The Life of Mr. Thomas Betterton

The Late Eminent Tragedian

Charles Gildon

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2019
• eBook ISBN:
  9780429602900
• Topic: Art
• Subtopic: Artist Biographies

Originally compiled and published in 1970, this volume contains the full text of The Life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, written in 1710. For Charles Gildon, the text is little more than a skeleton upon which, as a dramatic critic, he might drape a full consideration of 'the action and utterance of the stage,' and so, the technique of acting and theatrical oratory.

( I )

THE
LIFE
OF
Mr. Thomas Betterton, &c.

INTRODUCTION.

AS it was faid of Brutus and Cassius, that they were the laft of the Romans; so it may be faid of Mr. BETTERTON, that he was the laft of our Tragedians. There being, therefore, so much due to his Memory from all Lovers of the Stage; I could not lay afide my Design of conveying his Name with this Discourse at leaft to a little longer Date, than Nature has given his Body. Nor can I imagine, that it can be look’d on, as injurious to our Reputation, either as Men of Candour, Figure or Sense, to exprefs a Concern for the Loss of a Man so excellent in an Art which is now expiring, and for which Antiquity had so peculiar a Value; since it is plain from the Motto of this Book, that Cicero pleading the Cause of the Poet Archias, tells the Judge, a Man of the first Quality, that every Body was concern’d for the Death of Rofcius the Comedian; or which is more emphatic, says he, Who of us was of so brutish and four a Temper as not to be mov’d at the late Death of ROSCIUS? Who, though he dy’d old, yet for the Excellence of his Art, and Beauty in Performance, seem’d as if he ought to have been exempted entirely from Death.

Whether Mr. Betterton or Rofcius make a just Parallel or not in their Merits as Actors, is difficult to know; but thus far it is certain, that let the Excellence of the Roman be never fo great, that of the Briton was the greateft we had : and tho we shall find, that in Cicero’s Time the Decorums of the Stage were more exactly obferv’d, than in ours, yet we may suppose Mr. Betterton, in his own particular Performance, on a Foot with Rofcius, efpecially when we confider that our Player excelled in both Comedy and Tragedy, the Roman only in the former, as far as we can discover.

To give our English Actor yet the Preheminence, I shall here by writing his Life make him convey to others such Instructions, that if they are perfectly understood, and justly practis’d, will add such Beauties to their Performances, as may render his Loss of less Confequence to the Stage. Plato and Xenophon introduce Socrates in their Discourses, to give the greater Authority to what they fay, on thofe important Points which they would the more forcibly recommend to their Readers I (hall, therefore, make the same Use of Mr. Betterton, on a Subject in which he may reasonably be thought a very competent Judge.

I know it may be objected, that the Qualifications I make him require, and the Precepts he gives, may seem to render this Art impossible for any other to attain to, as Cicero is said in his Orator, to do with the Oratorian Art.

I confefs that I do make him require Qualifications, of which he was not perhaps Master himself; but I presume that can be no Objection to them provided they are necessary, or at least conducive to the forming a complete Player; for we may daily hear many Painters, or even Lovers of the Art, who will tell you what Qualities are necessary to a great Master in History Painting, who yet do not themselves pretend to be possess’d of them. And the fame will hold of many other Arts.

But if, indeed, there were any Precepts deliver’d, or any Qualifications requir’d, which would render a Mastery in this Art so difficult, that it could not be attain’d, the Objection would be far more solid, and worthy of our Notice; but I dare affirm, that as the Stages are now in the Hands and Management of the Players, there is not one Qualification set down, which is not absolutely necessary to do Justice to Art, in Judgment and Performance.

Nor can I find that Cicero, in his Book de Oratore, has requir’d any Impossibility in his Candidate for Eloquence; and it is evident, that has not so far discourag’d others from attempting that noble Science, but that every Age has produc’d some eminent in it, tho few or none have arriv’d to an Equality with him in the Performance for want of those very Qualities requir’d by him to the forming a complete Orator. Thus tho, to be a perfect Master, all the Qualities delivered be necessary, yet there is Room for Praise as well as Industry for others, who are not capable of attaining the whole. Such therefore, whose Genius is not so extensive as to comprehend the whole, ought entirely to apply themselves to, and be content with, the Performance, leaving the Office of Judging to those, whose greater Skill and Knowledge better qualify them for Judges.

Having premis’d these things by way of Introduction, I shall now proceed to the Life of Mr. Betterton.

MR. Thomas Betterton was born in Tuttlestreet, Westminster; his Father being; Under-Cook to King Charles the First: And when he was now come to Years sufficient, his Father bound him Apprentice to one Mr. Rbodes a Bookseller, at the Bible at Charing-Cross, and he had for his Under-Prentice Mr. Kynaston.

But that which prepar’d Mr. Betterton and his Fellow-Prentice for the Stage, was that his Master 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 set up a Company of Players in the Cockpit in Drurylane, and soon made his Company compleat, his Apprentices, Mr. Betterton for Mens Parts, and Mr. Kynaston 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 Wildgoose Chafe, the Spanish Curate, and many more. But while our young Actor is thus rising 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 rork’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 Siege of Rbodes, having new Scenes, and Decorations of the Stage, which were then first introduced into England.

Tho this be affirm’d by some, 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 Reason, and very little Knowledge of the Stages of Athens and Rome, where, I am apt to believe, was in their flourishing times as great Actors as ever play’d here before Curtains. For how that which helps the Representation, by assisting the pleasing Delusion of the Mind in regard of the Place, should spoil the Acting, I cannot imagine.

The Athenian Stage was so much adorn’d, that the very Ornaments or Decorations cost the State more Money, than their Wars against the Persians: and the Romans, tho their Dramatic Poets were much inferiour to the Greeks, (if we may guess at those, 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 just; since 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 saw nothing before them but some Linsy Woolsy Curtains, or at best some piece of old Tapistry fill’d with awkerd Figures, that would almost fright the Audience.

This, therefore, I must urge as his Praise, that he endeavour’d to complete that Representation, which before was but imperfect.

Mr. Betterton making now the foremost Figure in Sir William’s Company among the Men, cast his Eyes on Mrs. Saunderson, who was no less excellent among the Female Players, and who being bred in the House of the Patentee, improv’d her self daily in her Art; and having by Nature those Gifts which were requir’d to make a perfect Actress, 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 Person, produc’d a Happiness in the married State nothing else could ever have given.

But notwithstanding all the Industry of the Patentee and Managers, it seems 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 Dorset Gardens; and fitted it for all the Machines and Decorations the Skill of those times could afford. This likewise 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 Animosities of the King’s Company were so well improv’d, as to produce an Union betwixt the two Patents. To bring this Design about, the following Agreement was sign’d by the Parties hereafter mention’d

Memorandum, Octob. 14. 1681.

IT 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 Kynaston, Gent. on the other Part,—That the said Charles Davenant, Thomas Betterton, and William Smith, do pay, or cause to be paid, out of the Profits of Acting, unto Charles Hart and Edward Kynaston, five Shillings a- piece for every Day there shall be any Tragedies, or Comedies, or other Representations acted at the Duke’s Theatre in Salisbury Court, or where-ever the Company shall act during the respective Lives of the said Charles Hart, and Edward Kynaston, excepting the Days the young Men or young Women play for their own Profit only; but this Agreement to cease, if the said Charles Hart or Edward Kynaston shall at any time play among, or effcetually assist the King’s Companyof 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. Kynaston shall hereafter be free to act at the Duke’s Theatre, this Agreement with him, as to his Pension, shall also cease.

In Consideration of this Pension, Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynaston do promise 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. Kynaston do both also promise, within a Month after the Sealing hereof, to make over to the said Charles Davenant, 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 shall be any Playing at the King’s Theatre.

Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynaston do both also promise to promote with all their Power and Interest an Agreement between both Playhouses; and Mr. Kynaston for himself promises 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 Pension then to cease.

Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynaston promise to go to Law with Mr. Killigrew to have these Articles perform’d, and are to be at the Expence of the Suit.

In Witness of this Agreement, all the Parties have hereunto set their Hands, this 14th of October, 1681.

I am sensible, that this private Agreement has been reflected on as Tricking and unfair, but then it is by those, who have not sufficiently consider’d the Matter; for an dolus, an Virtus quis in Hoste requirit ? All Stratagems are allow’d betwixt Enemies; the two Houses were at War, and Conduct and Action were to decide the Victory; and whatever the Duke’s Company might fall short of in Action, it is plain they won the Field by their Conduct. For Mr. Hart and Mr. Kynaston performed their Promises so well, that the Union was effected in 1682. and so continued till the Year 1695. when the Actors under the united Patents, thinking themselves aggrieved with Mr. Betterton at the head of them, got a new Licence to set up a Play-house once more in Lincolns-Inn Fields. But when ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Preface
• Table of Contents
• Dedication
• The Life of Mr. Thomas Betterton, &c.
• The Amorous Widow: or, The Wanton Wife.