University of Virginia Library

Courteous complements betweene a Traueller and the Hangman.

A Giddy gallant, that beyond the seas
Sought fashions out, his idle pate to please,
In trauelling did meete vpon the way,
A fellow that was suted richly gay,
No lesse then Crimson Veluet did him grace,
All garded and re-garded with gold Lace,
His Hat was feather'd like a Ladies Fan,
Which made the Gallant thinke him some great man,
And vayl'd vnto him with a meeke salute,
In reuerence of his gilded Veluet sute.
Sir (quoth his man) your VVorship doth not know
VVhat you haue done to wrong your credit so:
This is the Bewle in Dutch, in English plaine
The raskall Hangman, whom all men disdaine,
I saw him tother day on castell greene
Hang foure as proper men as ere were seene.
At this his Master in a raging vaine,
Swore he would call his kindnes back againe,
And in great haste after the Hangman goes,
He and his man, so basting him with blowes,
That neuer Hangman was in worser case
For a dry beaten, batter'd, fist-swolne face,
And then departing, said, Thou Rogue, take that,
For wearing clothes made me put off my Hat:
Rope-trader, keepe thy selfe to Hempe and cord,
And weare not Sutes to counterfet a Lord.
Sir (quoth the Hangman) doe not so disdaine me:
Such swaggerers as you doe thus maintaine me:
For I vpon my backe their kindnes beare,
And they, about their necks my fauours weare.