# The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Thomas Middleton

Tho. Middleton, vide Fletcher.
THis Author liv’d in the Time of King James and King Charles the First; was Contemporary and Associate with Deckar, Rowley, Massinger, Fletcher, and Johnson. Under the Title of Johnson, you have an Account that he join’d with him and Fletcher, in one Play, call’d, the Widow. He was assisted by Massinger and Rowley, in writing another Play, call’d, the Old Law: by Deckar, in the Roaring Girl, and by Mr. Rowley, in three others; besides those he writ and publish’d entirely his own.
Any thing for a Quiet Life, a Comedy, 4 to. 1662. This was not printed till that Year, tho’ long before acted at the Black-Fryars, with good Success.
Blurt, Mr. Constable; or, the Spaniard’s Night-Walk; 4 to. 1602. Acted sundry times privately, by the Children of Paul’s. Our Author’s Name is not in the Title Page; but nevertheless, on good Grounds, attributed to him by Kirkman, &c.
The Changeling, a Tragedy, 4 to. 1653. Acted at the Private House in Drury-Lane, and Salisbury-Court, with great Applause. This is one of those Plays in which he was assisted by Mr. Rowley. For the Plot, consult the Story of Alsemero, and Beatrice Joanna, in God’s Revenge against Murther, fol. writ by Dr. Reynolds.
The Chast Maid in Cheapside, a Comedy, 4 to. 1620. This is entituled, A pleasant conceited Comedy, often acted at the Swan on the Bank-Side, by the Lady Elizabeth, her Servants.
A fair Quarrel, a Comedy, 4 to. 1622. This is another of those Plays, in which Mr. Rowley join’d, and is dedicated to the nobly dispos’d, and faithful Breasted, Robert Grey, Esq; one of the Grooms of his Highness’s Chamber. Plot from Cynthio Giraldi, a Novel, Dec. 4. Nov. 5.
The Family of Love, a Comedy, 4 to. 1608. Acted by the Children of his Majesty’s Revels.
A Game at Cheß, a Comedy, 4 to. Acted at the Globe on the Bank-Side. The Game being play’d before Loyola, between one of the Church of England, and the other of the Church of Rome; the latter loses.
​Inner-Temple Masque; or, Masque of Heroes, 4 to. 1640. presented by Gentlemen of the same ancient and noble House, as an Entertainment for many eminent Ladies. Tho’ this Play was writ about Twenty Years before printed, yet Mrs. Behn approv’d of it so much, that when she writ her Comedy called, the City Heireß, she borrowed part thereof.
A Mad World, my Masters, a Comedy, 4 to. This Play is said to be often acted, with good Applause.
The Mayor of Queenborough, a Comedy, 4 to. 1661. often acted with much Applause, by his Majesty’s Servants. You have in this Play, several Dumb Shews. Plot, see the Reign of Vortiger, in Du Chesne, Stow, Speed, and other English Chronicles.
Michaelmas-Term, a Comedy, 4 to. I know not whether ever acted.
More Desemblers besides Women, a Comedy, 8 vo. 1657.
No Wit, no Help like a Woman’s, a Comedy, 8 vo. 1657. This and the other preceding Play, with Women, beware Women, may be had bound together, in a small 8 vo. or 12 mo.
The Old Law; or, A New Way to Please you, 4 to. 1656. The Title calls it, An Excellent Comedy, acted before the King and Queen, with great Applause. Mr. Rowley and Massenger join’d with him in this Play.
The Phænix, a Tragi-Comedy, 4 to. 1607. Acted several times by the Children of Paul’s, before his Majesty, with good Applause. See the Story writ by Miguel de Cervantes, called, the Force of Love, being a Spanish Novel.
The Roaring Girl; or, Mall Cut-Purse, a Comedy, 4 to. 1611. as it has lately been acted on the Fortune Stage, by the Prince’s Players. Mr. Langbain says, he never saw this Play, and Ranks it under Middleton; but I take most part of it to be Deckar’s, who joyn’d in it. This Play has an odd sort of an Epistle Dedicatory, to the Comick Play-Readers, Venery and Laughter.
The Spanish Gipsies, a Comedy, 4 to. 1661. acted both at the Private House in Drury-Lane, and Salisbury-Court, with great Applause. In this Play he was join’d by Mr. Rowley. See part of the Plot in a Spanish Novel, call’d, the Force of Blood, writ by M. de Cervantes.
A Trick to catch the Old One, a Comedy, 4 to. 1616. The Title says, it has been often in Action at Paul’s and Black-Fryars, before their Majesties. This was, in those Times, accounted a good Play.
Triumphs of Love and Antiquity, a Masque, 4 to. 1619. Dedicated to the Right Honourable, Sir William Cockain, Knight, then Lord Mayor of the City of London, and Lord General of his Majesty’s Military Forces. This, tho’ accounted by other Catalogues ​a Masque, is little more than Speeches spoke, as now in these Days, to the Lord Mayors, in Pageants, &c.
Women, beware Women, a Tragedy, 8 vo. 1657. See Hippolito and Isabella, a Romance, 8 vo. This is usually bound with two others of his before-mentioned, 8 vo.
The World toss’d at Tennis, a Masque, 4 to. 1620. said to be divers times acted to the Contentment of many Noble and Worthy Spectators, by the Prince’s Servants. The Dedication is to the truly Noble, Charles, then Lord Howard, Baron of Effingham; and to his Vertuous and Worthy Wife, the Right Honourable, Mary, then Lady Effingham, the Eldest Daughter of Sir William Cockain, Knight, then Lord Mayor of London, &c.
Your Five Gallants, a Comedy, 4 to. Acted at the Black-Fryars. A Play printed without any Date, and in all probability, the first he ever writ.