A pleasant Ballad fhewing how two valliant Knights, Sir John ArmStrong, and Sir Michael Musgrave, fell in Love with the Beautiful Daughter of of the Lady Dacres in the North; and of the great Strife that happen'd between them for her, and how they wrought the Death of One hundred Men. Another Poet willing to conceal the ignominious Death of Armstrong, has in this Song Knighted him, and made his Rival kill him, at least I am apt to believe 'tis the fame Armstrong he is talking of, and for that Reafon I have inferted it, thinking myself oblig'd to do him as much Justice as to our famous English Outlaw Robin Hood, and to leave the Story of his Marriage upon Record. S it fell out one Whitfonday, The Blith Time of the Year, When every Tree was clad with green, And pretty Birds fing clear: The Lady Dacres took her way I 4 Fa la Fa la tre dang de do; Sir Michael Mufgrave in like fort Two greater Friends there could not be, They fat them down upon one Seat, But rifing from their Prayers tho' Their Eyes a ranging ftrait did go, Quoth Mufgrave unto Armstrong then, I fwear, faid Mufgrave, by this Sword, To fteal away fo fweet a Dame, Could be no Ghostly Sin. That Deed, quoth Armstrong, would be ill, That your Defire fhe would fulfil, And be thy bonny Lafs. By By this the Service quite was done, At the Church-Door the Knights did meet, Said Armstrong to the Lady fair, With that bespoke the Lady free, Sir Knights, right welcome shall you be. For Love of this bonny Lafs. Thus were the Knights both prick'd in Love, And both with one fair Lady gay, Fair Ifabella call'd. With humble Thanks they went away, Like wounded Harts chas'd all the Day. One would not to the other fay, They lov'd this bonny Lafs. Fair Ifabel on the other side So long brave Armstrong she had ey'd, But as these Knights together rode, And Homeward did repair, Their Talk and eke their Countenance fhew'd, 12 I 5 Fair Fair Ifabel, the one did say, With that these Friends incontinent, Great Strife betwixt them rofe: Thus two Years long this Grudge did grow, But neither for her fair Intreats, Nor yet give o'er their Suit. The Gentlemen of the North Country, At laft did make this good Decree, About this bonny Lafs. The Love-fick Knights fhould both be fet Within one Hall fo wide, Each of them in a gallant fort, Even at a several Tide; And 'twixt them both for certainty, Fair Ifabel fhould placed be, Of them to take her Choice full free, Moft like a bonny Lafs. And And as fhe like an Angel bright, She turn'd unto each several Knight To make and take my Choice, quoth she. O Mufgrave, thou art all too hot Quoth fhe, and Armstrong feems a Sot, The Nobles and the Gentles both, A bright and bonny Lafs. But Mufgrave on the Wedding-Day, In fecret fort allured out The Bridegroom for to fight; And he that will not out-brav'd be, Unto his Challenge did agree, Where he was flain most fuddenly For his fair bonny Lafs. The News whereof was quickly brought And many of young Armstrong's Kin Did after Mufgrave ride; The |