16 Away this little boy is gone,
as fast as he could run;
When he came where brigs were broke,
he lay down and swum.
17 When he saw the lady, he said,
Lord may your keeper be!
'What news, my pretty boy,
hast thou to tell to me?'
18 'Your daughter Mary orders me,
as you sit in a chair of stone,
To ask you how you like the news,
of seven to have but one.
19 'Your daughter gives commands,
as you sit in a chair of oak,
And bids you come to her sickening,
or her merry lake-wake.
20 'She gives command to her brother
William, Ralph, and John,
[And] to her sister Betty fair,
and to her white as bone.
21 'She bids her keep her maidenhead,
be sure make much on 't,
For if eer she came in man's bed,
the same gate woud she gang.'
22 She kickt the table with her foot,
she kickt it with her knee,
The silver plate into the fire,
so far she made it flee.
23 Then she calld her waiting-maid
to bring her riding-hood,
So did she on her stable-groom
to bring her riding-steed.
24 'Go saddle to me the black [the black,]
go saddle to me the brown,
Go saddle to me the swiftest steed
that eer rid [to] Wallington.'
25 When they came to Wallington,
and into Wallington hall,
There she spy'd her son Fenwick,
walking about the wall.