Roister Doister Part 21

+C. Custance.+ Then shall we see I trowe, whether ye shall do me harme,

+R. Royster.+ Yes in faith Kitte, I shall thee and thine so charme, That all women incarnate by thee may beware.

+C. Custance.+ Nay, as for charming me, come hither if thou dare, I shall cloute thee tyll thou stinke, both thee and thy traine, And coyle thee mine owne handes, and sende thee home againe.

+R. Royster.+ Yea sayst thou me that dame? dost thou me threaten?

Goe we, I still see whether I shall be beaten.

+M. Mery.+ Nay for the paishe of G.o.d, let me now treate peace, For bloudshed will there be in case this strife increace.

Ah good dame Custance, take better way with you.

+R. Royster.+ Let him do his worst.

+M. Mery.+ Yeld in time.

+R. Royster.+ Come hence thou.

_Exeant Roister et Mery._

Actus. iiij. Scaena. iiij.

+Christian Custance. Anot Alyface. Tibet T. M. Mumblecrust.+

+C. Custance.+ So sirra, if I should not with hym take this way, I should not be ridde of him I thinke till doomes day, I will call forth my folkes, that without any mockes If he come agayne we may giue him rappes and knockes.

Mage Mumblecrust, come forth, and Tibet Talke apace.

Yea and come forth too, mistresse Annot Alyface.

+Annot Aly.+ I come.

+Tibet.+ And I am here.

+M. Mumb.+ And I am here too at length.

+C. Custance.+ Like warriers if nede bee, ye must shew your strength The man that this day hath thus begiled you, Is Ralph Roister Doister, whome ye know well mowe, The moste loute and dastarde that euer on grounde trode.

+Tib. Talk.+ I see all folke mocke hym when he goth abrode.

+C. Custance.+ What pretie maide? will ye talke when I speake?

+Tib. Talk.+ No forsooth good mistresse.

+C. Custance.+ Will ye my tale breake?

He threatneth to come hither with all his force to fight, I charge you if he come, on him with all your might.

+M. Mumbl.+ I with my distaffe will reache hym one rappe,

+Tib. Talk.+ And I with my newe broome will sweepe hym one swappe, And then with our greate clubbe I will reache hym one rappe.

+An. Aliface.+ And I with our skimmer will fling him one flappe.

+Tib. Talk.+ Then Trupenies firesorke will him shrewdly fray, And you with the spitte may driue him quite away.

+C. Custance.+ Go make all ready, that it may be een so.

+Tib. Talk.+ For my parte I shrewe them that last about it go.

_Exeant._

Actus. iiij. Scaena. v.

+Christian Custance. Trupenie. Tristram Trusty.+

+C. Custance.+ Trupenie dyd promise me to runne a great pace, My friend Tristram Trusty to fet into this place.

In deede he dwelleth hence a good stert I confesse: But yet a quicke messanger might twice since as I gesse, Haue gone and come againe. Ah yond I spie him now.

+Trupeny.+ Ye are a slow goer sir, I make G.o.d auow.

My mistresse Custance will in me put all the blame, Your leggs be longer than myne: come apace for shame.

+C. Custance.+ I can thee thanke Trupenie, thou hast done right wele.

+Trupeny.+ Maistresse since I went no gra.s.se hath growne on my hele, But maister Tristram Trustie here maketh no speede.

+C. Custance.+ That he came at all I thanke him in very deede, For now haue I neede of the helpe of some wise man.

+T. Trusty.+ Then may I be gone againe, for none such I [a]m.

+Trupenie.+ Ye may bee by your going: for no Alderman Can goe I dare say, a sadder pace than ye can.

+C. Custance.+ Trupenie get thee in, thou shalt among them knowe, How to vse thy selfe, like a propre man I trowe.

+Trupeny.+ I go. _Ex._

+C. Custance.+ Now Tristram Trusty I thank you right much.

For at my first sending to come ye neuer grutch.

+T. Trusty.+ Dame Custance G.o.d ye saue, and while my life shall last, For my friende Goodlucks sake ye shall not sende in wast.

+C. Custance.+ He shal giue you thanks.

+T. Trusty.+ I will do much for his sake

+C. Custance.+ But alack, I feare, great displeasure shall be take.

+T. Trusty.+ Wherfore?

+C. Custance.+ For a foolish matter.