This _William Wager_ is most famous for an Interlude which he wrote, called _Tom Tyler and his Wife_, which passed with such general applause that it was reprinted in the year 1661. and has been Acted divers times by private persons; the chief Argument whereof is, _Tyler_ his marrying to a Shrew, which, that you may the better understand, take it in the Author's own words, speaking in the person of _Tom Tyler_. I am a poor _Tyler_, in simple array, And get a poor living, but eight pence a day, My Wife as I get it doth spend it away; And I cannot help it, she saith; wot ye why? For wedding and hanging comes by destiny. I thought when I wed her, she had been a Sheep, At board to be friendly, to sleep when I sleep: She loves so unkindly, she makes me to weep. But I dare say nothing, god wot; wot ye why? For wedding and hanging comes by destiny. Besides this unkindness whereof my grief grows, I think few _Tylers_ are matcht to such shrows, Before she leaves brawling, she falls to deal blows. Which early and late doth cause me to cry, That wedding and hanging is destiny. The more that I please her, the worse she doth like me, The more I forbear her, the more she doth strike me, The more that I get her, the more she doth glike me. Wo worth this ill fortune that maketh me cry, That wedding and hanging is deny. If I had been hanged when I had been married, My torments had ended, though I had miscarried, If I had been warned, then would I have tarried; But now all too lately I feel and cry, That wedding and hanging is destiny. He wrote also two Comedies, _The Tryal of Chivalry_, and _The longer thou livest, the more Fool thou art_. * * * * * _NICHOLAS BRETON_. _Nicholas Breton_, a writer of Pastoral Sonnets, Canzons, and Madrigals, in which kind of writing he keeps company with several other contemporary Emulators of _Spencer_ and Sir _Philip Sidney_, in a publish'd Collection of several Odes of the chief Sonneters of that Age. He wrote also several other Books, whereof two I have by me, _Wits Private Wealth_, and another called _The Courtier and the Country-man_, in which last, speaking of _Vertue_, he hath these Verses: There is a Secret few do know, And doth in special places grow, A rich mans praise, a poor mans wealth, A weak mans strength, a sick mans health, A Ladies beauty, a Lords bliss, A matchless Jewel where it is; And makes, where it is truly seen, A gracious King, and glorious Queen. * * * * * _THOMAS KID, THOMAS WATSON_, &c. _Thomas Kid_, a writer that seems to have been of pretty good esteem for versifying in former times, being quoted among some of the more fam'd Poets, as _Spencer_, _Drayton_, _Daniel_, _Lodge_ &C. with whom he was either contemporary, or not much later: There is particularly remembred his Tragedy, _Cornelia_.