Matthew Medbourne facts for kids
Matthew Medbourne was an English actor and writer who lived a long time ago, during a period called the Restoration era. He was a member of a famous acting group called the Duke's Company. Sadly, Matthew Medbourne became a victim of a big scare known as the Popish Plot and died in prison.
Matthew Medbourne was a Roman Catholic, but not much is known about his early life. He joined the Duke's Company at the Lincoln's Inn Fields around 1661 or 1662. His first known acting role was as a character named Delio in a play called The Duchess of Malfi in 1662.
Around the time of the Great Plague (a terrible sickness that spread), Matthew Medbourne also wrote a play. It was a serious play called Saint Cecily, but it was never performed on stage. In 1669, he got into some trouble and was arrested for acting disorderly. He was suspended from the Duke's Company for a while but was back with them by 1671. In 1670, he wrote his own version of a play called Tartuffe, which was performed at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. He continued to act with the Duke's Company at their new theatre, the Dorset Garden Theatre, until 1678.
The Popish Plot
In 1676, Matthew Medbourne helped a man named Titus Oates. Oates wanted to work for a powerful person, Henry Howard, 7th Duke of Norfolk, as a religious leader for the Protestant members of the Duke's household. However, Oates was later fired because he wasn't a very good speaker.
Later, in October 1678, Titus Oates started spreading false rumors about a "Popish Plot". This was a big scare where people wrongly believed that Roman Catholics were planning to kill the King and take over the country. Oates made up many stories, and sadly, many innocent people were accused.
Medbourne's Final Years
Because Matthew Medbourne was Catholic, he was accused of being part of this false plot. He was arrested for High Treason (a very serious crime against the country) in November 1678 and sent to Newgate Prison.
During his time in prison, Matthew Medbourne became very sick. He sadly passed away on March 19, 1680. His death was a tragic result of the widespread fear and false accusations of the Popish Plot.
Some of His Roles
Matthew Medbourne played many different characters in plays during his career. Here are a few examples of the roles he performed:
- Herod in Herod and Mariamne (1663)
- Thuricus in Mustapha (1665)
- Smerdis in Cambyses, King Of Persia (1671)
- Hametalhaz in The Empress of Morocco (1673)
- Agis in Alcibiades (1675)
- King of China in The Conquest of China (1675)
- Rui Gomez in Don Carlos, Prince of Spain (1676)
- Agamemnon in The Destruction of Troy (1678)
