10. Don Thomaso, or the Wanderer, a Comedy in two parts, printed in
folio, London 1663; and dedicated to the fair and kind friends of prince
Palatine Polexander. In the first part of this play, the author has
borrowed several ornaments from Fletcher's play called the Captain. He
has used great freedom with Ben Johnson, for not only the characters of
Lopus, but even the very words are repeated from Johnson's Fox, where
Volpone personates Scoto of Mantua. I don't believe that our author
designed to conceal his assistance, since he was so just as to
acknowledge a song against jealousy, which he borrowed from Mr. Thomas
Carew, cup-bearer to king Charles the Ist, and sung in a masque at
Whitehall, anno 1633. This Chorus, says he, 'I presume to make use of
here, because in the first design it was written at my request, upon
a dispute held between Mrs. Cicilia Crofer and myself, when he was
present; she being then maid of honour. This I have set down, lest any
man should imagine me so foolish as to steal such a poem, from so famous
an author.' If he was therefore so scrupulous in committing depredations
upon Carew, he would be much more of Ben Johnson, whose fame was so
superior to Carew's. All these plays were printed together in one volume
in folio, London 1664.

* * * * *


EDWARD HOWARD, _Esq_;

Was descended from the noble family of the earl of Berkshire, and was
more illustrious by his birth than his genius; he addicted himself to
the study of dramatic poetry, and produced four plays, but gained no
reputation by any of them.