Kemps nine daies wonder: performed in a daunce from London to Norwich / With an introduction and notes by the Rev. Alexander Dyce.

  • William Kempe
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Kemps nine daies wonder: performed in a daunce from London to Norwich / With an introduction and notes by the Rev. Alexander Dyce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    they faintly bad God speed me, saying if I daunst that durtie way this seauen yeares againe, they would neuer daunce after me. Well, with much a doo I got unto Braintree by noone, tarried there Munday night and the next day; onely I daunst three miles on Tewsday, to ease my Wednesdaies iourney. If I should deny that I was welcome at Braintree, I should slander an honest crew of kind men, among whome I far’d well, slept well, and was euery way well usde. The fift dayes iourney, being Wednesday of the second weeke. Taking aduantage of my 3 miles that I had daunst y° day before, this wednesday morning I tript it to Sudbury ; whether came to see a very kinde Gentleman, Master Foskew, that had before trauailed a foote from London to Barwick, who, giuing me good counsaile to obserue temperate dyet for my health, and other aduise to bee carefull of my company, besides his liberall entertainment, departed, leauing me much indebted to his loue. In this towne of Sudbury there came a lusty, tall fellow, a butcher by his profession, that would in a Morrice keepe mee company to Bury: I being glad of his friendly offer, gaue him thankes, and forward wee did set; but ere euer wee had measur’d halfe a mile of our way, he gaue me ouer in the plain field, pro- testing, that if he might get a 100 pound, he would not hold out with me; for indeed my pace in dauncing is not ordinary. As he and I were parting, a lusty Country lasse being among the people, cal’d him faint hearted lout, saying, “ If I had begun to daunce, I would haue held out one myle though it had cost my life.’ At which wordes many laughed. “ Nay,” saith she, “af the Dauncer will lend me a leash of his belles, [le venter to treade one mile with him my selfe.” I lookt vpon her, saw mirth in her eies, heard boldnes in her words, and beheld her CAMD. soc. 1]. €