Roister Doister Part 24

+R. Royster.+ Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Dydst thou see that Merygreeke? how afrayde she was?

Dydst thou see how she fledde apace out of my sight?

Ah good sweete Custance I pitie hir by this light.

+M. Mery.+ That tender heart of yours wyll marre altogether, Thus will ye be turned with waggyng of a fether.

+R. Royster.+ On sirs, keepe your ray.

+M. Mery.+ On forth, while this geare is hot

+R. Royster.+ Soft, the Armes of Caleys, I haue one thing forgot.

+M. Mery.+ What lacke we now?

+R. Royster.+ Retire, or else we be all slain.

+M. Mery.+ Backe for the pashe of G.o.d, backe sirs, backe againe.

What is the great mater?

+R. Royster.+ This hastie forth goyng Had almost brought vs all to vtter vndoing, It made me forget a thing most necessarie.

+M. Mery.+ Well remembred of a captaine by sainct Marie.

+R. Royster.+ It is a thing must be had.

+M. Mery.+ Let vs haue it then.

+R. Royster.+ But I wote not where nor how.

+M. Mery.+ Then wote not I when.

But what is it?

+R. Royster.+ Of a chiefe thing I am to seeke.

+M. Mery.+ Tut so will ye be, when ye haue studied a weke.

But tell me what it is?

+R. Royster.+ I lacke yet an hedpiece.

+M. Mery.+ The kitchen collocauit, the best hennes to grece, Runne, fet it Dobinet, and come at once withall, And bryng with thee my potgunne, hangyng by the wall, I haue seene your head with it full many a tyme, Couered as safe as it had bene with a skrine: And I warrant it saue your head from any stroke, Except perchaunce to be amased with the smoke: I warrant your head therwith, except for the mist, As safe as if it were fast locked vp in a chist: And loe here our Dobinet commeth with it nowe.

+D. Dough.+ It will couer me to the shoulders well inow.

+M. Mery.+ Let me see it on.

+R. Royster.+ In fayth it doth metely well.

+M. Mery.+ There can be no fitter thing. Now ye must vs tell What to do.

+R. Royster.+ Now forth in ray sirs, and stoppe no more.

+M. Mery.+ Now sainct George to borow, Drum dubbe a dubbe afore.

+T. Trusty.+ What meane you to do sir, committe manslaughter.

+R. Royster.+ To kyll fortie such, is a matter of laughter.

+T. Trusty.+ And who is it sir, whome ye intende thus to spill?

+R. Royster.+ Foolishe Custance here forceth me against my will.

+T. Trusty.+ And is there no meane your extreme wrath to slake, She shall some amendes vnto your good mashyp make.

+R. Royster.+ I will none amendes.

+T. Trusty.+ Is hir offence so sore?

+M. Mery.+ And he were a loute she coulde haue done no more.

She hath calde him foole, and dressed him like a foole.

Mocked him lyke a foole, vsed him like a foole.

+T. Trusty.+ Well yet the Sheriffe, the Iustice, or Constable, Hir misdemeanour to punishe might be able.

+R. Royster.+ No sir, I mine owne selfe will in this present cause, Be Sheriffe, and Iustice, and whole Iudge of the lawes, This matter to amende, all officers be I shall, Constable, Bailiffe, Sergeant.

+M. Mery.+ And hangman and all.

+T. Trusty.+ Yet a n.o.ble courage, and the hearte of a man.

Should more honour winne by bearyng with a woman.

Therfore take the lawe, and lette hir aunswere therto.

+R. Royster.+ Merygreeke, the best way were euen so to do.

What honour should it be with a woman to fight?

+M. Mery.+ And what then, will ye thus forgo and lese your right?

+R. Royster.+ Nay, I will take the lawe on hir withouten grace.

+T. Trusty.+ Or yf your mashyp coulde pardon this one tres.p.a.ce.

I pray you forgiue hir.

+R. Royster.+ Hoh?

+M. Mery.+ Tushe tushe sir do not.

Be good maister to hir.

+R. Royster.+ Hoh?