Foure clerkes of Oxford, doctours two, and two That would be doctors, having lesse to do With Augustine then with Galen in vacation, Chang’d studyes, and turn’d bookes to recreation: And on the tenth of August, northward bent A journey, not so soon conceiv’d as spent. The first halfe day they rode, they light upon A noble cleargy host, Kitt Middleton[82]; Who, numb’ring out good dishes with good tales, The major part o’ th’ cheere weigh’d downe the scales: And though the countenance makes the feast, (say bookes,) Wee nere found better welcome with worse lookes. Here wee pay’d thankes and parted; and at night Had entertainement, all in one mans right[83], At Flore, a village; where our tenant shee, Sharp as a winters morning, feirce yet free, With a leane visage, like a carved face On a court cupboard, offer’d up the place. Shee pleas’d us well; but, yet, her husband better; A harty fellow, and a good bone-setter[84]. Now, whether it were providence or lucke, Whether the keepers or the stealers bucke, There wee had ven’son; such as Virgill slew When he would feast Æneas and his crew. Here wee consum’d a day; and the third morne To Daintry with a land-wind were wee borne. It was the market and the lecture-day, For lecturers sell sermons, as the lay Doe sheep and oxen; have their seasons just For both their marketts: there wee dranke downe dust. In th’ interim comes a most officious drudge[85], His face and gowne drawne out with the same budge; His pendant pouch, which was both large and wide, Lookt like a letters-patent by his side: He was as awfull, as he had bin sent From Moses with th’ elev’nth commandement; And one of us he sought; a sonne of Flore He must bid stand, and challendge for an hower. The doctors both were quitted of that feare, The one was hoarce, the other was not there; Wherefore him of the two he seazed, best Able to answere him of all the rest: Because hee neede but ruminate that ore Which he had chew’d the Sabbath-day before. And though he were resolv’d to doe him right, For Mr. Balyes sake, and Mr. Wright[86], Yet he dissembled that the mace did erre; That he nor deacon was, nor minister. No! quoth the serjeant; sure then, by relation, You have a licence, sir, or toleration: And if you have no orders ’tis the better, So you have Dods Præcepts, or Cleavers Letters[87]. Thus looking on his mace, and urging still Twas Mr. Wrights and Mr. Bayleyes will That hee should mount; at last he condiscended To stopp the gapp; and so the treaty ended. The sermon pleas’d, and, when we were to dine, Wee all had preachers wages, thankes and wine. Our next dayes stage was Lutterworth[88], a towne Not willing to be noted or sett downe By any traveller; for, when w’ had bin