time of the question; after some consideration, he told her to this effect:  ‘Margery,’ for so her name was, ’thy husband will not be at home these eighteen days; his kindred have vexed him, and he is come away from them in much anger:  he is now in Carlisle, and hath but three-pence in his purse.’  And when he came home he confessed all to be true, and that upon leaving his kindred he had but three-pence in his purse.  I shall relate one story more, and then his death.

One Coleman, clerk to Sir Thomas Beaumont of Leicestershire, having had some liberal favours both from his lady and her daughters, bragged of it, &c.  The Knight brought him into the star-chamber, had his servant sentenced to be pilloried, whipped, and afterwards, during life, to be imprisoned.  The sentence was executed in London, and was to be in Leicestershire:  two keepers were to convey Coleman from the Fleet to Leicester.  My mistress taking consideration of Coleman, and the miseries he was to suffer, went presently to Forman, acquainted him therewith; who, after consideration, swore Coleman had lain both with mother and daughters; and besides said, that the old Lady being afflicted with fits of the mother, called him into her chamber to hold down the fits with his hands; and that he holding his hands about the breast, she cried ‘Lower, lower,’ and put his hands below her belly; and then—­He also told my mistress in what posture he lay with the young ladies, &c. and said, ’they intend in Leicester to whip him to death; but I assure thee, Margery, he shall never come there; yet they set forward to-morrow,’ says he; and so his two keepers did, Coleman’s legs being locked with an iron chain under the horse’s belly.  In this nature they travelled the first and second day; on the third day the two keepers, seeing their prisoner’s civility the two preceding days, did not lock his chain under the horse’s belly as formerly, but locked it only to one side.  In this posture they rode some miles beyond Northampton, when on a sudden, one of the keepers had a necessity to untruss, and so the other and Coleman stood still; by and by the other keeper desired Coleman to hold his horse, for he had occasion also:  Coleman immediately took one of their swords, and ran through two of the horses, killing them stark dead; gets upon the other, with one of their swords; ‘Farewell, gentlemen,’ quoth he, ‘tell my master I have no mind to be whipped in Leicestershire,’ and so went his way.  The two keepers in all haste went to a gentleman’s house near at hand, complaining of their misfortune, and desired of him to pursue their prisoner, which he with much civility granted; but ere the horses could be got ready, the mistress of the house came down, and enquiring what the matter was, went to the stable, and commanded the horses to be unsaddled, with this sharp speech—­’Let the Lady Beaumont and her daughters live honestly, none of my horses shall go forth upon this occasion.’