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+The Project Gutenberg Etext A Bundle of Ballads, by Henry Morley
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+Title:  A Bundle of Ballads
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+Author:  Henry Morley
+
+September, 2001  [Etext #2831]
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+The Project Gutenberg Etext A Bundle of Ballads, by Henry Morley
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+This etext was prepared from the 1891 George Routledge & Sons
+edition by Les Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset.
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+
+
+A BUNDLE OF BALLADS - EDITED BY HENRY MORLEY.
+
+by Henry Morley
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS.
+
+INTRODUCTION
+CHEVY CHASE
+CHEVY CHASE (the later version)
+THE NUT-BROWN MAID
+ADAM BELL, CLYM OF THE CLOUGH, AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLIE
+BINNORIE
+KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR MAID
+TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE
+WILLOW, WILLOW, WILLOW
+THE LITTLE WEE MAN
+THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE
+EDWARD, EDWARD
+ROBIN HOOD
+KING EDWARD IV. AND THE TANNER OF TAMWORTH
+SIR PATRICK SPENS
+EDOM O' GORDON
+THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD
+THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BETHNAL GREEN
+THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON
+BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY
+SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST
+THE BRAES O' YARROW
+KEMP OWYNE
+O'ER THE WATER TO CHARLIE
+ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST
+JEMMY DAWSON
+WILLIAM AND MARGARET
+ELFINLAND WOOD
+CASABIANCA
+AULD ROBIN GRAY
+GLOSSARY
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION BY THE EDITOR.
+
+
+
+Recitation with dramatic energy by men whose business it was to travel
+from one great house to another and delight the people by the way, was
+usual among us from the first.  The scop invented and the glee-man
+recited heroic legends and other tales to our Anglo-Saxon forefathers.
+These were followed by the minstrels and other tellers of tales
+written for the people.  They frequented fairs and merrymakings,
+spreading the knowledge not only of tales in prose or ballad form, but
+of appeals also to public sympathy from social reformers.
+
+As late as the year 1822, Allan Cunningham, in publishing a collection
+of  "Traditional Tales of the English and Scottish Peasantry," spoke
+from his own recollection of itinerant story-tellers who were welcomed
+in the houses of the peasantry and earned a living by their craft.
+
+The earliest story-telling was in recitative.  When the old
+alliteration passed on into rhyme, and the crowd or rustic fiddle took
+the place of the old "gleebeam" for accentuation of the measure and
+the meaning of the song, we come to the ballad-singer as Philip Sidney
+knew him.  Sidney said, in his "Defence of Poesy," that he never heard
+the old song of Percy and Douglas, that he found not his heart moved
+more than with a trumpet; and yet, he said, "it is sung but by some
+blind crowder, with no rougher voice than rude style; which being so
+evil apparelled in the dust and cobweb of that uncivil age, what would
+it work trimmed in the gorgeous eloquence of Pindar?"  Many an old
+ballad, instinct with natural feeling, has been more or less
+corrupted, by bad ear or memory, among the people upon whose lips it
+has lived.  It is to be considered, however, that the old broader
+pronunciation of some letters developed some syllables and the
+swiftness of speech slurred over others, which will account for many
+an apparent halt in the music of what was actually, on the lips of the
+ballad-singer, a good metrical line.
+
+"Chevy Chase" is, most likely, a corruption of the French word
+chevauchee, which meant a dash over the border for destruction and
+plunder within the English pale.  Chevauchee was the French equivalent
+to the Scottish border raid.  Close relations between France and
+Scotland arose out of their common interest in checking movements
+towards their conquest by the kings of England, and many French words
+were used with a homely turn in Scottish common speech.  Even that
+national source of joy, "great chieftain of the pudding-race," the
+haggis, has its name from the French hachis.  At the end of the old
+ballad of "Chevy Chase," which reads the corrupted word into a new
+sense, as the Hunting on the Cheviot Hills, there is an identifying of
+the Hunting of the Cheviot with the Battle of Otterburn:--
+
+     "Old men that knowen the ground well enough call it the Battle of
+Otterburn.
+      At Otterburn began this spurn upon a Monenday;
+      There was the doughty Douglas slain, the Percy never went away."
+
+The Battle of Otterburn was fought on the 19th of August 1388. The
+Scots were to muster at Jedburgh for a raid into England.  The Earl of
+Northumberland and his sons, learning the strength of the Scottish
+gathering, resolved not to oppose it, but to make a counter raid into
+Scotland.  The Scots heard of this and divided their force.  The main
+body, under Archibald Douglas and others, rode for Carlisle.  A
+detachment of three or four hundred men-at-arms and two thousand
+combatants, partly archers, rode for Newcastle and Durham, with James
+Earl of Douglas for one of their leaders.  These were already
+pillaging and burning in Durham when the Earl of Northumberland first
+heard of them, and sent against them his sons Henry and Ralph Percy.
+In a hand-to-hand fight between Douglas and Henry Percy, Douglas took
+Percy's pennon.  At Otterburn the Scots overcame the English but
+Douglas fell, struck by three spears at once, and Henry was captured
+in fight by Lord Montgomery.  There was a Scots ballad on the Battle
+of Otterburn quoted in 1549 in a book--"The Complaynt of Scotland"--
+that also referred to the Hunttis of Chevet.  The older version of
+"Chevy Chase" is in an Ashmole MS. in the Bodleian, from which it was
+first printed in 1719 by Thomas Hearne in his edition of William of
+Newbury's History.  Its author turns the tables on the Scots with the
+suggestion of the comparative wealth of England and Scotland in men of
+the stamp of Douglas and Percy.  The later version, which was once
+known more widely, is probably not older than the time of James I.,
+and is the version praised by Addison in Nos. 70 and 74 of "The
+Spectator."
+
+"The Nut-Brown Maid," in which we can hardly doubt that a woman pleads
+for women, was first printed in 1502 in Richard Arnold's Chronicle.
+Nut-brown was the old word for brunette.  There was an old saying that
+"a nut-brown girl is neat and blithe by nature."
+
+"Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudeslie" was first
+printed by Copland about 1550.  A fragment has been found of an
+earlier impression.  Laneham, in 1575, in his Kenilworth Letter,
+included "Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough, and William of Cloudeslie"
+among the light reading of Captain Cox.  In the books of the
+Stationers' Company (for the printing and editing of which we are
+deeply indebted to Professor Arber), there is an entry between July
+1557 and July 1558, "To John kynge to prynte this boke Called Adam
+Bell etc. and for his lycense he giveth to the howse."  On the 15th of
+January 1581-2 "Adam Bell" is included in a list of forty or more
+copyrights transferred from Sampson Awdeley to John Charlewood; "A
+Hundred Merry Tales" and Gower's "Confessio Amantis" being among the
+other transfers.  On the 16th of August 1586 the Company of Stationers
+"Alowed vnto Edward white for his copies these fyve ballades so that
+they be tollerable:" four only are named, one being "A ballad of
+William Clowdisley, never printed before."  Drayton wrote in the
+"Shepheard's Garland" in 1593:--
+
+     "Come sit we down under this hawthorn tree,
+        The morrow's light shall lend us day enough--
+      And tell a tale of Gawain or Sir Guy,
+        Of Robin Hood, or of good Clem of the Clough."
+
+Ben Jonson, in his "Alchemist," acted in 1610, also indicates the
+current popularity of this tale, when Face, the housekeeper, brings
+Dapper, the lawyer's clerk, to Subtle, and recommends him with--
+
+                    "'slight, I bring you
+      No cheating Clim o' the Clough or Claribel."
+
+"Binnorie," or "The Two Sisters," is a ballad on an old theme popular
+in Scandinavia as well as in this country.  There have been many
+versions of it.  Dr. Rimbault published it from a broadside dated
+1656.  The version here given is Sir Walter Scott's, from his
+"Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border," with a few touches from other
+versions given in Professor Francis James Child's noble edition of
+"The English and Scottish Popular Ballads," which, when complete, will
+be the chief storehouse of our ballad lore.
+
+"King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid" is referred to by Shakespeare in
+"Love's Labour's Lost," Act iv. sc I; in "Romeo and Juliet," Act ii.
+sc. I; and in "II. Henry IV.," Act iii. sc. 4.  It was first printed
+in 1612 in Richard Johnson's "Crown Garland of Goulden Roses gathered
+out of England's Royall Garden.  Being the Lives and Strange Fortunes
+of many Great Personages of this Land, set forth in many pleasant new
+Songs and Sonnets never before imprinted."
+
+"Take thy Old Cloak about thee," was published in 1719 by Allan Ramsay
+in his "Tea-Table Miscellany," and was probably a sixteenth century
+piece retouched by him.  Iago sings the last stanza but one--"King
+Stephen was a worthy peer," etc.--in "Othello," Act ii. sc. 3.
+
+In "Othello," Act iv. sc. 3, there is also reference to the old ballad
+of "Willow, willow, willow."
+
+"The Little Wee Man" is a wee ballad that is found in many forms with
+a little variation.  It improves what was best in the opening of a
+longer piece which introduced popular prophecies, and is to be found
+in Cotton MS. Julius A. v.  It was printed by Thomas Wright in his
+edition of Langtoft's Chronicle (ii. 452).
+
+"The Spanish Lady's Love" was printed by Thomas Deloney in "The
+Garland of Goodwill," published in the latter half of the sixteenth
+century.  The hero of this ballad was probably one of Essex's
+companions in the Cadiz expedition, and various attempts have been
+made to identify him, especially with a Sir John Bolle of Thorpe Hall,
+Lincolnshire.
+
+"Edward, Edward," is from Percy's "Reliques."  Percy had it from Lord
+Hailes.
+
+"Robin Hood" is the "Lytell Geste of Robyn Hood," printed in London by
+Wynken de Worde, and again in Edinburgh by Chepman and Myllar in 15O8,
+in the first year of the establishment of a printing-press in
+Scotland.
+
+"King Edward IV. and the Tanner of Tamworth" is a ballad of a kind
+once popular; there were "King Alfred and the Neatherd," "King Henry
+and the Miller," "King James I. and the Tinker," "King Henry VII. and
+the Cobbler," with a dozen more.  "The Tanner of Tamworth" in another,
+perhaps older, form, as "The King and the Barker," was printed by
+Joseph Ritson in his "Ancient Popular Poetry."
+
+"Sir Patrick Spens" was first published by Percy in his "Reliques of
+Ancient English Poetry" (1757).  It was given by Sir Walter Scott in
+his "Minstrelsy of the Border," and with more detail by Peter Buchan
+in his "Ancient Ballads of the North."  Buchan took it from an old
+blind ballad-singer who had recited it for fifty years, and learnt it
+in youth from another very old man.  The ballad is upon an event in
+Scottish history of the thirteenth century, touching marriage of a
+Margaret, daughter of the King of Scotland, to Haningo, son of the
+King of Norway.  The perils of a winter sea-passage in ships of the
+olden time were recognised by an Act of the reign of James III. of
+Scotland, prohibiting all navigation "frae the feast of St. Simon's
+Day and Jude unto the feast of the Purification of our Lady, called
+Candlemas."
+
+"Edom o' Gordon" was first printed at Glasgow by Robert and Andrew
+Foulis in 1755.  Percy ascribed its preservation to Sir David
+Dalrymple, who gave it from the memory of a lady.  The incident was
+transferred to the border from the North of Scotland.  Edom o' Gordon
+was Sir Adam Gordon of Auchindown, Lieutenant-Depute for Queen Mary in
+the North in 1571.  He sent Captain Ker with soldiers against the
+Castle of Towie, which was set on fire, and the Lady of Towie, with
+twenty-six other persons, "was cruelly brint to the death."  Other
+forms of the ballad ascribe the deed, with incidents of greater
+cruelty, to Captain Carr, the Lord of Estertowne.
+
+"The Children in the Wood" was entered in the books of the Stationers'
+Company on the 15th of October 1595 to Thomas Millington as,
+     "for his Copie vnder th[e h]andes of bothe the wardens a ballad
+intituled, The Norfolk gent his will and Testament and how he
+Commytted the keepinge of his Children to his owne brother whoe delte
+moste wickedly with them and howe God plagued him for it."
+It was printed as a black-letter ballad in 167O.  Addison wrote a
+paper on it in "The Spectator" (No. 85), praising it as "one of the
+darling songs of the common people."
+
+"The Blind Beggar of Bednall Green" is in many collections, and was
+known in Elizabeth's time, another Elizabethan ballad having been set
+to the tune of it.  "This very house," wrote Samuel Pepys in June 1663
+of Sir William Rider's house at Bethnal Green, "was built by the blind
+beggar of Bednall Green, so much talked of and sung in ballads; but
+they say it was only some outhouses of it."  The Angels that abounded
+in the Beggar's stores were gold coins, so named from the figure on
+one side of the Archangel Michael overcoming the Dragon.  This coin
+was first struck in 1466, and it was used until the time of Charles
+the First.
+
+"The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington," or "True Love Requited," is a
+ballad in Pepys's collection, now in the Bodleian.  The Islington of
+the Ballad is supposed to be an Islington in Norfolk.
+
+"Barbara Allen's Cruelty" was referred to by Pepys in his Diary,
+January 2, 1665-6 as "the little Scotch song of Barbary Allen."  It
+was first printed by Allan Ramsay (in 1724) in his "Tea-Table
+Miscellany."  In the same work Allan Ramsay was also the first printer
+of "Sweet William's Ghost."
+
+Fragments of "The Braes o' Yarrow" are in old collections.  The ballad
+has been given by Scott in his "Minstrelsy of the Border," and another
+version is in Peter Buchan's "Ancient Ballads of the North."
+
+"Kemp Owyne" is here given from Buchan's "Ballads of the North of
+Scotland."  Here also Professor F. J. Child has pointed to many
+Icelandic, Danish, and German analogies.  Allied to "Kemp Owyne" is
+the modern ballad of "The Laidley Worm of Spindleston Heughs," written
+before 1778 by the Rev. Mr. Lamb of Norham; but the "Laily Worm and
+the Machrel of the Sea" is an older cousin to "Kemp Owyne."
+
+"O'er the Water to Charlie" is given by Buchan as the original form of
+this one of the many songs made when Prince Charles Edward made his
+attempt in 1745-6.  The songs worked scraps of lively old tunes, with
+some old words of ballad, into declaration of goodwill to the
+Pretender.
+
+"Admiral Hosier's Ghost" was written by Richard Glover in 174O to
+rouse national feeling.  Vice-Admiral Vernon with only six men-of-war
+had taken the town of Portobello, and levelled its fortifications.
+The place has so dangerous a climate that it is now almost deserted.
+Admiral Hosier in 1726 had been, in the same port, with twenty ships,
+restrained from attack, while he and his men were dying of fever.  He
+was to blockade the Spanish ports in the West Indies and capture any
+Spanish galleons that came out.  He left Porto Bello for Carthagena,
+where he cruised about while his men were being swept away by disease.
+His ships were made powerless through death of his best officers and
+men.  He himself at last died, it was said, of a broken heart.  Dyer's
+ballad pointed the contrast as a reproach to the Government for
+half-hearted support of the war, and was meant for suggestion of the
+success that would reward vigorous action.
+
+"Jemmy Dawson" was a ballad written by William Shenstone on a young
+officer of Manchester volunteers who was hanged, drawn, and quartered
+in 1746 on Kennington Common for having served the Pretender.  He was
+engaged to a young lady, who came to the execution, and when it was
+over fell back dead in her coach.
+
+"William and Margaret," by David Mallet, published in 1727, is another
+example of the tendency to the revival of the ballad in the eighteenth
+century.
+
+"Elfinland Wood," by the Scottish poet William Motherwell, who died in
+1835, aged thirty-seven, is a modern imitation of the ancient Scottish
+ballad.  Mrs. Hemans, who wrote "Casabianca," died also in 1835.  But
+the last ballad in this bundle, Lady Anne Barnard's "Auld Robin Gray,"
+was written in 1771, and owes its place to a desire that this volume,
+which begins with the best of the old ballads, should end with the
+best of the new.  Lady Anne, eldest daughter of the fifth Earl of
+Balcarres, married Sir Andrew Barnard, librarian to George III., and
+survived her husband eighteen years.  While the authorship of the
+piece remained a secret there were some who attributed it to Rizzio,
+the favourite of Mary Queen of Scots.  Lady Anne Barnard acknowledged
+the authorship to Walter Scott in 1823, and told how she came to write
+it to an old air of which she was passionately fond, "Bridegroom grat
+when the sun gaed down."  When she had heaped many troubles on her
+heroine, and called to a little sister to suggest another, the
+suggestion came promptly, "Steal the cow, sister Anne."  And the cow
+was stolen.
+
+H. M.
+
+
+
+
+CHEVY CHASE
+
+The Percy out of Northumberland, and avow to God made he
+That he would hunt in the mountains of Cheviot within days three,
+In the maugre of doughty Douglas and all that ever with him be,
+The fattest harts in all Cheviot he said he would kill and carry them
+away.
+"By my faith," said the doughty Douglas again, "I will let that
+hunting if that I may!"
+Then the Percy out of Bamborough came, with him a mighty mean-y;
+With fifteen hundred archers, bold of blood and bone, they were chosen
+out of shires three.
+This began on a Monday, at morn, in Cheviot, the hillis so hie,
+The child may rue that is unborn, it was the more pitie.
+The drivers thorough the wood-es went for to raise the deer;
+Bowmen bickered upon the bent with their broad arrows clear,
+Then the wild thorough the wood-es went on every sid-e shear;
+Greyhounds thorough the grov-es glent for to kill their deer.
+This began in Cheviot, the hills abone, early on a Monnynday;
+By that it drew to the hour of noon a hundred fat harts dead there
+lay.
+They blew a mort upon the bent; they sembled on sidis shear,
+To the quarry then the Percy went, to see the brittling of the deer.
+He said, "It was the Douglas' promise this day to meet me here;
+But I wist he would fail, verament"--a great oath the Percy sware.
+At the last a squire of Northumberland looked, at his hand full nigh
+He was ware of the doughty Douglas coming, with him a mighty mean-y,
+Both with spear, bill, and brand, it was a mighty sight to see.
+Hardier men both of heart nor hand were not in Christiant-e.
+They were twenty hundred spearmen good without any fail;
+They were borne along by the water of Tweed, i'th' bounds of Tividale.
+"Leave off the brittling of the deer," he said, "and to your bows look
+ye take good heed,
+For never sith ye were of your mothers born had ye never so mickle
+need."
+The doughty Douglas on a steed he rode all his men beforn,
+His armour glittered as did a glede, a bolder barn was never born.
+"Tell me whose men ye are," he says, "or whose men that ye be;
+Who gave you leave to hunt in this Cheviot Chase in the spite of mine
+and of me?"
+The first man that ever him an answer made, it was the good Lord Perc-
+y,
+"We will not tell thee whose men we are," he says, "nor whose men that
+we be;
+But we will hunt here in this Chase in the spite of thine and of thee.
+The fattest harts in all Cheviot we have killed, and cast to carry
+them away."
+"By my troth," said the doughty Douglas again, "therefore the tone of
+us shall die this day."
+Then said the doughty Douglas unto the Lord Perc-y,
+"To kill all these guiltless men, alas! it were great pit-y.
+But, Percy, thou art a lord of land, I am an earl called within my
+countr-y.
+Let all our men upon a parti stand, and do the battle of thee and of
+me."
+"Now Christ's curse on his crown," said the Lord Percy, "whosoever
+thereto says nay!
+By my troth, doughty Douglas," he says, "thou shalt never see that
+day!
+Neither in England, Scotland, nor France, nor for no man of a woman
+born,
+But and fortune be my chance, I dare meet him, one man for one."
+Then bespake a squire of Northumberland, Richard Witherington was his
+name,
+"It shall never be told in South England," he says, "to King Harry the
+Fourth, for shame.
+I wot you ben great lord-es two, I am a poor squire of land;
+I will never see my captain fight on a field, and stand myself and
+look on;
+But while I may my weapon wield I will fight both heart and hand."
+That day, that day, that dreadful day:  the first fytte here I find,
+An you will hear any more of the hunting of the Cheviot, yet is there
+more behind.
+
+
+
+SECOND FYTTE.
+
+The English men had their bows ybent, their hearts were good enow;
+The first of arrows that they shot off, sevenscore spearmen they
+slowe.
+Yet bides the Earl Douglas upon the bent, a captain good enow,
+And that was seene verament, for he wrought them both wo and wough.
+The Douglas parted his host in three like a chief chieftain of pride,
+With suar spears of mighty tree they come in on every side,
+Through our English archery gave many a wound full wide;
+Many a doughty they gard to die, which gain-ed them no pride.
+The Englishmen let their bows be, and pulled out brands that were
+bright;
+It was a heavy sight to see bright swords on basnets light.
+Thorough rich mail and manople many stern they struck down straight,
+Many a freke that was full free there under foot did light.
+At last the Douglas and the Percy met, like to captains of might and
+of main;
+They swapt together till they both swat, with swords that were of fine
+Milan.
+These worthy frekis for to fight thereto they were full fain,
+Till the blood out of their basnets sprent as ever did hail or rain.
+"Yield thee, Percy," said the Douglas, "and in faith I shall thee
+bring
+Where thou shalt have an earl's wagis of Jamy our Scottish king.
+Thou shalt have thy ransom free, I hight thee here this thing,
+For the manfullest man yet art thou that ever I conquered in field
+fighting."
+"Nay," said the Lord Percy, "I told it thee beforn,
+That I would never yielded be to no man of a woman born."
+With that there came an arrow hastily forth of a mighty wone;
+It hath stricken the Earl Douglas in at the breastbone.
+Through liver and lung-es both the sharp arrow is gone,
+That never after in all his life-days he spake mo word-es but one,
+That was, "Fight ye, my merry men, whilis ye may, for my life-days ben
+gone!"
+The Percy lean-ed on his brand and saw the Douglas dee;
+He took the dead man by the hand, and said, "Wo is me for thee!
+To have saved thy life I would have parted with my lands for years
+three,
+For a better man of heart nor of hand was not in all the north
+countree."
+Of all that see, a Scottish knight, was called Sir Hugh the Montgomer-
+y,
+He saw the Douglas to the death was dight, he spended a spear a trusty
+tree,
+He rode upon a coursiere through a hundred archer-y,
+He never stinted nor never blane till he came to the good Lord Perc-y.
+He set upon the Lord Percy a dint that was full sore;
+With a suar spear of a mighty tree clean thorough the body he the
+Percy bore
+On the tother side that a man might see a large cloth yard and more.
+Two better captains were not in Christiant-e than that day slain were
+there.
+An archer of Northumberland saw slain was the Lord Perc-y,
+He bare a bent bow in his hand was made of trusty tree,
+An arrow that a cloth yard was long to the hard steel hal-ed he,
+A dint that was both sad and sore he sat on Sir Hugh the Montgomer-y.
+The dint it was both sad and sore that he on Montgomery set,
+The swan-feathers that his arrow bare, with his heart-blood they were
+wet.
+There was never a freke one foot would flee, but still in stour did
+stand,
+Hewing on each other while they might dree with many a baleful brand.
+This battle began in Cheviot an hour before the noon,
+And when evensong bell was rang the battle was not half done.
+They took on either hand by the light of the moon,
+Many had no strength for to stand in Cheviot the hillis aboon.
+Of fifteen hundred archers of England went away but seventy and three,
+Of twenty hundred spearmen of Scotland but even five and fift-y;
+But all were slain Cheviot within, they had no strength to stand on
+hy:
+The child may rue that is unborn, it was the more pity.
+There was slain with the Lord Percy Sir John of Agerstone,
+Sir Roger the hinde Hartley, Sir William the bold Herone,
+Sir George the worthy Lumley, a knight of great renown,
+Sir Ralph the rich Rugby, with dints were beaten down;
+For Witherington my heart was wo, that ever he slain should be,
+For when both his leggis were hewen in two, yet he kneeled and fought
+on his knee.
+There was slain with the doughty Douglas Sir Hugh the Montgomer-y;
+Sir Davy Lewdale, that worthy was, his sister's son was he;
+Sir Charles of Murray in that place that never a foot would flee;
+Sir Hugh Maxwell, a lord he was, with the Douglas did he dee.
+So on the morrow they made them biers of birch and hazel so gay;
+Many widows with weeping tears came to fetch their makis away.
+Tivydale may carp of care, Northumberland may make great moan,
+For two such captains as slain were there on the March parti shall
+never be none.
+Word is comen to Edinborough to Jamy the Scottish king,
+That doughty Douglas, lieutenant of the Marches, he lay slain Cheviot
+within.
+His hand-es did he weal and wring; he said, "Alas! and woe is me:
+Such another captain Scotland within," he said, "yea faith should
+never be."
+Word is comen to lovely London, to the fourth Harry our king,
+That Lord Perc-y, lieutenant of the Marches, he lay slain Cheviot
+within.
+"God have mercy on his soul," said King Harry, "good Lord, if thy will
+it be,
+I have a hundred captains in England," he said, "as good as ever was
+he;
+But Percy, an I brook my life, thy death well quite shall be."
+As our noble king made his avow, like a noble prince of renown,
+For the death of the Lord Perc-y he did the battle of Homildoun,
+Where six and thirty Scottish knights on a day were beaten down;
+Glendale glittered on their armour bright, over castle, tower, and
+town.
+This was the hunting of the Cheviot; that tear began this spurn;
+Old men that knowen the ground well enough call it the battle of
+Otterburn.
+At Otterburn began this spurn upon a Monenday;
+There was the doughty Douglas slain, the Percy never went away.
+There was never a time on the March part-es sen the Douglas and the
+Percy met,
+But it is marvel an the red blood run not as the rain does in the
+stret.
+Jesu Christ our balis bete, and to the bliss us bring!
+Thus was the hunting of the Cheviot.  God send us all good ending!
+
+
+
+CHEVY CHASE (the later version.)
+
+God prosper long our noble king,
+  Our lives and safeties all!
+A woeful hunting once there did
+  In Chevy Chase befall.
+
+To drive the deer with hound and horn
+  Earl Piercy took the way;
+The child may rue that is unborn
+  The hunting of that day!
+
+The stout Earl of Northumberland,
+  A vow to God did make,
+His pleasure in the Scottish woods
+  Three summers' days to take,
+
+The chiefest harts in Chevy Chase
+  To kill and bear away;
+These tidings to Earl Douglas came
+  In Scotland where he lay,
+
+Who sent Earl Piercy present word
+  He would prevent his sport.
+The English Earl, not fearing that,
+  Did to the woods resort,
+
+With fifteen hundred bowmen bold,
+  All chosen men of might,
+Who knew full well in time of need
+  To aim their shafts aright.
+
+The gallant greyhounds swiftly ran
+  To chase the fallow deer;
+On Monday they began to hunt
+  Ere daylight did appear;
+
+And long before high noon they had
+  A hundred fat bucks slain.
+Then having dined, the drivers went
+  To rouse the deer again.
+
+The bowmen mustered on the hills,
+  Well able to endure;
+Their backsides all with special care
+  That day were guarded sure.
+
+The hounds ran swiftly through the woods
+  The nimble deer to take,
+That with their cries the hills and dales
+  An echo shrill did make.
+
+Lord Piercy to the quarry went
+  To view the tender deer;
+Quoth he, "Earl Douglas promised once
+  This day to meet me here;
+
+"But if I thought he would not come,
+  No longer would I stay."
+With that a brave young gentleman
+  Thus to the Earl did say,
+
+"Lo, yonder doth Earl Douglas come,
+  His men in armour bright,
+Full twenty hundred Scottish spears
+  All marching in our sight,
+
+"All men of pleasant Tividale
+  Fast by the river Tweed."
+"O cease your sports!" Earl Piercy said,
+  "And take your bows with speed,
+
+"And now with me, my countrymen,
+  Your courage forth advance!
+For there was never champion yet
+  In Scotland nor in France
+
+"That ever did on horseback come,
+  But if my hap it were,
+I durst encounter man for man,
+  With him to break a spear."
+
+Earl Douglas on his milk-white steed,
+  Most like a baron bold,
+Rode foremost of his company,
+  Whose armour shone like gold:
+
+"Show me," said he, "whose men you be
+  That hunt so boldly here;
+That without my consent do chase
+  And kill my fallow deer."
+
+The first man that did answer make
+  Was noble Piercy, he,
+Who said, "We list not to declare,
+  Nor show whose men we be;
+
+"Yet we will spend our dearest blood
+  Thy chiefest harts to slay."
+Then Douglas swore a solemn oath,
+  And thus in rage did say,
+
+"Ere thus I will outbrav-ed be,
+  One of us two shall die!
+I know thee well! an earl thou art,
+  Lord Piercy! so am I.
+
+"But trust me, Piercy, pity it were,
+  And great offence, to kill
+Any of these our guiltless men
+  For they have done no ill;
+
+"Let thou and I the battle try,
+  And set our men aside."
+"Accurst be he," Earl Piercy said,
+  "By whom it is denied."
+
+Then stepped a gallant squire forth,--
+  Witherington was his name,--
+Who said, "I would not have it told
+  To Henry our king, for shame,
+
+"That e'er my captain fought on foot,
+  And I stand looking on:
+You be two Earls," quoth Witherington,
+  "And I a Squire alone.
+
+"I'll do the best that do I may,
+  While I have power to stand!
+While I have power to wield my sword,
+  I'll fight with heart and hand!"
+
+Our English archers bent their bows--
+  Their hearts were good and true,--
+At the first flight of arrows sent,
+  Full fourscore Scots they slew.
+
+To drive the deer with hound and horn,
+  Douglas bade on the bent;
+Two captains moved with mickle might,
+  Their spears to shivers went.
+
+They closed full fast on every side,
+  No slackness there was found,
+But many a gallant gentleman
+  Lay gasping on the ground.
+
+O Christ! it was great grief to see
+  How each man chose his spear,
+And how the blood out of their breasts
+  Did gush like water clear!
+
+At last these two stout Earls did meet
+  Like captains of great might;
+Like lions wood they laid on load,
+  They made a cruel fight.
+
+They fought, until they both did sweat,
+  With swords of tempered steel,
+Till blood adown their cheeks like rain
+  They trickling down did feel.
+
+"O yield thee, Piercy!" Douglas said,
+  "And in faith I will thee bring
+Where thou shalt high advanc-ed be
+  By James our Scottish king;
+
+"Thy ransom I will freely give,
+  And this report of thee,
+Thou art the most courageous knight
+  That ever I did see."
+
+"No, Douglas!" quoth Earl Piercy then,
+  "Thy proffer I do scorn;
+I will not yield to any Scot
+  That ever yet was born!"
+
+With that there came an arrow keen
+  Out of an English bow,
+Which struck Earl Douglas to the heart
+  A deep and deadly blow;
+
+Who never said more words than these,
+  "Fight on; my merry men all!
+For why? my life is at an end,
+  Lord Piercy sees my fall."
+
+Then leaving life, Earl Piercy took
+  The dead man by the hand;
+Who said, "Earl Douglas! for thy life
+  Would I had lost my land!
+
+"O Christ! my very heart doth bleed
+  For sorrow for thy sake!
+For sure, a more redoubted knight
+  Mischance could never take!"
+
+A knight amongst the Scots there was,
+  Which saw Earl Douglas die,
+Who straight in heart did vow revenge
+  Upon the Lord Pierc-y;
+
+Sir Hugh Montgomery he was called,
+  Who, with a spear full bright,
+Well mounted on a gallant steed,
+  Ran fiercely through the fight,
+
+And past the English archers all
+  Without all dread or fear,
+And through Earl Piercy's body then
+  He thrust his hateful spear.
+
+With such a vehement force and might
+  His body he did gore,
+The staff ran through the other side
+  A large cloth yard and more.
+
+So thus did both those nobles die,
+  Whose courage none could stain.
+An English archer then perceived
+  The noble Earl was slain;
+
+He had a good bow in his hand
+  Made of a trusty tree;
+An arrow of a cloth yard long
+  To the hard head hal-ed he,
+
+Against Sir Hugh Montgomery
+  His shaft full right he set;
+The grey goose-wing that was thereon,
+  In his heart's blood was wet.
+
+This fight from break of day did last
+  Till setting of the sun;
+For when they rung the evening bell,
+  The battle scarce was done.
+
+With stout Earl Piercy there was slain
+  Sir John of Egerton,
+Sir Robert Harcliffe and Sir William,
+  Sir James that bold bar-on;
+
+And with Sir George and Sir James,
+  Both knights of good account,
+Good Sir Ralph Raby there was slain,
+  Whose prowess did surmount.
+
+For Witherington needs must I wail
+  As one in doleful dumps,
+For when his legs were smitten off,
+  He fought upon his stumps.
+
+And with Earl Douglas there was slain
+  Sir Hugh Montgomery,
+And Sir Charles Morrel that from the field
+  One foot would never fly;
+
+Sir Roger Hever of Harcliffe too,--
+  His sister's son was he,--
+Sir David Lambwell, well esteemed,
+  But saved he could not be;
+
+And the Lord Maxwell in like case
+  With Douglas he did die;
+Of twenty hundred Scottish spears,
+  Scarce fifty-five did fly.
+
+Of fifteen hundred Englishmen
+  Went home but fifty-three;
+The rest in Chevy Chase were slain,
+  Under the greenwood tree.
+
+Next day did many widows come
+  Their husbands to bewail;
+They washed their wounds in brinish tears,
+  But all would not prevail.
+
+Their bodies, bathed in purple blood,
+  They bore with them away;
+They kissed them dead a thousand times
+  Ere they were clad in clay.
+
+This news was brought to Edinburgh,
+  Where Scotland's king did reign,
+That brave Earl Douglas suddenly
+  Was with an arrow slain.
+
+"O heavy news!" King James did say,
+  "Scotland may witness be
+I have not any captain more
+  Of such account as he!"
+
+Like tidings to King Henry came
+  Within as short a space,
+That Piercy of Northumberland
+  Was slain in Chevy Chase.
+
+"Now God be with him!" said our king,
+  "Sith 'twill no better be,
+I trust I have within my realm
+  Five hundred as good as he!
+
+"Yet shall not Scots nor Scotland say
+  But I will vengeance take,
+And be reveng-ed on them all
+  For brave Earl Piercy's sake."
+
+This vow the king did well perform
+  After on Humble Down;
+In one day fifty knights were slain,
+  With lords of great renown,
+
+And of the rest of small account,
+  Did many hundreds die:
+Thus ended the hunting in Chevy Chase
+  Made by the Earl Piercy.
+
+God save our king, and bless this land
+  With plenty, joy, and peace,
+And grant henceforth that foul debate
+  Twixt noble men may cease!
+
+
+
+THE NUT-BROWN MAID
+
+Be it right or wrong, these men among
+  On women do complain;
+Affirming this, how that it is
+  A labour spent in vain
+To love them wele; for never a dele
+  They love a man again:
+For let a man do what he can,
+  Their favour to attain,
+Yet, if a new to them pursue,
+  Their first true lover than
+Laboureth for naught; and from her thought
+  He is a banished man.
+
+I say not nay, but that all day
+  It is both writ and said
+That woman's faith is, as who saith,
+  All utterly decayed;
+But nevertheless, right good witn-ess
+  In this case might be laid.
+That they love true, and contin-ue,
+  Record the Nut-brown Maid:
+Which from her love, when her to prove
+  He came to make his moan,
+Would not depart; for in her heart
+  She loved but him alone.
+
+Then between us let us discuss
+  What was all the manere
+Between them two:  we will also
+  Tell all the pain in fere
+That she was in.  Now I begin,
+  So that ye me answere:
+Wher-efore, ye, that present be
+  I pray you give an ear.
+I am the knight.  I come by night,
+  As secret as I can;
+Saying, "Alas! thus standeth the case,
+  I am a banished man."
+
+And I your will for to fulfil
+  In this will not refuse;
+Trusting to shew, in word-es few,
+  That men have an ill use
+(To their own shame) women to blame,
+  And causeless them accuse:
+Therefore to you I answer now,
+  All women to excuse,--
+"Mine own heart dear, with you what cheer?
+  I pray you, tell anone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"It standeth so:  a deed is do
+  Whereof much harm shall grow;
+My destiny is for to die
+  A shameful death, I trow;
+Or else to flee.  The one must be.
+  None other way I know,
+But to withdraw as an out-law,
+  And take me to my bow.
+Wherefore, adieu, my own heart true!
+  None other rede I can:
+For I must to the green wood go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"O Lord, what is this world-es bliss,
+  That changeth as the moon!
+My summer's day in lusty May
+  Is darked before the noon.
+I hear you say, farewell:  Nay, nay!
+  We de-part not so soon.
+Why say ye so? whither will ye go?
+  Alas! what have ye done?
+All my welf-are to sorrow and care
+  Should change, if ye were gone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"I can believe, it shall you grieve,
+  And somewhat you distrain;
+But, afterward, your pain-es hard
+  Within a day or twain
+Shall soon aslake; and ye shall take
+  Com-fort to you again.
+Why should ye nought? for, to make thought,
+  Your labour were in vain.
+And thus I do; and pray you, lo,
+  As heartily as I can:
+For I must to the green wood go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"Now, sith that ye have shewed to me
+  The secret of your mind,
+I shall be plain to you again,
+  Like as ye shall me find.
+Sith it is so, that ye will go,
+  I will not leave behind.
+Shall never be said, the Nut-brown Maid
+  Was to her love unkind:
+Make you read-y, for so am I,
+  Although it were anone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"Yet I you re-de, take good heed
+  When men will think and say:
+Of young, of old, it shall be told,
+  That ye be gone away
+Your wanton will for to fulfil,
+  In green wood you to play;
+And that ye might from your delight
+  No longer make delay.
+Rather than ye should thus for me
+  Be called an ill wom-an,
+Yet would I to the green wood go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"Though it be sung of old and young,
+  That I should be to blame,
+Theirs be the charge that speak so large
+  In hurting of my name:
+For I will prove, that faithful love
+  It is devoid of shame
+In your distress and heaviness
+  To part with you the same:
+And sure all tho that do not so,
+  True lovers are they none:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"I counsel you, Remember how
+  It is no maiden's law
+Nothing to doubt, but to run out
+  To wood with an out-law;
+For ye must there in your hand bear
+  A bow to bear and draw;
+And, as a thief, thus must ye live,
+  Ever in dread and awe;
+By which to you great harm might grow:
+  Yet had I liever than
+That I had to the green wood go
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"I think not nay, but as ye say,
+  It is no maiden's lore;
+But love may make me for your sake,
+  As ye have said before,
+To come on foot, to hunt and shoot
+  To get us meat and store;
+For so that I your company
+  May have, I ask no more;
+From which to part, it maketh mine heart
+  As cold as any stone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"For an out-law, this is the law,
+  That men him take and bind;
+Without pit-ie, hang-ed to be,
+  And waver with the wind.
+If I had nede (as God forbede!)
+  What rescues could ye find?
+Forsooth, I trow, you and your bow
+  Should draw for fear behind.
+And no mervayle:  for little avail
+  Were in your counsel than:
+Wherefore I to the wood will go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE
+"Full well know ye, that women be
+  Full feeble for to fight;
+No womanhede it is indeed
+  To be bold as a knight;
+Yet, in such fear if that ye were
+  Among enemies day and night,
+I would withstand, with bow in hand,
+  To grieve them as I might,
+And you to save; as women have
+  From death many a one:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"Yet take good hede; for ever I drede
+  That ye could not sustain
+The thorny ways, the deep vall-eys,
+  The snow, the frost, the rain,
+The cold, the heat:  for dry or wet,
+  We must lodge on the plain;
+And, us above, none other roof
+  But a brake bush or twain:
+Which soon should grieve you, I believe:
+  And ye would gladly than
+That I had to the green wood go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"Sith I have here been partynere
+  With you of joy and bliss,
+I must al-so part of your woe
+  Endure, as reason is:
+Yet am I sure of one pleas-ure;
+  And, shortly, it is this:
+That, where ye be, me seemeth, perde,
+  I could not fare amiss.
+Without more speech, I you beseech
+  That we were soon agone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"If ye go thyder, ye must consider,
+  When ye have lust to dine,
+There shall no meat be for to gete,
+  Nor drink, beer, ale, ne wine.
+Ne sheet-es clean, to lie between,
+  Ymade of thread and twine;
+None other house, but leaves and boughs,
+  To cover your head and mine;
+Lo mine heart sweet, this ill di-ete
+  Should make you pale and wan:
+Wherefore I to the wood will go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"Among the wild deer, such an archere,
+  As men say that ye be,
+Ne may not fail of good vitayle,
+  Where is so great plent-y:
+And water clear of the rivere
+  Shall be full sweet to me;
+With which in hele I shall right wele
+  Endure, as ye shall see;
+And, ere we go, a bed or two
+  I can provide anone;
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"Lo yet, before, ye must do more,
+  If ye will go with me:
+As cut your hair up by your ear,
+  Your kirtle by the knee,
+With bow in hand, for to withstand
+  Your enemies, if need be:
+And this same night, before daylight,
+  To woodward will I flee.
+An ye will all this fulfil,
+  Do it shortly as ye can:
+Else will I to the green wood go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"I shall as now do more for you
+  Than 'longeth to womanhede;
+To short my hair, a bow to bear,
+  To shoot in time of need.
+O my sweet mother! before all other
+  For you have I most drede!
+But now, adieu! I must ensue,
+  Where fortune doth me lead.
+All this make ye.  Now let us flee;
+  The day comes fast upon:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"Nay, nay, not so; ye shall not go,
+  And I shall tell you why,--
+Your appetite is to be light
+  Of love, I well espy:
+For, right as ye have said to me,
+  In like wise hardily
+Ye would answere whosoever it were,
+  In way of company,
+It is said of old, Soon hot, soon cold;
+  And so is a wom-an:
+Wherefore I to the wood will go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"If ye take heed, it is no need
+  Such words to say by me;
+For oft ye prayed, and long assayed,
+  Or I you loved, pard-e;
+And though that I of ancestry
+  A baron's daughter be,
+Yet have you proved how I you loved.
+  A squire of low degree;
+And ever shall, whatso befall;
+  To die therefore anone;
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"A baron's child to be beguiled!
+  It were a curs-ed dede;
+To be fel-aw with an out-law
+  Almighty God forbede!
+Yet better were, the poor squyere
+  Alone to forest yede,
+Than ye shall say another day,
+  That by my wicked dede
+Ye were betrayed:  Wherefore, good maid,
+  The best rede that I can,
+Is, that I to the green wood go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"Whatsoever befall, I never shall
+  Of this thing you upbraid:
+But if ye go, and leave me so,
+  Then have ye me betrayed.
+Remember you wele, how that ye dele,
+  For if ye, as ye said,
+Be so unkind to leave behind
+  Your love, the Nut-brown Maid,
+Trust me tru-ly, that I shall die
+  Soon after ye be gone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"If that ye went, ye should repent;
+  For in the forest now
+I have purveyed me of a maid,
+  Whom I love more than you;
+Another fairer than ever ye were,
+  I dare it well avow;
+And of you both, each should be wroth
+  With other, as I trow:
+It were mine ease to live in peace;
+  So will I, if I can:
+Wherefore I to the wood will go,
+  Alone, a banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"Though in the wood I understood
+  Ye had a paramour,
+All this may nought remove my thought,
+  But that I will be your:
+And she shall find me soft and kind,
+  And courteis every hour;
+Glad to fulfil all that she will
+  Command me, to my power:
+For had ye, lo! an hundred mo,
+  Yet would I be that one:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"Mine own dear love, I see the proof
+  That ye be kind and true;
+Of maid, and wife, in all my life,
+  The best that ever I knew.
+Be merry and glad; be no more sad;
+  The case is chang-ed new;
+For it were ruth that for your truth
+  You should have cause to rue.
+Be not dismayed, whatsoever I said
+  To you, when I began:
+I will not to the green wood go;
+  I am no banished man."
+
+     SHE.
+"These tidings be more glad to me,
+  Than to be made a queen,
+If I were sure they should endure:
+  But it is often seen,
+When men will break promise they speak
+  The wordis on the spleen.
+Ye shape some wile me to beguile,
+  And steal from me, I ween:
+Then were the case worse than it was
+  And I more wo-begone:
+For, in my mind, of all mankind
+  I love but you alone."
+
+     HE.
+"Ye shall not nede further to drede:
+  I will not dispar-age
+You (God defend!), sith you descend
+  Of so great a lin-age.
+Now understand:  to Westmoreland,
+  Which is my heritage,
+I will you bring; and with a ring
+  By way of marri-age
+I will you take, and lady make,
+  As shortly as I can:
+Thus have ye won an earl-es son
+  And not a banished man."
+
+Here may ye see, that women be
+  In love, meek, kind, and stable;
+Let never man reprove them than,
+  Or call them vari-able;
+But, rather, pray God that we may
+  To them be comfort-able,
+Which sometime proveth such as he loveth,
+  If they be charit-able.
+For sith men would that women should
+  Be meek to them each one;
+Much more ought they to God obey,
+  And serve but Him alone.
+
+
+
+ADAM BELL, CLYM OF THE CLOUGH, AND WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLIE.
+
+THE FIRST FYTTE.
+
+Merry it was in green for-est,
+Among the leav-es green,
+Where that men walk both east and west
+With bows and arrows keen,
+To raise the deer out of their den,
+Such sights as hath oft been seen;
+As by three yeomen of the North Countrey:
+By them is as I mean.
+
+The one of them hight Adam Bell,
+The other Clym of the Clough,
+The third was William of Cloudeslie,
+An archer good enough.
+They were outlawed for venison,
+These three yeomen every one;
+They swore them brethren upon a day,
+To Ingle wood for to gone.
+
+Now lith and listen, gentlemen,
+And that of mirths love to hear:
+Two of them were single men,
+The third had a wedded fere.
+William was the wedded man,
+Much more then was his care;
+He said to his brethren upon a day,
+To Carlisle he would fare,
+
+For to speak with fair Alice his wife,
+And with his children three.
+"By my troth," said Adam Bell,
+"Not by the counsel of me:
+For if ye go to Carlisle, brother,
+And from this wild wood wend,
+If the Justice may you take,
+Your life were at an end."--
+
+"If that I come not to-morrow, brother,
+By prime to you again,
+Trust not else but that I am take,
+Or else that I am slain."--
+He took his leave of his brethren two,
+And to Carlisle he is gone.
+There he knocked at his own wind-ow
+Shortly and anon.
+
+"Where be you, fair Alice, my wife?
+And my children three?
+Lightly let in thine husb-and,
+William of Cloudeslie."--
+"Alas," then saide fair Al-ice,
+And sigh-ed wondrous sore,
+"This place hath been beset for you,
+This half-e year and more."
+
+"Now am I here," said Cloudeslie,
+"I would that I in were;--
+Now fetch us meat and drink enough,
+And let us make good cheer."
+She fetched him meat and drink plent-y,
+Like a true wedded wife,
+And pleas-ed him with that she had,
+Whom she loved as her life.
+
+There lay an old wife in that place,
+A little beside the fire,
+Which William had found of charity
+Mor-e than seven year;
+Up she rose, and walked full still,
+Evil mote she speed therefore:
+For she had not set no foot on ground
+In seven year before.
+
+She went unto the justice hall,
+As fast as she could hie:
+"This night is come unto this town
+William of Cloudeslie."
+Thereof the Justice was full fain,
+And so was the Sheriff also;
+"Thou shalt not travel hither, dame, for nought,
+Thy meed thou shalt have, ere thou go."
+
+They gave to her a right good gown,
+Of scarlet it was, as I heard sain;
+She took the gift and home she went,
+And couched her down again.
+They raised the town of merry Carlisle,
+In all the haste that they can,
+And came throng-ing to William's house,
+As fast as they might gan.
+
+There they beset that good yeo-man,
+Round about on every side;
+William heard great noise of folks,
+That hitherward hied.
+Alice opened a shot wind-ow,
+And look-ed all about
+She was ware of the Justice and the Sheriff both,
+With a full great rout.
+
+"Alas, treason!" cried Alice,
+"Ever woe may thou be!--
+Go into my chamber, my husband," she said,
+"Sweet William of Cloudeslie."
+He took his sword and his buckl-er,
+His bow and his children three,
+And went into his strongest chamber,
+Where he thought surest to be.
+
+Fair Al-ice followed him as a lover true,
+With a poleaxe in her hand:
+"He shall be dead that here cometh in
+This door, while I may stand."
+Cloudeslie bent a well-good bow,
+That was of trusty tree,
+He smote the Justice on the breast,
+That his arrow burst in three.
+
+"God's curse on his heart!" said William,
+"This day thy coat did on,
+If it had been no better than mine,
+It had gone near thy bone!"
+"Yield thee, Cloudeslie," said the Justice,
+"And thy bow and thy arrows thee fro!"
+"God's curse on his heart," said fair Al-ice,
+"That my husband counselleth so!"
+
+"Set fire on the house," said the Sheriff,
+"Sith it will no better be,
+And burn we therein William," he said,
+"His wife and his children three!"
+They fired the house in many a place,
+The fire flew up on high;
+"Alas," then cried fair Al-ice,
+"I see we shall here die!"
+
+William opened his back wind-ow,
+That was in his chamber on high,
+And with shet-es let his wif-e down,
+And his children three.
+"Have here my treasure," said Willi-am,
+"My wife and my children three;
+For Christ-es love do them no harm,
+But wreak you all on me."
+
+William shot so wondrous well,
+Till his arrows were all gone,
+And the fire so fast upon him fell,
+That his bowstring burnt in two.
+The sparkles burnt, and fell upon,
+Good William of Cloudeslie!
+But then was he a woeful man, and said,
+"This is a coward's death to me.
+
+"Liever I had," said Willi-am,
+"With my sword in the rout to run,
+Than here among mine enemies' wood,
+Thus cruelly to burn."
+He took his sword and his buckler then,
+And among them all he ran,
+Where the people were most in press,
+He smote down many a man.
+
+There might no man abide his stroke,
+So fiercely on them he ran;
+Then they threw windows and doors on him,
+And so took that good yeom-an.
+There they bound him hand and foot,
+And in a deep dungeon him cast:
+"Now, Cloudeslie," said the high Just-ice,
+"Thou shalt be hanged in haste!"
+
+"One vow shall I make," said the Sheriff,
+"A pair of new gallows shall I for thee make,
+And all the gates of Carlisle shall be shut,
+There shall no man come in thereat.
+Then shall not help Clym of the Clough
+Nor yet Adam Bell,
+Though they came with a thousand mo,
+Nor all the devils in hell."
+
+Early in the morning the Justice uprose,
+To the gates fast gan he gone,
+And commanded to shut close
+Lightly every one;
+Then went he to the market-place,
+As fast as he could hie,
+A pair of new gallows there he set up,
+Beside the pillor-y.
+
+A little boy stood them among,
+And asked what meant that gallows tree;
+They said-e, "To hang a good yeoman,
+Called William of Cloudeslie."
+That little boy was the town swineherd,
+And kept fair Alice' swine,
+Full oft he had seen William in the wood,
+And given him there to dine.
+
+He went out at a crevice in the wall,
+And lightly to the wood did gone;
+There met he with these wight yeomen,
+Shortly and anon.
+"Alas!" then said that little boy,
+"Ye tarry here all too long!
+Cloudeslie is taken and damned to death,
+And ready for to hong."
+
+"Alas!" then said good Adam Bell,
+"That ever we see this day!
+He might here with us have dwelled,
+So oft as we did him pray.
+He might have tarried in green for-est,
+Under the shadows sheen,
+And have kept both him and us at rest,
+Out of all trouble and teen."
+
+Adam bent a right good bow,
+A great hart soon had he slain:
+"Take that, child," he said, "to thy dinner,
+And bring me mine arrow again."
+"Now go we hence," said these wight yeomen,
+"Tarry we no longer here;
+We shall him borrow, by God's grace,
+Though we abye it full dear."
+
+To Carlisle went these good yeom-en
+On a merry morning of May.
+Here is a fytte of Cloudeslie,
+And another is for to say.
+
+
+
+THE SECOND FYTTE.
+
+And when they came to merry Carlisle,
+All in a morning tide,
+They found the gates shut them until,
+Round about on every side.
+"Alas," then said good Adam Bell,
+"That ever we were made men!
+These gates be shut so wonderly well,
+That we may not come here in."
+
+Then spake him Clym of the Clough:
+"With a wile we will us in bring;
+Let us say we be messengers,
+Straight comen from our King."
+Adam said:  "I have a letter written well,
+Now let us wisely werk;
+We will say we have the King-e's seal,
+I hold the porter no clerk."
+
+Then Adam Bell beat on the gate,
+With strok-es great and strong;
+The porter heard such noise thereat,
+And to the gate he throng.
+"Who is there now," said the porter,
+"That maketh all this knocking?"
+"We be two messengers," said Clym of the Clough,
+"Be comen straight from our King."
+
+"We have a letter," said Adam Bell,
+"To the Justice we must it bring;
+Let us in our message to do,
+That we were again to our King."
+"Here cometh no man in," said the porter,
+"By him that died on a tree,
+Till that a false thief be hanged,
+Called William of Cloudeslie!"
+
+Then spake the good yeoman Clym of the Clough,
+And swore by Mary free,
+"If that we stand-e long without,
+Like a thief hanged shalt thou be.
+Lo here we have the King-es seal;
+What, lourdain, art thou wood?"
+The porter weened it had been so,
+And lightly did off his hood.
+
+"Welcome be my lord's seal," said he,
+"For that shall ye come in."
+He opened the gate right shortelie,
+An evil open-ing for him.
+"Now are we in," said Adam Bell,
+"Thereof we are full fain,
+But Christ he knoweth, that harrowed hell,
+How we shall come out again."
+
+"Had we the keys," said Clym of the Clough,
+"Right well then should we speed;
+Then might we come out well enough
+When we see time and need."
+They called the porter to a couns-el,
+And wrung his neck in two,
+And cast him in a deep dunge-on,
+And took the keys him fro.
+
+"Now am I porter," said Adam Bell;
+"See, brother, the keys have we here;
+The worst port-er to merry Carlisle
+They have had this hundred year:
+And now will we our bow-es bend,
+Into the town will we go,
+For to deliver our dear broth-er,
+That lieth in care and woe."
+
+They bent their good yew bow-es,
+And looked their strings were round,
+The market-place of merry Carlisle
+They beset in that stound;
+And as they look-ed them beside,
+A pair of new gallows there they see,
+And the Justice with a quest of squires,
+That judged William hang-ed to be.
+
+And Cloudeslie lay ready there in a cart,
+Fast bound both foot and hand,
+And a strong rope about his neck,
+All ready for to be hanged.
+The Justice called to him a lad,
+Cloudeslie's clothes should he have
+To take the measure of that yeom-an,
+Thereafter to make his grave.
+
+"I have seen as great marvel," said Cloudeslie,
+"As between this and prime;
+He that maketh this grave for me,
+Himself may lie therein."--
+"Thou speakest proudly," said the Justice;
+"I shall hang thee with my hand."
+Full well that heard his brethren two,
+There still as they did stand.
+
+Then Cloudeslie cast his eyen aside,
+And saw his two brethren
+At a corner of the market-place,
+Ready the Justice to slain.
+"I see good comfort," said Cloudeslie,
+"Yet hope I well to fare;
+If I might have my hands at will,
+Right little would I care."
+
+Then spake good Adam Bell
+To Clym of the Clough so free,
+"Brother, see ye mark the Justice well;
+Lo, yonder ye may him see;
+And at the Sheriff shoot I will
+Strongly with arrow keen."
+A better shot in merry Carlisle
+This seven year was not seen.
+
+They loosed their arrows both at once,
+Of no man had they drede;
+The one hit the Justice, the other the Sheriff,
+That both their sides gan bleed.
+All men voided, that them stood nigh,
+When the Justice fell to the ground,
+And the Sheriff fell nigh him by,
+Either had his death's wound.
+
+All the citizens fast gan flee,
+They durst no longer abide;
+Then lightly they loos-ed Cloudeslie,
+Where he with ropes lay tied.
+William stert to an officer of the town,
+His axe out of his hand he wrong,
+On each-e side he smote them down,
+Him thought he tarried too long.
+
+William said to his brethren two:
+"Together let us live and dee;
+If e'er you have need, as I have now,
+The same shall ye find by me."
+They shot so well in that tide,
+For their strings were of silk full sure,
+That they kept the streets on every side,
+That battle did long endure.
+
+They fought together as brethren true,
+Like hardy men and bold;
+Many a man to the ground they threw,
+And many an heart made cold.
+But when their arrows were all gone,
+Men pressed to them full fast;
+They drew their sword-es then anon,
+And their bow-es from them cast.
+
+They went lightly on their way,
+With swords and bucklers round;
+By that it was the middes of the day,
+They had made many a wound.
+There was many a neat-horn in Carlisle blown,
+And the bells back-ward did ring;
+Many a woman said "Alas!"
+And many their hands did wring.
+
+The Mayor of Carlisle forth come was,
+And with him a full great rout;
+These three yeomen dread him full sore,
+For their lives stood in doubt.
+The Mayor came armed a full great pace,
+With a poleaxe in his hand;
+Many a strong man with him was,
+There in that stour to stand.
+
+The Mayor smote Cloudeslie with his bill,
+His buckler he burst in two;
+Full many a yeoman with great ill,
+"Alas! treason!" they cried for woe.
+"Keep we the gat-es fast," they bade,
+"That these traitors thereout not go!"
+
+But all for nought was that they wrought,
+For so fast they down were laid,
+Till they all three that so manfully fought,
+Were gotten without at a braid.
+"Have here your keys," said Adam Bell,
+"Mine office I here forsake;
+If you do by my coun-sel,
+A new port-er do ye make."
+
+He threw the keys there at their heads,
+And bade them evil to thrive,
+And all that letteth any good yeo-man
+To come and comfort his wife.
+Thus be these good yeomen gone to the wood,
+As light as leaf on linde;
+They laugh and be merry in their mood,
+Their en'mies were far behind.
+
+When they came to Inglewood,
+Under their trysting tree,
+There they found bow-es full good,
+And arrows great plent-y.
+"So help me God," said Adam Bell,
+And Clym of the Clough so free,
+"I would we were now in merry Carlisle,
+Before that fair meynie!"
+
+They sit them down and make good cheer,
+And eat and drink full well.--
+Here is a fytte of these wight yeomen,
+And another I shall you tell.
+
+
+
+THE THIRD FYTTE.
+
+As they sat in Inglewood
+Under their trysting tree,
+They thought they heard a woman weep,
+But her they might not see.
+Sore there sigh-ed fair Al-ice,
+And said, "Alas that e'er I see this day!
+For now is my dear husband slain:
+Alas, and well away!
+
+"Might I have spoken with his dear brethren,
+With either of them twain,
+To show-e them what him befell,
+My heart were out of pain."
+Cloudeslie walked a little beside,
+And looked under the greenwood linde;
+He was ware of his wife and his children three,
+Full woe in heart and mind.
+
+"Welcome, wife," then said Willi-am,
+"Under this trysting tree!
+I had weened yesterday, by sweet Saint John,
+Thou should me never have see."
+"Now well is me," she said, "that ye be here!
+My heart is out of woe."--
+"Dame," he said, "be merry and glad,
+And thank my brethren two."
+
+"Hereof to speak," said Adam Bell,
+"Iwis it is no boot;
+The meat that we must sup withal
+It runneth yet fast on foot."
+Then went they down into the launde,
+These noble archers all three;
+Each of them slew a hart of grease,
+The best that they could see.
+
+"Have here the best, Al-ice, my wife,"
+Said William of Cloudeslie,
+"Because ye so boldly stood me by
+When I was slain full nie."
+And then they went to their supp-er
+With such meat as they had,
+And thanked God of their fort-une;
+They were both merry and glad.
+
+And when that they had supp-ed well,
+Certain withouten lease,
+Cloudeslie said:  "We will to our King,
+To get us a charter of peace;
+Al-ice shall be at our sojourning,
+In a nunnery here beside,
+And my two sons shall with her go,
+And there they shall abide.
+
+"Mine eldest son shall go with me,
+For him have I no care,
+And he shall bring you word again
+How that we do fare."
+Thus be these yeomen to London gone,
+As fast as they may hie,
+Till they came to the King's pal-ace,
+Where they would needs be.
+
+And when they came to the King-es court,
+Unto the palace gate,
+Of no man would they ask no leave,
+But boldly went in thereat.
+They press-ed prestly into the hall,
+Of no man had they dread;
+The porter came after, and did them call,
+And with them gan to chide.
+
+The usher said:  "Yeomen, what would ye have?
+I pray you tell to me;
+You might thus make officers shent,
+Good sirs, of whence be ye?"
+"Sir, we be outlaws of the for-est,
+Certain without any lease,
+And hither we be come to our King,
+To get us a charter of peace."--
+
+And when they came before the King,
+As it was the law of the land,
+They kneel-ed down without lett-ing,
+And each held up his hand.
+They said:  "Lord, we beseech thee here,
+That ye will grant us grace:
+For we have slain your fat fallow deer
+In many a sundry place."--
+
+"What be your names?" then said our King,
+"Anon that you tell me."
+They said:  "Adam Bell, Clym of the Clough,
+And William of Cloudeslie."--
+"Be ye those thieves," then said our King,
+"That men have told of to me?
+Here to God I make avowe
+Ye shall be hanged all three!
+
+"Ye shall be dead without merc-y,
+As I am King of this land."
+He commanded his officers every one
+Fast on them to lay hand.
+There they took these good yeomen;
+And arrested them all three.
+"So may I thrive," said Adam Bell,
+"This game liketh not me.
+
+"But, good lord, we beseech you now,
+That ye will grant us grace,
+Insomuch as we be to you comen;
+Or else that we may fro you pace
+With such weapons as we have here,
+Till we be out of your place;
+And if we live this hundred year,
+Of you we will ask no grace."--
+
+"Ye speak proudly," said the King;
+"Ye shall be hanged all three."
+"That were great pity," then said the Queen,
+"If any grace might be.
+My lord, when I came first into this land,
+To be your wedded wife,
+Ye said the first boon that I would ask,
+Ye would grant it me belife.
+
+"And I asked never none till now:
+Therefore, good lord, grant it me."
+"Now ask it, madam," said the King,
+"And granted shall it be."--
+"Then, good my lord, I you beseech,
+These yeomen grant ye me."--
+"Madam, ye might have asked a boon,
+That should have been worth them all three:
+
+"Ye might have ask-ed towers and towns,
+Parks and for-ests plent-y."--
+"None so pleasant to my pay," she said,
+"Nor none so lief to me."--
+"Madam, sith it is your desire,
+Your asking granted shall be;
+But I had liever have given you
+Good market town-es three."
+
+The Queen she was a glad wom-an,
+And said:  "Lord, gramerc-y,
+I dare well undertake for them
+That true men shall they be.
+But, good lord, speak some merry word,
+That comfort they may see."--
+"I grant you grace," then said our King;
+"Wash, fellows, and to meat go ye."
+
+They had not sitten but a while,
+Certain, without leas-ing,
+There came two messengers out of the north,
+With letters to our King.
+And when they came before the King,
+They kneeled down upon their knee,
+And said:  "Lord, your officers greet you well
+Of Carlisle in the north countree."--
+
+"How fareth my Justice?" said the King,
+"And my Sheriff also?"--
+"Sir, they be slain, without leas-ing,
+And many an officer mo."--
+"Who hath them slain?" then said the King,
+"Anon thou tell-e me."--
+"Adam Bell, and Clym of the Clough,
+And William of Cloudeslie."--
+
+"Alas, for ruth!" then said our King,
+"My heart is wondrous sore;
+I had liever than a thousand pound
+I had known of this before;
+For I have y-granted them grace,
+And that forthinketh me:
+But had I known all this before,
+They had been hanged all three."--
+
+The King he opened the letter anon,
+Himself he read it tho,
+And found how these three outlaws had slain
+Three hundred men and mo;
+First the Justice and the Sheriff,
+And the Mayor of Carlisle town,
+Of all the const-ables and catchipolls
+Alive were left but one;
+
+The bailiffs and the bedels both,
+And the serjeants of the law,
+And forty fosters of the fee,
+These outlaws have they slaw;
+And broken his parks, and slain his deer,
+Over all they chose the best,
+So perilous outlaws as they were,
+Walked not by east nor west.
+
+When the King this letter had read,
+In his heart he sigh-ed sore:
+"Take up the table," anon he bade:
+"For I may eat no more."
+The King called his best archers
+To the butts with him to go;
+"I will see these fellows shoot," he said,
+"That in the north have wrought this woe."
+
+The King-es bowmen busk them blive,
+And the Queen's archers also,
+So did these three wight yeomen;
+With them they thought to go.
+There twice or thrice they shot about,
+For to assay their hand;
+There was no shot these yeomen shot,
+That any prick might them stand.
+
+Then spake William of Cloudeslie:
+"By Him that for me died,
+I hold him never no good archer,
+That shooteth at butts so wide."--
+"Whereat, then?" said our King,
+"I pray thee tell to me."--
+"At such a butt, sir," he said,
+"As men use in my countree."--
+
+William went into the field,
+And his two brothers with him,
+There they set up two hazel rods,
+Twenty score paces between.
+"I hold him an archer," said Cloudeslie,
+"That yonder wand cleaveth in two."--
+"Here is none such," said the King,
+"For no man that can so do."
+
+"I shall assay, sir," said Cloudeslie,
+"Ere that I farther go."
+Cloudeslie with a bearing arrow
+Clave the wand in two.
+"Thou art the best archer," said the King,
+"Forsooth that ever I see."--
+"And yet for your love," said William,
+"I will do more mastrie.
+
+"I have a son is seven year old;
+He is to me full dear;
+I will tie him to a stake,
+All shall see him that be here,
+And lay an apple upon his head,
+And go six score paces him fro,
+And I myself with a broad arrow
+Shall cleave the apple in two."--
+
+"Now haste thee, then," said the King,
+"By him that died on a tree,
+But if thou do not as thou hast said,
+Hang-ed shalt thou be.
+An thou touch his head or gown,
+In sight that men may see,
+By all the saints that be in heaven,
+I shall you hang all three."--
+
+"That I have promised," said William,
+"That I will never forsake;"
+And there even, before the King,
+In the earth he drove a stake,
+And bound thereto his eldest son,
+And bade him stand still thereat,
+And turn-ed the child's face him fro,
+Because he should not start.
+
+An apple upon his head he set,
+And then his bow he bent,
+Six score paces they were out met,
+And thither Cloudeslie went;
+There he drew out a fair broad arrow;
+His bow was great and long;
+He set that arrow in his bow,
+That was both stiff and strong.
+
+He prayed the people that was there,
+That they would still stand:
+For he that shooteth for such a wag-er
+Hath need of a steady hand.
+Much people prayed for Cloudeslie,
+That his life saved might be;
+And when he made him ready to shoot,
+There was many a weeping ee.
+
+Thus Cloudeslie cleft the apple in two,
+As many a man might see.
+"Now God forbid," then said the King,
+"That ever thou shoot at me!
+I give thee eighteen pence a day,
+And my bow shalt thou bear,
+And over all the north countree
+I make thee chief rid-er."--
+
+"And I give thee seventeen pence a day," said the Queen,
+"By God and by my fay,
+Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt,
+No man shall say thee nay.
+William, I make thee a gentleman
+Of clothing and of fee,
+And thy two brethren yeomen of my chamber:
+For they are seemly to see;
+
+"Your son, for he is tender of age,
+Of my wine-cellar shall he be,
+And when he cometh to man's estate,
+Better preferred shall he be.
+And, William, bring me your wife," said the Queen,
+"Me longeth her sore to see;
+She shall be my chief gentlewoman,
+To govern my nursery."
+
+The yeomen thanked them full courteously,
+And said:  "To some bishop we'll wend,
+Of all the sins that we have done
+To be assoiled at his hand."
+So forth be gone these good yeomen,
+As fast as they might hie;
+And after came and dwelt with the King,
+And died good men all three.
+
+Thus ended the lives of these good yeomen,
+God send them eternal bliss;
+And all that with a hand-bow shooteth,
+That of heaven they may never miss!
+
+
+
+BINNORIE.
+
+There were two sisters sat in a bour;
+  Binnorie, O Binnorie!
+There came a knight to be their wooer
+  By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie.
+
+He courted the eldest with glove and ring,
+But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing.
+
+He courted the eldest with brooch and knife,
+But he lo'ed the youngest aboon his life.
+
+The eldest she was vex-ed sair,
+And sore envi-ed her sister fair.
+
+Upon a morning fair and clear
+She cried upon her sister dear:
+
+"O, sister, come to yon river strand,
+And see our father's ships come to land."
+
+She's ta'en her by the lily hand,
+And led her down to the river strand.
+
+And as they walk-ed by the linn,
+The eldest dang the youngest in.
+
+"O, sister, sister, reach your hand,
+And ye'll be heir to a' my land!"--
+
+"Foul fa' the hand that I wad take
+To twin me o' my warld's make!"--
+
+"O, sister, reach me but your glove,
+And sweet William shall be your love!"--
+
+"Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,
+And sweet William shall be my love:
+
+"Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair
+Garr'd me gang maiden evermair."
+
+She clasped her hands about a broom root,
+But her cruel sister she loosed them out.
+
+Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,
+Until she came to the miller's dam.
+
+The miller's daughter was baking bread,
+She went for water as she had need.
+
+"O father, father, draw your dam!
+There's either a maid or a milk-white swan!"
+
+The miller hasted and drew his dam,
+And there he found a drowned wom-an.
+
+You couldna see her yellow hair
+For gowd and pearls that were sae rare;
+
+You couldna see her middle sma',
+Her gowden girdle was sae bra'.
+
+A famous harper passing by,
+The sweet pale face he chanced to spy;
+
+And when he looked that ladye on,
+He sighed and made a heavy moan.
+
+He made a harp of her breast-bone,
+Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone;
+
+He's ta'en three locks of her yellow hair,
+And wi' them strung his harp sae fair.
+
+He brought it to her father's hall,
+And there was the court assembled all.
+
+He laid this harp upon a stone,
+And straight it began to play alone:
+
+"Oh, yonder sits my father, the king,
+And yonder sits my mother, the queen,
+
+And yonder stands my brother, Hugh,
+And yonder my William, sweet and true."
+
+But the last tune that the harp played then
+  Binnorie! O Binnorie!
+Was, "Wae to my sister, false Ellen,
+  By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie!"
+
+
+
+KING COPHETUA AND THE BEGGAR-MAID.
+
+I read that once in Africa
+  A princely wight did reign,
+Who had to name Cophetua,
+  As poets they did feign:
+From nature's laws he did decline,
+For sure he was not of my mind,
+He car-ed not for women-kind,
+  But did them all disdain.
+But mark what happened on a day:
+As he out of his window lay,
+He saw a beggar all in gray,
+  The which did cause his pain.
+
+The blinded boy, that shoots so trim,
+  From heaven down did hie;
+He drew a dart and shot at him,
+  In place where he did lie:
+Which soon did pierce him to the quick,
+And when he felt the arrow prick,
+Which in his tender heart did stick,
+  He looked as he would die.
+"What sudden chance is this," quoth he,
+"That I to love must subject be,
+Which never thereto would agree,
+  But still did it defy?"
+
+Then from the window he did come,
+  And laid him on his bed,
+A thousand heaps of care did run
+  Within his troubled head:
+For now he means to crave her love,
+And now he seeks which way to prove
+How he his fancy might remove,
+  And not this beggar wed.
+But Cupid had him so in snare,
+That this poor beggar must prepare
+A salve to cure him of his care,
+  Or else he would be dead.
+
+And, as he musing thus did lie,
+  He thought for to devise
+How he might have her company,
+  That so did 'maze his eyes.
+"In thee," quoth he, "doth rest my life;
+For surely thou shalt be my wife,
+Or else this hand with bloody knife
+  The gods shall sure suffice!"
+Then from his bed he soon arose,
+And to his palace gate he goes;
+Full little then this beggar knows
+  When she the king espies.
+
+"The gods preserve your majesty!"
+  The beggars all gan cry:
+"Vouchsafe to give your charity
+  Our children's food to buy!"
+The king to them his purse did cast,
+And they to part it made great haste;
+This silly woman was the last
+  That after them did hie.
+The king he called her back again,
+And unto her he gave his chain;
+And said, "With us thou shalt remain
+  Till such time as we die:
+
+"For thou," quoth he, "shalt be my wife,
+  And honoured for my queen;
+With thee I mean to lead my life,
+  As shortly shall he seen:
+Our wedding shall appointed be,
+And every thing in its degree;
+Come on," quoth he, "and follow me,
+  Thou shalt go shift thee clean.
+What is thy name, fair maid?" quoth he.
+"Zenelophon, O king," quoth she:
+With that she made a low courts-ey,
+  A trim one as I ween.
+
+Thus hand in hand along they walk
+  Unto the king's pal-ace:
+The king with courteous comely talk
+  This beggar doth embrace:
+The beggar blusheth scarlet red,
+And straight again as pale as lead,
+But not a word at all she said,
+  She was in such amaze.
+At last she spake with trembling voice
+And said, "O king, I do rejoice
+That you will take me for your choice,
+  And my degree's so base."
+
+And when the wedding day was come,
+  The king commanded straight
+The noblemen both all and some
+  Upon the queen to wait.
+And she behaved herself that day,
+As if she had never walked the way;
+She had forgot her gown of gray,
+  Which she did wear of late.
+The proverb old is come to pass,
+The priest, when he begins his mass,
+Forgets that ever clerk he was;
+  He knoweth not his estate.
+
+Here you may read, Cophetua,
+  Though long time fancy-fed,
+Compell-ed by the blinded boy
+  The beggar for to wed:
+He that did lovers' looks disdain,
+To do the same was glad and fain,
+Or else he would himself have slain,
+  In story as we read.
+Disdain no whit, O lady dear,
+But pity now thy servant here,
+Lest that it hap to thee this year,
+  As to that king it did.
+
+And thus they led a quiet life
+  During their princely reign;
+And in a tomb were buried both,
+  As writers showeth plain.
+The lords they took it grievously,
+The ladies took it heavily,
+The commons cri-ed piteously,
+  Their death to them was pain.
+Their fame did sound so passingly,
+That it did pierce the starry sky,
+And throughout all the world did fly
+  To every prince's realm.
+
+
+
+TAKE THY OLD CLOAK ABOUT THEE.
+
+This winter's weather it waxeth cold,
+  And frost doth freeze on every hill,
+And Boreas blows his blasts so bold,
+  That all our cattle are like to spill;
+Bell my wife, who loves no strife,
+  She said unto me quietly,
+"Rise up, and save cow Crumbock's life;
+  Man, put thine old cloak about thee."
+
+     He.
+"O Bell, why dost thou flyte and scorn?
+  Thou ken'st my cloak is very thin:
+It is so bare and overworn
+  A crick he thereon cannot renn:
+Then I'll no longer borrow nor lend,
+  For once I'll new apparelled be,
+To-morrow I'll to town and spend,
+  For I'll have a new cloak about me."
+
+     She.
+"Cow Crumbock is a very good cow,
+  She ha' been always true to the pail,
+She's helped us to butter and cheese, I trow,
+  And other things she will not fail:
+I wad be loth to see her pine,
+  Good husband, counsel take of me,
+It is not for us to go so fine;
+  Man, take thine old cloak about thee."
+
+     He.
+"My cloak it was a very good cloak,
+  It hath been always true to the wear,
+But now it is not worth a groat;
+  I have had it four and forty year:
+Sometime it was of cloth in grain,
+  'Tis now but a sigh-clout, as you may see,
+It will neither hold out wind nor rain;
+  And I'll have a new cloak about me."
+
+     She.
+"It is four and forty years ago
+  Since the one of us the other did ken,
+And we have had betwixt us two
+  Of children either nine or ten;
+We have brought them up to women and men;
+  In the fear of God I trow they be;
+And why wilt thou thyself misken?
+  Man, take thine old cloak about thee."
+
+     He.
+"O Bell my wife, why dost thou flout?
+  Now is now, and then was then:
+Seek now all the world throughout,
+  Thou ken'st not clowns from gentlemen.
+They are clad in black, green, yellow, or gray,
+  So far above their own degree:
+Once in my life I'll do as they,
+  For I'll have a new cloak about me."
+
+     She.
+"King Stephen was a worthy peer,
+  His breeches cost him but a crown,
+He held them sixpence all too dear;
+  Therefore he called the tailor lown.
+He was a wight of high renown,
+  And thou's but of a low degree:
+It's pride that puts this country down;
+  Man, take thine old cloak about thee."
+
+     He.
+Bell my wife she loves not strife,
+  Yet she will lead me if she can;
+And oft, to live a quiet life,
+  I am forced to yield, though I'm good-man;
+It's not for a man with a woman to threap,
+  Unless he first gave o'er the plea:
+As we began we now will leave,
+  And I'll take mine old cloak about me.
+
+
+
+WILLOW, WILLOW, WILLOW.
+
+A poor soul sat sighing under a sycamore tree;
+  "O willow, willow, willow!"
+With his hand on his bosom, his head on his knee:
+  "O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
+
+He sighed in his singing, and after each groan,
+  "Come willow, willow, willow!
+I am dead to all pleasure, my true-love is gone;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"My love she is turned; untrue she doth prove:
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+She renders me nothing but hate for my love.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"O pity me," cried he, "ye lovers, each one;
+  O willow, willow, willow!
+Her heart's hard as marble; she rues not my moan.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
+
+The cold streams ran by him, his eyes wept apace;
+  "O willow, willow, willow!"
+The salt tears fell from him, which drown-ed his face:
+  "O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
+
+
+The mute birds sat by him, made tame by his moans:
+  "O willow, willow, willow!"
+The salt tears fell from him, which softened the stones.
+  "O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"Let nobody blame me, her scorns I do prove;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+She was born to be fair; I, to die for her love.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"O that beauty should harbour a heart that's so hard!
+   Sing willow, willow, willow!
+My true love rejecting without all regard.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"Let love no more boast him in palace or bower;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+For women are trothless, and fleet in an hour.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"But what helps complaining? In vain I complain:
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+I must patiently suffer her scorn and disdain.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"Come, all you forsaken, and sit down by me,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+He that plains of his false love, mine's falser than she.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"The willow wreath wear I, since my love did fleet;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+A garland for lovers forsaken most meet.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
+
+
+
+PART THE SECOND.
+
+"Low laid by my sorrow, begot by disdain;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Against her too cruel, still still I complain,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and!
+
+"O love too injurious, to wound my poor heart!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+To suffer the triumph, and joy in my smart:
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"O willow, willow, willow! the willow garl-and,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+A sign of her falseness before me doth stand:
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"As here it doth bid to despair and to die,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+So hang it, friends, o'er me in grave where I lie:
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"In grave where I rest me, hang this to the view,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Of all that do know her, to blaze her untrue.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"With these words engraven, as epitaph meet,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+'Here lies one drank poison for potion most sweet,'
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"Though she thus unkindly hath scorn-ed my love,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+And carelessly smiles at the sorrows I prove;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"I cannot against her unkindly exclaim,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+'Cause once well I loved her, and honoured her name:
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"The name of her sounded so sweet in mine ear,
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+It raised my heart lightly, the name of my dear;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"As then 'twas my comfort, it now is my grief;
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+It now brings me anguish; then brought me relief.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and.
+
+"Farewell, fair false-hearted:  plaints end with my breath!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Thou dost loathe me, I love thee, though cause of my death.
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+   O willow, willow, willow!
+Sing, O the green willow shall be my garl-and."
+
+
+
+THE LITTLE WEE MAN.
+
+As I gaed out to tak the air
+  Between Midmar and bonny Craigha',
+There I met a little wee man,
+  The less o' him I never saw.
+
+His legs were but a finger lang,
+  And thick and nimble was his knee;
+Between his brows there was a span,
+  Between his shoulders ell-es three.
+
+He lifted a stane sax feet in height,
+  He lifted it up till his right knee,
+And fifty yards and mair I'm sure,
+  I wite he made the stane to flee.
+
+"O, little wee man, but ye hae power!
+  And O, where may your dwelling be?"--
+"I dwell beneath yon bonny bower.
+  O, will ye gae wi' me and see?"--
+
+Sae on we lap, and awa' we rade
+  Till we come to yon little ha',
+The kipples were o' the gude red gowd,
+  The roof was o' the proseyla.
+
+There were pipers playing in every neuk,
+  And ladies dancing, jimp and sma';
+And aye the owre-turn o' their tune
+  Was, "Our wee wee man has been long awa!"
+
+Out gat the lights, on cam the mist
+  Ladies nor mannie mair could see,
+I turned about, and ga'e a look
+  Just at the foot o' Benachie.
+
+
+
+THE SPANISH LADY'S LOVE.
+AFTER THE TAKING OF CADIZ.
+
+  Will you hear a Spanish lady,
+    How she wooed an Englishman?
+  Garments gay and rich as may be
+    Decked with jewels she had on.
+Of a comely countenance and grace was she,
+And by birth and parentage of high degree.
+
+  As his prisoner there he kept her,
+    In his hands her life did lie;
+  Cupid's bands did tie them faster
+    By the liking of an eye.
+In his courteous company was all her joy,
+To favour him in anything she was not coy.
+
+  But at last there came commandment
+    For to set the ladies free,
+  With their jewels still adorn-ed,
+    None to do them injury.
+Then said this lady mild, "Full woe is me;
+O let me still sustain this kind captivity!
+
+  "Gallant captain, show some pity
+    To a lady in distress;
+  Leave me not within this city,
+    For to die in heaviness:
+Thou hast set this present day my body free,
+But my heart in prison still remains with thee."
+
+  "How should'st thou, fair lady, love me,
+    Whom thou know'st thy country's foe?
+  Thy fair words make me suspect thee:
+    Serpents lie where flowers grow."--
+"All the harm I wish to thee, most courteous knight:
+God grant the same upon my head may fully light.
+
+  "Blessed be the time and season,
+    That ye came on Spanish ground;
+  If our foes ye may be term-ed,
+    Gentle foes we have you found:
+With our city ye have won our hearts each one;
+Then to your country bear away that is your own."--
+
+  "Rest you still, most gallant lady;
+    Rest you still, and weep no more;
+  Of fair lovers there is plenty,
+    Spain doth yield a wondrous store."--
+"Spaniards fraught with jealousy we often find,
+But Englishmen through all the world are counted kind.
+
+  "Leave me not unto a Spaniard,
+    You alone enjoy my heart;
+  I am lovely, young, and tender,
+    Love is likewise my desert:
+Still to serve thee day and night my mind is prest;
+The wife of every Englishman is counted blest."--
+
+  "It would be a shame, fair lady,
+    For to bear a woman hence;
+  English soldiers never carry
+    Any such without offence."--
+"I'll quickly change myself, if it be so,
+And like a page I'll follow thee, where'er thou go."--
+
+  "I have neither gold nor silver
+    To maintain thee in this case,
+  And to travel is great charges,
+    As you know in every place."--
+"My chains and jewels every one shall be thy own,
+And eke five hundred pounds in gold that lies unknown."
+
+  "On the seas are many dangers;
+    Many storms do there arise,
+  Which will be to ladies dreadful,
+    And force tears from watery eyes."--
+"Well in troth I shall endure extremity,
+For I could find in heart to lose my life for thee."--
+
+  "Courteous lady, leave this fancy;
+    Here comes all that breeds the strife.
+  I in England have already
+    A sweet woman to my wife:
+I will not falsify my vow for gold nor gain,
+Nor yet for all the fairest dames that live in Spain."
+
+  "O how happy is that woman,
+    That enjoys so true a friend!
+  Many happy days God send her!
+    Of my suit I make an end:
+On my knees I pardon crave for my offence,
+Which did from love and true affection first commence.
+
+  "Commend me to thy lovely lady.
+    Bear to her this chain of gold,
+  And these bracelets for a token;
+    Grieving that I was so bold:
+All my jewels in like sort take thou with thee,
+For they are fitting for thy wife, but not for me.
+
+  "I will spend my days in prayer;
+    Love and all her laws defy;
+  In a nunnery will I shroud me
+    Far from any compan-y:
+But ere my prayers have an end, be sure of this,
+To pray for thee and for thy love I will not miss.
+
+  "Thus farewell, most gallant captain!
+    Farewell, too, my heart's content!
+  Count not Spanish ladies wanton,
+    Though to thee my love was bent:
+Joy and true prosperity go still with thee!"
+"The like fall ever to thy share, most fair lad-ie!"
+
+
+
+EDWARD, EDWARD.
+
+"Why does your brand sae drop wi' bluid,
+     Edward, Edward?
+Why does your brand sae drop wi' bluid,
+     And why sae sad gang ye, O?"--
+"O, I ha'e kill-ed my hawk sae guid,
+     Mither, mither!
+O, I ha'e kill-ed my hawk sae guid,
+     And I had nae mair but he, O."--
+"Your hawkis bluid was never sae reid,
+     Edward, Edward:
+Your hawkis bluid was never sae reid,
+     My dear son, I tell thee, O."--
+
+"O, I ha'e kill-ed my reid-roan steed,
+     Mither, mither!
+O, I ha'e kill-ed my reid-roan steed
+     That erst was so fair and free, O."--
+"Your steed was auld, and ye ha'e got mair,
+     Edward, Edward:
+Your steed was auld, and ye ha'e got mair,
+     Some other dule ye dree, O."--
+"O, I ha'e kill-ed my father dear,
+     Mither, mither!
+O, I ha'e kill-ed my father dear,
+     Alas, and wae is me, O!"--
+
+"And whatten pen-ance will ye dree for that,
+     Edward, Edward?
+And whatten pen-ance will ye dree for that?
+     My dear son, now tell me, O!"--
+"I'll set my feet in yonder boat,
+     Mither, mither
+I'll set my feet in yonder boat,
+     And I'll fare over the sea, O."--
+"And what'll ye do wi' your towers and your ha',
+     Edward, Edward?
+And what'll ye do wi' your towers and your ha',
+     That were so fair to see, O?"--
+
+"I'll let them stand till they down fa',
+     Mither, mither:
+I'll let them stand till they down fa',
+     For here never mair maun I be, O!"--
+"And what'll ye leave to your bairns and your wife,
+     Edward, Edward?
+And what'll ye leave to your bairns and your wife,
+     When ye gang over the sea, O?"--
+"The warldis room, let them beg through life,
+     Mither, mither:
+The warldis room, let them beg through life,
+     For they never mair will I see, O!"
+
+"And what'll ye leave to your ain mother dear,
+     Edward, Edward?
+And what'll ye leave to your ain mother dear?
+     My dear son, now tell me, O."--
+"The curse of hell fra me sall ye bear,
+     Mither, mither!
+The curse of hell fra me sall ye bear,--
+     Sic counsels ye gave to me, O."
+
+
+
+ROBIN HOOD.
+
+Lithe and listen, gentlemen,
+  That be of freeborn blood;
+I shall you tell of a good yeom-an,
+  His name was Robin Hood.
+Robin was a proud outlaw,
+  Whil-es he walked on ground,
+So curteyse an outlawe as he was one
+  Was never none yfound.
+Robin stood in Barnysdale,
+  And leaned him to a tree,
+And by h-im stood Little John,
+  A good yeom-an was he;
+And also did good Scath-elock,
+  And Much the miller's son;
+There was no inch of his bod-y,
+  But it was worth a groom.
+
+Then bespake him Little John
+  All unto Robin Hood,
+"Master, if ye would dine betime,
+  It would do you much good."
+
+Then bespak-e good Rob-in,
+  "To dine I have no lust,
+Till I have some bold bar-on,
+  Or some unketh gest,
+  That may pay for the best;
+Or some knight or some squy-ere
+  That dwelleth here by west."
+
+A good mann-er then had Robin
+  In land where that he were,
+Every day ere he would dine
+  Three masses would he hear:
+The one in the worship of the Father,
+  The other of the Holy Ghost,
+The third was of our dear Lady,
+  That he loved of all other most.
+
+Robin loved our dear Lad-y,
+  For dout of deadly sin;
+Would he never do company harm
+  That any woman was in.
+
+"Master," then said Little John,
+  "An we our board shall spread,
+Tell us whither we shall gon,
+  And what life we shall lead;
+Where we shall take, where we shall leave,
+  Where we shall bide behind,
+Where we shall rob, where we shall reve,
+  Where we shall beat and bind."
+
+"Thereof no force," then said Rob-in,
+  "We shall do well enow;
+But look ye do no housbonde harm
+  That tilleth with his plow;
+No more ye shall no good yeoman,
+  That walk'th by green wood shaw,
+Ne no knight, ne no squy-er,
+  That would be a good fel-aw.
+These bishops, and these archbishops,
+  Ye shall them beat and bind;
+The high sheriff of Nottingham,
+  Him hold in your mind."
+
+"This word shall be holde," said Little John,
+  "And this lesson shall we lere;
+It is ferr-e days, God send us a geste,
+  That we were at our dinere!"
+
+"Take thy good bow in thy hand," said Robin,
+  "Let Much wend-e with thee,
+And so shall William Scath-elock,
+  And no man abide with me:
+And walk up to the Sa-yl-es,
+  And so to Watling Street,
+And wait after some unketh gest,
+  Up-chance ye mowe them meet.
+Be he earl or any bar-on,
+  Abb-ot or any knight,
+Bring him to lodge to me,
+  His dinner shall be dight."
+
+They went unto the Sa-yl-es,
+  These yeomen all three,
+They look-ed east, they look-ed west,
+  They might-e no man see.
+But as they looked in Barnisdale,
+  By a dern-e street,
+Then came th-ere a knight rid-ing,
+  Full soon they gan him meet.
+All drear-y was his semblaunce,
+  And little was his pride,
+His one foot in the stirrup stood,
+  That other waved beside.
+His hood hanging over his eyen two,
+  He rode in simple array;
+A sorrier man than he was one
+  Rode never in summer's day.
+
+Little John was full curt-eyse,
+  And set him on his knee:
+"Welcome be ye, gentle knight,
+  Welc-ome are ye to me,
+Welcome be thou to green wood,
+  Hende knight and free;
+My master hath abiden you fast-ing,
+  Sir, all these hour-es three."
+
+"Who is your master?" said the knight.
+
+  John said, "Robin Hood."
+
+"He is a good yeoman," said the knight,
+  "Of him I have heard much good.
+I grant," he said, "with you to wend,
+  My brethren all in-fere;
+My purpose was to have dined to-day
+  At Blyth or Doncastere."
+
+Forth then went this gentle knight,
+  With a careful cheer,
+The tears out of his eyen ran,
+  And fell down by his lere.
+They brought him unto the lodge door,
+  When Robin gan him see,
+Full curteysly he did off his hood,
+  And set him on his knee.
+
+"Welc-ome, sir knight," then said Rob-in,
+  "Welc-ome thou art to me;
+I have abiden you fasting, sir,
+  All these hour-es three."
+
+Then answered the gentle knight,
+  With word-es fair and free,
+"God thee sav-e, good Rob-in,
+  And all thy fair meyn-e."
+
+They washed together and wip-ed both,
+  And set to their dinere;
+Bread and wine they had enough,
+  And numbles of the deer;
+Swans and pheasants they had full good,
+  And fowls of the rivere;
+There fail-ed never so little a bird,
+  That ever was bred on brere.
+
+"Do gladly, sir knight," said Rob-in.
+
+  "Gram-ercy, sir," said he,
+"Such a dinner had I not
+  Of all these week-es three;
+If I come again, Rob-in,
+  Here b-y this countr-e,
+As good a dinner I shall thee make,
+  As thou hast made to me."
+
+"Gramerc-y, knight," said Rob-in,
+  "My dinner when I have;
+I was never so greedy, by dere-worthy God,
+  My dinner for to crave.
+But pay ere ye wend," said Rob-in,
+  "Me thinketh it is good right;
+It was never the manner, by dere-worthy God,
+  A yeoman to pay for a knight."
+
+"I have nought in my coffers," said the knight,
+  "That I may proffer for shame."
+
+"Little John, go look," said Robin,
+  "Ne let not for no blame.
+Tell me truth," then said Rob-in,
+  "So God have part of thee."
+
+"I have no more but ten shillings," said the knight,
+  "So God have part of me!"
+
+"If thou have no more," said Rob-in,
+  "I will not one penn-y;
+And if thou have need of any more,
+  More shall I lend thee.
+Go now forth, Little John,
+  The truth tell thou me,
+If there be no more but ten shillings
+  No penny of that I see."
+
+Little John spread down his mantle
+  Full fair upon the ground,
+And there he found in the knight's coff-er
+  But even half a pound.
+Little John let it lie full still,
+  And went to his master full low.
+
+"What tiding-e, John?" said Rob-in.
+
+  "Sir, the knight is true enow."
+
+"Fill of the best wine," said Rob-in,
+  "The knight shall begin;
+Much wonder thinketh me
+  Thy clothing is so thin.
+Tell me one word," said Rob-in,
+  "And counsel shall it be;
+I trow thou were made a knight of force,
+  Or else of yeomanry;
+Or else thou hast been a sorry housband
+  And lived in stroke and strife;
+An okerer, or lechour," said Rob-in,
+  "With wrong hast thou led thy life."
+
+"I am none of them," said the knight,
+  "By him that mad-e me;
+An hundred winter here before,
+  Mine aunsetters knights have be.
+But oft it hath befal, Rob-in,
+  A man hath be disgrate;
+But God that sitteth in heaven above
+  May amend his state.
+Within two or three year, Robin," he said,
+  "My neighbours well it kend,
+Four hundred pound of good mon-ey
+  Full well then might I spend.
+Now have I no good," said the knight,
+  "But my children and my wife;
+God hath shapen such an end,
+  Till he it may amend."
+
+"In what manner," said Rob-in,
+  "Hast thou lore thy rich-esse?"
+
+"For my great folly," he said,
+  "And for my kind-enesse.
+I had a son, for sooth, Rob-in,
+  That should have been my heir,
+When he was twenty winter old,
+  In field would joust full fair;
+He slew a knight of Lancashire,
+  And a squyer bold;
+For to save him in his right
+  My goods beth set and sold;
+My lands beth set to wed, Rob-in,
+  Until a certain day,
+To a rich abbot here beside,
+  Of Saint Mar-y abbay."
+
+"What is the summ-e?" said Rob-in,
+  "Truth then tell thou me."
+
+"Sir," he said, "four hundred pound,
+  The abb-ot told it to me."
+
+"Now, an thou lose thy land," said Robin,
+  "What shall fall of thee?"
+
+"Hastily I will me busk," said the knight,
+  "Over the salt-e sea,
+And see where Christ was quick and dead,
+  On the mount of Calvar-y.
+Fare well, friend, and have good day,
+  It may no better be"--
+
+Tears fell out of his eyen two,
+  He would have gone his way--
+"Fare well, friends, and have good day,
+  I ne have more to pay."
+
+"Where be thy friends?" said Rob-in.
+
+  "Sir, never one will me know;
+While I was rich enow at home
+  Great boast then would they blow,
+And now they run away from me,
+  As beast-es on a row;
+They take no more heed of me
+  Than they me never saw."
+
+For ruth-e then wept Little John,
+  Scathelocke and Much also.
+"Fill of the best wine," said Rob-in,
+  "For here is a simple cheer.
+Hast thou any friends," said Robin,
+  "Thy borowes that will be?"
+
+"I have none," then said the knight,
+  "But him that died on a tree."
+
+"Do way thy jap-es!" said Rob-in,
+  "Thereof will I right none;
+Weenest thou I will have God to borowe?
+  Peter, Paul, or John?
+Nay, by him that me made,
+  And shope both sun and moon,
+Find a better borowe," said Robin,
+  "Or money gettest thou none."
+
+"I have none other," said the knight,
+  "The sooth for to say,
+But if it be our dear Lad-y,
+  She failed me ne'er ere this day."
+
+"By dere-worthy God," then said Rob-in,
+  "To seek all England thorowe,
+Yet found I never to my pay,
+  A much better borowe.
+Come now forth, Little John,
+  And go to my treasur-y,
+And bring me fo-ur hundred pound,
+  And look that it well told be."
+
+Forth then went Little John,
+  And Scathelock went before,
+He told out fo-ur hundred pound,
+  By eighteen-e score.
+
+"Is this well told?" said Little Much.
+
+  John said, "What grieveth thee?
+It is alms to help a gentle knight
+  That is fall in povert-y.
+Master," then said Little John,
+  "His clothing is full thin,
+Ye must give the knight a liver-ay,
+  To wrap his bod-y therein.
+For ye have scarl-et and green, mast-er,
+  And many a rich array,
+There is no merch-ant in merry Engl-and
+  So rich, I dare well say."
+
+"Take him three yards of every colo-ur,
+  And look that well mete it be."
+
+Little John took none other meas-ure
+  But his bow-e tree,
+And of every handfull that he met
+  He leapt ouer foot-es three.
+
+"What devilkyns draper," said Little Much,
+  "Thinkest thou to be?"
+
+Scathelock stood full still and lough,
+  And said, "By God allmight,
+John may give him the better meas-ure,
+  For it cost him but light."
+
+"Master," then said Little John,
+  All unto Robin Hood,
+"Ye must give that knight an horse,
+  To lead home all this good."
+
+"Take him a gray cours-er," said Robin,
+  "And a saddle new;
+He is our Lady's messengere,
+  God lend that he be true!"
+
+"And a good palfr-ey," said Little Much,
+  "To maintain him in his right."
+
+"And a pair of boots," said Scath-elock,
+  "For he is a gentle knight."
+
+"What shalt thou give him, Little John?" said Robin.
+
+  "Sir, a paire of gilt spurs clene,
+To pray for all this company:
+  God bringe him out of tene!"
+
+"When shall my day be," said the knight,
+  "Sir, an your will be?"
+
+"This day twelve month," said Rob-in,
+  "Under this green wood tree.
+It were great sham-e," said Rob-in,
+  "A knight alone to ride,
+Without squy-er, yeoman or page,
+  To walk-e by his side.
+I shall thee lend Little Johan my man,
+  For he shall be thy knave;
+In a yeoman's stead he may thee stand
+  If thou great need have."
+
+
+
+THE SECONDE FYTTE.
+
+Now is the knight went on his way,
+  This game he thought full good,
+When he looked on Barnisdale,
+  He bless-ed Robin Hood;
+And when he thought on Barnisdale
+  On Scathelock, Much, and John,
+He blessed them for the best compan-y
+  That ever he in come.
+
+Then spake that gentle knight,
+  To Little John gan he say,
+"To-morrow I must to York town,
+  To Saint Mar-y abbay;
+And to the abbot of that place
+  Four hundred pound I must pay:
+And but I be there upon this night
+  My land is lost for aye."
+
+The abbot said to his conv-ent,
+  There he stood on ground,
+"This day twelve month came there a knight
+  And borrowed four hundred pound
+  Upon all his land free,
+But he come this ilk-e day
+  Disherited shall he be."
+
+"It is full early," said the prior,
+  "The day is not yet far gone,
+I had liever to pay an hundred pound,
+  And lay it down anone.
+The knight is far beyond the sea,
+  In England is his right,
+And suffereth hung-er and cold
+  And many a sorry night:
+It were great pity," said the prior,
+  "So to have his lond;
+An ye be so light of your consci-ence,
+  Ye do to him much is wrong."
+
+"Thou art ever in my beard," said the abb-ot,
+  "By God and Saint Rich-ard!"
+
+With that came in a fat-headed monk,
+  The high cellarer;
+"He is dead or hang-ed," said the monk,
+  "By him that bought me dear,
+And we shall have to spend in this place
+  Four hundred pound by year."
+
+The abbot and the high cellarer,
+  Stert-e forth full bold.
+
+The high justice of Englond
+  The abb-ot there did hold;
+The high just-ice and many mo
+  Had take into their hond
+Wholly all the knight-es debt,
+  To put that knight to wrong.
+They deemed the knight wonder sore,
+  The abb-ot and his meyn-e:
+"But he come this ilk-e day
+  Disherited shall he be."
+
+"He will not come yet," said the just-ice,
+  "I dare well undertake."
+
+But in sorrow-e tim-e for them all
+  The knight came to the gate.
+Then bespake that gentle knight
+  Unto his meyn-e,
+"Now put on your simple weeds
+  That ye brought from the sea."
+  And cam-e to the gates anone,
+The porter was ready himself,
+  And welcom-ed them every one.
+
+"Welc-ome, sir knyght," said the port-er,
+  "My lord to meat is he,
+And so is many a gentle man,
+  For the love of thee."
+The porter swore a full great oath,
+  "By him that mad-e me,
+Here be the best cores-ed horse
+  That ever yet saw I me.
+Lead them into the stable," he said,
+  "That eas-ed might they be."
+
+"They shall not come therein," said the knight,
+  "By him that died on a tree."
+
+Lord-es were to meat iset
+  In that abb-ot-es hall,
+The knight went forth and kneel-ed down,
+  And salved them great and small.
+"Do gladly, sir abb-ot," said the knight,
+  "I am come to hold my day."
+
+The first word the abbot spake,
+  "Hast th-ou brought m-y pay?"
+
+"Not one penny," said the knight,
+  "By him that mak-ed me."
+
+"Thou art a shrewd debtor!" said the abb-ot;
+  "Sir justice, drink to me!
+What dost thou here," said the abb-ot,
+  "But thou hadst brought thy pay?"
+
+"For-e God," then said the knight,
+  "To pray of a longer day."
+
+"Thy day is broke," said the justice,
+  "Land gettest thou none."
+
+"Now, good sir justice, be my friend,
+  And fend me of my fone."
+
+"I am hold with the abbot," said the justice,
+  "Both with cloth and fee."
+
+"Now, good sir sheriff, be my friend."
+
+  "Nay, for-e God," said he.
+
+"Now, good sir abbot, be my friend,
+  For thy curteys-e,
+And hold my land-es in thy hand
+  Till I have made thee gree;
+And I will be thy true serv-ant,
+  And truly serv-e thee,
+Till ye have fo-ur hundred pound
+  Of money good and free."
+
+The abbot sware a full great oath,
+  "By him that died on a tree,
+Get the land where thou may,
+  For thou gettest none of me."
+
+"By dere-worthy God," then said the knight,
+  "That all this world wrought,
+But I have my land again,
+  Full dear it shall be bought;
+God, that was of a maiden borne,
+  Lene us well to speed!
+For it is good to assay a friend
+  Ere that a man have need."
+
+The abb-ot loathl-y on him gan look,
+  And villainousl-y gan call;
+"Out," he said, "thou fals-e knight!
+Speed thee out of my hall!"
+
+"Thou liest," then said the gentle knight,
+  "Abbot in thy hall;
+Fals-e knight was I nev-er,
+  By him that made us all."
+
+Up then stood that gentle knight,
+  To the abb-ot said he,
+"To suffer a knight to kneel so long,
+  Thou canst no courtes-y.
+In joust-es and in tournem-ent
+  Full far then have I be,
+And put myself as far in press
+  As any that e'er I see."
+
+"What will ye give more?" said the just-ice,
+  "And the knight shall make a release;
+And ell-es dare I safely swear
+  Ye hold never your land in peace."
+
+"An hundred pound," said the abb-ot.
+
+  The justice said, "Give him two."
+
+"Na-y, by God," said the knight,
+  "Yet get ye it not so:
+Though ye would give a thousand more,
+  Yet were thou never the nere;
+Shall there never be mine heir,
+  Abb-ot, just-ice, ne frere."
+
+He stert him to a board anon,
+  To a table round,
+And there he shook out of a bag
+  Even fo-ur hundred pound.
+
+"Have here thy gold, sir abb-ot," said the knight,
+  "Which that thou lentest me;
+Haddest thou been curteys at my com-ing,
+  Rewarded shouldst thou have be."
+The abb-ot sat still, and ate no more.
+  For all his royal cheer,
+He cast his hood on his should-er,
+  And fast began to stare.
+"Take me my gold again," said the abb-ot,
+  "Sir just-ice, that I took thee."
+
+"Not a penny," said the just-ice,
+  "By him that died on a tree."
+
+"Sir abbot, and ye men of law,
+  Now have I held my day,
+Now shall I have my land again,
+  For aught that you can say."
+The knight stert out of the door,
+  Away was all his care,
+And on he put his good cloth-ing,
+  The other he left there.
+He went him forth full merry sing-ing,
+  As men have told in tale,
+His lady met him at the gate,
+  At home in Uterysdale.
+
+"Welc-ome, my lord," said his lady;
+  "Sir, lost is all your good?"
+
+"Be merry, dam-e," said the knight,
+  "And pray for Robin Hood,
+That ever his soul-e be in bliss,
+  He holp me out of my tene;
+Ne had not be his kind-enesse,
+  Beggars had we been.
+The abb-ot and I accorded ben,
+  He is served of his pay,
+The good yeoman lent it me,
+  As I came by the way."
+
+This knight then dwell-ed fair at home,
+  The sooth for to say,
+Till he had got four hundred pound,
+  All ready for to pay.
+He p-urveyed him an hundred bows,
+  The string-es well ydight,
+An hundred sheaf of arrows good,
+  The heads burn-ished full bright,
+And every arrow an ell-e long,
+  With peacock well ydight,
+I-nock-ed all with white silv-er,
+  It was a seemly sight.
+He p-urveyed him an hundred men,
+  Well harneysed in that stead,
+And h-imself in that sam-e set,
+  And clothed in white and red.
+He bare a launsgay in his hand,
+  And a man led his male,
+And ridden with a light song,
+  Unto Barnisdale.
+
+As he went at a bridge there was a wresteling,
+  And there tarried was he,
+And there was all the best yeom-en
+  Of all the west countree.
+A full fair game there was upset,
+  A white bull up i-pight;
+A great cours-er with saddle and bridle,
+  With gold burn-ished full bright;
+A pair of gloves, a red gold ring,
+  A pipe of wine, in good fay:
+What man beareth him best, i-wis,
+  The prize shall bear away.
+
+There was a yeoman in that place,
+  And best worth-y was he.
+And for he was ferre and fremd bestad,
+  I-slain he should have be.
+The knight had ruth of this yeom-an,
+  In place where that he stood,
+He said that yeoman should have no harm,
+  For love of Robin Hood.
+The knight press-ed into the place,
+  An hundred followed him free,
+With bow-es bent, and arrows sharp,
+  For to shend that company.
+
+They shouldered all, and made him room,
+  To wete what he would say,
+He took the yeoman by the hand,
+  And gave him all the play;
+He gave him five mark for his wine,
+  There it lay on the mould,
+And bade it should be set abroach,
+  Drink-e who so would.
+Thus long tarried this gentle knight,
+  Till that play was done,
+So long abode Rob-in fasting,
+  Three hours after the none.
+
+
+
+THE THYRDE FYTTE.
+
+Lithe and listen, gentle men,
+  All that now be here,
+Of Little John, that was the knight's man,
+  Good mirth ye shall hear.
+
+It was upon a merry day,
+  That young men would go shete,
+Little John fet his bow anon,
+  And said he would them meet.
+Three times Little John shot about,
+  And always cleft the wand,
+The proud sher-iff of Nottingham
+  By the marks gan stand.
+The sheriff swore a full great oath,
+  "By him that died on a tree,
+This man is the best arch-er
+  That ever yet saw I me.
+Sa-y me now, wight young man,
+  What is now thy name?
+In what country were thou born,
+  And where is thy wonning wan?"
+
+"In Hold-ernesse I was bore,
+  I-wis all of my dame,
+Men call me Reynold Greenleaf,
+  Whan I am at hame."
+
+"Say me, Reynold Greenleaf,
+  Wilt thou dwell with me?
+And every year I will thee give
+  Twent-y mark to thy fee."
+
+"I have a master," said Little John,
+  "A curteys knight is he,
+Ma-y ye get leave of him,
+  The better may it be."
+
+The sher-iff gat Little John
+  Twelve months of the knight,
+Theref-ore he gave him right anon
+  A good horse and a wight.
+
+Now is Little John the sheriff's man,
+  He give us well to speed,
+But alw-ay thought Little John
+  To quite him well his meed.
+"Now so God me help," said Little John,
+  "And by my true lewt-e,
+I sh-all be the worst serv-ant to him
+  That ever yet had he!"
+
+It befell upon a Wednesday,
+  The sheriff a-hunting was gone,
+And Little John lay in his bed,
+  And was forgot at home.
+Therefore he was fast-ing
+  Till it was past the none.
+"Good sir Steward, I pray thee,
+  Give me to dine," said Little John;
+"It is too long for Greenleaf,
+  Fast-ing so long to be;
+Therefore I pray thee, stew-ard,
+  My dinner give thou me!"
+
+"Shalt thou never eat ne drink," said the stew-ard,
+  "Till my lord be come to town."
+
+"I make mine avow," said Little John,
+  "I had liever to crack thy crown!"
+
+The butler was full uncurteys,
+  There he stood on floor,
+He stert to the buttery,
+  And shut fast the door.
+Little John gave the butler such a stroke
+  His back yede nigh in two,
+Though he lived an hundred winter,
+  The worse he should-e go.
+He spurned the door with his foot,
+  It went up well and fine,
+And there he made a large liveray
+  Both of ale and wine.
+"Sith ye will not dine," said Little John,
+  "I shall give you to drink,
+And though ye live an hundred winter,
+  On Little John ye shall think!"
+Little John ate, and Little John drank,
+  The whil-e that he would.
+The sheriff had in his kitchen a cook,
+  A stout man and a bold.
+
+"I make mine avow to God," said the cook,
+  "Thou art a shrewd-e hind,
+In an household to dwell,
+  For to ask thus to dine."
+And there he lent Little John,
+  Good strok-es three.
+
+"I make mine avow," said Little John,
+  "These strok-es liketh well me.
+Thou art a bold man and an hardy,
+  And so thinketh me;
+And ere I pass from this place,
+  Assayed better shalt thou be."
+
+Little John drew a good sword,
+  The cook took another in hand;
+They thought nothing for to flee,
+  But stiffly for to stand.
+There they fought sor-e together,
+  Two mile way and more,
+Might neither other harm don,
+  The mountenance of an hour.
+"I make mine avow," said Little John,
+  "And by my true lewt-e,
+Thou art one of the best swordmen
+  That ever yet saw I me.
+Couldest thou shoot as well in a bow,
+  To green wood thou shouldest with me,
+And two times in the year thy clothing
+  I-changed should-e be;
+And every year of Robin Hood
+  Twent-y mark to thy fee."
+
+"Put up thy sword," said the cook,
+  "And fellows will we be."
+
+Then he fet to Little John
+  The numbles of a doe,
+Good bread and full good wine,
+  They ate and drank thereto.
+And when they had drunken well,
+  Their troths together they plight,
+That they would be with Rob-in
+  That ilke same day at night.
+They hied them to the treasure-house,
+  As fast as they might gone,
+The locks that were of good steel
+  They brake them every one;
+They took away the silver vessel,
+  And all that they might get,
+Pi-eces, mas-ars, and spoons,
+  Would they none forget;
+Also they took the good pence,
+  Three hundred pound and three;
+And did them straight to Robin Hood,
+  Under the green wood tree.
+
+"God thee save, my dear mast-er,
+  And Christ thee save and see."
+
+And then said Rob-in to Little John,
+  "Welcome might thou be;
+And also be that fair yeom-an
+  Thou bringest there with thee.
+What tiding-es from Nottingham?
+  Little John, tell thou me."
+
+"Well thee greeteth the proud sher-iff,
+  And sendeth thee here by me,
+His cook and his silv-er vessel,
+  And three hundred pound and three."
+
+"I make mine avow to God," said Robin,
+  "And to the Trinit-y,
+It was never by his good will,
+  This good is come to me."
+
+Little John him there bethought,
+  On a shrewed wile,
+Five mile in the for-est he ran,
+  Him happ-ed at his will;
+Then be met the proud sher-iff,
+  Hunt-ing with hound and horn,
+Little John coud his curteysye,
+  And kneel-ed him beforn:
+"God thee save, my dear mast-er,
+  And Christ thee save and see."
+
+"Raynold Greenleaf," said the sher-iff,
+  "Where hast thou now be?"
+
+"I have be in this for-est,
+  A fair sight can I see,
+It was one of the fairest sights
+  That ever yet saw I me;
+Yonder I see a right fair hart,
+  His colour is of green,
+Seven score of deer upon an herd,
+  Be with him all bedene;
+His tynde are so sharp, mast-er,
+  Of sixty and well mo,
+That I durst not shoot for drede
+  Lest they wold me slo."
+
+"I make mine avow to God," said the sheriff,
+  "That sight would I fain see."
+
+"Busk you thitherward, my dear mast-er,
+  Anon, and wend with me."
+
+The sheriff rode, and Little John
+  Of foot he was full smart,
+And when they came afore Robin:
+  "Lo, here is the master hart!"
+
+Still stood the proud sher-iff,
+  A sorry man was he:
+"Wo worth thee, Raynold Greenleaf!
+  Thou hast now betray-ed me."
+
+"I make mine avow," said Little John,
+  "Mast-er, ye be to blame,
+I was misserved of my dinere,
+  When I was with you at hame."
+
+Soon he was to supper set,
+  And served with silver white;
+And when the sher-iff see his vess-el,
+  For sorrow he might not eat.
+"Make good cheer," said Robin Hood,
+  "Sher-iff, for charit-y,
+And for the love of Little John;
+  Thy life is granted to thee."
+
+When they had supp-ed well,
+  The day was all agone,
+Robin commanded Little John
+  To draw off his hosen and his shone,
+His kirtle and his coat a pye,
+  That was furr-ed well fine,
+And take him a green mant-ell,
+  To lap his body therein.
+Robin commanded his wight young men,
+  Under the green wood tree,
+They shall lie in that same sort,
+  That the sheriff might them see.
+All night lay that proud sher-iff
+  In his breche and in his sherte,
+No wonder it was, in green wood,
+  Though his sides do smerte.
+"Make glad cheer," said Robin Hood,
+  "Sher-iff, for charit-e,
+For this is our ord-er i-wis,
+  Under the green wood tree."
+
+"This is harder order," said the sheriff,
+  "Than any anker or frere;
+For all the gold in merry Engl-and
+  I would not long dwell here."
+
+"All these twelve months," said Rob-in,
+  "Thou shalt dwell with me;
+I shall thee teach, thou proud sher-iff,
+  An outlaw for to be."
+
+"Ere I here another night lie," said the sheriff,
+  "Robin, now I pray thee,
+Smite off my head rather to-morn,
+  And I forgive it thee.
+Let me go," then said the sher-iff,
+  "For saint Charit-e,
+And I will be thy best friend
+  That ever yet had thee."
+
+"Thou shalt swear me an oath," said Robin,
+  "On my bright brand,
+Thou shalt never awayte me scathe,
+  By water ne by land;
+And if thou find any of my men,
+  By night or by day,
+Upon thine oath thou shalt swear,
+  To help them that thou may."
+
+Now hath the sheriff i-swore his oath,
+  And home he gan to gone,
+He was as full of green wood
+  As ever was heap of stone.
+
+
+
+THE FOURTH FYTTE.
+
+The sheriff dwelled in Nottingham,
+  He was fain that he was gone,
+And Robin and his merry men
+  Went to wood anone.
+
+"Go we to dinner," said Little John.
+  Robin Hood said, "Nay;
+For I dread Our Lady be wroth with me,
+  For she sent me not my pay."
+
+"Have no doubt, master," said Little John,
+  "Yet is not the sun at rest,
+For I dare say, and safely sware,
+  The knight is true and trust."
+
+"Take thy bow in thy hand," said Robin,
+  "Let Much wende with thee,
+And so shall William Scathelock,
+  And no man abide with me,
+And walk up into the Sa-yl-es,
+  And to Watling Street,
+And wait after such unketh gest,
+  Up-chance ye may them meet.
+Whether he be messeng-er,
+  Or a man that mirth-es can,
+Or if he be a poor man,
+  Of my good he shall have some."
+
+Forth then stert Little John,
+  Half in tray and teen,
+And girded him with a full good sword,
+  Under a mantle of green.
+They went up to the Sa-yl-es,
+  These yeomen all three;
+They look-ed east, they look-ed west,
+  They might no man see.
+But as he looked in Barnisdale,
+  By the high way,
+Then were they ware of two black monks,
+  Each on a good palfray.
+
+Then bespak-e Little John,
+  To Much he gan say,
+"I dare lay my life to wed,
+  That these monks have brought our pay.
+Make glad cheer," said Little John,
+  "And frese our bows of yew,
+And look your hearts be sicker and sad,
+  Your strings trust-y and true.
+The monk hath fifty-two men,
+  And seven som-ers full strong,
+There rideth no bishop in this land
+  So royally, I understond.
+Brethren," said Little John,
+  "Here are no more but we three;
+But we bring them to dinn-er,
+  Our master dare we not see.
+Bend your bows," said Little John,
+  "Make all yon press to stand!
+The foremost monk, his life and his death
+  Is clos-ed in my hand!
+Abide, churl monk," said Little John,
+  "No farther that thou gone;
+If thou dost, by dere-worthy God,
+  Thy death is in my hond.
+And evil thrift on thy head," said Little John,
+  "Right under thy hat's bond,
+For thou hast made our master wroth,
+  He is fast-ing so long."
+
+"Who is your master?" said the monk.
+
+  Little John said, "Robin Hood."
+
+"He is a strong thief," said the monk,
+  "Of him heard I never good."
+
+"Thou liest!" then said Little John,
+  "And that shall rew-e thee;
+He is a yeoman of the for-est,
+  To dine hath bod-e thee."
+Much was ready with a bolt,
+  Redly and anon,
+He set the monk tofore the breast,
+  To the ground that he can gon.
+Of fifty-two wight young men,
+  There abode not one,
+Save a little page, and a groom
+  To lead the somers with Little John.
+
+They brought the monk to the lodge door,
+  Whether be were loth or lief,
+For to speak with Robin Hood,
+  Maugr-e in their teeth.
+Robin did adown his hood,
+  The monk when that he see;
+The monk was not so courteyous,
+  His hood then let he be.
+
+"He is a churl, master, by dere-worthy God,"
+  Then said Little John.
+
+"Thereof no force," said Rob-in,
+  "For courtesy can he none.
+How man-y men," said Rob-in,
+  "Had this monk, John?"
+
+"Fifty and two when that we met,
+  But many of them be gone."
+
+"Let blow a horn," said Robin,
+  "That fellowship may us know."
+
+Seven score of wight yeomen,
+  Came pricking on a row,
+And everich of them a good mant-ell,
+  Of scarlet and of ray,
+All they came to good Rob-in,
+  To wite what he would say.
+They made the monk to wash and wipe,
+  And sit at his dinere,
+Robin Hood and Little John
+  They served them both infere.
+"Do gladly, monk," said Robin.
+  "Gram-ercy, sir," said he.
+"Where is your abbey, whan ye are at home,
+  And who is your avow-e?"
+
+"Saint Mary abbey," said the monk,
+  "Though I be simple here."
+"In what offic-e?" said Rob-in.
+  "Sir, the high cellarer."
+"Ye be the more welcome," said Rob-in,
+  "So ever mote I thee.
+Fill of the best wine," said Rob-in,
+  "This monk shall drink to me.
+But I have great marvel," said Rob-in,
+  "Of all this long-e day,
+I dread Our Lady be wroth with me,
+  She sent me not my pay."
+
+"Have no doubt, master," said Little John,
+  "Ye have no need I say,
+This monk it hath brought, I dare well swear,
+  For he is of her abbay."
+
+"And she was a borow," said Robin,
+  "Between a knight and me,
+Of a little money that I him lent,
+  Under the green wood tree;
+And if thou hast that silver i-brought,
+  I pray thee let me see,
+And I shall help thee eftsoons,
+  If thou have need of me."
+
+The monk swore a full great oath,
+  With a sorry cheer,
+"Of the borowhood thou speakest to me,
+  Heard I never ere!"
+
+"I make mine avow to God," said Robin,
+  "Monk, thou art to blame,
+For God is hold a righteous man,
+  And so is his dame.
+Thou toldest with thine own tongue,
+  Thou may not say nay,
+How that thou art her serv-ant
+  And servest her every day,
+And thou art made her messenger,
+  My money for to pay,
+Therefore I con thee more thank,
+  Thou art come at thy day.
+What is in your coffers?" said Robin,
+  "True then tell thou me."
+"Sir," he said, "twenty mark,
+  All so mote I thee."
+
+"If there be no more," said Robin,
+  "I will not one penny;
+If thou hast mister of any more,
+  Sir, more I shall lend to thee;
+And if I find more," said Robin,
+  "I-wis thou shalt it forgone;
+For of thy spending silver, monk,
+  Thereof will I right none.
+Go now forth, Little John,
+  And the truth tell thou me;
+If there be no more but twenty mark,
+  No penny of that I see."
+
+Little John spread his mantle down,
+  As he had done before,
+And he told out of the monk-es mail,
+  Eight hundred pound and more.
+Little John let it lie full still,
+  And went to his master in haste;
+"Sir," he said, "the monk is true enow,
+  Our lady hath doubled your cost."
+
+"I make mine avow to God," said Robin,
+  "Monk, what told I thee?
+Our Lady is the truest woman,
+  That ever yet found I me.
+By dere-worthy God," said Robin,
+  "To seek all England thorowe,
+Yet found I never to my pay
+  A much better borowe.
+Fill of the best wine, do him drink," said Robin;
+  "And greet well thy Lady hend,
+And if she have need of Robin Hood,
+  A friend she shall him find;
+And if she needeth any more silv-er,
+  Come thou again to me,
+And, by this token she hath me sent,
+  She shall have such three!"
+
+The monk was going to London ward,
+  There to hold great mote,
+The knight that rode so high on horse,
+  To bring him under foot.
+
+"Whither be ye away?" said Robin.
+
+  "Sir, to manors in this lond,
+To reckon with our rev-es,
+  That have done much wrong."
+
+"Come now forth, Little John,
+  And hearken to my tale,
+A better yeoman I know none,
+  To search a monk-es mail.
+How much is in yonder other courser?" said Robin,
+  "The sooth must we see."
+
+"By our Lady," then said the monk,
+  "That were no courtes-y
+To bid a man to dinner,
+  And sith him beat and bind."
+
+"It is our old manner," said Rob-in,
+  "To leave but little behind."
+
+The monk took the horse with spur,
+  No longer would he abide.
+
+"Ask to drink," then said Rob-in,
+  "Ere that ye further ride."
+
+"Nay, fore God," then said the monk,
+  "Me reweth I came so near,
+For better cheap I might have dined,
+  In Blyth or in Doncastere."
+
+"Greet well your abbot," said Rob-in,
+  "And your prior, I you pray,
+And bid him send me such a monk
+  To dinner every day!"
+
+Now let we that monk be still,
+  And speak we of that knight,
+Yet he came to hold his day
+  While that it was light.
+He did him straight to Barnisdale,
+  Under the green wood tree,
+And he found there Robin Hood,
+  And all his merry meyn-e.
+The knight light downe of his good palfr-ey,
+  Rob-in when he gan see.
+So courteysly he did adown his hood,
+  And set him on his knee.
+
+"God thee save, good Robin Hood,
+  And all this company."
+
+"Welcome be thou, gentle knight,
+  And right welc-ome to me."
+Then bespake him Robin Hood,
+  To that knight so free,
+"What need driveth thee to green wood?
+  I pray thee, sir knight, tell me.
+And welcome be thou, gentle knight,
+  Why hast thou be so long?"
+
+"For the abbot and the high justice
+  Would have had my lond."
+
+"Hast thou thy land again?" said Robin,
+  "Truth then tell thou me."
+
+"Yea, fore God," said the knight,
+  "And that thank I God and thee.
+But take not a grief," said the knight,
+  "That I have been so long;
+  I came by a wresteling,
+And there I did help a poor yeom-an,
+  With wrong was put behind."
+
+"Nay, fore God," said Rob-in,
+  "Sir knight, that thank I thee;
+What man that helpeth a good yeom-an,
+  His friend then will I be."
+
+"Have here four hundred pound," then said the knight,
+  "The which ye lent to me;
+And here is also twenty mark
+  For your courtes-y."
+
+"Nay, fore God," then said Robin,
+  "Thou brook it well for aye,
+For our Lady, by her cellarer,
+  Hath sent to me my pay;
+And if I took it twice,
+  A shame it were to me:
+But truly, gentle knight,
+  Welc-ome art thou to me."
+
+When Rob-in had told his tale,
+  He laughed and had good cheer.
+"By my troth," then said the knight,
+  "Your money is ready here."
+
+"Brook it well," said Rob-in,
+  "Thou gentle knight so free;
+And welcome be thou, gentle knight,
+  Under my trystell tree.
+But what shall these bows do?" said Robin,
+  "And these arrows i-feathered free?"
+
+"It is," then said the knight,
+  "A poor pres-ent to thee."
+
+"Come now forth, Little John,
+  And go to my treasur-y,
+And bring me there four hundred pound,
+  The monk over-told it to me.
+Have here four hundred pound,
+  Thou gentle knight and true,
+And buy horse and harness good,
+  And gild thy spurs all new:
+And if thou fail an-y spend-ing,
+  Come to Robin Hood,
+And by my troth thou shalt none fail
+  The whiles I have any good.
+And brook well thy four hundred pound,
+  Which I lent to thee,
+And make thyself no more so bare,
+  By the counsel of me."
+
+Thus then holp him good Rob-in,
+  The knight of all his care.
+God, that sitteth in heaven high,
+  Grant us well to fare.
+
+
+
+THE FIFTH FYTTE.
+
+Now hath the knight his leave i-take,
+  And went him on his way;
+Robin Hood and his merry men
+  Dwelled still full many a day.
+Lithe and listen, gentle men,
+  And hearken what I shall say,
+How the proud sheriff of Nottingham
+  Did cry a full fair play;
+That all the best archers of the north
+  Should come upon a day,
+And they that shoot all of the best
+  The game shall bear away.
+
+'He that shooteth all of the best
+  Furthest fair and law,
+At a pair of fynly butts,
+  Under the green wood shaw,
+A right good arrow he shall have,
+  The shaft of silver white,
+The head and the feathers of rich red gold,
+  In England is none like.'
+
+This then heard good Rob-in,
+  Under his trystell tree:
+"Make you ready, ye wight young men,
+  That shooting will I see.
+Busk you, my merr-y young men,
+  Ye shall go with me;
+And I will wete the sheriff's faith,
+  True an if he be."
+
+When they had their bows i-bent,
+  Their tackles feathered free,
+Seven score of wight young men
+  Stood by Robin's knee.
+When they came to Nottingham,
+  The butts were fair and long,
+Many was the bold arch-er
+  That shooted with bow-es strong.
+
+"There shall but six shoot with me,
+  The other shall keep my head,
+And stand with good bow-es bent
+  That I be not deceived."
+
+The fourth outlaw his bow gan bend,
+  And that was Robin Hood,
+And that beheld the proud sher-iff,
+  All by the butt he stood.
+Thri-es Robin shot about,
+  And alway he cleft the wand,
+And so did good Gilbert,
+  With the whit-e hand.
+Little John and good Scathelock
+  Were archers good and free;
+Little Much and good Reynold,
+  The worst would they not be.
+When they had shot about,
+  These archers fair and good,
+Evermore was the best,
+  For sooth, Robin Hood.
+Him was delivered the good arr-ow,
+  For best worthy was he;
+He took the gift so courteysly
+  To green wood wold-e he.
+
+They cri-ed out on Robin Hood,
+  And great horns gan they blow.
+"Wo worth thee! treason!" said Rob-in,
+  "Full evil thou art to know!
+And woe be thou, thou proud sher-iff,
+  Thus gladding thy guest,
+Otherwise thou behot-e me
+  In yonder wild for-est;
+But had I thee in green wood,
+  Under my trystell tree,
+Thou shouldest leave me a better wed
+  Than thy true lewt-e."
+
+Full many a bow there was bent,
+  And arrows let they glide,
+Many a kirtle there was rent,
+  And hurt man-y a side.
+The outlaw-es shot was so strong,
+  That no man might them drive,
+And the proud sherif-es men
+  They fled away full blive.
+Robin saw the busshement to-broke,
+  In green wood he would have be,
+Many an arrow there was shot
+  Among that company.
+Little John was hurt full sore,
+  With an arrow in his knee,
+That he might neither go nor ride:
+  It was full great pit-e.
+
+"Master," then said Little John,
+  "If ever thou lovest me,
+And for that ilk-e Lord-es love,
+  That died upon a tree,
+And for the meeds of my serv-ice,
+  That I have serv-ed thee,
+Let nev-er the proud sher-iff
+  Aliv-e now find me;
+But take out thy brown sword,
+  And smite all off my head,
+And give me wound-es dead and wide,
+  That I after eat no bread."
+
+"I wold-e not that," said Rob-in,
+  "John, that thou wer-e slawe,
+For all the gold in merry England,
+  Though it lay now on a rawe."
+
+"God forbid," said Little Much,
+  "That died on a tree,
+That thou shouldest, Little John,
+  Part our company!"
+Up he took him on his back,
+  And bare him well a mile,
+Many a time he laid him down,
+  And shot another while.
+
+Then was there a fair cast-ell,
+  A little within the wood,
+Double-ditched it was about,
+  And wall-ed, by the rood;
+And there dwelled that gentle knight,
+  Sir Richard at the Lee,
+That Rob-in had lent his good,
+  Under the green wood tree.
+In he took good Rob-in,
+  And all his compan-y:
+
+"Welcome be thou, Robin Hood,
+  Welc-ome art thou me;
+And much thank thee of thy comf-ort,
+  And of thy courtesy,
+And of thy great kind-eness,
+  Under the green wood tree;
+I love no man in all this world
+  So much as I do thee;
+For all the proud sheriff of Nottingham,
+  Right here shalt thou be.
+Shut the gates, and draw the bridge,
+  And let no man come in;
+And arm you well, and make you read-y,
+  And to the wall ye win.
+For one thing, Rob-in, I thee behote,
+  I swear by Saint Quin-tin,
+These twelve days thou wonest with me,
+  To sup, eat, and dine."
+
+Boards were laid, and cloth-es spread,
+  Readily and anon;
+Robin Hood and his merry men
+  To meat gan they gon.
+
+
+
+THE SIXTH FYTTE.
+
+Lithe and listen, gentle men,
+  And hearken unto your song;
+How the proud sheriff of Nottingham,
+  And men of arm-es strong,
+Full fast came to the high sher-iff,
+  The country up to rout,
+And they beset the knight's cast-ell,
+  The wall-es all about.
+The proud sher-iff loud-e gan cry,
+  And said, "Thou traitor knight,
+Thou keepest here the king's enemy,
+  Against the laws and right!"
+
+"Sir, I will avow that I have done,
+  The deeds that here be dight,
+Upon all the land-es that I have,
+  As I am a true knight.
+Wend-e forth, sirs, on your way,
+  And doth no more to me,
+Till ye wite our king-es will
+  What he will say to thee."
+
+The sheriff thus had his answ-er,
+  Without an-y leas-ing,
+Forth he yode to London town,
+  All for to tell our king.
+There he told him of that knight,
+  And eke of Robin Hood,
+And also of the bold arch-ers,
+  That noble were and good.
+"He would avow that he had done,
+  To maintain the outlaws strong;
+He would be lord, and set you at nought,
+  In all the north lond."
+
+"I will be at Nottingham," said the king,
+  "Within this fortnight,
+And take I will Robin Hood,
+  And so I will that knight.
+Go home, thou proud sher-iff,
+  And do as I bid thee,
+And ordain good arch-ers enow,
+  Of all the wide countree."
+
+The sheriff had his leave i-take,
+  And went him on his way;
+And Robin Hood to green wood
+  Upon a certain day;
+And Little John was whole of the arrow,
+  That shot was in his knee,
+And did him straight to Robin Hood,
+  Under the green wood tree.
+Robin Hood walked in the for-est,
+  Under the leav-es green,
+The proud sher-iff of Nottingham,
+  Therefore he had great teen.
+
+The sheriff there failed of Robin Hood,
+  He might not have his prey,
+Then he awaited that gentle knight,
+  Both by night and by day.
+Ever he awaited that gentle knight,
+  Sir Richard at the Lee.
+As he went on hawking by the river side,
+  And let his hawk-es flee,
+Took he there this gentle knight,
+  With men of arm-es strong,
+And led him home to Nottingham ward,
+  I-bound both foot and hond.
+
+The sheriff swore a full great oath,
+  By him that died on a tree,
+He had liever than an hundred pound,
+  That Robin Hood had he.
+
+Then the lad-y, the knight-es wife,
+  A fair lad-y and free,
+She set her on a good palfr-ey,
+  To green wood anon rode she.
+When she came to the for-est,
+  Under the green wood tree,
+Found-e she there Robin Hood,
+  And all his fair meyn-e.
+
+"God thee save, good Robin Hood,
+  And all thy compan-y;
+For our deare Ladyes love,
+  A boon grant thou to me.
+Let thou never my wedded lord
+  Shamefully slain to be;
+He is fast i-bounde to Nottingham ward,
+  For the love of thee."
+
+Anon then said good Rob-in,
+  To that lad-ye free,
+"What man hath your lord i-take?"
+
+"The proud sheriff," then said she.
+  "Forsooth as I thee say;
+He is not yet three mil-es
+  Pass-ed on your way."
+
+Up then stert-e good Rob-in,
+  As a man that had be wode:
+"Busk you, my merr-y young men,
+  For him that died on a rode;
+And he that this sorrow forsaketh,
+  By him that died on a tree,
+Shall he never in green wood be,
+  Nor longer dwell with me."
+
+Soon there were good bows i-bent,
+  More than seven score,
+Hedge ne ditch spar-ed they none,
+  That was them before.
+
+"I make mine avow," said Robin,
+  "The knight would I fain see,
+And if I ma-y him take,
+  Iquit then shall he be."
+
+And when they came to Nottingham,
+  They walk-ed in the street,
+And with the proud sheriff, i-wis,
+  Soon-e gan they meet.
+
+"Abide, thou proud sher-iff," he said,
+  "Abide and speak with me,
+Of some tidings of our king,
+  I would fain hear of thee.
+This seven year, by dere-worthy God,
+  Ne yede I so fast on foot,
+I make mine avow, thou proud sheriff,
+  Is not for thy good."
+
+Robin bent a good bow-e,
+  An arrow he drew at his will,
+He hit so the proud sher-iff,
+  On the ground he lay full still;
+And ere he might up arise,
+  On his feet to stand,
+He smote off the sheriff's head,
+  With his bright brand.
+
+"Lie thou there, thou proud sher-iff,
+  Evil mote thou thrive;
+There might no man to thee trust,
+  The whiles thou were alive."
+
+His men drew out their bright swords
+  That were so sharp and keen,
+And laid on the sher-iff's men,
+  And drived them down bidene.
+Robin stert to that knight,
+  And cut atwo his band,
+And took him in his hand a bow,
+  And bade him by him stand.
+"Leav-e thy horse thee behind,
+  And learn for to ren;
+Thou shalt with me to green wood,
+  Through mire, moss, and fen;
+Thou shalt with me to green wood,
+  Without an-y leas-ing,
+Till that I have get us grace,
+  Of Edward our comely king."
+
+
+
+THE SEVENTH FYTTE.
+
+The king came to Nottingham,
+  With knights in great array,
+For to take that gentle knight,
+  And Robin Hood, if he may.
+He asked men of that countr-e,
+  After Robin Hood,
+And after that gentle knight,
+  That was so bold and stout.
+
+When they had told him the case,
+  Our king understood their tale,
+And seised in his hand
+  The knight-es landes all,
+All the pass of Lancashire,
+  He went both far and near,
+Till he came to Plompton park,
+  He failed many of his deer.
+Where our king was wont to see
+  Herd-es many one
+He could unneth find one deer,
+  That bare an-y good horn.
+The king was wonder wroth withal,
+  And swore by the trinit-e,
+"I would I had Robin Hood,
+  With eyen I might him see;
+And he that would smite off the knight-es head.
+  And bring it to me,
+He shall have the knight-es lands,
+  Sir Rychard at the Lee;
+I give it him with my chart-er,
+  And seal it with my hand,
+To have and hold for ever-more,
+  In all merr-y Engl-and."
+
+Then bespake a fair old knight,
+  That was true in his fay,
+"Ah, my lieg-e lord the king,
+  One word I shall you say:
+There is no man in this countr-y
+  May have the knight-es lands,
+While Robin Hood may ride or gon,
+  And bear a bow in his hands,
+That he ne shall lose his head,
+  That is the best ball in his hood:
+Give it no man, my lord the king,
+  That ye will any good!"
+
+Half a year dwelled our comely king,
+  In Nottingham, and well more,
+Could he not hear of Robin Hood,
+  In what country that he were;
+But alw-ay went good Rob-in
+  By halk and eke by hill,
+And alway slew the king-es deer,
+  And welt them at his will.
+
+Then bespake a proud forstere,
+  That stood by our king's knee,
+"If ye will see good Rob-in,
+  Ye must do after me.
+Take five of the best knyght-es
+  That be in your lede,
+And walk down by your abb-ey,
+  And get you monk-es weed.
+And I will be your led-es man,
+  And led-e you the way,
+And ere ye come to Nottingham,
+  Mine head then dare I lay,
+That ye shall meet with good Rob-in,
+  Alive if that he be,
+Ere ye come to Nottingham,
+  With eyen ye shall him see."
+
+Full hastily our king was dight,
+  So were his knight-es five,
+Each of them in monk-es weed,
+  And hasted them thither blithe.
+Our king was great above his cowl,
+  A broad hat on his crown,
+Right as he were abbot-like,
+  They rode up into the town.
+Stiff boots our king had on,
+  Forsooth as I you say,
+He rode sing-ing to green wood,
+  The convent was clothed in gray,
+His mail horse, and his great som-ers,
+  Followed our king behind,
+Till they came to green-e wood,
+  A mile under the lind:
+There they met with good Rob-in,
+  Standing on the way,
+And so did many a bold arch-er,
+  For sooth as I you say.
+
+Robin took the king-es horse,
+  Hastily in that stead,
+And said, "Sir abbot, by your leave,
+  A while ye must abide;
+We be yeom-en of this for-est,
+  Under the green wood tree,
+We live by our king-es deer,
+  Other shift have not we;
+And ye have churches and rent-es both,
+  And gold full great plent-y;
+Give us some of your spend-ing,
+  For saint Charity."
+
+Than bespake our comely king,
+  Anon then said he,
+"I brought no more to green-e wood,
+  But forty pound with me.
+I have lain at Nottingham,
+  This fortnight with our king,
+And spent I have full much good,
+  On many a great lording;
+And I have but forty pound,
+  No more then have I me;
+But if I had an hundred pound,
+  I would give it to thee."
+
+Robin took the forty pound,
+  And departed it in two part-ye,
+Halfendell he gave his merry men,
+  And bade them merr-y to be.
+Full courteously Rob-in gan say,
+  "Sir, have this for your spend-ing,
+We shall meet another day."
+
+  "Gramerc-y," then said our king,
+"But well thee greeteth Edw-ard our king,
+  And sent to thee his seal,
+And biddeth thee come to Nottingham,
+  Both to meat and meal."
+He took out the broad tarpe,
+  And soon he let him see;
+Robin coud his courtesy,
+  And set him on his knee:
+"I love no man in all the world
+  So well as I do my king,
+Welcome is my lord-es seal;
+  And, monk, for thy tid-ing,
+Sir abbot, for thy tiding-es,
+  To-day thou shalt dine with me,
+For the love of my king,
+  Under my trystell tree."
+
+Forth he led our comely king,
+  Full fair by the hand,
+Many a deer there was slain,
+  And full fast dightand.
+Robin took a full great horn,
+  And loud he gan blow;
+Seven score of wight young men,
+  Came ready on a row,
+All they kneel-ed on their knee,
+  Full fair before Rob-in.
+The king said himself unto,
+  And swore by saint Austin,
+"Here is a wonder seemly sight,
+  Me thinketh, by Goddes pine;
+His men are more at his bidd-ing,
+  Than my men be at mine!"
+
+Full hastily was their dinner i-dight,
+  And thereto gan they gon,
+They served our king with all their might,
+  Both Robin and Little John.
+Anon before our king was set
+  The fatt-e venison,
+The good white bread, the good red wine,
+  And thereto the fine ale brown.
+"Mak-e good cheer," said Rob-in,
+  "Abb-ot, for charit-y;
+And for this ilk-e tiding-e,
+  Bless-ed mote thou be.
+Now shalt thou see what life we lead,
+  Or thou henn-es wend,
+Then thou may inform our king,
+  When ye together lend."
+
+Up they stert all in haste,
+  Their bows were smartly bent,
+Our king was never so sore agast,
+  He weened to have be shent.
+Two yard-es there were up set,
+  Thereto gan they gang;
+But fifty pace, our king said,
+  The mark-es were too long.
+On every side a rose garl-and,
+  They shot under the line.
+"Whoso faileth of the rose garland," said Robin,
+  "His tackle he shall tine,
+And yield it to his master,
+  Be it never so fine,--
+For no man will I spare,
+  So drinke I ale or wine,--
+And bear a buffet on his head
+  I-wys right all bare."
+
+And all that fell in Robin's lot,
+  He smote them wonder sair.
+Twi-es Robin shot about,
+  And ever he cleaved the wand,
+And so did good Gilb-ert,
+  With the lily white hand;
+Little John and good Scath-elock,
+  For nothing would they spare,
+When they failed of the garl-and,
+  Robin smote them fall sair.
+At the last shot that Robin shot,
+  For all his friends fair,
+Yet he failed of the garl-and,
+  Three fingers and mair.
+
+Then bespak-e good Gilb-ert,
+  And thus he gan say,
+"Master," he said, "your tackle is lost,
+  Stand forth and take your pay."
+"If it be so," said Rob-in,
+  "That may no better be:
+Sir abbot, I deliver thee mine arrow,
+  I pray thee, sir, serve thou me."
+
+"It falleth not for mine order," said our king;
+  "Robin, by thy leave,
+For to smite no good yeom-an,
+  For doubt I should him grieve."
+
+"Smite on boldly!" said Rob-in,
+  "I give thee larg-e leave."
+
+Anon our king, with that word,
+  He fold up his sleeve,
+And such a buffet he gave Rob-in,
+  To ground he yede full near.
+
+"I make mine avow to God," said Robin,
+  "Thou art a stalworthy frere;
+There is pith in thine arm," said Rob-in,
+  "I trow thou canst well shoot!"
+
+Thus our king and Robin Hood
+  Together then they met.
+
+Robin beheld our comely king
+  Wistly in the face,
+So did Sir Richard at the Lee,
+  And kneeled down in that place;
+And so did all the wild outl-aws,
+  When they see them kneel.
+"My lord the king of Engl-and,
+  Now I know you well.
+Merc-y," then Robin said to our king,
+  "Under your trystal tree,
+Of thy goodness and thy grace,
+  For my men and me!
+Yes, fore God," said Robin,
+  "And also God me save;
+I ask merc-y, my lord the king,
+  And for my men I crave."
+
+"Yes, fore God," then said our king,
+  "Thy petition I grant thee,
+With that thou leave the green wood,
+  And all thy compan-y;
+And come home, sir, to my court,
+  And there dwell with me."
+
+"I make mine avow," said Rob-in,
+  "And right so shall it be;
+I will come to your court,
+  Your service for to see,
+And bring with me of my men
+  Seven score and three.
+But me like well your serv-ice,
+  I come again full soon,
+And shoot at the donn-e deer,
+  As I am wont to doon."
+
+
+
+THE EIGHTH FYTTE.
+
+"Hast thou any green cloth," said our king,
+  "That thou wilt sell now to me?"
+"Yea, fore God," said Robin.
+  "Thirty yards and three."
+
+"Robin," said our king,
+  "Now pray I thee,
+To sell me some of that cloth,
+  To me and my meyn-e."
+
+"Yes, fore God," then said Rob-in,
+  "Or else I were a fool;
+Another day ye will me clothe,
+  I trow, against the Yule."
+
+The king cast off his cot-e then,
+  A green garment he did on,
+And every knight had so, i-wis,
+  They cloth-ed them full soon.
+When they were clothed in Lincoln green,
+  They cast away their gray.
+Now we shall to Nottingham,
+  All thus our king gan say.
+Their bows they bent and forth they went,
+  Shooting all in-fere,
+Toward the town of Nottingham,
+  Outlaws as they were.
+Our king and Robin rode together,
+  For sooth as I you say,
+And they shot pluck-buffet,
+  As they went by the way;
+And many a buffet our king wan,
+  Of Robin Hood that day:
+And nothing spar-ed good Rob-in
+  Our king in his pay.
+"So God me help-e," said our king,
+  "Thy name is nought to lere,
+I should not get a shot of thee,
+  Though I shot all this year."
+
+All the people of Nottingham
+  They stood and beheld,
+They saw nothing but mantles of green,
+  They covered all the feld;
+Then every man to other gan say,
+  "I dread our king be slone;
+Come Robin Hood to the town, i-wis,
+  On live he leaveth not one."
+Full hastily they began to flee,
+  Both yeomen and knaves,
+And old wives that might evil go,
+  They hopp-ed on their staves.
+
+The king be lough full fast,
+  And commanded them again;
+When they see our comely king,
+  I-wis they were full fain.
+They ate and drank, and made them glad,
+  And sang with not-es hie.
+Then bespake our comely king
+  To Sir Richard at the Lee:
+He gave him there his land again,
+  A good man he bade him be.
+Robin thanked our comely king,
+  And set him on his knee.
+
+Had Robin dwelled in the king's court
+  But twelv-e months and three,
+That he had spent an hundred pound,
+  And all his menn-es fee,
+In every place where Robin came,
+  Ever more he laid down,
+Both for knights and squires,
+  To get him great renown.
+By then the year was all agone,
+  He had no man but twain,
+Little John and good Scathlocke,
+  With him all for to gane.
+
+Robin saw yong-e men to shoot,
+  Full fair upon a day,
+"Alas!" then said good Rob-in,
+  "My wealth is went away.
+Sometime I was an archer good,
+  A stiff and eke a strong,
+I was committed the best arch-er
+  That was in merry Englond.
+Alas!" then said good Rob-in,
+  "Alas and well away!
+If I dwell longer with the king,
+  Sorrow will me slay!"
+
+Forth then went Robin Hood,
+  Till he came to our king:
+"My lord the king of Englond,
+  Grant me mine ask-ing.
+I made a chapel in Barnysdale,
+  That seemly is to see,
+It is of Mary Magdalene,
+  And thereto would I be;
+I might never in this seven-night,
+  No time to sleep ne wink,
+Neither all these seven days,
+  Neither eat ne drink.
+Me longeth sore to Barnysdale,
+  I may not be therefro,
+Barefoot and woolward I have hight
+  Thither for to go."
+
+"If it be so," then said our king,
+  "It may no better be;
+Seven-night I give thee leave,
+  No longer, to dwell fro me."
+
+"Gram-ercy, lord," then said Rob-in,
+  And set him on his knee;
+He took his leave full courteously,
+  To green wood then went he.
+When he came to green-e wood,
+  In a merr-y morning,
+There he heard the not-es small
+  Of bird-es merry sing-ing.
+"It is ferre gone," said Rob-in,
+  "That I was last here,
+Me list a little for to shoot
+  At the dunne deer."
+Robin slew a full great hart,
+  His horn then gan he blow,
+That all the outlaws of that for-est,
+  That horn could they know,
+And gathered them together,
+  In a little throw,
+Seven score of wight young men,
+  Came ready on a row;
+And fair did off their hoods,
+  And set them on their knee:
+"Welcome," they said, "our mast-er,
+  Under this green wood tree!"
+
+Robin dwelled in green wood,
+  Twenty year and two,
+For all dread of Edward our king,
+  Again would he not go.
+Yet he was beguiled, i-wis,
+  Through a wicked wom-an,
+The Prioress of Kirklees,
+  That nigh was of his kin,
+For the love of a knight,
+  Sir Roger of Doncaster,
+That was her own special,
+  Full evil mote they thee,
+
+They took together their couns-el,
+  Robin Hood for to sle,
+And how they might best do that deed,
+  His banis for to be.
+Then bespak-e good Rob-in,
+  In place whereas he stood,
+"To-morrow I must to Kirklees,
+  Craftily to be letten blood."
+Sir Roger of Doncaster,
+  By the Prioress he lay,
+And there they betrayed good Robin Hood,
+  Through their fals-e play.
+Christ have mercy on his soul,
+  That di-ed on the rood!
+For he was a good outlaw,
+  And did poor men much good.
+
+
+
+KING EDWARD IV. AND THE TANNER OF TAMWORTH.
+
+In summer time, when leaves grow green,
+  And blossoms bedeck the tree,
+King Edward would a hunting ride,
+  Some pastime for to see.
+
+With hawk and hound he made him boun,
+  With horn, and eke with bow;
+To Drayton Basset he took his way,
+  With all his lords arow.
+
+And he had ridden o'er dale and down
+  By eight of clock in the day,
+When he was ware of a bold tann-er,
+  Come riding along the way.
+
+A fair russet coat the tanner had on,
+  Fast buttoned under his chin,
+And under him a good cow-hide,
+  And a mare of four shill-ing.
+
+"Now stand you still, my good lords all
+  Under the green wood spray;
+And I will wend to yonder fell-ow,
+  To weet what he will say."--
+
+"God speed, God speed thee," said our king.--
+  "Thou art welcome, sir," said he.--
+"The readiest way to Drayton Basset
+  I pray thee to show to me."--
+
+"To Drayton Basset wouldst thou go,
+  Fro the place where thou dost stand?
+The next pair of gallows thou comest unto
+  Turn in upon thy right hand."--
+
+"That is an unready way," said our king,
+  "Thou doest but jest, I see;
+Now show me out the nearest way,
+  And I pray thee wend with me."--
+
+"Away with a vengeance!" quoth the tanner:
+  "I hold thee out of thy wit:
+All day have I ridden on Brock my mare,
+  And I am fasting yet."--
+
+"Go with me down to Drayton Basset,
+  No dainties we will spare;
+All day shalt thou eat and drink of the best,
+  And I will pay thy fare."--
+
+"Gram-ercy for nothing," the tanner replied,
+  "Thou payest no fare of mine:
+I trow I've more nobles in my purse,
+  Than thou hast pence in thine."--
+
+"God give thee joy of them," said the king,
+  "And send them well to prief."--
+The tanner would fain have been away,
+  For he weened he had been a thief.
+
+"What art thou," he said, "thou fine fell-ow?
+  Of thee I am in great fear,
+For the clothes thou wearest upon thy back
+  Might beseem a lord to wear."--
+
+"I never stole them," quoth our king,
+  "I tell you, sir, by the rood."--
+"Then thou playest, as many an unthrift doth,
+  And standest in midst of thy good."--
+
+"What tidings hear you," said the king.
+  "As you ride far and near?"--
+"I hear no tidings, sir, by the mass,
+  But that cow-hides are dear."--
+
+"Cow-hides! cow-hides! what things are those?
+  I marvel what they be!"--
+"What, art thou a fool?" the tanner replied;
+  "I carry one under me."--
+
+"What craftsman art thou?" said the king,
+  "I pray thee tell me trow.""--
+"I am a barker, sir, by my trade.
+  Now tell me what art thou?"--
+
+"I am a poor courtier, sir," quoth he,
+  "That am forth of service worn;
+And fain I would thy 'prentice be,
+  Thy cunning for to learn."--
+
+"Marry, heaven forfend," the tanner replied,
+  "That thou my 'prentice were!
+Thou'dst spend more good than I should win,
+  By forty shilling a year."--
+
+"Yet one thing would I," said our king,
+  "If thou wilt not seem strange:
+Though my horse be better than thy mare,
+  Yet with thee I fain would change."--
+
+"Why, if with me thou fain wilt change,
+  As change full well may we,
+By the faith of my body, thou proud fell-ow
+  I will have some boot of thee."--
+
+"That were against reason," said the king,
+  "I swear, so mote I thee:
+My horse is better than thy mare,
+  And that thou well may'st see."--
+
+"Yea, sir, but Brock is gentle and mild,
+  And softly she will fare;
+Thy horse is unruly and wild, i-wis;
+  Aye skipping here and there."--
+
+"What boot wilt thou have?" our king replied;
+  "Now tell me in this stound."--
+"No pence, nor halfpence, by my fay,
+  But a noble in gold so round."--
+
+"Here's twenty groats of white mon-ey,
+  Sith thou wilt have it of me."--
+"I would have sworn now," quoth the tanner,
+  "Thou hadst not had one penni-e.
+
+"But since we two have made a change,
+  A change we must abide;
+Although thou hast gotten Brock my mare,
+  Thou gettest not my cow-hide."--
+
+"I will not have it," said the king,
+  "I swear, so mote I thee;
+Thy foul cow-hide I would not bear,
+  If thou wouldst give it to me."
+
+The tanner he took his good cow-hide
+  That of the cow was hilt;
+And threw it upon the king's sad-elle,
+  That was so fairly gilt.
+
+"Now help me up, thou fine fell-ow,
+  'Tis time that I were gone:
+When I come home to Gyllian my wife,
+  She'll say I am a gentilmon."
+
+When the tanner he was in the king's sad-elle,
+  And his foot in the stirrup was;
+He marvelled greatly in his mind,
+  Whether it were gold or brass.
+
+But when his steed saw the cow's tail wag,
+  And eke the black cow-horn;
+He stamped, and stared, and away he ran,
+  As the devil had him borne.
+
+The tanner he pulled, the tanner he sweat,
+  And held by the pummel fast:
+At length the tanner came tumbling down;
+  His neck he had well-nigh brast.
+
+"Take thy horse again with a vengeance!" he said,
+  "With me he shall not bide!"--
+"My horse would have borne thee well enough,
+  But he knew not of thy cow-hide.
+
+"Yet if again thou fain wouldst change,
+  As change full well may we,
+By the faith of my body, thou jolly tann-er,
+  I will have some boot of thee."--
+
+"What boot wilt thou have?" the tanner replied,
+  "Now tell me in this stound."--
+"No pence nor halfpence, sir, by my fay,
+  But I will have twenty pound."--
+
+"Here's twenty groats out of my purse;
+  And twenty I have of thine:
+And I have one more, which we will spend
+  Together at the wine."
+
+The king set a bugle horn to his mouth,
+  And blew both loud and shrill:
+And soon came lords, and soon came knights,
+  Fast riding over the hill.
+
+"Now, out alas!" the tanner he cried,
+  "That ever I saw this day!
+Thou art a strong thief, yon come thy fell-ows
+  Will bear my cow-hide away!"--
+
+"They are no thieves," the king replied,
+  "I swear, so mote I thee:
+But they are the lords of the north countr-y,
+  Here come to hunt with me."
+
+And soon before our king they came,
+  And knelt down on the ground:
+Then might the tanner have been away,
+  He had liever than twenty pound.
+
+"A collar, a collar, here!" said the king,
+  "A collar!" he loud gan cry;
+Then would he liever than twenty pound,
+  He had not been so nigh.
+
+"A collar, a collar," the tanner he said,
+  "I trow it will breed sorrow;
+After a collar cometh a halter,
+  I trow I'll be hanged to-morrow."--
+
+"Be not afraid, tanner," said our king;
+  "I tell thee, so mote I thee,
+Lo here I make thee the best esquire
+  That is in the north countrie.
+
+"For Plumpton Park I will give thee,
+  With tenements fair beside:
+'Tis worth three hundred marks by the year,
+  To maintain thy good cow-hide."--
+
+"Gram-ercy, my liege," the tanner replied
+  "For the favour thou hast me shown;
+If ever thou comest to merry Tam-worth,
+  Neat's leather shall clout thy shoon."
+
+
+
+SIR PATRICK SPENS.
+
+The king sits in Dumferling toune,
+  Drinking the blude-reid wine:
+"O whare will I get a skeely skipper
+  To sail this new ship of mine?"
+
+Up and spak an eldern knicht,
+  Sat at the king's right knee:
+"Sir Patrick Spens is the best sail-or
+  That ever sailed the sea."
+
+Our king has written a braid letter,
+  And sealed it with his hand;
+And sent it to Sir Patrick Spens,
+  Was walking on the sand.
+
+"To Noroway, to Noroway,
+  To Noroway o'er the faem;
+The king's daughter of Noroway,
+  'Tis thou maun bring her hame."
+
+The first word that Sir Patrick read,
+  A loud laugh laughed he:
+The neist word that Sir Patrick read,
+  The tear blinded his ee.
+
+"O wha is this has done this deed,
+  And tauld the king o' me;
+To send us out this time o' the year,
+  To sail upon the sea?
+
+"Be it wind, be it weet, be it hail, be it sleet,
+  Our ship must sail the faem,
+The king's daughter of Noroway,
+  'Tis we must fetch her hame."
+
+They hoysed their sails on Monenday morn,
+  Wi' a' the speed they may;
+They hae landed in Noroway,
+  Upon a Wodensday.
+
+They hadna been a week, a week,
+  In Noroway, but twae,
+When that the lords o' Noroway
+  Began aloud to say,--
+
+"Ye Scottishmen spend a' our king's goud,
+  And a' our queenis fee."--
+"Ye lie, ye lie, ye liars loud,
+  Fu' loud I hear ye lie;
+
+"For I brought as much white monie
+  As gane my men and me,
+And I brought a half-fou of gude red goud,
+  Out o'er the sea wi' me.
+
+"Make ready, make ready, my merry men a',
+  Our gude ship sails the morn!"--
+"Now, ever alack, my master dear,
+  I fear a deadly storm!
+
+"I saw the new moon, late yestreen,
+  Wi' the auld moon in her arm;
+And if we gang to sea, master,
+  I fear we'll come to harm."
+
+They hadna sailed a league, a league,
+  A league but barely three,
+When the lift grew dark, and the wind blew loud,
+  And gurly grew the sea.
+
+The ankers brak, and the topmasts lap,
+  It was sic a deadly storm;
+And the waves cam o'er the broken ship,
+  Till a' her sides were torn.
+
+"O where will I get a gude sail-or
+  To take my helm in hand,
+Till I get up to the tall topmast
+  To see if I can spy land?"--
+
+"O here am I, a sailor gude,
+  To take the helm in hand,
+Till you go up to the tall topmast,
+  But I fear you'll ne'er spy land."
+
+He hadna gane a step, a step,
+  A step but barely ane,
+When a bolt flew out of our goodly ship,
+  And the salt sea it came in.
+
+"Gae, fetch a web o' the silken claith,
+  Another o' the twine,
+And wap them into our ship's side,
+  And let nae the sea come in."
+
+They fetched a web o' the silken claith,
+  Another o' the twine,
+And they wapped them round that gude ship's side,
+  But still the sea cam in.
+
+O laith, laith, were our gude Scots lords
+  To wet their cork-heeled shoon!
+But lang or a' the play was played
+  They wat their hats aboon.
+
+And mony was the feather bed
+  That flattered on the faem;
+And mony was the gude lord's son
+  That never mair cam hame.
+
+The ladies wrang their fingers white,
+  The maidens tore their hair,
+A' for the sake of their true loves;
+  For them they'll see nae mair.
+
+O lang, lang, may the ladies sit,
+  Wi' their fans into their hand,
+Before they see Sir Patrick Spens
+  Come sailing to the strand!
+
+And lang, lang, may the maidens sit,
+  Wi' their gold combs in their hair,
+Awaiting for their ain dear loves!
+  For them they'll see nae mair.
+
+O forty miles off Aberdeen
+  'Tis fifty fathoms deep,
+And there lies gude Sir Patrick Spens,
+  Wi' the Scots lords at his feet.
+
+
+
+EDOM O' GORDON.
+
+It fell about the Martinmas,
+  When the wind blew shrill and cauld,
+Said Edom o' Gordon to his men,
+  "We maun draw till a hauld.
+
+"And what a hauld sall we draw till,
+  My merry men and me?
+We wull gae to the house o' the Rode,
+  To see that fair lad-ie."
+
+The ladie stude on her castle wa',
+  Beheld baith dale and down:
+There she was ware of a host of men
+  Come riding towards the toun.
+
+
+"O see ye nat, my merry men a'?
+  O see ye nat what I see?
+Methinks I see a host of men:
+  I marvel wha they be!"
+
+She weened it had been her luvely lord,
+  As he came riding hame;
+It was the traitor Edom o' Gordon,
+  Wha recked nae sin nor shame.
+
+She had nae sooner buskit hersel,
+  And putten on her goun,
+But Edom o' Gordon and his men
+  Were round about the toun.
+
+They had nae sooner supper set,
+  Nae sooner said the grace,
+But Edom o' Gordon and his men
+  Were light about the place.
+
+The lady ran up to her tower head,
+  Sae fast as she could hie,
+To see if by her fair speech-es
+  She could wi' him agree.
+
+But whan he see this lady saif,
+  And her gat-es all locked fast,
+He fell into a rage of wrath,
+  And his look was all aghast.
+
+"Come down to me, ye lady gay,
+  Come down, come down to me!
+This night sall ye lig within mine arms
+  To-morrow my bride sall be."--
+
+"I winna come down, ye false Gord-on,
+  I winna come down to thee;
+I winna forsake my ain dear lord,
+  That is sae far frae me."--
+
+"Give o'er your house, ye lady fair,
+  Give o'er your house to me,
+Or I sall bren yoursel therein,
+  Bot and your babies three."--
+
+"I winna give o'er, ye false Gord-on
+  To nae sic traitor as ye;
+And if ye bren my ain dear babes,
+  My lord sall make you dree.
+
+"But reach my pistol, Glaud, my man,
+  And charge ye weel my gun:
+For, but an I pierce that bluidy butcher
+  My babes we been undone."
+
+She stude upon her castle wa',
+  And let twa bullets flee:
+She missed that bluidy butcher's heart
+  And only rased his knee.
+
+"Set fire to the house!" quo' false Gord-on,
+  All wood wi' dule and ire:
+"False lady, ye sall rue this deed,
+  As ye bren in the fire!"--
+
+"Wae worth, wae worth ye, Jock my man,
+  I paid ye weel your fee:
+Why pu' ye out the ground-wa' stane,
+  Lets in the reek to me?
+
+"And e'en wae worth ye, Jock my man,
+  I paid ye weel your hire;
+Why pu' ye out the ground-wa' stane,
+  To me lets in the fire?"--
+
+"Ye paid me weel my hire, lady;
+  Ye paid me weel my fee;
+But now I'm Edom o' Gordon's man,
+  Maun either do or dee."
+
+O then bespake her little son,
+  Sate on the nurse's knee:
+Says, "Mither dear, gi'e o'er this house,
+  For the reek it smithers me."--
+
+"I wad gi'e a' my gowd, my child,
+  Sae wad I a' my fee,
+For ane blast o' the western wind
+  To blaw the reek frae thee."
+
+O then bespake her dochter dear,
+  She was baith jimp and sma',
+"O row me in a pair o' sheets,
+  And tow me o'er the wa'."
+
+They rowd her in a pair o' sheets,
+  And towd her o'er the wa':
+But on the point of Gordon's spear
+  She gat a deadly fa'.
+
+O bonnie bonnie was her mouth,
+  And cherry were her cheeks,
+And clear clear was her yellow hair,
+  Whereon the reid bluid dreeps.
+
+Then wi' his spear he turned her o'er,--
+  O gin her face was wan!
+He said, "Ye are the first that e'er
+  I wished alive again."
+
+He turned her o'er and o'er again,--
+  O gin her skin was white!
+"I might ha' spared that bonnie face
+  To hae been some man's delite.
+
+"Busk and boun, my merry men a',
+  For ill dooms I do guess;
+I canna luik in that bonnie face,
+  As it lies on the grass."--
+
+"Tham luiks to freits, my master dear,
+  Then freits will follow thame:
+Let it neir be said brave Edom o' Gordon
+  Was daunted by a dame!"--
+
+But when the ladie see the fire
+  Come flaming o'er her head,
+She wept and kissed her children twain,
+  Said, "Bairns, we been but dead!"
+
+The Gordon then his bugle blew,
+  And said, "Awa', awa';
+This house o' the Rodes is a' in flame,
+  I hauld it time to ga'."
+
+O then bespied her ain dear lord,
+  As he came o'er the lee;
+He spied his castle all in blaze
+  Sae far as he could see.
+
+Then sair, O sair his mind misgave,
+  And all his heart was wae;
+"Put on! put on! my wighty men,
+  So fast as ye can gae!
+
+"Put on! put on! my wighty men,
+  Sae fast as ye can dree;
+For he that is hindmost of the thrang
+  Sall neir get guid o' me!"
+
+Then some they rade, and some they rin,
+  Fou fast out-o'er the bent,
+But ere the foremost could get up,
+  Baith ladie and babes were brent.
+
+He wrang his hands, he rent his hair,
+  And wept in teenefu' muid:
+"O traitors! for this cruel deed
+  Ye sall weep tears o' bluid!"
+
+And after the Gordon he is gane,
+  So fast as he might dree;
+And soon i' the Gordon's foul heart's bluid
+  He's wroken his dear ladie.
+
+
+
+THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.
+
+Now ponder well, you parents dear,
+  These words which I shall write;
+A doleful story you shall hear,
+  In time brought forth to light.
+A gentleman of good account
+  In Norfolk dwelt of late,
+Who did in honour far surmount
+  Most men of his estate.
+
+Sore sick he was, and like to die,
+  No help his life could save;
+His wife by him as sick did lie,
+  And both possessed one grave.
+No love between these two was lost,
+  Each was to other kind;
+In love they lived, in love they died,
+  And left two babes behind:
+
+The one a fine and pretty boy,
+  Not passing three years old;
+The other a girl more young than he,
+  And framed in beauty's mould.
+The father left his little son,
+  As plainly doth appear,
+When he to perfect age should come,
+  Three hundred pounds a year.
+
+And to his little daughter Jane
+  Five hundred pounds in gold,
+To be paid down on marriage-day,
+  Which might not be controlled:
+But if the children chance to die,
+  Ere they to age should come,
+Their uncle should possess their wealth;
+  For so the will did run.
+
+"Now, brother," said the dying man,
+  "Look to my children dear;
+Be good unto my boy and girl,
+  No friends else have they here:
+To God and you I recommend
+  My children dear this day;
+But little while be sure we have
+  Within this world to stay.
+
+"You must be father and mother both,
+  And uncle all in one;
+God knows what will become of them,
+  When I am dead and gone."
+With that bespake their mother dear,
+  "O brother kind," quoth she,
+"You are the man must bring our babes
+  To wealth or misery:
+
+"And if you keep them carefully,
+  Then God will you reward;
+But if you otherwise should deal,
+  God will your deeds regard."
+With lips as cold as any stone,
+  They kissed their children small:
+"God bless you both, my children dear!"
+  With that the tears did fall.
+
+These speeches then their brother spake
+  To this sick couple there,--
+"The keeping of your little ones,
+  Sweet sister, do not fear:
+God never prosper me nor mine,
+  Nor aught else that I have,
+If I do wrong your children dear,
+  When you are laid in grave!"
+
+The parents being dead and gone,
+  The children home he takes,
+And brings them straight unto his house,
+  Where much of them he makes.
+He had not kept these pretty babes
+  A twelvemonth and a day,
+But, for their wealth, he did devise
+  To make them both away.
+
+He bargained with two ruffians strong,
+  Which were of furious mood,
+That they should take these children young,
+  And slay them in a wood.
+He told his wife an artful tale,
+  He would the children send
+To be brought up in fair Lond-on,
+  With one that was his friend.
+
+Away then went those pretty babes,
+  Rejoicing at that tide,
+Rejoicing with a merry mind,
+  They should on cock-horse ride.
+They prate and prattle pleasantly,
+  As they rode on the way,
+To those that should their butchers be,
+  And work their lives' decay:
+
+So that the pretty speech they had,
+  Made Murder's heart relent;
+And they that undertook the deed,
+  Full sore did now repent.
+Yet one of them more hard of heart,
+  Did vow to do his charge,
+Because the wretch that hir-ed him
+  Had paid him very large.
+
+The other won't agree thereto,
+  So here they fall to strife;
+With one another they did fight,
+  About the children's life:
+And he that was of mildest mood,
+  Did slay the other there,
+Within an unfrequented wood;
+  The babes did quake for fear!
+
+He took the children by the hand,
+  Tears standing in their eye,
+And bade them straightway follow him,
+  And look they did not cry:
+And two long miles he led them on,
+  While they for food complain:
+"Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread,
+  When I come back again."
+
+These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
+  Went wandering up and down;
+But never more could see the man
+  Approaching from the town:
+Their pretty lips with black-berries,
+  Were all besmeared and dyed;
+And when they saw the darksome night,
+  They sat them down and cried.
+
+Thus wandered these poor innocents,
+  Till death did end their grief;
+In one another's arms they died,
+  As wanting due relief:
+No burial this pretty pair
+  Of any man receives,
+Till Robin-red-breast piously
+  Did cover them with leaves.
+
+And now the heavy wrath of God
+  Upon their uncle fell;
+Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house,
+  His conscience felt an hell:
+His barns were fired, his goods consumed,
+  His lands were barren made,
+His cattle died within the field,
+  And nothing with him staid.
+
+And in a voyage to Portugal
+  Two of his sons did die;
+And to conclude, himself was brought
+  To want and miser-y:
+He pawned and mortgaged all his land
+  Ere seven years came about;
+And now at length this wicked act
+  Did by this means come out:
+
+The fellow that did take in hand
+  These children for to kill,
+Was for a robbery judged to die;
+  Such was God's blessed will;
+Who did confess the very truth,
+  As here hath been displayed:
+Their uncle having died in gaol,
+  Where he for debt was laid.
+
+You that executors be made,
+  And overse-ers eke
+Of children that be fatherless
+  And infants mild and meek;
+Take you example by this thing,
+  And yield to each his right,
+Lest God with such like misery
+  Your wicked minds requite.
+
+
+
+THE BEGGAR'S DAUGHTER OF BETHNAL GREEN.
+
+PART THE FIRST.
+
+It was a blind beggar, had long lost his sight,
+He had a fair daughter of beauty most bright;
+And many a gallant brave suitor had she,
+For none was so comely as pretty Bessee.
+
+And though she was truly of favour most fair,
+Yet seeing she was but a poor beggar's heir,
+Of ancient housekeepers despis-ed was she,
+Whose sons came as suitors to pretty Bessee.
+
+Wherefore in great sorrow fair Bessy did say,
+"Good father, and mother, let me go away
+To seek out my fortune, whatever it be."
+This suit then they granted to pretty Bessee.
+
+Then Bessy, that was of a beauty so bright,
+All clad in grey russet, and late in the night
+From father and mother alone parted she;
+Who sigh-ed and sobb-ed for pretty Bessee.
+
+She went till she came into Stratford-le-Bow;
+Then knew she not whither, nor which way to go:
+With tears she lamented her hard destin-ie,
+So sad and so heavy was pretty Bessee.
+
+She kept on her journey until it was day,
+And went unto Rumford along the highway;
+Where at the Queen's Arms entertain-ed was she:
+So fair and well-favoured was pretty Bessee.
+
+She had not been there a month to an end,
+But master and mistress and all was her friend:
+And every brave gallant, that once did her see,
+Was straightway enamoured of pretty Bessee.
+
+Great gifts they did send her of silver and gold,
+And in their songs daily her love was extolled;
+Her beauty was blaz-ed in every degree,
+So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee.
+
+The young men of Rumford in her had their joy;
+She showed herself courteous, and modestly coy,
+And at her command-ement still would they be;
+So fair and so comely was pretty Bessee.
+
+Four suitors at once unto her did go;
+They crav-ed her favour, but still she said no;
+I would not wish gentles to marry with me;
+Yet ever they honour-ed pretty Bessee.
+
+The first of them was a gallant young knight,
+And he came unto her disguised in the night:
+The second a gentleman of good degree,
+Who woo-ed and su-ed for pretty Bessee:
+
+A merchant of London, whose wealth was not small,
+He was the third suitor, and proper withal:
+Her master's own son the fourth man must be,
+Who swore he would die for pretty Bessee.
+
+"And, if thou wilt marry with me," quoth the knight,
+"I'll make thee a lady with joy and delight;
+My heart's so inthrall-ed by thy beaut-ie,
+That soon I shall die for pretty Bessee."
+
+The gentleman said, "Come, marry with me,
+As fine as a lady my Bessy shall be:
+My life is distress-ed:  O hear me," quoth he;
+And grant me thy love, my pretty Bessee."
+
+"Let me be thy husband," the merchant could say,
+"Thou shalt live in London both gallant and gay;
+My ships shall bring home rich jewels for thee,
+And I will for ever love pretty Bessee."
+
+Then Bessy she sigh-ed, and thus she did say,
+"My father and mother I mean to obey;
+First get their good will, and be faithful to me,
+And you shall enjoy your pretty Bessee."
+
+To every one this answer she made,
+Wherefore unto her they joyfully said,--
+"This thing to fulfil we all do agree:
+But where dwells thy father, my pretty Bessee?"
+
+"My father," she said, "is soon to be seen:
+The seely blind beggar of Bethnal Green,
+That daily sits begging for charit-ie,
+He is the good father of pretty Bessee."
+
+"His marks and his tokens are known very well;
+He always is led with a dog and a bell:
+A seely old man, God knoweth, is he,
+Yet he is the father of pretty Bessee."
+
+"Nay then," quoth the merchant, "thou art not for me:"
+"Nor," quoth the innholder, "my wife thou shalt be:"
+"I loathe," said the gentle, "a beggar's degree,
+And therefore adieu, my pretty Bessee!"
+
+"Why then," quoth the knight, "hap better or worse,
+I weigh not true love by the weight of the purse,
+And beauty is beauty in every degree;
+Then welcome unto me, my pretty Bessee:
+
+"With thee to thy father forthwith I will go."
+"Nay soft," quoth his kinsmen, "it must not be so;
+A poor beggar's daughter no lady shall be;
+Then take thy adieu of pretty Bessee."
+
+But soon after this, by the break of the day,
+The knight had from Rumford stole Bessy away.
+The young men of Rumford, as thick as might be,
+Rode after to fetch again pretty Bessee.
+
+As swift as the wind to ride they were seen,
+Until they came near unto Bethnal Green;
+And as the knight lighted most courteouslie,
+They all fought against him for pretty Bessee.
+
+But rescue came speedily over the plain,
+Or else the young knight for his love had been slain.
+This fray being ended, then straightway he see
+His kinsmen come railing at pretty Bessee.
+
+Then spake the blind beggar, "Although I be poor,
+Yet rail not against my child at my own door:
+Though she be not deck-ed in velvet and pearl,
+Yet will I drop angels with you for my girl.
+
+"And then, if my gold may better her birth,
+And equal the gold that you lay on the earth,
+Then neither rail nor grudge you to see
+The blind beggar's daughter a lady to be.
+
+"But first you shall promise, and have it well known,
+The gold that you drop shall all be your own."
+With that they repli-ed, "Contented be we."
+"Then here's," quoth the beggar, "for pretty Bessee!"
+
+And with that an angel he cast on the ground,
+And dropp-ed in angels full three thousand pound;
+And oftentimes it was prov-ed most plain,
+For the gentlemen's one the beggar dropped twain:
+
+So that the place, wherein they did sit,
+With gold it was cover-ed every whit.
+The gentlemen then having dropt all their store,
+Said, "Now, beggar, hold; for we have no more.
+
+"Thou hast fulfill-ed thy promise aright."
+"Then marry," quoth he, "my girl to this knight;
+And here," added he, "I will now throw you down
+A hundred pounds more to buy her a gown."
+
+The gentlemen all, that this treasure had seen,
+Admir-ed the beggar of Bethnal Green:
+And all those, that were her suitors before,
+Their flesh for very anger they tore.
+
+Thus the fair Bess was matched to the knight,
+And then made a lady in others' despite:
+A fairer lady there never was seen
+Than the blind beggar's daughter of Bethnal Green.
+
+But of their sumptuous marriage and feast,
+What brave lords and knights thither were prest,
+The SECOND FITT shall set forth to your sight
+With marvellous pleasure, and wish-ed delight.
+
+
+
+THE SECOND FYTTE.
+
+Of a blind beggar's daughter most bright,
+That late was betroth-ed unto a young knight;
+All the discourse thereof you did see;
+But now comes the wedding of pretty Bessee.
+
+Within a gorgeous palace most brave,
+Adorn-ed with all the cost they could have,
+This wedding was kept most sumptuousl-ie,
+And all for the credit of pretty Bessee.
+
+All kind of dainties, and delicates sweet
+Were bought for the banquet, as it was most meet;
+Partridge, and plover, and venison most free,
+Against the brave wedding of pretty Bessee.
+
+This marriage through England was spread by report,
+So that a great number thereto did resort
+Of nobles and gentles in every degree;
+And all for the fame of pretty Bessee.
+
+To church then went this gallant young knight,
+His bride followed after, an angel most bright,
+With gay troops of ladies, the like ne'er was seen
+As went with sweet Bessy of Bethnal Green.
+
+This marriage being sol-emniz-ed then,
+With music performed by the skilfullest men,
+The nobles and gentles sate down at that tide,
+Each one admiring the beautiful bride.
+
+Now, after the sumptuous dinner was done,
+To talk and to reason a number begun;
+They talked of the blind beggar's daughter most bright,
+And what with his daughter he gave to the knight.
+
+Then spake the nobles, "Much marvel have we,
+This jolly blind beggar we cannot here see."
+"My lords," quoth the bride, "my father's so base,
+He is loth with his presence these states to disgrace."
+
+"The praise of a woman in question to bring
+Before her own face, were a flattering thing;
+But we think thy father's baseness," quoth they,
+"Might by thy beauty be clean put away."
+
+They had no sooner these pleasant words spoke,
+But in comes the beggar clad in a silk cloak;
+A fair velvet cap and a feather had he,
+And now a musician forsooth he would be.
+
+He had a dainty lute under his arm,
+He touch-ed the strings, which made such a charm,
+Says, "Please you to hear any music of me,
+I'll sing you a song of pretty Bessee."
+
+With that his lute he twang-ed straightway,
+And thereon began most sweetly to play;
+And after that lessons were played two or three,
+He strained out this song most delicatel-ie.
+
+     "A poor beggar's daughter did dwell on a green,
+     Who for her fairness might well be a queen:
+     A blithe bonny lass, and a dainty was she,
+     And many one call-ed her pretty Bessee.
+
+     "Her father he had no goods, nor no land,
+     But begged for a penny all day with his hand;
+     And yet to her marriage he gave thousands three,
+     And still he hath somewhat for pretty Bessee.
+
+     "And if any one here her birth do disdain,
+     Her father is ready, with might and with main,
+     To prove she is come of a noble degree,
+     Therefore never flout at pretty Bessee."
+
+With that the lords and the company round
+With hearty laughter were ready to swound.
+At last said the lords, "Full well we may see,
+The bride and the beggar's beholden to thee."
+
+On this the bride all blushing did rise,
+The pearly drops standing within her fair eyes.
+"O pardon my father, grave nobles," quoth she,
+"That through blind affection thus doteth on me."
+
+"If this be thy father," the nobles did say,
+"Well may he be proud of this happy day;
+Yet by his countenance well may we see,
+His birth and his fortune did never agree:
+
+"And therefore, blind man, we bid thee bewray,
+(And look that the truth thou to us do say)
+Thy birth and thy parentage, what it may be;
+For the love that thou bearest to pretty Bessee."
+
+"Then give me leave, nobles and gentles, each one,
+One song more to sing, and then I have done;
+And if that it may not win good report,
+Then do not give me a groat for my sport.
+
+     "Sir Simon de Montfort my subject shall be;
+     Once chief of all the great barons was he,
+     Yet fortune so cruel this lord did abase,
+     Now lost and forgotten are he and his race.
+
+     "When the barons in arms did King Henry oppose,
+     Sir Simon de Montfort their leader they chose;
+     A leader of courage undaunted was he,
+     And oft-times he made their bold enemies flee.
+
+     "At length in the battle on Evesham plain,
+     The barons were routed, and Montfort was slain;
+     Most fatal that battle did prove unto thee,
+     Though thou wast not born then, my pretty Bessee!
+
+     "Along with the nobles, that fell at that tide,
+     His eldest son Henry, who fought by his side,
+     Was felled by a blow he received in the fight:
+     A blow that deprived him for ever of sight.
+
+     "Among the dead bodies all lifeless he lay,
+     Till evening drew on of the following day.
+     When by a young lady discovered was he;
+     And this was thy mother, my pretty Bessee!
+
+     "A baron's fair daughter stept forth in the night
+     To search for her father, who fell in the fight,
+     And seeing young Montfort, where gasping he lay,
+     Was mov-ed with pity, and brought him away.
+
+     "In secret she nursed him, and swag-ed his pain,
+     While he through the realm was believed to be slain:
+     At length his fair bride she consented to be,
+     And made him glad father of pretty Bessee.
+
+     "And now, lest our foes our lives should betray,
+     We cloth-ed ourselves in beggar's array;
+     Her jewels she sold, and hither came we:
+     All our comfort and care was our pretty Bessee.
+
+     "And here have we liv-ed in fortune's despite,
+     Though poor, yet contented with humble delight:
+     Full forty winters thus have I been
+     A silly blind beggar of Bethnal Green.
+
+     "And here noble lord-es, is ended the song
+     Of one that once to your own rank did belong:
+     And thus have you learn-ed a secret from me,
+     That ne'er had been known but for pretty Bessee."
+
+Now when the fair company every one,
+Had heard the strange tale in the song he had shown,
+They all were amaz-ed, as well they might be,
+Both at the blind beggar, and pretty Bessee.
+
+With that the fair bride they all did embrace,
+Saying, "Sure thou art come of an honourable race,
+Thy father likewise is of noble degree,
+And thou art well worthy a lady to be."
+
+Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight,
+A bridegroom most happy then was the young knight,
+In joy and felicity long liv-ed he,
+All with his fair lady, the pretty Bessee.
+
+
+
+THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.
+
+There was a youth, and a well-beloved youth,
+  And he was a squire's son:
+He loved the bailiffs daughter dear,
+  That lived in Islington.
+
+Yet she was coy, and would not believe
+  That he did love her so;
+No, nor at any time would she
+  Any countenance to him show.
+
+But when his friends did understand
+  His fond and foolish mind,
+They sent him up to fair Lond-on
+  An apprentice for to bind.
+
+And when he had been seven long years,
+  And never his love could see:
+"Many a tear have I shed for her sake,
+  When she little thought of me."
+
+Then all the maids of Islington
+  Went forth to sport and play,
+All but the bailiff's daughter dear;
+  She secretly stole away.
+
+She pull-ed off her gown of green,
+  And put on ragged attire,
+And to fair London she would go
+  Her true love to inquire.
+
+And as she went along the high road,
+  The weather being hot and dry,
+She sat her down upon a green bank,
+  And her true love came riding by.
+
+She started up, with a colour so red,
+  Catching hold of his bridle-rein;
+"One penny, one penny, kind sir," she said,
+  "Will ease me of much pain."--
+
+"Before I give you one penny, sweetheart,
+  Pray tell me where you were born."--
+"At Islington, kind sir," said she,
+  "Where I have had many a scorn."--
+
+"I pr'ythee, sweetheart, then tell to me,
+  O tell me, whether you know
+The bailiffs daughter of Islington."--
+  "She is dead, sir, long ago."--
+
+"If she be dead, then take my horse,
+  My saddle and bridle also;
+For I will into some far countrie,
+  Where no man shall me know."--
+
+"O stay, O stay, thou goodly youth,
+  She standeth by thy side:
+She is here alive, she is not dead,--
+  And ready to be thy bride."--
+
+"O farewell grief, and welcome joy,
+  Ten thousand times therefore!
+For now I have found mine own true love,
+  Whom I thought I should never see more."
+
+
+
+BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY.
+
+In Scarlet town, where I was born,
+  There was a fair maid dwellin',
+Made every youth cry, Well away!
+  Her name was Barbara Allen.
+
+All in the merry month of May,
+  When green buds they were swellin',
+Young Jemmy Grove on his death-bed lay
+  For love of Barbara Allen.
+
+He sent his man unto her then,
+  To the town where she was dwellin';
+"You must come to my master dear,
+  Gif your name be Barbara Allen.
+
+"For death is printed on his face,
+  And o'er his heart is stealin':
+Then haste away to comfort him,
+  O lovely Barbara Allen."
+
+Though death be printed on his face
+  And o'er his heart is stealin',
+Yet little better shall he be
+  For bonny Barbara Allen.
+
+So slowly, slowly, she came up,
+  And slowly she came nigh him;
+And all she said, when there she came,
+  "Young man, I think y'are dying."
+
+He turned his face unto her straight,
+  With deadly sorrow sighing;
+"O lovely maid, come pity me,
+  I'm on my deathbed lying."--
+
+"If on your deathbed you do lie,
+  What needs the tale you are tellin';
+I cannot keep you from your death:
+  Farewell," said Barbara Allen.
+
+He turned his face unto the wall,
+  As deadly pangs he fell in:
+"Adieu! adieu! adieu to you all!
+  Adieu to Barbara Allen!"
+
+As she was walking o'er the fields,
+  She heard the bell a knellin';
+And every stroke did seem to say,--
+  UNWORTHY BARBARA ALLEN.
+
+She turned her body round about,
+  And spied the corpse a coming:
+"Lay down, lay down the corpse," she said,
+  "That I may look upon him."
+
+With scornful eye she look-ed down,
+  Her cheek with laughter swellin';
+Whilst all her friends cried out amain,
+  UNWORTHY BARBARA ALLEN.
+
+When he was dead, and laid in grave,
+  Her heart was struck with sorrow,
+"O mother, mother, make my bed,
+  For I shall die to-morrow!
+
+"Hard-hearted creature him to slight,
+  Who lov-ed me so dearly:
+O that I had been more kind to him,
+  When he was alive and near me!"
+
+She, on her deathbed as she lay,
+  Begged to be buried by him;
+And sore repented of the day,
+  That she did e'er deny him.
+
+"Farewell," she said, "ye maidens all,
+  And shun the fault I fell in:
+Henceforth take warning by the fall
+  Of cruel Barbara Allen."
+
+
+
+SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST.
+
+There came a ghost to Margaret's door,
+  With many a grievous groan,
+And aye he tirl-ed at the pin;
+  But answer made she none.
+
+"Is this my father Philip?
+  Or is't my brother John?
+Or is't my true love Willie,
+  From Scotland new come home?"
+
+"'Tis not thy father Philip;
+  Nor yet thy brother John:
+But 'tis thy true love Willie
+  From Scotland new come home.
+
+"O sweet Margret! O dear Margret!
+  I pray thee speak to me:
+Give me my faith and troth, Margret,
+  As I gave it to thee."
+
+"Thy faith and troth thou'se never get,
+  Of me shalt never win,
+Till that thou come within my bower,
+  And kiss my cheek and chin."
+
+"If I should come within thy bower,
+  I am no earthly man:
+And should I kiss thy rosy lip,
+  Thy days will not be lang.
+
+"O sweet Margret, O dear Margret,
+  I pray thee speak to me:
+Give me my faith and troth, Margret,
+  As I gave it to thee."--
+
+"Thy faith and troth thou'se never get,
+  Of me shalt never win,
+Till thou take me to yon kirkyard,
+  And wed me with a ring."--
+
+"My bones are buried in a kirkyard
+  Afar beyond the sea,
+And it is but my sprite, Margret,
+  That's speaking now to thee."
+
+She stretch-ed out her lily-white hand,
+  As for to do her best:
+"Hae there your faith and troth, Willie,
+  God send your soul good rest!"
+
+Now she has kilted her robes of green,
+  A piece below her knee:
+And a' the live-lang winter night
+  The dead corpse followed she.
+
+"Is there any room at your head, Willie?
+  Or any room at your feet?
+Or any room at your side, Willie,
+  Wherein that I may creep?"
+
+"There's nae room at my head, Margret,
+  There's nae room at my feet,
+There's nae room at my side, Margret,
+  My coffin is made so meet."
+
+Then up and crew the red red cock,
+  And up then crew the gray:
+"'Tis time, 'tis time, my dear Margret,
+  That I were gane away."
+
+No more the ghost to Margret said,
+  But, with a grievous groan,
+Evanished in a cloud of mist,
+  And left her all alone.
+
+"O stay, my only true love, stay!"
+  The constant Margret cried:
+Wan grew her cheeks, she closed her een,
+  Stretched her saft limbs, and died.
+
+
+
+THE BRAES O' YARROW.
+
+Ten lords sat drinking at the wine,
+  Intill a morning early;
+There fell a combat them among,
+  It must be fought,--nae parly.
+
+--"O stay at hame, my ain gude lord,
+  O stay, my ain dear marrow."--
+"Sweetest mine, I will be thine,
+  And dine wi' you to-morrow."
+
+She's kissed his lips, and combed his hair,
+  As she had done before, O;
+Gied him a brand down by his side,
+  And he is on to Yarrow.
+
+As he gaed ower yon dowie knowe,
+  As aft he'd dune before, O;
+Nine arm-ed men lay in a den,
+  Upo' the braes o' Yarrow.
+
+"O came ye here to hunt or hawk,
+  As ye hae done before, O?
+Or came ye here to wiel' your brand,
+  Upo' the braes o' Yarrow."--
+
+"I came nae here to hunt nor hawk,
+  As I hae dune before, O;
+But I came here to wiel' my brand,
+  Upon the braes o' Yarrow."--
+
+Four he hurt, and five he slew,
+  Till down he fell himsell, O;
+There stood a fause lord him behin',
+  Who thrust him thro' body and mell, O.
+
+"Gae hame, gae hame, my brother John,
+  And tell your sister sorrow;
+Your mother to come take up her son,
+  Aff o' the braes o' Yarrow."
+
+As he gaed ower yon high, high hill,
+  As he had dune before, O;
+There he met his sister dear,
+  Came rinnin' fast to Yarrow.
+
+"I dreamt a dream last night," she says,
+  "I wish it binna sorrow;
+I dreamt I was pu'ing the heather green,
+  Upo' the braes o' Yarrow."--
+
+"I'll read your dream, sister," he says,
+  "I'll read it into sorrow;
+Ye're bidden gae take up your love,
+  He's sleeping sound on Yarrow."
+
+She's torn the ribbons frae her head,
+  They were baith thick and narrow;
+She's kilted up her green claithing,
+  And she's awa' to Yarrow.
+
+She's taen him in her arms twa,
+  And gien him kisses thorough,
+And wi' her tears she bathed his wounds,
+  Upo' the braes o' Yarrow.
+
+Her father looking ower his castle wa',
+  Beheld his daughter's sorrow;
+"O haud yer tongue, daughter," he says,
+  "And let be a' your sorrow;
+I'll wed you wi' a better lord,
+  Than he that died on Yarrow."--
+
+"O haud your tongue, father," she says,
+  "And let be till to-morrow;
+A better lord there coudna be
+  Than he that died on Yarrow."
+
+She kissed his lips, and combed his hair,
+  As she had dune before, O;
+Then wi' a crack her heart did brack
+  Upon the braes o' Yarrow.
+
+
+
+KEMP OWYNE.
+
+Her mother died when she was young,
+  Which gave her cause to make great moan;
+Her father married the warst woman
+  That ever lived in Christendom.
+
+She serv-ed her with foot and hand,
+  In every thing that she could dee;
+Till once in an unlucky time,
+  She threw her in ower Craigy's sea.
+
+Says, "Lie you there, dove Isabel,
+  And all my sorrows lie with thee;
+Till Kemp Owyne come ower the sea,
+  And borrow you with kisses three,
+Let all the warld do what they will,
+  Oh! borrowed shall you never be."
+
+Her breath grew strang, her hair grew lang,
+  And twisted thrice about the tree;
+And all the people far and near,
+  Thought that a savage beast was she;
+These news did come to Kemp Owyne,
+  Where he lived far beyond the sea.
+
+He hasted him to Craigy's sea,
+  And on the savage beast looked he;
+Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
+  And twisted was about the tree;
+And with a swing she came about,
+  "Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with me.
+
+"Here is a royal belt," she cried,
+  "That I have found in the green sea;
+And while your body it is on,
+  Drawn shall your blood never be;
+But if you touch me tail or fin,
+  I vow my belt your death shall be."
+
+He stepp-ed in, gave her a kiss,
+  The royal belt he brought him wi'
+Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
+  And twisted twice about the tree;
+And with a swing she came about,
+  "Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with me.
+
+"Here is a royal ring," she said,
+  "That I have found in the green sea;
+And while your finger it is on,
+  Drawn shall your blood never be;
+But if you touch me tail or fin,
+  I swear my ring your death shall be."
+
+He stepp-ed in, gave her a kiss,
+  The royal ring he brought him wi';
+Her breath was strang, her hair was lang,
+  And twisted ance about the tree;
+And with a swing she came about,
+  "Come to Craigy's sea and kiss with me.
+
+"Here is a royal brand," she said,
+  "That I have found in the green sea;
+And while your body it is on,
+  Drawn shall your blood never be;
+But if you touch me tail or fin,
+  I swear my brand your death shall be."
+
+He stepp-ed in, gave her a kiss,
+  The royal brand he brought him wi';
+Her breath was sweet, her hair grew short,
+  And twisted nane about the tree:
+And smilingly she came about,
+  As fair a woman, as fair could be.
+
+
+
+O'ER THE WATER TO CHARLIE.
+
+As I came by the shore o' Forth,
+  And in by the craigs o' Bernie;
+There I spied a ship on the sea,
+  And the skipper o' her was Charlie.
+
+O'er the water, and o'er the sea,
+  O'er the water to Charlie;
+I'll gie John Ross another bawbie,
+  To boat me o'er to Charlie.
+
+Charlie keeps nae needles nor pins,
+  And Charlie keeps nae trappin';
+But Charlie keeps twa bonnie black een,
+  Would haud the lasses waukin'.
+
+O'er the water, and o'er the sea,
+  O'er the water to Charlie;
+I'll gie John Ross another bawbie,
+  To boat me o'er to Charlie.
+
+O Charlie is neither laird nor lord,
+  Nor Charlie is a caddie;
+But Charlie has twa bonnie red cheeks,
+  And he's my juggler laddie.
+
+O'er the water, and o'er the sea,
+  O'er the water to Charlie;
+I'll gie John Ross another bawbie,
+  To boat me o'er to Charlie.
+
+A pinch o' snuff to poison the whigs,
+  A gill o' Geneva to drown them;
+And he that winna drink Charlie's health,
+  May roaring seas surround him.
+
+O'er the water, and o'er the sea,
+  And o'er the water to Charlie;
+I'll gie John Brown another half-crown,
+  To boat me o'er to Charlie.
+
+
+
+ADMIRAL HOSIER'S GHOST.
+
+As near Porto-Bello lying
+  On the gently swelling flood,
+At midnight with streamers flying
+  Our triumphant navy rode;
+There while Vernon sate all-glorious
+  From the Spaniards' late defeat:
+And his crews, with shouts victorious,
+  Drank success to England's fleet:
+
+On a sudden shrilly sounding,
+  Hideous yells and shrieks were heard;
+Then each heart with fear confounding,
+  A sad troop of ghosts appeared,
+All in dreary hammocks shrouded,
+  Which for winding-sheets they wore,
+And with looks by sorrow clouded
+  Frowning on that hostile shore.
+
+On them gleamed the moon's wan lustre,
+  When the shade of Hosier brave
+His pale bands were seen to muster
+  Rising from their watery grave.
+O'er the glimmering wave he hied him,
+  Where the Burford reared her sail,
+With three thousand ghosts beside him,
+  And in groans did Vernon hail.
+
+"Heed, oh heed our fatal story;
+  I am Hosier's injured ghost,
+You who now have purchased glory
+  At this place where I was lost!
+Though in Porto-Bello's ruin
+  You now triumph free from fears,
+When you think on our undoing,
+  You will mix your joy with tears.
+
+"See these mournful spectres sweeping
+  Ghastly o'er this hated wave,
+Whose wan cheeks are stained with weeping;
+  These were English captains brave.
+Mark those numbers pale and horrid,
+  Those were once my sailors bold:
+Lo, each hangs his drooping forehead
+  While his dismal tale is told.
+
+"I, by twenty sail attended,
+  Did this Spanish town affright;
+Nothing then its wealth defended
+  But my orders not to fight.
+Oh! that in this rolling ocean
+  I had cast them with disdain,
+And obeyed my heart's warm motion
+  To have quelled the pride of Spain!
+
+"For resistance I could fear none,
+  But with twenty ships had done
+What thou, brave and happy Vernon
+  Hast achieved with six alone.
+Then the Bastimentos never
+  Had our foul dishonour seen;
+Nor the sea the sad receiver
+  Of this gallant train had been.
+
+"Thus, like thee, proud Spain dismaying,
+  And her galleons leading home,
+Though condemned for disobeying,
+  I had met a traitor's doom,
+To have fallen, my country crying
+  He has played an English part;
+Had been better far than dying
+  Of a grieved and broken heart.
+
+"Unrepining at thy glory,
+  Thy successful arms we hail;
+But remember our sad story,
+  And let Hosier's wrongs prevail.
+Sent in this foul clime to languish,
+  Think what thousands fell in vain,
+Wasted with disease and anguish,
+  Not in glorious battle slain.
+
+"Hence with all my train attending
+  From their oozy tombs below,
+Through the hoary foam ascending,
+  Here I feed my constant woe:
+Here the Bastimentos viewing,
+  We recall our shameful doom,
+And our plaintive cries renewing,
+  Wander through the midnight gloom.
+
+"O'er these waves for ever mourning
+  Shall we roam deprived of rest,
+If to Britain's shores returning
+  You neglect my just request;
+After this proud foe subduing,
+  When your patriot friends you see,
+Think on vengeance for my ruin,
+  And for England shamed in me."
+
+
+
+JEMMY DAWSON.
+
+Come listen to my mournful tale,
+  Ye tender hearts, and lovers dear;
+Nor will you scorn to heave a sigh,
+  Nor will you blush to shed a tear.
+
+And thou, dear Kitty, peerless maid,
+  Do thou a pensive ear incline;
+For thou canst weep at every woe,
+  And pity every plaint but mine.
+
+Young Dawson was a gallant youth,
+  A brighter never trod the plain;
+And well he loved one charming maid,
+  And dearly was he loved again.
+
+One tender maid she loved him dear,
+  Of gentle blood the damsel came,
+And faultless was her beauteous form,
+  And spotless was her virgin fame.
+
+But curse on party's hateful strife,
+  That led the faithful youth astray
+The day the rebel clans appeared:
+  Oh had he never seen that day!
+
+Their colours and their sash he wore,
+  And in the fatal dress was found;
+And now he must that death endure,
+  Which gives the brave the keenest wound.
+
+How pale was then his true love's cheek,
+  When Jemmy's sentence reach'd her ear!
+For never yet did Alpine snows
+  So pale nor yet so chill appear.
+
+With faltering voice she weeping said,
+  "Oh, Dawson, monarch of my heart,
+Think not thy death shall end our loves,
+  For thou and I will never part.
+
+"Yet might sweet mercy find a place,
+  And bring relief to Jemmy's woes,
+O GEORGE, without a prayer for thee
+  My orisons should never close.
+
+"The gracious prince that gives him life
+  Would crown a never-dying flame,
+And every tender babe I bore
+  Should learn to lisp the giver's name.
+
+"But though, dear youth, thou should'st be dragged
+  To yonder ignominious tree,
+Thou shalt not want a faithful friend
+  To share thy bitter fate with thee."
+
+O then her mourning-coach was called,
+  The sledge moved slowly on before;
+Though borne in a triumphal car,
+  She had not loved her favourite more.
+
+She followed him, prepared to view
+  The terrible behests of law;
+And the last scene of Jemmy's woes
+  With calm and stedfast eye she saw.
+
+Distorted was that blooming face,
+  Which she had fondly loved so long:
+And stifled was that tuneful breath,
+  Which in her praise had sweetly sung:
+
+And severed was that beauteous neck,
+  Round which her arms had fondly closed:
+And mangled was that beauteous breast,
+  On which her love-sick head reposed:
+
+And ravished was that constant heart,
+  She did to every heart prefer;
+For though it could his king forget,
+  'Twas true and loyal still to her.
+
+Amid those unrelenting flames
+  She bore this constant heart to see;
+But when 'twas mouldered into dust,
+  "Now, now," she cried, "I'll follow thee.
+
+"My death, my death alone can show
+  The pure and lasting love I bore:
+Accept, O heaven, of woes like ours,
+  And let us, let us weep no more."
+
+The dismal scene was o'er and past,
+  The lover's mournful hearse retired;
+The maid drew back her languid head,
+  And sighing forth his name expired.
+
+Though justice ever must prevail,
+  The tear my Kitty sheds is due;
+For seldom shall she hear a tale
+  So sad, so tender, and so true.
+
+
+
+WILLIAM AND MARGARET.
+
+'Twas at the silent, solemn hour
+  When night and morning meet;
+In glided Margaret's grimly ghost
+  And stood at William's feet.
+
+Her face was like an April morn,
+  Clad in a wintry cloud:
+And clay-cold was her lily-hand,
+  That held her sable shroud.
+
+So shall the fairest face appear,
+  When youth and years are flown:
+Such is the robe that kings must wear,
+  When death has reft their crown.
+
+Her bloom was like the springing flower,
+  That sips the silver dew;
+The rose was budded in her cheek,
+  Just opening to the view.
+
+But Love had, like the canker-worm,
+  Consumed her early prime:
+The rose grew pale, and left her cheek;
+  She died before her time.
+
+"Awake!" she cried, "thy true love calls,
+  Come from her midnight grave;
+Now let thy pity hear the maid
+  Thy love refused to save.
+
+"This is the dumb and dreary hour
+  When injured ghosts complain;
+When yawning graves give up their dead
+  To haunt the faithless swain.
+
+"Bethink thee, William, of thy fault,
+  Thy pledge and broken oath:
+And give me back my maiden vow,
+  And give me back my troth.
+
+"Why did you promise love to me,
+  And not that promise keep?
+Why did you swear my eyes were bright,
+  Yet leave those eyes to weep?
+
+"How could you say my face was fair,
+  And yet that face forsake?
+How could you win my virgin heart,
+  Yet leave that heart to break?
+
+"Why did you say my lip was sweet,
+  And made the scarlet pale?
+And why did I, young witless maid!
+  Believe the flattering tale?
+
+"That face, alas! no more is fair;
+  Those lips no longer red:
+Dark are my eyes, now closed in death,
+  And every charm is fled.
+
+"The hungry worm my sister is;
+  This winding sheet I wear:
+And cold and weary lasts our night,
+  Till that last morn appear.
+
+"But hark! the cock has warned me hence;
+  A long and late adieu!
+Come, see, false man, how low she lies,
+  Who died for love of you."
+
+The lark sung loud; the morning smiled,
+  With beams of rosy red:
+Pale William quaked in every limb,
+  And raving left his bed.
+
+He hied him to the fatal place
+  Where Margaret's body lay:
+And stretched him on the grass-green turf
+  That wrapped her breathless clay.
+
+And thrice he called on Margaret's name,
+  And thrice he wept full sore:
+Then laid his cheek to her cold grave,
+  And word spoke never more.
+
+
+
+ELFINLAND WOOD.
+
+Erl William has muntit his gude grai stede,
+  (Merrie lemis munelicht on the sea,)
+And graithit him in ane cumli weid,
+  (Swa bonilie blumis the hawthorn tree.)
+
+Erl William rade, Erl William ran,--
+  (Fast they ryde quha luve trewlie,)
+Quhyll the Elfinland wud that gude Erl wan--
+  (Blink ower the burn, sweit may, to mee.)
+
+Elfinland wud is dern and dreir,
+  (Merrie is the grai gowkis sang,)
+But ilk ane leaf is quhyt as silver cleir,
+  (Licht makis schoirt the road swa lang.)
+
+It is undirnith ane braid aik tree,
+  (Hey and a lo, as the leavis grow grein,)
+Thair is kythit ane bricht ladie,
+  (Manie flouris blume quhilk ar nocht seen.)
+
+Around hir slepis the quhyte muneschyne,
+  (Meik is mayden undir kell,)
+Her lips bin lyke the blude reid wyne;
+  (The rois of flouris hes sweitest smell.)
+
+It was al bricht quhare that ladie stude,
+  (Far my luve fure ower the sea.)
+Bot dern is the lave of Elfinland wud,
+  (The knicht pruvit false that ance luvit me.)
+
+The ladie's handis were quhyte als milk,
+  (Ringis my luve wore mair nor ane.)
+Her skin was safter nor the silk;
+  (Lilly bricht schinis my luvis halse bane.)
+
+Save you, save you, fayr ladie,
+  (Gentil hert schawis gentil deed.)
+Standand alane undir this auld tree;
+  (Deir till knicht is nobil steid.)
+
+Burdalane, if ye dwall here,
+  (My hert is layed upon this land.)
+I wuld like to live your fere;
+  (The schippis cum sailin to the strand.)
+
+Nevir ane word that ladie sayd;
+  (Schortest rede hes least to mend.)
+Bot on hir harp she evir playd;
+  (Thare nevir was mirth that had nocht end.)
+
+Gang ye eist, or fare ye wast,
+  (Ilka stern blinkis blythe for thee,)
+Or tak ye the road that ye like best,
+  (Al trew feeris ryde in cumpanie.)
+
+Erl William loutit doun full lowe.
+  (Luvis first seid bin courtesie.)
+And swung hir owir his saddil bow,
+  (Ryde quha listis, ye'll link with mee.)
+
+Scho flang her harp on that auld tree,
+  (The wynd pruvis aye ane harpir gude.)
+And it gave out its music free;
+  (Birdis sing blythe in gay green wud.)
+
+The harp playde on its leeful lane,
+  (Lang is my luvis yellow hair.)
+Quhill it has charmit stock and stane,
+  (Furth by firth, deir lady fare.)
+
+Quhan scho was muntit him behynd,
+  (Blyth be hertis quhilkis luve ilk uthir,)
+Awa thai flew like flaucht of wind;
+  (Kin kens kin, and bairnis thair mither.)
+
+Nevir ane word that ladie spak;
+  (Mim be maydens men besyde.)
+But that stout steid did nicher and schaik;
+  (Small thingis humbil hertis of pryde.)
+
+About his breist scho plet her handis;
+  (Luvand be maydens quhan thai lyke.)
+Bot they were cauld as yron bandis.
+  (The winter bauld bindis sheuch and syke.)
+
+Your handis ar cauld, fayr ladie, sayd hee,
+  (The caulder hand the trewer hairt.)
+I trembil als the leif on the tree;
+  (Licht caussis muve ald friendis to pairt.)
+
+Lap your mantil owir your heid,
+  (My luve was clad in the red scarlett,)
+And spredd your kirtil owir my stede;
+  (Thair nevir was joie that had nae lett.)
+
+The ladie scho wald nocht dispute;
+  (Nocht woman is scho that laikis ane tung.)
+But caulder her fingeris about him cruik.
+  (Some sangis ar writt, bot nevir sung.)
+
+This Elfinland wud will neir haif end;
+  (Hunt quha listis, daylicht for mee.)
+I wuld I culd ane strang bow bend,
+  (Al undirneth the grene wood tree.)
+
+Thai rade up, and they rade doun
+  (Wearilie wearis wan nicht away.)
+Erl William's heart mair cauld is grown;
+  (Hey, luve mine, quhan dawis the day?)
+
+Your hand lies cauld on my breist-bane,
+  (Smal hand hes my ladie fair,)
+My horss he can nocht stand his lane,
+  (For cauldness of this midnicht air.)
+
+Erl William turnit his heid about;
+  (The braid mune schinis in lift richt cleir.)
+Twa Elfin een are glentin owt,
+  (My luvis een like twa sternis appere.)
+
+Twa brennand eyne, sua bricht and full,
+  (Bonnilie blinkis my ladeis ee,)
+Flang fire flaughtis fra ane peelit skull;
+  (Sum sichts ar ugsomlyk to see.)
+
+Twa rawis of quhyt teeth then did say,
+  (Cauld the boysteous windis sal blaw,)
+Oh, lang and weary is our way,
+  (And donkir yet the dew maun fa'.)
+
+Far owir mure, and far owir fell,
+  (Hark the sounding huntsmen thrang;)
+Thorow dingle, and thorow dell,
+  (Luve, come, list the merlis sang.)
+
+Thorow fire, and thorow flude,
+  (Mudy mindis rage lyk a sea;)
+Thorow slauchtir, thorow blude,
+  (A seamless shrowd weird schaipis for me!)
+
+And to rede aricht my spell,
+  Eerilie sal night wyndis moan,
+Quhill fleand Hevin and raikand Hell,
+  Ghaist with ghaist maun wandir on.
+
+
+
+CASABIANCA.
+
+The boy stood on the burning deck
+  Whence all but he had fled;
+The flame that lit the battle's wreck
+  Shone round him o'er the dead.
+
+Yet beautiful and bright he stood,
+  As born to rule the storm--
+A creature of heroic blood,
+  A proud, though child-like form.
+
+The flames rolled on--he would not go
+  Without his father's word;
+That father, faint in death below,
+  His voice no longer heard.
+
+He called aloud, "Say, father! say
+  If yet my task is done!"
+He knew not that the chieftain lay
+  Unconscious of his son.
+
+"Speak, father!" once again he cried,
+  "If I may yet be gone!"
+And but the booming shots replied,
+  And fast the flames rolled on.
+
+Upon his brow he felt their breath,
+  And in his waving hair,
+And looked from that lone post of death
+  In still yet brave despair;
+
+And shouted but once more aloud,
+   "My father! must I stay?"
+While o'er him fast, through sail and shroud,
+  The wreathing fires made way.
+
+They wrapt the ship in splendour wild,
+  They caught the flag on high,
+And streamed above the gallant child
+  Like banners in the sky.
+
+There came a burst of thunder-sound--
+  The boy--oh! where was he?
+Ask of the winds that far around
+  With fragments strewed the sea,--
+
+With mast, and helm, and pennon fair,
+  That well had borne their part:--
+But the noblest thing which perished there
+  Was that young faithful heart.
+
+
+
+AULD ROBIN GRAY.
+
+FIRST PART.
+
+When the sheep are in the fauld, when the kye's a' at hame,
+And a' the weary warld to rest are gane,
+The woes o' my heart fa' in showers frae my e'e,
+Unkent by my gudeman, wha sleeps sound by me.
+
+Young Jamie lo'ed me weel, and sought me for his bride,
+But saving a crown he had naething else beside;
+To mak the crown a pound my Jamie gaed to sea,
+And the crown and the pound--they were baith for me.
+
+He hadna been gane a twelvemonth and a day
+When my father brake his arm, and the cow was stown away;
+My mother she fell sick--my Jamie was at sea--
+And auld Robin Gray came a-courting me.
+
+My father couldna work, my mother couldna spin,
+I toiled day and night, but their bread I couldna win;
+Auld Rob maintained them baith, and, wi' tears in his e'e,
+Said, "Jeanie, for their sakes, will ye no marry me?"
+
+My heart it said na, and I looked for Jamie back,
+But hard blew the winds, and his ship was a wrack;
+His ship was a wrack--why didna Jamie dee?
+Or why am I spared to cry, "Woe is me?"
+
+My father urged me sair--my mother didna speak,
+But she looket in my face till my heart was like to break;
+They gied him my hand--my heart was in the sea--
+And so Robin Gray he was gudeman to me.
+
+I hadna been his wife a week but only four,
+When, mournfu' as I sat on the stane at my door,
+I saw my Jamie's ghaist, for I couldna think it he,
+Till he said, "I'm come hame, love, to marry thee."
+
+Oh! sair, sair did we greet, and mickle say o' a',
+I gied him ae kiss and bade him gang awa'.
+I wish that I were dead, but I'm no like to dee,
+For tho' my heart is broken, I'm young, woe's me!
+
+I gang like a ghaist, and I carena to spin,
+I darena think on Jamie, for that would be a sin;
+But I'll do my best a gude wife to be,
+For oh! Robin Gray he is kind to me.
+
+
+
+SECOND PART.
+
+The winter was come, 'twas simmer nae mair,
+And, trembling, the leaves were fleeing thro' th' air;
+"O winter," says Jeanie, "we kindly agree,
+For the sun he looks wae when he shines upon me."
+
+Nae longer she mourned, her tears were a' spent;
+Despair it was come, and she thought it content--
+She thought it content, but her cheek it grew pale,
+And she bent like a lily broke down by the gale.
+
+Her father and mother observed her decay;
+"What ails ye, my bairn?" they ofttimes would say;
+"Ye turn round your wheel, but you come little speed,
+For feeble's your hand and silly's your thread."
+
+She smiled when she heard them, to banish their fear,
+But wae looks the smile that is seen through a tear,
+And bitter's the tear that is forced by a love
+Which honour and virtue can never approve.
+
+Her father was vexed and her mother was wae,
+But pensive and silent was auld Robin Gray;
+He wandered his lane, and his face it grew lean,
+Like the side of a brae where the torrent had been.
+
+Nae questions he spiered her concerning her health,
+He looked at her often, but aye 'twas by stealth;
+When his heart it grew grit, and often he feigned
+To gang to the door to see if it rained.
+
+He took to his bed--nae physic he sought,
+But ordered his friends all around to be brought;
+While Jeanie supported his head in its place,
+Her tears trickled down, and they fell on his face.
+
+"Oh, greet nae mair, Jeanie," said he wi' a groan,
+"I'm no worth your sorrow--the truth maun be known;
+Send round for your neighbours, my hour it draws near,
+And I've that to tell that it's fit a' should hear.
+
+"I've wronged her," he said, "but I kent it owre late;
+I've wronged her, and sorrow is speeding my date;
+But a' for the best, since my death will soon free
+A faithfu' young heart that was ill matched wi' me.
+
+"I lo'ed and I courted her mony a day,
+The auld folks were for me, but still she said nay;
+I kentna o' Jamie, nor yet of her vow,
+In mercy forgive me--'twas I stole the cow.
+
+"I cared not for Crummie, I thought but o' thee--
+I thought it was Crummie stood 'twixt you and me;
+While she fed your parents, oh, did you not say
+You never would marry wi' auld Robin Gray?
+
+"But sickness at hame and want at the door--
+You gied me your hand, while your heart it was sore;
+I saw it was sore,--why took I her hand?
+Oh, that was a deed to my shame o'er the land!
+
+"How truth soon or late comes to open daylight!
+For Jamie cam' back, and your cheek it grew white--
+White, white grew your cheek, but aye true unto me--
+Ay, Jeanie, I'm thankfu'--I'm thankfu' to dee.
+
+"Is Jamie come here yet?"--and Jamie they saw--
+"I've injured you sair, lad, so leave you my a';
+Be kind to my Jeanie, and soon may it be;
+Waste nae time, my dauties, in mourning for me."
+
+They kissed his cauld hands, and a smile o'er his face
+Seemed hopefu' of being accepted by grace;
+"Oh, doubtna," said Jamie, "forgi'en he will be--
+Wha wouldna be tempted, my love, to win thee?"
+
+                    -          -          -
+
+The first days were dowie while time slipt awa',
+But saddest and sairest to Jeanie o' a'
+Was thinkin' she couldna be honest and right,
+Wi' tears in her e'e while her heart was sae light.
+
+But nae guile had she, and her sorrow away,
+The wife of her Jamie, the tear couldna stay;
+A bonnie wee bairn--the auld folks by the fire--
+Oh, now she has a' that her heart can desire.
+
+
+                    -          -          -
+
+GLOSSARY.
+
+Abye: First English - abicgan, pay for.
+Assoiled: absolved.
+Avowe: "I make avowe," I declare; not "I make a vow."
+Avow-e: advocate.
+Awayte: "awayte me scathe," watch for opportunity of doing hurt to me.
+Balis: evils.
+Banis: slayers. First English - bana, whence "bane," destruction or
+harm.
+Barker: tanner.
+Bedene: all bedene: bidene: promptly, altogether.
+Belife: blive: quickly.
+Bent: coarse grass.
+Bete: make better, amend.
+Bewray: disclose.
+Bickered: skirmished.
+Blave: stayed. First English - belaf (allied to German blieb.)
+Boot: help, remedy. First English - bot.
+Borrow: borowe: (noun) security. (verb) give security for.
+        borowhood: state of being security.
+        borrowed: redeemed, released by the fulfilment of conditions.
+Bra': braw: fine; French - brave.
+Braid: at a braid, with a sudden start.
+Brittling: breaking up (of the deer) and distribution of its parts
+           according to the usual custom.
+Brook: broke: have use of, enjoy.
+Busshement: ambush.
+Busk: make self ready. Icelandic - bua, prepare; sik, oneself;
+      sk, for sik, was in old Norse or Icelandic a suffix marking the
+      reflexive form of a verb.
+Caddie: younger brother. French - cadet, a young fellow who runs on
+errands.
+Clim: Clement.
+Clough: a cliff or fissure of rock, a glen between steep banks.
+Con thank: know thanks to be owing; therefore, pay thanks.
+Coresed: cuirassed, harnessed.
+Dang: struck, forced.
+Dauties: darlings.
+Dee: as in Kemp Owyne; do.
+Dele: division, "never a dele," never a bit.
+Dereworthy: precious.
+Derne: secret.
+Devilkins: of the devil's kind.
+Dight: made ready; dightand: being made ready.
+Do gladly: make good cheer.
+Do him drink: make him drink.
+Donkir: moister.
+Dowie: dull, sorrowful.
+Dree: suffer, endure.
+Dule: sorrow. French - deuil.
+Eftsoons: again soon, soon after.
+Fause: false.
+Fay: faith.
+Fend of: defend from.
+Fere: companion. In fere: in companionship, together.
+Ferre and fremd bestad: one from afar and among strangers.
+Fet: fetched.
+Flattered: floated to and fro.
+Flyte: scold.
+Fone: foes.
+Force: no force: of no importance, no matter.
+Forthinketh: repenteth.
+Fosters of the fee: foresters in charge of the stock of deer.
+Fou: bushel.
+Freke: fighting-man.
+Frese: curl, bend.
+Fynly: substantial, heavy. First English - findig; Prov. Scot. -
+findy.
+Fytte: canto, song. First English - fitt (fem.) a song, poem.
+Gane: (as in Sir Patrick Spens) convenient, proper for.
+Garred me gang: made me go; Gang maiden: remain unmarried.
+Gest: deed, adventure.
+Gif: if.
+Glede: live-coal.
+Glent: passed suddenly, flashed.
+Goodman: the master of the "good" or little property of house and
+         field.  There is the same sense of "good" in the first
+         use of "goodwife," or "goody."
+Gowk: cuckoo.
+Grain, cloth in: cloth of special quality with a fast purple dye.
+Graithit him: dressed himself.
+Gramercy: great thanks. French - grand merci.
+Gree: satisfaction.
+Gurly: gurgly.
+Halfendell: the half part.
+Halk: flat ground by a river.
+Halse bane: neck bone.
+Haud: hold.
+Hie: high. First English - heah.
+Hie: make haste. First English - higan.
+Hilt: covering.
+Ilke: same.
+Iwis: certainly. First English - gewis. For the prefix i-,
+      answering to First English and German ge-, see Y-.  This
+      old adverb is often printed as if the prefix were the
+      pronoun I and wis were a verb.
+Japes: trivial mockings.
+Jimp: slender.
+Kell: coif, woman's headdress.
+Kipples: rafters.
+Knowe: knoll, little hill.
+Lap: started, were rent.
+Launsgay: lancegay, a form of spear.
+Lease: leasing: falsehood.
+Leeful: "its leeful lane," "its lane," alone; a Scottish idiom
+        joins to "lane" the genitive pronoun, "his lane,"
+        "their lane," etc.  "Leeful," compassionate, the harp
+        played of itself compassionately.
+Lemes: gleams.
+Lend: give. See Robin Hood - God lend. First English - laenan,
+      to give, lend.
+Lend: dwell, come into contact. See Robin Hood - "when ye
+      together lend."  Icelandic - lenda, to land; lendir saman,
+      come close together.
+Lere: learn, teach. First English - laeran. See Robin Hood -
+      "this lesson shall we lere;"
+Lere: face. First English - hleor. See Robin Hood - "fell down
+      by his lere."
+Let: hinder.  Letting: hindrance.
+Lewte: loyalty.
+Lift: sky.
+Linde: lime-tree.
+Linn: torrent; also the pool under a torrent of water.
+Lithe: listen. Icelandic - alyoa, to listen.
+Liveray: what is 'livre,' or delivered, as a 'livree' of clothes,
+food, etc.
+Lodge: dwelling in a forest, as originally made of boughs and leaves.
+Lough: laughed.
+Lourdain: blockhead.
+Lown: loon, dull, base fellow.
+Makis: husbands.
+Male: bag.
+Manople: a large gauntlet protecting hand and fore-arm.
+March parti: border side.
+Masars: bowls or goblets.
+May: maid.
+Meany: meynie: body of retainers, or domestic following.
+Meet: narrow. First English - maete, little.
+Met: mete: measured.
+Mister: need.
+Mo: more.
+Mort: the note sounded at death of the deer.
+Mote I thee: May I thrive. First English - theon, to thrive.
+Mote: meeting for decision of cases in ecclesiastical or civil law, or
+      for other public purposes, as ward-mote, etc. Strong men were
+      said to oppress the weak by being "mighty to mote."
+Nicher: neigh.
+Numbles: liver, kidneys, etc. French - nombles. The word was
+         often written in English umbles and humbles. The umbles,
+         with skin, head, chine, and shoulders of the deer, were
+         the keepers' share in the brittling.  There was a receipt
+         for "umble pie" in the old cookery. To "eat humble pie"
+         was to dine with the servants instead of from the
+         haunch at the high table.
+Okerer: usurer.
+Pace: pass.
+Pay: satisfaction. The old sense of the word in the phrase "it
+     does not pay"--does not give satisfaction. A man could be
+     served "to his pay," meaning in a way that satisfied or
+     pleased him.
+Pieces: drinking-cups.
+Pluck-buffet: whichever made a bad shot drew on himself a buffet from
+              his competitor.
+Prest: ready. Prestly: readily. French - pret.
+Prief: proof.
+Proseyla: Venus' shells, porcelain.
+Pye: coat a py: a rough coarse cloth. Dutch - py, or a coat made
+     from it.  The word remains in our "pea-coat."
+Quarry: the skin of the deer on which entrails, etc. were piled as the
+        dogs' share of the spoil. French - cuiree, from cuir, hide.
+        To be distinguished from the quarry, a square bolt for
+        the crossbow, or the quarry or squared stones, both from
+        Latin - quadratus.
+Quh: = Wh.
+Quite: requite.
+Ray: striped cloth.
+Raikand: ranging.
+Rawe: row.
+Rede: counsel.
+Reve: plunder.
+Room: space or spacious. "The warldis room," the space of the
+      world; or "The warld is room," the world is wide.
+Salved: saluted.
+Scheuch and syke: furrow and rill.
+Seid: seed.
+Shaw: covert of the wood.
+Shear: in different directions. First English - sciran, to divide.
+Shend: blame; shent: blamed.
+Shete: shoot.
+Shot-window: according to Ritson, is a window that opens and shuts.
+Sicker and sad: sure and firm.
+Sigh-clout: sieve-cloth.
+Somers: sumpter horses.
+Spleen, on the: in anger or discontent. The spleen was once
+                supposed to be the seat of anger and discontent.
+Spurn: strife, as a kicking against. "That tear began this spurn,"
+       that rent began this strife.
+Stalworthy: stalwart.
+Stound: space of time.
+Stour: conflict.
+Stown: stolen.
+Suar: heavy. First English - swaer.
+Tarpe: probably a misprint for targe. In the Promptorium Parvulorum we
+       have the "Targe, or chartyr--carta."
+Tene: vexation, sorrow.
+Thee, mote I: may I thrive. See Mote.
+Threap: argue back pertinaciously.
+Throw: space of time.
+Tine: lose.
+Tirled: twirled.
+To-broke: "to" is intensive.
+Told: counted.
+Tone: the tone = that one, as the tother = that other; "that"
+      being the old neuter of "the."
+Tray: surly, unwillingly. Icelandic - thra, obstinate. First English -
+      thrafian, to blame.
+Tynde: horns of hart.
+Unketh: unknown, unexpected.
+Unneth: not easily.
+Voided: quitted the place.
+Wap: throw quickly.
+Weal: twist.
+Wed: pledge.
+Weird: fate.
+Well away: wo, alas, wo! First English - wa, eala, wa!
+Welt them: tumbled them over. First English waeltan, to roll or
+           tumble.
+Wight: a being.
+Wite: wete: weet: know.
+Wone: crowd.
+Wonning wan: where is thy, in what direction is thy home? "Wan" is an
+             adverbial affix with the sense of Latin versus.
+Wood: wode: mad.
+Woolward: clothed only in wool.
+Wough: "wo and wough." First English - wo, wa, the cry of lament for
+       evil.  Wough, First English - woh, is the evil done; the first
+       sense of the word is a swerving from the right line, then wrong
+       and evil.
+Y- and I- as prefix = the participial prefix ge- (g being pronounced
+       like y before the weak vowel e). So y-dight: y-granted:
+       y-slaw: I-nocked.
+Yede: yode: First English - eode, went.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of The Project Gutenberg Etext A Bundle of Ballads, by Henry Morley
+
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