*p1697 06 00 lif The Innocent Mistress. Edition of 1697: Sir Charles Beauclair-Betterton; Sir Francis Wildlove-Verbruggen; Searchwell-Knap; Beaumont-Hodgson; Spendall-Bowman; Lyonell-Freeman; Cheatall-Bowen; Gentil-Harris; Flywife-Underhill; Bellinda-Mrs Barry; Mrs Beauclair-Mrs Bracegirdle; Arabella-Mrs Prince; Lady Beauclair-Mrs Lee; Peggy-Mrs Howard; Eugenia-Mrs Lawson; Dresswell-Mrs DuQua; Mrs Flywife-Mrs Lassel; Jenny-Mrs Willis; Prologue by $Mr Motteux=-Mr Verbruggen; Epilogue by Mr Motteux-Mr Scudamore.*c1697 06 00 lif <i>Betterton's Company</i>. The date of the first performance is not known, but the <i>Prologue</i> refers to <i>The World in the Moon</i>, suggesting a premiere during (or shortly after) the run of that opera. Since <i>The Innocent Mistress</i> was advertised in the <i>Post Boy</i>, 29-31 July 1697, this fact points also to a late June premiere. A song, <i>When I languished and wished</i>, set by $John Eccles= and sung by $Mrs Hodgson=, is in <i>Wit and Mirth</i>, Second Edition, 1707. $Gildon=, <i>English Dramatick Poets</i>, p. iii: This is a diverting Play, and met with good Success, tho' acted in the hot Season of the Year. <i>A Comparison Between the Two Stages</i> (1702), p. 20: Tho' the Title calls this Innocent, yet it deserves to be Damn'd for its Obscenity.