Marry quoth she (being a very merry and a pleasant woman) carrier thou comest in good time, for not only I want a maid, but here be three gentlemen that shall give me their opinions, which of them I shall have. With that the maids were bidden come in, and she intreated them to give their verdict. Straight as soon as they saw Long Meg, they began to smile: and Doctor Skelton in his mad merry vein, blessing himself, began thus:

Domine, Domine, unde hoc?

What is she in the grey cassock?
Methinks she is of a large length,
Of a tall pitch, and a good strength,
With strong arms and stiff bones
This is a wench for the nones.
Her looks are bonny and blithe,

She seems neither lither nor lithe,

She'll do more work than these twain,

I tell thee hostess, I do not mock,

Take her in the grey cassock.

What is your opinion, quoth the hostess to Sir James of Castile? Question with her, quoth he, what she can do, and then I'll give you mine opinion and yet first hostess, ask Will Sommers opinion. Will smiled, and swore that his hostess should not have her, but king Harry should buy her. Why so Will, quoth Doctor Skelton? Because (quoth Will Sommers) that she shall be kept for breed for if the king would marry her to Long Sanders of the Court, they would bring forth none but soldiers. Well, the hostess demanded what her name was? Margaret forsooth, quoth she. And what work can you do? Faith little mistress (quoth she) but handy labour, as to wash and wring, to make clean a house, to brew, bake, or any such drudgery for my needle, to that I have been little used to. Thou art, quoth the hostess, a good lusty wench, and therefore I like thee the better: I have here a great charge, for I keep a victualling house, and divers times there come in swaggering fellows, that when they have eat and drank, will not pay what they call for; yet if thou take the charge of my drink, I must be answered out of your wages. Content mistress quoth she, for while I serve you, if any stale Cutter1 comes in, and thinks to pay the shot with swearing, hey! gogs! wounds! let me alone, I'll not only (if his clothes be worth it) make him pay ere he

'CUTTER.-A Cutpurse. Also, a rough swaggering tavern bully.

crag will

At this

pass, but lend him as many bats1 as his carry, and then throw him out of doors. they all smiled. Nay mistress, quoth the carrier, 'tis true, for my poor pilch here is able with a pair of blue shoulders to swear as much; and with that he told them how she had used him at her coming to London. I cannot think, quoth Sir James of Castile, that she is so strong. Try her, quoth Skelton, for I have heard that Spaniards are of wonderful strength.

Sir James in a bravery would needs make experience, and therefore ask the maid, if she durst change a box on the ear with him: I sir, quoth she, that I dare, if my mistress will give me leave. Yes Meg quoth she, do thy best. And with that it was a question who should stand first, Marry that I will sir, quoth she; and so stood by to abide Sir James his blow; who forcing himself with all his might, gave her such a box, that she could scarcely stand yet she stirred no more than a post. Then Sir James he stood, and the hostess willed her, not spare her strength. No, quoth Skelton, and if she fell him down, I'll give her a pair of new hose and shone. Mistress, quoth Meg, (and with that she stroke up her sleeve) here is a foul fist, and it hath past much drudgery, but trust me I think it will give

*BATS, i.e., blows.

a good blow and with that she raught' at him so strongly, that down fell Sir James at her feet. By my faith quoth Will Sommers, she strikes a blow like an ox, for she hath stroke down an ass. At this they all laughed. Sir James was ashamed, and Meg was entertained into service.

CHAP III.

Containing how she used one of the Vicars of the Church, that sung Mass, and how she made him pay his score.

T fortuned that not long after she was placed, but her Mistress liked passing well of her; and Meg proved so good a wench, that she was called of every body Long Meg of Westminster; much talk went on her, she was in every man's mouth, for her tallness and her strength, insomuch that one of the Vicars of Westminster, that was a tall lusty lubber, and a stout franion, who trusted much of his strength, thought to buckle with her, and to give her the overthrow.

Now sir his custom was every morning after Mass, he would come in and call for a pot of ale and a toast, and ever he set it upon the score, till it

'RAUGHT.-Reached.

"FRANION.-An idle, loose, and licentious person.

came to a crown or a noble, and then he paid. One frosty morning amongst the rest, he came with half a dozen of his friends, whom he had made private to his practice, and called for ale. Meg was ready, and brought Master Vicar his morning draught. After he and his companions had drunk awhile, he said, he was come to clear his score, and asked what was on it? Marry Master Vicar, quoth Meg, just five shillings and three pence. Five shillings and three pence, quoth he; why I tell thee foul stallion, I owe but three shillings and a penny, and no more shalt thou have of me. What a cozening quean have you got here hostess, that misreckons me at one time but two shillings and two pence? she may well be called Long Meg of Westminster.

I have referred all to my maid, quoth the hostess, and I marvel she would deal worse with you than with all the neighbours; but howsoever, shift it between you two.

The foul ill take me1 Mistress, quoth Meg, if I misreckon the limmer loon one penny; and therefore Vicar I tell thee, 'fore thou go out of these doors, I'll make thee pay every farthing, if thy cap be of wool.2

'THE FOUL ILL TAKE ME, i.e., The Plague.

"CAP BE OF WOOL.-The wearing of woollen caps was enforced by statute 13 Elizabeth. There was a song of which the burden was,

"An