But in did come the kyng of Spayne, With manye a grimme barone, Tone day to marrye kyng Adlands daughter, Tother daye to carrye her home. 110 Then shee sent after kyng Estmere, In all the spede might bee, That he must either returne and fighte, Or goe home and lose his ladye. One whyle then the page he went, 115 Another whyle he ranne; Till he had oretaken king Estmere, Iwis he never blanne. "Tydinges, tydinges, kyng Estmere!" "What tydinges nowe, my boye?" 120 "O tydinges I can tell to you, That will you sore annoye. "You had not ridden scant a myle, A myle out of the towne, But in did come the kyng of Spayne 125 With kempès many a one: "But in did come the kyng of Spayne With manye a grimme barone, Tone day to marrye kyng Adlands daughter, Tother daye to carrye her home. 130 "That ladye fayre she greetes you well, And ever-more well by mee: You must either turne againe and fighte, Or goe home and lose your ladye." Sayes, "Reade me, reade me, deare brother, 135 My reade shall ryse at thee,[L136] Whiche way we best may turne and fighte, To save this fayre ladye." "Now hearken to me," sayes Adler yonge, "And your reade must rise at me; 140 I quicklye will devise a waye To sette thy ladye free. "My mother was a westerne woman, And learned in gramarye, And when I learned at the schole, 145 Something shee taught itt me. "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. 150 "His color which is browne and blacke, Itt will make redd and whyte; That sword is not in all Englande, Upon his coate will byte. "And you shal be a harper, brother, 155 Out of the north countree; And Ile be your boye, so faine of fighte, To beare your harpe by your knee. "And you shall be the best harper That ever tooke harpe in hand; 160 And I will be the best singer That ever sung in this land. "Itt shal be written in our forheads, All and in grammarye, That we towe are the boldest men 165 That are in all Christentye." And thus they renisht them to ryde, On towe good renish steedes; And whan they came to king Adlands hall, Of redd gold shone their weedes. 170 And whan they came to kyng Adlands hall, Untill the fayre hall yate, There they found a proud porter, Rearing himselfe theratt.