_"When first our king his fame did advance, And sought his title in delicate France, In many places great perils past he, But then was not born my pretty Bessee._ _"And at those wars went over to fight, 85 Many a brave duke, a lord, and a knight, And with them young Monford of courage so free, But then was not born my pretty Bessee._ _"And there did young Monford with a blow on the face Lose both his eyes in a very short space; 90 His life had been gone away with his sight, Had not a young woman gone forth in the night._ _"Among the slain men, her fancy did move[L93] To search and to seek for her own true love, Who seeing young Monford there gasping to die, 95 She saved his life through her charity._ _"And then all our victuals in beggars attire, At the hands of good people we then did require; At last into England, as now it is seen, We came, and remained in Bednall Green._ 100 _"And thus we have lived in Fortune's despyght, Though poor, yet contented, with humble delight, And in my old years, a comfort to me, God sent me a daughter, called pretty Bessee._ _"And thus, ye nobles, my song I do end, 105 Hoping by the same no man to offend; Full forty long winters thus I have been, A silly blind beggar of Bednall Green."_ Now when the company every one Did hear the strange tale he told in his song, 110 They were amazed, as well as they might be, Both at the blind beggar and pretty Bessee. With that the fair bride they all bid embrace, Saying, "You are come of an honourable race; Thy father likewise is of high degree, 115 And thou art right worthy a lady to be." Thus was the feast ended with joy and delight; A happy bridegroom was made the young knight, Who lived in great joy and felicity, With his fair lady, dear pretty Bessee. 120 1-4. This stanza is wrongly placed at the end of the First Part in the copy from which we reprint. In ed. 1723 it does not occur. v. 3. therof you did, Percy, for, _therefore you may_. 23. gentlemen down at the side. 50. may. 74. look to us then the truth. 93. said men. THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING-MEN OR, THE LADY TURNED SERVING-MAN. From _A Collection of Old Ballads_, i. 216. Percy's edition, (iii. 126,) was from a written copy, "containing some improvements, (perhaps modern ones.") Mr. Kinloch has printed a fragment of this piece in its Scottish dress, as taken down from the recitation of an old woman in Lanark,--_Sweet Willie_, p. 96. Several of the verses in the following are found also in _The Lament of the Border Widow_; see _ante_, iii. 86.