“ JACK OF NEWBURY.
In the reign of King Henry VIII. one John Winchcomb was a rich clothier in the town of Newbury in Berkshire; a handsome and clever youth; when his master died, and left his mistress a widow, who seeing John to be a careful servant, put him in great trust in her house, which he carefully performed. ”

“ My ants and all we have,
Command us, we are thine,
And so the King God save.
Now to return again to Jack and his wife. It happened that she fell sick and died; and soon after her burial Jack fell in love with one of his maids, and sent for her father to know what he would give with his daughter. He came to Newbury, and seeing the great wealth of his daughter and sweetheart, he was exceedingly astonished, so Jack had
In one room two hundred looms all going.
Two hundred boys winding quills.
An hundred women carding. ”

“ Shortly after the King had occasion to raise an army against the Scots, who were risen against the English, Jack of Newbury raised at his own expence, one hundred and fifty men, cloathed them in white coats, red caps, and yellow feathers and led them himself. ”

“ And indeed she began to grow as great a gossip as any in Newbury, and would sometimes come home very late at night, insomuch that once her husband John went up to bed and locked her out, and took the key up into his chamber. And when the good wife found she was locked out, she knocked very hard, till at last her husband looked put of the window, and told her to look out her lodging that night at the place she had been sitting all day. Such gossips as you, says he, the cage is he fittest lodging for. ”

“ But when her husband espied Jack of Newbury, his creditor he ran away as fast as he could, for fear of being arrested. But Jack sent his man after him and he seeing one pursue him, ran the faster and in running he left one of his old slippers here and another there. ever looking behind him with great fear. ”

“ Amongst the rest, the butterfly was much disliked, but few durst say any thing to him, because of his golden apparel who, though himself upon sufferance grew so very ambitious and malepert that the poor ant could no sooner get an egg into her nest, but he would have it away, especially against Easter ”