Selected quad for the lemma: master_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A55801
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Witty William of Wiltshire his birth, life, and education, and strange adventures ... with merry songs and sonnets.
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L. P. (Laurence Price), fl. 1625-1680?
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1674
(1674)
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Wing P3394; ESTC R29404
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10,347
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30
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firm Cathologue of all the names of the Lords Kts. Gentlemen in those parts how many miles it was betwixt every particular place so he traveled into the countrey about an hundred miles from â—ond to a great shire town to the greatest Inn there hires a boy to go with them some sâ—â—â—miles to the said Inn his groom by him he senes baâ—â— his horses to a place appointed there he continued 3 days spending moderately but paying freely and would never sit down till his heast was placed at the upper end of the table in this time his mâ—n was diligent in making inquiery what Country man the master of the House was from whence the tapster chamberlain maids came what country Gent. frequented that house and from what parts they came then his man gives out amongst the Servants that his master was from such a place that was far enough distant from that place that he had so many hundred pound coming in by the year that he came thither to sojourn a while till he could sell a parcel of Land with a stock of cattle upon it which would amount to twenty five hundred pound at least this report caus'd him to be honored like to a deme god Late in the Evening comes in a counterfeit Foot-man delivers William his message in the great hall so told that all men might hear that such a Kt. living ten miles from thence must néeds speak with him next day by ten of the clock because he heard he would sell his land forasmuch as it lay convenient for him he would give him as much for it as any man At this William stamps scratches saying O what a rogue was I to send back my horses his Host believing that it was a curant truth furnisht him with two horses he promist to return again within two days at most would pay him what he would desire but did not when six days were expired they sent to the Kts. house but he profest he knew no such man By this his will his hoast-he was defeated Of two-brave horses the Inn-keeper was cheated There was no truth i' th words that he did say For he rid quite the clean contrary way How he released a man from prison So he traveled from thence to another great to in where it was his chance to pass by the Countrey Prison windows wherein amongst many other prisoners he found one poor man that had six small Children that did all depend upon his honest labour whom he questioned found that he had lain their now a long time at the sute of a hard-hearted Rich-man for twenty pounds being bound for another man which â— eved hâ—… to pitty compassion to try his wits how to clear the poor man then sent forthwith for the creditor to the tavern and there treated him to set the poor man frer but could by no means prevail without either the ready money or sufficient security unto which VVilliam replyed saying Sir I do ingeniously profess that if I had not parted with all my money to ten pound but yesterday for a parcel of Land that I have bought of such a man naming a right seller and the other took it for curant I would have paid you your money down the poor man should have oven my servant So William plyed the creditor with sack which he lickt in as freely as a thirsty horse doth fair water after eating of parched beans till be grew as mellow as a pair when he saw all the Family honour VVilliam with the title of worshipful he believed him to be the same Man that he presented and in a merry v in tells William that if his Worship would give him a bond of forty pounds to pay him twenty at the next quarter day he would set the Prisoner free unto which William consents saying I question not but that the poor man will work it out by little and a little Then send they for the prisoner to come with a Kerper he consents to serve his new Master a Scrivener is sent for who by VVilliams instructions fastned the debt wholly upon him clear'd the prisoner quite for ever from the debt which pleas'd the mizard well William pays the Scrivener clears the Prison fees permits his new servant to go home to his Wife and Children biding him to be sure to come to him to his Inn by six a clock next morning after William had paid for the wine he threw a shilling to the drawer and another to the maid and so they parted for that night Next morning William sends for this miser again to the same tavern he gives him a colation in the intrem of time comes in a country fellow tells him that the cattle which his Baylâ—y had bought to stock his new purchased Land was come and put into the pastures and that the Farmer that sold them and the Bayly was at the Inn and furdermore that the price of the cattle came to twenty pound more then he had delivered his bayley that the farmer staid there for to receive it then said the Churl Let them come hither No such matters says VVilliam my servant shall be no fellow of mine pox apo nt says William I must away to such a gentleman my Cousen to borrow twenty pounds for I love to keep my word That shall not néed sir said the other if your worshâ—p please I will supply you with 20 pound upon your own bond what is that betwixt you me the 20 pound was produced bond given to be paid the next quarterday then says William to his man carry this mony to my bayly to pay the farmer for his cattle bid him make hast home and make ready for my coming bid the hostler make ready the horses for I long to be gone to sée what bargin of cattle my man hath bought why sir said the miser how many hath he bought truly sir said William I know no more then you do how many head of meat he hath bought but I am sure that I delivered him 400 pound in good mony why then said the other they stand you in 420 pound yea said William 5 pound more then câ—me in his servingman and said sir if it please your worship the horses are ready so they drank one merry cup more so parted the Miser to carry home his 20 pounds worth of paper William to his horse with 2â— pound in silver then he câ—l'd the released prisoner there before the Inn-keeper other persons he discharg'd him from his service gave him 10 pound to carry home to his wife to begin the world anew and so departed The Conclusion To the Tune of The clean contrary way William of Wiltshire was a valiant Knight if you will believe it you may For unto all men he lov'd to do right the clean contrary way Ah the clean contrary way To live by cheating his heart it did thirst and for to go gallant and gay And he that 's not like him he thinks is accurst the clean contrary way c Those that with moneys his wants have supply'd he at his return will them â—ay When that his worship they once more have spy'd the clean contrary way c. No Ranter nor Canter could yet overthrow him but he shewed them very fair play But he that knew nothing could wisly forestow him the clean contrary way c. When he comes to London to sâ—e the Sâ—â—man his hundred pounds then he 'l pay The Inn-keeper shall receive it if he caâ— the clean contrary way c. The Lady of pleasure will bring back his gold if you will believe it you may She 'l kiss and imbrace him to make him more bold the clean contrary way c. And he will return to the gallants their guilt the which he hath won by foul play By help of the Topas Stoan and the brave hilt the clean contrary way ah the clean contrary way FINIS