Page:Mad pranks of Tom Tram, son-in-law to Mother Winter (1).pdf/9

Rh and Tom was as willing as he to be in that company but as they were coming home, one of them cuts the reins of Tom's bridle; ſo that when Tom mounted upon his horſe, the reins broke, and the horſe run away with him in the midſt of a great heath whereon ſtood a large gallows againſt which the horſe ſtood, and rubbed his neck, ſo that the gentleman hoop'd and hallow'd, and ſaid, Farewel, Tom, farewel; but Tom alighted from his horſe, and made faſt his reins, and with his ſword cut three or four chips from off the gallows; and at the next tavern Tom met with them, where they jeer'd him not a little; but Tom very earneſtly entreated them to forbear; yet the more he entreated them, the more they play'd upon him: But to be even with them, in the morning Tom calls the oſtler, and ſends him for nutmegs and ginger, and gets a grater; and when he had grated them, he alſo grated the chips of the gallows, and mix'd with the ſpice only a little nutmeg and ginger he laid towards one end of the trencher for himſelf, and with a gallon of ale into the gentlemen's chamber he goes, begging of them not to mock him any more with the gallows; and he would give them that ale and ſpice; and ſo, ſays he, gentlemen, I drink to you all. Now as ſoon as he had drank, the oſtler call'd him, as he gave him charge before ſo to do, down ſtairs runs Tom, as faſt as he could: the