[52.] A Country Tanner that was runing hastily through Eastcheape and having a long Pike-Staffe on his shoulder, one of the Butchers dogs caught him by the breech. The fellow got loose, and ranne his pike into the Dogs throat, and killed him. The Butcher seeing that his Dog was kill'd tooke hold of the Tanner, and carried him before the Deputy, who asked him, What reason he had to kill the dogge? For mine owne defence (quoth the Tanner). Why, quoth the Deputy, hast thou no other defence but present death? Sir, quoth the Tanner, London fashions are not like the Countries, for here the stones are fast in the streets, and the Dogs are loose, but in the Country, the dogs are fast tied, and the stones are loose to throw at them; and what should a man do in this extremity, but use his staffe for his own defence? Marry (quoth the Deputy) if a man will needs use his staffe, he might use his blunt end, and not the sharp pike. True, Master Deputy, quoth the Tanner, but you must consider, if the Dog had used his blunt end, and runne his taile at me, then had there good reason for me to do the like; but I vow Master Deputy, the Dogge came sharpe at me, and fastned his teeth in my breech, and I again ranne sharp at him, and thrust my pike into his belly. By my faith a crafty knave, quoth the Deputy, if you will both stand to my verdict, send for a quart of wine, be friends, and so you are both discharged. _Cede majoribus._ I took the wall, one rudely thrust me by, [5.] And told me the high way did open lye, I thankt him that he would mee so much grace, To take the worse and leave the better place. For if by owners we esteem of things The wall's the subject's, but the way the King's. [32.] What is the most profitable beast, and that men eat least on? _Solution._ It is a Bee, for it maketh both hony and wax, and yet costeth his master nothing the keeping. Mr. _Button_ being dead, [12.] He was so fat, one said That his Grave was three foot o're; Why, you talk like a Fool, 'Tis but a Button-hole To Graves I have made before. [54.] Act 1. s. 6. Dame Purecraft. Win the fight Littlewit (her daughter) John Little wit (a Proctor, Win's husband) Zeal of the land Busy (a _Banbury_[F. 78] man suitor to Dame Purecraft.) _Purecraft._ Now the blaze of the beauteous discipline, fright away this evill from our house! how now _Win the fight_, Child: how do you? Sweet child, speake to me. _Win._ Yes forsooth. _Pure._ Looke up, sweet _Win the fight_, and suffer not the enemy to enter you at this doore, remember that your education has bin with the purest; what polluted one was it, that nam'd first the uncleane beast, Pigge, to you, Child? _Win._ Uh, uh. _John._ Not I, o' my sincerity, mother; she long'd above three houres, ere she would let me know it; who was it _Win_? _Win._ A prophane blacke thing with a beard, John.