A jest, or, Master Constable To the tune of, the three pilgrims.

A Jest ; Or , Master Constable . To the Tune of , the Three Pilgrims .

A Pretty jest I shall declare . Which I not long agoe did hear Of one who did intend to jéere , Master Constable . I hope there 's none wil matter make Of that that I intend to speake , Of a busy man who the place did take . Of a Constable . For I hope each wise man wiser is , Then to think he is touch'd in this , For thinking so , he thinks amiss , 't was a busy Constable . For this is but a merry Iest , Which will I hope , no man molest , For I no grudge beare I protest , To any Canstable . Then pray you let this poor man pass For he for money sings alas , Let none then shew himselfe an asse Like this Constable . He as his Office did direct , To set his watch was circumspect And nothing therein did neglect , Like a Constable . Also when any passed by , He did examine them strictly , Observing with discretions eye , A wise Constable . At length it chanc'd that one came néer And he demanded who goes there You know not ( said he without fear M●ster Constable . Come hither that I may you sée , And now what are you shew to me , No Man nor Woman replyed he , Master Constable . Where have you béen then asked he That you thus crosly answer , me , Know you not the authority Of a constable . Yes I know your authority , And I have béen for certainty , Where you would have béen glad to be Master Constable . Then said the Constable , some end , Will come hereof , but say my friend , Whither to goe doe you intend , Why good Constable . I am going thither where You dare not goe for your right ears What you are set upon the jéere said the Constable . What is your name pray fel me that Who dare so boldly to me prate , Be briefe , and truth to me relate , Said the Constable Twenty shillings I am nam'd I thereof néed not be asham'd , Although by you I may be blam'd , master Constable Sir , that hereafter we shall sée But in the mean time tell to me , Where your dwelling place may be , Quoth the Constable Out of the Kings dominion I , Doe dwell said he assuredly , As my Neighbours can testifie , master Constables But in the Kings dominion you Are now my friend , and you shall rue That still cross language you renew To a Constable .

The second part to the same Tune .

I Am at your dispose said he ▪ But pray you here this word from me You shew your selfe herein to be A wise Constable . To prison then incontinent , The Constable this good man sent Although the same he did repent , Like a Constable . Before a Iustice the next day , The Constable bore him away , And to his Worship thus did say , Like a Constable . Sir in my Watch the last night I This fellow tooke who saucely , Iéer'd me and my authority , Said the Constable . Then quoth the Iustice , what said he ? That might to you distastefull be , And jle betwéen you judge fairly , Master Constable . First who goes there was ask●d by me You cannot tell replyed he ▪ And thus he did begin crosly , Said the Constable , . Come before my authority And now what are you tell to me , No Man nor Woman replyed he , Said the Constable . Where have you béen then Ienquir'd Where you to be would have desir'd Thus I againe by him was jéerd , Said the Constable . Weither goe you ? then said I And he still crosly did reply Where for my ears I durst not be , Said the Constable . What is your name sir tell to me , Twen●y shillings replyed he 〈◇〉 ●hese answers fit to be , Give● a Constable . I ●●ke his dwelling place also , And he this answer did bestow Out of the Kings dominion know , Quoth the Constable . But when he saw jde him convey , To prison untill the next day , You are quoth he I néeds must say , A wise Constable . you my complaint have heard said he Now pray you judge twixt him & me ▪ That I may satisfied be , being a Constable . Then said the Iustice was not he , In drink that he thus answered thée If so , that might the reason be , Master Constable . No , 〈◇〉 your Worship I doe vow He was as sober as we are now , And therefore doe no favour shew , Said the Constable . Then said the Iustice what say you , Is this that he alledges true , If , how durst you such carriage shew Toward a Constable ▪ Sir I speake truth , first he askd who Goes there , I said he did not know , If he had he would let me goe , Like a Constable . And I am a Taylor by my Trade , Who are no men by the proverb made , Nor am I a Woman jle perswade Master Constable . Then next he asked of me where I had béen ; which was at good chéer And you 'd as gladly have béen there , Master Constable . And I was going thus I sed , where you durst not go for your head For it was with my wife to bed . Master Constable . And sir , Marke Noble is my name , And in your ears I dare proclaime , That twenty shilling is the same , Master Constable . The King of great Brittain is King as fame thronghout the world dōh ring But in little Brittain is my dwelling , M●ster Constable . and I pray your worship further here If I in any thing did erre It was that I did him prefer , For a wise Constable . And sir he ought give me content ; Both for my wrong imprisonment ▪ And loss of time with money spent , Through the Constable . Then said the Iu●●ice good sir heare This man makes al his words apear To be the truth , and not a jéere Master Constable , And you have ●éen too much to blame To take away thu● his good name , And t is fit you pay for the same Master Constable . You said that he was not in drinke And therefore come lay down your think It is in vaine backward to shrink Master Constable . To pay his charges I you enjoyne , And a French crown for loss of time And friendly drink a pint of Wine . So farwell Constable . which done that man went merily home His wife rejoyc'd to sée him come , Where he to her told the whole summ , Of the Constable . Thus of this Constable I end , Desiring favour of each Friend , For what in mirth by me is pend Of ●his Constable . But if there 's any fault doth find ▪ Such men they have a guilty mind , Or too too busy are inclin'd Like this Constable .

FINIS .