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By Root 18377 0

Eld. The title page states that the play was performed by the Children of Paul's, one of the boys' acting companies of the era, and attributes its authorship to "W. S." These initials were first identified with Shakespeare by Edward Archer in his 1656 play list, published in his edition of The Old Law. The Puritan was later added to the second impression of the Shakespeare Third Folio (1664) by publisher Philip Chetwinde, bringing the play into the Shakespeare Apocrypha. The modern scholarly consensus rejects the identification of "W. S." with Shakespeare.

CONTENTS

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACTUS 1.

SCENE I. A Garden behind the widow's house.

SCENE II. A street.

SCENE III. A Street.

SCENE IV.

ACTUS II.

SCENE I. A room in the widow's house.

SCENE II. A Garden.

ACTUS 3.

SCENE I. The street before the Widow's house.

SCENE II. An apartment in the Widow's house.]

SCENE III.

SCENE IV. A gallery in a gentleman's house.

SCENE V. A room in the Marshalsea prison.

ACTUS 4.

SCENE I. An apartment in the Widow's house.

SCENE II. A room in the Widow's house, with a door at the side, leading to another apartment.

SCENE III. The street before the Widow's house.

ACTUS 5

SCENE II. The same.

SCENE III. A room in Sir Oliver Muckhill's house.

SCENE IV. A street; a church appearing.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Lady Plus, a Citizens Widow.

Frances,

Moll, her two Daughters.

Sir Godfrey, Brother-in-Law to the Widow Plus.

Master Edmond, Son to the Widow Plus.

George Pye-boord, a Scholar and a Citizen.

Peter Skirmish, an old Soldier.

Captain Idle, a Highway-man.

Corporal Oath, a vain-glorious Fellow.

Nichols St. Antlings,

Simon St. Mary Overies,

Frailty, Serving-men to the Lady Plus.

Sir Oliver Muck-hill, a Suitor to the Lady Plus.

Sir John Penny-Dub, a Suitor to Moll.

Sir Andrew Tipstaff, a Suitor to Frances.

The Sheriff of London.

Puttock,

Ravenshaw, Two of the Sheriffs Sergeants.

Dogson, a Yeoman.

A Noble-man.

A Gentleman Citizen.

Officers.

The Scene London.

ACTUS 1.

SCENE I. A Garden behind the widow's house.

[Enter the Lady Widdow-Plus, her two daughters Frank and Moll, her husband's Brother an old Knight Sir Godfrey, with her Son and heir Master Edmond, all in mourning apparel, Edmond in a Cyrpess Hat. The Widdow wringing her hands, and bursting out Into passion, as newly come from the Burial of her husband.

WIDOW.

Oh, that ever I was borne, that ever I was borne!

SIR GODFREY.

Nay, good Sister, dear sister, sweet sister, be of good comfort; show your self a woman, now or never.

WIDOW.

Oh, I have lost the dearest man, I have buried the sweetest husband that ever lay by woman.

SIR GODFREY.

Nay, give him his due, he was indeed an honest, virtuous, Discreet, wise man,--he was my Brother, as right as right.

WIDOW.

O, I shall never forget him, never forget him; he was a man so well given to a woman--oh!

SIR GODFREY.

Nay, but, kind Sister, I could weep as much as any woman, but, alas, our tears cannot call him again: me thinks you are well read, Sister, and know that death is as common as Homo, a common name to all men:--a man shall be taken when he's making water.--Nay, did not the learned Parson, Master Pigman, tell us e'en now, that all Flesh is frail, we are borne to die, Man ha's but a time: with such like deep and profound persuasions, as he is a rare fellow, you know, and an excellent Reader: and for example, (as there are examples aboundance,) did not Sir Humfrey Bubble die tother day? There's a lusty Widdow; why, she cried not above half an hour--for shame, for shame! Then followed him old Master Fulsome, the Usurer: there's a wise Widdow; why, she cried ne'er a whit at all.

WIDOW.

O, rank not me with those wicked women: I had a husband Out-shined 'em all.

SIR GODFREY.

Aye, that he did, yfaith: he out-shined 'em all.

WIDOW.

Doost thou stand there and see us all weep, and not once shed a tear for thy father's death? oh, thou ungratious son and heir, thou!

EDMOND.

Troth, Mother, I should not weep, I'm sure; I am past a child, I hope, to make all my old School