MIDDLETON, TnoALks ( 1570 ?- 1627 ) . An English dramatist, born probably in London. hardly a detail of his life is known. Ile seems to have studied law, and may thus he one of the two Thomas Middletons entered at Inn in 1593 and 1596. it is thought that he began writing for the stage as early as 1599. But the first mention of him is in Diary, on May 22, 1002. lie was then collaborat ing with Monday, Drayton, Webster, and others 011 a lost play called Pall. In this year he published a comedy entitled Blurt, Constable, and in 1603-04 two prose tracts, The Block Boa and Father Talcs, lively and highly colored satirical sketches of London life. Between this time and his death he wrote more than twenty plays, and twelve masques and pageants. In 1620 he was made ehronologcr to the city of London. Ile died in London near July 1, 1627. lie was successful in both comedy and tragedy. his humor is seen at its hest in ,1 Trick to Catch the ( 16081 ; The Roar ing Girl (1611) ; The Spanish Gypsy, a tragi comedy (acted as early as 1623, but not printed till 1653) ; A Chaste Maid in Chrapside (not printed till 1630). Al] except the third in this
list depict contemporary London life. The sec ond has as heroine the notorious Mary Frith, known as Moll Cutpurse. MhIdleton's dramatic power is at is height in Women Beware WO NI Ca (first printed in 1657). it is a romantic tragedy founded in part on the history of Bianca Capcllo. Almost equal to this play are The Spanish Gypsy, cited above, and The Changeling (printed 1653). A Game at Chess, a political drama, attacking Spain, aroused such enthusiastic hatred that the Spanish Ambassador protested, and the piece was taken off the stage after scoring a great success (1624). A play called The Witch (printed 177S) is of considerable interest because it has the same motive as Macbeth. Consult Works, ed. by Batten (S vols., London, 1856) ; and selections from the plays, ed. by Havelock Ellis. with an introduction by Swinburne, for the Mermaid Series (London, 1857).