Chapter VI: Preface

Robert Davenport is a writer (remarks Reed) of whom scarce any particulars are known. It appears, from the office-book of Sir Henry Herbert, that Davenport had licence for the "History of Henry the First" on the 10th April, 1624; and this is the earliest memorandum relating to him with which we have met. His dramatic productions are--

1. "The History of Henry the First," not printed.

2. "A Pleasant and Witty Comedy, called a New Trick to Cheat the Devil," 1639, 4º.

3. "King John and Matilda," 1655, 4º.[114]

4. "The Pirate," not printed.[115]

5. "The Woman's Mistaken," not printed.

6. "The Fatal Brothers," not printed.

7. "The Politic Queen," not printed.

8. "The City Nightcap," 1661, 4º. Licensed Oct. 24, 1624.

He has also been credited with a piece called "The Pedlar," licensed to Robert Allot, April 8, 1630; but this production, under the title of "The Conceited Pedlar," is printed at the end of Allot's edition of Randolph's "Aristippus," 4º, 1630. It is, of course, included in Hazlitt's edition of Randolph, 12º, 1875.

Davenport, besides his plays, was the author of a considerable collection of poems, the greater part of which were not published. In 1639, however, appeared a thin 4º volume, entitled "A Crowne for a Conqueror; and Too late to call backe yesterday. Two Poems, the one Divine, the other Morall. By R. D." In the Bodleian Catalogue this little book is misdated 1623.[116] The latter piece is dedicated to his noble friends, as he calls them, Mr Richard Robinson[117] and Mr Michael Bowyer; and in his address to them he styles both the poems some of the expense of his time at sea. From the address prefixed to the play of "King John and Matilda," signed R. D., he appears to have been alive in the year 1655, when that piece was first published.

FOOTNOTES:

[114] It was published by Andrew Pennycuicke, one of the performers, who says that he was the last who played the character of Matilda. See it criticised in the _Retrosp. Review_, iv. 87-100.

[115] In S. Sheppard's "Poems," 8º, 1651, is one "To Mr Davenport, on his play called 'The Pirate.'"--_Collier._

[116] [For a notice of Davenport's unprinted poems, see Hazlitt's "Handbook," 1867, in _v._]

[117] Both Robinson and Bowyer were players. The former is in the list of the performers in Shakespeare's plays, and acted in the "Roman Actor." The name of the latter is to be found amongst the performers in "The Bondman," by Massinger, "King John and Matilda," &c.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

+Duke of Verona.+
+Duke of Venice+, _brother to Abstemia_.
+Duke of Milan.+
+Antonio+, _the duke's son_.
+Lorenzo+, _husband to Abstemia_.
+Philippo+, _his friend_.
+Lodovico+, _husband to Dorothea_.
+Lords of Verona.+
+Senators of Venice.+
+Sanchio+, } _lords of Milan_.
+Sebastiano+, }
+Pandulpho.+
+Spinoso.+
+Jaspro.+
+Jovani.+
+Francisco+, _servant to Lodovico_.
+Pambo+, _a clown_.
+Morbo+, _a pander_.
_A Turk, slave to Antonio.
Two slaves to Lorenzo.
Officers and servants._

WOMEN ACTORS.[118]

+Abstemia+, _Lorenzo's wife, and sister to the Duke of Venice_.
+Dorothea+, _Lodovico's wanton lady_.
+Timpanina+, _a bawd_.
_Ladies._

FOOTNOTES:

[118] _i.e._, Actors of women's parts; though _women actors_ were brought upon the stage about the date when this play was printed, but not when it was first performed.

THE CITY NIGHTCAP.[119]