Mine host of the Bear, in
Kiberton, the father of ale, and patron of good football and
cudgel players, has any time since I can remember been
grand-chancellor of this order.
"Now, say I, seeing great things arise from small beginnings,
what should hinder the people, prone to their own advantage and
loving money, from having intelligence conveyed to them by this
same king piper and his chancellor, with their loyal subjects the
minstrels and bear-wards, masters of ceremonies, to which there
is great recourse in their respective perambulations, and which
they will commission and instruct, with directions to all the
tribes, willing and commanding them, that as they wish their own
good, they choose no other into the next primum mobile but of the
ablest cudgel and football players? Which done as soon as said,
your primum mobile, consisting of no other stuff, must of
necessity be drawn forth into your nebulones and your
galimofries; and so the silken purses of your Senate and
prerogative being made of sows' ears, most of them blacksmiths,
they will strike while the iron is hot, and beat your estates
into hob-nails, mine host of the Bear being strategus, and king
piper lord orator. Well, my lords, it might have been otherwise
expressed, but this is well enough a-conscience.
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