Thomas Midleton was one who by his Industry added very much to the English Stage, being a copious Writer of Dramatick Poetry. He was Contemporary with Johnson and Fletcher and tho' not of equal Repute with them, yet were well accepted of those times such Plays as he wrote; namely, Blurt Mr. Constable, the chaste Maid in Cheapside, Your fine Gallants, Family of Love, More Dissemblers than Women, the Game at Chess, the Mayor of Quinborough, a mad world my Masters, Michaelmas Term, No Wit like a womans, the Roaring Girl, any thing for a quiet Life, the Phenix and a new Trick to catch the old one, Comedies; The world toss'd at Tennis, and the Inner Temple, Masques; and Women beware Women, a Tragedy. Besides what, he was an Associate with William Rowley in several Comedies and Tragi-Comedies; as, the Spanish Gypsies, the Changeling, the Old Law, the fair Quarrel, the Widow: Of all which, his Michaelmas Term is highly applauded both for the plot and neatness of the style.
WILLIAM ROWLEY.
William Rowley was likewise a great Benefactor to the English Stage, not only in those Plays mentioned before with Thomas Midleton, but also what he wrote alone; as, A Woman never vext a Comedy; A Match at Midnight, and All's lost by Lust, Tragedies; and joyn'd with Webster, two Comedies, The Thracian wonder, and A Cure for a Cuckold, with Shakespere, The Birth of Merlin, a Tragi-Comedy; and The Travels of the three English Brothers, a History, wherein he was joyn'd with Day and Wilkins.
THOMAS DECKER.
Thomas Decker, a great pains-taker in the Dramatick strain, and as highly conceited of those pains he took; a high-flyer in wit, even against Ben Johnson himself, in his Comedy, call'd, The untrussing of the humorous Poet. Besides which he wrote also, The Honest Whore, in two Parts; Fortunatus; If this ben't a good Play the Devil's in't; Match me in London; The Wonder of a Kingdom; The Whore of Babylon, all of them Comedies. He was also an associate with John Webster in several well entertain'd Plays, viz. Northward, hoe? The Noble Stranger; New trick to cheat the Devil; Westward, hoe? The Weakest goes to the Wall; And A Woman will have her will: As also with Rowley and Ford in the Witch of Edmunton, a Tragi-Comedy; And also Wiat's History with Webster.
JOHN MARSTON.
John Marston was one whose fluent Pen both in a Comick and Tragick strain, made him to be esteemed one of the chiefest of our English Dramaticks, both for solid judgment, and pleasing variety. His Comedies are, the Dutch Curtezan; the Fawn; What you will. His Tragedies, Antonio and Melida; Sophonisba; the insatiate Countess: Besides the Malecontent, a Tragi-Comedy; and the faithful Shepherd, a Pastoral.