He was a merry wight, and in great favour with the parish
wives. He could bleed and shave the sconce; draw out bonds and
quittances; thus uniting three of the professions in his own proper
person. He was prime mover in the May games, and the feast of fools.
Morris, Moriscoe, or Moorish dancers, there is good reason for
supposing, were not then introduced, though by some said to have been
brought into England in the sixth year of Edward III., when John of
Gaunt returned from Spain; but few traces of it are found earlier than
Henry VII., so that it is more probable we had them from our Gallic
neighbours, or even from the Flemings.
He could dance, too, and play on the rebeck and citerne, this being a
common amusement with the customers during the time they were in waiting
at the barbers' shops, as newspapers were not then at hand to sustain
this difficult office. He was of a dainty person; clad mostly in a
kirtle of light watchet-colour, thick set with loose points. His hosen
were grey, mingled with black, and his shoes were belayed with knots and
ornaments, of which, and his other stray gear, he was not a little
proud.
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