Sir Charles, considered as an author, has great delicacy in his turns, and Eachard observes in his dedication of Plautus’s three comedies to Sir Charles, that the easiness of his stile, the politeness of his expressions in his Bellamira, and even those parts of it which are purely translation, are very delightful, and engaging to the reader.

Lord Rochester, in his imitation of the 10th satire of the first book of Horace, has the following verses in his commendation.

  Sedley has that prevailing gentle art,
  That can with a resistless charm impart. 
  The loosest wishes to the chastest heart: 
  Raise such a conflict, kindle such a fire,
  Betwixt declining virtue and desire;
  That the poor vanquish’d maid dissolves away
  In dreams all night, in sighs and tears all day.

Before we give an account of our author’s works, it will not be amiss to observe, that he was extremely active in effecting the revolution, which was thought the more extraordinary, as he had received favours from King James ii.  That Prince, it seems, had fallen in love with a daughter of Sir Charles’s, who was not very handsome; for James was remarkable for dedicating his affections to women who were not great beauties; in consequence of his intrigue with her, and in order to give her greater lustre in life, he created Miss Sedley countess of Dorchester.  This honour, so far from pleasing, greatly shocked Sir Charles.  However libertine himself had been, yet he could not bear the thoughts of his daughter’s dishonour; and with regard to this her exaltation, he only considered it as rendering her more conspicuously infamous.  He therefore conceived a hatred to James, and readily joined to dispossess him of his throne and dominions.

Being asked one day, why he appeared so warm against the King, who had created his daughter a Countess?  It is from a principle of gratitude I am so warm, returns Sir Charles; for since his Majesty has made my daughter a Countess, it is fit I should do all I can to make his daughter a Queen.

Our author’s works are,

1.  The Mulberry Garden, a Comedy, acted by his Majesty’s servants at the theatre-royal 1668, dedicated to the duchess of Richmond and Lennox.

2.  Anthony and Cleopatra, a Tragedy, acted at the Duke of York’s theatre 1667.  This play was acted with great applause.  The Story from Plutarch’s Life of Anthony.

3.  Bellamira; or the Mistress, a Comedy, acted by his Majesty’s servants, 1687.  It is taken from Terence’s Eunuch.  While this play was acting, the roof of the play-house fell down, but very few were hurt, except the author:  whose merry friend Sir Fleetwood Shepherd told him, that there was so much fire in the play, that it blew up the poet, house and all:  Sir Charles answered, No, the play was so heavy it brought down the house, and buried the poet in his own rubbish.

4.  Beauty the Conqueror; or the Death of Mark Anthony, a Tragedy.