University of Virginia Library

The iiii. Sceane.

Tyb. Hodge. Gammer. Cocke.
Tyb
Se gāmer, gāmer, gib our cat, chā afraid what she ayleth
She standes me gasping behind the doore, as though her winde her faileth:
Now let ich doubt what gib shuld mean, yt now she doth so dote.

Hodge
Hold hether, ichould twenty pound, your neele is in her throte
Grope her ich say, me thinkes ich feele it, does not pricke your hand?

Gāmer
Ich can feele nothing.

Hodge
No, ich know thars not within this land
A muryner Cat then Gyb is, betwixt the tems and Tyne,
Shase as much wyt in her head almost as chaue in mine.

Tyb
Faith shase eaten some thing, that wil not easely downe
Whether she gat it at home, or abrode in the towne
Iche can not tell.

Gāmer
Alas ich feare it he some croked pyn,
And then farewell gyb, she is vndone, and lost al saue the skyn.

Hodge
Tyb, your neele woman, I say: gogs soule geue me a knyfe
And chil haue it out of her mawe, or els chal lose my lyfe.

Gāmer
What nay hodg, fy kil not our cat, tis al the cats we ha now.

Hodge
By the masse dame Chat hays me so moued, iche care not what I kyll, ma god a vowe:
Go to then Tyb to this geare, holde vp har tayle and take her,
Chil see what deuil is in her guts, chil take yu paines to rake her.

Gāmer
Rake a Cat Hodge, what woldst thou do?

Hodge
What thinckst that cham not able?
Did not Tom Tankard rake his Curtal toore day standing in the stable.

Gāmer
Soft be content, lets here what newes Cocke bringeth from maist Rat.

Cocke.
Gammer chaue ben ther as you bad, you wot wel about what
Twill not be long before he come, ich durst sweare of a booke
He byds you see ye be at home, and there for him to looke.

Gāmer
Where didst thou find him boy was he not wher I told thee?

Cocke.
Yes, yes euen at hobfilchers house, by him yt bought and solde me
A cup of ale had in his hand, and a crab lay in the fyer,
Chad much a do to go and come, al was so ful of myer:
And Gammer one thing I can tel, Hobfilchers naule was loste
And Doctor Rat found it againe, hard beside the doore poste,
I chould a penny can say something, your neele againe to fet.

Gāmer
Cham glad to heare so much Cocke, then trust he wil not let,
To helpe vs herein best he can therfore tyl time he come
Let vs go in if there be aught to get thou shalt haue some.