JENKIN

Marry amen, sir. Why, did not you talk of love? Well, though I say it that should not say it, There are few fellows in our parish, So nettled with love, as I have be of late. Trow you have hit it: for master, be it known To you, There is some good will betwixt Madge the Sousewife, And I, Marry she hath another lover. Three goodly horses in our wheat close. Marry thats a riddle to me: but they are there: Velvet horses, and I never saw such horses before. As my duty was, I put off my cap, and said as follows: My Master's, what do you make in our close? One of them hearing me ask what he made there, held up his head and neighed, and after his manner laughed as heartily as if a mare had be tied to his girdle. My Master's, said I, it is no laughing matter; for if my master take you here, you go, as round as a top, to the pound. Another untoward jade hearing me threaten him to the pound, and to tell you of them, cast up both his heals, and let such a monstrous great fart; that was as much as in his language to say, A fart for the pound, and a fart for George a Green. Now I hearing this, put on my cap, blew my horn, called them all jades, and came to tell you. Do you hear? I were best take a constable With me. Well, I may go. Whither away? I am going to put the horses In the pound. Stay, I will go tell my master. Hear you, master? we have another prize: Those three horses be in your wheat close still, And here be three geldings more. These are the Master's of the horses. And such is my master, and he may give as good Arms, as ever your great grandfather could give. Marry my master may give for his arms, The picture of April in a green jerkin, With a rook on one fist, and and horn on the other: But my master gives his arms the wrong way; For he gives the horn on his fist: And your grandfather, because he would not loose his Arms, Wears the horn on his own head. I this is the shadow, but here is the substance. Whensoever I go to fight with any body, I use to flourish my staff thrice about my head Before I strike, and then show no favour. Well sir, here is once, twice, here is my hand, I will never do it the third time. Faith no: come, I will give thee two pots Of the best Ale, and be friends. Well, content, go thy ways and say thy prayers, Thou scapst my hands to day. Hark in your ear. Come down on your knees, I have God it. Marry, because you have drunk with the king, And the king hath so graciously pledged you, You shall be no more called Shoemakers. But you and yours to the world's end, Shall be called the trade of the gentle craft. I beseech your worship consume this Which he hath spoken. I am sure your worship will abide: For yonder is coming old Musgrove, And mad Cuddy his son. Master, my fellow Wily comes dressed Like a woman, And master Grime will marry Wily: Here they come. A rider? no, he is a sow-gelder, and goes a foot. But Madge pointed to meet me in your wheat close. Never make question of that: And first I saluted her with a green gown, And after fell as hard a wooing, As if the Priest had been at our backs, to have married us. Did she grant? Never make question of that: And she gave me a shirt coler, Wrought over with no counterfeit stuff. Nay, it better than gold. Right Coventry blue, Who had no sooner come there, but wot you who came by. Clime the sow-gelder. He spied Madge and I fit together, He leapt from his horse, laid his hand on his dagger, and Began to swear. Now I seeing he had a dagger, And I nothing but this twig in my hand, I gave him fair words and said nothing. He comes to me and takes me by the bosom, You hoorsen shue, said he, hold my horse, And look he take no cold in his feet. No marry shall he sir, quoth I, I'll lay my cloak underneath him: I took my cloak, spread it all along, And his horse on the amid of it. I, but mark how I served him: Madge and he was no sooner gone down into the ditch, But I plucked out my knife, Cut four hoales in my cloak, and made his horse stand On the bore ground. And if I find any in the pound, I shall turn them out. Oh master where are you? we have a prize. Come, here is his house. Where be you, ho? Come, old man. Here is your walking staff.