2 All a longe sum_m_ers day rode the k_ing_ pleasantlye, W_i_th all his princes and nobles eche one, Chasing the hart and hind and the bucke gallantlye, Till the darke euening inforced them turne home. Then at last, ryding fast, he had lost quite All his lords in the wood in the darke night. 3 Wandering thus wearilye, all alone vp and downe, W_i_th a rude miller he mett att the last; Asking the ready way vnto fayre Nottingham, ‘S_i_r,’ q_uo_th the miller, ‘I meane not to iest, Yett I thinke what I thinke; truth for to say, You doe not lightlye goe out of yo_u_r way.’ 4 ‘Why, what dost thou thinke of me?’ q_uo_th our k_ing_ merrily, ‘Passing thy iudgment vpon me soe breefe.’ ‘Good faith,’ q_uo_th the miller, ‘I meane not to flatter thee, I gesse thee to bee some gentleman-theefe; Stand thee backe in the darke! light not adowne, Lest I p_re_sentlye cracke thy knaues cro[wn]e!’ 5 ‘Thou doest abuse me much,’ q_uo_th our k_ing_, ‘saying thus; I am a gentleman, and lodging doe lacke.’ ‘Thou hast not,’ q_uo_th the miller, ‘a groat in thy pursse; All thine inheritance hanges on thy backe.’ ‘I haue gold to discharge for _tha_t I call; If itt be forty pence, I will pay all.’ 6 ‘If thou beest a true man,’ then said the miller, ‘I sweare by my tole-dish I’le lodge thee all night.’ ‘Heere’s my hand,’ q_uo_th our k_ing_, ‘_tha_t was I eu_er_.’ ‘Nay, soft,’ q_uo_th the miller, ‘thou mayst be a sprite; Better I’le know thee ere hands I will shake; W_i_th none but honest men hands will I take.’ 7 Thus they went all alonge unto the millers house, Where they were seething of puddings and souce. The miller first entered in, then after went the k_ing_; Neu_er_ came he in soe smoakye a house. ‘Now,’ q_uo_th hee, ‘let me see heere what you are;’ Q_uo_th our k_ing_, Looke you[r] fill, and doe not spare. 8 ‘I like well thy countenance; thou hast an honest fac[e]; With my sonne Richard this night thou shalt lye.’ Q_uo_th his wiffe, By my troth, it is a good hansome yout[h]; Yet it is best, husband, to deale warrilye. Art thou not a runaway? I pray thee, youth, tell; Show vs thy pasport and all shalbe well. 9 Then our k_ing_ p_re_sentlye, making lowe curtesie, W_i_th his hatt in his hand, this he did say: I haue noe pasport, nor neu_er_ was seruitor, But a poore courtyer, rode out of the way; And for yo_u_r kindnesse now offered to me, I will requite it in eu_er_ye degree. 10 Then to the miller his wiffe whisp_er_ed secretlye, Saing, It seemeth the youth is of good kin, Both by his apparell and by his manners; To turne him out, certainely it were a great sin. ‘Yea,’ q_uo_th hee, ‘you may see hee hath some grace, When as he speaks to his betters in place.’