Bertulphe.
¶ Besides this it were a sore offence for one all this while to say: Away with this dishe, no man doth eat of it, here you must sit out your time appointed, being so euen and iumpe, that I thinke they measure it oute by some water clockes. At lẽgth that bearded Grimson[[9]] comes forth againe or els the Inholder him selfe, litle or nothing differing from his seruauntes in his apparaile and brauery. He asketh what cheere is with vs: by & by some stronger wine is brought, and they caste a great loue to him that drinketh lustely: wheras he payes no more money that drinketh moste then he, that drinketh least.
William.
¶ I put you out of doubt, it is a wonderful nature of the countrey.
Bertulphe.
¶ Yea, this doe they in deede: whereas there bee sometime there, that drink two times somuche in wine, as they paye in all for the shot. But before I doe make an end of this Supper, it is a wonderful thing to tell what noise and iangeling of tongues there is, after they begin all to bee well whitled with wine. What shoulde I neede manye wordes? All things there haue lost their hearing and are becom deafe. And many times disguised patches or coxecomes doe come amonge them to make sporte: whiche kinde of men, althoughe of all other it be most to be abhorred, yet you wil scant beleue howe muche the Germaines are delighted with them. They keepe sike a coile with their singinge, theire chatting, their hoopinge and hallowinge, theire praunsinge, theire bounsinge, that the Stooue seemeth as if it woulde fall downe vpon their heds, and none can heare what an other saith. And yet all thys while they, perswade them selues, that they liue as well as hearte canne thinke, or, as the day is broad and longe to.
William.
¶ Wel nowe make an ende of this Supper, I pray: for I am weary of so tedious a Supper my selfe to.
Bertulphe.
¶ So I will. At the laste when the cheese is ones taken vp, whiche scantly pleaseth their aptite, onlesse it craule ful of magots, that old Siuicoxe[[10]] comes forth againe, bringinge with hym a meate Trenchoure in his hande, vppon the whiche with chalke he hath made certaine rundelles and halfe rundelles: that same he layeth downe vpon the table, loking very demurelye & sadlye all the while. They that are acquainted with those markes or skoares, doe laye downe their monye, after them an other, then another, vntill suche time as the trenchoure bee couered, then markinge those whiche layed downe anye thinge, he counteth or maketh reckening softely vnto him selfe: if he misse nothing of that which the reckening comes to, hee maketh a becke or dieugard with his hed.