When hee had read these gentle lines,
His heart was ravished with sudden joy;210
Where now shee was full well hee knew:
The frier likewise was not coy;
But did declare to him at large
The enterprise for him his love had taken in hand.
The young man did the frier charge,215
His love should straight depart the land.
"Here is no place for her," hee said,
"But woefull death and danger of her harmlesse life:
Professing truth I was betraid,
And fearfull flames must end my strife.220
"For, ere I will my faith deny,
And sweare my selfe to follow damned Antichrist,
Ile yeeld my body for to die,
To live in heaven with the highest."
"O sir!" the gentle frier said,225
"For your sweet love recant, and save your wished life.
A wofull match," quoth hee, "is made
Where Christ is lost to win a wife."
When she had wrought all meanes that might
To save her friend, and that she saw it would not bee,
Then of the judge shee claimed her right,231
To die the death as well as hee.
When no perswasion could prevaile,
Nor change her mind in any thing that shee had said,
She was with him condemned to die,235
And for them both one fire was made.
And arme in arme most joyfully
These lovers twaine unto the fire they did goe:
The marriner most faithfully
Was likewise partner of their woe.240
But when the judges understood
The faithfull friendship did in them remaine,
They saved their lives; and afterward
To England sent them home againe.