The tenth containeth how Harry the Hostler was pressed, how she used the Constable and Captain, and how she took press money to go to Boulogne.

The eleventh containeth how she beat the Frenchmen from the walls of Boulogne, and behaved herself so valiantly, that the King gave her eight pence a day for her life

The twelfth containeth her combat she had with a Frenchman before the walls of Boulogne, and what was the issue of the combat.

The thirteenth containeth her coming into England and how she was married, and how she behaved herself to her Husband. The fourteenth containing a pleasant jest, how she used the angry Miller of Epping in Essex.

The fifteenth of the mad prank she played with a Waterman of Lambeth.

The sixteenth how she kept a house at Islington, and what laws

she had there to be observed.

The seventeenth how she used James Dickins, that was called huffing Dick.

The eighteenth how she was sick, and visited by a Friar who enjoined her Penance, and what absolution she gave him after for his pains.

THE

LIFE AND PRANKS

OF

Long Meg of Westminster.

CHAP. I.

Containeth where she was born, how she came up to London, and how she beat the Carrier.

N the time of Henry the eighth of famous memory, there was born of very honest and healthy Parents, a maid called for her excess in height, Long Meg: for she did not only pass all the rest of her country in the length of her proportion, but every limb was so fit to her tallness, that she seemed the picture and shape of some tall man cast in a woman's mould. This Meg growing to the age of eighteen, would needs come up to London to serve, and to learn City fashions: and although her friends persuaded her to the contrary, yet forsooth she had determined, and up she would. Wherefore she

B

resolved to come up, with a Carrier a neighbour of hers, called Father Willis, and so she did, accompanied with three or four lasses more, who likewise came to London to seek service. Well, having taken their leave of their friends, forward they go on their journey, and by long travel at last got within the sight of London, which joyed their hearts greatly. But when they drew nigh, her fellow partners waxed sad; which Meg espying, cheered them up thus: What lasses in a dump, and we so nigh London ? cheer up your hearts; though we be come from our friends, yet here shall we have good mistresses, that will allow us good wages: here at London may we win gold and wear gold; and there are not so many maids before us, but we may find husbands as well as the rest all is not broken stuff the carrier brings, and if it were, what then? that the eye sees not, the heart rues not; let us do well, and we shall have well. Tush Meg, quoth one of her fellows, it is not that grieves me, but Father Willis the carrier you know is a hard man, and he asketh more than we have in our purses, for letting us ride a little on his packsaddles. If that be all quoth Meg, fear not, I'll speak the carrier so fair, and if words will not prevail, I'll so rib-roast him with a cudgel, as he shall wish he had never been coal-carrier to such shrewd wenches. This somewhat cheered them; and even as they were in this talk, Father Willis

overtook them, and seeing they were beyond Islington ready to enter into Saint John's street, he demanded money of them for riding. What will you have of us, quoth Meg? Marry quoth Father Willis, ten shillings a piece. What? what? answered she, you are a merry man, ten shillings a piece, 'tis more than we have in our purses; no Father Willis, you are our countryman and our neighbour, and we are poor wenches, and far from our friends, you shall have a gallon of wine, and if ever we come to keep houses of our own here in London, look for amends; in the mean time to make up the bargain, you shall of us a kiss for a favour. At this the carrier stormed and Meg smiled, which made him so mad, that he swore if they would not pay him his money, he would cudgel ten shillings out of their bones.

have of every one

Marry content, quoth Meg, and she up with her staff and laid him on the shoulders, where she so beswinged the carrier and his man, that poor Father Willis desired her for God's sake to hold her hands. Not I base knaves, quoth she, unless upon conditions, and that is this, that first thou bestow upon each of us an angel for a handsel to our good luck hereafter in London; and that thou swear, not to depart out of this town till thou hast placed us all three with mistresses otherwise, as I am a true Lancashire lass, I will so bombast thee, as all

carriers shall take examples by thee for displeasing a country wench.

The carrier having felt the weight of her arms, thought better to give three angels, than to have so many bombasts as she would bestow upon him; and therefore not only out with his pouch, and gave them the coin, but swore not to depart before he had seen them placed.

CHAP. II.

Containing how he placed her in Westminster, and what she did at her placing.

FTER the Carrier had set up his horse,

and dispatched his lading, he remembered his oath, and therefore bethought him how he might place these three maids: with that he called to mind that the mistress at the Eagle in Westminster, had spoken divers times to him for a servant, he with his carriage passed over the fields to her house, where he found her sitting and drinking with a Spanish Knight called Sir James of Castile, Doctor Skelton and Will Sommers; told her how he had brought up to London three Lancashire lasses, and seeing she was oft desirous to have a maid, now she should take her choice which of them she would have.