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"him for recompence of his good Sport, the inheritance of Plumpton-parke. I AM AFFRAID," concludes this fagaci

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The

ous writer, "THE POETS OF OUR TIME, THAT SPEAKE
"MORE FINELY AND CORRECTEDLY, WILL COME
TOO SHORT OF SUCH A REWARD," p. 214.
phrafe, here referred to, is not found in this ballad at pre-
fent, but occurs with fome variation in the older poem, in-
titled JOHN THE REEVE, defcribed in the former volume,
P. 179, viz.

"Nay, fayd John, by Gods grace,
"And Edward wer in this place,
"Hee fhold not touch this tonne :
"Hee wold be wroth with John I HOPE,
"Therefore I befbrew the foupe,
"That in his mouth fhold come.

" 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,
With all his lordes a rowe.

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
Faft buttoned under his chin,

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,
Fro the place where thou doft stand ?

The next payre of gallowes thou comeft unto,
Turne in upon thy right hand."

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.

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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,
And I will paye thy fare."

Gramercye for nothing, the tanner replyde,

Thou payeft no fare of mine:

I trowe I've more nobles in my purse,
Than thou haft pence in thine.

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,
As you ryde farre and neare?

"I heare no tydinges, fir, by the maffe,
But that cowehides are deare."

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.”

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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

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Why if with me thou faine wilt change,
As change full well maye wee,

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?
Now tell me in this ftound.

"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,
Thou hadst not had one penniè.

But fince we two have made a change,

A change we must abide,

Although thou haft gotten Brocke my mare,
Thou gettest not my cowe hide.

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