to the Common hall where finding the doores bolted he stayed knocking and exclaiming the space of an houre but could haue no entrance neither any aunswere In the meane time while hée there continued rapping and calling to his friend sometimes imperiously commaunding Dobson to part stake and to make equall diuidence with him otherwhile intreating him to reward him with some small portion who once was owner of the whole Sir Thomas passing that way from his chamber to the Chancel hearing him many times to nominate Dobson came to know the cause of his disturbance Rakebaines fully confiding by his helpe to haue either his pudding 〈◊〉 some part thereof restored diselesed to him all the circumstances aforesaid who much offended for his wrongs receiued commaunded Dobson to appeare in his likenesse and to come to his answere he hearing the voyce of his vncle came streight to the doores and vnboulting the same patiently heard all that euer could be obiected against him vnto the which he made this reply Vncle saith he you may do as you sée cause in beléeuing him or me but surely hée hath foreskipped and told to you my tale for my Aunt Pharoe sent me this pudding vpon Saturday last which I reserued vntill now And in very deed because I feared that whilest I were called by my Maister to sing or other exercise haply it might haue béen stollen from me I intreated him to giue respect thereto till it were warmed and to recompence his paines I promised to bestow vpon him some part thereof but he would néedes be his owne caruer and either haue the greater halfe or none which because he refused to stand to my beneuolence and the pact made betwixt vs I haue wholly dispatched and haue left him none thereof and for this cause he cryeth and exclaimeth against me as you heare Raikebaines perceiuing by Dobsons countenance that if he should reply against him or deny any thing which Dobson had said to be true that he should then for euer loose his friendship séemed to yéeld to his affection and to graunt his defensorie spéech for truth contenting himselfe both to brooke the iniurie and eke to beare the blame Sir Thomas séeing no great cause vppon the rehearsall made by both the parties why to chide his nephew requested Raikebaines to acquiet himselfe for that time and charged thother no more so to dis-taste his familiar frind But it was not long before Dobson had forgot his vncles strict iniunction and his promise of better vsing his friends for it was his humour neuer to play one shrewd turne alone but being of a scrupulous conscience hée payed euer his debts double ouer and scorned to restore the capitall summe without the interest and therefore once more he made bolde with his fellow curbing his exspectations and because Lent was at hand hée prepared him to obserue the fast This same yéere his vnckle sir Thomas was chosen Choraster of the Cathedrall and to set vp the tapers at the times of seruice both morning and euening from the feast of Saint Martine vntill the feast of March. Sir Thomas whether it were that leuing his bed well in a morning he was loath to rise so earely in that cold season or otherwise for that he would haue his nephew to haue experience in these offices whereunto in future times he might be elected and promoted and not to be to learne when he should be placed therein He made him his substitute and appointed him to lighten and extinguish the tapers and candles specially in the mornings which Dobson diligently performed with the assistance of his fellowes who in hope to haue some of the short ends which could no more bée set vp for the Church seruice did dayly both before and after prayers which were to be done at sixe of the clock in the morning helpe him in the said office And principally this Rakebains attended him more then any of the rest to whom in respect of his diligence he had promised the square end of a great taper at the laying vp of the lights which when Dobson was shutting of the cubboord as séeming to haue forgot his promise Raikebaines demaunded Dobson intending to intrappe him threw it to the further end of the cupboord so farre that it was not possible to reach to it vnlesse that one of them should créepe in which Raikebaines offered to doe rather than that he would want the commoditie of the candle and so presently skipped into the candle cupboord to fetch away the Taper but Dobson lockt fast the doores and departed thense to the schools leauing Raikebaines to play the Cat and warrant his tapers from the tyranny of the Rattes where he sate shut vp howling and crying from halfe houre past sixe vntill almost tenne in the sorenoone at which time sir Thomas and other the Canons came to put vpon them their Surplises in which ordinarily they soong their Seruice and which for readinesse sake they kept continually lying in presses there Raikebaines hearing the sound of voyces and the noyse of mens feete cried forth so lowde as he could to the great admiration of sir Thomas and the residue of the Cannonists who speaking in at the key hole asked who it shuld be that was in his candle-cupboord It is I quoth Raikebaines And who are you said sir Thomas Iames Raikebains replied he Alas quoth sir Thomas how camest thou into that place and how long hast thou sit there Euer since halfe an houre after sixe this morning aunswered Raikebaines and your nephew Dobson shut me heere because I went into the cupboord to fetch forth the end of a taper which himselfe had promised to bestow vpon me for helping him to gather and extinguish the lights after praier Sir Thomas pittying the poore boy almost starued with cold and hunger went to seeke for his nephew Dobson in the Schooles to set Raikebaines at liberty threatning to punish him for his mis-vsage But Dobson excused himselfe and said that Raikebains icapt into the cupboord contrary to his will and swore that he would not come from thence vnlesse that he had a whole candle which hée had espied in the furthest corner which I neither would neither durst doe without your consent and therefore did I thinke it very fit that he should abide your comming and now it is in your choice to bestow vpon him or not and therewith vnlocking the doores séely Raikebaines was scarcely able to crawle foorth his ioynts were so stiffened and benummed with cold Sir Thomas somewhat to ease his extreamities bestowed vpon him a couple of candles and liberally rewarded Dobson with a bobbe vppon the mouth insomuch as the blood followed his fist and that done attiring himselfe in his roabes he went forward to doe his seruice in the Chauncell leauing Dobson and Raikebaines further to decide the case betwixt themselues at the candle cupboord How Dobson reuenged himselfe vpon his vncle Chap. 6. DObson was much discōtented for the blow giuen
dinner but newly come home from the Minster where according to his custome hée had béene helping to sing diuine Seruice Whiles sir Thomas was eagerly caruing such meates as were set vpon the table his appetite being very sharpe he sodainely heard a great rushing and noyse of cartes rattling vpon the stones within the court and maruelling whence such noyse should come if it were not there and what occasion any had to be there he could not coniecture sith himselfe had no vse for any at all neither did he know of any that had businesse there to doe more than halfe misdoubting his hearing he started foorthwith from the table and looking foorth at his windowe he did beholde his court full of cartes loaden with tables cupbords beddes and such like housholde stuffe at which sight he was not alittle amazed fearing that the Bishop had endowed some other with the benefice of that vicarige meaning to depriue him and that the cartes and stuffe appeared to be the new parsons yet he no lesse maruelled why the Bishop should so do considering that hée no way ill deserued either committed any thing whereby to incurre the Bishops displeasure Also if this his supposall were true hée thought it strange and vncharitable dealing that hée should in such maner be excluded without either admonishment or notice giuen to prouide for himselfe But presently as he stoode there diuersly distracted with these doubtfull thoughts he was aduertized by his houskéeper who had inquired the matter of the Carters that the stuffe was his sister Dobsons who with her husband and children she sayd was come to make her remaine and dwelling there with him and who as shée was making this report came in at the gate her husband and children with her But sir Thomas not alitle estranging at the newes backened to the Carremen to stay the vnloading of their cartes till he came foorth to méete his sister at the doores of whome demanding the cause of her comming after such a sort hée was informed of his house kéepers embassage sent to her wherewith he was verie much offended causing them all to come into the house and dine with good and faire spéeches hée intreated her to returne to her owne home againe with assured promise that hée would prouide sufficiently for her and the residue of his friendes and for the better security thereof because that imprudently they had leased away their Farme hée presently gaue to her husband the moytie of a tithe he held amounting to tenne poundes a yéere vntil such time as their owne Farme should fall vnto them againe and also hée tooke from them their eldest sonne George Dobson whome hée adopted for his owne and brought vppe at Schoole in Durham to whose course of life and merry ieasts wée will direct the tract ensuing licencing his mother well contented with her brothers beneuolence to returne to the countrey againe with her husband and other children NOw is George Dobson taken from his mothers lappe and left to the care and prouidence of his vnckle sir Thomas who perceiuing his disposition knauish thought good in time to hoope him in before hée fell to licking and knowing that while the twigge is yong and tender it is also flexible to kéepe him from other waggish turns hée iudged it the best course to set him to the Schooles and in regarde himselfe vsed to goe twice euery day vnto the Minster hée could not so well attend him as his wildnesse required and fearing againe that his foolish loue towardes him might induce him to forbeare correction when hée well deserued the same and the neglect thereof was a certaine meane for euer to vndoe him hée rather determined to send him to the Church of Saint Nicholas amongst other little children of the Cittie where hée had not béene thrée dayes but hée falling at variance with a Merchants sonne of the same towne that was his schoole fellow he burst his lanthorne booke all to péeces and the boyes forehead was so sore that the blood ranne about his eares neyther could they stay it but conducted him home to his mother who when shee sawe the blood of her little sonne shée well-néere fell into a sowne and had suncke to the earth if shée had not béene supported by her husband who after hee had well viewed it assured her that the boy was nothing the worse and then sending for a Surgeon caused him to stay the bléeding and to plaister the sore but albeit there was hope of amendment yet when the mother knew after what manner it was done shée bitterly raged against poore Dobson causing not onely his Schoole maister seuerely to correct him but attending sir Thomas his comming from the Cathedrall Church who was to passe by her shoppe shée made a grieuous complaint to him against his Nephew bringing her sonne to the view and shewed him the greatnesse of the sore and after a womans manner whose anger is implacable and whose reuenge is measurelesse she tolde sir Thomas that vnlesse he did punish his nephew for the fact shee would haue him debarred of comming any more to schoole there either the maister if he receiued him she would haue extruded from his place Sir Thomas in good spéeches praying her to be satisfied promised to performe her desire and if shée mistrusted his word if so it séemed good to her hée offered to giue him the lawe in her presence But she told him no that he should not for she nothing doubted the fulfilling of his promise and that shée did not seeke his affliction by way of reuenge but that he might thereby be warned and deterred from doing so any more and so séemed to request him to doe it discreetely and without bitternesse sir Thomas made few more replies but made haste home to welcome his new guest with the whippe and though he were sory for the childes hurt yet hée could not but laugh in his minde at the knauery of his Nephew and the chollericke stomacke of the Merchants wife poore Dobson nothing at all thinking of further conflictes lamenting onely the breaking of his booke for which hée not a little sorrowed what answere to make to his vncle to lie he estéemed it the worst course that could be for hée knew his vnckle would sift foorth the trueth and if hée should be taken with a false report he was assured to be purged thereof with no lesse than with the best bloud in his breath so not able to bethinke himselfe of a reasonable excuse hée wept no lesse than for his beating receiued at his Maisters handes exspecting a sharper penaunce His maister obseruing him still to continue in teares demanded of him why he further wept to whom he bewrayed his feares and the cause thereof His Maister mooued to compassionate his case and déeming it iniustice to haue him two times punished for one offence he sent for alittle glew repayred his booke and writ to his vnckle all the circumstaunces of what had happened defiring him
be at your owne disposing neither shall you feare any inconuenience to come thereof for if that our chaunce should be so euill as to be taken I trust well that my vnckle will worke our attonement with Maister Deane and set vs frée from punishment and in respect of that fauor I shall rest wholy yours at all times to pleasure you Dobsons reputation was such amongst the caualieroes in the citty that he could not so easily request as they assent to effect his desires assuring that to do him anie pleasure they were all at all times ready to abide any penalty of the law without exspectation of fauour or forbearaunce for he saide he who will stand foorth to help his friends necessity for any feare is not worthy the name of a good fellow and therefore make choice of your time and we wil not be wanting to goe with you which they performed according to his assignement And by the helpe of their greyhounds they quickely had killed their game and trussing her vpon a horse they brought her safely away the Kéepers that night neglecting their watch Dobson directed them to an Inne in the towne where he desired them to attend his comming which should be within an houre after And when he once supposed them to be safe in the house hée went to the Kéepers Lodge in the Parke willing them to rise for this night saieth hée one of your diere is slaine and carried hence as I coniecture for comming this éeuening to my vncle Pharaoes I mette her vpon the shoulders of foure good fellowes and to my iudgement she is carried to sir Williams chamber the vsher of the singing schoole so that if your selfe did not bestow her vpon him I beléeue that there you shal find both hir and the parties that haue committed the slaughter for among them I could perfitly discerne sir William and his brother Robert what the other were I could not so well obserue for they shunned my way a little and my selfe was loath to be espied of them and therefore now that I haue discharged my loue and duety to maister Deane and my good will to you deale you herein as reason and the cause requireth and herewith he departed posting after his companions as he could vntill hée came to the Inne where hée had appointed them to stay and sir Williams boy to méete him who had continued there the most parte of the night to attend his comming Dobson commaunding the cookes to make ready the venison taking his companion aside asked him if mistris Iane were with sir William or not yea and by this asléepe betwixt his armes and so let her be quoth Dobson we shall fare the better for their sakes God send them ioy at their arising and so going into the company againe they fell to sporting vntill the venison was made ready The kéeper of Bearesparke much mooued at Dobsons relation without further delayes leapt from his bed and hauing put vppon him his apparrell away he pased to Dunholme in haste neuer so much as breathing till hée came to the Deanes lodging where knocking at the gates hée commaunded the Porter to let him in for he had serious matters to deliuer to his maister and that presently being brought to his bed chamber and admitted to speake he made rehearsall of Dobsons report further annexing that if it would please his worshippe to arise and to make search in sir Williams chamber at this instant wée shall take all them who haue doone iniurie to your worship and murdred the game The Deane beléeuing that euery thing was euen so as he had saide hauing him in suspition for his Turkey arose in a great chafe against sir William and caused his men to call vp so many of the prebends as were then in the towne to assist him They much maruelling what occasions he had to imploy them at that time of the night they made great haste to come to his lodging whither when they were all arriued he declared the cause of his disturbing of them so extraordinarily crauing their pardon because saith he if I should tolerate him to procéede in these courses hée will doe shame to vs all in the face of the world and for that you shall not suppose that I runne against him vpon méere suggestions or splenatiue informations I haue therefore requested your presences that you might be eye-witnesses of his abuses done against me for notwithstanding that by my meanes he was not onely placed in the Schoole as you all know but also was allowed the pleasures of my gardens and orchards vntill such time as my Turkie was through his default taken away and stolne which I pardond him with the only abridgement of my garden contents and the pleasures he thereby receiued but in requitall of my benignities he hath this night with other his confederates and loose fellowes gone into my Parke and stolne away one of my diere and at this instant in his chamber is feasting there with the associates of his knaueries whither I request you all to accompany me that they may be all arrested and vndergoe such penalty as the law to such offendors hath limited for I perceiue that further to forbeare him is but to stimulate and egge him forwards to all other fortes of disorder Vnto which his speech they giuing a generall applause sette forward with him to search sir Williams chamber who poore man fearing no such matter was layd arme in arme with his swéete mistris Iane and as he supposed secure enough But we see no man so much in daunger as he who dreadeth none Sir William unbracing his sweet mistris is awaked foorth of his dreams and commanded to sâ—t open his doores that master Dean may come in O good Lord who can explane the perplexities he conceiued at the name of Maister Deane Alas sayd he to mistris Iane what shall we now do or course shall we take to keepe you from his sight sor at the backe doore I can not dismisse you for he hath caused that passage to be barred vp so strongly as that it can not be broken nay and perhappes his busines is into the wooddeyeard and then that were the worst of all other courses conueiaunce I haue none to hide you in and if I shoulde thrust you into my study it is to be doubted that there he will finde you and I had rather go bare foote to Rome than that hee should so ouertake vs for we were not only vndone but shamed for euer It is woonder to mee what hee hath to do with me thus late in the night or what should mooue him to come hither in thâ—s manner vnlesse some of purpose haue giuen him intelligence of your being heere The yong girle not able to aduise him quâ—king for feare and ready to sincke with shame prayed him to thrust her vnder the bed for sure saith she he wil haue no occasion to seeâ—e there for any thing and casting her cloathes about her as it