54364On Monday morning I danced to Rockland 365ere I rested, and coming to my inn, where 366the host was a very boon companion, I desired 367to see him, but in no case he would be spoken with 368till he had shifted himself from his working day's 369suit. Being armed at all points, from the cap to 370the codpiece, his black shoes shining and made 371straight with copper buckles of the best, his garters 372in the fashion, and every garment fitting Cortemsquandam 373(to use his own word), he enters the 374hall with his bonnet in his hand; began to cry 375out.
55376"O Kemp, dear Master Kemp! You are even as 377welcome as ... as ... as ... ," and so stammering, he began to 378study for a fit comparison, and I thank him at last 379he fitted me: for saith he, "Thou art even as welcome 380as the queen's best greyhound." After this dogged 381yet well-meaning salutation, the carouses 382were called in, and my friendly host of Rockland 383began with all this: blessing the hour upon his 384knees that any of the queen's majesty's well-385willers or friends would vouchsafe to come within 386his house, as if never any such had been within 387his doors before.
56388I took his good meaning, and gave him great 389thanks for his kindness; and having rested me 390well, began to take my course for Hingham, whither 391my honest host of Rockland would needs be 392my guide. But, good true fat-belly, he had not followed 393me two fields, but he lies all along and 394cries after me to come back and speak with him. 395I fulfilled his request, and coming to him, "Dancer," 396quoth he, "if thou dance a God's name, God 397speed thee. I cannot follow thee a foot farther, 398but adieu good dancer. God speed thee if thou 399dance a God's name."
57400I having haste of my way, and he being able 401to keep no way, there we parted. Farewell he; 402he was a kind good fellow, a true Trojan. An 403it ever be my luck to meet him at more leisure, 404I'll make him full amends with a cup full of 405canary. But now I am a little better advised, 406we must not let my mad host 407pass, for my friend late mentioned before, that 408made the odd rhyme on my Maid Marian, would 409needs remember my host. Such as it is I'll 410bluntly set down:
87440Well, once again farewell, mine host at Rockland. 441After all these farewells I am sure to Hingham 442I found a foul way, as before I had done 443from Thetford to Rockland.
88444Yet besides the deep way I was much hindered 445by the desire people had to see me. For even as our 446shopkeepers will hail and pull a man with 447"Lack ye? What do you lack, gentlemen?" "My ware 448is best," cries one; "Mine best in England," says another; 449"Here shall you have choice," saith the third. 450So was the divers voices of the young men and 451maidens, which I should meet at every mile's 452end, thronging by twenty, and sometime forty, 453yea hundreds in a company. One crying the 454fairest way was through their village; another, 455"This is the nearest and fairest way, when you 456have past but a mile and a half"; another sort 457cry, "Turn on the left hand," some "On the right 458hand," that I was so amazed I knew not 459sometime which way I might best take; but haphazard, 460the people still accompanying me, wherewith 461I was much comforted, though the ways 462were bad. But as I said before, at last I overtook 463it.