And when he came to the Tearne Wadling,
The baron there co’ld he finde,
With a great weapon on his backe,
Standing stiffe and stronge.
XXIV
And then he tooke King Arthur’s letters in his hands,
And away he co’ld them fling,
And then he puld out a good browne sword,
And cryd himselfe a king.
XXV
And he sayd, ‘I have thee and thy land, Arthur,
To doe as it pleaseth me,
For this is not thy ransome sure,
Therfore yeeld thee to me.’
XXVI
And then bespoke him noble Arthur,
And bad him hold his hand:
‘And give me leave to speake my mind
In defence of all my land.’
XXVII
He said, ‘As I came over a more,
I see a lady where shee sate
Betweene an oke and a green hollen;
Shee was clad in red scarlett.