All that ever you are comen about
Soone fped now itt may bee.

Then befpake her father deare:

My daughter, 1 faye naye;

Remember well the kyng of Spayne,

What he fayd yesterdaye.

He wold pull downe my halles and castles,

And reave me of my lyfe :

And ever I feare that paynim kyng,

Iff I reave him of his wyfe.

Your castles and your towres, father,

Are ftronglye built aboute;

And therefore of that foule paynìm

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85

Wee neede not ftande in doubte.

90

Plyght me your troth, nowe, kyng Eftmère,

By heaven and your righte hand,

That you will marrye me to your wyfe,
And make me queene of your land.

Then kyng Eftmere he plight his troth
By heaven and his right hand,

That he wolde marrye her to his wyfe,
And make her queene of his land.

And he tooke leave of that ladye fayre,

To goe to his owne countree,

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100

To

To fetche h'm dukes and lordes and knightes,
That marryed the might bee.

They had not ridden fcant a myle,

A myle forthe of the towne,

But in did come the kyng of Spayne,

105

With kempès many a one.

But in did come the kyng of Spayne,
With manye a grimme baròne,

Tone day to marrye kyng Adlands daughter,.
Tother daye to carrye her home.

Then shee fent after kyng Estmère

In all the fpede might bee,

That he must either returne and fighte,
Or goe home and lofe his ladyè.

One whyle then the page he went,
Another whyle he ranne;

Till he had oretaken king Eftmere,
I-wis, he never blanne.

Tydinges, tydinges, kyng Eftmere!
What tydinges nowe, my boye?
O tydinges I can tell to you,

That will you fore annoye.

You had not ridden scant a myle,

A myle out of the towne,.

Ite

115.

120

But

But in did come the kyng of Spayne

With kempès many a one :

But in did come the kyng of Spayne

With manye a grimme baròne,

Tone daye to marrye king Adlands daughter,

Tother daye, to carrye her home.

That ladye fayre fhe greetes you well,

And ever-more well by mee:

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You must either turne againe and fighte,

Or goe home and lofe your ladyè.

Sayes, Reade me, reade me, deare brother,

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My reade fhall ryde + at thee,

Whiche waye we beft may turne and fighte,

To fave this fayre ladyè.

Now hearken to me, fayes Adler yonge,
And your reade must rise † at me,

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I quicklye will devise a waye

To fette thy ladye free.

There groweth an hearbe within this fielde,

And iff it were but knowne,

His color, which is whyte and redd,

It will make blacke and browne:

His color, which is browne and blacke,

Itt will make redd and whyte;

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That fworde is not in all Englande,

Upon his coate will byte.

And you shal be a harper, brother,

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Out of the north countrèe;

And Ile be your boye, so faine of fighte,
To beare your harpe by your knee.

And whan they came to king Adlands hall,
Of redd gold shone their weedes.

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And

And whan the came to kyng Adlands hall

Untill the fayre hall yate,

There they found a proud portèr

Rearing himselfe theratt.

Sayes, Chrift thee fave, thou proud portèr; 175 Sayes, Chrift thee fave and fee.

Nowe you be welcome, fayd the portèr,

Of what land foever

ye bee.

We been harpers, fayd Adler yonge,

Come out of the northe countrée ;

We beene come hither untill this place,
This proud weddinge for to fee.

Sayd, And your color were white and redd,.

As it is blacke and browne,

Ild faye king Eftmere and his brother

Were comen untill this towne,

Then they pulled out a ryng of gold,
Layd itt on the porters arme :

And ever we will thee, proud portèr,
Thow wilt faye us no`harme,

Sore he looked on kyng Eftmère,

And fore he handled the ryng,

Then opened to them the fayre hall yates,

He lett for no kind of thyng.

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190

Kyng