reliefe of the poore that dwelt all about and in the end the Brides Father and Mother came to pay their Daughters portion which when the Bridegroome had receiued hée gaue them great thankes Notwithstanding hée would not suffer them yet to depart and against they should goe home their sonne in law came vnto them saying Father and Mother all the thankes that my poore heart can yéeld I giue you for your good will cost and courtesie and while I liue make bold to vse mée in any thing that I am able and in requitall of the gift you gaue mée with your daughter I giue you here twenty pound to bestow as you finde occasion and for your losse of time and charges riding vp and downe I giue you here as much broadcloath as shall make you a cloake and my mother a holiday gowne and when this is worne out come to me and fetch more O my good zonne quoth the old woman Christs benizon bée with thée euermore for to tell thée true we had zold all our kine to make money for my daughters marriage and this zeauen yeare we should not haue béen able to buy more Notwithstanding we should haue zold all that euer wée had before my poore wench should haue lost her marriage I quoth the old man I hud haue zold my coate from my backe and my bed from vnder mée before my gyrle should haue gone without you I thanke you good father and mother said the Bride and I pray God long to kéepe you in health then the Bride knéeled downe and did her duty to her parents who wéeping for very ioy departed Not long after this it chanced while our noble king was making warre in France that Iames king of Scotland falsly breaking his oath inuaded England with a great Army and did much hurt vpon the Borders whereupon on the sudden euery man was appointed according to his ability to bée ready with his men and furniture at an houres warning on paine of death Iacke of Newberie was commanded by the Iustices to set out sixe men foure armed with Pikes and two Caliuers and to meet the Queen in Buckinghamshire who was there raising a great power to goe against the faithlesse king of Scots When Iacke had receiued this charge hée came home in all haste cut out a whole broadcloath for horsemens coates and so much more as would make vp coates for the number of a hundren men in short time hée had made ready fifty tall men well mounted in white coates and red caps with yellow Feathers Demilances in their hands and fifty armed men on foote with Pikes and fifty shotte in white coates also euery man so expert in the handling of his weapon as few better were found in the field Himselfe likewise in complet armour on a goodly Barbed Horse rode foremost of the company with a Lance in his hand and a faire plume of yellow Feathers in his crest and in this sort he came before the Iustices who at the first approach did not a little wonder what he should be At length when hée had discouered what hée was she Iustices and most of the Gentlemen gaue him great commendations for this his good and forward minde shewed in this action but some other enuying hereat gaue out words that hée shewed himselfe more prodigall than prudent and more vaine-glorious than well aduised séeing that the best Nobleman in the Country would scarce haue done so much and no maruell quoth they for such a one would call to his remembrance that the King had often occasions to vrge his subiects to such charges and therefore would doe at one time as they might be able to doe at another but Iacke of Newberie like the Stork in the Spring-time thinks the highest Cedar too lowe for him to build his nest in and ere the yeare be halfe done may be glad to haue his bed in a bush These disdainfull spéeches being at last brought to Iacke of Newberies eare though it grieued him much yet patiently put them vp till time conuenient Within a while after all the souldiers of Barkshire Hampshire and Wiltshire were commanded to shew themselues before the Quéene at Stonny Stratford where her Grace with many Lords Knights and Gentlemen were assembled with tenne thousand men Against Iacke should goe to the Quéene hée caused his face to bée smeared with bloud and his white ceate in like manner When they were come before her Highnesse she demanded aboue all the rest what those white coats were Whereupon Sir Henry Englefield who had the leading of the Barkshire men made answer May it please your Maiesty to vnderstand that hee which rideth foremost there is called Iack of Newbery and all those gallant men in white are his owne seruants who are maintained all the yeare by him whom hee at his owne cost hath set out in this time of extremity to serue the King against his vaunting Foe and I assure your Maiesty there is not for the number better souldiers in the field Good sir Henry quoth the Queene bring the man to mee that I may sée him which was done accordingly Then Iacke with all his men allighted and humbly on their knées fell before the Queen Her Grace said Gentleman arise and putting forth her lilly white hand gaue it him to kisse Most gracious Queene quoth hee Gentleman I am none nor the sonne of a Gentleman but a poore Clothier whose lands are his Loomes hauing no other Rents but what I get from the backes of little sheepe nor can I claime any cognisance but a wadden shuttle Neuerthelesse most gratious Queene these my poore seruants and my selfe with life and goods are ready at your Maiesties command not onely to spend our blouds but also to lose our liues in defence of our King and Country Welcome to mee Iacke of Newberie said the Queene though a Clothier by trade yet a Gentleman by condition and a faithfull subiect in heart and if thou chance to haue any sute in Court make account the Queene will bée thy friend and would to God the King had many such Clothiers But tell mee how came thy white coate besmeared with bloud and thy face so bescratcht May it please your Grace quoth hee to vnderstand that it was my chance to méete with a monster who like the people Cynomolgy had the proportion of a man but headed like a dogge the biting of whose teeth was like the poysoned téeth of a Crocodile his breath like the Basilisks killing afarre off I vnderstand his name was Enuie who assailed mee inuisibly like the wicked spirit of Mogunce who flung stones at men could not bee séene and so I come by my scratcht face not knowing when it was done What was the cause this monster should afflict thée aboue the rest of thy company or other men in the field Although most Souereigne Quéen quoth hée this poysoned curre snarleth at many and that few can escape the hurt of his wounding breath yet
at this time he bent his force against mée not for any hurt I did him but because I surpast him in hearty affection to my Souereigne Lord and with the poore Widow offered all I had to serue my Prince and Country It were happy for England said the Quéen if in euery market Towne there were a Iybbet to hang vp curres of that kinde who like Aesops dogge lying in the Manger will doe no goodhimselfe nor suffer such as would to doe any This spéech being ended the Quéene caused her Army to be set in order and in warlike manner to march toward Flodden where King Iames had pitcht his field But as they passed along with Drum and Trumpet there came a Past from the valiant Earle of Surrey with tydings to her Grace that now shée might dismisse her Army for that it had pleased God to grant the noble Earle victory ouer the Scotts whom hee had by his wisedome and valiancy vanquished in fight and slaine their King in battell Upon which newes her Maiestie discharged her forces and ioyfully tooke her iourney to London with a pleasant countenance praysing God for her famous victory and yéelding thankes to all the noble Gentlemen and Souldiers for their readinesse in the action giuing many gifts to the Nobilitie and great rewards to the Souldiers among whom shée nothing forgot Iacke of Newbery about whose necke she put a rich chaine of gold at what time he with all the rest gaue a great shout saying God saue Katharine the noble Queen of England Many Noble men of Scotland were taken prisoners at this battell and many more slaine so that there neuer came a greater foile to Scotland than this for you shall vnderstand that the Scottish King made full account to bée Lord of this Land watching opportunity to bring to passe his faithlesse and trayterous practise which was when our King was in France at Turney and Turwin in regard of which warres the Scots vaunted there was none left in England but shepheards and ploughmen who were not able to lead an Army hauing no skill in martiall affaires In consideration of which aduantage hée inuaded the Countrey boasting of victory before he had wonne which was no small griefe to Quéene Margaret his wife who was eldest sister to our noble King Wherefore in disgrace of the Scots and in remembrance of the famous atchieued victory the Commons of England made this Song which to this day is not forgotten of many THE SONG KIng Iamie had made a vowe keep it well if he may That he will be at louely London vpon Saint Iames his day Vpon Saint Iames his day at noon at faire London will I be And all the Lords in merry Scotland they shall dine there with me Then bespake good Queene Margaret the teares fell from her eies Leaue off these wars most noble King keep your fidelity The water runs swift and wondrous deep from bottome vnto the brimme My brother Henry hath men good enough England is hard to winne Away quoth he with this silly foole in prison fast let her lie For she is come of the English bloud and for these words she shall dye With that bespake Lord Thomas Howard the Queenes Chamberlaine that day If that you put Queen Margaret to death Scotland shall rue it alway Then in a rage King Iamie did say away with this foolish Mome He shall be hanged and the other be burned so soone as I come home At Flodden Field the Scots came in which made our Englishmen faine At Bramstone-greene this battell was seen there was King Iamie slaine Then presently the Scots did flie their Cannons they left behinde Their ensignes gay were worne all way our Souldiers did beate them blinde To tell you plaine twelue thousand were slaine that to the fight did stand And many prisoners tooke that day the best in all Scotland That day made many a fatherlesse childe and many a widow poore And many a Scottish gay Lady sate weeping in her bowre Iacke with a feather was lapt all in leather his boastings were all in vaine He had such a chance with a new morrice dance he never went home againe FINIS CHAP. III. How Iacke of Newberie went to receiue the King as he went in progresse into Barkshire and how he made him a banquet in his owne house ABout the tenth yeare of y e kings reigne his Grace made his progresse into Barkshire against which time Iack of Newbery cloathed 30. tall fellowes being his houshold seruants in blew coates faced with Scarcenet euery one hauing a good sword buckler on his shoulder himselfe in a plaine russet coate a paire of white kersie bréeches without welt or guard and stockens of the same péece sowed to his slops which had a great codpéece whereon he stucke his pinnes who knowing the King would come ouer a certaine meadow neere adioining to the Lowne got himselfe thither with all his men and repairing to a certaine Ant-hill which was in the field took vp his seate there causing his men to stand round about the same with their swords drawne The King comming neer the place with the rest of his Nobility and séeing them stand with their drawne weapons sent to know the cause Garret King at Armes was the Messenger who spake in this sort Good fellowes the Kings Maiesty would know to what end you stand here with your swords and bucklers prepared to fight With that Iacke of Newbery started vp and made this answer Harrold quoth he returne to his Highnesse it is poore Iacke of Newbery who being scant Marqnesse of a Mole-hill is chosen Prince of Ants and here I stand with my weapons and Guard about mee to defend and kéep these my póore and painefull subiects from the force of the idle Butterflies their sworne enemies lest they should disturbe this quiet Common-wealth who this Summer season are making their Winters prouision The messenger returning told his Grace that it was one Iacke of Newbery that stood there with his men about him to guard as they say a company of Ants from the furieus wrath of the Prince of Butterflies With this newes the King heartily laught saying Indéed it is no maruell he stands so well prepared considering what a terrible tyrant he hath to deale withall Certainly my Lords quoth hée this séemes to bée a pleasant fellow and therefore we will send to talke with him The messenger being sent told Iacke he must come speak with the King Quoth he his Grace hath a horse and I am on foote therefore will him to come to mée beside that while I am away our enemies might come and put my people in hazzare as the Scots did England while our King was in France How dares the Lambe be so bold with the Lyon quoth she Herald Why quoth hée if there be a Lyon in the field here is neuer a cocke to feare him and tell his Maiesty hée might thinke me a very bad Gouernour that would walke aside
The pleasant Historie OF IOHN WINCHCOMB In his yonguer yeares called IACK of NEWBERY The famous and worthy Clothier of England declaring his life and loue together with his charitable deeds and great Hospitalitie And how hee set continually fiue hundred poore people at worke to the great benefite of the Common-wealth Now the tenth time Imprinted corrected and enlarged by T. D. Haud curo invidiam LONDON Printed by H. LOWNES and are to be sold by Cuthbert Wright in S. Bartholomews neer the entrance into the Hospitall 1626. To all famous Cloth-Workers in England I wish all happinesse of life prosperity and brotherly affection AMong all manuall Arts vsed in this Land none is more famous for desert or more beneficiall to the Common-wealth than is the most necessarie Art of Clothing And therefore as the benefite thereof is great so are the professors of the same to be both loued and maintained Many wise men therefore hauing deepely considered the same most bountifully haue bestowed their gifts for vpholding of so excellent a commoditie which hath been and yet is the nourishing of many thousands of poor people Wherefore to you most worthy Clothiers do I dedicate this my rude worke which hath raised out of the dust of Forgetfulnesse a most famous and worthie man whose name was Iohn Winchcombe alias Iacke of Newberie of whose life and loue I haue briefly written and in a plaine and humble manner that it may be the better vnderstood of those for whose sake I took pains to compile it that is for the well minded Clothiers that heerein they may behold the great worship and credit which men of this trade haue in former time come vnto If therefore it bee of you kindly accepted I haue the end of my desire and thinke my paines well recompenced and finding your gentlenesse answering my hope it shall moue mee shortly to set to your sight the long hidden History of Thomas of Redding George of Glocester Richard of Worcester and William of Salisbury with diuers others who were all most notable members in the Common-wealth of this Land and men of great fame and dignity In the meane space I commend you all to the most high God who euer increase in all perfection and prosperous estate the long honoured trade of English-Clothiers Yours in all humble seruice T. D. THE MOST PLEAsant and delectable Historie of Iohn Winchcombe otherwise called Iacke of Newberie and first of his loue and pleasant life CHAP. I. IN the daies of King Henrie the eight that most noble and victorious Prince in the heginning of his reigne Iohn Winchcomb a broad cloth Weauer dwelt in Newberie a towne in Barkshire who for that he was a man of a merry disposition honest conuersation was wondrous wel-beloued of Rich and Poore especially because in euery place where hee came hee would spend his money with the best and was not at any time found a churle of his purse Wherefore being so good a companion hee was called of old and yongue Iacke of Newberie a man so generally well knowne in all his countrey for his good fellowship that hee could goe in no place but he found many acquaintance by meanes whereof Iacke could no sooner get a Crowne but straight hee found meanes to spend it yet had hee euer this care that hee would alwaies keepe himselfe in comely and decent apparell neyther at any time would hee bee ouercome in drinke but so discreetly behaue himselfe wish honest mirth and pleasant conceits that he was euery Gentlemans companion After that Iack had long led this pleasant life being though he were but poore in good estimation it was his Masters thance to dye and his Dame to be a widow who was a very comely ancient woman and of reasonable wealth Wherefore she hauing a good opinion of her man Iohn committed vnto his gouernement the guiding of all her worke-folkes for the space of thrée yeares together In which time shee found him so carefull and diligent that all things came forward and prospered wondrous well No man could intice him from his businesse all the wéeke by all the entreaty they could vse Insomuch that in the end some of the wild youths of the town began to deride and scoffe at him Doubtlesse quoth one I thinke some female spirit hath inchaunted Iacke to his treadles and coniured him within the compasse of his Loome that he can stirre no further You say true quoth Iacke and if you haue the leasure to stay till the Charme be done the space of sixe dayes and flue nights you shall finde me ready to put on my holy-day-apparell and on Sunday morning for your paines I will giue you apot of Ale ouer against the May-pole Nay quoth another I le lay my life that as the Salamander cannot liue without the fire so Iack cannot liue without the smel of his Dames smock And I maruell quoth Iacke that you being of the nature of a Herring which so soone as he is taken out of the Sea presently dyes can liue so long with your nose out of the pot Nay Iacke leaue thy testing quoth another and goe along with vs thon shalt not stay a iot And because I will not stay nor make you a lyer quoth Iacke I le kéepe me here still and so farewell Thus then they departed and after they had for halfe a score times tryed him to this intent and saw he would not bée ledde by their lure they left him to his owne will Neuer thelesse euery Sunday in the afternoone and euery Holy-day Iacke would kéep them company and be as merry as a Pye and hauing still good store of money in his purse one or other would euer be borrowing of him but neuer could hee get pennis of it againe which when Iacke perceiued he would neuer after carry aboue twelue pence at once in his purse and that being spent he would straight returne home merrily taking his leaue of the company in this sort My masters I thanke you its time to packe home For he that wants money is counted a mome And twelue pence a Sunday being spent in good cheare To fifty two shillings amounts in the yeare Enough for a Crafts-man that liues by his hands And he that exceeds it shall purchase no lands For that I spend this day I le worke hard to morrow For woe is that partie that seeketh to borrow My money doth make me full merry to be And without my money none careth for me Therefore wanting money what should I doe heere But hast home and thanke you for all my good cheere Thus was Iackes good gouernement and discretion noted of the best and substantiallest men of the Towne so that it wrought his great commendations and his Dame thought her selfe not a little blest to haue such a seruant that was so obedient vnto her and so carefull for her profite for shée had neuer a Prentise that yéelded her more obedience than he did or was more dutifull so that
dignities by wisedome learning and diligence I would wish you to imitate the like vertues that you might attaine the like honours for which of you doth know what good fortune God hath in store for you there is none of you so poorely borne but that men of baser birth haue come to great honours The idle hand shall euer goe in a ragged garment and the sloathfull liue in reproach but such as doe lead a vertuous life and gouerne themselues discréetly shall of the best be estéemed and spend their daies in credit CHAP. VI How all the Clothiers in England ioined together with one consent complained to the King of their great hindrance sustained for want of Traffique into other Countries whereupon they could get no sale for their Cloath BY meanes of the warres which our King had with other countries many Merchant strangers were prohibited for comming to England as also our owne Merchants in like sort were forbidden to haue dealings with France or the Low-countries by meanes whereof the Clothiers had most of their cloath lying on their hands and that which they sold was at so low a rate that the money scantly paid for the wooll an workemanship Whereupon they sought to ease themselues by abating the poore workemens wages And when that did not preuaile they turnd away many of their people Weauers Shearmen Spinsters and Carders so that where there was a hundred Looms kept in one towne there was scant fifty and hée that kept twenty put downe tenne Many a poore man for want of worke was hereby vndone with his wife and children and it made many a poore widow to sit with a hungry belly This bred great woe in most places in England In the end lacke of Newberie intended in the behalfe of the poore to make a Supplication to the King and to the end hee might doe it the more effectually hee sent Letters to all the chiefe cloathing townes in England to this effect The Letter VVElbeloued friends and brethren hauing a taste of the generall griefe and féeling in some measure the extremitie of these times I fell into consideration by what meanes we might best expell these sorrowes and recouer our former commodity When I had well thought hereon I found that nothing was more néedefull herein than a faithfull vnity among our selues This sore of necessity can no way be cured but by concord for like as the flame consumes the candle so men through discord waste themselues The poore hate the rich because they will not set them on worke and the rich hate the poore because they séeme burdenons so both are offended for want of gaine When Belinus and Brennus were at strife the Quéen their mother in their greatest fury perswaded them to peace by vrging her conception of them in one wombe and mutuall cherishing of them from their tender yeares so let our Art of Cloathing which like a kinde mother hath cherished vs with the excellence of her secrets perswade vs to an vnity Though our Occupation be decaied let vs not deale with it as men doe by their old shooes which after they haue long borne them out of the myre doe in the end fling them on the dunghill or as the Husband-man doth by his Bées who for their Honey burnes them Deare friends consider that our Trade will maintaine vs if wée will vphold it and there is nothing base but that which is basely vsed Assemble therefore your selues together and in euery towne tell the number of those that haue their liuing by meanes of this Trade note it in a Bill and send it to mée And because sutes in Court are like Winter nights long and wearisome let there be in each place a wéekely collection made to defray charges for I tell you Noble mens Secretaries and cunning Lawyers haue flow tongues and deafe eares which must bée daily noynted with the swéete oyle of Angells Then let two honest discréet men bee chosen and sent out of euery towne to méete mee at Black well Hall in London on All Saints Eeue and then we will present our humble petition to the King Thus I bid you heartily farewell Copies of this Letter being sealed they were sent to all the cloathing Townes of England and the Weauers both of linnen and woollen gladly receiued them so that when all the Bills were brought together there were found of the Clothiers and those they maintained threescore thousand and sixe hundred persons Moreouer euery cloathing Towne sending vp two men to London they were found to bee an hundred and twelue persons who in very humble sort fell downe before his Maiesty walking in S. Iames his Parke and deliuered to him their Petition The King presently perusing it asked if they were all Clothiers Who answered as it were one man in this sort Wee are most gracious king all poore Clothiers and your Maiesties faithfull subiects My Lords quoth the king let these mens complaint bee throughly lookt into and their griefs redressed for I account them in the number of my best Common-wealths men As the Clergy for the soule the Souldier for defence of his countrey the Lawyer to execute iustice the Husbandman to féede the belly so is the skilfull Clothier no lesse necessary for the cloathing of the backe whom we may reckon among the chiefe Yeomen of our Land and as the christall sight of the eye is tenderly to be kept from harmes because it giues the whole body light so is the Clothiers whose cunning hand prouides garments to defend our naked parts from the Winters nipping frost Many more reasons there are which may moue vs to redresse their griefes but let it suffice that I command to haue it done With that his Grace deliuered the Petition to the Lord Chauncellor and all the Clothiers cryed God saue the king But as the king was ready to depart hee suddenly turned about saying I remember there is one Iacke of Newberie I muse hée had not his hand in this businesse who profest himselfe to bee a defender of true Labourers Then said the Duke of Sommerset It may bee his purse is answerable for his person Nay quoth the Lord Cardinall all his treasure is little enough to maintaine warres against the butterflies With that Iacke shewed himselfe vnto the king and priuately told his Grace of their griefe anew To whom his Meiesty said Giue thy attendance at the Councell Chamber where thou shalt receiue an answer to thy content And so his Highnes departed Finally it was agreed that the Marchants should fréely traffique one with another and that Proclamation thereof should bee made as well on the other side the Sea as in our Land but it was long before this was effected by reason the Cardinall being Lord Chancellor put off the matter from time to time And because the Clothiers thought it not best to depart before it was ended they gaue their daily attendance at the Cardinalls house but spent many dayes to no purpose sometime they were
Tweedle O quoth hee here lies a dead woman A dead woman quoth Tweedle that 's not so I trow and with that hee tumbled her about bones of me quoth Tweedle 't is a drunken woman and one of the Towne vndoubtedly in troth it is great pitty shee should lye here Why doe you know her quoth the Clowne no not I quoth Tweedle neuerthelesse I will giue thee halfe a groate and take her in thy Basket and carry her throughout the Towne and see if any body know her Then said the other let me see the money and I will For by the Masse she earnd not halfe a great this great while There it is quoth Tweedle then the fellow put her in his Basket and so lifted her vpon his back Now by the Masse shée stinkes vilely of Drinke or Wine or some thing But tell me What shall I say when I come into the Towne quoth he First quoth Tweedle I would haue thée so soone as euer thou canst get to the Townes end with a lusty voyce to cry O yes and then say Who knowes this woman who And though possible some will say I know her and I know her yet doe not thou set her downe till thou commest to the Market Crosse and there vse the like wordes and if any be so friendly to tell shée where shée dwels then iust before her doore cry so againe and if thou performe this brauely I will giue thee halfe a groat more Master Tweedle quoth he I knowe you well enough you dwell with Master Winchcombe doe you not I faith if I doe it not in the nicke giue mee neuer a penny And so away hee went till hee came to the Townes end and there he cryes out as boldly as any Bayliffes man O yes who knowes this woman who Then said the drunken woman in the Basket her head falling first on one side and then on the other side Who co mee who Then said hee againe Who knowes this woman who Who co mee who quoth shée and looke how oft hée spoke the one shée spoke the other saying still Who co me who come who Whereat all the people in the stréete fell into such a laughter that the teares ranne downe againe At last one made answere saying God fellow shée dwels in the North brooke street a little beyond Master Winchcombes The fellow hearing that goes downe thither in all haste and there in the hearing of a hundred people cryes Who knowes this woman who Whereat her husband comes out saying ◠Marry that doe I too well God helpe mee Then said the Clowne If you know her take her for I knowe her not but for a drunken beast And as her husband tooke her out of the Basket shée gaue him a sound boxe on the eare saying What you Qneanes doe you mocke mee and so was carried in But the next day when her braine was quiet and her head cléered of these foggy vapours she was so ashamed of her selfe that shee went not forth of her doores a long time after and if any body did say vnto her Who come who shee would be so mad and furious that shee would be ready to draw her knife and sticke them and scold as if she stroue for the best game at the cucking stoole Moreouer her pratling to mistresse Winchcombes folkes of their mistresse made her on the other side to fall out with her in such sort that shee troubled them no more eyther with her company or her counsell CHAP. XI How one of lacke of Newberies maides became a Ladie AT the winning of Morlesse in France the noble Earle of Surrey being at that time Lard high Admirall of England made many Knights among the rest was Sir George Rigley brother to Sir Edward Rigley and sundry other whose valours farre surpassed their wealth so that when peace bred a scarcitie in their purse and that their credits grew weake in the Citie they were enforced to ride into the Country where at their friends houses they might haue fauourable welcome without coyne or grudging Among the rest lacke of Newberie that kept a table for all commers was neuer lightly without many such guestes where they were sure to haue both welcome and good cheare and their mirth no lesse pleasing than their meate was plenty Sir George hauing lyen long at boord in this braue Yeomans house at length fell in likinḡ of one of his maidens who was as faire as she was fond This lusty wench hee so allured with hope of marriage that at length shee yeelded him her loue and therewithall bent her whole study to worke his content but in the end shee so much contented him that it wrought altogether her owne discontent to become high shee laid her selfe so low that the Knight suddenly fell ouer her which fall became the rising of her bellry But when this wanton perceiued her selfe to be with childe she made her moane vnto the Knight in this manner Ah Sir George now is the time to performe your promise or to make mée a spectacle of in famy to the whole world for euer in the one you shal discharge the duety of a true knight but in the other shew your selfe a most periured person Small honour will if bee to boast in the spoyle of poore maydens whose innocencie all good Knights ought much rather to defend Why thou lewd paltry thing quoth he commest thou to father thy bastard vpon me Away ye dunghill carrion away Heare you good huswife get you among your companiens and lay your litter where you list for if you trouble mee any more by heauen I swears thou shalt dearely abids it and so bending his browes like the angry god of war he went his wayes leauing the childe-bréeding wench to the hazzard of her fortune eyther good or bad The poore mayden séeing her selfe for her kindnesse thus cast off shedde many teares of sorrow for her sinne inueighing with many bitter groanes against the vnconstancie of loue alluring men But in the end when shee saw no other remedy shee made her case knowne vnto her mistresse who after she had giuen her many bitter checks and tants threatning to turne her out of doores shee opened the matter to her husband So soone as he heard thereof hee made no more to doe but presently poasted to London after Sir George and found him at my Lord Admirals What master Winchcombe quoth he you are heartily welcome to London and I thanke you for my good chéere I pray you how doth your good wife and all our friends in Barkshire All well and merry I thanks you good Sir George quoth hee I left them in health and I hope they doe so continue And trust me sir quoth he hauing earnest occasion to come vp to talke with a bad debtor in my iourney it was my chance to light in company of a gallant widow a Gentlewoman shee is of wondrous good wealth whom griesely death hath bereft of a kinde husband making her a widow ere she