PERIN

That were pretty I faith, to see Honesty know a knave by his cap, 'Tis more than I can do with all the skill I have: But tell me I pray thee, how I should know a knave. You see father, this merchant will be witness That he saw so much money tendered, And you received it, being full satisfied, As the last payment for the farm he bought, And if this merchant take his oath against you, That seven days passed he saw the money tendered, I must pass sentence then against you needs. But will you swear on the bible this is true? God save you gentlemen, the king greets you, and at this time, Having some occasion, to use money, hath sent to know What you that be Knights and Squires will lend his Grace, And you master Farmer, be brief (sir) for I cannot stay. Very well, but what says the Farmer? What can he spare the King? Why thats well said, and I commend thy honest mind, Would all men were of thy mind: I warrant thee, thou art and honest man, & one that loves the king But tell me, what wouldst thou have me do? Sir, fear not, I will do it for you, I warrant you, For I tell you, I can do much with the King. I thank you sir heartily. Truly Honesty, if I were furnished with money, I would not stick to give thee thy dinner, But now thou seest I am but a guest my self. It is my gracious Lord and honest man, And one it seems that loves you Majesty: For as your Grace gave me in charge, I went about into the country, to see what sums of money I could make, Among the chiefest of the commonalty: And amongst the richest Knights that I could find, They would lend your Grace at most but twenty ponnd, And every Squire would lend you Grace but ten: Then came I amongst the rest to this plain man, And asked him what he would lend the king, He answered sir, you see I am but poor, Not half so wealthy as a Knight or Squire, And yet in sign of duty to his Grace, I will lend his Majesty two hundred pound. My Lord, this is not Alfrida, this is the kitchen maid, No sir, you were not best. As how sir, by art, or by some foolish gift God hath given you, You are some Vissitian, or skilled in Uisognomy, or in palms ry For I am sure, you can never do it by Astronomy, Because there are no stars to know a knave. Base Villain, were it not hat the Kings presence does privilege thy presu ̄ ptio ̄ , I would teach you to jest with your fellows My gracious Lord, if I might not offend, I would entreat a favour at your hand, 'Tis so, I herd of late, my gracious Lord, That my kind father lay at point of death, And if (my Lord) I should not visit him, The world (I fear) would find great fault with me. My gracious Lord, I will not stay there long. Only but see my father and return again. Till when my grations Lord, I take my leave. Brothers you have spoken well, I must needs say, But now give ear to me, to me that keeps the court. Father, I live as Aristipus did, & use my wits to flatter with the king. If any in private conference name the king, I straight inform his Grace they envy him: Did Sinon live with all his subtlety? He could not tell a flattering tale more cunningly: Some time I move the King to be effeminate, And spend his time with some coy Courtesan: Thus with the King I curry fa our still, Though with my heart I wish him any ill: And sometime I can counterfeit his hand and seal, And borrow money of the communality: And thus I live and flaunt it with the best, And dice and card inferior unto none: And none dares speak against me in the court, Because they know the King does favour me. But where was the money tendered? Well, if thou be well advised, take thy oath, But yet remember before whom thou swearest, The God of truth and perfect equity, Which will revenge wrong to the innocent, with thousand plagues and tortors worse than death. Very well, and what say you master Squire. A plain fellow, and his name is Honesty. I thank you sir, but I must dine with my honest friend here, else I would not refuse your gentle offer. My gracious Lord, Ethenwald hath dissembled with your Majesty, For Alfrida is fair and virtuous: For last night, being in private conference, He told me he had devised a mean To colour with the King by forged excuse, No, no, (quoth he) my Alfrida is fair, As is the radiant North star Crystalline, That guides the wet and weary Traveller, Soused with the surge of Neptune's watery main, And thus my Lord, he fell to praising her, And from his pocket straight he drew this counterfeit, And said it made by beauteous Alfrida. Nothing but to have a license to brew strong Ale thrice a we k, and he that comes to Goteham, and will not spend a penny on a pot of Ale, if he be a dry, that he may fast. Why Dunston, you have seen as well as I, That Ethenwald hath dissembled with the King, My gracious Lord, first cut that Traitor down. And then will others fear the like amiss. Why (base companion) mean you me?