Page:The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets.djvu/39

Rh Masque of the Middle Temple and Lincolns-Inn, 4to. 1614.

This was presented at Court before the King, at the Celebration of the Nuptials between the Palsgrave and the Princess Elizabeth, Mr. Inigo Jones was the Ingineer to order the Machines and Decoration of the Scenes.

May-Day, a Comedy 4to. 1611. Divers times Acted with good Applause.

Monsieur d'Olive, a Comedy, 4to. 1606. This Play was often Acted by her Majesty's Children with good Success.

Revenge for Honour, a Tragedy, 4to. 1654. When the Nursery Acted in Barbican, since the Restauration they sometimes made use of this Play.

Temple, a Masque, 4to. As I Conjecture, may be the same with that before of the Middle Temple, and Lincolns-Inn; Mr. Langbain, nor any other that I could ever learn, having seen any of this Title.

Two Wise Men, and all the rest Fools, 4to. 1619. Mr. Langbain's former Remark on this Play was, that it exceeded in the Number of Acts any Play of what Language whatever. But if he had seen the Spanish Baud, either in the Original, or the Folio Edition in English, he might have found one with three times as many Acts; the Prologue and Epilogue of this Play are both writ in Prose, as was sometimes used in those times: Mr. Chapman's Name not being to the Title of this Play, it's a question whether it be really his, tho' former Catalogues make it so.

Widows Tears, a Comedy, 4to. 1612. Plot from Petronius Arbiter. See also the Ephesian Matron, Printed in 8vo. 1668.

Eastward Hoe, a Comedy, 4to. 1605. This was his but in part, Ben. Johnson and Marston having joyned with him in it; 'twas thought worth the reviving by Mr. Tate, our present Poet Laureat, who gives it the Title of Cuckolds-Haven. N Author now Living, he is of Foreign Extraction, his Father being a Native of Holstein, and a very skilful Statuary. I cannot understand that his Education ever reached either of the Universities; he having been early by his Fancy led to the Stage, tho' it was not till the division of the Houses that he made any considerable Figure there, and then he at once exerted both the Poet and the Player, in his first Play call'd, Loves last Shift, and in the part of Sir Novelty fashion, which he played himself, and so encreased both his Profit and his Reputation; he has already Published two Plays of something a different Character, of which in their Order. Love’s