And eke what the business was had brought me thither, With what I was going about now, and whither: Giving me caution, no lie should escape me, For if I should trip, he should certainly trap me. I answered, my country was famed Staffordshire; That in deeds, bills, and bonds, I was ever writ squire; That of land I had both sorts, some good, and some evil, But that a great part on't was pawned to the devil; That as for my parts, they were such as he saw; That, indeed, I had a small smatt'ring of law, Which I lately had got more by practice than reading, By sitting o' th' bench, whilst others were pleading; But that arms I had ever more studied than arts, And was now to a captain raised by my deserts; That the business which led me through Palatine ground Into Ireland was, whither now I was bound; Where his worship's great favour I loud will proclaim, And in all other places wherever I came. He said, as to that, I might do what I list, But that I was welcome, and gave me his fist; When having my fingers made crack with his gripes, He called to his man for some bottles and pipes. To trouble you here with a longer narration Of the several parts of our confabulation, Perhaps would be tedious; I'll therefore remit ye Even to the most rev'rend records of the city, Where, doubtless, the acts of the may'rs are recorded, And if not more truly, yet much better worded. In short, then, we piped and we tippled Canary, Till my watch pointed one in the circle horary; When thinking it now was high time to depart, His worship I thanked with a most grateful heart; And because to great men presents are acceptable, I presented the may'r, ere I rose from the table, With a certain fantastical box and a stopper; And he having kindly accepted my offer, I took my fair leave, such my visage adorning, And to bed, for I was to rise early i' th' morning. CANTO III.