The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) eBook

Theodore Watts-Dunton
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 363 pages of information about The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753).

The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) eBook

Theodore Watts-Dunton
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 363 pages of information about The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753).

Match me in London, a Tragi-Comedy, often presented, first at the Bull’s head in St. John’s-street, and then at a private house in Drury-lane, called the Phoenix, printed in 4to. in 1631.

VI.  Northward Ho, a comedy, often acted by the children of Paul’s, printed in 4to.  London, 1607.  This play was writ by our author and John Webster.

VII.  Satyromastix, or the untrussing the humourous poet, a comical satire, presented publickly by the Lord Chamberlain’s servants, and privately by the children of Paul’s, printed in 4to, 1602, and dedicated to the world.  This play was writ on the occasion of Ben Johnson’s Poetaster, for some account of which see the Life of Johnson.

VIII.  Westward Ho,[1] a comedy, often acted by the children of Paul’s, and printed in 4to. 1607; written by our author and Mr. Webster.

IX.  Whore of Babylon, an history acted by the prince’s servants, and printed in 4to.  London 1607.  The design of this play, by feigned names, is to set forth the admirable virtues of queen Elizabeth; and the dangers she escaped by the happy discovery of those designs against her sacred person by the Jesuits and bigotted Papists.

X. Wyatt’s History, a play said to be writ by him and Webster, and printed in 4to.  The subject of this play is Sir Thomas Wyat of Kent, who made an insurrection in the first year of Queen Mary, to prevent her match with Philip of Spain.

Besides these plays he joined with Rowley and Ford in a play called, The Witch of Edmonton, of which see Rowley.

There are four other plays ascribed to our author, in which he is said by Mr. Phillips and Winstanley to be an associate with John Webster, viz.  Noble Stranger; New Trick to cheat the Devil; Weakest goes to the Wall; Woman will have her Will; in all which Langbaine asserts they are mistaken, for the first was written by Lewis Sharp, and the other by anonymous authors.

[Footnote 1:  This was revived in the year 1751, at Drury-lane theatre on the Lord Mayor’s day, in the room of the London Cuckolds, which is now discontinued at that house.]

* * * * *

BEAUMONT and FLETCHER

Were two famous dramatists in the reign of James I. These two friends were so closely united as authors, and are so jointly concerned in the applauses and censures bestowed upon their plays, that it cannot be thought improper to connect their lives under one article.

Mr. Francis Beaumont

Was descended from the ancient family of his name, seated at Grace dieu in Leicestershire,[1] and was born about the year 1585 in the reign of Queen Elizabeth.  His grandfather, John Beaumont, was Master of the Rolls, and his father Francis Beaumont, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas.  Our poet had his education at Cambridge,[2]but of what college we are not informed, nor is it very material to know. 

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The Lives of the Poets of Great Britain and Ireland (1753) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.