[Ansteorra-announce] The Cock and Pie Tavern at Loch Guardian

[Stephen Tapster]

'Ello milords and ladies.
 
Many's th' times I've 'eard 'at Adam Seymour rabbitin' on about 'is 
play'ouse, th' Aster.  Why, jus' las' week th' Baron's Men played Th' Merrie 
Wives of Windsor there an' ye should've 'eard the ruckus!  'Owls of laugher 
I 'eard all even, an' then there wuz this thund'rous cheer and applause went 
up a' th' end - ye'd 'ave sworn a tempest wuz brewin', ye'd 'ave!
 
Oh, me an' my manners.  Tapster's th' name, Stephen Tapster. I run th' Cock 
an' Pie Tavern next t'th' Aster, I does.
 
Now, while you good folk 'ave seen th' Baron's Men on stage, they's good 
customers o' mine, they is, an' I've 'eard all th' scuttlebutt 'round behind 
th' curtain, if ye knows what I mean.  See, I 'ears it when things are going 
good ... an' I 'ears it when things are going bad.  Now 'at Adam Seymour, 
salt o' th' earth, 'e is.  'E's promised th' Baron's Men a share o' th' 
profits from the play!  Thing is, profit's usually th' last thing any 
establishment sees, an' well, me best customers is seen better times, 
they 'as.
 
Since 'at Adam Seymour's capable of speakin' for 'imself - 'e knows 'at 
Queen's English, 'e does - I'll leave 'im to tell ye about th' play.  But let 
me tell ye 'bout th' Cock an' Pie!  We'll be 'avin' the finest ales th' 
brewers can supply.  Cordials 'at'll bring a tear t' yer eye.  Fun an' 
merriment.  An' on nights when th' Baron's Men play, they usually 
find 'emselves 'round f'r a tipple, 'ey do!  Famous players, right there a' 
th' next table t'ye, fresh from th' stage a' th' Aster!
 
But if I could beg a boon from ye, good folk.  Though yer welcome an' all t' 
th' Cock an' Pie, I would ask tha' ye help me best customers out, ya 
see, 'fore th' 'ard times gets 'arder for 'em.  We'll be 'avin' a pitcher at 
th' bar to raise some coin to 'elp pay some o' th' Baron's Men's expenses, 
an' if ye'd be good enough t' leave some coin for 'em, I'd be in yer debt.  
They's my best customers, ya see.  An' th' brewers could use some coin 
to 'elp wi' what they bring in to th' Cock an' Pie.  It does take a pound 
note 'r two to brew beer, and a goodly bit more to produce a play, Mister 
Seymour tells me.
 
Well, I've spoken me mind wi' ye.  Go see th' Merrie Wives o' Windsor 
presented by th' Baron's Men a' th' Aster Theatre, which on th' Ides o' May 
will be a' Loch Guardian.  Come by th' Cock an' Pie after f'r a flagon o' 
finest ale.  An' bring yer spare coin t' help th' Baron's Men - a' least, 
until Mister Seymour sees those profits 'e promised me friends.
 
So says me, Stephen Tapster, proprietor o' th' Cock an' Pie Tavern.