Percy’s ballad is translated by Bodmer, I, 172. * * * * * 1 In summer time, when leaves grew green, and birds were singing on every tree, King Edward would a hunting ride, some pastime for to see. 2 Our king he would a hunting ride, by eight a clock of the day, And well was he ware of a bold tanner, came riding on the way. 3 A good russet coat the tanner had on, fast buttoned under his chin, And under him a good cow-hide, and a mare of four shilling. 4 ‘Now stand you here, my good lords all, under this trusty tree, And I will wend to yonder fellow, to know from whence came he. 5 ‘God speed, God speed,’ then said our king; ‘thou art welcome, good fellow,’ quoth he; ‘Which is the way to Drayton Basset I pray thee shew to me.’ 6 ‘The ready way to Drayton Basset, from this place as thou dost stand, The next pair of gallows thou comst to thou must turn up [on] thy right hand.’ 7 ‘That is not the way,’ then said our king, ‘the ready way I pray thee shew me;’ ‘Whether thou be thief or true man,’ quoth the tanner, ‘I’m weary of thy company. 8 ‘Away, with a vengeance,’ quoth the tanner, ‘I hold thee out of thy wit, For all this day have I ridden and gone, And I am fasting yet.’ 9 ‘Go with me to Drayton Basset,’ said our king, ‘no daintyes we will lack; We’l have meat and drink of the best, And I will pay the shot.’ 10 ‘Godamercy for nothing,’ said the tanner, ‘thou shalt pay for no dinner of mine; I have more groats and nobles in my purse then thou hast pence in thine.’ 11 ‘God save your goods,’ then said the king, ‘and send them well to thee!’ ‘Be thou thief or true man,’ quoth the tanner, ‘I am weary of thy company. 12 ‘Away, with a vengeance,’ quoth the tanner, ‘of thee I stand in fear; The aparrell thou wearst on thy back May seem a good lord to wear.’ 13 ‘I never stole them,’ said our king, ‘I swear to thee by the rood;’ ‘Thou art some ruffian of the country, thou rid’st in the midst of thy good.’ 14 ‘What news dost thou hear?’ then said our king, ‘I pray what news do you hear?’ ‘I hear no news,’ answered the tanner, ‘but that cow-hides be dear.’ 15 ‘Cow-hides? cow-hides?’ then said our king, ‘I marvell what they be;’ ‘Why, art thou a fool?’ quoth the tanner, ‘look, I have one under me.’ 16 ‘Yet one thing now I would thee pray, so that thou wouldst not be strange; If thy mare be better then my steed, I pray thee let us change.’ 17 ‘But if you needs with me will change, As change full well may ye, By the faith of my body,’ quoth the tanner, ‘I look to have boot of thee.’