Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 53
The next thinge that fhe Humbled on 105
It was fir Gyles his heade :
Sayes, Ever, alacke, and woe is me !
Heere lyes my true love deade.
Hee cutt the pappes befide her breft, '
And did her body fpille ;
He cutt the eares befide her heade,
And bade her love her fille.
no
He called then up his litle foot-page,
And made him there his heyre ;
And fayd henceforth my worldlye goodes 115
And countrye I forfweare.
He fhope the croffe on his right moulder,
Of the white ' clothe' and the redde*,
And went him into the holy land,
Whereas Chrift was quicke and deade. 120
Ver. 11S. fle/he. MS.
* Every per/on. who went on a Croisade to the Holy
Land, ufually wore a crofs on his upper garment, on the
right Jhoulder, as a badge of his profejjion. Different nations
were diftinguijhed by crojfes of different colours: The
Englijh wore white; the French red; &c. This circum-
fiance feems to be confotmded in the ballad. [Vide Spehnanni
Clofar. . Chambers Did. &f