The Lives and Characters of the English Dramatick Poets/Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle
Margaret, Dutchess of Newcastle.
The Honourable Consort of the fore-mentioned Duke, whose Plays and Poetry have made some Noise in the world, and have at least met with Mr. Langbain for an Admirer and Defender. I know not her Family, nor Time of Birth or Death. She has published six and Twenty Plays, reckoning those writ in two Parts, each of them for two. They are usually bound in two Volumes fol. 1662, and 1668. Their Names follow:
The Apocriphal Ladies, a Comedy, fol. 1662. This Play is not divided into Acts, but has variety of Scenes, to the Number of three and twenty.
Bell in Campo, a Tragedy, in two Parts, fol. 1662. In the last Part you may find several Copies of Verses writ by his Grace, the Duke, her Husband.
The Blazing World, a Comedy, fol. 1668. This, tho’ stil’d a Comedy, yet was never perfected by the Authoress.
The Bridalls, a Comedy, fol. 1668.
The Comical Hash, a Comedy, fol. 1662. This Play was, by Accident, omitted in Mr. Langbain’s Catalogue of Plays, and ignorantly by other Catalogue Publishers.
The Convent of Pleasure, a Comedy, fol. 1668.
The Female Accademy, a Comedy, fol. 1662.
Lady Contemplation, in two Parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662. The Duke assisted in some Scenes of both Parts.
Love’s Adventures, in two Parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662. The Duke writ also the Epithalamium and Song in the last Part.
Matrimonial Troubles, in two Parts, the first Comedy, the last Tragedy, fol. 1662.
Nature’s Three Daughters (viz.) Beauty, Love, and Wit, in two parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662.
The Presence, a Comedy, fol. 1668. The Scenes designed for this Play, were so numerous, that the Dutchess thought it would lengthen it too much, therefore printed them seperately.
Publick Wooing, a Comedy, fol. 1662. Two Scenes and two Songs at the End of this Play, with divers Speeches therein, are writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.
Religions, a Tragi-Comedy, fol. 1662.
Several Wits, a Comedy, Fol. 1662.
The Sociable Companions; or, The Female Wits, a Comedy, fol. 1668.
The Unnatural Tragedy, fol. 1662. The Prologue and Epilogue of this Play, were writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.
Wits Cabal, in two Parts, a Comedy, fol. 1662. The Epilogue of the first Part was also writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.
Youth’s Glory, and Death’s Banquet, in two Parts, a Tragedy, fol. 1662. Two Scenes, and the Speeches of the first Part, as also the Songs and Verses in the second Part, were also writ by his Grace, the Duke of Newcastle.
Besides these Dramatick works, she has writ divers other Pieces; as, The Life of the Duke of New-Castle, 1667. also the same in Latin, 1668. Philosophical Fancies, 1653. A Volume of Poems, 1653. Philosophical Opinions, 1655. Nature’s Picture, drawn by Fancies Pencil, to the Life; at the End of which was her own Life, 1656. A Volume of Orations, 1662. Philosophical Letters, 1664. Two hundred and eleven Sociable Letters, 1664. All which Volumes are printed in fol.