Comend me to that gentleman;
bring him here this letter from mee,
and say I pray him earnestlye
that he will ryde in my companye.”
But one while the foote page went,
another while he rann;
untill he came to Master Norton,
the foot page never blanne.[26]
And when he came to Master Norton,
he kneled on his knee,
And tooke the letter betwixt his hands,
and lett the gentleman it see.
And when the letter it was reade
afore all his companye,
I-wis, if you wold know the truth,
there was many a weeping eye.
He said, “Come hither, Kester[27] Norton,
a fine fellow thou seemes to bee;
Some good councell, Kester Norton,
this day doe thou give to mee.”
“Marry, I’ll give you councell, father,
if you’ll councell take at mee,
that if you have spoken the word, father,
that backe againe you doe not flee.”
“God amercy, Christopher Norton,
I say, God amercy!
if I doe live and scape with life,
well avancèd shalt thou bee.
But come you hither, my nine good sonnes,
in men’s estate I thinke you bee;
how many of you, my children deare,
on my part that wilbe?”
But eight of them did answer soone,
and spake full hastilye,
sayes, “We wilbe on your part, father,
till the day that we doe dye.”
“But God amercy, my children deare,
and ever I say God amercy!
and yet my blessing you shall have,
whethersoever I live or dye.