Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 39.djvu/254

  883; Biog. Britannica; Boase and Courtney's Bibl. Cornub. i. 375–7, iii. 1289–90; Parochial Hist. of Cornwall, ii. (1868) 42, 53; Cardinal Newman's Miracles, 1870, pp. 241 sq.]  MOYNE, WILLIAM or  (fl. 1141). [See .]

MOYSIE, MOISE, MOYSES, or MOSEY, DAVID (fl. 1590), author of the 'Memoirs of the Affairs of Scotland, 1577-1603,' was by profession a writer and notary public. The earliest record of him is his notarial attestation of a lease in 1577 (Memoirs, Bannatyne Club, p. xiii). From 1582 he was engaged as a crown servant, first as a clerk of the privy council, 'writing of the effairis' under the superintendence of John Andrew, and giving 'continewale attendance upon his Heines at Court' (Treasurer's Accounts, 1586), and afterwards, about 1596, in the office of Sir John Lindsay of Menmuir, king's secretary. On 3 Aug. 1584 he obtained a grant under the privy seal of 32l. Scots from the mails of certain lands of the kirk of Dunkeld for his son David, 'for his help and sustentatioun at the scolis, and education in vertew and guid lettres.' On the death of his son, soon after, he had the gift ratified in his own favour on 19 Feb. 1584-5. The only other references occur in three letters written to Sir John Lindsay the secretary in 1596—one from Moysie, the others from John Laing and George Young, secretary-deputes, from which it appears that Moysie had been complaining, but to little purpose, of the inadequacy of his annual salary of a hundred merks.

The 'Memoirs,' if devoid of literary merit, are interesting as the record of an eye witness, to whose official habit and opportunities we are indebted for many details not to be learned from the more academic historians of his time. They are extant in two manuscripts, one in the Advocates' Library, the other at Wishaw House. They were printed by Ruddiman (Edinburgh, 1755), and edited for the Bannatyne Club (Edinburgh, 1830).

[Authorities referred to above.]  MOYUN, REGINALD (d. 1257). [See .]

MOZEEN, THOMAS (d. 1768), actor and dramatist, of French extraction, but born in England, his sponsor being Dr. Henry Sacheverell, was bred to the bar, which profession he forsook for the stage. His first traceable appearance is at Drury Lane, 20 Feb. 1745, as Pembroke in ' King John.' He played apparently the customary three years' engagement, but his name only appears to Clitander in Swiney's ' Quacks, or Love's the Physician,' 30 March 1745; Young Laroon in Fielding's 'Debauchees, or the Jesuit Caught,' 17 Oct. 1745 ; Charles in the 'Nonjuror,' 22 Oct. 1745 ; and Basil in the 'Stage Coach' of Farquhar and Motteux.

On 30 Sept. 1746 the part of Polly in the 'Beggar's Opera' was played by Mrs. Mozeen, late Miss Edwards. As Miss Edwards she was first heard at Drury Lane, when for the benefit of Mrs. Catherine Clive [q. v.], whose pupil she was, she sang, 8 March 1743, the part of Sabrina in 'Comus.' On 13 March 1744, also for Mrs. Olive's benefit, she made, as Jessica, her first appearance at Covent Garden. At Drury Lane she played Polly in the 'Beggar's Opera,' 3 Dec. 1745, and was Miranda in the 'Tempest,' 31 Jan. 1746.

In 1748-9 the Mozeens were engaged by Sheridan for Dublin as part of a musical company, concerning which it is said by Victor that 'their salaries amounted to 1,400l., but the profit accruing from their performances did not amount to 150l., which was paid for the writing of their music.' Chetwood asserts that Mozeen had a good person, a genteel education, judgment, voice and understanding, and was an actor of promise. The timidity of Mrs. Mozeen, who was an adept in music, and had a charming manner and voice, kept her back as an actress. Of her Tate Wilkinson says that 'at the least loose joke she blushed to such a degree as to give the beholder pain for an offence not intended.' This bashfulness was accompanied by no very keen scruples as to her conduct, which was irregular enough to induce Mrs. Clive to withdraw her support. What parts were played in Dublin is unrecorded, but Victor, as manager for Sheridan, was fortunate enough to transfer to a musical society a portion of the engagement. On 15 Sept. 1750, as Young Fashion in the 'Relapse,' Mozeen reappeared at Drury Lane. He played Benvolio in 'Romeo and Juliet,' Worthy in the 'Recruiting Officer,' and Cob in 'Every Man in his Humour.'

On 21 May 1759, for the benefit of Mozeen, Miss Barton, Miss Hippisley, and others, the 'Heiress, or Antigallican,' the solitary dramatic production of Mozeen, was given. It is a fairly written farce in two acts, in which a girl who has been brought up as a boy wins the heart of one of her own sex. It was included in a volume published for the author 1762, wholly in verse, with the exception of the play, and, curiously enough, called 'A Collection of Miscellaneous Essays by T. Mozeen.' Among its contents are many songs, epilogues, &c., delivered in Bristol and elsewhere, and at Sadler's Wells Theatre, and 