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
the Gyant and assoone as they were alighted they were saluted by the Marchants who wayted their comming thither and alwaies prepared for them a costly supper where they commonly made their bargaine and vpon euery bargaine made they stil vsed to send some tokens to the Clothiers wiues The next morning they went to the hal where they met the Northern clothiers who greeted one another in this sort What my maisters of the West wel met what chéere what théere Euen the best chéere our Marchantes could make vs quoth Gray Then you could not chuse but fare well quoth Hogekins and you be weary of our company adien quoth Sutton Not so sayd Martin but shall wée not haue a game ere wée goe Yes faith for a hundred pounds Well sayd olde Cole sayd they and with that Cole and Gray went to the dice with Martin and Hogekins and the dice running on Hogekins side Coles money began to waste Now by the Masse quoth Cole my mony shrinks as had as northerne cloth When they had played long Gray stept to it and recouered againe the money that Cole had lost But while they were thus playing the rest being delighted in contrary matters euery man satisfied his owne humor Tom Doue called for musicke VVilliam of Worcester for wine Sutton set his delight in hearing merry tales Simon of South-hampton got him into the kitchin and to the pottage pot he goes for he estéemed more of a messe of pottage than of a venison pastie Now sir Cutbert of Kendall was of another minde for no meate pleased him so wel as mutton such as was laced in a red petticoate And you shall vnderstand that alwayes when they went to dice they got into Bosomes Inne which was so called of his name that kept it who being a foule slouen went alwayes with his noâ—s in his bosome and one hand in his pocket the other on his staffe figuring forth a description of cold winter for he alwaies wore two coates two caps two or thrée paire of stockings and a high paire of shooes ouer the which he drew on a great paire of lined sâ—ippers and yet he would oft complaine of cold wherfore of all men generally he was called Old Bosome and his house Bosoms Inne This lump of cold ice had lately married a yong wife who was as wily as she was wanton and in hir company did Cutbert onely delight and the better to make passage to his loue be would often thus commune with her I muse good wife quoth he Good wife quoth she Uerily sir in mine opinion there is none good but good and therefore call mee Mistresse Then said Cutbert Faire Mistresse I haue often mused that you being so proper a woman could fiâ—d in your heart for to match with such a greasâ—e Carle as this an euill mannered mate a foule lump of kitchin stuffe and such a one as is indéed a scorne of men how can you like him that all women mislikes or loue such a loathsome creature me thinks verily it should grieue you to lend him a kisse much more to lie with him Indéed sir quoth she I had but hard fortune in this respect but my friends would haue it so truly my liking and my loue toward him are alike he neuer had the one nor neuer shall get the other yet I may say to you before I married him there were diuers proper young men that were sutors vnto me who loued mee as their lines and glad was he that could get my company those were my golden dayes wherein my pleasure abounded but these are my yeeres of care and griefe wherein my sorrowes exceede Now no man regards me no man cares for me and albeit in secret they might beare me good will yet who dares shew it and this is a double griefe he carries ouer me so iealous a mind that I cannot looke at a man but presently he accuseth me of inconstancy although I protest without cause And introth quoth Cutb. he should haue cause to complaine for somewhat were I as you As sure as I liue and so he shal quoth she if he do not change his bias Cutb. hearing her say so beganne to grow further in requesting her fauor wishing he might be her seruant and secret friend and the better to obtain his desire he gaue her diuers gifts insomuch that she began something to listen vnto him and albeit she liked well of his spéeches yet would shee blame him and take him vp very short sometimes for the same till in the end Cutbert shewed himselfe to be desperate saying he would drowne himselfe rather then liue in her disdaine O my sweete heart not so qd she God forbid I should be the death of any man Comfort thy selfe kind Cutbert and take this kisse in token of further kindnesse and if thou wilt haue my fauour thou must bee wise and circumspect and in my husbands sight I would alwayes haue thee to finde fault with my doings blame my bad huswifery disprayse my person and take exceptions at euery thing whereby he will be as well pleased as Simon of South-hampton with a messe of Pottage Deâ—re mistrsse quoth he I will fulfill your charge to the vttermost so that you will not take my iest in earnest Shee answered Thy foulest speeches I will esteeme the fayrest and take euery dispraise to be a prayse from thee turning â—ch word to the contrary and so for this time adieu good Cutb. for supper time drawes neere it is meet for me to look for my meat With that down comes old Boâ—ome calling his wife saying Ho Wiinifred is supper ready they haue done playing aboue Therefore let the Chamberlaine couer the table By and by husband qd shée it shall be done straight way How now my masters who wins qd Cutb. Our mony walkes to the west qd Martin Cole hath woon forty li. of me Gray hath gotten well the best is qd Hogekins they will pay for our supper Then let vs haue good store of sacke qd Sutton Content sayd Cole for I promise you I striue not to grow rich by dice-playing therefore call for what you will I wil pay for all Yea sayd Simon Chamberlaine I pray thée bring a whole potle of pottage for me Now Tom Doue had all the Fidlers at a beck of his finger which follow him vp and downe the citie as diligent as little Chickens after a hen and made a vowe that there should want no musicke And at that time there liued in London a musician of great reputation named Reior who kept his seruants in such costly garments that they might seeme to come before any Prince Their Coates were all of one colour and it is sayd that afterward the nobility of this Land noting it for a seemely sight vsed in like maner to keepe their men all in one liuery This Reior was the most skilfullest musician that liued at that time whose wealth was very great so that all the instruments whereon his
the kings approach presented him with a Garland of sweet stoures yielding him such 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 swéet instruments of musicke All which when his Grace vnderstood was done at the cost of a Clothier he sayd he was the most honoured by those meÌ„ aboue al the mean subiects in his laÌ„d so his highnes past on to Exceter hauing giuen great rewards to these maydens Thomas Doue and the residue of the Clothiers against his Graces comming thither had ordained diuers sumptuous shewes first there was one that represented the person of Augustus Caesar the Emperour who commanded after the Romane inuasion that their City should be called Augustus after his owne name which beforetime was called Isea and of latter yéeres Exeter There his Maiesty was royally feasted seuen daies together at the onely cost of Clothiers but the diuers delightes and sundry pastimes which they made there before the King and his Nobles is too long here to be rehearsed And therefore I will ouerpasse them to auoide tediousnes His grace then coasting along the country at last came to Gloucester an ancient City which was builded by Glove a Brittish King who named it after his own name Gloucester Here was his maiesty entertained by Gray the Clothier who profest himselfe to be of that ancient family of Grayes whose first Originall issued out of the ancient and honorable Castle and towne of Rithin Héere was the King most bountifully feasted hauing in his company his brother Robert although his prisoner the same time And his Grace being desirous to see the maidens carde and spinne they were of purpose set to their worke among whom was faire Margaret with the white hand whose excellent beauty hauing peaâ—st the eyes of that amorous Duke it made such an impression in his heart that afterward he could neuer forget her and so vehemently was his affection kindled that he could take no rest till by writing he had bewrayed his mind but of this we will speake more in an other place and the King at his departure sayd that to gratifie them hée would make his son Robert their Earle who was the first Earle that euer was in Gloucester Now when his Grace was come from thence he went to Worcester 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 Maiesty being descended of that famous family whose patrimony lay about the towne of Oswestry which towne his predecessors had inclosed with stately walles of stone Although aduerse fortune had so grieuously frowned on some of them that thier children were faine to become tradesmen whose hands were to them instead of landes notwithstanding God raised againe the fame of this man both by his great wealth and also in his posterity whose eldest son Henry the Kings god-son became afterward the Mayor of London who was the first Mayor that euer was in that Citty who gouerned the same 23. yéeres and then his son Roger Fitz-allen was the second Mayor The Princely pleasures that in Worcester were shewen the king were many and maruelous and in no place had his Maiesty receiued more delight then here for the which at his departure he did shew himselfe very thankfull Now when his Grace had thus taken view of all his good townes Westward and in that progresse had visited these clothiers he returned to London with great ioy of all his commons How Hodgekins of Halifax came to the Court complained to the King that his priuiledge was nothing worth because when they found any offendor they could not get a hangman to execute him And how by a Fryer a gin was deuised to chop off mens heads of it selfe Chap. 8. AFter that Hogekins had got the priuiledge for the town of Halifax to hang vp such théeues as stole their cloth in the night presently without any further iudgement al the clothiers of the towne were excéeding glad perswaded themselues y â— now their goods would be safe all night without watching them at al so that whereas before the town maintayned certaine watchmen to kéepe their cloth by night they were hereupon dismissed as a thing néedlesse to be done supposing with themselues that seeing they should be straight hanged that were â—ound faulty in this point y â— no man would be so dâ—sperate to enterprise any such act And indeede the matter being noysed through the whole countrey that they were straight to be hanged that did vse such theeuery it made many lewd liuers to refraine such theeuery Neuerthelesse there was at that same time liuing a notable Theese named Wallis whom in the North they called Mighty VVallis in regard of his valor and manhood This man beeing most subtill in such kind of knauery hauing heard of this late priuiledge and therewithall of the townes security sayd that once he would venture his necke for a packe of Northerne cloth and therefore comming to one or two of his companions he asked if they would be partners in his aduenture and if quoth he you will herein hazard your bodies you shal be shaâ—ers in all our booties At length by many perswasions the men consented whereupon late in the night they got them all to a Farriours shop and called vp the folks of the house What the foule ill waâ—â— you haue quoth they at this time of the night Wallis answered saying good fellowes we would haue you to remooue the shooes of our Horses feete and set them on againe and for your paines you shal be well pleased The Smith at length was perswaded when he had pluckt off all the shooes from their horses feete they would needes haue them all set on againe quite contrary with the caâ—kins forward y â— should stand backward How fay fay man quoth the Smith are you â—â—ck fules what the deell doo you meane to breake your crags gud faith I tro the men be wood Not so Smith qd they do thou as wee â—id thee thoÌ„ shalt haue thy money for it is an old Prouerbe Bee it better or be it worse Please you the man that beares the purse Gud faith and see I â—all qd the Smith and so did as he was willed When VVallis had thus caused their Horses to be shod to Hallifax they went where they without any let laded their Horses with cloth and so departed a contrary way In the morning so soone as the clothiers came to the field they found that they were robd whereupon one ranne to another to tell these tidings Now when Hogekins heard thereof rising vp in haste â—e wild his neighbours to marke see if they could not descâ—ie eyther the footesteps of men or Horses Which being done they perceiued that horses had
seruants playd were richly garnished with studdes of siluer and some gold the bowes belonging to their Uiolins were all likewise of pure siluer He was also for his wisedome called to great office in the city who also builded at his owne cost the priory and hospitall of Saint Bartholomew in Smithfield his seruants being the best confort in the City were by Tom Doue appointed to play before the yong princes Then supper being brought to the boord they all sat down and by and by after comes vp their host who tooke his place among them and anone after the goodwife in a red piticoat a wastcoat comes among them as white as a Lilly saying My masters you are welcome I pray you be merry Thus falling close to their meat when they had well fed they found leysure to talke one with another at what time Cutb. began thus to finde fault Ywis my hoast quoth he you haue a wise huswife to your wife heere is meate drest of a new fashion God sends meat and the diuel sends cookes Why what ailes the meat quoth she serues it not your turne better men then yourselfe are content withall but a paultry companion is euer worst to please Away you fluttish thing qd Cutb. your husband hath a sweete iewell of you I maruell such a graue ancient man would match himselfe with such a young giglot that hath as much handsomenes in her as good huswifry which is iust nothing at all Well sir sayd she in regard of my husbands presence I am loth to aggrauate anger otherwise I would tell thée thy owne Go to what neede all this quoth the company in good faith Gutb you are too blame you find fault where none is Tush I must speake my mind quoth Cutbert I cannot dissemble I trust the goodman thinks neuer the worse of mee so I haue his good will what the foule euill care I for his wifes Enough quoth Tom Doue let vs with musicke remooue these brabbles we meane to be merry and not melancholy Then sayd old Cole Now trust me Cutbert we will haue our hostesse and you friends ere we part here woman I drinke to you and regard not his words for he is brabling wheresoeuer he comes Quoth the woman nothing grieues me so much as that he should thus openly checke me if he had found any thing amisse he might haue spied a better time to tell me of it then nowe ywis he neede not thrust my had huswifery into my husbands head I liue not so quietly with him God wot and with that she wept Come Cutb. quoth they drinke to her shake handes and bee friendes Come on you puling baggage quoth he I drinke to you here will you pledge me and shake hands No quoth shee I will see thee choakt first shake hands with thee I will shake hands with the diuell assoone Go to sayde her husband you shall shake handes with him then if you will not shake hands I le shake you what you young huswife Well husband sayd she it becomes a woman to obey her husband in regard whereof I drink to him That 's well sayd quoth the company and so she took her leaue went downe And within a while after they payd the shot departed thence to Garrata hall where they went to their lodging and the next day they tooke their way homeward all together and comming to Colebroke they tooke vp their lodging and it was Coles custome to deliuer his money to the good wife of the house to kéepe it til morning which in the ende turned to his vtter destruction as hereafter shall be shewed How Grayes wife of Gloucester with one or two more of her neighbours went to the fayre where seruants came to be hyred and how shee tooke the Earle of Shrewesburies Daughter into her seruice Chap. 3. IT was wont to be an old custome in Gloucestershire that at a certaine time in the yeere all such young men and maidens as were out of seruice resorted to a faire that was kept neare Gloucester there to be ready for any that would come to hire them the yong men stood all on arow on the one side the maydens on the other It came to passe that the Earle of Shrewsburyes daughter whose father was lately banished beeing driuen into great distresse and weary with trauayle as one whose delicate life was neuer vsed to such toyle sate her downe vpon the high way side making this lamentation O false and deceitfull world qd she who is in thee that wishes not to be rid of thee for thy extreamities are great Thou art deceitfull to all and trusty to none Fortune is thy tâ—e sur er who is like thy selfe wauering and vnconstant she setteth vp tyrants beateth downe kings giueth shame to some and renowne to others Fortune giueth these euils and we see it not with her hands she toucheth vs and we feele it not she treads vs vnderfoote and we know it not she speaks in our eares and we heare her not she cries aloud and we vnderstand her not And why because we know her not vntill misery doth make her manifest Ah my deare father well maist thou do Of all misfortunes it is most 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 Iewels my rich array my sumptus us â—â—â—â— my waiting seruants my many friends and all my vaine pleasures my pleasure is banisht by displeasure my friends fled like foes my seruants gome my feasting turned to fasting my rich array consumed to ragges and my iewels decke out my chiefest enemies therefore of all things the meane estate is best pouertie with surety is better than honour mixed with feare â—â—â—ing God hath alotted me to this misery of life I wil frame my heart to imbrace humility and carry a mind answerable to my misfortunes fle on this vaine title of Ladyship how little doth it auaile the distressed No no I must therefore forget my birth and parentage and think no more on my fathers house where I was wont to be serued now will I learne to serue and plaine Meg shall be my name good Lord grant I may get a good seruice nay any seruice shall serue where I may haue meat drinke and apparell She had no sooner spoke these words but she espied a couple of maidens more comming towards her who were going to the faire and bidding her good morrow asked her if she went to the faire Yea mary qd she I am a poore mans child that is out of seruice and I heare that at the Statute folkes do come of purpose to hire seruants True it is said the maidens and thither goe we for the same purpose and would be glad of your company With a good will and I am right glad of yours said she beséeching you good maidens you will doe me the fauour to tell me what seruice were best for me for the more
oft troubled you with trauell God knowes this may be the last thing that euer I shall request at your hands Woman quoth he I would willingly satisfie your desire but you know it is not conuenient for both of vs to be abroad our charge is great and therefore our care ought not to be small If you will goe your selfe one of my men shall goe with you and money enough you shall haue in your purse but to go with you my selfe you sée my busines will not permit me Husband said she I accept your gentle offer and it may be I shal intreat my gossip Sutton to go along with me I shal be glad quoth her husband prepare your selfe when you will When she had obtained this licence she sent hir man Wessell to Salisbury â—o know of good wife Sutton if she would kéep her company to London Suttons wife being as willing to go as she was to request neuer rested till she had gotten leaue of her husband the which when she had obtained casting in her minde their pleasure would be small being but they twayne thereupon the wily woman sent letters by collerick Crack her man both to Grayes wife and Fâ—â—zallens wife that they would meet them at Reading who liking wel of the match consented and did so prouide that they met according to promise at Reading and from thence with Coles wife they went al together with each of them a man to London ech one taking vp their lodging with a seuerall friend When the Marchants of London vnderstood they were in towne they iraâ—â—ited them euery day home to their owne houses where they had delicate good cheere and when they went abroade to see the commodityes of the City the Marchants wiues euer bore them company being attyred most dainty and fine which when the Clothiers wiues did sée it grieued their hearts they had not the like Now when they were brought into Cheapeside there with great wonder they beheld the shops of the Goldsmiths and on the other side the wealthy Mercers whose shops shined of al sortes of coloured silkes in Watlingstreete they viewed the great number of Drapers in Saint Martines Shoomakers at Saint Nicholas church the flesh shambles at the end of the old change the fishmongers in Candlewéeke stréete the Weauers then came into the Iewes stréete where all the Iewes did inhabite then went they to Blackwel hall where the country clothiers did vse to méete Afterward they procéeded and came to S. Pauls church whose steeple was so hye that it seemed to pierce the clouds on the top whereof was a great and mighty whethercocke of cleane siluer the which notwithstanding seemed as small as a sparrow to mens eyes it stood so exceeding high the which goodly weathercocke was afterwards stolen away by a cunning cripple who found meanes one night to climbe vp to the toppe of the stéeple and tooke it downe with the which and a great summe of mony which he had got together by begging in his life tune he builded a gate on the North-west side of the city which to this day is called Criple gate From thence they went to the Tower of London which was builded by Iulius Caesar who was Emperour of Rome And there they beheld salt and wine which had laine there euer since the Romans inuaded this land which was many yeares before our Sauiour Christ was borne the wine was growne so thicke that it might haue bin cut like a ielley And in that place also they sawe money that was made of leather which in ancient time went currant amongst the people When they had to their great contentation beheld all this they repaired to their lodgings hauing also a sumptuous supper ordained for them with all delight that might be And you shall vnderstand that when the country weauers which came vp with their dames saw the weauers of Candlewikestréet they had great desire presently to haue some conference with them and thus one began to challenge thother for workmanship quoth VVeasell I le worke with any of you all for a crowne take it if you dare and he that makes his yeard of cloth soonest shall haue it You shall be wrought withall said the other and if it were for tenne crownes but we wil make this bargaine that each of vs shall wynde their owne quilles Content quoth VVeasell and so to worke they went but VVesel lost Whereupon another of them tooke the matter in hand who lost likewise so that the London weauers triumphed against the country casting forth diuers frumps Alas poore fellowes quoth they your hearts are good but your hands are ill â—ush the fault was in their legges quoth another pray you friend were you not borne at home Whie doe you aske quoth VVeasell because said hee the biggest place of your legge is next to your shoe Cutbert hearing this being cholericke of nature chafed like a man of law at the barre and he wagers with them foure crowns to twain the others agreed to work they go but erab conquered them all Whereupon the London weauers were nipt in the head like birds and had not a word to say Now saith Crab as we haue lost nothing so you haue won nothing and because I know ye cannot be right weauers except you be good fellowes therefore if you will go with vs wee will bestow the ale vpon you That is spoken like a good fellow and like a weauer quoth the other So along they went as it were to the signe of the red Crosse. When they were set downe and had drunk well they began merrily to prattle and to ertoll Crab to the skies Whereupon Crab protested that he would come and dwell among them Nay that must not be sayd a London weauer the king hath giuen vs priuilege that none shal liue among vs but such as serue seuen yeeres in London With that Crab according to his old manner of prophesing sayd thus THe day is very neere at hand VVhen as a King of this faire land Shall priuiledge you more then so Theâ— weauers shall in scarlet go And to one brotherhood be brought The first that is in London wrought VVhen other trades-men by your fame Shall couet all to doe the same Then shall you all liue wondrous well But this one thing I shall you tell The day will come before the doome In Candleweeke streete shall stand no loome Nor any weauer dwelling there But men that shall more credit beare For clothing shall be sore decayed And men vndone that tâ—e that trade And yoâ— the day some â—en shall see This 〈…〉 shall raised be Whenas Bay liffe of Sarum towne Shal buy and purchase Bishops downe When there neuer man did sow Great store of goodly corne shall grow And woad that makes all colours sound Shall spring vpon that barren ground At that same day I tell you plaine Who so aliue doth then remaine A proper mayden there shall see Within the towne of Salisbury Of fauour sweete of nature