University of Virginia Library

the iiij scena

Enter Idlenis halting wth a stilt and shall cary a cloth vpon a stafe like a rat catcher & say/
haue you any Rats or mise pole Cats or
weasels
or is there any old sowes sick of the measels
I can destroy fulmers & catch moles
I haue ratsbaine maidens
to spoil all the vermine that run in yor hole[OMITTED]
aratcatcher quoth you/
this is astrainge occupation
but euery where for Idlenis
thay make proclymation
thay say he shalbe hanged for cousining of wit
but there is atowne cald hopshort
thay haue me not yet
I can goe hard by there noses & neuer be knowne
like a ratcatcher tell serch be gone

Here he espieth search coming in and goeth vp & doune saying haue you any rates & mise as in the first fiue lines/
search
here is a moyling they would haue a man
doe more then he is able
one were better to be hanged
then to be a constable
I haue searched for a knaue called Idlenis
but I cannot find him for all my businis
the knaue the saye haue cousind wit
& shord him on the shelf

Idlenis
/ yea if you take not heade
he will goe nie to cousin yor selfe

search
/ what dost the knowe him good fellow
I pray the now tell

Idlenis
/ doe I knowe why I tell the
I haue Ratesbane to sell

search
/ Ratesbaine tut a pointe
dost thou know Idlenis tell me

Idlenis
/ why I tell the I knowe him
aswell as he knowes me
I ween he be atalle man
& I trowe he stutes
& he be not a knaue I wold he had
a pound of Rats baine in his gutes

search
/ yea but wheare is he canst thou tell

Idlnis
/ No faith not well

search
/ yea but my thinkes thou art lame

Idlenis
/ yea you may see such luck
haue thay wc h vse game
I haue bin at St quintins
where I was twise kild
I haue bin at Musselborow
at the Scottish feeld
I haue bin in the land of greene ginger
& many a wheare
where I haue bin shot through
both the buttockes
& an Hargubushere
but now I am old
& haue nought my selfe to defend
& am faine to be a Ratcatcher
to mine end

Heere shall search take out apeece of paper and looke on it
search
what shall I giue the
to crie a proclimation

Idlenis
/ for halfe a score potes of beare
I will crie it after the best fashion

Here shall search reach a chare and Idlenis shall goe vp and make the proclamation
Search
/ Come gett vp heare you must say
as I say

Idlenis
/ How & you say I am a knaue
then must I needes say nay

Search
/ first crie oyes a good while

Idlenis
/ very well/

He cries to long
Search
/ Inought inought what hast
thou neuer done

Idlenis
/what didst not the bed me crie long
I haue not scarse begune

Search
/ Goe to crie shorter wt h a vengance

Idlenis
/ Oyes oyes oyes oyes/

very often
Search
/ what I think thou art mad

Idlenis
/ why would you not haue me doe
as you bad

Search
/ why canst thou keepe no meane

Idlenis
/ Oyes/

Here he shall crie well
Search
/ That is very well said

Idlenis
/ That is very well said

Search
/ what I wine thou bist drunck to day

Idlenis
/ why did you not bid me say as you did say

Search
/ Come say one the kinges most royall maiestie

Idlenis
/ Iohn king gaue a Royall to lye wt h Margery

Search
/ why what said I/

Idlenis
/ why so

Search
/ I say the kinges most Royall magistie

Idlenis
/ The kinges most Royall magistie

Search
/ dooth charge you all his true people

Idlenis
/ what it is not so/

Search
/ what

Idlenis
/ why you say there was abarge
flew ouer a steeple

Search
/ I say doth charge all his true people

Idlenis
/ O doth Charge all his true people
that is a nother matter

Search
/ That they watch els where
& see in the towne

Idlenis
/ That euery patch that a man weares
on his knee shall cost a crowne

Search
/ why what meanes that
I spake no such word
that thay watch els where
and se in each towne

Idlenis
/ That they watch / ces

Search
/ If that Idlenis by any meance
thay can find

Idlenis
/ No. mary you say not true

Search
/ what is that

Idlenis
/ It is not for Idlenis that men
sowe beanes in the wind

Search
/ If that Idlenis by any meance
thay can find /

pul him downe
Idlenis
/ If that Idlenis ces

Search
/ Come downe wt h a pestilence
amorin rid the

Idlenis
/ here is good thainkes my masteres
come giue me my fee

Search
/ Come giue me vjxpence
& I will giue the viij pence

Now shall search rune a way wth his mony and he shall cast a way his stilt and run after him/