A Tale of a Tub
Tale of a Tub, A,a comedy by Jonson , performed 1633 , printed 1640 .
It concerns the attempts, in the course of St Valentine's day, of various suitors to marry Audrey, the daughter of Toby Turf, high constable of Kentish Town. Her father wishes to marry her to John Clay, tile-maker, and he and the wedding-party set off for the church. But his intention is defeated by Squire Tub and Canon Hugh the vicar, by means of a bogus story of a highway robbery, of which John Clay is accused. Squire Tub's desire to marry Audrey is in turn frustrated by Justice Preamble, who conspires with Hugh to get her for himself. Tub warns Toby Turf, who recovers his daughter. But she is presently lured away from him again (together with £100) by the justice, is intercepted by Tub, and finally carried off and married out of hand by Pol Martin, usher to Tub's mother, ‘a groom was never dreamt of’. This was Jonson's last completed play.
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