to grace the gallows in England。 But it was scarce possible to
retain such a prepossession against a guest who gave so little
trouble； paid his reckoning so regularly； and who proposed； as it
seemed； to make a considerable stay at the bonny Black Bear。
〃Papists；〃 argued Giles Gosling； 〃are a pinching； close…fisted
race； and this man would have found a lodging with the wealthy
squire at Bessellsey； or with the old Knight at Wootton； or in
some other of their Roman dens； instead of living in a house of
public entertainment； as every honest man and good Christian
should。 Besides； on Friday he stuck by the salt beef and carrot；
though there were as good spitch…cocked eels on the board as ever
were ta'en out of the Isis。〃
Honest Giles； therefore； satisfied himself that his guest was no
Roman； and with all comely courtesy besought the stranger to
pledge him in a draught of the cool tankard； and honour with his
attention a small collation which he was giving to his nephew； in
honour of his return； and； as he verily hoped； of his
reformation。 The stranger at first shook his head； as if
declining the courtesy； but mine host proceeded to urge him with
arguments founded on the credit of his house； and the
construction which the good people of Cumnor might put upon such
an unsocial humour。
〃By my faith； sir；〃 he said； 〃it touches my reputation that men
should be merry in my house； and we have ill tongues amongst us
at Cumnor （as where be there not？）； who put an evil mark on men
who pull their hat over their brows； as if they were looking back
to the days that are gone； instead of enjoying the blithe
sunshiny weather which God has sent us in the sweet looks of our
sovereign mistress； Queen Elizabeth； whom Heaven long bless and
preserve！〃
〃Why； mine host；〃 answered the stranger； 〃there is no treason；
sure； in a man's enjoying his own thoughts； under the shadow of
his own bonnet？ You have lived in the world twice as long as I
have； and you must know there are thoughts that will haunt us in
spite of ourselves； and to which it is in vain to say； Begone；
and let me be merry。〃
〃By my sooth；〃 answered Giles Gosling； 〃if such troublesome
thoughts haunt your mind； and will not get them gone for plain
English； we will have one of Father Bacon's pupils from Oxford；
to conjure them away with logic and with Hebrewor； what say you
to laying them in a glorious red sea of claret； my noble guest？
Come； sir； excuse my freedom。 I am an old host； and must have my
talk。 This peevish humour of melancholy sits ill upon you； it
suits not with a sleek boot； a hat of trim block； a fresh cloak；
and a full purse。 A pize on it！ send it off to those who have
their legs swathed with a hay…wisp； their heads thatched with a
felt bonnet； their jerkin as thin as a cobweb； and their pouch
without ever a cross to keep the fiend Melancholy from dancing in
it。 Cheer up； sir！ or； by this good liquor； we shall banish
thee from the joys of blithesome company； into the mists of
melancholy and the land of little…ease。 Here be a set of good
fellows willing to be merry； do not scowl on them like the devil
looking over Lincoln。〃
〃You say well； my worthy host；〃 said the guest； with a melancholy
smile； which； melancholy as it was； gave a very pleasant：
expression to his countenance〃you say well； my jovial friend；
and they that are moody like myself should not disturb the mirth
of those who are happy。 I will drink a round with your guests
with all my heart； rather than be termed a mar…feast。〃
So saying； he arose and joined the company； who； encouraged by
the precept and example of Michael Lambourne； and consisting
chiefly of persons much disposed to profit by the opportunity of
a merry meal at the expense of their landlord； had already made
some inroads upon the limits of temperance； as was evident from
the tone in which Michael inquired after his old acquaintances in
the town； and the bursts of laughter with which each answer was
received。 Giles Gosling himself was somewhat scandalized at the
obstreperous nature of their mirth； especially as he
involuntarily felt some respect for his unknown guest。 He
paused； therefore； at some distance from the table occupied by
these noisy revellers； and began to make a sort of apology for
their license。
〃You would think；〃 he said； 〃to hear these fellows talk； that
there was not one of them who had not been bred to live by Stand
and Deliver； and yet tomorrow you will find them a set of as
painstaking mechanics； and so forth； as ever cut an inch short of
measure； or paid a letter of change in light crowns over a
counter。 The mercer there wears his hat awry； over a shaggy head
of hair； that looks like a curly water…dog's back； goes unbraced；
wears his cloak on one side； and affects a ruffianly vapouring
humour： when in his shop at Abingdon； he is； from his flat cap
to his glistening shoes； as precise in his apparel as if he was
named for mayor。 He talks of breaking parks； and taking the
highway； in such fashion that you would think he haunted every
night betwixt Hounslow and London； when in fact he may be found
sound asleep on his feather…bed； with a candle placed beside him
on one side； and a Bible on the other； to fright away the
goblins。〃
〃And your nephew； mine host； this same Michael Lambourne； who is
lord of the feastis he； too； such a would…be ruffler as the
rest of them？〃
〃Why； there you push me hard；〃 said the host； 〃my nephew is my
nephew； and though he was a desperate Dick of yore； yet Mike may
have mended like other folks； you wot。 And I would not have you
think all I said of him； even now； was strict gospel； I knew the
wag all the while； and wished to pluck his plumes from him。 And
now； sir； by what name shall I present my worshipful guest to
these gallants？〃
〃Marry； mine host；〃 replied the stranger； 〃you may call me
Tressilian。〃
〃Tressilian？〃 answered mine host of the Bear。 〃A worthy name；
and； as I think； of Cornish lineage； for what says the south
proverb
'By Pol； Tre； and Pen；
You may know the Cornish men。'
Shall I say the worthy Master Tressilian of Cornwall？〃
〃Say no more than I have given you warrant for； mine host； and so
shall you be sure you speak no more than is true。 A man may have
one of those honourable prefixes to his name； yet be born far
from Saint Michael's Mount。〃
Mine host pushed his curiosity no further； but presented Master
Tressilian to his nephew's company； who； after exchange of
salutations； and drinking to the health of their new companion；
pursued the conversation in which he found them engaged；
seasoning it with many an intervening pledge。
CHAPTER II。
Talk you of young Master Lancelot？ MERCHANT OF VENICE。
After some brief interval； Master Goldthred； at the earnest
instigation of mine host； and the joyous concurrence of his
guest； indulged the company with； the following morsel of
melody：…
〃Of all the birds on bush or tree；
Commend me to the owl；
Since he may best ensample be
To those the cup that trowl。
For when the sun hath left the west；
He chooses the tree that he loves the best；
And he whoops out his song； and he laughs at his jest；
Then； though hours be late and weather foul；
We'll drink to the health of the bonny； bonny owl。
〃The lark is but a bumpkin fowl；
He sleeps in his nest till morn；
But my blessing upon the jolly owl；
That all night blows his horn。
Then up with your cup till you stagger in speech；
And match me this catch till you swagger and screech；
And drink till you wink； my merry men each；
For； though hours be late and weather be foul；
We'll drink to the health of the bonny； bonny owl。〃
〃There is savour in this； my hearts；〃 said Michael； when the
mercer had finished his song； 〃and some goodness seems left among
you yet； but what a bead…roll you have read me of old comrades；
and to every man's name tacked some ill…omened motto！ And so
Swashing Will of Wallingford hath bid us good…night？〃
〃He died the death of a fat buck；〃 said one of the party； 〃being
shot with a crossbow bolt； by old Thatcham； the Duke's stout
park…keeper at Donnington Castle。〃
〃Ay； ay； he always loved venison well；〃 replied Michael； 〃and a
cup of claret to bootand so here's one to his memory。 Do me
right； my masters。〃
When the memory of this departed worthy had been duly honoured；
Lambourne proceeded to inquire after Prance of Padworth。
〃Pranced offmade immortal ten years since；〃 said the mercer；
〃marry； sir； Oxford Castle and Goodman Thong； and a tenpenny…
worth of cord； best know how。〃
〃What； so they hung poor Prance high and dry？ so much for loving
to walk by moonlight。 A cup to his memory； my masters…all merry
fellows like moonlight。 What has become of Hal with the Plume
he who lived near Yattenden； and wore the long feather？I
forget his name。〃
〃What； Hal Hempseed？〃 replied the mercer。 〃Why； you may
remember he was a sort of a gentleman； and would meddle in state
matters； and so he got into the mire about the Duke of Norfolk's
affair these two or three years since； fled the country with a
pursuivant's warrant at his heels； and