could not fubfift, under decent Regulations, by not being permitted to present any thing there, but what were worthy to be there, it would be time enough to confider, whether it were neceffary to let it totally fall, or effectually fupport it.

Notwithstanding all my beft Endeavours, to recommend the Profeffion of an Actor, to a more general Favour, I doubt, while it is liable to fuch Corruptions, and the Actor himfelf to fuch unlimited Infults, as I have already mention'd, I doubt, I fay, we must still leave him a-drift, with his intrinfick Merit, to ride out the Storm, as well as he is able.

However, let us now turn to the other fide of this Account, and fee what Advantages ftand there, to balance the Misfortunes I have laid before you. There we shall still find some valuable Articles of Credit, that, fometimes overpay his incidental Difgraces.

Firft, if he has Senfe, he will confider, that as these Indignities are feldom or never offer'd him by People, that are remarkable for any one good Quality, he ought not to lay them too close to his Heart: He will know too, that when Malice, Envy, or a brutal Nature, can fecurely hide or fence themfelves in a Multitude, Virtue, Merit, Innocence, and even fovereign Superiority, have been, and must be equally liable to their Infults; that therefore, when they fall upon him in the fame manner, his intrinfick Value cannot be diminished by them: On the contrary, if, with a decent and

unruffled Temper, he lets them pafs, the Dif grace will return upon his Aggreffor, and perhaps warm the generous Spectator into a Partiality in his Favour.

That while he is confcious, That, as an Actor, he must be always in the Hands of Inju ftice, it does him at least this involuntary Good, that it keeps him in a fettled Refolution to avoid all Occafions of provoking it, or of even offending the lowest Enemy, who, at the Expence of a Shilling, may publickly revenge it.

That, if he excells on the Stage, and is irreproachable in his Perfonal Morals, and Behaviour, his Profeffion is fo far from being an Impediment, that it will be oftner a juft Reafon for his being receiv'd among People of Condition with Favour; and fometimes with a more focial Diftinction, than the beft, though more profitable Trade he might have follow'd, could · have recommended him to.

That this is a Happiness to which feveral Actors, within my Memory, as Betterton, Smith, Montfort, Captain Griffin, and Mrs. Bracegirdle (yet living) have arrived at; to which I may add the late celebrated Mrs. Oldfield. Now let us suppose these Perfons, the Men, for example, to have been all eminent Mercers, and the Women as famous Milliners, can we imagine, that merely as fuch, though endow'd with the fame natural Understanding, they could have been call'd into the fame honourable Parties of Converfation? People of Senfe

and Condition, could not but know, it was impoffible they could have had fuch various Excellencies on the Stage, without having fomething naturally valuable in them: And I will take upon me to affirm, who knew them all living, that there was not one of the Number, who were not capable of fupporting a Variety of Spirited Converfation, tho' the Stage were never to have been the Subject of it.

That, to have trod the Stage, has not always been thought a Difqualification from more honourable Employments; feveral have had military Commiffions; Carlisle and Wiltfhire were both kill'd Captains; one, in King William's Reduction of Ireland; and the other, in his first War, in Flanders; and the famous Ben. Johnfon, tho' an unsuccessful Actor, was afterwards made Poet-Laureat.

To thefe laudable Diftinctions, let me add one more; that of Publick Applaufe, which, when truly merited, is, perhaps, one of the moft agreeable Gratifications that venial Vanity can feel. A Happiness, almoft peculiar to the Actor, infomuch that the beft Tragick Writer, however numerous his feparate Admirers may be, yet, to unite them into one general Act of Praife, to receive at once, those thundring Peals of Approbation, which a crouded Theatre throws out, he muft ftill call in the Affiftance of the skilful Actor, to raise and partake of them.

In

In a Word, 'twas in this flattering Light only, though not perhaps fo thoroughly confider'd, I look'd upon the Life of an Actor, when but eighteen Years of Age; nor can you wonder, if the Temptations were too ftrong for fo warm a Vanity as mine to refift; but whether excufable, or not, to the Stage, at length, I came, and it is from thence, chiefly, your Curiofity, if you have any left, is to expect a farther Account of me.

CHAP. IV.

A fhort View of the Stage, from the Year 1660 to the Revolution. The King's and Duke's Company united, compofed the beft Set of Engglish Actors yet known. Their feveral Theatrical Characters.

વક

HO' I have only promis'd you an Account of all the material Occurrences of the Theatre during my own Time;

yet there was one which happen'd not above seven Years before my Admiffion to it, which may be as well worth notice, as the firft great Revolution of it, in which, among Numbers, I was involv'd. And as the one will lead you into a clearer View of the other, it may therefore be previously neceffary to let you

know that

King Charles II, at his Reftoration, granted two Patents, one to Sir William Davenant, and the other to Henry Killigrew, Efq; and their feveral Heirs and Affigns, for ever, for the forming of two diftinct Companies of Comedians: The firft were call'd the King's Servants, and acted at the Theatre-Royal in DruryLane; and the other the Duke's Company, who acted at the Duke's Theatre in Dorfet-Garden. About ten of the King's Company were on the Royal Houfhold Establishment, having each ten Yards of Scarlet Cloth, with a proper Quantity of Lace allow'd them for Liveries; and in their Warrants from the Lord Chamberlain, were ftiled Gentlemen of the Great Chamber: Whether the like Appointments were extended to the Duke's Company, I am not certain; but they were both in high Eftimation with the Publick, and fo much the Delight and Concern of the Court, that they were not only supported by its being frequently prefent at their publick Prefentations, but by its taking Cognizance even of their private Government, infomuch, that their particular Differences, Pretenfions, or Complaints, were generally ended by the King, or Duke's Perfonal Command or Decifion. Befides their being thorough Mafters of their Art, these Actors fet forwards with two critical Advantages, which perhaps may never happen again in many Ages. The one was, their immediate opening after the fo long Interdiction of Plays, during the Civil War, and the Anar

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