_Hodge._ Go near the light, gammer, this--well, in faith, good luck!-- Ch'was almost undone, 'twas so far in my buttock! _Gammer._ 'Tis mine own dear nee'le, Hodge, sikerly I wot! _Hodge._ Cham I not a good son, gammer, cham I not? _Gammer._ Christ's blessing light on thee, hast made me for ever! _Hodge._ Ich knew that ich must find it, else chould a' had it never! _Chat._ By my troth, gossip Gurton, I am even as glad As though I mine own self as good a turn had! _Baily._ And I, by my conscience, to see it so come forth, Rejoice so much at it, as three needles be worth. _Doctor Rat._ I am no whit sorry to see you so rejoice. _Diccon._ Nor I much the gladder for all this noise; Yet say, "Gramercy, Diccon!" for springing of the game. _Gammer._ Gramercy, Diccon, twenty times! O, how glad cham! If that chould do so much, your masterdom to come hither, Master Rat, Goodwife Chat, and Diccon together, Cha but one halfpenny, as far as ich know it, And chill not rest this night, till ich bestow it. If ever ye love me, let us go in and drink. _Baily._ I am content, if the rest think as I think. Master Rat, it shall be best for you if we so do, Then shall you warm you and dress yourself too. _Diccon._ Soft, sirs, take us with you, the company shall be the more! As proud comes behind, they say, as any goes before! But now, my good masters, since we must be gone, And leave you behind us here all alone; Since at our last ending thus merry we be, For Gammer Gurton's needle sake, let us have a plaudite. FINIS. Gurton. Perused and Allowed, &c. Imprinted at London, in Fleetstreate, beneath the Conduite, at the signe of S. John Euangelist, by Thomas Colwell, 1575. [Illustration: [The device of Thomas Colwell, the printer of "Gammer Gurton's Needle."]] A NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST INCLUDING CONTEMPORARY REFERENCES, NOTES, &C., TOGETHER WITH A GLOSSARY OF WORDS AND PHRASES NOW ARCHAIC OR OBSOLETE; THE WHOLE ARRANGED IN ONE ALPHABET IN DICTIONARY FORM. A FORE-WORD TO NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST _Reference from text to Note-Book is copious, and as complete as may be. The following pages may, with almost absolute certainty, be consulted on any point that may occur in the course of reading._ [Illustration] NOTE-BOOK AND WORD-LIST TO GAMMER GURTON'S NEEDLE 'A, the infinitive _have_. A-FINE, now, at the moment: _i.e._ at the finish. ALEWIVES, women keeping ale-houses. ALL-HALLOWS, the old name for All Saints' Day (1st Nov.): formerly ushered in by the ceremonies and merrymakings of All-Hallowe'en. ALMS, ALMS-DEED, charity, godsend. A-MEVED, moved, disturbed. AND, if. APERN, apron: the usual early form of the word. ARRAYED, (_a_) disconcerted, afflicted, put out. (_b_) bespattered. AVENTURE, venture, risk, wager. A-WREAK, avenge.