Then to their supper were they set orderlye, With hot bag-puddings, and good apple-pyes; Nappy ale, good and stale, in a browne bowle, Which did about the board merrilye trowle. 75 80 Here, quoth the miller, good fellowe, I drinke to thee, And here, in like manner, I drinke to thy sonne. Wife, quoth the miller, fetch me forth lightfoote, I wis, quoth Richard, no daintye at all it is, 85 90 In what place, sayd our king, may be bought like to this? ; 95 Then I thinke, sayd our king, that it is venison. Ver. 80. courtnalls, that courteous be. MS. and P. Never are wee without two or three in the roof, 100 We would not, for two pence, the king should it knowe. Doubt not, then sayd the king, my promist secresye; The king shall never know more on't for mee. cupp of lambs-wool they dranke unto him then, 105 And to their bedds they past presentlie. The nobles, next morning, went all up and down, 110 At last, at the millers 'cott,' soone they espy'd him out, The king perceiving him fearfully trembling, Drew forth his sword, but nothing he' sed: But he his kind courtesye for to requite,. 115 Gave him great living, and dubb'd him a knight. 120 PART W PART THE SECONDE. HEN as our royall king came home from Nottingham, And with his nobles at Westminster lay; Recounting the sports and pastimes they had taken, In this late progress along on the way; And now, my lords, quoth the king, I am determined Against St. Georges next sumptuous feast, That this old miller, our new confirm'd knight, 5 With his son Richard, shall here be my guest : 10 For, in this merryment, 'tis my desire To talke with the jolly knight, and the young squire. When as the noble lords saw the kinges pleasantness, They were right joyfull and glad in their hearts: A pursuivant there was sent straighte on the business, 15 The which had often-times been in those parts. When he came to the place, where they did dwell, His message orderlye then 'gan he tell. 20 God save your worshippe, then said the messenger, Therfore, Therfore, in any case, faile not to be in place. 25 30 Then sayd the miller, By my troth, messenger, The pursuivant smiled at their simplicitye, To the kings court againe he repair'd; When he was gone away, thus gan the miller say, 35 401 Now must we needs be brave, tho' we spend all we have; Of horses and serving-men we must have store, 46 Tushe, sir John, quoth his wife, why should you frett, or You shall ne'er be att no charges for mee; [frowne? For For I will turne and trim up my old russet gowne, 51 With everye thing else as fine as may bee; In this most statelye sort, rode they unto the court, 55 The merry old miller with hands on his side; The king and his nobles that heard of their coming, Good sir John Cockle, once welcome againe : Quoth our king gentlye, how should I forget thee? 65 70 Thou with thy farting didst make the bed hot. Thou whore-son unhappy knave, then quoth the knight, Speake cleanly to our king, or else go sh***. Ver. 57. for good hap: i. e. for good luck; they were going on an hazardous expedition. Ver. 60. Maid Marian in the Morris dance, was represented by a man in woman's clothes, who was to take short steps in order to sustain the female character. The |