+C. Custance.+ But alack, I feare, great displeasure shall be take. +T. Trusty.+ Wherfore? +C. Custance.+ For a foolish matter. +T. Trusty.+ What is your cause +C. Custance.+ I am yll accombred with a couple of dawes. +T. Trusty.+ Nay weepe not woman: but tell me what your cause is As concerning my friende is any thing amisse? +C. Custance.+ No not on my part: but here was Sym Suresby. +T. Trustie.+ He was with me and told me so. +C. Custance.+ And he stoode by While Ralph Roister Doister with helpe of Merygreeke, For promise of mariage dyd vnto me seeke. +T. Trusty.+ And had ye made any promise before them twaine, +C. Custance.+ No I had rather be torne in pieces and slaine, No man hath my faith and trouth, but Gawyn Goodlucke, And that before Suresby dyd I say, and there stucke, But of certaine letters there were suche words spoken. +T. Trustie.+ He tolde me that too. +C. Custance.+ And of a ring and token. That Suresby I spied, dyd more than halfe suspect, That I my faith to Gawyn Goodlucke dyd reiect. +T. Trusty.+ But there was no such matter dame Custance in deede? +C. Custance.+ If euer my head thought it, God sende me yll speede. Wherfore I beseech you, with me to be a witnesse, That in all my lyfe I neuer intended thing lesse, And what a brainsicke foole Ralph Roister Doister is, Your selfe know well enough. +T. Trusty.+ Ye say full true ywis. +C. Custance.+ Bicause to bee his wife I ne graunt nor apply, Hither will he com he sweareth by and by, To kill both me and myne, and beate downe my house flat. Therfore I pray your aide. +T. Trustie.+ I warrant you that. +C. Custance.+ Haue I so many yeres liued a sobre life, And shewed my selfe honest, mayde, widowe, and wyfe And nowe to be abused in such a vile sorte, Ye see howe poore Widowes lyue all voyde of comfort. +T. Trusty.+ I warrant hym do you no harme nor wrong at all. +C. Custance.+ No, but Mathew Merygreeke doth me most appall, That he woulde ioyne hym selfe with suche a wretched loute. +T. Trusty.+ He doth it for a iest I knowe hym out of doubte, And here cometh Merygreke. +C. Custance.+ Then shal we here his mind. Actus. iiij. Scæna. vj. +Merygreke. Christian Custance. Trist. Trusty.+ +M. Mery.+ Custance and Trustie both, I doe you here well finde. +C. Custance.+ Ah Mathew Merygreeke, ye haue vsed me well. +M. Mery.+ Nowe for altogether ye must your answere tell. Will ye haue this man, woman? or else will ye not? Else will he come neuer bore so brymme nor tost so hot. +Tris. and Cu.+ But why ioyn ye with him. +T. Trusty.+ For mirth. +C. Custance.+ Or else in sadnesse +M. Mery.+ The more fond of you both hardly yat mater gesse. +Tristram.+ Lo how say ye dame? +M. Mery.+ Why do ye thinke dame Custance That in this wowyng I haue ment ought but pastance? +C. Custance.+ Much things ye spake, I wote, to maintaine his dotage. +M. Mery.+ But well might ye iudge I spake it all in mockage? For why? Is Roister Doister a fitte husband for you?