And spake never a Word moe.
CHAPTER VI
Tib's Malpractyzes
As about this Time, it being stark Winter, Tib Pyebaker went near to burn the House down after the Manner following. She took some red-hot Coals between two Saucepan-lids to warm her Bed therewith; and, whenas she deemed it heated enow, she would needs not be at the Pains of carrying the Coals down again, but hid them under the Stairs in a Broom-cupboard. And by Reason of the undermost Lid-handle making the Lid to lose its Balance, it fell Topside-t'otherway, and the lighted Coals were spilled, whereof I passing the Cupboard, was made ware by the strong Smell of burning. And, looking therein and moving sundry Rags that were already Tinder, I found the Boards beneath them just ready to burst into a Flame. Whereupon, without running for Water, I cast my Gown thereon and crushed it out with my Hands. Now, could I have hidden my Burns, I might have saved Tib's Credit; whereas the Thing could not be hid, seeing I could not so much as cut my Meat; and Mistress Fraunces bruiting it abroad, it came to the Ears of the Bridge Wardens, who, because of the imperilling of the whole Bridge, would not be hindered of setting Tib in the Cage, as a Warning to other careless Servants. I was grievous for her, the Place was so publique; and a Lot of 'Prentice Boys were staring at her all Day, and offering her Eatables and then plucking them away. Also Miles made no end of Pretences for going of Errands past that End of the Bridge, and always feigned to look away from Tib, yet took Care to spy her in her Trouble, out of the Corner of his Eye, all the Time.
I never knew one Woman treat another with more silent Contempt than Damaris expressed for Tib, after this Affair of the Cage. It was a long Time afore the 'Prentices (who now called me Fire-and-Water,) left off asking of Tib where she now kept her Warming-pan, and whether she cast her hot Ashes out on the Boats that shot the Bridge. For this, she would sometimes catch them by the Ears and pull them well; but then they would cry "Clubs!" and a Score of Lads were over their Counters in a Minute, and she had to run for it and dart breathless into the House, whither they dared not follow her. Howbeit, when the pleasant Month of May came, and the Damsels danced before their Masters' Doors to the Timbrels, Tib, who well loved to pound away with the Rest, was so cross that she would not come forth.
During the last few Months, Tomkins had been much eased of his Lameness; and the worn Look of Suffering had altogether departed, leaving him a much younger looking Man than before this Relief. One day, to my great Surprise, he told me he was going to be married. I asked him, to whom; and he said, to an old Acquaintance of his he had long lost Sight of, but had fallen in with in St. Magnus' Church ... one who would gladly have had him when they were many Years younger, but who was kind enough to care for him and wish to make him happy now. He added, reflectively, when he had told me this, "There are a great many good Women in the World."
So he removed his Loom to a tidy Lodging in Shoreditch, which Master Hewet furnished for him; and Mistress Fraunces gave him his Wedding Dinner, and Miles and I helped to eat it. The Wife, though middle-aged, had a pleasant Aspect; and I thought Tomkins had done a very good Thing for himself; but his Attick looked very dreary without him.
The Marching Watch was revived with great Splendour this Year by the Lord Mayor, Sir John Gresham, both on St. John's Eve, and the Eve of St. Peter: and the Array was augmented by three Hundred Demi-lances and light Horse, prepared by the City to be sent into Scotland for the Rescue of the Town of Haddington. Five Hundred of the Cressets were furnished by the great Companies, the other two Hundred by the Chamber of London, and every Cresset had two Men, one to hold, and one to trim it: and every Cresset-bearer had Wages, his Breakfast, a Badge, and a Straw Hat. And, what with Halberdiers, Billmen, etc., there mustered about two Thousand. There were also many City Feasts, some of which Master Hewet and Mistress Fraunces attended very richly dressed.
It was some little Time after this, that I, copying a Letter at my Master's Behest, could not hinder myself of hearing the following Address made to him by Mistress Fraunces.