I / PERKINS LIBRARY Duke University Kare Books Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2011 with funding from Duke University Libraries http://www.archive.org/details/memoirsofmrsanneOOoldy MEMOIRS O F Mrs. Anne Oldfield. L N D O N: Printed in the Year M ? DCC,XLL M E M O I R S Of the LIFE of Mrs. Anne Oldfield HE Lofs which the polite Part of the Town has fuftained, in the Death of Mis. Oldfield, muft be allowed to be irrepara- ble; becaufe, in Comedy, as (he never had, fo (he has not left, her Equal. Mrs. Anne Oldfield was born in PalU Mall, in the Year 1683. Her Grandfather was a Vintner, but on her Mother's Side flie was well defcended. Her Father rode in the Guards, and I have heard had a Commiffion under King James before he died. By his free Way of Living, he not only run out his In- come,* but likewife fpent a very pretty Paternal Eftate. His Daughter was put to Mrs. Wottonp. Sempftrefs in King-flreet Weflminjler y but her Genius for the Stage was predominant, as appeared by her continual reading and re- peating Parts of Plays. Mrs. Oldfield being left in itraifCircumftances, She and her Daughter lived for fome time with her B Sifter 2 MEMOIRS o/A Sifter Mrs. Vo(i t who kept the Mitre Ta- vern in St. James's Marker. She married a Second Husband, one Wood. Her Daughter Mrs. Anne Oldfield was introduced to Mr. Christopher Rich, by the late Sir John Vanbrugh, in the Year 1699. About which time Mrs. Crofs having made an Excurfion to France, with a certain Baronet, Mrs. Old- field's firft Appearance on the Stage was in a PartofHer's, viz. Candiope, in Secret Love : Or, the Maiden Queen ; a Tragi-Comedy,writ- ten by Mr. Dryden. Her Second Appearance was in a more Capital Part, Alinda, in the Pilgrim of Beaumont and Fletcher, in which Sir John Vanbrugh made fome Alterations , and Mr. Dryden wrote a Mafque, to ren- der the Revival of this Play more agreeable to the Town, together with a New Prologue and Epilogue. The Pilgrim was indeed re- vived for the Benefit of Mr. Dryden, Ann. 1700, but he dying on the third Night of its Reprefentation, his Son attended the Run of it, and the Advantages accrued to his Fa- mily. About three Years after, upon the Deceafe of that eminent Actrefs Mrs. Ver- bruggen, who died in Child-bed, Mrs.OId- jield fucceeded her in the Part of Lady Lurewell, in the Conjlant Couple : Or, a Trip to the Jubilee, written by Mr. Far- quhar, which run Fifty-two Nights. But the Life of Mrs. Old field. 3 the Part that render'd Mrs. Oldfield' s Ex- cellence chiefly known to the Town, was that of Lady Betty ModWo, in the Carele/s Husband^ a Comedy, written by Mr. Cibber, in the Year 1704. In this Character it was that thofe two Qualities, before obferved by Mr. Cibber, of the Genteel and the Elegant \ fhone cut in Mr?. Oldfield to their greatelt Degree of Perfection 3 and the Character was fo admirably fuited to the natural and agree- able Manner of Converfation peculiar to Mrs. Oldfield 3 that almofl every Sen- tence, in the Part, may with Juftice be faid to have been heard from her own Mouth be- fore fhe pronounced it on the Stage. In fhort, it was not the Part of Lady Betty Mo- di/Jj, reprefented by Mrs. Oldfield; but it was the real Mrs. Oldfield who appeared in the Character of Lady Betty Modifi. The fame Year, the Royal Company of Comedians went down to Bath, where, among feveral Plays acted by them during the Seafon, Mifs Campion, not only by her Action, but her Singing and Dancing, had fo far captivated the molt noble William Duke of Devonfoire, Father of the late Duke, that he took her off the Stage. Of this Amour farther Mention will be hereafter made ; becaufe it is intended that thefe Me- moirs (hall not only, with the utmoft Fide- lity, confift of a Recital of the peculiar Ex- cellencies of Mrs. Oldfield, but likewife B 2 contain 4 ME MO IRS of the contain a fhort digreflionary Hiftory of the Fate and Fortunes of the mod: confiderable Actrefles during the fame Period of Time : an Attempt which I hope will not be lefs ufeful than entertaining to every Reader. It is well known, that about this Time, a ftrict Alliance of Friendship had com- menced between Arthur Maynwaring y Efq; and Mrs. Oldfield. Mr. Oldmixon, who wrote the Life of Mr. Maynwaringy allures the Public, u That each of them loved " with a Paflion, that could hardly have " been ftronger, had it been both Hers and li His firft Love." * It was doubtlefs ow- ing, in a great Meafure, to his Inftructions, that Mrs. Oldfield became fo admirable a Player , for as no body underftood the Action of the Stage better than himielf, fo no body took greater Pleafure than he to fee her excel in it. He wrote feveral Prologues and Epilogues for her, and would always hear her rehearfe them in private before fhe fpoke them in public : I fhall infert Part of one, -J- to which in the Speaking fhe gave an inimitable Turn of Humour j being an agreeable Difplay of the Manner how the Ladies would Go- vern under a Feminine Monarchy. * See Mr. Maynwaring'j Life, Sw.pag. 43 &c. f tfbe Epilogue to the Wife's Relief: Or, The Husband's Core. A Comedy written by Mr. Charles Johnfon. Could Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 5 Could we a Parliament of Women call, We'd vote fuch Statutes as would tame ye all : Firfl, we'd refolve, that all thofe marrfd Fellows, Should Banijhment endure, who durft be Jealous : For tho' that curft Difeafe proceeds from Love*s foft Paflion, Nothing fhould be a Crime in Us but Demonflration. Next, that thofe dull, uncomfortable Wights, W 'ho Jleep all Morning , and who fit o* Nights, Should find, when they m-ZHome vi'ixhSurfeits cloy'd, ■ Their tender Wives with better Friends employ'd. Laftly, the Man who breaks the Marriage- Vow, (If any fuch, in this good Houfe, you know) For thzfirfl Time, fhould fuffer a Divorce ; Adieu thofe tempting Words for better and for worfe : The Ladies fhould be free again to wed, And the falfe Men be naturally dead. But hold ! what makes me impotently rant ? The Will we have but O ! the Power we want : And you,vile Husbands, when thefe Threats you hear, Will only grow worfe Tyrants than you were. Yet have a Care — for tho' we cannot make Laws for Mankind, we can their Orders break. The War, 'tis faid, is drawing to an End ; And not one Woman then can want a Friend. The Brave will all to this dear Town repair, And they were always Guardians of the Fair -, B 3 By 6 MEMOIR S of tie By faithful Service to their Country done, Our Sex's Favour they have fairly won -, And m.iy they dill have this propitious Doom, Conquejl Abroad, and juft Returns at Home. Thefeare our Wifhes, and if any here The glorious Character of Soldier bear, I hope their Favour to this PJay they'll mow, And pay our Poet what to us they owe. Mr. Miiynwaring's Friends, fome of whom were of the higheit Rank, of both Sexes of- ten blamed him, nay, have had fuch Quarrels with him concerning this Affair, that even Mrs. OUfieli herfclf has frequently reprefented to him, that it was for his Honour and Inte- rs jl to break of}' their Alliance, which open F'ranknefs, on her Side, did as he has often confeiTed, engage him to her the more firm- ly, and all his Friends at laft, gave over im- portuning him to leave her. They faw, by her mod engaging Manner, that (he daily, and hourly, more and more entangled him in Cupid's Nets, and it mult be allowed that Mr. Maynwaring is not the only wife Man who has fallen a Victim to Venus. He real- ly fullained a greater Weight of the public Affairs, than fome whole Poffs more imme- diately load them with the Burthen. His very great Intimacy and Friendfhip with my Lord Godolphin and the Duke of Marl- borough) Life of Mrs. Old field. 7 borough, who were then at the Head of the Miniftry, could not but neceffarily involve him in Political Refearches, and it was to unbend his Mind that he took Delight to pafs fome Hours with a Woman, whofe Conver- sation was both foft and pleafant, and exactly agreeable to his own. It is not to be fup- pofed that two Perfons under fuch an Affec- tionate Alliance, could meet without Confum-r mation ; and all the Quarter that is defired for Mr. Maynwarings Reputation in this Tranfa&ion of his Life, is, that none but the Innocent would condemn him. For what Mr. Fenton has obferved of the Primitive State, may be juftly applied to the Satisfaction they en- joyed in each other. Pure from Deceit, devoid of Fear and Strife, While Love was all the penfive Care of Life. I t cannot be denied, but this Amour was very expenfive to Mr. Maynwaring, tho' it was not the only erroneous Inftance of his Oeconomy. No Man could have a greater Contempt for Money, or abhorred what was mean and fordid more than he did : And it was wholly owing to his Generofity and Negli- gence of his own Affairs, that after he had fo profitable a Poft, as Auditor of the Impreil conferred on him, yet he made no Addition to his Fortune. When he fold his Eftate of Ight- field in Sbropfiire, to my Lord Kilmurry, there B 4 was 8 M E M O I R S of the was not, wh?n the Mortgages were paid off, above four Thoufand Pounds left to be divided beiween him and his Sifter. The Management ot hisDomeftic Affairs he gave intirely up to his Sifter and Servants ; and thofe that knew what was the Conduct of his Family vxWhite- ball, never thought that lie would be the richer for his Poft. His Company was fo much the Delight of the Great, the Fair and the Gay, that he was very little at Home. However, we muft leave him for a while in the Bufinefs of his Poft ; made happy, at certain Intervals, by Mrs. Oldfie\d y in whofe Converfation all his Political Fatigues were moll agreeably alle- viated. About this Time, the EngUJh Stage met with as much Oppofnion as the State. No- thing would go down but Italian Operas, and indeed Mr. Maynwarin: , being a Lover of Mu- fic, and a fine Performer himlelf, gave into this Polhe Tafte, and wrote the following Prologue to Camilla. While martial Troops, with more than martial Rage, For Auflria thefe, for Bourbon thofe engage ; Cover with Blood th* unhappy Latian Plains, Infult their Shepherds, and opprefs their Swains ; Camilla, frighten'd from her native Seat, Hither is driv'n to beg a falfe Retreat. O may Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 9 O may the exil'd Nymph a Refuge find ! Such as may eafe the Labours of her Mind : Hear her, ye Fair, in tuneful Notes complain, Pity her Anguifh and remove her Pain -, To you her Vindication does belong, To you the Mourner has addrefs'd her Song. Let her your Hearts with juft Companion move, By Mufic foften'd and endear'd by Love *, So may your Warriour Lords fuccefsful fight, May Honour crown the Day and Love the Night. May Conqueft (till attend their generous Arms, Till their Swords grow as fatal your Charms. But let it here be obferved, that tho' Mr. Maynwarings Love of Mufic made him give fome Encouragement to the Italian Operas ; yet he was a faft Friend and vigo- roufly pufhed all his Intereft, both for pro- moting and improving the Entertainment of the Englijh Theatre, being truly fenfible of this Remark, While Nicolino like a Tyrant reigns, Nature's negletted, and the 'Stage in Chains.* W e muft now return to Mrs. Oldfield ', rifing every Seafon in Reputation, from her inimitable Performance, firft acquired under * Epilogue to the Carelefs Husband. the io MEMOIRS of the the Character of Lady Betty Modi/h, and in which (he (hone more, than in all the Parts wherein (he had hitherto appeared. The Author of the Carelefs Husband, thus impartially ftates the Cafe, to his mod noble Pa- tron the Duke of Argyll: " The ben: Criticks 41 have long and juftly complained, that the " Coarfenefs of mod Characters in our lateCo- " medies have been unfit Entertainments for " People of ®uality, efpecially the Ladies : And " therefore, fays he. I was long in hopes that " lb me able Pen, whofe Expectation did not ic hang upon the Profits of Succefs, would ge- Does like a Man refent, a Prince upbraid. J His Sentiments difclofe a Royal Mind, Nor is he known a King from Guards behind. Injur'd Hermione demands Relief •, But not from heavy Narratives of Grief: In confcious Majefty here Pride is mown ; Born to avenge her Wrong, but not bemoan. C4 An- 24 MEMOIRSfl//fo Andromache If in our Author's Lines, As in the great Original ihe fhines, Nothing but from Barbarity fhe fears. Attend with Silence -, you'll applaud with Tears. Having before obferved, that Phadra and Andromache are, both the Children of Euri- pides ; I fhall here obferve, that th~ kind En- tertainment they met with on the Englijh Stage, was chiefly owing to Mrs. Barry and Mrs. Oldfield ; whofe manner of fpeaking the very humourous Epilogue^ written by Mr Budgell y greatly contributed to the Run of the laft Play; and which, whenever revived, the Audience always have infilled on. I hope you'll own, that with becoming Art I've play'd my Game, and topp'd the Widow's Part. My Spoufe, poor Man ! could not live out the Play, But dy'd commodioufly on Wedding- Day : While I, his Relict, made at one bold Fling My felf a Princefs, and young 'Sly a King. You Ladies, who protract a Lover's Pain, And hear your Servants figh whole Years in vain Which of you all would not on Marriage venture, Might fhe fo foon upon her Jointure enter ? •Twas a ftrangeScape! hadPyrrbus liv'd till now, J had been finely hamper'd in my Vow. To Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 25 To dye by one's own Hand, and fly the Charms* Of Love and Life in a young Monarch's Arms, 'Twere an hard Fate — Ere I had undergone it, I might have took one Night — to think upon it* But why, you'll fay, was all this Grief expreft For a firft Husband, laid long fince at Reft ? Why fo much Coldnefs to my kind Protector ? Ah Ladies! had you known the good Man He ft or ! Homer will tell you (or I'm mif-inform'd) That, when enrag'd the GrecianC&mp he ftorm'd, To break the ten-fold Barriers of the Gate, He threw a Stone of fuch prodigious Weight, As no two Men could lift, not even thofe, Who in that Age of thund'ring Mortals rofe : — It would have fprain'daDozen modern Beaus. At length, howe'er, I laid my Weeds afide, And funk the Widow in the well-drefs'd Bride ; In you it ftill remains to grace the Play, And blefs with Joy my Coronation-Day : Take then, ye Circles of the Brave and Fair The Fatherlefs and Widow to your Care. I muft now relate the melancholy Parting of two fincere Friends. Notwithftanding Mrs. Oldfield's great Care and Concern for Mr. Maynwarings Welfare, his Negligence of him- felf brought upon him a violent Relapfe of his former Indifpofition, which daily increafed ; in- fomuch that his Friends began to deipair of his Recovery. Such 26 MEMOIRS of the Such was the Inveteracy of Party- Malice at this Time, that, (becaufe Mr. Maynwar'mg was chiefly concerned in writing the Medley) the Examiner y in one of his Papers, upbraided him, even with his Jickly Con/litution, which however was not owing to any Debaucheries, as he had maliciouily reprefented. Mr. Maynwaring had Lodgings at Hamp- Jlead, and rode out every Day, hoping for fome Benefit by that moft healthful Exercife. But, upon paying a Vifit to her Grace the Dutch- efs of Malborough, at her Seat near St. Albans, he caught fo violent a Cold by walking too late in the Gardens, and it increaied upon him fo fait, that it was his own Opinion, it would fi- niih what his former Illnefshad began. His Phyficians, Sir Samuel Garth and Sir Richard Blachnore^ exprefled very imall Hopes of his Recovery j which gave the more Caufe of Ap- prehenfion to his Friends, for both thofe Gen- tlemen were among the firft of that Number, and as much concerned in Friendfhip as Prac- tice, to fave him if pofiible. His Relations would have Dr. Radclijfe confulted, and the late Earl of Oxford happening to fee the Doc- tor before he had been with Mr. Maynwaring ipoke thus to him Pray DcBor take Care cf that Gentleman, one. of the moft valuable Lives in England. Indeed bAv. Maynwaring was at lad: fo much obliged by that Minifter's good Offices and Civilities, that he declared, if he fliould recover, he would never more draw his Pen Life of Mrs. Olefield. 27 Pen againft him. But it was out of the Power of Phyfick to help him, his inward Decay was fo great. He was thrown into fucha languifh- ing Condition, that tho' his Diftemper was not then thought to be a Confumption, yet it had all the Symptoms and Effects produced by one. He was vifited, in this his laft Sicknefs, by all the great People of both Sexes, who had the Happinefs of his Acquaintance, tho' he was able to fee but few of them. And it is to his Glory, that the Greatejl Lady in England wept often by his Bed-fide, which Tears he mutual- ly returned, being fenjible how much he owed to fuch an Illnftrious Mourner, when he was fenfible of little or nothing elfe. He had not Words to exprefs the Tranfport he felt, when he was almoft even in the Agony, to fee him- felf fo far in the good Graces of a Lady of fuch high Rank and Merit, as that his Danger mould ftrike her Dumb, and leave it to her Eyes to exprefs the Sorrow of her Heart. It is fuppof- ed he would fain have endeavoured to have broke thro' the Excefs of his Grief, and formed fome Utterance for it ; but his Sifter remained in the Room. This Emotion of his was the more extraordinary, on account of a flight Mif- underftanding at that Time, between him and this Great Lady. He had given her fome Caufe of Difguft, but was not confcious to himfelf in what, and it is thought, that hisPerplexity about it contributed fomewhat to the Increafe of his Diftemper. He did all in hisPower to exprefs his Con- 28 MEMOIRS of fie Concern for the unknown Offence, but he was too near Death, and in a few Hours after (he had left him, he expired in the Arms of his Servant Mr. Thomas Wood, now Treaftirer of the Theatre in Lincolns-Inn Fields, on the 12 th of November, 17 12, in the Prime of his Age, being but 44 Years old. After his Deceafe, a mod fcandalous and fiilfe Rumour was Ipread, chiefly levelled atMrs. Old fie Id, that he diedof a Venereal Malady. But to obviate fo ungenerous a Reflection, his Body, by her Direction, was opened by two Surgeons Mr. Buffiere and Mr. Browne ; in the Prefence of two Phyficians, Dr. Bee/ion and Dr. Weft ; and of his Apothecary Mr. Buck- eridge. Thefe Gentleman, all, declared, that there was not the leaft Symptom of any x\\\ngFe nerv- al '; but that he died of a Confumption. He had in his Life-time, heard the Whifperings of ma- licious Rumour, charging him with fuch an In- difpofition ; but he once complained very pa- thetically to He, that he was not confeious of any fuch Diflemper ; confeiling at the fame time, that, in the Reign of King Willi am t he had made an unfortunate Sally in an Amour, which gave him a flight Taint at Paris, 1698; that he was only patcht up there, but afterwards perfectly cured at London, fince which Time he never had any fuch Misfortune. It is the Duty of an Hiftorian to fpeak the Truth, as far as it comes to his Knowledge, and Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 29 and as great aVeneration as I have f brMr. May n- waring 'sMemory, I could not avoid mentioning even this Blemifh of it, in Juftice, and to clear up the unjuft Afperfion caft on Mrs Oldfield. It was not long before hisDeath, that he made his Will, all which he wrote with his own Hand, and to which his Apothecary Mr. Buckeridge, and his Servant Mr. Wood, wereWitneffes, when it wat executed at Mrs.Oldfald's Houfe in South- ampton-Street,Covent-Garden. He charged them not to take anyNotice of what they knew; which however was little enough, for he intrufted no body with the Secret of his having made Mrs. Oldfield his Executrix, tho' by her Behaviour to him, he could not injuftice do otherwife, on his Son's Account; nor could any Woman better de- ferve all that was in hisPower to give ; of which Truth his Son is a living Witnefs. Notwithstanding the Clamour his Will made, after his Deceafe; himfelf, who beft knew what he had to leave her, could not im- gine fuch a Stir would have been made about fofmall an Eftate. He was far from dyingRich, leaving evry little more than Three Thoufand Pounds behind him, which h? divided equal- ly between his Sifter, his Son's Mother, and the Child, who, in Feature and Vivacity, was very like his Father. Often have I heard Mr. Maynwaring bemoan the Child, and fay, IVhat will become of the Boy when 1 am gone. This Anxiety proceeded from the Little he pof- fefTed. It is crue he had fuch a noble Contempt of 3i MEMOIRS^/^ of the Goods of Fortune, that he never took Care to make one, nor ever refolved to grow Rich. Had I a Talent for Panegyric, I could be proud of this Opportunity to do Juftice to the Memory of a Gentleman, whofe Name would be Immortal, had not his Modefty been as great as his Merit j had he not contented him- felf with the Pleafure of Writing, and refigned the Glory of it to others. As to the Author of the Medley, the Examiner was obliged to allow that he wrote with a Tolerable Spirit, and in a Maflerly Style. A Spirit, indeed, which has not many Equals, and a Style worthy the Imi- tation of the greateft Mafters. His Learning was without Pedantry; hisWit Affectation ; his Judgment, without Malice ; his Friendship, without Intereftjhis Zeal, without Violence ; in a Word, he was the beft Subject, the beft Relation, the beft Mafter, the beft Critic, and beft Political Writer in Great- Britain. Shortly after his Deceafe, was publifh- ed a Defence of Mr. Maynwaring, in a Letter to a Friend. It was, Mr. Oldmixon aflcrts *, fuppofed to be written by the Right Honourable Robert Walpole, Efq; and is not unworthy fo good a Hand for its Generofity, Spirits and Ele- gance, viz. * See //kPofthumoui. Works of Mr. Maynvvaring publijbed bj kirn, pag. 351. SlRj Life of Mrs. Old field. 30 Sir, I write to you upon a Circum fiance, for which it is the Intereft of all Mankind to be concerned. The Public is under the Adminis- tration of its refpe&ive Minifters and Officers, who are obliged by their Pofts to confult the true Welfare of it. But Incidents, which hap- pen alike to all, and from which no Man can be exempt, fall under every Man's Care, and are to be confidered and laid home to the Bo- fom of every Man breathing. It is incumbent upon each individual Perfon, for his own fake, to defend the Abfent ; but much more fo to defend the Dead, who are to be abfent for ever. I have Reafons for thinking I am called to this Duty, upon the accidental Perufai of a virulent Libel, -f wherein the Author, after much Dif- courfe about himfelf has (alluding to a Gentle- man who lately departed this Life) the follow- ing Words, viz. will let us inro the Secret of this cruel Behaviour. The Medley was often writ- ten by (Mr. Maynwaring) this afiive Enemy of the Examiner, in which fo many grofs Falf- hoods of that Writer were detected, * that he had recourfe to Detraction rather than a jujl Defenfe of himfelf, for which he had been call- ed upon by Mr. Maynwaring in feveral fubfe- quent Papers. From hence it appear?, that the Examiner's Treatment of this Gentleman, is as juft as it would be in a Felon to publim a Libel againft the late Lord Chiefjuftice Holt, for paffing Sen- tence upon him to be burnt in the Cheek. The Examiner has Senfe enough, tho' not Grace enough, to know, that to deferve, not lofujf'er Punimment, is truly fhamelul ; but none but a Man enraged, as in the iuppofed Cafe of the Fe- lon, and incapable of Remorfeand Shame, could forget all Regards to the Advantage his Adver- fary had in the Difpute, all Tendernefs with Relation to a Man's private Affairs, fo far as to mention the Particulars of the Gentleman's Sif- * Medley No. 41, relating to the ASi of Indemnity. See elfo MtDLFY No, 443, concerning the State Loans, D ter 34 MEMOIRS of tie Si/ler, and his Paflion for an Attrefs. This Account with his Sifter, I am very lure the Examiner can be no Judge of, nor any one but the Gentleman himfelf. The Offence his Paflion (for Mrs. OUJield) gave, to all who ef- teemedhim, is to be lamented, but not to be mentioned with theie Aggravations, efpecially after his Death, and that when he who fpeaks profeffes himfelf an Enemy. But the Exami- ner takes upon him to be a Champion for the Church, and mull not allow fuch Sins to be ve- nial ; yet at the fame time he mould have confi- dered, that the other Party would recriminate, and have reflected, that there are too many of the Examiners Side, who do not behave them- felves as if they were under Vows of Chajiity. I know z. fly one among his great Friends, that loves a Wench as well as ever did old Rowley, (King Ckarlesll.) Beiides him, there is another, who finds Leifure from his weighty Affairs to ftrole among the Stews, or, as fome will have if, neglects his Writing now and then, to toy with the Bufinefs of a Nation. But this dull Fel- low, the Examiner, has fo little Senfe of what the impartial World thinks of him and his Per- formance, that he gives himfelf an Air of Talking by way of good Humour. In the Beginning of the fame Paper, * the pretty Wanton is in a laughing Vein, and with a * Viz. The Examiner o/"Fd>. gtl> t 1712-13. abovementkned. very Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 35 very gay Heart rallies us, for a Curiofity he fuppofes we have to know the Name, ProfeJJi- on t Trade, Quality, Complexion^ or Sex of the Author of the Examiner. This Autnor has indeed been very much talked of 5 a (1) Wo- man, a (2) Divine, and (3) Two or Three Gentlemen, have been fufpected j but no Per- fon that had any Pretenfions to Modefty, Piety, or Integrity, has been once named on this Occafion. -J- The Folly of the Follow is monftrous, to pretend to fpeak of Wenching^ conndering how the World is affronted as to this Vice, at prefent. It is certain there never has been lewder Creatures than many who are now in Vogue, and I am afraid one or other of them has a Defign upon the celebrated ASlrefi abovementioned ; elfe why does he fear to make any Enquiry into her Conduct behind the Curtain ? If the Whigs do lofe her, they will bear it with the Patience that they have already the Defection of fome Others, tho' of greater Quality, and higher Obligati- ons to be conftant to us, But I fpeak this only from general Rumour j for I do not believe^ is gone off; fo far from it, that I am credibly in^ \ It is noiv nvell known, that the Perfons concerned in carrying on the Examiner, we re, i. Mrs. Manley. z. Dr. Swift. 3. Lord Bolingbroke, Mr. Prior, and Mr. Qldifworth. MeJJieurs Pope and Arbuthnot often laid their Hands to the fame Plow, and fome others of their Clan. D 2 formed 36 MEMOIRSc/A formed fie has refufed great Sums, becaufe fie infifts upon her Lover's voting on our Side* they are, it feems, both ftill firm to their Ho- nour, but I would lay on the Woman's Side, were it not that all Wagers relating to Poli- ticks are forbidden by Ac~l of Parliament. I am, Sir, Yours, fcfc. I think my felf obliged to take off the 'Examiner 's laftAfperfion on Mr. Maynwaring ; (not fpoken to in the foregoing excellentDefenfe it is this mod notorious Falfhood, that lie threw away the Vouchers oj his Office^ which I hereby folemnly declare he never could do, as never having a Voucher in his Cuftody, there- fore could not lofe one. This being a Charge always committed by the Auditors to their Officers ; and Mr. Maynwarings Deputies were known to be Men of the moft fcrupu^ lous Care imaginable : He him/elf being ei- teemed by all who knew him, for which I par- ticularly appeal to the Commijjioners of the Cuf- toms, to be the moft exact of any Man in all the Affairs he undertook. Indeed it was im- poflible for it to be otherwiie, there not being in his Time, a Gentleman of better Senfe, more folid Judgment, and quicker Difpatchin Bufinefs, during the Intervals of Wit and Pleafure. Life of Mrs. Oldfield. 37 A true Copy of his lad Will andTeftament, hereunto annexed, fufficiently juftifies the re- gular and honeft Difpofition of that fmall For- tune whereof he died pofTefTed. Having thus vindicated the Memory of this excellent Perfon, as well as Mrs. Oldfield's Behaviour to him, I mall not prefume to add any thing farther of my own to his Character, but conclude with letting the Reader know that Mr. Maynwaring's Corps was interred in the Church of Chert fey in the County of Sur- rey, where his Grand-Father (Sir Arthur Maynwaring) and his Father (Charles Mayn- waring, Efq;) were likewife buried, and where they had heretofore a plentiful Eftate and fine Seat. His Obfequies were performed with great Privacy, anfwerable more to his Modef- ty than his Merit : He never affected Pomp living, and thofe who had the Direction of his Funeral, took care to fulfil this his laft Re- queft, as they had done all others in his Life- time, with the utmoft Juftice and Honour. He was born at Ightfald, in the Countv of Salop, Ann. 1668, Obitt 17 12, JEtat. xliv. Thole who are defirous to know more Par- ticulars concerning him, and his Writings, may confult his Life and Pofthumous Works, publifhedby Mr. Oldmixon i in the Year 17 15, D 3 The 38 MEMOIR8«/A The Diftrefi'd Mother feemed now to be the Cafe of Mrs. Oldfeld, both on and off the Stage. For, tho' the Town-Talk was wholly bent upon Mr. Maymvarings making her Ex- ecutrix of his Will, it mult furely be acknow- ledged, that Two Thouland Pounds was no fuch mighty Sum to bring up an Orphan, from Seven Years old, fuitable to the mod ardent Wifhes of his Father, which, in every Refpect, his Mother has fully accomplilhed. I think I cannot clofe the Subject in de- bate more properly, than by applying to all Intermeddlers. in Affairs which no ways con- cern them, a fhort Efay of Mr. Maynwar- ing's in the Medley No, 33. Of Modesty and Justice. There is a Law mentioned bv Plato, which fupiter is faid to have enacted in his own Name : That, if any Man appeared plainly to be incapable of Modefty or Juftice, he Jhould immediately be knocked the Head as a common Pejlilence. The Account Plato gives of it is as follows, viz. He is defcribing the nrft: State of Hu- man Society: How Mankind built Towns to defend themfdves from Beafts j and how, in Life if Mrs. Oldfield. 39 in a more than brutal manner, they after- wards fell upon one another: And at laft, he fays, Jupiter, juftly fearing that the whole Race of Mankind would be deftroyed, ordered Mercury to go to them, and to carry along with him Modefty and Jujlice, as the beft Support and Ornament of their new-built Cities, and the firmed: Bond of their own mu- tual Friend (hip. Mercury upon this Occa- fion asked Jupiter, in what manner he fhould beftow Juliice and Modefty upon Mankind : Whether, faid he, as the Arts are divided, mail I alfo divide thefe Virtues, which are indeed of two Kinds, and (hall 1 give to fome Men one, to fome the other, as we fee by Experience, that one skilful Phyfician is fufficient for a great many of the Ignorant, and fo of other Arts and Profejfiom ? or, (hall I fo divide them a- mong the whole Race of Mankind, as that eve- ry Jingle Perfon may have a Share in them ? Divide them in that ma?mer y fays Jupiter, and let all Mankind be Partakers of them : For if thefe Virtues were only conveyed to a few, as the Arts and Sciences are given, it would be im- poffible for any Citks to fubfift; Therefore I would have you go farther, and eftablifh a Law in my Name, That whoever cannot be made to partake cf Modefty and Juftice, /hall be dejlroycd as a Plague of the Republic k. The Application of this moft excellent Fable, is, that it would be much more com- D 4 mendablc 40 M E M O I R S of the mendaMc in all Perfons to have the Modefly of leaving the Adminiftration ofjujiice to tho/e to whom it peculiarly belongs, and to mind onlv their own Bufinefs. To return to the Stage. Before this TimeMr. Betterton and Mrs. Barry had not onlv quit- ted the Theatre, but alfo the Stage of Life. I remember a PafTage in Mr. Henry Cromwell, Efq; that upon hearing of Mr. Betrerfon'sDeiuh, he favs, M He would have put over him this > Fair, V. •s there, j Sir Richard Steele had the Honour of Mrs. Oldfield^ performing Original Parts in all his Plays, viz. I. Lady Chariot, in the Funeral. II. The Niece, in the Tender Husband, llli Victoria, in the Lying Lover. IV. Indiana, in the Confcious Lovers. To divert an Audience, by an innocent Per- formance, was the chief Defign of the laft Comedy, who are thus addreffed in the Clofe of the Prologue. Ye 48 MEMOIRSo/A Ye Modefc, Wife, and Good, ye Fair, ye Brave, To- Night the Champion of your Virtues fave j Redeem from long Contempt the Comick Name, And judge politely for your Country's Fame. There happened a very remarkable Inci- dent in the Reprefentation of the Confcious Lo- vers, which Sir Richard takes particular Notice of in his Preface, and I mall give it in his own Words, viz. " This Comedy was in every Part excellent- " ly performed ; and there needs no other Ap- " plaufe of the Actors, but that they excelled Ci according to the Dignity and Difficulty of the *' Character they reprefented;- —The Tears Her Lover was a King, fhe FJefh and Blood. 3 And fince fhe'as dearly paid the finful Score, Be kind at laft, and pity poor Jane Shore. Some Particulars having been communica- ted to me, relating to Mrs. Oldfield\ coming up- on the Stage, by Mr. Taylor , formerly a Servant to Mr. Rich, I could wifh they had been foon- er tranfmitted; but as the Intentions of the Wrirer muft be acknowledged an Act of Friend- fhip, I hope the Contents of his Letter will be agreeable to the Public, for whofe Ufe it is inferted. To Mr. Curll, &>c. I R, a a ( c In your Memoirs of Mrs. Oldfield 'it may not be amifs to infert the following Facts, the Truth of which you may depend. Her Father, Captain Oldfield^ not only run out all theMilitan', butlikewife thePaternal Bounds of hisFortune, having a pretty EftateinHoufes in Pall-Mail. It was wholly owing to Cap- tain Farquhar, that ever Mrs. Oldjield became anActrefs, from the following Incident. Din- E 4 *' ing 5 6 MEMOIRS o//& c * ing one Day at her Aunt's, who kept the lt Mitred Tavern in St. famess -Market, he •* hear IVlifs Nanny reading a Play behind the " Bar with fo proper an Emphafis, and fuch " agreeable Turns fu.it able to each Character, cc that he fwore the Girl was cut out for the 11 Stage; to which (lie had before always expref- " fed an Inclination, being very defirous to try " her Fortune that Way. Her Mother, the " next Time {lie faw Captain Vanbrugh^ ct who had a great Refpect for the Family,