65 'That is an old horse with a cut tail,
Full sixteen years of age is he;
If thou wilt lend me that old horse,
Then could I win her easily.'
66 'That's a foolish opinion,' his master said,
'And a foolish opinion thou tak'st to thee;
Thou'st have a better then ever he was,
Though forty pounds more it cost me.'
67 'O your choice horses are wild and tough,
And little they can skill of their train;
If I be out of my saddle cast,
They are so wild they'l ner be tain.'
68 'Thou'st have that horse,' his master said,
'If that one thing thou wilt tell me;
Why that horse is better than any other,
I pray thee, Tom Pots, shew thou to me.'
69 'That horse is old, of stomach bold,
And well can he skill of his train;
If I be out of my saddle cast,
He'l either stand still or turn again.'
70 'Thou'st have the horse with all my heart,
And my plate-coat of silver free;
An hundred men to stand at thy back,
To fight if he thy master be.'
71 'I thank you master,' said Tommy Pots,
'That proffer is too good for me;
I would not, for ten thousand pounds,
Have man or boy in my company.
72 'God be with you, master,' said Tommy Pots;
'Now, as you are a man of law,
One thing let me crave at your hand;
Let never a one of my fellows know.
73 'For if that my fellows they did wot,
Or ken of my extremity,
Except you keep them under a lock,
Behind me I am sure they would not be.'
74 But when he came to Guilford Green,
He waited hours two or three;
There he was ware of Lord Phenix come,
And four men in his company.