Master was goâ—e into Tutle fields and he desired you that you would meet him there but take heed that Gillian of the George spye you and so follow you to the place where my Master attends your coming Tush quoth Margaret let me alone for that if she follow me she were better no for I will lead her a dance shall maker her weary before she hath done and so farewell Robin for into Tutle fields I will trudge as fast as I may But take heed you loose not your maiden-head by the way Robin presently runs unto Gillian saying what chéere Gillian how does all the pretty Wenches here I faith Robin qd they we rub out with the rest but what is the news with thée Small news quoth Robin yet somewhat I have to say But hear you Gillian a word by the way And with that rounding her in the eare he told her that incontinent it was his Masters will she should méet him in Tutle filds charging her if she met Margaret she should in no case go forward for my Master cannot abide that great rounsefull should come in his company For that let me alone quoth Gillian but trust me Robin it could not have come in a worse time this twelve moneth why then let it rest till another time quoth Robin nay quoth she I will go to him sith so kindly he sent for me into Tutle fields she goes where at last she spied Margaret with a hand-basket in her hand who suddainly had got a sight of her she made a shew as if she gathered hearbs in the field quoth Gillian I will gather hearbs as fast as you though I have as little néed of them as your self In the mean time Robin got him home and hartily laughing at them saying O what a World is this when maids runs a madding for husbands now may I sweare what I have séen Two maids run as fast as they can A mile in the field to meet with a man How can men say maids are proud or coy when we find them so gentle that they will run like a Falcon to the Lure but alas they are deceived in finding Richard in Turtle fields but hereby I know their minds against another time Thus did Robin deride them when he found their fondnesse to be such but to leave him to his humor and return to the maids that were picking hearbs in the fields when Meg saw that Gillian would not away she came to her and askt her what she did there nay what do you here quoth she quoth Meg I come to gather thrift but I can find nothing but thistles quoth Gillian but I mean to get hearts-ease ere I goe Nay quoth Meg I shall find thrift as soon as you shall find heart-ease but I think I shall find none to day then get you home quoth Gillian would you be rid of my company qd Meg for that word I mean not to be gon yet I faith Gillian I smell a Rat Then quoth she you have as good a nose as our gray Cat but what Rat do you smell tell me I doubt if there be any Rat in the field you would fain catch him in your trap but I faith Meg you shall be deceiv'd then qd Meg you would have the Rat taste no chéese but your own then said Gillian wheresoever he run I would have him créep into no corner of yours you speak mysticall quoth Meg if thou art a good Wench let 's go home together quoth Gillian as I came not with you so I mean not to go with you Quoth Meg before God I will stay as long as thée for thy life quoth Gillian thou shalt stay while midnight then and in this humor sometimes they sate down sometimes they stalkt round the fields till it was night and at last the Watch met with them who contrary to Gillians mind brought them home together But their Mistresses that had so long mist them were very angry with their long absence yet were glad they were come again and asking where they had béen so long the Watchmen answered that the one had béen to séek hearts-ease and the other to gather thrif Nay quoth their Mistrisses if that be the reason we cannot much blame them séeing we have sought it this seven years and could not find it and in this sort the jest ended Within a while after Richard through his long â—â—oing had â—otten the good will of his swéet-heart and making all things ready for his marriage presently Magaret and Gillian had notice or it who coming unto Richard saying he was the most false and unconstant man in the World Have I qd Meg set my whole mind on thée to be thus served Nay quoth Gillian have I indured such sorrow for thy sake and be thus unkindly cast off Now I wish from my heart quoth Meg that if ever thou marriest any out me that she may make thée as errant a Cuckold as Jack Coomes So you are very charitable quoth Richard to with me no worse then you mean to make your Husband but when did I request thée to come into Tuttle fields What have you so weak a memory quoth she ask your man Robin whether it were so or no Well quoth Robin what then wherefore did you not speak with him at that present You know it comes in an hour comes not in seven year Had you met him at that â—â—ant you had married him clear A vengeance take her quoth Meg I could not méet him for Gillian I could not méet him for Meg a morin take her quoth Gillian Richard hearing them at words made this reply It is a strange thing that you will blame me of discourtesie had you come at the appointed time it is likely I had married one of you séeing my mind was adieted to one as well as the other Why may it not be yet quoth they No said he you speak too late hearing this answer they were struck with grief and so with watry eyes went home to whom Robin carried two Willow Garlands saying You prety souls that forsaken be Take here the branhces of the willow tree And sing loves farewell joyntly with me Meg being merrily inclined shook off sorrow in this sort and taking the Willow Garland said Wherefore is grief good can it recall folly past noâ— and therefore a fig for the Cock of Westminster Now God blesse me I swear by Venus that in the mind I am in I would not have him if he had as much money as would lye in Westminster Hall And therefore Robin this Willow Garland is to me right welcome and now I will goe with thee to Gillian but when they came to Gillian Robin staid for her at the stair foot they found her sick in her bed to whom Margaret spake in this manner What how now Gillian sick a bed now fie for shame let not a man thiumph so much over thée as to say thou gav'st the Crow a pudding Ah no quoth Gillian death is swéet
to take Richards part perceived by her vehement spéeches the great affection she bore to him and finding that she was sick of her own disease Margaret sought means to remove the cause of her griefe And the policy she used most herein was to speak altogether in Richards dispraise and the more firmly to plant her own affectioâ—n whereupon she uttered her mind in this sort Well Gillian séeing you hear so good an opinion of Richard of the Rose I would not for a bushel of Angels séek to diswade you but because you request my opinion how I like the man in rotth I will tell thée my mind without flattery I confesse that Richard is a gentle young man courteous and kind diligent about his businesse and wary in his dealings which argues good husbandry Notwithstanding I like not these over covetous fellows of such gréedy minds Tell me I pray thée what joy should a woman have with such a churle that would grudge at every halfe-penny that is laid out That in a whole year would not leave a farthing worth of mustard unwritten in his book And such a one I feare will this Cock prove for me thinks he looks with a hungry nose and howsoever you think of him I know not but I verily fear though he be a Cock by name he will never prove a Cock of the game Againe he is but a dwarfe in respect of a man a shrimp a wren a hop of my thumb such a one as a body may hide in a wrinkle of their buttocks Well Meg quoth she you are priviledged to speak your pleasure but should another thus miâ—â—earme him I would teare her face I tell thée true I had rather have a winner then waster a sparer then a prodigall spender for when a man in his youth hath gotten something with pain he may better spend it in his age with pleasure and far better he should be thought covetous then carelesse his stature and proportion of body pleases me well enough for it is no matter how great he is but how good he is But Margaret séeing our talke hath indured so long that it hath brought us home let us at our parting be mindfull of our promises to kéep secret whatsoever hath béen said for little knows the young man the depth of my mind and therefore would I kéep it close till I saw some signe of good will procéeding from him for it becometh not maidens to be woers though willingly they could wish to wed where they best fancy and so farewell swéet Margaret Adue gentle Gillian quoth Margaret untill our next méeting when I hope I shall further understand of procéedings in your love When Meg had thus understood her mind and saw how the matter went she sought all means possible to prevent her as hereafter shall be shewen CHAP. II. How Margaret requested Richard to the eating of a posset at night and how her Masters buttocks was scalded therewith IT chanced that against Whitsentide Margaret stood in néed of a new paire of shooes therefore in a morning betimes she came to Richard of the Rose to bespeak them aforehand and the more to declare her kindnesse and to win his good will she carryed with her a bottle of excellent good Muskadine which a Yeoman of the Kings wine-sellor bestowed upon her she carried with her a dainty péece of powdred béefe and the carkasse of a cold Capon and thus began to gréet him All health to the kind cock of Westminster that with the Larke gréetes the Sun rising with a chearfull note Tell me quoth she thou bonny Lad wilt thou take the length of my foot and make me a good paire of shooes against Sunday that I will Margaret quoth he therefore let me sée thy foot there is both my foot and leg said Meg I am not ashamed to shew either of them for I am not legged like a Craue nor footed like a Flie and therewith she did lift up her cloathes to her knée whereat Richard smiling said a little higher Meg and shew all whereupon she suddainly replyed in this sort soft Richard not so for I will tell thée one thing Every Carter may reach to the garter A Shoomaker may reach to the knee But he that creeps higher shall ask leave of me Good reason qd Richard leave is light which being obtained a man may be bold without offence but this onely is my griefe I have never a last long enough for thy foot then I would they were all fired qd Meg. He that would be counted a good workman will have tools to fit all persons Fie Richard fie thou shouldest never be unprovided especially for women Well Meg qd he be contented consider you are a Woman of no ordinary making but as in height thou overlookest all so in the length of thy foot thou surpassest all therefore I must have a pair of Lasts made for the nonce and that shall be done out of hand I tell thée Dick qd she as high as I am I am no so high as Pauls nor is my foot so long as Graves-end Farge Notwithstanding qd Richard a paire of Lasts to fit thy foot will cost as much as a hundred of wooden faggots which will not be bought for ten groats if they cost a crown qd Meg let me have them I love not to pinch for a penny if I find my shooes good I will not shrink for a shilling In troth qd Richard franke customers are worthy of good ware and therefore Meg doubt not for thou shalt have as good a shooe as ever was drawn upon a womans foot Godamercy for that swéet Dicke qd she and séeing thou sayst so I will bestow this bottle of wine on thée to breakfast and therewithall she pluckt out her powdred béef and her cold Capon Richard séeing this with thanks to Margaret for meat reacht out a couple of joynt stooles and after that they had laid a cloth therern they down did fit at which time many merry spéeches did passe betwéen them And at that very time there was in the same shop amongst a great many other men a pleasant Iourney-man cal'd round Robbin being a well trust fellow short and thick yet very active and pleasantly conceited for singing he was held in high reputation among all the shoomakers in Westminster This jolly companion séeing them both so well at their breakfast and nothing at all to respect him in the place where he sate cast out these merry spéeches unto them Much good doe it you Masters and well may you faire Beshroe both your hearts and if you doe spare The wine should be nought as I judge by the smell And by the colour too I know it full well Nay faith quoth Meg that 's but a jest I le sweare quoth Robin t is none none of the best Tast it quoth Meg then tell me thy mind Yea marry quoth Robin now you are kind With that Margaret filling a cup brim full gave it into his hands saying now
ruddocks chinking in a bag and yet he were better to have one with lesse money and more huswifery for my one part I would not come to learn of never a Woman in Westminster how to deal in such affairs I think no lesse quoth Richard and therefore I pray God send you a good Husband and one well deserving so good a wife with that Gillian fetcht a great sigh saying Amen I pray God Why then marry me qd Robin and thereby prevent the perish of bad thoughts hark in thy ear Robin quoth she I would thy Master would say so much and then he should soon know my mind Ha ha quoth Robin I faith you drab And would you have him to stamp the crab Why what is the matter quoth Richard nay nothing quoth Gillian but that I was bold to jest with your man and I hope you will not be offended if he and I talk a word or two There is no reason I should quoth Richard therefore confer at your pleasure and the whilst I will be busie with the Lamb-pye then Gillian whispering Robin in the ear spoke in this sort unto him I perceive you can spy day at a little hole Robin I am of opinion that affection groweth as strong in a woman as a man they to have equall priviledge as well as men to speak their minds In truth Robin to be plain I love thy Master with all my heart and if thou wouldst be so much my friend to break the matter unto him and therewithall to procure his good likeing unto me I would bestow on thée as good a sute of apparrell as ever thou wast Master of in thy life whereunto Robin answered saying Here 's my hand Gillian at thy request I le make a vow I le do my best But for my apparell grant me this In earnest first to give me a kisse There it is qd Gillian and I do protest that upon that blessed day when he gives his happy consent to be my husband at the delivery of thy apparell I will make that one kisse twenty and they came to the table and set them down again Richard marking all said nothing but at her approach to the board tooke the glasse and drunk to her giving her thanks for her cost and kindnesse she gladly accepting the same bending her body instead of cursie took it at his hands and drunk unto Robin and so taking her leave of them both shhâ— ran spéedily home So soon as she was gone Robin told his Master it was the pleasentest life in the world to live a Batchelor for he would never want good chéer and company I marry quoth Richard but what I get one way I spend another you sée quoth he here is a foreneoon spent to no purpose I tell thée Robin I account their inticoments dangerous therefore a man must not be won with fair words as a fish with a bait Well quoth Robin all is one to me whether you love or loath them but let not the posset be forgot soon at night Quoth Richard if I rest in the mind I am in now I mean not to be there at all then you will lose her love quoth Robin that said his Master is that I desire for the love of a Shroe is like the shadow of a cloud that soon consumeth and such love is better lost then found Quoth Robin this once follow my mind Though by her love you set but light Let us eat the posser soon at night And afterward I will so deale If you will not my â—ricks reveale That they shall trouble you no more Though by your love they set great store For one another they shall beguile Yet think themselves well pleas'd the while Verily quoth his Master if thou wilt do so I will be Megs guest this once and think my self happy to be so rid of them Hereupon Richard having his Shop windows shut in and his doors made fast He with his man Robin took their direct way to the Spread Eagle where they no sooner knockt at the doore but Margaret came down and let them in and bid them heartily welcome Now Richard quoth she you are a man of your word I pray you come néere for to have you in my Office is my desire quoth Robin was your Office never a fire you see the Kitchin is large and the chimney wide quoth Robin how many Rooks hath your Kitchin tride I know not quoth Meg quoth Robin I think even so Go to quoth Meg but I le let it passe Then taking Richard by the hand she bad him sit down saying good Richard you are welcome I have never a friend in the World that can be better welcome I thank you good Margaret quoth he I thank her still qd Robin in every degree For you that have all the welcome shall give thanks for me Why Robin qd Meg be not offended thou art welcome to me I faith quoth he you bid me welcome when you have nothing else to doe Herewithall Margaret very neatly laid the cloth set a dainty minst Pye on the boord and other good chéere and sent the other maid of the house for a pottle of wine and so fell to their meat merrily when they had eaten and drunk Margaret stept to reach the posset but while she had it in her hand she heard one comming down the stairs Gods precious quoth she my Master comes where shall we hide the posset if he sée it we shall have more anger then ten possets are worth with that she whipt it into the seat of the pâ—ivy house thinking it there safest out of sight her Master being an old crabbed fellow would often steale down to sée what his Maids were a deing the old man being raised by a loosenesse of his body came to pay tribute to Aiax where he clapt his buttocks into the posset wherewith being scalded he cryed out saying help maids or I am spoiled for ever for some Divel hath thrown scalding lead upon my buttocks and in this case he stampt up down the yard holding his hips in his hands Meg. that knew better what the matter was then her Master ran into the house of Office with a spit as if she purposed to broach the Divell casting the posset into the puddle said how now Master what is the matter are you hurt hurt quoth her Master I tell thée Meg never was man thus hurt and yet I am ashamed to shew my hurt bring me a candle quoth Meg I tell you Master it is better all should be shewn then all spoiled and casting up his shirt spied both his great chéeks full of blisters whereupon she was faine to make a medicine with sallet oyle and houseléek to asswage this unséen fire and by this means Richard with his man was fain to slip away which was to Robin no small grief and yet laughing to think how odly this jest fell out I am quoth Robin forty years old and more Yet did I never know posset
content plotted how he might cast out the Doctor and so prefer his own suite at last lighting on a device fit for the purpose there was an Gâ—iptian woman at Blackâ—Wall who was in travel with child and could not be delivered by the Midwives thereabout Harry Nevel hearing of it thought it fit to imploy Doctor Burbet about it who in the mean time might the better prefer his own suite to the Widdow Whereupon he sent one to him attired like a servingman booted and spurred who coming to the Widdows house he askt for Doctor Burket what would you have with him said the Maids quoth he my Lady Sunborne hath sent for him in post hast and therefore I must néeds speak with him the Maid presently went and toâ—d him when Doctor Burket heard he took his leave of the Widow and came to the messenger saying how now fellow what wouâ—d your Lady have with me Sir said he she desires you to come with all spéed for she is wondrous sick the Doctor presently took horse and away he goes with the Servingman Harry hearing of his departure came to the Widdow with a smiling countenance and merrily began to wooe her Fair Mistris quoth Harry I know said he it is the custom of women at first to make their denial to their lovers because they would not be accounted easily won or soon entreated ut dear Lady nature hath not adorned your face with such incomparable beauty and fram'd every part so excellently to wound men with woe but to work their content Wherefore now swéet Mistris in the April of your years and the swéet summer of your dayes banish not the pleasure incident to bright beauty but honour me with the fair fruit of your womb and make me blessed by being Father to the issue of your delicate body Nay then Sir said she I perceive you will grow troublesome and shew your self no such men as you professe your self and I may say your friendship is more in words then in déeds and I perceive I must call my maid for a cup of yolding beer before you will depart Nay Lady said he I will save you that labour séeing your love commands me and I pray God grant you in a favourable mind at our next méeting and so he departed Now you shall understand that this gallant widdow had in her house a proper young man which was her Prentice who long had born his Mistris good will at last he declares his mind to a secret friends who comforts him in this sort Tush said she what if she be thy Mistris be not ashamed to shew thy affection to her but try her thou know'st not how fortune may savour thy suit O quoth he if I were out of my time I could have some heart to woe her Pâ—sh stand not on those terms said his friend Francis for she will never requite kindnesses with discourtesies and therefore William be not too fearful The time at last being come that Mistris Farmer had appointed to have her books cast up she gets her to her closet and whistles to her maid to bid William bring her up the books which very willingly he came to her and said Mistris quoth he doubt not but that your estate is good for I have béen as carefull and as just to keep it as if it had béen mine own I am said she the more beholding to thee neither shalt thy true service go unrewarded if I live or if I dye thou shalt not be altogether forgotten These kind spéeches comforted Williams heart whereupon be â—ell to his reckonings roundly till his mind running on his Mistrisses beauty would misse and count three-score and four-score nine score there you misreckon fourty said she O my dear Mistris blame me not if I do so seeing your sweet presence hath made wiser then my self to dote but pardon dear Mistris my presumption in being thus bold to unburthen my hearts affection to you and therefore sweet Mistris despise not him who has been your faithfull fervant but yeeld unto him your savour which may prolong his dayes with blessed years His Mistris with lowring looks made him this answer how now sirra hath my too much mildness made you so saâ—cy can you set your love on no lower pitch but you must seek to be Master of your Mistris Hereupon she commanded her man Richard to take his place and to be fore-man of the shop and gracing him with the keys of her Closet and commanding her man William to fetch her some Oysters and a pint of Claret Wine and bring them to her Chamber Will overjoy'd at these words ran with all speed brought them to her when she saw him she with a smiling countenauce said what Wilkin art thou come that is well done bring them hither said she and the Manchet and Whitewine yes forsooth I will and if you please I will open the Oysters for you which he did and opened faster then she could eat William said she you are quick in opening of Oysters yet 〈◊〉 in costing up your Accounts these words put William in mind of former passages and made him more eager to renew his suit to his dear Mistris and said O my dear Mistris said William 〈◊〉 not a pleasant youth and in the glory of his age to dye which I shall if you deny to grant to me your favor and to make me your husband She thereat seem'd very coy and took it in disgrace yet to herself had granted his request that he proferâ—d such love and liking to her 〈…〉 to him what has my familiarity made you so sawcy at which words William seem'd to be angry and said nay Mistris said he if you had been as willing to grant my request as I have been forward to follow your precepts I might long ere this enjoyed what I now have desired and therewithall he departed These words the seriously took into consideration and told her friends what had past between her man William and she her friends being very willing and told her that he was a proper young man and that â—he might live more happily with him then with Doctor Burket or Harry Nevel at which words the utterly renounces them too and resolves to live and dye with William William hearing her resolute answer spake thus to her I see you have so freely granted my request worthy I were to dye a begger if I should refuse so 〈◊〉 a treasure and thereupon joyned their hearts and hands and being married they lived many happy dayes together CHAP. 10. Of the green King of Saint Martins and his merry feats THâ—re dwelt in Saint Martins a jolly Shoomaker he was commonly called the Green King for that upon a time he shewed himself before King Henry with all his men attâ—nding on him clothed all in gréen Saâ—ten Thâ—s gréen King as they call'd him he was a man very humourous and of a small statute but most valiant and couraious and he continually used