[Footnote 217: He must not be confounded with the Cambridge carrier, whose famous dictum has passed into a proverb, "Hobson's choice, that or none," that is, his inflexible rule was for his customer to take the horse he apportioned to him or go without. Our Hobson may be best described in the words of his editor:--"In the beginning of Queene _Elizabeths_ most happy raigne, our late deceased Soveraigne, under whose peaceful government long flourished this our Country of _England_; There lived in the Citty of London, a merry Citizen named old _Hobson_, a haberdasher of small wares, dwelling at the lower end of _cheapside_, in the _Poultry_: as well known through this part of _England_, as a Sergeant knows the Counter-gate, he was a homely plaine man, most commonly wearing a button'd cap close to his eares, a short gowne girt hard about his middle, and a paire of slippers upon his feete of an ancient fashion; as for his wealth it was answerable to the better sort of our Cittizens, but of so mery a disposition, that his equal therein is hardly to be found; hereat let the pleasant disposed people laugh, and the more graver in Carriage take no exceptions, for here are merriments without hurt, and humorous jests savoring upon wisdome; read willingly, but scoffe not spitefully, for old _Hobson_ spent his dayes merrily."] [17.] One affirmed that he had seen a Cabbage so big, that Five hundred men on hors back might stand under its shade; and I for my part, says another, have seen a Caldron so wide, That Three hundred men wrought therein, each distant from the other twenty yards: Then the Cabbage-lyer ask'd him, For what use was that Caldron? Says he, To boil your Cabbage in. [67.] A man excused y^e beating of his wife, because she was his owne flesh, saying, may I not beat mine owne flesh? and she upon that excused y^e scratching of him, saying, May I not scratch mine own head?