finding none of them effectual enough to ruin the Power of the Roman State, which deriving it self originally from the Trojan Race, she could not but hate, therefore she now resolves to destroy it by Civil Wars, and to raise her Brothers Servants, the Furies, always obsequious to mischievous Commands,

Whilst Furies furious by my Fury made.

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

Great Pompeys Pomp is past2 and To seem uncivil in these Civil Wars.

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

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

'Tis the Reflection of Adrastus in Cræsus, the most moving Play of the Four; but to return to Cæsar. In the Second Act, Cæsar thinks it a part of his Grandeur to boast his Deeds to Anthony (who knew 'em well enough before) and betwixt 'em both, we have an Account of his Commentaries, and almost a Diary of his Actions. I can't omit one thing in this Play, in the Fifth Act he brings Brutus, Cassius, Cicero, Anthony, &c. together after the Death of Cæsar, almost in the same Circumstances as Shakespear had done in his Play of this Name. But Shakespears Anthony and Brutus ravish you, while my Lord's Brutus, Cicero, and Anthony would make you sleep, so much our English Poet excels. This must be said for my Lord's Julius Cæsar, that it is much the most regular of all his Plays, at least in the Unity of Action, which is only Cæsars Death, tho' the whole last Act is almost redundant, for when Cæsar is once dead, we have no occasion to hear of the Consequence of it, either in the Grief of Calpurnia, or the Disagreements of the Noblemen and Commons; but this may be objected likewise to Shakespear, who gives us a History, not a Play.

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

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

Crœsus, Taken from Herodot. Clio. Justin., l. 1. c. 7. Plutarchs Life of Solon. Salian. Torniel. A. M. 3510. Xenophons Cyropaideia.

Darius, This, as Mr. Langbain assures us, was the First Fruit of his Lordship's Dramatick Muse, Publish'd at Edinburgh, 1603. when he was yet Lord Menstrie: The Language and design very much improv'd in this last Folio Edition. As to the Plot, consult Quintus Curtius, lib. 3, 4, & 5. Justin., l. 11. c. 5. &c. Diodorus, l. 17. Arrian, de Expeditione Alexandri, l. 2. Plutarchs Life of Alexander, Salian, A. M. 2719, &c.

Julius Cæsar, The Story of this Play will be exactly found in the Roman Histories, Plutarch and Suetonius in the Life of Cæsar, Appian de Bellis Civilibus, lib. 2. Florus, l. 4. c. 2. Salian, Torniel, &c.

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

Robert Armin

Robert Armin.

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

The History of the Two Maids of Moor Clack, with the Life and Simple Manner of John in the Hospital; Play'd by the Children of the King's Majesty's Revels, and Printed in 4to. London, 1609. I believe the Plot may be taken from some Old Story in those Times. This Author lived in the Reign of King James I. and in the Title Page discovers himself to be one of his Majesty's Servants, and was, I believe, of the then Company of Actors, for I find his Name Printed in the Drama of Ben. Johnson's Alchymist, among the rest of the eminent Players of that Age; and indeed the Preface of his Play seems to intimate as much.

Abraham Baily

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Abraham Baily.

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

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

John Bancroft

John Bancroft.

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

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

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

John Banks

John Banks.

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

Cyrus the Great, a Tragedy, Acted at the New Theatre in Lincolns-Inn-Fields, Dedicated to her Royal Highness the Princess Ann of Denmark, 4to. 1696. The Plot of this Play is taken out of Scuderys Romance of the Grand Cyrus, and for the true Story of Cyrus, you may consult Herodotus, Justin, Xenophon's Cyropaideia, &c. Tho' this Play had been formerly refus'd the Action, yet it held up its Head about Six Days together, and has been since Acted several Times.

Destruction of Troy, a Tragedy, Acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre. London, Printed 4to. 1679. and dedicated to the Right Honourable the Lady Katharine Roos: This Play wanted the Success the Poet desired on the Stage. For the Story you may read Homer, Virgil, Ovid, Dares Phrygius, Dictys Cretensis, &c.

The Innocent Usurper, or the Death of the Lady Jane Gray, a Tragedy, 4to. London, Printed 1694. and dedicated to Mr. Bently the Bookseller that Publish'd it, in which he complains of the mistaken Cause of its Prohibition of the Stage, appealing from the false Insinuations of his Enemies, to Mr. Bentlys Knowledge of its being writ Ten Years before, so that he could design no Reflection on the present Government. His Defense seems reasonable, and I think him as much in the Right, when he tells us, that this Tragedy is inferior to none of his former, and that he's confident it wou'd move the Ladies Tears. He assures us, he has nicely follow'd the Truth of the Story, which you may find in our Chronicles. This Play I look on to be much better than any of the late Tragedies; tho' in his Metaphors, he seems not to 've consulted that Justness which the Rules of good Rhetorick requires; but like all other human Performances, as it has its Beauties, it has also its Faults, but not enough of the later to over-ballance the former.

The Island Queen, or the Death of Mary Queen of Scotland, 4to. 1684. This Play too had the ill fortune to be denyed the Justice of appearing on the Stage, but Published by the Author in defence of himself and the piece. The Story you may read in Buchanan, Speed, Camden, Du Chesne, Brantons's Memoirs, Causon's Holy Court, &c.

Rival Kings, or the Loves of Oroondates and Statira, a Tragedy, 4to. Acted at the Theatre Royal, 1677. Dedicated to the Lady Catharine Herbert. For the Plot consult the Romance of Cassandra, Quintus Curtius, and Justin.

Virtue Betray'd, or Anna Bullen, a Tragedy, Acted at his Royal Highness the Duke's Theatre, 4to. Lon. Printed 1682. Dedicated to the illustrious Princess, Elizabeth Dutchess of Somerset; for the Plot consult a Book call'd, The Novels of Elizabeth Queen of England, &c. Speed, Herbert, Du Chesne, Dr. Burnets History of the Reformation, &c.

Unhappy Favourite, or the Earl of Essex, a Tragedy, Acted at the Theatre Royal by their Majesties Servants, 4to. Lon. 1682. Dedicated to the most High and most Illustrious Princess, the Lady Ann, Daughter to his Royal Highness. This has always been Acted with Success, and never fail'd to draw Tears from the Eyes of the fair Sex. For the Story, see the Novel call'd, The Secret History of the most Renowned Queen Elizabeth, and the Earl of Essex, Camden's Elizabeth, Speed, Du Chesne, Stow, Baker, &c.

Barnaby Barnes

Barnaby Barns.

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

Devil's Charter, a Tragedy, 4to. 1607. It seems to be written in imitation of Shakespears Pericles, Prince of Tyre; an antient Play, and is an Account of the Life and Death of Pope Alexander VI. See Guiccardins Hist. Italy; and Massonius de Gestis Pontificum Romanum.

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

Aphara Behn

Aphara Behn.

This Authoress, whose Name was Aphara, not Astrea, as many have thought, was Born in the City of Canterbury in Kent, her Maiden Sirname Johnson; she was much admired in her Youth for her Beauty, as afterwards for her Poetick Works, in which she excell'd not only all that went before her of her own Sex, but great part of her Contemporary Poets of the other: She had a great Facility in Writing, and much of Nature in all she writ, was employ'd by Charles II. in the Discovery of the Dutch Intreagues, in the Dutch War; Liv'd belov'd, and Dy'd lamented by all that knew her, and lyes Buried in the Cloysters of Westminster Abbey, under a great Marble Stone, on which is inserted these two Verses:

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

Her Plays, Seventeen in Number, are as follow in their Alphabetical Order;

Abdelazer, or the Moor's Revenge, T. 4to. Compare this Play with one of Christopher Marlos, call'd Lust's Dominion, 8vo. and you will find it almost the same.

Amorous Prince, or Curious Husband, T.C. 4to. Part of it taken from the Story of the Curious Impertinent in Don Quixot, Part 4. Ch. 6, 7, 8.

City Heiress, or Sir Timothy Treat-All, C. 4to. Part of it from a Play of Middletons, call'd, A mad World, my Masters, 4to. and part from another of Massengers, call'd, the Guardian, 8vo.

Dutch Lover, C. 4to. Plot from Don Fenise, 8vo. See the Stories of Eusheme, Theodore, Don Jame, and Frederic in that Romance.

Emperor of the Moon, F. 4to. Taken from Harlequin, Empereur dans le Monde de la lune.

Forced Marriage, or The Jealous Bridegroom, T.C. 4to. The first Play she Writ.

False Count, or a New way to play an Old Game, C. 4to. Isabellas being deceiv'd by the Chimney Sweeper, taken from Molieres des precieuses Ridicules.

Feign'd Courtezans, or a Nights Intreague, C. 4to. This Play was well accepted, and accounted one of the best she writ.

Lucky Chance, or the Alderman's Bargain, C. 4to. Gaymans enjoying Lady Fulbank, and taking her for the Devil, taken from Mr. Alexander Kickshaw, and Lady Aritina, in the Lady of Pleasure, written by Shirley; 4to.

Rover, or The Banish'd Cavaliers, two Parts, C. 4to. Taken from Tho. Killegrew's Don Thomaso, or The Wanderer, fol.

Round Heads, or The good Old Cause, C. 4to. A Play of John Tatehams, call'd, The Rump, altered, 4to.

Sir Patient Fancy, C. 4to. Part of this Play taken from Richard Broom's Damoyselle, 8vo. and Le Malade Imaginaire.

Town Fop, or Sir Timothy Tawdry, C, 4to. A great part of this Play borrowed from a Play, call'd, The Miseries of Forced Marriage, written by George Wilkins, 4to.

Widow Ranter, or The History of Bacon in Virginia, F. 4to. This Play was Published after her Death by G. J. Plot from the known Story of Cassius.

Young King, or, The Mistake: A Tragi-Comedy, 4to. 1683. This Play is Dedicated to a particular Friend of hers, under the name of Philaster. The Design is borrowed from Calpranedes Cleopatra. See the History of Alcamenes and Menalippa Part 8th.

Younger Brother, or The Amorous Jilt, C. 4to. This Play was Published after her Death (with her Life added); the Story was of her own Knowledge, and written above ten years before she dyed, it was much esteemed by her, and it must be owned, in spight of the ill success it met with, that there is a great deal of Wit at least in the beginning of it, the first two Acts being very well received; but the tedious Scenes in Blank Verse, betwixt Mirtilla and Prince Frederick, lost the Diversion they would have given in another more easie Dress. Taken from a true Story of the Brother of Coll. Henry Martin, and a Lady that must be nameless. See the Novel call'd Hatige.

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

Captain William Bedloe

Capt. William Bedloe.

This Author was a Famous Evidence in the Popish Plot, before the Expiration of which he Dy'd, leaving behind him one Play, call'd,

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

Lodow Barrey

Lodow Barrey.

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

Robert Baron

Robert Baron, Esq;

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

Deorum Dona, a Mask, 8vo. This is part of a Romance, writ by Baron, call'd the Cyprian Academy, Printed at Lond. 1647.

Gripus and Hegio, Past. 8vo. A Play consisting of three Acts only, and borrowed a great part from a Play of Websters, call'd, The Dutchess of Malfey, and the aforesaid Romance.

Mirza, Trag. 8vo. Plot from Herberts Travels, fol. accounted by his Friends a good Play, is Dedicated to the King, and recommended to the world by divers Copies of Verses; for most of the Scenes and Language he seems to have Consulted Ben. Johnsons Catiline. Sir John Denhams Sophy is on the same Subject, and writ about the same time.

Dawbridgecourt Belchier

Dawbridgcourt Belchier.

This Gentleman writ one Interlude in the time of King James I. whilst he lived at Utreicht, in the United Provinces, which he entituled,

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

Richard Bernard

Richard Bernard.

A Gentleman that Liv'd in Lincolnshire, in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and gave us then a Translation of Terrences Comedies, in a Language and Stile suitable to the time he Liv'd in. Pub. Terentius was a Carthaginian born, and brought a Slave to Rome in his Youth, there well Educated by his Patron Terent. Seneca, and by him made Free for his wit, and left behind him six Comedies (viz.) Andrea, Adelphi, Eunuchus, Heutontimorumenos, Hecyra, and Phormio, the Fourth Edition in 4to. 1614. The four first of these Comedies are borrowed from Menander. The two last taken from Apollodorus. He generally brought two of Menanders into one of his. He was thought to have the help of Lælius and Pub. Scipio, in his Writings which he thought an Honour, not Disgrace.

Mrs. Frances Boothby

Mrs. Frances Boothby.

WHether this Authoress be yet Living, I know not; she Liv'd, and Writ in the time of King Charles II. a Play call'd,

Marcelia, or The Treacherous Friend, T.C. 4to. 1670.

Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery

Roger Boyle, Earl of Orrery.

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

Black Prince: For the Story consult Walsinghami Hist. Angl. Wigornensis Chronicon. Polid. Virgilii. Florentii Monarch. Froissard Chron. de France, & d'Angleterre, English Chronicles in Reign of Edw. III.

Tryphon: Consult the first Book of Maccabes, Josephus, lib. 13. Appian de Bellis Syriacis, &c.

Henry V. See the English Chronicles in the Reign of that King, and the Reign of King Charles VI. in the French Chronicles, as Jean juvenal des Ursins, Le Hist. de Charles VI. Mezeray, &c.

Mustapha: Consult for the Plot Thuanus, lib. 12. Tho. Artus la continuacon de le Hist. des Tourc's, and Knowless Turkish Hist. These four in Folio; the two first Published 1672. the other two in 1677.

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

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

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

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

Alexander Brome

Alexander Brome.

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

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

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

Anthony Brewer

Anthony Brewer.

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

The Country Girl, C. 4to. 1647. This Play was Reviv'd just thirty years after its first Publishing, by one Leanard, who gave it a new Title, calling it, Country Innocence, or the Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker. 4to. 1677.

Love-sick King, T.C. 4to. 1655. This Play was also Reviv'd, and Acted at the King's House, under the Title of The Perjured Nun, 4to. 1680. See Speed, Polyd. Virgill, Gu. Malmsb. Ingulfus, Higden, Du Chesne, &c.

Nicholas Breton

Nicholas Breton.

He has Writ and Published nothing more then this one Interlude, call'd,

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

Samuel Brandon

Samuel Brandon.

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

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

Richard Brome

Richard Brome.

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

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

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

Ruben Bourne

Ruben Bourne.

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

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

Henry Burkehead

Henry Burkehead.

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

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

Henry Burnel

Henry Burnel, Esq;

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

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

Lady Elizabeth Carew

C

Lady Elizabeth Carew.

This Lady lived in Queen Elizabeths Reign, and has left behind her a Tragedy call'd,

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

Thomas Carew

Thomas Carew.

One of the Gentlemen of the Bed Chamber, and Sewer in Ordinary to King Charles I. by whose command, and the Assistance of Inigo Jones, he composed a Masque, called,

Cœlum Britannicum, 8vo. performed in the Banqueting House at White-Hall, by his said Majesty, King Charles I. and his Nobles, An. Dom. 1633. (Mr. Hen. Lawes, one of the King's Private Musick, and Gentleman of the Chappel Royal, set all the Musick to the same. This Author Published a Volume of Poems and Songs, which have been divers times (with this Masque) Reprinted, the last Edition, 1670.