Page:Fisherman's garland, or, The cruel knight (2).pdf/5

 He spoke to the Goodman, and tinade him said,

If you will part with this pretty young Maid,

I’ll give you whatever your heart can desire,

For she in good time to great riches will rise.

The Fisherman answer'd with a model grace,

I cannot unless my dear wife was in place

Get first her consent, and you'd have it off me.

And than to go with you, good Sir, she is free.

He got his Wife’s leave & the girl, with a him went

But little they thought of his cruel interest;

He kept her a month very bravely they say,

And then he contrived to wake her away.

For he had a brother in fair Lancashire,

A noble rich man of two thousand a year;

He sent this young Damsel into him with speed,

Hoping he would act a most barbarous deed,

He sent a man with her, wife as they say,

But as they did lodge at an inn by the way,

A thief in the house with an evil intent;

To rob the portmanteau immediately went.

But the thief was amazed when he could not find

neither clothes, gold nor silver, and went to his mind

But only a letter and which her did read,

And he pet an end to this barbarous deed.

But he wrote to hit brother the very same day,

To put the young innocent maiden away.

With sword, or with poison, that very same night,

And not let her live till the next morning light,

When the thief read the letter he had so much grace

To tear it and write in the very same place,

“Dear brother, Receive this young maiden of me,

"And bring her well up as a maiden should be:

“Let her be concerned, dear Brother, I pray,

"Let servants attend her by night and by day,

“For she is a lady of noble great worth,

"No nobler Lady e’er liv’d in the North,