_M. Mery._ Nowe say thys againe: he hath somewhat to dooing Which followeth the trace of one that is wowing, Specially that hath no more wit in his hedde, Than my cousin Roister Doister withall is ledde. I am sent in all haste to espie and to marke 5 How our letters and tokens are likely to warke. Maister Roister Doister must have aunswere in haste For he loveth not to spende much labour in waste. Nowe as for Christian Custance by this light, Though she had not hir trouth to Gawin Goodluck plight, 10 Yet rather than with such a loutishe dolte to marie, I dare say woulde lyve a poore lyfe solitarie, But fayne woulde I speake with Custance if I wist how To laugh at the matter, yond commeth one forth now. Actus. iii. Scæna. ii. D ii _b_ TIBET. M. MERYGREEKE. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE. _Tib. Talk._ Ah that I might but once in my life have a sight Of him that made us all so yll shent by this light, He should never escape if I had him by the eare, But even from his head, I would it bite or teare. Yea and if one of them were not inowe, 5 I would bite them both off, I make God avow. _M. Mery._ What is he, whome this little mouse doth so threaten? _Tib. Talk._ I woulde teache him I trow, to make girles shent or beaten. _M. Mery._ I will call hir: Maide with whome are ye so hastie? _Tib. Talk._ Not with you sir, but with a little wag-pastie, 10 A deceiver of folkes, by subtill craft and guile. _M. Mery._ I knowe where she is: Dobinet hath wrought some wile. _Tib. Talk._ He brought a ring and token which he sayd was sent From our dames husbande, but I wot well I was shent: For it liked hir as well to tell you no lies, 15 As water in hir shyppe, or salt cast in hir eies: And yet whence it came neyther we nor she can tell. _M. Mery._ We shall have sport anone: I like this very well. And dwell ye here with mistresse Custance faire maide? _Tib. Talk._ Yea mary doe I sir: what would ye have sayd? 20 _M. Mery._ A little message unto hir by worde of mouth. _Tib. Talk._ No messages by your leave, nor tokens forsoth. _M. Mery._ Then help me to speke with hir. _Tibet._ With a good wil that. Here she commeth forth. Now speake ye know best what. [CUSTANCE _enters_.] _C. Custance._ None other life with you maide, but abrode to skip? 25 _Tib. Talk._ Forsoth here is one would speake with your mistresship.[471] _C. Custance._ Ah, have ye ben learning of mo messages now? _Tib. Talk._ I would not heare his minde, but bad him shewe it to you. _C. Custance._ In at dores. _Tib. Talk._ I am gon. _Ex._ _M. Mery._ Dame Custance god ye save.