The Frenchman fell down on the ship hatch,
And under the hatches there below;90
Another Frenchman, that him espy'd,
The dead corpse into the sea doth throw.
"O master, loose me from the mast," he said,
"And for them all take you no care;
For give me my bent bow in my hand,95
And never a Frenchman will I spare."
Then streight [they] boarded the French ship,
They lyeing all dead in their sight;
They found within that ship of warre
Twelve thousand pound of mony bright.100
"The one halfe of the ship," said Simon then,
"I'le give to my dame and children small;
The other halfe of the ship I'le bestow
On you that are my fellowes all."
But now bespake the master then,105
"For so, Simon, it shall not be,
For you have won it with your own hand,
And the owner of it you shall bee."
"It shall be so, as I have said;
And, with this gold, for the opprest110
An habitation I will build,
Where they shall live in peace and rest."
[5], elephant.
ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNERS DAUGHTER.
Gutch's Robin Hood, ii. 345.