Sometime the Dutchesse bore the child, As wet as ever she could be, 80 And when the lady kind and mild Was wearie, then the child bore hee; And thus they one another easde, And with their fortunes were well pleasde. And after many wearied steppes, 85 All wet-shod both in durt and myre, After much griefe, their hearts yet leapes, (For labour doth some rest require); A towne before them they did see, But lodgd therein they could not bee. 90 From house to house they both did goe, Seeking where they that night might lie, But want of money was their woe, And still the babe with cold did crie; With capp and knee they courtsey make, 95 But none on them would pittie take. Loe here a princesse of great blood Did pray a peasant for reliefe, With tears bedewed as she stood! Yet few or none regardes her griefe; 100 Her speech they could not understand, But gave her a pennie in her hand. When all in vaine the paines was spent, And that they could not house-roome get, Into a church-porch then they went, 105 To stand out of the raine and wet: Then said the Dutchesse to her deare, "O that we had some fier heere!" Then did her husband so provide That fire and coales he got with speede; 110 She sate downe by the fiers side, To dresse her daughter, that had neede; And while she drest it in her lapp, Her husband made the infant papp. Anone the sexton thither came, 115 And finding them there by the fire, The drunken knave, all voyde of shame, To drive them out was his desire: And spurning forth this noble dame, Her husbands wrath it did inflame. 120 And all in furie as he stood, He wroung the church-keies out of his hand, And strooke him so, that all of blood His head ran downe where he did stand; Wherefor the sexton presently 125 For helpe and ayde aloude did cry. Then came the officers in hast, And tooke the Dutchesse and her child, And with her husband thus they past, Like lambes beset with tygers wild, 130 And to the governour were they brought, Who understood them not in ought. Then Maister Bartue, brave and bold, In Latine made a gallant speech, Which all their miserie did unfold, 135 And their high favour did beseech: With that, a doctor sitting by Did know the Dutchesse presently.