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But now you shall know； that when the four gypsies saw that he had
got one shilling by dividing the money； though not one of them knew any
reason to demand more； yet； like lords and courtiers； every gypsy envied
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him that was the gainer； and wrangled with him； and every one said the
remaining shilling belonged to him； and so they fell to so high a contest
about it； as none that knows the faithfulness of one gypsy to another will
easily believe； only we that have lived these last twenty years are certain
that money has been able to do much mischief。 However； the gypsies were
too wise to go to law； and did therefore choose their choice friends Rook
and Shark； and our late English Gusman； to be their arbitrators and
umpires。 And so they left this honeysuckle hedge； and went to tell fortunes
and cheat； and get more money and lodging in the next village。
When these were gone； we heard as high a contention amongst the
beggars； whether it was easiest to rip a cloak； or to unrip a cloak ？ One
beggar affirmed it was all one： but that was denied； by asking her； If doing
and undoing were all one？ Then another said； 'twas easiest to unrip a cloak；
for that was to let it alone： but she was answered； by asking her； how she
unript it if she let it alone ？ and she confess herself mistaken。 These and
twenty such like questions were proposed and answered； with as much
beggarly logick and earnestness as was ever heard to proceed from the
mouth of the pertinacious schismatick； and sometimes all the beggars；
whose number was neither more nor less than the poets' nine muses； talked
all together about this ripping and unripping； and so loud； that not one
heard what the other said： but； at last； one beggar craved audience； and
told them that old father Clause； whom Ben Jonson； in his Beggar's Bush；
created King of their corporation； was to lodge at an ale…house； called 〃
Catch…her…by…the… way；〃 not far from Waltham Cross； and in the high road
towards London； and he therefore desired them to spend no more time
about that and such like questions； but refer all to father Clause at night；
for he was an upright judge； and in the meantime draw cuts； what song
should be next sung； and who should sing it。 They all agreed to the motion；
and the lot fell to her that was the youngest； and veriest virgin of the
company。 And she sung Frank Davison's song； which he made forty years
ago； and all the others of the company joined to sing the burthen with her。
The ditty was this； but first the burthen：
Bright shines the sun； play； Beggars； play； Here's scraps enough to
serve to…day。
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What noise of viols is so sweet； As when our merry clappers ring ？
What mirth doth want where Beggars meet ？ A Beggar's life is for a King。
Eat； drink； and play； sleep when we list Go where we will； so stocks be
mist。 Bright shines the sun； play； Beggars； play； Here's scraps enough to
serve to…day。
The world is ours； and ours alone； For we alone have world at will We
purchase not； all is our own； Both fields and streets we Beggars fill。 Nor
care to get； nor fear to keep； Did ever break a Beggar's sleep； Play；
Beggars； play； play； Beggars； play； Here's scraps enough to serve to…day。
A hundred head of black and white Upon our gowns securely feed If
any dare his master bite He dies therefore； as sure as creed。 Thus Beggars
lord it as they please； And only Beggars live at ease。 Bright shines the sun；
play； Beggars； play； Here's scraps enough to serve to…day。
Venator。 I thank you； good master； for this piece of merriment； and this
song； which was well humoured by the maker； and well remembered by
you。
Piscator。 But； I pray； forget not the catch which you promised to make
against night； for our countryman； honest Coridon； will expect your catch；
and my song； which I must be forced to patch up； for it is so long since I
learnt it； that I have forgot a part of it。 But； come； now it hath done raining；
let's stretch our legs a little in a gentle walk to the river； and try what
interest our angles will pay us for lending them so long to be used by the
Trouts； lent them indeed； like usurers； for our profit and their destruction。
Venator。 Oh me！ look you； master； a fish！ a fish！ Oh； alas； master； I
have lost her。
Piscator。 Ay marry； Sir； that was a good fish indeed： if I had had the
luck to have taken up that rod； then 'tis twenty to one he should not have
broken my line by running to the rod's end； as you suffered him。 I would
have held him within the bent of my rod； unless he had been fellow to the
great Trout that is near an ell long； which was of such a length and depth；
that he had his picture drawn； and now is to be seen at mine host
Rickabie's； at the George in Ware； and it may be； by giving that very great
Trout the rod； that is； by casting it to him into the water； I might have
caught him at the long run； for so I use always to do when I meet with an
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over…grown fish； and you will learn to do so too； hereafter； for I tell you；
scholar； fishing is an art； or； at least； it is an art to catch fish。
Venator。 But； master； I have heard that the great Trout you speak of is a
Salmon。
Piscator。 Trust me； scholar； I know not what to say to it。 There are
many country people that believe hares change sexes every year： and there
be very many learned men think so too； for in their dissecting them they
find many reasons to incline them to that belief。 And to make the wonder
seem yet less； that hares change sexes； note that Dr。 Mer。 Casaubon
affirms； in his book 〃 Of credible and incredible things；〃 that Gasper
Peucerus； a learned physician； tells us of a people that once a year turn
wolves； partly in shape； and partly in conditions。 And so； whether this
were a Salmon when he came into fresh water； and his not returning into
the sea hath altered him to another colour or kind； I am not able to say； but
I