Brewer, Anthony

, a dramatic writer of the reign of king James I. appears to have been held in high estimation by the wits of that time, but there are many disputes as to his works, and no information concerning his life. The various dramatic annalists assign him from one to six plays. The controversy seems of little consequence, unless that it gave rise to a storyof Oliver Cromwell’s having acted a part in one of his supposed plays, entitled “Lingua,” the part of one ambitious for a crown and that his ambition was first excited by personating this character. The story, however, seems as doubtful as the author of the play. ²