Part 21

_M. Mumb._ It shal be delivered. But if ye speede, shall I be considered?

_M. Mery._ Whough, dost thou doubt of that?

_Madge._ What shal I have? 119

_M. Mery._ An hundred times more than thou canst devise to crave.

_M. Mumbl._ Shall I have some newe geare? for my olde is all spent.

_M. Mery._ The worst kitchen wench shall goe in ladies rayment.

_M. Mumbl._ Yea?

_M. Mery._ And the worst drudge in the house shal go better Than your mistresse doth now.

_Mar._ Then I trudge with your letter. [_Exit._]

_R. Royster._ Now may I repose me: Custance is mine owne. C ii _b_ Let us sing and play homeward that it may be knowne. 126

_M. Mery._ But are you sure, that your letter is well enough?

_R. Royster._ I wrote it my selfe.

_M. Mery._ Then sing we to dinner.

_Here they sing, and go out singing._

Actus. i. Scæna. v.

CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE. MARGERIE MUMBLECRUST.

_C. Custance._ Who tooke[439] thee thys letter Margerie Mumblecrust?

_M. Mumbl._ A lustie gay bacheler tooke it me of trust, And if ye seeke to him he will lowe[440] your doing.

_C. Custance._ Yea, but where learned he that manner of wowing?

_M. Mumbl._ If to sue to hym, you will any paines take, 5 He will have you to his wife (he sayth) for my sake.

_C. Custance._ Some wise gentlemen belike. I am bespoken:[441] And I thought verily thys had bene some token From my dere spouse[442] Gawin Goodluck, whom when him please God luckily sende home to both our heartes ease. 10

_M. Mumbl._ A joyly[443] man it is I wote well by report, And would have you to him for marriage resort: Best open the writing, and see what it doth speake.

_C. Custance._ At thys time nourse I will neither reade ne breake.

_M. Mumbl._ He promised to give you a whole pecke of golde. 15

_C. Custance._ Perchaunce lacke of a pynte when it shall be all tolde.

_M. Mumbl._ I would take a gay riche husbande, and I were you.

_C. Custance._ In good sooth Madge, een so would I, if I were thou.[444] But no more of this fond talke now, let us go in, And see thou no more move me folly to begin. 20 Nor bring mee no mo letters for no mans pleasure, But thou know from whom.

_M. Mumbl._ I warrant ye shall be sure.

Actus. ii. Scæna i.[445] C [iii]

DOBINET DOUGHTIE.

_D. Dough._ Where is the house I goe to, before or behinde? I know not where nor when nor how I shal it finde. If I had ten mens bodies and legs and strength, This trotting that I have must needs lame me at length. And nowe that my maister is new set on wowyng, 5 I trust there shall none of us finde lacke of doyng: Two paire of shoes a day will nowe be too litle To serve me, I must trotte to and fro so mickle. Go beare me thys token, carrie me this letter, Nowe this is the best way, nowe that way is better. 10 Up before day sirs, I charge you, an houre or twaine, Trudge, do me thys message, and bring worde quicke againe, If one misse but a minute, then [H]is armes and woundes[446] I woulde not have slacked for ten thousand poundes. Nay see I beseeche you, if my most trustie page, 15 Goe not nowe aboute to hinder my mariage, So fervent hotte wowyng, and so farre from wiving, I trowe never was any creature livyng, With every woman is he in some loves pang, Then up to our lute at midnight, twangledome twang,[447] 20 Then twang with our sonets, and twang with our dumps,[448] And heyhough from our heart, as heavie as lead lumpes: Then to our recorder[449] with toodleloodle poope As the howlet out of an yvie bushe should hoope. Anon to our gitterne, thrumpledum, thrumpledum thrum, 25 Thrumpledum, thrumpledum, thrumpledum, thrumpledum thrum. Of Songs and Balades also is he a maker, And that can he as finely doe as Iacke Raker,[450] C iii _b_ Yea and _extempore_ will he dities compose, Foolishe _Marsias_ nere made the like I suppose, 30 Yet must we sing them, as good stuffe I undertake, As for such a pen man is well fittyng to make. Ah for these long nights, heyhow, when will it be day? I feare ere I come she will be wowed away. Then when aunswere is made that it may not bee, 35 O death why commest thou not? by and by[452] (sayth he)[;] But then, from his heart to put away sorowe, He is as farre in with some newe love next morowe. But in the meane season we trudge and we trot, From dayspring to midnyght, I sit not, nor rest not. 40 And now am I sent to dame Christian Custance: But I feare it will ende with a mocke for pastance.[451] I bring hir a ring, with a token in a cloute, And by all gesse, this same is hir house out of doute. I knowe it nowe perfect, I am in my right way. 45 And loe yond the olde nourse that was wyth us last day.

Actus ii. Scæna ii.

MAGE MUMBLECRUST. DOBINET DOUGHTIE.

_M. Mumbl_. I was nere so shoke[453] up afore since I was borne, That our mistresse coulde not have chid[453] I wold have sworne: And I pray God I die if I ment any harme, But for my life time this shall be to me a charme.

_D. Dough._ God you save and see nurse, and howe is it with you? 5

_M. Mumbl._ Mary a great deale the worse it is for suche as thou.

_D. Dough._ For me? Why so?

_M. Mumb._ Why wer not thou one of them, say, That song and playde here with the gentleman last day?

_D. Dough._ Yes, and he would know if you have for him spoken. And prayes you to deliver this ring and token. 10

_M. Mumbl._ Nowe by the token that God tokened[,] brother, I will deliver no token one nor other. I have once ben so shent for your maisters pleasure, C iv As I will not be agayne for all hys treasure.

_D. Dough._ He will thank you woman. 15

_M. Mumbl._ I will none of his thanke. _Ex._

_D. Dough._ I weene I am a prophete, this geare will prove blanke:[454] But what should I home againe without answere go? It were better go to _Rome_[455] on my head than so. I will tary here this moneth, but some of the house 20 Shall take it of me, and then I care not a louse