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

ANCIENT SONGS
Then every knight,
That was in the king's court,
Talked, laughed, and fhowted 75
Full oft at that fport.
Shee threw downe the mantle,
That bright was of blee
Fall, with a red rudd,
To her chamber can ihe flee. Bo
Forth came an old knight
Pattering ore a creede,
And he preferred to this litle boy
Twenty markes to his meede ;
And all the time of the Chriftmafle 85
Willinglye to ffeede ;
For why this mantle might
Do his wiffe lome need.
When lhe had tane the mantle,
Of cloth that was made, 90
She had no more left on her,
But a taflel and a threed :
Then every knight in the kings court
Bade evill might fhee fpeed.
Shee threw downe the mantle, 95;
That bright was of blee ;
;
And