I went, poore pilgrime, to my ladies shrine,
    To see if she would be my valentine;
  But woe, alass, she was not to be found,
    For she was shifted to an upper ground:  20

  Good Justice Dudgeon-haft, and crab-tree face,
    With bills and staues had scar’d hir from the place;
  And now she was compel’d, for Sanctuarie,
    To flye unto a house of venerie. 24

  Thither went I, and bouldlie made enquire
    If they had hackneis to lett-out to hire,
  And what they crau’d, by order of their trade,
    To lett one ride a iournie on a iade. 28

  Therwith out stept a foggy three-chinnd dame,
    That us’d to take yong wenches for to tame,
  And ask’t me if I ment as I profest,
    Or onelie ask’t a question but in iest. 32

  “In iest?” quoth I; “that terme it as you will;
    I com for game, therefore give me my Jill.” 
  “Why Sir,” quoth shee, “if that be your demande,
    Com, laye me a Gods-pennie in my hand; 36

  For, in our oratorie siccarlie,
    None enters heere, to doe his nicarie,
  But he must paye his offertorie first,
    And then, perhaps, wee’le ease him of his thirst.” 40

  I, hearing hir so ernest for the box,
    Gave hir hir due, and she the dore unlocks. 
  In am I entered:  “venus be my speede! 
    But where’s this female that must do this deed”? 44

  By blinde meanders, and by crankled wayes,
    Shee leades me onward, (as my Aucthor saies),
  Vntill we came within a shadie loft
    Where venus bounsing vestalls skirmish oft; 48

  And there shee sett me in a leather chaire,
    And brought me forth, of prettie Trulls, a paire,
  To chuse of them which might content myne eye;
    But hir I sought, I could nowhere espie. 52

  I spake them faire, and wisht them well to fare—­
    “Yet soe yt is, I must haue fresher ware;
  Wherefore, dame Bawde, as daintie as you bee,
    Fetch gentle mistris Francis forth to me.” 56

  “By Halliedame,” quoth she, “and Gods oune mother,
    I well perceaue you are a wylie brother;
  For if there be a morsell of more price,
    You’ll smell it out, though I be nare so nice. 60

  As you desire, so shall you swiue with hir,
    But think, your purse-strings shall abye-it deare;
  For, he that will eate quailes must lauish crounes,
    And Mistris Francis, in her veluett gounes, 64

  And ruffs and perwigs as fresh as Maye,
    Can not be kept with half a croune a daye.” 
  “Of price, good hostess, we will not debate,
    Though you assize me at the highest rate; 68