Next Morning the Constable brought him. before a Justice to appear, And earnestly then he besought him, a Sorrowfull Story to hear. Of all the Transactions he told him, to which the good Justice reply'd, From Liberty he would withold him, till the Naked Truth should be try'd. The Tradesman returned this Answer, the Truth I will never deny; If I may speak without Offence, Sir, I scorn to be catch'd in a Lye. I said nothing which was unfitting, as solemnly here I profess; The King, he is King of Great Britain and I live in Britain the less.[F. 40] The next thing that causes the Trouble, my Name he would have me to show, The which is right honest _Mark Noble_,[F. 41] and that's Twenty Shillings you know. Then asking me where I was going, and I being void of all Fears, Right readily made him this Answer, where he dare not go for his Ears. I rambl'd all day, yet the Centre, at night was to lye by my Wife, Instead of his Ears, should he venture, i' faith it might cost him his Life. Now when he had given this Relation, of all that had past in the night, It yielded most pleasant Diversion, the Justice he laughed outright. It seems that a Glass of Canary, conducted the Gallant along: I find that he's nothing but merry, intending no manner of wrong. Therefore I will free him from Prison without any Charges or Fees, It being no more than right reason, you watch not for such men as these. Printed for _B. Deacon_ at _the Angel_ in _Giltspur Street_. [Footnote 39: "Wanion," with a vengeance, with a plague.] [Footnote 40: Little Britain, by Aldersgate Street.] [Footnote 41: A mark was a coin worth 13s. 4d., and a noble 6s. 8d.] [17.] A Gentleman ask'd a Shepherd, whether that River was to be passed over or not: Yes, says he, but going to try, flounc'd over head and ears. Why thou Rogue, says he, did you not tell me it might be past over? Truly, Sir, says he, I thought so, _for my Geese go over and back again every day_. One did ask why B [12.] Was set before C, And did much desire to know; Why, a man must be, Before he can see, And I think I have hit on't now. _Against Swearing._ In elder times an ancient custome was [6.] To sweare in weighty matters by the Masse. But when the Masse went downe (as old men note) They sware then by the Crosse of this same grote.[F. 42] But when the Crosse was likewise held in scorne, Then by their faith, the common oth was sworne. Last, having sworne away all faith and troth, Only God damn them is the common oth. Thus custome kept decorum by gradation, That losing Masse, Crosse, Faith, they find damnation. [Footnote 42: Queen Elizabeth's groats were the last bearing a cross on the reverse. James I. coined none.] _One fighting with his wife._