_C. Custance._ What meane these lewde felowes thus to trouble me stil? Sym Suresby here perchance shal therof deme som yll. And shall su[s]pect[540] in me some point of naughtinesse, And they come hitherward. _Sim Sure._ What is their businesse? _C. Custance._ I have nought to them, nor they to me in sadnesse 5 _Sim Sure._ Let us hearken them, somewhat there is I feare it. _R. Royster._ I will speake out aloude best, that she may heare it. _M. Mery._ Nay alas, ye may so feare hir out of hir wit. _R. Royster._ By the crosse of my sworde, I will hurt hir no whit. _M. Mery._ Will ye doe no harme in deede, shall I trust your worde? 10 _R. Royster._ By Roister Doisters fayth I will speake but in borde. _Sim Sure._ Let us hearken them, somwhat there is I feare it. _R. Royster._ I will speake out aloude, I care not who heare it: Sirs, see that my harnesse, my tergat, and my shield, Be made as bright now, as when I was last in fielde, 15 As white as I shoulde to warre againe to morrowe: For sicke shall I be, but I worke some folke sorow. Therfore see that all shine as bright as sainct George, Or as doth a key newly come from the Smiths forge. I woulde have my sworde and harnesse to shine so bright,[541] F iii _b_ 20 That I might therwith dimme mine enimies sight, I would have it cast beames as fast I tell you playne, As doth the glittryng grasse after a showre of raine. And see that in case I shoulde neede to come to arming, All things may be ready at a minutes warning, 25 For such chaunce may chaunce in an houre, do ye heare? _M. Mery._ As perchance shall not chaunce againe in seven yeare. _R. Royster._ Now draw we neare to hir, and here what shall be sayde. [_Advances towards Cust._] _M. Mery._ But I woulde not have you make hir too muche afrayde. _R. Royster._ Well founde sweete wife[542] (I trust) for al this your soure looke. 30 _C. Custance._ Wife, why cal ye me wife? _Sim Sure._ [_enters while the last words are spoken_]. Wife? this gear goth acrook. _M. Mery._ Nay mistresse Custance, I warrant you, our letter Is not as we redde een nowe, but much better, And where ye halfe stomaked this gentleman afore, For this same letter, ye wyll love hym now therefore, 35 Nor it is not this letter, though ye were a queene, That shoulde breake marriage betweene you twaine I weene. _C. Custance._ I did not refuse hym for the letters sake. _R. Royster._ Then ye are content me for your husbande to take. _C. Custance._ You for my husbande to take? nothing lesse truely. 40 _R. Royster._ Yea say so, sweete spouse, afore straungers hardly.