When he before the Lady came, [? verse 6. p. 137.] Disguised stood he there, He blinked blithly, and did say, God save you Mistris fair; Thou’rt welcome, Tinker, unto me, Thou seem’st a man of skill, All broken Vessels for to mend, Though they be ne’er so ill; I am the best man of my Trade, Quoth he, in all this Town, For any Kettle, Pot, or Pan, Or clouting of a Cauldron. Quoth he, fair Lady, unto her, [verse 11.] My business I have ended, Go quickly now, and tell your Lord The Cauldron I have mended: As for the Price, that I refer Whatsoever he do say, Then come again with diligence, I would I were away. The Lady went unto her Lord, [12.] Where he walkt up and down, Sir, I have with the Tinker been, The best in all the Town: His work he doth exceeding well, Though he be wondrous dear, He asks no less than half a Mark For that he hath done here. Quoth he, that Target is full dear, [13.] I swear by Gods good Mother: Quoth she, my Lord, I dare protest, ’Tis worth five hundred other; He strook it in the special place, [p. 138.] Where greatest need was found, Spending his brass and target both, To make it safe and sound. Before all Tinkers in the Land, That travels up and down, Ere they should earn a Groat of mine, This man should earn a Crown: Or were you of his Craft so good, And none but I it kend, Then would it save me many a Mark, Which I am fain to spend. The Lady to her Coffer went, And took a hundred Mark, And gave the Tinker for his pains, That did so well his work; Tinker, said she, take here thy fee, Sith here you’ll not remain, But I must have my Cauldron now Once scoured o’er again. Then to the former work they went, No man could them deny; The Lady said, good Tinker call The next time thou com’st by: For why[,] thou dost thy work so well, And with so good invention, If still thou hold thy hand alike, Take here a yearly Pension. And ev’ry quarter of the year Our Cauldron thou shalt view; Nay, by my faith, her Lord gan say, [p. 139.] I’d rather buy a new; Then did the Tinker take his leave Both of the Lord and Lady, And said, such work as I can do, To you I will be ready. From all such Tinkers of the trade God keep my Wife, I pray, That comes to clout her Cauldron so, I’ll swinge him if I may.