[121.]Of all the trades that ever I see, Theres none to the Brewer compared may be; For so many several wayes works he, Which nobody can deny. A Brewer may put on a noble face, And come to the wars with such a grace, That he may obtain a Captains place; Which nobody can deny. A Brewer may speak so learnedly well, And raise such stories for to tell, That he may be come a Colonel; Which &c A Brewer may be a Parliament man, For so his knavery first began, And work the most cunning plots he can; Which &c A Brewer may be so bold a Hector, That when he has drunk a cup of Nectar He may become a Lord Protector; Which &c A Brewer may do all these things, you see, Without controul, nay he may be Lord Chancellor of the University: Which &c A Brewer may sit like a Fox in his cub, And preach a Lecture out of a tub, And give the world a wicked rub; Which &c But here remaines the strangest thing, How he about his plots did bring, That he should be Emperour above a King; Which no body can deny, deny; Which no body dares deny. [17.] Two Gentlemen riding from Shipton to Burford together, and seeing the Miller of Burford riding softly before on his sacks, resolved to abuse him; so one went on one side of him, and t'other on the other, saying Miller, now tell us, which art thou, more Knave or Fool? Truly, says he, I know not which I am most but I think I am between both. [105.] On a time as Scogin was riding to the Abbot of Bury, hee asked of a Cowheard how far it was to Bury. The Cowheard said twenty miles. May I, said Scogin, ride thither to night: yea, said the Cowheard, if you ride not too fast, and also if you ride not a good pace, you will be wet ere you come halfe waye there. As Scogin was riding on his way, he did see a cloud arise that was blacke, and being afraid to be wet, he spurred his horse and did ride a great pace, and riding so fast, his horse stumbled and strained his leg, and might not goe. Scogin revolving in his mind the Cowheards words, did set up his horse at a poore mans house, and returned to the Cowheard, supposing that he had beene a good Astronomer, because hee said, if you ride not too fast, you may be at Bury tonight, and alsoe if you doe not ride fast you shal be wet ere you come there. Scogin said to the Cowheard, what shall I give thee to tell mee, when I shall have raine or faire weather? There goeth a bargain, said the Cowheard: what wilt thou give me? Scogin said, Twenty shillings. Nay, said the Cowheard, for forty Shillings I will tell you and teach you, but I will be paid first. Hold the money, said Scogin. The Cowheard said, Sir, doe you see yonder Cow with the cut tail? Yea, said Scogin. Sir, said the Cowheard, when that she doth begin to set up her rumpe, and draw to a hedge or bush, within an houre after we shall have raine: therefore take the Cow with you, and keepe her as I doe, and you shall ever be sure to know when you shall have faire weather or foule. Nay, said Scogin keepe thy Cow still, and give me twenty shillings of my mony. That is of my gentlenes saith the Cowheard, howbeit you seeme to bee an honest man, there is twenty Shillings.
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