Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

186 MINSTIIELSY OF
Ladyes that were gret of grc,
Sat and sang of rich aray.
Thomas sawe much more iu that place,
Than I can descryve,
Til on a day, alas, alas,
My lovely e ladye sayd to me.
Busk ye, Thomas, you must agayn,
Here you may no longer be :
Hy then zerne that you were at hame,
I sal ye bryng to Eldyn Tre.
Thomas answerd with heuy cher.
And said, Lowcly ladye, lat me be.
For I say ye certenly here
Haf I be bot the space of dayes three.
Sothely, Thomas, as I telle ye.
You hath ben liere thre yeres.
And here you may no longer be ;
And I sal tele ye a skcle,
To-morowe of helle ye foule fende
Amang our folke shall diuse his fee ;
For you art a larg man and an hende,
Trowe you wele he will chuse thee.
Fore all the golde that may be.
Fro hens unto the worldes ende.
Sail you not be betrayed by me.
And thairfor sail you hens wende.
She broght hym evyn to Eldyn Tre,
Uiidir nethe the grene wode spray,
?n Huntle bankes was fayr to be,
Ther breddes syng both nyzt and day.
Ferre ouyr yon montayns gray,
Ther hathe my facon ;
Fare wele, Thomas, 1 wende my way.
QTho Elfin Queen, after restoring Thomas to carili, pours
forth a string of prophecies, in which \vc distinguish references
to the events and personages of the Scottish wars of Edward