A DLATTS : parke is wyde and broad,
& grasse growes greene in our countrye;
eche man can gett the loue of his Ladye,
but alas, I can gett none of mine!
itts by 2 men I sing my song,
their names is w i ll iam Stewart and Iohn:
will iam he is the Elder brother,
but Iohn hee is the wiser man!
but will iam he is in carebed Layd,
& for the loue of a ffaire Ladye;
If he haue not the loue of the Erle of Mars daughter,
in ffaith ffor loue tha t he must dye
then Iohn was sorry ffor his brother,
to see him lye and languish soe:
" what doe you mourne for, brother? " he saies,
" I pray you tell to me yo u r woe.
" doe [you] mourne for gold, brother? " he saies,
" or doe you mourne ffor ffee?
or doe you mourne for a like-some Ladye
you neuer saw her w i th yo u r eye? "
" I doe not mourne for gold, " he saies.
" nor I doe not mourne for any ffee;
but I doe mourne for a likesome Ladye,
I neere blinke on her w i th mine eye. "
" but when haruest is gotten, my deere brother, —
all this is true tha t I tell thee, —
gentlemen, they loue hunting well,
& giue wight men their cloth & ffee;
" then Ile goe a wooing ffor thy sake
in all the speed tha t I can gone,
& for to see this Likesome Ladye,
& hope to send thee good tydings home. "
Iohn Stewart is gone a wooing for his brother
soe ffarr into ffaire Scottland,
& left his brother in mikle ffeare
vntill he heard the good tydand
& when he came to the Erle of Mars his house,
soe well he could his curtesye,
& when he came before the Erle,
he kneeled Low downe vpon his knee.
" O rise vp, rise vp, Iohn Steward!
rise vp, now, I doe bidd thee;
how doth thy ffather, Iohn Stewart,
& all the Lords in his countrye? "
" & itt please you, my Lo rd , my ffather is dead,
my brother & I cannott agree,
my brother & I am ffallen att discord,
& I am come to craue a service of thee. "
" O Welcome, welcome, Iohn Stewart!
a welcome man thou art to me!
He make thee chamberlaine to my daughter,
& ffor to tend of tha t Ladye soe ffree.
" & if thou wilt haue a better office,
aske, and thou shall haue itt of mee;
& where I giue other men a penny of wage,
inffaith, Iohn, thou shalt haue 3. "
& then bespake him Iohn Stewart,
& these were the words said hee,
" there is no office in yo u r Court
this day tha t better pleaseth mee "
the ffryday is gone, the sunday is come, —
all this is true tha t I doe say, —
& to the church that they be gone,
Iohn Stewart & the Lady gay;
& as they did come home againe,
I-wis itt was a meeten mile,
Iohn Stewart & the Lady gay,
they thought itt but a [little] while
" I am a messenger, Ladye, " he saies,
" I am a messenger to thee. "
" O speake ffor thy selfe, Iohn Stewart, " shee saies,
" a welcome man tha t thou shalt bee! "
" Nay, by my ffaith, " saies Iohn Stewart,
" w hi ch euer, alas, tha t may not bee!
he hath a higher degree in honour,
allas, Ladye, then euer I!
" he is a Lo rd now borne by birth,
& an Erle affter his ffather doth dye;
his haire is yellow, his eyes beene gray;
all this is true tha t I tell yee.
" he is ffine in the middle, & small in the wast,
& pleasant in a womans eye;
& more nor this, he dyes for yo u r Louc,
Therfore, Lady, show some pittye. "
" If this be soe, " then saies the Lady,
" If this be true tha t thou tells mee,
by my ffaith then, Iohn Stewart,
I can loue him hartilye.
" bidd him meete me att S t Patr[i]ckes Church
on sunday after S t Andrews day;
the fflower of Scottland will be there,
& then begins our summers play
" & bidd him bring w i th him a 100 gunners,
& rawnke ryders lett them bee,
& lett them bee of the rankest ryders
tha t be to be ffound in tha t countrye
" they best & worst, & all in Like,
bidd him cloth them in one Liuerye;
& ffor his men, greene is the best,
& greene now lett their liueryes bee;
" & clothe himselfe in scarlett redd,
tha t is soe seemlye ffor to see;
ffor scarlett is a ffaire Couloui,
& pleasant allwayes in a womans eye.
" he must play sixteene games att ball
against the men of this countrye,
& if he winn the greater p ar t
then I shall [Love] him more tenderlye. "
what the Lady said, Iohn Stewart writt,
& to Argyle Castle sent it hee;
& [when] Willie steward saw the letter,
fforth of care-bed then Lope hee.
hee mustered together his merry men all,
hee mustered them soe louelilye,
hee thought hee had had scarson halfe a 100 d
then had hee 11 score and three.
he chose fforth a 100 of the best
tha t were to be ffound in tha t countrye,
he cladd them all in one Coulour,
& greene I-wis their liueryes bee.
he cladd himselfe in scarlett redd,
tha t is soe seemelye ffor to see; —
ffor scarlett is a ffaire coulor,
& seemlye in a womans eye; —
& then towards Patricke Church he went
with all his men in braue array,
to gett a sight, if he might,
& speake w i th his Lady gay.
when they came to Patrickes churche,
shee kneeled downe by her mother trulye:
" O Mother, if itt please you to giue me leaue,
the stewarts horsse ffaine wold I see. "
" Ile giue you leaue, my deere daughter,
& I and my maide will goe w i th yee: "
the Lady had rather haue gone her selfe,
then haue had her mothers companye.
when they came before Willie Steward,
soe well hee cold his curtesye,
" I wold kisse yo u r daughter, Ladye, " he said,
" & if yo u r will tha t soe itt bee. "
the Ladyes mother was content
to doe a straunger tha t curtesye;
& when willie had gotten a kisse,
I-wis shee might haue teemed him 3.
16 games were plaid tha t day there, —
this is the truth as I doe say, —
willie stewart & his merry men,
the carryed 12 of them away.
& when they games tha t they were done,
& all they ffolkes away were gone
but the Erle of Marrs & Will iam Stewart,
& the Erle wold needs haue Will iam home.
& when they came vnto the Erles howse,
they walked to a garden greene;
ffor to confferr of their bussines,
into the garden they be gone.
" I loue yo u r daughter, " saies will iam stewart,
" but I cannott tell whether she loueth mee "
" Marry, god defend, " saies the Erle of March,
" tha t euer soe tha t itt shold bee!
" I had rather a gallowes there was made,
& hange thee ffor my daughters sake;
I had rather a ffyer were made att a stake,
& burne thee ffor my daughters sake!
" to chamber, to chamber, gay Ladye, " he saies,
" in the deuills name now I bidd thee!
& thou gett thee not to the Chamber soone
Ile beate thee before the stewarts eye "
& then bespake will iam stewart,
these were the words said hee,
" if thou beate thy daughter for my sake,
thoust beate a 100 d men and mee. "
then bespake Iohn stewart, —
Lo rd ! an angry man was hee, —
" O Churle, if thou wouldest not haue macht w i th my brother,
thou might haue answerd him curteouslye. "
" O hold thy peace, Iohn Stewart,
& chamber thy words now, I bidd thee;
if thou chamber not thy words soone,
thoust loose a good service; soe shalt thou doe me. "
" Marry! hang them tha t cares, " saies Iohn Stewart,
" either ffor thy service or ffor thee!
services can I haue enoughe,
but brethren wee must euer bee. "
will iam Stewart & his brother Iohn,
to Argyle Castle gon they bee;
& when willye came to Argyle Castle,
into carebedd then lope hee.
A Parlaiment att Edenborrow was made,
the K ing & his Nobles all mett there;
the sent ffor will iam stewart & Iohn,
to come amongst the other peeres
their clothing was of scarlett redd,
tha t was soe seemelye ffor to see;
blacke hatts, white ffeathers plewed w i th gold,
& sett all on their heads trulye.
their stockings were of twisted silke,
w i th garters ffringed about w i th gold,
their shoes were of the Cordevine,
& all was comelye to behold.
& when they came to Edenborrowe,
they called ffor Iohn Stew art & Willie:
I answer in A L ord s roome, " saies will Stewart,
" but an Erle I hope to bee. "
" come downe, come downe, " saies the Lo rd of Mars,
" I knew not what was thy degree. "
" O churle, if I might not haue macht w i th thy daughter,
itt had not beene long of my degree.
" my ffather, hee is the K ing his brother,
& then the K ing is vnckle to me;
O Churle, if I might not haue macht w i th thy daughter,
itt had not beene long of my degree. "
" O hold yo u r peace, " then sayd the K ing ,
" Cozen william, I doe bidd thee;
infaith, Cozen will iam , he loues you the worsse
because you are a-kinn to mee
" Ile make thee an Erle w i th a siluer wande,
& adde more honors still to thee;
thy brother Ihon shall be a Lord
of the best att home in his countrye.
" thy brother Kester shalbe a K nigh t,
lands & liuings I will him giue,
& still hee shall liue in Court w i th mee,
& Ile maintaine him whilest he doth liue. "
& when the p ar laiment was done,
& all the ffolkes away were gone,
willye stewart & Iohn his brother,
to Argyle Castle they be gone.
but when they came to Argyle Castle
That was soe ffarr in tha t Countrye,
he thought soe much then of his loue,
tha t into carebedd then lope hee.
Iohn Stewart did see his brother soe ill:
Lo rd ! in his heart tha t hee was woe;
" I will goe wooing for thy sake
againe yonder gay ladye to.
" Ile cloth my selfe in strange array,
in a beggars habbitt I will goe,
tha t when I come before the Erle of March
my clothing strange he shall not knowe. "
Iohn hee gott on a clouted cloake,
soe meete & low then by his knee,
w i th 4 garters vpon one Legg,
2 aboue, & towe below trulye
" but if thou be a beggar, brother,
thou art a beggar tha t is vnknowne;
ffor thou art one of the stoutest beggars
tha t euer I saw since I was borne.
" heere, geeue the Lady this gay gold ringe,
a token to her tha t well is knowne;
& if shee but aduise itt well,
sheele know some time itt was her owne. "
" stay, by my ffaith, I goe not yett, "
Iohn stew art he can replye;
" Ile haue my bottle ffull of beere,
the best tha t is in thy butterye;
" Ile haue my sachell ffilld full of meate,
I am sure, brother, will doe noe harme;
ffor, before I come to the Erle of Marrs his house,
my Lipps, I am sure, they wilbe warme. "
& when he came to the Erle of Marrs house,
by chance itt was of the dole day;
but Iohn cold ffind no place to stand
vntill he came to the Ladye gaye.
but many a beggar he threw downe,
and made them all w i th weeping say,
" he is the devill, hee is no beggar,
tha t is come fforth of some strange countrye! "
& now the dole tha t itt is delte,
& all the beggars be gon away
sauing Iohn Stewart, tha t seemed a beggar,
& the Ladye tha t was soe gay.
" Lady, " sais Iohn, " I am no beggar,
as by my clothes you may thinke tha t I bee;
I am yo u r servant, Iohn stewart,
& I am sent a messenger to thee. "
" but if thou be Iohn stewart,
as I doe thinke tha t thou bee,
avayle thy capp, avayle thy hoode,
& I will stand & speake to thee
" how doth thy brother, Iohn stewart,
& all the Lo rd s in his countrye? "
" O ffye vpon thee, wicked woman!
my brother he doth the worsse ffor thee. "
w i th tha t the teares stood in her eyes;
O lord! shee wept soe tenderlye;
sais, " ligg the blame vnto my ffather;
I pray you, Iohn stew art , Lay itt not to mee!
" comend me to my owne true loue
tha t liues soe farr in the North countrye,
& bidd him meete me att Martingsdale
ffullye w[i]thin these dayes 3.
" hang them, " sais the Lady gay,
" tha t letts their ffather witting bee!
Ile proue a Ladye ffull of loue,
& be there by the sunn be a quarter highe.
" & bidd him bring w i th him a 100 d gunners,
& ranke riders lett them bee,
lett them be of the rankest ryders
tha t be to be ffound in tha t Countrye
" the best & worse, & all in like,
bidd him clothe them in one liuerye;
& for his men, greene is the best,
And greene now lett their Lyueryes bee;
" & cloth himselfe in scarlett Redd,
tha t is soe seemelye for to see;
for scarlett is a ffaire Coulor,
& pleasant in a womans eye "
what they Lady sayd, Iohn steward writt,
to Argyle Castle sent itt hee;
his bagg & his dish, & showing horne,
vnto 3 beggars he gaue them all 3
& when willie stewart saw the Letter,
fforth of carebed then Lope hee;
he thought himselfe as lustye & sound
as any man in tha t countrye
he mustered together his merrymen all,
he mustered them soe louinglye;
he thought he had had scarce halfe a 100 d ,
then had hee 11 score and three.
he chose fforth a 100 d of the best
tha t were to be found in tha t companye,
& p re sentlye they tooke their horsse,
& to martingsdale posted hee.
& when he came to Martingsdale,
he found his loue staying there trulye,
for shee was a Lady true of loue,
& was there by sunn was a qwarter highe.
shee kisst will iam stewart & his brother Iohn,
soe did shee p ar t of his merry men:
" if the Churle, thy ffather, hee were here,
he shold not haue thee backe againe. "
they sent ffor preist, they sent ffor Clarke,
& they were marryed there w i th speede;
Will iam tooke the Lady home w i th him,
& they liued together long time indeed.
& in 12 monthe soe they wrought,
the Lady shee was great w i th childe;
the sent Iohn stewart to the Erle off Marre
to come & chr[i]sten the barne soe milde.
" And if this be soe, " sayes the Erle of Marre,
" Iohn stewart, as thou tells mee;
I hope in god you haue marryed my daughter,
& put her bodye to honestye. "
" Nay, by my ffaith, " then saies Iohn stewart,
" ffor euer alas tha t shall not bee;
ffor now wee haue put her body to shame,
thoust haue her againe hame to thee. "
" I had rather make thee Erle of Marre,
& marry my daughter vnto thee;
for by my ffaith, " sais the Erle of Marr,
" her marryage is marrd in our countrye. "
" if this be soe, " then sais Iohn stewart,
" a marryage soone tha t thou shalt see;
ffor my brother william, my ffathers heyre,
shall marry thy daughter before thine eye. "
they sent ffor preist, the sent ffor Clarke,
& marryed there they were w i th speed;
& william stewart is Erle of Marr,
& his ffather-in-Law dwells w i th him indeed.
& grasse growes greene in our countrye;
eche man can gett the loue of his Ladye,
but alas, I can gett none of mine!
itts by 2 men I sing my song,
their names is w i ll iam Stewart and Iohn:
will iam he is the Elder brother,
but Iohn hee is the wiser man!
but will iam he is in carebed Layd,
& for the loue of a ffaire Ladye;
If he haue not the loue of the Erle of Mars daughter,
in ffaith ffor loue tha t he must dye
then Iohn was sorry ffor his brother,
to see him lye and languish soe:
" what doe you mourne for, brother? " he saies,
" I pray you tell to me yo u r woe.
" doe [you] mourne for gold, brother? " he saies,
" or doe you mourne ffor ffee?
or doe you mourne for a like-some Ladye
you neuer saw her w i th yo u r eye? "
" I doe not mourne for gold, " he saies.
" nor I doe not mourne for any ffee;
but I doe mourne for a likesome Ladye,
I neere blinke on her w i th mine eye. "
" but when haruest is gotten, my deere brother, —
all this is true tha t I tell thee, —
gentlemen, they loue hunting well,
& giue wight men their cloth & ffee;
" then Ile goe a wooing ffor thy sake
in all the speed tha t I can gone,
& for to see this Likesome Ladye,
& hope to send thee good tydings home. "
Iohn Stewart is gone a wooing for his brother
soe ffarr into ffaire Scottland,
& left his brother in mikle ffeare
vntill he heard the good tydand
& when he came to the Erle of Mars his house,
soe well he could his curtesye,
& when he came before the Erle,
he kneeled Low downe vpon his knee.
" O rise vp, rise vp, Iohn Steward!
rise vp, now, I doe bidd thee;
how doth thy ffather, Iohn Stewart,
& all the Lords in his countrye? "
" & itt please you, my Lo rd , my ffather is dead,
my brother & I cannott agree,
my brother & I am ffallen att discord,
& I am come to craue a service of thee. "
" O Welcome, welcome, Iohn Stewart!
a welcome man thou art to me!
He make thee chamberlaine to my daughter,
& ffor to tend of tha t Ladye soe ffree.
" & if thou wilt haue a better office,
aske, and thou shall haue itt of mee;
& where I giue other men a penny of wage,
inffaith, Iohn, thou shalt haue 3. "
& then bespake him Iohn Stewart,
& these were the words said hee,
" there is no office in yo u r Court
this day tha t better pleaseth mee "
the ffryday is gone, the sunday is come, —
all this is true tha t I doe say, —
& to the church that they be gone,
Iohn Stewart & the Lady gay;
& as they did come home againe,
I-wis itt was a meeten mile,
Iohn Stewart & the Lady gay,
they thought itt but a [little] while
" I am a messenger, Ladye, " he saies,
" I am a messenger to thee. "
" O speake ffor thy selfe, Iohn Stewart, " shee saies,
" a welcome man tha t thou shalt bee! "
" Nay, by my ffaith, " saies Iohn Stewart,
" w hi ch euer, alas, tha t may not bee!
he hath a higher degree in honour,
allas, Ladye, then euer I!
" he is a Lo rd now borne by birth,
& an Erle affter his ffather doth dye;
his haire is yellow, his eyes beene gray;
all this is true tha t I tell yee.
" he is ffine in the middle, & small in the wast,
& pleasant in a womans eye;
& more nor this, he dyes for yo u r Louc,
Therfore, Lady, show some pittye. "
" If this be soe, " then saies the Lady,
" If this be true tha t thou tells mee,
by my ffaith then, Iohn Stewart,
I can loue him hartilye.
" bidd him meete me att S t Patr[i]ckes Church
on sunday after S t Andrews day;
the fflower of Scottland will be there,
& then begins our summers play
" & bidd him bring w i th him a 100 gunners,
& rawnke ryders lett them bee,
& lett them bee of the rankest ryders
tha t be to be ffound in tha t countrye
" they best & worst, & all in Like,
bidd him cloth them in one Liuerye;
& ffor his men, greene is the best,
& greene now lett their liueryes bee;
" & clothe himselfe in scarlett redd,
tha t is soe seemlye ffor to see;
ffor scarlett is a ffaire Couloui,
& pleasant allwayes in a womans eye.
" he must play sixteene games att ball
against the men of this countrye,
& if he winn the greater p ar t
then I shall [Love] him more tenderlye. "
what the Lady said, Iohn Stewart writt,
& to Argyle Castle sent it hee;
& [when] Willie steward saw the letter,
fforth of care-bed then Lope hee.
hee mustered together his merry men all,
hee mustered them soe louelilye,
hee thought hee had had scarson halfe a 100 d
then had hee 11 score and three.
he chose fforth a 100 of the best
tha t were to be ffound in tha t countrye,
he cladd them all in one Coulour,
& greene I-wis their liueryes bee.
he cladd himselfe in scarlett redd,
tha t is soe seemelye ffor to see; —
ffor scarlett is a ffaire coulor,
& seemlye in a womans eye; —
& then towards Patricke Church he went
with all his men in braue array,
to gett a sight, if he might,
& speake w i th his Lady gay.
when they came to Patrickes churche,
shee kneeled downe by her mother trulye:
" O Mother, if itt please you to giue me leaue,
the stewarts horsse ffaine wold I see. "
" Ile giue you leaue, my deere daughter,
& I and my maide will goe w i th yee: "
the Lady had rather haue gone her selfe,
then haue had her mothers companye.
when they came before Willie Steward,
soe well hee cold his curtesye,
" I wold kisse yo u r daughter, Ladye, " he said,
" & if yo u r will tha t soe itt bee. "
the Ladyes mother was content
to doe a straunger tha t curtesye;
& when willie had gotten a kisse,
I-wis shee might haue teemed him 3.
16 games were plaid tha t day there, —
this is the truth as I doe say, —
willie stewart & his merry men,
the carryed 12 of them away.
& when they games tha t they were done,
& all they ffolkes away were gone
but the Erle of Marrs & Will iam Stewart,
& the Erle wold needs haue Will iam home.
& when they came vnto the Erles howse,
they walked to a garden greene;
ffor to confferr of their bussines,
into the garden they be gone.
" I loue yo u r daughter, " saies will iam stewart,
" but I cannott tell whether she loueth mee "
" Marry, god defend, " saies the Erle of March,
" tha t euer soe tha t itt shold bee!
" I had rather a gallowes there was made,
& hange thee ffor my daughters sake;
I had rather a ffyer were made att a stake,
& burne thee ffor my daughters sake!
" to chamber, to chamber, gay Ladye, " he saies,
" in the deuills name now I bidd thee!
& thou gett thee not to the Chamber soone
Ile beate thee before the stewarts eye "
& then bespake will iam stewart,
these were the words said hee,
" if thou beate thy daughter for my sake,
thoust beate a 100 d men and mee. "
then bespake Iohn stewart, —
Lo rd ! an angry man was hee, —
" O Churle, if thou wouldest not haue macht w i th my brother,
thou might haue answerd him curteouslye. "
" O hold thy peace, Iohn Stewart,
& chamber thy words now, I bidd thee;
if thou chamber not thy words soone,
thoust loose a good service; soe shalt thou doe me. "
" Marry! hang them tha t cares, " saies Iohn Stewart,
" either ffor thy service or ffor thee!
services can I haue enoughe,
but brethren wee must euer bee. "
will iam Stewart & his brother Iohn,
to Argyle Castle gon they bee;
& when willye came to Argyle Castle,
into carebedd then lope hee.
A Parlaiment att Edenborrow was made,
the K ing & his Nobles all mett there;
the sent ffor will iam stewart & Iohn,
to come amongst the other peeres
their clothing was of scarlett redd,
tha t was soe seemelye ffor to see;
blacke hatts, white ffeathers plewed w i th gold,
& sett all on their heads trulye.
their stockings were of twisted silke,
w i th garters ffringed about w i th gold,
their shoes were of the Cordevine,
& all was comelye to behold.
& when they came to Edenborrowe,
they called ffor Iohn Stew art & Willie:
I answer in A L ord s roome, " saies will Stewart,
" but an Erle I hope to bee. "
" come downe, come downe, " saies the Lo rd of Mars,
" I knew not what was thy degree. "
" O churle, if I might not haue macht w i th thy daughter,
itt had not beene long of my degree.
" my ffather, hee is the K ing his brother,
& then the K ing is vnckle to me;
O Churle, if I might not haue macht w i th thy daughter,
itt had not beene long of my degree. "
" O hold yo u r peace, " then sayd the K ing ,
" Cozen william, I doe bidd thee;
infaith, Cozen will iam , he loues you the worsse
because you are a-kinn to mee
" Ile make thee an Erle w i th a siluer wande,
& adde more honors still to thee;
thy brother Ihon shall be a Lord
of the best att home in his countrye.
" thy brother Kester shalbe a K nigh t,
lands & liuings I will him giue,
& still hee shall liue in Court w i th mee,
& Ile maintaine him whilest he doth liue. "
& when the p ar laiment was done,
& all the ffolkes away were gone,
willye stewart & Iohn his brother,
to Argyle Castle they be gone.
but when they came to Argyle Castle
That was soe ffarr in tha t Countrye,
he thought soe much then of his loue,
tha t into carebedd then lope hee.
Iohn Stewart did see his brother soe ill:
Lo rd ! in his heart tha t hee was woe;
" I will goe wooing for thy sake
againe yonder gay ladye to.
" Ile cloth my selfe in strange array,
in a beggars habbitt I will goe,
tha t when I come before the Erle of March
my clothing strange he shall not knowe. "
Iohn hee gott on a clouted cloake,
soe meete & low then by his knee,
w i th 4 garters vpon one Legg,
2 aboue, & towe below trulye
" but if thou be a beggar, brother,
thou art a beggar tha t is vnknowne;
ffor thou art one of the stoutest beggars
tha t euer I saw since I was borne.
" heere, geeue the Lady this gay gold ringe,
a token to her tha t well is knowne;
& if shee but aduise itt well,
sheele know some time itt was her owne. "
" stay, by my ffaith, I goe not yett, "
Iohn stew art he can replye;
" Ile haue my bottle ffull of beere,
the best tha t is in thy butterye;
" Ile haue my sachell ffilld full of meate,
I am sure, brother, will doe noe harme;
ffor, before I come to the Erle of Marrs his house,
my Lipps, I am sure, they wilbe warme. "
& when he came to the Erle of Marrs house,
by chance itt was of the dole day;
but Iohn cold ffind no place to stand
vntill he came to the Ladye gaye.
but many a beggar he threw downe,
and made them all w i th weeping say,
" he is the devill, hee is no beggar,
tha t is come fforth of some strange countrye! "
& now the dole tha t itt is delte,
& all the beggars be gon away
sauing Iohn Stewart, tha t seemed a beggar,
& the Ladye tha t was soe gay.
" Lady, " sais Iohn, " I am no beggar,
as by my clothes you may thinke tha t I bee;
I am yo u r servant, Iohn stewart,
& I am sent a messenger to thee. "
" but if thou be Iohn stewart,
as I doe thinke tha t thou bee,
avayle thy capp, avayle thy hoode,
& I will stand & speake to thee
" how doth thy brother, Iohn stewart,
& all the Lo rd s in his countrye? "
" O ffye vpon thee, wicked woman!
my brother he doth the worsse ffor thee. "
w i th tha t the teares stood in her eyes;
O lord! shee wept soe tenderlye;
sais, " ligg the blame vnto my ffather;
I pray you, Iohn stew art , Lay itt not to mee!
" comend me to my owne true loue
tha t liues soe farr in the North countrye,
& bidd him meete me att Martingsdale
ffullye w[i]thin these dayes 3.
" hang them, " sais the Lady gay,
" tha t letts their ffather witting bee!
Ile proue a Ladye ffull of loue,
& be there by the sunn be a quarter highe.
" & bidd him bring w i th him a 100 d gunners,
& ranke riders lett them bee,
lett them be of the rankest ryders
tha t be to be ffound in tha t Countrye
" the best & worse, & all in like,
bidd him clothe them in one liuerye;
& for his men, greene is the best,
And greene now lett their Lyueryes bee;
" & cloth himselfe in scarlett Redd,
tha t is soe seemelye for to see;
for scarlett is a ffaire Coulor,
& pleasant in a womans eye "
what they Lady sayd, Iohn steward writt,
to Argyle Castle sent itt hee;
his bagg & his dish, & showing horne,
vnto 3 beggars he gaue them all 3
& when willie stewart saw the Letter,
fforth of carebed then Lope hee;
he thought himselfe as lustye & sound
as any man in tha t countrye
he mustered together his merrymen all,
he mustered them soe louinglye;
he thought he had had scarce halfe a 100 d ,
then had hee 11 score and three.
he chose fforth a 100 d of the best
tha t were to be found in tha t companye,
& p re sentlye they tooke their horsse,
& to martingsdale posted hee.
& when he came to Martingsdale,
he found his loue staying there trulye,
for shee was a Lady true of loue,
& was there by sunn was a qwarter highe.
shee kisst will iam stewart & his brother Iohn,
soe did shee p ar t of his merry men:
" if the Churle, thy ffather, hee were here,
he shold not haue thee backe againe. "
they sent ffor preist, they sent ffor Clarke,
& they were marryed there w i th speede;
Will iam tooke the Lady home w i th him,
& they liued together long time indeed.
& in 12 monthe soe they wrought,
the Lady shee was great w i th childe;
the sent Iohn stewart to the Erle off Marre
to come & chr[i]sten the barne soe milde.
" And if this be soe, " sayes the Erle of Marre,
" Iohn stewart, as thou tells mee;
I hope in god you haue marryed my daughter,
& put her bodye to honestye. "
" Nay, by my ffaith, " then saies Iohn stewart,
" ffor euer alas tha t shall not bee;
ffor now wee haue put her body to shame,
thoust haue her againe hame to thee. "
" I had rather make thee Erle of Marre,
& marry my daughter vnto thee;
for by my ffaith, " sais the Erle of Marr,
" her marryage is marrd in our countrye. "
" if this be soe, " then sais Iohn stewart,
" a marryage soone tha t thou shalt see;
ffor my brother william, my ffathers heyre,
shall marry thy daughter before thine eye. "
they sent ffor preist, the sent ffor Clarke,
& marryed there they were w i th speed;
& william stewart is Erle of Marr,
& his ffather-in-Law dwells w i th him indeed.
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