Chapter C: Custance. Gawyn Goodlucke. Sym Suresby

_C. Custance._ I come forth to see and hearken for newes good,
For about this houre is the tyme of likelyhood,
That Gawyn Goodlucke by the sayings of Suresby,
Would be at home, and lo yond I see hym I.
What Gawyn Goodlucke, the onely hope of my life, 5
Welcome home, and kysse me your true espoused wife.

_Ga. Good._ Nay soft dame Custance, I must first by your licence,
See whether all things be cleere in your conscience,
I heare of your doings to me very straunge.

_C. Custance._ What feare ye? that my faith towardes you should
chaunge? 10

_Ga. Good._ I must needes mistrust ye be elsewhere entangled.
For I heare that certaine men with you have wrangled
About the promise of mariage by you to them made.

_C. Custance._ Coulde any mans reporte your minde therein persuade?

_Ga. Good._ Well, ye must therin declare your selfe to stande
cleere, 15
Else I and you dame Custance may not joyne this yere.

_C. Custance._ Then woulde I were dead, and faire layd in my grave,
Ah Suresby, is this the honestie that ye have?
To hurt me with your report, not knowyng the thing.

_Sim Sure._ If ye be honest my wordes can hurte you nothing. 20
But what I hearde and sawe, I might not but report.

_C. Custance._ Ah Lorde, helpe poore widowes, destitute of comfort.
Truly most deare spouse, nought was done but for pastance.

_G. Good._ But such kynde of sporting is homely[593] daliance.

_C. Custance._ If ye knewe the truthe, ye would take all in good
parte. H iii 25

_Ga. Good._ By your leave I am not halfe well skilled in that arte.

_C. Custance._ It was none but Roister Doister that foolishe mome.[594]

_Ga. Good._ Yea Custance, better (they say) a badde scuse[595] than
none.[594]

_C. Custance._ Why Tristram Trustie sir, your true and faithfull
frende,
Was privie bothe to the beginning and the ende. 30
Let him be the Judge, and for me testifie.

_Ga. Good._ I will the more credite that he shall verifie,
And bicause I will the truthe know een as it is,
I will to him my selfe, and know all without misse.
Come on Sym Suresby, that before my friend thou may 35
Avouch the same wordes, which thou dydst to me say. _Exeant._

Actus. v. Scæna. iii.

CHRISTIAN CUSTANCE.

_C. Custance._ O Lorde, howe necessarie it is nowe of dayes,
That eche bodie live uprightly all maner wayes,
For lette never so little a gappe be open,
And be sure of this, the worst shall be spoken[.]
Howe innocent stande I in this for deede or thought,[596] 5
And yet see what mistrust towardes me it hath wrought[.]
But thou Lorde knowest all folkes thoughts and eke intents
And thou arte the deliverer of all innocentes.
Thou didst helpe the advoutresse[597] that she might be amended,
Much more then helpe Lorde, that never yll intended. 10
Thou didst helpe _Susanna_, wrongfully accused,
And no lesse dost thou see Lorde, how I am now abused,
Thou didst helpe _Hester_, when she should have died,
Helpe also good Lorde, that my truth may be tried.
Yet if Gawin Goodlucke with Tristram Trusty speake. 15
I trust of yll report the force shall be but weake,
And loe yond they come sadly talking togither, H iii _b_
I wyll abyde, and not shrinke for their comming hither.

Actus. v. Scæna. iiii.

GAWYN GOODLUCKE. TRISTRAM TRUSTIE. C. CUSTANCE. SYM SURESBY.

_Ga. Good._ And was it none other than ye to me reporte?

_Tristram._ No, and here were [yªᵗ] wished [ye] to have seene the
sporte.[598]

_Ga. Good._ Woulde I had, rather than halfe of that in my purse.

_Sim Sure._ And I doe muche rejoyce the matter was no wurse,
And like as to open it, I was to you faithfull, 5
So of dame Custance honest truth I am joyfull.
For God forfende that I shoulde hurt hir by false reporte.

_Ga. Good._ Well, I will no longer holde hir in discomforte.

_C. Custance._ Nowe come they hitherwarde, I trust all shall be well.

_Ga. Good_. Sweete Custance neither heart can thinke nor tongue
tell, 10
Howe much I joy in your constant fidelitie,
Come nowe kisse me the[599] pearle of perfect honestie.

_C. Custance._ God lette me no longer to continue in lyfe,
Than I shall towardes you continue a true wyfe.

_Ga. Goodl._ Well now to make you for this some parte of amendes, 15
I shall desire first you, and then suche of our frendes,
As shall to you seeme best, to suppe at home with me,
Where at your fought fielde we shall laugh and mery be.

_Sim Sure._ And mistresse I beseech you, take with me no greefe,
I did a true mans part, not wishyng you repreefe.[600] 20

_C. Custance._ Though hastie reportes through surmises growyng,
May of poore innocentes be utter overthrowyng,
Yet bicause to thy maister thou hast a true hart,
And I know mine owne truth, I forgive thee for my part.

_Ga. Goodl._ Go we all to my house, and of this geare no more. 25
Goe prepare all things Sym Suresby, hence, runne afore. H iv

_Sim Sure._ I goe. _Ex._

_G. Good._ But who commeth yond, M. Merygreeke?

_C. Custance._ Roister Doisters champion, I shrewe his best
cheeke.[601]

_T. Trusty._ Roister Doister selfe[602] your wower is with hym too.
Surely some thing there is with us they have to doe. 30

Actus. v. Scæna. v.[603]