A pleasant new Ballad between King Edward the forth, and a Tanner of Tamworth,
as he rode upon a time with his Nobles on hunting towards Drayton Baffet.
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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 buttened under his chin,
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And under him a good Cow hide,
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and a Mare of foure shillig:
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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 Draton-Basset
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I pray thee shew to me?
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The way to Drayton-Basset,
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from this way as thou dost stand,
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The next paire of Gallowes thou comest 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 readiest way I pray thee shew me,
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Wheither thou be thiefe or true man (quoth the Tanner
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I am weary of the 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 dainties we will lack,
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Wee'l have meat and drinke of the best,
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and I will pay the shot,
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God a meecy 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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any send them well to thee,
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Be thou thiefe, 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 feare,
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The apparrell thou wearest on thy back,
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may seeme a good Lord to ware:
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I never stole them said our King
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I sweare to thee be the Rood
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Thou art some Ruffian of the Country,
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thou ridest in the midst of thy good,
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What newes doe you heare, then said our King
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I pray what newes doe you heare,
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I here no newes answered the Tanner,
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but that Cow-hides be deare,
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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 foole. quoth the Tanner
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looke I have one under me.
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Yet on think of the I would thee pray,
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so that thou would not be strange,
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If thy Mare be better then thy Steed,
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I pray you 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 looke to have boot of thee.
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What boot wilt thou ask then said our King,
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what boot doth thou ask on this ground?
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No pence, nor half pence said the Tanner,
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but a Noble in Gold so round.
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The second Part, to the same Tune.
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HEre's twenty good Groats then said the King
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so well pay'd fee that you be,
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I love the better then I did before,
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I thought thou hadst ne'r a penny:
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Bue if so be we must needs 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 not have my Cow hide.
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The Tanner tooke 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 fairely gilt:
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Now helpe 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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shee'l say I'm a gentleman
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The King tooke the Tanner by the Leg,
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he girded a fart so round
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You are very homely, then said the King,
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were I aware I'd laid you o'th ground
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But ween the Tanner was in the Kings Saddle
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astoined then he was
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He knew not the stirrops that he did ware
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wheather they were Gold or Brasse.
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But when the Steed saw the black Cow taile wag
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for and the black Cow horne,
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The Steed began to run away,
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as the Divell the Tanner had borne:
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Untill he came unto a Nooke,
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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 againe with a venneance 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 wee must needs now change:
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as change that well we moute,
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Ile swear to you plain if you have your mare,
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I looke to have some boot:
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What boot wilt thou aske (quoth the Tanner
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what boot will you aske on this ground
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No pence nor halfe-pence said the King,
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but a noble in Gold so round.
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Here's twenty 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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wee'l drinke 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 round 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 quod the Tanner,
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with thee Ile no longer abide,
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Thou art a strong thief, yonder be thy fellowes
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thee will steale 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 Lords of Draton 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 hundred pound
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he had bin out of his company,
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A Cheller, a Choller then said the King
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a Coller that he did cry
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Then would he had given a thousand pound,
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he had not bin so nigh.
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A Choller, a Choller then quoth the Tanner,
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that is s thing that will breed sorrow
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For after a Chollar, commeth a Halter,
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and I shall be hanged tomorrow,
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No do not feare the King did say,
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for pastime thou hast shone 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 Plumton Parke I will give thee,
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with the Tenements three beside,
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Which is worth three hundred pound a yeare,
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to maintaine thy good Cow hide:
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God s mercy, God a mercy, quoth the Tanner
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for this good deed thou hast done,
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If ever thou commest to merry Tamworth,
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thou shalt have clouting leather for thy shone.
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