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to grace the gallows in England。 But it was scarce possible to
retain such a prepossession against a guest who gave so little
trouble; paid his reckoning so regularly; and who proposed; as it
seemed; to make a considerable stay at the bonny Black Bear。
〃Papists;〃 argued Giles Gosling; 〃are a pinching; close…fisted
race; and this man would have found a lodging with the wealthy
squire at Bessellsey; or with the old Knight at Wootton; or in
some other of their Roman dens; instead of living in a house of
public entertainment; as every honest man and good Christian
should。 Besides; on Friday he stuck by the salt beef and carrot;
though there were as good spitch…cocked eels on the board as ever
were ta'en out of the Isis。〃
Honest Giles; therefore; satisfied himself that his guest was no
Roman; and with all comely courtesy besought the stranger to
pledge him in a draught of the cool tankard; and honour with his
attention a small collation which he was giving to his nephew; in
honour of his return; and; as he verily hoped; of his
reformation。 The stranger at first shook his head; as if
declining the courtesy; but mine host proceeded to urge him with
arguments founded on the credit of his house; and the
construction which the good people of Cumnor might put upon such
an unsocial humour。
〃By my faith; sir;〃 he said; 〃it touches my reputation that men
should be merry in my house; and we have ill tongues amongst us
at Cumnor (as where be there not?); who put an evil mark on men
who pull their hat over their brows; as if they were looking back
to the days that are gone; instead of enjoying the blithe
sunshiny weather which God has sent us in the sweet looks of our
sovereign mistress; Queen Elizabeth; whom Heaven long bless and
preserve!〃
〃Why; mine host;〃 answered the stranger; 〃there is no treason;
sure; in a man's enjoying his own thoughts; under the shadow of
his own bonnet? You have lived in the world twice as long as I
have; and you must know there are thoughts that will haunt us in
spite of ourselves; and to which it is in vain to say; Begone;
and let me be merry。〃
〃By my sooth;〃 answered Giles Gosling; 〃if such troublesome
thoughts haunt your mind; and will not get them gone for plain
English; we will have one of Father Bacon's pupils from Oxford;
to conjure them away with logic and with Hebrewor; what say you
to laying them in a glorious red sea of claret; my noble guest?
Come; sir; excuse my freedom。 I am an old host; and must have my
talk。 This peevish humour of melancholy sits ill upon you; it
suits not with a sleek boot; a hat of trim block; a fresh cloak;
and a full purse。 A pize on it! send it off to those who have
their legs swathed with a hay…wisp; their heads thatched with a
felt bonnet; their jerkin as thin as a cobweb; and their pouch
without ever a cross to keep the fiend Melancholy from dancing in
it。 Cheer up; sir! or; by this good liquor; we shall banish
thee from the joys of blithesome company; into the mists of
melancholy and the land of little…ease。 Here be a set of good
fellows willing to be merry; do not scowl on them like the devil
looking over Lincoln。〃
〃You say well; my worthy host;〃 said the guest; with a melancholy
smile; which; melancholy as it was; gave a very pleasant:
expression to his countenance〃you say well; my jovial friend;
and they that are moody like myself should not disturb the mirth
of those who are happy。 I will drink a round with your guests
with all my heart; rather than be termed a mar…feast。〃
So saying; he arose and joined the company; who; encouraged by
the precept and example of Michael Lambourne; and consisting
chiefly of persons much disposed to profit by the opportunity of
a merry meal at the expense of their landlord; had already made
some inroads upon the limits of temperance; as was evident from
the tone in which Michael inquired after his old acquaintances in
the town; and the bursts of laughter with which each answer was
received。 Giles Gosling himself was somewhat scandalized at the
obstreperous nature of their mirth; especially as he
involuntarily felt some respect for his unknown guest。 He
paused; therefore; at some distance from the table occupied by
these noisy revellers; and began to make a sort of apology for
their license。
〃You would think;〃 he said; 〃to hear these fellows talk; that
there was not one of them who had not been bred to live by Stand
and Deliver; and yet tomorrow you will find them a set of as
painstaking mechanics; and so forth; as ever cut an inch short of
measure; or paid a letter of change in light crowns over a
counter。 The mercer there wears his hat awry; over a shaggy head
of hair; that looks like a curly water…dog's back; goes unbraced;
wears his cloak on one side; and affects a ruffianly vapouring
humour: when in his shop at Abingdon; he is; from his flat cap
to his glistening shoes; as precise in his apparel as if he was
named for mayor。 He talks of breaking parks; and taking the
highway; in such fashion that you would think he haunted every
night betwixt Hounslow and London; when in fact he may be found
sound asleep on his feather…bed; with a candle placed beside him
on one side; and a Bible on the other; to fright away the
goblins。〃
〃And your nephew; mine host; this same Michael Lambourne; who is
lord of the feastis he; too; such a would…be ruffler as the
rest of them?〃
〃Why; there you push me hard;〃 said the host; 〃my nephew is my
nephew; and though he was a desperate Dick of yore; yet Mike may
have mended like other folks; you wot。 And I would not have you
think all I said of him; even now; was strict gospel; I knew the
wag all the while; and wished to pluck his plumes from him。 And
now; sir; by what name shall I present my worshipful guest to
these gallants?〃
〃Marry; mine host;〃 replied the stranger; 〃you may call me
Tressilian。〃
〃Tressilian?〃 answered mine host of the Bear。 〃A worthy name;
and; as I think; of Cornish lineage; for what says the south
proverb
'By Pol; Tre; and Pen;
You may know the Cornish men。'
Shall I say the worthy Master Tressilian of Cornwall?〃
〃Say no more than I have given you warrant for; mine host; and so
shall you be sure you speak no more than is true。 A man may have
one of those honourable prefixes to his name; yet be born far
from Saint Michael's Mount。〃
Mine host pushed his curiosity no further; but presented Master
Tressilian to his nephew's company; who; after exchange of
salutations; and drinking to the health of their new companion;
pursued the conversation in which he found them engaged;
seasoning it with many an intervening pledge。
CHAPTER II。
Talk you of young Master Lancelot? MERCHANT OF VENICE。
After some brief interval; Master Goldthred; at the earnest
instigation of mine host; and the joyous concurrence of his
guest; indulged the company with; the following morsel of
melody:…
〃Of all the birds on bush or tree;
Commend me to the owl;
Since he may best ensample be
To those the cup that trowl。
For when the sun hath left the west;
He chooses the tree that he loves the best;
And he whoops out his song; and he laughs at his jest;
Then; though hours be late and weather foul;
We'll drink to the health of the bonny; bonny owl。
〃The lark is but a bumpkin fowl;
He sleeps in his nest till morn;
But my blessing upon the jolly owl;
That all night blows his horn。
Then up with your cup till you stagger in speech;
And match me this catch till you swagger and screech;
And drink till you wink; my merry men each;
For; though hours be late and weather be foul;
We'll drink to the health of the bonny; bonny owl。〃
〃There is savour in this; my hearts;〃 said Michael; when the
mercer had finished his song; 〃and some goodness seems left among
you yet; but what a bead…roll you have read me of old comrades;
and to every man's name tacked some ill…omened motto! And so
Swashing Will of Wallingford hath bid us good…night?〃
〃He died the death of a fat buck;〃 said one of the party; 〃being
shot with a crossbow bolt; by old Thatcham; the Duke's stout
park…keeper at Donnington Castle。〃
〃Ay; ay; he always loved venison well;〃 replied Michael; 〃and a
cup of claret to bootand so here's one to his memory。 Do me
right; my masters。〃
When the memory of this departed worthy had been duly honoured;
Lambourne proceeded to inquire after Prance of Padworth。
〃Pranced offmade immortal ten years since;〃 said the mercer;
〃marry; sir; Oxford Castle and Goodman Thong; and a tenpenny…
worth of cord; best know how。〃
〃What; so they hung poor Prance high and dry? so much for loving
to walk by moonlight。 A cup to his memory; my masters…all merry
fellows like moonlight。 What has become of Hal with the Plume
he who lived near Yattenden; and wore the long feather?I
forget his name。〃
〃What; Hal Hempseed?〃 replied the mercer。 〃Why; you may
remember he was a sort of a gentleman; and would meddle in state
matters; and so he got into the mire about the Duke of Norfolk's
affair these two or three years since; fled the country with a
pursuivant's warrant at his heels; and