❧ The play of the wether. ¶ A new and very merry interlude of all manner wethers made by john Heywood.  

¶ The player's names.  
☞ jupiter a god.  
☞ Merry report the vice.  
❧ The gentleman.  
☞ The merchant.  
❧ The ranger.  
¶ The water miller.  
☞ The wind miller.  
¶ The gentlewoman.  
☞ The launder.  
☞ A boy the lest that can play.    
¶ jupiter, 

Right far to long as now were to recite  
The ancient estate wherein ourself hath rained  
What honour what laud given us of very right  
What glory we have had duty unfaind  
Of each creature which duty hath constrained  
For above all goods sins our father's tale  
We jupiter were ever princypale.   

☞ If we so have been as truth it is in deed  
Beyond the compass of all comparison  
Who could presume to show for any meed  
So that it might appear to human reason  
The high renown we stand in at this season  
For sins that heaven and earth were first created  
Stood we never in such triumphant estate.   

❧ As we now do where of we would report  
Such part as we see meet for time present  
Chiefly concerning your perpetual comfort  
As the thing self shall prove in experiment  
Which highly shall bind you on knees lowly beute  
Soolly to honour our highness day by day  
And now to the matter give ear and we shall say.   

☞ Before our presence in our high parliament  
Both gods and goodesses of all degrees  
Hath late assembled by comen assent  
For the redress of certain enormities  
Bred among them thorough extremities  
Abusede in each to other of them all  
Namely to purpose in these most special.   

¶ Our foresaid father's Saturny and Phoebus  
Aeolus and Phebe these four by name  
Whose natures not only so far contrarious  
But also of malice each other to defame  
Have long time abused right far out of frame  
The dew course of all their constellations  
To the great damage of all earthly nations.   

¶ Which was debated in place said before  
And first as became our feather most ancient  
With beard e white as snow, his locks both cold & hot  
Hath entered such matter as served is intent  
Lauding his frosty mansion in the firmament  
To air and earth as thing most precious  
purging all humours that are courageous.   

¶ How be if he allegeth that of long time passed  
Little hath prevailed his great dilygens  
Full oft upon earth his fair frost he hath cast  
All things hurtful to banish out of presence  
But Phoebus' intending to keep him in silence  
When he hath laboured all night in his powers  
His glaring beams maryth all in two hours,   

☞ Phoebus' to this made no manner answering  
Where upon they both than Phebe defied  
Each for his part laid in her reproving  
That by her showers superfluous they have tried  
In all that she may their powers be denied  
Where unto Phebe made answer no more  
Than Phoebus to Saturn had made before.   

☞ Anon upon Aeolus all these did i'll  
Complaining their causes each one a row  
And said to compare none was so even as he  
For when he is disposed his blasts to blow  
He suffereth neither son shine, rain nor snow  
They each against other, and he against all three  
Thus can these four, in no manner agree.   

¶ Which seen in themself and further considering  
The same to the redress was cause of their assemble  
And also that we evermore being  
Beside one puissant power of deite  
Of wisdom and nature so noble and free  
From all extremities the mean dividing  
To peal and plente each thing attempering.   

☞ They have in conclusion wholly sundered  
Into our hands as much concerning  
All manner of wethers by them engendered  
The full of their powers for term everlasting  
To set such order as standeth with our pleasing  
Which things of our part no part required  
But of all their parts right humble desired.   

☞ To take upon us whereto we did assent  
And so in all things with one voice agreeable  
We have clearly finished our foresaid parleament  
To your great wealth which shallbe firm and stable  
And to our honour far inestimable  
For sing their powers as ours added to our own  
Who can we say know us as we should be known.   

☞ But now for fine the rest of our intent  
Wherefore as now we hither are descended.  
Is only to satisfy and content  
All manner people which have been offended  
By any wether meet to be amended  
Upon whose complaints declaring their grief  
We shall shape remedy for their relief.   
¶ And to give knowledge for their hither resort  
We would this afore proclaimed to be  
To all our people by some one of this sort  
Whom we list to choose here amongst ally  
Wherefore each man advance and we shall see  
Which of you is most meet to be our eryer.  ☞ Here entereth Merry report ☞ Merry report. 
❧ Brother hold up your torch a little higher  
Now I beseech you my lord look on me first  
I trust your lordship shall not find me the worst.  ☞ jupiter. 
☞ Why what art thou that approachest so nigh.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Forsooth and please your lordship it is I.  ¶ jupiter. 
¶ All that we know very well, but what I.  ☞ Merry report. 
☞ What I, some lay I am I pierce I  
But what manner I so ever be I  
I assure your good lordship I am I.  ¶ jupiter. 
¶ What manner man art thou show quickly.  ☞ Merry report. 
☞ By god a poor gentleman dwelleth her by.  ☞ jupiter. 
☞ A gentleman thyself bringeth witness nay  
Both in thy light behaviour and array  
But what art thou called where thou dost resort.  ☞ Merry report. 
❧ Forsooth my lord master Merry report.  ¶ jupiter. 
¶ Thou art no meet man in our business.  
For thine appearance is of to much lightness.  ¶ Merry report. 
☞ Why can not your lordship like my name  
Mine apparel nor my name neither.  ¶ jupiter. 
❀ To none of all we have devotion.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ A proper lycklyhod of promotion  
Well than as wise as ye seem to be  
Yet can ye see no wisdom in me  
But sins ye dispraise me for so light an elft  
I pray you give me leave to praise myself  
And for the first part I will begin  
In my behaviour at my coming in  
Wherein I think I have little offended  
For sewer my courtesy could not be amended  
And as for my seure your servant to be  
Might ill have been mist for your honesty  
For as I be saved if I shall not lie  
I saw no man sew for the office but I  
Wherefore if ye take me not or I go  
Ye must anon whether ye will or no  
And sins your intent is but for the wethers  
What skies our appyrell to be fryse or fathers  
I thynhe it wisdom sins no man forbade it  
With this to spate a better if I had it  
And for my name reporting all way truly  
What hurt to report a sad matter merely  
As be occasion for the same intent  
To a certain widow this day was I sent  
Whose husband departed without her witting  
A special good lover and she his own sweating  
To whom at my coming I cast such a figure  
mingling the matter according to my nature  
That when we departed above all other things  
She thanked me heartily for my merry tidings  
And if I had not handled it merely  
Perchaunche she might have take it heavily  
But in such fashion I conjured and bound her  
That I left her merrier than I found her  
What man may compare to show the like comfort  
That daily is showed by me Merry report  
And for your purpose at this time meant  
For all wethers I am so indifferent  
Without affection standing so up right  
Son light, moan light, star light, twy light, torch light,  
Cold heat most dry, hail rain frost snow, lightning thund  
Cloudy, misty, windy, fair, foul above heed or under  
Temperate or distemperate what ever it be  
I promise your lordship all is one to me.  ☞ jupiter. 
❧ Well son considering thine indyfferency  
And partly the rest of thy declaration  
We make the our servant and immediately  
Well would thou depart and cause proclamation  
publishing our pleasure to every nation  
Which thing once done with all deligens  
Make thy returns again to this presence.  
❀ Here to receive all suitors of each degree  
And such as to the may seem most meetly  
We will thou bring them before our majesty  
And for the rest that be not so worthy  
Make thou report to us effectually  
So that we may here each manner sewte at large  
Thus see thou depart, and look upon thy charge.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Now good my lord god our lady be with ye  
Friends, a felyshype let me go by ye  
Think ye I may stand thrusting among you there  
Nay by god I must thrust about other gear  ☞ Merry report goeth out. ¶ At th'end of this staff the god hath a song played in his torn or Merry report come in. ☞ jupiter. 
¶ Now sins we have thus far set forth our purpose  
A while we will withdraw our godly presence  
To enbolde all such more plainly to disclose  
As here will attend in our foresaid pretense  
And now according to your obediens  
Rejoice ye in us with joy most joyfully  
And we ourself shall joy in our own glory  ☞ Merry report cometh in. ☜ Merry report. 
¶ Now sirs take heed for here cometh god's servant  
Avaunt cartely keytyfs avaunt  
Why ye drunken horesons will it not be  
By your feaythe have ye neither cap nor knee  
Nat one of you that will make courtesy  
To me that am squire for god's body  
Regard ye nothing mine authority  
No welcome home nor where have ye be  
How be it if ye axed I could not well tell  
But sure I think a thousand mile from hell  
And on my faith I think on my conscience  
I have been from heaven as far as heaven is hens  
At Lovyn, at London, and in Lombary  
At Baloocke, at Barforde, and in Barbary  
At Canturbery, at coventry, at Colchester  
At Wansworth, and at Welbecke, at Westchester  
At Fullam, at Faleborne, and at Fenlowe  
At wallyngeforth, at wakefield, and at waltanstowe  
At Tawcon, at Typtre, and at Tottenham  
At gloucester, at Gylforde, and at Gotham  
At Hartford, at Harwyche, at Harcowe on the hill  
At Sutbere, at Suthampton, at shooters hill  
At Wallyngham, at wittam, and at werwycke  
At Boston, at Brystowe, and at berwick  
At Gravelyn, at Grauesende, and at Glastenbery  
Ynge Gyngyange jabyerde the parish of Butlbery  
The devil himself without more leisure  
Could not have gone half thus much I am sure  
But now I have warned them let them even chose  
For in faith I care not who win or lose.  ❧ Here the gentleman before he cometh in bloweth his horn. ¶ Merry report. 
☞ Now by my troth this was a goodly hearing  
I wont it had been the gentylwomens' blowing  
But it is not so as I now suppose  
For women's horns sounds more in a man's nose.  ¶ gentleman. 
¶ Stand ye merry my friends everichone.  ☞ Merry report. 
❀ Say that to me and let the rest alone  
Syrye he welcome and all your meinie.  ¶ gentleman. 
¶ Now in good sooth my friend god a mercy  
And sins that I meet the here thus by chance  
I shall require the of further acquaintance  
And privily to show the this is the matter  
I come to sew to the great god jupiter  
For help of things concerning my recreation  
According to his late proclamation,  ☞ Merry report. 
☞ Marry I am he that this must speed  
But first tell me what be ye in deed.  ¶ gentleman. 
¶ Forsooth good friend I am a gentleman.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ A goodly occupation by saint Anne  
On my faith your mashype hath a merry life  
But who maketh all these horns yourself or your wife  
Nay even in earnest I ask you this question.  ¶ gentleman. 
¶ Now by my truth thou art a merry one.  ¶ Merry report. 
☞ In fatyhe or us both I think never one sad  
For I am not so merry but ye seem as mad  
But stand ye stylt and take a little pain  
I will come to you by and by again  
Now gracious god if your will so be  
I pray ye let me speak a word with ye,  ¶ jupiter. 
¶ My son say on let us here thy mind.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ My lord there standeth a suitor even here behind  
A gentleman in yonder corner  
And as I think his name is master horner  
A hunter he is and cometh to make you sport  
He would hunt a sow or twain out of this sort.  ¶ Here he pointeth to the women ❧ jupiter. 
☞ What so ever his mind be, let him appear.  ☞ Merry report. 
¶ Now good master horner I pray you come near,  ¶ gentleman. 
❧ I am no horner knave I will you know it.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ I thought ye had, for when ye did blow it  
Hard I never whoreson make horn so go  
As lief ye kiss mine arse as blow my hole so  
Come on your way before the god jupiter  
And there for yourself ye shallbe sewter.  ☜ gentleman. 
¶ Most mighty prince and god of every nation  
Pleaseth your highness to vouchsafe the hearing  
Of me which according to your proclamation  
Doth make appearance in way of beseeching  
Nat sole for myself but generally,  
For all came of noble and ancient stock  
Which fort above all doth most thankfully  
Daily take pain for wealth of the comen flock  
With diligent study always devising  
To keep them in order and unite  
In peace to labour the increases of their living  
Whereby each man may prosper in plenty  
Wherefore good god this is our hole desiring  
That for ease of our pains at times vacant  
In our recreation which chiefly is hunting  
It may please you to send us wether pleasant  
dry and not misty the wind calm and sryll  
That after our hounds yourning so merely  
chasing the dear over pale and hill  
In hearing we may follow and to comfort the cry  ¶ jupiter. 
¶ Right well we do perceive your hole request  
Which shall not fail to rest in memory  
Wherefore we will ye set yourself at rest  
Till we have hard each man indifferently  
And we shall take such order universally  
As best may stand to our honour infinite  
For wealth in common and each man's singular profit  ¶ gentleman. 
¶ In heaven and earth honoured be thy name  
Of jupiter whom of his godly goodness  
Hath set this matter in so goodly frame  
That every wight shall have his desire doubtless  
And first for us nobles and gentlemen  
I doubt not in his wisdom to provide  
Such wether as in our hunting now and then  
We may both tayse and receive on every side  
Which thing once had for our said recrearyon  
Shall greatly prevail you in proferring our health  
For what thing more needful than our preservation  
Being the weal and heads of all comen wealth  ¶ Merry report. 
❀ Now I beseech your mashype whose head be you.  ¶ gentleman, 
¶ Whose head am I, thy head what sayest thou now.  ¶ Merry report. 
☞ Nay I think it very true so god me help  
For I have ever been of a little whelp  
So full of fancies and in so many fits  
So many small reasons and in so many wits  
That even as I stand I pray god I be deed  
If ever I thought them all meet for heed  
But sins I have one head more than I knew  
Blame not my rejoicing I love all things new  
And sure it is treasure of heads to have store  
One fear can I now that I neve could before.  ¶ ❧ gentleman. 
☜ What is that.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ By god sins ye came hither  
I can set my heed and my tail together  
This head shall save money by saint Mary  
from henceforth I will no apothecary  
For at all times when such things shall mister  
My new head shall give mine old tail a glister  
And after all this then shall my head wait  
Upon my tail and there stand at receit  
Sir for the rest I will not now move you  
But if we live shall smell how I love you  
And sir touching pour suit, here depart when it please you  
For be ye sure as I can I will ease you.  ☞ gentleman. 
☞ Then give me thy hand that promise I take  
And if for my sake any suit thou do make  
I promise thy pain to be required  
More largely than now shall be recited.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Alas my neck, god's pity where is me head  
By saint Ive I fear me I shall be dead  
And if I were me think it were no wonder  
sins my head and my body is so far asunder  
Master person now welcome by my life  
I pray you how doth my master your wife  ¶ Entereth the Merchant. ¶ Merchant. 
☜ Sir for the priesthood and wife that ye allege  
I see ye speak more of dotage than knowledge  
But le pas sir I would to you be suitor  
To bring me if ye can before jupiter.  
☜ Yes marry can I, and will do it in deed  
Tarry and I shall make way for your speed  
In faith good lord if it please your gracious godshype Merry re.  
I must have a word or twain with your loldshyhe  
Sir yonder is another manin place  
Who maketh great suit to speak with your grace  
Your pleasure once known he cometh by and by.  ☜ jupiter. 
¶ Bring him before our presence soon hardly  ¶ Merry report. 
❧ Why where be you shall I not find ye  
Come away I pray god the devil blind ye.  ¶ Merchant. 
☜ Most mighty prince and lord of lords all  
Right humbly be secheth your majesty  
Your merchant men thorough the world all  
That it may please you of your benignity  
In the daily danger of our goods and life  
first to consider the desert of our request  
What wealth we bring the rest to our great care & gryfe  
And then to reward us as ye shall think best  
What were the surplusage of each commodity  
Which groweth and increaseth in every land  
Except exchange by such men as ye be  
By way or inteecourses that lieth on our hand  
We fraught from home things whereof there is plents  
And home we bring such things as there be scant  
Who should afore us Merchants accounted be  
For were not we, the world should wish and want  
In many things, which now shall lack rehearsal  
And privily to conclude we beseech your highness  
That of the benefit proclaimed in general  
We may be part takers for comen entries  
Stably shing weather thus pleasing your grace  
Stormy nor misty the wind measurable  
That safely we may pass from place to place  
bearing our sells for speed most valeable  
And also the wind to change and to turn  
East, West, North, and South, as best may be set  
In any one place not to long to sojourn  
For the length of our voyage may lose our market.  ¶ jupiter. 
Right well have ye said and we accept it so  
And so shall we reward you or we go hens  
But ye must take paciens till we have hard more  
That we may indifferently give sentens  
There may pass by us no spot of negligence  
But justly to judge each thing so upright  
That each man's part may shine in the self right  ☜ Merry report. 
☜ Now sir by your faith if ye should be sworn  
Hard ye ever god speak so sins ye were borne  
So wise to gelitelly his words be showed.  ❧ Merchant 
☜ I thank his grace my sewt is well bestod.  ¶ Merry report. 
❧ Sir what viage intend ye next to go.  ☜ Merchant. 
☜ I trust or inydlent to be at Syo.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Ha ha is it your mind to sail at Syo  
Nay then when ye will, by lady ye may go  
And let me alone with this, be of good cheer  
Ye may trust me at Syo as well as here  
For though ye were fro me a thousand mile space  
I would do as much as ye were here in place  
For sins that from hens it is so far thither  
I care not though ye never come again hither.  ❀ Merchant. 
¶ Sir if ye remember me when time shall come  
Though I requite not all, I shall deserve some.  Exeat Merchant. ¶ Merry report, 
¶ Now far you well & god thank you by saint Anne  
I pray you mark the fashion of this honest man  
He putteth me in more trust at this meeting here  
Then he shall find cause why this twenty year.  ¶ Here entereth the Ranger. ¶ Ranger. 
¶ God be here, now Chryst keep this company.  ¶ Merry report. 
❧ In faith ye be welcome even very scantly  
Sir for your coming what is the matter.  ☜ Ranger. 
❧ I would fain speak with the god jupiter.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ That will not be but ye may do this  
Tell me your mind I am an office of his  ¶ Ranger. 
¶ B ye so, marry I cry you mercy  
Your maystershype may say I am homely  
But sins your mind is to have reported  
The cause wherefore I am now resorted  
Pleaseth it your maystershype it is so  
I come for myself and such other more  
Rangers and keepers of certain places  
As forests, parks, purlieus and chases  
Where we be charged with all manner game  
Small is our profit and great is our blame  
Alas for our wages what be we the near  
What is forty shillings or five mark a year  
Many times and oft where we be fletting  
We spend forty pens a piece at a sitting  
Now for our vantage which chiefly is wyndefale  
That is right nought there bloweth no wind at all  
Which is the thing wherein we find most grief  
And cause of my coming to sew for relief  
That the god of pity all this thing knownuge  
May send us good rage of blustering and blowing  
And if we can not get god to do some good  
I would higher the devil to run thorough the wood  
The roots to turn up, the tops to bring under  
A mischief upon them and a wild thunder.  ☜ Merry report. 
❧ Very well said I set by your charity  
As much in a manner as by your honesty  
I shall set you some what in ease anon  
Ye shall put on your cap when I am gone  
For I see well ye care not who win or lose  
So ye may find means to win your fees  ¶ Ranger. 
¶ Sir as in that ye speak as it please ye  
But let me speak with the god if it may be  
I pray you let me pass ye.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Why nay sir by the mass ye  ☜ Ranger. 
¶ Then will I leave you even as I found ye.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Go when ye will no man here hath bound ye.  ❧ Here entereth the water miller and the Ranger goeth out. ¶ Water miller. 
❧ What the devil should skill though all the world were d●̄  
sins in all our speaking we never be hard  
We cry our for rain the devil sped drop will cumme  
We water millers be nothing in regard  
No water have we to grind at any stint  
The wind is so strong the rain can not fall  
Which keepeth our myldams as dry as a fint  
We are undone we grind nothing at all  
The greater is the pity as thinketh me  
For what availeth to each man his corn  
Till it be ground by such men as we be  
There is the loss if we be forbonre  
For tourhing ourselves we are but drudges  
And very beggars save only our toll  
Which is right small and yet many grudges  
For grynden of a bushel to give a quart bull  
Yet were not reparations we might do weal  
Our mylstons, our wheel, with her kogges, & our tryndyl  
Our floodgate, our mylpole, our water wheel  
Our hopper, our extre, our iron spyndell  
In this and much more so great is our charge  
That we would not reck though no water ware  
Save only it toucheth each man so large  
And each for our neighbour Chryst biddeth us care  
Wherefore my conscience hath pricked me hither  
In this to sew according to the cry  
For plente of rain to the god jupiter  
To whose presence I will go even boldly.  ☜ Merry report. 
¶ Sir Idoute nothing your audacity  
But I fear me ye lack capacity  
For if ye were wise ye might well espy  
How rudely ye err from rules of courtesy  
What ye come in revelling and reheyting  
Even as a knave might go to a bear beyting.  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ All you bear record what favour I have  
Hark how familearly he calleth me knave  
Doubtless the gentleman is universal  
But mark this lesson sir you should never call  
Your fellow knave nor your brother whoreson  
For nought can ye get by it when ye have done.  Merry report. 
¶ Thou art neither brother nor fellow to me  
For I am god's servant mayst thou not see  
Would ye presume to speak with the great god  
Nay discretion and you be to far odd  
By'r lady these knaves must be tied shorter  
Sir who let you in, spoke ye with the porter.  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ Nay by my troth nor with none other man  
Yet I saw you well when I first began  
how be it so help me god and halidom  
I took you but for a knave as I am  
But marry now syus I know what ye be  
I must and will obey your authority  
And if I may not speak with jupiter.  
I beseech you be my solyciter,  ☜ Merry report? 
¶ As in that I will be your well willer  
I perceive you be a water miller  
And your hole desire as I take the matter  
Is plenty of rain for increases of water  
The let where of ye affirm determynately  
As only the wind your mortal enemy.  ☜ Water miller. 
¶ Troth it is for it bloweth so aloft  
We never have rain or at the most not oft  
Wherefore I pray you put the god in mind  
clearly for ever to banish the wind.  ❧ Entereth the wind miller. ¶ Wind miller. 
¶ How is all the wether gone or I come  
For the passion of god help me to some  
I am a wind miller as many more be  
No wretch is wretchedness so wretched as we  
The hold sort of my craft be all marred at ones  
The wind is so weak it sturrerh not our stones  
Nor scantly can shatter the shytren sail  
That hangeth shatering at a woman's tail  
The rain never resteth so long be the showers  
from time of beginning till four and twenty hours  
And end when it shall at night or at none  
Another beginneth as soon as that is done  
Such revel of rain ye know well enough  
Destroyeth the wind be it never so rough  
Whereby sins our mills be come to still standding  
Now may we wind millers go even to hanging  
A miller with a moryn and a mischief  
Who would be a miller, as good be a thief  
Yet in time past when grinding was plente  
Who were so like god's fellows as we  
As fast as god made corn we millers made meal  
Which might be best forborn for comone weal  
But let that gear pass for I fear our pride  
Is cause of the care which god doth us provide  
Wherefore I submit me intending to see  
What comfort may come by humility  
And now at this time they said in the cry  
The god is come down to shape remedy.  Merry report. 
No doubt he is here even in yonder throne  
But in your matter he trusteth me alone  
Wherein I do perceive by your complaint  
Oppression of rain doth make the wind so faint  
That ye wind millers be elene cast away.  ¶ Wind miller. 
¶ If jupiter help not it is as ye say  
But in few words to tell you my mind round  
Upon this condition I would be bound  
Day by day to say our ladies sauter  
That in this world were no drop of water  
Nor never rain but wind continual  
Then should we wind millers be lords over all.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Come on and assay how you twain can agree  
A brother of yours a miller as ye be.  ❀ Water miller. 
¶ By mean of your craft we may be brothers  
But whiles we live shall we never be lovers  
We be of one craft but not of one kind  
I live by water, and ye by the wind.  ¶ Here Merry report goeth out. 
And sir as ye desire wind continual  
So would I have rain ever more to fall  
Which two in experience right well ye see  
Right seld or never together can be  
For as long as the wind ruleth it is plain  
Twynty to one ye get no drop of rain  
And when the Element is to far oppressed  
Down cometh the rain and setteth the wind at rest  
By this ye see we can not both obtain  
For ye must lack wind or I must lack rain  
Wherefore I think good before this audience  
Each for ourself to lay or we go hens  
And whom is though weyken when we have fynysht  
Leave of his suit and content to be banished.  ☜ Wind miller. 
¶ In faith agreed but then by your licens  
Our mills for a time shall hang in suspens  
sins water and wind is chief our suit  
Which best may be spared we will first dispute  
Wherefore to the see my reason shall resort  
Where ships by mean of wind try from port to port  
From land to land in distance many a mile  
Great is the passage and small is the while  
So great is the profit as to me doth seem  
That no man's wisdom the wealth can exteme  
And sins the wind is conveyer of all  
Who but the wind should have thank above all.  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ Amity in this place a tree here to grow  
And thereat the wind in great tag to blow  
When it hath all blown this is a clear case  
The tree removeth no hear bred from his place  
No more would the ship blows the best it could  
All though it would blow down both mast & shroud  
Except the ship fleet upon the water  
The wind can right nought do a plain matter  
Yet may ye on water without any wind  
row forth your vessel where men will have her sinned  
Nothing more rejoiceth the mariner  
Then mean cools of wind and plenty of water  
For commonly the cause of every wrache  
Is excess of wind where water doth lack  
In rage of these storms the peril is such  
That better were no wind then so far to much.  ❧ Wind miller. 
¶ Well if my reason in this may not stand  
I will forsake the see and leapt to land  
In every church where god's service is  
The organs bear brunt of half the quere I iwis  
Which causeth the sound of water or wind  
More over for wind this thing I find  
For the most part all manner minstrelsy  
By wind they deliver their sound chiefly  
Fill me a bagpipe of your water full  
As sweetly shall it sound as it were stuffed with will.  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ On my faith I think the moon be at the full  
For frantic tansyes be then most plenty full  
Which are at the pride of their spring in your head  
So far from our matter he is now fled  
As for the wind in any instrument  
It is no parcel of our argument  
We spoke of wind that cometh naturally  
And that is wind forced artyfycyally  
Which is not to purpose but if it were  
And water indeed right nought could do there  
Yet I think organs no such commodity  
Whereby the water should banished be  
And for your bagpyppes I take them as nyfuls  
Your matter is all in fancies and tryfuls.  ☜ Wind miller. 
☜ By god but ye shall not tryfull me of so  
If these things serve not I will rehearse more  
And now to mind there is an old proverb come  
One bushel of march dust is worth a kings ransom  
What is a hundredth thousand bushels worth than.  ☜ Water miller. 
¶ not one mite for the thing self to no man.  ¶ Wind miller. 
¶ Why shall wind every where thus be object  
Nay in the high ways he shall take a effect  
Where as the rain doth never good but hurt  
For wind maketh but dust and water maketh dirt  
Powder or syrup sir which lick ye best  
Who licketh not the tone may lick up the rest  
But sure who ever hath assayed such syppes  
Had liefer have dusty eyes then dirty lips  
And it is said sins afore we were borne  
That drught doth never make dearth of corn  
And well it is known to the most fool here  
How rain hath pryced corn within thy. seven. year.  ❧ Water miler. 
❧ Sir I pray the spare me a lyteell season  
And I shall privily conclude the with reason  
Put case on summer's day without wind to be  
And ragious wind in winter days two or three  
Much more shall dry that one calm day in summer  
Then shall those three windy days in winter  
Whom shall we thank for this when all is done  
The thank to wind nay thank chiefly the son  
And so for drought of corn thereby encres  
The son doth comfort and ripe all doubtless  
And oft the wind so layeth the corn god wots  
That never after can it ripe but rot  
If drought took place as ye say yet may ye see  
little helpeth the wind in this commodity  
But now sir I deny your principal  
If drought ever were it were impossybyll  
To have any grain for, or it can grow  
Ye must plough your land harro we and sow  
Which will not be except ye may have rain  
To temper the ground and after again  
For springing and pluming all manner corn  
Yet must ye have water or all is forlorn  
If ye take water for no commodity  
Yet must ye take it for things of necessity  
For washing for showering all filth cleansing  
Where water lacketh what bestly being  
In brewing, in baking, in dressing of meat  
It ye lack water what could ye drink or eat  
Without water could live neither man nor beast  
For water preserveth both most and least  
For water could I say a thousand things more  
Saving as now the time will not serve so  
And as for that wind that you do sew fore  
Is good for your wyndemyll and for no more  
Sir sith all this in experience is tried  
I say this matter standeth clear on my side.  Wind miller. 
¶ Well sins this mill not serve I will allege the rest  
Sir for our will I say mine is the best  
My wyndmyll shall grind more corn in one hour  
Then the water mill shall in three or four  
Ye more than thine should in a hole year  
If thou mightest have as thou hast wished here  
For thou desirest to have excess of rain  
Which thing to the were the worst thou couldst obtain  
For if thou didst it were a plain induction  
To make thyve own desire thine own destruction  
For in excess of rain at any flood  
Your mills must stand still they can do no good  
And when the wind doth blow the uttermost  
Our wyndemylles walled a main in every cost  
For as we see the wind in his estate  
We moderour sails after the same rate  
sins our mills grind so far faster than yours  
And also they may grind all times and hours  
I say we need no water mills at all  
For wyndemylles be sufficient to serve al.  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ Thou spekeste of all and considerest not half  
In boast of thy gryste thou art wise as a calf  
For though above us your mills grind far faster  
What help to those from whom ye be much farther  
And of two sorts if the tone should be conserved  
I think ye meet the most number be served  
In vales and wields where most commodity is  
There is most people ye must grant me this  
On hills and downs which parts are most varain  
There must be fewyt can no more sustain  
I dare well say if it were tried even now  
That there is ten of us to one of you  
And where should chiefly and necessaries be  
But there as people are most in plenty  
More reason that you come. seven. mile to mill  
Then all we of the vale should climb the hill  
If rain came rasonable as I require it  
We should of your wind mills have need no whit.  ¶ Entereth Merry report. ☜ Merry report. 
¶ Stop foolish knave, for your reasoning is such  
That ye have reasoned even ynonght and to much  
I hard all the words that ye both have had  
So help me god the knaves be more than mad  
Nother of them both that hath wit nor grace  
To perceive that both mills may serve in place  
Between water and wind there is no such set  
But each mill may have time to use his fet  
Which thing I can tell by experiens  
For I have of mine own not far from hens  
In corner together a couple of mills  
Standing in a mars between two hills  
Nat of wherytaunce but by my wife  
She is feofed in the tail for term of her life  
The one for wind the other for water  
And of them both I thank god there standeth neither  
For in a good hour be it spoken  
The water gate is no sooner open  
But clap sathe the wyndemyll even straight behind  
There is good sped, the devil and all they grind  
But whether that the hopper be dusty  
Or that the millstones be somewhat rusty  
By the mass the meal is mischievous musty  
And if ye think my tale be not trusty  
I make ye true prompse come when ye list  
We shall find mean ye shall taste of the gryste  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ The corn at receipt happily is not good  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ There can be no sweeter by the sweet rood  
Another thing yet which shall not be cloaked  
My water mill many times is choked.  ¶ Water miller. 
☜ So will she be thought ye should burst your bones  
Except ye be perfit in setting of stones  
Fere not the lydger beware your conner  
Yet this for the lydger or ye have won her  
Perchance your lydger doth lack good pecking  ¶ Merry report, 
¶ So saith my wife and that maketh all our checking  
She would have the mill pecked, pecked pecked every day  
But by god millers must peck when they may  
So oft have we pecked that our stones wax right thin  
And all our other gear not worth a pin  
For with pecking and pecking I have so wrought  
That I have peck a good pecking iron to nought  
How be it if I stick no better till her  
My wife saith she will have a new miller  
But let it pass and now to our matter  
I say my mills lack neither wind nor water  
No more do yours as far as need doth require  
But sins ye can not agree I will desire  
jupiter to set you both in such rest  
As to your wealth and his honour may stand best.  ¶ Water miller. 
¶ I pray you heartily remember me.  ☜ Wind miller, 
❧ Let not me be for gotten I besecheye  ¶ Both millers goeth forth. ¶ Merry report. 
¶ If I remember you not both a like  
I would ye were over the ears in the dyke  
Now be we rid of two knaves at one chance  
By saint Thomas it is a knavish ryddaunce.  ¶ The gentlewoman entereth. ¶ gentlewoman. 
❧ Now good god what a folly is this  
What should I do were so much people is  
I know not how to pass into the god now.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ No but ye know how he may pass into you.  ¶ gentlewoman. 
¶ I pray you let me in at the back side.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ Ye shall I so, and your forsyde so wide  
Nay not yet but sins ye love to be alone  
We twain will into a corner anon  
But first I pray you come your way hither  
And let us twain chat a while together.  ¶ Gentlewoman. 
☜ Sir as to you I have little matter.  
My coming is to speak with jupiter.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ Stand ye still a while and I will go prove  
Whether that the god will be brought in love  
My lord how now look up lustily  
Here his a derling come by saint Antony  
And if it be your pleasure to marry  
Speke quickly for she may not tarry  
In faith I think ye may win her anon  
For she would speak with your lordshypen alone.  ☜ jupiter. 
☜ Son that is not the thing at this time meant  
If her suit concern no cause of our hither resort  
Send her out of place, but if she ve bend  
To that purpose, he are her, and make us report.  ☜ Merry report. 
☜ I count women lost if we love them not well  
For ye see god loveth them never a deal  
masters ye can not speak with the god.  ¶ gentlewoman. 
❧ No, why.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ By my faith for his lordship is right busy  
With a piece of work that needs must be done  
Even now is he making of a new moon  
He saith your old moons be so far tasted  
That all the goodness of them is wasted  
Which of the great weet hath been most matter  
For old moons be like, they hold no water  
But for this new moon I durst lay my gown  
Except a few drops at her going down  
Ye get no rain till her arising  
Without it need and then no man's devising  
Could wish the fashion of rain to be so good  
Not gushinge out like gutters of Noyes flood  
But small drops sprynkling sortely on the ground  
Though they fell on a sponge they would give no sound  
This new moon shall make a thing spring more in this while  
Then a old moae shall while a man may go a mile  
By that time the god hath all made an end  
Ye shall see how the wether will amend  
By saint Anne he goeth to work even boldly  
I think him wise enough for he looketh holdely  
Wherefore master be ye now of good cheer  
For though in his presence ye can not appear  
Tell me your matter and let me alone  
May hap I will think on you when you be go en  ¶ gentlewoman. 
¶ Forfoth the cause of my coming is this  
I am a woman right tayre as ye see  
In no creature more beauty then in me is  
And sins I am fair, fair would I keep me  
But the son in summer so sore doth burn me  
In winter the wind on every side me  
No part of the year wot I where to turn me  
But even in my house am I sayne to hide me  
And so do all other that beauty have  
In whose name at this time this suit I make  
Bescching jupiter to grant that I crave  
Which is this that it may please him for our sake  
To send us wether close and temperate  
No son shine no frost nor wind to blow  
Then would we get the streets trime as a parate  
Ye should see how we would set ourself to show.  ¶ Merry report. 
☜ Yet where ye will I swear by saint quintine  
Ye passed them all both in your own conceit and mine  ☜ gentlewoman. 
¶ If we had wether to walk at our pleasure  
Our lives would be merry out of measure  
One part of the day for our appareling  
Another part for eating and drinking  
And all the teste in streets to be walking  
Orin the house to passed time with talk ing.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ When serve ye god.  ¶ gentlewoman. 
¶ Who boasteth in virtue are but daws.  Merry report. 
Ye do the better namely sins there is no cause  
How spend ye this night  ❧ gentlewoman. 
¶ In dancing and singing  
Till midnight and then fall to sleeping.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ Why sweet heart by your false faith can ye sing  ☜ gentlewoman. 
☜ Nay nay but I love it all thing.  ❧ Merry report 
¶ Now by my troth for the love that I own you  
You shall here what pleasure I can show you  
One song I have for you such as it is  
And if it were better ye should have it by gys.  ☜ gentlewoman. 
❧ Marry sir I thank you even heartily.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Come on sirs but now let us sing lustily.  ¶ Here they sing. ¶ gentlewoman. 
❀ Sir this is well done I heartily thank you  
Ye have done me pleasure I make god a vow  
Ones in a night I long for such a fit  
For long time have I been brought up in it.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ Oft time is seen both in court and town.  
Long be women a bringing up & soon brought down  
So feet it is, so neat it is, so nice it is,  
So trick it is, so quick it is, so wise it is  
I fear myself except I may entreat her  
I am so far in love I shall forget her.  
Now good master I pray ye let me kiss ye  ☜ gentlewoman. 
Kys me quoth a why nay sir I iwis ye.  ¶ Merry report. 
☜ What yes hardly kiss me once and no more  
I never desired to kiss you defore.  ¶ Here the launder cometh in. ❀ Launder. 
❧ Why have ye always kiss her behind  
In faith good enough if it be your mind  
And if your appetite serve you so to do  
By lady I would you had kiss my arse to.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ To whom dost thou speak foul hore canst thou tell.  ❀ Launder. 
☜ Nay by my troth I sir not very well  
But by coniectour this ges I have  
That I do speak to an old bawdy knave  
I saw you dally with your symper de cocked  
I read you beware she pick not your pocket  
Such idle husyfes do now and than  
Think all well won that they pick from a man  
Yet such of some men shall have more favour  
Than we that for them daily tail and labour  
But I trust the god will be so indifferent  
That she shall fail some part of her intent  ❧ Merry report. 
☜ No doubt he will deal so graciously  
That all folk shall be served indifferently  
How be it I tell the truth my office is such  
That I must report each suit little or much  
Wherefore with the god sins thou caused not speak  
Trust me with thy suit I will not fail it to break.  ¶ Launder. 
¶ Then lean not to much to gender gyglet  
For here desire contrary to mine is set  
I heard by her tale she would banish the sone  
And then were we poor launders all undone  
Except the son shine that our clothes may dry  
We can do right nought in our laundry  
Another manner loss if we should miss  
Then of such nyreby ceters as she is.  ¶ gentlewoman. 
❧ I think it better that thou envy me  
Then I should stand at reward of thy pit  
It is the guise of such gross queynes as thou art  
With such as I am evermore to thwart  
By cause that no beauty ye can obtain  
Therefore ye have us that be fair in disdain.  ❧ Launder. 
¶ When I was as young as thou art now  
I was within little as fair as thou  
And so might have kept meyf I had would  
And as dearly my youth I might have sold  
As the tryckest and fairest of you all  
But I feared parels that after might fall  
Wherefore some belines I did me provide  
Lest vice might enter on every side  
Which hath tree entre where ydylnesse doth reign  
It is not thy beauty that I disdain  
But thine idle life that thou hast rehearsed  
Which any good woman's heart would have pierced  
For I perceive in dancing and singing  
In eating and drinking and thine appareling  
Is all the joy wherein thy heart is set  
But nought of all this doth thine own labour get  
For hadst thou nothing but of thine own travail  
Thou mightest go as naked as my nail  
Me think thou shouldest abhor such idleness  
And pass the time in some honest business  
Better to lose some part of thy beauty  
Then so oft to ieoberde all thine honest  
But I think rather than thou wouldest so do  
Thou hadst liefer have us live ydylly to  
And so no doubt we should if thou mightest have  
The clear son banished as thou dost crave  
Then were we launders marred and unto the  
Thine own request were small commodity  
For of these twain I think it far better  
Thy face were son burned and thy clothes the swetter  
Than that the son from shining should he smytter  
To keep thy face fair and thy smock be shytter  
Sir how lick ye my reason in her case.  ❧ Merry reoorte. 
Such a railing whore by the holy mass  
I never hard in all my tyfe till now  
In deed I love right well the tone of you  
But or I keep you both by god's mother  
The devil shall have the tone to fet the other.  ¶ Launder. 
¶ Promise me to speak that the son may shine bright  
And I will be gone quyikly for all night.  ❧ Merry report. 
❧ Get you both hens I pray you heartily  
Your suits I perceive and will report them truly  
un to jupiter at the next leisure  
And in the same desire to know his pleasure  
Which knowledge had even as he doth show it  
Fere ye not time enough ye shall know it.  ❧ gentlewoman. 
❧ Sir if ye medyll remember me first  ❀ Launder. 
¶ Then in this meddling my part shallbe the worst.  ☜ Merry report. 
¶ Now I beseech our lord the devil the burst  
Who meddleth with many I hold him accursed  
Thou whore can I meddle with you both at ones.  ¶ Here the gentlewoman goeth forth. ☜ Launder. 
¶ By the mass knave I would I had both thy stones  
In my purse if thou meddle not indifferently  
That both our matters in issue may be likely.  ☜ Merry report. 
¶ Many words little matter and to no purpose  
such is the effect that thou disclose.  
The more ye byb, the more ye babble.  
The more ye babyl, the more ye fabyl  
The more ye fabyl, the more unstabyl.  
The more unstable, the more unabyll  
In any manner thing to do any good  
No hurt though ye were hanged by the holy rood.  ❀ Launder. 
❧ The less your silence, the less your credence  
The less your credence, the less your honesty  
The less your honesty the less your assistance  
The less your assistance the less ability  
In you to do aught wherefore so god me save  
No hurt in hanging such a railing knave.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ What monster is this I never hard none such  
For look how much more I have made her to much  
And so far at last she hath made me to little  
Where be ye Launder I think in some spittle  
Ye shall wash me no gear for fere of fretting  
I love no launders that shrink my gear in wetting  
I pray the go hens and let me be in rest  
I will do thine errand as I think beft.  ¶ Launder. 
¶ Now would I take my leave if I wist how  
The longer I live the more knave you,  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ The longer thou livest the pity the greater  
The sooner thou be rid the tidings the better  
Is not this a sweet office that I have  
When every drab shall call me knave  
Every man knoweth not what god's service is  
Nor I myself knew it not before this  
I think god's servants may live holily  
But the devil servants live more merely  
I know not what god giveth in standing fees  
But the devil servants have casweltees  
A hundredth times more than god's servants have  
For though ye be never so stark a knave  
It ye lack money the devil will do worse  
But bring you straight to another man's purse  
Then will the devil promote you here in this world  
As unto such tyche it doth most accord  
first Pater noster quies in celis  
And then ye shall since the strife with your heels  
The greatest friend ye have in field or town  
Sanding a typ to shall not reach your crown.  ❧ The boy cometh in, the lest that can play. 
¶ This same is even he by allycklyhod  
Sir I pray you be not you master god.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ No in good faith son but I may say to the  
I am such a man that god may not miss me  
Wherefore with the god if thou wouldest have aught done  
Tell me thy mind and I shall show it soon.  ¶ Boy. 
¶ Forsooth sir my mind is this at few words  
All my pleasure is in catsing of vyrdes  
And making of snow bails and throwing the same  
For the which purpose to have set in frame  
With my god father god I would fain have spoken  
desiring him to have sent me by some token  
Where I might have had great frost for my pytfalles  
And plenty of suowe to make my snow balls  
This once had boys lives be such as no man leddes  
O to se my snow balls light on my fellows hedes  
And to here the birds how they slyckere there wings  
In the pytfale I say it passeth all things  
Sir if ye be god's servant or his kinsman  
I pray you help me in this it ye can.  ¶ Merry report. 
¶ Alas poor boy who sent the hither.  ¶ Boy. 
¶ A hundred boys that stood together  
Where they heard one say in a cry  
That my god father god almighty  
Was come from heaven by his own accord  
This night to sup here with my lord  
And farther he said come whose will  
They shall sure have their bills full  
I fall wethers who list to crave  
Each sort such wether as they list to have  
And when my fellows thought this would be had  
And saw me so pretty a prateling lad  
Upon agreement with a great noys  
Send little Dick cried all the boys  
By whose assent I am purveyed  
To sew for the wether a foresaid  
Wherein I pray you to be good as thus  
To help that god may give it us.  ¶ Merry report. 
give boys weather quoth a nonny nonny.  ☜ Boy. 
¶ If god of his wether will give nonny  
I pray you will ye sell any  
Or send us a bushel of snow or twain.  
And point us a day to pay him again.  ❧ Merry report. 
¶ I can not tell for by this light.  
I chepte nor barowed none of him this night  
But by such shift as I will make  
Thou shalt see soon what way he will take.  ☜ Boy. 
❧ Sir I thank you then I may depart.  ❀ The boy goeth out. ¶ Merry report. 
❀ The farewell good son with all my heart  
Now such an other sort as here hath been  
In all the days of my life I have not seen  
No suitors now but women knaves and boys  
And all their suits are in fancies and toys  
If that there come no wiser after this cry  
I will to the god and make an end quickly  
Oyes, if that any knave here  
Be willing to appear  
For whether foul or clear  
Come in before this flock  
And be he hole or syckly  
Come show his mind quickly  
And if his tail be not lyckly  
Ye shall lick my tail in the neck  
All his time I perceive is spent in waist  
To wait for more suitors I see none make hast  
Wherefore I will show the god all this process  
And be delivered of my simple offes  
Now lord according to your commandment  
Attending suitors I have been diligent  
And at beginning as your will was I should  
I come now at end to show what each man would  
The first suitor before yourself did appear  
A gentleman desiring wether clear  
Cloudy, nor misty, nor no wind to blow  
For hurt in his huntynge and then as ye know  
The Merchant sued for as of that kind  
For wether clear and measurable wind  
As they may best bear their sails to make speed  
And straight after there came to me in deed  
Another man who named himself a ranger  
And said all of his craft be far brought in danger  
For lack of living which chiefly is wind fall  
But he plainly saith there bloweth no wind at all  
Wherefore he desireth for increase of their fleeses  
Extreme rage of wind trees to tear in pieces  
Then came a water miller and he cried out  
For water and said the wind was so stout  
The rain could not fall wherefore he made request  
For plenty of rain to set the wind at rest  
And then sir there came a wind miller in  
Who said for the rain he could no wind win  
The water he wysht to be banish all  
beseeching your grace of wind continual  
Then came there another that would banish all this  
A goodly dame an ydyll thing ywys  
Wind, rain, nor frost, nor son shine would she have  
But fair close wether her beauty to save  
Then came there another that liveth by laundry  
Who must have wether hot and clear here clothes to dry  
Then come there a boy for trost and snow continual  
Snow to make snow balls and frost for his pitfall  
For which god wot he sueth full greedily  
Your first man would have cools to blow meanly  
The second the same save weather clear and not windy  
The third desired storms and wind most extermely  
The fourth all in water and would have no wind  
The fift no water but all wind to grind  
The sixth would have none of all these nor no bright son  
The seventh extremely the hot soon would have won  
The eight and the last for the frost and snow he prayed  
By lady we shall take shame I am afraid  
Who marketh in what manner this sort is led  
May think it impossible all to be speed  
This number is small there lacketh twain of ten  
And yet by the mass among ten thousand men  
No one thing could stand more wide from the other  
Nat one of their suitors agreeth with an other  
I promise you here is a shrew piece of work  
This gear will try weather ye be a clerk  
If ye trust to me it is a great folly  
For it passeth my brains by goods body.  ☜ jupiter. 
❧ Son thou hast best diligent and done so well  
That thy labour is right much thank worthy  
But be thou sure we need no whit thy counsel  
For in ourself we have foreseen remedy  
Which thou shalt see but first depart hens quickly  
To the gentleman and all other suitors here  
And command them all before us to appear  ☜ Merry report. 
☜ That shall be no longer in doing  
Then I am in coming and going  ❀ Merry report goeth out. ¶ jupiter. 
❧ such debate as from above he have hard  
Such debate beneath among yourselves ye see  
As long as heads from temperance be defarde  
So long the bodies in distemperance be  
This perceive ye all but none can help save we  
But as we there have made peace concordantly  
So will we here now give you remedy.  ❧ Merry report and all the suitors entereth. ❧ Merry report. 
¶ If I had caught them  
Or ever I taught them  
I would have taught them  
To be near me.  
Full dear have I bought them  
Lord so I sought them  
Yet have I brought them  
Such as they be.  ¶ gentleman. 
☜ Pleaseth it your majesty lord so it is  
We as your subjects and humble suitors all  
According as we here your pleasure is  
Are pressed as your presence being principal  
Head and governor of all in every place  
Who joyeth not in your sight no joy can have  
Wherefore we all commit us to your grace  
As lord of lords us to perish or save.  ☜ jupiter. 

☜ As long as discretion so well doth you guide  
Obediently to use your duty  
Doubt ye not we shall your safety provide  
Your grievous we have hard wherefore we send for ye  
To receive answer each man in his degree  
And first to content most reason it is  
The first man that sued wherefore mark ye this  
Oft shall ye have the wether elere and still  
To hunt in for recompense of your pain  
Also you merchants shall have much your will  
For oft times when no wind on land doth remain  
Yet on the see pleasant cools you shall obtain  
And sins your hunting may rest in the night  
Oft shall the wind then rise and before day light.   

❀ It shall ratell down the wood in such case  
That all ye rangers the better live may  
And ye water millers shall obtain this grace  
Many times the rain to fall in the valley  
When at the self times on hills we shall purvey  
Fair wether for your windmills which such cools of wind  
As in one instant both kinds of mills may grind.   

☜ And for ye fair women that close wether would have  
We shall provide that ye may sufficiently  
Have time to walk in and your beauty save  
And yet shall ye have that liveth by laundry  
The hot son oft enough your clothes to dry  
Also ye pretty child shall have both frost and snow  
Now mark this conclusion we charge you arrow.   

¶ Much better have we now devised for ye all  
Then ye all can perceive or could desire  
Each of you sued to have continual  
Such wether as his craft only doth require  
All wethers in all places if men all times might higher  
Who could live by other what is this negligence  
Us to attempt in such inconvenience.   

¶ Now on the other side if we had granted  
The full of the some one suit and no more  
And from all the rest the wether had forbid  
Yet who so had obtained had won his own woe  
There is no one craft can preserve man so  
But by other crafts of necessity  
He must have much part of his commodity.   

¶ All to serve at ones and one destroy an other  
Or else to serve one and destroy all the rest  
Nother will we do the tone nor the other  
But serve as many or as few as we think best  
And where or what time to serve most or lest  
The dyrectyon of that doubtless shall stand  
Perpetually in the power of our hand.   

❀ Wherefore we will the hole world to attend  
Each sort on such wether as for them doth fall  
Now one now other as liketh us to send  
Who that hath it ply it and sure we shall  
So guide the wether in course to you all  
That each with other ye shall hole remain.  
In pleasure and plentiful wealth certain.   ❧ gentlewoman. 
☜ Blessed was the time wherein me were borne  
first for the blissful chance of your godly presence  
Next for our suit was there never man before  
That ever hard so excellent a sentence  
As your grace hath given to us all arrow  
Wherein your highness hath so bountyfully  
distributed my part that your grace shall know  
Yourself soole possessed.  ☜ Merchant 
☜ Likewise merchants shall yield us holy  
Only to laud the name of jupiter  
As god of all gods you to serve soolly  
For of every thing I see you are norysher.  ❧ Ranger. 
¶ No doubt it is so for so we now find  
Wherein your grace us rangers so doth bind  
That we shall give you our hearts with one accord  
For knowledge to know you only as our lord  ¶ Watermyller. 
☜ Well I can no more but for our water  
We shall give your lordship our ladies sauter  ☜ Wind miller. 
¶ Much have ye bound us for as I be saved  
We have all obtained better than we craved.  ¶ gentlewoman. 
❧ That is true, wherefore your grace shall truly  
The hearts of such as I am have surely.  ☜ Launder. 
¶ And such as I am who be as good as you  
His highness shall be sure on I make a vow.  ❀ Boy. 
¶ Godfather god I will do somewhat for you again  
By Christ ye may hap to have a bird or twain  
And I promise you if any snow come▪  
When I make my snow balls you shall have some