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to invite an Alderman of London there-unto, so upon the day when diner time came, all the guestes stayd for the said Alldermans comming till two of the clocke, and so at last Maister Hobson sayd unto his servant, didst thou bid Maister Alderman to diner? yes truly (said he) why cometh he not then? (quoth Maister Hobson) mary (quoth the fellow) he said hee could not: why touldst thou not me so, quoth Maister Hobson? because quoth the fellow, you did not aske me? here-upon (though long first) they went all to diner, and being mery together drinking of wine, there came in a certaine ruffen and stole one of the fairest sillver cupps away, the which the fellow seing, said never a word, but let him goe, which when Maister Hobson missed, he demanded of his servant where it was; Sir, (quoth the fellow) a theefe came in and stole it away: why didst not thou stay him (qd. Maister Hobson?) mary, sir, (quoth he) because he asked no question of me: after this, Maister Hobson noting the simplenes of his servant, let him have his toung at free liberty.

HOW MAISTER HOBSON GREW OUT OF LOVE WITH AN

IMAGE.

IN the raing of Queene Mary, when great superstition was used in England, as creeping to the crosse, worshipping of images and such like, it was Maister Hobsons chaunce amongst other people to be in the Church, and kneeling to an image to pray, as it was then used,

the same image by some mishapp fell downe upon Maister Hobson and broke his head, upon which occation he came not thether in halfe an yeare after, but at length by the procurement of his neighbours he came to the Church againe, and because he saw his neighbours kneele before the same image, he kneeled downe likewise, and said thus, wel I may cap, and kneele to thee, but thou shalt never have my heart againe so long as I live: meaning for the broken head it had given him.

HOW MAISTER HOBSON SAID HE WAS NOT AT HOME.

ON a time Master Hobson upon some ocation came to Master Fleetewoods house to speake with him, being then new chosen the recorder of London, and asked one of his men if he were within, and he said he was not at home, but Maister Hobson perceving that his maister bad him say so, and that he was within, not being willing (at that time) to be spoken withall, for that time desembling the matter he went his way; within a few dayes after it was Maister Fleetwoods chaunse to come to Maister Hobsons, and knocking at the dore, asked if he were within? Maister Hobson hearing and knowing how he was denyed Maister Fleetwoods speach before time, speake himselfe aloud, and said hee was not at home; then sayd Maister Fleetwood, what Master Hobson, thinke you that I knowe not your voyce? whereunto Maister Hobson answered and said, now

Maister Fleetewood am I quit with you, for when I came to speake with you, I beleeved your man that said your were not at home, and now you will not beleeve mine owne selfe and this was the mery conference betwixt these two merry gentlemen.

Colected together by

R. IOHNSON.

FINIS.

NOTES.

P. 1, 1, 9,-Printed.] Misprinted ptinted in the original. P. 5, l. 12,—In the Poultry.] According to Stow's Survay, 4to, Lond. 1618, p. 474, William Hobson, haberdasher, died in 1581, and was buried in the church of St. Mildred, in the Poultry.

P. 9, 1. 4,

A manchet.] A small loaf of fine bread. Minsheu says, "panis exigui species."

P. 11, 1. 15,—Wise man.] Misprinted "wise men" in the original.

P. 11, 1. 18,-Masty.] That is, mastiff.

P. 14, 1. 13.—A let.] That is, have let. There is an early copy of this tale in MS. Ash. 38, p. 187, where it is attributed to "Tarlton the Jester."

P. 15, 1. 11,—At rack and manger.] A proverbial expression, meaning to let every thing go to rack or ruin. "To leave all at rack and manger, laisser tout à l'abandon.”—Miege's Great French Dictionary, 1688.

P. 16, 1. 19, Words.] Misprinted wods in the original.

P. 17, 1. 15,—Satint Hewes day.] That is, St. Hugh's day, the 17th of November, on which day, in 1558, Elizabeth ascended the throne. The anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth was first publicly celebrated about the year 1570. See Nicolas's "Chronology of History," ed. 1838, p. 168. P. 18, 1. 19,-Teaster.] That is, sixpence.

P. 21, 1. 11,—And so the.] Perhaps we should read, “and so for the."

P. 23, 1. 10,―Shew me a wrighting then.] Incidents of this kind are usual in old stories, and one somewhat similar was recently introduced in the second act of a comedy called "London Assurance."

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