+liberti.+ Yf we sholde refuse wyl and wyt
we were to blame for they be fyt
Therfore by my wel they shal not slye
They be welcome to me,
+Wyll.+ God thanke you maisters all three
ye shal finde vs pore but true we cannot be
My tonge stombles, I cry you mercy
We wyll be true I should say, 490
+wealth+ Syrs go your way home vnto one place
And we wyl hye vs after apace
And when we come we shall set you in case
To haue a lyuing alway.
+Health+ Then loke ye do both truely and iust
For we must put you in great trust
All our houshoulde guide ye must
Behaue you selfe well.
+wytte+ Maisters feare not for I haue wit inough
To beguyle my selfe, and to beguyle you 500
I haue vegyled many one I may say to you
I pray you kepe that in councelll
+liberty.+ Beware of that, what doth he say?
Beguyle vs all, yet I charge ye nay
Ye shall not beguile vs yf I may
I wyl beware betyme.
+Wyll.+ Syr be not angry I you praye
fhe foole woteth not he doth say
He meneth chat he wil be profitable alw ay
And saue you many thinges. 510
+Health+ What he meaneth I cannot tell
But his saying is not well
Depart hence syrs by my councell
And tary vs at our lodging.
+wytte.+ ¶ Now and it please ye, wyll ye here any synging
Therein I tell you I am somwhat connyng
ye shall heare and ye list.
+liberty+ Syr I pray you sing and ye can
+wyll.+ Now wil I begin like a lusty bloud tha. thei sing & go out
Sirs now go your way of you I am glad 520
As of any seruauntes that euer I had
For these can do both good and bad
We must needes haue such men
What were we yf we lacked wyll:
And without wyt we shoulde lyue yll
Therfore wyll and wit I wyll kepe styll.
I promise you I loue them
¶ Here commeth remedy in and to him saith
+Welth.+ Syr your maystership is hartely welcome
Take your place here aboue as it is reason. 530
+Health+ I pray you oardon vs, we know not what ye be
ye seme a man of honour, and of great auctority
+liberty+ Syr to know wherfore ye come we are desyrous
+Remdi+ I am he that ought for to be well knowen
Of you thre specially, and of duetie
Great payne and busines as for mine owne
For you I haue taken because I loue you hartely
To maintaine you is all my desyre and faculty
yet hard it is to doo, the people be so variable
And many be so wilfull, they will not be reformable. 540
+wealth+ Syr I pray you pardon vs of our ignoraunce now
I se well ye know vs better than we do you
+Remdi+ I pardon you, for I doo know you wel both
welth, and helth, is your right names
The which Gngland to forbere were very loth
For by welth and helth commeth great fames
Many other renlmes for our great welth shames
That they dare not presume, nor thy dare not be bold
To stryue againe England, or any right with holde.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account