SISAMNES

O puissant Prince & mighty king, y e gods preserve your grace. Your graces message came to me, your will purporting forth: With grateful mind I it received, according to mine oath. Erecting then myself with speed, before your graces eyes: The tenor of your Princely will, from you for to agnize. Abundant thanks unto your grace for this benignity: To you his council in Like case, with Lords of clemency. What so your grace to me permits, if I therein offend: Such execution then commence, and use it to this end. That all other (by that my deed) example so may take: To admonish them to flee the same, by fear it may them make. Unworthy much (Oh prince) am I, and for this gift unfit: But sith that it hath pleased your grace, that I in it must fit. I do avouch unto my death, according to my skill: With equity for to observe, your graces mind and will. And nought from it to swerve indeed, but sincerely to stay: Else let me taste the penalty, as I before did say. And I will it fulfil also, as I have made profession. Even now the King hath me extolde, and set me up aloft. Now may I were the broidered guard and lie in down bed soft. Now may I purchase house and land, and have all at my will: Now may I built a princely place, my mind for to fulfil. Now may I abrogate the Law, as I shall think it good: If any one me now offend, I may demand his blood. According to the Proverb old, my mouth I will up make: Now it doth lie all in my hand, to leave or else to take. To deal with Justice to my bound, and so to live in hope: But oft ̄ times the birds be gone, while one for nest doth grope. Do well or ill, I dare avouch, some evil on me will speak: No truly yet I do not mean, the kings precept to break, To place I mean for to return my duty to fulfil. Stand away, stand away for the passion of God, Harnessed I am prepared to the field: I would have been content at home to have bod, But I am sent forth with my spear and Shield. ⁂ I am appointed to fight against a Snail, And Wilkin Wren the ancient shall bear: I doubt not but against him to prevail, To be a man my deeds shall declare. If I overcome him, then a Butter fly takes his part, His weapon must be a blue speckled Hen: But you shall see me over throw him with a fart, So without conquest he shall go home again. If I overcame him, I must fight with a fly, And a black pudding the flies weapon must be: At the first blow on the ground he shall lie, I will be sure to thrust him through the mouth to the knee. To conquest these fellows the man I will play, Would, would, would, now you will make me to smile: To see if I can all men beguile. Would, my name, my name would you so fain know? Yea iwis shall you, and that with all speed: I have forgotten it therefore I cannot show, A, A, now I have it, I have it in deed. My name is Ambidexter I signify one, *⁎* That with both hands finely can play: Now with king Cambices and by and by gone, Thus do I run this and that way, For while I mean with a Soldier to be, Then give I a leap to Sisamnes the Judge: I dare avouch, you shall his destruction see, To all kind of estates I mean for to trudge. Ambidexter, nay he is a fellow if you knew all: Gogs flesh and his wounds these wars rejoice my heart: By his wounds I hope to do well for my part. By Gods heart the world shall go evil if I do not shift: At some old Carls bouget I mean for to lift. Since that the Kings graces majesty in office did me set: What abundance of wealth to me might I get. Now & the ̄ so ̄ e vantage I achieve, much more yet may I take: But that I fear unto the king, that some, complaint will make Why so? I pray you let me agnize. What master Ambidexter, is it you? Now welcome to me I make God avow. Believe me your words draw deep in my mind. In colloure wise unto this day to bribes I have inclined: More the same for to frequent of truth I am now minded. Behold even now unto me Suitors do proceed. No doubt your grace shall not once hear, that I have done a miss. Oh pusant Prince it is not so, his complaint I deny: Oh noble king forgive my fact, I yield to thy mercy. Otian my son the king to death (by law hath me condemned And you in room and office mine, his graces will hath placed. Use Justice therefore in this case, and yield unto no wrong: Lest thou do purchase the Like death, or ever it be long. I do forgive it Thee my Friend, dispatch therefore with speed. smite him in the neck with a sword to signify his death Hold thy tongue thou prattling knave, and give to me reward Else in this wise I tell Thee truth, thy tale will not be herd. Ambidexter, let us go hence, and let the knave alone. Redoubted king have no mistrust, no whit your mind dismay: There is not one that can me charge or ought against me lay Oh child thou makes mine eyes to run, as rivers do by stream: My leave I take of thee my Son beware of this my beam.