No clothing had this lady fine,
To keep her from the cold;
He took his mantle from him about,
120 And round her did it fold.
He has taken his mantle from him about,
And in it he wrapt her in,
And they are up to Bambrough castle,
As fast as they can win.
125 His absence, and her serpent shape,
The king had long deplored;
He now rejoyced to see them both
Again to him restored.
The queen they wanted, whom they found
130 All pale, and sore afraid,
Because she knew her power must yield
To Childy Wynd's, who said,
"Woe be to thee, thou wicked witch;
An ill death mayest thou dee;
135 As thou my sister hast lik'ned,
So lik'ned shalt thou be.
"I will turn you into a toad,
That on the ground doth wend;
And won, won shalt thou never be,
140 Till this world hath an end."
Now on the sand near Ida's tower,
She crawls a loathsome toad,
And venom spits on every maid
She meets upon her road.
145 The virgins all of Bambrough town
Will swear that they have seen
This spiteful toad, of monstrous size,
Whilst walking they have been.
All folks believe within the shire
150 This story to be true,
And they all run to Spindleston,
The cave and trough to view.
This fact now Duncan Frasier,
Of Cheviot, sings in rhime,
155 Lest Bambroughshire men should forget
Some part of it in time.