_Diccon._ No, by my fay, sir, though I might have an hundred pound. _Hodge._ Thou lier, lickdish, didst not say the neele wold be gitten? _Diccon._ No, Hodge, by the same token, you were[749] that time beshitten For feare of Hobgobling--you wot wel what I meane; As long as it is sence, I feare me yet ye be scarce cleane. 255 _Bayly._ Wel, Master Rat, you must both learne and teach us to forgeve. Since Diccon hath confession made, and is so cleane shreve, If ye to me conscent, to amend this heavie chaunce, I wil injoyne him here some open kind of penaunce, Of this condition (where ye know my fee is twenty pence): 260 For the bloodshed, I am agreed with you here to dispence; Ye shal go quite, so that ye graunt the matter now to run To end with mirth emong us al, even as it was begun. _Chat._ Say yea, Master Vicar, and he shall sure confes to be your detter, And al we that be heare present, wil love you much the better. 265 _D. Rat._ My part is the worst; but since you al here on agree, Go even to, Master Bayly! let it be so for mee! _Bayly._ How saiest thou, Diccon? art content this shal on me depend? _Diccon._ Go to, M[ast] Bayly, say on your mind, I know ye are my frend. _Bayly._ Then marke ye wel: To recompence this thy former action,--270 Because thou hast offended al, to make them satisfaction,-- Before their faces here kneele downe, and, as I shal the teach,-- For thou shalt take an[750] othe of Hodges leather breache: First, for Master Doctor, upon paine of his cursse, Where he wil pay for al, thou never draw thy purse; 275 And when ye meete at one pot he shall have the first pull, And thou shalt never offer him the cup but it be full. To Goodwife that thou shalt be sworne, even on the same wyse, If she refuse thy money once, never to offer it twise. Thou shalt be bound by the same, here as thou dost take it, 280 When thou maist drinke of free cost, thou never forsake it. For Gammer Gurton's sake, againe sworne shalt thou bee, To helpe hir to hir nedle againe if it do lie in thee; And likewise be bound, by the vertue of that, To be of good abering to Gib her great cat. 285 Last of al, for Hodge the othe to scanne, Thou shalt never take him for fine gentleman. _Hodge._ Come, on, fellow Diccon, chal be even with thee now! _Bayly._ Thou wilt not sticke to do this, Diccon, I trow? _Diccon._ Now, by my fathers skin! my hand downe I lay it! 290 Loke, as I have promised, I wil not denay it. But, Hodge, take good heede now, thou do not beshite me! (_And gave him a good blow on the buttocke._) _Hodge._ Gogs hart! thou false villaine, dost thou bite me? _Bayly._ What, Hodge, doth he hurt thee or ever he begin?