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R. Thomas Betterton was born in Tuttleftreet, Westminster; his Father being Under-Cook to King Charles the First: And when he was now come to Years fufficient, his Father bound him Apprentice to one Mr. Rhodes a Bookfeller, at the Bible at Charing-Crofs, and he had for his Under-Prentice Mr. Kynafton.

But that which prepar'd Mr. Betterton and his Fellow-Prentice for the Stage, was that his Mafter Rhodes having formerly been Wardrobe Keeper to the King's Company of Comedians in the Black-Fryars, on General Monck's March to London, in 1659. with his Army, got a Licence from the Powers then in being, to fet up a Company of Players in the Cockpit in Drurylane, and foon made his Company compleat, his Apprentices, Mr. Betterton for Mens Parts, and Mr. Kynafton for Womens Parts, being at the Head of them.

Mr. Betterton was now about 22 Years of Age, when he got a great Applause by acting in the Loyal Subject, the Wildgoofe Chafe, the Spanifh Curate, and many more. But while our young Actor is thus rifing under his Master Rhodes, Sir William D'Avenant getting a Patent of King Charles the Second, for erecting a Company under the Name of the Duke of York's Servants, took Mr. Betterton and all that acted under Mr. Rhodes into his Company. And in the Year 1662. open'd his House in Lincolns-Inn Fields, with the first and second part of the

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Siege of Rhodes, having new Scenes, and Decorations of the Stage, which were then first introduc'd into England.

Tho this be affirm'd by fome, others have laid it to the Charge of Mr. Betterton as the first Innovator on our rude Stage, as a Crime; nay, as the Destruction of good Playing, but I think with very little Show of Reafon, and very little Knowledge of the Stages of Athens and Rome, where, I am apt to believe, was in their flourifhing times as great Actors as ever play'd here before Curtains. For how that which helps the Representation, by affifting the pleafing Delufion of the Mind in regard of the Place, should fpoil the Acting, I cannot imagine.

The Athenian Stage was fo much adorn'd, that the very Ornaments or Decorations coft the State more Money, than their Wars against the Perfians and the Romans, tho their Dramatic Poets were much inferiour to the Greeks, (if we may guess at thofe, who are perished by those who remain) were yet not behind them in the Magnificence of the Theatre to heighten the Pleasure of the Representation. If this was Mr. Betterton's Thought, it was very juft; fince the Audience must be often puzled to find the Place and Situation of the Scene, which gives great Light to the Play, and helps to deceive us agreeably, while they faw nothing before them but fome Linfy Woolfy Curtains, or at beft fome piece of old Tapiftry fill'd with awkerd Figures, that would almost fright the Audience.

This,

This, therefore, I muft urge as his Praife, that he endeavour'd to complete that Reprefentation, which before was but imperfect.

Mr. Betterton making now the foremost Figure in Sir William's Company among the Men, caft his Eyes on Mrs. Saunderfon, who was no lefs excellent among the Female Players, and who being bred in the House of the Patentee, improv❜d her felf daily in her Art, and having by Nature those Gifts which were requir'd to make a perfect Actrefs, added to them the Beauty of a virtuous Life, maintaining the Character of a good Woman to her old Age. This Lady therefore Mr. Betterton made choice of to receive as his Wife; and this proceeding from a Value he had for the Merits of her Mind, as well as Perfon, produc'd a Happiness in the married State nothing elfe could ever have given.

But notwithstanding all the Industry of the Patentee and Managers, it feems the King's House then carry'd the vogue of the Town; and the Lincolns-Inn Fields House being not fo commodious, the Players and other Adventurers built a much more magnificent Theatre in Dorfet Gardens; and fitted it for all the Machines and Decorations the Skill of those times could afford. This likewife proving less effectual than they hop'd, other Arts were employ'd, and the Political Maxim of Divide and Govern being put in Practice, the Feuds and Animofities of the King's Company were fo well improv'd, as to B 4

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produce an Union betwixt the two Patents. To bring this Defign about, the following Agreement was fign'd by the Parties hereafter mention'd.

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Memorandum, O&ob. 14. 1681.

T was then agreed upon between Dr. Charles "Davenant, Thomas Betterton, Gent. and "William Smith, Gent. of the one Part, and "Charles Hart, Gent. and Edward Kynafton, "Gent. on the other Part, That the faid "Charles Davenant, Thomas Betterton, and "William Smith, do pay, or caufe to be paid, "out of the Profits of Acting, unto Charles “Hart and Edward Kynafton, five Shillings a

piece for every Day there fhall be any Trage"dies, or Comedies, or other Representations "acted at the Duke's Theatre in Salisbury Court,

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or where-ever the Company fhall act during "the refpective Lives of the faid Charles Hart, "and Edward Kynafton, excepting the Days the 66 young Men or young Women play for their

own Profit only; but this Agreement to cease, "if the faid Charles Hart or Edward Kynafton fhall at any time play among, or effectually "affift the King's Company of Actors; and for as "long as this is pay'd, they both covenant and promise not to play at the King's Theatre.

If Mr. Kynafton fhall hereafter be free to act "at the Duke's Theatre, this Agreement with him, as to his Pension, shall also cease.

"In Confideration of this Penfion, Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynafton do promife to make over, "within a Month after the Sealing of this, "unto Charles Davenant, Thomas Betterton, and "William Smith, all the Right, Title, and "Claim which they or either of them may "have to any Plays, Books, Cloaths, and Scenes. " in the King's Play-house.

"Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynafton do both alfo "promife, within a Month after the Sealing "hereof, to make over to the faid Charles Dave"nant, Thomas Betterton, and William Smith, "all the Title which they each of them have "to Six and Three Pence a-piece for every Day "there fhall be any Playing at the King's "Theatre.

"Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynafton do both alfo "promife to promote with all their Power and "Intereft an Agreement between both Play❝houses; and Mr. Kynafton for himself promi❝fes to endeavour as much as he can to get "free, that he may act at the Duke's Play-house, "but he is not obliged to play unless he have "ten Shillings per day allow'd for his Acting, "and his Penfion then to cease.

“Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynafton promife to go "to Law with Mr. Killigrew to have these Ar❝ticles perform❜d, and are to be at the Expence " of the Suit.

"In Witness of this Agreement, all the Par"ties have hereunto fet their Hands, this 14th of October, 1681.