Upon the breaking out of the two parties, after the pretended discovery
of the Popish plot, the favour he was in at court, and the gaiety of
his temper, which inclined him to join with the fashion, engaged him to
embrace the Tory party. About that time he wrote the City Politicks, in
order to satirize and expose the Whigs: a comedy not without wit and
spirit, and which has obtained the approbation of those of contrary
principles, which is the highest evidence of merit; but after it was
ready for the stage, he met with great embarrassments in getting it
acted. Bennet lord Arlington (who was then lord chamberlain, was
secretly in the cause of the Whigs, who were at that time potent in
Parliament, in order to support himself against the power of lord
treasurer Danby, who was his declared enemy) used all his authority
to suppress it. One while it was prohibited on account of its being
dangerous; another while it was laid aside upon pretence of its being
flat and insipid; till Mr. Crowne, at last, was forced to have recourse
to the King himself, and engage him to lay his absolute commands on
the lord chamberlain to have it no longer delayed. This command he was
pleased to give in his own person, for Charles II. loved comedy above
all other amusements, except one which was both more expensive, and
less innocent, and besides, had a very high opinion of Mr. Crowne's
abilities. While he was thus in favour with the King and court, Mr.
Dennis declares, he has more than once heard him say, that though he
had a sincere affection for the King, he had yet a mortal hatred to the
court. The promise of a sum of money made him sometimes appear there,
to sollicit the payment of it, but as soon as he received the sum, he
vanished, and for a long time never approached it.

It was at the latter end of King Charles's reign, that Mr. Crowne, tired
with the fatigue of writing, shocked with the uncertainty of theatrical