Part 12 (1/2)

What boot wilt thou have, the tanner replied, Now tell me in this stound?[94]

No pence, nor half-pence, sir, by my faith, But I will have twenty pound.

[Ill.u.s.tration: KING EDWARD IV. AND THE TANNER OF TAMWORTH.]

Here's twenty groats out of my purse; And twenty I have of thine: And I have one more, which we will spend Together at the wine.

The king set a bugle horn to his mouth, And blew both loud and shrill: And soon came lords, and soon came knights, Fast riding over the hill.

Now, out alas! the tanner he cried, That ever I saw this day!

Thou art a strong thief, yon come thy fellows Will bear my cow-hide away.

They are no thieves, the king replied, I swear, so mote I thee: But they are the lords of the north country, Here come to hunt with me.

And soon before our king they came, And knelt down on the ground: Then might the tanner have been away, He had lever[95] than twenty pound.

A collar, a collar, here: said the king, A collar he loud 'gan cry: Then would he lever than twenty pound, He had not been so nigh.

A collar, a collar, the tanner he said, I trow it will breed sorrow: After a collar cometh a halter, I trow I shall be hang'd to-morrow.

Be not afraid, tanner, said our king; I tell thee, so mote I thee, Lo here I make thee the best esquire That is in the north country.

For Plumpton-park I will give thee, With tenements fair beside: 'Tis worth three hundred marks by the year, To maintain thy good cow-hide.

Gramercy, my liege, the tanner replied, For the favour thou hast me shown: If ever thou comest to merry Tamwrth, Neat's[96] leather shall clout thy shoen.[97]

FOOTNOTES:

[85] Ready.

[86] A s.h.i.+lling was a large sum in those days.

[87] Know.

[88] Prove.

[89] _i.e._ Hast no other wealth but what thou carriest about thee.

[90] A dealer in bark.

[91] May I thrive.

[92] Flayed.

[93] Broken.

[94] Time.

[95] Rather.