25 Away this lackey-boy he ran,
Even as fast as he could hie;
The lady she met him two miles of the way;
Says, Why hast thou staid so long, my boy?
26 My little boy, thou art but young,
It gives me at heart thou'l mock and scorn;
I'le not believe thee by word of mouth,
Unless on this book thou wilt be sworn.
27 'Now by this book,' the boy did say,
'And Jesus Christ be as true to me,
Tom Pots could not read the letter fair,
Nor never a word to spy or see.
28 'He says, by faith and troth you are his own,
By some part of promise, so it's to be found;
Lord Phenix shall not have you night nor day,
Except he win you with his own hand.
29 'On Guilford Green he will you meet;
He wishes you for him to pray;
For there he'l lose his life so sweet,
Or else the wedding he means to stay.'
30 'If this be true, my little boy,
These tidings which thou tellest to me,
Forty shillings I did thee promise,
Here is ten pounds I will give thee.
31 'My maidens all,' the lady said,
'That ever wish me well to prove,
Now let us all kneel down and pray
That Tommy Pots may win his love.
32 'If it be his fortune the better to win,
As I pray to Christ in Trinity,
I'le make him the flower of all his kin,
For the young Lord Arundel he shall be.'
33 Let's leave talking of this lady fair,
In prayers full good where she may be;
Now let us talk of Tommy Pots;
To his lord and master for aid went he.
34 But when he came Lord Jockey before,
He kneeled lowly on his knee:
'What news, what news, thou Tommy Pots,
Thou art so full of courtesie?