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already formed their wonted circle around the evening fire； and
were talking over the news of the day。
A lively； bustling； arch fellow； whose pack； and oaken ellwand
studded duly with brass points； denoted him to be of Autolycus's
profession； occupied a good deal of the attention； and furnished
much of the amusement； of the evening。 The pedlars of those
days； it must be remembered； were men of far greater importance
than the degenerate and degraded hawkers of our modern times。 It
was by means of these peripatetic venders that the country trade；
in the finer manufactures used in female dress particularly； was
almost entirely carried on； and if a merchant of this description
arrived at the dignity of travelling with a pack…horse； he was a
person of no small consequence； and company for the most
substantial yeoman or franklin whom he might meet in his
wanderings。
The pedlar of whom we speak bore； accordingly； an active and
unrebuked share in the merriment to which the rafters of the
bonny Black Bear of Cumnor resounded。 He had his smile with
pretty Mistress Cicely； his broad laugh with mine host； and his
jest upon dashing Master Goldthred； who； though indeed without
any such benevolent intention on his own part； was the general
butt of the evening。 The pedlar and he were closely engaged in a
dispute upon the preference due to the Spanish nether…stock over
the black Gascoigne hose； and mine host had just winked to the
guests around him； as who should say； 〃You will have mirth
presently； my masters；〃 when the trampling of horses was heard in
the courtyard； and the hostler was loudly summoned； with a few of
the newest oaths then in vogue to add force to the invocation。
Out tumbled Will Hostler； John Tapster； and all the militia of
the inn； who had slunk from their posts in order to collect some
scattered crumbs of the mirth which was flying about among the
customers。 Out into the yard sallied mine host himself also； to
do fitting salutation to his new guests； and presently returned；
ushering into the apartment his own worthy nephew； Michael
Lambourne； pretty tolerably drunk； and having under his escort
the astrologer。 Alasco； though still a little old man； had； by
altering his gown to a riding…dress； trimming his beard and
eyebrows； and so forth； struck at least a score of years from his
apparent age； and might now seem an active man of sixty； or
little upwards。 He appeared at present exceedingly anxious； and
had insisted much with Lambourne that they should not enter the
inn； but go straight forward to the place of their destination。
But Lambourne would not be controlled。 〃By Cancer and
Capricorn；〃 he vociferated； 〃and the whole heavenly host； besides
all the stars that these blessed eyes of mine have seen sparkle
in the southern heavens； to which these northern blinkers are but
farthing candles； I will be unkindly for no one's humourI will
stay and salute my worthy uncle here。 Chesu！ that good blood
should ever be forgotten betwixt friends！A gallon of your best；
uncle； and let it go round to the health of the noble Earl of
Leicester！ What！ shall we not collogue together； and warm the
cockles of our ancient kindness？shall we not collogue； I say？〃
〃With all my heart； kinsman；〃 said mine host； who obviously
wished to be rid of him； 〃but are you to stand shot to all this
good liquor？〃
This is a question has quelled many a jovial toper； but it moved
not the purpose of Lambourne's soul； 〃Question my means； nuncle？〃
he said； producing a handful of mixed gold and silver pieces；
〃question Mexico and Peruquestion the Queen's exchequerGod
save her Majesty！she is my good Lord's good mistress。〃
〃Well； kinsman；〃 said mine host； 〃it is my business to sell wine
to those who can buy itso； Jack Tapster； do me thine office。
But I would I knew how to come by money as lightly as thou dost；
Mike。〃
〃Why； uncle；〃 said Lambourne； 〃I will tell thee a secret。 Dost
see this little old fellow here？ as old and withered a chip as
ever the devil put into his porridgeand yet； uncle； between you
and mehe hath Potosi in that brain of his'sblood！ he can
coin ducats faster than I can vent oaths。〃
〃I will have none of his coinage in my purse； though； Michael；〃
said mine host； 〃I know what belongs to falsifying the Queen's
coin。〃
〃Thou art an ass； uncle； for as old as thou art。Pull me not by
the skirts； doctor； thou art an ass thyself to bootso； being
both asses； I tell ye I spoke but metaphorically。〃
〃Are you mad？' said the old man； 〃is the devil in you？ Can you
not let us begone without drawing all men's eyes on us？〃
〃Sayest thou？〃 said Lambourne。 〃Thou art deceived nowno man
shall see you； an I give the word。By heavens； masters； an any
one dare to look on this old gentleman； I will slash the eyes out
of his head with my poniard！So sit down； old friend； and be
merry； these are mine inglesmine ancient inmates； and will
betray no man。〃
〃Had you not better withdraw to a private apartment； nephew？〃
said Giles Gosling。 〃You speak strange matter；〃 he added； 〃and
there be intelligencers everywhere。〃
〃I care not for them；〃 said the magnanimous Michael
〃intelligencers？ pshaw！ I serve the noble Earl of Leicester。
Here comes the wine。Fill round； Master Skinker； a carouse to
the health of the flower of England； the noble Earl of Leicester！
I say； the noble Earl of Leicester！ He that does me not reason
is a swine of Sussex； and I'll make him kneel to the pledge； if I
should cut his hams and smoke them for bacon。〃
None disputed a pledge given under such formidable penalties； and
Michael Lambourne； whose drunken humour was not of course
diminished by this new potation； went on in the same wild way；
renewing his acquaintance with such of the guests as he had
formerly known； and experiencing a reception in which there was
now something of deference mingled with a good deal of fear； for
the least servitor of the favourite Earl； especially such a man
as Lambourne； was； for very sufficient reasons； an object both of
the one and of the other。
In the meanwhile； the old man； seeing his guide in this
uncontrollable humour； ceased to remonstrate with him； and
sitting down in the most obscure corner of the room； called for a
small measure of sack； over which he seemed； as it were； to
slumber； withdrawing himself as much as possible from general
observation； and doing nothing which could recall his existence
to the recollection of his fellow…traveller； who by this time had
got into close intimacy with his ancient comrade； Goldthred of
Abingdon。
〃Never believe me； bully Mike；〃 said the mercer； 〃if I am not as
glad to see thee as ever I was to see a customer's money！ Why；
thou canst give a friend a sly place at a mask or a revel now；
Mike； ay； or； I warrant thee； thou canst say in my lord's ear；
when my honourable lord is down in these parts； and wants a
Spanish ruff or the likethou canst say in his ear； There is
mine old friend； young Lawrence Goldthred of Abingdon； has as
good wares； lawn； tiffany； cambric； and so forthay； and is as
pretty a piece of man's flesh； too； as is in Berkshire； and will
ruffle it for your lordship wit