the sorrow of many daies for it payeth euer that which it promiseth which is nothing els but continuall trouble and vexation of the mind Do you thinke if I had the offer and choice of y â— mightiest princes of Christendome that I could match my selfe better then to my Lord Iesus No no he is my husband to whom I yeeld my selfe both body and soule giuing to him my heart my loue and most firme affection I haue ouerlong loued this vile world therefore I beseech you farther dissuade me not When her friends by no meanes could alter her opinion the matter was made knowne to his Maiestie who against the time that she should be receiued into the monasterie came to Glaucester with most part of his Nobility to honour her action with his princely presence All things being therefore prepared the yong Lady was in most princely wise attired in a gowne of pure white sattin her kertle of the same imbrodered with gold about the skirts in most curious sort her head was garnished with gold pearles and precious stones hauing her haire like thréeds of burnisht gold hanging downe behind her in maner of a princely bride about her iuory necke iewels of inestimable price were hung and her handwreasts were compassed about with bracelets or bright shining diamonds The streets through the which she should passe were pleasantly deckt with greene â—aken boughs Then came the yong Lady most like an heauenly Angell out of her masters house at what time all the bells in Gloucester were solemnly rung she being led betwixt the Kings maiesty hauing on his royall robes and imperiall crowne and the chiefe Bishop wearing his Miter in a Cope of cloth of gold ouer her head a Canopy of white silke fringed about in princely manner before her went an hundred priests singing and after her all the chiefe Ladies of the land then all the wiues and maidens of Gloucester followed with an innumerable sort of people on euerie side standing to behold her In this sort she passed on to the cathedrall church where she was brought to the Nunry gate The Lady Abbesse receiued her where the beautiful maiden knéeling downe made her praier in sight of all the people then with her own hands she vndid her virgins faire gowne and tooke it off and gaue it away to the poore after that her kertle then her iewels bracelets and rings saying Farewell the pride vanity of this world The ornaments of her head were the next she gaue away and then was she led on one side where she was stripped and instead of her smocke of soft silke had a smocke of rough haire put vpon her Then came one with a paire of sheares and cut off her golden coloured lockes and with dust and ashes all bestrewd hir head and face Which being done she was broght again into the peopls sight barefoot and barelegd to whom she said Now farewell the world farewell the pleasures of this life farewell my Lord the King and to the Dukes swéet loue farewell now shall my eies wéep for my former transgressions and no more shal my tongue talke of vanity farewell my good master and dame and farewell all good people With which words she was taken away and neuer after séene abroad When duke Robert heard thereof hee desired that at his death his body might be buried in Gloucester in that towne quoth he where first my cleare eies beheld the heauenly beuty of my loue and where for my sake she forsooke the world which was performed accordingly The King also at his death requested to be buried at Reading for the great loue he bare to that place amongest those Clothiers who liuing were his hearts comfort Gray dying wonderous wealthy gaue land to the monastery whereinto Margaret was taken William Fitzallen also died a most rich man hauing builded many houses for the poore whose sonne Henry after was the first Maior that euer was in London Sutton of Sailsbury did also at his death much-good and gaue an hundred it to be yearely lent to poore weauers of the towne to the worlds end Simon of South-hampton gaue a most bounteous gift towards the building of a monasterie at Winchester Hodgekins of Halifax did also great good and so did Cutbert of Kendall who had married xx ij couples out of his owne house giuing ech of them x. li. to beginne the world withall Martin Byram of Manchester gaue toward the building of a frée schoole in Manchester a great masse of money And thus gentle Reader haue I finished my Storie of these worthy men desiring thée to take my paines in good part which will incourage me to greater matters perceiuing this curteously accepted FINIS
the Gyant and assoone as they were alighted they were saluted by the Marchants who wayted their comming thither and alwaies prepared for them a costly supper where they commonly made their bargaine and vpon euery bargaine made they stil vsed to send some tokens to the Clothiers wiues The next morning they went to the hal where they met the Northern clothiers who greeted one another in this sort What my maisters of the West wel met what chéere what théere Euen the best chéere our Marchantes could make vs quoth Gray Then you could not chuse but fare well quoth Hogekins and you be weary of our company adien quoth Sutton Not so sayd Martin but shall wée not haue a game ere wée goe Yes faith for a hundred pounds Well sayd olde Cole sayd they and with that Cole and Gray went to the dice with Martin and Hogekins and the dice running on Hogekins side Coles money began to waste Now by the Masse quoth Cole my mony shrinks as had as northerne cloth When they had played long Gray stept to it and recouered againe the money that Cole had lost But while they were thus playing the rest being delighted in contrary matters euery man satisfied his owne humor Tom Doue called for musicke VVilliam of Worcester for wine Sutton set his delight in hearing merry tales Simon of South-hampton got him into the kitchin and to the pottage pot he goes for he estéemed more of a messe of pottage than of a venison pastie Now sir Cutbert of Kendall was of another minde for no meate pleased him so wel as mutton such as was laced in a red petticoate And you shall vnderstand that alwayes when they went to dice they got into Bosomes Inne which was so called of his name that kept it who being a foule slouen went alwayes with his noâ—s in his bosome and one hand in his pocket the other on his staffe figuring forth a description of cold winter for he alwaies wore two coates two caps two or thrée paire of stockings and a high paire of shooes ouer the which he drew on a great paire of lined sâ—ippers and yet he would oft complaine of cold wherfore of all men generally he was called Old Bosome and his house Bosoms Inne This lump of cold ice had lately married a yong wife who was as wily as she was wanton and in hir company did Cutbert onely delight and the better to make passage to his loue be would often thus commune with her I muse good wife quoth he Good wife quoth she Uerily sir in mine opinion there is none good but good and therefore call mee Mistresse Then said Cutbert Faire Mistresse I haue often mused that you being so proper a woman could fiâ—d in your heart for to match with such a greasâ—e Carle as this an euill mannered mate a foule lump of kitchin stuffe and such a one as is indéed a scorne of men how can you like him that all women mislikes or loue such a loathsome creature me thinks verily it should grieue you to lend him a kisse much more to lie with him Indéed sir quoth she I had but hard fortune in this respect but my friends would haue it so truly my liking and my loue toward him are alike he neuer had the one nor neuer shall get the other yet I may say to you before I married him there were diuers proper young men that were sutors vnto me who loued mee as their lines and glad was he that could get my company those were my golden dayes wherein my pleasure abounded but these are my yeeres of care and griefe wherein my sorrowes exceede Now no man regards me no man cares for me and albeit in secret they might beare me good will yet who dares shew it and this is a double griefe he carries ouer me so iealous a mind that I cannot looke at a man but presently he accuseth me of inconstancy although I protest without cause And introth quoth Cutb. he should haue cause to complaine for somewhat were I as you As sure as I liue and so he shal quoth she if he do not change his bias Cutb. hearing her say so beganne to grow further in requesting her fauor wishing he might be her seruant and secret friend and the better to obtain his desire he gaue her diuers gifts insomuch that she began something to listen vnto him and albeit she liked well of his spéeches yet would shee blame him and take him vp very short sometimes for the same till in the end Cutbert shewed himselfe to be desperate saying he would drowne himselfe rather then liue in her disdaine O my sweete heart not so qd she God forbid I should be the death of any man Comfort thy selfe kind Cutbert and take this kisse in token of further kindnesse and if thou wilt haue my fauour thou must bee wise and circumspect and in my husbands sight I would alwayes haue thee to finde fault with my doings blame my bad huswifery disprayse my person and take exceptions at euery thing whereby he will be as well pleased as Simon of South-hampton with a messe of Pottage Deâ—re mistrsse quoth he I will fulfill your charge to the vttermost so that you will not take my iest in earnest Shee answered Thy foulest speeches I will esteeme the fayrest and take euery dispraise to be a prayse from thee turning â—ch word to the contrary and so for this time adieu good Cutb. for supper time drawes neere it is meet for me to look for my meat With that down comes old Boâ—ome calling his wife saying Ho Wiinifred is supper ready they haue done playing aboue Therefore let the Chamberlaine couer the table By and by husband qd shée it shall be done straight way How now my masters who wins qd Cutb. Our mony walkes to the west qd Martin Cole hath woon forty li. of me Gray hath gotten well the best is qd Hogekins they will pay for our supper Then let vs haue good store of sacke qd Sutton Content sayd Cole for I promise you I striue not to grow rich by dice-playing therefore call for what you will I wil pay for all Yea sayd Simon Chamberlaine I pray thée bring a whole potle of pottage for me Now Tom Doue had all the Fidlers at a beck of his finger which follow him vp and downe the citie as diligent as little Chickens after a hen and made a vowe that there should want no musicke And at that time there liued in London a musician of great reputation named Reior who kept his seruants in such costly garments that they might seeme to come before any Prince Their Coates were all of one colour and it is sayd that afterward the nobility of this Land noting it for a seemely sight vsed in like maner to keepe their men all in one liuery This Reior was the most skilfullest musician that liued at that time whose wealth was very great so that all the instruments whereon his
my sweete heart speake to me good wife alacke alacke call in the neighbours you queanes quoth he With that shee lift vp her head fetching a great groane and presently swouned againe and much adoe iwis he had to keepe life in her but when she was come to her self How dost thou wife qd he What wilt thou haue for Gods sake tel me if thou hast a mind to any thing thou shalt haue it Away dissembler quoth she how can I belieue thée thou hast said asmuch to mee an hundred times and deceiued mee it is thy churlishnesse that hath killd my heart neuer was woman matcht to so vnkind a man Nay good wife blame me not without cause God knoweth how dearly I loue thée Loue me no no thou didst neuer carry my loue but on the tip of thy tongue quoth she I dare sweare thou desirest nothing so much as my death and for my part I would to God thou haâ—st thy desire but be content I shal not trouble thee long and with that fetching a â—â—gh she swouned and gaue a great grâ—ane The man séeing hir in this cafe was wondrous woe but so soone as they had recouered her he said O my deare wife if any had conceit hath ingendered this sickenes let me know it or if thou knowest any thing that may procure thy health let me vnderstand thereof and I protest thou shalt haue it if it cost me all that euer I haue O husband quoth she how may I credite your wordes when for a paltry suâ—e of apparell you denied me Well wife quoth he thou shalt haue apparell or any thing else thou wilt request if God send thée once health O husband if I may find you so kind I shall thinke my selfe the happiest woman in the world thy words haue greatly comforted my heart me thinketh if I had it I could drink a good draught of renish wine Well wine was sent for O Lord said she that I had a péece of a chickin I féele my stomacke desirous of some meat Glad am I of that said her husband and so the woman within a few dayes after was very well But you shall vnderstand that her husband was faine to dresse her London like ere he could get her quiet neither wold it please her except the stuffe were bought in Cheapeside for out of Cheapside nothing would content her were it neuer so good insomuch that if she thought a tailer of Cheapside made not her gowne she would sweare it was quite spoiled And hauing thus won her husband to her will when the rest of the Clothiers wiues heard thereof they would be suted in the like sort too so that euer since the wiues of South-hampton Salisbury of Glocester Worcester and Reading went all as gallant and as braue as any Londoners wiues How the Clothiers sent the King aid into France and how he ouereame his brother Robert and brought him into England and how the Clothiers feasted his Maiesty and his sonne at Reading Chap. 7. THe Kings maiesty being at the warres in Fraunce against Lewis the French king and duke Robert of Normandy sending for diuers supplies of souldiers out of England the Clothiers at their owne proper cost set out a great number and sent them ouer to the King Which Roger Bishop of Salisbury who gouerned the realme in the Kings absence did alwayes certifie the King thereof with his letters written in their commendations And afterward it came to passe that God sent his Highnes victory ouer his enemies and hauing taken his brother prisoner brought him most ioyfully with him into England and appointed him to be kept in Cardife castle prisoner yet with this fauour that he might hunt and hawke where he would vp and downe the countrey and in this sort he liued a good while of whom we will speake more at large hereafter The King being thus come home after his winters rest he made his summers progresse into the west country to take a view of al the chiefe townes whereof the Clothiers being aduertised they made great preparation against his comming because he had promised to visite them all And when his Grace came to Reading he was entertained and receiued with great ioy and triumph Thomas Cole being the chiefe man of regard in all the towne the king honored his house with his princely presence where during the kings abode he and his son and nobles were highly feasted Where the king beheld the great number of people that was by that one man maintained in worke whose harty affection and loue toward his maiestie did well appeere aswell by their outward countenances as their gifts presented vnto him But of Cole himselfe the king was so well persuaded that he committed much trust to him and put him in great authoritie in the towne Furthermore the king said That for the loue which those people bore to him liuing that he would lay his bones among them when he was dead For I know not said he where they may be better bestowed till the blessed day of resurrection than among these my friends which are like to be happy partakers of the same Whereupon his Maiesty caused there to be builded a most goodly and famous Abbey in which he might shew his deuetion to God by increasing his seruice and leaue example to other his successors to doe the like Likewise within the towne he after builded a faire and goodly castle in the which he often kept his court which was a place of his chiefe residence during his life saying to the Clothiers that séeing he found them such faithfull subiects he would be their neighbor and dwell among them After his Maiesties royal feasting at Reading he procéeded in progresse til he had visited the whole west countries being wondrously delighted to sée those people so diligent to applie their busines and conuning to Salisbury the Bishop receiued his Maiesty with great ioy and with triumph attended on his Grace to his palace where his Highnes lodged There Sutton the Clothier presented his Highnesse with a broad cloth of so fine a thréed and excéeding good workmaÌ„ship and therewithall of so faire a colour as his Grace gaue commendation thereof and as it is said he held it in such high estimation that therof he made his parliament robes and the first parliament that euer was in England was graced with the Kings person in those robes in requitall whereof his highnes afterward yielded Sutton many princely fauours And it is to be remembred that Simon of Southhampton séeing the King had ouerpast the place where he dwelt came with his wife and seruants to Salisbury and against the K. going forth of that city he caused a most pleasant arbour to be made vpon the toppe of the hill leading to Shaftesburie beset all with red and white roses in such sort that not anie part of the timber could be séene within the which sate a maiden attired like a Quéene attended on by a faire traine of maidens who at
deemed them vnperfect if they cast before your mind any shadow or sparke of beauty in me But I rather thinke because it hath beene an old saying that women are proude to heare themselues praised that you eyther speake this to driue away the time or to wring me from my too apparant imperfections But I humbly intreat pardon too long haue I foreflowed my busines and shewue my selfe oner bolde in your presence and therewith with a courtly grace bending her knees to the courteous Duke she went forward to the fieâ—â— and the Duke to the towne of Gloucester When he came thither he made his keeper great cheere intreating them they would giue him respite to be a while with old Gray for we twaine must haue a game or two quoth he and for my safe returne I gage to you my princely word that as I am a true Knight and a Gentleman I will returne safâ— to your charge againe The keepers being content the Duke departed and with old Gray goes to the field to peruse the workefolkes where while Gray found himselfe busie in many matters he tooke opportunity to talkewith Margaret She who by his letters before was priuy to his purpose gest before hand the cause of his comming to whom he spake to this effect Faire maide I did long since manifest my loue to theeby my letter tel me therefore were it not better to be a Dutches then a drudge a Lady of high reputation then a seruant of simple degree with me thou mightest liue in plasure where here thou drawest thy dayes foorth in paine by my loue thou shouldst be made Lady of great treasures where now thou art poore and beggerly all manner of delights should them attend on thee and whatsoeuer thy heart desired thou shouldst haue wherefore seeing it lies in thy owne choise make thy selfe happy by consenting to my suite Sir quoth she I confesse your loue deserues a Ladyes fauor your affection a faithfull friend such a one as should make but one heart and mind of two hearts and bodies but farre vnfit is it that y â— Turtle should match with the Eagle though her loue be neuer so pure her wings are vnfitte to mount so high While Thales gaz'd on the ftarres he stumbled in a pit And they that clime vnaduisedly catch a fall suddenly what auayleth high dignity in time of aduersity it neyther helpeth the sorrow of the heart nor remoues the bodies misery as for wealth treasure what are they but fortunes baits to bring men in danger good for nothing but to make people forget theÌ„ selues and whereas you alleâ—ge pouerty to be a henderer of the hearts comfort I find it in my selfe contraty knowing more surety to rest vnder a simple habite then a royall robe and verily there is none in the world poore but they that think themselues poore for such as are indued with content are rich hauing nothing els but he that is possessed with riches without content is most wretched and miserable Wherefore most noble Duke albeit I account my life vnworthy of your least fauour yet I would desire you to match your loue to your like and let me rest to my â—ake aâ—â— vse my Forke for my liuing Consider saue Margaret quoth he that it lies noâ— in mans power to place his loue where he â—sâ— being the worke of an high deity A bird was neuer séene in Pontus nor true loue in a fléeting mind neuer shall I remoue the affection of my heart which in nature resembleth the stoue Abiston whose fire can neuer be cooled wherefore sweet mayden giue not obstinate deniall where gentle acceptance ought to be receiued Faire sir quoth she consider what high displeasure may rise by a rash match what danger a Kings frowns may breed my worthlesse matching with your royalty may perhaps regaine your liberty and hazard my life then call to mind how little you should inioy your loue or I my wedded Lord. The Duke at these words made this reply that if she consented she should not dread any danger The thunder quoth he is driuen away by ringing of belles the Lions wrath qualified by a yeelding body how much more a brothers anger with a brothers intreaty By me he hath receiued many fauors and neuer yet did he requite any one of them and who is ignorant that the princely crowne which adorneth his head is my right all which I am content he shall still enioy so he requito my kindnesse But if he should not then would I be like those men that eating of the tree Lutes forget the country where they were borne and neuer more should this clime couer my head but with thee would I liue in a strange land being better content with an egge in thy company then with al the delicates in England The mayden hearing this who with many other words was long wooed at last consented where yeelding to him her heart with her hand he departed appointing to certifie her from Cardiffe Castle what determination he would-follow so taking his leaue of Gray he went to his brothers and with them posted to Cardiffe Now it is to be remembred that sir VVilliam Ferres within a day or two after came vnto Graies house as it was his ordinary custome but not so much I wis for Graies company as for the mind he had to Margaret his maide who although he were a marryed man and had a faire Lady to his wife yet he layd hard siege to the fort of this maydens chastity hauing w t many faire words sought to allure her and by the offer of sundry rich gifts to tempt her But wheÌ„ she saw that by a hundred denials she could not be rid of him she now chanced on a sudden to giue him such an answer aâ— droue him from a deceit into such a conceit as neuer after that time he troubled her Sir William Ferrers being very importunate to haue her graunt his desire and when after sundry assaults she gaue him stil the repulse he would néeds know the reason why she would not loue him quoth he If thou diddest consider who he is that séeketh thy fauor what pleasure he may doe thée by his purse and what credit by his countenance thou wouldst neuer stand on such nice points If I be thy friend who dareth be thy foe and what is he that will once call thy name in question for any thing therefore swéet gerle be better aduised and refuse not my offer being so large Truly uÌ„t William quoth she though there be many reasons to make me deny your suite yet is there one about the rest that causes me I cannot loue you Now I pray thée my wench let me know that quoth he and I wil amend it what soeuer it be Pardon me sir said Margaret if I should speak my mind it would possibly offend you and do me no pleasure because it is a defect in Nature which no phisicke may cure Sir VVilliam hearing her say so being
surprised drew out his sword and sayd he would buy his liberty with his life before he would yeeld to be any more a prisoner and thereupon began a great fight betwixt them insomuch that the Duke had killed two of them but himselfe being â—ore wounded and faint with euermuch bleeding at length feâ—â— downe being not able any longer â—o stand and by this meanes the good Duke was taken with his fayre loue both of them cammitted to prison But in the meane space when Graies wife had mist her mayde and saw she was quite gone she made great lamentation for her among her neighbours for she loued her as dearely as any child that euer she bore of her owne body O Margaret quoth the what cause hadst thou thus to leaue mee if thou did it mislike of any thing why didst thou not tell me If thy wages were too little I would haue mended it If thy apparell had béene too simple thou shouldest haue had better If thy worke had beene too great I would haue had help for thée Farewell my sweete Meg the best seruant that euer came in any mans house many may I haue of thy name but neuer any of thy nature thy deligence is much in thy hands I laid the whole gouernment of my house and thereby eased my selfe of that care which now will â—umber me Heere she hath left mée my keies vnto my chests but my comfort is gone with her presence euery gentle word that shee was wont to speake comes now into my mind her courteous behauiour shall I neuer forget with how sweete and modest a countenance would shee qualifie my ouer-hasty nature It repents my haâ—t that euer I spoke foule word vnto her O Meg wert thou here againe I would neuer chide thee more but I was an vnworthy dame for such a seruant what will become of me now if I should chance to be sicke seeing shee is gone that was woont to be both my Apoticarie and Phisition Well quoth her neighbours there is no remedy now but to rest content you shall one day heare of her doubt you not and thinke this that shee was not so good but you may get another as good and therfore do not take it so heauily O neighbour blame me not to grieue seeing I haue lost so great a iewell and sure I am perswaded that scant in a bodies life time they shall meete with the like I protest I would circuit England round about on my bare feete to meete with her againe O my Meg was surely stole away from me else would she not haue gone in such sort Her husband on the other side grieued as much and rested not night nor day riding vp and downe to seeke her but shee poore soule is fast lockt vp in prison and therefore cannot be met withall But when the King vnderstood of his brotheâ—â— escape he was maruellous wrath giuing great charge and commandement when he was taken that both his â—ies should be put out and he kept in prison till his dying day appoynting also that the maid should lose her life for presumption in louing him This matter being rumored ouer all England it came to the eares of Gray and his wife who hearing that Margaret also was there in prison appointed to die the good aged woman neuer rested til she came to the court where knéeling before the King with many teares she besought his Maiesty to spare the maidens life saying Most royall king consider I humbly beséech you that the duke your brother was able to intice any woman to his loue much more a séely maiden especially promising her marriage to make her a Lady a Dutchesse or a Quéene who would refuse such an offer when at the instant they might get both a princely husband and a high dignitie if death be a Louers guerdon then what is due to hatred I am in my heart persuaded that had my poore Margaret thought it would haue bred your highnes displeasure she would neuer haue bought his loue so deare Had your Grace made it knowen to your commons that it was vnlawful for any to marry the duke your brother who would haue attempted such an action if she had wilfully disobeyed your Graces commandement she might haue bin thought worthy of death but séeing ignorantly she offended I beseech your Grace recall the sentence and let me still inioy my seruant for neuer will I rise till your Maiestie haue graunted my petition His Highnes who was of nature mercifull be holding the womans aboundant teares tooke pitty on her and graunted her suite which being obtained she went home with all haste possible And from thence she with her husband taking their iorny to Cardiffe castle they came at that very instant when the maiden was led toward hir death who went in most ioyfull sort to the same saying that they were not worthy to be accounted true Louers that were not willing to die for loue and so with a smiling countenance she passed on as if she had eaten Apium Riâ—us which causeth a man to die laughing but her dame Gray seeing her fell about her necke and with many kisses imbraced her saying Thou shalt not die my wench but goe home with me and for thy deliuerie behold heere the Kings letters and with that she deliuered them vp to the gouernor of the Castle who reading them found these words written We pardon the maids life and graunt her libertie but let her not passe till she see her louers â—ies put out which we wil haue you to do in such sort that not only the sight may perish but the eie continue faire for which cause I haue sent downe doctor Piero that he may execute the same The gouernour of the Castle hauing read the Kings letter said thus to the maiden The Kings maiesty hath pardoned thy life and allowed thy liberty but you must not passe before you see your louers eies put out O sir said the maiden mistake not your selfe they are my eies that must be put out and not the Dukes as his offence grew by my meanes so I being guiltie ought to receiue the punishment The kings commaundement must be fulfilled said the gouernor and therewithall D Robert was brought forth who hearing that he must lose his eies said thus the noble mind is neuer conquered by griefe nor ouercome by mischance but as the Hart reneweth his age by eating the serpent so doth a man lengthen his life with deuouring sorrow my eyes haue offended the King and they must be punished my heart is in as great fault why is not that killed The Kings maiesty said the gouernor spares your life of méere loue and onely is content to satisfie the Law with the losse of your eies wherefore take in good part this punishment and thinke you haue deserued greater than is granted With this Margaret cried out saying O my deare loue most gentle Prince well may you wish that I had neuer bin borne who by séeing of me