* * * * * #A# is translated, according to Percy's Reliques, by Bothe, p. 175, and by Knortz, Lieder u. Romanzen Altenglands, No 68; #B# by Gerhard, p. 71. The old Danish ballad, Grundtvig's #A#, by Dr Prior, I, 151. A Percy MS., p. 68; Hales and Furnivall, I, 166. 1 Our king he kept a ffalse steward, Men called him S_i_r Aldingar, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 He wold haue layen by our comely queene, Her deere worshipp to haue betraide; Our queene shee was a good woman, And euer more said him nay. 3 Aldingar was offended in his mind, W_i_th her hee was neuer content, But he sought what meanes he cold find out, In a fyer to haue her brent. 4 There came a lame lazer to the k_ing_s gates, A lazar was blind and lame; He tooke the lazar vpon his backe, Vpon the queenes bed he did him lay. 5 He said, Lye still, lazar, wheras thou lyest; Looke thou goe not away; Ile make thee a whole man and a sound In two howres of a day. 6 And then went forth S_i_r Aldingar, Our queene for to betray, And then he mett w_i_th our comlye k_ing_, Saies, God you saue and see! 7 'If I had space, as I haue grace, A message I wold say to thee.' 'Say on, say on, S_i_r Aldingar, Say thou on and vnto me.' 8 'I can let you now see one of [the] greiuos[est] sights _Tha_t euer Christen k_ing_ did see; Our queene hath chosen a new, new loue, She will haue none of thee. 9 'If shee had chosen a right good k_nigh_t, The lesse had beene her shame; But she hath chosen a lazar man, W_hi_ch is both blinde and lame.' 10 'If this be true, thou Aldingar, _Tha_t thou dost tell to me, Then will I make thee a rich k_nigh_t Both of gold and fee. 11 'But if it be false, S_i_r Aldingar, That thou doest tell to me, Then looke for noe other death But to be hangd on a tree. Goe w_i_th me,' saide our comly k_ing_, 'This lazar for to see.' 12 When the k_ing_ he came into the queenes chamber, Standing her bed befor, 'There is a lodly lome,' says Harry K_ing_, 'For our dame Queene Elinor! 13 'If thou were a man, as thou art none, Here thou sholdest be slaine; But a paire of new gallowes shall be built, Thoust hang on them soe hye. 14 'And [a] fayre fyer there shalbe bett, And brent our queene shalbee:' Fforth then walked our comlye k_ing_, And mett w_i_th our comly queene. 15 Saies, God you saue, our queene, Madam, And Christ you saue and see! Heere you [haue] chosen a new, new loue, And you will haue none of mee.