M. Mery, To mine owne deare coney hirde^ swete hearty and

pigsny Good Mistress Custance present these by and by : Of this superscription do you blame the stile ?
C, Custance. With the rest as good stufFe as ye redde a great while.
M, Mery, Sweete mistresse where as I love you nothing at all. Regarding your substance and richesse chiefe of all. For your personage, beautie, demeanour and wit, I commende me unto you never a whit. Sorie to heare report of your good welfare. . . . And nowe by these presentes I do you advertise That I minded to marrie you in no wise. For your goodes and substance I coulde bee content To take you as yc arc. If yc mynde to bee my wyfc.
DOMESTIC LIFE OF SHAKSPERE'S TIME i6i
Yc shall be assured for the tyme of my lyfe
I will keepe ye ryght well from good rayment and fare,
Yc shall not be kepte but in sorow and care —
Ye shall in no wyse lyve at your own libertie.
Doe and say what ye lust, ye shall never please me,
But when ye are mery, I wil be all sadde.
When ye are sory, I will be very gladde.
When ye seeke your hearte's ease, I will be unkinde,
At no tyme in me shall ye muche gentlenesse finde. . . .
Thus good mistresse Custance, the lorde you save and kepe.
From me Royster Doyster, whether I wake or slepe.
Whereupon Custance cries in triumph :
Howe by this letter of love ? is it not fine ?
R. Royster. By the armes of Caleys, it is none of mine.
Af. Mery, Fie, you are fowle to blame, this is your owne hand.
C Custance. Might not a woman be proud of such an hus-
bande ?