Roister Doister Part 26

+C. Custance.+ I my selfe will mounsire graunde captaine vndertake,

+R. Royster.+ They win grounde.

+M. Mery.+ Saue your selfe sir, for G.o.ds sake.

+R. Royster.+ Out, alas, I am slaine, helpe.

+M. Mery.+ Saue your self.

+R. Royster.+ Alas.

+M. Mery.+ Nay then, haue at you mistresse.

+R. Royster.+ Thou hittest me, alas.

+M. Mery.+ I wil strike at Custance here.

+R. Royster.+ Thou hittest me.

+M. Mery.+ So I wil.

Nay mistresse Custance.

+R. Royster.+ Alas, thou hittest me still.

Hold.

+M. Mery.+ Saue your self sir.

+R. Royster.+ Help, out alas I am slain

+M. Mery.+ Truce, hold your hands, truce for a p.i.s.sing while or twaine: Nay how say you Custance, for sauing of your life, Will ye yelde and graunt to be this gentmans wife?

+C. Custance.+ Ye tolde me he loued me, call ye this loue?

+M. Mery.+ He loued a while euen like a turtle doue.

+C. Custance.+ Gay loue G.o.d saue it, so soone hotte, so soone colde,

+M. Mery.+ I am sory for you: he could loue you yet so he coulde.

+R. Royster.+ Nay by c.o.c.ks precious she shall be none of mine.

+M. Mery.+ Why so?

+R. Royster.+ Come away, by the matte she is man-kine.

I durst aduenture the losse of my right hande, If shee dyd not slee hir other husbande: And see if she prepare not againe to fight.

+M. Mery.+ What then? sainct George to borow, our Ladies knight.

+R. Royster.+ Slee else whom she will, by gog she shall not slee mee.

+M. Mery.+ How then?

+R. Royster.+ Rather than to be slaine, I will flee.

+C. Custance.+ Too it againe, my knightesses, downe with them all.

+R. Royster.+ Away, away, away, she will else kyll vs all.

+M. Mery.+ Nay sticke to it, like an hardie man and a tall.

+R. Royster.+ Oh bones, thou hittest me. Away, or else die we shall.

+M. Mery.+ Away for the pashe of our sweete Lord Iesus Christ.

+C. Custance.+ Away loute and lubber, or I shall be thy priest.

_Exeant om._

So this fielde is ours we haue driuen them all away.

+Tib Talk.+ Thankes to G.o.d mistresse, ye haue had a faire day.

+C. Custance.+ Well nowe goe ye in, and make your selfe some good cheere.

_Omnes pariter._ We goe.

+T. Trust.+ Ah sir, what a field we haue had heere.

+C. Custance.+ Friend Tristram, I pray you be a witnesse with me.

+T. Trusty.+ Dame Custance, I shall depose for your honestie, And nowe fare ye well, except some thing else ye wolde.

+C. Custance.+ Not now, but when I nede to sende I will be bolde.

_Exeat._

I thanke you for these paines. And now I wyll get me in, Now Roister Doister will no more wowyng begin. _Ex._

Actus. v. Scaena. j.

+Gawyn Goodlucke. Sym Suresby.+

Sym Suresby my trustie man, nowe aduise thee well, And see that no false surmises thou me tell, Was there such adoe about Custance of a truth?

+Sim. Sure.+ To reporte that I hearde and sawe, to me is ruth, But both my duetie and name and propretie, Warneth me to you to shewe fidelitie, It may be well enough, and I wyshe it so to be, She may hir selfe discharge and trie hir honestie, Yet their clayme to hir me thought was very large, For with letters rings and tokens, they dyd hir charge.

Which when I hearde and sawe I would none to you bring.