"I love you well, my Queen, my dame,5
'Bove land and rents so clear,
And for the love of you, my Queen,
Would thole pain most severe."—

"If well you love me, Rodingham,
I'm sure so do I thee:10
I love you well as any man,
Save the King's fair bodye."—

"I love you well, my Queen, my dame;
'Tis truth that I do tell:
And for to lye a night with you,15
The salt seas I would sail."—

"Away, away, O Rodingham!
You are both stark and stoor;
Would you defile the King's own bed,

And make his Queen a whore?20

"To-morrow you'd be taken sure,
And like a traitor slain;
And I'd be burned at a stake,
Although I be the Queen."—

He then stepp'd out at her room door,25
All in an angry mood:
Until he met a leper-man,
Just by the hard way-side.

He intoxicate the leper-man,
With liquors very sweet:30
And gave him more and more to drink,
Until he fell asleep.

He took him in his armis twa,
And carried him along,
Till he came to the Queen's own bed,35
And there he laid him down.

He then stepp'd out of the Queen's bower,
As swift as any roe,
'Till he came to the very place
Where the King himself did go.40