_M. Mery._ For though I say it, a goodly person ye bee. _R. Royster._ No, no. _M. Mery._ Yes a goodly man as ere I dyd see. _R. Royster._ No, I am a poore homely man as God made mee. _M. Mery._ By the faith that I owe to God sir, but ye bee. Woulde I might for your sake, spend a thousande pound land. 115 _R. Royster._ I dare say thou wouldest have me to thy husbande. _M. Mery._ Yea: And I were the fairest lady in the shiere, And knewe you as I know you, and see you nowe here. Well I say no more. _R. Royster._ Grammercies with all my hart. _M. Mery._ But since that can not be, will ye play a wise parte? 120 _R. Royster._ How should I? _M. Mery._ Refraine[523] from Custance a while now. And I warrant hir soone right glad to seeke to you, Ye shall see hir anon come on hir knees creeping. And pray you to be good to hir salte teares weeping. _R. Royster._ But what and she come not? 125 _M. Mery._ In faith then farewel she. Or else if ye be wroth, ye may avenged be. _R. Royster._ By cocks precious potsticke, and een so I shall. I wyll utterly destroy hir, and house and all, But I woulde be avenged in the meane space, On that vile scribler, that did my wowyng disgrace. 130 _M. Mery._ Scribler (ko you) in deede he is worthy no lesse. I will call hym to you, and ye bidde me doubtlesse. _R. Royster._ Yes, for although he had as many lives, As a thousande widowes, and a thousande wives, As a thousande lyons, and a thousand rattes, 135 A thousande wolves, and a thousande cattes, A thousande bulles, and a thousande calves, And a thousande legions divided in halves, He shall never scape death on my swordes point, Though I shoulde be torne therfore joynt by joynt. 140 _M. Mery._ Nay, if ye will kyll him, I will not fette him, E iv _b_ I will not in so muche extremitie sette him, He may yet amende sir, and be an honest man, Therefore pardon him good soule, as muche as ye can. _R. Royster._ Well, for thy sake, this once with his lyfe he shall passe, 145 But I wyll hewe hym all to pieces by the Masse. _M. Mery._ Nay fayth ye shall promise that he shall no harme have, Else I will not set him. _R. Royster._ I shall so God me save. But I may chide him a good.[524] _M. Mery._ Yea that do hardely. _R. Royster._ Go then. 150 _M. Mery._ I returne, and bring him to you by and by. _Ex._ Actus iii. Scæna v. ROISTER DOISTER. MATHEWE MERYGREEKE. SCRIVENER.