176. This stanza is restored from a quotation of this ballad in Selden's _Titles of Honour_, who produces it as a good authority to prove, that one mode of creating Esquires at that time, was by the imposition of a collar. His words are, "Nor is that old pamphlet of the Tanner of Tamworth and King Edward the Fourth so contemptible, but that wee may thence note also an observable passage, wherein the use of making Esquires, by giving collars, is expressed." (Sub. Tit. Esquire; & vide in Spelmanni _Glossar. Armiger._) This form of creating Esquires actually exists at this day among the Sergeants at Arms, who are invested with a collar (which they wear on Collar Days) by the King himself. This information I owe to Samuel Pegge, Esq., to whom the public is indebted for that curious work, the _Curialia_, 4to.--PERCY. THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD. "The following is printed, with corrections from the Editor's folio MS. collated with an old black-letter copy in the Pepys collection, entitled _A pleasant ballad of King Henry II. and the Miller of Mansfield, &c._"--PERCY's _Reliques_, iii. 22. Other copies, slightly different, in _A Collection of Old Ballads_, i. 53, and Ritson's _Ancient Songs_, ii. 173. PART THE FIRST. Henry, our royall king, would ride a hunting To the greene forest so pleasant and faire; To see the harts skipping, and dainty does tripping, Unto merry Sherwood his nobles repaire: Hawke and hound were unbound, all things prepar'd 5 For the game, in the same, with good regard. All a long summers day rode the king pleasantlye, With all his princes and nobles eche one; Chasing the hart and hind, and the bucke gallantlye, Till the dark evening forc'd all to turne home. 10 Then at last, riding fast, he had lost quite All his lords in the wood, late in the night. Wandering thus wearilye, all alone, up and downe, With a rude miller he mett at the last; Asking the ready way unto faire Nottingham, 15 "Sir," quoth the miller, "I meane not to jest, Yet I thinke, what I thinke, sooth for to say; You doe not lightlye ride out of your way." "Why, what dost thou think of me," quoth our king merrily, "Passing thy judgment upon me so briefe?" 20 "Good faith," sayd the miller, "I mean not to flatter thee, I guess thee to bee but some gentleman thiefe; Stand thee backe, in the darke; light not adowne, Lest that I presentlye crack thy knaves crowne." "Thou dost abuse me much," quoth the king, "saying thus; 25 I am a gentleman; lodging I lacke." "Thou hast not," quoth th' miller, "one groat in thy purse; All thy inheritance hanges on thy backe." "I have gold to discharge all that I call; If it be forty pence, I will pay all." 30