English literature -- Early modern, 1500-1700; English wit and humor; Great Britain -- Civilization -- 17th century -- Literary collections
Barber, unwilling to leave him untill he had his Lute, yeelded to
the change. So when they came to the Gentleman's porch he put on
_George's_ greene Jerken and his Spanish Hat: and he the Barbers
Cloake, and his Hat; either of them being thus fitted, _George_ knocks
at the doore, to whom the Porter bids heartily welcome, for _George_
was well knowne, who at that time had all the oversight of the
Pageants, he desires the Porter to bid his friend welcome, for he is a
good fellow and a keeper, Master Porter, one that at his pleasure can
bestow a haunch of Venison on you: Marry that can I, quoth the Barber.
I thank you Sir, answered the Porter, Master _Peele_, my Master is
in the Hall, pleaseth it you to walke in? With all my heart, quoth
_George_, in the meane time let my friend beare you company. That he
shall, Master _Peele_, quoth the Porter, and if it please him he shall
take a simple dinner with me. The Barber gives him harty thankes,
nothing doubting Master _Peele_ any way, seeing him knowne, and
himselfe so welcome, fell in Chat with the Porter. _George Peele_ goes
directly to the Alderman, who now is come into the Court in the eye of
the Barber, where _George_ after many complaints, drawes a black
paper out of his bosome, & making action to the Barber, reads to the
Alderman as followeth, I humbly desire your worship to stand my friend
in a sleight matter; yonder hard favoured knave, that sits by your
Worship's Porter, hath dog'd me to arrest me, and I had no other
meanes but to take your Worship's house for shelter; the occasion
is but triviall, onely for stealing of a piece of flesh, myselfe
consorted with three or foure gentlemen of good fashion, that would
not willingly have our names come in question. Therefore this is my
boone, that your Worship would let one of your servants let me out
at the Garden doore, and I shall think myselfe much indebted to your
Worship. The kind Gentleman, little dreaming of _George Peele's_
deceit, took him into the Parlor, gave him a brace of Angels, & caused
one of his servants to let _George_ out at the Garden doore, which was
no sooner opened, but _George_ made way for the Barber seeing him
any more, and all the way he went, could not choose but laugh at his
knavish conceit; how he had guld the simple Barber, who sat all this
while with the Porter, blowing of his nayles; to whom came this fellow
that let _George_ out. You whorson Keeperly Rascall, quoth the fellow,
dare you come any honest Gentleman in my Masters house? Not I, so God
helpe me, quoth the Barber, I pray Sir where is the Gentleman Master
_Peele_ that came along with me? Farre enough, quoth the Fellow, for
your comming neere him, he is gone out at the Garden doore. Garden
doore? quoth the Barber, Sir, I am no Keeper, I am quite undone: I am
a Barber dwelling at Brainford, and, with weeping teares, up and told
him how _George_ had used him. The servant goes in & tels his Master;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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