Shee sayd, Lullabye, mine owne deere child, Lullabye, dere child, dere; I wold thy father were a king, Thy mother layd on a biere. Peace now, he said, good faire Ellèn, Be of good cheere, I praye; And the bridal and the churching both Shall bee upon one day. KING EDWARD IV & THE TANNER OF TAMWORTH [Illustration: King Edward IV headpiece] In summer time, when leaves grow greene, And blossoms bedecke the tree, King Edward wolde a hunting ryde, Some pastime for to see. With hawke and hounde he made him bowne, With horne, and eke with bowe; To Drayton Basset he tooke his waye, With all his lordes a rowe. And he had ridden ore dale and downe By eight of clocke in the day, When he was ware of a bold tannèr, Come ryding along the waye. A fayre russet coat the tanner had on Fast buttoned under his chin, And under him a good cow-hide, And a marc of four shilling. Nowe stand you still, my good lordes all, Under the grene wood spraye; And I will wend to yonder fellowe, To weet what he will saye. God speede, God speede thee, said our king. Thou art welcome, Sir, sayd hee. "The readyest waye to Drayton Basset I praye thee to shew to mee." "To Drayton Basset woldst thou goe, Fro the place where thou dost stand? The next payre of gallowes thou comest unto, Turne in upon thy right hand." That is an unreadye waye, sayd our king, Thou doest but jest, I see; Nowe shewe me out the nearest waye, And I pray thee wend with mee. Away with a vengeance! quoth the tanner: I hold thee out of thy witt: All daye have I rydden on Brocke my mare, And I am fasting yett. "Go with me downe to Drayton Basset, No daynties we will spare; All daye shalt thou eate and drinke of the best, And I will paye thy fare." Gramercye for nothing, the tanner replyde, Thou payest no fare of mine: I trowe I've more nobles in my purse, Than thou hast pence in thine. God give thee joy of them, sayd the king, And send them well to priefe. The tanner wolde faine have beene away, For he weende he had beene a thiefe. What art thou, hee sayde, thou fine fellowe, Of thee I am in great feare, For the clothes, thou wearest upon thy back, Might beseeme a lord to weare. I never stole them, quoth our king, I tell you, Sir, by the roode. "Then thou playest, as many an unthrift doth, And standest in midds of thy goode." What tydinges heare you, sayd the kynge, As you ryde farre and neare? "I heare no tydinges, Sir, by the masse, But that cowe-hides are deare." "Cow-hides! cow-hides! what things are those? I marvell what they bee?" What, art thou a foole? the tanner reply'd; I carry one under mee. What craftsman art thou, said the king, I pray thee tell me trowe. "I am a barker, Sir, by my trade; Nowe tell me what art thou?"