_C. Custance._ O Lorde, howe necessarie it is nowe of dayes, That eche bodie live uprightly all maner wayes, For lette never so little a gappe be open, And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken[.] Howe innocent stande I in this for deede or thought,[596] 5 And yet see what mistrust towardes me it hath wrought[.] But thou Lorde knowest all folkes thoughts and eke intents And thou arte the deliverer of all innocentes. Thou didst helpe the advoutresse[597] that she might be amended, Much more then helpe Lorde, that never yll intended. 10 Thou didst helpe _Susanna_, wrongfully accused, And no lesse dost thou see Lorde, how I am now abused, Thou didst helpe _Hester_, when she should have died, Helpe also good Lorde, that my truth may be tried. Yet if Gawin Goodlucke with Tristram Trusty speake. 15 I trust of yll report the force shall be but weake, And loe yond they come sadly talking togither, H iii _b_ I wyll abyde, and not shrinke for their comming hither. Actus. v. Scæna. iiii. GAWYN GOODLUCKE. TRISTRAM TRUSTIE. C. CUSTANCE. SYM SURESBY. _Ga. Good._ And was it none other than ye to me reporte? _Tristram._ No, and here were [yªᵗ] wished [ye] to have seene the sporte.[598] _Ga. Good._ Woulde I had, rather than halfe of that in my purse. _Sim Sure._ And I doe muche rejoyce the matter was no wurse, And like as to open it, I was to you faithfull, 5 So of dame Custance honest truth I am joyfull. For God forfende that I shoulde hurt hir by false reporte. _Ga. Good._ Well, I will no longer holde hir in discomforte. _C. Custance._ Nowe come they hitherwarde, I trust all shall be well. _Ga. Good_. Sweete Custance neither heart can thinke nor tongue tell, 10 Howe much I joy in your constant fidelitie, Come nowe kisse me the[599] pearle of perfect honestie. _C. Custance._ God lette me no longer to continue in lyfe, Than I shall towardes you continue a true wyfe. _Ga. Goodl._ Well now to make you for this some parte of amendes, 15 I shall desire first you, and then suche of our frendes, As shall to you seeme best, to suppe at home with me, Where at your fought fielde we shall laugh and mery be. _Sim Sure._ And mistresse I beseech you, take with me no greefe, I did a true mans part, not wishyng you repreefe.[600] 20 _C. Custance._ Though hastie reportes through surmises growyng, May of poore innocentes be utter overthrowyng, Yet bicause to thy maister thou hast a true hart, And I know mine owne truth, I forgive thee for my part. _Ga. Goodl._ Go we all to my house, and of this geare no more. 25 Goe prepare all things Sym Suresby, hence, runne afore. H iv