I have a cloak of scarlet red, Upon the ground I'll throwe it; Then, lady faire, come lay thy head; We'll play, and none shall knowe it. O yonder stands my steed so free Among the cocks of hay, sir, And if the pinner should chance to see, He'll take my steed away, sir. Upon my finger I have a ring, Its made of finest gold-a, And, lady, it thy steed shall bring Out of the pinner's fold-a. O go with me to my father's hall; Fair chambers there are three, sir: And you shall have the best of all, And I'll your chamberlaine bee, sir. He mounted himself on his steed so tall, And her on her dapple gray, sir: And there they rode to her father's hall, Fast pricking along the way, sir. To her father's hall they arrived strait; 'Twas moated round about-a; She slipped herself within the gate, And lockt the knight without-a. Here is a silver penny to spend, And take it for your pain, sir; And two of my father's men I'll send To wait on you back again, sir. He from his scabbard drew his brand, And wiped it upon his sleeve-a! And cursed, he said, be every man, That will a maid believe-a! She drew a bodkin from her haire, And wip'd it upon her gown-a; And curs'd be every maiden faire, That will with men lye down-a! A herb there is, that lowly grows, And some do call it rue, sir: The smallest dunghill cock that Would make a capon of you, sir. A flower there is, that shineth bright, Some call it mary-gold-a: He that wold not when he might, He shall not when he wold-a. The knight was riding another day, With cloak, and hat, and feather: He met again with that lady gay, Who was angling in the river. Now, lady faire, I've met with you, You shall no more escape me; Remember, how not long agoe You falsely did intrap me. He from his saddle down did light, In all his riche attyer; And cryed, As I'm a noble knight, I do thy charms admyer. He took the lady by the hand, Who seemingly consented; And would no more disputing stand: She had a plot invented. Looke yonder, good sir knight, I pray, Methinks I now discover A riding upon his dapple gray, My former constant lover. On tip-toe peering stood the knight, Past by the rivers brink-a; The lady pusht with all her might: Sir knight, now swim or sink-a. O'er head and ears he plunged in, The bottom faire he sounded; Then rising up, he cried amain, Help, helpe, or else I'm drownded! Now, fare-you-well, sir knight, adieu! You see what conies of fooling: That is the fittest place for you; Your courage wanted cooling. Ere many days, in her fathers park, Just at the close of eve-a, Again she met with her angry sparke; Which made this lady grieve-a. False lady, here thou'rt in my powre, And no one now can hear thee: And thou shalt sorely rue the hour That e'er thou dar'dst to jeer me. I pray, sir knight, be not so warm With a young silly maid-a: I vow and swear I thought no harm, 'Twas a gentle jest I playd-a.