Dr. _JASPER MAIN_. He was in his youth placed a Student of _Christ-Church_ in _Oxford_, a Nursery of many and excellent good wits, where he lived for many years in much credit and reputation for his florid wit and ingenious vein in Poetry, which diffused itself in all the veins and sinews thereof; making it (according to its right use) an Handmaid to Theology. In his younger years he wrote two very ingenious and well-approved Comedies, _viz._ the _City Match_, and the _Amorous War_, both which, in my judgment, comparable to the best written ones of that time; Nor did he after his application to Theology, of which he was Doctor, and his Ecclesiastical preferment, totally relinquish those politer Studies to which he was before addicted, publishing _Lucian's_ Works, of his own translating, into _English_, besides many other things of his composing, not yet publish'd. * * * * * _JAMES SHIRLEY_. Mr. _James Shirley_ may justly claim a more than ordinary place amongst our _English_ Poets, especially for his Dramatick Poetry, being the fourth for number who hath written most Plays, and for goodness little inferiour to the best of them all. His Comedies, in number twenty two, are these; _The Ball, the Bird in a Cage, the Brothers, Love in_ _a Maze, the Constant Maid, Coronation, Court Secret, the Example, the Gamester, Grateful Servant, Hide-Park, Humorous Courtier, Honoria and Mammon, Opportunity, the Lady of Pleasure, the Polititian, the Royal Master, the School of Complements, the Sisters, the witty fair one, the Wedding_, and _the young Admiral:_ His Tragedies six, _viz. Chabot Admiral of France, the Cardinal, Loves Cruelty, the Maids Revenge, the Traytor_, and _the martyr'd Soldier_. Four Tragi-Comedies, _viz. Dukes Mistress, the Doubtful Heir, the Gentleman of Venice_, and _the Imposture_, four Masques, _Cupid and Death, Contention of Honour and Riches, the Triumph of Peace_, and _the Triumph of Beauty; Patrick for Ireland_, a History; and the _Arcadia_, a _Pastoral_. * * * * * _PHILIP MASSINGER_. _Philip Massinger_ was likewise one who in his time was no mean contributer unto the Stage, wherein he so far excell'd as made his Name sufficiently famous, there being no less than sixteen of his Plays printed, _viz. The Bondman, the bashful Lover, the City Madam, the Emperour of the East, the-Great Duke of Florence, the Guardian, Maid of Honour, New Way to pay Old Debts, the Picture, the Renegado_, and _the merry Woman_, Comedies: _The Duke of Millain, Fatal Dowry, Roman Actor, Unnatural Combat_, and _the Virgin Martyr_, Tragedies. * * * * * _JOHN WEBSTER_.