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better sack than that in the Sheres； or in the Canaries either； I
would I may never touch either pot or penny more。 Why； hold it
up betwixt you and the light； you shall see the little motes
dance in the golden liquor like dust in the sunbeam。 But I would
rather draw wine for ten clowns than one traveller。I trust your
honour likes the wine？〃
〃It is neat and comfortable； mine host； but to know good liquor；
you should drink where the vine grows。 Trust me； your Spaniard
is too wise a man to send you the very soul of the grape。 Why；
this now； which you account so choice； were counted but as a cup
of bastard at the Groyne； or at Port St。 Mary's。 You should
travel； mine host； if you would be deep in the mysteries of the
butt and pottle…pot。〃
〃In troth； Signior Guest；〃 said Giles Gosling； 〃if I were to
travel only that I might be discontented with that which I can
get at home； methinks I should go but on a fool's errand。
Besides； I warrant you； there is many a fool can turn his nose up
at good drink without ever having been out of the smoke of Old
England； and so ever gramercy mine own fireside。〃
〃This is but a mean mind of yours； mine host；〃 said the stranger；
〃I warrant me； all your town's folk do not think so basely。 You
have gallants among you； I dare undertake； that have made the
Virginia voyage； or taken a turn in the Low Countries at least。
Come； cudgel your memory。 Have you no friends in foreign parts
that you would gladly have tidings of？〃
〃Troth； sir； not I；〃 answered the host； 〃since ranting Robin of
Drysandford was shot at the siege of the Brill。 The devil take
the caliver that fired the ball； for a blither lad never filled a
cup at midnight！ But he is dead and gone； and I know not a
soldier； or a traveller； who is a soldier's mate； that I would
give a peeled codling for。〃
〃By the Mass； that is strange。 What！ so many of our brave
English hearts are abroad； and you； who seem to be a man of mark；
have no friend； no kinsman among them？〃
〃Nay； if you speak of kinsmen；〃 answered Gosling； 〃I have one
wild slip of a kinsman； who left us in the last year of Queen
Mary； but he is better lost than found。〃
〃Do not say so； friend； unless you have heard ill of him lately。
Many a wild colt has turned out a noble steed。His name； I pray
you？〃
〃Michael Lambourne；〃 answered the landlord of the Black Bear； 〃a
son of my sister'sthere is little pleasure in recollecting
either the name or the connection。〃
〃Michael Lambourne！〃 said the stranger； as if endeavouring to
recollect himself〃what； no relation to Michael Lambourne； the
gallant cavalier who behaved so bravely at the siege of Venlo
that Grave Maurice thanked him at the head of the army？ Men said
he was an English cavalier； and of no high extraction。〃
〃It could scarcely be my nephew；〃 said Giles Gosling； 〃for he had
not the courage of a hen…partridge for aught but mischief。〃
〃Oh； many a man finds courage in the wars；〃 replied the stranger。
〃It may be；〃 said the landlord； 〃but I would have thought our
Mike more likely to lose the little he had。〃
〃The Michael Lambourne whom I knew；〃 continued the traveller；
〃was a likely fellowwent always gay and well attired； and had a
hawk's eye after a pretty wench。〃
〃Our Michael；〃 replied the host； 〃had the look of a dog with a
bottle at its tail； and wore a coat； every rag of which was
bidding good…day to the rest。〃
〃Oh； men pick up good apparel in the wars；〃 replied the guest。
〃Our Mike；〃 answered the landlord； 〃was more like to pick it up
in a frippery warehouse； while the broker was looking another
way； and； for the hawk's eye you talk of； his was always after my
stray spoons。 He was tapster's boy here in this blessed house
for a quarter of a year； and between misreckonings； miscarriages；
mistakes； and misdemeanours； had he dwelt with me for three
months longer； I might have pulled down sign； shut up house； and
given the devil the key to keep。〃
〃You would be sorry； after all；〃 continued the traveller； 〃were I
to tell you poor Mike Lambourne was shot at the head of his
regiment at the taking of a sconce near Maestricht？〃
〃Sorry！it would be the blithest news I ever heard of him； since
it would ensure me he was not hanged。 But let him passI doubt
his end will never do such credit to his friends。 Were it so； I
should say〃（taking another cup of sack）〃Here's God rest him；
with all my heart。〃
〃Tush； man；〃 replied the traveller； 〃never fear but you will have
credit by your nephew yet； especially if he be the Michael
Lambourne whom I knew； and loved very nearly； or altogether； as
well as myself。 Can you tell me no mark by which I could judge
whether they be the same？〃
〃Faith； none that I can think of；〃 answered Giles Gosling；
〃unless that our Mike had the gallows branded on his left
shoulder for stealing a silver caudle…cup from Dame Snort of
Hogsditch。〃
〃Nay； there you lie like a knave； uncle；〃 said the stranger；
slipping aside his ruff； and turning down the sleeve of his
doublet from his neck and shoulder； 〃by this good day； my
shoulder is as unscarred as thine own。
〃What； Mike； boyMike！〃 exclaimed the host；〃and is it thou；
in good earnest？ Nay； I have judged so for this half…hour； for I
knew no other person would have ta'en half the interest in thee。
But； Mike； an thy shoulder be unscathed as thou sayest； thou must
own that Goodman Thong； the hangman； was merciful in his office；
and stamped thee with a cold iron。〃
〃Tush； uncletruce with your jests。 Keep them to season your
sour ale； and let us see what hearty welcome thou wilt give a
kinsman who has rolled the world around for eighteen years； who
has seen the sun set where it rises； and has travelled till the
west has become the east。〃
〃Thou hast brought back one traveller's gift with thee； Mike； as
I well see； and that was what thou least didst： need to travel
for。 I remember well； among thine other qualities； there was no
crediting a word which came from thy mouth。〃
〃Here's an unbelieving pagan for you； gentlemen！〃 said Michael
Lambourne； turning to those who witnessed this strange interview
betwixt uncle and nephew； some of whom； being natives of the
village； were no strangers to his juvenile wildness。 〃This may
be called slaying a Cumnor fatted calf for me with a vengeance。
But； uncle； I come not from the husks and the swine…trough； and I
care not for thy welcome or no welcome； I carry that with me will
make me welcome； wend where I will。〃
So saying； he pulled out a purse of gold indifferently well
filled； the sight of which produced a visible effect upon the
company。 Some shook their heads and whispered to each other；
while one or two of the less scrupulous speedily began to
recollect him as a school…companion； a townsman； or so forth。 On
the other hand； two or three grave； sedate…looking persons shook
their heads； and left the inn； hinting that； if Giles Gosling
wished to continue to thrive； he should turn his thriftless；
godless nephew adrift again； as soon as he could。 Gosling
demeaned himself as if he were much of the same opinion； for even
the sight of the gold made less impression on the honest
gentle