[110.] Maister _Hobson_ being still very good to poore and most bountyfull to aged people, there came to him usually twice or thrice a weeke, a silly poore ould blinde man to sing under his window, for the which he continually gave him twelve pence a time. Maister _Hobson_ having one of his servants so chorlish and withall so covitous that he would suffer the blind man to come no more, unles he shared halfe his benefit: the which the blind singing man was forst to give, rather than loose all: after twice or thrice parting shares, Maister _Hobson_ had thereof intelligence, who consulting with the blind man, served his servant in this maner; still he looked for halfe whatsoever he got, so this at last was Maister _Hobsons_ guift, who gave commaundement that the blind man should have for his singing three score Jeerkes with a good whippe, and so to be equally parted as the other guifts were, the which were presently given: the blinde mans were but easie, but Master _Hobsons_ mans were very sound ones, so that every Jerke drewe blood; after this he never sought to deminish his masters bounty. [4.] Some Gentlemen coming into a Tavern, whose Sign was the _Moon_, (where for a Fancy they sold nothing but Claret, for which they were very noted, and had great Custom) called for a bottle of Sack; whereupon the Drawer told them they had none: At which, they, not a little admiring,[F. 241] as not knowing the Humour, asked the Drawer the reason, who told them, _The Man in the Moon drinks Claret_.[F. 242] The Fancy of which pleased them so that they said they were resolved to be sociable, and so called for each Man his Bottle to drink their Brothers Health in the Moon. [Footnote 241: Wondering.] [Footnote 242: There was a roystering drinking song with that title, which is not very scarce; there is one in the Roxburghe Ballads. (C. 20, f. 7)/298. "Our man in the moon drinks Clarret, With powder-beef, turnep, and carret; If he doth so, why should not you Drink until the sky looks blew?" ] [93.] _George_ (_Peele_) once had invited halfe a score of his friends to a great Supper, where they were passing merry, no cheere wanting, wine enough, musicke playing: the night growing on, & being upon departure, they call for a reckoning. _George_ swears there is not a penny for them to pay. They, being men of good fashion, by no meanes would yeeld unto it, but every man throwes downe his money, some tenne shillings, some five, some more: protesting something they will pay. Well, quoth _George_, taking up all the money; seeing you will be so wilfull you shall see what shall follow: he commands the musicke to play, and while they were skipping and dancing, _George_ gets his Cloake, sends up two Pottles of Hypocrist, and leaves them and the reckoning to pay. They wondring at the stay of _George_, meant to be gone: but they were staide by the way, and before they went, forced to pay the reckoning anew.