84 And when the ladye there can stand,
A woman's mind that day to proue,
'Now, by my ffaith,' said this ladye ffaire,
'This day Thomas a Pott shall haue his owne loue.'
85 Toward Thomas a Pott the lady shee went,
To leape behind him hastilye;
'Nay, abyde a while,' sayd Lord Phenix,
'Ffor better yett proued thou shalt bee.
86 'Thou shalt stay heere with all thy maids—
In number with thee thou hast but three—
Thomas a Pott and I'le goe beyond yonder wall,
There the one of vs shall dye.'
87 And when they came beyond the wall,
The one wold not the other nye;
Lord Phenix he had giuen his word
With Thomas a Pott neuer to ffight.
88 'Giue me a choice,' Lord Phenix sayes,
'Thomas a Pott, I doe pray thee;
Lett mee goe to yonder ladye ffaire,
To see whether shee be true to thee.'
89 And when hee came that ladye too,
Vnto that likesome dame sayd hee,
Now God thee saue, thou ladye ffaire,
The heyre of all my land thou'st bee.
90 Ffor this Thomas a Potts I haue slaine;
He hath more then deadlye wounds two or three;
Thou art mine owne ladye, he sayd,
And marryed together wee will bee.
91 The ladye said, If Thomas a Potts this day thou haue slaine,
Thou hast slaine a better man than euer was thee;
And I'le sell all the state of my lande
But thou'st be hanged on a gallow-tree.
92 With that they lady shee ffell in a soone;
A greeued woman, I wott, was shee;
Lord Phenix hee was readye there,
Tooke her in his armes most hastilye.
93 'O Lord, sweete, and stand on thy ffeete,
This day Thomas a Pott aliue can bee;
I'le send ffor thy father, the Lord of Arrundale,
And marryed together I will you see:
Giffe hee will not maintaine you well,
Both gold and land you shall haue from me.'