JUDGE. Prodigality, I not mislike your wailful disposition; And therefore for you to the prince there shall be made petition, That though your punishment be not fully remitted, Yet in some part it may be qualified. PROD. God save your life! VIRTUE, EQUITY, LIBERALITY, JUDGE, _and all come down before the_ QUEEN, _and, after reverence made_, VIRTUE _speaketh_ THE EPILOGUE. _Most mighty queen, yonder I sat in place, Presenting show of chiefest dignity; Here prostrate, lo, before your princely grace I show myself, such as I ought to be, Your humble vassal, subject to your will, With fear and love your grace to reverence still_. FINIS. GRIM THE COLLIER OF CROYDON. EDITION. _Grim the Collier of Croyden; or, The Devil and his Dame: with the Devil and Saint Dunston. By I.T. London. Printed in the year_ [1662]. 12mo. INTRODUCTION The initial letters J.T. are placed before this play as those belonging to the author of it. What his name was, or what his condition, are alike unknown. It was printed in 12mo, 1662, with two others, "Thorny Abby; or, The London Maid," and "The Marriage Broker," in a volume entitled "Gratiae Theatrales; or, A Choice Ternary of English Plays." Chetwood says it was printed in 1599, and Whincop, in the year 1606.[419] I cannot but suspect the fidelity of both these writers in this particular.[420] PROLOGUE You're welcome; but our plot I dare not tell ye, For fear I fright a lady with great belly: Or should a scold be 'mong you, I dare say She'd make more work than the devil in the play. Heard you not never how an actor's wife, Whom he (fond fool) lov'd dearly as his life, Coming in's way did chance to get a jape,[421] As he was 'tired in his devil's shape; And how equivocal a generation Was then begot, and brought forth thereupon? Let it not fright you; this I dare to say, Here is no lecherous devil in our play. He will not rumple Peg, nor Joan, nor Nan, But has enough at home to do with Marian, Whom he so little pleases, she in scorn Does teach his devilship to wind the horn; But if your children cry when Robin comes, You may to still them buy here pears or plums. Then sit you quiet all who are come in, St Dunstan will soon enter and begin. DRAMATIS PERSONAE. ST DUNSTAN, _Abbot of Glastonbury_. MORGAN, _Earl of London_. LACY, _Earl of Kent_. HONOREA, _Morgan's daughter_. MARIAN, _her Waiting-maid_. NAN, _Marian's maid_. MUSGRAVE, _a young Gentleman_. CAPTAIN CLINTON. MILES FORREST, _a Gentleman_. RALPH HARVEY, _an Apothecary_. GRIM, _the Collier of Croydon_. PARSON SHORTHOSE. CLACK, _a Miller_. JOAN, _a Country Maid_. PLUTO, | MINOS, | AEACUS | _Devils_. RHADAMANTHUS, | BELPHEGOR, | AKERCOCK, _or Robin Goodfellow_, | MALBECCO'S _Ghost, Officers, Attendants, &c. The Stage is England_. GRIM[422] THE COLLIER OF CROYDON. ACT I., SCENE I.