MILLER

Over and over, here I utterly renounce it; nor would I stay in it longer, if you would give me your whole estate; nay if I say it, you may take my word Landlord. Marry withal my heart, and I am glad, I am so rid of em. He was ever and unhappy Boy Sir, and Like enough to grow acquainted with him; and friends may fallen out sometime. You were best take heed though. Do what you please Sir, there's the Boy stout enough to justify any thing he has said. Now it's out, he should be my Son still by that: Though he was at Death's before he would reveal any thing, nable jades had so threatened him, and as soon as ever he had told he men ed. For my partly I have no reason to hinder any thing that may root them all out; I have tasted enough of their mischief, witness my usage in that Mill, which could be nothing but their Roguery. One night in my sleep they set me a stride stark nam ked a top of my Mill, a bitter cold night too; 'twas day light be before I w ached, and I durst never speak of it to this hour, because I thought it impossible to be believed. And all last Summer, my Wise could not make a bit of butter. None but one, and he ran out of his wits upon't, till we bound his head, and laid him a sleep, but he has had a wry mouth ever since. In that he was my Son. Till I wondering at his stay, went out and found him in the Trance; since which time, he has been haunted and frigh ted with Goblins, 40. times, and never durst tell any thing (as I said) because the Hags had so threatened him till in his sickness he revealed it to his mother. Yoiu see sir, and what you see, I have felt, & am come to give you to unde stand i'll not endure such another night if you would give me your mill for nothing, they say we Millers are thieves: but I c'ud as soon be hanged as steal one piece of a ap all the night long, good Landlord provide your self of a new tenant, the noise of such caterwauling, & such scratching and clawing, before I would endure again, i'll be tied to the ail when the wind blows sharpest, and they fly swiftest, till I be torn into as many fitters as I have toes and fingers. Your Mill quoth he, if ever you take me in your mill again, i'll give you leave to cast my flesh to the dogs, and grind my flesh to powder, betwixt the Millstones. Cats do you call them, for their hugeness they might be cat a mountains, and for their claws, I think I have it here in read and white to sh w, pray look here sir, a murreine take them, isle be sworn they have , where I am ure it itched not. No Sir, we could not make it come, though she and I both together, churned almost our out, and nothing would come, but all ran into thin waterish gear: the Pigs would not drink . I was ill handled by them in the Mill.