_R. Royster._ Yea sayst thou me that dame? dost thou me threaten? Goe we, I still see whether I shall be beaten. Gi _M. Mery._ Nay for the paishe[551] of God, let me now treate peace, For bloudshed will there be in case this strife increace. 125 Ah good dame Custance, take better way with you. _C. Custance._ Let him do his worst. _M. Mery._ [_Roister advances upon Cust., attempts to strike_]. Yeld in time. [_to Cust._] _R. Royster_ [_is beaten back by Cust.; retiring to Mery._:]. Come hence thou. _Exeant Roister et Mery._ Actus. iiii. Scæna. iiii. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE. ANOT ALYFACE. TIBET T. M. MUMBLECRUST. _C. Custance._ So sirra, if I should not with hym take this way, I should not be ridde of him I thinke till doomes day, I will call forth my folkes, that without any mockes If he come agayne we may give him rappes and knockes. Mage Mumblecrust, come forth, and Tibet Talke apace. 5 Yea and come forth too, mistresse Annot Alyface. [_Enter the maids._] _Annot Aly._ I come. _Tibet._ And I am here. _M. Mumb._ And I am here too at length. _C. Custance._ Like warriers if nede bee, ye must shew your strength The man that this day hath thus begiled you, Is Ralph Roister Doister, whome ye know well inowe,[552] 10 The moste loute and dastarde that ever on grounde trode. _Tib. Talk._ I see all folke mocke hym when he goth abrode. _C. Custance._ What pretie maide? will ye talke when I speake? _Tib. Talk._ No forsooth good mistresse. _C. Custance._ Will ye my tale breake? He threatneth to come hither with all his force to fight, 15 I charge you if he come[:] on him with all your might[!] _M. Mumbl._ I with my distaffe will reache hym one rappe, _Tib. Talk._ And I with my newe broome will sweepe hym one swappe, And then with our greate clubbe I will reache hym one rappe[--] _An. Aliface._ And I with our skimmer will fling him one flappe. 20 _Tib. Talk._ Then Trupenies fireforke will him shrewdly fray, And you with the spitte may drive him quite away. _C. Custance._ Go make all ready, that it may be een so. Gi _b_ _Tib. Talk._ For my parte I shrewe them that last about it go. _Exeant._ Actus. iiii. Scæna. v. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE. TRUPENIE. TRISTRAM TRUSTY. C. CUSTANCE. _C. Custance._ Trupenie dyd promise me to runne a great pace, My friend Tristram Trusty to set into this place. Indeede he dwelleth hence a good stert[553] I confesse: But yet a quicke messanger might twice since[,] as I gesse, Have gone and come againe. Ah yond I spie him now. 5