_Wife._ This is very fine: faith do the Gentlemen like _Ralph_, think you Husband?
_Cit._ I, I warrant thee, the Players would give all the shooes in their shop for him.
_Ralph._ My beloved Squire _Tim_, stand out, admit this were a Desart, and over it a Knight Errant pricking, and I should bid you enquire of his intents, what would you say?
_Tim._ Sir, my Master sent me to know whither you are riding?
_Ralph._ No, thus; fair Sir, the _Right courteous, and valiant_ _Knight of the Burning Pestle_, commanded me to enquire upon what adventure you are bound, whether to relieve some distressed Damsel, or otherwise.
_Cit._ Whorson blockhead cannot remember.
_Wife._ I'faith, and _Ralph_ told him on't before: all the Gentlemen heard him, did he not Gentlemen, did not _Ralph_ tell him on't?
_George. Right courteous and valiant Knight of the Burning_ _Pestle_, here is a distressed Damsel, to have a halfepenny worth of Pepper.
_Wife._ That's a good boy, see, the little boy can hit it, by my troth it's a fine child.
_Ralph._ Relieve her with all courteous language, now shut up shop, no more my Prentice, but my trusty Squire and Dwarfe, I must bespeak my Shield, and arming Pestle.
_Cit._ Go thy ways _Ralph_, as I am a true man, thou art the best on 'em all.
_Wife._ I prethee come again quickly, sweet _Ralph_.
_Enter_ Jasper _and his Mother, Mistriss_ Merry-thought.
_Mist. Mer._ Give thee my blessing? no, I'll never give thee my blessing, I'll see thee hang'd first; it shall ne'r be said I gave thee my blessing: thou art thy Fathers own Son, of the [right] bloud of the _Merry-thoughts_; I may curse the time that e'r I knew thy Father, he hath spent all his own, and mine too, and when I tell him of it, he laughs and dances, and sings and cries; _A merry heart lives long-a._ And thou art a wast-thrift, and art run away from thy Master, that lov'd thee well, and art come to me, and I have laid up a little for my younger Son _Michael_, and thou thinkst to bezle that, but thou shalt never be able to do it, Come hither _Michael_, come _Michael_, down on thy knees, thou shalt have my blessing.
_Mich._ I pray you Mother pray to God to bless me.
_Mist. Mer._ God bless thee: but _Jasper_ shall never have my blessing, he shall be hang'd first, shall he not _Michael_? how saist thou?