LACY

Der was een bore van Gelderland

Frolicke sie byen;

He was als dronck he cold nyet stand,

Upsolce sie byen;

Tap eens de canneken,

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Drincke, schone mannekin.

FIRK

Master, for my life, yonder’s a brother of the Gentle Craft. If he

bear not Saint Hugh’s bones, I’ll forfeit my bones. He’s some

uplandish workman. Hire him, good master, that I may learn

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some gibble-gabble – ‘twill make us work the faster.

EYRE

Peace, Firk. A hard world; let him pass, let him vanish. We have

journeymen enough; peace, my fine Firk.

MARGERY

Nay, nay, you’re best follow your man’s counsel; you shall see

what will come on’t. We have not men enough but we must

entertain every butter-box – but let that pass.

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HODGE

Dame, ‘fore God, if my master follow your counsel he’ll

consume little beef. He shall be glad of men an’ he can

catch them.

FIRK

Ay, that he shall.

HODGE

’Fore God, a proper man, and I warrant a fine workman!

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Master, farewell; dame, adieu. If such a man as he cannot find

work, Hodge is not for you. Offer to go

EYRE

Stay, my fine Hodge.

FIRK

Faith, an’ your foreman go, dame, you must take a journey

to seek a new journeyman. If Roger remove, Firk follows. If

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Saint Hugh’s bones shall not be set a-work, I may prick mine

awl in the walls and go play. Fare ye well, master. Goodbye,

dame.

EYRE

Tarry, my fine Hodge, my brisk foreman. Stay, Firk; – peace,

pudding-broth. By the Lord of Ludgate, I love my men as my

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life. Peace, you gallimaufry! Hodge, if he want work, I’ll hire

him. One of you to him – stay, he comes to us.

LACY

Goeden dach, meester, ende yow vro oak.

FIRK

’Nails, if I should speak after him without drinking, I should

choke! And you, friend Oak, are you of the Gentle Craft?

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LACY

Yaw, yaw, ick bin den skomaker.

FIRK

Den skomaker, quoth ‘a! And hark you, skomaker, have you all

your tools – a good rubbing-pin, a good stopper, a good

dresser, your four sorts of awls, and your two balls of wax, your

paring knife, your hand- and thumb-leathers, and good Saint

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Hugh’s bones to smooth up your work?

LACY

Yaw, yaw, be niet vorveard. Ick hab all de dingen voour mack

skoes groot and cleane.

FIRK

Ha, ha! Good master, hire him. He’ll make me laugh so that I

shall work more in mirth than I can in earnest.

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EYRE

Here ye, friend: have ye any skill in the mystery of cordwainers?

LACY

Ick weet niet wat yow seg; ick verstaw yow niet.

FIRK

Why thus, man. Ick verste yow niet, quoth’a!

LACY

Yaw, yaw, yaw; ick can dat wel doen.

FIRK

Yaw, yaw – he speaks yawing like a jackdaw that gapes to be fed

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with cheese-curds. O, he’ll give a villainous pull at a can of

double beer. But Hodge and I have the vantage; we must drink

first, because we are the eldest journeymen.

EYRE

What is thy name?

LACY

Hans, Hans Meulter.

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EYRE

Give me thy hand, thou’rt welcome. Hodge, entertain him; Firk,

bid him welcome. Come, Hans. Run, wife – bid your maids,

your trullibubs, make ready my fine men’s breakfasts. To him,

Hodge.

HODGE

Hans, thou’rt welcome. Use thyself friendly, for we are good

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fellows; if not, thou shalt be fought with, wert thou bigger than

a giant.

FIRK

Yea, and drunk with, wert thou Gargantua. My master keeps no

cowards, I tell thee. Ho, boy, bring him an heelblock: here’s a

new journeyman.

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