THE

HISTORY

OF THE

STAGE.

In which is included,

The Theatrical Characters of the most
celebrated Actors who have adorn'd
the Theatre.

Among many others are the following, viz.

Printed for J. MILLER in Fleet-ftreet; and fold
by the Bookfellers of London and Weftminiter

MDCCXLII,

THE

CONTENTS.

THE general History of the Stage, to the
Year 1684.
Page I
The Theatrical Characters of the following ce-
lebrated Actors, viz.

7

76

81

105

Memoirs of Mrs. Marshal and Mr. Lacy,

The Characters of Mr. Booth and Mr. Wilks.

The Duty of a Player,

The Life of Mr. Colly Cibber,

PART II.

The State of the Stage continued.

The Occafion

of Wilk's commencing Actor. Facts relatin

to his Theatrical Talent. Actors more or

efteem'd from their private Character.

Τ

PART III. 2

The Patentee of Drury-lane wifer than his Actors,

The best dramatick Poets cenfured by Collier

in his fhort View of the Stage. The Mafter of

the Revels from that Time cautious in his li-

cenfing new Plays. The late Act for that pur-

pofe confidered.

PART IV.

144

The different State of the two Companies. Wilks

and Eftcourt invited over from Dublin. The

Theatre in the Hay-market built for Betterton's

Company. It answers not their Expectation. 158

The Recruited Actors in the Hay-market en-

couraged by a Subfcription. Drury-lane under

a particular Management. The power of a

Lord Chamberlain over the Theatre confidered.

How it had been formerly exercised..

166

A fhort View of the Opera. Plays recover their

Credit. The occafion of Mr Brett's throwing

up his share in the patent. The principal Co-

medians return to the Hay-market. The Pa-

tentee difpoffefs'd of Drury Lane Theatre.

Mr. Collier, with a new Licence, heads the

Remains of that Company.
182

PART VII.

to first acted. What brought it to the Stage.

Booth made a Sharer. Dogget objects to him,

and quits the Stage upon his Admittance. - Sir

Richard Steele fucceeds Collier in the Theatre

Royal. The Patent restored. The Author

its the Stage. Why.

199

A

A COMPLEAT

HISTORY

OF THE

STAGE, &c.

T

HE Drama did not grow into any Form in England, till the Reign of King Henry VIII. It was in fome measure encouraged in the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; but flourished in that of King James I. This and allother Arts were improved till the Beginning of the Grand Rebellion in the fucceeding Reigu, when the Dramatick Mufe was banished.

The Stage did not properly recover itself till the Restoration of King Charles II, when, as Lord Lanfdown fays, Trade flourished, Navigation was increased, Manufactures improved, Arts and Sciences encouraged, Wit abounding, the Mufes reftored; and above all, real Liberty fecured to the Subject,