_Bayly._ Kepe ye content a while, se that your tonges ye holde. Me thinkes you shuld remembre this is no place to scolde. 135 How knowest thou, Gammer Gurton, Dame Chat thy nedle had? _Gammer._ To name you, sir, the party, chould not be very glad. _Bayly._ Yea, but we must nedes heare it, and therfore say it boldly. _Gammer._ Such one as told the tale full soberly and coldly, Even he that loked on--wil sweare on a booke-- 140 What time this drunken gossip my faire long neele up tooke, Diccon, master, the Bedlam, cham very sure ye know him. _Bayly._ A false knave, by Gods pitie! ye were but a foole to trow him. I durst aventure wel the price of my best cap, That when the end is knowen, all will turne to a jape. 145 Tolde he not you that besides she stole your cocke that tyde? _Gammer._ No, master, no indede; for then he shuld have lyed. My cocke is, I thanke Christ, safe and wel a fine. _Chat._ Yea, but that ragged colt, that whore, that Tyb of thine, Said plainly thy cocke was stolne, and in my house was eaten. 150 That lying cut[743] is lost that she is not swinged and beaten, And yet for al my good name, it were a small amendes! I picke not this geare, hearst thou, out of my fingers endes; But he that hard it told me, who thou of late didst name, Diccon, whom al men knowes, it was the very same. 155 _Bayly._ This is the case: you lost your nedle about the dores, And she answeres againe, she hase no cocke of yours; Thus in you[r] talke and action, from that you do intend, She is whole five mile wide, from that she doth defend. Will you say she hath your cocke? _Gammer._ No, mary,[744] sir, that chil not, 160 _Bayly._ Will you confesse hir neele? _Chat._ Will I? No sir, will I not. _Bayly._ Then there lieth all the matter, _Gammer._ Soft, master, by the way! Ye know she could do litle, and she cold not say nay. _Bayly._ Yea, but he that made one lie about your cock stealing, Wil not sticke to make another, what time lies be in dealing. 165 I wene the ende wil prove this brawle did first arise Eii Upon no other ground but only Diccons lyes. _Chat._ Though some be lyes, as you belike have espyed them, Yet other some be true, by proof I have wel tryed them. _Bayly._ What other thing beside this, Dame Chat? _Chat._ Mary syr, even this. 170 The tale I tolde before, the selfe same tale it was his; He gave me, like a frende, warning against my losse, Els had my hens be stolne eche one, by Gods crosse! He tolde me Hodge wold come, and in he came indeede, But as the matter chaunsed, with greater hast than speede. 175 This truth was said, and true was found, as truly I report.