_All sing this._ _When men will seem misdoubtfully Without an why to call and cry, &c._ [_The end of the song._ _Here_ HAPHAZARD _speaketh_. Ay, by the gods, my masters, I told you plain, Who companies with me will desire me again. But how did ye speed, I pray ye show me? Was all well agreed? did nobody blow ye? MANSIPULUS. Mass, sir, hap did so happen, that my lord and master Stayed in beholding and viewing the pasture, Which when I perceived, what excuse did I make? I came in the crossway on the nearside the Forlake, Hard by Hodge’s half acre, at Gaffer Miller’s stile, The next way round about, by the space of a mile. And at Simkin’s side-ridge my lord stood talking, And angerly to me quoth he, Where hast thou been walking? Without any staggering, I had ready my lie: Out at bridge-meadow and at Benol’s lease (quoth I). Your fatlings are feeding well, sir, the gods be praised, A goodly loume of beef on them is already raised. Then out steps Francis Fabulator, that was never my friend: How pass’d you Carter’s hay-rick at Long Meadow end? There might one (quoth he) within this few days With a cast-net had given four knaves great essays, Under the hedge with a pair of new cards both rip and fledge. Is it true? quoth my Lord: will this gear never be left? This causes swearing and staring, prowling and theft. Well (quoth my lord) take heed, lest I find it, And so pass’d his way, and did no more mind it. HAPHAZARD. By the gods, that was sport, yea, and sport alone. MANSIPULA. Yea; but I was in a worse case, by Saint John. My lady in church was set full devout, And hearing my coming she turned about; But as soon as I heard her snappishly sound, In this sort I crouched me down to the ground, And mannerly made,[190] as though I were sad.[191] As soon as the pew then strawed I had, She gave me a wink and frowardly frown, Whereby I do judge she would cudgel my gown. Then I did devise a pretty fine prank, A mean whereby to pick me a thank, Of Margery Mildon, the maid of the milk-house, And Stainer the stutter,[192] the guid[193] of the storehouse. Then was my lady’s anger well gone, And will be so still, and the truth be not known. HAPHAZARD. By ’r Lady barefoot, this bakes trimly. SUBSERVUS. Nay, but I escaped more finely; For I under this hedge one while did stay. Then in this bush, then in that way: Then slip I behind them among all the rest, And seemed to commune, too, of things with the best: But so it did happen, that all things were well, But hazard it is, lest time will truth tell. HAPHAZARD. Tut, tut, that was but by hap, and if it be so: Well, sith it was in hazard, then let it go. SUBSERVUS. Content, by my honesty: then farewell all woe. MANSIPULUS. Come out, dog, ye speak happily, of truth, if it be so.