_For the Table Book._
[From the “Pleasant Conceits of old Hobson, the merry Londoner; full
of humourous Discourses and merry Merriments:--1607.”]
_How Maister Hobson hung out a lanterne and candlelight._
In the beginning of queen Elizabeth’s reign, when the order of hanging
out lanterne and candlelight first of all was brought up,[95] the bedell
of the warde where Maister Hobson dwelt, in a dark evening, crieing up
and down, “Hang out your lanternes! Hang out your lanternes!” using no
other wordes, Maister Hobson tooke an emptie lanterne, and, according to
the bedells call, hung it out. This flout, by the lord mayor, was taken
in ill part, and for the same offence Hobson was sent to the Counter,
but being released, the next night following, thinking to amend his
call, the bedell cryed out, with a loud voice, “Hang out your lanternes
and candle!” Maister Hobson, hereupon, hung out a lanterne and candle
unlighted, as the bedell again commanded; whereupon he was sent again to
the Counter; but the next night, the bedell being better advised, cryed
“Hang out your lanterne and candle light! Hang out your lanterne and
candle light!” which Maister Hobson at last did, to his great
commendations, which cry of lanterne and candle light is in right manner
used to this day.
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_How Maister Hobson found out the Pye-stealer._
In Christmas Holy-dayes when Maister Hobson’s wife had many pyes in the
oven, one of his servants had stole one of them out, and at the tauerne
had merrilie eat it. It fortuned, the same day, that some of his friends
dined with him, and one of the best pyes were missing, the stealer
thereof, after dinner, he found out in this manner. He called all his
servants in friendly sort together into the hall, and caused each of
them to drinke one to another, both wine, ale, and beare, till they were
all drunke; then caused hee a table to be furnished with very goode
cheare, whereat hee likewise pleased them. Being set altogether, he
saide, “Why sit ye not downe fellows?”--“We bee set already,” quoth
they.--“Nay,” quoth Maister Hobson, “he that stole the pye is not yet
set.”--“Yes, that I doe!” quoth he that stole it, by which means Maister
Hobson knewe what was become of the pye; for the poor fellowe being
drunke could not keepe his owne secretts.
[95] The custom of hanging out lanterns before lamps were in use was
earlier than queen Elizabeth’s reign.
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