A pleasant new Ballad of King Edward the fourth
and a Tanner of Tamworth as he rode a Hunting with his Nobles towards Drayton Basset
To an excellent new tune.
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IN Summer time when Leaves grow green,
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and Birds sitting on 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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came riding 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 Drayton-Basset,
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from this place as thou dost stand,
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The next pair of Gallows thou comst to,
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thou must turn up 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 me,
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whether thou be thief or true man quod the tanner
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Im weary of thy company.
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Away with a vengeance quoth the Tanner,
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I hold the 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 daintyes we will lack,
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Wel have meat and drink of the best,
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and I will pay the shot.
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Godamercy 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 the King,
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and send them well to thee,
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Be thou thief or true man quoth 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 Aparrell 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 ridst in the midst of the good.
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What news dost thou hear then said our King
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I pray what news do you 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 marvell 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 wouldst not be strange,
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If thy Mare be better then my steed,
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I pray thee let us change,
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But if you needs with me will change,
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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 boot of thee.
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What boot wilt thou ask then said our King
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what boot dost thou ask on this ground,
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No pence, no half pence, said our King,
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but a Noble in gold soronnd.
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The second part, To the same tune,
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HEres twenty good groats then said the King,
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so well paid see you be,
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I love thee better then I did before,
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I thought thou hadst nere a peny.
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But if so be we needs must change,
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as change thou must abide,
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Though thou hast gotten Brock my Mare,
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thou shalt noo 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 npon the Kings Saddle
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that was so fairly guilt.
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Now help me, help me, quoth the Tanner
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full quickly that I were gone,
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For when I come home to Gillian my wife,
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shel say Im a Gentleman.
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The King took the Tanner by the Leg,
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he guirded a fart so round,
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Your very homely said the King,
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were I aware Id laid you oth ground.
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But when the Tanner was in the Kings saddle
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astoned 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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for and the black Cow horn,
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The steed began to run away,
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as the Divel the Tanner had born.
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Untill he came unto a Nook,
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a little beside an Ash,
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The steed gave the Tanner such a fall,
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his neck was almost brast.
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Take thy horse again with a vengeance he said
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with me he shall not abide
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It is no marvell said the King and laught,
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he knew not your Cow hide.
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But if that we needs now must change,
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as change that well we mought,
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Ile swear to you plain if you have your 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 in this ground,
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No pence, nor half pence, said our King,
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but a Noble in gould so round.
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Heres twenty groats said the Tanner,
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and twenty more I have of thine,
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I have ten groat more in my purse,
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wel drink five of them at the wine,
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The King set a bugle horne to his mouth,
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that blew both loud and shrill,
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And five hundred Lords and Knights,
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came riding over a hill.
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Away with a vengeance quoth the Tanner,
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with thee Ile no longer abide,
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Thou art a strong thief yonder be thy fellows,
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they will 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 then a thousand pound
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he had been out of his company,
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A Choller a Coller then said the King,
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a Choller then did he cry,
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Then would he have given a thousand pound,
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he had not been so nigh.
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A Choller a Choller then quod the Tanner,
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it is a thing which will breed sorrow,
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For after a Choller commeth 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 me,
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No Choller nor halter thou shalt have,
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but I will give the a fee.
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For Plompton Park I will give thee,
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with Tenements three besides,
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Which is worth three hundred pound a year,
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to maintaine thy good Cow hide.
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Godamercy, Godamercy 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 clouting Leather for thy shone
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