If then what I shall advance on that Head may any ways contribute to the Prosperity or Improvement of the Stage in Being, the Publick must of consequence have a Share in its Utility.
This, Sir, is the best Apology I can make for being my own Biographer. Give me leave therefore to open the first Scene of my Life from the very Day I came into it; and tho' (considering my Profession) I have no reason to be asham'd of my Original; yet I am afraid a plain dry Account of it will scarce admit of a better Excuse than what my brother _Bays_ makes for Prince _Prettyman_ in the _Rehearsal_, viz. _I only do it for fear I should be thought to be no body's Son at all_;[9] for if I have led a worthless Life, the Weight of my Pedigree will not add an Ounce to my intrinsic Value. But be the Inference what it will, the simple Truth is this.
I was born in _London_, on the _6th_ of _November 1671_,[10] in _Southampton-Street_, facing _Southampton-House_.[11]
My Father, _Caius Gabriel Cibber_,[12] was a Native of _Holstein_, who came into _England_ some time before the Restoration of King _Charles_ II. to follow his Profession, which was that of a Statuary, _&c._ The _Basso Relievo_ on the Pedestal of the Great Column in the City, and the two Figures of the _Lunaticks_, the _Raving_ and the _Melancholy_, over the Gates of _Bethlehem-Hospital_,[13] are no ill Monuments of his Fame as an artist. My Mother was the Daughter of _William Colley_, Esq; of a very ancient Family of _Glaiston_ in _Rutlandshire_, where she was born. My Mother's Brother, _Edward Colley_, Esq; (who gave me my Christian Name) being the last Heir Male of it, the Family is now extinct. I shall only add, that in _Wright's_ History of _Rutlandshire_, publish'd in 1684, the _Colley's_ are recorded as Sheriffs and Members of Parliament from the Reign of _Henry_ VII. to the latter End of _Charles_ I., in whose Cause chiefly Sir _Antony Colley_, my Mother's Grandfather, sunk his Estate from Three Thousand to about Three Hundred _per Annum_.[14]
In the Year 1682, at little more than Ten Years of Age, I was sent to the Free-School of _Grantham_ in _Lincolnshire_, where I staid till I got through it, from the lowest Form to the uppermost. And such Learning as that School could give me is the most I pretend to (which, tho' I have not utterly forgot, I cannot say I have much improv'd by Study) but even there I remember I was the same inconsistent Creature I have been ever since! always in full Spirits, in some small Capacity to do right, but in a more frequent Alacrity to do wrong; and consequently often under a worse Character than I wholly deserv'd: A giddy Negligence always possess'd me, and so much, that I remember I was once whipp'd for my _Theme_, tho' my Master told me, at the same time, what was good of it was better than any Boy's in the Form. And (whatever Shame it may be to own it) I have observ'd the same odd Fate has frequently attended the course of my later Conduct in Life. The unskilful openness, or in plain Terms, the Indiscretion I have always acted with from my Youth, has drawn more ill-will towards me, than Men of worse Morals and more Wit might have met with. My Ignorance and want of Jealousy of Mankind has been so strong, that it is with Reluctance I even yet believe any Person I am acquainted with can be capable of Envy, Malice, or Ingratitude:[15] And to shew you what a Mortification it was to me, in my very boyish Days, to find myself mistaken, give me leave to tell you a School Story.