PHINEAS FLETCHER (1582-1650).
Phineas Fletcher, son of Giles, a diplomatist and poet, brother of Giles, a poet, and first cousin of John (q.v.), was baptized at Cranbrook, Kent, on 8 April 1582. From Eton he passed to King's College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. in 1604, his M.A. in 1608, and became a Fellow in 1611. He was Chaplain to Sir Henry Willoughby of Risley from 1616 to 1621, and thereafter Rector of Hilgay, Norfolk, to his death in 1650. He wrote much Spenserian poetry, but his
dramatic work was purely academic. In addition to Sicelides, he may have written an English comedy, for which a payment was made to him by King's about Easter 1607 (Boas, i. xx).
Collections 1869. A. B. Grosart, The Poems of P. F. 4 vols. (Fuller Worthies Library). 1908-9. F. S. Boas, The Poetical Works of Giles Fletcher and P. F. 2 vols. (Cambridge English Classics).
Sicelides. 1615
[MSS.] Bodl. Rawl. Poet. MS. 214.
Addl. MS. 4453. 'Sicelides: a Piscatorie made by Phinees Fletcher and acted in Kings Colledge in Cambridge.' [A shorter version than that of Q. and the Rawl. MS.]
S. R. 1631, April 25 (Herbert). 'A play called Scicelides, acted at Cambridge.' William Sheeres (Arber, iv. 251).
1631. Sicelides A Piscatory, As it hath been Acted in Kings Colledge, in Cambridge. I. N. for William Sheares. [Prologue and Epilogue.]
A reference (III. iv) to the shoes hung up by Thomas Coryat in Odcombe church indicates a date of composition not earlier than 1612. The play was intended for performance before James at Cambridge, but was actually given before the University after his visit, on 13 March 1615 (cf. ch. iv).
FRANCIS FLOWER (c. 1588).
A Gray's Inn lawyer, one of the devisers of dumb-shows and directors for the Misfortunes of Arthur of Thomas Hughes (q.v.) in 1588, for which he also wrote two choruses.
JOHN FORD (1586-1639 <).
Ford's dramatic career, including whatever share he may have had with Dekker (q.v.) in Sun's Darling and Witch of Edmonton, falls substantially outside my period. But amongst plays entered as his by Humphrey Moseley on 29 June 1660 (Eyre, ii. 271) are:
'An ill begining has A good end, and a bad begining may have a good
end, a Comedy.'
'The London Merchant, a Comedy.'
These ascriptions recur in Warburton's list of lost plays (3 Library,
ii. 231), where the first play has the title 'A good beginning may have
