_C. Custance._ But by imagination, For no man there is but a very dolt and loute 75 That to wowe a Widowe woulde so go about. He shall never have me hys wife while he doe live. _M. Mery._ Then will he have you if he may, so mote I thrive, And he biddeth you sende him worde by me, That ye humbly beseech him, ye may his wife be, 80 And that there shall be no let in you nor mistrust, But to be wedded on Sunday next if he lust, And biddeth you to looke for him. _C. Custance._ Doth he byd so? _M. Mery._ When he commeth, aske hym whether he did or no? _C. Custance._ Goe say, that I bid him keepe him warme at home 85 For if he come abroade, he shall cough me a mome.[475] My mynde was vexed, I shrew his head sottish dolt. _M. Mery._ He hath in his head[----][476] _C. Custance._ As much braine as a burbolt.[477] _M. Mery._ Well dame Custance, if he heare you thus play choploge.[478] _C. Custance._ What will he? 90 _M. Mery._ Play the devill in the horologe.[479] _C. Custance._ I defye him loute. _M. Mery._ Shall I tell hym what ye say? _C. Custance._ Yea and adde what so ever thou canst, I thee pray, And I will avouche it what so ever it bee. _M. Mery._ Then let me alone we will laugh well ye shall see, It will not be long ere he will hither resorte. 95 _C. Custance._ Let hym come when hym lust, I wishe no better sport. Fare ye well, I will in, and read my great letter. I shall to my wower make answere the better. _Exeat._ D iv Actus. iii. Scæna. iii. MATHEW MERYGREEKE. ROISTER DOISTER. _M. Mery._ Nowe that the whole answere in my devise doth rest, I shall paint out our wower in colours of the best. And all that I say shall be on Custances mouth, She is author of all that I shall speake forsoth. But yond commeth Roister Doister nowe in a traunce. 5 _R. Royster._ _Juno_ sende me this day good lucke and good chaunce. I can not but come see how Merygreeke doth speede. _M. Mery_ [_aside_]. I will not see him, but give him a jutte in deede.[480] I crie your mastershyp mercie[!] [_running hard into him_] _R. Royster._ And whither now? _M. Mery._ As fast as I could runne sir in post against you. 10 But why speake ye so faintly, or why are ye so sad? _R. Royster._ Thou knowest the proverbe, bycause I can not be had. Hast thou spoken with this woman? _M. Mery._ Yea that I have. _R. Royster._ And what will this geare be? _M. Mery._ No so God me save. _R. Royster._ Hast thou a flat answer? 15 _M. Mery._ Nay a sharp answer. _R. Royster._ What