[Downe 61] Downe then came that mayden fayre, With ladyes lacede in pall,

And halfe a hondred of bolde knightes,

To bring her from bowre to hall;

65 And eke as manye gentle squieres, To waite upon them all.

70

The talents of golde, were on her head sette,
Hunge lowe downe to her knee;

And everye rynge on her smalle finger,
Shone of the chrystall free.

Sayes, Christ you save, my deare madàme;
Sayes, Christ you save and see.

Sayes, You be welcome, kyng Estmere,
Right welcome unto mee.

75 And iff you love me, as you saye,
So well and hartilèe,

80

All that ever you are comen about
Soone sped now itt may bee.

Then bespake her father deare:

My daughter, I saye naye;

Remember well the kyng of Spayne,

What he sayd yesterdaye.

He wold pull downe my halles and castles,

And reave me of my lyfe:

85 [And 62] And ever I feare that paynim kyng,

90

95

Iff I reave him of his wyfe.

Your castles and your towres, father,

Are stronglye built aboute;

And therefore of that foule paynìm

Wee neede not stande in doubte.

Plyght me your troth, nowe, kyng Estmère,
By heaven and your righte hand,

That you will marrye me to your wyfe,
And make me queene of your land.

Then kyng Estmere he plyght his troth
By heaven and his righte hand,

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A myle fortbe of the towne,

But in did come the kyng of Spayne,
With kempès many a one.

[But 63] But in did come the kyng of Spayne,
With manye a grimme baròne,

105

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

110

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.

130 2

[That 64] That ladye fayre she greetes you well,

And ever-more well by mee:

You must either turne againe and fighte,
Or goe home and lose your ladyè.

135 Sayes, Reade me, reade me, deare brother,
My reade shall rydet at thee,

140

Whiche waye we best may turne and fighte,
To save this fayre ladyè.

Now hearken to me, sayes Adler yonge,

And your reade must riset at me,

I quicklye will devise a waye

To sette thy ladye free.

My mother was a westerne woman,
And learned in gramaryè*,

145 And when I learned at the schole,
Something shee taught itt mee.

150

There groweth an hearbe within this fielde,
And iff it were but knowne,

His color, which is whyte and redd,
Itt will make blacke and browne:

His color, which is browne and blacke,

Itt will make redd and whyte;

[That 65] That sworde is not in all Englande, Upon his coate will byte.

155 And you shal be a harper, brother,

160

Out of the north countrèe;

And Ile be your boye, so faine of fighte,
To beare your harpe by your knee.

And you shall be the best harper,
That ever tooke harpe in hand;

And I will be the best singer,

That ever sung in this land.

Itt shal be written in our forheads

All and in gramaryè,

165 That we towe are the boldest men,
That are in all Christentyè.

And thus they renisht them to ryde,
On towe good renish steedes;

tt sic.

* See at the end of this ballad, Note ***.

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Engl. Sprach- und Literaturdenkm. VI.

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

And whan the came to kyng Adlands hall
Until the fayre hall yate,

5

There they found a proud portèr

Rearing himselfe theratt.

170

[Sayes, 66] Sayes, Christ thee save, thou proud portèr: 175 Sayes, Christ thee save and see.

Nowe you be welcome, sayd the portèr,
Of what land soever ye bee.

10

We been harpers, sayd Adler yonge,
Come out of the northe countrèe;

180

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

15

Sayd, And your color were white and redd,
As it is blacke and browne,

Ild saye king Estmere and his brother

185

Up att the fayre hall board;

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The frothe, that came from his brydle bitte,

Light on kyng Bremors beard.

[Sayes, 67] Sayes, Stable thou (Z. thy corr.) steede, thou proud

Go stable him in the stalle;

Itt doth not beseeme a proud harpèr
To stable him in a kyngs halle.

My ladd he is so lither, he sayd,

He will do nought that's meete;

[harper, 200

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205 And aye that I cold but find the man,

210

Were able him to beate.

Thou speakst proud wordes, sayd the Paynim kyng,
Thou harper here to mee;

There is a man within this halle,

That will beate thy lad and thee.

O lett that man come downe, he sayd,
A sight of him wolde I see;

And whan hee hath beaten well my ladd,.
Then he shall beate of mee.

215 Downe then came the kemperye man,
And looked him in the eare;

For all the golde, that was under heaven,
He durst not neigh him neare.

220

And how nowe, kempe, sayd the kyng of Spayne,
And how what aileth thee?

15

He sayes, Itt is written in his forhead

F 2

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All and in gramaryè,

[That 68] That for all the gold that is under heaven,

I dare not neigh him nye.

225 Kyng Estmere then pulled forth his harpe,

230

And playd theron so sweete:

Upstarte the ladye from the kynge,

As hee sate at the meate.

Nowe stay thy harpe, thou proud harpèr,
Now stay thy harpe, I say;

For an thou playest as thou beginnest,
Thou'lt till my bride awaye.

He strucke upon his harpe agayne,
And playd both fayre and free;

235 The ladye was so pleasde theratt,

240

She laught loud laughters three.

Nowe sell me thy harpe, sayd the kyng of Spayne,

Thy harpe and stryngs eche one,

And as many gold nobles thou shalt have,

As there be stryngs thereon.

And what wold ye doe with my harpe, he sayd,
Iff I did sell it yee?

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