"him for recompence of his good Sport, the inheritance of Plumpton-parke. I AM AFFRAID," concludes this fagaci The ous writer, "THE POETS OF OUR TIME, THAT SPEAKE "Nay, fayd John, by Gods grace, " Pt. 2. ft. 24. The following text is felected from two copies in black letter. The one in the Bodleyan library, intitled, "Amer"rie, pleafant, and delectable hiftorie betweene K. Edward "the fourth, and a Tanner of Tamworth, &c. printed "at London, by John Danter, 1596." This copy, ancient as it now is, appears to have been modernized and altered at the time it was published; but many veftiges of the more ancient readings were recovered from another copy, (tho' more recently printed,) in one sheet folio, without date, in the Pepys collection. N fummer time, when leaves grow greene, IN And bloffoms bedecke the tree, King Edward wolde a hunting ryde, Some paftime for to see. With hawke and hounde he made him bowne, 5 With horne, and eke with bowe; To Drayton Baffet he tooke his waye, And he had ridden ore dale and downe By eight of clocke in the day, When he was ware of a bold tannèr Come ryding along the wayc. A fayre ruffet coat the tanner had on And under him a good cow-hide, And a mare of four fhilling. Nowe stand you ftill, my good lordes all, Under the grene wood spraye; And I will wend to yonder fellowe, To weet what he will faye. God fpeede, God fpeede thee, faid our king. Thou art welcome, fir, fayd hee. "The readyeft waye to Drayton Baffet I praye thee to shewe to mee." "To Drayton Baffet woldst thou goe, The next payre of gallowes thou comeft unto, That is an unreadye waye, fayd our king, Thou doeft but jeft I fee: Nowe fhewe me out the nearest waye, And I pray thee wend with mee. waye with a vengeaunce! quoth the tanner: I hold thee out of thy witt: All daye have I rydden on Brocke my mare, 35 And I am fafting yett. "Go with me downe to Drayton Baffet, No daynties we will spare ; All daye shalt thou eate and drinke of the best, Gramercye for nothing, the tanner replyde, Thou payeft no fare of mine: I trowe I've more nobles in my purse, 40 God give thee joy of them, fayd the king, 45 And fend them well to priefe. The tanner wolde faine have beene away, For he weende he had beene a thiefe. What art thou, hee fayde, thou fine fellòwe, Of thee I am in great feare, 50 For the cloathes, thou weareft upon thy backe, Might befeeme a lord to weare. I never ftole them, quoth our king, I tell you, fir, by the roode. "Then thou playest, as many an unthrift doth, 55 And ftandeft in midds of thy goode." What What tydinges heare you, fayd the kynge, "I heare no tydinges, fir, by the maffe, 60 "Cowe hides! cowe hides! what things are those? I marvell what they bee?" What thou a foole? the tanner reply'd; I carry one under mee.” Thou wold ft spend more good than I shold winne 75 By fortye fhilling a yere. Yet one thinge wolde I, fayd our king, If thou wilt not feeme strange: Thoughe my horfe be better than thy mare, Yet with thee I faine wold change. 80 Why Why if with me thou faine wilt change, By the faith of my bodye, thou proude fellowe, I will have fome boot of three." That were against reason, fayd the king, I fweare fo more I thee: My horfe is better than thy mare, And that thou well mayst fee. "Yea, fir, but Brocke is gentle and mild, And foftly fhe will fare : Thy horfe is unrulye and wild, I wifs; Aye fkipping here and theare." What boote wilt thou have, our king reply'd? "Noe pence, nor half-pence, by my faye, But a nobie in gold fo round." "Here's twentye groates of white moneyè Sith thou will have it of mee." I would have fworne now, quoth the tanner, But fince we two have made a change, A change we must abide, Although thou haft gotten Brocke my mare, |