The Tryall of True love to you I will Recite,
Between a fair young lady and a courteous knight
The tune is, Dainty come thou to me,
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DEar Love regard my grief,
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do not my suit disdain.
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O yeeld me some relief
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that am with sorrow slain.
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These long seven years and more
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still have I loved thee,
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Do thou my joyes restore,
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fair Lady pitty me,
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Pitty my grievous groan,
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long suffered for thy sake,
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Do not his suit disdain,
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that no time rest can take.
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These long seven years and more.
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still have I loved thee,
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Do thou my joyes restore,
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fair Lady pitty me,
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How should I pitty thee,
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this Lady then reply'd.
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Thou art no match for me,
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thy suit must be deny'd.
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I am of Noble blood,
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thou but of mean degree,
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It stands not for my good,
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fondly to match with thee.
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This answer had he most,
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which cut his heart full deep,
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That on his bed full oft,
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would he lye down and weep.
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With tears he did lament,
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his froward destiny,
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With sighs, yet would he say,
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fair Lady pitty me,
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While I live I must love,
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so fancy urgeth me,
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My mind cannot remove,
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such is my constancy.
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My mind is noble bent,
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though I of mean degree,
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Sweet Lady give consent,
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to love and pitty me.
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The Lady hearing now,
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the moan that he did make,
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Did of his suit allow,
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and thus to him she speak.
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Sir Knight mourn thou no more,
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my faith I plight to thee,
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May this thy joyes restore,
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thou hast thy wish of me.
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But first sweet love quoth she,
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what shift then wilt thou make,
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With speed to marry me,
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and thy delight to take.
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It were a bargain bad,
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to get a wanton wife,
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And loose with sorrow great,
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thy sweet desired life.
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If that my Father knew.
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the love I bear to thee
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We both the same should rue,
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therefore be rul'd by me;
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When my Father is in bed,
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and all his merry men.
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Through the window will I get
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see that you meet me then,
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COntent Lady he said,
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hee's but a Coward Knight,
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Whom ought shall make afraid,
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to win a Lady bright.
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Thus then they went away,
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but by the Master Cook,
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Coming through the window wide,
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was this fair Lady took.
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O gentle Cook quoth she,
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do not my deed bewray.
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Some favour to me shew
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and let me passe away.
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Love that doth conquer Kings,
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forc'd me to do this deed,
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Whilst others sits and sings,
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make not my heart to bleed,
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Not so then said the Cook,
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fair Lady pardon me
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Who can this trespasse brook,
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commited now by thee,
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My Lord your Father shall
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the matter understand,
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For fals I will not be,
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neither for house nor Land.
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Then from the Ladyes face,
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fell down the tears amain,
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She was in wofull case,
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and thus she did complain.
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Alas my own dear Love,
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little knowst thou my grief,
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Great sorrows must we prove,
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hope yeelding no relief.
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Her Fatger in a spleen,
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lockt up his daughter bright,
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And sent forth armed men
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to take this worthy Knight.
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Who then was judg'd to be
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quite banisht from the Land,
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Never his Love to see
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so strict was the command,
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And at the Sessions next,
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after the knight was gone,
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To his daughter full of wo,
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they brought a hanged man.
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Whose head was smitten off,
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the maidens truth to prove,
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Quoth her Father wanton Dame
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now take thee here thy love.
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Her tears fell down amain,
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when this sight she did see,
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And sore she did complain
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of Fathers cruelty
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His body she did wash,
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with tears that she did shed
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An hundred times she kist,
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his body being dead.
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Alas my love she said,
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dear hast thou paid for me
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Would God in heavens blisse
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my soul were now with thee.
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But while that I do live
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a vow I here do make
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Seven years to live unwed
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for my True Lovers sake.
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Her Father hearing this
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was grieved inwardly
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He pardon'd her amisse
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and prais'd her constancy
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And to this courteous Knight
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her Father did her wed
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God grant the like successe
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where perfect love is bred;
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