See Holinshed's "Chron.," edit. 1577, vol. ii., p. 740 ("Five Days' Pastime," p. 67); "Englishmen for my Money," p. 42; Holinshed, vol. v., p. 208.--_O. G._ [264] Confess. [265] _Gammer_ in the first edition. [266] _Hodge_ in the first edition. [267] _i.e._, Sulky, gloomy looks. It is still said, in vulgar language, that a discontented person looks _glum_.--_S._ [268] This line is given to Gammer Gurton in the first edition. [269] Old copy, _let_. [270] That is, appear so mad. _To doat_ and _to be mad_ were used as synonymous terms. See Baret's "Alvearie," _v. Dote_. [271] Old copy has _Tyb_. THE FOURTH ACT. THE FIRST SCENE. DOCTOR RAT, GAMMER GURTON. DOCTOR RAT. A man were better twenty times be a bandog and bark, Than here among such a sort be parish priest or clerk. Where he shall never be at rest one pissing while[273] a day, But he must trudge about the town this way, and [then] that way, Here to a drab, there to a thief, his shoes to tear and rent, And that which is worst of all, at every knave's commandment. I had not sit the space to drink two pots of ale, But Gammer Gurton's sorry boy was straightway at my tail; And she was sick, and I must come, to do I wot not what: If once her finger's-end but ache: trudge, call for Doctor Rat. And when I come not at their call, I only thereby lose, For I am sure to lack therefore a tithe-pig or a goose. I warrant you, when truth is known, and told they have their tale, The matter whereabout I come is not worth a half-pennyworth of ale: Yet must I talk so sage and smooth, as though I were a gloser But ere the year come at an end, I shall be sure the loser. What work ye, Gammer Gurton? know here is your friend Doctor Rat. GAMMER. Ah! good master Doctor, 'ch a troubled, 'ch a troubled you, 'ch wot well that. DOCTOR RAT. How do ye, woman? be ye lusty, or be ye not well at ease? GAMMER. By Gis,[274] master, cham not sick, but yet chave a disease. Chad a foul turn now of late, chill tell it you by gigs. DOCTOR RAT. Hath your brown cow cast her calf, or your sandy sow her pigs? GAMMER. No, but chad been as good they had, as this, ich wot well. DOCTOR RAT. What is the matter? GAMMER. Alas, alas, 'ch a lost my good nee'le. My nee'le, I say, and wot ye what? a drab came by, and spied it, And when I asked her for the same, the filth flatly denied it. DOCTOR RAT. What was she that-- GAMMER. A dame, ich warrant you: she began to scold and brawl; Alas, alas, come hither, Hodge; this wretch can tell you all. THE FOURTH ACT. THE SECOND SCENE. HODGE, DOCTOR RAT, GAMMER, DICCON, CHAT. HODGE. Good morrow, Gaffer Vicar. DOCTOR RAT. Come on, fellow, let us hear. Thy dame hath said to me, thou knowest of all this gear? Let's see what thou canst say.