To fetche him dukes and lordes and knightes
That marryed the might bee.

They had not ridden fcant a myle,

A myle forthe of the towne,

But in did come the kyng of Spayne,

105

With kempès many a one.

But in did come the kyng of Spayne,
With manye a grimme baròne,

Tone day to marrye kyng Adlands daughter,
Tother daye to carrye her home.

Then fhee fent after kyng Eftmère
In all the fpede might bee,

That he must either returne and fighte,
Or goe home and lofe his ladyè.

One whyle then the page he went,
Another whyle he ranne;

Till he had oretaken king Eftmere,

I wis, he never blanne.

Tydinges, tydinges, kyng Eftmere !
What tydinges nowe, my boye?

O tydinges I can tell to you,

That will you fore annoye.

You had not ridden fcant a myle,

A myle out of the towne,

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115

120

But

1

But in did come the kyng of Spayne

With kempès many a one :.

But in did come the kyng of Spayne

With manye a grimme baròne,

Tone daye to marrye king Adlands daughter,
Tother daye to carrye her home.

That ladye fayre fhe greetes you well,

And ever-more well by mee:

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130

You must either turne againe and fighte,

Or goe home and lose your ladyè.

Sayes, Reade me, reade me, deare brother,

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My reade fhall ryde † at thee,

Whiche waye we best may turne and fighte,

To fave this fayre ladyè.

Now hearken to me, fayes Adler yonge,

And your reade must rise † at me,

I quicklye will devise a waye

To fette thy ladye free.

My mother was a westerne woman,

And learned in gramaryè *,

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And when I learned at the fchole,

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Something fhee taught itt mee.

There

F 2

++ fic. MS. *See at the end of this ballad, p. 73. Note*,

There groweth an hearbe within this fielde,

And iff it were but knowne,

His color, which is whyte and redd,

It will make blacke and browne:

His color, which is browne and blacke,

Itt will make redd and whyte;

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That fworde is not in all Englande,

Upon his coate will byte.

And you fhal be a harper, brother,

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Out of the north countrèe;

And Ile be your boye, so faine of fighte,

And thus they renifht them to ryde,

On towe good renish steedes;

And whan they came to king Adlands hall,
Of redd gold fhone their weedes.

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And

And whan the came to kyng Adlands hall

Untill the fayre hall yate,

There they found a proud portèr

Rearing himselfe theratt.

Sayes, Chrift thee fave, thou proud portèr ;

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Sayes, Chrift thee fave and fee.

Nowe you be welcome, fayd the portèr,
Of what land foever ye bee.

We been harpers, fayd Adler yonge,

Come out of the northe countrèe ;

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We beene come hither untill this place,
This proud weddinge for to fee.

Sayd, And your color were white and redd,

As it is blacke and browne,

Ild faye king Eftmere and his brother

Were comen untill this towne.

Then they pulled out a ryng of gold,
Layd itt on the porters arme :
And ever we will thee, proud portèr,

Thow wilt faye us no harme.

Sore he looked on kyng Eftmère,

And fore he handled the ryng,

Then opened to them the fayre hall yates,

He lett for no kind of thyng.

F 3

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190

Kyng

Kyng Eftmere he light off his fteede

Up att the fayre hall board;

The frothe, that came from his brydle bitte,

Light on kyng Bremors beard.

Sayes, Stable thy fteede, thou proud harpèr,

Goe ftable him in the ftalle;

Itt doth not befeeme a proud harpèr

To ftable him in a kyngs halle.

My ladd he is fo lither, he fayd,

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He will do nought that's meete;

And aye that I cold but find the man,

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Were able him to beate.

Thou speakft proud words, fayd the Paynim king,

Thou harper here to mee;

There is a man within this halle,

That will beate thy lad and thee.

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O lett that man come downe, he fayd,
A fight of him wold I fee;

And whan hee hath beaten well my ladd,

Then he fhall beate of mee.

Downe then came the kemperye man,

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And looked him in the eare;

For all the gold, that was under heaven,

He durft not neigh him neare.

And