‘I tak’ ye to witness, nobles a’!’ --He cast him a God’s pennye[508]-- ‘I will buy them twenty pound better cheap Nor ever he bought of me.’ XXIX He’s done him to the gaming-table, For it stood fair and clean; And there he’s tould as much rich gold As free’d the lands o’ Linne. XXX He told the gold there over the board, Wanted never a broad pennye; ‘The gold is thine, the land is mine, Lord o’ Linne again I’ll be.’ XXXI ‘Well-a-day!’ said John o’ the Scales’ wife, ‘Well-a-day, and woe is me! Yesterday I was the Lady o’ Linne, And now I’m a naebodye!’ XXXII But ‘Fare thee well,’ said the heir of Linne, ‘Now John o’ the Scales!’ said he: ‘A curse light on me if ever again My lands be in jeopardye!’ FOOTNOTES: [502] well-faur’d = well favoured. [503] yetts = gates. [504] causey = causeway, pavement. [505] blin = stint, check. [506] sheave = slice. [507] in fere = together. [508] God’s pennye = earnest or luck-penny. _81. Fair Mary of Wallington_ I When we were silly sisters seven, --Sisters were so fair,-- Five of us were brave knights’ wives, And died in childbed lair[509]. II Up then spake Fair Mary, Marry wou’d she nane; If ever she came in man’s bed, The same gate[510] wad she gang. III ‘Make no vows, Fair Mary, For fear they broken be; Here’s been the Knight of Wallington, Asking good will of thee.’-- IV ‘If here’s been the knight, mother, Asking good will of me, Within three quarters of a year You may come bury me.’ V But when she came to Wallington, And into Wallington hall, There she spy’d her [lord’s] mother, Walking about the wall. VI ‘You’re welcome, welcome, daughter dear, To thy castle and thy bowers.’-- ‘I thank you kindly, mother, I hope they’ll soon be yours.’ VII She had not been in Wallington Three quarters and a day, Till upon the ground she could not walk, She was a weary prey. VIII She had not been in Wallington Three quarters and a night, Till on the ground she could not walk, She was a weary wight. IX ‘Is there ne’er a boy into this town, Who’ll win him hose and shoon, That will run to fair Paddington, And bid my mother come?’ X Up then spake a little boy, Near unto her a-kin: ‘Full oft I have your errands gone, But now I will it run.’ XI Then she call’d her waiting-maid To bring up bread and wine: ‘Eat and drink, my bonny boy, Thou’ll ne’er eat more of mine. XII ‘Give my respects to my mother, She sits in her chair of stone, And ask her how she likes the news, Of seven to have but one? XIII