Where ye wull ne'er get nane, For I did get that very rose-water Into my mithers wame." The bride she drew a long bodkin Frae out her gay head-gear, And strake fair Annet unto the heart, That word spak never mair. Lord Thomas he saw fair Annet wax pale, And marvelit what mote be: (_Wame_, womb.) But whan he saw her dear heart's blude, A' wood-wroth wexed he. He drew his dagger, that was sae sharp, That was sae sharp and meet, And drave it into the nut-brown bride, That fell dead at his feet. [Illustration: 0103] "Now stay for me, dear Annet," he said, "Now stay, my dear," he cried; Then strake the dagger until his heart, And fell dead by her side. Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-wa', Fair Annet within the choir; And o' the tane there grew a birk, The other a bonny briar. And ay they grew, and ay they threw, As they wad fain be near; And by this ye may ken right well, They were twa lovers dear. (_birk_, birch. _threw_, throve.) LEOFFRICUS |Leoffricus the noble earl, Of Chester, as I read, Did for the city of Coventry Many a noble deed; Great privileges for the town This nobleman did get, Of all things did make it so, That they toll free did sit, Save only that for horses still They did some custom pay, Which was great charges to the town Full long and many a day. Wherefore his wife, Godiva fair, Did of the earl request, That therefore he would make it free As well as all the rest. And when the lady long had sued, Her purpose to obtain, At last her noble Lord she took Within a pleasant vein, And unto him with smiling cheer She did forthwith proceed, Intreating greatly that he would Perform that godly deed. "You move me much, fair dame," quoth he; "Your suit I fain would shun; But what would you perform and do, To have the matter done?" "Why, anything, my lord," quoth she, "You will with reason crave, I will perform it with goodwill If I my wish may have." "If thou wilt grant one thing," he said, "Which I shall now require, So soon as it is finished, Thou shalt have thy desire." "Command what you think good, my lord; I will thereto agree On that condition, that this town In all things may be free." "If thou wilt strip thy clothes off, And here wilt lay them down, And at noonday on horseback ride, Stark naked through the town, They shall be free for evermore. If thou wilt not do so, More liberty than now they have I never will bestow." The lady at this strange demand Was much abashed in mind; And yet for to fulfil this thing She ne'er a whit repined. Wherefore to all the officers Of all the town she sent, That they perceiving her good will Which for their weal was bent, That on the day that she should ride,