When Maudlin heard her lover's moane,
Her eyes with teares, her heart with sorrow filled was:
To speake with him no meanes is knowne,175
Such grievous doome on him did passe.
Then she cast off her lad's attire;
A maiden's weede upon her back she seemely set;
To the judge's house shee did enquire,
And there shee did a service get.180
Shee did her duty there so well,
And eke so prudently she did her selfe behave,
With her in love her master fell;
His servant's favour hee doth crave.
"Maudlin," quoth hee, "my heart's delight,185
To whom my heart is in affection tied,
Breed not my death through thy despight;
A faithfull friend I will be tryed.
"Grant me thy love, faire maid," quoth hee,
"And at my hands require what thou canst devise,190
And I will grant it unto thee,
Whereby thy credit may arise."
"I have a brother, sir," she said,
"For his religion is now condemned to dye:
In loathsome prison hee is layd,195
Opprest with griefe and misery.
"Grant me my brother's life," shee said,
"And to you my love and liking I will give."
"That may not be," quoth hee, "faire maid;
Except he turne, he cannot live."200
"An English Frier there is," shee said,
"Of learning great and passing pure of life,
Let him to my brother be sent,
And he will finish soone the strife."
Her master hearing this request,205
The marriner in frier's weed she did array,
And to her love, that lay distrest,
Shee did a letter straight convey.