Page:New riddle book.pdf/21

( 21 ) whether or no they were witches. Now one, among many, was a poor man, who having a ſort of wart on his ſide, doubted that he was a witch; therefore he deſired his wife to let him go to the place, which was about thirty miles, there to be reſolved his doubt. His wife, being a very civil woman, gave him leave. Now after long travel, coming to the court, which was then ſiting, he ruſhed in amongſt them, and the cryer of the court obſerving it, demanded ſilence, and bid him give an account to the court of what he had to ſay. Marry, quoth he, they ſay theſe gentlemen can tell one whether a body be a witch or no, having a wart on my ſide, I am afraid I am ſo; I pray u'd reſolve me. The cryer perceiving his ignorance, ſaid, alas! man, thou art no witch: thou lookeſt more like a cuckold than a witch. Then making a leg to the court, he gave them thanks, and ſo returned home chearfully. His wife, meeting him at the town's end, ſaid Huſband, art thou a witch or no? No, wife, they tell me I look more like a cuckold. Huſband, ſay ey ſo, we will have them taken up for witches, for unleſs they were witches they could not tell that you was a cuckold.

A young woman being alone, a gentleman came into her company, who, after a friendly ſalutation, aſked how her huſband did. She ſaid, He is as croſs and unkind to me as ever man was to a wife; ſo that