THE
CRUEL KNIGHT
And the Fortunate Farmer's Daughter.
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IN famous York City a farmer did dwell,
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Who was beloved by his neighbours well,
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He had a wife that was virtuous and fair,
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And by her he had a young child every year,
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In seven years six children he had,
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Which made their parents hearts full glad,
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But in a short time as we did hear say,
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The father in wealth and stock did decay,
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Altho' that once he had riches in store
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In a little time he grew very poor,
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He strove all he could, but alas! could not thrive
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He hardly kept his children alive,
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The children came faster than silver or gold,
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For his wife conceived again as we are told.
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And when the time came in labour she fell.
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But if you will mind me an odd story I'll tell,
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A noble rich knight by chance did ride by,
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And hearing this woman shriek and cry,
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He being well learned in the planets and signs,
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Did look in the book which puzzled his mind,
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For the more he did look the more he did read
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And found that fate the child had decreed.
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Who was born in the house at the same time.
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He found it was she that must be his bride
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But judge how the night was disturbed in mind
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When he in that book his fortune did find,
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He quickly rode home and was sorely oppress'd
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From that sad moment he could take no rest.
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At night he did toss and tumble in bed,
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And very strange projects came into his head,
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Then he was resolved and soon try'd indeed,
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To alter the fortune he found was decreed,
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With a vexing heart next morning he rose,
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And so the house of the farmer he goes,
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And asked the man with a heart full of spite,
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If the child was alive that was born last night.
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Worthy sir, said the farmer, altho' I am poor,
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I had one born last night and six born before,
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Four sons and three daughters I now have alive
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They are all in good health and likely to thrive,
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The knight reply'd, if that seven you have,
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Let me have the youngest I'll keep it most brave
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For you very well one daughter may spare,
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And when I die I[']ll make her my heir,
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For I am a knight of noble degree,
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And if you will part with your child unto me,
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Full three thousand pounds I'll unto thee give
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When I from your hands your daughter receive
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The father and mother with tears in their eyes
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Did hear this kind offer and where in surprize,
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And seeing the knight was so noble and gay,
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Presented the infant unto him that day,
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But they spoke to him with words most mild.
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We beseech thee, good sir, be kind to our child
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You need not mind, the knight he did say,
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I'll maintain her both gallant and gay.
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So with this sweet babe away he did ride,
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Until he came to a broad river's side,
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Being cruelly bent he resolved indeed
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To drown the young infant that day with speed
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Saying if you live you must be my wife,
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So I am resolved to berieve you of life
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For 'till you are dead I no comfort can have,
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Wherefore you shall lie in a watery grave,
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In saying of this that moment they say
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He flung the babe into the river straightway,
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And being well pleased when this he had done,
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He leaped on his horse & straightway rode home
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But mind how good fortune for her did provide
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She was drove safe on her back by the tide,
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where a man was a fishing as fortune did have
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When she was a floating along with the wave,
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He took her up, but was in amaze,
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He kiss'd her, and press'd her, & on her did gaze
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And he having never a child in his life
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He straight did carry her home to his wife,
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His wife was pleased the child for to see,
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And said my dearest husband be ruled by me,
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Since we have no child if you let me alone,
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We will keep this, and call it our own,
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The good man consented as we have been told,
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And spared for neither silver nor gold
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Until she was eleven full years,
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And then her sweet beauty began for to appear
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The fisherman was one day at an Inn,
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And several gentlemen drinking with him,
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His wife sent this girl to call her husband home
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But when she into the drinking room came,
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The gentleman there amazed to see,
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The fisherman's daughter so full of beauty,
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They asked him then if she was his own?
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And he told them the story before he went home
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As I was a fishing within my own bound
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One monday morning this sweet babe I found,
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Or else she had laid in this watery grave,
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And this was the account which now he gave,
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The cruel knight was in the company,
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And hearing the fisherman tell the story,
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He was vexed at the heart to see her alive,
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And how to destroy her he again did contrive,
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Then spoke the knight and unto him said,
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If you will but part with the sweet maid,
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I'll give you whate'er your heart can desvise
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For she in time to great riches may rise,
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The fisherman answer'd with a modest grace,
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I cannot unless my dear wa[s] in the place,
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Get first her consent you shall have mine of me
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And then to go with you sir she is free,
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The wife she did also as freely consent,
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But little they thought of his intent,
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He kept her a month very bravely they say,
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And then he contrived to send her away.
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He had a great brother in Lancashire
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A nobl[e] rich man worth ten thousand a year,
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And he sent this girl unto him with speed,
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In hopes he would act a most cruel deed
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He sent a man with her likewise they say,
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But as they did lodge at an inn on the way,
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A thief in the house with an evil intent.
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To rob the portmantua immediately went,
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but the thief was amazed when he could not find
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Neither silver nor gold nor ought to his mind,
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But only a letter the which he did read
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And soon put an end to this tragical deed
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The knight had wrote to his brother that day,
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To make this poor innocent damsel away.
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With sword or with poison that very same night
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And not let her live till morning light
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The theif read the letter and had so much grace
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To tear it and wrote in the very same place,
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Dear brother receive this maiden from me
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And bring her well up as a maiden should be,
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Let her be esteemed dear brother I pray,
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For servants attend her by night and by day.
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For she is a lady of noble worth
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A nobler lady ne'er liv[']d in the north,
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Let her have good learning dear brother I pray
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And for the same I will sufficiently pay,
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And so dear brother this letter I send.
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Subscribing myself your dear brother and friend
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The servant and maid were still innocent,
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And onward their journey next they went
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Before sunset to the knight's house they came.
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Where the servant left her and home came again
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The girl was attended most nobly indeed.
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With many servants to attend her with speed
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Where she did continue a twelvemonths space,
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'Till this cruel knight came to this place,
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As he and his brother together did talk.
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He spy'd the young maid in the garden to walk
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She looked most beautiful pleasant and gay,
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Like to sweet Aurora or the goddess of May,
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He was in a passion when her he did see,
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And said most angry why. brother why,
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Did you not do as in the letter I writ?
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His brother replied it is done every bit.
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No, no, said the knight, it is not so I see.
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Therefore she shall back again go with me.
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But his brother shewed him the letter that day,
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Then he was amazed but nothing did say.
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Soon after the knight took this maiden away,
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Bnd with her did ride till he came to the sea.
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Then looking upon her with anger and spite,
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He spoke to this maiden and bid her alight,
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The maid from the horse immediately went,
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And trembling to think what was his intent,
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Ne'er tremble, said he, for this hour is your last
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So pull off your clothes I command you in haste
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This virgin with tears on her knees did reply.
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Oh! what have I done sir that now I must die
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Oh! let me but know how I offend,
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I'll study each hour to make you amends,
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Ah! spare my life and I'll wander the earth
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And hever come nigh you while I have breath,
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He hearing the pitiful moan she did make,
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Straight from his finger a ring did take,
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He then to this maiden these words he did say,
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This ring into the water I'll now throw away,
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Pray look on it well for the posy is plain;
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That when you see it you may know it again,
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I charge you for lige never come in my sight,
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For if you do I shall owe you a spite,
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Unless you do bring the same unto me.
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With that he let the ring drop into the sea.
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Which when he hae done away he did go,
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And left her to wander in sorrow and woe,
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She rambled all night and at length did espy,
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A homely poor cottage and to it did hie
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Being hungry and cold & her her heart full of grief
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She went tot his cottage to ask for relief
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The people relieved her and the next day,
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They got her a service as I did hear say,
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At a nobleman's house not far from the place,
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Where she did behave with a modest grace.
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She was a cook maid and forgot all times past,
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But observe a wonder that comes at last.
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As she a fish dinner was dressing one day,
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And open'd the head of a cod as they say,
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She found such a ring and was in amaze.
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And she in great wonder upon it did gaze,
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And viewing it well she found it to be
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The very same ring the knight dropt in the sea,
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She smil'd when she saw it & blest her kind fate
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But did to no creature the secret relate,
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This maid in her place did all maidens excell,
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That the lady took notice and liked her well,
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Saying she was born of some noble degree,
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And took her for her companion to be,
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This hard hearted knight to this place came,
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A little time after with persons of fame,
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But was struck to the soul when he did behold,
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This beautiful creature in trappings of gold
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Then he asked the lady to grant him a boon,
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And said it was to walk with the virgin alone,
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The lady consented telling the young maid,
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By him she need not fear to be betray[']d,
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When he first met her thou stumpet he said,
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Did I not charge thee never more to see me?
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This hour's your last to the world bid good night
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For being so bold to appear in my sight,
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Said she in the sea sir you flung a ring,
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And bid me see you unless I did it bring,
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The same unto you. Now I have it cries she,
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Behold 'tis the same you flung into the sea.
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When the knight saw it he flew to her arms,
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And said thou hast a million of charms,
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Said he charming creature, pray pardon me,
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Who often contrived the ruin of thee.
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'Tis in vain to alter what heaven has decreed,
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For I find you are born my wife for to be
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Then wedded they were as I have heard say,
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And now she's a lady both gallant and gay,
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They quickly unto her parent's did haste,
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Where the knight told the story what had pass'd
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But asked their pardon upon his bare knee,
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Who gave it and rejoiced their daughter to see
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Then they for the fisherman and his wife sent,
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And for their past trouble did them content,
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So there was great joy unto all that did see,
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The farmer's young daughter a lady to be.
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