A Pleasant new Ballad betweene King Edward the fourth, and a Tanner of Tamworth, as hee rode vpon a time with his Nobles on Hunting, towards Drayton Basset.
IN Summer time when leaues grew gréene,
and birds sitting on euery tree:
King
Edward would a hunting ride,
some pastime for to see.
Our King he would a hunting ride,
by eight a clocke of the day,
And well was he ware of a bold Tanner,
come riding on the way.
A good russet coat the Tanner had on,
fast buttoned vnder his chin:
And vnder him a good Cow-hide,
and a Mare of foure shilling.
New stand you here good my Lords all,
vnder this trusty tree:
And I will wend to yonder fellow,
to know from whence came hee.
God spéed, God spéed, then said our King,
thou art welcome good fellow (quoth hee)
Which is the way to Drayton Basset?
I pray you shew it to me.
The way to Drayton Basset,
from this way as thou dost stand,
The next paire of Gallowes thou commest to,
thou must turne vpon the left hand.
That is not the way then said our King,
the readiest way I pray thee shew mée.
Wether thou be thiefe or true man quoth the Tanner,
I am weary of thy company.
Away with a vengeance quoth the Tanner,
I hold thee out of thy wit:
For this day haue I ridden and gone,
and I am fasting yet.
[...]th me to Drayton Basset, said our King,
[...] D
[...]inties we will lacke:
[...] I haue meat and drinke of the best,
[...]nd I will pay for the shot.
Godamercie for nothing quoth the Tanner
thou shalt pay for no dinner of mine:
I haue more groats and nobles in my purse,
than thou hast pence in thine.
God saue your goods then said our King,
and send them well to thée.
Be thou thiefe or true man said the Tanner,
I am weary of thy company.
Away with a vengeance quoth the Tanner,
of thee I stand in feare:
The apparell thou wearest on thy backe,
may seeme a good Lord to weare.
I neuer stole them said our King,
I sweare to you by the rood:
Thou art some Ruffian of the Country,
thou ridest in the midst of thy good.
What newes doe you heare then said our King,
I pray what newes d'you heare?
I heare no newes answered the Tanner,
but that Cow-hides be deare.
Cow-hides, Cow-hides then said our King,
I maruell what they be.
Why art thou a foole quoth the Tanner?
looke I haue one vnder mee.
Yet one thing of thée I would thee pray,
so that thou would not be strange:
If thy Mare be better than my Stéed,
I pray you let vs change.
But if thou néeds with me wilt change,
as change full well may yee:
By the faith of my body quoth the Tanner,
I looke to haue boot of thée.
What boot wilt thou aske then said the King,
what boot wilt thou aske on this ground?
No pence nor halfepence said the Tanner,
but a Noble in gold so round.
The second Part of King Edward the fourth, and the Tanner of Tamworth.
HEres twenty good groats then said the King,
so well paid see that you be:
I loue thée better than I did before,
I though thou hadst ne're a penny.
But if so be we must néeds change,
as change we must abide:
Though thou hast gotten Brocke my Mare,
thou shalt not haue my Cow-hide.
The Tanner he tooke the good Cow-hide
that of the Cow was hilt,
And threw it vpon the Kings Saddle,
that was so fairely gilt.
Now helpe me, helpe me vp quoth the Tanner,
full quickly that I were gone:
For when I come home to
Iillian my wife,
shée'l say I am a Gentleman.
The King tooke the Tanner by the leg,
he girded a fart so round:
You are very homely then said the King,
were I aware I'de a laid you o'th ground.
But when the Tanner was in the Kings Saddle,
astouied then hee was:
Hée knew not the stirrops that hée did weare,
whether they were gold or brasse.
But when the Stéed saw the black Cow-taile wag,
for and the blacke Cow-horne:
The Steed began to run away,
as the Deuill the Tanner had borne.
Vntill hee came vnto a nooke,
a little beside an Ash:
The Stéed gaue the Tanner such a fall,
his necke was almost brast.
Take thy horse againe with a vengeance, hee said,
with mee hee shall not abide:
It is no maruell said the King, and laught,
he knew not your Cow-hide.
But if that wee must néeds now change here,
as change well that we mote:
Ile sweare to you plaine, if you haue your
[...]
I doe looke to haue some boot.
What boot wilt thou aske, quoth the Tanner,
what boot wilt thou aske on this ground?
No pence nor halfepence, said the King,
but in gold twenty pound.
Heres twenty groats said the Tanner,
and twenty more I had of thine:
I haue ten groats more in my purse,
wee'l drinke fiue of them at the Wine.
The King set a Bugle horne to his mouth,
that blew both loud and shrill,
Then fiue hundred Lords and Knights,
came riding ouer a hill.
Away with a vengeance quoth the Tanner,
with thee Ile no longer abide:
Thou art a strong thiefe, yonder vs thy fellow
[...]
they will steale away my Cow-hide.
No I protest then said our King,
for so it may not be:
They be Lords of Drayton Basset,
come out of the North country.
But when they came before the King,
full loe they fell on their knee:
The Tanner had rather than a hundred pound
hee had béen out of their company.
A Coller, a Coller, then said the King,
a Coller that he did cry:
Then would he ha'giu'n a thousand pound,
hee had not béen so nie.
A Coller, a Coller, quoth the Tanner,
that is a thing will breed sorrow,
For after a Coller commeth a halter,
and I shall be hanged to morrow.
No doe not feare, the King did say,
for pastime thou hast showne me:
No Coller nor halter thou shalt haue,
but I will giue thée a fee.
For Plumton Parke I will thée giue,
with the Tenements three beside;
Which is worth fiue hundred pound a yeare,
to maintaine thy good Cow-hide.
Godamercie, Godamercie, quoth the Tanner,
for this good déed thou hast done:
If euer thou commest to merry Tamworth,
thou shalt haue clouting leather for thy shone
FINIS
London, Printed by A. M.