<B CEPLAY1B>
<Q E1 XX COME STEVENSO>
<N GAMMER GURTON>
<A STEVENSON WILLIAM>
<C E1>
<O 1500-1570>
<M X>
<K X>
<D ENGLISH>
<V VERSE>
<T DRAMA COMEDY>
<G X>
<F X>
<W SCRIPT>
<X MALE>
<Y 20-40>
<H PROF>
<U X>
<E X>
<J INTERACTIVE>
<I INFORMAL>
<Z X>
<S SAMPLE X>


[^STEVENSON (?), WILLIAM.
GAMMER GVRTONS NEDLE.
BY MR. S. MR. OF ART.
THE PERCY REPRINTS, 2.
ED. H. F. B. BRETT-SMITH.
OXFORD: BASIL BLACKWELL, 1920.
PP. 7.1  - 16.58    (SAMPLE 1)
PP. 53.1 - 70.336   (SAMPLE 2)^]
 
<S SAMPLE 1>
<P 7>
[}THE FYRST ACTE. THE THYRD SCEANE.}]

(^HODGE. TYB.^)

(^Hodge^) Cham agast by the masse, ich wot not what
to do
Chad nede blesse me well before ich go them to
Perchaunce some felon sprit may haunt our
house indeed,
And then chwere but a noddy to venter where
cha no neede,
(^Tib^) Cham worse then mad by the masse to be at
this staye
<P 8>
Cham chyd, cham blamd, and beaton all thoures
on the daye,
Lamed and hunger storued, prycked vp all in
Jagges
Hauyng no patch to hyde my backe, saue a few
rotten ragges.
(^Hodge^) I say Tyb, if thou be Tyb, as I trow sure thou
bee,
What deuyll make a doe is this, betweene our
dame and thee.
(^Tyb^) Gogsbreade Hodg thou had a good turne thou
warte not here this while.
It had ben better for some of vs to haue ben
hence a myle
My Gammer is so out of course, and frantyke
all at ones
That Cocke our boy, & I poore wench, haue felt
it on our bones.
(^Hodge^) What is the matter, say on Tib wherat she
taketh so on.
(^Tyb^) She is vndone she sayth (alas,) her ioye and
life is gone
If shee here not of some comfort, she is sayth
but dead
Shall neuer come within her lyps, one inch of
meate ne bread.
(^Hodge^) Byr Ladie cham not very glad, to see her in 
this dumpe
Cholde a noble her stole hath fallen, & shee hath
broke her rumpe
(^Tyb^) Nay and that were the worst, we wold not
greatly care
For bursting of her huckle bone, or breakyng
of her Chaire,
But greatter, greater, is her grief, as hodge we 
shall all feele.
<P 9>
(^Hodge^) Gogs woundes Tyb, my gammer has neuer lost
her Neele?
(^Tyb^) Her Neele.
(^Hodge^) Her Neele?
(^Tib^) Her neele by him that made me, it is true Hodge
I tell thee.
(^Hodge^) Gogs sacrament, I would she had lost, tharte
out of her bellie
The Deuill or els his dame, they ought her sure
a shame
How a murryon came this chaunce, (say Tib)
vnto our dame?
(^Tyb^) My ga~mer sat her downe on her pes, & bad me
reach thy breeches
And by & by, a vengea~ce in it or she had take
two stitches
To clap a clout vpon thine ars, by chaunce a syde
she leares
And gyb our cat in the milke pan, she spied ouer
head and eares
Ah hore, out thefe, she cryed aloud, & swapt
the breches downe
Up went her staffe, and out leapt gyb, at doors
into the towne
And synce that time was neuer wyght, cold set
their eies vpo~ it
Gogs malison chaue Cocke and I, byd twenty
times light on it.
(^Hodge^) And is not the~ my breches sewid vp, to morow
y=t= I shuld were
(^Tyb^) No in faith hodge thy breeches lie, for al this
neuer the nere.
(^Hodge^) Now a ve~geance light on al y=e= sort, y=t= better
shold haue kept it,
The cat, the house, and tib our maid, y=t= better
shold haue swept it
<P 10>
Se where she co~meth crawling, come on in twenty
deuils way
Ye haue made a fayre daies worke, haue you not?
pray you say.

[}THE FYRSTE ACTE. THE .IIII. SCEANE.}]

(^GAMMER. HODGE. TYB. COCKE.^)

(^Ga~mer^) Alas hoge, alas I may well cursse and ban
This daie that euer I saw it, with gyb
and the mylke pan
For these and ill lucke to gather, as knoweth
Cocke my boye
Haue stacke away my deare neele, and robd me
of my ioye
My fayre longe strayght neele that was myne
onely treasure
The fyrst day of my sorow is, and last end of my 
pleasure.
(^Hodge^) Might ha kept it when ye had it, but fooles
will be fooles styll.
Lose that is vast in your handes, ye neede not
but ye will.
(^Ga~mer^) Go hie thee tib, and run thou hoore, to thend
here of the towne
Didst cary out dust in thy lap, seeke wher thou 
porest it downe
And as thou sawest me roking, in the asshes
where I morned
So see in all the heape of dust, thou leaue no
straw vnturned.
(^Tyb^) That chal gammer swythe and tyte, and sone
be here agayne.
(^Ga~mer^) Tib stoope & loke downe to y=e= ground to it, &
take some paine.
<P 11>
(^Hodge^) Here is a prety matter, to see this gere how it
goes
By gogs soule I thenk you wold loes your ars,
and it were loose
Your neele lost, it is pitie you shold lack care and
endlesse sorow
Gogs deth how shall my breches be sewid, shall
I go thus to morow
(^Ga~mer^) Ah hodg, hodg, if that ich cold find my neele
by the reed
Chould sow thy breches ich promise y=e=, w=t= full
good double threed
And set a patch on either knee, shuld last this
monethes twaine
Now god & good Saint Sithe I praye, to send it
home againe.
(^Hodge^) Wherto serued your hands & eies, but this your
neele to kepe
What deuill had you els to do, ye kept ich wot
no sheepe
Cham faine a brode to dyg and delue, in water,
myre and claye
Sossing and possing in the durte, styll from day
to daye
A hundred thinges that be abrode, cham set to
see them weele
And foure of you syt idle at home, and can not
keepe a neele.
(^Ga~mer^) My neele alas ich lost it hodge, what time ich
me vp hasted
To saue the milke set vp for the, which gib our
cat hath wasted
(^Hodge^) The Deuill he burst both gib, and Tib, with all
the rest
Cham alwayes sure of the worst end, who euer
haue the best
<P 12>
Where ha you ben fidging abrode, since you your
neele lost
(^Ga~mer^) Within the house, and at the dore, sitting by
this same post
Wher I was loking a long howre, before these
folks came here,
But welaway, all was in vayne, my neele is neuer
the nere.
(^Hodge^) Set me a candle, let me seeke and grope where
euer it bee
Gogs hart ye be so folish (ich thinke) you knowe
it not when you it see
(^Ga~mer^) Come hether Cocke, what Cocke I say.
(^Cocke^) Howe Gammer.
(^Ga~mer^) Goe hye thee soone, and grope behynd the
old brasse pan,
Whych thing when thou hast done
Ther shalt thou fynd an old shooe, wher in if
thou looke well
Thou shalt fynd lyeng an inche of a whyte tallow
candell,
Lyght it, and brynge it tite awaye.
(^Cocke^) That shalbe done anone.
(^Ga~mer^) Nay tary hodg til thou hast light, and then
weele seke eche one.
(^Hodge^) Cum away ye horson boy, are ye a slepe; ye
must haue a crier.
(^Cocke^) Ich cannot get the candel light here is almost
no fier.
(^Hodge^) Chil hold the a peny chil make y=e= come if y=t= ich
may catch thine eares
Art deffe thou horson boy? cocke I say, why
canst not heares.
(^Ga~mer^) Beate hym not Hodge but help the boy and
come you two together.
<P 13>
[}THE .I. ACTE. THE .V. SCEANE.}]

(^GAMMER. TYB, COCKE. HODGE.^)

(^Ga~mer^) How now Tyb, quycke lets here, what
newes thou hast brought hether.
(^Tyb^) Chaue tost and tumbled yender heap our &
ouer againe
And winowed it through my fingers, as me~ wold
winow grain
No so much as a hens turd but in pieces I tare it
Or what so euer clod or clay I found, I did not
spare it
Lokyng within and eke without, to fynd your
neele (alas)
But all in vaine and without help, your neele is 
where it was.
(^Ga~mer^) Alas my neele we shall neuer meete, adue, adue
for aye.
(^Tyb^) Not so gammer, we myght it fynd if we knew
where it laye.
(^Cocke^) Gogs crosse Gammer if ye will laugh looke in
but at the doore
And see how Hodg lieth tomblynge and tossing
amids the floure
Rakyng there some fyre to find amonge the
asshes dead
Where there is not one sparke, so byg as a pyns
head,
At last in a darke corner two sparkes he thought
he sees
Which were indede nought els but Gyb our cats
two eyes
<P 14>
Puffe quod hodg thinking therby to haue fyre
without doubt
With that Gyb shut her two eyes, & so the fyre
was out
And by and by them opened, euen as they were
before,
With that the sparkes appered euen as they had
done of yore,
And euen as hodge blew the fire as he did thincke
Gyb as she felt the blast strayght way began to
wyncke,
Tyll Hodge fell of swering, as came best to his
turne,
The fier was sure bewicht and therfore wold
not burne:
At last Gyb vp the stayers, among the old postes
and pinnes,
And Hodge he hied him after till broke were both
his shinnes:
Cursynge and swering othes, were neuer of his 
makyng,
That Gyb wold fyre the house, if that shee were 
not taken.
(^Ga~mer^) See here is all the thought that the foolysh
Urchyn taketh,
And Tyb me thinke at his elbowe almost as mery
maketh
This is all the wyt ye haue when others make
their mone,
Come downe Hodge, where art thou and let the 
Cat alone.
(^Hodge^) Gogs harte, help and come vp, Gyb in her tayle
hath fyre,
And is like to burne all if shee get a lytle hier:
Cum downe (quoth you,) nay then you might
count me a patch,
<P 15>
The house co~meth downe on your heads if it take
ons y thatch.
(^Ga~mer^) It is the cats eyes foole that shineth in the darke.
(^Hodge^) Hath the Cat do you thinke in euery eye a 
sparke.
(^Ga~mer^) No, but they shyne as lyke fyre as euer man see.
(^Hodge^) By the masse and she burne all, yoush beare
the blame for mee
(^Ga~mer^) Cum downe & help to seeke here our neele that
it were found
Downe Tyb on the knees I say, downe Cocke to
the ground.
To God I make a vowe, and so to good Saint
Anne
A candell shall they haue a peece, get it where
I can,
If I may my neele find in one place or in other.
(^Hodge^) Now a vengeaunce on gib light, on gyb and
gybs mother
And all the generacyon of Cats both far and nere
Looke on the ground horson thinks thou the neele
is here.
(^Cocke^) By my trouth gammer me thought your neele
here I saw
But when my fyngers toucht it, I felt it was a
straw.
(^Tyb^) See Hodge whats thys, may it not be within it,
(^Hodge^) Breake it foole with thy hand and see and thou
canst fynde it.
(^Tyb^) Nay breake it you Hodge accordyng to your 
word.
(^Hodge^) Gogs sydes, fye it styncks; it is a Cats tourd,
It were well done to make thee eate it by the 
masse.
(^Ga~mer^) This matter amendeth not my neele is still
where it wasse
<P 16>
Our candle is at an ende let vs all in quight
And come another tyme, when we haue more
lyght 

<S SAMPLE 2>
<P 53> 
[}THE V. ACTE. THE II SCEANE,}]

(^M. BAYLY. CHAT. D. RAT. GAMMER. HODGE. DICCON.^)

(^Bayly^) Dame Chat, master doctor vpon you here
complained
That you & your maides shuld him much
misorder.
And taketh many an oth, that no word he 
fained,
Laying to your charge, how you thought him to
murder:
And on his part againe, that same man saith
furder
He neuer offended you in word nor intent,
To heare you answer hereto, we haue now for 
you sent.
(^Chat^) That I wold haue murdered him, fye on him
wretch,
And euil mought he thee for it, our Lord I besech,
I will swere on al the bookes that opens and
shuttes
He faineth this tale out of his owne guttes,
<P 54>
For this seuen weeks with me, I am sure he sat
not downe,
Nay ye haue other minions, in the other end of
the towne,
Where ye were liker to catch such a blow,
Then any where els, as farre as I know.
(^Baily^) Belike then master Doctor, yon stripe there ye
got not?
(^D. Rat^) Thinke you I am so mad, that where I was bet,
I wot not?
Will ye beleue this queane, before she hath
tryd it?
It is not the first dede she hath done and afterward
denide it.
(^Chat^) What man, will you say I broke your head?
(^D. Rat^) How canst thou proue the contrary?
(^Chat^) Nay, how prouest thou that I did the deade.
(^D. Rat^) To plainly, by S. Mary.
This profe I trow may serue, though I no word
spoke.
(^Showing his broken head.^)
(^Chat^) Bicause thy head is broken, was it I that it
broke?
I saw thee Rat I tel thee, not once within this
fortnight,
(^D. Rat^) No mary, thou sawest me not, for why thou
hadst no light,
But I felt thee for al the darke, beshrew thy
smothe cheekes,
And thou groped me, this wil declare, any day
this six weekes
(^Showing his heade.^)
(^Baily^) Answere me to this M. Rat, when caught you
this harme of yours?
(^D. Rat^) A while a go sir, god he knoweth, w=t=in les the~
these ii. houres.
<P 55>
(^Baily^) Dame Chat was there none with you: (confesse
I faith) about that season.
What woman, let it be what it wil, tis neither
felony nor treason
(^Chat^) Yes by my faith master Bayly, there was a
knaue not farre
Who caught one good Philup on the brow, with
a dore barre
And well was he worthy, as it semed to mee,
But what is that to this man, since this was
not hee.
(^Baily^) Who was it then? lets here.
(^D. Rat^) Alas sir, aske you that?
Is it not made plain inough (by the owne mouth
of dame chat)
The time agreeth, my head is broken, her tong
can not lye,
Onely vpon a bare, nay she saith it was
not I.
(^Chat^) No mary was it not indeede ye shal here by this
one thing,
This after noone a fre~d of mine, for good wil
gaue me warning
And bad me wel loke to my ruste, and al my
Capons pennes,
For if I toke not better heede, a knaue wold haue
my hennes,
Then I to saue my goods, toke so much pains as
him to watch
And as good fortune serued me, it was my chau~ce
hi~ for to catch
What strokes he bare away, or other what was
his gaines
I wot not, but sure I am, he had something for
his paines
(^Baily^) Yet telles thou not who it was.
<P 56>
(^Chat^) Who it was a false theefe,
That came like a false Foxe, my pullaine to kil
and mischeefe.
(^Baily^) But knowest thou not his name?
(^Chat^) I know it but what than,
It was that crafty cullyon Hodge my gammer
gurtons man.
(^Bailie^) Cal me the knaue hether, he shal sure kysse
the stockes.
I shall teach him a lesson, for filching hens or cocks
(^D. Rat^) I maruaile master bayly, so bleared be your
eyes.
An egge is not so ful of meate, as she is ful of 
lyes:
When she hath playd this pranke, to excuse al
this geare,
She layeth the fault in such a one, as I know was
not there.
(^Chat^) Was he not thear loke on his pate, that shalbe
his witnes.
(^D. Rat^) I wold my head were half so hole, I wold seeke
no redresse.
(^Baily^) God bless you gammer Gurton.
(^Ga~mer^) God dylde you master mine.
(^Baily^) Thou hast a knaue w=t=in thy house, hodge, a seruant
of thine.
They tel me that busy knaue, is such a filching
one,
That Hen, Pig, goose or capon, thy neighbour
can haue none,
(^Ga~mer^) By god cham much ameued, to heare any such
reporte:
Hodge was not wont ich trow, to baue him in
that sort.
(^Chat^) A theeuisher knaue is not on liue, more filching,
nor more false
<P 57>
Many a truer man then he, hase hanged vp by
the halse.
And thou his dame of al his theft, thou art the
sole receauer
For hodge to catch, and thou to kepe, I neuer
knew none better
(^Ga~mer^) Sir reuerence of your masterdome, and you were
out adoore,
Chold be so bolde for al hir brags, to cal hir
arrant whoore,
And ich knew Hodge so bad as tow, ich wish me
endlesse sorow
And chould not take the pains, to hang him vp
before to morow?
(^Chat^) What haue I stolne fro~ the or thine: thou
ilfauored olde trot.
(^Ga~mer^) A great deale more (by Gods blest,) then cheuer
by the got,
That thou knowest wel I neade not say it.
(^Baily^) Stoppe there I say,
And tel me here I pray you, this matter by the
way:
How chaunce hodge is not here him wold I faine
haue had.
(^Ga~mer^) Alas sir, heel be here anon, ha be handled to bad.
(^Chat^) Master bayly, sir ye be not such a foole wel I
know,
But ye perceiue by this lingring, there is a pad
in the straw.
(^Thinking that Hodg, his head was broke,
and that gammer
Wold not let him come before them.^)
(^Ga~mer^) Chil shew you his face, ich warrant the, lo
now where he is.
(^Bailie^) Come on fellow it is tolde me thou art a shrew
iwysse,
<P 58>
Thy neighbours hens y=u= takest, and playes the
two legged foxe
Their chikens & their capons to, & now and then
their Cocks.
(^Hodge^) Ich defy them al that dare it say, cham as true
as the best.
(^Baily^) Wart not y=u= take~ within this houre, in dame
 chats hens nest?
(^Hodge^) Take~ there? no master chold not dot, for a
house ful of gold.
(^Chat^) Thou or the deuil in thy cote, sweare this I
dare be bold.
(^D. Rat^) Sweare me no swearing quean, the deuill he
geue the sorow,
Al is not worth a gnat, thou canst sweare till to
morow,
Where is the harme he hath? shew it by gods
bread,
Ye beat him with a witnes, but the stripes light
on my head.
(^Hodge^) Bet me? gogs blessed body, chold first ich
trow haue burst the
Ich thinke and chad my hands loose callet chould
haue crust the.
(^Chat^) Thou shitte~ knaue I trow y=u= knowest y=e= ful
weight of my fist
I am fowly deceiued, onles thy head & my doore
bar kyste.
(^Hodge^) Hold thy chat whore y=u= criest so loude, can no
man els be hard
(^Chat^) Well knaue, & I had the alone, I wold surely
rap thy costard.
(^Bayly^) Sir answer me to this, is thy head whole or
broken?
(^Chat^) Yea master Bayly, blest be euery good
token.
<P 59>
(^Hodge^) Is my head whole? ich warra~t you, tis neither
scuruy nor scald
What you foule beast, does think tis either pild or
bald.
Nay ich thanke god: chil not for al that thou
maist spend
That chad one scab on my narse, as brode as thy
fingers end.
(^Bayly^) Come nearer heare.
(^Hodge^) Yes That ich dare.
(^Bayly^) By our Lady her is no harme,
Hodges head is hole ynough, for al dame Chats
charme.
(^Chat^) By gogs blest, how euer the thing he clockes or
smolders,
I know the blowes he bare away, either w=t= head
or shoulders,
Camest y=u= not knaue within this houre, creping
into my pens
And there was caught within my hous, gropi~g
among my hens.
(^Hodge^) A plage both on thy hens & the, a carte whore,
a carte,
Chould I were ha~ged as hie as a tree, & chware as
false as y=u= art
Geue my ga~mer again her washical, y=u= stole away
in thy lap.
(^Ga~mer^) Yea maister baily there is a thing, you know not
on may hap
This drab she kepes away my good, y=e= deuil he
might her snare
Ich pray you that ich might haue, a right action
on her.
(^Chat^) Haue I thy good old filth, or any such old sowes?
I am as true, I wold thou knew, as skin betwene
thy browes
<P 60>
(^Ga~mer^) Many a truer hath be~ hanged, though you
escape the daunger
(^Chat^) Thou shalt answer by gods pity, for this thy
foule slaunder.
(^Baily^) Why, what ca~ ye charge hir withal? to say so,
ye do not well.
(^Ga~mer^) Mary a ve~geance to hir hart, y=t= whore hase
stoln my neele.
(^Chat^) Thy nedle old witch, how so? it were almes thy
scul to knock
So didst thou say, the other day, that I had
stolne thy Cock
And rosted him to my breakfast, which shal not
be forgotten,
The deuil pul out thy lying tong, and teeth that
be so rotten. 
(^Ga~mer^) Geue me my neele, as for my cocke, chould be
very loth
That chuld here tel he shuld hang, on thy fals
faith and troth.
(^Baily^) Your talke is such, I can scarse learne who
shuld be most in fault
(^Ga~mer^) Yet shal ye find no other wight, saue she, by
bred & salt
(^Baily^) Kepe ye content a while, se that your tonges ye
holde,
Me thinkes you shuld remembre, this is no place
to scolde,
How knowest thou ga~mer gurton, dame Chat thy
nedle had?
(^Ga~mer^) To name you sir the party, chould not be very
glad.
(^Baily^) Yea but we must nedes heare it, & therfore
say it boldly.
(^Ga~mer^) Such one as told the tale, full soberly and coldly,
Euen he that loked on, wil sweare on a booke:
<P 61>
What time this drunken gossip, my faire long
neele vp tooke 
Diccon (master) the Bedlam, cham very sure ye
know him.
(^Bailie^) A false knaue by Gods pitie, ye were but a foole
to trow him,
I durst auenture wel the price of my best cap,
That when the end is knowen, all wil turne to
a iape,
Tolde he not you that besides she stole your
Cocke that tyde?
(^Ga~mer^) No master no indede, for then he shuld haue 
lyed,
My cocke is I thanke Christ, safe and wel a fine.
(^Chat^) Yea but that ragged colt, that whore that tyb
of thine
Said plainly thy cocke was stolne, & in my house
was eaten,
That lying cut is lost, that she is not swinged and
beaten,
And yet for al my good name, it were a small
amendes
I picke not this geare (hearst thou) out of my
fingers endes
But he that hard it told me, who thou of late
didst name
Diccon whom al men knowes, it was the very same.
(^Baily^) This is the case, you lost your nedle about the
dores
And she answeres againe, she hase no cocke of
yours,
Thus in your talke and Action, from that you do
intend,
She is whole fiue mile wide, from that she doth
defend:
Will you saie she hath your Cocke?
<P 62>
(^Ga~mer^) No mery sir that chil not,
(^Bayly^) Will you confesse hir neele?
(^Chat^) Will I? no sir I will not.
(^Bayly^) Then there lieth all the matter.
(^Ga~mer^) Soft master by the way,
Ye know she could do litle, and she cold not say
nay.
(^Bayly^) Yea but he that made one lie about your Cock
stealing,
Wil not sticke to make another, what time lies
be in dealing
I weene, the ende wil proue, this brawle did first
arise,
Upon no other ground, but only Diccons lyes.
(^Chat^) Though some be lyes as you belike haue espyed
them,
Yet other some be true, by proof I haue wel
tryed them.
(^Bayly^) What other thing beside this dame Chat.
(^Chat^) Mary syr euen this,
The tale I tolde before, the selfe same tale it
was his,
He gaue me like a frende, warning against my
losse,
Els had my hens be stolne, eche one, by Gods
crosse:
He tolde me Hodge wold come, and in he came
indeede,
But as the matter chaunsed, with greater hast
then speede,
This truth was said, and true was found, as truly
I report.
(^Bayly^) If Doctor Rat be not deceiued, it was of another
sort.
(^D. Rat^) By Gods mother thou and he, be a cople of
suttle foxes,
<P 63>
Betweene you and Hodge, I beare away the
boxes,
Did not dicco~ apoynt the place, wher y=u= shuldst
sta~d to mete him.
(^Chat^) Yes by the masse, & if he came, bad me not
sticke to speet hym.
(^D. Rat^) Gods sacrament the villain knaue hath drest vs
round about,
He is the cause of all this brawle, that dyrty
shitten loute:
When gammer gurton here complained, & made a
ruful mone
I heard him sweare y=t= you had gotten, hir nedle
that was gone,
And this to try he furder said, he was ful loth
how be it
He was content with small adoe, to bring me
where to see it.
And where ye sat, he said ful certain, if I wold
folow his read
Into your house a priuy way, he wold me guide
and leade,
And where ye had it in your hands, sewing about
a clowte,
And set me in the backe hole, therby to finde
you out:
And whiles I sought a quietnes, creping vpon
my knees,
I found the weight of your dore bar, for my
reward and fees,
Such is the lucke that some men gets, while they
begin to mel
In setting at one such as were out, minding to
make al wel.
(^Hodge^) Was not wel blest ga~mer, to scape y scoure,
& chad ben there
<P 64>
The~ chad ben drest be like, as ill by the masse,
as gaffar vicar.
(^Bayly^) Mary sir, here is a sport alone, I loked for such
an end
If diccon had not playd the knaue, this had ben
sone amend
My gammer here he made a foole, and drest hir
as she was
And goodwife Chat he set to scole, till both partes
cried alas,
And D. Rat was not behind, whiles Chat his
crown did pare,
I wold the knaue had be~ starke blind, if hodg
had not his share.
(^Hodge^) Cham meetly wel sped alredy amongs, cham
drest like a coult
And chad not had the better wit, chad bene made
a doult.
(^Bayly^) Sir knaue make hast diccon were here, fetch
him where euer he bee
(^Chat^) Fie on the villaine, fie, fie, y=t= makes vs thus
agree,
(^Ga~mer^) Fie on him knaue, with al my hart, now fie, and
fie againe.
(^D. Rat^) Now fie on him may I best say, whom he hath
almost slaine.
(^Bayly^) Lo where he commeth at hand, belike he was not
fare
Diccon heare be two or three, thy company can
not spare.
(^Diccon^) God blesse you, and you may be blest so many
al at once
(^Chat^) Come knaue, it were a good deed to geld the
by cockes bones
Seest not thy handiwarke? sir Rat can ye forbeare
him?
<P 65>
(^Diccon^) A ve~geance on those hands lite, for my ha~ds
cam not nere hym
The horsen priest hath lift the pot, in some of
these ale wyves chayres
That his head wolde not serue him, belyke to
come downe the stayres.
(^Baily^) Nay soft, thou maist not play y=e= knaue, & haue
this language to
If thou thy tong bridle a while, the better maist
thou do,
Confesse the truth as I shall aske, and cease a
while to fable.
And for thy fault I promise the, thy handling
shalbe reasonable
Hast thou not made a lie or two, to set these two
by the eares?
(^Diccon^) What if I haue? fiue hundred such haue I seene
within these seuen yeares:
I am sory for nothing else but that I see not the
sport
Which was betwene them whe~ they met, as they
the~ selues report
(^Bayly^) The greatest thing master rat, ye se how he is 
drest.
(^Diccon^) What deuil nede he be groping so depe, in goodwife
Chats he~s nest
(^Bayly^) Yea but it was thy drift to bring him into y=e=
briars.
(^Diccon^) Gods bread, hath not such an old foole, wit to
saue his eares?
He showeth himselfe herein ye see, so very a
coxe,
The Cat was not so madly alured by the Foxe,
To run into the snares, was set for him doubtlesse,
For he leapt in for myce, and this sir Iohn for
madnes.
<P 66>
(^D. Rat^) Well and ye shift no better, ye losel, lyther, and
lasye,
I will go neare for this, to make ye leape at a
Dasye.
In the kings name master Bayly, I charge you set
him fast.
(^Diccon^) What fast at cardes, or fast on slepe? it is the
thing I did last.
(^D. Rat^) Nay fast in fetters false varlet, according to thy
needes.
(^Bayly^) Master doctor ther is no remedy, I must intreat
you needes
Some other kinde of punishment,
(^D. Rat^) Nay by all Halowes,
His punishme~t if I may iudg, shalbe naught els
but the gallous.
(^Bayly^) That were to sore, a spiritual man to be so
extreame.
(^D. Rat^) Is he worthy any better, sir how do ye iudge
and deame?
(^Bayly^) I graunt him worthie punishment, but in no wise
so great.
(^Ga~mer^) It is a shame ich tel you plaine, for such false
knaues intreat
He has almost vndone vs al, that is as true as
steele:
And yet for al this great ado 'cham neuer the
nere my neele.
(^Bayly^) Canst y=u= not say any thing to that diccon, with
least or most?
(^Diccon^) Yea mary sir, thus much I can say wel, the
nedle is lost,
(^Bayly^) Nay canst not thou tel which way, that nedle
may be found
(^Diccon^) No by my fay sir, though I might haue an
hundred pound.
<P 67>
(^Hodge^) Thou lier lickdish, didst not say the neele wold
be gitten?
(^Diccon^) No hodge, by the same token, you where that
time beshitten?
Forfeare of Hobgobling, you wot wel what I meane,
As long as it is sence, I feare me yet ye be scarce
cleane.
(^Bayly^) Wel master rat, you must both learne, & teach
vs to forgeue
Since Diccon hath confession made, & is so cleane
shreue,
If ye to me conscent, to amend this heauie chaunce,
I wil inioyne him here, some open kind of                       #
penaunce:
Of this condition, where ye know my fee is twenty
pence
For the bloodshed, I am agreed with you here
to dispence,
Ye shal go quite, so that ye graunt, the matter
now to run,
To end with mirth emong vs al, euen as it was
begun.
(^Chat^) Say yea master vicar, & he shal sure confes to be 
your detter
And al we that be heare present, wil loue you
much the better
(^D. Rat^) My part is the worst, but since you al here on       #
agree.
Go euen to master Bayly, let it be so for mee,
(^Bayly^) How saiest thou diccon, art content this shal
on me depend
(^Diccon^) Go to M. Bayly say on your mind, I know ye are
my frend?
(^Bayly^) Then marke ye wel, to recompence this thy
former action
Because thou hast offended al, to make them
satisfaction,
<P 68>
Before their faces, here kneele downe, & as I shal
the teach.
For thou shalt take on othe, of hodges leather
breache
First for master Doctor, vpon paine of his cursse,
Where he wil pay for al, thou neuer draw thy
pursse,
And when ye meete at one pot, he shal haue the
first pull,
And thou shalt neuer offer him the cup, but it be
full.
To goodwife chat thou shalt be sworne, euen on
the same wyse
If she refuse thy money once, neuer to offer it
twise.
Thou shalt be bound by the same here, as thou
dost take it
When thou maist drinke of free cost, thou neuer
forsake it:
For gammer gurtons sake, againe sworne shalt
thou bee
To helpe hir to hir nedle againe if it do lie in thee
And likewise be bound: by the vertue of that
To be of good abering to Gib hir great Cat:
Last of al for Hodge, the othe to scanne,
Thou shalt neuer take him, for fine gentleman.
(^Hodge^) Come on fellow Diccon chalbe euen with thee
now.
(^Bayly^) Thou wilt not sticke to do this Diccon I trow.
(^Diccon^) No by my fathers skin, my hand downe I lay it?
Loke as I haue promised, I wil not denay it,
But Hodge take good heede now, thou do not
beshite me.
(^And gaue him a good blow on the buttocke.^)
(^Hodge^) Gogs hart thou false villaine dost thou bite me?
(^Bayly^) What Hodge doth he hurt the or euer he begin.
<P 69>
(^Hodge^) He thrust me into the buttocke, with a bodkin
or a pin,
I saie Gammer, Gammer?
(^Ga~mer^) How now Hodge, how now:
(^Hodge^) Gods malt Gammer gurton.
(^Ga~mer^) Thou art mad ich trow.
(^Hodge^) Will you see the deuil Gammer.
(^Ga~mer^) The deuil sonne, god blesse vs.
(^Hodge^) Chould iche were hanged Gammer.
(^Ga~mer^) Mary so ye might dresse vs.
(^Hodge^) Chaue it by the masse Gammer
(^Ga~mer^) What not my neele Hodge?
(^Hodge^) Your Neele Gammer, your neele.
(^Ga~mer^) No fie, dost but dodge.
(^Hodge^) Cha found your neele Gammer, here in my hand
be it.
(^Ga~mer^) For al the loues on earth Hodge, let me see it.
(^Hodge^) Soft Gammer.
(^Ga~mer^) Good Hodge.
(^Hodge^) Soft ich say, tarie a while.
(^Ga~mer^) Nay sweete Hodge say truth, and do not me begile.
(^Hodge^) Cham sure on it ich warrant you: it goes no
more a stray
(^Ga~mer^) Hodge when I speake so faire: wilt stil say me
nay:
(^Hodge^) Go neare the light gammer, this wel in faith
good lucke:
Chwas almost vndone: twas so far in my buttocke
(^Ga~mer^) Tis min owne deare neele Hodge, sykerly I wot
(^Hodge^) Cham I not a good sonne gammer, cham I not,
(^Ga~mer^) Christs blessing light on thee, hast made me for
euer
(^Hodge^) Ich knew that ich must finde it, els choud a
had it neuer.
(^Chat^) By my troth Gossyp gurton, I am euen as glad
As though I mine owne selfe as good a turne had:
<P 70>
(^Bayly^) And I by my concience, to see it so come forth,
Reioyce so much at it, as three nedles be worth.
(^D. Rat^) I am no whit sory to see you so reioyce.
(^Diccon^) Nor I much the gladder for al this noyce:
Yet say gramercy Diccon, for springing of the
game.
(^Ga~mer^) Grammercy Diccon twenty times, o how glad
cham,
It that chould do so much, your masterdome to
come hether,
Master Rat, goodwife Chat, and Diccon together:
Cha but one halfpeny, as far as iche know it,
And chil not rest this night, till ich bestow it.
If euer ye loue me, let vs go in and drinke.
(^Bayly^) I am content if the rest thinke as I thinke?
Master Rat it shalbe best for you if we so doo,
Then shall you warme you and dresse your self too.
(^Diccon^) Soft syrs, take vs with you, the company shalbe
the more,
As proude coms behinde they say, as any goes
before,
But now my good masters since we must be gone
And leaue you behinde vs, here all alone:
Since at our last ending thus mery we bee,
For Gammer Gurtons nedle sake, let vs haue a
plaudytie.

(^ (\Finis\) , Gurton. Perused and alowed, &c.^)



