Then Bessy shee sighed, and thus she did say, My father and mother I meane to obey; First gett their good will, and be faithfull to mee, And you shall enjoye your prettye Bessee. To every one this answer shee made, Wherfore unto her they joyfullye sayd, This thing to fulfill wee all doe agree; But where dwells thy father, my prettye Besse? My father, shee said, is soone to be seene: The seely blind beggar of Bednall-greene, That daylye sits begging for charitie, He is the good father of pretty Bessee. His markes and his tokens are knowen very well; He alwayes is led with a dogg and a bell: A seely olde man, God knoweth, is hee, Yett hee is the father of pretty Bessee. Nay then, quoth the merchant, thou art not for mee: Nor, quoth the innholder, my wiffe thou shalt bee: I lothe, sayd the gentle, a beggars degree, And therefore, adewe, my pretty Bessee! Why then, quoth the knight, hap better or worse, I waighe not true love by the waight of my pursse, And bewtye is bewtye in every degree; Then welcome unto me, my prettye Bessee. With thee to thy father forthwith I will goe. Nay soft, quoth his kinsmen, it must not be soe; A poor beggars daughter noe ladye shal bee, Then take thy adew of pretty Bessee. But soone after this, by breake of the day, The knight had from Rumford stole Bessy away. The younge men of Rumford, as thicke might bee, Rode after to feitch againe pretty Bessee. As swifte as the winde to ryde they were scene, Untill they came neare unto Bednall-greene; And as the knight lighted most courteouslìe, They all fought against him for pretty Bessee. But rescew came speedilye over the plaine, Or else the young knight for his love had been slaine. This fray being ended, then straitway he see His kinsmen come rayling at pretty Bessee. Then spake the blind beggar, Although I bee poore, Yett rayle not against my child at my own doore: Though shee be not decked in velvett and pearle, Yett will I dropp angells with you for my girle. And then, if my gold may better her birthe, And equall the gold that you lay on the earth, Then neyther rayle nor grudge you to see The blind beggars daughter a lady to bee. But first you shall promise, and have it well knowne, The gold that you drop shall all be your owne. With that they replyed, Contented bee wee. Then here's, quoth the beggar, for pretty Bessee. With that an angell he cast on the ground, And dropped in angels full three thousand pound; And oftentime itt was proved most plaine, For the gentlemens one the beggar droppt twayne: Soe that the place, wherin they did sitt, With gold it was covered every whitt. The gentlemen then having dropt all their store, Sayd, Now, beggar, hold, for wee have noe more.