known. He is the Author of Four Plays, which have been applauded (whether with Juftice or no I leave to the Criticks) by Men, who have themselves been reputed Eminent for Poetry, as Mr. Waller, Sr. Robert Stapleton, Mr. Lodowick Carlell, and others: I fhall therefore only acquaint the Reader with their feveral Titles, and fubmit them to his further judg

ment.

Ormafdes, or Love and Friendship, a TragiComedy.

Pandora, or The Converts, a Comedy.
Selindra, a Tragi-comedy.

Siege of Urbin, a Tragi-comedy.

All thefe Plays were printed together in Folio, Oxon 1666.

There is another Play afcrib'd to our Author call'd The Imperial Tragedy, printed Fol. Lond. 1669. the chief part was taken out of a Latine Play, and very much alter'd by him for his own diverfion. But upon the Importunity of Friends, he was prevailed with to have it publifht; but without Name: becaufe many do cenfure Plays according to their Opinions of the Author: The Plot is founded on the Hiftory of Zeno the Twelfth Emperor of Conftantinople after Conftantine. Several Authors have writ his Story, as Marcellinus, Caffiodorus, Cedrenus, Evagrius, Zonoras, Baronius, &c.

John KIRKE.

A Writer, in the Reign of King Charles the Firft, of a Play call'd The Seven Champions of Christendome acted at the Cock-pit, and at the

Red

Red Bull in St. John's Street, with a general liking; printed 40. Lond. 1638. and dedicated to his much refpected and worthy Friend Mr. John Waite. This Play is written in a mixt ftile, and founded on that well known Book in profe, which bears the fame Title. See befides Dr. Heylin's Hiftory of St. George.

Ralph KNEVET.

An Author that liv'd about the fame time with the former. He writ a Play call'd Rhodon and Iris, a Pastoral, prefented at the Florists Feaft in Norwich, May the Third 1631. printed 4. Lond. 1631. and dedicated to the Right Worthipful Mr. Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham Efquire. This Paftoral is commended by Four Copies of Verfes.

sho tuo Thomas KYD.

-10An Ancient Writer, or rather Translator in the time of Queen Elizabeth, who publifht a Play call'd Pompey the Great his Fair Cornelia's Tragedy's effected by her Father and Husband's Down-caft, Death, and Fortune; printed 40. Lond. 1595. and dedicated to the Virtuously Noble, and rightly Honour'd Lady, the Coun tefs of Suffex. This Play is tranflated from the French of Robert Garnier, who in the Reigns of Charles the Ninth, Henry the Third, and Henry the Fourth, was accounted an Excellent Poet, tho' M. Rapin fays, His Tragedies with thofe of Rotrou, Serre, and others of that time, ate of a mean Character. Tis evident to

any

any that have read his Tragedies, which are Nine in Number, that he propos'd Seneca for his Model, and he was thought in those days. to have happily fucceeded in his Defign. This Tranflation is writ in blank Verfe, only here and there, at the clofe of a Paragraph (if I may fo fpeak) the Reader is prefented with a Couplet. The Chorus's are writ in feveral Measures of Verfe, and are very fententious."

A

L.

John LACY.

were

Comedian whofe Abilities in Action. fufficiently known to all that frequented the King's Theatre, where he was for many years an Actor, and perform'd all Parts that he undertook to a miracle: infomuch that I am apt to believe, that as this Age never had, fo the next never will have his Equal, at leaft not his Superiour. He was fo well approv'd of by King Charles the Second, an undeniable Judge in Dramatick Arts, that he caus'd his Picture to be drawn, in three feveral Figures in the fame Table. viz. That of Teague in the Committee, Mr. Scruple in The Cheats, and M. Galliard, in The Variety: which piece is ftill in being in Windfor-Caftle. Nor did his Talent wholly ly in Acting, he knew both how to judge and write Plays: and if his Comedies are fomewhat allied to French Farce, 'tis out of choice, rather than want of Ability to write

true

true Comedy. We have Three Plays extant under his Name, viz.

Dumb Lady, or The Farriar made Phyfitian, a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal; printed 4°. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the High-born and most Hopeful Prince, Charles, Lord Limrick, and Earl of Southampton. This Play is founded on a Comedy of Molliere's call'd Le Medecin malgré luy. If the Reader will take the pains to compare them together, he will eafily fee that our Author has much improv'd the French Play.

Old Troop, or Monfieur Ragou, a Comedy acted at the Theatre-Royal; printed 4o. Lond. 1672. and dedicated to the young Prince George Third Son to the Dutchefs of Cleveland. I fancy by the ftile, this Play likewife is founded on fome French Original, tho' my fmall Acquaintance with French Poets makes me fpeak only on Conjecture. Both thefe Plays were acted with univerfal Applaufe.

Sir Hercules Buffoon, or The Poetical Squire, a Comedy acted at the Duke's Theatre, and printed 40. Lond. 1684. This Play was brought upon the Stage, and publifht after the Author's Deceafe, the Prologue was writ by Mr.Durfey, the Epilogue by Jo. Heyns the Comedian, and both fpoken by the later. I know not how this Play fucceeded on the Theatre, but I am confident had the Author been alive to have grac'd it with his Action, it could not have fail'd of Applaufe. This Mr. Durfey has obferv'd in the beginning of his Prologue;

Te

Ye Scribling Fops, (cry mercy if I wrong ye) But without doubt there must be fome among ye. Know, that fam'd Lacy, Ornament o'th' Stage That Standard of true Comedy in our Age, Wrote this New Play:

And if it takes not, all that we can fay on't, Is, we've his Fiddle, not his Hands to play on't. John LEANARD.

A confident Plagiary, whom I disdain to stile an Author: One,who tho' he would be efteem'd the Father, is at beft but the Midwife to the Labour of others; I mean thofe Two Dramatick Pieces, which go under his Name. I know not how they were receiv'd on the Stage, but I am fure the Author deferv'd (tho' the Plays might not) to be damn'd for his vain-glorious Humour of re-printing another Man's Play, under his own Name, as he has done Mr. Brewer's Country Girl, under the Title of

Country Innocence, or The Chamber-maid turn'd Quaker, a Comedy acted at the Theatre Royal, printed 49. Lond. 1677. and dedicated to his Honour'd Friend Sr. Francis Hinchman. Whether his Patrons Inftructions (c) rais'd him to that height of prefumption as to publish another man's Play as his own, I pretend not to judge: but I am fure he has fufficiently made appear to the World that he is One of those Authors he fpeaks of, whofe Arrogance and Impudence are their chief dependency. Had our Author been as well acquainted with Martial, as (c) Epiftle Dedicatory.

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