And therefor now, in railing fort,

She thrust him out of door : Which is the just reward they get,

That spend upon a whore.

Oh! do me not this foul disgrace,

In this my need, quoth he.
She call'd him thief and murderer,

With all despite might be.

And to the constable she went,

To have him apprehended ;
And thew'd in each degree how far

He had the law offended.

When Barnwel saw her drift,

To sea he got straightway;
Where fear, and dread, and conscience fing,

Upon himself doth stay.

Unto the mayor of London then,

He did a letter write ;
Wherein his own and Sarahs faults

He did at large recite.

Whereby the apprehended was,

And then to Ludlow fent :
Where she was judg’d, condemn'd, and hang'd,

For murder, incontinent.

And

And there this gallant quean did die,

This was her greatest gains :
For murder, in Polonia

Was Barnwel hang'd in chains.

Lo ! here's the end of wilful youth,

That after harlots haunt ;
Who, in the spoil of other men,

About the itreets do flaunt.

BALLAD XV.

KING HENRY THE SECOND AND THE MILLER OF

MANSFIELD.

H

Η
TENRY our royal king, would ride a hunting,

To the green forest, so pleasant and fair ;
To have the hart chased, and dainty does tripping ;

Untò merry Sherwood his nobles repair :
Hawk and hound was unbound, all things prepar'd
For the same, to the game, with good regard.

All a long summers day rode the king pleasantly,

With all his princes and nobles each one ;
Chasing the hart and hind, and the buck gallantly,

Till the dark evening enforc'd them turn home.
Then at last, riding falt, he had loft quite
All his lords in the wood, late in dark night.

Wand'ring

Wand'ring thus wearily, all alone, up and down,

With a rude miller he met at the last ;
Aking the ready way unto fair Nottingham,

Sir, quoth the miller, your way you have loft :
Yet I think, what I think, truth for to say,
You do not likely ride out of your way.

Why, what doft thou think of me? quoth our king merrily,

Passing thy judgement upon me so brief :
Good faith, quoth the miller, I mean not to flatter thee ;

I guess thee to be but some gentleman thief:
Stand thee back, in the dark ; light thee not down,
Left that I presently crack thy knaves crown.

Thou doft 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, ere hands I do take ;
With none but honeft men hands will I shake.

Vol. II.

T

Thus

Thus they went all along unto the millers house,

Where they were feething of puddings and fouse :
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 here what you are.
Quoth our king, Look your fill, and do not spare,

'“ I like well thy countenance, thou haft an honest face ;

With my son Richard this night thou shalt lie.”
Quoth his wife, By my troth, it is a handsome youth;

Yet it is beft, husband, for to deal warily :
Art thou not a ran-away, I pray thee, youth, tell ?
Show me thy passport, and all shall be well.

Then our king presently, making low courtesy,

With his hat in his hand, thus he did say :
I have no passport, nor never was servitor ;

But a poor courtier, rode out of my way:
And for your kindness here offered to me,
I will requite it in every degree.

Then to the miller his wife whisper'd secretly,

Saying, It seems, this youth's of good kin, Both by his apparel, and eke by his manners ;

To turn him out, certainly 'twere a great fin. Yea, quoth he, you may fee, he hath fome grace, When he doch speak to his betters in place.

Well,

Well, quoth the millers wife, young man, welcome here,

And, though I say it, well lodg'd thou shalt be:
Fresh straw I will have laid on thy bed so brave,

Good brown hempen sheets likewise, quoth fhe.
Ay, quoth the good man ; and when that is done,
You shall lie with no worse than our own son.

Nay, first, quoth Richard, good fellow, tell me true;

Haft any creepers within thy gay hose ?
Or art thou not troubled with the scabado ?

I pray you, quoth the king, what things are those ?
Art thou not lousy, nor scabby ? quoth he ;
If thou be'it, surely thou liest not with me.

This caus’d the king suddenly to laugh most heartily,

Till the tears trickled down from his eyes.
Then to their supper were they set orderly,

With a hot bag-pudding, and good apple pies;
Nappy ale, ftout and stale, in a brown bowl,
Which did about the board merrily troul.

Here, quoth the miller, good fellow, I drink to thee,

And to all courtnols that courteous be.
I'll pledge you, quoth our king, and thank you heartily,

For your good welcome in every degree :
And here, in like manner, I'll drink to your fon.
Do so, quoth Richard ; but quick let it come.