15 For I must marry against my mind,
Or in faith well proved it shall be;
And tell to him I am loving and kind,
And wishes him this wedding to see.
16 But see that thou note his countenance well,
And his colour, and shew it to me;
And go thy way and hie thee again,
And forty shillings I will give thee.
17 For if he smile now with his lips,
His stomach will give him to laugh at the heart;
Then may I seek another true-love,
For of Tom Pots small is my part.
18 But if he blush now in his face,
Then in his heart he will sorry be;
Then to his vow he hath some grace,
And false to him I will never be.
19 Away this lacky-boy he ran,
And a full speed forsooth went he,
Till he came to Strawberry Castle,
And there Tom Pots came he to see.
20 He gave him the letter in his hand;
Before that he began to read,
He told him plainly by word of mouth,
His love was forc'd to be Lord Phenix bride.
21 When he lookd on the letter fair,
The salt tears blemished his eye;
Says, I cannot read this letter fair,
Nor never a word to see or spy.
22 My little boy, be to me true,
Here is five marks I will give thee;
And all these words I must peruse,
And tell my lady this from me.
23 By faith and troth she is my own,
By some part of promise, so it's to be found;
Lord Phoenix shall not have her night nor day,
Except he can win her with his own hand.
24 On Guilford Green I will her meet;
Say that I wish her for me to pray;
For there I'le lose my life so sweet,
Or else the wedding I mean to stay.