as ever acted, and it has but an
indifferent character.

Humourous Day's Mirth, a Comedy; this is a very tolerable play.

Mask of the Two Honourable Houses, or Inns of Court, the
Middle-Temple, and Lincoln's-Inn, performed before the King at
Whitehall, on Shrove Monday at night, being the 15th of February,
1613, at the celebration of the Royal Nuptials of the Palsgrave, and
the Princess Elizabeth, &c. with a description of their whole shew, in
the manner of their march on horseback, from the Master of the Rolls's
house to the court, with all their noble consorts, and shewful
attendants; invented and fashioned, with the ground and special
structure of the whole work by Inigo Jones; this Mask is dedicated to
Sir Edward Philips, then Master of the Rolls. At the end of the Masque
is printed an Epithalamium, called a Hymn for the most happy Nuptials
of the Princess Elizabeth, &c.

May-Day, a witty Comedy, acted at the Black Fryars, and printed in
4to. 1611.

Monsieur d'Olive, a Comedy, acted by her Majesty's children at the
Black Fryars, printed in 4to. 1606.

Revenge for Honour, a Tragedy, printed 1654.

Temple, a Masque.

Two Wise-men, and all the rest Fools, or a Comical Moral, censuring
the follies of that age, printed in London 1619. This play is extended
to seven acts, a circumstance which Langbaine says he never saw in any
other, and which, I believe, has never been practised by any poet,
ancient or modern, but himself.

Widow's Tears, a Comedy, often presented in the Black and White
Fryars, printed in 4to. London 1612; this play is formed upon the
story of the Ephesian Matron. These are all the plays of our author,
of which we have been able to gain any account; he joined with Ben
Johnson and Marston in writing a Comedy called Eastward-Hoe; this play
has been since revived by Tate, under the title of Cuckolds Haven. It
has been said that for some reflections contained in it against the
Scotch nation; Ben Johnson narrowly escaped the pillory. See more of
this, page 237.

[Footnote 1: See the Life of Overbury.]

[Footnote 2: Wood's Athen. Oxon.]

* * * * *

BEN JOHNSON,

One of the best dramatic poets of the 17th century, was descended from
a Scots family, his grandfather, who was a gentleman, being originally
of Annandale in that kingdom, whence he removed to Carlisle, and
afterwards was employed in the service of King Henry VIII. His
father lost his estate under Q