and blew a blast lowd and small;

Seuen score lords, knights, squires and yeomen

came riding ouer a dale.

49

‘Now out alas!’ quoth the tanner,

‘that euer I saw this tide;

Thou art a strong thiefe, yonder be thy fellowes,

will haue my mare and my cowhide.’

50

‘They are no theeues,’ then said our king,