The 'Phœnix of the Stage,' as Anthony, or Tony, Aston calls Betterton, stands pre-eminent among the actors. Born in 1635, he was an old man when Queen Anne came to the throne; and he died on April 28, 1710, from the effects of gout, which he aggravated by acting when the fit was on. His last performance was on April 13, 1710, and it is thus described in the _Daily Courant_ of that date: 'At the Desire of several Persons of Quality. For the Benefit of Mr. Betterton. At the Queen's Theatre in the Hay market this present Thursday being the 13th April will be Reviv'd, The Maid's Tragedy.[444] The part of Melantius by Mr. Betterton, Amintor by Mr. Wilks, Calianax by Mr. Pinkethman, Evadne by Mrs. Barry, and all the other parts to the best Advantage. To which will be added Three Designs, Representing the Three Principal Actions of the Play, in Imitation of so many great Pieces of History Painting, where all the real Persons concern'd in those Actions will be Plac'd at proper distances, in different Postures peculiar to the Passion of each Character.' [Footnote 444: By Beaumont and Fletcher.] Totally unfit, from illness, to act, he had resort to violent remedies to enable him to go through his part, which he did, with his gouty foot in a slipper, but the exertion killed him. A great favourite of Charles II., that king not only sent him to Paris, to see and report on the French theatres, but appointed him to teach the nobility for court theatricals, whilst his wife tutored the future queens Mary and Anne--in fact, the latter settled a pension of 100_l._ per annum upon her, after her husband's death. Pepys describes him as 'the best actor in the world,' and so he undoubtedly was--in his age. Aston[445] describes him thus: 'He had little Eyes, and a broad Face, a little Pock fretten, a Corpulent Body, and thick Legs, with large Feet.... His Voice was low and grumbling; yet he could Tune it by an artful _Climax_, which enforc'd universal Attention, even from the _Fops_ and _Orange Girls_. He was incapable of dancing even in a Country Dance.' [Footnote 445: _Supplement to Cibber._] Room must be found for one little anecdote which Aston tells of him. 'Mr. _Betterton_ had a small Farm near _Reading_, in the County of _Berks_; and a Countryman came, in the Time of _Bartholomew Fair_, to pay his Rent. Mr. _Betterton_ took him to the Fair, and going to one _Crawley's_ Puppet Shew, offer'd _Two Shillings_ for himself and _Roger_, his Tenant.--No, no, Sir, said _Crawley; we never take Money of one Another_. This affronted _Mr. Betterton_, who threw down the Money, and they entered.'