[318] There are, as will be seen opposite, two editions of "Ram-Alley," the first in 1611, and the other in 1636; the latter printed from the former with a number of additional errors. From the more corrupt of the two copies this play has been, hitherto reprinted, without any comparison of the two; they have now for the first time been accurately collated, and in many instances the correct reading has been restored.--_Collier._ [A few trifling corrections were introduced by Mr Collier, but the most serious corruptions and errors were overlooked, and all the faulty pointing retained. Such is the case with all the plays. "Ram-Alley" may be characterised as a strongly-written and well-constructed domestic drama, valuable as a social monument of the times, and interesting as the author's only known production. But it is full of gross passages, allusions, and innuendoes. In "The Return from Parnassus," 1606 (ix. 117), occurs the phrase "Ram-Alley meditations," the saying having become proverbial, perhaps, for ruffianly language, as the locality was, no doubt, notorious for its bad characters.] 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. FOOTNOTES: [319] This character is sometimes called Captain _Face_ and sometimes Captain _Puff_ in the body of the play, and probably the former is according to the intention of the author, as it so stands in the _Dramatis Personæ_, and as he is spoken of by the widow Taffata as Captain Face. Ben Jonson names the housekeeper in his Alchymist _Face_.--_Collier._ PROLOGUE.