_Comedies_, _Tragi-Comedies_, _Masques_, _Tragedies_, _Opera's_, _Pastorals_, _Interludes_, &c. Both Ancient and Modern, that were ever yet Printed in _English_. The Names of their Known and Supposed Authors. Their several Volumes and Editions: With an Account of the various Originals, as well _English_, _French_, and _Italian_, as _Greek_ and _Latine_; from whence most of them have Stole their Plots. By _GERARD LANGBAINE_ Esq; _Indice non opus est nostris, nec vindice Libris: Stat contra dicitq; tibi tua Pagina, Fures._ Mart. _LONDON_: Printed for _Nicholas Cox_, and are to be Sold by him in _Oxford_. MDCLXXXVIII. The Preface. If it be true, what =Aristotle=[40] that great Philosopher, and Father of Criticism, has own'd, =that the= Stage =might instruct Mankind better than= Philosophy it self. If =Homer= was thought by =Horace=[41] to exceed =Crantor= and =Chrystippus= in the Precepts of Morality; and if =Sophocles= and =Euripides=, obtained the title of Wise, for their =Dramatich= Writing, certainly it can be no discredit for any man to own himself a lover of that sort of Poetry, which has been stiled, =The School of Vertue and good Manners=? I know there have been many severe =Cato's= who have endeavoured all they could, to decry the use of the Stage; but those who please to consult the Writings of the Learned Dr. =Gager=, =Albericus Gentiles=, Sir =Philip Sidney=, Sir =Richard Baker=, =Heywood=, the Poet and Actor both in one; not to mention several others, as the famous =Scaliger=, Monsieur =Hedelin=, =Rapin=, &c. will find their Objections fully answered, and the Diversion of the Theatre sufficiently vindicated. I shall therefore without any Apology, publickly own, that my inclination to this kind of Poetry in particular, has lead me not onely to the view of most of our Modern Representations on the Stage, but also to the purchase of all the Plays I could meet with, in the =English= Tongue; and indeed I have been Master of above =Nine Hundred= and =Fourscore= English =Plays= and =Masques=, besides =Drolls= and =Interludes=; and having read most of them, I think am able to give some tollerable account of the greatest part of our Dramatick Writers, and their Productions. The general Use of =Catalogues=, and the esteem they are in at present, is so well known, that it were to waste Paper to expatiate on it: I shall therefore onely acquaint my =Reader=, that I designed =this Catalogue= for their use, who may have the same relish of the =Dramma= with my self; and may possibly be desirous, either to make a Collection, or at least have the curiosity to know in =general=, what has been Publish't in our Language, as likewise to receive some Remarks on the Writings of =particular= Men.