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 ^V/^ 
 
 THOMAS 
 
 OF 
 
 READING: 
 
 OR, 
 
 The lixe worthie Yeomen 
 
 of the West. 
 
 Now the fixth time corrected and enlarged 
 
 By T. D. 
 
 Ik 
 
 i § 1 
 
 5> 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed by Eliz. A l l d e for 
 Robert Bird. 
 
 16 32. 
 
 . 
 
 . 
 
 '<A. 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie of the Sixe 
 
 worthy Yeomen of the Weft. 
 
 N the Dayes of King Henry the 
 Firft:, who was the firft King that 
 inftituted the High Court of Par- 
 liament, there lived nine Men, 
 which for the Trade of Clothing, 
 were famous thorowout all Eng- 
 land. Which Art in thofe Dayes was held in high 
 Reputation, both in refpecl of the great Riches that 
 thereby was gotten, as alfo of the Benefit it brought 
 to the whole Common-wealth : the younger Sons of 
 Knights and Gentlemen, to whom their Fathers would 
 leaue no Lands, were moft commonly preferred to 
 learne this Trade, to the End, that thereby they might 
 liue in good Eftate, and driue forth their Dayes in 
 Profperity. 
 
 Among all Crafts this was the onely Chiefe, for 
 that it was the greateft Merchandize, by the which 
 our Country became famous thorowout all Nations. 
 And it was verily thought, that the one Halfe the Peo- 
 ple 
 
 f~~S M %~ur v .
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 pie in the Land lived in thofe Dayes thereby, and in 
 fuch good Sort, that in the Common-wealth there were 
 few or no Beggers at all : poore People, whom God 
 lightly blefled with moft Children, did by Means of 
 this Occupation fo order them, that by the Time that 
 they were come to be five or feuen Yeeres of Age, 
 they were able to get their owne Bread : Idleneffe was 
 then banifhed our Coaft, fo that it was a rare Thing 
 to heare of a Thiefe in thofe Dayes. Therefore it was 
 not without Caufe that Clothiers were then both ho- 
 noured and loved, among whom thefe nine Perfons 
 in this Kings Dayes were of great Credit, viz. Tho. Cole 
 of Reading, Gray of Glocefter, Sutton of Salifburie, 
 Fitzallan of Worcefler, (commonly called William of 
 Worcefter) Tom Doue of Excefter, and Simon of South- 
 hampton, alias Supbroth : who were by the King call- 
 ed, The Sixe worthy Hufbands of the Weft. Then 
 were there Three liuing in the North, that is to say, 
 Cutbert of Kendall, Hodgekins of Hallifax, & Martin 
 Byram of Manchefler. Euery one of thefe kept a 
 great Number of Seruants at Worke, Spinners, Card- 
 ers, Weauers, Fullers, Dyers, Sheeremen, and Row- 
 ers, to the great Admiration of all thofe that came 
 into their Houfes to behold them. 
 
 Now you mall vnderftand, thofe gallant Clothiers, 
 by Reafon of their dwelling Places, feparated them- 
 felues in three feuerall Companies : Gray of Glocef- 
 ter,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 ter, William of Worcefter, and Thomas of Reading, 
 becaufe their Iourney to London was all one Way, 
 they conuerfed commonly together : And Doue of 
 Excefter, Sutton of Salifburie, and Simon of South- 
 hampton, they in like Sort kept Company the one with 
 the other, meeting euer all together at Bazingfloke : 
 and the three Northerne Clothiers did the like, who 
 commonly did not meet till they came to Bolomes 
 Inne in London. 
 
 Moreouer, for the Love and Delight that thefe 
 Wefterne Men had each in others Companie, they did 
 fo prouide, that their Waines and themfelues would 
 euer meet upon one Day in London at Iarrats Hall, 
 surnamed the Gyant, for that hee furpafled all other 
 Men of that Age, both in Stature & Strength : whofe 
 Meriments and memorable Deeds, I will fet downe 
 vnto you in this following Difcourfe. 
 
 How King Henry fought the Fauour of all his Subjects, 
 
 efpecially of the Clothiers. Chap. 1. 
 
 ^HIS King Henry ) who for his great Learning and 
 
 -*- Wifedome was called Beauclarke, beeing the third 
 
 Son to the renowned Conquerour : after the Death of 
 
 his Brother William Ruffus, tooke upon him the Go- 
 
 uernment of this Land, in the Abfence of his fecond 
 
 Brother Robert Duke of Normandie, who at this Time 
 
 was
 
 The plea Pant Hiftorie 
 
 was at Wars amongft the Infidels, and was chofen 
 King of Jerufalem, the which he, for the Loue he bare 
 to his owne Country, refufed, and with great Honour 
 returned from the Holy Land ; of whofe comming 
 when King Henry vnderflood, knowing hee would 
 make Claime to the Crowne, fought by all Meanes 
 possible to winne the good "Will of his Nobility, and 
 to get the Fauor of the Commons by Courtefie : for 
 the obtaining whereof hee did them many Fauours, 
 thereby the better to flrengthen himselfe againfl his 
 Brother. 
 
 It chanced on a Time, as he, with one of his Sonnes, 
 and diuers of his Nobilitie, rode from London towards 
 Wales, to appeafe the Fury of the Welfhmen, which 
 then began to raife themfelues in Amies againfl his 
 Authority, that he met with a great Number of 
 Waines loaden with Cloth, comming to London, and 
 feeing them flill driue one after another fo many to- 
 gether, demanded whofe they were : the Waine-men 
 anfwered in this Sort : Coles of Reading (quoth they.) 
 Then by and by the King afked another, faying, 
 Whofe Cloth is all this ? Old Coles, quoth hee : and 
 againe anon after he afked the fame Queftion to 
 others, & flil they anfwered, Old Coles. And it is to 
 be remembered, that the King met them in fuch a 
 Place fo narrow and ftreight, that hee with the Refl of 
 
 his
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 his Traine, were faine to (land as clofe to the Hedge, 
 whileft the Carts paifed by, the which at that Time 
 being in Number aboue Two Hundred, was neere 
 hand an Houre ere the King could get Roome to be 
 gone : fo that by his long Stay, he began to be dis- 
 pleafed, although the Admiration of that Sight did 
 much qualifie his Furie ; but breaking out in Discon- 
 tent, by Reafon of his Stay, he faid, I thought Old 
 Cole had got a Commiflion for all the Carts in the 
 Country to cary his Cloth. And how if he haue 
 (quoth one of the Wainmen) doth that grieue you, 
 good Sir ? Yes, good Sir, faid our King, what fay you 
 to that ? The Fellow feeing the King (in alking that 
 Queftion) to bend his Browes, though he knew not 
 what he was, yet being abafht, he anfwered thus : 
 Why, Sir, if you be angry, no body can hinder you ; 
 for poflible, Sir, you haue Anger at Commandement. 
 The King feeing him in vttering of his Words to qui- 
 uer and quake, laughed heartily at him, as well in 
 refpect of his fimple Anfwer, as at his Feare : and 
 fo foone after the laft Wain went by, which gaue pre- 
 fent Passage vnto him and his Nobles : and thereupon 
 entring into Communication of the Commoditie of 
 Cloathing, the King gaue Order at his Home Returne, 
 to haue Old Cole brought before his Maieflie, to the 
 Intent he might haue Conference with him, noting 
 him to be a Subject of great Ability : but by that Time 
 
 he
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 he came within a Mile of Stanes, he met another Com- 
 pany of Waines in like Sort laden with Cloth, where- 
 by the King was driuen into a further Admiration : 
 and demanding whofe they were, anfwere was made 
 in this Sort : They be Good-man Suttons of Salifbury, 
 good Sir : and by that Time a Score of them were 
 paft, he alked againe, faying : whofe are thefe ? Sut- 
 tons of Salifburie, qd. they, and fo hull, as often as the 
 King alked that Queftion, they anfwered, Suttons of 
 Salifburie. God fend me many fuch Suttons, faid the 
 King. And thus the farther he trauelled Weft ward, 
 more Waines and more he met continually : upon 
 which Occafion he faid to his Nobles, That it would 
 neuer grieue a King to die for the Defence of a fertile 
 Countrie and faithfull Subiects. I alwayes thought 
 (quoth he) that Englands Valor was more then her 
 Wealth, yet now I fee her Wealth sufficient to main- 
 taine her Valour, which I will seeke to cherish in all 
 I may, and with my Sword keepe my selfe in Posses- 
 sion of that I haue, Kings and Louers con brooke no 
 Partners : and therefore let my Brother Robert thinke, 
 that although hee was Heire to England by Birth, yet 
 I am King by Possession. All his Fauourers I must 
 account my Foes, and will serue them as I did the vn- 
 gratefull Earle of Shrewsbury, whose Lands I have 
 seized, and banisht his Body. But now we will leaue 
 the King to his Iourney into Wales, and waiting his 
 
 Home
 
 of Thomas of Reading 
 
 &■ 
 
 Home Returne, in the meane Time tell you the Meet- 
 ing of these iolly Clothiers at London. 
 
 How William of Worcejier, Gray of Glocefter, and Old 
 Cole of Reading, met all together at Reading, and of 
 their Communication by the Way as they rode to 
 London, Chap. 2. 
 11^ HEN Gray of Gloceiter and William of Worcef- 
 ter were come to Reading, according to their Cuf- 
 tome, they always called old Cole to haue his Companie 
 to London, who alfo duely attended their comming, ha- 
 uing prouided a good Breakefafl for them : and when 
 they had well refrefhed themfelues, they tooke their 
 Horfes and rode on towards the Cittie : and in their 
 Iourney William of Worcefter afked them if they had 
 not heard of the Earle of Moraigne his Efcape out of 
 the Land ? What is he fled ? qd. Gray. I mufe much 
 at this Matter, being in fuch great Regard with the 
 King as he was : but I pray you, doe you not know 
 the Caufe of his going ? qd. Cole. The common Re- 
 port, quoth Gray, is this, that the couetous Earle, who 
 through a greedy Defire, neuer left begging of the 
 King for one Thing or other, and his Requeft being 
 now denied him, of meere Obftinacy and wilfull Fro- 
 wardnefle, hath banifhed himfelfe out of the Land, & 
 quite forfaken the Country of Cornwall, hauing made 
 
 B a Vow
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 a Vow neuer to fet Foote within England againe, and, 
 as Report goeth, he with the late banifht Earle of 
 Shrewfbury, haue ioyned themfelues with Robert Duke 
 of Normandy, againft the King, the which Action of 
 theirs hath inflamed the Kings Wrath, that their La- 
 dies with their Children are quite turned out of Doores 
 fuccourleffe and friendleffe, fo that it is told me, they 
 wander up and downe the Country like forlorne Peo- 
 ple, and although many doe pitie them, yet few doe 
 releeue them. 
 
 A lamentable Hearing, qd. William of Worcefter, 
 & with that cafting their Eyes afide, they efpyed Tom 
 Done with the Reft of his Companions come riding to 
 meete them, who as soone as they were come thither, 
 fell into fuch pleafant Difcourfes, as did fhorten the 
 long Way they had to Colebroke, where alwayes at 
 their comming towards London they dined ; and being 
 once entred into their Inne, according to olde Cuf- 
 tome, good Cheere was provided for them : for thefe 
 Clothiers were the chiefeft Guefts that trauailed along 
 the Way : and this was fure as an A£t of Parliament, 
 that Tom Doue could not digeft his Meat without Mu- 
 ficke, nor drinke Wine without Women, fo that his 
 Hoftefle being a merry Wench, would oftentimes call 
 in Two or Three of her Neighbours Wiues to keepe 
 him Company, where, ere they parted, they were made 
 
 as
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 o" 
 
 as pleafant as Pies. And this being a continuall Cuf- 
 tome amongfl them when they came thither, at length 
 the Womens Hufbands beganne to take Exceptions at 
 their Wives going thither : whereupon great Contro- 
 uerfie grew betweene them, in fuch Sort, that when 
 they were moll retrained, then they had mod Defire 
 to worke their Wills : now gip (quoth they) mufl we 
 be fo tyed to our Tafke, that wee may not drinke with 
 our Friends ? fie, fie, vpon thefe yellow Hofe , will 
 no other Die ferue your turne ? haue wee thus long 
 bin your Wiues, and doe you now miftruft vs ? verily 
 you eate too much Salt, and that makes you grow 
 cholericke, badde Liuers iudge all Others the like, 
 but in Faith you mall not bridle us fo like Afles, but 
 wee will goe to our Friends, when we are fent for, 
 and doe you what you can. Well, quoth their Huf- 
 bands, if you be fo head-ftrong, we will tame you : 
 it is the Duty of honefl Women to obey their Huf- 
 bands Sayings. And of honeft Men (quoth they) to 
 thinke well of their Wives j but who doe fooner im- 
 peach their Credit, then their Hufbands charging 
 them, if they doe but firiile, that they are subtill ; and 
 if they doe but winke, they account them wily : if sad 
 of Countenance, then fullen : if they be froward, then 
 they are counted Shrewes : and fheepifh if they bee 
 gentle : if a Woman keepe her Houfe, then you will 
 fay fhe is melancholy, if fhee walke abroade, then you 
 
 call
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 call her a Gadder ; a Puritane, if fhe be precife ; and 
 a Wanton, if fhee be pleafant : fo there is no Woman 
 in the World that knowes how to pleafe you : that we 
 think our felues accurft to be married Wiues, liuing 
 with fo many Woes. Thefe men, of whofe Company 
 you forewarne vs, are (for aught that euer we faw) 
 both honefh and courteous, and in Wealth farre be- 
 yond your felues : then what Reafon is there, why we 
 mould reflraine to vifit them ? is their Good-will fo 
 much to be requited with Scorne, that their Coft may 
 not be counteruailed with our Company ? if a Woman 
 be difpofed to play light of Love, alas, alas, doe you 
 thinke that you can preuent her ? Nay, wee will abide 
 by it, that the Reftraint of Liberty inforceth Women 
 to be lewd : for where a Woman cannot be trusted, 
 fhe cannot thinke her felfe beloved, and if not beloved, 
 what Caufe hath fhe to care for fuch a One ? there- 
 fore, Hufbands, reforme your Opinions, and doe not 
 worke your owne Woes, without our Difcredit. The 
 Clothiers, we tell you, are jolly Fellows, and but in 
 refpect of our Courtefie, they would fcorne our Com- 
 pany. 
 
 The Men hearing their Wiues fo well to plead for 
 themfelues, knew not how to anfwer, but faid, they 
 would put the Burden on their Confciences, if they 
 deale vniuftly with them, and fo left them to their 
 owne Wills. The Women hauing thus conquered 
 
 their
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 their Hufbands Conceits, would not leaue the Fauour 
 of their Friends for Frownes, and as aboue the Reft 
 Tom Doue was the moft pleafanteft, fo was he had in 
 moft Reputation with the Women, who for his Sake 
 made this Song : 
 
 Welcome to Towne, Tarn Doue, Tom Doue, 
 
 The merrieft Man aliue, 
 
 Thy Company still we loue, we loue, 
 
 God grant thee well to thriue. 
 
 And neuer will depart from thee, 
 
 For better or worfe, my Ioy, 
 
 For thou fhalt ftill haue our good Will, 
 
 Gods Blessing on my fweet Boy. 
 This Song went vp and downe through the whole 
 Country, and at length became a Dance among the 
 common Sort, fo that Tom Doue, for his Mirth and 
 good Fellowfhip, was famous in euery Place. Now 
 when they came to London, they were welcome to the 
 vaft larrat the Gyant, & as foone as they were 
 alighted, they were faluted by the Merchants, who 
 waited their comming thither, and alwayes prepared 
 for them a coftly Supper, where they commonly made 
 their Bargaine, and vpon euery Bargaine made, they 
 ftill vfed to fend fome Tokens to the Clothiers Wiues. 
 The next Morning they went to the Hall, where they 
 met the Northerne Clothiers, who greeted one another 
 
 in 
 
 6
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 in this Sort. What, my Mailers of the Weft, well 
 met : what Cheere ? what Cheer ? Euen the beft 
 Cheere our Merchants could make vs, (quoth Gray.) 
 Then you could not chufe but fare well, quoth Hodge' 
 kins : and you be weary of our Company, adieu, quoth 
 Sutton : Not fo, faid Martin, but fhall wee not haue 
 a Game ere we goe ? Yes faith for an Hundred 
 Pounds. Well faid, Old Cole, faid they: and with 
 that Cole and Gray went to the Dice with Martin and 
 Hodgekins ; and the Dice running on Hodgekins Side, 
 Coles Money began to wafte. Now by the Mafle, 
 quoth Cole, my Money mines as bad as Northerne 
 Cloth. When they had played long, Gray ftept to it, 
 and recouered againe the Money that Cole had loft. 
 But while they were thus playing, the Reft being de- 
 lighted in contrary Matters, etiery Man fatisfied his 
 owne Humour. 
 
 Tom Doue called for Muficke, William of Worcef- 
 ter for Wine, Sutton fet his Delight in hearing Merry 
 Tales, Simon of South-hampton got him into the Kit- 
 chen, and to the Pottage Pot he goes, for he efteemed 
 more a Meffe of Pottage, than of a Venizon Pafty. 
 Now, Sir, Cutbert of Kendall was of an other Mind, for 
 no Meate pleafed him fo well as Mutton, fuch as was 
 laced in a red Petticoate. And you fhall vnderftand, 
 that alwayes when they went to Dice, they got into 
 
 Bofoms
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Bofomes Inne ; which was so called of his Name that 
 kept it, who being a foule Slouen, went alwayes with 
 his Nofe in his Bofome, and one Hand in his Pocket, 
 the other on his Staffe, figuring forth a Defcription of 
 cold Winter, for he alwayes wore two Coates, two 
 Caps, two or three Paire of Stockings, and a high 
 Pair of Shooes, ouer the which he drew on a great 
 Pair of lined Slippers, and yet would oft complaine of 
 Cold : wherefore of all Men generally he was called 
 Old Bofome, and his Houfe Bofomes Inne. 
 
 This Lump of cold Ice had lately married a young 
 Wife, who was as wily as fhe was wanton, and in her 
 Company did Cutbert onely delight, and the better to 
 make Paifage to his Loue, he would often thus com- 
 mune with her : I mufe, good Wife, quoth he. Good 
 Wife ? quoth fhe : Verily, Sir, in mine Opinion, there 
 is none good but God, and therefore call me Mistreffe, 
 Then faid Cutbert, Faire Miftris, I haue often mufed, 
 that you being a proper Woman, could find in your 
 Heart for to match with fuch a greazie Carle as this, 
 an euill mannered Mate, a foule Lump of Kitchen- 
 StufFe, and fuch a One as is indeede a Scorne of Men ; 
 how can you like him that all Women miflikes ; or 
 loue fuch a loathfome Creature ? me thinks verily it 
 mould grieue you to lend him a Kiffe, much more to 
 lie with him. Indeed, Sir, quoth fhe, I had but hard 
 Fortune in this refpect, but my Friends would have it
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 fo, and truly my Liking and my Love towards him 
 are alike, he neuer had the one, nor neuer fhall get 
 the other : yet I may fay to you, Before I married 
 him, there were diuers proper young Men that were 
 Sutors vnto me, who loued mee as their Liues, and glad 
 was he that could get my Company ; thofe were my 
 golden Dayes, wherein my Pleafure abounded, but 
 thefe Yeeres of Care and Griefe, wherein my Sorrowes 
 exceede. Now no Man regards mee, no Man cares 
 for me, and , albeit in fecret they might beare mee 
 Good-will, yet who dares fhew it ? and this is a dou- 
 ble Griefe, he carries ouer me fo iealous a Minde, 
 that I cannot looke at a Man, but prefently he accu- 
 feth me of Inconftancy, although (I proteft) without 
 Caufe. 
 
 And in troth, qd. Cutbert, he mould haue Caufe to 
 complaine for fomewhat, were I as you. As hire as I 
 live, and fo he fhall, quoth fhe, if he doe not change 
 his Byas. Cutbert hearing her fay fo, began to grow 
 further in requefting her Fauour, wifhing he might 
 be her Seruant and fecret Friend, and the better to 
 obtaine his Defire, he gaue her diuers Gifts, infomuch 
 that fhe began Something to liften vnto him : and al- 
 beit fhe liked well of his Speeches, yet would fhe blame 
 him, and take him up very fhort fometimes for the 
 fame, till in the End, Cutbert fhewed himfelfe to be 
 defperate, faying hee would drowne himfelfe rather 
 
 than
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 then Hue in her Difdaine. O my fweet Heart not fo, 
 quoth fhee, God forbid I mould be the Death of any 
 Man : Comfort thy felfe, kind Cutbert, and take this 
 Kifle in Token of further Kindneffe, and if thou wilt 
 haue my Fauour, thou muft be wife and circum- 
 fpecl:, and in my Huibands Sight I would alwayes 
 haue thee to find Fault with my Doings, blame my 
 bad Hufwifries, difpraife my Perfon, and take Ex- 
 ceptions at every Thing, whereby he will be as well 
 pleafed, as Simon of South-hampton with a Mefie of 
 Pottage. 
 
 Deare MiftrefTe, quoth he, I will fulfill your Charge 
 to the vttermoft, fo that you will not take my left in 
 earneft. Shee anfwered, Thy fouleft Speeches 1 will 
 efteeme the fairefl, and take euery Difpraife to be a 
 Praife from thee, turning each Word to the contrary : 
 and fo for this Time adieu, good Cutb. for Supper 
 Time drawes neere, & it is meet for me to looke for 
 my Meat. With that down comes old Bofome, call- 
 ing his Wife, faying, Ho, Winifred, is Supper ready ? 
 they haue done playing aboue : therefore Jet the 
 Chamberlaine couer the Table. By & by Hufband, 
 qd. fhe, it (hall be done ftraight-way. How now, my 
 Mafters, who wins ? qd. Cutbert. Our Money walkes 
 to the Weft, qd. Martin : Cole hath woone 40 Pounds 
 of me, and Gray hath gotten well : the beft is, qd. 
 Hodgekins, they will pay for our Supper : then let vs 
 
 c haue
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 haue good Store of Sacke, qd. Sutton. Content, faid 
 Cole, for I promife you, I ftriue not to grow rich by 
 Dice-playing, therefore call for what you will, I will 
 pay for all. Yea, faid Simon ! Chamberlaine, I pray 
 thee bring a whole Bottle of Pottage for me. Now 
 Tom Done had all the Fidlers at a Becke of his Finger, 
 which follow him up and down the City, as diligent 
 as little Chickens after a Hen, and made a Vow, that 
 there mould want no Muficke. And at that Time 
 there liued in London a Mufician of great Reputation, 
 named Reior, who kept his Seruants in fuch coftly 
 Garments, that they might feeme to come before any 
 Prince. Their Coates were all of one Colour ; and 
 it is faid, that afterward the Nobility of this Land, 
 noting it for a feemely Sight, vfed in like Maner to 
 keepe their Men all in one Liuery. This Reior was 
 the moft fkilfulleft Mufician that liued at that Time, 
 whofe Wealth was uery great, fo that all the Inftru- 
 ments whereon his Seruants plaid, were richly gar- 
 nifhed with Studdes of Siluer, and fome Gold : the 
 Bowes belonging to their Violines were all likewife of 
 pure Siluer. Hee was alfo for his Wifedome called 
 to great Office in the City, who alfo builded (at his 
 owne Coft) the Priory & Hofpitall of S. Bartholomew 
 in Smithfield. His Seruants being the befl Conforts 
 in the City, were by To?n Done appointed to play be- 
 fore the young Princes. Then Supper being brought 
 
 to
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 &• 
 
 to the Boord, they all fat down, and by and by after 
 comes vp their Oaft, who tooke his Place among 
 them : and anon after, the Good -wife in a red Peti- 
 cote & a Waftcoate, comes among them as white as a 
 Lilly, faying, My Mailers, you are welcome, 1 pray 
 you be merry. Thus falling clofe to their Meate, 
 when they had well fed, they found Leyfure to talke 
 one with another : at that Time Cuib. began thus to 
 find Fault, Ywis, my Oaft, quoth he, you haue a wife 
 Hufwife to your Wife, heere is Meate dreft on a new 
 Fafhion? God fends Meate, and the Deuill fends 
 Cooks. Why what ailes the Meate, quoth fhe, ferues 
 it not your Turnes ? better Men then your felfe are 
 content withall, but a paultry Companion is euer worft 
 to pleafe. Away, you fluttifh 'Ihing, qd. Cutbert, 
 your Hufband hath a fweet Jewell of you : I maruell 
 fuch a graue ancient Man would match himfelfe with 
 fuch a young Giglot, that hath as much Handfomenes 
 in her as good Hufwifry, which is iuft nothing at all. 
 Well, Sir, faid fhee, in regard of my Hufbands Pre- 
 fence I am loth to aggrauate Anger, otherwife I would 
 tell thee thy owne. Goe to, what needs all this, quoth 
 the Company ? in good Faith, Cu'bert, you are to 
 b'ame, you find Fault where none is. Turn, I muft 
 fpeake my Mind, quoth Cu berl, I cannot diffemble, I 
 truft the good Man thinkes neuer the worfe of me : 
 fo I have his good Will, what the foule Euill care I 
 
 for
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 for his Wifes. Enough, quoth Tom Doue, let us with 
 Muficke remoue thefe Brabbles, we meane to be 
 merry, and not melancholy. Then, faid old Cole, 
 Now trull me, Cutbert, we will haue your OaftefTe 
 and you Friends ere we part : here, Woman, I drinke 
 to you, and regard not his Words, for he is babbling 
 wherefoeuer he comes. Quoth the Woman, Nothing 
 grieues me fo much, as that hee mould thus openly 
 checke mee : if he had found any Thing amiffe, he 
 might haue fpied a better Time to tell me of it than 
 nowe, ywis he need not thrufl my bad Hufwifrie into 
 my Hufbands Head, I Hue not fo quietly with him, 
 God wot : and with that fhe wept. Come, Cutbert, 
 quoth they, drinke to her, and make Hands and be 
 Friends. Come on, you puling Baggage, quoth he, 
 I drinke to you, here will you pledge mee and fhake 
 Hands ? No, (quoth (hee) I will fee thee choackt firft, 
 (hake Hands with thee ? I will fhake Hands with the 
 Deuill as foon. Goe to, faid her Hufband, you mail 
 (hake Hands with him then : If you will not fhake 
 Hands, He fhake you : what, you young Hufwife ? 
 Well, Hufband, faid fhe, it becomes a Woman to 
 obey her Hufband, in regard whereof I drink to him. 
 Thats well faid, quoth the Company : & fo fhe tooke 
 her Leaue h went downe. And within a while after 
 they paid the Shot, and departed thence to larrats 
 Hall, where they went to their Lodging ; and the 
 
 next
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 next Day they tooke their way homewards all toge- 
 ther : and comming to Colebroke, they tooke vp their 
 Lodging : and it was Coles Cuftome to deliuer his 
 Money to the Goodwife of the Houfe to keepe it till 
 Morning, which in the End turned to his utter De- 
 finition, as hereafter fhall be fhewed. 
 
 How Grayes Wife of Glocejier, with One or Two 
 more of her Neighbours, went to the Faire, where Ser- 
 vants came to be hired, Iff how Jhe tooke the Earle of 
 Shrewfburies Daughter into her Seruice. Chap. S. 
 TT was wont to be an old Cuftome in Gloceflerfhire, 
 
 that at a certaine Time in the Yeere, all fuch young 
 Men and Maidens as were out of Service, reforted to 
 a Faire that was kept neere Glocefter, there to be 
 ready for any that would come to hire them, the 
 young Men flood all on a Row on the one Side, and 
 the Maidens on the other. It came to paffe, that the 
 Earle of Shrewfburies Daughter, whofe Father was 
 lately banifhed, being driven into great DiftrefTe, and 
 weary with Trauell, as one whofe delicate Life was 
 neuer vfed to fuch Toyle, fate her downe vpon the 
 High-way Side, making this Lamentation : 
 
 O falfe and deceitfull World ! quoth fhe ; who is in 
 thee that wifhes not to be rid of thee, for thy Extre- 
 mities are great ? Thou art deceitfull to all, and trufty 
 to none. Fortune is thy Treafurer, who is like thy 
 
 felfe,
 
 The pleafant Iliftorie 
 
 felfe, wauering and vnconftant, fhe fetteth up Tyrants, 
 beateth down Kings ; giveth Shame to fome, and Re- 
 nowne to others : Fortune giveth thefe Evils, and we 
 fee it not : with her Hands fhe toucheth vs, & we feele 
 it not : fhe treades vs vnder Foot, and we know it 
 not : fhe fpeakes in our Eares, and we heare her not : 
 fhe cries aloud, and we vnderftand her not : And 
 why ? becaufe we know her not, until Mifery doth 
 make her manifefl. 
 
 Ah, my deare Father, well maift thou doe. Of all 
 Misfortunes it is mofl vnhappy to be fortunate : and 
 by this Misfortune came my fall. Was euer good Lady 
 brought to this Extremity ? What is become of my 
 rare Jewels, my rich Aray, my fumptuous Fare, my 
 waiting Seruants, my many Friends, and all my vaine 
 Pleafures ? my Pleafure is banifht by Difpleafure, my 
 Friends fled like Foes, my Seruants gone, my feaft- 
 ing turned to fafting, my rich Array confumed to 
 Ragges, and my Jewels decke out my chiefeft Ene- 
 mies : therefore of all Things the meanefh State is 
 beft, Pouerty with Surety is better then Honour mix- 
 ed with Feare : feeing God hath allotted me to this 
 Mifery of Life, I will frame my Heart to embrace Hu- 
 mility, and carry a Mind anfwerable to my Misfor- 
 tunes : fie on this vaine Title of Ladyfhip, how little 
 doth it auaile the diflreifed ? No, no, I muft there- 
 fore forget my Birth and Parentage, and think no 
 
 more 
 6
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 &■ 
 
 more on my Fathers Houfe. Where I was wont to bee 
 ferued, now will I learne to ferue, and plaine Meg 
 fhall be my Name ; good Lord grant I may get a good 
 Seruice, nay any Seruice fhall ferue, where I may haue 
 Meat, Drinke, and Apparell. She had no fooner 
 fpoken thefe Words, but (he fpied a Couple of Maidens 
 more comming towards her, who were going to the 
 Faire ; and bidding her good Morrow, afked her if 
 fhe went to the Faire. Yea, mary, qd. me, I am a poore 
 Mans Child that is out of Seruice, and 1 heare that at 
 the Statute, Folkes doe come of Purpofe to hire Ser- 
 uants. True it is, faid the Maidens, and thither goe 
 we for the fame Purpofe, and would be glad of your 
 Company. With a good Will, and I am right glad of 
 yours, faid fhe, befeeching you, good Maidens, you will 
 doe me the Fauour, to tell me what Service were befl 
 for me : for the more too blame my Parents, they 
 would neuer put me forth to know any Thing. Why 
 what can you doe ? (quoth the Maidens) can you brew 
 and bake, make Butter and Cheefe, and reape Corne 
 well ? No verily, faid Margaret, but I would be right 
 glad to learne to doe any Thing whatfoever it be. If 
 you could fpin or card, faid another, you might do 
 excellent well with a Clothier, for they are the befl 
 Seruices that I know ; there you fhall be fure to fare 
 well, and fo live merrily. 
 
 Then
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Then Margaret wept, faying, alas, what fhall I doe ? 
 I was neuer brought vp to thefe r \ hings. What, can 
 you doe nothing ? quoth they. No truly (quoth (he) 
 that is good for any Thing, but I can read and write, 
 and fowe, fome Skill I haue in my Needle, and a little 
 on my Lute : but this, I fee, will profit me nothing. 
 Good Lord, quoth they, are you bookifh ? wee did 
 neuer heare of a Maide before that could reade and 
 write. And although you can doe no other Thing, 
 yet poffible you may get a Seruice, if you can behaue 
 your felfe manerly. I pray you, qd. another, feeing 
 you are bookifh, will you doe fo much as to reade a 
 Love-Letter that is fent me ? for I was at a Friends of 
 mine with it, and he was not at Home, and fo I know 
 not what is in it. I pray you let me fee it, quoth 
 Margaret, and I will fhew you. Whereupon fhe 
 readeth as followeth. 
 
 f^\ Ienny, my Joy, I die for thy Loue, 
 
 And now I heare fay that thou doft remoue : 
 And therefore, Ienny, I pray thee recite, 
 Where fhall I meete thee foone at Night ? 
 
 For why, with my Mailer no more will I flay, 
 But for thy Loue I will runne away : 
 O, Ienny, Ienny, thou puttefl me to paine, 
 That thou no longer wilt here remaine. 
 
 I will
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 I will weare out my Shooes of Neats-Leather, 
 But thou and I will meete together, 
 And in fpight of Fortune, Rat, or Moufe, 
 We will dwell together in one Houfe. 
 
 For who doth not Efteeme of thee, 
 Shall haue no Seruice done of me : 
 Therefore, good Ienny, haue a Care, 
 To meete poore Fragment at the Faire. 
 
 Now, alas, good Soule (quoth Ienny) I thinke he be 
 the kindeft young Man in the World. The Reft an- 
 fwered, that he*feemed no lefle, and furely it appeareth 
 that he is a pretty witty Fellow, quoth one of them, 
 how finely hee hath written his Letter in Rime ; truft 
 me, I will giue you a good Thing, and let me haue a 
 Copy of it to fend to my Sweet-heart : that you fhall 
 with all my Heart : & fo comming to the Faire, they 
 tooke vp their Standing. 
 
 Within a while after, Goodwife Gray of Glocefter 
 came thither to ftore her felfe of diuers Commodities : 
 and when fhe had bought what fhe would, fhe told 
 her Neighbour (he had great Need of a Maid-Servant 
 or Twaine : therefore, qd. fhe, good Neighbour goe 
 with me, and let me haue your Opinion. With a good 
 Will, faid her Neighbour, and together they went, 
 and looking and viewing the Maidens ouer, fhe tooke 
 
 fpeciall 
 
 D
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 fpeciall Notice of Margaret. Belieue me, quoth fhe, 
 there Hands a very proper Maiden, and one of a mo- 
 dell and comely Countenance. Verily, faid her Neigh- 
 bour, fo fhe is, as ever I looket upon. 
 
 The Maiden feeing them to view her fo well, was 
 fo abafhed, that a fcarlet Colour ouerfpred her lilly 
 Cheekes, which the Woman perceiuing, came vnto 
 her, and alked if (he were willing to ferue. The Maid 
 with a low Curtefie, and a mod gentle Speech, anfwer- 
 ed, it was the onely Caufe of her comming. Can you 
 fpinne or card ? faid Good-wife Gray. Truly, Dame, 
 faid fhe, though my Cunning therein be but fmall, my 
 Good-will to learne is great, and I truft my Diligence 
 mall content you. What Wages will you take ? quoth 
 Good-wife Gray. I will referre that, faid Margaret, 
 to your Confcience and Courtefie, defiring no more 
 then what I {hall deferue. Then alking what Coun- 
 try-woman ihe was, the Maiden wept, faying, Ah, 
 good Dame, I was untimely borne in Shropfhire, of 
 poore Parents, and yet not fo needy as unfortunate, 
 but Death hauing ended their Sorrowes, hath left me 
 to the Cruelty of thefe enuious Times, to finifh my 
 Parents Tragedy with my Troubles. What, Maiden, 
 qd. her Dame, haue you a Care to doe your Bufines, 
 and to live in God's Feare, and you fhall haue no 
 Care to regard Fortunes Frownes, and fo they went 
 
 Home together. 
 
 Now, 
 6
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Now, fo foone as the Good-man faw her, hee afked 
 his Wife where fhe had that Maiden ? She faid, at the 
 Faire. Why then, quoth he, thou haft brought all the 
 Faire away, and I doubt it were better for vs, to fend 
 the Faire to another Towne, than to keepe the Faire 
 here. Why, Man, quoth fhe, what mean you by that ? 
 Woman, I meane this, that fhe will prove a Loadftone, 
 to draw the Hearts of all my Men after her, & fo 
 we fhall have wife Seruice done of all Sides. Then 
 faid his Wife, I hope, Hufband, Margaret will haue 
 a better Care both to her owne Credit, and our Com- 
 modity then fo, and fo let her alone to looke to fuch 
 Matters. Is thy Name Margaret ? quoth her Mafter : 
 proper is thy Name to thy Perfon, for thou art a 
 Pearle indeed, orient, and rich in Beauty. 
 
 His Wife hearing him fay fo, began to change her 
 Opinion : What, Hufband (quoth fhe) is the Wind at 
 that Doore ? Begin you to like your Maid fo well ? 
 I doubt I had moft need to looke to your felfe : be- 
 fore God, I had rather then an Angeli I had chofen 
 fome other : but heare you, Maid, you fhall packe 
 hence, I will not nourifh a Snake in my Bofome, and 
 therefore get you gone, I will none of you, provide a 
 Service where you may. 
 
 The Maiden hearing her fay fo, fell downe on her 
 Knees, and befought her, faying, O, fweet Dame, be 
 not fo cruell to me, to turne me out of Doores, now : 
 
 alas.
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 alas, I know not where to goe, or what to doe, if you 
 forfake me. O let not the fading Beauty of my Face 
 difpoile me of your Fauour : for rather then that fhall 
 hinder my Seruice, this my Knife fhall foone disfigure 
 my Face, and I will banifh Beauty as my greatefl 
 Enemy. And with that her aboundant Tears flopped 
 her Speech, that fhe could not utter one Word more. 
 The Woman feeing this, could not harbour any 
 longer, nor could her Matter flay in the Roome for 
 weeping. Well, Margaret, faid her Dame (little 
 knowing that a Lady kneeled before her) vfing thy- 
 felfe well, I will keepe thee, and thou fhalt haue my 
 Good-will if thou gouern thyfelfe with Wifedome ; & 
 fo fhe fent her about her BufinefTe. Her Hufband 
 comming to Supper faid, How now, Wife, art thou fo 
 doubtfull of me, that thou hafl put away thy Maiden ? 
 I wis (qd. fhe) you are a wife Man, to fland praifing 
 of a Maidens Beauty before her Face ; & you a wife 
 Woman, qd. he, to grow iealous without a Caufe. So 
 to Supper they went, and becaufe Margaret fhewed 
 her felfe of finefl Behaviour aboue the Reft, fhe was 
 appointed to waite on the Table. And it is to be vn- 
 derftood, that Gray did neuer eate his Meat alone, but 
 flill had fome of his Neighbours with him, before 
 whom he called his Maid, faying, Margaret, come 
 hither. Now becaufe there was another of the fame 
 Name in the Houfe, fhee made Anfwer, I call not you, 
 
 Maiden,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Maiden, quoth he, but Margaret with the lilly-white 
 Hand. After which Time fhe was euer called fo. 
 
 How the Kings Maiejiie fent for the Clothiers, and of 
 
 the fundry Fauours which he did them. Chap. 4. 
 JZ ING Henry providing for his Voyage into France, 
 againft King Lewis and Robert Duke of Norman- 
 die his owne Brother, committed the Gouernment of 
 the Realme in his Abfence, to the Bifhop of Salisbury, 
 a Man of great Wifdome and Learning, whom the 
 King efteemed highly, and afterward he thought good 
 to fend for the chiefe Clothiers of England, who ac- 
 cording to the Kings Appointment came to the Court, 
 and hauing Licence to come before his Maieftie, he 
 fpake to this Effect. 
 
 The Strength of a King is the Loue and Friendfhip 
 of his People, and he gouernes ouer his Realme moft 
 furely, that ruleth Juftice with Mercy : for he ought 
 to feare many, whom many doe feare : therefore the 
 Gouernours of the Commonwealth ought to obferue 
 two fpeciall Precepts : the One is, that they fo main- 
 taine the Profit of the Commons, that whatfoeuer in 
 their Calling they doe, they referre it thereunto : the 
 other, that they be alwayes as well carefull ouer the 
 whole Common- wealth, as ouer any Part thereof; 
 left, while they uphold the one, the other be brought 
 
 to vtter Decay. 
 
 And
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 And forafmuch as I doe vnderftand, and haue part- 
 ly feene, that you the Clothiers of England are no 
 fmall Benefit to the Wealth-publike, I thought it good 
 to know from your owne Mouthes, if there be any 
 Thing not yet granted that may benefit you, or any 
 other Thing to be remoued that doth hurt you. 
 
 The great Defire I haue to maintaine you in your 
 Trades, hath mooued me hereunto. Therefore boldly 
 fay what you would haue in the one Thing or the 
 other, & I will grant it you. 
 
 With that, they all fell downe vpon their Knees, 
 and defired God to faue his Maieftie, and withall, re- 
 quelled three Dayes Refpit to put in their Anfwere : 
 which was granted. And thereupon they departed. 
 
 When the Clothiers had well confidered of thefe 
 Matters, at length they thought meete to requeft of 
 his Maieftie for their firft Benefit, that all the Cloth- 
 Meafures thorow the Land might be of one Length, 
 whereas to their great Difadvantage before, euery 
 good Towne had a feuerall Meafure, the Difficulty 
 thereof was fuch, that they could not keepe th~m in 
 Memory, nor know how to keepe their Reckonings. 
 The fecond Thing whereof they found themfelves 
 grieved, was this, that the People would not take 
 crackt Money, though it were neuer fo good Silver ; 
 whereupon it came to pane, that the Clothiers and 
 diuers Others, receiuing great Summes of Money, doe 
 
 . take
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 take among it much crackt Money, it ferued them to no 
 Vfe, becaufe it would not goe current, but lay upon 
 their Hands without Profit or Benefit, whereof they 
 prayed Reformation. The Third was a Griefe, where- 
 of Hodgekins of Halifax complained, and that was, 
 That whereas the Towne of Halifax lived altogether 
 upon Cloathing, and by the Reafon of falfe Borderers, 
 and other euill-minded Perfons, they were oft robbed, 
 and had their Clothes carried out of their Fields, 
 where they were drying : That it would pleafe his 
 Maieftie to graunt the Towne this Priuiledge, That 
 whatfoeuer he was that was taken dealing their Cloth, 
 might prefently without any further Tryall be hanged 
 vp. When the Day of their Appearance approached, 
 the Clothiers came before the King, and deliuered vp 
 their Petition in writing, which his Maieftie moft gra- 
 cioufly perufing, faid, hee was ready to fulfill their 
 Requeft : and therefore for the firft Point of their 
 Petition, he called for a StafFe to be brought him, and 
 meafuring thereupon the iuft Length of his own Arme, 
 delivered it to the Clothiers, faying, This Meafure 
 mail be called a Yard, and no other Meafure thorow- 
 out all the Realme of England fhall be vfed for the 
 fame, and by this fhall Men buy and fell, and we will 
 fo provide, that whofoever he be that abufeth our Sub* 
 ie&s by any falfe Meafure, that he fhall not onely pay 
 a Fine for the fame to the King, but alfo haue his 
 
 Body
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Body punifhed by Imprifonment. And as concern- 
 ing the fecond Point of your Petition, becaufe of my 
 fudden Departure" out of the Land, I know not better 
 how to eafe you of this Griefe, (of crackt Money) this 
 Decree I make, becaufe they account crackt Money 
 not current, I fay, none fhall be current but crackt 
 Money. And therefore I will give prefent Charge, 
 that all the Money thorow the Land fhall be flit, and 
 fo you fhall fufFer no Loffe. 
 
 But now for your lafl Requefl: for the Towne of 
 Halifax : where by Theeves your Clothes are fo often 
 ftolne from you, feeing the Lawes already prouided in 
 that Cafe, are not fufficient to keepe Men in awe, it is 
 indeed high Time to haue fharper Punifhment for 
 them. 
 
 With that Hodgekins vnmannerly interrupted the 
 King, faying in broad Northerne Speech, Yea, gude 
 Faith, mai Liedg, the faule Eule of mai Saule, giff any 
 Thing will keepe them whiat, till the Karles be hang- 
 ed up by the Cragge. What the Dule care they for 
 boaring their Eyne, fea lang as they may gae groping 
 vp and downe the Country like faufe lizar Lownes, 
 begging and cracking ? 
 
 The King fmiling to heare this rough-hewne Fel- 
 low make this Reply : Content thee, Hodgekins, for 
 we will have RedrefTe for all : and albeit that hanging 
 of Men was neuer feene in England, yet feeing the 
 
 corrupt
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 corrupt World is growne more bold in all Wicked- 
 neffe, I think it not amifle to ordaine this Death for 
 fuch Malefactors : and peculiarly to the Towne of 
 Halifax I give this Priviledge, That whofoeuer they 
 finde dealing their Cloth, being taken with the Goods, 
 that without further Iudgement, they mail be hanged 
 vp. 
 
 Thus (faid our King) I haue granted what you re- 
 queft, and if hereafter you find any other Thing that 
 may be good for you, it fhall be granted ; for no long- 
 er would I defire to Hue among you, than I haue 
 Care for the good of the Commonwealth : at which 
 Words ended, the King rofe from his royal 1 Throne, 
 while the Clothiers on their Knees prayed for both 
 his Health and happy Succefle, and fhewed themfelves 
 molt thankfull for his HighnefTes Fauour. His Ma- 
 ieftie bending his Body towards them, that at his 
 Home Returne, he would (by the Grace of God) vifit 
 them. 
 
 How the Clothiers had prouided a fumptuous Feq/i for 
 the Kings Sonnes, Prince William and Prince Robert, 
 at Gerrards Hall : Jhewing alfo what Chance befell 
 Cutbert of Kendall at that fame Inflant. Chap. 5. 
 HHE Clothiers departing from the Court in a merry 
 
 -*- Mind, ioyfull of their good SuccefTe, each one to 
 other praifed and magnified the Kings great Wife- 
 
 e dome
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 dome and Vertue, commending alfo his Affability and 
 gentle Difpofition, fo that Hodgekins affirmed on his 
 Faith, that hee had rather fpeake to the Kings Maief- 
 tie, than to many Juftices of Peace. Indeed (faid Cole) 
 he is a moft mild and mercifull Prince, and I pray 
 God he may long raigne ouer us. Amen faid the 
 
 Reft. 
 
 Then faid Cole, My Mafters, mall we forget the 
 great Courtefie of the Kings Sonnes, thofe fweet and 
 gentle Princes, that ftill fhewed us Fauour in our 
 Suite? In my Opinion, it were Reafon to gratifie 
 them in fome Sort, that we may not vtterly bee con- 
 demned of Ingratitude: wherefore (if you thinke 
 good) we will prepare a Banquet for them at our Oaft 
 Garrats, who, as you know, hath a faire Houfe, and 
 goodly Roomes : Befides, the Man himfelfe is a moll 
 couragious Mind and good Behaviour, fufficient to 
 entertain a Prince ; his Wife alfo is a dainty fine 
 Cooke : all which confidered, I know not a fitter 
 Place in London. Tis true, quoth Sutton, and if the 
 Reft be content, I am pleafed it mail be fo. At this 
 they all anfwered, Yea j for, quoth they, it will not be 
 paffing Forty Shillings a Piece, and that we fhall re- 
 couer in our crackt Money. 
 
 Being thus agreed, the Feaft was prepared. Tom 
 Doue, quoth they, we will commit the prouiding of 
 Muficke to thee : and I, faid Cole, will inuite diuers 
 
 of
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 B' 
 
 of our Merchants and their Wiues to the fame. That 
 is well remembred, faid Gray. Vpon this they called 
 to their Oaft and Oafteffe, fhewing their Determina- 
 tion, who mofl willingly faid, all Things mould be 
 made ready, but I would haue two Dayes Liberty, 
 faid the Good-wife, to prepare my Houfe and other 
 Things. Content, faid the Clothiers, in the meane 
 Space we will bid our Guefts, and difpatch our other 
 Affaires. But Simon of Southhampton charged his 
 OafleiTe, that in any Cafe fhe mould not forget to 
 make good Store of Pottage. It fhall be done, quoth 
 ihe. 
 
 It is to be remembered, that while this Preparation 
 was in hand, that Cutb. of Kendall had not forgot his 
 Kindnes to his Oafteffe of Bofoms Inne. Therefore 
 finding Time conuenient when her Hufband was over- 
 feeing his Hay-makers, hee greeted her in this Sort, 
 Sweet Oafteffe, though I were the laft Time I was in 
 Towne over-bold with you, ' yet I hope it was not fo 
 offenfive to you as you made fhew for. Bold, my 
 Cutbert ? quoth fhe, thou haft vowed thy felf my Ser- 
 uant : and fo being, you are not to bee blamed for 
 doing what I wild you. By my Honefty, I could not 
 chuse but smile to my felfe, fo foone as I was out of 
 their Sight, to thinke how prettily you began to brab- 
 ble. But now, quoth he, we will change our Chidings 
 
 to
 
 The plea fa nt Hiftorie 
 
 to Killings, and it vexeth me that thefe Cherry Lipps 
 mould be fubiect to fuch a Lobcocke as thy Huf- 
 band. 
 
 Subiecl to him ? quoth me ; in faith, Sir, no, I will 
 haue my Lips at as much Liberty as my Tongue, the 
 one to fay what I lift, and the other to touch whom I 
 like : In Troth, fhall I tell thee, Cutbert, the Churles 
 Breath fmeles fo ftrong, that I care as much for kifling 
 of him, as for looking on him : it is fuch a mis-fhapen 
 Mifer, and fuch a Bundle of Beaftlinefle, that I can 
 neuer thinke on him without fpitting. Fie upon him, 
 I would my Friends had carried me to my Grave, 
 when they went with me to the Church, to make him 
 my Hufband. And fo fhedding a few diffembling 
 Teares, fhe ftopt. What, my fweet Miftrefle, (quoth 
 he) weepe you ? Nay, fit downe by my Side, and I 
 will fing thee one of my Countrey Jigges to make thee 
 merry. Wilt thou in Faith ? (quoth fhe.) Yes, verily, 
 faid Cutbert : And in Troth, quoth fhe, if you fall a 
 finging, I will fing with you. That is well, you can 
 fo fuddenly change your Notes, quoth Cutbert, then 
 haue at it. 
 
 Man. T ONG haue I lou'd this bonny Laffe, 
 Yet durft not fhew the fame. 
 
 Worn. Therein you proue your felfe an Affe, 
 
 Man. I was the more to blame. 
 
 Yet
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Yet ftill will I remaine to thee, 
 Trang dilly do, trang dilly : 
 Thy Friend and Louer fecretly, 
 Worn. Thou art my owne fweet Bully. 
 
 Man. But when fhall I enjoy thee, 
 
 Delight of thy faire Loue ? 
 Worn. Euen when thou feeft that Fortune doth 
 
 All manner Lets remoue. 
 Man. O, I will fold thee in my Armes, 
 
 Trang dilly do, trang dilly, 
 And keepe thee fo from fudden Harmes, 
 Worn. Thou art my owne fweet Bully. 
 
 Worn. My Hufband he is gone from Home, 
 
 You know it very well. 
 Man. But when will he returne againe ? 
 Worn. In Truth I cannot tell. 
 
 If long he keepe him out of Sight, 
 
 Trang dilly do, trang dilly, 
 Be fure thou fhalt haue thy Delight, 
 Man. Thou art my bonny Lame. 
 While they were fmging this Song, her Husband 
 being on a fudden come Home, flood fecretly in a 
 Corner and heard all, and blemng himfelfe with both 
 his Hands, faid, O abominable Difiimulation ! mon- 
 ilrous Hypocrifie ! and are you in this Humour ? can 
 
 1 1 you
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 you brawle together and fing together? Well, qd. 
 hee, I will let them alone, to fee a little more of their 
 Knauery. Neuer did Cat watch Moufe fo narrowly 
 as I will watch them. And fo going into the Kitchen, 
 he afked his Wife if it were not Dinner-time. Euen 
 by and by, Hufband, (quoth fhe) the Meat will be 
 ready. Prefently after comes in Hodgekins and Mar- 
 tin, who ftraight afked for Cutbert of Kendall. Anfwer 
 was made, that he was in his Chamber. So when they 
 had called him, they went to Dinner : then they re- 
 quefted that their Oaft and Oafteffe would fit with 
 them. 
 
 Hufband, faid fhe, you may goe if you pleafe : but 
 as for me, I will defire Pardon. Nay, Good-wife, goe 
 vp, faid her Hufband. What, Woman, you muft beare 
 with your Guefts. Why, Hufband, qd. fhe, doe you 
 thinke that any can beare the Flirts and Fromps which 
 that Northerne Tike gaue me the lafl Time he was in 
 Towne ; now, God forgiue me, I had as liefe fee the 
 Diuell as to fee him : therefore, good Hufband, goe 
 vp your felfe, & let me alone, for in Faith, I fhall 
 neuer abide that Jacke while I liue. Vpon thefe Words 
 away went her Hufband, and though he faid little, he 
 thought the more. Now when he came up, his Guefts 
 bade him welcome. I pray you fit downe, good mine 
 Oaft, quoth they j where is your Wife ? What will 
 fhe fit with vs ? No, verily, faid he, the foolifh Wo- 
 man
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 man hath taken fuch a Difpleafure againft Cutbert, 
 that fhe fvveares fhe will neuer come in his Company. 
 Is it fo ? faid the other, then trull me we are well 
 agreed : and I fweare by my Fathers Sole, qd. hee, 
 that were it not meere for Good-will to you, then 
 Loue to her, I would neuer come to your Houfe 
 meere. I belieue it well, faid old Bofome. And fo with 
 other Communication they droue out the Time, till 
 Dinner was ended. 
 
 After they were rifen, Martin & Hodgekins got 
 them forth about their Affaires, but Cutb. took his 
 Oafl by the Hand, faying, My Oaft, He goe talke with 
 your Wife : for my Part I thought we had bin Friends : 
 but feeing her Stomacke is fo big, and her Heart fo 
 great, I will fee what fhe will fay to me ; and with that 
 he ftept into the Kitchen, faying, God fpeed you, 
 Oaftis. It rauft be when you are away then, faid fhe. 
 What is your Reafon ? faid the other. Becaufe God 
 neuer comes where Knaues are prefent. Gip, goodly 
 Draggletaile, qd. he, had I fuch a Wife, I would pre- 
 fent her Tallow-Face to the Deuill for a Candle. With 
 that fhe bent her Browes, & like a fury of Hell began 
 to flie at him, faying, Why, you gag-tooth Jacke, you 
 blinking Companion, get thee out of my Kitchen 
 quickly, or with my powdred Beefe-Broth I will make 
 your Pate as bald as a Fryers. 
 
 Get
 
 rn 
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Get me gone ? quoth he, thou fhalt not bid me 
 twice : out, you dirty Heeles ! you will make your 
 Hufbands Haire growe thorow his Hood I doubt : and 
 with that he got him into the Hall, and fat him downe 
 on the Bench by his Oaft, to whom hee faid, 'Tis 
 pittie, my Oaft, that your aged Yeeres, that loues 
 Quietneffe, mould be troubled with fuch a fcolding 
 Queane. I, God help me, God help me, quoth the 
 old Man, and fo went towards the Stable : which his 
 Wife watching, fuddenly flept out and gaue Cutbert a 
 Kiffe. 
 
 Within an Hour after, the old Man craftily called 
 for his Nag to ride to Field : but as foone as he was 
 gone, Cutbert and his OaftefTe were fuch good Friends, 
 that they got into one of the Ware-houfes, and lockt 
 the Doore to them : but her Hufband hauing fet a 
 Spie for the Purpofe, fuddenly turned backe, and call- 
 ed for a Capcafe which lay in the Warehoufe. The 
 Seruant could not find the Key by any Meanes. 
 Whereupon hee called to haue the Locke broke open. 
 Which they within hearing, opened the Doore of their 
 owne Accord. So foone as her Hufband efpied her in 
 that Place, with Admiration he faid, O Paffion of my 
 Heart, what doe you here ? what, you Two that can- 
 not abide one another, what make you fo clofe toge- 
 ther ? is your Chiding and Rayling, Brabling and 
 
 Brauling,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 o 
 
 Brauling, come to this * O what Diflemblers are thefe ! 
 Why, my Oaft, qd. Cutbert, what need you take the 
 Matter fo hot ? I gaue a Cheefe to my Country-man, 
 Hodgekins, to lay vp, and deliuered it to your Wife to 
 be keept ; and then is it not Reafon that me mould 
 come and feeke me my Cheefe ? O, quoth the old 
 Man, belike the Dore was lockt, becaufe the Cheefe 
 mould not run away. The Doore, faid his Wife, un- 
 known to vs clapt to it felfe, and hauing a Spring- 
 Locke, was prefently fall. Well, Hufwife, qd. he, I 
 will giue you as much Credit as a Crocadile, but as 
 for your Companion, I will teach him to come hither 
 to looke Cheefes. 
 
 And with that he caufed his Men to take him pre- 
 fently, and to bind him Hand and Foot. Which being 
 done, they drew him vp in a Bafket into the Smoky 
 Louer of the Hall, and there they did let him hang all 
 that Night, euen till the next Day Dinner-time, when 
 he fhould haue beene at the Banquet with the Princes : 
 for neither Hodgekins nor Martin could intreat their 
 inflamed Oaft to let him downe. 
 
 And in fuch a Heate was hee driuen with drawing 
 him vp, that he was faine to caft off his Gownes, his 
 Coates, and two Paire of his Stockings, to coole him- 
 felfe, making a Vow, he mould hang there feven 
 Yeeres, except the Kings Sons came in Perfon to beg 
 his Pardon, which moll of all grieued Cutb. When 
 
 f Cole
 
 \ 
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Cole and the Reft of the Weftern Yeomen heard here- 
 of, they could not chufe but laugh, to thinke that he 
 was fo taken tardy. 
 
 The young Princes hauing giuen Promife to be with 
 the Clothiers, kept their Houre, but when all the Reft 
 went to giue them Entertainment, Simon was fo bufie 
 in fupping his Pottage, that he could not fpare fo much 
 Time. Which when the Princes faw, with a fmiling 
 Countenance they faid, Sup, Simon, theres good Broth : 
 Or elfe befhrew our Oaftefle, quoth he, neuer looking 
 behind him to fee who fpake, till the Prince clapt him 
 on the Shoulder. But, good Lord, how blanke he 
 was when hee fpied them, knowing not how to excufe 
 the Matter. 
 
 Well, the Princes hauing ended their Banket, Gar- 
 rat comes, and with One of his Hands tooke the Ta- 
 ble of Sixteen Foote Long quite from the Ground 
 ouer their Heads, from before the Princes, and fet it 
 on the other Side of the Hall, to the great Admira- 
 tion of all them that beheld it. 
 
 The Princes being then ready to depart, the 
 Clothiers moued them in pleafant Maner, to be good 
 to One of their Company, that did neither fit, lie, nor 
 ftand. Then he mult needs hang, qd. the Princes. 
 And fo he doth, moft excellent Princes, qd. they ; and 
 therewithall told them the whole Matter. When they 
 heard the Storie, downe to Bofomes Inne they goe, 
 
 where
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 where looking vp into the Roofe, fpied poore Cutbcrt 
 pinned vp in a Bafket, and almoft fmoaked to Death, 
 who although he were greatly afhamed, yet mod piti- 
 fully defired that they would get him Releafe. 
 
 What is his Trefpaffe ? faid the Prince. Nothing, 
 if it fhall like your Grace, qd. he, but for looking for 
 a Cheefe : But hee could not find it without my Wife, 
 faid the Good-man : the Villaine had lately dined with 
 Mutton, and could not digeft his Meate without Cheefe, 
 for which Caufe I haue made him to fall thefe twenty 
 Houres, to the End he may haue a better Stomacke to 
 eate his Dinner, then to vfe Dalliance. 
 
 Let me intreate you, quoth the Prince, to releafe 
 him: and if euer hereafter you catch him in the 
 Corne, clappe him in the Pownd. Your Grace fhall 
 requefl or command any Thing at my Hand, faid the 
 old Man : and fo Cutbert was let downe vnbound, but 
 when he was loofe, he vowed neuer to come within 
 that Houfe more. And it is faid, the old Man Bofome 
 ordained, that in Remembrance of this Deed, euery 
 Yeere once all fuch as came thither to afk for Cheefes, 
 fhould be fo ferued : which Thing is to this Day 
 kept. 
 
 How
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 How Simons Wife of Southampton, being wholy bent to 
 
 Pride and Pleafure, requejied her Hujband to fee 
 
 London, which being granted, how /he got Good-wife 
 
 Sutton of Salifbury to goe with her, who tooke Crab 
 
 to go along with them, and how he prophejied of many 
 
 Things, Chap. 6. 
 
 r I ''HE Clothiers being all come from London, Sut- 
 
 tons Wife of South-hampton, who was with her 
 
 Husband very mery and pleafant, brake her Mind vn- 
 
 to him in this Sort : 
 
 Good Lord, Hulband, will you neuer be fo kind as 
 let me goe to London with you ? (hail I be pend vp 
 in South-hampton, like a Parrat in a Cage, or a Capon 
 in a Coope ? I would requeft no more of you in Lieu 
 of all my Paines, Carke and Care, but to haue one 
 Weeks Time to fee that faire City : what is this Life, 
 if it be not mixt with fome Delight ? and what Delight 
 is more pleafing then to fee the Fafhions and Maners 
 of unknowne Places ? Therefore, good Hufband, if 
 thou loueft me, deny not this fimple Requeft. You 
 know I am no common Gadder, nor haue oft troubled 
 you with Trauell. God knowes, this may be the laffc 
 Thing that euer I fhall requeft at your Hands. 
 
 Woman, quoth he, I would willingly fatisfie your 
 Defire, but you know it is not conuenient for both of 
 vs to be Abroad, our Charge is fo great, and there- 
 fore
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 fore our Care ought not be fmall. If you will goe 
 your felfe, One of my Men fhall goe with you, and 
 Money enough you fhall haue in your Purfe : but to 
 goe with you my felfe, you fee my Bufineffe will not 
 permit me. 
 
 Hufband, faid fhe, I accept your gentle Offer, and 
 it may be I fhall intreat my Goffip, Sutton, to goe 
 along with me. I fhal be glad, qd. her Hufband, pre- 
 pare your felfe when you will. 
 
 When fhe had obtained this Licence, fhe fent her 
 Man Welfell to Salifbury, to know of Good-wife Sutton 
 if fhee would keepe her Company to London. Suttons 
 Wife being as willing to goe, as fhe was to requeft, 
 neuer refted till fhee had gotten Leaue of her Huf- 
 band ; the which when fhe had obtained, cafting in 
 her Mind their Pleafure would bee fmall, being but 
 they Twaine : thereupon the wily Woman fent Letters 
 by collericke Cracke, her Man, both to Grayes Wife, 
 and Fitzallens Wife, that they would meet them at 
 Reading, who liking well of the Match, confented, 
 and did fo prouide, that they met according to Promife 
 at Reading, and from thence with Coles Wife they 
 went altogether, with each of them a Man to London, 
 each one taking vp their Lodging with a feuerall 
 Friend. 
 
 When the Merchants of London vnderftood they 
 were in Towne, they inuited them euery Day Home 
 
 to
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 to their owne Houfes, where they had delicate good 
 Cheere : and when they went Abroad to fee the Com- 
 modities of the City, the Merchants Wiues euer bore 
 them Company, being attired moft dainty and fine : 
 which when the Clothiers Wiues did fee, it grieued 
 their Hearts they had not the like. 
 
 Now when they were brought into Cheapfide, there 
 with great Wonder they beheld the Shops of the 
 Goldfmiths ; and on the other Side, the wealthy Mer- 
 cers, whofe Shops mined with all Sorts of coloured 
 Silkes : in Watling-flreet they viewed the great Num- 
 ber of Drapers : in Saint Martins, Shoomakers : at 
 Saint Nicholas Church, the Flefh Shambles : at the 
 End of the Old Change, the Fifh-mongers : in Can- 
 dleweeke-ftreet, the Weauers : then came into the 
 Jewes-ftreet, where all the Jewes did inhabite : then 
 came they to Blackwel-hall, where the Country 
 Clothiers did vfe to meete. 
 
 Afterwards they proceeded, and came to S. Pauls 
 Church, whofe Steeple was fo hie, that it feemed to 
 pierce the Clowdes, on the Top whereof was a great 
 and mighty Weather-cocke of cleane Silver, the which 
 notwithflanding feemed as fmall as a Sparrow to Mens 
 Eyes, it flood fo exceeding High, the which goodly 
 Weathercocke was afterwards ftolen away by a cun- 
 ning Cripple, who found Meanes one Night to climb 
 vp to the Top of the Steeple, and tooke it downe : 
 
 with
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 with the which, and a great Summe of Money which 
 he had got together by begging in his Life-time, he 
 builded a Gate on the North-fide of the City, which 
 to this Day is called Cripple-gate. 
 
 From thence they went to the Tower of London, 
 which was builded by lulius Ce/ar, who was Emperour 
 of Rome. And there they beheld Salt and Wine, 
 which had lyen there euer fince the Romanes inuaded 
 this Land, which was many Yeeres before our Sauiour 
 Chrift was borne j the Wine was growne fo thicke, 
 that it might haue beene cut like a Jelly. And in that 
 Place alfo they faw the Money that was made of Lea- 
 ther, which in ancient Time went current amongft 
 the People. 
 
 When they had to their great Contentation beheld 
 all this, they repaired to their Lodgings, hauing alfo 
 a fumptuous Supper ordained for them, with all De- 
 light that might be. And you mall vnderftand, that 
 when the Country Weauers, which came vp with their 
 Dames, faw the Weauers of Candlewike-ftreet, they 
 had great Defire prefently to haue fome Conference 
 with them ; & thus one began to challenge the other 
 for Workemanlhip : quoth Weafell, He worke with 
 any of you all for a Crowne, take if you dare, and he 
 that makes his Yard of Cloth fooneft, fhall haue it. 
 You fhall be wrought withall, faid the other, and if it 
 were for ten Crownes : but we will make this Bar- 
 
 gaine,
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 gaine, that each of vs fhall winde their owne Quilles. 
 Content, quoth Weafell : and fo to worke they went, 
 but Weafell loft. Whereupon another of them tooke 
 the Matter in Hand, who loft likewife : fo that the 
 London Weauers triumphed againft the Country, caft- 
 ing forth diuers Frumps. 
 
 Alas, poore Fellowes, quoth they, your Hearts are 
 good, but your Hands are ill. Turn, the Fault was in 
 their Legs, quoth another : Pray you, Friend, were 
 you not borne at Home ? Why doe you alke ? quoth 
 Weafell. Becaufe, faid hee, the biggeft Place of your 
 Legge is next to your Shooe. 
 
 Cutbert hearing this, being cholericke of Nature, 
 chafed like a Man of Law at the Barre, & he wagers 
 with them foure Crownes to twaine : the Others 
 agreed, to worke they goe : but Crab conquered them 
 all. Whereupon the London Weauers were nipt in 
 the Head like Birds, and had not a Word to fay. 
 
 Now, faith Crab, as we haue loft Nothing, fo you 
 haue wonne Nothing, & becaufe I know you cannot 
 be right Weauers, except you be Good-fellowes, there- 
 fore if you will goe with us, we will beftow the Ale 
 vpon you. That is fpoken like a Good-fellow and like 
 a Weauer, quoth the other. So along they went as 
 it were to the Signe of the Red Crofle. 
 
 When they were fet downe, & had drunke well, 
 ihey began merrily to prattle, and to extoll Crab ot 
 
 the
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 the Skies. Whereupon Crab protefted, that hee would 
 come and dwell among them. Nay, that muft not be, 
 faid a London Weauer : the King hath giuen us Pri- 
 uiledge, that none mould live among vs, but fuch as 
 ferue feuen Yeeres in London. With that Crab, ac- 
 cording to his old Maner of prophefying, faid thus : 
 
 r r , HE Day is very neere at Hand, 
 
 When as the King of this faire Land, 
 Shal priuiledge you more then fo : 
 Then Weauers mail in Skarlet goe, 
 
 And to one Brotherhood be brought, 
 The Firft is in London wrought, 
 When other Tradefmen by your Fame, 
 Shall couet all to doe the fame. 
 
 Then mall you all live wondrous well, 
 But this one Thing I mail you tell : 
 The Day will come before the Doome, 
 In Candleweeke-ftreet mail (land no Loome 
 
 Nor any Weauer dwelling there, 
 But Men that mall more Credit beare : 
 For Clothing fhall be fore decayde, 
 And Men vndone that vfe that Trade, 
 
 And
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 And yet the Day fome Men {hall fee, 
 This Trade againe fhall raifed be. 
 When as Bayliffe of Sarum Towne, 
 Sail buy and purchafe Bilhops Downe. 
 
 When there neuer Man did fow, 
 Great Store of goodly Corne fhall grow ; 
 And Woad, that makes all Colours found, 
 Shall fpring vpon that barren Ground. 
 
 At that fame Day, I tell you plaine, 
 Who fo aliue doth then remaine, 
 A proper Maiden they fhall fee, 
 Within the Towne of Salilburie, 
 
 Of Fauour fweet, and Nature kind, 
 With goodly Eyes, and yet flarke Blind, 
 This poore blind Maiden, I doe fay, 
 In Age fhall goe in rich Array. 
 
 And he that takes her to his Wife, 
 Shall lead a ioyfull happy Life, 
 The wealthieft Clothier fhall he be 
 That euer was in that Country. 
 
 But Clothing kept as it hath beene, 
 In London neuer fhall be feene : 
 
 For
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 For Weauers then the moft mall win, 
 That worke for Clothing next the Skin. 
 
 Till Pride the Common-wealth doth peele, 
 And caufeth Hufwiues leaue their Wheele. 
 Then Pouerty vpon each Side, 
 Vnto thofe Workemen mall betide. 
 
 At that Time, from Eagles Neft, 
 That proudly builded in the Weft, 
 A Sort fhall come with cunning Hand, 
 To bring ftrange Weauing in this Land, 
 
 And by their Gaines that great will fall, 
 They fhall maintaine the Weauers Hall : 
 But long they fhall not flourifh fo, 
 But Folly with them ouerthrow. 
 
 And Men fhall count it mickle Shame, 
 To beare that Kind of Weauers Name : 
 And this as fure fhall come to pafle, 
 As here is Ale within this Glaffe. 
 
 When the filly Soules that fate about him heard 
 him fpeake in this Sort, they admired and honoured 
 Crabbe for the fame. Why, my Maflers, faid Weafell, 
 doe you wonder at thefe Words ? he will tell you 
 
 Twenty
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Twenty of thefe Tales, for which Caufe we call him 
 our Canuas Prophet. His Attire fits his Title, faid 
 they, and we neuer heard the like in our Liues : and 
 if this mould be true, it would be ftrange. Doubt not 
 but it will be true, qd. Weafell ; for He tell you what, 
 he did but once fee our Nicke kiffe Nel, and prefently 
 he powred out this Rime : 
 
 That Kiffe, O Net, God giue thee Ioy, 
 Will nine Months hence breed thee a Boy. 
 
 And He tell you what, you mail heare : we kept 
 Reckoning, and it fell out as iuft as Jones buttocks on a 
 Clofe-ftoole ; for which Caufe our Maids durft neuer 
 kiffe a Man in his Sight : vpon this they broke Com- 
 pany, & went euery One about his Bufines, the Lon- 
 don Weauers to their Frames, and the Country Fel- 
 lowes to their Dames, who, after their great Banquet- 
 ting and Merriment, went euery one Home to their 
 own Houfes, though with leffe Money then they 
 brought out, yet with more Pride. 
 
 Efpecially Simons Wife of South-hampton, who told 
 the Reft of her Goffips, that flie faw no Reafon, but 
 that, their Hufbands mould maintain them as well as 
 the Merchants did their Wiues : for I tell you what, 
 quoth fhe, we are as proper Women (in my Conceit,) 
 as the proudeft of them all, as handfome of Body, as 
 faire of Face, our Legs as well made, and our Feete 
 as fine : then what Reafon is there (feeing our Huf- 
 bands
 
 of Thomas of Reading 
 
 »■ 
 
 bands are of as good Wealth) but we fhould be as well 
 maintained ? 
 
 You fay true, Goffip, faid Sattons Wife : truft me, 
 it made me blufh, to fee them braue it out fo gallantly, 
 and wee to goe fo homely : but before God, faid the 
 other, I will haue my Hufband to buy me a London 
 Gowne, or in Faith he fhall haue little Quiet : fo (hall 
 mine, faid another : and mine too, qd. the Third : 
 and all of them fing the fame Note : fo that when they 
 came Home, their Hufbands had no little to doe : ef- 
 pecially Simon, whofe Wife daily lay at him for Lon- 
 don Apparell, to whome he faid, Good Woman, be 
 content, let vs goe according to our Place and Ability : 
 what will the Bailiffes thinke, if I mould prancke thee 
 vp like a Peacocke, and thou in thy Attire furpaffe 
 their Wiues ? they would either thinke I were mad, or 
 elfe that I had more Money then I could well ufe : 
 confider, I pray thee, good Wife, that fuch as are in 
 their Youth Mailers, doe proue in their Age flarke 
 Beggers. 
 
 Befide that, it is enough to raife me vp in the Kings 
 Booke, for many Times Mens Coffers are iudged by 
 their Garments : why, we are Country Folks, and 
 mull keepe our felues in good Compaffe : gray Ruffet, 
 and good Hempe-fpun Cloth doth befl become vs ; I 
 tell thee, Wife, it were as vndecent for vs to goe like 
 Londoners as it is for Londoners to goe like Courtiers. 
 
 What
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 "What a Coyle keepe you ? quoth (he, are not we 
 Gods Creatures as well as Londoners ? and the Kings 
 Subie&s, as well as they ? then, finding our Wealth to 
 be as good as theirs, why fhould we not goe as gay as 
 Londoners ? No, Hufband, no, here is the Fault, wee 
 are kept without it, onely becaufe our Hufbands be not 
 fo kind as Londoners : why, Man, a Cobler there 
 keeps his Wife better then the befl Clothier in this 
 Countrey : nay, I will affirm it, that the London Oyf- 
 ter-wiues, and the very Kitchen-ftuffe Cryers, doe ex- 
 ceed vs in their Sundaies Attire : nay, more then that, 
 I did fee the Water-bearers Wife, which belongs to 
 One of our Merchants, come in with a Tankerd of 
 Water on her Shoulder, and yet Half a Dozen Gold 
 Rings on her Fingers. You may then thinke, Wife, 
 (quoth he) fhe got them not with Idleneffe. 
 
 But, Wife, you muft confider what London is, the 
 chiefs and capitall City of all the Land, a Place on the 
 which all Strangers caft their Eyes, it is (Wife) the 
 Kings Chamber and his Maieflies royall Seate : to 
 that City repaires all Nations vnder Heauen. There- 
 fore it is mofl meete and conuenient, that the Citizens 
 of fuch a City mould not goe in their Apparell like 
 Peafants, but for the Credit of our Country, weare 
 fuch feemely Habits as doe carry Grauity and Come- 
 linefTe in the Eyes of all Beholders. But if wee of the 
 Country went fo (quoth me) were it not as great Cre- 
 dit
 
 of Thomas of Reading:. 
 
 O" 
 
 dit for the Land as the other ? Woman, qd. her Huf- 
 band, it is altogether needleffe, and in diuers Refpects 
 it may not be. Why then, I pray you, quoth fhe, let 
 us goe dwell at London. A Word foone fpoken, faid 
 her Hufband, but not fo eafie to be performed : there- 
 fore, Wife, I pray thee hold thy Prating, for thy Talke 
 is foolifh : yea, yea, Hufband, your old churlifh Con- 
 ditions will neuer be left, you keepe me here like a 
 Drudge and a Droile, and fo you may keepe your 
 Money in your Purfe, you care not for your Credit, 
 but before I will goe fo like a Shepheardeffe, I will 
 firfl goe naked : and I tell you plaine, I fcorne it 
 greatly, that you mould clap a gray Gowne on my 
 Backe, as if I had not brought you Two-pence : be- 
 fore I was married, you fwore I Ihould haue any Thing 
 that I requefted, but now all is forgotten. And in 
 faying this, fhe went in, and foone after fhe was fo 
 ficke, that needes fhe mufl goe to Bed : and when fhe 
 was laid, fhe draue out that Night with many grieuous 
 Groanes, Sighing and Sobbing, and no Reft fhe could 
 take God wot. And in the Morning when fhe fhould 
 rife, the good Soule fell downe in a Swowne, which 
 put her Maidens in a great Fright, who running downe 
 to their M after, cryed out, Alas, alas, our Dame is 
 dead ! our Dame is dead ! The Good-man hearing 
 this, ran vp in all Haft, and there fell to rubbing and 
 
 chafing
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 chafing of her Temples, fending for aqua vita, and 
 faying, Ah, my Sweet-heart, fpeake to me, Good-wife, 
 alacke, alacke ! call in the Neighbours, you Queanes, 
 quoth he. With that fhe lift vp her Head, fetching a 
 great Groane, and prefently fwouned againe, and 
 much a doe ywis, he had to keepe Life in her : but 
 when fhe was come to her felfe, How doft thou, Wife ? 
 qd. he. What wilt thou haue ? for Gods fake tell me 
 if thou haft a Mind to any Thing, thou fhalt haue it. 
 Away, Diffembler ! (qd. me) how can I beleeue thee ? 
 thou haft faid to me as much a hundred Times, and 
 deceiued me ; it is thy Churiifhneffe that hath killed 
 my Heart, neuer was Woman matcht to fo unkind a 
 Man. 
 
 Nay, Good- wife, blame me not without Caufe : 
 God knoweth how heartily I loue thee. Loue me ? 
 no, no, thou didft neuer carry my Loue but on the 
 Tip of thy Tongue, quoth fhe ; I dare fweare thou 
 defireft Nothing fo much as my Death, and for my 
 Part, I would to God thou hadft thy Defire : but be 
 content, I fhall not trouble thee long : and with that 
 fetching a Sigh, fhee fwouned and gaue a great 
 Groane. The Man feeing her in this Cafe, was 
 woundrous woe : but fo foone as they had recouered 
 her, he faid, O my deare Wife, if any bad Conceit 
 hath ingendered this Sickeneffe, let me know it ; or if 
 thou knowft any Thing that may procure thy Health, 
 
 let
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 o 
 
 let me vnderftand thereof, and I proteft thou malt 
 haue it, if it cofl me all that ever I haue. 
 
 O Hufband, quoth ihe, how may I credit your 
 Words, when for a paltry Sute of Apparell you deny- 
 ed me ? Well, Wife, quoth he, thou fhalt haue Ap- 
 parell or any Thing elfe thou wilt requeft, if God fend 
 thee once Health. O Hufband, if I may find you fo 
 kind, I fhall think my felfe the happieft Woman in the 
 World, thy Words haue greatly comforted my Heart, 
 mee thinketh if I had it, I could drink a good Draught 
 of Renifh Wine. Well, Wine was fent for : O Lord, 
 faid flie, that I had a Piece of a Chicken, I feele my 
 Stomacke defirous of fome Meate. Glad am I. of that, 
 faid her Hufband ; and fo the Woman within a few 
 Dayes after that was very well. 
 
 But you fhall vnderftand, that her Hufband was 
 faine to dreffe her London-like, ere he could get her 
 quiet, neither would it pleafe her except the StufFe was 
 bought in Cheapfide : for out of Cheapfide nothing 
 would content her, were it neuer fo good : infomuch, 
 that if fhe thought a Taylor of Cheapfide made not 
 her Gowne, fhe would fweare it were quite fpoiled. 
 
 And hauing thus wonne her Hufband to her Will, 
 when the Reft of the Clothiers Wiues heard thereof, 
 they would be futed in the like Sort too : fo that euer 
 fince, the Wiues of South-hampton, Salifbury, of Glo- 
 
 h cefter,
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 teller, Worcefter, and Reading, went all as gallant 
 and as braue as any Londoners Wiues. 
 
 How the Clothiers fent the King Aide into France, and 
 how he ouercame his Brother Robert, and brought 
 him into England, and how the Clothiers feajled his 
 Maiejly and his Sonne at Reading. Chap. 7. 
 
 THE Kings Maieftie being at the Warres in France, 
 againft Lewis the French King, and Duke Robert 
 of Normandy, fending for diuers Supplies of Souldiers 
 out of England, the Clothiers at their owne proper 
 Coft fet out a great Number, and fent them ouer to 
 the King. 
 
 Which Roger Bimop of Salisbury, who gouerned 
 the Realme in the Kings Abfence, did certifie the 
 King thereof, with his Letters written in their Com- 
 mendations. 
 
 And afterward it came to pane, that God fent his 
 Highness Vi£lory ouer his Enemies, and hauing taken 
 his Brother Prifoner, brought him moft ioyfully with 
 him into England, and appointed him to be kept in 
 Gardife Caflle Prifoner, yet with this Fauour, that he 
 might hunt and hawke where he would vp and downe 
 the Country, and in this Sort he liued a good while, 
 of whom we will fpeake more at large hereafter. 
 
 The King being thus come Home, after his Winters 
 
 Reft,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Reft, he made his Summers ProgrefTe into the Weft- 
 countrey, to take a View of all the chief Townes : 
 whereof the Clothiers being aduertifed, they made 
 great Preparation againft his comming, becaufe he had 
 promifed to vifit them all. 
 
 And when his Grace came to Reading, he was en- 
 tertained and receiued with great Ioy and Triumph : 
 Thomas Cole being the chief Man of Regard in all the 
 Towne, the King honoured his Houfe with his prince- 
 ly Prefence, where during the Kings Abode, he and 
 his Sonne and Nobles were highly feafted. 
 
 There the King beheld the great Number of Peo- 
 ple, that was by that one Man maintained in Worke, 
 whofe hearty AfFe&ion and Loue towards his Maief- 
 tie did well appeare, as well by their outward Coun- 
 tenances, as their Gifts prefented vnto him. But of 
 Cole himfelfe the King was fo well perfwaded, that he 
 committed fuch truft in him, and put him in great 
 Authority in the Towne. Furthermore the King faid, 
 That for the Loue which thofe People bore him liuing, 
 that hee would lay his Bones among them when he 
 was dead. For I know not, faid he, where they may 
 be better beflowed, till the bleffed Day of Refurrec- 
 tion, than among thefe my Friends, which are like to 
 be happy Partakers of the fame. 
 
 Whereupon his Maiefty caufed there to be builded 
 a moft goodly and famous Abbey : in which he might 
 
 mew
 
 The plea Pant Hiftorie 
 
 mew his Deuotion to God, by increafing his Seruice, 
 and leaue Example to other his Succeflbrs to doe the 
 like. Likewife within the Towne he after builded a 
 faire and goodly Caftle, in the which he often kept 
 his Court, which was a Place of his chiefe Refidence 
 during his Life, faying to the Clothiers, that feeing he 
 found them fuch faithfull Subie&s, he would be their 
 Neighbour, and dwell among them. 
 
 After his Maiefties royall Feafting at Reading, he 
 proceeded in ProgrelTe, till he had vifited the whole 
 Weft-countries, being wondroufly delighted to fee 
 thofe People fo diligent to apply their Bufmeffe : and 
 comming to Salifbury, the Bifhop receiued his Maief- 
 ty with great Ioy, and with Triumph attended on his 
 Grace to his Palace, where his Highnefle lodged. 
 
 There Sutton the Clothier prefented his Highnefle 
 with a Broad Cloth, of fo fine a Threed, and exceed- 
 ing good Workmanfhip, and therewithall of fo faire a 
 Colour, as his Grace gaue Commendation thereof, 
 and, as it is faid, he held it in fuch high Eftimation, 
 that thereof he made his Parliament Robes, & the 
 firft Parliament that was euer in England was graced 
 with the Kings Perfon in thofe Robes, in Requitall 
 whereof his Highnes afterward yeelded Sutton many 
 princely Fauours. 
 
 And it is to be remembered, that Simon of South- 
 hampton (feeing the King had ouerpaft the P'ace 
 
 where
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 &■ 
 
 where he dwelt) came with his Wife and Seruants to 
 Salifbury, and againft the K. going forth of that City, 
 hee caufed a moll pleafant Arbour to be made vpon 
 the Toppe of the Hill leading to Salifburie, befet all 
 with red and white Rofes, in fuch Sort, that not any 
 Part of the Timber could be feene, within the which 
 fat a Maiden attired like a Queen, attended on by a 
 faire Traine of Maidens, who at the Kings Approach 
 prefented him with a Garland of fweet Flowres, yeeld- 
 ing him fuch Honour as the Ladies of Rome were 
 wont to doe to their Princes after their Victories : 
 which the King tooke in gracious Part, and for his 
 Farewell from that Country, they bore him Company 
 ouer Part of the Plaine, with the Sound of diuers fweet 
 Inftruments of Muficke. All which, when his Grace 
 vnderftood was done at the Cofl of a Clothier, he faid 
 he was the mofl honoured by thofe Men, aboue all the 
 meane Subiecls in his Land : & fo his Llighnes paft 
 on to Exceter, hauing giuen great Rewards to thefe 
 Maidens. 
 
 Thomas Doue and the Refidue of the Clothiers, 
 againft his Graces comming thither, had ordained di- 
 uers fumptuous Shewes ; firft, there was One that 
 prefented the Perfon of Augujius Cefar the Emperour, 
 who commanded after the Romane Inuafion, that their 
 City mould be called Augujius, after his owne Name, 
 
 which
 
 The plcafant Hiftorie 
 
 which before Time was called J/ca 9 and of later Yeeres 
 Exeter. 
 
 There his Maiefly was royally feafled feuen Dayes 
 together, at the onely Coll of Clothiers, but the diuers 
 Delightes and fundry Paflimes which they made there 
 before the King, and his Nobles, is too long here to 
 be rehearfed, and therefore I will ouerpaffe them to 
 auoid TedioufnefTe. 
 
 His Grace then coafling along the Country, at laft 
 came to Glocefler, an ancient City, which was build- 
 ed by Gloue, a Britifh King, who named it after his 
 owne Name, Glocefler. Here was his Maiefly enter- 
 tained by Gray the Clothier, who profefl himfeife to 
 be of that ancient Family of Grayes, whofe firfl Origi- 
 nall iffued out of that ancient and honorable Caflle 
 and Towne of Rithin. 
 
 Here was the King mofl bountifully feafled, hauing 
 in his Company his Brother Robert (although his Pri- 
 foner the fame Time.) And his Grace being defirous 
 to fee the Maidens card and fpinne, they were of Pur- 
 pofe fet to their Worke : among whom was faire Mar- 
 garet with her white Hand, whofe excellent Beauty 
 hauing pierct the Eyes of the amorous Duke, it made 
 fuch an Impreflion in his Heart, that afterward he 
 could neuer forget her : and fo vehemently was his 
 Affection kindled, that he could take no Reft, till by 
 
 writing
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 D 
 
 writing he had bewrayed his Minde : but of this we 
 will fpeake more in another Place : and the King at 
 his Departure faid, that to gratifie them, hee would 
 make his Sonne Robert their Earle, which was the 
 firft Earle that euer was in Glocefter. 
 
 Now when his Grace was come from thence, he 
 went to Worcefter, where William Fitz-allen made 
 Preparation in all honourable Sort to receiue him, 
 which Man being borne of great Parentage, was not 
 to learne how to entertaine his Maieflie, being de- 
 fc ended of that famous Family, whofe Patrimony lay 
 about the Towne of Ofweftrie, which Towne his Pre- 
 deceflbrs had inclofed with ftately Walls of Stone. 
 
 Although aduerfe Fortune had fo grieuoufly frown- 
 ed on fome of them, that their Children were fain to 
 become Tradefmen, whofe Hands were to them in 
 (lead of Lands, notwithflanding God raifed againe the 
 Fame of this Man, both by his great Wealth, and alfo 
 in his Poflerity, whofe eldefl Son Henry, the Kings 
 God-fon, became afterward the Maior of London, 
 who was the firft Maior that euer was in that City, 
 who gouerned the fame 23 Yeeres : and then his Son 
 Roger Fitz-allen was the fecond Maior. 
 
 The princely Pleafures that in Worcefter were 
 fhewn the King, were many and maruelous, and in no 
 Place had his Maiefty receiued more Delight then 
 here : for the which at his Departure he did fhew 
 
 himfelfe
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 himfelfe very thankefull. Now when his Grace had 
 thus taken View of all his good Townes weft-ward, 
 and in that Progrefle had vifited thefe Clothiers, he 
 returned to London, with great Ioy of his Commons. 
 
 How Hodgekins of Hallifax came to the Court, and 
 complained to the King, that his Priuiledge was no- 
 thing worth, hecaufe when they found any Offender, 
 they could not get a Hangman to execute him : and 
 how by a Fryer a Gin was deuifed to chop off" Mens 
 Heads ofitfelfe. Chap. 8. 
 
 A FTER that Hodgekins had got the Priuiledge for 
 ■*^the Towne of Halifax, to hang vp fuch Theeues 
 as ftole their Cloth in the Night, prefently without 
 any further Iudgement, all the Clothiers of the Towne 
 were exceeding glad, and perfwaded themfelues, that 
 now their Goods would be fafe all Night, without 
 watching them at all, fo that whereas before, the 
 Towne maintained certaine Watchmen to keepe their 
 Cloth by Night, they were hereupon difmiffed as a 
 Thing needleffe to be done, fuppofing with them- 
 felves, that feeing they mould be ftraight hanged that 
 were found faulty in this Point, that no Man would 
 be fo defperate to enterprife any fuch Aft. And in- 
 deed the Matter being noyfed through the whole 
 Country, that they were ftraight to be hanged that 
 
 vfe
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 vfe fuch Theeuery, it made many lewd Liuers to re- 
 ftraine fuch Theeuery. 
 
 Neuertheles, there was at that fame Time liuing, a 
 notable Theefe named Wallis, whom in the North they 
 called Mighty Wallis, in regard of his Valour and 
 Manhood : This Man being mod fubtile in fuch Kind 
 of Knauery, hauing heard of this late Priuiledge, and 
 therewithall of the Townes Security, faid that once he 
 would venture his Necke for a Packe of Northerne 
 Cloth : and therefore comming to One or Two of his 
 Companions, he aiked if they would be Partners in his 
 Aduenture, and if (quoth he) you will herein hazard 
 your Bodies, you fhall be Sharers in all our Booties. 
 
 At length by many Perfwafions the Men confented : 
 whereupon late in the Night, they got them all into a 
 Farriours Shop, and called vp the Folkes of the 
 Houfe. What the foule ill wald you haue (quoth 
 they) at this Time of the Night ? Wallis anfwered, 
 faying, Good-fellowes, we would haue you to remoue 
 the Shooes of our Horfes Feete, and fet them on againe, 
 and for your Paines you fhall be well pleafed. The 
 Smith at length was perfwaded, and when he had 
 pluckt off all the Shooes from their Horfes Feete, they 
 would needs haue them all fet on againe, quite con- 
 trary with the Cakins forward, that mould ftand back- 
 ward. How ? fay, fay, Man, qd. the Smith, are ye 
 fike Fules ? what the Deele doe you meane to breake 
 
 your 
 i
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 your Crags ? gud Faith, I tro the Men be wood. Not 
 fo, Smith, qd. they, do thou as we bid thee, & thou 
 malt haue thy Money : for it is an old Prouerbe, 
 Be it better, or be it worfe, 
 Pleafe you the Man that beares the Purfe. 
 
 Gud Faith and fee I fall, qd. the Smith, and fo did 
 as hee was willed. When Wallis had thus caufed their 
 Horfes to be fhod, to Hallifax they went, where they 
 without any Let, laded their Horfes with Cloth, and fo 
 departed contrary Way. 
 
 In the Morning, fo foone as the Clothiers came to 
 the Field, they found that they were robt, whereupon 
 one ranne to another to tell thefe Things. Now when 
 Hodgekins heard thereof, rifing up in Halle, he wild 
 his Neighbors to marke and fee, if they could not def- 
 cry either the Foot-fleppes of Men or Horfes. Which 
 being done, they perceiued that Horfes had beene 
 there, and feeking to purfue them by their Foot- 
 fleppes, they went a cleane contrary Way, by Reafon 
 that the Horfes were fhodde backward : and when in 
 vaine they had long purfued them, they returned, 
 being neuer the neere. Now Wallis vfed his Feate fo 
 long, that at length he was taken, and Two more with 
 him : whereupon, according to the Priuiledge- of the 
 Towne, they put Halters about the Theeues Neckes 
 prefently to hang them vp. 
 
 When
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 - 
 
 When they were come to the Place appointed, 
 Wallis and the Reft being out of Hope to efcape 
 Death, prepared themfelves patiently to fuffer the 
 Rigor of the Law. And there with the Reft laying 
 open the Lewdneffe of his Life, grieuoufly lamenting 
 for his Sinnes, at length commending their Soules to 
 God, they yeelded their Bodies to the Graue, with 
 which Sight the People were greatly mooued with 
 Pity, becaufe they had neuer feene Men come to hang- 
 ing before : but when they mould haue beene tyed 
 vp, Hodgekins willed one of his Neighbours to play 
 the Hang-mans Part, who would not by any Meanes 
 doe it, although he was a very poore Man, who for 
 his Paines mould haue beene pofleft of all their Ap- 
 parell. When he would not yeeld to the Office, one 
 of thofe which had his Cloth ftolen, was commanded 
 to doe the Deed ; but he in like Maner would not, 
 faying, When I haue the Skill to make a Man, I will 
 hang a Man, if it chance my Workemanfhip doe not 
 like me. 
 
 And thus from one to another, the Office of the 
 Hang-man was polled off. At laft a Rogue came by, 
 whom they would haue compelled to haue done that 
 Deed. Nay, my Mafters, qd. he, not fo : but as you 
 haue got a Priuiledge for the Towne, fo you were bell 
 to procure a Commiffion to make a Hang-man, or elfe 
 you are like to be without for me. Neighbor Hodge- 
 kins,
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 kins, quoth one, I pray you doe this Office your felfe, 
 you haue had moft Lofie, and therefore you fhould be 
 the moft ready to hang them your felfe. No, not I, 
 (quoth Hodgekins,) though my Loffe were ten Times 
 greater than it is ; notwithstanding look which of thefe 
 Theeues will take upon him to hang the other, fhall 
 haue his Life faued, otherwife they fhall all to Prifon 
 till I can prouide a Hangman. 
 
 When Wallis faw the Matter brought to this paffe, 
 he began ftoutly to reply, faying, My Mafters of the 
 Towne of Halifax, though your Priuiledge Itretch to 
 hang Men vp prefently that are found ftealing of your 
 Goods, yet it giues you no Warrant to imprifon them 
 till you prouide them a Hang-man: my felfe, with 
 thefe my Fellowes, haue here yeelded our felues to 
 fatisfie the Law, and if it be not performed, the Fault 
 is yours, and not ours, and therefore we humbly take 
 our Leaue : from the Gallowes the xviii. of Auguft. 
 And with that he leapt from the Ladder, and hurl'd 
 the Halter at Hodgekins Face. 
 
 When the Clothiers faw this, they knew not what 
 to fay, but taking them by the Sleeues, entreated to 
 haue their owne againe. Not fo, qd. Wallis, you get 
 not the Value of a Placke or a Bawby : we haue ftolne 
 your Cloth, then why do you not hang vs ? here we 
 haue made our felues ready, and if you will not hang 
 vs, chufe. A Plague upon you, quoth he, you haue 
 
 hindred 
 6
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 hindred me God knowes what : I made Account to 
 dine this Day in Heauen, and you keepe me here on 
 Earth, where there is not a Quarter of that good 
 Cheare. The foule Euill take you all; I was fully 
 prouided to giue the Gallowes a Boxe on the Eare, 
 and now God knowes when I fhall be in fo good a 
 Minde againe : and fo he, with the Reft of his Com- 
 panions, departed. 
 
 When Hodgekins faw, that notwithstanding their 
 Theeuery, how they flowted at their Lenity, he was 
 much mooued in Minde : and as he flood in his 
 Dumps chewing his Cud, making his Dinner with a 
 Difh of Melancholy, a Gray Fryer reuerently faluted 
 him in this Sort : All haile, good-man Hodgekins, 
 HappinefTe and Health be euer with you, and to all 
 Suppreffors of lewd Liuers, God fend euerlafting 
 Ioyes. 
 
 I am forry, Good-man Hodgekins, that the great 
 Priuiledge which our King gaue to this Towne comes 
 to no greater Purpofe : better farre had it beene that 
 it had neuer beene granted, then fo lightly regarded : 
 the Towne hath fuffered through their owne Peeuifh- 
 nefTe, an euerlafting Reproch this Day, onely becaufe 
 foolifh Pitty hath hindred Juftice. 
 
 Confider, that Compamon is not to be had vpon 
 Theeues and Robbers : Pity onely appertained to the 
 vertuous Sort, who are ouerwhelmed with the Waues 
 
 of
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 of Mifery and Mifchance. What great Caufe of Bold- 
 neffe haue you giuen to bad Liuers, by letting thefe 
 Fe^owes thus to efcape, and how mall you now keepe 
 your Goods in Safety, feeing you fulfill not the Law, 
 which mould be your Defence? neuer thinke that 
 Theeues will make any Confcience to carry away your 
 Goods, when they find them felues in no Danger of 
 Death, who haue more Caufe to praife your Pity, then 
 commend your Wifedome : wherefore in Time feeke 
 to preuent the enfuing Euill. 
 
 For my owne Part, I haue that Care of your Good, 
 that I would worke all good Meanes for your Benefit, 
 and yet not fo much in refpect of your Profit, as for 
 the Defire I haue to vphold Juftice, and feeing I finde 
 you and the Reft fo womanifh, that you could not find 
 in your Hearts to hang a Theefe, I have deuifed how 
 to make a Gin, that fhall cut off their Heads without 
 Mans Helpe, and if the King will allow thereof. 
 
 When Hodgekins heard this, he was fomewhat com- 
 forted in Mind, and faid to the Fryer, that if by his 
 cunning he would performe it, he would once againe 
 make Sute to the King to haue his Grant for the fame. 
 The Fryer willed him to haue no Doubt in him : and 
 fo when he had deuifed it, he got a Carpenter to frame 
 it out of Hand. 
 
 Hodgekins in the meane Time polled vp to the 
 Court, and told his' Maiefty that the Priuiledge of 
 
 Hallifax
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Hallifax was not worth a Pudding. Why fo ? faid the 
 King. Becaufe, quoth Hodgekins, we can get neuer a 
 Hangman to truffe our Theeues : but if it mall like 
 your good Grace, (quoth he) there is a feate Fryer, 
 that will make vs a Deuice, which fhall without the 
 Hand of Man cut off the Cragges of all fuch Carles, 
 if your Maiefty will pleafe to allow thereof. 
 
 The King vnderflanding the full Effect of the Mat- 
 ter, at length granted his Petition : whereupon till this 
 Day it is obferued in Hallifax, that fuch as are taken 
 flealing of their Cloth, haue their Heads chopt off with 
 the fame Gin. 
 
 How the Bailiffes of London could get no Man to bee a 
 Catchpole, and how certaine Flemings took that Office 
 vpon them, whereof many of them were Jledde into this 
 Realme, by Reafon of certaine Waters that had drown- 
 ed a great Part of their Country, Chap. 9. 
 HPHE City of London being at that Time gouerned 
 by Bailiffes, it came to paffe, that in a certaine 
 Fray two of their Catch-poles were killed, for at that 
 Time they had not the Name of Sergeants : and you 
 fhall underftand, that their Office was then fo much 
 hated and detefted of Englifhmen, that none of them 
 would take it vpon him : fo that the Bailiffes were 
 glad to get any Man whatfoeuer, and to giue him cer- 
 tain Wages to performe that Office. 
 
 It
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 It came to pane, as I faid before, that Two of their 
 Officers by arrefting of a Man, were at one Inflant 
 flaine, by Meanes whereof the BailifFes were enforced 
 to feek Others to put in their Roomes, but by no 
 Meanes could they get any, wherefore according to 
 their wonted Manner, they made Proclamation, that 
 if there were any Man that would prefent himfelfe 
 before them, he mould not onely be fettled in that 
 Office during their Liues, but alfo mould haue fuch 
 Maintenance and Allowance, as for fuch Men was by 
 the City prouided : & notwithflanding that it was an 
 Office moft neceffary in the Commonwealth, yet did 
 the pooreft Wretch defpife it, that liued in any Efti- 
 mation among his Neighbours. 
 
 At laft, a Couple of Flemings, which were fled into 
 this Land, by Reafon that their Country was drowned 
 with the Sea, heering the Proclamation, offered them- 
 felues vnto the BaylifFes, to ferue in this Place, who 
 were prefently receiued and accepted, & according to 
 order had Garments giuen them, which were of 2 
 Colors, blue & red their Coates, Breeches, & Stock- 
 ings, whereby they were known and difcerned from 
 other Men. 
 
 Within Halfe a Yeere after it came to paffe, that 
 Thomas Doue of Exeter came vp to London, who 
 hauing by his Iollity and Goodfellowfhip brought him- 
 felfe greatly behind Hand, was in Danger to diuers 
 
 Men
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Men of the Cite, among the Reft, one of his Creditors 
 feed an Officer to arreft him. The Dutchman, that 
 had not beene long experienced in fuch Matters, and 
 hearing how many of his Fellows had beene killed for 
 attempting to arreft Men, ftood quiuering and quaking 
 in a Corner of the Street to watch for Thomas Doue, 
 and hauing long waited, at length he efpied him : 
 whereupon he prepared his Mace ready, and with a 
 pale Countenance proceeded to his Office ; at what 
 Time comming behind the Man, fuddenly with his 
 Mace he knockt him on the Pate, faying, I arreft 
 you, giuing him fuch a Blow, that he fell him to the 
 Ground. 
 
 The Catchpole thinking he had killed the Man, he 
 left his Mace behind him and ranne away : the Cre- 
 ditor he ran after him, calling and crying that he 
 mould turne againe : But the Fleming would not by 
 any Meanes turne backe, but got him quite out of the 
 City, and tooke Sanctuary at Weftminfter. 
 
 Doue being come to himfelfe, arofe and went to his 
 Inne, no Man hindring his Paflage, being not a little 
 glad he fo efcaped the Danger. Yet, neuerthelefle, at 
 his next comming to London, another Catchpole met 
 with him, and arrefted him in the King's Name. 
 
 Doue being difmayed at this mifchieuous Mifchance, 
 knew not what to doe : at laft hee requefted the Catch- 
 pole that hee would not violently caft him in Prifon, 
 
 k but
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 but flay till fuch Time as he could fend for a Friend 
 to be his Surety ; and although KindnefTe in a Catch- 
 pole be rare, yet was he won with faire Words to doe 
 him this Fauour : whereupon Doue defired one to goe 
 to his Oaft Iarrat, who immediately came with him, 
 & offered himfelfe to be Doues Surety. 
 
 The Officer, who neuer faw' this Man before, was 
 much amazed at his Sight : for Iarrat was a great and 
 mighty Man of Body, of Countenance grim, and ex- 
 ceeding high of Stature, fo that the Catchpole was 
 wonderfully afraid, afking if he could find neuer a 
 Surety but the Deuill, mofl fearefully intreating him 
 to coniure him away, and he would doe Doue any Fa- 
 uour. What, will you not take my Word ? qd. Iarrat. 
 Sir, qd. the Catchpole, if it were for any Matter in 
 Hell, I would take your Word as foone as any Diuels 
 in that Place, but feeing it is for a Matter on Earth, I 
 would gladly haue a Surety. 
 
 Why, thou whorfon Cricket ! (quoth Iarrat,) thou 
 Maggat-apie ! thou Spinner ! thou paultry Spider ! dofl 
 thou take me for a Deuill ? Sirra, take my Word, I 
 charge thee, for this Man, or elfe, goodman Butter- 
 fly, He make thee repent it. The Officer, while he 
 was in the Houfe, faid he was cotent, but as foon as 
 he came into the Street he cryed, faying, Helpe, helpe, 
 good Neighbors, or elfe the Deuill will carry away 
 my Prifoner : notwithftanding, there was not one Man 
 
 would
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 o 
 
 would ftirre to be the Catchpoles Aide. Which when 
 he faw, he tooke faft hold on Thomas Doue, and would 
 not by any Meanes let him goe. 
 
 Iarrat feeing this, made no more adoe, but com- 
 ming to the Officer, gaue him fuch a Fillop on the 
 Forehead with his Finger, that he fell the poore 
 Fleming to the Ground : and while he lay in the 
 Street ftretching his Heeles, Iarrat tooke Doue vnder 
 his Arme and carried him Home, where he thought 
 himfelfe as fafe as King Charlemaine in Mount- Albon. 
 
 The next Morning Iarrat conueyed Doue out of 
 Towne, who afterward kept him in the Country, and 
 came no more in the Catchpoles Clawes. 
 
 How Duke Robert came a wooing to Margaret with the 
 white Hand, and how he appointed to come andjieale 
 her away from her Majlers. Chap. 10. 
 r I ^HE beautifull Margaret, who had now dwelt with 
 her Dame the Space of foure Yeeres, was highly 
 regarded and fecretly beloued of many gallant and 
 worthy Gentlemen of the Country, but of Two mofl 
 efpecially, Duke Robert, and Sir William Ferris, It 
 chanced on a Time that faire Margaret, with many 
 Others of her Mafters Folkes, went a Hay-making, at- 
 tired in a red Stammell Peticoate, and a broad Strawne 
 Hat vpon her Head ; fhe had alfo a Hay-forke, and 
 in her Lappe fhe did carry her Breake-faft. As fhe 
 
 went 
 
 11
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 went along, Duke Robert, with One or Two of his 
 Keepers, met with her, whofe amiable Sight did now 
 anew re-inkindle the fecret Fire of Loue, which long 
 lay fmothering in his Heart. Wherefore meeting her 
 fo happily, he faluted her thus friendly. 
 
 Faire Maid, good Morow ; are you walking fo di- 
 ligently to your Labour ? Needes muft the Weather 
 be faire, when the Sun mines fo cleare, and the Hay 
 wholefome that is dryed with fuch fplendent Rayes. 
 Renowned and molt notable Duke, (qd. fhe) poore 
 Harueft Folkes pray for faire Weather, and it is the 
 Laborers Comfort to fee his Worke profper, and the 
 more happy may we count the Day that is bleffed with 
 your princely Prefence. But more happy, faid the 
 Duke, are they which are conuerfant in thy Company. 
 But let me intreat thee to turne backe to thy Mailers 
 with me, and commit thy Forke to fome that are fitter 
 for fuch Toyle : truft me, me thinkes thy Dame is too 
 much ill-aduifed in fetting thee to fuch homely Bufines. 
 I mufe thou canft indure this vile befeeming Seruitude, 
 whofe delicate Lims were neuer framed to proue fuch 
 painefull Experiments. 
 
 Albeit, quoth fhe, it becommeth not me to controule 
 your iudicial Thoughts, yet, were you not the Duke, 
 I would fay, your Opinion deceiued you : though your 
 faire Eyes feeme cleare, yet I deemed them vnperfecl:, 
 if they call before your Mind any Shadow or Sparke 
 
 of
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 -• 
 
 of Beauty in me : But I rather thinke, becaufe it hath 
 beene an old Saying, that Women are proud to heare 
 themfelues praifed, that you either fpeake this to driue 
 away the Time, or to wring me from my too apparant 
 Imperfections. But I humbly intreate Pardon; too 
 long haue I fore-flowed my Bufinefle, and fliewne my 
 felfe ouer-bold in your Prefence ; and therewith, with 
 a courtly Grace, bending her Knees to the courteous 
 Duke, fhee went forward to the Field, and the Duke 
 to the Towne of Glocefter. 
 
 When he came thither, he made his Keepers great 
 Cheare, intreating them they would giue him Refpit 
 to be awhile with old Gray ; for we Twaine mufl 
 haue a Game or Two, quoth he : and for my fafe 
 Return, I gage to you my princely Word, that as I 
 am a true Knight and a Gentleman, I will returne fafe 
 to your Charge againe. 
 
 The Keepers being content, the Duke departed, and 
 with old Gray goes to the Field, to perufe the Worke- 
 folkes, where while Gray found himfelfe bufie in many 
 Matters, he tooke Opportunity to talke with Marga- 
 ret ; fhee who by his Letters before was priuie to his 
 Purpofe, gueft beforehand the Caufeof his comming : 
 to whom he fpake to this effect : 
 
 Faire Maid, I did long fince manifeft my Loue to 
 thee by my Letter ; tell me, therefore, were it not 
 better to be a Dutches then Drudge ? a Lady of high 
 
 Reputation,
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Reputatione, then a Seruant of fimple Degree ? With 
 me thou mighteft Hue in Pleafure, where here thou 
 drawefl thy Dayes forth in Paine ; by my Loue thou 
 fhouldft be made a Lady of great Treafures : where 
 now thou art poore and beggerly : all Manner of De- 
 lights mould then attend on thee, and whatfoeuer thy 
 Heart defireth, thou fhouldft haue : wherefore feeing 
 it lyes in thy owne Choice, make thy felfe happy, by 
 confenting to my Suite. 
 
 Sir, (quoth (he) I confeife your Loue deferues a 
 Ladies Fauour, your Affection a faithfull Friend, fuch 
 a One as could make but one Heart and Mind of two 
 Hearts & Bodyes ; but farre unfit it is that the Turtle 
 fhould match with the Eagle, though her Loue be 
 neuer fo pure, her Wings are unfit to mount fo high. 
 While Thales gazed on the Starres, he flumbled in a 
 Pit. And they that clime unaduifedly, catch a Fall 
 fuddenly : what auaileth high Dignity in Time of Ad- 
 verfity ? it neither helpeth the Sorrow of the Heart, 
 nor remoues the Bodies Mifery : as for Wealth and 
 Treafure, what are they, but Fortunes Baits to bring 
 Men in Danger ? good for nothing but to make Peo- 
 ple forget themfelues : & whereas you alleadge Po- 
 uerty to be a Hinderer of the Hearts Comfort, I find 
 it my felfe contrary, knowing more Surety to reft 
 vnder a fimple Habit, then a royall Robe : and verily 
 there is none in the World poore, but they that 
 think themfelues poore : for fuch as are indued with 
 
 Content
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Content are rich, hairing nothing elfe ; but he that 
 is poffeffed with Riches without Content, is mod 
 wretched and miferable. Wherefore, moft noble 
 Duke, albeit I account my Life vnworthy of your 
 lead Fauour, yet I would defire you to match your 
 Loue to your Like, and let me reft to my Rake, and 
 vfe my Forke for my Liuing. 
 
 Confider, faire Margaret, (quoth he) that it lyes 
 not in Mans Power to place his Loue where he lift, 
 being the Worke of an high Deity. A Bird was neuer 
 feene in Pontus, nor true Loue in a fleeting Mind : 
 neuer fhall remoue the Affection of my Heart, which 
 in Nature refembleth the Stone Abifton, whofe Fire 
 can neuer be cooled : wherefore, fweet Maiden, giue 
 not obftinate Denial, where gentle Acceptance ought 
 to be receiued. 
 
 Faire Sir, (quoth file) confider what high Difplea- 
 fure may rife by a ram Match, what Danger a Kings 
 Frownes may breed; my worthleffe Matching with 
 your Royalty may perhaps regaine your Liberty, and 
 hazard my Life : then call to Mind how little you 
 fhould enioy your Loue, or I my wedded Lord. 
 
 The Duke at thefe Words made this Reply, that if 
 fhe confented, fhe fhould not dread any Danger. The 
 Thunder (quoth he) is driuen away by ringing of 
 Belles, the Lions Wrath qualified by a yeelding Body : 
 how much more a Brothers Anger with a Brothers 
 
 Intreaty ?
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Intreaty ? By me he hath receiued many Fauors, and 
 neuer yet did he requite any One of them : and who 
 is ignorant that the princely Crown which adorneth 
 his Head is my Right ? all which I am content he 
 fha!l ftill enjoy, fo he requite my Kindnefie. But if he 
 mould not, then would I be like thofe Men, (that eat- 
 ing of the Tree Lutes) forget the Country where they 
 were borne ; and neuer more mould this Clime couer 
 my Head, but with thee would I Hue in a ftrange 
 Land, being better content with an Egge in thy Com- 
 pany, then with all the Delicates in England. 
 
 The Maiden hearing this, who with many other 
 Words was long wooed, at laft confented ; where 
 yeelding to him her Heart with her Hand, he depart- 
 ed, appointing to certifie her from CardifFe Cattle, 
 what Determination he would follow : fo taking his 
 Leaue of Gray, he went to his Brothers, and with them 
 potted to CardifFe. 
 
 Now it is to be remembered, that Sir William Fer- 
 rers, within a Day or two after, came vnto Grayes 
 Houfe, as it was his ordinary Cuftome, but not fo 
 much ywis for Grayes Company, as for the Minde he 
 had to Margaret his Maiden, who although he were a 
 married Man, and had a faire Lady to his Wife, yet 
 he laid hard Siege to the Fort of this Maidens Chafti- 
 ty, hauing with many faire Words fought to allure 
 her, and by the Offer of fundry rich Gifts to tempt 
 
 her.
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 o 
 
 her. But when me faw, that by a hundred Denials 
 fhe could not be rid of him, me now chanced on a 
 Sudden to giue him fuch an Anfwer, as droue him 
 from a Deceit into fuch a Conceit, as neuer after that 
 Time he troubled her. 
 
 Sir William Ferrers being uery importunate to haue 
 her grant his Defire, and when after fundry Affaults 
 me gaue him ftill the Repulfe, hee would needes 
 know the Reafon why fhee would not loue him j quoth 
 he, If thou didft but confider who he is that feeketh 
 thy Fauour, what Pleafure he may doe thee by his 
 Purfe, and what Credit by his Countenance, thou 
 wouldft neuer (land on fuch nice Points. If I be thy 
 Friend, who dareth be thy Foe ? and what is he that 
 will once call thy Name in Queftion for any Thing ? 
 therefore, fweet Girle, be better aduifed, and refufe 
 not my Offer, being fo large. 
 
 Truly, Sir William (quoth fhe) though there be 
 many Reafons to make me deny your Suite, yet is 
 there one aboue the Reft that caufes me I cannot loue 
 you. Now I pray thee, my Wench, let me know that, 
 quoth he, and I will amend it, whatfoeuer it be. Par- 
 don me, Sir, faid Margaret ; if I mould fpeake my 
 Mind, it would poffibly offend you, and doe me no 
 Pleafure, becaufe it is a Defecl in Nature, which no 
 Phificke can cure. Sir William hearing on her fo, 
 being abafhed at her Speech, faid, Faire Margaret, 
 
 l let
 
 The pleafant Iliftorie 
 
 let me (if I may obtaine no more at thy Hands) yet 
 intreat thee to know what this Defect fhould be : I 
 am not wry-neckt, crook-legd, ftub-footed, lame- 
 handed, nor bleareeyed : what can make this Mif- 
 like ? I neuer knew any Body that tooke Exceptions 
 at my Perfon before. 
 
 And the more forry am I, quoth fhe, that I was fo 
 mala-pert to fpeake it ; but pardon me my Preemp- 
 tion, good Sir William ; I would I had beene like the 
 Storke, tonguelefle, then mould I neuer haue caufed 
 your Dif quiet. Nay, fweet Margaret, quoth he, tell 
 me, deare Loue, I commend thy Singlenefle of Heart, 
 good Margaret, fpeake. Good Sir William, let it reft, 
 quoth fhe ; I know you will not beleeue it when I haue 
 reuealed it, neither is it a Thing that you can helpe : 
 and yet fuch is my Foolifhnefle, had it not beene for 
 that, I thinke verily I had granted your Suite ere now. 
 But feeing you vrge me fo much to know what it is, 
 I will tell you : it is, Sir, your ill-fauoured great Nofe, 
 that hangs fagging fo lothfomely to your Lips, that I 
 cannot finde in my Heart fo much as to kilfe you. 
 
 What, my Nofe ! quoth he, is my Nofe fo great 
 and I neuer knew it ? certainly I thought my Nofe to 
 be as comely as any Mans : but this it is, we are all 
 apt to thinke well of our felues, and a great deale bet- 
 ter than we ought : but let me fee, my Nofe ! by the 
 Mafie, tis true, I doe now feele it my felfe : Good 
 
 Lord,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 &■ 
 
 Lord, how was I blinded before ? Hereupon it is cer- 
 taine, that the Knight was driuen into fuch a Conceit, 
 as none could perfwade him but his Nofe was fo great 
 indeed : his Lady, or any other that fpake to the con- 
 trarie, he would fay they were Flatterers, and that 
 they lied, infomuch that he would be ready to ftrike 
 fome of them that commended and fpake well of his 
 Nofe. If they were Men of Worfhip, or any other 
 that contraried him in his Opinion, he would fweare 
 they flowted him, and be ready to challenge them the 
 Field. He became fo afhamed of himfelfe, that after 
 that Day he would neuer goe Abroad, whereby Mar- 
 garet was well rid of his Company. 
 
 On a Time, a wife and graue Gentleman feeing him 
 grounded in his Conceit fo ftrongly, gaue his Lady 
 Counfell, not to contrary him therein, but rather fay 
 that fhe would feeke out fome cunning Phyfician to 
 cure him : for, faid he, as Sir William hath taken this 
 Conceit of himfelfe, fo is he like neuer to heare other 
 Opinion, till his owne Conceit doth remoue it, the 
 which muft be wifely wrought to bring it to paffe. 
 
 Whereupon the Lady, hauing conferred with a 
 Phyfician that beare a great Name in the Countrey, 
 hee vndertooke to remoue this fond Conceit by his 
 Skill. The Day being appointed when the Phifician 
 fliould come, and the Knight being told thereof, for 
 
 very
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 very Ioy he would goe forth to meete him, when a 
 Woman of the Towne faw the Knight, hauing heard 
 what Rumor went becaufe of his Nofe, fhee looked 
 very ftedfaftly vpon him : the Knight calling his Eye 
 vpon her, feeing her to gaze fo wiftly in his Face, with 
 an angry Countenance faid thus to her, Why, how 
 now, good Hufwife, cannot you get you about your 
 Bufines ? The Woman being a fhrewifh Queane, an- 
 fwered him cuttedly, No, mary can I not, qd. fhe. 
 No, you Drab, what is the Caufe ? faid the Knight. 
 Becaufe, quoth fhe, your Nofe ftands in my Way : 
 wherewith the Knight, being uery angry and abafhed, 
 went back againe to his Houfe. 
 
 The Phyfician being come, he had filled a certaine 
 Bladder with Sheeps Blood, and conueyed it into his 
 Sleeue, where at the Iffue of the Bladder he had put 
 in a Piece of a Swans Quill, through the which the 
 Blood fhould runne out of the Bladder fo clofe by his 
 Hand, that hee, holding the Knight by the Nofe, it 
 might not be perceiued but that it iffued thence. All 
 Things being prepared, he told the Knight, that by a 
 foule corrupt Blood wherewith the Veines of his Nofe 
 were ouer-charged, his Impediment did grow, there- 
 fore, quoth he, to haue Redreffe for this Difeafe, you 
 muft haue a Veine opened in your Nofe, whence this 
 foule Corruption muft be taken: whereupon it will 
 
 follow,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 follow, that your Nofe will fall againe to his naturall 
 Proportion, and neuer fhall you be troubled with this 
 Griefe any more, and thereupon will I gage my Life. 
 
 I pray you, Mafter Doclor, faid the Knight, is my 
 Nofe fo big as you make it ? With Reuerence I may 
 fpeake it, faid the Phyfician, to tell the Truth, and 
 auoid Flattery, I neuer faw a more misfhapen Nofe fo 
 foule to Sight. Lo you now, Madam, quoth the 
 Knight, this is you that faid my Nofe was as well, as 
 handfome, and as comely a Nofe as any Mans. 
 
 Alas, Sir, qd. fhe, I fpake it (God wot) becaufe 
 you Ihould not grieue at it, nor take my Words in ill 
 Part, neither did it indeed become me to miflike of 
 your Nofe. 
 
 All this we will quickly remedy, faid the Phyfician, 
 haue no doubt : and with that he uery orderly prickt 
 him in the Nofe, but not in a Veine whereby he might 
 bleed : and prefently hauing a Tricke finely to vnflop 
 the Quill, the Blood ranne into a Bafon in great 
 Aboundance : and when the Bladder was empty, and 
 the Bafon almoit full, the Phyfician feemed to clofe 
 the Veine, and alked him how he felt his Nofe, mew- 
 ing the great Quantite of filthy Blood which from 
 thence he had taken. 
 
 The Knight beholding it with great Wonder, faid, 
 he thought that no Man in the World had beene trou- 
 bled with fuch Aboundance of corrupt Blood in his 
 
 whole
 
 The pica fan t Hiftorie 
 
 whole Body as lay in his mif-fhapen Nofe, and there- 
 withall he began to touch and handle his Nofe, faying, 
 that he felt it mightily affwaged. Immediately a Glaffe 
 was brought, wherein he might behold himfelfe. Yea, 
 mary, qd. he, now I praife God, I fee my Nofe is 
 come into fome reafonable Proportion, and I feele my 
 felfe very well eafed of the Burthen thereof ; but if it 
 continue thus, thats all. I will warrant your Worfhip, 
 faid the Phyfician, for euer being troubled with the 
 like againe. Whereupon the Knight receiued great 
 Ioy, and the Doctor a high Reward. 
 
 How Thomas of Reading was murdered at his Oajis 
 Houfe of Colebrooke, who alfo had murdred many be- 
 fore him, and how their WickedneJJe was at length 
 reuealed. Chap. 11. 
 r V^HOMAS of Reading hauing many Occafions to 
 come to London, as well about his own Affaires, 
 as alfo the Kings Bufinefle, being in a great Office 
 vnder his Maieftie, it chanced on a Time, that his Oaft 
 and Oaftefie of Colebrooke, who through Couetouf- 
 neffe had murdered many of the Guefls, and hauing 
 euery Time he came thither great Store of his Money 
 to lay vp, appointed him to be the next fat Pig that 
 mould be killed : For it is to be vnderftood, that when 
 they plotted the Murder of any Man, this was alwaies 
 their Terme, the Man to his Wife, and the Woman to 
 
 her
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 her Hufband : Wife, there is now a fat Pig to be had 
 if you want one. Whereupon fhe would anfwer thus, 
 I pray you put him in the Hogflie till To-morrow. 
 This was when any Man came thither alone without 
 Others in his Company, and they faw he had great 
 Store of Money. 
 
 This Man fhould be then laid in the Chamber right 
 ouer the Kitchen, which was a faire Chamber, & the 
 better fet out than any other in the Houfe : the bed 
 Bedftead therein, though it were little and low, yet 
 was it moll cunningly carued, and faire to the Eye, 
 the Feet whereof were fall naild to the Chamber 
 Floore in fuch Sort, that it could not in any wife fall ; 
 the Bed that lay therein was fall fowed to the Sides of 
 the Bedftead : Moreouer, that Part of the Chamber 
 whereupon this Bed and Bedftead Hood was made in 
 fuch Sort, that by the pulling out of Two Yron Pinnes 
 below in the Kitchen, it was to be let downe and taken 
 vp by a Draw-bridge, or in Manner of a Trap-doore : 
 moreouer in the Kitchen, directly vnder the Place 
 where this Ihould fall, was a mighty great Caldron, 
 wherein they vfed to feethe their Liquor when they 
 went to Brewing. Now the Men appointed for the 
 Slaughter were laid into this Bed, and in the dead 
 Time of the Night, when they were found alleepe, by 
 plucking out the forefaid Yron Pinnes, downe will the 
 Man fall out of his Bed into the boyling Caldron, and 
 
 all
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 all the Cloaths that were vpon him : where being fud- 
 denly fcalded and drowned, he was neuer'able to cry 
 or fpeake one Word. 
 
 Then had they a little Ladder euer (landing ready 
 in the Kitchen, by the which they prefently mounted 
 into the faid Chamber, and there clofely take away 
 the Mans Apparell, as alfo his Money, in his Male or 
 Cap-cafe : and then lifting vp the faid Falling-Floore, 
 which hung by Hinges, they made it faft as before. 
 
 The dead Body would they take prefently out of 
 the Caldron, and throw it down the River, which 
 ran neere vnto their Houfe, whereby they efcaped all 
 Danger. 
 
 Now if in the Morning any of the Reft of the Guefts 
 that had talkt with the murdered Man ore Eue, chanfl 
 to afke for him, as hauing Occafion to ride the fame 
 Way that he mould haue done, the Good-man would 
 anfwere, that he tooke Horfe a good while before Day, 
 and that he himfelfe did fet him forward : the Horfe 
 the Good-man would alfo take out of the Stable, & 
 conuey him by a Hay-barne of his, that flood from 
 his Houfe a Mile or Two, whereof himfelfe did alwaies 
 keepe the Keies full charily, and when any Hay was 
 to be brought from thence, with his owne Hands he 
 would deliuer it : then before the Horfe mould goe 
 from thence, he would difmarke him : as if he ware 
 a long Taile, he would make him curtail : or elfe 
 
 crop
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 crop his Eares, or cut his Mane, or put out One of 
 his Eies ; and by this Meanes hee kept himfelfe vn- 
 knowne. 
 
 Now, Thomas of Reading, as I faid before, being 
 markt, & kept for a fat Pig, he was laid in the fame 
 Chamber of Death, but by Reafon Gray of Glocefter 
 chanced alfo to come that Night, he efcaped fcalding. 
 
 The next Time he came, he was laid there againe, 
 but before he fell afleepe, or was warme in his Bed, 
 one came riding thorow the Towne, and cryed pite- 
 oufly, that London was all on a Fire, and that it had 
 burned downe Thomas Beckets Houfe in Weft-cheape, 
 and a great Number more in the fame Street, and yet 
 (quoth he) the Fire is not quencht. 
 
 Which Tidings when Thomas of Reading heard, he 
 was very forrowfull, for of the fame Becket that Day 
 he had receiued a great Peece of Money, and had left 
 in his Houfe many of his Writings, and fome that ap- 
 pertained to the King alfo : therefore there was no 
 way but he would ride backe againe to London pre- 
 fently, to fee how the Matter flood, thereupon making 
 himfelfe ready, departed. This crofle Fortune caufed 
 his Oaft to frowne, neuertheleffe the next Time (qd. 
 he) will pay for all. 
 
 Notwithstanding God fo wrought that they were 
 prevented the likewife, by Reafon of a great Fray that 
 
 hapned 
 
 M
 
 The pleafarit Hiftorie 
 
 hapned in the Houfe betwixt a Couple that fell out at 
 Dice, infomuch as the Murderers themfeiues were in- 
 forced to call him vp, being a Man in great Authority, 
 that he might fet the Houfe in Quietneffe, out of the 
 which, by Meanes of this Quarrell, they doubted to 
 lofe many Things. 
 
 Another Time, when hee mould haue beene laid in 
 the fame Place, he fell fo ficke, that he requefted to 
 haue fome body to watch with him, whereby alfo they 
 could not bring their vile Purpofe to paffe. But hard 
 it is to efcape the ill Fortunes whereunto a Man is al- 
 lotted : for albeit that the next Time that he came to 
 London, his Horfe ftumbled & broke One of his Legs 
 as he mould ride homeward, yet hired he another to 
 haften his owne Death ; for there is no Remedy but 
 he mould goe to Colebrooke that Night : but by the 
 Way he was heauy afleepe, that he could fcant keepe 
 himfelfe in the Saddle ; and when he came neere vnto 
 the Towne, his Nofe burft out fuddenly a Bleeding. 
 
 Well, to his Inne he came, and fo heauy was his 
 Heart that he could eate no Meat : his Oaft and 
 Oafteffe hearing he was fo melancholy, came vp to 
 cheare him, faying, Jefus, Matter Cole, what ayles you 
 to-night ? neuer did we fee you thus fad before : will 
 it pleafe you to haue a Quart of burnt Sacke ? With 
 a good Will (quoth he) and would to God Tom Doue 
 
 were
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 were here, he would furely make me merry, and we 
 mould lacke no Muficke : but I am forry for the Man 
 with all my Heart, that he is come fo farre behind 
 Hand : but, alas, fo much can euery Man fay, but 
 what Good doth it him ? No, no, it is not Words can 
 helpe a Man in this Cafe, the Man had need of other 
 Reliefe then fo. Let me fee : I haue but one Child 
 in the World, and that is my Daughter, and Half that 
 I haue is hers, the other Halfe my Wifes. What then ? 
 mail I be good to no body but them ? In Confcience, 
 my Wealth is too much for a Couple to poifeife, and 
 what is our Religion without Charity ? And to whom 
 is Charity more to be fhewne, then to decaid Houfe- 
 holders ? 
 
 Good my Oaft, lend me a Pen and Inke, and fome 
 Paper, for I will write a Letter vnto the poore Man 
 ilraight ; & Something I will giue him : That Almes 
 which a Man beftowes with his owne Hands, he fhall 
 be fure to haue deliuered, and God knowes how long 
 I fhall liue. 
 
 With that, his Oafteffe diflemblingly anfwered, fay- 
 ing, Doubt not, Mafter Cole, you are like enough by 
 the Courfe of Nature to liue many Yeeres. God 
 knowes (quoth he) I neuer found my Heart fo heauy 
 before. By this Time Pen, Inke, and Paper was 
 brought, fetting himfelfe in writing as followeth. 
 
 In
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 I N the Name of God, Amen. I bequeath my Soule 
 to God, and my Body to the Ground, my Goods 
 equally betweene my Wife Elenor, and Ifabel my 
 Daughter. Item, I giue to Thomas Done of Exeter, 
 One Hundred Pounds ; nay, that is too little, 1 giue 
 to Thomas Doue Two Hundred Pounds in Money, to 
 be paid vnto him prefently vpon his Demand thereof, 
 by my faid Wife and Daughter. 
 
 Ha, how fay you, Oaft, (qd. he) is not this well ? 
 I pray you reade it. His Oaft looking thereon, faid, 
 Why, Mafter Cole, what haue you written here ? you 
 faid you would write a Letter, but me thinks you haue 
 made a Will ; what need haue you to doe thus ? 
 Thanks be to God, you may Hue many faire Yeeres. 
 Tis true, (quoth Cole) if it pleafe God, and I truft this 
 Writing cannot fhorten my Daies ; but let me fee, 
 haue I made a Will? Now, i promife you, I did 
 verily purpofe to write a Letter : notwithstanding, I 
 haue written that that God put into my Mind : but 
 looke once againe, my Oaft, is it not written there, 
 that Doue fhall haue Two Hundred Pounds, to be paid 
 when he comes to demand it ? Yes, indeed, faid his 
 Oafte. Well then, all is well, faid Cole, and it fhall 
 goe as it is for me. I will not beftow the new Writing 
 thereof any more. 
 
 Then
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Then folding it vp, he fealed it, defiring that his 
 Oaft would fend it to Exeter : he promifed that he 
 would, notwithflanding Cole was not fatisfied : but 
 after fome Paufe, he would needs hire one to carry it. 
 And fo fitting downe fadly in his Chaire againe, vpon 
 a fudden he burfl forth a weeping ; they demanding 
 the Caufe thereof, he fpake as followeth : 
 
 No Caufe of thefe Feares I know : but it comes 
 now into my Minde, (faid Cole) when I fet toward 
 this my laft Iourney to London, how my Daughter 
 tooke on, what a Coyle fhe kept to haue me flay : and 
 I could not be rid of the little Baggage a long Time, 
 fhe did fo hang about me ; when her Mother by Vio- 
 lence tooke her away, fhe cried out moft mainly, O 
 my Father, my Father, I fhall neuer fee him againe. 
 
 Alas, pretty Soule, faid his Oafteffe, this was but 
 meere KindnefTe in the Girle, and it feemeth fhe is 
 very fond of you. But, alas, why mould you grieue 
 at this ? you muft confider that it was but Childifh- 
 neffe. I, it is indeed, faid Cole, and with that he be- 
 gan to nod. Then they afked him if he would goe to 
 Bed. No, faid he, although I am heauy, I haue no 
 Mind to goe to Bed at all. With that certaine Mufi- 
 cians of the Towne came to the Chamber, and know- 
 ing Mafler Cole was there, drue out their Inflruments, 
 and very folemnly began to play. 
 
 This
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 This Muficke comes uery well (faid Cole) and when 
 he had liftned a while thereunto, he faid, Me thinks 
 thefe Inftrumets found like the Ring of St. Mary 
 Queries Bells ; but the Bafe drowns all the Reft : & 
 in my Eare it goes like a Bell that rings a frozen Ones 
 Knell, for Gods Sake let them leaue off, and beare 
 them this fimple Reward. The Muficians being gone, 
 his Oafl aiked, if now it would pleafe him to go t 
 Bed j for (quoth he) it is wel neere Eleuen of the 
 Clocke. 
 
 With that Cole, beholding his Oaft & Oafteffe 
 earneftly, began to ftart backe, faying, What aile you 
 to looke fo like pale Death ? good Lord ! what haue 
 you done, that your Hands are thus bloody ? What, 
 my Hands ? faid his Oaft ; why you may fee they are 
 neither bloody nor foule : either your Eyes doe great- 
 ly dazell, or elfe Fancies of a troubled Minde doe de- 
 lude you. 
 
 Alas, my Oaft, you may fee, faid hee, how weake 
 my Wits are ; I neuer had my Head fo idle before. 
 Come, let me drinke once more, and then I will to 
 Bed, and trouble you no longer. With that hee made 
 himfelfe vnready, and his Oafteffe was very diligent 
 to warme a KerchifFe, and put it about his Head. 
 Good Lord ! faid he, I am not ficke, I praife God ; 
 but fuch an Alteration I finde in my felfe as I neuer 
 did before. 
 
 With
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 With that the Scritch-Owle cried pitioufly, and 
 anon after the Night- Rauen fate croking hard by his 
 Window. Jeiu, haue Mercy upon me, quoth hee, what 
 an ill-fauoured Cry doe yonder Carrion-Birds make, 
 and therewithall he laid him downe in his Bed, from 
 whence he neuer rofe againe. 
 
 His Oaft and Oaftefle, that all this while noted his 
 troubled Mind, began to commune betwixt themfelues 
 thereof. And the Man faid, he knew not what were 
 beft to be done. By my Confent (quoth he) the Mat- 
 ter mould pane, for I thinke it is not beft to meddle 
 on him. What, Man, quoth fhe, faint you now ? haue 
 you done fo many, and doe you fhrinke at this ? Then 
 fhewing him a great deale of Gold which Cole had left 
 with her, fhe faid, Would it not grieue a Bodies Heart 
 to lofe this ? Hang the old Churle, what mould he 
 doe liuing any longer ? he hath too much, and we haue 
 too little : tut, Hufband, let the Thing be done, and 
 then this is our owne. 
 
 Her wicked Counfell was followed, and when they 
 had liftned at his Chamber-Doore, they heard the Man 
 found afleepe : All is fafe, quoth they, and downe in- 
 to the Kitchen they goe, their Seruants being all in 
 Bed, and pulling out the Yron Pins, downe fell the 
 Bed, and the Man dropt out into the boyling Caldron. 
 He being dead, they betwixt them caft his Body into 
 the Riuer j his Clothes they made away, & made all 
 
 Things
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Things as it mould be : but when he came to the 
 Stable to conuey thence Coles Horfe, the Stable-doore 
 being open, the Horfe had got loofe, and with a Part 
 of the Halter about his Necke, and Straw truffed vnder 
 his Belly, as the Ofllers had drefled him ore Eue, he 
 was gone out at the Back-fide, which led into a great 
 Field ioyning to the Houfe, and fo leaping diuers 
 Hedges, being a luftie flout Horfe, had got into a 
 Ground where a Mare was grazing, with whom he 
 kept fuch a Coile, that they got into the High-way, 
 where One of the Towne meeting them, knew the 
 Mare, and brought her and the Horfe to the Man that 
 owed her. 
 
 In the meane Space the Muficians had beene at the 
 Inne, and in Requitall of their Euenings Gift, they in- 
 tended to giue Cole fome Muficke in the Morning. 
 The Good-man told them he tooke Horfe before Day : 
 likewife there was a Gueft in the Houfe that would 
 haue bore him Company to Reading, vnto whom the 
 Oaft alfo anfwered, that he himfelfe fet him vpon 
 Horfebacke, and that he went long agoe. Anon came 
 the Man that owed the Mare, inquiring vp and downe, 
 to know and if none of them miffed a Horfe, who faid 
 no. At the laft he came to the Signe of the Crane, 
 where Cole lay : and calling the Oaftlers, he demand- 
 ed of them if they lackt none, they faid no : Why 
 then, faid the Man, I perceiue my Mare is good for 
 
 Something
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 Something, for if I fend her to Field tingle, fhe will 
 come Home double. Thus it paffed on all that Day 
 and the Night following : but the next Day after, 
 Coles Wife, mufmg that her Hufband came not Home, 
 fent one of her Men on Horfe-backe, to fee if he could 
 meet him : and if (quoth fhe) you meet him not be- 
 twixt this and Colebrooke, alke for him at the Crane ; 
 but if you find him not there, then ride to London, 
 for I doubt he is either ficke, or elfe fome Mifchance 
 hath fallen vnto him. 
 
 The Fellow did fo 9 and alking for him at Cole- 
 brooke, they anfwered, hee went -homeward from 
 thence fuch a Day. The Seruant mufing what fhould 
 be become of his Mailer, and making much Inquiry 
 in the Towne for him, at length One told him of a 
 Horfe that was found on the High-way, and no Man 
 knew whence he came. He going to fee the Horfe, 
 knew him prefently, and to the Crane he goes with 
 him. The Oafl of the Houfe perceiuing this, was 
 blanke, and that Night fled fecretly away. The Fellow 
 going vnto the Juftice, defired his Helpe : prefently 
 after Word was brought that larman of the Crane was 
 gone ; then all the Men faid, he had fure made Cole 
 away : & the Muficians told what larman faid to them, 
 when they would haue giuen Cole Muficke. Then the 
 Woman being apprehended & examined, confeffed the 
 Truth. larman foone after was taken in Windfor 
 
 n Foreft,
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Foreft, he and his Wife were both hangd, after they 
 had laid open al thefe Things before exprefled. Alfo 
 he confeffed, that he being a Carpenter, made that 
 falfe Falling-Floore, and how his Wife deuifed it. And 
 how they had murdered by that Meanes Ix. Perfons. 
 And yet, notwithstanding all the Money which they 
 had gotten thereby, they profpered not, but at their 
 Death were found very farre in Debt. 
 
 When the King heard of this Murder, he was for 
 the Space of vii. Dayes fo forrowfull and heauie, as 
 he would not heare any Suite, giuing alfo Command- 
 ment, that the Houfe mould quite be confumed with 
 Fire wherein Cole was murdered, and that no Man 
 mould euer build vpon that curfed Ground. 
 
 Coles Subftance at his Death was exceeding great ; 
 
 hee had daily in his Houfe an Hundred Men Seruants 
 
 and xl. Maides ; hee maintained befide aboue Two 
 
 or Three Hundred People, Spinners and Carders, and 
 
 a great many other Houfe-holders. His Wife neuer 
 
 after married, and at her Death fhee bellowed a 
 
 mightie Summe of Money toward the maintaining of 
 
 the new-builded Monaflery. Her Daughter was moll 
 
 richly married to a Gentleman of great Worfhip, by 
 
 whom fhe had many Children. And fome fay, that 
 
 the Riuer whereinto Cole was caft, did euer fince car- 
 
 rie the Name of Cole, being called, The Riuer of Cole, 
 
 and the Towne of Colebrooke. 
 
 How
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 How diuers of the Clothiers Wiues went to the Churching 
 of Suttons Wife of Salisbury, &f of their Merriment. 
 Chap. 12. 
 
 OVTTONS Wife of Salifbury, which had lately bin 
 ^deliuered of a Sonne, againft her going to Church 
 prepared great Cheare : at what Time Simons Wife of 
 Southampton came thither, and fo did diuers others of 
 the Clothiers Wiues, onely to make merry at this 
 Churching Feaft : and whileft thefe Dames fate at the 
 Table, Crab, Weafell, and Wren, waited on the Boord ; 
 and as the old Prouerbe fpeaketh, Many Women 
 many Words, fo fell it out at that Time : for there 
 was fuch Prattling that it paffed : fome talkt of their 
 Hufbands Frowardnes, fome mewed their Maids Slut- 
 tiihnes, other fome deciphered the Cofllines of their 
 Garments, fome told many Tales of their Neighbours : 
 and, to be briefe, there was none of them but would 
 haue talke for a whole Day. 
 
 But when Crab, Weafell, and Wren faw this, they 
 concluded betwixt themfelves, that as oft as any of the 
 Women had a good Bit of Meate on their Trenchers, 
 they offering a clean one, mould catch that Commo- 
 dity, and fo they did : but the Women, being bufie 
 in Talke, marked it not, till at the lafl one found 
 Leifure to mine her Meat : whereupon fhe faid, that 
 
 their
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 their Boldnefle exceeded their Diligence. Not fo, 
 forfooth, faid Weafell, there is an Hundred bolder than 
 we. Name me One, faid the Woman, if you can. A 
 Flea is bolder, quoth Crabbe. How will you proue 
 that ? faid the Woman. Becaufe, quoth he, they will 
 creepe vnder your Coates, where we dare not come, 
 and now and then bite you by the Buttocks, as if they 
 were Brawne. But what becomes of them ? qd. the 
 Woman; their fweet Meat hath fowre Sauce, and 
 their Luftines doth often cofl them their Liues, there- 
 fore take Heed. A good Warning of a faire Woman, 
 faid Wren, but I had not thought fo fine a Wit in a 
 fat Belly. 
 
 The Women feeing their Men fo merry, faid it was 
 a Signe there was good Ale in the Houfe. Thats as 
 fit for a Churching, quoth Weafell, as a Cudgell for a 
 curft Queane. Thus with pleafant Communication 
 and merry Quips they droue out the Time, till the 
 Fruit and Spice- Cakes were fet on the Boord : At 
 what Time one of them began to alk the other, if they 
 heard not of the cruell Murder of Thomas of Reading ? 
 What, faid the Reft, is old Cole murdred ? when, I 
 pray you, was the Deed done ? The other anfwered, 
 On Friday laft. O good Lord ! faid the Woman, how' 
 was it done, can you tell ? 
 
 As Report goes, faid the other, he was rofted aliue. 
 O pitifull ! was hee roafted ? Indeed I heard one fay, 
 
 a Man
 
 of Thomas of Ptcadin^. 
 
 ->- 
 
 a Man was murdred at London, and that hee was Sod- 
 den at an Inholders Houfe, and ferued it to the Guefts 
 in Head of Porke. 
 
 No, Neighbour, it was not at London, faid another : 
 I heare fay twas comming from London, at a Place 
 called Colebrooke ; and it is reported for Truth, that 
 the Inholder made Pies of him and Penny Parties, yea, 
 and made his owne Seruant eate a Piece of him. But 
 I pray you, good Neighbour, can you tell how it was 
 knowne : fome fav that a Horfe reuealed it. 
 
 J 
 
 Now, by the Maffe, (quoth Grayes Wife) it was told 
 one of my Neighbours, that a certaine Horfe did 
 fpeake, and told great Things. That founds like a Lie, 
 faid one of them. Why, faid another, may not a Horfe 
 fpeake, as well as Balaams AfTe ? It may be, but it is 
 vnlikely, faid the Third. But where was the Horfe 
 when he fpake ? As fome fay, qd. fhe, he was in the 
 Field, and had broke out of the Stable, where he flood 
 fall locked in mighty itrong Yron Fetters, which hee 
 burft in Peeces, as they had beene Strawes, and broke 
 downe the Stable-Doore, and fo got away. The Good- 
 man comming in at thefe Speeches, afked what that 
 was they talkt of. Marry, faid his Wife, wee heare 
 that Cole of Reading is murdred. I pray you is it 
 true ? I, faid Sutton, it is true ; that vile Villaine his 
 Oafl murdered him, in whofe Houfe the Man had 
 fpent many a Pound. But did they make Pies of him ? 
 
 faid
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 laid his Wife. No, no, quoth her Hufband ; he was 
 fcalded to death in a boiling Caldron, and afterward 
 throwne into a running Riuer that is hard by. But, 
 good Hufband, how was it knowne ? By his Horfe, 
 quoth hee. What, did he tell his Mailer was murder- 
 ed ? could the Horfe fpeake Englifh ? Jefus, what a 
 foolifh Woman are you, quoth he, to afke fuch a quef- 
 tion. But, to end this, you are all heartily welcome, 
 good Neighbours, and I am forry you had no better 
 Cheere. So with Thanks the Women departed. Thus 
 haue yee heard the diuers Tales that will be fpred 
 Abroad of an euil Deed. 
 
 How Duke Robert decerned his Keepers, & got from 
 them : how he met /aire Margaret, and in carrying 
 her away was taken, for the which he had his Eyes 
 put out. Chap. 13. 
 
 T"\UKE Robert hauing, as you heard, obtained the 
 -*^Loue of faire Margaret, did now caft in his Mind 
 how hee might delude his Keepers, and carry her 
 quite away. In the End, he being abfolutely refolued 
 what to doe, fent his Letter vnto her, wherein he re- 
 quefted, that me would be readie to meet him in the 
 Forreft, betwixt Cardiffe and Glocefter. 
 
 The young Lady, hauing fecretly receiued his Mef- 
 fage, vnknowne to her Matter or Dame, in a Morning 
 
 betime
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 betime made her ready and got forth, walking to the 
 appointed Place, where her Loue mould meet her. 
 
 During her Abode there, and thinking long ere her 
 Loue came, fhe entred into diuers Paflions, which in- 
 deed prefaged fome difafter Fortune to follow. O my 
 deare Loue, faid fne, how flacke art thou in perform- 
 ing thy Promife ! Why doe not thy Deedes agree with 
 thy Inditing ? See, thefe are thy Words, Come, my 
 deare Margaret, and with Cupids fwift Wings flie to 
 thy Friend ; be now as nimble in thy Footing as the 
 Camels of Ba&ria, that runne an Hundred Miles a 
 Day : I will waite and flay for thee, fo I flay not too 
 long. There is no Country like Auftria for ambling 
 Horfes, & to carry thee I haue got one. 
 
 O my Loue, (quoth (he) here am I, but where art 
 thou ? O why doeft thou play the Trewant with Time, 
 who like the Wind Aides away vnfeene ? An ambling 
 Gennet of Spaine is too flow to ferue our Turnes. A 
 flying Horfe for flying Louers were molt meete. And 
 thus calling many Lookes thorow the Siluane Shades 
 vp and downe to efpie him, fhe thought euery Minute 
 an Houre, till fhe might fee him : fometimes fhe would 
 wifh her felfe a Bird, that fhe might fly through the 
 Ayre to meete him ; or a pretty Squirill, to clime the 
 highefl Tree to defcry his comming : but finding her 
 Wifhes vaine, fhe began thus to excufe him, and per- 
 fwaded her felfe, faying, 
 
 How
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 How much to blame am I, to finde fault with my 
 Friend? Alas, Men that lacke their Liberty, mull 
 come when they can, not when they would ; poore 
 Prifoners cannot doe what they defire ; and then why 
 mould I be fo haftie ? Therefore, if fafely I may lay 
 me downe, I will beguile vnquiet Thoughts with quiet 
 Sleepe : it is faid that Galino breeds no Serpents, nor 
 doth Englands Forrefls nourtfh Beares or Lyons, 
 therefore, without Hurt I hope I may reft awhile. 
 Thus leauing faire Margaret in a fweet Slumber, we 
 will returne to Duke Robert, who had thus plotted his 
 Efcape from his Keepers. 
 
 Hauing Liberty of the King to hawke and hunt, 
 hee determined on a Day, as hee mould follow the 
 Chafe, to leaue the Hounds to the Hart, and the 
 Hunters to their Homes, and being bufie in their 
 Sport, himfelfe would flie, which hee performed at 
 that Time when he appointed Margaret to meete him, 
 and fo comming to the Place, his Horfe all on a Wa- 
 ter, and himfelfe in a Sweat, finding his Loue afleepe, 
 he awaked her with a Kilfe, faying, Arife, faire Mar- 
 garet, now comes the Time wherein thou fhalt be 
 made a Queene : and prefently fetting her on Horfe- 
 backe, he polled away. 
 
 Now when the Keepers faw they had loft his Com- 
 pany, and that at the killing of the Game hee was not 
 prefent, they were among themfelues in fuch a Mutiny, 
 
 that 
 8
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 that they were ready one to ftabbe another. It was 
 thy Fault, faid one, that hee thus efcapt from vs, that 
 hadfl more mind of thy Pleafure then of thy Prifoner, 
 and by this Meanes we are all undone. The other 
 faid as much to him, that he had thought he had fol- 
 lowed him in the Chafe : but leauing at laft this Con- 
 tention, the one pofted vp to the King, while the Others 
 coafled vp and downe the Country to fearch for the 
 Duke, who hauing kild his Horfe in travelling, was 
 mofl vnhappily mette on Foot with faire Margaret, 
 ere he could come to any Towne, where he might for 
 Money haue another. But when he efpyed his Keepers 
 come to take him, he defired Margaret to make Shift 
 for her felfe, and to feeke to efcape them. But fhe 
 being of a contrary Mind, faid, fhe would Hue and die 
 with him. 
 
 The Duke, feeing himfelfe ready to be furprized, 
 drew out his Sword, and faid, he would buy his Li- 
 berty with his Life, before he would yeeld to be any 
 more a Prifoner ; and thereupon began a great Fight 
 betwixt them, infomuch that the Duke had killed Two 
 of them : but himfelfe being fore wounded, and faint 
 with ouermuch bleeding, at length fell downe, being 
 not able any longer to ftand : and by this Meanes the 
 good Duke was taken with his faire Loue, & both of 
 them committed to Prifon. 
 
 But in the meane Space, when Crayes Wife had 
 
 o miffed
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 miffed her Maide, and faw fhe was quite gone, fhe 
 made great Lamentation for her among her Neigh- 
 bours, for me loued her as dearely as any Child that 
 euer fhe bore of her owne Body. O Margaret, (quoth 
 fhee) what Caufe hadfl thou thus to leaue me ? If thou 
 didft millike any Thing, why didft thou not tell me ? 
 If thy Wages were too little, I would haue mended it : 
 If thy Apparell had beene too fimple, thou fhouldft 
 haue had better : If thy Worke had bin too great, I 
 would haue had Helpe for thee. 
 
 Farewell, my fweet Meg, the beft Seruant that euer 
 came in any Mans Houfe ; many may I haue of thy 
 Name, but neuer any of thy Nature : thy Diligence is 
 much j in thy Hands I laid the whole Gouernment of 
 my Houfe, and thereby eafed my felfe of that Care 
 which now will cumber me. 
 
 Heere fhee hath left me my Keyes vnto my Chefts, 
 but my Comfort is gone with her Prefence : euery 
 gentle Word that me was wont to fpeake, comes now 
 into my Mind ; her courteous Behauiour mall I neuer 
 forget : with how fweet and modeft a Countenance 
 would me qualifie my ouer-haftie Nature ? It repents 
 my Heart that euer I fpoke foule Word vnto her. O 
 Meg, wert thou here againe, I would neuer chide 
 thee more : but I was an vnworthy Dame for fuch a 
 Seruant. What will become of me now, if I mould 
 
 chance
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 &■ 
 
 chance to be ficke, feeing fhe is gone, that was wont 
 to be both my Apoticary and Phyfician ? 
 
 Well, quoth her Neighbours, there is no Remedy 
 now but to reft content ; you (hall one Day heare of 
 her, doubt you not ; and thinke this, that fhe was not 
 fo good but you may get another as good, and there- 
 fore do not take it fo heauily. O Neighbour, blame 
 me not to grieue, feeing I haue loft fo great a Jewell, 
 and fure I am perfwaded, that fcant in a Bodies Life- 
 time they fhall meet with the like. • 
 
 I proteft I would circuit England round about on 
 my bare Feet to meet with her againe. O, my Meg 
 was furely ftole away from me, elfe would me not 
 haue gone in fuch Sort. Her Hufband, on the other 
 Side, grieued as much, & refted not Night nor Day, 
 riding vp and downe to feeke her : but fhe, poore 
 Soule ! is faft lockt vp in Prifon, and therefore can- 
 not be met withall. 
 
 But when the King vnderftood of his Brothers 
 Efcape, hee was maruelous wroth, giuing great Charge 
 and Commandement when he was taken, that both his 
 Eyes fhould be put out, and be kept in Prifon tit I his 
 dying Day : appointing alfo that the Maid mould lofe 
 her Life for Prefumption of louing him. 
 
 This Matter being rumored ouer all England, it 
 came to the Eares of Gray & his Wife, who hearing 
 that Margaret alfo was there in Prifon appointed to 
 
 die,
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 die, the good aged Woman neuer refted till fhe came 
 to the Court, where kneeling before the King, with 
 many Teares me befought his Maieftie to fpare the 
 Maidens Life, faying, Moft royall King, confider, I 
 humbly befeech you, that the Duke your Brother was 
 able to intice any Woman to his Loue, much more a 
 filly Maiden, efpecially promifing her Marriage, to 
 make her a Lady, a Dutcheffe, or a Queene, who 
 would refufe fuch an Offer, when at the Inftant they 
 might get both a princely Hufband and a high Digni- 
 ty ? If Death be a Louers Guerdon, then what is due 
 to Hatred ? I am in my Heart perfwaded, that had 
 my poore Margaret thought it would haue bred your 
 Highnes Difpleafure, fhe would neuer haue bought 
 his Loue fo deare. Had your Grace made it known 
 to your Commons, that it was unlawfull for any to 
 marry the Duke your Brother, who would haue at- 
 tempted fuch an Action ? If fhe had wilfully difobey- 
 ed your Graces Commandement, fhe might haue been 
 thought worthy of Death ; but feeing ignorantly fhe 
 offended, I befeech your Grace to recall the Sentence, 
 and let me flill enioy my Seruant, for neuer will I rife 
 till your Majeftie haue granted my Petition. 
 
 His Highnes, who was of Nature mercifull, behold- 
 ing the Womans aboundant Tears, tooke Pitie on her, 
 and granted her Suite : which being obtained, fhee 
 went Home in all Hafle poffible. And from thence 
 
 fhee,
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 ihee, with her Hufband, taking their Iourney to Car- 
 diffe Caftle, they came at that very Inftant when the 
 Maiden was led toward her Death, who went in mod 
 ioyfull Sort to the fame, faying, that they were not 
 worthy to be accounted true Louers that were not 
 willing to die for Loue : and fo with a fmiling Coun- 
 tenance me patted on, as if fhe had eaten Apium Rifus^ 
 which caufeth a Man to die laughing : but her Dame 
 Gray feeing her, fell about her Necke, and with many 
 Kiffes imbraced her, faying, Thou malt not die, my 
 Wench, but goe Home with me ; and for thy Deli- 
 uery behold here the Kings Letters ; and with that 
 fhe deliuered them vp to the Gouernour of the Caftle, 
 who reading them, found thefe Words written, Wee 
 pardon the Maids Life, and grant her Liberty ; but 
 let her not pafle till fhe fee her Louers Eyes put out, 
 which we will haue you doe in fuch Sort, that not 
 onely the Sight may perifh, but the Eye continue faire, 
 for which Caufe I haue fent downe Doctor Piero, that 
 he may execute the fame. 
 
 The Gouernour of the Caftle hauing read the Kings 
 Letter, faid thus to the Maiden, The Kings Maieftie 
 hath pardoned thy Life, and allowed thy Liberty : but 
 you muft not paffe before you fee your Louers Eyes 
 put out. O Sir, faid the Maiden, miftake not your- 
 felfe, they are my Eyes that muft be put out, and not 
 
 the
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 the Dukes : as his Offence grew by my Meanes, fo I 
 being guilty, ought to receiue the Punifhment. 
 
 The Kings Commandement muft be fulfilled, faid 
 the Gouernour : and therewithal! Duke Robert was 
 brought forth, who hearing that he muft lofe his Eyes, 
 faid thus : The noble Mind is neuer conquered by 
 Griefe, nor ouercome by Mifchance : but as the Hart 
 reneweth his Age by eating the Serpent, fo doth a 
 Man lengthen his Life with deuouring Sorrow : my 
 Eyes haue offended the King, and they muft be pu- 
 nifhed : my Heart is in great Fault, why is not that 
 killed ? 
 
 The Kings Maiefty, faid the Gouernour, fpares 
 your Life of meere Loue, and onely is content to fa- 
 tisfie the Law with the Loffe of your Eyes ; wherfore 
 take in good Part this Punifhment, and thinke you 
 haue deferued greater then is granted. 
 
 With this Margaret cryed out, faying, O my deare 
 
 Loue, moft gentle Prince, well may you wifh that I 
 
 had neuer bin borne, who by feeing of mee muft lofe 
 
 your Sight : but happie mould I count my felfe, if it 
 
 fo pleafe the King, that I might redeeme thy Eyes with 
 
 my Life : or elfe, that being an equall Offendor, I 
 
 might receiue equall Punifhment : hadft thou fuftain- 
 
 ed this Smart for fome Queene or Princeffe of high 
 
 Blood, it might with the more Eafe be borne, but to 
 
 indure
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 indure it for fuch a one as I, it muft needs caufe a tre- 
 ble Grief to be increafed. 
 
 Content thee, faire Margaret, faid the Duke ; for 
 Honor ought to be giuen to Virtue, & not Riches : 
 for Glory, Honor, Nobility and Riches, without Ver- 
 tue, are but Clokes of Malicioufnes. And now let me 
 take my Leaue of thy Beauty, for neuer mull I behold 
 thy Face : notwithstanding I account my Eyes well 
 loft, in that I doe forgoe them for fo peereles a Para- 
 gon. Now, faire Heauens, farewell ! the Sunne, 
 Moone, and Starres fhall I in this World neuer be- 
 hold againe ; and farewell alfo the fruitfull Earth : 
 well may I feele thee, but thofe poore Windowes of 
 my Body are now denyed to view thee any more : 
 and though the World hath euer bin my Foe, yet will 
 I bid thee farewell too, & farewell all my Friends : 
 whiles I Hue here in this World, I muft fuppofe to 
 fleepe, & wake when I come in Heauen, where I hope 
 to fee you all againe. Yet had it pleafed the King, I 
 had rather haue loft my Life then my Eyes. Life, 
 why, what is it but a Flowre, a Bubble in the Water, 
 a Spanne long, and full of Miferie ? Of fuch fmall 
 Account is Life, that euery Souldier will fell it for 
 Sixpence. And truft me, I do now deteft Life worfe 
 then a Goat doth hate Bafill. 
 
 With that the Dodor prepared his Inftrument, and 
 being ready to fet to the Dukes Eyes, he faid, O ftay, 
 
 Mafter
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Matter Do&or, till I haue conueyed my Loues Coun- 
 tenance downe into my Heart : Come hither, my Sweet, 
 and let me giue thee my laft Kiffe, while mine Eyes 
 may direct me to thy Cherry Lips. Then imbracing 
 her in his Armes, he faid, O that I might giue thee a 
 Kiffe of xx. Yeeres long, and to fatisfie my Eyes with 
 thy Sight : yet it doth fomewhat content me, becaufe 
 thou art prefent at my Punifhment, that I may hold 
 thee by the Hand, to comfort my Heart, at the fudden 
 Pricke of my Eye. 
 
 This being faid, the Doctor performed his Duty, 
 and fo put out the chrittall Sight : at what Time D. 
 Robert ftarted up, and with a moft manly Courage 
 faid, I mutt thank his Maieftie, that though hee de- 
 priue me of my Sight, yet he leaueth me Eyes to weepe 
 for my Sinnes. But fo foone as Margaret beheld the 
 Deed, fhe fell downe in a Swoune, and much a doe 
 her Dame had to recouer her Life : which when the 
 Duke underftood, hee was wondrous woe, groaping 
 for her with his bleeding Eyes, faying, O where is my 
 Loue ? for Gods Sake haue regard to her. And I pray 
 you moll heartily, good Wife Gray, let her haue this 
 Fauour for my Sake, that fhe may be vfed kindly. 
 And with that the Keepers led him into the Cattle, 
 and Margaret was carried away wondrous fick and 
 ill : but her Dame was moft tender ouer her ; and 
 would fuffer her to lacke nothing. When fhe was 
 
 fomewhat
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 fomewhat well recouered, her Dame Gray fet her on 
 Horfebacke : and at her comming to Glocefler, there 
 was no fmall Ioy. 
 
 How Thomas Doue, being fallen to Decay, was forfaken 
 of his Friends, Iff defpifed of his Seruants : and how 
 in the End he was raifcd againe through the Liberal- 
 ity of the Clothiers. Chap. 14. 
 
 C VCH as feeke the Pleafure of the World follow a 
 Shadow wherein is no Subflance : and as the Adder 
 Afpis tickleth a Man to Death, fo doth vaine Pleafure 
 flatter vs, till it makes vs forget God, and confume 
 our Subflance, as by Tom Done it is apparent, who 
 had, through a free Heart and a liberall Minde, 
 wafted his Wealth ; and looke how his Goods con- 
 fumed, fo his Friends fled from him : And albeit he 
 had beene of great Ability, and thereby done good 
 vnto many, yet no Man regarded him in his Pouerty, 
 but calling a fcornefuli Countenance vpon him, they 
 palTed by him with flender Salutation : neither would 
 any of his former Acquaintance do him Good or plea- 
 fure him with the Value of a Farthing j his former 
 Friendfhip done to them was quite forgot, and he 
 made of as much Account as lob when he fate on the 
 Dunghill. 
 
 Now when his wicked Seruants faw him in this 
 
 p Difgrace
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 Difgrace with the World, they on the other Side be- 
 gan to difdaine him. Notwithstanding that hee (to his 
 great Coil) had long Time brought them vp, yet did 
 they Nothing regard it, but behind his Backe in mod 
 fcornefull Sort derided him, and both in their Words 
 and Actions greatly abufe him ; Reuerence they would 
 doe none vnto him, but when they fpake, it was in 
 fuch malapert Sort, as would grieue an honeft Minde 
 to heare it. 
 
 At lafl it came to pafle, that breaking out into meere 
 Contempt, they faid they would Hay no longer with 
 him, and that it was a great Difcredit for them to ferue 
 a Perfon fo beggerly : whereupon they thought it con- 
 uenient to feeke for their Benefits elfewhere. When 
 the diftrefled Man found the Matter fo plaine, being 
 in great Griefe, he fpake thus vnto them : Now do I 
 find, to my Sorrow, the fmall Trufl that is in this falfe 
 World. Why, my Mailers, (quoth he) haue you fo 
 much forgotten my former Profperity, that you No- 
 thing regard my prefent Neceflity ? In your Wants I 
 forfooke you not, in your Sickneffe I left you not, 
 nor defpifed you in your great Pouerty : it is not vn- 
 knowne, though you do not confider it, that I tooke 
 fome of you vp in the High-way i otherfome from your 
 needy Parents, & brought the Reft from meere Beg- 
 gery to a Houfe of Bounty j where from paltrie Boyes, 
 I brought you vp to Mans State, and haue, to my 
 great Coft, taught you a Trade, whereby you may 
 
 live
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 live like Men. And in Requitall of all my Courtefie, 
 Cofl, and Goodwill, will you now on a fudden forfake 
 me ? Is this the belt Recompence that you can find 
 your Hearts to yeeld me ? 
 
 This is farre from the Minds of honefl Seruants. 
 The fierce Lion is kind to thofe that doe him Good : 
 plucke but one Thorne out of his Foot, and for the 
 fame he will mew manifold Fauors. The wild Bull will 
 not ouerthrow his Dam : and the very Dragons are 
 dutifull to their Nourilhers. Be better aduifed, and 
 call to Mind, I befeech you, that I haue not pluckt a 
 Thorne out of your Feet, but drawne your whole Bo- 
 dies out of Perils, and when you had no Meanes to 
 helpe your felues, I onely was your Support, and he 
 that, when all other forfooke you, did comfort you in 
 all your Extremities. 
 
 And what of all this ? quoth one of them ; becaufe 
 you tooke vs vp poore, doth it therefore follow that 
 we muft be your Slaves ? We are young Men, and 
 for our Part, we are no further to regard your Profit 
 then it may ftand with our Preferment. Why mould 
 we lofe our Benefit to pleafure you ? If you taught vs 
 our Trade, and brought vs vp from Boies to Men, 
 you had our Seruice for it, whereby you made no 
 fmall Benefit, if you had as well vfed it as we got it. 
 But if you be poore, you may thanke your felfe, being 
 a iuft Scourge for your Prodigalitie, and is my Opi- 
 nion 
 8
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 nion plaine, that to flay with you is the next Way to 
 make vs like you, neither able to help ourfelves nor 
 our Friends : therefore in briefe, come pay me my 
 Wages, for I will not flay ; let the Refl do as they 
 will, for I am refolued. 
 
 Well, faid his Mafter, if needs thou wilt be gone, 
 here is Part of thy Wages in Hand, & the Refl as 
 foone as God fends it thou fhalt haue it : & with that, 
 turning to the Refl, he faid, Let me yet in treat you to 
 flay, and leaue me not altogether deflitute of Helpe : 
 by your Labours mull I liue, and without you I know 
 not what to doe. Confider, therefore, my Need, and 
 regard my great Charge. And if for my Sake you will 
 doe nothing, take Companion of my poore Children ; 
 flay my Aiding Foote, and let me not vtterly fall 
 through your flying from me. 
 
 Tufh, (quoth they) what do you talke to vs ? We 
 can haue better Wages, and ferue a Man of Credit, 
 where our Farre fhall be farre better, & our Gaines 
 greater : therefore the World might count us right 
 Coxcomes, if we fhould forfake our Profit to pleafure 
 you : therefore adieu ; God fend you more Money, 
 for you are like to haue no more Men : and thus they 
 departed. 
 
 When they were gone, within a while after they 
 met one with another, faying, What Cheare ? are you 
 all come away ? In faith I, what fhould we doe elfe ? 
 
 quoth 
 
 -
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 quoth they. But hear'ft thou, Sirra, had thou got thy 
 Wages ? Not yet, faith the Other, but I fhall haue it, 
 and that is as good ; tis but x. Shillings. Saift thou fo ? 
 (faid he) now I fee thou art one of God Almighties 
 Idiots. Why fo ? faid the Other. Becaufe (quoth he) 
 thou wilt be fed with Shales : but He tell thee one 
 Thing ; twere better for thee quickly to arreft him, 
 left fome other doing it before, and there be Nothing 
 left to pay thy Debt : hold thy Peace, faire Words 
 make Fooles faine, and it is an old Saying, One Bird 
 in Hand is worth Two in Bum : if thou doft not arreft 
 him prefently, I will not giue thee Two-pence for thy 
 x. Shillings. • How fhall I come by him ? quoth the 
 Other : giue me but two Pots of Ale, and lie betray 
 him, faid he. So they being agreed, this fmooth-faced 
 Iudas comes to his late Mafter, and told him that a 
 Friend of his at the Doore would fpeake with him. 
 The vnmiftrufting Man, thinking no Euill, went to 
 the Doore, where prefently an Officer arrefted him at 
 his Man's Suite. 
 
 The poore Man feeing this, being ftrucken into a 
 fudden Sorrow, in the Griefe of his Heart, spake to 
 this Effect : Ah thou lewd Fellow, Art thou the firft 
 Man that feekes to augment my Miferie ? Haue I thus 
 long giuen thee Bread, to breed my Ouerthrow? And 
 nourifht thee in thy Neede, to work my Deftruction ? 
 Full little did I thinke, when thou fo often diddeft dip 
 
 thy
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 thy falfe Fingers in my Dim, that I gaue Food to my 
 chiefeft Foe : but what boote Complaints in thefe Ex- 
 tremes ? Goe, Wife, (quoth he,) unto my Neigh- 
 bours, and fee if thou canft get any of them to be my 
 Baile. But in vaine was his Paines fpent. Then he 
 fent to his Kinsfolkes, and they denied him : to his 
 Brother, and he would not come at him, fo that 
 there was no Shift, but to Prifon he muft : but, as he 
 was going, a Meffenger met him with a Letter from 
 Matter Cole, wherein, as you heard, hee had promifed 
 him Two Hundred Pounds j which when the poore 
 Man read, hee greatly rejoyced, and fhewing the fame 
 to the Officer, hee was content to take his owne Worde. 
 Whereupon Tom Doue went prefently to Reading, 
 where, upon his coming, he found all the Reft of the 
 Clothiers lamenting Cole's vntimely Death, where the 
 woefull Widdou paid him the Money, by which Deed 
 all the Reft of the Clothiers were induced to doe Some- 
 thing for Doue, And thereupon one gaue him Ten 
 Pounds, another Twenty, another Thirtie Pounds, 
 to begin the World anew : and by this Meanes (to- 
 gether with the Blefling of God) he grew into greater 
 Credit than euer hee was before. And Riches being 
 thus come upon him, his former Friends came fawning 
 vnto him ; and when he had no Neede of them, then 
 euerie one was readie to proffer him KindnefTe. His 
 wicked Seruants also that difdained him in his Dif- 
 trelfe, were after glad to come creeping vnto him, in- 
 treating
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 treating with Cap and Knee for his Fauour and Friend- 
 fliip. And albeit hee feemed to forgiue their Tref- 
 paffes done againfl him, yet hee would often fay, he 
 would neuer trufl them for a Straw. And thus he 
 euer after liued in great Wealth and Profperitie, doing 
 much Good to the Poore, and at his Death left to his 
 Children great Lands. 
 
 How fair e Margaret made her EJiate and high Birth 
 known to her Majler and Dame ; £«f for the intire 
 Loue floe bore to Duke Robert, made a Vow neuer to 
 marry i but became a Nun in the Abbey at Glocejier. 
 Chap. 15. 
 
 AFTER faire Margaret was come againe to Glo- 
 cefter, neuer did fhe behold the cleare Day, 
 but with a weeping Eye : and fo great was the Sorrow 
 which me conceiued for the LofTe of Duke Robert, her 
 faithfull Louer, that Ihe vtterly defpifeth all the Plea- 
 fure of this Life, and at laft bewrayed her felfe in this 
 Sort vnto her Dame. 
 
 O, my good Matter and Dame, too long haue I dif- 
 fembled my Parentage from you, whom the froward 
 Deftinies doe purfue to deferued Punilhment. The 
 wofull Daughter am I of the vnhappy Earl of Shrews- 
 burie, who, euer fince his Banifhment, haue done No- 
 thing but drawne Mifchance after mee : wherefore let 
 
 me
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 me intreat you (deare Matter and Dame) to haue your 
 Good-wills to fpend the Remnant of my Life in fome 
 bleffed Monafterie. 
 
 When Gray and his Wife heard this, they wondred 
 greatly, as well at her Birth as at her ftrange De- 
 mand. Whereupon her Dame knew not how to call 
 her, whether Maiden or Madam, but faid, O good 
 Lord, are you a Ladie, and I know it not ? I am for- 
 rie that I knew it. not before. But when the Folkes of 
 the Houfe heard that Margaret was a Lady, there was 
 no fmall Alteration ; and moreouer, her Dame faid, 
 that fhe had thought to haue had a Match betweene 
 her and her Son ; and, by many Perfwafions, did 
 feeke to withdraw her from being a Nun, faying, in 
 this Manner : What, Margaret, thou art young and 
 faire, the World (no Doubt) hath better Fortune for 
 thee, whereby thou maift leaue an honourable IfTue 
 behind thee, in whom thou mayft Hue after Death. 
 
 These, and many other Reafons, did they alledge 
 unto her, but all in vaine, fhe making this Reply, Who 
 knowes not that this World giueth the Pleafure of an 
 Houre, but the forrow of many Daies ? For it paieth 
 euer that which it promifeth, which is Nothing elfe 
 but continuall Trouble and Vexation of the Minde. 
 Do you think, if I had the Offer and Choice of the 
 mightieft Princes of Chriftendom, that I could match 
 my felfe better then to my Lord Jefus ? No, no, hee 
 
 is
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 ^ - 
 
 is my Hufband, to whom I yeeld my felfe, both Body 
 and Soule, giuing to him my Heart, my Loue, and 
 my moll firme Affections : I haue ouerlong loued this 
 vile World, therefore I befeech you farther diffwade 
 me not. 
 
 When her Friends by no Meanes could alter her 
 Opinion, the Matter was made knowne to his Maieflie, 
 who, againfl the Time that fhe fhould be receiued into 
 the Monaflerie, came to Gloceiler with mod Part of 
 his Nobilitie, to honour her Action with his princely 
 Prefence. 
 
 All Things being therfore prepared, the young La- 
 dy was in mofl princely-wife attired in a Gowne of 
 pure white Sattin, her Kirtle of the fame, embroider- 
 ed with Gold about the Skirts, in mofl curious Sort ; 
 her Head was garnifhed with Gold, Pearles, and pre- 
 cious Stones, hauing her Haire like Thrids of burnifht 
 Gold, hanging downe behind in Manner of a prince- 
 ly Bride ; about her Yuory Necke, Jewels of inefti- 
 mable Price were hung, and her Handwrefls were 
 compaffed about with Bracelets, or bright-mining 
 Diamonds. 
 
 The Streets thorow the which me fhould pane 
 were pleafantly deckt with greene Oaken Boughs; 
 then came the young Lady, mofl like an heauenly 
 Angell, out of her Mafler's Houfe, at what Time all 
 the Bells in Glocefter were folemnly rung ; fhe being 
 
 Q led
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie 
 
 led betwixt the Kings Maieftie, hauing on his Royal 
 Robes and Imperiall Crowne, and the Chiefe Bifhop 
 wearing his Mitre, in a Cope of Cloth of Gold, over 
 her Head a Canopy of white Silke, fringed about in 
 princely Manner ; before her went an Hundred Priefts 
 singing, and after her all the chiefe Ladies of the 
 Land ; then all the Wiues and Maidens of Glocefter 
 followed, with an innumerable Sort of People on euery 
 Side (landing to behold her. In this Sort me pafled on 
 to the Cathedrall Church, where fhe was brought to 
 the Nunry Gate. 
 
 The Lady Abbeffe receiued her, where the beauti- 
 full Maiden, kneeling downe, made her Prayer in 
 Sight of all the People ; then, with her owne Hands, 
 me vndid her Virgins faire Gowne, and took it off, 
 and gaue it away to the Poore, after that, her Kirtle, 
 then her Jewels, Bracelets, and Rings, saying, Fare- 
 well the Pride and Vanitie of this World. The Or- 
 naments of her Head were the next fhee gaue away, 
 and then was me led on one Side, where fhe was drip- 
 ped, and, in Stead of her Smoke of fofte Silke, had a 
 Smoke of rough Haire put upon her. 
 
 Then came one with a Paire of Sheares, and cut off 
 her Golden-coloured Locks, and with Duft and Afhes 
 all beflrewed her Head and Face ; which being done, 
 fhe was brought againe into the Peoples Sight, bare 
 foot and bare-leg'd, to whom fhe faid, Now, Farewell 
 
 the
 
 of Thomas of Reading. 
 
 O" 
 
 the World, Farewell the Pleafures of this Life, Fare- 
 well my Lord the King, and to the Dukes fweet Love 
 farewell ; now fhall my Eyes weepe for my former 
 Tranfgreffions, and no more (hall my Tongue talke of 
 Vanity ; Farewell my good Matter and Dame, and 
 Farewell all good People. 
 
 With which Words fhe was taken away, and neuer 
 after feene abroad. When Duke Robert heard there- 
 of, he defired that at his Death his Body might be 
 buried in Glocefter ; in that Towne, quoth he, where 
 firft my cleare Eyes beheld the heauenly Beauty of 
 my Loue, and where, for my Sake, fhee forfooke the 
 World ; which was performed accordingly. 
 
 The King alfo, at his Death, requefted to be buried 
 at Reading, for the great Loue he bare to that Place, 
 among those Clothiers, who, liuing, were his Hearts 
 Comfort. Gray, dying wondrous wealthy, gaue Land 
 to the Monatterie whereinto Margaret was taken. 
 William Fitzallen alfo dyed a molt rich Man, hauing 
 builded many Houfes for the Poore j whose Sonne, 
 Henry, was the firft Mayor that was euer in London. 
 
 Sutton of Salifbury did also, at his Death, much Good, 
 and gaue an Hundred li. to be yeerly lent to poore 
 Weauers of the Towne, to the Worlds End. Simon 
 of South-hampton gave a moft bounteous Gift towards 
 the Building of a Monaftery at Winchefter. Hodgkins 
 of Hallifax did also great Good j and fo did Cutbert 
 
 of
 
 The pleafant Hiftorie, &c. 
 
 of Kendall, who had married xxiii. Couples out of his 
 owne Houfe, giuing each of them x.li. to beginne the 
 World withall. Martin Briam of Manchefler gaue 
 toward the Building of a Free-School in Manchefler, 
 a great maffe of Money. And thus (gentle Reader) 
 haue I finifhed my Storie of thefe worthy Men, defi- 
 ring thee to take my Paines in good Part, which will 
 iftgage me to greater Matters, perceiuing this courte- 
 oufly accepted. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 Edinburgh : Printed by James Ballantyne and Co. 
 
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