of this celebrated actor,
is exposed to dispute, and his manner of first coming on the stage, as
well as the action of his younger years have been controverted. He was
son of Mr. Betterton, undercook to king Charles the Ist, and was born in
Tothill-street Westminster, some time in the year 1635. Having received
the rudiments of a genteel education, and discovering a great propensity
to books, it was once proposed he should have been educated to some
learned profession; but the violence and confusion of the times putting
this out of the power of his family, he was at his own request bound
apprentice to a bookseller, one Mr. Holden, a man of some eminence, and
then happy in the friendship of Sir William Davenant. In the year 1656
it is probable Mr. Betterton made his first appearance on the
stage, under the direction of Sir William, at the Opera-house in
Charter-house-yard. It is said, that going frequently to the stage about
his mailer's business, gave Betterton the first notion of it, who shewed
such indications of a theatrical genius, that Sir William readily
accepted him as a performer. Immediately after the restoration two
distinct companies were formed by royal authority; the first in virtue
of a patent granted to Henry Killegrew, Esq; called the king's company,
the other in virtue of a patent granted to Sir William Davenant, which
was stiled the duke's company.[2] The former acted at the theatre royal
in Drury-lane, the other at that in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields. In order that
the theatres might be decorated to the utmost advantage, and want none
of the embellishments used abroad, Mr. Betterton, by command of Charles
II. went to Paris, to take a view of the French stage, that he might the
better judge what would contribute to the improvement of our own. Upon
his return, Mr. Betterton introduced moving scenes into our theatre,
which before had the stage only hung with tapestry. The scenes no doubt
help the representation, by giving the spectator a view of the place,
and increase the distress, by making the deception more powerful,
and afflicting the mind with greater sensibility. The theatre in
Lincoln's-Inn-Fields being very inconvenient, another was built for them
in Dorset-Garden, called the duke's theatre, to which they removed and
followed their profession with great success, during all that reign of
pleasure.

The stage at this time was so much the care of the state, that when any
disputes arose, they were general