An old story, often referred to, e. g. in Skelton's _Colyn Cloute_, v. 879. The ballad is found in various collections in the British Museum, and is cited in part from one of these, in Dyce's note to the passage in Skelton. There is a Scottish version in Kinloch's _Ballad Book_, p. 25. The following is from Durfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_, iii. 325 (_The Fryer and the Maid_), but as that copy is abridged, we have supplied the omitted stanzas from Chappell's _Popular Music_, p. 273. As I lay musing all alone, A merry tale I thought upon; Now listen a while, and I will you tell Of a fryer that loved a bonny lass well. He came to her when she was going to bed, 5 Desiring to have her maidenhead; But she denyed his desire, And said that she did fear hell-fire. "Tush, tush," quoth the fryer, "thou needst not doubt, If thou wert in hell, I could sing thee out:" 10 "Why then," quoth the maid, "thou shalt have thy request;" The fryer was as glad as a fox in his nest. "But one thing more I must require,[L13] More than to sing me out of hell-fire; That is, for doing of the thing, 15 An angel of money you must me bring." "Tush, tush," quoth the fryer, "we two shall agree; No money shall part thee, [my love,] and me; Before thy company I will lack, I'll pawn the grey gown off my back." 20 The maid bethought her on a wile, How she might this fryer beguile. When he was gone, the truth to tell, She hung a cloth before a well. The fryer came, as his bargain was, 25 With money unto his bonny lass; "Good morrow, fair maid;" "Good morrow," quoth she; "Here is the money I promis'd thee." She thank'd him, and she took the money: "Now lets go to't, my own dear honey:" 30 "Nay, stay awhile, some respite make; If my master should come, he would us take." "Alas!" quoth the maid, "my master doth come." "Alas!" quoth the fryer, "where shall I run?" "Behind yon cloth run thou," quoth she, 35 "For there my master cannot see." Behind the cloth the fryer went, And was in the well incontinent. "Alas!" quoth he, "I'm in the well;" "No matter," quoth she, "if thou wert in hell. 40 "Thou saidst thou could sing me out of hell: I prithee sing thyself out of the well. Sing out," quoth she, "with all thy might, Or else thou'rt like to sing there all night." The fryer sang out with a pitiful sound, 45 "O help me out, or I shall be drown'd." ["I trow," quoth she, "your courage is cool'd;" Quoth the fryer, "I never was so fool'd. "I never was served so before;" "Then take heed," quoth she, "thou com'st here no more." 50