XXI
‘Master, tye me to the mast,’ saith he,
‘That at my mark I may stand fair,
And give me my bended bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare.’
XXII
He drew his arrow to the very head,
And drew it with all might and maine,
And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye,
To the Frenchman’s heart the arrow did gain.
XXIII
The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch,
And under the hatches down below;
Another Frenchman that him espy’d
The dead corps into the sea doth throw.
XXIV
‘O master, loose me from the mast,
And for them all take you no care;
And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And never a Frenchman will I spare!’
XXV
Then straight they did board the Frenchman’s ship,
They lying all dead in their sight;
They found within the ship of warre
Twelve thousand pound of money bright.