And riddle us both as one;
Whether I shall marrye with faire Ellinor,
And let the browne girl alone?

6

-Is given (with corrections) from an ancient | Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, he sayd, copy in black-letter, in the Pepys collection, entitled "A tragical ballad on the unfortunate love of Lord Thomas and fair Ellinor, together with the downfall of the browne girl."—In the same collection may be seen an attempt to modernize this old song, and reduce it to a different measure: a proof of its popularity.

LORD Thomas he was a bold forrester,
And a chaser of the kings deere;
Faire Ellinor was a fine woman,

And Lord Thomas he loved his deare.

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The browne girl she has got houses and lands,
Fair Ellinor she has got none,
And therefore I charge thee on my blessing,
To bring me the browne girl home.

And as it befelle on a high holidaye,
As many there are beside,
Lord Thomas he went to faire Ellinor,
That should have been her bride.

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And when he came to faire Ellinors bower,
He knocked there at the ring,

And who was so ready as faire Ellinor,
To lett Lord Thomas withinn.

And who was so readye as Lord Thomas,
To lett faire Ellinor in.

20 Is this your bride, fair Ellinor sayd? Methinks she looks wonderous browne; 50

What newes, what newes, Lord Thomas, she Thou mightest have had as faire a woman, sayd?

As ever trode on the grounde.

Despise her not, fair Ellin, he sayd,
Despise her not unto mee;

For better I love thy little finger,
Than all her whole bodèe.

This browne bride had a little penknife,
That was both long and sharpe,
And betwixt the short ribs and the long,
She prick'd faire Ellinor's harte.

Whether I shall goe to Lord Thomas his O Christ thee save, Lord Thomas hee sayd, wedding,

Methinkst thou lookst wondrous wan; Thou usedst to look with as fresh a colòur, As ever the sun shone on.

Oh, art thou blind, Lord Thomas? she sayd,
Or canst thou not very well see?
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Oh! dost thou not see my owne hearts bloode
Run trickling down my knee.

There are manye that are my friendes, mo- Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side;

thèr;

-Is given from a written copy, containing | And trembling hid in mans array, some improvements (perhaps modern ones), I scant with life escaped away. upon the popular ballad, entitled, "The famous flower of Serving-men; or the Lady turned Serving-man."

In the midst of this extremitie,
My servants all did from me flee:
Thus was I left myself alone,
With heart more cold than any stone.

Yet though my heart was full of care,
Heaven would not suffer me to dispaire,
Wherefore in haste I chang'd my name
From fair Elise, to sweet Williame:

And therewithall I cut my haire,
Resolv'd my man's attire to weare;
And in my beaver, hose and band,
I travell❜d far through many a land.

At length all wearied with my toil,

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