We have nothing left us but our blushes now For your much penance; and though we allow Our fears no comfort, since you must appear Judges corrupt, if not to us severe: Yet in your majesty we hope to find A mercy, and in that our pardon sign'd. And how can we despair you will forgive Them who would please, when oft offenders live? And if we have err'd, may not the courteous say, 'Twas not their trade, and but the Author's play? THE EPILOGUE AT THE FRIARS. What shall the Author do? It madness were To entreat a mercy from you, who are severe Stern judges, and a pardon never give; For only merit with you makes things live. He leaves you therefore to yourselves, and may You gently 'quit, or else condemn, the play, As in an upright conscience you'll think fit: Your sentence is the life and death of wit. The Author yet hath one safe plea, that though A Middlesex jury on his play should go, They cannot find the murder wilful, since 'Twas acted by command in his own defence. THE ANTIQUARY. _EDITION._ _The Antiquary. A Comedy, Acted by her maiesties Servants, at the Cock-Pit. Written by Shackerly Mermion, Gent. London. Printed by F. K. for I. W. and F. E. and are to be sold at the Crane, in St. Paul's Church-yard. 1641. 4º._ INTRODUCTION. Shakerley Marmion was born at Aynho,[288] near Brackley, in the county of Northampton, where his father was lord of the manor, and in possession of a considerable estate. He received the early part of his education at the free school, at Thame, in the county of Oxford, under the care of Richard Boucher, commonly called Butcher, the master thereof. In the year 1617 he became a gentleman-commoner of Wadham College, in Oxford, and in 1624,[289] took the degree of Master of Arts. Anthony Wood[290] says that he was "a goodly proper gentleman, and had once in his possession seven hundred pounds per annum at least." The whole of this ample fortune he dissipated; after which he went into the Low Countries; but not meeting with promotion according to his expectation, he returned to England, and was admitted one of the troop raised by Sir John Suckling for the use of King Charles I. in his expedition against the Scots, in the year 1639: but falling sick at York, he returned to London, where he died in the same year.[291] Besides several poems, scattered about in different publications,[292] he wrote three plays,[293] viz.-- 1. "Holland's Leaguer,[294] an excellent comedy, as it hath bin lately and often acted with great applause by the high and mighty Prince Charles his servants, at the private house in Salisbury Court, 1632." 4º. To the _Dramatis Personæ_ of this play the names of the several performers are added.[295]