Craddocke call’d forth his ladye And bade her come in; Saith, ‘Winne this mantle, ladye, With a little dinne[170]. XXVI ‘Winne this mantle, ladye, And it shal be thine If thou never did amisse Since thou wast mine.’ XXVII Forth came Craddocke’s ladye Shortlye and anon, But boldlye to the mantle Then is shee gone. XXVIII When she had tane the mantle And cast it her about, Up at her great toe It began to crinkle and crowt[171]: Shee said, ‘Bowe downe, mantle, And shame me not for nought. XXIX ‘Once I did amisse, I tell you certainlye, When Craddocke’s mouth I kist Under a greenè tree; When I kist Craddocke’s mouth Before he marryed mee.’ XXX When shee had her shreeven[172] And her sinnes shee had tolde, The mantle stood about her Right as she wo’ld; XXXI Seemelye of coulour, Glittering like gold Then every knight in Arthur’s court Did her behold. * * * * * XXXII The little Boy stoode Looking over a dore; [There as he look’d He was ware of a wyld bore.] XXXIII He was ware of a wyld bore Wo’ld have werryed[173] a man: He pull’d forth a wood-kniffe Fast thither that he ran: He brought in the bore’s head And quitted him like a man. XXXIV He brought in the bore’s head, And was wonderous bold; He said there was never a cuckold’s kniffe Carve itt that co’ld. XXXV Some rubb’d their knives Uppon a whetstone; Some threw them under the table, And said they had none. XXXVI King Arthur and the child Stood looking them upon; All their knives’ edges Turnèd backe againe. XXXVII Craddocke had a litle kniffe Of iron and of steele; He birtled[174] the bore’s head Wonderous weale, That every knight in the King’s court Had a morssell. XXXVIII The litle Boy had a horne, Of red gold that ronge[175]; He said, ‘There was noe cuckolde Shall drinke of my horne, But he sho’ld itt sheede[176] Either behind or beforne.’ XXXIX Some shedd it on their shoulder And some on their knee; He that co’ld not hitt his mouth Put it in his e’e; And he that was a cuckold Every man might him see. XL Craddocke wan the horne And the bore’s head; His ladye wan the mantle Unto her meede; Everye such a lovely ladye God send her well to speede! FOOTNOTES: [156] co’ld = could, knew. [157] bedone = adorned. [158] hett = bid. [159] potener = pouch, purse. [160] care = bethink him. [161] bed = bid, offered. [162] new fangle = capricious. [163] gaule = gules, red. [164] wadded = of woad colour, blue. [165] blee = hue. [166] can = did. [167] walker = fuller. [168] rudd = complexion.