Page:A dialogue between the crosses in Cheap, and Charing Crosse.djvu/11

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any Croffe in London, a very honeft man, by trade a Taylor, who verily fearts bee muft change his name,and fo make himlelfe no better then a Rogue by the Sta- tute. Char. Two Brownifts, as they came one day along by me, were over- heard by a Drawer at the three Tunnes, to affirme the very name of Creffe ought utterly to bee aboli fhed, morfo much as to be named in or about thing; as if your maid bes bid to mend the fire, you muft not fay to her, Lay thofe ftickes agroffe,nor to a Carpenter, place that beam aeroffe, not may a Dan- eer once mention the name of a Crefo-caper, nor the Wraftler the Crefi-bas. rock; or if any griete or misfortune happen unto you, you muft nat fay, I am troft in my minde, but 7 am bear-baited in minde: nor muft a Tradefiman lay to his Prentice, Crofse the Booke, but lattice the Booke (that is overthwart it as Ale home lattices are) nor muft a countrey Taylor be laid to fit Crefs-leg'd. buted-wife. A Crofs bow muft bee termed a Venifon or Pafty bow: Cheap. The not ought you fay, I will crofse the freet, but overthwart it. Chwhicles make mention of blondy Crotses which in a bloudy raine fell upon mens garments here in England in the reigne of Edward the firft, how would they have called them if fach a fatall Gigne had appeared (which God Cheap. And avert) in our dayes? Char, Bloudy tokens no doubt of it. what name, I wonder, fhall Tottenham High-crofs have? Plaine Tottenham I warrant you. But heare you me, fifter. Ict us make an end of this fubj.: for we might fare the worfe if we fhould be over-heard; there be they that obferve us,and whatfoever is faid; therefore,fifter, be rul'd by mee, wce will both ftand Char. Sifter, agreed, they get ftill hereafter where we did, and fay nothing. not a word more of me as long as any Coach walkes the street. Cheap. Nor Char. No more therfore, but only of me as long as my Hearb-garden lafte. let us referre our felves to the cenfure of this moft juft and honourable Parlia- ment (for there is not a Parliament man but know es me) whether we (ball con tinue where we are, or no. What fay you fifter? Cheap. I will know my Lord Maior and the Cities minde firit. I dare not (as I live) doe any thing without them, though I doubt not but that they will ftand my true friends, as I have ftood for them theſe three hundred and odde yearès. And I doubt not of all lawfull favour from the moft honourable Court of Parliament, fince we both diflavow Idolatry & are refolved to ftand faft according to our degrees for the honour of both Cities, London and Weftminfter, as long as we have one ftone left apon another. Char. Sifter, I commend your refolution; but fince Truth is the daughter of Time, what wee fhall all truft to, wee ball know hereafter.

FINIS