And he has till his brother gane:
"Now, brother, rede ye mee;
A', sall I marrie the nut-browne bride,
And let fair Annet bee?"
"The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother,25
The nut-browne bride has kye:
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,
And cast fair Annet bye."
"Her oxen may dye i' the house, billie,
And her kye into the byre,30
And I sall hae nothing to mysell,
Bot a fat fadge by the fyre."
And he has till his sister gane:
"Now sister, rede ye mee;
O sall I marrie the nut-browne bride,35
And set fair Annet free?"
"Ise rede ye tak fair Annet, Thomas,
And let the browne bride alane;
Lest ye sould sigh, and say, Alace,
What is this we brought hame!"40
"No, I will tak my mithers counsel,
And marrie me owt o' hand;
And I will tak the nut-browne bride;
Fair Annet may leive the land."
Up then rose fair Annets father,45
Twa hours or it wer day,
And he is gane into the bower
Wherein fair Annet lay.
"Rise up, rise up, fair Annet," he says,
"Put on your silken sheene;50
Let us gae to St. Maries kirke,
And see that rich weddeen."
"My maides, gae to my dressing-roome,
And dress to me my hair;
Whair-eir yee laid a plait before,55
See yee lay ten times mair.