Marsten has contributed eight plays to the stage, which were all acted at the Black Fryars with applause, and one of them called the Dutch Courtezan, was once revived since the Restoration, under the title of the Revenge, or a Match in [1]Newgate.  In the year 1633 six of this author’s plays were collated and published in one volume, and dedicated to the lady viscountess Faulkland.  His dramatic works are these: 

Antonio and Melida, a history, acted by the children of St. Paul’s, printed in 1633.

Antonius’s Revenge; or the second part of Antonio and Melida.  These two plays were printed in Octavo several years before the new edition.

Dutch Courtezan, a comedy frequently played at Black Fryars, by the children of the Queen’s Revels, printed in London 1633.  It is taken from a French book called Les Contes du Mende.  See the same story in English, in a book of Novels, called the Palace of Pleasure in the last Novel.

Insatiate Countess, a Tragedy, acted at White-Fryars, printed in Quarto 1603, under the title of Isabella the insatiable countess of Suevia.  It is said that he meant Joan the first queen of Jerusalem, Naples, and Sicily.  The life of this queen has employed many pens, both on poetry and novels.  Bandello has related her story under the title of the Inordinate Life of the Countess of Celant.  The like story is related in God’s Revenge against Adultery, under the name of Anne of Werdenberg, duchess of Ulme.

Male Content, a Tragi Comedy, dedicated to old Ben, as I have already taken notice, in which he heaps many fine epithets upon him.  The first design of this play was laid by Mr. Webster.

Parasitaster; or the Fawn, a comedy, often presented at the Black Fryars, by the children of the queen’s Revels, printed in Octavo 1633.  This play was formerly printed in quarto, 1606.  The Plot of Dulcimers cozening the Duke by a pretended discovery of Tiberco’s love to her, is taken from Boccace’s Novels.

What you will, a comedy, printed Octavo, London, 1653.  This is said to be one of our author’s best plays.  The design taken from Plautus’s Amphitrion.

Wonder of Women, or Sophonisba, a tragedy, acted at Black Fryars, printed in Octavo, 1633.  The English reader will find this story described by Sir Walter Raleigh, in his history of the world.  B. 5.

Besides his dramatic poetry he writ three books of Satires, entitled, The Scourge of Villany, printed in Octavo, London 1598.  We have no account in what year our author died, but we find that his works were published after his death by the great Shakespear, and it may perhaps be reasonably concluded that it was about the year 1614.

[Footnote 1:  The late Mr. C. Bullock, a comedian, and some time manager of Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields theatre, made a play from that piece.]

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR.