'And bringing money, thou shalt be For say thou should'st pursued be 'Yet in my house thou shalt be safe; That if they sought an hundred years, And so carousing in their cups, Their pleasures to content, His money wholly spent. Which being done, to Ludlow then His minion would it so. And once or twice he thought to take His father by the way; But that he thought his master had Directly to his uncle then He rode with might and main ; Where with welcome and good cheer He did him entertain. * i. e. For stopping and apprehending him at his father's. Percy. A se'nnight's space he stayed there, Until it chanced so, His uncle with his cattle did Unto a market go. His kinsman needs must ride with him; Most suddenly, within a wood, And fourscore pound, in ready coin, To Sarah Milwood then he came, To her he plainly told. Tush, it's no matter, George, (quoth she) So we the money have, To have good cheer in jolly sort, And deck us fine and brave.' And thus they lived in filthy sort, And means to get them any more, VOL. II. X And therefore now, in railing sort, Oh! do me not this foul disgrace, And to the constable she went, When Barnwell saw her drift, To sea he got straightway; Where fear, and dread, and conscience' sting, Upon himself doth stay. Unto the mayor of London then He did a letter write," Whereby she apprehended was, And then to Ludlow sent: Where she was judg'd, condemn'd, and hang'd, For murder, incontinent. And there this gallant quean did die, This was her greatest gains : For murder, in Polonia Was Barnwell hang'd in chains. Lo! here's the end of wilful youth, That after harlots haunt ; Who, in the spoil of other men, BALLAD XV. KING HENRY THE SECOND AND THE MILLER OF MANSFIELD. HENRY our royal king, would ride a hunting, All a long summer's day rode the king pleasantly, Wand'ring thus wearily, all alone, up and down, Asking the ready way unto fair Nottingham, Sir, (quoth the miller) your way you have lost : 'Yet I think, what I think, truth for to say, You do not likely ride out of your way.' Why, what dost thou think of me? (quoth our king merrily,) Passing thy judgment upon me so brief?" 'Good faith, (quoth the miller,) I mean not to flatter thee: 6 I guess thee to be but some gentleman-thief: Stand thee back, in the dark; light thee not down, 'Lest that I presently crack thy knave's crown.' Thou dost abuse me much, (quoth our king,) saying thus : 'I am a gentleman, and lodging I lack.' Thou hast not, (quoth the miller,) one groat in thy purse; All thy inheritance hangs on thy back.'— 'I have gold to discharge all that I call; If it be forty pence, I will pay all.' If thou beest a true man, (then said the miller,) I swear by my toll-dish, I'll lodge thee all night.' Here's my hand, (quoth the king,) that was I ever.' Nay, soft, (quoth the miller,) thou may'st be a sprite : • Better I'll know thee, erę hands I do take; With none but honest men hands will I shake.' Thus they went all along unto the miller's house, Where they were seething of puddings and souse: The miller first enter'd in, then after him the king; Never came he in so smoky a house. Now, (quoth he,) let me see what you are.' Quoth our king, Look your fill, and do not spare.' |