Listen, lively lordlings all, Lithe and listen unto mee, And I will sing of a noble earle, The noblest earle in the north countrìe. Earle Percy is into his garden gone, 5 And after him walkes his faire ladìe: "I heard a bird sing in mine eare, That I must either fight or flee." "Now heaven forefend, my dearest lord, That ever such harm should hap to thee; 10 But goe to London to the court, And faire fall truth and honestìe." "Now nay, now nay, my ladye gay, Alas! thy counsell suits not mee; Mine enemies prevail so fast, 15 That at the court I may not bee." "O goe to the court yet, good my lord, And take thy gallant men with thee; If any dare to doe you wrong, Then your warrant they may bee." 20 "Now nay, now nay, thou lady faire, The court is full of subtiltie; And if I goe to the court, lady, Never more I may thee see." "Yet goe to the court, my lord," she sayes, 25 "And I myselfe will ride wi' thee: At court then for my dearest lord, His faithfull borrowe I will bee." Now nay, now nay, my lady deare; Far lever had I lose my life, 30 Than leave among my cruell foes My love in jeopardy and strife. "But come thou hither, my little foot-page, Come thou hither unto mee; To maister Norton thou must goe 35 In all the haste that ever may bee. "Commend me to that gentleman, And beare this letter here fro mee; And say that earnestly I praye, He will ryde in my companie." 40 One while the little foot-page went, And another while he ran; Untill he came to his journeys end The little foot-page never blan. When to that gentleman he came, 45 Down he kneeled on his knee, And tooke the letter betwixt his hands, And lett the gentleman it see. And when the letter it was redd Affore that goodlye companye, 50 I-wis, if you the truthe wold know, There was many a weepynge eye. He sayd, "Come hither, Christopher Norton, A gallant youth thou seemst to bee; What doest thou counsell me, my sonne, Now that good erle's in jeopardy?" 55 "Father, my counselle's fair and free; That erle he is a noble lord, And whatsoever to him you hight, I wold not have you breake your word." 60 "Gramercy, Christopher, my sonne, Thy counsell well it liketh mee, And if we speed and scape with life, Well advanced shalt thou bee."