h, my husband! you die
innocent.' 'And woulde you, my wife,' he returned, 'have me die
guilty?'"

Awhile after, Gonellus askt leave to see Erasmus his signet-ring, which
he handed down to him. In passing it back, William, who was occupyde in
carving a crane, handed it soe negligentlie that it felle to y'e
ground. I never saw such a face as Erasmus made, when 'twas picked out
from y'e rushes! And yet, ours are renewed almoste daylie, which manie
think over nice. He took it gingerlie in his faire, womanlike hands, and
washed and wiped it before he put it on; which escaped not my
step-mother's displeased notice. Indeede, these Dutchmen are
scrupulouslie cleane, though mother calls 'em swinish, because they will
eat raw sallets; though, for that matter, father loves cresses and
ramps. She alsoe mislikes Erasmus for eating cheese and butter together
with his manchet; or what he calls _boetram_; and for being, generallie,
daintie at his sizes, which she sayth is an ill example to soe manie
young people, and becometh not one with soe little money in's purse:
howbeit, I think 'tis not nicetie, but a weak stomach, which makes him
loathe our salt-meat commons from Michaelmasse to Easter, and eschew
fish of y'e coarser sort. He cannot breakfaste on colde milk like
father, but liketh furmity a little spiced. At dinner, he pecks at,
rather than eats, ruffs and reeves, lapwings, or anie smalle birds it
may chance; but affects sweets and subtilties, and loves a cup of wine
or ale, stirred with rosemary. Father never toucheth the wine-cup but to
grace a guest, and loves water from the spring. We growing girls eat
more than either; and father says he loves to see us slice away at the
cob-loaf; it does him goode. What a kind father he is! I wish my
step-mother were as kind. I hate alle sneaping and snubbing, flowting,
fleering, pinching, nipping, and such-like; it onlie creates resentment
insteade of penitence, and lowers y'e minde of either partie. Gillian
throws a rolling-pin at y'e turnspit's head, and we call it low-life;
but we looke for such unmannerlinesse in the kitchen. A whip is onlie
fit for Tisiphone.

As we rose from table, I noted Argus pearcht on y'e window-sill,
eagerlie watching for his dinner, which he looketh for as punctuallie as
if he c'd tell the diall; and to please the good, patient bird, till
the scullion broughte him his mess of garden-stuff, I fetched him some
pulse, which he took from mine hand, taking good