Transcriber's Note. Apparent typographical errors have been corrected. The use of hyphens has been rationalised. A list of the author's works, at the front of the text, has been moved to join related material at the back. Small capitals have been converted to full capitals. Italic and bold font are indicated by _underscores_ and +plus signs+. [Illustration: The Colloquies of Edward Osborne Citizen and Clothworker of London Illustrations by John Jellicoe] [Illustration: J Jellicoe "Surely thou art the Widow Osborne"] THE COLLOQUIES OF EDWARD OSBORNE CITIZEN AND CLOTHWORKER OF LONDON By The Author of "Mary Powell," "The Household of Sir Thos. More," "Cherry & Violet" and "The Old Chelsea Bun-Shop," etc. _WITH TEN ILLUSTRATIONS BY_ JOHN JELLICOE LONDON JOHN C. NIMMO NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS MDCCCC Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO. At the Ballantyne Press CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I.—_A Country Lad cometh to Town_ 1 II.—_First Day of a London 'Prentice his Life_ 27 III.—_Ye Disposition & Economy of Master Hewet's House_ 45 IV.—_Noteworthy Deed of a Boy taught of a Woman_ 58 V.—_Edward Convalesceth i' the Green Lattice_ 77 VI.—_Tib's Malpractyzes_ 102 VII.—_Early Setting of a young Morning Star_ 117 VIII.—_The Defence of the Bridge_ 133 IX.—_Osborne is out of his Time_ 167 X.—_Evil Times bring Evil Crimes_ 181 XI.—_The Blood of the Martyrs, yᵉ Seed of yᵉ Church_ 194 XII.—_A Snake among yᵉ Flowers_ 207 XIII.—_Master Hewet ordereth Things discretely_ 231 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS _From Drawings by_ JOHN JELLICOE "SURELY THOU ART THE WIDOW OSBORNE" _Frontispiece_ PAGE "HELD THE OAR TO HIM" _To face_ 40 "AND TOOK A LEAP" " 60 TRYPHENA AND TRYPHOSA " 88 "EATING CURDS AND CREAM" " 120 "MAKE WAY FOR THE SHERIFF'S DAUGHTER" " 140 "RODE OVER THE BRIDGE" " 152 "COVERED HIS FACE AND WEPT" " 192 "PROFFERED ME A PIECE OF MONEY" " 240 THE MASQUE " 272 THE COLLOQUIES OF EDWARD OSBORNE CHAPTER I _A Country Lad cometh to Town_