He called downe his merrye men all,
By one, by two, by three;
Sir William used to bee the first,55
But nowe the last came hee.
He brought her downe full fortye pounde,
Tyed up withinne a glove:
"Faire maid, Ile give the same to thee;
Go, seeke thee another love."60
"O Ile have none of your gold," she sayde,
"Nor Ile have none of your fee;
But your faire bodye I must have,
The king hath granted mee."
Sir William ranne and fetchd her then65
Five hundred pound in golde,
Saying, "Faire maide, take this to thee,
Thy fault will never be tolde."
"Tis not the gold that shall mee tempt,"
These words then answered shee,70
"But your own bodye I must have,
The king hath granted mee."
"Would I had drunke the water cleare,
When I did drinke the wine,
Rather than any shepherds brat75
Shold bee a ladye of mine!
"Would I had drank the puddle foule,
When I did drink the ale,
Rather than ever a shepherds brat
Shold tell me such a tale!"80
"A shepherds brat even as I was,
You mote have let mee bee;
I never had come to the kings faire courte,
To crave any love of thee."
He sett her on a milk-white steede,85
And himself upon a graye;
He hung a bugle about his necke,
And soe they rode awaye.