M. BAILY, CHAT, D. RAT, GAMMER, HODGE, DICCON.
BAILY. Dame Chat, master doctor upon you here complaineth, That you and your maids should him much disorder, And taketh many an oath that no word be feigned, Laying to your charge, how you thought him to murder: And on his part again, that same man say'th furder, He never offended you in word nor intent; To hear you answer hereto, we have now for you sent.
CHAT. That I would have murdered him! fie on him, wretch! And evil mought he the for it, our Lord I beseech. I will swear on all the books that opens and shuts, He feigneth this tale out of his own guts. For this seven weeks with me, I am sure, he sat not down; [_To D. Rat._] Nay, ye have other minions in the other end of the town, Where ye were liker to catch such a blow Than anywhere else, as far as I know.
BAILY. Belike then, master doctor, your[291] stripe there ye got not.
DOCTOR RAT. Think you I am so mad, that where I was bet, I wot not?[292] Will ye believe this quean, before she hath tried it? It is not the first deed she hath done, and afterward denied it.
CHAT. What, man, will you say I broke your head?
DOCTOR RAT. How canst thou prove the contrary?
CHAT. Nay, how provest thou that I did the deed.
DOCTOR RAT. Too plainly, by St Mary. This proof, I trow, may serve, though I no word spoke. [_Showing his broken head._
CHAT. Because thy head is broken, was it I that broke? I saw thee, Rat, I tell thee, not once within this fortnight.
DOCTOR RAT. No, marry, thou sawest me not; for why thou hadst no light; But I felt thee for all the dark, beshrew thy smooth cheeks! And thou groped me, this will declare any day this six weeks. [_Showing his head._
BAILY. Answer me to this, Master Rat, when caught you this harm of yours?
DOCTOR RAT. A while ago, sir, God he knoweth; within less than these two hours.
BAILY. Dame Chat, was there none with you (confess, i' faith) about that season? What, woman, let it be what it will, 'tis neither felony nor treason.
CHAT. Yes, by my faith, Master Baily, there was a knave not far, Who caught one good filip on the brow with a door-bar. And well was he worthy, as it seemed to me: But what is that to this man, since this was not he?
DOCTOR RAT. Alas, sir, ask you that? Is it not made plain enough by the own mouth of dame Chat? The time agreeth, my head is broken, her tongue cannot lie; Only upon a bare nay, she saith it was not I.