The Gentle Craft's Renown with all their Heroick Deeds and Noble Atchievements How Anthony now now play'd before the merry green King of Saint Martins THE HONOUR OF THE Gentle Craft A Discourse of Mirth and VVit to the Renown of those two Princes Crispine and Crispianus and all the true Lovers thereof The Last and best Part. Being a most Merry and Pleasant History not altogether unprofitable nor any way hurtful And for the glory of the gentle Craft Let all men say that a Shoomakers Son is a Prince born By T. D. Newly Corrected with several pieces added for the benefit of the Reader which was never heretofore published or Printed With a new merry Song in the praise of the Gentle Craft and to be sung by them every morning on the 25th day of October Haud curo invidiam London Printed by G. P. for I. Andrews at the White Lyon in Pye-Corner 1660. To the MASTER and WARDENS of the worshipfull company of Cordwaynors in London all cotinuance of health and perfect brotherly affection ONce more hath good will emboldened me to present unto your Worships my worthless labour to manifest the good affection I bear to this Fraternity and finding you lent a gentle look on the first part of this History I have been the more bold to proffer you the second For having bound my self by promise to perform it and you perhaps claiming promise as a debt expecting payment I bent all my study to keep touch whereupon I tender this small trifle unto you only craving at your Worships hands a good opinion of my poore endeavours And albeit this Phamphlet doth not minister matter worthy your grave view yet in regard of the subject I trust you will deigne to esteem it sith so well as I could though not so well as I would I have sought herein to procure you delight and although you find not all the men spoken of which is promised in the first part yet think it no faintnesse in me but fault in good instruction and againe for as much as these men here mentioned were all of this City whose story grew longer then I supposed and the other of the Country I thought good so to break off and to defer their story to another time when I may more perfectly speak thereof In the mean space I commend your Worships to the protection of the most Highest Your Worships in all he may T. D. To the Courteous Readers health GEntle Reader you that vouchsafe to cast courteuos looks into this Pamphlet expect not here to find any matter of sound value curiously pend with pickt words or choice phrases but a flowing and plaine discourse best fitting matters of merriment seeing we have herein no cause to talk of Countries or Schollers Notwithstanding if you find your self over-charged with melancholly you perhaps have her a fit medicine to purge that humour by conferring in this place with Doctor Burket or if you meet with round Robin he may chance ryme it away I tell you among Shoomakers is some solace as you shall see by Tom Drums entertainment and other mad merry pranks play'd by the Green King of St. Martins If that will not suffice you may in meeting with Anthony now now have such a fit of mirth with his firking Fiddle that it shall be a great cause to expell choler And so I leave you to your own liking whether you will enter to see this sport or no stand back I pray room for a Gentleman for you cannot come in under a groat The Shoomakers Glory OR A new merry Song in the praise of Shoomakers to be sung by them every year on the 25th of October To the Tune of the Tyrant IN the praise of the Shoomakers trade wee 'l right A merry song is to be sung on October twenty fifth night For without the Shoomaker we shall go cold of our feet To preserve the Gentle Crâ—ss therefore it is meet Then sing boyes and drink boyes and cast care away For the honor of Shoomakers wee 'l keep holy day To adde the more luster unto due merriment Our Ancestors came of a Royall descent Crispiana Cryspinus and noble Saint Hugh Were all sons of Kings This is known to be true Then sing boys and drink boyes and cast care away For the honer of Crispine wee 'l keep holy-day Moreover â—de have you thus much understand That the chiefest gay Ladies and Lords of our land To the bonny shoomakers beholding must be Take them froâ— the highest to the lowest degree Then sing boyes and drink boyes and cast care away For the honour of crispine wee 'l keep holy-day And now for Saint Hugh and fair Winâ—frights sake Ajoviall bout of it we purpose to make In the gulf of oblivion let sorrows be drownâ—d Whilst we in good fellowship merrily drink round Then drink boyes and 〈◊〉 boys and cast care away For the honour of crispine wee 'l keep holy-day Here 's a health to the Muses which furthers delights And helps us to passe away long winter nights VVith songs and with pastimes as the season doth require VVhilst we steel our noses and sit by the fire Then sing boyes and drink boyes and cast away care For the honor of Crispine Wee l keep holy-day The next cordiall health to speak as I think Shall be to the Brewer that makes us good drink And to the brave Butchers that kils us good meat That 's tooth some and whole some for Christians to eat Then sing boyes and drink boyes and cast care away For the honour of Crispine wee l keep holy-day Here 's to the bonny VVeavers and Glovers also For they are our own neighbours and men that we know And to Vulcan the Black smith that bloweth the bellews For he is accounted the King of good fellows Then sing boyes and drink boyes and cast care away For the honour of Crispine wee l keep holy-day Here 's to the Taylor that never meant hâ—rm For he makes us clâ—athing to keep our bones warm And a health to the â—anner that dresses our Lea her For they 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 that must hold 〈◊〉 together Then sing boyes and drink boyes and cast care away For the honour of Crispine wee l keep holy-day And now to conclude all and finish my song Le ts drink up our drink and do no body wrong T is late in the night sits therefore let us pay Our reckonng and then wee l be jogging away Another time when we do meet here again Wee l make a merry boâ—t for an hour or twain L. P. CHAP. I. Containing the History of RICHARD CASTELER and the first of his love THE lovely Maidens of the City of Westminster noting what a good husband Richard Casteler was and séeing how diligently he followed his businesse judged in the end he would prove a rich man for which many did beare unto him very good affection and few there were that wished not themselves to be his Wife insomuch that he having the
she was had in good reputation with her neighbours and having no néed of any of their Favours every one was ready to pâ—offer her courtesie saying good neighbor if you want any thing tell us and look what friendship we may do you be sure you shall find it I neighbour quoth she I know your kindâ—esse and may speak thereof by experience wrll may I compare you to him that would never bid any man to dinner but at two of the clâ—ck in the afternoon when he was â—ssured they had fiâ—d their bellies before and that they would not touch his meat except for manneâ—s sake wherefore for my part I will give you many thanks for your kindnesses when I take benefit of your pâ—offer Why neighbour we speak for your good quoth they T is true quoth she and so say they that call for wiâ—e to bestow on a drunken man when they know it will do him as much good in his boots as his belly Well neighbour said they God be thanked that you have no cause to make use of any of your friends Marry Amen quoth she for if I had I think I should find few there these and the like gréetings were often betwixt her and her neghbours At last her husband came home and to his great comfort found his Estate so good that he had great cause to bless God for the same for a warm purse is the best medicine for a cold 〈◊〉 that may be The gréen King therefore boasting himself as brave as ever he did haâ—ing sworn himself a faithful companion to his two-handed sword would never go without it Now when his ancient acquaintance saw him again so gallant every one was ready to curry â—avour with him and many would proffer him Wine And where before they were wont to thrust him to the kennell and nothing respecting his poverty they give him now the upper hand in every place saluting him with cap and knée But he remembring how slightly they set by him in his néed did now as slightly estéems heir â—lâ—ttery saying I cry you mercy me thâ—nks I take séen your face but I never knew you for my friend No quoth one I dwell at Aldersgate and am your néer neighbour and so much the worse said the Gréen King wherefore quoth the other because said he I think the place is méet for an honester man I trust sir you know no hurt by me Nor any goodnesse quoth the green King but I remember you are be or one of them of whom once I would have borrowed forty pence yet could not get it if thereby I might have saved forty lives therefore goodman â—og or good man cog or good man dog chuse you whether scrape no acquaintance of me nor come any more in my company I would advise you least with my long sword I chop off your coward legs and make you stand like Saint Martins begger upon two stilts The fellow bearing him say so went his wayes and never durst speak to him afterward CHAP. 11. How the Green King went a walking with his wife and got Anthony now now to play before them in which sort he went with her to Bristol THe Gréen King being a man much given to go abroad his Wife upon a time thus made her moan to him husband quoth she I think you are the unkindest man alive for as often as you walk abroad you were never the man that did once take me in your company it is no small grief unto me while I sit doting at home every sunday and holy day and to sée how other men walk with their wifes and lovingly hear them company into the fields that thereby they may have some recreation after their weeks weary foyle this pleasure have they for their pains but I poor soul could never get such a courtesie at your hands either it must needs be that you love me but little or else you are ashamed of my company and I tell you true you have no reason for the one or the other Well quoth he my dear séeing you are so desirous to walk a broad with me Thursday next is Saint Iames's day against which time prepare your self to go with me to the Fair where by the grace of God I will bestow a fat Pig upon you and there I mean to be merry and doubt not but that I will walk with you till you are weary of walking Nay quoth the I should never be weary of your company though I went with you to the worlds end God a mercy for that wife said he but so doing I doubt I should try you a very good footwoman or a bad flatterer Thus it past till Thursday was come and in the mean season méeting with two or thrée other Shoomakers he asked them if they would walk with him and his wife to Saint Iames's Faire that we will with all our hearts said his fellow Shoomakers but will you not like flinchers go back from your words quoth the gréen King To that they said which if they did they would forfeit unto him a gallon of wine Tush said the gréen King talk not to me of a gallon of wine but will you be bound in a bond of twenty pound a peece to perform it Why quoth the Shoomakers what néeds bands for such a matter as this we hope that you will take our words for a great deal more then this My Masters said the gréen King the world is grown to that pass that wordâ— are become wind and I will trust you as little on your word as long Meg on her honesty therefore if you will be bound in a bond so if not I will make no account of your company The Shoomakers hearing these words and they knowing him to be a man of a merry mind after that they had washed their wits well with Wine to the Scriveners they went and there they bound themselves in twenty pound bond according to his request They had no sooner made amend of this merry match but presently into another Tavern they get and who should they méet but that merry companion Anthony now now who as soon as he spied the gréen King he smiled with a wry 〈◊〉 but joyfully imbraced him with both his hands saying what my dear Master well are you met said Anthony and pray you Sir when came you from the other side of the water by my troth you are welcome and I am glad to see you with all my heart God a mercy good Anthony said the green King but how comes it to passe that you go not so often into Saint Martins as you were wont to do O Master said Anthony you may remember what song I made at your parting when you went to Graves end Yes marry said the gréen King and what of that quoth he by singing that under your window all the merry Shoomakers in Saint Martins have got it by the end and now with their so often singing it up and down amongst their jovial crew that
to take Richards part perceived by her vehement spéeches the great affection she bore to him and finding that she was sick of her own disease Margaret sought means to remove the cause of her griefe And the policy she used most herein was to speak altogether in Richards dispraise and the more firmly to plant her own affectioâ—n whereupon she uttered her mind in this sort Well Gillian séeing you hear so good an opinion of Richard of the Rose I would not for a bushel of Angels séek to diswade you but because you request my opinion how I like the man in rotth I will tell thée my mind without flattery I confesse that Richard is a gentle young man courteous and kind diligent about his businesse and wary in his dealings which argues good husbandry Notwithstanding I like not these over covetous fellows of such gréedy minds Tell me I pray thée what joy should a woman have with such a churle that would grudge at every halfe-penny that is laid out That in a whole year would not leave a farthing worth of mustard unwritten in his book And such a one I feare will this Cock prove for me thinks he looks with a hungry nose and howsoever you think of him I know not but I verily fear though he be a Cock by name he will never prove a Cock of the game Againe he is but a dwarfe in respect of a man a shrimp a wren a hop of my thumb such a one as a body may hide in a wrinkle of their buttocks Well Meg quoth she you are priviledged to speak your pleasure but should another thus miâ—â—earme him I would teare her face I tell thée true I had rather have a winner then waster a sparer then a prodigall spender for when a man in his youth hath gotten something with pain he may better spend it in his age with pleasure and far better he should be thought covetous then carelesse his stature and proportion of body pleases me well enough for it is no matter how great he is but how good he is But Margaret séeing our talke hath indured so long that it hath brought us home let us at our parting be mindfull of our promises to kéep secret whatsoever hath béen said for little knows the young man the depth of my mind and therefore would I kéep it close till I saw some signe of good will procéeding from him for it becometh not maidens to be woers though willingly they could wish to wed where they best fancy and so farewell swéet Margaret Adue gentle Gillian quoth Margaret untill our next méeting when I hope I shall further understand of procéedings in your love When Meg had thus understood her mind and saw how the matter went she sought all means possible to prevent her as hereafter shall be shewen CHAP. II. How Margaret requested Richard to the eating of a posset at night and how her Masters buttocks was scalded therewith IT chanced that against Whitsentide Margaret stood in néed of a new paire of shooes therefore in a morning betimes she came to Richard of the Rose to bespeak them aforehand and the more to declare her kindnesse and to win his good will she carryed with her a bottle of excellent good Muskadine which a Yeoman of the Kings wine-sellor bestowed upon her she carried with her a dainty péece of powdred béefe and the carkasse of a cold Capon and thus began to gréet him All health to the kind cock of Westminster that with the Larke gréetes the Sun rising with a chearfull note Tell me quoth she thou bonny Lad wilt thou take the length of my foot and make me a good paire of shooes against Sunday that I will Margaret quoth he therefore let me sée thy foot there is both my foot and leg said Meg I am not ashamed to shew either of them for I am not legged like a Craue nor footed like a Flie and therewith she did lift up her cloathes to her knée whereat Richard smiling said a little higher Meg and shew all whereupon she suddainly replyed in this sort soft Richard not so for I will tell thée one thing Every Carter may reach to the garter A Shoomaker may reach to the knee But he that creeps higher shall ask leave of me Good reason qd Richard leave is light which being obtained a man may be bold without offence but this onely is my griefe I have never a last long enough for thy foot then I would they were all fired qd Meg. He that would be counted a good workman will have tools to fit all persons Fie Richard fie thou shouldest never be unprovided especially for women Well Meg qd he be contented consider you are a Woman of no ordinary making but as in height thou overlookest all so in the length of thy foot thou surpassest all therefore I must have a pair of Lasts made for the nonce and that shall be done out of hand I tell thée Dick qd she as high as I am I am no so high as Pauls nor is my foot so long as Graves-end Farge Notwithstanding qd Richard a paire of Lasts to fit thy foot will cost as much as a hundred of wooden faggots which will not be bought for ten groats if they cost a crown qd Meg let me have them I love not to pinch for a penny if I find my shooes good I will not shrink for a shilling In troth qd Richard franke customers are worthy of good ware and therefore Meg doubt not for thou shalt have as good a shooe as ever was drawn upon a womans foot Godamercy for that swéet Dicke qd she and séeing thou sayst so I will bestow this bottle of wine on thée to breakfast and therewithall she pluckt out her powdred béef and her cold Capon Richard séeing this with thanks to Margaret for meat reacht out a couple of joynt stooles and after that they had laid a cloth therern they down did fit at which time many merry spéeches did passe betwéen them And at that very time there was in the same shop amongst a great many other men a pleasant Iourney-man cal'd round Robbin being a well trust fellow short and thick yet very active and pleasantly conceited for singing he was held in high reputation among all the shoomakers in Westminster This jolly companion séeing them both so well at their breakfast and nothing at all to respect him in the place where he sate cast out these merry spéeches unto them Much good doe it you Masters and well may you faire Beshroe both your hearts and if you doe spare The wine should be nought as I judge by the smell And by the colour too I know it full well Nay faith quoth Meg that 's but a jest I le sweare quoth Robin t is none none of the best Tast it quoth Meg then tell me thy mind Yea marry quoth Robin now you are kind With that Margaret filling a cup brim full gave it into his hands saying now
so tasted before I think his eyes in his elbowes he had To thrust his aâ—se in the posset or else he was mad His Master answering said Robin I will never go there to eat posset more Margaret coming thither told them she was sorry they were so suddainly broke from their banquet but Y faith Richard quoth she another time shall make amends for all CHAP. 3. How Richard the Cock of Westminster was married to a Dutch Maiden for which cause long Meg and Gillian of the George wore willow Garlands RIchard Castler living a long time a Batchelor in Westminster at last linked his love to a Dutch Maiden dwelling in London To this pretty soule went Richard secretly a wooing who for halfe a year set as light by him as he did by the Maidens of Westminster and the more he was denyed the more he sought her good will But while he was thus busied to make himself blessed by matching with a Maiden in London round Robin cast his wits to set the Maidens of Westminster against him which he effected in this sort Margaret and Gillian coming often by the Shop cast many a Shéeps eye to spy out their beloved friend and finding him not at his Shop they judged that it was not Idlenesse that drew him away but rather that he was gone a wooing to some pretty Wench whereupon Margaret entred into these spéeches with round Robin I wonder quoth Meg where your Master layes his knife aboord now a dayes tell me Robin said she where the Cock doth crow now Not so quoth Robin my Master doth not that allow I must not shew his secrets to one or other Therefore you shal not know it though you were my mother Yet thus much by thy speech I plainly do see Thou thinkst not so well of him as he thinks on thee Margaret hearing round Robin rime to so good a purpose asked if he knew his Masters mind so much therefore swéet Robin let me know whereupon thou speakest Hereupon Robin said that his Master was very well affected towards her and that if it were not for Gillian of the George he would long ere this have uttered his mind to you but quoth Robin he is se haunted by that female spirit that he can rest in no place for her These Words uttered by Robin made Margarets heart leap in her belly wherefore taking gentlely her leave of him she thus began to meditate on the matter Now do I well sée that the tongue of a wise man is in his heart but the heart of a foole is in his tongue and Richard quoth she hast thou born me such secret good will and would never let me know it Thus in a jolly humor Margaret jotted home flatterring her self in her happy fortune in which delight we will leave her and make some rehearseall of Gillians joy who coming in the like manner to Robin asking for his Master was certified by him that for her sake only he lived in such sorrow that he could not stay in his shop and therefore was faine to drive away melancholly by marching abroad O Gillian quoth he had it not béen for two causes he would long ere this have uttered his mind to thée quoth Gillian is it true Robin that thou dost tell me doubt not of that do you think I will tell you a lye Nay good Robin be not angry blame me not to aske a question ask what you will quoth Robin and I may chuse whether I will answer you or no now I have opened my Master secret you were best to blab it through all the town Nay good Robin that is not my mind quoth Gillian but I beséech thée let me know those two causes that kéeps thy Master from uttering his mind Nay soft there lay a staw for fear of stumbling quoth Robin let it suffice you that you know what you know Nay good swéet Robin I pray thée make it not dainty now to tell me all séeing you have begun the day may come that I may requite thy courtesie say you so Gillian now by good Crispianus were it not that I am in hope you would prove kind to my Master and be a good Mistris to us I would not utter one word more Well Robin if ever I come to command thy Masters house and kéep the keys thou shalt sée I will kéep no â—iggards table but you shall have meat and drink in a plentifull manner Robin hearing this told her this tale that his Master loved her intirely and would long since have uttered his mind but for two reasons the first was that he could never find a fit opportunity because of long Meg whose love to him was more then he could wish for if he do but speak and look upon any she presently pouts and lowers which is such a grief to my Master that he is faine to kéep silent The second reason is that he is not wealthy as he could wish himself you would disdain his suit Who I quoth Gillian I tell thée Robin I do more respect his kindnesse then his goods Why then good Gillian quoth Robin hearken hither thrée dayes hence and you shall hear more I warrant thée Robin quoth she and so away she went being as glad of this tidings as her Master was of a good Term Now when his Master came home Robin asked him how he sped in his suit even as Cooks do in baking their Pyes sometimes wel sometimes ill London Wenches are wily Lasses Now she is in one mind by and by in another and to be brief never stedfast in any thing Tush Master quoth Robin stoop not to a Thistle take this comfort what one will not another will I tell you Master these nice Minions are so full of curiosit that they are cleane without courtesie Yet well fare the gallant girls of Westminster that will do more for a man then he will do for himself What is that said his Master mary quoth he to give two kisses before he calls for one That indéed is extraordinary kindnesse quoth Richard but their loves is like braided Wares that is often séen but hardly sold Well Master quoth Robin you know your two old friends Meg and Gillian I what of them quoth Richard I have made them both beléeve that you love them out of all cry And I beshrow thy heart for that qd Richard for therein thou dost both deceive them and discredit me I assure thée I like not such jesting Now gip quoth Robin are you griev'd at my talk And if you be angry I pray go walk Thus do you never esteem of a man Let him do for you the best that he can Richard hearing his man so hot pacified him with many cold and gentle speeches wishing if he had begun any jest that he should finish it with such discretion that no reproach might grow upon him whereupon Robin proceeded in this sort Vpon a time Margaret according to her wonted manner came thither whom Robin peswaded that his