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

AND BALLADS. 73
Now Chrift you fave, my gracious liege,
Now Chrift you fave and fee,
You have a knighte within your courte
This daye hath robbed mee. 40
What hath he robbed thee of, fweet heart ?
Of purple or of pall ?
Or hath he took thy gaye gold ring
From off thy finger fmall ?
He hath not robbed mee, my leige,
Of purple nor of pall
But he hath gotten my maiden head,
Which grieves mee worft of all.
Now if he be a batchelor,
His bodye He give to thee
But if he be a married man,
High hanged hee mall bee.
He called downe his merrye men all,
By one, by two, by three ;
:
Sir William ufed to bee the firft, 55
But nowe the laft came hee.
Ver. 50. His bodye He give to thee. J ftbis tvas agreeable to the
feudal cujicms : The Lord bad a right to give a ivife to his •vafjals* See
Shakefpeare's, " AWs ivdl, that ends luell"
;
45
50
He