A pleasant new Ballad of King Edward the fourth, and a Tanner of Tamworth,
as he rode a Hunting with his Nobles to Drayton-Basset.
To an Excellent New Tune.
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IN Summer time when leaves grow green,
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and Birds were singing one every tree,
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King Edward would a hunting ride,
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some pastime for to see:
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Our King he would a hunting ride,
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by eight a Clock of the day,
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And well was he ware of a bold Tanner,
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come rideing on the way:
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A good Russet Coat the Tanner had on,
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fast buttoned under his Chin,
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And under him a good Cow-hide
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and a Mare of four shilling
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Now stand you here my good Lords all,
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under this trusty Tree
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And I will wend to yonder fellow,
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to know from whence came he:
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God speed, God speed, then said our King,
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thou art welcome good fellow quoth he,
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Which is the way to Drayton-basset,
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I pray thee shew to me:
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The ready way to Draton-basset,
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from this place as thou dost stand,
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The next pair of Gallows thou comest to
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thou must turn up on thy right hand.
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That is not the way then said our King,
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the ready way I pray thee shew to me,
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Whethe[r] thou be a Theif or true man, quod the Tanner,
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i'm a weary of thy Company.
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Away with a vengeance, quoth the Tanner;
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I hold thee out of thy wit
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For all this day have I ridden and gone,
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and I am fasting yet:
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Go with me to Drayton-basset, said our King
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no dainties we will lack
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We'l have meat and drink of the best,
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and I will pay the shot.
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God-a-mercy for nothing, said the Tanner,
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thou shalt pay for no dinner of mine,
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I have more Groats and Nobles in my purse
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then thou hast pence in thine.
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God save your goods, then said our King,
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and send them well to thee,
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Be Theif or true man, said the Tanner,
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I am weary of thy Company.
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Away with a vengeance (quoth the Tanner)
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of thee I stand in fear
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The Apparrel thou wearst on thy back,
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may seem a good Lord to wear:
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I never stole them said our King;
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I swear to thee by the rood,
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Thou art some Ruffian of the Country,
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thou rid'st in the midst of the Wood.
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What news dost thou hear, then said our King
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I pray thee what news dost thou hear,
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I hear no news answered the Tanner,
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but that Cow-hides be dear.
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COw hides, Cow hides, [then said our King,]
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I marvel what they be:
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Why art thou a Fool? quoth the Tanner
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look I have one under me:
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Yet one thing now I would thee pray
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so that thou would'st not be strange,
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I thy Mare be better than my Steed,
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I pray thee let us change.
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But if thou needs with me will cahnge,
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as change full well may ye?
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By the faith of my body, quoth the Tanner,
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I look to have some boot of thee.
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What boot will ye have then said our King,
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what boot doth thou ask on this ground?
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No pence nor halfpence, said the Tanner,
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but a Noble in Gold so round.
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Here's twenty groats, then said our King,
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so well paid see you be,
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I love thee better than I did before,
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I thought thou hadst ne'r a penny.
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But if so be thou needs must change,
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as change thou my'st abide,
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Though thou hast gotten Brock my Mare,
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thou shalt not have my Cow-hide.
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The Tanner took the good Cow-hide
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that of the Cow was hilt,
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And threw it upon the Kings Saddle,
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that was so fairly guilt.
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Now help me up, quoth the Tanner,
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full quick that I were gone,
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And when I come home to Gillian my wife,
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she'l say I am a Gentleman.
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The King took the Tanner by the Leg,
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he girted a fart so round,
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You'r very comely, said the King,
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were I aware I had laid you ot'h ground.
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When the Tanner was in the Kings Saddle,
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astonished then he was,
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He knew not the stirrops that he did wear,
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whether they were Gold or Brass:
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But when the steed saw the black Cow tale wag,
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and eke the Black-Cow-horn,
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The Steed began to run away,
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as if the Devil the Tanner had born,
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Untill he came unto a nook,
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a little beside an Oak,
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The Steed gave the Tanner such a fall,
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his neck was almost broke:
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Take thy Horse again with a vengeanc he said,
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with me he shall not abide.
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[It is no marvel said the King and laught,]
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he knew not your Cow-hide.
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But if that we need must change,
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as change well now we might,
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I'le swear to you plain if you have my Mare,
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I look to have some boot.
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What boot will you ask? (quoth the Tanner)
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what boot will you ask on this ground?
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No pence nor no half-pence said our King,
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but a Noble in Gold so round.
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Here's twenty good groats said the Tanner,
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and twenty more I have of thine,
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I have ten groats more in my Purse,
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we'l drink five of them at the Wine.
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The King set a Bugle Horn to his mouth
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and blew both loud and shrill,
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And five hundered Lords and Knights,
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came rideing over a Hill.
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Away with avengeance quoth the Tanner,
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wich thee i'le no longer abide,
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Thou art a strong Theif, yonder be thy fellows,
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they steal away my Cow-hide:
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No I protest then said our King,
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for so it may not be,
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They be the Lords of Drayton-Basset,
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come out of the North-Country.
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But when they came before the King,
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full low they fell on their knee,
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The Tanner had rather than a thousand pound,
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he had been out of his Company,
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A Coller, a Coller, then said the King,
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a Coller then did he cry,
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Then would he give a thousand pound,
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he had not been so nigh.
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A Coller, a Coller, quoth the Tanner,
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it is a thing will breed sorrow,
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For after a Coller cometh a Halter,
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and I shall be hanged to morrow.
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No do not fear the King did say,
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for pastime thou hast shown to me,
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No coller nor Halter thou shalt have,
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but I will give thee a Fee:
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For Plumpton park I will give thee,
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with Tenements three beside,
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Which is worth three hundred pounds a year,
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to maintain thy good Cow-hide.
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God-a-mercy, God-a-mrcy quoth the Tanner,
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for this good deed thou hast done,
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If ever thou comest to merry Tamworth
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thou shalt have Clout Leather for thy shoon.
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