[_]
We do not imagine the following description could
apply to any of the Wives of Henry: but it is given
by Andrews as “an Example of the Quaint turn of
the Times,” with respect to the Poetry of this Reign,
The
Attentive Spouse
.
Twelve sortes of mete my wife provides,
And bates me not a dyshe;
Foure are of flesh, of fruite are foure,
The other foure of fyshe.
In the first corse she stores my borde,
Wythe birds that daynties are,
And fyrst a quail,
and next a rayle,
A bytterne,
and a jarre.
Myne appetyte when cloyde with these,
With fyshe she makes it sharpe;
And brings me next a lampe, a poute,
A gugeon and a carpe.
The second corse of frute well served,
Fyttinge well the seson;
A medlar and a hartichoke,
A crab and a smale reson.
What's hee that having such a wyfe,
Upon hir sholde not dote;
Who every day provides him fare,
That costes hym never a grote.
