The fisherman was one day at an inn, And several gentlemen drinking with him: His wife sent this girl to call her husband home, But when she did into the drinking room come, The gentlemen they were amazed to see The fisherman’s daughter so full of beauty. They ask’d him if she was his own, And he told them the story before he went home: ‘As I was fishing within my bound, One Monday morning this sweet babe I found; Or else she had lain within a watery grave;’ And this was the same which now he gave. The cruel Knight was in the company, And hearing the fisherman tell his story, He was vexed at the heart to see her alive, And how to destroy her again did contrive, Then spake the Knight, and unto him said, ‘If you will but part with this sweet maid I’ll give you whatever your heart can devise, For she in time to great riches may rise.’ The fisherman answered, with a modest grace, ‘I cannot unless my dear wife were in the place, Get first her consent, you shall have mine of me, And then to go with you, sir, she is free.’ The wife she did also as freely consent, But little they thought of his cruel intent; He kept her a month very bravely they say, And then he contrived to send them away. He had a great brother in fair Lancashire, A noble rich man worth ten thousand a year, And he sent this girl unto him with speed In hopes he would act a most desperate deed. He sent a man with her likewise they say, And as they did lodge at an inn on the way, A thief in the house with an evil intent For to rob the portmanteau immediately went, But the thief was amazed, when he could not find Either silver or gold, or aught to his mind, But only a letter the which he did read And soon put an end to this tragical deed: The Knight had wrote to his brother that day, To take this poor innocent damsel away, With sword or with poison that very same night, And not let her live till morning light. The thief read the letter, and had so much grace To tear it, and write in the same place, ‘Dear brother, receive this maiden from me, And bring her up well as a maiden should be; Let her be esteem’d, dear brother, I pray, Let servants attend her by night and by day. For she is a lady of noble worth, A nobler lady ne’er lived in the north; Let her have good learning, dear brother, I pray, And for the same I will sufficiently pay; And so, loving brother, this letter I send, Subscribing myself your dear brother and friend.’ The servant and maid were still innocent, And onward their journey next day they went. Before sunset to the Knight’s house they came Where the servant left her, and came home again. The girl was attended most nobly indeed, With the servants to attend to her with speed; Where she did continue a twelvemonth’s space, Till this cruel Knight came to this place, As he and his brother together did talk,