_C. Custance._ Bicause to bee his wife I ne graunt nor apply,[556] Hither will he com he sweareth by and by, To kill both me and myne, and beate downe my house flat. Therfore I pray your aide. 50 _T. Trustie._ I warrant you that. _C. Custance._ Have I so many yeres lived a sobre life, And shewed my selfe honest, mayde, widowe, and wyfe And nowe to be abused in such a vile sorte, Ye see howe poore Widowes lyve all voyde of comfort. _T. Trusty._ I warrant hym do you no harme nor wrong at all. 55 _C. Custance._ No, but Mathew Merygreeke doth me most appall,[557] That he woulde joyne hym selfe with suche a wretched loute. _T. Trusty._ He doth it for a jest I knowe hym out of doubte, And here cometh Merygreke. _C. Custance._ Then shal we here his mind. Actus. iiii. Scæna. vi. G ii _b_ MERYGREKE. CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE. TRIST. TRUSTY. _M. Mery._ Custance and Trustie both, I doe you here well finde. _C. Custance._ Ah Mathew Merygreeke, ye have used me well. _M. Mery._ Nowe for altogether[558] ye must your answere tell. Will ye have this man, woman? or else will ye not? Else will he come never bore so brymme[559] nor tost so hot. 5 _Tris. and Cu._ But why joyn ye with him. _T. Trusty._ For mirth? _C. Custance._ Or else in sadnesse[?] _M. Mery._ The more fond of you both! hardly yᵉ[560] mater gesse[!] _Tristram._ Lo how say ye dame? _M. Mery._ Why do ye thinke dame Custance That in this wowyng I have ment ought but pastance? _C. Custance._[561] Much things ye spake, I wote, to maintaine his dotage. 10 _M. Mery._ But well might ye judge I spake it all in mockage?[562] For why? Is Roister Doister a fitte husband for you? _T. Trusty._ I dare say ye never thought it. _M. Mery._ No to God I vow. And did not I knowe afore of the insurance[563] Betweene Gawyn Goodlucke, and Christian Custance? 15 And dyd not I for the nonce, by my conveyance,[564] Reade his letter in a wrong sense for daliance? That if you coulde have take it up at the first bounde, We should therat such a sporte and pastime have founde, That all the whole towne should have ben the merier. 20 _C. Custance._ Ill ake your heades both, I was never werier, Nor never more vexte since the first day I was borne. _T. Trusty._ But very well I wist he here did all in scorne. _C. Custance._ But I feared thereof to take dishonestie. _M. Mery._ This should both have made sport, and shewed your honestie 25 And Goodlucke I dare sweare, your witte therin would low. _T. Trusty._ Yea, being no worse than we know it to be now.