"O woe is me!" said Simon then,
"This day that ever I came here!50
I wish I were in Plompton parke,
In chasing of the fallow deere.
"For every clowne laughs me to scorne,
And they by me set nought at all;
If I had them in Plompton park,55
I would set as little by them all."
They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
More of a day then two or three:
But Simon espyed a ship of warre,
That sayled towards them most valorously.60
"O woe is me!" said the master then,
"This day that ever I was borne!
For all our fish we have got to-day
Is every bit lost and forlorne.
"For your French robbers on the sea,65
They will not spare of us one man,
But carry us to the coast of France,
And ligge us in the prison strong."
But Simon said, "Doe not feare them,
Neither, master, take you no care;70
Give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare."
"Hold thy peace, thou long lubbèr,
For thou art nought but brags and boast;
If I should cast thee over-board,75
There's but a simple lubber lost."
Simon grew angry at these words,
And so angry then was he,
That he took his bent bow in his hand,
And in the ship-hatch goe doth he.80
"Master, tye me to the mast," saith he,
"That at my mark I may stand fair,
And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare."
He drew his arrow to the very head,85
And drewe it with all his might and maine,
And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,
Doth the Frenchmans heart the arrow gain.