But when the appointed day was come,145
No helpe appeared nye;
Then woeful woeful was her hart,
And the teares stood in her eye.
And nowe a fyer was built of wood,
And a stake was made of tree;150
And now queene Elinor forth was led,
A sorrowful sight to see.
Three times the herault he waved his hand,
And three times spake on hye;
"Giff any good knight will fende this dame,155
Come forth, or shee must dye."
No knight stood forth, no knight there came,
No helpe appeared nye;
And now the fyer was lighted up,
Queene Elinor she must dye.160
And now the fyer was lighted up,
As hot as hot might bee;
When riding upon a little white steed,
The tinye boye they see.
"Away with that stake, away with those brands,165
And loose our comelye queene:
I am come to fight with Sir Aldingar,
And prove him a traitor keene."
Forth then stood Sir Aldingar;
But when he saw the chylde,170
He laughed, and scoffed, and turned his backe,
And weened he had been beguylde.
"Now turne, now turne thee, Aldingar,
And eyther fighte or flee;
I trust that I shall avenge the wronge,175
Thoughe I am so small to see."