With such weapons as we have here,
Till we be out of your place;
And if we live this hundred year,
We will ask you no grace.
Ye speak proudly, said the king;
Ye shall be hanged all three.
That were great pity, then said the queen,
If any grace might be.
My lord, when I came first into this land
To be your wedded wife,
The first boon that I would ask,
Ye would grant it me belyfe:[64]
And I never asked none till now;
Therefore, good lord, grant it me.
Now ask it, madam, said the king,
And granted it shall be.
Then, good my lord, I you beseech,
These yeomen grant ye me.
Madame, ye might have asked a boon,
That should have been worth them all three.
Ye might have asked towers and towns,
Parks and forests plenty.
None so pleasant to my liking, she said;
Nor none so lefe[65] to me.
Madame, since it is your desire,
Your asking granted shall be;
But I had lever[66] have given you
Good market towns three.
The queen she was a glad woman,
And said, Lord, gramercy:
I dare undertake for them,
That true men shall they be.
But, good my lord, speak some merry word,
That comfort they may see.
I grant you grace, then said our king;
Wash, fellows, and to meat go ye.
They had not setten but a while
Certain, without lesynge,[67]
There came messengers out of the north
With letters to our king.