Udall, Nicholas: Roister Doister (4 633 words)

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page L. 131


1Math. Mer. But is your loue tell me first, in any wise,
2In the way of Mariage, or of Merchandise;
3If it may otherwise than lawfull be founde,
4Ye get none of my helpe for an hundred pounde.

5R. Royster. No by my trouth I woulde haue hir to my Wife.

6M. Mery. Then are ye a good man, and God saue your life,
7And what or who is she, with whome ye are in loue;

8R. Royster. A woman whome I knowe not by what meanes to moue.

9M. Mery. Who is it;
R. R. A woman yond.
M. M. What is hir name;

10R. Royster. Hir yo~der.
M. M. Who~;
R. R. Mistresse ah.
M. M. Fy fy for shame
11Loue ye, and know not whome; but hir yonde, a Woman,
12We shall then get you a Wyfe, I can not tell whan.

13R. Royster. The faire Woman, that supped wyth us yesternyght,
14And I hearde hir name twice or thrice, and had it ryght.

15M. Mery. Yea, ye may see ye nere take me to good cheere with you,
16If ye had, I coulde haue tolde you hir name now.

17R. Royster. I was to blame in deede, but the nexte tyme perchaunce:
18And she dwelleth in this house.
M. M. What Christia~ Custance.

19R. Royster. Except I haue hir to my Wife, I shall runne madde.

20M. Mery. Nay vnwise perhaps, but I warrant you for madde.

21R. Royster. I am vtterly dead vnlesse I haue my desire.

22M. Mery. Where be the bellowes that blewe this sodeine fire;

23R. Royster. I heare she is worthe a thousande pounde and more.

24M. Mery. Yea, but learne this one lesson of me afore,
25An hundred pounde of Marriage money doubtlesse,
26Is euer thirtie pounde sterlyng, or somewhat lesse,
27So that hir Thousande pounde yf she be thriftie,
28Is muche neere aboute two hundred and fiftie,
29Howebeit wowers and Widowes are neuer poore.

30R. Royster. Is she a Widowe; I loue hir better therefore.

31M. Mery. But I heare she hath made promise to another.

32R. Royster. He shall goe without hir, and he were my brother.

33M. Mery. I haue hearde say, I am right well aduised,
34That she hath to Gawyn Goodlucke promised.

page L. 165


35R. Royster. What is that Gawyn Goodlucke;
M. M. a Merchant man.

36R. Royster. Shall he speede afore me; nay sir by sweete Sainct Anne.
37Ah sir, Backare quod Mortimer to his sowe,
38I wyll haue hir myne owne selfe I make God a vow.
39For I tell thee, she is worthe a thousande pounde.

40M. Mery. Yet a fitter wife for your maship might be founde:
41Suche a goodly man as you, might get one wyth lande,
42Besides poundes of golde a thousande and a thousande,
43And a thousande, and a thousande, and a thousande,
44And so to the summe of twentie hundred thousande,
45Your most goodly personage is worthie of no lesse.

46R. Royster. I am sorie God made me so comely doubtlesse.
47For that maketh me eche where so highly fauoured,
48And all women on me so enamoured.

49M. Mery. Enamoured quod you; haue ye spied out that;
50Ah sir, mary nowe I see you know what is what.
51Enamoured ka; mary sir say that againe,
52But I thought not ye had marked it so plaine.

53R. Royster. Yes, eche where they gaze all vpon me and stare.

54M. Mery. Yea malkyn, I warrant you as muche as they dare.
55And ye will not beleue what they say in the streete,
56When your mashyp passeth by all such as I meete,
57That sometimes I can scarce finde what aunswere to make.
58Who is this (sayth one) sir Launcelot du lake ?
59Who is this, greate Guy of Warwike, sayth an other;
60No (say I) it is the thirtenth Hercules brother.
61Who is this; noble Hector of Troy , sayth the thirde;
62No, but of the same nest (say I) it is a birde.
63Who is this; greate Goliah, Sampson , or Colbrande ?
64No (say I) but it is a brute of the Alie lande.
65Who is this; greate Alexander ? or Charle le Maigne ?
66No, it is the tenth Worthie, say I to them agayne:
67I knowe not if I sayd well. R. R. Yes for so I am.

68M. Mery. Yea, for there were but nine worthies before ye came.

page L. 199


69To some others, the thirde Cato I doe you call.
70And so as well as I can I aunswere them all.
71Sir I pray you, what lorde or great gentleman is this;
72Maister Ralph Roister Doister dame say I, ywis.
73O Lorde (sayth she than) what a goodly man it is,
74Woulde Christ I had such a husbande as he is.
75O Lorde (say some) that the sight of his face we lacke:
76It is inough for you (say I) to see his backe.
77His face is for ladies of high and noble parages,
78With whome he hardly scapeth great mariages.
79With muche more than this, and much otherwise.

80R. Royster. I can thee thanke that thou canst suche answeres deuise:
81But I perceyue thou doste me throughly knowe.

82M. Mery. I marke your maners for myne owne learnyng I trowe,
83But suche is your beautie, and suche are your actes,
84Suche is your personage, and suche are your factes,
85That all women faire and fowle, more and lesse,
86They eye you, they lubbe you, they talke of you doubtlesse.
87Your peasant looke maketh them all merie,
88Ye passe not by, but they laugh till they be werie,
89Yea and money coulde I haue the truthe to tell,
90Of many, to bryng you that way where they dwell.

91R. Royster. Merygreeke for this thy reporting well of mee:

92M. Mery. What shoulde I else sir, it is my duetie pardee.

93R. Royster. I promise thou shalt not lacke, while I haue a grote.

94M. Mery. Faith sir, and I nere had more nede of a newe cote.

95R. Royster. Thou shalte haue one to morowe, and golde for to spende.

96M. Mery. Then I trust to bring the day to a good ende.
97For as for mine owne parte hauing money inowe,
98I coulde lyue onely with the remembrance of you.
99But nowe to your Widowe whome you loue so hotte.

100R. Royster. By cocke thou sayest truthe, I had almost
101forgotte.

102M. Mery. What if Christian Custance will not haue you what;

103R. Roister. Haue me; yes I warrant you, neuer doubt of that,

page L. 233


104I knowe she loueth me, but she dare not speake.

105M. Mery. In deede meete it were some body shoud it breake.

106R. Roister. She looked on me twentie tymes yesternight,
107And laughed so.
M. M. That she coulde not sitte upright,

108R. Roister. No faith coulde she not.
M. M. No euen such a thing I cast.

109R. Royster. But for wowyng thou knowest women are shamefast.
110But and she knewe my minde, I knowe she would be glad,
111And thinke it the best chaunce that euer she had.

112M. Mery. Too hir then like a man, and be bolde forth to
113starte,
114Wowers neuer speede well, that haue a false harte.

115R. Roister. What may I best doe;
M. M. Sir remaine ye a
116while,
117Ere long one or other of hir house will appere.
118Ye knowe my minde.
R. R. Yea now hardly lette me alone.

119M. Mery. In the meane time sir, if you please, I wyll home,
120And call your Musitians, for in this your case
121It would sette you forth, and all your wowyng grace,
122Ye may not lacke your instrumentes to play and sing.

123R. Royster. Thou knowest I can doe that.
M. M. As well as any thing.
124Shall I go call your folkes, that ye may shewe a cast;

125R. Royster. Yea runne I beseeche thee in all possible haste.

126M. Mery. I goe. Exeat.
R. R. Yea for I loue singyng out of measure,
127It comforteth my spirites and doth me great pleasure.
128But who commeth forth yond from my swete hearte Custance;
129My matter frameth well, thys is a luckie chaunce.

130

131

ACTUS. J. SCAENA. IIJ.


132
133Mage Mumble crust, spinning on the distaffe. Tibet Talk
134apace, sowyng. Annot Alyface knittyng. R Roister.
135

136M. Mumbl. If thys distaffe were spoonne Margerie Mumblecrust.

137Tib Talk. Where good stale ale is will drinke no water I
138trust.

139M. Mumbl. Dame Custance hath promised vs good ale and white bread.

page L. 263


140Tib Talk. If she kepe not promise, I will beshrewe hir head:
141But it will be starke nyght before I shall haue done.

142R. Royster. I will stande here a while, and talke with them anon,
143I heare them speake of Custance, which doth my heart good,
144To heare hir name spoken doth euen comfort my blood.

145M. Mumbl. Sit downe to your worke Tibet like a good girle.

146Tib Talk. Nourse medle you with your spyndle and your whirle,
147No haste but good, Madge Mumblecrust, for whip and whurre.
148The olde prouerbe doth say, neuer made good furre.

149M. Mumbl. Well, ye wyll sitte downe to your worke anon, I trust.

150Tib Talk. Soft sire maketh sweete malte, good Madge Mumblecrust.

151M. Mumbl. And sweete malte maketh ioly good ale for the nones.

152Tib Talk. Whiche will slide downe the lane without any bones.
153Cantet.
154Olde browne bread crustes must haue much good mumblyng,
155But good ale downe your throte hath good easie tumbling.

156R. Royster. The iolyest wenche that ere I hearde, little
157mouse,
158May I not reioyce that she shall dwell in my house;

159Tib Talk. So sirrha, nowe this geare beginneth for to frame.

160M. Mumbl. Thanks to God, though your work stand stil, your to~g is not lame

161Tib Talk. And though your teeth be gone, both so sharpe & so fine
162Yet your tongue can renne on patins as well as mine.

163M. Mumbl. Ye were not for nought named Tyb Talke apace.

164Tib Talk. Doth my talke grieue you; Alack, God saue your
165grace.

166M. Mumbl. I holde a grote ye will drinke anon for this geare.

167Tib Talk. And I wyll not pray you the stripes for me to beare.

168M. Mumbl. I holde a penny, ye will drinke without a cup.

169Tib Talk. Wherein so ere ye drinke, I wote ye drinke all vp.

170An. Alyface By Cock and well sowed, my good Tibet Talke apace.

171Tib Talk. And een as well knitte my nowne Annot Alyface.

172R. Royster. See what a sort she kepeth that must be my wife.
173Shall not I when I haue hir, leade a merrie life;

174Tib Talk. Welcome my good wenche, and sitte here by me iust.

175An. Alyface. And howe doth our olde beldame here, Mage Mumblecrust;

176Tib Talk. Chyde, and finde faultes, and threaten to complaine.

page L. 297


177An. Alyface. To make vs poore girles shent to hir is small gaine.

178M. Mumbl. I dyd neyther chyde, nor complaine, nor threaten.

179R. Royster. It woulde grieue my heart to see one of them beaten.

180M. Mumbl. I dyd nothyng but byd hir worke and holde hir peace.

181Tib Talk. So would I, if you coulde your clattering ceasse:
182But the deuill can not make olde trotte holde hir tong.

183An. Alyface. Let all these matters passe, and we three sing a song,
184So shall we pleasantly bothe the tyme beguile now,
185And eke dispatche all our workes ere we can tell how.

186Tib Talk. I shrew them that say nay, and that shall not be I.

187M. Mumbl. And I am well content.
Tib. Talk. Sing on then by and by.

188R. Royster. And I will not away, but listen to their song,
189Yet Merygreeke and my folkes tary very long.

190
191Tib, An, and Margerie, doe singe here.

192Pipe mery Annot. & c.
193Trilla, Trilla. Trillarie.
194Worke Tibet, worke Annot, worke Margerie.
195Sewe Tibet, knitte Annot, spinne Margerie.
196Let vs see who shall winne the victorie.

197Tib Talk. This sleue is not willyng to be sewed I trowe,
198A small thing might make me all in the grounde to throwe.

199Then they sing agayne.

200Pipe merrie Annot. & c.
201Trilla. Trilla. Trillarie.
202What Tibet, what Annot, what Margerie.
203Ye sleepe, but we doe not, that shall we trie.
204Your fingers be nombde, our worke will not lie.

205Tib Talk. If ye doe so againe, well I would aduise you nay.
206In good sooth one stoppe more, and I make holy day.

207They sing the thirde tyme.

208Pipe Mery Annot. & c.
209Trilla. Trilla. Trillarie.
210Nowe Tibbet, now Annot, nowe Margerie.

page L. 330


211Nowe whippet apace for the maystrie,
212But it will not be, our mouth is so drie.

213Tib Talk. Ah, eche finger is a thombe to day me thinke,
214I care not to let all alone, choose it swimme or sinke.

215They sing the fourth tyme.

216Pipe Mery Annot. & c.
217Trilla. Trilla. Trillarie.
218When Tibet, when Annot, when Margerie.
219I will not, I can not, no more can I.
220Then giue we all ouer, and there let it lye.

221Lette hir caste downe hir worke.

222Tib Talk. There it lieth, the worste is but a curried cote,
223Tut I am vsed therto, I care not a grote.

224An. Alyface. Haue we done singyng since; then will I in
225againe,
226Here I founde you, and here I leaue both twaine. Exeat.

227M. Mumbl. And I will not be long after: Tib Talke apace.

228Tib Talk. What is the matter;
M. Mumb. Yond stode a man al this space
229And hath hearde all that euer we spake togyther.

230Tib Talk. Mary the more loute he for his comming hither.
231And the lesse good he can to listen maides talke.
232I care not and I go byd him hence for to walke:
233It were well done to knowe what he maketh here away.

234R. Royster. Nowe myght I speake to them, if I wist what to
235say.

236M. Mumbl. Nay we will go both off, and see what he is.

237R. Royster. One that hath hearde all your talke and singyng ywis.

238Tib Talk. The more to blame you, a good thriftie husbande
239Woulde elsewhere haue had some better matters in hande.

240R. Royster. I dyd it for no harme, but for good loue I beare,
241To your dame mistresse Custance, I did your talke heare.
242And Mistresse nource I will kisse you for acquaintance.

243M. Mumbl. I come anon sir.
Tib. T. Faith I would our dame Custance
244Sawe this geare.
M. M. I must first wipe al cleane, yea I
245must.

246Tib Talk. Ill chieue it dotyng foole, but it must be cust.

247M. Mumbl. God yelde you sir, chad not so much ichotte not
248whan,
249Nere since chwas bore chwine, of such a gay gentleman.

page L. 364


250R. Royster. I will kisse you too mayden for the good will I beare you.

251Tib Talk. No forsoth, by your leaue ye shall not kisse me.

252R. Royster. Yes be not afearde, I doe not disdayne you a whit.

253Tib Talk. Why shoulde I feare you; I haue not so little wit,
254Ye are but a man I knowe very well.
R. R. Why then;

255Tib Talk. Forsooth for I wyll not, I vse not to kisse men.

256R. Royster. I would faine kisse you too good maiden, if I myght.

257Tib Talk. What shold that neede;
R. R. But to honor you by this light.
258I vse to kisse all them that I loue to God I vowe.

259Tib. Talk. Yea sir; I pray you when dyd ye last kisse your cowe.

260R. Royster. Ye might be proude to kisse me, if ye were wise.

261Tib Talk. What promotion were therin;
R. R. Nourse is not so nice.

262Tib Talk. Well I haue not bene taught to kissing and licking.

263R. Royster. Yet I thanke you mistresse Nourse, ye made no sticking.

264M. Mumbl. I will not sticke for a kosse with such a man as
265you.

266Tib Talk. They that lust: I will againe to my sewyng now.

267An. Alyfac. Tidings hough, tidings, dame Custance greeteth you well.

268R. Royster. Whome me;
An. Al. You sir; no sir; I do no suche tale tell.

269R. Royster. But and she knewe me here.
An. Al. Tybet Talke apace,
270Your mistresse Custance and mine, must speake with your grace

271Tib Talk. With me;
An. Aly. Ye muste come in to hir out of all doutes.

272Tib Talk. And my work not half done; A mischief on all loutes. Ex.am.

273R. Royster Ah good sweet nourse.
M. Mumb. A good sweete gentlema~.
R. R. what;

274M. Mumbl. Nay I can not tel sir, but what thing would you;

275R. Royster. Nowe dothe sweete Custance, my heart of gold, tell me how;

276M. Mumbl. She dothe very well sir, and commaunde me to you.

277R. Royster. To me;
M. M. Yea to you sir.
R. R. To me; nurse tel me plain
278To me;
M. Mu~mb. Ye.
R. R. That word maketh me aliue
279again.

280M. Mumbl. She commaunde me to one last day who ere it was.

281R. Royster. That was een to me and none other by the Masse.

282M. Mumbl. I can not tell you surely, but one it was.

283R. Royster. It was I and none other: this commeth to good passe.
284I promise thee nourse I fauour hir.
M. Mumb. Een so sir.

285R. Royster. Bid hir sue to me for mariage.
M. Mumbl. Een so sir.

page L. 398


286R. Royster. And surely for thy sake she shall speede.
M. Mumb. Een so sir.

287R. Royster. I shall be contented to take hir.
M. Mumb. Een so sir.

288R. Royster. But at thy request and for thy sake.
M. Mumb. Een so sir.
289And come hearke in thine eare what to say.
M. Mumb. Een so
290sir.

page L. 1037


291

ACTUS. IIJ. SCAENA. IIIJ.


292
293Custance. Merygreeke. Roister Doister.

294C. Custa~ce. What gaudyng and foolyng is this afore my doore;

295M. Mery. May not folks be honest, pray you, though they be pore;

296C. Custa~ce. As that thing may be true, so rich folks may be fooles,

297R. Royster. Hir talke is as fine as she had learned in schooles.

page L. 1043


298M. Mery. Looke partly towarde hir, and drawe a little nere.

299C. Custa~ce. Get ye home idle folkes.
M. M. Why may not we be here;
300Nay and ye will haze, haze: otherwise I tell you plaine,
301And ye will not haze, then giue vs our geare againe.

302C. Custa~ce. In deede I haue of yours much gay things God saue all.

303R. Royster. Speake gently vnto hir, and let hir take all.

304M. Mery. Ye are to tender hearted: shall she make vs dawes;
305Nay dame, I will be plaine with you in my friends cause.

306R. Royster. Let all this passe sweete heart and accept my seruice SOURCE TEXT: sernice .

307C. Custa~ce. I will not be serued with a foole in no wise,
308When I choose an husbande I hope to take a man.

309M. Mery. And where will ye finde one which can doe that he
310can;
311Now thys man towarde you being so kinde,
312You not to make him an answere somewhat to his minde.

313C. Custa~ce. I sent him a full answere by you dyd I not;

314M. Mery. And I reported it.
C. Custance. Nay I must speake it againe.

315R. Royster. No no, he tolde it all.
M. M. Was I not metely plaine;

316R. Royster. Yes.
M. M. But I would not tell all, for faith if I had
317With you dame Custance ere this houre it had ben bad,
318And not without cause: for this goodly personage,
319Ment no lesse than to ioyne with you in mariage.

320C. Custa~ce. Let him wast no more labour nor sute about me.

321M. Mery. Ye know not where your preferment lieth I see,
322He sending you such a token, ring and letter.

323C. Custa~ce. Mary here it is, ye neuer sawe a better.

324M. Mery. Let vs see your letter.
C. Custance. Holde, reade it if ye can.
325And see what letter it is to winne a woman.

326M. Mery. To mine owne deare coney birde, swete heart, and pigsny
327Good Mistresse Custance present these by and by,
328Of this superscription do ye blame the stile;

329C. Custa~ce. With the rest as good stuffe as ye redde a great while.

330M. Mery. Sweete mistresse where as I loue you nothing at all,
331Regarding your substance and richesse chiefe of all,
332For your personage, beautie, demeanour and wit,

page L. 1077


333I commende me vnto you neuer a whit.
334Sorie to heare report of your good welfare.
335For (as I heare say) suche your conditions are,
336That ye be worthie fauour of no liuing man,
337To be abhorred of euery honest man.
338To be taken for a woman enclined to vice.
339Nothing at all to Vertue gyuing hir due price,
340Wherfore concerning mariage, ye are thought
341Suche a fine Paragon, as nere honest man bought.
342And nowe by these presentes I do you aduertise
343That I am minded to marrie you in no wise.
344For your goodes and substance, I coulde bee content
345To take you as ye are. If ye mynde to bee my wyfe,
346Ye shall be assured for the tyme of my lyfe,
347I will keepe ye ryght well, from good rayment and fare,
348Ye shall not be kepte but in sorowe and care.
349Ye shall in no wyse lyue at your owne libertie,
350Doe and say what ye lust, ye shall neuer please me,
351But when ye are mery, I will be all sadde,
352When ye are sory, I will be very gladde.
353When ye seeke your heartes ease, I will be vnkinde,
354At no tyme, in me shall ye muche gentlenesse finde.
355But all things contrary to your will and minde,
356Shall be done: otherwise I wyll not be behinde
357To speake. And as for all them that woulde do you wrong
358I will so helpe and mainteyne, ye shall not lyue long.
359Nor any foolishe dolte, shall cumbre you but I.
360I, who ere say nay, wyll sticke by you tyll I die.
361Thus good mistresse Custance, the lorde you saue and kepe,
362From me Roister Doister, whether I wake or slepe.
363Who fauoureth you no lesse, (ye may be bolde)
364Than this letter purporteth, which ye haue vnfolde.

365C. Custa~ce. Nowe by this letter of loue; is it not fine;

366R. Royster. By the armes of Caleys it is none of myne.

page L. 1111


367R. Royster. Fie you are fowle to blame this is your owne hand.

368C. Custa~ce. Might not a woman be proude of such an husbande;

369M. Mery. Ah that ye would in a letter shew such despite.

370R. Royster. Oh I would I had hym here, the which did it
371endite.

372M. Mery. Why ye made it your selfe ye tolde me by this light.

373R. Royster. Yea I ment I wrote it myne owne selfe yesternight.

374C. Custa~ce. Ywis sir, I would not haue sent you such a mocke.

375R. Royster. Ye may so take it, but I ment it not so by cocke.

376M. Mery. Who can blame this woman to fume and frette and rage;
377Tut, tut, your selfe nowe haue marde your owne marriage.
378Well, yet mistresse Custance, if ye can this remitte,
379This gentleman otherwise may your loue requitte.

380C. Custa~ce. No God be with you both, and seeke no more to me. Exeat.

381R. Royster. Wough, she is gone for euer, I shall hir no more see.

382M. Mery. What weepe; fye for shame, and blubber; for manhods sake,
383Neuer lette your foe so muche pleasure of you take.
384Rather play the mans parte, and doe loue refraine.
385If she despise you een despise ye hir againe.

386R. Royster. By gosse and for thy sake I defye hir in deede.

387M. Mery. Yea and perchaunce that way ye shall much sooner speede,
388For one madde propretie these women haue in fey,
389When ye will, they will not: Will not ye, then will they.
390Ah foolishe woman, ah moste vnluckie Custance,
391Ah vnfortunate woman, ah pieuishe Custance,
392Art thou to thine harmes so obstinately bent,
393That thou canst not see where lieth thine high preferment;
394Canst thou not lub dis man, which coulde lub dee so well;
395Art thou so much thine own foe.
R. R. Thou dost the truth
396tell.

397M. Mery. Wel I lame~t.
R. R. So do I.
M M. Wherfor;
R R. For this thing
398Bicause she is gone.
M. M. I mourne for an other thing.

399R. Royster. What is it Merygreeke, wherfore thou dost griefe take;

400M. Mery. That I am not a woman my selfe for your sake,
401I would haue you my selfe, and a strawe for yond Gill,
402And mocke much of you though it were against my will.

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403I would not I warrant you, fall in such a rage,
404As so to refuse suche a goodly personage.

405R. Royster. In faith I heartily thanke thee Merygreeke.

406M. Mery. And I were a woman.
R. R. Thou wouldest to me
407seeke.

408M. Mery. For though I say it, a goodly person ye bee.

409R. Royster. No, no.
M. M. Yes a goodly man as ere I dyd
410see.

411R. Royster. No, I am a poore homely man as God made mee.

412M. Mery. By the faith that I owe to God sir, but ye bee.
413Woulde I might for your sake, spende a thousande pound land.

414R. Royster. I dare say thou wouldest haue me to thy husbande.

415M. Mery. Yea: And I were the fairest lady in the shiere,
416And knewe you as I know you, and see you nowe here,
417Well I say no more.
R. R. Gramercies with all my hart.

418M. Mery. But since that can not be, will ye play a wise parte;

419R. Royster. How should I;
M. M. Refraine from Custance a while now.
420And I warrant hir soone right glad to seeke to you,
421Ye shall see hir anon come on hir knees creeping,
422And pray you to be good to hir salte teares weeping.

423R. Royster. But what and she come not;
M. M. In faith then farewel she.
424Or else if ye be wroth, ye may auenged be.

425R. Royster. By cocks precious potsticke, and een so I shall.
426I wyll vtterly destroy hir, and house and all.
427But I woulde be auenged in the meane space,
428On that vile scribler, that did my wowyng disgrace.

429M. Mery. Scribler (ko you) in deede he is worthy no lesse.
430I will call hym to you, and ye bidde me doubtlesse.

431R. Royster. Yes, for although he had as many liues,
432As a thousande widowes, and a thousande wiues,
433As a thousande lyons, and a thousand rattes,
434A thousande wolues, and a thousande cattes,
435A thousande bulles, and a thousande calues,
436And a thousande legions diuided in halues,
437He shall neuer scape death on my swordes point,
438Though I shoulde be torne therfore ioynt by ioynt.

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439M. Mery. Nay, if ye will kyll him, I will not fette him,
440I will not in so muche extremitie sette him,
441He may yet amende sir, and be an honest man,
442Therfore pardon him good soule, as muche as ye can.

443R. Royster. Well, for thy sake, this once with his lyfe he shall passe,
444But I wyll hewe hym all to pieces by the Masse.

445M. Mery. Nay fayth ye shall promise that he shall no harme haue,
446Else I will not fet him.
R. R. I shall so God me saue.
447But I may chide him a good.
M. M. Yea that do hardely.

448R. Royster. Go then.
M. M. I returne, and bring him to you by & by. Ex.