Matthew Medbourne

Matthew Medbourne (died 19 March 1680) was an English stage actor and occasional playwright of the Restoration era. A long-standing member of the Duke's Theatre, Medbourne was a victim of the Popish Plot scare and died in Newgate Prison.

Medbourne was a Roman Catholic, but little is known about him before he emerged as a member of the Duke's Company at Lincoln's Inn Fields during the 1661–62 season. His first confirmed role is as Delio in The Duchess of Malfi in 1662. Around the time of the Great Plague, he wrote a play Saint Cecily, a tragedy which was never acted.In December 1669 he was arrested for disorderly conduct, and was suspended from the Duke's Company for a period but was fully returned by 1671.[1] In 1670 he had written a version of Tartuffe which was staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.[2] He remained with the Duke's at the new Dorset Garden Theatre until 1678.[3]

In 1676 Medbourne helped Titus Oates to join the household of Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk as the latter's Anglican chaplain to minister to Protestant members of the Catholic Duke's household. Oates was later dismissed for his poor preaching.[4]

In October 1678 Medbourne was accused of High Treason during the scare of Popish Plot stirred by Oates. He was arrested and imprisoned in Newgate the following month. Increasingly ill during his confinement he died on 19 March 1680.[5]

Selected roles

References
  1. Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.164
  2. Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.164
  3. Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.165
  4. "Oates, Titus". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20437. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. Highfill, Burnim & Langhans p.165

Bibliography
  • Highfill, Philip H, Burnim, Kalman A. & Langhans, Edward A. A Biographical Dictionary of Actors, Actresses, Musicians, Dancers, Managers & Other Stage Personnel in London, 1660-1800, Volume 10. SIU Press, 1973.


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