RAM-ALLEY OR MERRY TRICKS.
Reading edition
EDITIONS.
(1.) Ram-Alley: Or Merrie Trickes. A Comedy Divers times here-to-fore acted by the Children of the Kings Reuels. Written by Lo: Barrey. At London Printed by G. Eld, for Robert Wilson, and are to be sold at his shop in Holborne, at the new yate of Grayes-Inne. 1611. 4.
(2.) Ram-Alley; Or Merry-Trickes. A Comedy. Divers times here-to-fore acted by the Children of the Kings Revels. Written by Lo. Barrey. London. Printed by John Norton, for Robert Wilson. 1636. 4.
INTRODUCTION.
Lodowick Barry is said to have been a gentleman of Irish birth, and Anthony Wood is pleased to compliment him with the title of Lord, which is very probably a mistake. No circumstances concerning him remain, not even the times of his birth and death; though the latter was not unlikely to be soon after the publication of the following play, the only one which he wrote. The writer of his article in the "Biographia Dramatica" says that "the plot in this play of William Small-shanks decoying the Widow Taffata into marriage is the same with that in Kiligrew's 'Parson's Wedding,' and both taken from the 'English Rogue.'" The latter part of this assertion is entirely without foundation, and the least attention to dates would have prevented the writer's falling into so gross an error. Both plays were published before "The English Rogue" appeared; "Ram-Alley"[318] above fifty years; and "The Parson's Wedding" about ten or twelve.
FOOTNOTES:
Actorum Nomina
Sir Oliver Small-Shanks.
Justice Tutchin.
Thomas Small-Shanks.
William Small-Shanks.
Boutcher.
Lieutenant Beard.
Throat.
Captain Face.[319]
Dash.
Three Gentlemen.
A Drawer.
Constable and Officers.
Women.
Lady Sommerfield.
Constantia Sommerfield.
Frances.
Taffata.
Adriana.
Chambermaid.