According to the author of _Historical Anecdotes_, &c., was Thomas Cartwright, B.D., Lady Margaret's Professor and Fellow of Trinity College. He and Thomas Preston (afterwards Master of Trinity Hall,) says Fuller, during Queen Elizabeth's visit at Cambridge, in 1564, were appointed two of the four disputants in the philosophy-act before her Majesty. "Cartwright had dealt most with the muses; Preston with the graces, adorning his learning with comely carriage, graceful gesture, and pleasing pronunciation. Cartwright disputed like a _great_, Preston like a _gentile_ scholar, being a handsome man; and the Queen, upon a parity of deserts, always preferred properness of person in conferring her favours. Hereupon, with her looks, words, and deeds she favoured Preston, calling him _her scholler_, as appears by his epitaph in Trinity Hall chappell. 'THOMAS PRESTONÆ, Scholarem, 'Quem dixit princeps Elizabetha suum,' &c. Insomuch," continues Fuller, "that for his good disputing, and excellent acting, in the tragedy of _Dido_, she bestowed on him a pension of 20 lib. a year; whilst Cartwright received neither reward nor commendation, whereof he not only complained to his inward friends in Trinity College, but also, after her Majesty's neglect of him, began to wade into divers opinions against her ecclesiastical government." And thus, according to the authority first cited, he became _the first Dissenter in England_, and was deprived, subsequently, as a matter of course, of both his fellowship and professorship. It was most probably for the entertainment of the Royal Elizabeth, that one Thomas Still, M.A., of Christ's College, Cambridge, afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells, composed and produced THE FIRST ENGLISH PLAY EXTANT: A fact no Cantab need blush at, _proh pudor_, though the plot is none of the sublimest. It was printed as early as 1575, with the following TITLE: "A ryght pythy, pleasant, and merie Comedie, entytuled Gammer Gurton's Needle; played on the stage not long ago in Christe's College, in Cambridge, made by Mr. S. Master of Arts. Imprynted at London, in Fleete Streeate, beneth the Conduit, at the signe of Sainte John Evangelist, by Thomas Colwell." Though altogether of a comic cast, it was not deficient in genuine humour, and is a curious sample of the simplicity which prevailed in this country, in the early days of dramatic art. It is in metre, is spun out into five regular acts, and an awful piece it is, as may be seen by the following BRIEF SKETCH OF THE PLOT.