+C. Custance.+ What friende Sym Suresby? Forsoth right welcome ye be, Howe doth mine owne Gawyn Goodlucke, I pray the tell? +S. Suresby.+ When he knoweth of your health he will be perfect well. +C. Custance.+ If he haue perfect helth, I am as I would be. +Sim. Sure.+ Suche newes will please him well, this is as it should be. +C. Custance.+ I thinke now long for him. +Sym Sure.+ And he as long for you. +C. Custance.+ When wil he be at home? +Sym Sure.+ His heart is here een now His body commeth after. +C. Custance.+ I woulde see that faine. +Sim Sure.+ As fast as wynde and sayle can cary it a maine. But what two men are yonde comming hitherwarde? +C. Custance.+ Now I shrew their best Christmasse chekes both togetherward. Actus. iiij. Scæna. iij. +Christian Custance. Sym Suresby. Ralph Roister. Mathew Merygreke. Trupeny.+ +C. Custance.+ What meane these lewde felowes thus to trouble me stil? Sym Suresby here perchance shal therof deme som yll, And shall suspect in me some point of naughtinesse, And they come hitherward. +Sym Sure.+ What is their businesse? +C. Custance.+ I haue nought to them, nor they to me in sadnesse. +Sim Sure.+ Let vs hearken them, somewhat there is I feare it. +R. Royster.+ I will speake out aloude best, that she may heare it. +M. Mery.+ Nay alas, ye may so feare hir out of hir wit. +R. Royster.+ By the crosse of my sworde, I will hurt hir no whit. +M. Mery.+ Will ye doe no harme in deede, shall I trust your worde? +R. Royster.+ By Roister Doisters fayth I will speake but in borde. +Sim Sure.+ Let vs hearken them, somwhat there is I feare it. +R. Royster.+ I will speake out aloude, I care not who heare it: Sirs, see that my harnesse, my tergat, and my shield, Be made as bright now, as when I was last in fielde, As white as I shoulde to warre againe to morrowe: For sicke shall I be, but I worke some folke sorow. Therfore see that all shine as bright as sainct George, Or as doth a key newly come from the Smiths forge. I woulde haue my sworde and harnesse to shine so bright, That I might therwith dimme mine enimies sight, I would haue it cast beames as fast I tell you playne, As doth the glittryng grasse after a showre of raine. And see that in case I shoulde neede to come to arming, All things may be ready at a minutes warning, For such chaunce may chaunce in an houre, do ye heare? +M. Mery.+ As perchance shall not chaunce againe in seuen yeare. +R. Royster.+ Now draw we neare to hir, and here what shall be sayde. +M. Mery.+ But I woulde not haue you make hir too muche afrayde. +R. Royster.+ Well founde sweete wife (I trust) for al this your soure looke. +C. Custance.+ Wife, why cal ye me wife? +Sim Sure.+ Wife? this gear goth acrook.