bin there and sâ— king to pursue them by their footesteps they went a cleane contrary way by reason that the horses were shod backward when in vaine they had long persube them they returned being neuer the â—éere Now VVallis vsde his feate so 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 théeues neckes presently to hang them vp When they were come to the place appointed VVallis and the rest being out of all hope to escape death prepared themselues paciently to suffer the rigor of the law And there with the rest laying open the lewdnesse of his life greeuously lamenting for his sinnes at length commending their soules to God they yeelded their bodyes to the graue with which sight the people were greatly mooued with pitty because they had neuer séene men come to hanging before but when they should haue beene tyed vp Hodgekins willed one of his neighbours to play the Hangmans part who would not by any meanes do it although he was a very poore man who for his paines should haue beene possest of all their apparell When he would not yeeld to y â— office one of those which had his cloth stolen was commaunded to do the deed but he in like maner would not saying When I haue the skil to make a man I will hang a man if it chance my workmanship do not like me And thus from one to another the office of the Hangman was poasted off At last a Rogue came by whom they would haue compelled to haue done that deed Nay my Masters qd he not so but as you haue got a Priuiledge for the Towne so you were best to procure a Commission to make a hangman or else you are like to be without for me Neighbor Hogekins quoth one I pray you do this office your selfe you haue had most losse and therefore you should be the most readiest to hang them your selfe No not I quoth Hodgekins though my losse were ten times greater than it is notwithstanding look which of these théeues will take vppen him to hang the other shall haue his life saued otherwise they shall all to prison till I can prouide a hangman When Wallis saw the matter brought to this passe he began stoutly to reply saying My masters of the towne of Halifax though your priuiledge stretch to hang vp men presently that are found stealing your goods yet it giues you no warrant to imprison them till you prouide them a hangman my selfe with these my fellowes haue here yéelded our selues to satisfie 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 xviij of August And with that he leapt from the ladder and cast the halter at Hodgekins face When the Clothiers saw this they knew not what to say but taking them by the sléeues intreated to haue their owne againe Not so qd VVallis you get not the valew of a plack or a â—awby we haue stolne your cloth then why do you not hang vs Here we haue made our selues ready and if you wil not hang vs chuse A plague on you quoth he you haue hindred me God knowes what I made account to dine this day in heauen and you keep 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 gallows a box on the eare and now God knowes when I shall be in so good a mind againe and so he with the rest of his companions departed When Hodgekins saw that notwithstanding their théeuery how they flowted at their lenity he was much moued in mind and as he stood in his dumps chewing his cud making his dinner with a dish of melancholy a grey Frier reuerently saluted him in this sort All haile goodman Hodgekins happinesse and health be euer with you and to all suppressors of lewd liuers God send euerlasting ioyes I am sory goodman Hodgekins that the great priuiledge which our King gaue to this towne comes to no greater purpose better far had it bin that it had neuer beene graunted then so lightly regarded the towne hath suffred through their owne yéeâ—ishnes an euerlasting reproch this day onely because foolish pitty hath hindred iustice Consider that compassion is not to be had vpon théeues robbers pitty onely â—ppertayneth to the vertuous sort who are ouerwhelmed with the waues of misery and mischaunce What great cause of boldnes haue you giuen to bad liuers by letting these fellowes thus to escape and how shall you now kéepe your goods in safety séeing you fulfill not the law which should be your defence neuer thinke that theeues will make any conscience to carry away your goods when they find themselues in no danger of death who haue more cause to prayse your pitty then to commend your wisdome wherefore in time seeke to preuent the insuing euill For my owne part I haue that care of your good that I would work al good means for your benefit yet not so much in respect of your profit as for the desire I haue to vpholde iustice and seeing I find you and the rest so womanish that you could not find in your hearts to hang a theefe I haue deuised how to make a gin that shal cut off their heads without mans helpe and if the King will alow thereof When Hogekins heard this he was somewhat comforted in mind and sayd to the Frier that if by his cunning he would performe it he would once againe make suite to the King to haue his grant for the same The Frier willed him to haue no doubt in him and so when he had deuised it he got a Carpenter to frame it out of hand Hodgekins in the meane time posted vp to the Court and told his Maiesty that the priuiledge of Halifax was not worth a pudding Why so sayd our King Because quoth Hodgekins we can get neuer a hangman to trusse our theeues but if it shall like your good Grace quoth he there is a feat Frier that will make vs a deuice which shall without the hand of man cut off the cragges of all such Carles if your Maiesty will please to alow thereof The King vnderstanding the full effect of the matter at length granted his petition whereupon till this day it is obserued in Halifax that such as are taken stealing of their cloth haue their heads choyt off with the same gin How the Bailifes of London could get no man to be a catch pole and how certaine Flemings tooke that office vpon them whereof many of them were fled into this Realm by reason of certaine waters that had drowned a great part of their country Chap. 9. THe City of London being at this time gouerned by Bayliffes it came to passe that in a certaine fray two of their catch-poles were killed for at that time they
surprised drew out his sword and sayd he would buy his liberty with his life before he would yeeld to be any more a prisoner and thereupon began a great fight betwixt them insomuch that the Duke had killed two of them but himselfe being â—ore wounded and faint with euermuch bleeding at length feâ—â— downe being not able any longer â—o stand and by this meanes the good Duke was taken with his fayre loue both of them cammitted to prison But in the meane space when Graies wife had mist her mayde and saw she was quite gone she made great lamentation for her among her neighbours for she loued her as dearely as any child that euer she bore of her owne body O Margaret quoth the what cause hadst thou thus to leaue mee if thou did it mislike of any thing why didst thou not tell me If thy wages were too little I would haue mended it If thy apparell had béene too simple thou shouldest haue had better If thy worke had beene too great I would haue had help for thée Farewell my sweete Meg the best seruant that euer came in any mans house many may I haue of thy name but neuer any of thy nature thy deligence is much in thy hands I laid the whole gouernment of my house and thereby eased my selfe of that care which now will â—umber me Heere she hath left mée my keies vnto my chests but my comfort is gone with her presence euery gentle word that shee was wont to speake comes now into my mind her courteous behauiour shall I neuer forget with how sweete and modest a countenance would shee qualifie my ouer-hasty nature It repents my haâ—t that euer I spoke foule word vnto her O Meg wert thou here againe I would neuer chide thee more but I was an vnworthy dame for such a seruant what will become of me now if I should chance to be sicke seeing shee is gone that was woont to be both my Apoticarie and Phisition Well quoth her neighbours there is no remedy now but to rest content you shall one day heare of her doubt you not and thinke this that shee was not so good but you may get another as good and therfore do not take it so heauily O neighbour blame me not to grieue seeing I haue lost so great a iewell and sure I am perswaded that scant in a bodies life time they shall meete with the like I protest I would circuit England round about on my bare feete to meete with her againe O my Meg was surely stole away from me else would she not haue gone in such sort Her husband on the other side grieued as much and rested not night nor day riding vp and downe to seeke her but shee poore soule is fast lockt vp in prison and therefore cannot be met withall But when the King vnderstood of his brotheâ—â— escape he was maruellous wrath giuing great charge and commandement when he was taken that both his â—ies should be put out and he kept in prison till his dying day appoynting also that the maid should lose her life for presumption in louing him This matter being rumored ouer all England it came to the eares of Gray and his wife who hearing that Margaret also was there in prison appointed to die the good aged woman neuer rested til she came to the court where knéeling before the King with many teares she besought his Maiesty to spare the maidens life saying Most royall king consider I humbly beséech you that the duke your brother was able to intice any woman to his loue much more a séely maiden especially promising her marriage to make her a Lady a Dutchesse or a Quéene who would refuse such an offer when at the instant they might get both a princely husband and a high dignitie if death be a Louers guerdon then what is due to hatred I am in my heart persuaded that had my poore Margaret thought it would haue bred your highnes displeasure she would neuer haue bought his loue so deare Had your Grace made it knowen to your commons that it was vnlawful for any to marry the duke your brother who would haue attempted such an action if she had wilfully disobeyed your Graces commandement she might haue bin thought worthy of death but séeing ignorantly she offended I beseech your Grace recall the sentence and let me still inioy my seruant for neuer will I rise till your Maiestie haue graunted my petition His Highnes who was of nature mercifull be holding the womans aboundant teares tooke pitty on her and graunted her suite which being obtained she went home with all haste possible And from thence she with her husband taking their iorny to Cardiffe castle they came at that very instant when the maiden was led toward hir death who went in most ioyfull sort to the same saying that they were not worthy to be accounted true Louers that were not willing to die for loue and so with a smiling countenance she passed on as if she had eaten Apium Riâ—us which causeth a man to die laughing but her dame Gray seeing her fell about her necke and with many kisses imbraced her saying Thou shalt not die my wench but goe home with me and for thy deliuerie behold heere the Kings letters and with that she deliuered them vp to the gouernor of the Castle who reading them found these words written We pardon the maids life and graunt her libertie but let her not passe till she see her louers â—ies put out which we wil haue you to do in such sort that not only the sight may perish but the eie continue faire for which cause I haue sent downe doctor Piero that he may execute the same The gouernour of the Castle hauing read the Kings letter said thus to the maiden The Kings maiesty hath pardoned thy life and allowed thy liberty but you must not passe before you see your louers eies put out O sir said the maiden mistake not your selfe they are my eies that must be put out and not the Dukes as his offence grew by my meanes so I being guiltie ought to receiue the punishment The kings commaundement must be fulfilled said the gouernor and therewithall D Robert was brought forth who hearing that he must lose his eies said thus the noble mind is neuer conquered by griefe nor ouercome by mischance but as the Hart reneweth his age by eating the serpent so doth a man lengthen his life with deuouring sorrow my eyes haue offended the King and they must be punished my heart is in as great fault why is not that killed The Kings maiesty said the gouernor spares your life of méere loue and onely is content to satisfie the Law with the losse of your eies wherefore take in good part this punishment and thinke you haue deserued greater than is granted With this Margaret cried out saying O my deare loue most gentle Prince well may you wish that I had neuer bin borne who by séeing of me
occasion he said 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 valour was more than her wealth yet now I see her wealth sufficient to maintaine her valour which I will seek to cherish in all I may and with my Sword keepe my selfe in possession of that I haue Kings and Louers can brooke no partners and therefore let my brother Robert thinke that although hee was heyre 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 vngratefull earle of Shrewsbury whose lands I haue seized and banisht his body But now we will leaue the King to his â—ourney into Wales and waiting his home returne in the meane time tell you of the meeting of these iolly Clothiers at London How William of Worcester Gray of Gloucester and old Cole of Reading met all together at Reading of their communication by the way as they â—ode to London Chap. 2. VVHen Gray of Gloucester and William of Worcester were come to Reading according to their custome they always called old Cole to haue his company to London who also duly attended their comming hauing prouided a good breakefast for them and when they had well refreshed themselues they tooke their horses and rode on towards the Citie and in their iourney William of Worcester asked them if they had not heard of the Erle of Moraigne his escape out of the land what is he fled quoth Gray I muse much of that matter being in such great regard with the king as he was but I pray you do you not know the cause of his going quoth Cole The common report quoth Gray is this that the couetous erle who through a greedy desire neuer left begging of the King for one thing or other and his request being now denied him of méere obstinacie and wilfull frowardnesse hath banished himselfe out of the land and quite forsaken the Countrey of Cornewall hauing made a vow neuer to set foote within England againe and as report goeth he with the late banisht Earle of Shrowsbury haue ioyned themselues w t Robert duke of Normandy against the king the which action of theirs hath inflamed the kings wrath that their Ladies with their children are quite turned out of doores succorlesse friendlesse so that as it is told me they wander vp and downe the countrie like forlorne people and although many do pittie them yet few do releeue them A lamentable hearing qd William of Worcester and with that casting their eyes aside they espied Tom Doue with the rest of his companions come riding to méete them who as soone as they were come thither fell into such pleasaunt discourses as did shorten the way they had to Colebroke where alwaies at their comming towards London they dined and being entred into their Inne according to olde custome good chaere was prouided for them for these Clothiers were the cheefest ghests that trauelled along the way and this was as sure as an acte of Parliament that Tom Doue could not digest his meat without musicke nor drinke wine with out women so that his hostesse being a merrie wench would often times call in two or three of her neighbours wiâ—es to keepe him companie where ere they parted they were made as pleasant as Pâ—es And this being a continuall custome amongest them when they came thither at length the womens husbands beganne to take exceptions at their wiâ—es going thither whereupon great controuersie grew betweene them in such sort that when they were most restrayned then they had most desire to worke their willes now gip quoth they must we so be tied to our taske that we may not drinke with our friends ste fie vpon these yellow hose will no other die serue your turne haue wee thus long vin your wines and do you now mistrust vs verily you eate two much salt and that makes you grow cholericke badde liuers iudge all other the like but in faith you shall not bridle vs so like Asses but wee will go to our friendes when wee are sent for and do you what you can Well quoth their husbands if you be so head-strong we will teme you it is the duty of honest women to obey their husbands sayings And of honest men quoth they to thinke well of their wiues but who doo sooner inpeach their credite then their husbands charging them if they do but smile that they are subtill and if they doe but winke they account them willy if sad of countenance then sullen if they be froward then are they counted shrewes and sheepish if they be gentle if a woman keepe her house then you will say she is melancholie if shee walke abroade then you call her a gadder a Puritane if shee be pretise and a wanton if shee be pleasant so there is no woman in the world that knowes how to please you that wâ—s thinke our selues accurst to be married wiues liuing with so many woes These men of whose company you forwarne vs are for aught that euer we sawe both honest and curteous and in wealth farre beyond your selues then what reason is there why we should refraine to vsite them is their good will so much to be requited with scorne that their cost may not be counteruayled with our company if a woman be disposed to play light of loue alas alas do you thinke that you can preuent her Nay wée will abide by it that the restraint of liberty inforceth women to belewd for where a woman cannot be trusted she cannot think her selfe beloued and if not beloued what cause hath she to care for such a oneâ— therefore husbands reforme your opinions and do not worke your owne woes with our discredit These Clothiers we tel you are tolly fellowes and but in respect of our curtesie they would scorne out company The men hearing their wines so wel to plendfor themselues knew not how to answer but sayd they would put the burden on their consciences if they dealt vniustly with them and so left them to their owne willes The women hauing thus conquered their husbands conceits would not leaue the fauour of their friends for frownts and as about the rest Tom Doue was the most pleasantest so was he had in most reputation with the women who for his sake made this Song Welcome to towne Tom Doue Tom Doue The merriest man aliue Thy company still we loue we loue God grant thee well to thriue And neuer will depart from thee For better or worâ—e my ioy For thou shalt still haue our good will Gods blessing on my sweete Boy This song went vp and downe through the whole countrey and at length became a dance among the common sort so that Tom Doue for his mirth and good fellowship was famous in euery place Now when they came to London they were welcome to the host larrat