_Thomas Midleton_ was one who by his Industry added very much to the _English_ Stage, being a copious Writer of Dramatick Poetry. He was Contemporary with _Johnson_ and _Fletcher_ and tho' not of equal Repute with them, yet were well accepted of those times such Plays as he wrote; namely, _Blurt Mr. Constable, the chaste Maid in Cheapside, Your fine Gallants, Family of Love, More Dissemblers than Women_, the _Game at Chess,_ the _Mayor of_ Quinborough, _a mad world my Masters, Michaelmas Term, No Wit like a womans_, the _Roaring Girl, any thing for a quiet Life_, the _Phenix_ and _a new Trick to catch the old one_, Comedies; _The world toss'd at Tennis_, and _the Inner Temple_, Masques; and _Women beware Women_, a Tragedy. Besides what, he was an Associate with _William Rowley_ in several Comedies and Tragi-Comedies; as, _the Spanish Gypsies, the Changeling, the Old Law, the fair Quarrel, the Widow_: Of all which, his _Michaelmas Term_ is highly applauded both for the plot and neatness of the style. * * * * * _WILLIAM ROWLEY_. _William Rowley_ was likewise a great Benefactor to the _English_ Stage, not only in those Plays mentioned before with _Thomas Midleton_, but also what he wrote alone; as, _A Woman never vext_ a Comedy; _A Match at Midnight_, and _All's lost by Lust_, Tragedies; and joyn'd with _Webster_, two Comedies, _The Thracian wonder_, and _A Cure for a Cuckold_, with _Shakespere, The Birth of_ Merlin, a Tragi-Comedy; and _The Travels of the three_ English _Brothers_, a History, wherein he was joyn'd with _Day_ and _Wilkins_. * * * * * _THOMAS DECKER_. _Thomas Decker_, a great pains-taker in the Dramatick strain, and as highly conceited of those pains he took; a high-flyer in wit, even against _Ben Johnson_ himself, in his Comedy, call'd, _The untrussing of the humorous Poet_. Besides which he wrote also, _The Honest Whore_, in two Parts; _Fortunatus; If this ben't a good Play the Devil's in't; Match me in_ London; _The Wonder of a Kingdom; The Whore of_ Babylon, all of them Comedies. He was also an associate with _John Webster_ in several well entertain'd Plays, _viz. Northward, hoe? The Noble Stranger; New trick to cheat the Devil; Westward, hoe? The Weakest goes to the Wall_; And _A Woman will have her will_: As also with _Rowley_ and _Ford_ in _the Witch of Edmunton_, a Tragi-Comedy; And also _Wiat's History_ with _Webster_. * * * * * _JOHN MARSTON_. _John Marston_ was one whose fluent Pen both in a Comick and Tragick strain, made him to be esteemed one of the chiefest of our _English_ Dramaticks, both for solid judgment, and pleasing variety. His Comedies are, _the Dutch Curtezan; the Fawn; What you will_. His Tragedies, _Antonio and Melida; Sophonisba; the insatiate Countess_: Besides _the Malecontent_, a Tragi-Comedy; and _the faithful Shepherd_, a Pastoral. * * * * *