XII mery Iests, of the wyddow Edyth [by Walter Smith] |
 |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. |
| 6. |
| 8. |
| 9. |
| 10. |
| 11. |
| 12. |
 | XII mery Iests, of the wyddow Edyth |  |
The seuenth mery Iest who this wydow Edyth deceiued a seruant of Syr Thomas Neuelles, who in hope to haue her in maryage with all her great riches kepte her company tyll all his money was spent: and then she went to seeke her Freendes.
The
seruant to London retourned agayne,
And on the next morow she was seene
in South wark where she dyd abyde,
The space of .iii. dayes, and then away dyd ryde
with carryars into Sussex the sothe to say,
And at Towton she arryued vpon a day,
And there not farre from a knyghtsplace:
Nyne dayes her tarying was.
And on the next morow she was seene
in South wark where she dyd abyde,
The space of .iii. dayes, and then away dyd ryde
with carryars into Sussex the sothe to say,
And at Towton she arryued vpon a day,
And there not farre from a knyghtsplace:
Nyne dayes her tarying was.
In whiche tyme a Seruyng man,
Hawnted that House now and than,
With whom she gan to curry fauell,
His Maister was Sir Thomas Neuell.
Hawnted that House now and than,
With whom she gan to curry fauell,
His Maister was Sir Thomas Neuell.
She promised hym to be his Spouse,
And desired him to ryde to her house:
To see her treasure, and also her store,
I wyll quod she sende hym before,
If that ye wyll tell me what tyme ye wyll fare,
Some of my frendes forsoth shalbe thare,
And eke my tenantes, as their dutie is.
And desired him to ryde to her house:
To see her treasure, and also her store,
I wyll quod she sende hym before,
If that ye wyll tell me what tyme ye wyll fare,
Some of my frendes forsoth shalbe thare,
And eke my tenantes, as their dutie is.
Then he began her to halse and kysse,
Saying hart roote, if it please you,
I am all redy, and it were euen now,
I wot well my Maister wyll not say me nay
And if that I be furth a Monethes day
So that I tell hym where aboutes I am,
He wyll not be angry: but in Goddes name,
Peraduenture he wil say, where hast thou ben so long
Than, and I make curtsie & hold my tong
He hath done with the twinklyng of an eye.
But after that I haue told hym truely,
That I ryde with you he wyl be wel content,
Once considering the cause ye fine of our intent.
Saying hart roote, if it please you,
I am all redy, and it were euen now,
I wot well my Maister wyll not say me nay
And if that I be furth a Monethes day
So that I tell hym where aboutes I am,
He wyll not be angry: but in Goddes name,
Peraduenture he wil say, where hast thou ben so long
Than, and I make curtsie & hold my tong
He hath done with the twinklyng of an eye.
But after that I haue told hym truely,
That I ryde with you he wyl be wel content,
Once considering the cause ye fine of our intent.
Well then quod she, on Saterday in ye morning
Let vs ryde forth our way fastyng
And at Senock there will we bayt,
I feare least my Gerle take some conceyt
Because that I am so long her fro,
It is, xvi. weekes and somwhat mo
Sinc I garnished her with ye signe of the Crosse,
She learneth her boke, with the goodman Rosse
In Senock towne, not far from the Church
Ye know him welynow, for he doth worch
And maketh Carpets now and than:
Let vs ryde forth our way fastyng
And at Senock there will we bayt,
I feare least my Gerle take some conceyt
Because that I am so long her fro,
It is, xvi. weekes and somwhat mo
Sinc I garnished her with ye signe of the Crosse,
She learneth her boke, with the goodman Rosse
In Senock towne, not far from the Church
Ye know him welynow, for he doth worch
And maketh Carpets now and than:
Trew you say (quod he) I know that man
Now in sooth I will go and ask my master leaue
And here is a King which I you geue,
Upon condition ye wot wel what:
Now in sooth I will go and ask my master leaue
And here is a King which I you geue,
Upon condition ye wot wel what:
Yes I warrant you quod she, I remember that
Then farewel honycombe til I se you againe,
Then farewel honycombe til I se you againe,
God be with you, and shield you from the raine
Sayd the wydow, but loke that you tell,
Unto your master wisely and well:
All our foreward, and leaue nothing behinde:
Sayd the wydow, but loke that you tell,
Unto your master wisely and well:
All our foreward, and leaue nothing behinde:
Yes, yes quod he, as ye shal wel finde:
To his master he goeth, as fast as he can,
And desired him of licence anon:
To ryde with this widow, a lytell way,
As far as her house, at S. Mary Skray:
And I trust in God omnipotent,
My labour in vayne, shal not be spent.
To his master he goeth, as fast as he can,
And desired him of licence anon:
To ryde with this widow, a lytell way,
As far as her house, at S. Mary Skray:
And I trust in God omnipotent,
My labour in vayne, shal not be spent.
His master gaue him leaue for to ride,
Worke wisely (quod he) what so euer betide
And if that her daughter be borne to land,
Than I aduise thee to fall in hand:
With the child, and let the mother go.
Worke wisely (quod he) what so euer betide
And if that her daughter be borne to land,
Than I aduise thee to fall in hand:
By God sayd the seruant, and peraduenture so
I wyll yet doe, when I haue seene both:
And vpon the Fryday, forth he goth:
Toward this widow ioly, and amorous,
She was lodged in an honest mans house.
I wyll yet doe, when I haue seene both:
And vpon the Fryday, forth he goth:
Toward this widow ioly, and amorous,
She was lodged in an honest mans house.
That night they made mery, with fyl ye cup, fil
And on the morow, they ride forth at their will.
And on the morow, they ride forth at their will.
To Senock they come, by than it was prime
And goeth to dinner all by tyme,
They made good cheare, and spared for no cost
And goeth to dinner all by tyme,
They made good cheare, and spared for no cost
The wydow of new gan for to bost.
But of her daughter, she spake no worde,
But of her daughter, she spake no worde,
And when that taken vp was the borde:
And all payde for, that was come in,
Come hether (quod she) swete hart mine,
I requyre you that you wyll take the way,
As fast as ye can, to S. Mary Skray:
And demaunde there, for the wydows house
That lately was both wife and Spouse,
To such a man, whose soule god pardon,
And when that ye come, to the house anone:
Ye shal say vnto my seruant there
I meane him that is charged with my gere,
And all my houshold stuffe in my absence,
That he ere euer ye depart from thence:
Shew you mine house round all about,
And eke my cōmodities, within and without
And when you haue viewed euery thing,
Than bid my seruant, without tarying:
Leade you fast into my closet ryght,
And doe vp the window, to let in the light.
Unlocke the dore, with this same key,
If I trusted you not I swere by my fay,
He should not come so neare my gromelseede,
And take no more than I yow rede.
And all payde for, that was come in,
Come hether (quod she) swete hart mine,
I requyre you that you wyll take the way,
As fast as ye can, to S. Mary Skray:
And demaunde there, for the wydows house
That lately was both wife and Spouse,
To such a man, whose soule god pardon,
And when that ye come, to the house anone:
Ye shal say vnto my seruant there
I meane him that is charged with my gere,
And all my houshold stuffe in my absence,
That he ere euer ye depart from thence:
Shew you mine house round all about,
And eke my cōmodities, within and without
And when you haue viewed euery thing,
Than bid my seruant, without tarying:
Leade you fast into my closet ryght,
And doe vp the window, to let in the light.
If I trusted you not I swere by my fay,
He should not come so neare my gromelseede,
And take no more than I yow rede.
Within my closet ye shal anon finde
A little Casket that standeth al behinde
My ship Coffer downe iust by the wall,
Beare with you the Casket prety and small.
A little Casket that standeth al behinde
My ship Coffer downe iust by the wall,
Beare with you the Casket prety and small.
But I charge you take none other thing
For and you doe at my returning,
I shall know all: therfore now take heede
For and you doe at my returning,
I shall know all: therfore now take heede
Mary sayd the yong man God forbede
Seing that ye do trust me so wel,
Go your wayes thē quod she: & here I wyl dwell,
Tyl ye come agayne, but looke ye make haste:
I wyll ride (quod he) euen all as fast
As my Geldyng can beare me away.
Seing that ye do trust me so wel,
Go your wayes thē quod she: & here I wyl dwell,
Tyl ye come agayne, but looke ye make haste:
I wyll ride (quod he) euen all as fast
As my Geldyng can beare me away.
Forth he galopeth to saint Mary Skray
And there he inquered as she hym bad
And anon perfect tidings he had
That he was begiled: for there was no man
Could tell any tidings of such a woman.
And there he inquered as she hym bad
And anon perfect tidings he had
That he was begiled: for there was no man
Could tell any tidings of such a woman.
Then away rideth he as fast as he may,
And came to Senock at the next day.
And came to Senock at the next day.
But he could not come to her to soone,
But ere euer that he came, the wydow was gon:
No body could tell whether she was yede.
But ere euer that he came, the wydow was gon:
No body could tell whether she was yede.
Master Neuels seruant go home wt good spede
Being in his minde not well {conected}
For some money he had {perieners}
And payd for her cost, I cannot tell what
Yea, with a mischife I could not beware that
Quod he than: but yet no force let go
I wylbe aduised agayne or I doe so.
Being in his minde not well {conected}
For some money he had {perieners}
And payd for her cost, I cannot tell what
Yea, with a mischife I could not beware that
I wylbe aduised agayne or I doe so.
| XII mery Iests, of the wyddow Edyth | |