Dr. JASPER MAIN.
He was in his youth placed a Student of Christ-Church in Oxford, a Nursery of many and excellent good wits, where he lived for many years in much credit and reputation for his florid wit and ingenious vein in Poetry, which diffused itself in all the veins and sinews thereof; making it (according to its right use) an Handmaid to Theology. In his younger years he wrote two very ingenious and well-approved Comedies, viz. the City Match, and the Amorous War, both which, in my judgment, comparable to the best written ones of that time; Nor did he after his application to Theology, of which he was Doctor, and his Ecclesiastical preferment, totally relinquish those politer Studies to which he was before addicted, publishing Lucian's Works, of his own translating, into English, besides many other things of his composing, not yet publish'd.
JAMES SHIRLEY.
Mr. James Shirley may justly claim a more than ordinary place amongst our English Poets, especially for his Dramatick Poetry, being the fourth for number who hath written most Plays, and for goodness little inferiour to the best of them all. His Comedies, in number twenty two, are these; The Ball, the Bird in a Cage, the Brothers, Love in a Maze, the Constant Maid, Coronation, Court Secret, the Example, the Gamester, Grateful Servant, Hide-Park, Humorous Courtier, Honoria and Mammon, Opportunity, the Lady of Pleasure, the Polititian, the Royal Master, the School of Complements, the Sisters, the witty fair one, the Wedding, and the young Admiral: His Tragedies six, viz. Chabot Admiral of France, the Cardinal, Loves Cruelty, the Maids Revenge, the Traytor, and the martyr'd Soldier. Four Tragi-Comedies, viz. Dukes Mistress, the Doubtful Heir, the Gentleman of Venice, and the Imposture, four Masques, Cupid and Death, Contention of Honour and Riches, the Triumph of Peace, and the Triumph of Beauty; Patrick for Ireland, a History; and the Arcadia, a Pastoral.
PHILIP MASSINGER.
Philip Massinger was likewise one who in his time was no mean contributer unto the Stage, wherein he so far excell'd as made his Name sufficiently famous, there being no less than sixteen of his Plays printed, viz. The Bondman, the bashful Lover, the City Madam, the Emperour of the East, the-Great Duke of Florence, the Guardian, Maid of Honour, New Way to pay Old Debts, the Picture, the Renegado, and the merry Woman, Comedies: The Duke of Millain, Fatal Dowry, Roman Actor, Unnatural Combat, and the Virgin Martyr, Tragedies.