A PLEASANT
Ballad of King Henry II.
And the MILLER of Mansfield,
Shewing how he was Entertain'd and Lodg'd at the
MILLER's House
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HENRY our royal king would ride a hunting,
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To the green forrest. so pleasant and fair,
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To have the Hart chased, and dainty Does tripping
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Unto merry Sheerwood his nobles repair;
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Hauk and hound were unbound, all things prepar'd
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For the same, to the game, with good regard.
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All a long summer's day rode the king pleasantly
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With all his princes and nobles each one,
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Chasing the hart and hound, and the buck gallantly,
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Till the dark evening forc'd him to go home.
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Then at last riding fast, he had lost quite
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All his lords in a word in a dark night.
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Wandering thus warily all alone merrily,
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With a rude Miller he met with at last,
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Asking the ready way to fair Nottingham,
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Sir, quoth the Miller, your way you have lost,
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Yet I think what I think, Truth for to say,
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You do not likely ride out [o]f the way.
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What dost thou think of me, quoth our King merrily
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Passing thy judgment upon me so brief.
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Good faith, said the Miller, I mean not to flatter thee
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I guess thee to be some gentleman thief.
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Stand thee back in thee dark, light thee not down,
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Lest with my staff I crack thy knave's crown.
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Thou hast abus'd me much, quoth the King saying thus,
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I am a gentleman and lodging I lack,
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Thou hast not, said the Miller one groat in thy purse,
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All thy inheritance hangs on thy back.
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I have gold to discharge all that I call,
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If it were forty pounds, I would pay all.
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If thou beest a true man, then quoth the Miller,
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I swear by my toll dish I will lodge thee all night,
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Here's my hand, quoth the King, that I was ever,
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Nay soft quoth the Miller, thou may'st be a spright,
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Better I'll know thee, e'er hands I do take,
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With none but honest men's hands will I shake.
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[?]u they went along unto the Miller's house,
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Wh[e]re hey were seething of puddings and souse,
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The Mler first enter'd in, and after him the King,
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Never came he in so smoaky a house.
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Now quoth he let me see what you are
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Quoth our king, look your fill, and do not spare
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I like thy countenance, thou hast an honest face,
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With my son Richard this night thou shalt lie.
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Quoth his wife by my troth, he is a handsome youth.
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Yet it'[s] best husband to deal warily.
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Art thu no run a-way, prithee youth tell?
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Shew me thy passport, then all shall be well.
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Then the King presently making a low courtesy,
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With his hat in his hand thus did he say,
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I have no passport, nor ever was servitor,
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But a poor courtier, rode out of my way.
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And for your kindness here offersd me,
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I will requite you in every degree.
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Then to the Miller his wife wisper'd secretly,
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Saying, it seems this youth's of good kin,
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Both by his apparel, and eke his manners,
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To turn him out, certainly it were a great sin.
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Yea, quoth he, you may see he hath some grace,
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Well he doth speak to his betters in place.
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Well quoth the Miller's wife, young man welcome,
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And tho' I say it, well lodg'd thou shalt be,
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Fresh straw I will have laid on the bed so brave
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Good brown hempen sheets likewise for thee.
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Ay, quoth the good man, and when that is done,
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You shall lie with no worse then our own son.
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Nay first quoth Richard, good fellow tell me true,
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Hast thou no creepers within thy gay hose?
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Or art thou not troubled with some scabbabo?
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I pray, quoth the King, what things are those?
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Art thou not lousy, or scabby, quoth he?
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If thou beest, surely thou liest not with me.
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This made the King suddenly to laugh most heartily
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Till the tears trickled down from his eyes.
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Then to their supper they were set orderly,
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With a bag pudding, and good apple pies.
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Napple ale good and stall in a brown bowl,
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Which did about the board merrily rowl.
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Here quoth the Miller, good fellow I'll drink to thee,
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And to all cuckolds wherever they be;
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I pledge you quoth the King, and thank you heartily,
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For you are welcome in every degree.
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And here in like manner I drink to your son,
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Do so, quoth Richard, but quick let it come.
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Wife, quoth the Miller, fetch me forth Light-foot
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That we of his sweetness a little may taste,
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A fine Venison pasty, then brought she forth presently,
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Eat Sir said he, but pray make no waste.
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Here's dainty light-foot, in faith said the King,
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I never before eat so dainty a thing,
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I wis, quoth Richard, no dainty at all it is,
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For we eat of it every day.
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In what place quoth the King, can be bought like to this;
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We never pay one penny for it by fay.
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From merry Sheerwood we fetch it home here,
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Now and then we make bold with our Kings Deer,
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Then I think said our King that it is venison,
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Each fool said Richard full well doth know that:
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Never are we without two or three under the roof,
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Very well fleshed, and excellent fat:
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But prithee say nothing whatever you know,
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We would not for two-pence the King should it know,
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Doubt not then said the King my promis'd secrecy.
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The King shall never know more on't for me.
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A cup of lamb's-wool they drank to him then,
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And to their bed they pass'd presently
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They Nobles next Morning went all up-and-down,
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For to seek the King in every town.
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At last at the Miller's house soon they saw him plain,
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As he was mounting upon his fair steed.
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To whom they came presently, falling upon their knee.
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Which made the Miller's heart woefully bleed.
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Shaking and quaking before them he stood,
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Thinking he should be cut off by the rood.
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The King perceiving him fearful and trembling,
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Drew forth his sword, amd nothing he said.
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The Miller down did fall, crying before them all,
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Doubting the King would cut off his head,
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But his courtesy for to requite,
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Gave him a living, and made him a knight.
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WHen as our royal King came home from Not-tinham
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And with his nobles at Westminster lay
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Recounting the pastimes and sports they had ta'n,
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In their late progress along by the way.
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Of them all great and small he did protest,
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The Miller of Mansfield's sport liked he best.
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And my lords, quoth the King I am determined
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Against St. George's sumptuous feast,
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That his old Miller, our late dubbed knight,
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With his son Richard, to be one of the guest,
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For in this merriment, 'tis my desire
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To talk with the jolly knight, and the young 'squire.
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When the lords did see this the king's pleasantness
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They were right joyful and glad in their hearts,
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A Pursuivant their was sent upon the business,
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The which had oftentimes been in those parts,
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When he came to the place where he did dwell,
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His Message orderly then he did tell.
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God save your worship, then said the messenger,
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And grant your lady her heart's desire,
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And to your son Richard good fortune and happiness,
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That sweet young gentleman, the happy 'squire.
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Our King doth greet you, and thus doth say,
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You must come to court on St. George's day.
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Therefore in any case, fail not in any place.
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I wis, quoth the Miller, this is an old jest.
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What shall we do there? 'faith I am half afraid.
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I doubt quoth Richard, be hang'd at the least.
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Nay quoth the messenger, he doth mistake;
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The King hath provided a feast for thy sake.
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Then said the Miller, now by my troth messenger,
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Thou hast contented my worship right well.
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Hold there's three farthings to quit thy gentleness,
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For these happy tidings which thou doth me tell.
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Let me see; here's to thee; tell to oar King,
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We'll wait on his mastership in every thing.
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The parsuivant smiled at their simplicity,
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And making many legs took his reward,
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And taking then his leave with great humility,
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To the King's court, again he repair'd.
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Shewing unto his grace in each degree,
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The Miller's most liberal gift and bounty
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When he was gone away, thus did the Miller say,
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Here come's expences and charges indeed.
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Now we must needs be brave, tho' we spend all we have,
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For of few garments we have got much need,
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Of horses and servant-men we must have store,
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With bridles and saddles, and twenty things more.
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Tush, Sir John, quoth his wife, never fret nor frown,
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You shall be at no more charges for me;
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'For I will turn and trim up my russet Gown,
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With everything as fine as may be,
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And on our mill horses full swift we will ride,
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With pillows and pannels, as we shall provide.
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In this stately sort, rode they unto the court,
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Their jolly son Richard foremost of all:
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Who set up by Hay a cock's feather in his cap,
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So they jetted down towards the King's hall.
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The merry old Miller, with his hands on his side.
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His wife like Maid Mariam laugh'd at that tide.
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The King and his nobles, who heard of his comin
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Meeting this gallant knight with his gay train.
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Welcome sir knight, said he, with this bright lady,
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Good sir John Cookle, once welcome again.
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And so his the squire of courage so free.
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Quoth Dick, abots on you, do you know me?
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Quoth our King gently, how can I forget thee?
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Thou wast my bed fellow, that what I what.
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But I think on a trick. Tell me that prithee Dick,
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How thou with farting didst make the bed hot.
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Thou whoreson happy knave, then said the knight,
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Talk handsome to the King, or else go shite.
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The King and his courtiers laugh'd heartily at this
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While the King took them both by the hand.
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With ladies and their maids, like to the queen of spades
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The Miller's wife did so orderly stand.
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A milk-maid's court'sy at every word.
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Then the folks down were set at the side-board.
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Where the King royally, in princely majesty
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Set at his dinner with joy and delight.
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When they had eat well, to jesting they fell,
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And the King then drank to the knight.
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Here's to you in good ale, wine, and bear,
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Thanking you for your country cheer.
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Quoth Sir John Cockle, I'll pledge you a bottle,
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Was it the best ale in Nottinghamshire.
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But then said the King, I do think of a thing,
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Some of your light-foot I wish we had here.
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Oh! Oh! said Richard right will may I say it,
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'Tis knavery to eat it and then to betray it.
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Why art thou angry, quoth the King merrily?
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In faith I do take it very unkind.
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I thought thou wouldst pledge me in ale, wine or beer.
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You're like to stay quoth Dick, until I've din'd,
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You feed us with shattling dishes so small.
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X---ds a black pudding is worth them all.
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Ay marry, quoth the King, that were a dainty thing,
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If a man could get here one to eat;
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With that Dick arose, and took one out of his hose,
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Which with the heat of his breeches did sweat.
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The King made a proffer to snatch it away,
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'Tis meat for your master, good sir, you must stay.
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Thus in great merriment was the time wholy spent
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And then the ladies appeared to dance,
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Old sir John Cockle and Richard incontinent,
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Unto this practice the King did advance;
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Here with the ladies such sport they did make,
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The nobles with laughing did make their sides ach.
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Then sir John Cockle the King called unto him,
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And of merry Sheerwood made him overseer.
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Giving him out of hand three hundred pound a year
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Saving, take heed you steak no more deer.
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And once a quarter let's here have your view.
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And thus, Sir John Cockle, I'll bid you adieu.
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