Roister Doister Part 22

+T. Trusty.+ What is your cause

+C. Custance.+ I am yll accombred with a couple of dawes.

+T. Trusty.+ Nay weepe not woman: but tell me what your cause is As concerning my friende is any thing amisse?

+C. Custance.+ No not on my part: but here was Sym Suresby.

+T. Trustie.+ He was with me and told me so.

+C. Custance.+ And he stoode by While Ralph Roister Doister with helpe of Merygreeke, For promise of mariage dyd vnto me seeke.

+T. Trusty.+ And had ye made any promise before them twaine,

+C. Custance.+ No I had rather be torne in pieces and slaine, No man hath my faith and trouth, but Gawyn Goodlucke, And that before Suresby dyd I say, and there stucke, But of certaine letters there were suche words spoken.

+T. Trustie.+ He tolde me that too.

+C. Custance.+ And of a ring and token.

That Suresby I spied, dyd more than halfe suspect, That I my faith to Gawyn Goodlucke dyd reiect.

+T. Trusty.+ But there was no such matter dame Custance in deede?

+C. Custance.+ If euer my head thought it, G.o.d sende me yll speede.

Wherfore I beseech you, with me to be a witnesse, That in all my lyfe I neuer intended thing lesse, And what a brainsicke foole Ralph Roister Doister is, Your selfe know well enough.

+T. Trusty.+ Ye say full true ywis.

+C. Custance.+ Bicause to bee his wife I ne graunt nor apply, Hither will he com he sweareth by and by, To kill both me and myne, and beate downe my house flat.

Therfore I pray your aide.

+T. Trustie.+ I warrant you that.

+C. Custance.+ Haue I so many yeres liued a sobre life, And shewed my selfe honest, mayde, widowe, and wyfe And nowe to be abused in such a vile sorte, Ye see howe poore Widowes lyue all voyde of comfort.

+T. Trusty.+ I warrant hym do you no harme nor wrong at all.

+C. Custance.+ No, but Mathew Merygreeke doth me most appall, That he woulde ioyne hym selfe with suche a wretched loute.

+T. Trusty.+ He doth it for a iest I knowe hym out of doubte, And here cometh Merygreke.

+C. Custance.+ Then shal we here his mind.

Actus. iiij. Scaena. vj.

+Merygreke. Christian Custance. Trist. Trusty.+

+M. Mery.+ Custance and Trustie both, I doe you here well finde.

+C. Custance.+ Ah Mathew Merygreeke, ye haue vsed me well.

+M. Mery.+ Nowe for altogether ye must your answere tell.

Will ye haue this man, woman? or else will ye not?

Else will he come neuer bore so brymme nor tost so hot.

+Tris. and Cu.+ But why ioyn ye with him.

+T. Trusty.+ For mirth.

+C. Custance.+ Or else in sadnesse

+M. Mery.+ The more fond of you both hardly yat mater gesse.

+Tristram.+ Lo how say ye dame?

+M. Mery.+ Why do ye thinke dame Custance That in this wowyng I haue ment ought but pastance?

+C. Custance.+ Much things ye spake, I wote, to maintaine his dotage.

+M. Mery.+ But well might ye iudge I spake it all in mockage?

For why? Is Roister Doister a fitte husband for you?

+T. Trusty.+ I dare say ye neuer thought it.

+M. Mery.+ No to G.o.d I vow.

And dyd not I knowe afore of the insurance Betweene Gawyn Goodlucke, and Christian Custance?

And dyd not I for the nonce, by my conueyance, Reade his letter in a wrong sense for daliance?

That if you coulde haue take it vp at the first bounde, We should therat such a sporte and pastime haue founde, That all the whole towne should haue ben the merier.

+C. Custance.+ Ill ake your heades both, I was neuer werier, Nor neuer more vexte since the first day I was borne.

+T. Trusty.+ But very well I wist he here did all in scorne.

+C. Custance.+ But I feared therof to take dishonestie.

+M. Mery.+ This should both haue made sport, and shewed your honestie And Goodlucke I dare sweare, your witte therin would low.

+T. Trusty.+ Yea, being no worse than we know it to be now.

+M. Mery.+ And nothing yet to late, for when I come to him, Hither will he repaire with a sheepes looke full grim, By plaine force and violence to driue you to yelde.

+C. Custance.+ If ye two bidde me, we will with him pitche a fielde, I and my maides together.

+M. Mery.+ Let vs see, be bolde.

+C. Custance.+ Ye shall see womens warre.

+T. Trusty.+ That fight wil I behold.