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THE 
 
 ORIGIN 
 
 OF 
 
 THE ENGLISH STAGE 
 
 WITH 
 
 MEMOIRS * 
 
 of 
 
 Celebrated ^erformer^. 
 
 ACCOMPAKIED BY 
 
 THEIR PORTRAITS; 
 
 OF MANY OF WHOM THEKE ARE NO OTHEE PRINTS EXTANT. 
 
 BY F. G. WALDRON, 
 
 Editor of the " Literary Mufeum," Harding's " Biographical Mirror," &c. 
 
 LONDON : 
 
 Printed by Knight and Compton, Middle Street, Cloth Fair, 
 
 FOR MESSRS. LACKINGTOU, ALLEN, AND CO., TEMPLE OF THE MUSES, FINSBURY SQUARE, 
 
 AND J. WALLIS, 46, PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 1802. 
 Price 7j. %J. 
 
y 
 
.Was 
 
 T [-1 E 
 
 ENGLISH STAGE, 
 
 TT is impofTible to afcertain the exact period when theatrical amufcmeriri 
 -*- ■were firft introduced into England; tliey are mentioned as having 
 cxifled very early by William Fifz-Scephen, a Monk of Canterbur)'-, in hi.-? 
 Def(.nptio nibi!i£lm,e chi talis LunJatcC, written foon after the year 1170. 
 " Lundonia pro fpeclaculis theatralibus, pro ludis fcenicis, ludos habet 
 fancliores, repro: fentationes miraculorum quae fanfti confeflbres operati funt, 
 feu reprefentationes paffionum, quibus claruit conftantia martyrum."— 
 London, inftead of common interludes belonging to the Theatre, has plays 
 of a more holy fubjeft : reprefentations of thofe miracles which the holy 
 confeflbrs wrought, or of the fufferings wherein the glorious conftancy ot 
 the martyrs did appear. 
 
 Thefe reprefentations being mentioned as neither new or uncommon, 
 we may realbnably conclude them to be of a date ftill more ancient; and 
 they continued a long time after to be the only fubjeds for the drama ; in 
 which Pater Cceleftis, or The Heavenly Father, Our Blefled Saviour, 
 The Virgin Mary, The Twelve Apoftles, &c, were the leading charavSlers. 
 In the year 1378 the Scholars of Paul's School prelented a petition to 
 King Richard II. praying him to prohibit fome inexpert people from 
 prefenting the Hiftory of the Old Teftament, to the .great prejudice of the 
 faid clergy, who had been at great expence in order to reprefent it at 
 Chriftmas. 
 
 On the 1 8th of July, 1390, the Parifli Clerks of London (by which 
 ^xpreffion we are to underftand, The Clergy) played Enterludes at the 
 Skhmer's Weil, near Clerkenwell -, which continued three days: King Richard 
 II. his Queen, and Nobles being prefent. And in the year 1409 they 
 performed a play at the Skinner's M'^ell, the fubjed being The Creation of 
 the World; which lafted eight days: having the chief nobles and gentry 
 of England for their audience. 
 
 A 
 
 828192 ■ 
 
i THE ENGLISH STAG£. 
 
 • '-'tfiiUt-MyJleries, as they were denominated, were followed by a fpecles 
 .of die; drams, ftiled Moralities, in which the fenfcs, paflions, affcitlons, 
 vinues, and vices, were perfonified, and conftituted the charafters : tii::ie 
 being of a moral turn, and contri/ed to entertain as well as inflrucl, foon 
 exhibited fome dawnings of poetry, with occafional attempts at wit and 
 hiimonr, which naturally introduced Comedy: the earileft En^^liih piece, 
 meriting that title, is Gammer Curtcn's Needle, writttn by Dr. Still ; 
 performed at Chrlfl's College, Cambridge, and printed in 1551. 'tragedy 
 foon after appeared with becoming dignity in Ferrex and Porrex, otherwifc 
 Gorhoduc ; written by Thomas Sackvllle and Thomas Norton ; the former, 
 who was afterwards Lord Buckhurft, &c. was alio author of the admirable 
 Induftion to The Complaint of Henry Duke of Buckingham, in The 
 Mirror for Magiftrates. 
 
 This noble and pathetic Tragedy was acled before Queen Elizabedi, 
 January 18, 1561 ; was fpurioufly printed in 1565, and afterwards, under 
 the a'lthor's infpeftion, in 1570 or 1571. 
 
 At this period a Fool was almoft indifpenfible on the Stage, not only 
 in Comedies but alfo in the deepeft Tragedies ; of which charafter no 
 elramatic writer has availed himfelf more fuccefsfully than Shakfpcare : 
 his Touchficne in /is Ton Like If, and Foci in King Lear, being, among 
 many others which he produced, remarkable inftances. 
 
 In the infancy of the Stage the players were priefts ; afterwards retainers 
 to noblemen, under the fanftion ofwhofe name they performed ; at length 
 they were embodied and incorporated under royal authority : and, in the end, 
 refcncled 2nd proteiHied by Acts of Pr.rliament, framed for the prefervation 
 of order ?^d Jecorum in themfelves ; and their fafcty and encouragement 
 in the exhibition of the fcenic art. 
 
 When the Myjleries were the only dramatic performances, the ftage 
 confifted of three diflinct plat^Jrmi, raife.1 one above another ; on the 
 iipperraort fath Pater Cceleftis, furrounticd widi his angels; on the Second 
 apt ,-ired the glorified faints ; and the loweft was occupied by mere men, 
 who had not yet quitted " the fmoke and ftir of this dim fpot." On one fide 
 of this lov.'cIl platform was the refcmbiance of a tiark and pitchy cavern. 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. ^ 
 
 whence iffued an appearance of fire and fiames; and, when ncceflary, the 
 audience were flunned by hideous yeUings, imitative of the howlings of 
 wretched fouls, tormented by relentlefs demons, who frequently afcended 
 through the nioudi of the cavern to delight the fpectators with their 
 buffooneries, and to inftruA them, by their remorfekfs cruelty to the 
 condemned, carefully to fhun the commiffion of fuch crimes, as might 
 plunge themfel/es into a fimilar predicament. 
 
 In an '.mproved ftatc of the Theatre, when regular plays were introduced, 
 the cavern, with its concomitant, daough heterogeneous, mixture of horror 
 and mummery, was aboliflied ; the uppermoft platform, and its celeftial 
 perfcii^, alfo diiappepred ; two platforms only remaining, which continued 
 in ufe a confider.ible dme; the upper one ferving for galleries, ramparts, 
 or ?nv f'ther elevated fituation, from which fome of the aftors might 
 difcourk with ( thers, {landing on the lower one, now called the Jl age. 
 
 The charaftcrs from the earlieft times to that of the Reftoration were 
 perfonated by men or boys ; at which period Mrs. Hughs was the firft 
 female who appeared in a regular drama, in the charadler of Defdemona: 
 uiilefs, as Mr. Malone with great appearance of probability conjedhires, 
 Mrs. Sanderfon (afterwards Mrs. Betterton) may claim priority. 
 
 The ftage decorations and ornaments (if they may be fo called) were 
 formerly very homely -, a piece of old tapeflry ferving for the fcene ; which 
 you was to imagine, as the ftory of the drama required, reprefentcd a ftrtet, 
 a grove, a cafUe, or the ocean ; the ftage was ftrewed with ruihes, and the 
 drefles made of buckram and baize, laced with lacquered leather : but 
 what better could be cxpeded for the prices taken ? for, at fo low a 
 rat-e as two-pence were fome of the fears in our ancient theatres ; there 
 were others at 6d. -, is. ; and (the higheft) 2S. 6d. Some of the audience 
 fat on ftools upon the ftage ; drank wine and beer, crack'd nuts, and 
 fmoked tcbacct/ during the performance. The Myfteries were frequently 
 repreiented in churches, and on the (abbath ; which pradlice it is thought 
 was continued even after prophane fubjccls had been introduced : the 
 playing in churches wns reftrained by Bifliop Bonner, in 1 542, but the 
 ading of plays on the labbath-day continued till the reign of Charles I. at 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 which period the players generally began to a6t at three o'clock in tJiC 
 afternoon, that the whole might be performed by day-light. 
 
 The Myjl cries feem in later times to have farnifhed the ground -work for 
 another noted ftage-performance, entitled a Fuppt-fheix) -, as appears from 
 the following bill, printed in the reign of Queen Anne ; taken from tlic 
 Colledion of Title Pages in the Harleian Library, marked 5931 : 
 
 " By her Majefty's permition, at Heady's booth, over againft the Crcfs 
 Daggers, next to Mr. Miller's booth, during the time o{ Bartholortiew fair, 
 will be prefented a little opera, called The eld Creadon cf the World new 
 revived, with the addition cf the glorious battle obtained over the French 
 and Spaniards by his Grace the Duke of Marlhcrcugh. T!ie contents are 
 thefe, I. The creation of ^«'«CT and £-z.v. 2. The intrigues of Z-i^f^V in 
 the garden of Eden. 3. Adam and Eve driven out of Paradice. 4. Cain 
 going to plowj yi'^f/ driving flieep. 5. Cain killeth his brother yihel. 
 6. Abraham ofFereth up his fon IJaac. 7. Three wife men of the Eaji, 
 guided by a ftar, come and worfhip Chrift. 8. Jcjeph and Mary flee 
 away by niglit, upon an afs. 9. King Herod's cruelty; his mens fpears 
 laden with children. 10. Rich Dives invites his friends, and orders his 
 porter to keep tlie beggars from his gate. 1 1 . Poor Lazarus comes a 
 begging at rich Dives gate, the dogs lick his fores. 12. The good Angel 
 and Death contend for Lazarus's life. 13. Rich Dives is taken fick, and 
 dieth; he is buried in great folemnity. 14. Rich Dives in Hell, and 
 Lazarus in Abraham's bofom, feen in a moft glorious objeft, all in 
 machines defcending in a throne, guarded with multitudes of angels ; with 
 the breaking of the clouds, difcovering the palace of the fun, in double 
 and treble profpefts, to the admiration of all the fpeftators.— Likewife 
 feveral rich and large figures, v/hich dances jiggs, Jarabands, anticks, and 
 country dances, between every aft ; compleated with the merry hum.ours 
 of Sir Jn" Spendall and Punchanello, with feveral otlier things never 
 expofed. Performed by Mat. tieatly. — 
 
 ViVAT ReGINA." 
 
TKE ENGLISH STAGE. 5 
 
 A celebrated comedian's contemporary exhibition was much more fimple ; 
 of whofe bill of fare the following is a copy. 
 
 " Penkethman's Pantheon, confiding of feveral curious pidlures and 
 moving figures, reprefenting the fabulous Hiftory of the Heathen Gods. 
 The whole contains 14 feveral entertainments, and near 100 figures (be- 
 Mesjhips, beafts, fijh, fotvl, and other embellifhments) fome near a foot: 
 in height ; all which have their refpeftive and peculiar motions, their very 
 heads, legs, arms, hands, and fingers artificially moving exadtly to what 
 they perform, and fetting one foot before another, as they go, like living 
 creatures, in fuch manner that nothing but nature itfclfcan exceed it: in 
 fhort, the fainting is by the fineft hands, and the ftcry and contrivance (o 
 admirable, that it juftly deferves to be efteemed one of the greatefl; won- 
 ders of the age." 
 
 The ftage-decorations and ornaments, before the Reftoration, were 
 extremely plain and fimple, as may be gathered from fome ancient fron- 
 tifiiieces to plays; wherein, inftead of a fcene, are feveral curtains in the 
 front, divided by intermediate columns ; the fpaces between which ferved 
 the aftors for their entrances and rctirings, drawing the curtains afide for 
 that purpofe. Names were affixed over the top of each avenue, to diftin- 
 guilh the portals of different dwellings, belonging to the various charaiflers; 
 from which they entered, and into which they returned, unlefs the bufinefs 
 of the piece required them to enter each other's habitations : and thefe 
 labels were probably placed over the feveral curtains, as direftions to the 
 afcors, and information to the fpeftators. 
 
 The fides of the ftage were hung with tapefay, there being no places of 
 entrance there till the introduftion of fcenery ; when front fccnes came in 
 ufe, fide entrances alfo were adopted : and, by degrees, through a long 
 fucceflion of years, the numerous improvements which have been made, 
 have given to the metropolitan theatres an elegance, fplendor and magnifi- 
 cence, which fcarcely any other ftrudlures can boafl of. 
 
 A reflection naturally arifes, producing thefe queftions ; have our later 
 plays as much excelled the earlier, as our modern theatres furpafled the 
 
 B 
 
b THE EMGLISH STAGE. 
 
 ancient ones ? — What have v/e, of this age, to compare with die pathos. 
 of Othdlo, and the fublimity of Macbeth ? nothing better than the mean, 
 though moral, profe oi Barmuell ; and the heavy, though affecting paftoral 
 of Douglas. 
 
 Having thus given a briefn-cetch of tlie rife and progrefs of the Enghfh 
 Stage, till it had attained a legitimate form ; it becomes neceflary to fpecify 
 the early theatres : which, as it cannot be more accurately done, the 
 reader is requcfled to take in the words of iVIr. Malone. — Early in Queen 
 Elizabeth's reign, the eftablifhed players of London began to act in tem- 
 porary theatres conftru6led in the yards of inns ; and about the year 1570, 
 I imagine, one or two regular playhoufes v/ere eredled. Both the theatre 
 in Blackfriars, and that in Whitefriars, were certainly built before 1580. — 
 The moft ancient Englifli playhoufes, of which I have found any account, 
 are, tlie playhouie in Blackfriars, that in IVhitefriars, The Theatre, of 
 which I am unable to afcertain the fituation, and The Curtain, in Shore- 
 ditch. The Theatre, from its name, was probably the firft building erefted 
 in or near the metropolis purpofely for fcenick exhibitions. In the time 
 of Shakfpearc there were feven principal theatres ; three private houfes, 
 namely, that in Blackfriars, that in Whitefriars, and The Cockpit or Phccnix, 
 in Drury-lane ; and four that were called publick theatres, viz. The Globe, 
 on the Bank- fide ; The Curtain, in Shoreditch ; The Red Bull, at the 
 upper end of St. John's-ftreet ; and The Fortune, in Whitecrofs-flreet. 
 The laft two were chiefly frequented by citizens. There were, however,^ 
 but fix companies of comedians ; for the playlioufe in Blackfriars, and The 
 Globe, belonged to the fame troop. Befide thefe feven theatres, there 
 were for fome time on the Bank- fide three other publick theatres; The 
 SiJjan, The Rofe, and The Hope : but The Hope being ufed chiefly as a bear- 
 garden, and The Swan and The Rofe having fa:llen to decay early in King 
 James's reign, they ought not to be enumerated with the other regu- 
 lar theatres. 
 
 All the plays of Shakfpeare appear to have been performed either at 
 The Globe, or at the theatre in Blackfriars. The theatre in Blackfriars 
 
THE EN'GLISH STAGE. 7 
 
 was fituated near the prefcnt Apothecaric^s-liall, in the naghbourhood cf 
 which the theatre probably flood. It was, as has been mentioned, a private 
 houfe ; but v/hat were tlie diilinguifhing marks of a private playhoufe, it 
 is not eafy to afcertain. We know only that it was fmaller than thole 
 which were called publick theatres ; and that in the private theatres plays 
 were ufually performed by candle-light. The Glebe was a publick theatre, 
 and of confiderable fize, and diere diey always afted by day-light. I be- 
 lieve It was not built long before the year 1596. It was fituated on the 
 Bank-fide, (the fouthern fide of the river Thames,) nearly oppofite to 
 Friday-ftreet, Cheapfide. It was an hexagonal wooden building, pardy 
 open to the weather, and pardy thatched. On die roof of this and the 
 other publick theatres a pole was eretted, to v/hich a flag was affixed. 
 Thefe flags were probably displayed only during the hours of exhibition. 
 
 I formerly conjeftured that The Globe, though hexagonal at the outfide, 
 was perhaps a rotunda within, and that it might have derived its name 
 from its circular form. But, though the part appropriated to the audi- 
 ence v^as probably circular, I now believe that the houfe was denominated 
 only from its fign ; which was a figure of Hercules [qurtre ? Adas] fup- 
 porting the Globe, under which was written, Tot us mimdns agtt hiftrionem. 
 This theatre was burnt down on the 29th of June, 16 13 ; but it was re- 
 built in the following year, and decorated with more ornament than had 
 been originally bellowed upon it. The exhibitions at The Globe feem to 
 have been calculated for tiie lower clafs of people ; thofe at Blackfriars 
 for a more feled. and judicious audience. The Theatre and The Curtain 
 are mientioned and inveighed againlt in fermons, and fatires, publifhed in 
 1 57 8', 1580, and 1583 ; the original fign hung out at the latter was the 
 painting of a curtain, ttriped. The performers at this theatre were called 
 The Prince's Servants, till the accefllon of King Charles the Firfl: to the 
 crown. Soon after that period it feems to have been ufed only by prize- 
 fighters. The Cockpit or Prj^:-:ix had been originally a cockpit. It was 
 built or rebuilt not very long before the year 1617, in which year it was 
 
5 THE ENGLISH STACH. 
 
 pulled down by the mob. I luppofe it was fometimes called 1'he Phcenix 
 from diat fabulous bird being its fign. It was fitua'Led oppofite the Cafile- 
 tavern in Drury-lane, and was {landing fome time after the Reftoration. 
 The players who performed at this dieatre in the time of King James the 
 Firft, were called The ^leen's Servants, till the death of Queen Anne, in 
 1619. After her death they were, I think, for fome time, denominated 
 The Lady Elizabeth's Servants ; and after the marriage of King Charles the 
 Firft, they regained their former title of the Queen's Players. I'he Fcrtime 
 is faid to have been the oldeft theatre in London. It was rebuilt in 1599^ 
 by Edward Alleyn, the celebrated player. Ic v.-as a round, brick build- 
 ing, of very confiderable dimcnfions; before, it was either a picture or 
 flatue of Fortune. It was burnt down in 162 1. The Sivan and The Rcfe 
 were lliut up in 16 13 5 the latter had been buik before 1598 : about the 
 year 1620 they were ufed occafionally for the exhibition of prize-fighters. 
 Ben Jonfon's Barthclometv-Fair was performed at '^fhe Hcpc, in 16 14: in 
 the IndiiSiion to which he does not give a very favourable defcription of 
 it. '• Though the fair be not kept in the fame region that fome here 
 perhaps would have it, yet think tliat the author hath therein obfcrved a 
 fpecial decorum, the place being as dirty as Smitbfidd, and as ftinking 
 every whit." 
 
 In 1574 Queen Eiizabetii granted a licence to James Burbage, proba- 
 bly the father of the celebrated tragedian, and four others, fervants to the 
 Earl ofLeicefter, to exhibit all kinds of ftage-plays, during pleafure, in 
 cny part of England, " as well for the recreation of aer loving fjbjefts, as 
 for her own folace and pleafure when ike fhould think good to fee thenii ;" 
 and in the year 1583, twelve of the principal comedians of that time, at 
 the earneft requeft of Sir Francis WalQngham, were felefted from the 
 companies dien fuhfifting, under the licence ?nd protefftion of various 
 noblemen, and were fworn her Majefty's Servants-: among tliefe tv/elve 
 ■players were Th.omas Wilfon, and the iiimoys Ricliard Tii:kto.i. 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 9 
 
 As Tarleton was not only one of the earlitft but alfo the moft 
 excellent of our EngliQ-i comedians, fo far as native humour, and the 
 then-rude ftate of tlie drama, could entitle him to that character, fome 
 anecdotes and memorials of him claim priority. 
 
 Richard Tarkon, or Tarleton, was born at Condover, in the county 
 of Salop ; but when, or at what period he commenced aftor, is unknown. 
 He was brought to London, and introduced at Court by a fcrvant of 
 Robert, Earl of Leicefter, who found him in a field, keeping his father's 
 fwinc ; and that nobleman, being highly pleafed with the pertinent replies 
 made to the queftions afked him, took him under his patronage. 
 
 Having acquired celebrity on the ftage, he was felefted for one of the 
 Queen's fervants, and had wages and a livery allowed him as groom of 
 the chamber ; which cuftom continued till the time of Colley Cibber : 
 his royal miHrefs was fo delighted with his humour, that, as Fuller fays, 
 "when Queen Elizabeth was ferious, (I dare not fay fuUen) he could 
 " undumpifh her at pleafure. Her higheft favourites would in fome 
 " cafes go to Tarlton before they would go to the Queen, and he was 
 " their ufher to prepare their advantageous accefs unto her. In a word, 
 " he told the Queen more of her faults than moft of her chaplains, and 
 'f cured her melancholy better than all her phyficians." He was in fuch 
 eftimation, that even his pidure was hung out by fliopkecpers for their 
 fign ; and, in the Theatre, he needed only to be feen to produce general 
 acclamations. There cannot be a doubt of his having poflefied the vis 
 comica in a fuper-eminent degree. Dr. Cave, De Politica, Oxf. 1588. 
 4to. fays, " Ariftoteles fuum Theodoretum laudavit quendam peritum 
 " tragaediarum adiorcm, Cicero fuum Rofcium, nos Angli Tarletonum in 
 " cujus voce & vultu omnes jocofi afFedtus, in cujus cerebrofo capite 
 " lepidiE facetiae habitant." And Fuller fays, that " much of his mer- 
 " riment lay in his very looks and anions, according to the epitaph . 
 '• written upon him : 
 
 " His fitus eft cujus poterat vox, aftio, vultuSj 
 " Ex Heraclito reddere Democritum." 
 C 
 
lO THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 Tliis is given, with fome variation, in Hackett's SdeSt and Remarkalle 
 Epitaphs, ij SI- ^' ^- P' 59- ^'^ Peacham's 'Thalia's Banquet, 8vo. 1620, 
 it is faid that, 
 
 " . Tarlton when his head was onely feene, 
 
 " The Tire-houfe doore and Tapilbie betweene, 
 " Set all the mulkicude in fuch a laughter, 
 " They could not hold for fcarfe an houre afcer." 
 He is reprefented with his tabor, &c. in a drav/mg in the Pepyfian 
 Library, at Magdalen College, Cambridge ; and in a rare old 
 pamphlet, entituled " Chettle's [Htnr'u-] Kind-Harts Dreame, con- 
 teining five Apparitions, with tlieir Invcclives againd Abuies raigning. 
 [the Apparitions are thofe of Mafier Anthiny, Tarit^n, f'-'ill Cuckozve, Dr. 
 Burcot, and Rob. Greens'] B. L. iir.pr. for JVill. Wright," 410. no date, 
 but publifhed in December, 159-, he is defcribed correfpondencly 
 with the above-mentioned picture. " The next, by his fuit ot rufitt, his 
 " buttoned cap, his taber, his ftanding on the toe, and other tricks, I knew 
 " to be either the body or refcmblance of Tarlton, who living, for his 
 " pleafant conceits was of all men liked, and dying, for mirth left not his 
 " like." 
 
 And Sir Richard Baker, in his Chronicle, after due praife given to 
 Allen and Burbage, fays, '• to make their comedies complete, Richard 
 " Tarleton, for the part called the Clov/nes Part, never had his match, 
 never will have." 
 
 He is fiid to have facrificed the bridge of his nofe at the flirine of 
 Venus ; by others it is related, that the flatnefs of that feature in his face 
 was occafioned by his interpofing between fome b°ars and dogs ; probably 
 at Paris Garden, on the Bank-fide, Soutiiwark : which, he ufed to fay, 
 did not fo much affeft him, but that he could fmell an honeft man from 
 a krrave. 
 
 He was author of a dramatic piece, (tiled by Gabriel Harvey a famous' 
 play, but which is now loft, called The Seven Deadly Sins. 
 
 After an eccentric life, he died a fincere penitent in 1588, and was 
 buried September the tliird of that year in St. Leonard's, Shoreditch. 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. II 
 
 To treat of the ProfelTors of the Stage in fome degree chronologically, 
 it is neceffary, though the Father of our Drama could not be introduced 
 fooner, that he fhould be mentioned as the third eminent Englifli Aftor 
 we have any account of; though, whatever celebrity he acquired as a 
 Performer, has been almoft loft in the fuperior blaze of fame attached to 
 him as an Author. William Shakefpeare, Shakfpeare, or Shakfpere (for 
 liis name was varioufly written, even by himfclf), was born at Stratford 
 upon Avon in Warwickfhire, in April, 1564. His father, Mr. John 
 Shakfpeare, enjoyed fome hereditary lands and tenements, the reward of 
 his grandfather's faithful and approved fervices to King Henry the Se- 
 venth ; he was alfo a confiderable dealer in wool : and in the year 1569 
 was High-Bailift' (now called Mayor) of the body corporate of Stratford. 
 From a note in the College of Arms it appears, that he was a juftice of 
 the peace, and poflTefled lands and tenements to the amount of ;^5oo, but, 
 from other documents, it is evident that in 1586 he was much reduced in 
 his circumftances. Our Poet's mother was the daughter and heir of Robert 
 Arden of Wellincote, in the county of Warwick ; who, in the MS. above 
 referred to, is called " a gentleman ofworfhip." The (3.mi\y of ^rden is 
 a very ancient one ; Robert Arden of Bromwich, Efq; being in the lift of 
 the gentry of this county, returned by the commiffioners in the twelfth 
 year of King Henry VI. A. D. 14J3. Edward Arden was Sheriff of the 
 county in 1568. Such was the genealogy of Him whofe Divine Spirit 
 feemed rather to have been derived from Super-terreftrial Beings! His 
 flight and ruftic education ; his being obliged to work at his father's bufi- 
 nefs ; the probability of his drudging fome time in the office of a country 
 attorney; liis early marriage with the daughter of a yeoman named 
 Hathaway, who was eight years older than himfelf, and outlived him 
 ieven years ; his only imputed mifJeed, the robbing a park belonging to 
 Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlecote, near Stratford, of fome venifon; which, 
 hnppily, drove him to London : are circumftances fo well known, that 
 the bare mention of them in this fl<ctch is fufficient. Li London, then, 
 commences the hiftrlonic, though perhaps not the poetic, memoirs of 
 
 D 
 
12 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 Shakfpeare j and, if tradition may be credited, never was the fcriptiiral 
 adage, " the humble fhall be exalted," more fully verified than in him ; 
 who, on his firft arrival in the metropolis, hungry, perhaps, and penny- 
 lefs ! patiently fubmitted to the menial occupation of holding the horfts 
 of fuch perfons as vifited thofe Theatres, which his pen was afterwards to 
 rcfcue from barbarifm and meannefs, and elevate to fublimity and mag- 
 nificence. 
 
 From the Doors his diligence and punftuality foon recommended him 
 to the Interior of the Theatre ; where he is faid to have firft officiated as 
 Call-boy, or Prompter's attendant : whofe employment it is to give the 
 performers notice to be ready, as often as the bufinefs of the play requires 
 their appearance on the ftage. 
 
 He is next traced (in fuppofition) to have been the reprefentatirc of 
 Itis, in Tarleton's " Secound Parte of the Seven Deadlie Sinns." 
 the Piatt only of which " famous play," as it was denominated, is now in 
 being. Such were the Theatrical Degrees taken by this Great Maftcr of 
 Nature as well as Art 1 
 
 Mr. Aubrey fays that " He was a liandfome well-fhaped man, verie good 
 company, and of a very ready, pleafant, and fmooth witt;" and that, 
 " Being inclined naturally to poetry and afting, he came to London, and- 
 was an aftor at one of the playhoufcs, and did aft exceedingly well." 
 
 Henry Chettle, in tlie prefice to a pamphlet entitled Kinde-Hartes 
 Dreame, publinied 1592, fpeaking (itis prefumed) of Shakfpeare, fays, 
 " My felfe have feene his demeanour no lefs civil than he Excellent 
 in the qimlitie he prcfejfes : befides, divers of worfliip have reported his.-, 
 tiprightnefs of dealing, which argues his honeftie, and his ficetious grace 
 in writing, that approves his art." In which " the quahtie be profe/Jl's" 
 according to the language of the time, particularly denoted liis profcffion 
 as an a£icr. " Come, give us a tafte of your quality; come, apalTionate 
 fpeech," fays Hamlet to the Player. 
 
 That Shakfpeare was a better Poet tlian he was an Aftor may be readily 
 jiUowed, and yet he might have been an actor of great eminence ; for. 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. TJ 
 
 as hath been well obferved, if the various powers and peculiar excellencies 
 of all tlie afters from his time to the prefent, were united in one man, it 
 may well be doubted, whether they would conftitute a perfc^rmer whofe 
 me.it (liould entitle him to " bench by tlie fide" of Shakfpeareas a Poet. 
 
 1 he gentlcnefs of his manners, and the readinefs of his wit, have been 
 ctiCbrated by all his contemporaries who have fpoken of him j his fellow 
 comedians fay, " as he was a happy imitator of nature, fo was he a mofl 
 gentle expreflcr of it. His mind and hand went together ; and what he 
 thought he uttered with that eafmefs, that we have fcarcc received from 
 him a blot in his papers." And " my gentle Shakfpeare" is the compella- 
 tion ufcd to him by Ben Jonfon; who fays that " he was indeed honefl, 
 and cf an open mid free nature-, had an excellent fancy, brave notions, and 
 gentle exprefllons ; wherein he flowed with that facility, that fometimes it 
 was necefiary he fliould be flopped. Suffiimandus erat, as Auguftus faid 
 of Haterius," 
 
 That he had a perfetSt knowledge of the dramatic art is certain, from the 
 mallerly inftruiStions which he has made Hamlet give to the Player ; nor 
 could his practic f$ll flaort of his theoretic fkill, or he would never have 
 made the Danifli prince defcribe fo forcibly his ( Shakfpeare 's) piteous 
 action, in the rcprefentation oiihe Gboft, which is generally allowed to have 
 been his chef d'ouvres, unlefs tlie nSlion had been k^Wy piteous and afFcdling. 
 What other charafters he performed is unlinown, excepting that from cir- 
 cumftances he is believed to have been the reprefentative of Adam, in his 
 own As Tou Like It ; and Old Knoivell, in Ben Jonfon's Every Man in his 
 Humour : he alio performed in Jonfon's Sejanus, but what charadter is un- 
 certain ; and it is furmifed that he acfled Duncan, in Macbeth ; the parts of 
 King Henry the Fourth, and King Henry the Sixth, in liis own plays bearing 
 tiiole titles : or fnnilar regal and venerable charaflers. 
 
 His merits did not pafs unnoticed, or unrewarded ; for in the year 1603, 
 when he was about forty years of age, King James I. granted him, in con- 
 junction with Laurence Fletcher, Richard Burbage, and others, a Licence or 
 Patent " freely to ufe and exercife the art and faculty of playing comedies, 
 nagcdies, &c, as well within tlieire nowe ufuall houfe caljed the Globe, 
 
14 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 within our county of Surrey, as alfo within anie towne-halii or moute -halls, 
 or other convenient places within the liberties and freedom of any other 
 citie, univerfitie, toun or boroughc whatfoever, within our faid realmcs 
 and dominions." And it is traditionally faid, that the Earl of Southampton 
 at one time prcfented him with a thoufand pounds ; a great fum in thofe, 
 or indeed in any days, for a gift : and an uncommon inftance of munificence 
 in a patron to a poet ! Haplefs Chatterton ! hadft thou but found another 
 li^ricthejley, Britain might have boafted of another Sbakfpcare ! During a 
 period of about twenty-five years our matchlefs bard produced at lead thirty- 
 fix plays (admitting the three parts of King Henry the Sixth, and Pericles, 
 to have been his) moft of which are fuperlativcly fine : he alfo wrote the 
 beautiful, though prolix, poems of Venus and Adonis, and The Rape of 
 Lucrece j befides a great number of fmaller, detached poems, and fonnets. 
 Having realized a genteel fortune, he retired from the ftage to his native 
 town J where, after two or three years pafled in rural tranquillity, he 
 paid the Debt of Nature, April 23, 16 16, aged c^i, years; and was in- 
 terred in the great church at Stratford. 
 
 The compiler of this flcctch having, in a former publication, fuppofed 
 Shakfpeare to have been an aftor of very moderate abilities, (which 
 opinion he retrafts) has colleded therein the follov;ing hints relating to 
 him, not elfewhere noticed ; yet, perhaps, not unworthy of obfervation. 
 
 " There is a circumflance relating to Shakfpeare, which I have not 
 obferved to be remarked by any one who has written concerning him ; 
 that is his lamenejs., which he mentions in his 37th fonnet. 
 " As a decrepit father takes delight 
 " To fee his aclive child do deeds of youth, 
 *' So I, made lame by fortune's deareft Ipite, 
 " Take all my comfort of thy worth and truth." 
 And again in his 89th fonnet. 
 
 " Say that thou didft foifake me for feme fault, 
 " And I will comment upon that offence : 
 " Speak of my lamenejs^ and I llrait will hah, 
 " A-gainft thy reafons making no defence." 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 *s 
 
 if this lamenefs is to be taken literally, it may ferve as a very fufficient 
 reafon, together with his having perhaps but an indifferent voice, why 
 Sliakfpeare coidd not be an eminent aftor. 
 
 Our poet is known to have performed Adarn in As Ton Like It ; and I 
 cannot help thinking that in writing the play, having intended die part for 
 himfeU", he has twice in the fecond aft adverted to his own pcrfonal 
 defeft : the firft time in a fpeech of Adam's. " When fervice Ihould in 
 my old limbs lie lame." And afterwards in a fpeech of Orlando's. 
 "———There is an old poor man, 
 " Who after me hath many a weary ftcp 
 " Limp'd in pure love." 
 Which laft feems to me particularly defcriptivc of Shakfpearc's halting, or 
 limping gait. 
 
 In his 37 th fonnet there is alfo an implication of his being jJoor and 
 dejpijcd \ and in his 90th fonnet he fays, " Now while the ivorld is bent my 
 deeds to crcfs.'" What misfortunes in his life he therein alludes to, it is 
 now in vain to enquire; or, if he really was lame, to what accident it was 
 owing." 
 
 Our poet's wife, whofe chriftian name was Anne, outlived him feven 
 years, as hath been obferved; flie died Auguft 6, 1623, aged 67 years; 
 and was interred in Stratford church, Augxifl. 8, 1623. 
 
 Shakfpeare was born April 23, 1564; was baptized April 26, 1564; 
 died April 23, 1616; and was interred April 25, 1616. 
 
 He had three children by his wife ; Sufannah, baptized May 26, 15833 
 (lie married John Hall, gendemen; died July 11, 1649, aged 66 years j 
 and was interred in Stratford church, July 16, 1649: the other two were 
 twins, a fon and daughter, who were baptized by die names of Hamnet 
 and Judith, Februarys, 1584-5. Hamnet lived but about twelve years, 
 and was buried Auguft 11, 1596; Judith married Thomas Quiney, 
 gentleman; Ihe died at the advanced age of feventjr-Ieven years; and 
 was interred at Stratford, February 9, 1661-2. It is needlefs to enume- 
 rate his poftcrity beyond the firft generation, as there is nothing mor<^ 
 
 E 
 
l6 tHE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 remarkable In them than in his anccftors; but in him exifted die moft 
 comprehenfive mind that ever animated a merely-human form ; whofe 
 emanations have enriched this ifland beyond all literary comparifon : fuch 
 an iffue we and our progeny may glory in " io the crack of doom" for till 
 then will the writings of William Shakfpeare be held in almofl-idolatrous 
 admiration ! 
 
 Benjamin Jonfon, rare Ben Jonfon ! as he v/as emphatically filled, Vv-as 
 the contemporary, -the co-adjutor, the friend of Shakfpeare ! away then- 
 with all invidious reflcftions on rough Ben ! be he ipoken of with candour, 
 for his dcferts were great ! 
 
 Yet, to his demerits, r.ot his merits, is he beholden for notice In this 
 theatrical fkctch ; intended only as a brief account of Englifli Afters. 
 Jonfon was, or rather endeavoured to be, a Flayer ; for he failed moil: 
 egregioufly in the attempt : but, having an inclination to, and a tafte for 
 the ftage, thofe endov/ments which took an ungracious form when perfon- 
 ally obtruded, were, when given to the audience through the medium cf 
 his mind, highly applauded. 
 
 In lefs-affefted phrafe, he was a Wretched actor, and an excellent poet. 
 
 The Rev. i-", Wliallcy, the late learned editor of Jonfoii's Works, has 
 prefixed thereto die following particulars refpefting " Rare Bl^u !" 
 
 Benjamin Jonfon was defcended from an ancient family in Scotland : his 
 'grandfather was originally of Annandale in that kingdom, and removed 
 from thence to Carlifle in the reign of Henn/ VIII. under whom he en- 
 joyed fomepoftoroflice. The father of Jonfon was a fufferer in the time 
 of Queen Mary, and probably on the account of religion. He was not 
 only imprlfoned, but loft his eftate, and afcerwards entered into holy 
 orders. It fliould feem that he did not enter into orders, till after die 
 death of Mary; and when Queen Elizabeth was in poffeffion of the 
 crown. Whether he then lived at Carlifle, or at what time he left it widi 
 his family, is uncertain. But we find that he refided In Weftminfter at 
 the time of his death. This happened in the year 1574, about a mondi 
 before the birth of Benjamin his fon. It is no where faid on what day. 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. I7 
 
 or in what month of that year, nor in what part of Weftmimler, Jonfon 
 was born. Conjedure would lead us to imagine that he was born in the 
 pirilli of St. Martin in the Fields. There was then a private fchool in 
 that church, and to that he was firft fent for education. 
 
 He was afterwards removed from thence, and lent to Wcflminller 
 fcliool, where Camden v/as his mafter. Whilft he continued there, his 
 mother married a fecond hulbr.nJ, by trade a bricklayer. As herfon grew 
 up, and was fit to be employed, his mother took him home, and obliged 
 him to work at his father-in-law's bufmefs. 
 
 Difliking his father's bufmefs, he went into the Low Countries as a 
 foldier -, there he diftinguiflied himfelf by his valour, killing and defpoil- 
 ing one of the enemies in the view of both armies. After his return 
 home, he relumed his former ftudies ; and then became a member of the 
 univerfity of Cambridge ; but his name doth not occur, either in the 
 public or private regifters of that place. It is not eafy to determine how 
 long a time he continued at Cambridge ; it v/as undoubtedly but fhort, his 
 fortune not fupplying him v/ith the decent conveniencies of a learned cafe. 
 
 When he left the univerfity, he betook himfelf to the playhoufe j a 
 tranfition not peculiar to Jonfon, nor uncommon in the prefent age. The 
 playhoufe he entered in was an obfcure one, in the flcirts of tlie town, and 
 called the Green Curtain, in the neighbourhood of Shoreditch or 
 Clerkenwcll. At this tim.e likewife he turned his thoughts to com.pofi- 
 tions for the ftage ; yet, at firft, his talents for writing, as well as thofc 
 for ading, were far from being excellent ; and the fuccefs in both was 
 anfwerable. 
 
 Moft of his earlier pieces are faid to have mifcarried in the reprefen- 
 tation, or were afterwards ncgleded by him, v/hen his genius and his 
 judgment improved. His attempts in adting could neither procure him a 
 fubfiftence, nor recommend him to a fhare in any of the companies or 
 theatres, v/hich in that age were numerous in the town. His inabilities 
 as a player were a topic of fatire to Jonfon's adverfaries; and they have 
 mentioned fome charade rs in which lie appeared with no great credit or 
 
l8 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 applaufc. Decker reproacheth him " with leaving his former occupation 
 of morter-treadcr to turn a<5tor ;" and informs us particularly, " that he 
 performed the part of Zuliman at Paris- Garden : that he ambled by a 
 play-waggon in the highway, and took mad Jeronymo's part to get fcrvice 
 among the mimics ; that in this fcrvice he would have continued, but could 
 not fet a good face on the matter, and fo was cafliicred." 
 
 It is ungenerous to reproach a man with imperfeftions he cannot prcventi 
 but Decker had no wit nor humour, and made up what was wanting in 
 Jjoth by contumely and abufe. Happy v/as it for Jonfon, that h's poverty 
 was his chief crime : and that his adverfaries could accuii; him rather of 
 the lownefs of his fortunes, than the ignominy of his mind or manners. 
 
 Whilfthe was thus a retainer to the ftage, he had the misfortune to be 
 engaged in a duel j but Jonfon was not the aggreflbr. In this renco'ini;er 
 he killed his opponent, who had challenged him j and he himftlf was 
 wounded in the arm by his adverfary's fword, ten incnes longer than his ov/n. 
 Decker hath cafually told us, this antagonift was a player. For this 
 offence he was committed to prifon -, and, during hio confinement, he 
 was vifited by a popilh prieft, who taking the advantage of his melan- 
 choly and dcjeftion of fpirits, made him a convert to the church of 
 Rome. He continued twelve years in the Romifh communion, but 
 afterwards recanted, and was reconciled to the church of England. It is 
 unknown how long he was kept in prifon, and equally uncertain by what 
 method he obtained a releafement from it. 
 
 We have now brought Jonfon to about the 24th year of his age, from 
 whence we are to date the rile of his reputation as a dramatic writer. 
 About this time his acquaintance commenced with Shakfpcare, who began 
 it, as we are told, with a remarkable piece of fervice and good-nature i 
 nor is Jonfon to be taxed with want of gratitude, or efteem for his friend. 
 He had wrote a play or two which neither added to his reputation or his 
 profit. He was now offering another to the public, and had put it into 
 the hands of a perfon, who running it over in a carelefs fupercilious manner, 
 was returning it to him with anfwer, that it would be of no fervice to their 
 company. Shakfpcare happened luckily to caft his eye upon it; and 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. I9 
 
 company. Shakfpeare happened luckily to caft his eye upon it ; and 
 found fomething fo well in ic as to engage him to read it through, and af- 
 terv/ards to recommend the poet and his writings to the public. The name 
 of the play is no where mentioned. 
 
 In the year 1598, his comedy, intidcd Every Man in his Humour, was 
 afted by the Lord Chamberlain's fervants. Their theatre was called the 
 Globe, and fituate on the Bank-fide in Southwark. Shakfpeare be- 
 longed to it, and was a performer in this comedy of Jonfon. After this 
 he produced a play regularly every year, for fome years fucceffively. 
 
 In the reigns of James the Firft, and his fucceffor Charles, the exhibi- 
 tion of Mcif(iues became a principal diverfion of the court. 
 
 Jonfon was the chief fador for the court ; moft of die Mafques and 
 Entertainments were written by him ; and there feldofn pafled a year in 
 which he did not furnifh one or two poedcal pieces of this kind. In the 
 fcenical decoration of thefe feveral entertainments, Jonfon had Inigo Jones 
 for an aflbciate j and the neceflary devices for each feem to have been de- 
 figned and ordered by him with delicacy, and grandeur of tafte. 
 
 On the death of Samuel Daniel in Odlober, 1619, Jonfon fucceeded 
 to the vacant laurel. 
 
 The laureat's pay was originally a penfion of one hundred marks fir 
 annum; but, in 1630, Jonfon prefented a petition to king Charles, -requeft- 
 ing him to make thofe marks as many pounds. His pedtionwas granted ; 
 and accordingly on the furrendry of his former letters patent, new ones 
 v^ere iffued, appointing him the annual penfion of one hundred-pounds, 
 and a tierce of Spanifh wine. The fame falary is condnued to this day. 
 
 In the decline of his life, Jonfon was feized with the palfy, which we 
 fuppofe afflided him till the time of his death. He died on the fixth of 
 Auguft, 1637, in the fixty-third year of his age, and three days after he 
 was interred in Weftminfter-Abbey, at the north-weft end, near the 
 belfry, under the efcutcheon of Robert de Ros or Roos. Over his grave 
 is a common pavement ftone, and on it are engraven thefe words : O RaRe 
 Ben Jonson ! 
 
1Q THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 It appears that Jonfon was married, and had feveral children, but we 
 know nothing of his wife, or her defcent. His eldeft fon was Benjamin, 
 which was probably the name of Jonfon's father, and his eldeft daughter 
 Mary. 
 
 His perfon was corpulent and large; and his face, if we may believe 
 his admirers, refembled Menander's, as the head of that poet is reprefented 
 upon antient gems and medals. His difpofition was referved, and fatur- 
 nine ; and fometimes not a little opprefled with the gloom of a fplenetic 
 imagination. He liath been often reprefented as of an envious, arrogant, 
 over-bearing temper, and infolent and haughty in his converfe : but thefe 
 ungracious drawings were the performance of his enemies, wlio certainly 
 were not folicitous to give a flattering likencfs of the original. 
 
 He was laborious and indefatigable in his ftudies ; his reading was co- 
 pious and extenfive ; his memory fo tenacious and ftrong, that when turned 
 of forty, he could have repeated all that he had ever wrote ; his judgment 
 accurate and folid ; and often confulted by thofe who knew him well, in 
 branches of very curious learning, and far remote from the flowery paths 
 loved and frequented by the mufes. The lord Falkland, in his elegy, 
 celebrates him as an admirable fcholar; and faith, that the extrafts he 
 took, and the obfervations which he made on the books he read, were 
 themfelves a treafurc of learning, though the originals fliould happen to be 
 loft. 
 
 In his friendlliips he was cautious and fincere, yet accufed of levity and 
 ingratitude to his friends : but his accufers were the criminals ; infenfible 
 of the charms, and ftrangcrs to the privileges of fricndftiip. For the 
 powers of friendftiip, not the leaft of virtues, can only be experienced by 
 the virtuous and good j and with thefc Jonfon was happily conneded in 
 the bonds of intimacy and afFeftion. Randolph and Cartwright revered 
 him as the great reformer, and as the father of die Britifti ftage ; and 
 gloried in the honorary title of his adopted fons : Shakefpeare [indeed 
 the father of the Britifti ftage !] had cheriftied his infant mufe ; Beaumont 
 and Fletcher cfteemed and revered himj Donne had commended his 
 
TflE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 merit; and Camden, the Strabo of Britain, and Sclden, a living library, 
 knew how to prize his literature and judgment. Stern and rigid as his 
 virtue was, this Cato of poets was eafy and fecial in the convivial meet- 
 ings of his friends ; and the laws of his Sympofia, infcribed over the 
 chimney of the Apollo, a room in the Devil-Tavern [formerly] near 
 Temple-Bar, v/here he kept his club, fnew us that he was neither averfe 
 to the pleafurcs of converfation, nor ignorant of what would render it 
 agreeable and improving. It is true that he was fparing in his commen- 
 dations of the works of others, which probably gave occafion to accufe 
 him of envy, and ill-nature ; but when he commends, he commends with 
 fmcerity and warmth. A man of fenfc is always cautious in giving cha- 
 racters; nor will an honeft man applaud where he cannot approve ; and 
 Jonfon well knew the people may admire, but to praife is an ad: of know- 
 ledge and of judgment. 
 
 By the death of Jonfon his family itfelf became extinft, the only iflue he 
 hath left being his Plays and Poems ; and their fate hath in Ibme meafure 
 refembled his. Yet fuch is the felicity of their better fortunes, that fur- 
 viving the attacks of envious contemporary rivals, they have received 
 from the juftice of difcerning unprejudiced pofterity, a fair, and an in- 
 creafing fame. With thofe, whofe tafte for fimple and ftriking copies of 
 nature, is yet uncorrupted by the faftidious delicacy of fafhionable refine- 
 ments, the works of Jonfon ftand high in efteem : and as they are read 
 from age to age, they will perpetuate his name with all the honours whicli 
 his genius and his learning deferve. 
 
 Ben's laft Biographer, Dr. Anderfon, in the fourth volume of "yf Com- 
 plete Edition of the Poets of Great Britain," 8vo. 1793, gives this candid 
 fummary of our Poet's merits and defefts. 
 
 Jonfon is univerfally allowed to have been the mod learned and judi- 
 cious poet of his age. He was familiarly acquainted with the beft ancient 
 authors, from whom he has freely borrowed, and was the firft that brought 
 critical learning into vogue. His learning is to be feen in every thing he 
 
2a THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 wrote i yet a juft decorum and prefcrvation of charafter, with propriety of 
 circumftance and of language, are his ftriking excellencies, and eminently 
 diftinguifli his corredtnefs and art. What he borrows from the ancients, 
 he generally improves by the ufe and application. In his imitations and 
 tranflations from claffic authors, he thinks and exprefles his thoughts like 
 them; but he commonly borrows with the air of a conqueror, and adorns 
 himfelf in their drefs, as with the fpoils and trophies of vi<Story. 
 
 His tranflation of Mortice's Art of Poetry isfo clofe as to be comprehended 
 in the fame number of lines. His occafional poems are chiefly encomiaftic 
 or fatirical. They abound in mafculine fenfe and poignant wit, with an 
 unfortunate intermixture of puerile conceit, and coarfe raillery. His Eft- 
 grams are fomctimes happily turned ; but more frequently pointlefs. His 
 Epitaphs are univerfally admired, and juftly entitled to the higheft praife. 
 His Songs are fprightly and elegant, and defervedly popular. The merit 
 of his Lyric pieces is much greater than has yet been allowed. His Hymn to 
 Diana is delfcate both in the fentiment and rhe expreffion, the images are 
 pifturcfquc ; the verfe eafy and flowing. His Ode Pindaric is a true and 
 regular Pindaric; and the firft, if not the only one in our language, that 
 has a juft claim to that title. He has followed the manner of Pindar with 
 great exaftnefs. The terms of art, denoted by the turn, the counter-titrn, 
 and thtftand, are a tranflation of xht Strophe, Antiftrcphe, and Epode, which 
 divided the Greek odes. 
 
 The Charm in the Majqite of the ^eens, may bear a comparifon with 
 \_^(xre ? if it do not excel] the witches long in "iVIacbeth." 
 
 His Elegy on the death of the Marchicnejs of JVinchefler has been imitated 
 by Pope, in his pathetic Elegy " to the memory of an unfortunate Lady." 
 His poetry has more ftrength than fmoothnefs : his vcrfification is fom^e- 
 times flowing and eafy ; but more frequently harfn, and even deficient in 
 meafnre. In all his pieces are to be found marks of good fenfe, a ftrong, 
 and fometimcs a fubUme vein of poetry, fterlingwit, m.oral latire, and un- 
 rivalled erudition." 
 

 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. £3 
 
 The foregoing (ketch being intended as an introduction only to the 
 following memoirs of a few performers, accompanying their portraits, 
 the reader is requefted to confider it merely as fuch ; to receive the 
 memoirs of early aflors, however fcanty, as the beft in the editor's 
 power to compile ; and to pardon the brevity of what is faid of more 
 modern performers, &c. as full accounts of moft of them are to be found 
 in books in almoft every one's poffellion. 
 
 RICHARD PERKINS 
 
 WAS one of the performers belonging to the Cockpit Theatre 
 in Drury-lane. His name is printed among those who a61ed in Hati- 
 nibal and Scipio, by Nabbes ; The Wedding, by Shirley ; and 77ie 
 Fair Maid of the JVeJt, by Heyxvood. 
 
 After the playhoufes were fliut up, on account of the confufion arifing 
 fiom the civil wars, Perkins and Sumner, who belonged to the fame 
 houfe, lived together at Clerkenwell, where they died and were buried. 
 They both died fome years before the reftoration. 
 
 Dodfley's Old Plays, fecond edition, v. 8, p. 303. 
 
 In " The Prologue to the Stage at the Cockpit," fpoken before the 
 reprefentation of Marlowe's Jew of Malta, in which the famous Ed- 
 ward AUeyn had originally performed the charafter of JBarabas, now 
 attempted by Perkins, this apology for him appears. 
 
 " ■ nor is't hate 
 
 " To merit, in him who doth perfonate 
 " Our Jew this day, nor is it his ambition 
 " To exceed, or equal, being of condition 
 G 
 
24; THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 " More modest ; this is all that he intends, 
 " (And that too at the urgence of fonie friends) 
 " To prove his beft, and, if none here gainfay it, 
 " The part he hath ftudied, and intends to play it." 
 
 Wright, in his Hifloria Hijlriotnca, fays, " Thofe of principal note 
 at the Cockpit, were Perkins, Michael Bowyer, Sumner, William Allen, 
 and Bird, eminent aftors, and Robins, a comedian. " By this diftinc- 
 tion Wright feems to have appropriated the title of actor to a performer 
 of tragic chara61ers. 
 
 At the conclufion of Wcbfter's White, Devil, 1631, is the following 
 eulogium on Perkins. 
 
 " For the a£lion of the play, 'twas generally well, and I dare affirme, 
 with the joint teftimony of fome of their owne quality, (for the true 
 imitation of life, without driving to make nature a monfler) the beft 
 tliat ever became tliem: whereof, as I make a general! acknowledgement, 
 fo in particular, I must remember the well approved industrie of my 
 friend Majier Perkins, and confelTe the worth of his action did crowne 
 both the beginning and end." There is great intelligence in his coun- 
 tenance, which is very expressive ; and, if the face be an index of the 
 mind, we may reafonably fuppofe that he felt and pourtrayed the paf- 
 fions like another ^//ej/«. 
 
 Perkins wrote a copy of verfes prefixed to Hei/toood'^ Apology for 
 Actors. 
 
Tom: jB owjj) <. 
 € '0-m:bid JA.W , 
 
 «e^ ^riacTLoZ 2*{^^Ci.*r-£ c^^^u/^^ic^ <^<i?f 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE- 25 
 
 TOM BOND. 
 
 OF Bond nothing is known to the picfent editor, but that he 
 atled in Shakerlej' Marmion's comedy of Hollands Leaguer, 1632. 
 
 To Chapman s Bussy D'Ambois, a Tragedy, 1641, (firft printed in 
 1607) is prefixed a Prologue ; in fome refpefts fimilar to that relating 
 to Perkins, on his attempting the part of Barabas : in Mhich are the 
 following lines. 
 
 -Field is gone 
 
 " Whofe aftion firft did give it name, and one 
 " Wlio came the neerefl: to him, is denide 
 " By his gray beard to (hew the height and pride 
 " Of D'Ambois youth and braverie ; 
 
 " — — - — — a third man with his bed 
 
 " Of care and paines defends our intereft ; 
 " As Richard he was lik'd, nor doe wee feare, 
 " In perfonating D'yimbois, hee'Ie appeare 
 " To faint, or goe lefle, (b your freeconferit 
 " As heretofore give him encouragement. " 
 
 It has been fuggefted to the editor by J. P. Kemblc, Efq. Manager 
 of Drury-lane Theatre; in Avhofe matchless collc£lion of Old Plays is 
 the abo\'e-mentioned edition of Bu/fy D'Ambois ; and who is no less 
 acute in the ftudy, than afte£ling on the ftage ; that the above lines 
 allude to, and by the third man is meant, the now-fo-little-knowu 
 Tom Bond. IMr. Keinble is almoft certain that he has met with fuch 
 information in fome old traft, or poem ; but, not having taken a me- 
 
!2^ 
 
 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 morandum, he cannot noM' refer to it. Should this be the fa£l, we may 
 conclude that Bond was an aflor of fome celebrity ; nor, were it other- 
 Avife, is it likely that liis portrait fliould have been thought Avorthy of 
 prefervation : had he lived at a later period, we (hould, no doubt, have 
 had fome information concerning him from honeft Old Downes ; but for 
 whofe Rofcius A7igUcatnis we fhould have known little or nothing of 
 fome celebrated aftors : many fuch, in the infancy of the Englifli theatre, 
 hexing Jlrutted and fretted their hour upon the Jiage, are heard of no 
 more, not having left a rack behind ! 
 
 To rescue from oblivion the names, and the names only, of feveral 
 aftors ; of whom no mention is made in any theatrical hiftory, or docu- 
 ment, knoAvn to the editor ; the following is appended. 
 
 In a copy of the firft edition of Ben Jonfon'* Every Man in his Hu- 
 mour, 1601 ; (in the editor's poffeffion) in which the fcene is laid in 
 Ital}', and the chara£ters have Italian names : the aftors' names, fome 
 at length, fome abbreviated, are written oppofite to the charafters ; in 
 an old hand, very fimilar to, if it be not really, Ikn Jonfon's own hand- 
 writing: xiz. 
 
 " The number and names of 
 the Actors. 
 
 Lorenzo fenior. 
 
 Lane. 
 
 Giulliano. 
 
 Tafb : 
 
 Profpero. 
 
 Quintin. 
 
 Lorenzo junior. 
 
 Cary. 
 
 Thorello. 
 
 Yorke. 
 
 Biancha. 
 
 [no name] 
 
 Stephano. 
 
 Blaxton. 
 
 Hefperida, 
 
 [no name] 
 
 Do£lor Clement. 
 
 Collin : 
 
 Peto. 
 
 Turrit. 
 
 Bobadilla. 
 
 Leyb : 
 
 Matbeo. 
 
 JRynolds. 
 
 Mufco. 
 
 Fr: 
 
 Pizo. 
 
 [no name] 
 
 Cob. 
 
 Hinde. 
 
 Tib. 
 
 War." 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 27 
 
 ■ Between the chara£tcrs and the aftors' names, Pizo excepted, are alfo 
 •written the two or three firft letters of the names of fome of the above- 
 mentioned performers, oppofed to different charafters from thofe al- 
 lotted them in the above lift ; and of otliers, wbo do not occnr therein : 
 all which have a pen drawn through them. Under Bi/nolds has been 
 written another name, it is believed, Greene ; making both names in- 
 dillin£l. The curious in dramatic lore will not, it is hoped, be difpleafed 
 with even trifles fuch as thefe. 
 
 In Nafli's " Pie7-ce Paiilesse his Supplication to the DivcU,'" 159G, is 
 a " defence of plays," in which four aftors are fpecified ; two of them, 
 Tarlton and Alley n, are known to us by vaj-ious anecdotes and enco- 
 miums ; many of M'hich have been collefted by the prcf^nt editor, and 
 publiihed in Harding's Biographical Mir^ror ; of the other two, we 
 know little more than their names. Knell and Boitlcy : though, from 
 what follows, it appears that in their time they equalled, if not furpaffed, 
 all-others. Nafh fays, " if I ever write any thing in Latinc, (as I hope 
 one day I fliall) not a man of any defert heere amongft us, but I will 
 have up. Tarlton, Ned Allen, Knell, Bentley, fliall be made known to 
 Fraunce, Spayne, and Italie : and not a part that they furmounted 
 in, more than other, but I will there note and fet downe, with the 
 manner of their habites and attyre. " Which promise it is "devoutly 
 to be wijhed" he had performed. In " Emendations and Additions" to 
 "An Hiftorical Account of the Rife and Progrcfs of theEnglifli Stage," 
 by Edmund Malon-e, Efq. in his edition of Shahfpeare, 1790, is the 
 following curiofity relating to Knell, Bentley, Alleyn, and Peek. 
 
 Mr. Malone fays, I infert the following letter, M'hich has been lately 
 found at Dulwich College, as a literary curiofity. It fliews how very 
 highly Alleyn tlie player Mas eftimatcd. What the v^ager was, it is now 
 impoffible to afcertain. It probably was, that Alleyn would equal his 
 predeceflbrs Knell and Bently, in fome part which they had performed, 
 
 H 
 
-8 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 and in which his contemporary, Gcora:e Peel, had likewife heen ad- 
 mired. " Your anfwerthc other night fo well pleafed tlie gentlemen, 
 as I M'as fatisfied thercM-ith, though to the hazard of the wager : and 
 yet my meaning was not to prejudice Feelers credit, neither wolde it, 
 though it pleafed you fo to excufe it. But bcinge now growen farther 
 in queftion, the partie affeQed to Bently, fcornynge to win the wager 
 by your deniall, hath now given you libertie to make choyce of any 
 one play that either Bently or Knell plaide ; and lead this advantage 
 agree not with your mind, he is contented both the plaie a,nd the 
 tyme fliall be referred to the gentlemen here prefent. I fee not how 
 you canne any waie hurt your credit by this aftion : for if you excell 
 them, you will then be famous ; if equall them, you win both the 
 wager and credit; if fliort of them, wee mull and will faie, Ned Allen 
 
 STILL. 
 
 Your friend to his power, 
 
 W. P. 
 
 " Deny mee not, fweet Ned ; the wager's downe, 
 " And twice as murhe commaunde of me or myne ; 
 " And if you wynne, I fwear the half is thine, 
 " And for an overplus an Englilh crowne : 
 " Appoint the tyme, and flint it as you pleas, 
 " Your labor's gaine, and that will prove it eafe." 
 
 This letter is, in refpecl to the time when it was written, as if an admirer 
 
 of Mr. Kemble's talents flioukl now incite him to a fimilar trial of 
 
 dramatic (kill, in fome chef d'oeuvres of thofe great mailers of tlie hif- 
 
 'trionic art, Garrick and Barri/ ; the Kitely of one, or Anthony of the 
 
 other. Alleyn, were there no other monument of his fame, has an im- 
 
 ' periflia'ble one in J^cn Jonjcn's panegyrical verfes on him ; of Knell, 
 
 ' Bentley, and Peele, whom the great Alleyn fhrunk from a comparifon 
 
 with, fcarcely any memorial is left but the bare mention of their names. 
 
~^IL,1.J^^:B-I C^VJgT^rTRKBHT 
 
 ^^ ^■''■■^■^^,1 JFU^":^ i>-. _Z?44.ii«/Ji-^ r^lla^*. . 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. g^. 
 
 WILLIAM CARTWRIGHT. 
 
 DOWNES's Rofcius Anglicauiis, printed in 1708, begins 
 thus : "In the reign of King Charles the Firft, there were fix plav- 
 houfes allow'd in town : The Black-Frt^ars Company ; His Ma- 
 jelly's Servants ; The Bull, in St. Johns-Jlreet ; another in Salijhury 
 Court; another caird The i^or^?/«e ; another at the Globe; and the 
 fixth at the Cockpit in Drury-Laiic, all which continu'd afting till 
 the beginning of the Civil Wars. The fcattered remnant of feveral of 
 thefe houfes, upon King Gharles''s reftoration, fram'd a company who 
 acted again at the 13ull, and built them a new houfe in Gibbon 6 Taint'' 
 Court, in Clare- Alarhet ; in wliich two places they continu'd aflini;; 
 alll66'0, 1661, 1662, and part of 1663. In this time they built them 
 a new theatre in Drury-Lqne : Mr. Thomas Killigrcw gaining a patent 
 from the King in order to create them the King's Servants ; and from 
 that time they call'd thenrfelvcs his Majcfty's Company of Comedian:; 
 in Drury-Lane. 
 
 Whofe names were, viz. 
 
 Mr. Theophilus Bird Mr. Robert Shatterel, 
 
 Mr. Hart. Mr. ^Villiam Shatterel. 
 
 Mr. Mohun. Mr. Duke. 
 
 Mr. Lacy. Mr. Hancock. 
 
 Mr. Burt. . Air. Kynafloii. 
 
 Mr. Cartwriglit. ^Mr. Winterfcl. 
 
 Mr. Clun. Mr. Bateman. 
 
 Mr. Baxter- Mr. Blaudeu." 
 
so TJHE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 A note on this liH-, by I\Ir. Thomas Davics, in the fecond edition of 
 Rofdus Jug/icaniis, printed in77/c Literary Miifeiim, 1792, fays, "It ap- 
 pears by this hft of the a£lors of Drury-Lane, that all the [furviving] 
 performers who had a£led before the civil wars, were felefted to com- 
 plete the King's company; and Kytiajlon taken from the company that 
 a£led under Rhodes, the bookfeller, at the Cockpit, Drury-Lane. 
 JVinterfel originally belonged to the private houfe, in Salif bury- Court ; 
 and is mentioned in the Key to the Rehearfal as a very judicious a£^or. 
 Cartxvinght was of the fame company of a6lors as IFinterfel." 
 
 Cartwright, therefore, was one of the old fiock ; and, if not one of 
 the original performers in Shakfpeare and Jonfon's plays, had per- 
 formed with thofe Avho were. 
 
 After the mention of others who " came not into the company 'till 
 after they had begun at Driay-Lane," Downes fays, "The company 
 being thus compleat, they opened the new theatre in Drury-Lane, on 
 Thitrfday, in Eajier week, being the 8th day oi April, 1663, with the 
 Humourous Lieutenant." Then follows a lift of plays reprefented by 
 this company, in which Cartwright performed the following charac- 
 ters. Corbaccio in The Fox, Morofe in The Silent Woman, Sir Epi- 
 ciu-e iNIammon in the Alchemift, Lygones in A King arid No King, 
 Brabantio in Othello, FalftaflF in King Henry the Fourth, Piieft in 
 The Indian Emperor, Major Oldfox in the Plain Dealer, ApoUonius 
 in Tyrannick Love, IMario in the Affignation, John in The Deftruc- 
 tion of Jerufalem, Harmogenes in ]Marriage Alamode, Lord Latimer 
 in The Black Prince, Abenamar in The Conqueft of Granada, and 
 Cacafogo iu Rule a Wife and Have a Wife. 
 
 After giving individual praife to Hart, Mohun, andWinterfel, Downes 
 adds ; "Then ]\Ir. Burt, Shatterel, Cartxcright, and fcveral other good 
 aftors, but to particularize their commendations would be too tedious ; 
 I refer you therefore to the feveral books, their names being there in- 
 ferted." Meaning, the Dramatis Perfonje of the feveral plays in which 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 31 
 
 they performed. A note by Mr. Davies, in the fecond edition of Ro/cius 
 Angticanus, fays ; " Lacy play'd Faljlaff during the life of Cart- 
 'o.'right ; on account, I fiippofe, of his fuperior excellence : Langbaint 
 fpeaks of Lac I/' s admirable reprefentation of Falftaff." 
 
 This, however true, does not derogate from the merit which Cart- 
 wright might have previoufly polfeffed ; he was now grown old, and had 
 perhaps loft fome of his former fpirit and humour, which qualities the 
 younger Lacy poflelfed in a very eminent degree : for, ftrange as it 
 may appear to thofe not converfant with the ftage, it is an undoubted 
 truth, that, to perform an old charafter, fuch as Falftaff in particular, 
 Avell, the aftor muft poflTefs that vigour and vivacity feldom enjoyed in 
 the decline of life. 
 
 After much ftage-hiftory, irrelevant to Cartwright, DoAvnes fays ; 
 " All the preceding plays, being the chief that were afted in Dorfet- 
 Garden, from November I67], to the year 1682; at which time the 
 patentees of each company united patents ; and, by fo incorporating, 
 the Duke's company were made the KiNg''s company, immediately re- 
 moved to the Theatre-Royal in Drury-Lane. Upon this union, Mr. 
 Ha7^t, being the heart of the company under Mr. Killigrezvs pa- 
 tent, never a£led more, by reafon of his malady, being aftlifled with 
 the stone and gravel, of which he died fome time after : having a falary 
 of forty fliiUings a week to the day of his death. But the remnant of 
 tliat company, as Major Mohun, Mr. Cariwright, Mr. Kynajion, Mr. 
 Griffin, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Duke JVatfon, Mr. Poxcel fenior, Mr. 
 IFilt/iiire, Mrs. Corey, Mrs. Bowtell, Mrs. Cook, Mrs. Motitford, 
 &c." [continued to perform. Ihould follow, but is wanting.] 
 
 Downes proceeds. " The mixt company then reviv'd the feveral 
 old and modern plays, that Avere the property of Mr. ICilligrexv : as 
 Rule a Wife and Have a fH/e; Mr. Betterton a£ting Michael Perez ; 
 Don Leon IVIr. S^nith ; Cacafogo Mr. Cartwright; Margaretta Mrs. 
 Barry ; Ejlifania, Mrs. Cook:" 
 
 I 
 
32 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 This is the laft mention of Cartwright by Downes. 
 
 Davies, in his Dramatic Mifcdlanies, 2d. edition, Vol.1, p. 213, 
 fays; "The original performer of Falflaffwas, doubtlefs, that excellent 
 comedian W. Lowin ; [whom Cartwright had, in all probability, feen 
 perform that charaQer] the praife and boaft of his time for variety of 
 comic parts. In Downes's Rofcius Anglicanus, M'e have the name 
 of Cartwright for FalHafF's reprefentative, foon after the Reftoration. 
 Little is faid of this player by any ftage-hiftorian. We find his name 
 in the Rehearfal, in Avhich he fpoke Bayes"s prologue, I think, and 
 a£ted one of the Majefties of Brentford. Cartwright was a bookseller, 
 and lived in Turn-ftile, Holborn. He left his books by will to Dul- 
 ■wich Hofpital. Lacy, a favourite aftor of Charles II. \v\\o had his 
 pifture drawn in three different chara£lers, ilill to be feen at Hampton 
 Court, fuccceded Cartwright in Falitaff. Langbaine fpeaks of him as 
 the mod perfe6t comic player of his time." Whatever might have 
 been the comparative merits of Cartwright and Lacy, the former muft 
 have been an atlor of confiderable ability to fuftain fuch charafters as 
 Corbaccio, Morofe, Sir Epicure Mammon, Cacafogo, and Falftaff, with 
 Hart and Mohun, and, in his decline with Bettertoii, oppofed to him 
 in the plays wherein those characters occur. 
 
 In the firfl: volume of Lyfoiis' Environs of London are the fol- 
 lowing notices of C«r/rm^7i/. " The Catalogue [of the pi6tures in 
 the pifture-gallery of Dulwich College] Avhich is in the hand-writing 
 of Mr. Cartwright, by M'hom they were bequeathed to the college, 
 afcertains both their names and prices. IMany -which are there enume- 
 rated do not now appear ; perhaps Cartwright had difpofed of them 
 before his death." [Among the pictures are] "Mr. Cartwright, fen. 
 the actor ; My. Cartwright, jun. the a£lor. These pictures coft 15/ 
 each. The former of thefe, whofe name was William, was one of the 
 Palfgrave's fervants in 1622. The portrait, which is a very bad one, 
 reprefents him in a laced band and cuffs. Cartwright the younger, is 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 33 
 
 in a Vandyke dress ; of bim nothing certainly is known : lie probably 
 was fon to the former. There is a third portrait of a Cartwright, an 
 a£lor, called in the catalogue, ' my own portrait.' [This /"/^irf/ Cart- 
 Avright is the fubjeft of the prefent compilation] This is a good pifture 
 by Greenhill : he is reprefented in a black robe and flowing peruke, 
 with his hand on a dog's head. His name alfo was William. He was 
 one of Killigrew's company at the original eftablilTimcnt of Drury-Lane, 
 where he played Falftaff. This Cartwright, by his will dated Sep- 
 tember ld86\ left his books and pictures, feveral articles of furniture, 
 and 390 pieces of gold, to Dulwich College; but his fervants defrauded 
 the College of the greater part both of the furniture and money, of which 
 they received only 65\." 
 
 [The portrait of Bond, the a£lor, is among thofe given by Cartxcriglit 
 to Dulwich College.] 
 
 "Adjoining the Audit-room [of the College], is a fmall library, in 
 which are the books bequeathed to the College by JNIr. Cartwright. 
 This library formerly contained a very valuable colIe6tion of old jilays, 
 Avhich Mere given by the College to J\Ir. Garrick, when he was making 
 his theatrical coiicftion, in exchange for fome more modern publica- 
 tions. There ftill remain fome fcarce editions of books in various 
 departments of literature, as it may be imagined would be found amongft 
 the (iock in trade of a bookfeller who lived in the middle of the lull 
 [the 17th] century." 
 
 From Cartzvi'ight'i having been a bookfeller, as well as an aflor, -we 
 may infer that he Avas induftrious ; from his dying poflefled of fo much 
 property, that he Avas prudent ; and, from his liberal bcqueft to Dul- 
 wich College, that he was charitable. 
 
54 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 JOSEPH HARRIS. 
 
 WHATEVER may be here faid of this once- celebrated after, 
 being derived from Downes's Rojcius Anglicanus ; which, hovever ill- 
 written, is, almoft, the only fource of information ; Mill be given as it 
 {lands in the firft edition of that rcpofitory, 1708 : with jNIr. Davies's 
 note in the fecond edition, 1789, and an account of Harris in his 
 Dramatic Mifcdlanies, 2d. edit. V. I, p. S53 feq. chiefly cxtra£led 
 from Downes. 
 
 Harris is introduced to us in the Rofcius Anglicanus in the follow- 
 ing manner. 
 
 " In the year 1d39, General Monk, marching then his army out of 
 Scotland to London. My. Rhodes a bookfeller being wardrobe-keeper 
 formerly (as I am informM) to King Charles the Firft's Company of 
 Comedians in Black-Friars ; getting a licenfe from the then go- 
 verning ftate, fitted up a houfe then for a6ting call'd the Cock-Pit 
 in Dritry-Lane, and in a fhort time com pleated his Company, Their 
 names were, viz. Mx. Betterton," Sec. After this company hail per- 
 formed there fome time, Downes thus proceeds; 
 
 " In this interim, Sir JVilliam Davenant gain'd a patent from the 
 King, and created Mr. Betterton, and all the reft of Rhodes's com- 
 pany, the King's Servants; Avho where fworn by my Lord Manches- 
 ter, then Lord Chamberlain, to ferve his Royal Ilighnefs the Duke 
 of York, at the Theatre in Lincoln s-Inn-Ficlds. Note, The Three 
 [refiie Four'] follozcing, xverc nexc actors taken in by Sir William, to 
 compleat the Company he had from Mr. Rhodes. 
 
 Mr. Harris. ]\Ir. Richards. 
 
 Mr. Price. Mr. Blagden." 
 

it' 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. ■JJ^ 
 
 Downcs then informs us that Sir William opened the new Theatre in 
 Lincohi's-Inn-Fields in the Spring, 1662, with the fii'ft and fecond 
 part of The Siege of Rhodes, " having new fcenes and decorations, 
 being tlie firft tliat e're were introduced in England. Mr. Betterton 
 afted Solyman the Magniticent, Mr. Harris, Alphonfo.'^ — " The next 
 was the Wits, a comedy, Avrit .by '&\\- JFiUiajn Davcnant ; the part of 
 the Elder Palatine, performed by Mr. Betterton; the Younger Pa- 
 latine by Mr. Harris.'' — " The tragedy of Hamlet ; Hamlet being 
 perform'd by Mr. Betterton, Sir JVilliam (having feen Mr. Taylor 
 of the Black-Frijars Company ad it, who being inftrufcted by the 
 author Mr. Shake/pear) taught Mr. Betterton in every particle of it; 
 which by his exa6t performance of it,* gain'd him efteem and r<?pu- 
 tation, fuperlative to all other plays. Horatio by Mr. Harris;" &c. 
 " No fucceeding tragedy for feveral years got more reputation, or 
 money to the company than this." 
 
 " Love and Honour, wrote by Sir JVilliam Davenant : this play 
 was richly cloath'd; the King giving Mr. Betterton his coronation 
 fuit, in which he acted the part of Prince Alvaro; the Duke oi York 
 giving Mr. Harris his, who did Prince Profpero; and my Lord of 
 Oxford gave Mr. Joleph Price his, who did Lionel the Duke of 
 Parma's fon." 
 
 " Romeo and Juliet, wrote by Mr. Shake/pear: Romeo was afted 
 by Mr. Harris;-\ Mercutio by Mr. Betterton;'' &c. " It took iiic- 
 
 * which by his exafl performance of it] This paflage is, unintentionally, omitted in tlie 
 fecund edition oi Ro/cius Angllcanus, 1789. F. G. W. 
 
 By the variety of parts which this gentleman fuftain'd, we may fairly conjeiflure that 
 ; as a general as well as favourite a<5lor ; a complete mafter of his profeffion : Romeo, Sir ^n- 
 drew yigue cheek, Cardinal Wolfey, Medley in the Fop's Fortune, [retfte The Man of Moefe^ 
 Sir jfojlln Jolly in She Wou'd if She Cou'd, Harry the Fifth, and a Ballad Singer, required 
 rarious and oppofite abilities. He either died, or left the ftage, fome years before the union of 
 the King's and Duke of York's company, for 1 do not fee hii name in any Dramatis Perfonas of 
 a new play, after 1 6;5." Mr. Davies's note in Rof. Jngl. zd. ed. Harris's name occurs, for 
 
 K 
 
36 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 •ceflively 13 days together, no other play intervening." — " T\relfth 
 Night, or What You Will; v/rote by Mr. Shake/pear, had mighty 
 fuccefs by its Avell performance: Sir Toby Belch by ]Mr. Beftcrton ; 
 Sir Andrew Ague-Cheek by Mr. Harris," &c. " All the parts being 
 juftly afted crown'd the play. Note, It Avas got up on purpofe to be 
 acted on Twelfth Night.'" — " The Villain, M'ritten by M-ipr Thomas 
 Porter, Mr. Betterton afting Monjieur Brifac, Mr. Harris, 3Ioii- 
 Jieiir Beaifpre.'' — " The Rivals, a play,* wrote by Sir IVilliam Dave- 
 nant ; the part oi Theocles was done by Mr. Harris; Philander by 
 Mr. Betterton/' — " King Henry the 8th: this play, by order of Sir 
 William Davenanf, was all new cloath'd in proper habits. The part 
 of the King was fo right and juftly done by Mr. Betterton, he being 
 inftru6ted in it by Sir JVilliam, who had it from old I\Ir. Loxven, that 
 had his inftruclions from Mr. Shake/pear himfelf, that I dare and \\\\\ 
 aver, none can, or will come near him in this age, in the perform- 
 'ance of that part: Mr. Harris's, performance of Cardinal JFolJey, 
 Avas little inferior to that, he doing it with fuch juft ftate, port and 
 mein, that I dare affirm, none hitherto has equall'd him : every part, 
 by the great care of Sir IVilliam, being cxa61:ly performed; it being 
 all new cloath'd and new fcenes; it continu'd atting 15 days toge- 
 ther with general applaufe."— -" Zore in a Tub, wrote by Sir George 
 Etheridge; Mr- Betterton performing Lord Beauford, Mr. Harris 
 Sir Frederick Frollick." — " Cutter oi Colcman-Strcct ; written by 
 INIr- Abraham Cuicley ; Colonel Jolly perform'd by Mr. Betterton, 
 Young Trucman Mr. Harris."' — " The Dutchefs of Mai fey, Avrote by 
 Mr. IVebJler : Duke i'Vrfl'i;2«?z^ perform'd by Mr. Harris: Bojola by 
 
 the part of Za«oo, in the Dramatis Perfonae oi £ujfy D'ylmbois, "newly revifcd by Mr, Duf- 
 fey," 1691. 
 
 * Altered from The Two Noble Kin/men. 
 
 Anecdotes of the celebrated Madam Davies, who performed in the Rivals, and was after- 
 wards niiilrefs to King Charles the Second, may be feen in the fecond edition of Rofcius An- 
 glic mm:. .. ■; 
 
THK ENGLISH STAGE. 'S7 
 
 Mr. Bctterfon. This play was fo exceeding excellently acted in all 
 parts; chiefly Duke Ferdinand and Bojbla; it lill'd the houfe 8 days 
 luccefTively, it proving one of the bell of ftock tragedies." — " The 
 tragedy oi Mujlapha, wrote by the Earl of Orreri/. The part of So- 
 hjman the Magnificent was done by ]\Ir. Betterton ; Majlapha Mr. 
 Ilai'ris." 
 
 " The firft new ])lay that Mas acted in \666 was the Tragcdi/ of' 
 Caml»yfes, King of Ferfia., Avrote by Mr. Settle: Cambyfes was pcr- 
 form'd by I\Ir. Betterton: Prexafpes the General, by jNIr. Harris." 
 
 " Richard the Third, or the EngliJIt Princels, wrote by IMr. Carrol, 
 Avas excellently well afted in every part; chiefly King Richard by 
 Mr. Betterton; Duke of Richmond hy Mr. Harris." — " King Ilenrt/ 
 the 5th, Mrote by the Earl of Orrery. Mr. //«;77.i' acted the King; 
 ■ JVIr. Betterton, Oiven Tudor, Air. Smith Duke of Burgundt/. This 
 play was iplendidly cloath'd : the King, in the Duke of Vor/c's coro- 
 nation fuit: Orven Tudor in \<Jmg Charles's, ; Duke of Burgundij in 
 the Lord of O^ybrt/'s. "* 
 
 Downes next informs us that Mr. Harris performed Warner, in the 
 comedy of Sir Martin JMarral; Sir Jojlin in She JVou'd if She Coiid; 
 Sir Pofitixe At-all, in The Tmpcrtinents ; Peregrine JFoodland, in Sir 
 Solomon Single; and Jppius, the Unjuft Judge, in 1'he Unjast Judge, 
 or Appius and Virginia. — Then follows, "The Man's the Mafter, 
 Mrote by Sir fi'illiam Davenant, being the lafl play he ever Mrote, lie 
 dying prcfently after; and was bury'd in JFeJiminJier-Abbey, near 
 Mr. Chaucer s, monument, our Avhole company attending his funeral. 
 This comedy in general was very well perform'd, efpecially the Mafter 
 by Mr. Harris; the Man by Mr. Underhill : Mr. Harris and Mr. 
 
 * Thefe coronation fuits of K. Charles II. the Duke of York, and Lord Oxford, firfl worn 
 -on the flage in Davenant's Love and Honour, were very unlike the coftume of Henry the 
 Fifth's time; Julius Ca;far might with almoft equal propriety have been performed in the doublet 
 of Oliver Ciomwell, 
 
"o8 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 Sandford finging the epilogue like two ftreet ballad-fingers. Note, 
 Mr. Cadeniau in tlm play, not long after our company began in Dor- 
 iet-Ganlen; his part being to fight with Mr. Harris, uhis unfortu- 
 nately with a Jliarp foil pierc'd near the eye, which fa maitfi'd both his 
 hand andfpeech, that he can make little ufe of either; for which mis- 
 chance he has receixrd a penfion ever fince 1673, being 35 years a 
 goe." 
 
 " The new Theatre in Dorfet-Garden being finilh'd, and our com- 
 pany alter Sir fVillia7iis death being under the rule and dominion of 
 his Midow the Lady Davenant, Mr. Betterton, and Mr. Harris, (Mr. 
 Charles Darenant her fon acting for her) they remov'd from Lincoln s- 
 Jnn-Fields thither. And on the ninth day of A'orew^Z'cr, I67I, they 
 open'd their new Theatre with Sir Martin Marral.'' 
 
 '' Next wasafiled Love in aTub. "' — " The firft new play acted there 
 was Kmg Charles the VIIL ot' France. '^ — " The next new comedy was 
 the Mamamouchi, or the Citizen turn'd Gentleman, -wrote by Mr. Ra- 
 renfcraft: Trichvwre and Fencing-Mafter, by Mr. Harris." — '^ Ep- 
 Jorn JVells, a comedy wrote by J\Ir. Shadwell: Mr. Rains was a6ted by 
 Mr. Harris: Bevil by M\\ Betterton." — "About this time [l673j 
 the company was very much recruited, having loll by death Mr. Jo- 
 feph Price," &c. " In their rooms came in Mr. Anthony Lee, Mr. 
 Gillo, Mr. Jevon, Mr. Percival, Mr. JniUains, who came in a boy, 
 and fervd Mr. Harris. " Downes then informs us that Mr. Harris 
 j)erformed Don John of Aiijlria, in Otway's Dojt Carlos; Medly, in 
 The Man of Mode, in 1 676; and Thoas, in T)y. Darenanfs opera of 
 Circe: which is the lafl mention of Harris in the Rofcius Anglicamis. 
 . Mr. Davics's account, in his Dramatic Mifcellanies, is fubjoined. 
 
 " Betterton was taught the part of Henry VIIL by Sir ^Villiam Da- 
 venant, from his remembrance of the performance of the admired and 
 accompliihcd Lowin, Old Downs gives it as his opinion, that nobody 
 can ever approach to the great excellence Mhich Betterton difplayed in 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE, Oif 
 
 aaing the King. Wolfey (fays the fame ftage-hiftoriati) was fupported 
 with great pride, port, and mien, by Harris, an aiSlor, of whom we 
 fcarce know any thing, except that he played a variety of charaders 
 in tragedy and comedy; from that circumftance we may infer, he 
 muil; have enjoyed very comprehenfive abiUtics for t!ie ftage. I find 
 his name, in Downs, prefixed to Romeo, and to Sir Andrew Ague- 
 cheek in TAvelfth Night, wliich are parts as diftant, in dramatic fea- 
 tures, as Hamlet and the Grave-digger. Harris Avas the aclor of thefe 
 and many other parts of equal difOmilarlty. Crbber could not have 
 feen him, for his name is not in his Apology- I imagine he left the 
 ftage much about the time the companies of Drury-Lane and Dorfet- 
 Gardens were, by the command of Charles H. united. Harris's 
 name is not to be found in the dramatis perfonaj of any play fuice that 
 period. [See the addition to Davies's note, fupra.] He had former- 
 ly been joint-diredilor of the Duke's Company with Lady Davenant 
 and Betterton, and might poffibly be offended that, in the treaty be- 
 tween Betterton, in conjunction with Davcnant's-fuccelfors, and Hart 
 and Kynafton, of the King's Theatre, he was left out. 
 
 *' By looking carefully over the Ptofcius Anglicanus, I find that Har- 
 ris was originally in the King's Company, but foon left it to join Bet- 
 terton. Perhaps there was another a6tor of that name. Downs is fo 
 confufed and inaccurate, that he does not properly attend to perfons, 
 times, or circumftances. His merit in fcveral characters befidc-; 
 Wolfey, is noticed by Downs, particularly in Sir Pofitive Atall, in 
 the Impertinents of Shadwell, taken from Moliere's Les Facheux, and 
 the part of the Matter, in The IVIan's the Mafter, by Davenant. His 
 talents were not confined to afl;ing alone ; fmging was another of his 
 qualifications: he and Sandford [famous for performing villainous and 
 terrific charailers] fang a humorous ballad-epilogue in the charaficr 
 of two flreet ballad-fingers ; the fame, I believe, which, many 
 years afterwards, was fung by that droll, honcfl, agreeable, fellow, 
 
 L 
 
^0 THK EN'GLISn STAC£. 
 
 Jeramy Bencroft, and Xat Clarke. In the play of The Man's the 
 Maiter, Harris had the misfortune to wound Cademan in the eye," 
 [which DowMies ftrang-ely fays " maim'd hoth his hand and fpeech"] 
 by ulinga lliarp inftead of a foil, which difabled him from afting ever 
 after. Cademan received a penfion from the players, on that ac- 
 count, Ave may reafonably fuppofe, as long as he lived, for he en- 
 joyed it in 1708, thirty-five years after the accident." 
 
 This is merely a fummary of Downes's account of Harris ; but, as 
 the materials for a memorial of this excellent aftor, twin-ftar of the 
 admirable Betterton, are fo few, it was judged proper not to omit 
 any that could be found. 
 
 In Betterton's, " Htftorxj of the Stage,'' printed by Curll, 1741, it 
 is faid, on the authority of "Old Memn Boma?i, the late aftor of 
 venerable memory," as Col/etj Cibber terms him, that " Mr. Harris 
 was bred a feal-cutter, and he made Mr. Jofeph irUliarns :i player." 
 
 The countenance of Harris, tho' it have a fuitable feverity in the 
 portrait of him in the character of Wolfey, poflefles features appa- 
 rently fufceptible of mild, or even comic exprcflion ; and we well 
 know that our all-verfatile Garrick had a face, whicli expreffed the 
 moft fublime of tragedy, and ridiculous of comedy: the fternnefs of 
 a Richard, the fportivenefs of a Ranger, the forrows of a Lufignan, 
 and the ftupidity of a Drugger! 
 
 WILLIAM PENKETHMAN. 
 
 THE carlieft notice of this comedian the editor has met with is in 
 Downes's Rcfcius AngUcanus ; wherein it is faid, " Frojn Candlemas 
 1704, to the 23d of ^/n7 1706, there were 4 plays commanded to 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE, ^l . 
 
 be aa'ed at Court at St. Jantes's, by the aftors of both houfes, viz. 
 Firft, J II fo7' Love: Mr. Betterton afting Marc Atitojiy,'" &c. "The 
 fecond M'as Sir Solomon, or the Cautious Cod-cotnb : Mr. Betterton a(5l- 
 ing Su Solomon ; l\Ir. Wilkf;, Peregrine; Mr. Booth, Yoiuig Single; 
 Mr. Dogget, Sir Arthur Addle; iSir. Johnjon, Juftice JFary ; Mr. 
 P/^A-e/^^jn^rM, Ralph;" &c. 
 
 " The next was The Merry JVivcs of Wind/or, a<5ted the 23d of 
 April, the Queen's coronation day ; Mr. Betterton ailing Sir John 
 Faljlqf; Sir Hugh by Mr. Dogget; Mr. Pa^-e by jSlr. Vanbruggen; 
 Mr. Pori, by Mr. Pozvell; Dr. Ca/?«, Mr. Finkethman;" &c. 
 Downes, afterwards, fays; ' . 
 
 " Next follows the account of the prefent Young Company (which 
 united with the Old, in October, 1706.) now ading at the Theatre- 
 Royal in Drury-Lane; Her Majefty's Company of Comedians, under 
 the government of Col. Bluett." 
 
 Here follow fliort charafters of n'ilks, Cyber, Efcourt, Booth, 
 Johnfon, Dogget, and Pinkethman. Of the latter Downes fays, 
 
 " Mr. Pinkethman, he's the darling of Fortunatus, he has gain'd 
 more in theatres and fairs in twelve years, than thofe that have tugg'd 
 at the oar of acting thefe 50." 
 
 Mr. Mills, Mr. Poxvell, ^ and Mr. Bullock, are added to this lift. 
 — In Curll's edition of ]5ettertou"s Hiftory of the Stage, 1741, it is 
 faid that '• Lincoln's-Inn-Fields Theatre v.as opened the laft day of 
 April, 1695. In this were," befides ]Mr. Betterton, Mrs. Barry, and 
 Mrs. Bracegirdle, " Mr. Smith, Mr. Sandford, Mr. Underbill, Mr. 
 Dogget, Mr. Verbruggen, Mr. Powell, Mr. Mountford, Mr. John- 
 fon, Mr. Penkethman, Mr. Bullock, Mr. Booth, &c." 
 
 Colley Cibber, in his " Apology,'' after a very high eulogium on 
 Leigh, in the chara6ter of Sir IVillia?n Belfond, in The Squire of Al- 
 fatia, fays, ','Now, though I obferv'd before, that iVoA-e.s never was 
 tolerably touch'd by any .of his fucceffors; yet, in this charader, I 
 
43 THE ENGLISH STAGE- 
 
 muft own, 1 have feen Leigh extremely well imitated, by my late fa- • 
 cetious friend Penkethman, who tho' far fhort of what was inimitable, 
 in the original, yet as to the general refemblance, was a very valuable 
 copy of him. There were tM^o other characters, of the farcical kind, 
 Geta in the Prophctefs, and Crack in Sir Courtly Nice, which, as 
 they are lefs confin'd to nature, the imitation of them was lefs difficult 
 to Penkethman ; who, to fay the truth, delighted more in the whim- 
 fical, than the natural. Penkethman had certainly, from nature, a great 
 deal of comic power about him ; but his judgment was by no means 
 equal to it ; for he would make frequent deviations into the whimfies 
 of an harlequin." Two or three entertaining pages follow, on Pen- 
 hethman's performance of Harlequin, in Tlie Emperor of tlie Moon, 
 for M'hich the reader is referred to the " Apology. '' 
 
 Davies, in his Dramatic Mifcellanie.s, fays; 
 
 " It muft be confeffed that the a6lors, termed low comedians, are 
 too guilty of adding to their author's text. Hippifley not feldom in 
 this point offended, Shuter oftener, King rarely, Jonfon and Wefton 
 fcarcely ever; but Will. Pinkethman, of merry memory, was in fucli 
 full poffeffion of the galleries, that he would hold difcourfe with them 
 for feveral minutes." 
 
 Davies relates the following inftance of his extreme licentioufncfs 
 in this refpeft. 
 
 " In the play of The Recruiting Officer, Wilks M-as the Captain 
 Plume, and Pinkethman one of the Recruits. The Captain, when he 
 enlifted him, afked his name : inftead of anfwering as he ought, Pin- 
 key replied, ' Why ! don't you know my name, Bob ? I thought 
 every fool had known that !' Wilks, in rage, whifpered to him the 
 name of the Recruit, Thomas Appletrce. Tlie other retorted aloud, 
 ' Thomas Appletree ! Thomas Devil ! my name is Will Pinkethman ;' 
 and, immediately addreffing an inhabitant of the upper regions, he 
 laid, * Hark you, friend ; don't you know mymame ?'— ' Yes, Mafter 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE." 43' 
 
 Pinkey (faid a refpondent) we know it very well.' The play-houfe 
 was now in an uproar; the audience, at iiift, enjoyed the petulant 
 folly of Pinkethman, and the diftrcls of Wilks ; but, in the progrcfs 
 of the joke, it grew tirefome, and Pinkey met with his defcrts, a 
 very fevere reprimand in a hil's ; and this mark of difplcafure he 
 c-Iianged into applaufe, by crying out, with a countenance as melan- 
 choly as he could make it, in a loud and naial twang, OdJ'o! I fear 
 I am uroag! Cibber lays of Penkethman, " When it has been his ill 
 fortune to meet with a difgraccia, I have known him fay apart to 
 himfelf, yet loud enough to be heard — Odfo! I believe I am a little 
 itro7ig here! v/hich once was fo well rcceiv'd, by the audience, that 
 they turn'd their reproof into applaufe. " 
 
 In a poem, called " The Players :"' a Satire. 1733, arc the following 
 lines, with the fubjoined note. 
 
 " Quit not your Theme to win the gaping Rout, 
 
 " Nor aim at Piriiys Leer, with — blood — I'm out. 
 
 " An arch dull Rogue, who l^ts the Bufinefs cool, 
 
 " To fliew how nicely he can play the Fool, 
 
 " Who with Buffoonery his Dulnefs clok.es, 
 
 " Ceferves a cat of nine tails for his Jokes." 
 
 " This was not defigned as an invidious refleftion on the memory of Mr. Penhethman, who 
 was a pleafant and fuccefsful comedian ; but to caution others from taking fuch liberties, as 
 he very often did; which have been cenfured in him, notwithftanding his uncommon 
 pleafantty : and muft appear very monftrous in perfons of lefs humour than Mr. Pen- 
 kethman. ' 
 
 Penkethman was the original Trappanti, in Gibber's She JPou'd and 
 She JVou'd not ; and Don Lewis, in the fame author's Lore makes a 
 Man; or. The Fop's Fortune: which latter charafter, as ading is too 
 often imitative of others, the editor has feen that excellent comedian 
 ^/■M«r perform i with the, qffumed, i-id.iA ion<xoi Penkethman. 
 
 u 
 
44 THE ENGLISH STAGS. 
 
 GEORGE FAROUHAR. 
 
 THERE are fo many circumftantial accounts of this gentle- 
 iTiau extant ; prefixed to his works in tM'o volumes ; in the Life of 
 AVilksj the celebrated actor, printed for Curll, 1733 ; in Gibber's (as 
 it is called) Lives of the Poets ; the Biographia Dramatica ; &c. that 
 it is neccffary to fay here, only, that he Avas born at Londonderry, in 
 Ireland, 1678 ; that he attempted the ftage, M'ithout faccefs ; that he 
 came to England -with Mr. Wilks ; that he obtained a commiiVion in 
 the army from the Earl of Orrery ; and that he was the author of the 
 following dramatic pieces ; Lore and a Bottle, The Conjlant Couple, Sir 
 Harry Wildair, The Inconfiant, The Stage Coach, (in conjunction with 
 JSIottcux) The Kecruit'ing Officer, The Tzv'in Rivals, The Beaux' Stra- 
 tagem ; Poems and EJays ; printed in the firft volume of his works ; and 
 a Pofthumous Poem, called Barcelona. He died, during the run of his 
 laft comedy, The Bcaur Stratagem, the latter end of April, 1707. 
 
 MISS NORSA. 
 
 THIS Lady's family was intimate witli i\Ir. Rich; antl, on !\Iif3 
 rcnton'a marriage with the Duke of Boltoti, TMifs Nor/a was thought 
 the moft proper perfon to fiiccecd her in the character of Polh/, in The 
 Beggar's Opera: Ihe performed but one feafon. A nobleman took her 
 off' the ftage, with the concurrence of her parents; to whom he gave 
 
( >:K {j'Pi Ur E : t 'AR Q r H iV'K 
 

 
 
 s^ \5r 
 
 S-^... • ' 
 
 Mi- 
 
 
T.HE O PHI JL r K^ C IB B E ]R o C^^M-ui^i^iTr, 
 In t/fr CAaTnctcr of a Rne 6'e^td^man.■ 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE, 45 
 
 a bond, by which he engaged to marry her on the demife of his wife ; 
 from whom he had been feparated. 
 
 This information, which is all the editor has been able to meet with 
 on the fubjecl, was connnunicated to him by a Lady, now living, for- 
 mcrl}' well-known in the theatrical world by the name of Egertoti; 
 v,\\o was the original performer of Mrs. Fullmer, in the comedy of 
 TheJVcft Indian, and who Avas the god-daughter of JNIifs Nor/a. ]\Irs. 
 Egerton, now Mrs. Kclfe, performed feveral comic characters at 
 Drury-Lane Theatre, under Mr. Garrick's management, A^ith great 
 applaufe ; particularly ]\Iai-ia, in Txcelfth Niglit, and 3I(i(kmoi/cl/e 
 in Tlie Provoked Jfife ; in which latter character, as flie can not be 
 excelled, it is probable flie will not be equalled : Mr. Garrick, who fo 
 admirabl}' performed Sir John Brute, in the fame comedy, at that 
 period, being ufed to fay, that Mrs. Egcrton's performance of Made- 
 moij'clle was as perfect and linifhed as any he had ever beheld. 
 
 THEOPHILUS CIBBER. 
 
 OF this unfortunate man there is a \'ery full account in tlie 
 B'tographia Dramatica, and obfervations on his afting in Davics's 
 Dramatic Mifcellanies ; he was fon of the celebrated Colley Gibber ; 
 was born November ^6, 1703 ; became an aftor at a very early pe- 
 riod ; firft married ]\Iifs Johnfon ; and, after her death. Miss Sufannah 
 Arne, who became, M-hen Mrs. Gibber, one of the fineft tragic aftrefles 
 ever feen ; which, as we learn from T. Gibber's trial with Mr. Sloper, 
 was in a great degree owing to the inftruftions fhe received from her 
 father-in-law, G, Gibber. 
 
46 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 Thcophilus produced the following dramatic pieces ; Henry the Sixth, 
 altered from Shakfpeare ; llie Lover ; Patie and Peggy ; The Harlot's 
 Progrefs ; Romeo and Juliet, altered from Shakfpeare ; and The Auc- 
 tion : befides feveral Elfays, &c. 
 
 After a life tiffued -s^ith too-often-deferved misfortunes, he embarked 
 for Ireland, to perform with Mr. Sheridan, in the year 1758 : the fhip 
 in which he failed was wrecked, and every foul on board periflied. 
 
 MR. REDMAN 
 
 WAS a comely, venerable-looking aftor, of an inferior clafs, be- 
 longing to Covent-Garden Theatre, during the management of Rich 
 and Beard ; he performed Ernefto in The Orphan, and fimilar parts, 
 which require only a grave afpeft and delivery : the time of his birth 
 and death are unknown to the editor; he was far advanced in life 
 when lad feen by him, and, it is conjeftured, has been dead about 
 twenty years. 
 
 His private charafter was irreproachable. To be a Betterton, a 
 Garrick, or a Kemble, is the lot of few who attempt the ftage ; but, 
 however mean their theatrical abilities, to leave a good if not a great 
 name behind them is in the power of all. 
 

Tho! B.^vis 
 
 ',„■, ,./• r'r„>^' Z.-fU T/lf^/r, 
 
-u THE EXGI.ISS STAGE, '47 
 
 THOMAS DAVIES 
 
 WAS a man of uncommon Irrength of mind, and prided 
 liimfelf on being through life a companion for his fuperiors. He was 
 born in or about the year 1712: in 17'38and 1729 he was at the uni- 
 verfitv of Edinburgh, completing his education ; and became, as 13r. 
 Johnfon ufed to fay of him, "learned enough for a clergyman." In 
 1736 his name occurs among the Pramatis Perfonse of Lillos celebrated 
 tragedy of FatalCurlofiiy, at the theatre in the Hay-market; M'here 
 he was the original performer of Young Wilmot, under the xnanage- 
 ment of Henry Fielding: he afterwards commenced bookfeller in 
 Duke's-Court, or Round-Court, near the Strand, but met with mis- 
 fortunes in trade which induced him to return to the ftage; and on 
 the S-ith of January, 1746, rewice Pre/eri'V/ was aded for his benefit 
 at Covent-Garden Theatre: when, as the play-bill fays, the ^art of 
 Pierre was attempted by him. Not fucceeding, probably, to his hopes 
 on a London ftage, he became an itinerant, and performed at York ; 
 where he married Mils Yarrow, daughter of an actor there, whofe 
 beauty Mas not more remarkable than her private charafter was ever 
 unfuUied and irreproachable. He alfo performed at Edinburgh the 
 characters of Romeo, Richard 3d. and Ranger. He then went to Dub- 
 lin ; and, with his wife, performed there. 
 
 He came thence to Drury-Lane theatre, Avith his wife, in 17J3; 
 and, on Mr. Havard being taken ill, appeared firlt in the charafter of 
 Stukely in Moore's tragedy of The Gamejier. Here Mr. and Mrs. Da- 
 vies remained feveral years in good eftimation with the town, and 
 played many characlers; if not with excellence, at leaft with propriety 
 and decency. 
 
48 THE ENGLISH STAGE. 
 
 In his Dramatic Jllfcellanies, he thus modeftly fpeaks of his o-\vn 
 performance on a particular occafion. " When ficknefs deprived the 
 ftage of this valuable man [Mr. Edward Berry], Mr. Garrick called 
 the M^ritcr of this Mifcellany to reprefent the character of Glofter [in 
 the Tragedy of King Lear]; the candour of the audience gave him 
 much more encouragement than he expefted ;" and in the fame enter- 
 taining work he thus fpeaks of his wife: " Mrs. Davies, during Mrs. 
 Gibber's illnefs, was invited to fupply her place. She did. not pretend 
 to imitate that M'hich was not to be attained by imitation, the aftion, 
 voice, and manner of Mrs. Gibber. Mrs. Davies's figure, look, and 
 deportment, were efteemed to be fo correfpondent with the idea of 
 this amiable character [Gordeliain King Ltar], that Ihe was difmiffed 
 Avith no inconfiderable degree of approbation." 
 
 Ghurchill's indifcriminate fatire, in the Rofciad, endeavoured to fix 
 fome degree of ridicule on Mr. Davies's performance; but the pen of 
 a fatirilt is not entitled to implicit credit : it, however, had the ill- 
 efFecl, Dr. Johnfon laid, of driving this refpeftable performer from 
 the ftagc. 
 
 In 1762 he quitted the theatre, and refamed his former occupation 
 of a bookfeller; but, not meeting with that fuccefs which his attention 
 and abilities merited, in 1778 he became a bankrupt; when, fuch w^as 
 the regard entertained for him by his friends, that they readily con- 
 fcntcd to his rc-eftabliiliment; and none, as he laid himfelf, were 
 more aciivc tn fcrve him, than thofe who had fuffered molt by his mis- 
 fortunes. But all tlicir efforts might poflibly have been fruitlefs, if his 
 great and good friend Dr. Johnfon had not exerted all his poAver in 
 liis behalf He called upon all over whom he had any influence to af- 
 iill Tom Davies, and pre\'ailed on Mr. Sheridan, patentee of Drury- 
 Lauc theatre, to let him have a benefit, which he granted on the moft 
 liberal terms. This event took place May 27, 1778; when Mr. Da- 
 ■\ ics made his laft appearance on the l^age in the character of Fainall, 
 
THE ENGLISH STAGE. 49 
 
 in Congrevc's comedy of The Way of the JVorld; and acquitted him- 
 felfto the fatisfaclion of his friends and the pubHc. In 1780, by a 
 well-timed publication, The Life of Mr. Garnck, in two volumes, 
 which palfcd through four editions, he acquired both fame and money; 
 he alio publilhed, in three volumes, his Dramatic Mifcellanies, before- 
 mentioned : of which a fecond edition appeared a few days only be- 
 fore his death. His other Avorks are. Memoirs of Mr. Henderfon, A 
 Revicxo of Lord Chejlerficld" s Characters, a Life of Maffinger, Lives 
 of Dr. John Echard, Sir John Davies, and Air. Lillo; and fugitive 
 pieces without number, in profe and verfe, in The St. James's Chroni- 
 cle, and almoft all the public news-papers. 
 
 He collected and republifhed, in three volumes, the beautiful paf- 
 toral poems, &c. of William Browne,* who flouriilied in the reign of 
 James I. and who Aras complimented Avith commendatory vcrfes by 
 three of the beft paftoral poets this nation has produced ; Drayton, 
 Jonfon, and the unjuftly-contemned Withers. 
 
 He alfo republiflied the poems of Sir John .Davies, Carew, and 
 others. He likewife publiihed Fugitive Pieces, in two volumes, to 
 Avhich Avas afterAvards added a third volume ; Avherein Avere many 
 pieces of biography. Sec. by Dr. Johnfon, Avhofe behaviour on that 
 occafion is thus defcribed by Mrs. Piozzi. "When Davies printed 
 X\\e Fugitive Pieces Avithout his [Dr. J.'s] knoAvIedge or confent; How, 
 fiid I, Avould Pope have raved, had he been ferved fo? ' We Ihould 
 never (replied he) have heard the laft on"t, to befure; but then Pope 
 Avas a narrow man. I Avill, hoAvever (added he), ftorm and blufter my- 
 felf a little this time ;' — fo Avent up to London in all the Avrath he 
 could mufter up. At his return I alked iioAv the affair ended : ' Wiiy 
 
 * It is a great blemifliin Davies's edition of " The Works of WiUlam Browne," that, ov.'- 
 inp- to fome overfighl, or from their having been reprinted from an imperfeil copy, the conteritq 
 of three pages, 78, 79, and 80, and a couplet in page 81, of editior. 1625, are wanting; they 
 fhouIJ follow page 99, in vol. i, of Davies's edition, 1772. 
 
50 THE EN'GLISH STAGE. 
 
 ■faid he) I ^ras a fierce fellow, and pretended to be very angry, and 
 Thomas was a good-natured fellow, and pretended to be very forry : 
 fo there the matter ended : I believe the dog loves me dearly. Mr. 
 Thrale (turning to my huiband), what Ihall you and I do for Tom 
 Davies? we will do foniething for him to be fure." The author of 
 the account of Mr. Davies in the Obituary of The Gentleman s Ma- 
 gazine, of which and other refpe6table publications free ufe has been 
 made in this compilation, fays that "he knew him well; and has 
 paffed many convivial hours in his company at a focial meeting, M'here 
 his lively fallies of pleafantry have been ufed to fet the table in a roar 
 of harmlefs merriment. The lafl time he vifited them he wore the ap- 
 pearance of a fpeftre ; and, fenfible of his approaching end, took a fo- 
 lemn valediftiou. Poor Ghoft ! how would it comfort thee to know, 
 that at a fubfequent meeting of thy fmcere friends, the impreffion of 
 thy laft appearance was not eradicated ; and that every breaft heaved 
 a fympathetic figh, lamenting the lofs of fo excellent an aflbciate!" 
 He died May 5, \ 785, aged about 73 ; for, in the poftfcript to the 
 fecond edition of his Dramatic Mifcellanies, pubhihed 1785, he men- 
 tions a circumftance which occurred, he fays, when he was in his ft- 
 venty-third year. 
 
 He was buried, by his OAvn defire, in the vault of St. Paul, Covent- 
 Garden. Thefollo\ving lines were written on the occafion. 
 
 Here lies the author, aftor, Thomas Davies : 
 Living he (hone a very rara avis. 
 The fcenes he play'd, life's audience muft commend : 
 He honour'd Garrick— Johnfon was his friend. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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 WILL INCREASE TO SO CENTS ON THE FOURTH 
 DAY AND TO $1.00 ON THE SEVENTH DAY 
 OVERDUE. 
 
 ,:;■, i a VJ 
 
 (,■ 
 
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 <..Ui- -*-'-' ' 
 
 
 •^"-C lb 1979 
 
 
 EEC. CIR. NOV 2 5 1979 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LP 21-100m-8,'34 
 
U C BfRKELFY LIBRARIES 
 
 CDSSlfiMbOa 
 
 829192 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA UBRARY 
 
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