iS8 THE BATH ROAD 



well knowne in all this coimtrye for his good fellow- 

 ship, that he could goe into no place but he found 

 acquaintance ; by means whereof Jacke could no 

 sooner get a crowne, but straight hee found meanes 

 to spend it ; yet had he ever this care, that hee would 

 always keepe himselfe in comely and decent apparel, 

 neither at any time would hee be overcome in drinke, 

 but so discreetly behave himselfe with honest mirthe 

 and pleasant conceits, that he was every gentleman's 

 companion." 



This is so excellent a voucher for him that it is not 

 surprising so universal a favourite stepped into the 

 shoes of his master's widow. She was rich, and ho 

 with a plentiful lack of coin ; yet though she had a 

 choice of suitors, including a " tanner, a taylor, and 

 a parson," she set her heart on Jack with something of 

 the determination which characterized the " Berksliire 

 Lady " already referred to in these pages ; and though 

 he was something loth, married him out of hand. We 

 are not told that she regretted it, but probably she 

 did, for the stories have it that she was a gossip and 

 given to staying out late, while Jack stopped at home 

 and went betimes to bed. Once, when she returned 

 at midnight, and knocked at the door, he looked from 

 his window and told her that, as she had stayed out 

 all day for her own delight, she might " lie forth " 

 until the morning for his. " Moved with pity," as 

 the narrative says, but more likely because her 

 continual knocking kept him awake, he at last went 

 down in his shirt and opened the door, when "Alack, 

 husband," says she, " what hap have I ? My wedding- 

 ring was even now in my hand, and I have let it fall 



