Actus. v. Scæna. i.

Gawyn Goodlucke. Sym Suresby.

Sym Suresby my trustie man, nowe advise thee well,

And see that no false surmises thou me tell,

Was there such adoe about Custance of a truth?

Sim. Sure. To reporte that I hearde and sawe, to me is ruth,

But both my duetie and name and propretie,[588] 5

Warneth me to you to shewe fidelitie,

It may be well enough, and I wyshe it so to be,

She may hir selfe discharge and trie [589] hir honestie,

Yet their clayme to hir me thought was very large,

For with letters rings [590] and tokens, they dyd hir charge. 10

Which when I hearde and sawe I would none to you bring.

G. Goodl. No, by sainct Marie, I allowe thee in that thing.

Ah sirra, nowe I see truthe in the proverbe olde,

All things that shineth is not by and by [591] pure golde,

If any doe lyve a woman of honestie,[592] 15

I would have sworne Christian Custance had bene shee.[592]

Sim Sure. Sir, though I to you be a servant true and just.

Yet doe not ye therfore your faithfull spouse mystrust.

But examine the matter, and if ye shall it finde, H ii b

To be all well, be not ye for my wordes unkinde. 20

G. Goodl. I shall do that is right, and as I see cause why.

But here commeth Custance forth, we shal know by and by.