This warrant being brought to the Mayor, he sent for a shoomaker at the furthest end of the towne to read it; which when he heard, hee sent for all his brethren, who went with him to the Towne Hall to consult upon this waighty businesse. Where after they had sate a quarter of an houre, no man saying any thing, nor any man knowing what to say; at last a young man that never had borne any office, said, Gentlemen, if I were fit to speake, I thinke (without offence, under correction of the Worshipfull) that I should soone decide this businesse; to whom the Mayor said, I pray good neighbour speake, for though you never did beare any office here, yet you may speake as wisely as some of us. Then sir, said the young man, my opinion is that this Ape carrier is a gybing scoffing knave, and one that doth purpose to make this towne a jesting mocking stocke throughout the whole Kingdome: for was it ever knowne that a fellow should be so impudent audacious, as to send a Warrant without either name or date, to a Mayor of a towne, to the Queenes Lieutenant, and that he with his brethren, their wives and families should be all commanded to come before a _Jack an Apes?_ My counsell is, that you take him and his Ape, with his man, and his dog, and whip the whole messe or murrinal[F. 248] of them out of the towne, which I thinke will be much for your credit if you doe. At which words a grave man of the towne being much moved, said, My friend, you have spoken little better than treason, for it is the Queene's _Ape_, and therefore beware what you say; you say true, said master Mayor, I muse who bad that saucy fellow come into our Company, I pray thee, my friend, depart; I thinke you long to have us all hanged. So in briefe hee was put out of the doores, for they were no company for him. Well now, what is to bee done in this matter? Marry (said another Senior) wee see by the Brooch in the mans hat that hee is the Queenes man, and who knowes what power a knave may have in the Court, to doe poore men wrong in the Country, let us goe and see the _Ape_, it is but two pence a peece, and no doubt but it will be well taken, and if it come to the Queenes eare, shee will thinke us kinde people that would shew so much duty to her _Ape_, what may shee thinke wee would doe to her Beares if they came hither? besides, it is above 200 miles to _London_, and if wee should bee complained on and fetched up with Pursinants,[F. 249] whereas now every man may escape for his two pence, Ile warrant it would cost us ten groats a peece at the least. This counsell passed currant, and all the whole drove of the townsmen, with wives and children, went to see the _Ape_, who was sitting on a table with a chaine about his necke, to whom, master Mayor (because it was the Queenes _Ape_) put off his hat, and made a leg, but _Jacke_ let him passe unregarded. But mistris Mayoresse comming next in her cleane linnen, held her hands before her belly,