"Ah, that I will, sir! I know a hawk from a handsaw, or my name's not William Shakespeare."
By this time the cold capon and the venison pasty, as well as the "little tiny kickshaws," together with a gallon of "good sherris-sack," had been considerably reduced by the united efforts of the squire, the famished hunter, and those below the salt. During the meal such scraps of conversation as this might have been heard:
"Will you please to take a bit of bacon, Master Shakespeare?"
"Not any, I thank you," replied the poet.
"What, no bacon!" put in the serving man from behind, in a voice of surprise bordering on disappointment.
"No bacon for me, I thank you; I never take bacon," repeated Shakespeare, with some emphasis.
Then the master of the house would occasionally address a remark to his serving man about the farm, such as, "How a good yoke of bullocks at Ciren Fair?" or, "How a score of ewes now?" meaning how much are they worth. Once the serving man took the initiative, asking, "Shall we sow the headlands with wheat?" receiving the reply, "With red wheat, Davy." [29]
[29] 2 Henry IV, V. i.
Then there was some discussion concerning the stopping of William's (Peregrine's?) wages, "About the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley Fair."
SHAKESPEARE: "This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your serving man and your husbandman."