And he cast a lease upon his backe,
And he rode to the silver wood,70
And there he sought all about,
About the silver wood.
And there he found him Childe Maurice,
Sitting upon a blocke,
With a silver combe in his hand,75
Kembing his yellow locke.
He sayes, "how now, how now, Childe Maurice,
Alacke how may this bee?"
But then stood by him Childe Maurice,
And sayd these words trulye:80
"I do not know your ladye," he said,
"If that I doe her see."
"Ffor thou hast sent her love tokens,
More now than two or three.
"For thou hast sent her a mantle of greene,85
As greene as any grasse,
And bade her come to the silver wood,
To hunt with Childe Maurice.
"And by my faith now, Childe Maurice,
The tane of us shall dye;"90
"Now by my troth," sayd Childe Maurice,
"And that shall not be I."
But he pulled out a bright browne sword,
And dryed it on the grasse,
And soe fast he smote at John Steward,95
Iwis he never rest.
Then hee pulled forth his bright browne sword,
And dryed itt on his sleeve,
And the ffirst good stroke John Steward stroke,
Child Maurice head he did cleeve.100
And he pricked it on his swords poynt,
Went singing there beside,
And he rode till he came to the ladye ffaire,
Whereas his ladye lyed.