_John Tatham_ was one, whose Muse began to bud with his Youth, which produced early Blossomes, of not altogether Contemptible Poetry, in a Collection of Poems entituled _Fancys Theater_; which was usher'd into the World by divers of the Chief Wits of that age. He was afterwards City Poet, making those Speeches and Representations used at the Lord Mayors show, and other Publick Meetings. He also contributed to the Stage four plays, _viz_. The _Scots Fegaries_ and _The Rump, or Mirror of the late times_, Comedies; the _Distracted State_, a Tragedy, and _Love crowns the End_; a Tragy-Comedy. Here a tast of his juvenile wit in his _Fancys Theater_ speaking in the Person of _Momus_. How now presumptuous Lad, think st thou that we Will be disturb'd with this thy Infancy Of Wit?-- Or does thy amorous Thoughts beget a flame, (Beyond its merit) for to court the name Of Poet; or is't common row a days Such slender Wits dare claim such things as Bays? _&c._ * * * * * _THOMAS JORDEN_. Contemporary with him was _Thomas Jorden_, and of much like equal Fame; indulging his Muse more to vulgar Fancies, then to the high flying wits of those times, yet did he write three Plays, _viz._ _Mony's an Ass_; and _The Walks of_ Islington _and_ Hogsden, Comedies; and _Fancys Festivals_, a Mask. * * * * * _HUGH CROMPTON_. He was born a Gentleman, and bred up a Scholar, but his Father not leaving him Means enough to support the one, and the Times in that Condition, that without Money Learning is little regarded; he therefore betook him to a Gentile Employment, which his Learning had made him capable to do; but the succession of a worse fate disemploying him, as he himself saith in his Epistle to the Reader of his Book, entituled, _Pierides, or the Muses Mount_, he betook him to his Pen, (that Idleness might not sway) which in time produced a Volume of Poems, which to give you a tast of the briskness of his Muse, I shall instance in a few lines, in one or two of them. When I remember what mine eyes have seen, And what mine Ears have heard, Concerning Muses too young and green; And how they have been jear'd, T' expose my own I am afear'd. And yet this fear decreases, when I call To my tempestuous mind, How the strong loins of _Phoebus_ Children all, Have faln by Censures mind: And in their road what Rocks they find. He went over afterwards into _Ireland_, where he continued for some time; but whether he dyed there or no, I am not certain. * * * * * _EDMUND PRESTWICH_. _Edmund Prestwich_, was one who deservedly cometh in as a Member of the Noble Society of Poets, being the Author of an ingenious Comedy called the _Hectors_, or _False Challenge_; as also _Hippolytus_ a Tragedy; what ever he might have written besides, which may not have come to my knowledge. * * * * *