BLAGUE

Welcome good Jockey, what good news bring you? Doubt you of welcome Lady to your friend? Nay to your servant, to your bradswoman, To speak but truth, your bounties bound woman: Use me, command me, call my house your own, And all I have sweet Lady at your will. I loud you then, and since, and ever shall, You are the woman, though your Fortune's fallen, You when my husbands lewd transgression Of all our wealth had lost possession, By forfeiture into his Highness hands, God restitution of our goods and lands, He fled, and died in France, to heal that harm, You helped me to three manors in fee farm, The worst of which clears threescore pound a year, Have I not reason then to hold you dear? Yes happen what will until my life do end, You are and shall be my best beloved friend, Trust me true friends bide touch in time of needs. My wealth is yours, and you shall spend my store. With me live secret from the world's debates Then let me never on the earth be blessed. How can you once conceit so base a thing, That have been kissed and cokerd by a king, Weep not, you hurt your self by Gods blessed mother, Your husbands dead woman, think upon another, Let us in to supper, drink wine, cheer your heart, And while I live, be sure isle take your partly. So, set him here a while, where is more air, How cheer you sir, alack he does begin To change his colour, where is mistress Shore? Gone to her Closet for a precious Balm, The same (she said) King Edward used himself. Alack I fear heel die before st ée come. Ran quickly for some Rosa-solis, faint not sir, Be of good comfort, come good mistress Shore, What have you there? Unhappy me to lodge him in my house. How ever sure the surgeon was a knave, That looked no better to him at the first. Now God be blessed, see the crimson blood, That was precipitate, and falling down Into his arm, retires into his face, How fare you sir? how do you feel your self? Here sir drink this, you need not fear it sir, It is no hurt, see I will be your taster, Then drink I pray you. Good sooth mistress Shore, I did not think till now You had been such a cunning skilde Physician. Sir I did you little good, what was done Ascribe the benefit and praise thereof Unto this Gentlewoman, kind mistress Shore, Who next to God preserved your Feeble life. Is his name Flood, I knew it not till now, But here he is, and well recovered, Thanks to this Gentlewoman mistress Shore. I, but you have been a wicked liver, And now you see what 'tis to be unchaste, You should have kept you your honest husband: TO was never other Like but that such filthiness, Would have a foul and detestable end. I told you then as then the time did serve, And more indeed to try your disposition, Then any way to encourage you to sin: But when I say you were ambitious, And saintly stood on terms of modesty, I left you to your own arbiterment: Can you deny it was not so? how say you? I pray you do not urge me mistress Shore. I will not have my house endangered so. I know of none: If there be any, isle be so bold, As keep it for your diet and your men, It is no little charge I have been at, To de your dainty tooth, since you came hither, Beside houseroom, I am sure is somewhat worth. I harbour her? out on her strumpet quean, She pressed upon me where I would or no: I'll see her hanged ere I will harbour her. So now her jewels and her gold is mine, And I am made at least four thousand pound, Wealthier by this match then I was before: And what can be objected for the same, That once I lou'de her: well perhaps I did, And women all are governed by the Moon, But now I am of another humour, Which is you know a planet that will change. I beseech you sir. O I am pinched with more the ̄ common want, Where shall I find relief? Good Gentleman, Pity a wretched woman Like to starve, And I will pray for ye. One halfpenny For Christ's sake, to comfort me withal. Good Gentleman bestow your charity, One single halfpenny to help my need. O misery, but shall I stay to look Her in her face, whom I so much have wrongde? O willingly if the u can brook her presence, Whom you have great er reason to despise. I thank you mistress Shore, this courtesy Renews the grief of my inconstancy. 'Tis not amiss, if you be so content, For here the fields too open & frequent. Where vndisturbde we may partake this grace. What, and so I should be a traitor, should I? Is that the care you have of me and mine? I thank you truly, no theres no such matter, I love you well, but love my self better: As long as you were held a true subject, I made account of you accordingly, But being otherwise, I do reject you, And will not cherish my kings enemy: You know the danger of the Proclamation: I would to God you would depart my house. And I thank you that so my wealth increased, Am worth I trow, ten thousand pounds at least, I think Like two warm widows we may live, Until good fortune two good husbands give, For surely mistress Shore your husbands dead, When herd ye of him? So you did swear you would be true to Shore, But you were not so good as your word, My oaths disherit which by the kings command.