How a Cookes wife in Lhndon did lately serue a Colliar for his cosenage.
IT chanced this summer that a load of coles came foorth of Kent to Billingsgate, and a leger bought them, who thinking to deceiue the citizens, as he did those in the Suburbs, furni∣shed himselfe with a couple of sacks, and comes vp S. Mary hil to s••ll them. A Cookes wife bargaynd with the Collier for his coles, and they agreed vpon fourteen pence for the couple: which done, he carried in the coles and shot them: And when the wi••e sawe them, and perceyuing there was scarce fiue bushels for eyght, shee cals a little girle to her, and bade her go for the Constable: for thou cosening rogue, quoth she, (speaking to the Collier) I will teach thee how thou shalt cos••n me with thy false sackes, howsoe∣uer thou doest others, & I will haue thee before my L. Mayor, with that she caught a spit in her hand, and swore if he offred to stirre, she would therewith broach him. At which word the col∣lier was amazed, & the feare of the Pillery put him in such a fright, that he sayd he would go to his bote, and returne againe to answere whatsoeuer she durst obiect against him, & for pledge thereof (quoth the Collier) keepe my sacks, your money, and the coles also. Whereupon the woman let him goe: but as soone as the Collier was out of dores, it was needelesse to byd him runne, for downe he gets to his Bote and away he thrustes from Billins∣gate, and so immediately went downe to Wapping, and neuer o••∣t••r durst returne to the Cookes wi••e, to demaund eyther money, sacks, or coales.