Here's Dick Cromwell's Protectorship, And here are old Noll's brewing vessels, With diverse other odd things: To all these matters before ye? V. 94. See Grey's Hudibras, pt. 1. cant. ii. v. 570, &c. 95 100 105 V. 100, 102. Cromwell had in his younger years followed the brewing trade at Huntingdon. Col. Hewson is said to have been originally a cobbler. XV. The Baffled Knight, or Lady's Policy. Given (with some corrections) from a MS. copy, and collated with two printed ones in Roman character in the Pepys collection. THERE was a knight was drunk with wine, And there he met with a lady fine, "Shall you and I, O lady faire, Of rumpling of your gown-a? 'Upon the grass there is a dewe ?" Will spoil my damask gowne, sir; And cost me many a crowne, sir." 20 5 10 "I have a cloak of scarlet red, "O yonder stands my steed so free And if the pinner should chance to see, 15 20 "O go with me to my father's hall; 25 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, 30 To her father's hall they arrived strait; 'Twas moated round about-a; "A herb there is, that lowly grows, "A flower there is, that shineth bright, Some call it mary-gold-a; He that wold not when he might, The knight was riding another day, "Now, lady faire, I've met with you, You shall no more escape me; Remember, how not long agoe 50 55 60 "Looke yonder, good Sir Knight, I pray, Methinks I now discover, A riding upon his dapple gray, On tip-toe peering stood the knight, The lady pusht with all her might: 'Sir Knight, now swim or sink-a." 75 80 “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. 100 "Well then, if I must grant your suit, Yet think of your boots and spurs, sir: Let me pull off both spur and boot, 115 Or else you cannot stir, sir." He set him down upon the grass And begg'd her kind assistance; "Now," smiling thought this lovely lass, "I'll make you keep your distance." 120 Then pulling off his boots half-way: "Sir Knight, now I'm your betters ; You shall not make of me your prey; Sit there like a knave in fetters." The knight when she had served soe, He fretted, fum'd, and grumbled; 125 For he could neither stand nor goe, “Farewell, Sir Knight, the clock strikes ten, Yet do not move nor stir, sir; 130 I'll send you my father's serving men To pull off your boots and spurs, sir. "This merry jest you must excuse, You are but a stingless nettle; You'd never have stood for boots and shoes, All night in grievous rage he lay, Rolling upon the plain-a; Next morning a shepherd past that way, Who set him right again-a. Then mounting upon his steed so tall, By hill and dale he swore-a: “I'll ride at once to her father's hall; She shall escape no more-a. 135 140 "I'll take her father by the beard; 145 My wrath shall no more be hindred." He rode unto her father's house, Which every side was moated; The lady heard his furious vows, Thought shee," Sir Knight, to quench your rage, Once more I will endeavour; This water shall your fury 'swage, Or else it shall burn for ever." 150 155 ה |