The Westerne Knight, and the young Maid of Bristoll,
Their loves and fortunes related.
To a pretty amorous tune.
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IT was a yong knight borne in the West,
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that led a single life,
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And for to marry he thought it best
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because he lackt a wife.
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And on a day he him bethought,
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as he sate all alone,
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How he might be to acquaintance brought,
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with some yong pretty one.
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What luck, alas, (quoth he) have I
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to live thus by my selfe?
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Could I find one of faire beauty,
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I would not sticke for pelfe.
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Oh, had I one though nere so poore,
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I would her not reject:
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I have enough, and aske no more,
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so she will me affect.
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With that his man he then did call
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that nere unto him staid,
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To whom he soone unfolded all,
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and unto him he said,
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Come saddle me my milke white Steed,
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that I may a wooing ride,
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To get some bonny Lasse with speed,
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whom I may make my Bride.
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On horsebacke mounted the gallant young knight,
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and to try his fate he went,
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To seeke some Damsell faire and bright,
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that might his mind content.
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And as he through Bristoll Towne did ride,
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in a fine window of Glasse,
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A gallant Creature he espide,
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in the Casement where she was.
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His heart then taught his tongue to speake
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as soone as he her saw,
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He unto her his mind did breake,
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compel'd by Cupids Law.
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Faire Maid, quoth he, long may you live,
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and your body Christ save and see,
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Five hundred Crownes I will you give,
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to set your love on me.
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Though I am faire, quoth she, in some sort,
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yet am I tender of age,
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And want the courtesie of the Court,
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to be a yong Knights Page.
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A Page, thou gallant Dame, quoth she
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I meane thee not to make:
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But if thou love me, as I love thee,
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for my Bride I will thee take.
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If honestly you meane, quoth she,
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that I may trust your word,
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Yours to command I still will be,
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at bed and eke at boord.
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The second part. To the same tune.
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THen he led her by the lilly white hand,
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up and downe a Garden greene,
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What they did, I cannot understand,
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nor what passed them betweene.
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When he to her had told his mind,
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and done what he thought best,
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His former promises so kind,
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he turned to a Jest.
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Yet he gave to her a Ring of gold,
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to keep as her owne life:
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And said, that in short time he would,
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come and make her his wife.
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Then mounted he upon his Steed,
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and rode from the Damsell bright,
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Saying he would fetch her with speed,
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but he forgot it quite.
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When fifteene weeks were come and gone,
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the Knight came riding by,
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To whom the Lasse with grievous moane,
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did thus lament and cry.
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Sir Knight, remember your vow, quoth she
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that you to me did say,
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With child, alas, you have gotten me,
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and you can it not denay.
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So mayst thou be, quoth he, faire Flowre,
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and the child be none of mine,
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Unlesse thou canst tell me the houre,
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and name to me the time.
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Full fifteene weeks it is, quoth she,
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that you lay my body by;
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A gay gold Ring you gave to me,
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how can you this deny?
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If I (quoth he) my gold Ring gave,
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to thee, as to my friend,
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Then must not thinke I meane to have
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thee till my life doth end.
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Nor do I meane to take for my wife,
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a Lasse that is so meane
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That shall discredit me all my life,
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and all my kindred cleane.
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Quoth she, false Knight, why didst thou then
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procure my overthrow,
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Oh, now I see that faithlesse men,
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will sweare, yet meane not so.
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Now may I live from joyes exilde,
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like a bird kept in a Cage,
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For I am fifteen weeks gone with child,
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and but fourteen yeares of age.
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Farewel, farewel, thou faithlesse Knight,
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sith thou wilt me forsake,
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Oh heavens grant all Maidens bright,
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by me may warning take.
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When as the Knight did heare what she
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poore harmelesse wretch did say,
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It mov'd his heart, and quickly he
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made her a Lady gay.
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