"Ile see this bride," Lord Phenix said, "That lady of so bright a blee, 10 And if I like her countenance well, The heir of all my lands she'st be." But when he came the lady before, Before this comely maid came he, "O God thee save, thou lady sweet, 15 My heir and parand thou shalt be." "Leave off your suit," the lady said, "As you are a lord of high degree; You may have ladies enough at home, And I have a lord in mine own country: 20 "For I have a lover true of mine own, A serving-man of low degree, One Tommy Pots it is his name, My first love, and last that ever shall be." "If that Tom Pots [it] is his name, 25 I do ken him right verily; I am able to spend fourty pounds a week, Where he is not able to spend pounds three." "God give you good of your gold," she said, "And ever God give you good of your fee, 30 Tom Pots was the first love that ever I had, And I do mean him the last to be." With that Lord Phenix soon was mov'd; Towards the lady did he threat; He told her father, and so it was prov'd, 35 How his [fair] daughters mind was set. "O daughter dear, thou art my own, The heir of all my lands to be; Thou shalt be bride to the Lord Phenix, If that thou mean to be heir to me." 40 "O father dear, I am your own, And at your command I needs must be, But bind my body to whom you please, My heart, Tom Pots, shall go with thee." Alas! the lady her fondness must leave, 45 And all her foolish wooing lay aside; The time is come her friends have appointed, That she must be Lord Phenix bride. With that the lady began to weep; She knew not well then what to say, 50 How she might Lord Phenix deny, And escape from marriage quite away. She call'd unto her little foot-page, Saying, "I can trust none but thee; Go carry Tom Pots this letter fair, 55 And bid him on Guildford-green meet me: "For I must marry against my mind, Or in faith well proved it shall be; And tell to him I am loving and kind, And wishes him this wedding to see. 60 "But see that thou note his countenance well, And his colour, and shew it to me; And go thy way and hie thee again,[L63] And forty shillings I will give thee. "For if he smile now with his lips, 65 His stomach will give him to laugh at the heart; Then may I seek another true love, For of Tom Pots small is my part.