Francis James Child

“ But hanged shall Lord Phenix be.'
With that the lady fell in a swound,
For a grieved woman, God wot, was she;
Lord Phenix he was ready then
To take her up so hastily.
'O lady sweet, stand thou on thy feet,
Tom Pots alive this day may be;
I'le send for thy father, Lord Arundel,
And he and I the wedding will see.
'I'le send for thy father, Lord Arundel,
And he and I the wedding will see;
If he will not maintain you well,
Both lands and livings you'st have of me.'
'I'le see this wedding,' Lord Arundel said,
'Of my daughter's luck that is so fair ”

“ A spear or two with you I'le run,
Before I'le lose her cowardly.
'Appoint a place, I will thee meet,
Appoint a place of liberty;
For there I'le lose my life so sweet,
Or else my lady I'le set free.'
'On Guilford Green I will thee meet;
No man nor boy shall come with me:'
'As I am a man,' said Tommy Pots,
'I'le have as few in my company.'
And thus staid the marriage was,
The bride unmarried went home again ”

“ Sayes, I pray thee, Thomas, tell mee without all doubt,
Whether hast thou gotten the bonny ladye,
Or thou man gange the ladye withoute.
'Marry, master, yett that matter is vntryde;
Within two dayes tryed itt must bee;
He is a lord, and I am but a seruing-man,
I doubt I must loose her through pouertye.'
'Why, Thomas a Pott, take thou no care;
Thou'st neuer loose her through pouertye.
'Thou shalt haue halfe my land a yeere,
And that will raise thee many a pound;
Before thou shalt loose thy bonny ladye,
Thou shalt drop angells with him to the ground. ”

“ He hath more than deadlye wounds two or three;
Thou art mine owne ladye, he sayd,
And marryed together wee will bee.
The ladye said, If Thomas a Potts this day thou haue slaine,
Thou hast slaine a better man than euer was thee;
And I'le sell all the state of my lande
But thou'st be hanged on a gallow-tree.
With that they lady shee fell in a soone;
A greeued woman, I wott, was shee;
Lord Phenix hee was readye there,
Tooke her in his armes most hastilye.
'O Lord, sweete, and stand on thy feete,
This day Thomas a Pott aliue can bee ”

“ Of all my land Thomas a Pott shall be my heyre.'
'Now all my maids,' the ladye said,
'And ladyes of England, faire and free,
Looke you neuer change your old loue for no new,
Nor neuer change for no pouertye.
'Ffor I had a louer true of mine owne,
A seruing-man of a small degree;
Ffrom Thomas a Pott I'le turne his name,
And the Lord of Arrundale hee shall bee.'
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OF all the lords in Scotland fair,
And ladies that been so bright of blee,
There is a noble lady among them all,
And report of her you shall hear by me.
For of her beauty she is bright,
And of her colour very fair ”

“ With that the young lady fell down of her knee,
And trickling tears ran down her eye:
'As you are my father, and loves me dear,
My heart is set where it must be.
'On a serving-man which is so poor,
For all he hath is but pounds three ”

“ Then I shold gett her easilye.'
'Thou takes a foolish part,' the Lord Iockye sayd,
'And a foolish part thou takes on thee;
Thou shalt haue a better then euer he was,
Thatforty pounds cost more nor hee.'
'O master, those horsses beene wild and wicked,
And litle they can skill of the old traine;
Giffe I be out of my saddle cast,
They beene soe wild they'le neuer be tane againe. ”

“ He mist Lord Phenix bodye there,
But he run him quite throw the brawne of the arme.
And he bore him quite out of his saddle faire;
Vpon the ground there did he lye;
He said, I pray thee, Lord Phenix, rise and fight,
Or else yeeld this ladye sweete to mee.
'To fight with thee,' quoth Phenix, 'I cannott stand.
Nor for to fight, I cannott, sure ”