I believe I hear the Rogue . Who 's there ? Little better , Friend , I believe . Who fir 'd that Gun ? You lie , I believe . Come , come , Sirrah , confess ; you have shot one of the King 's Deer , have not you ? I am not bound to believe this , Friend . Pray who are you ? What 's your Name ? Name ! yes Name . Why you have a Name , have not you ? Where do you come from ? What is your Business here ? May be so ; but they are Questions no honest Man would be afraid to answer , I think : So if you can give no better Account of your self , I shall make bold to take you along with me , if you please . The King 's Authority , if I must give you an Account , Sir . I am John Cockle , the Miller of Mansfield , one of his Majesty 's Keepers in this Forest of Sherwood ; and I will let no suspected Fellow pass this Way that cannot give a better Account of himself than you have done , I promise you . It 's more than you deserve , I believe ; but let 's hear what you can say for yourself . This does not sound well ; if you have been a hunting , pray where is your Horse ? If I thought I might believe this now . What ! do you live at Court , and not lie ! that 's a likely Story indeed . Ay , now I am convinc 'd you are a Courtier ; here is a little Bribe for to Day , and a large Promise for To-morrow , both in a Breath : Here , take it again , and take this along with it —— John Cockle is no Courtier , he can do what he ought —— without a Bribe . Thee ! and Thou ! Prythee do n't thee and thou me ; I believe I am as good a Man as yourself at least . Nay , I am not angry , Friend , only I do n't love to be too familiar with any-body , before I know whether they deserve it or not . You may do what you please . You are twelve Miles from Nottingham , and all the Way through this thick Wood ; but if you are resolv 'd upon going thither to Night , I will put you in the Road , and direct you the best I can ; or if you will accept of such poor Entertainment as a Miller can give , you shall be welcome to stay all Night , and in the Morning I will go with you myself . I would not go with you to Night if you was the King . I have brought thee a Stranger , Madge ; thou must give him a Supper , and a Lodging if thou can'st . Dick ! Where is he ? Why Dick ! How is't my Lad ? Faith , Sir , you must excuse me ; I was over-joy 'd to see my Boy . He has been at London , and I have not seen him these four Yerrs . What has brought thee Home so unexpected ? Of that by-and-by then . We have got the King down in the Forest a hunting this Season , and this honest Gentleman , who came down with his Majesty from London , has been with ‘ em to Day it seems , and has lost his Way . Come , Madge , see what thou can'st get for Supper . Kill a Couple of the best Fowls ; and go you , Kate , and draw a Pitcher of Ale . We are famous , Sir , at Mansfield , for good Ale , and for honest Fellows that know how to drink it . Why , that 's a Story which Dick , perhaps , wo n't like to have told . So , now do you go help your Mother . Sir , my hearty Service to you . Come , Sir . Well , Dick , and how do'st thou like London ? Come , tell us what thou hast seen . The Land of Promise ! What dost thou mean ? Thou wilt never leave joking . What , would the great Man thou wast recommended to , do nothing at all for thee at last ? Zoons ! do the Courtiers think their Dependants can eat Promises ! Poor Dick ! And is plain Honesty then a Recommendation to no Place at Court ? No , no , Dick ; instead of depending upon Lords Promises , depend upon the Labour of thine own Hands ; expect nothing but what thou can'st earn , and then thou wilt not be disappointed . But come , I want a Description of London ; thou hast told us nothing thou hast seen yet . And is this the best Description thou can'st give of it ? Well , if this is London , give me my Country Cottage ; which , tho ’ it is not a great House , nor a fine House , is my own House , and I can shew a Receipt for the Building o n't . Come , Sir , our Supper , I believe , is ready for us , by this time ; and to such as I have , you 're as welcome as a Prince . Come , Sir , you must mend a bad Supper with a Glass of good Ale : Here 's King Harry 's Health . Prithee , Margery , do n't trouble the Gentleman with Compliments . Then a Fig for all Ceremony and Compliments too : Give us thy Hand ; and let us drink and be merry . Ah ! my singing Days are over , but my Man Joe has got an excellent one ; and if you have a Mind to hear it , I 'll call him in . Joe ! Come , Joe , drink Boy ; I have promised this Gentleman that you shall sing him your last new Song . There 's a Song for you . What Wind blew you hither pray ? You have a good Share of Impudence , or you would be asham 'd to set your Foot within my House , methinks . Ah , Dick ! I expect but little Redress from such an Application . Things of this Nature are so common amongst the Great , that I am afraid it will only be made a Jest of . I wish it may prove so . and } What ! is this the King ? Dick . } After I have seen so much of your Majesty 's Goodness , I cannot despair of Pardon , even for the rough Usage your Majesty receiv 'd from me .What have I done that I should lose my Life ? Your Majesty 's Bounty I receive with Thankfulness ; I have been guilty of no Meanness to obtain it , and hope I shall not be obliged to keep it upon base Conditions ; for tho ’ I am willing to be a faithful Subject , I am resolv 'd to be a free and an honest Man .