_Diccon._ A vengeance on those hands lite, for my hands cam not nere hym. 215 The horsen priest hath lift the pot in some of these alewyves chayres That his head wolde not serve him, belyke, to come downe the stayres. _Bayly._ Nay, soft! thou maist not play the knave, and have this language to! If thou thy tong bridle a while, the better maist thou do. Confesse the truth, as I shall aske, and cease a while to fable; 220 And for thy fault I promise the thy handling shalbe reasonable. Hast thou not made a lie or two, to set these two by the eares? _Diccon._ What if I have? five hundred such have I seene within these seven yeares: I am sory for nothing else but that I see not the sport Which was betwene them when they met, as they them selves report. 225 _Bayly._ The greatest thing--Master Rat, ye se how he is drest! _Diccon._ What devil nede he be groping so depe, in Goodwife Chats hens nest? _Bayly._ Yea, but it was thy drift to bring him into the briars. _Diccon._ Gods bread! hath not such an old foole wit to save his eares? He showeth himselfe herein, ye see, so very a coxe, 230 The cat was not so madly alured by the foxe To run into the snares was set for him, doubtlesse; For he leapt in for myce, and this Sir John for madnes. _D. Rat._ Well, and ye shift no better, ye losel, lyther, and lasye, I will go neare for this to make ye leape at a dasye.[748] 235 In the kings name, Master Bayly, I charge you set him fast. _Diccon._ What, faste at cardes, or fast on slepe? it is the thing I did last. _D. Rat._ Nay, fast in fetters, false varlet, according to thy deedes. _Bayly._ Master Doctor, ther is no remedy, I must intreat you needes Some other kinde of punishment. Eiii _D. Rat._ Nay by all halowes 240 His punishment if I may judg, shal be naught els but the gallous. _Bayly._ That ware to sore, a spiritual man to be so extreame! _D. Rat._ Is he worthy any better, sir? how do ye judge and deame? _Bayly._ I graunt him wort[h]ie punishment, but in no wise so great. _Gammer._ It is a shame, ich tel you plaine, for such false knaves intreat! 245 He has almost undone us al--that is as true as steele,-- And yet for al this great ado cham never the nere my neele! _Bayly._ Canst thou not say any thing to that, Diccon, with least or most? _Diccon._ Yea, mary, sir, this much I can say wel, the nedle is lost. _Bayly._ Nay, canst not thou tel which way that nedle may be found? 250