But his part is
done by Beeston, who is fain to read it out of a book all the
while, and thereby spoils the part, and almost the play, it being
one of the best parts in it: and though the design is in the
first conception of it pretty good, yet it is but an indifferent
play; wrote, they say, by my Lord Newcastle. ["The Heiress" does
not appear in the list of the Duke of Newcastle's works, nor can
I find any mention of it elsewhere.] But it was pleasant to see
Beeston come in with others, supposing it to be dark, and yet he
is forced to read his part by the light of the candles: and this
I observing to a gentleman that sat by me, he was mightily
pleased therewith, and spread it up and down. But that that
pleased me most in the play is the first song that Knipp sings
(she singing three or four); and indeed it was very finely sung,
so as to make the whole house clap her.
5th. Betimes to Sir W. Coventry's, meaning by my visit to keep
fresh my interest in him. And he tells me how it hath been
talked that he was to go one of the Commissioners to Ireland,
which he was resolved never to do unless directly commanded: for
that to go thither while the Chief Secretary of State was his
professed enemy, was to undo himself; and therefore it were
better for him to venture being unhappy here, than to go further
off to be undone by some obscure instructions, or whatever other
way of mischief his enemy should cut out for him.
Pages:
1598
1599
1600
1601
1602
1603
1604
1605
1606
1607
1608
1609
1610
1611
1612
1613
1614
1615
1616
1617
1618
1619
1620
1621
1622