John Steward stood under the castle wall, And he wrote the words every one; * * * * * * * * * * * * * * And he called unto his horssekeeper, 65 "Make ready you my steede;" And soe he did to his chamberlaine, "Make readye then my weed." And he cast a lease upon his backe, And he rode to the silver wood, 70 And there he sought all about, About the silver wood. And there he found him Childe Maurice, Sitting upon a blocke, With a silver combe in his hand, 75 Kembing his yellow locke. He sayes, "how now, how now, Childe Maurice, Alacke how may this bee?" But then stood by him Childe Maurice, And sayd these words trulye: 80 "I do not know your ladye," he said, "If that I doe her see." "Ffor thou hast sent her love tokens, More now than two or three. "For thou hast sent her a mantle of greene, 85 As greene as any grasse, And bade her come to the silver wood, To hunt with Childe Maurice. "And by my faith now, Childe Maurice, The tane of us shall dye;" 90 "Now by my troth," sayd Childe Maurice, "And that shall not be I." But he pulled out a bright browne sword, And dryed it on the grasse, And soe fast he smote at John Steward, 95 Iwis he never rest. Then hee pulled forth his bright browne sword, And dryed itt on his sleeve, And the ffirst good stroke John Steward stroke, Child Maurice head he did cleeve. 100 And he pricked it on his swords poynt, Went singing there beside, And he rode till he came to the ladye ffaire, Whereas his ladye lyed. And sayes, "dost thou know Child Maurice head, 105 Iff that thou dost it see? And llap it soft, and kisse itt offt, Ffor thou lovedst him better than mee." But when shee looked on Child Maurice head, Shee never spake words but three: 110 "I never beare noe child but one, And you have slain him trulye." Sayes, "wicked be my merry men all, I gave meate, drinke, and clothe; But cold they not have holden me, 115 When I was in all that wrath! "Ffor I have slaine one of the courteousest knights That ever bestrode a steede; Soe have I done one of the fairest ladyes That ever ware womans weede." 120 1. MS. silven. See vv. 25, 53, 70, 72. 11. out out. 25. Sic in MS. CLERK SAUNDERS. See p. 45. From Jamieson's _Popular Ballads and Songs_, i. 83.