giary. For the Story, fee thofe that have writ his Life in particular, as Pietro Perondini, M. St. Sanctyon, Du Bec, &c. and thofe that have sreated of the Affairs of Turks and Tartars in general, in the Reigns of Bajazet and Tamerlane, as Laonicus, Chalcocondylas, Pet. Bizarus, Knolles, &c. He writ befides a Poem, call'd Hero and Leander; Whofe mighty Lines (fays One (e)) Mr. Benjamin Johnfon, a Man fenfible enough of his own Abilities, was often heard to say, that they were Examples fitter for Admiration, than Paralel. This Poem being left imperfect by our our Author, who (according to Mr. Philips (1) In fome riotous Fray, came to an untimely and violent End; it was finished by Mr. Chapman, and printed octavo Lond. 1606. Shakerley MARMION. A Gentleman born in the Reign of King Charles the Firft, at Ainoe, (in Sutton Hundred) in the County of Northampton,about the beginning of January A. D. 1602. He was bred up at Thame-School, in Oxfordshire, and at fifteen Years of Age was fent to the Univerfity of Oxford, where he became a Member of Wadham Colledge, and in 1624. he took his Master of Arts Degree. What further became of him, I know not, all that I am able to inform the Reader, is, that he was the Author of three Comedies, which have formerly been well approv'd, viz. (c) Bosworth's Poems, Pref. (f) Modern Pacts, p. 24. Antiquary, a Comedy, acted by her Majefties Servants at the Cock-pit, and printed quarto Lond. 1641. Aurelio's declaring his Marriage to the Duke and Leonardo, from Lucretia's Lodging, where he got in by her Maid's Affiftance, is an Incident (as I have already fhew'd) in feveral Plays. Fine Companion, a Comedy acted before the King and Queen at Whitehall, and fundry times with great applaufe at the Private House in Salisbury-court, by the Prince's Servants; printed quarto Lond.1633.and dedicated to the truly Noble, and his worthy Kinfman in all refpects, Sir Ralph Dutton. The Reader will find that Captain Porpuß, in Sir Barnaby Whig, is beholding to Captain Whibble in his Play, for fome of his Expreffions. Holland's Leaguer, an Excellent Comedy, often acted with great Applaufe, by the High and Mighty Prince Charles his Servants, at the Private Houfe in Salisbury-court, printed quarto Lond. 1632. The Author in this Play has fhewed his Reading, having borrow'd feveral things from Juvenal, Petronius Arbyter, &c. Mr. Winstanley has made no mention of our Author, and Mr. Philips (8) to prove his Character of him, that he is not an Obfcure or Uncopious Writer of English Comedy, has afcrib'd two Comedies to him, which belong to other Men; the Fleire being writ by Edward Sharpbam, and the Fair Maid of the Exchange (if we may believe Kirkman's Account) by Themas Heywood. (g) Modern Poets, p. 170. John John MARSTON... An Author that liv'd in the Reign of King James the Firft, who was a Contributor to the Stage in his Time, by Eight Plays which were approv'd by the Audience at the Black-fryars, and one of them, viz. Dutch Curtezan, was fome few Years fince, reviv'd with fuccefs on the prefent Stage, under the Title of The Revenge, or The Match in New-gate. The place of our Author's Birth, and Family, are to me unknown, neither can I recover other Information of him, than what I learnt from the Teftimony of his Bookfeller (h); That he was free from all Obfcene "Speeches, which is the chief caufe that makes 'Plays to be fo odious unto noft Men. That he 'abhorr'd fuch Writers and their Works, and profeft himself an Enemy to all fuch as 'ftufft their Scenes with Ribaldry, and larded 'their Lines with Scurrilous Taunts and Jefts: "So that whatsoever even in the Spring of his "Years, he prefented upon the private and pub'lick Theatre, in his Autumn and Declining 'Age he needed not to be afham'd of. An Excellent Character! and fit for the Imitation of our Dramatifts; most of whom would be thought to have throughly ftudyed Horace: I could wish therefore, that they which know him fo well, would call to Mind and practice his Advice; which is thus expreft (i), (1) Ep. Ded. to his Plays, 80. (i) De Arte Poetica. Silvis deducti caveant, me judice, Fauni, But leaving this, I fhall give the Reader an Account of his Plays in their Accuftom'd Order: having firft inform'd him, that fix of our Author's Plays are collected into one Volume, being publifht under the Title of The Works of Mr. John Marston, printed octavo Lond. 1633. and dedicated to the Right Honourable, the Lady Elizabeth Carie, Viscountess Faulkland. According to the Alphabet, I am to begin with, viz. Antonio and Melida, a Hiftory acted by the Children of Paul's, printed octavo Lond. 1633. Antonio's Revenge, or The Second part of Antonio and Melida; frequently acted by the Children of Paul's, printed in octavo. These two Plays were likewife printed in quarto above Years before this new Edition, viz. 1602. 30 Dutch Curtezan, a Comedy divers times prefented at the Black-fryars, by the Children of the Queens Majefties Revels; printed in octavo Lond. 1633 This Play was publifht long before in quarto viz. 1605. Cockledemoy's cheating Mrs. Mulligrub the Vintner's Wife, of the Goblet and the Salmon,is borrow'd from an old French Book called Les Contes du Monde: fee the fame Story in English, in a Book of Novels, call'd The Palace of Pleafure, in the laft Novel. Infatiate Counteß, a Tragedy acted at the White-fryars, printed quarto Lond. 1603. It being a common cuftom with our Author to difguife his Story, and to perfonate real Perfons,under feign'd Characters: I am perfwaded that in this Play, under the Title of Ifabella, the Infatiable Countefs of Suevia; he meant Joane the First Queen of Jerufalem, Naples,and Sicily: and I doubt not but the Reader who will compare the Play with the Hiftory, will affent to my conjecture. Many are the Writers that have related her Life, as Collenuccio, Simmoneta, Villani, Montius, &c. but I refer my English Reader to Dr. Fuller's Prophane State Ch. 2. That her Life has been the Subject not only of Hiftory, but of Poetry and Novels alfo, is manifeft from this Play, and the Novels of Bandello, who has related her Story under the Title of The Inordinate Life of the Countess of Celant. This Novel is tranflated into French by Belleforest, Tom. 2. Nov. 20. and poffibly our Author might build his Play on this Foundation. The like Story is related in God's Revenge against Adultery, under the Name of Anne of Werdenberg, Dutchefs of Ulme: See Hilt.'s. Male Content, a Tragicomedy, the first Defign being laid by Mr. Webster, was corrected and augmented by our Author,printed 4° Lond. 1604. and dedicated in the following Stile to Ben Johnson: Benjamini Johnfonio, Poeta Elegantiffimo, Graviffimo, Amico fuo candido & cort dato, Johannes Marfton, Mufarum Alumnus,afperam hanc fuam Thaliam D. D. Notwithstanding our Authors profeffion of Friendship, he after |