Classic Poem

1.

In summer time, when leaves grew green,
and birds were singing on every tree,
King Edward would a hunting ride,
some pastime for to see.

2.

Our king he would a hunting ride,
by eight o'clock of the day,
And well was he ware of a bold tanner,
cam riding on the way.

3.

A good russet coat the tanner had on,
fast buttoned under his chin,
And under him a good cow-hide,
and a mare of four shilling.

4.

" Now stand you here, my good lords all,
under this trusty tree,
And I will wend to yonder fellow,
to know from whence came he.

5.

" God speed, God speed, " then said our king;
" Thou art welcome, good fellow, " quoth he;
" Which is the way to Drayton Basset
I pray thee shew to me. "

6.

" The ready way to Drayton Basset,
from this place as thou dost stand,
The next pair of gallows thou comst to
thou must turn up on thy right hand. "

7.

" That is not the way, " then said our king,
" the ready way I pray thee shew me. "
" Whether thou be thief or true man, " quoth the tanner,
" I'm weary of thy company.

8.

" Away, with a vengeance, " quoth the tanner,
" I hold thee out of thy wit,
For all this day have I ridden and gone,
and I am fasting yet. "

9.

" Go with me to Drayton Basset, " said our king,
" no daintyes we will lack;
We'l have meat and drink of the best,
and I will pay the shot. "

10.

" Godamercy for nothing, " said the tanner,
" thou shalt pay for no dinner of mine;
I have more groats and nobles in my purse
then thou hast pence in thine. "

11.

" God save your goods, " then said the king,
" and send them well to thee. "
" Be thou thief or true man, " quoth the tanner,
" I am weary of thy company.

12.

" Away, with a vengeance, " quoth the tanner,
" of thee I stand in fear;
The apparrell thou wearst on thy back
may seem a good lord to wear. "

13.

" I never stole them, " said our king,
" I swear to thee by the rood. "
" Thou art some ruffian of the country,
thou rid'st in the midst of thy good. "

14.

" What news dost thou hear? " then said our king,
" I pray what news do you hear? "
" I hear no news, " answered the tanner,
" but that cow-hides be dear. "

15.

" Cow-hides? cow-hides? " then said our king,
" I marvell what they be. "
" Why, art thou a fool, " quoth the tanner,
" look, I have one under me. "

16.

" Yet one thing now I would thee pray,
so that thou wouldst not be strange;
If thy mare be better then my steed,
I pray thee let us change. "

17.

" But if you needs with me will change,
as change full well may ye,
By the faith of my body, " quoth the tanner,
" I look to have boot of thee. "

18.

" What boot wilt thou ask? " then said our king,
" what boot dost thou ask on this ground? "
" No pence nor half-pence, " said the tanner,
" but a noble in gold so round. "

19.

" Here's twenty good groats, " then said the king,
" so well paid see you beg. "
" I love thee better then I did before,
I thought thou hadst nere a peny.

20.

" But if so be we needs must change,
as change thou must abide,
Though thou hast gotten Brock my mare,
thou shalt not have my cow-hide. "

21.

The tanner took the good cow-hide,
that of the cow was hilt,
And threw it upon the king's saddle,
that was so fairly guilt.

22.

" Now help me, help me, " quoth the tanner,
" full quickly that I were gone,
For when I come home to Gillian my wife
she'l say I'm a gentleman. "

23.

The king took the tanner by the leg,
he girded a fart so round.
" You'r very homely, " said the king,
" were I aware, I'd laid you o th' ground. "

24.

But when the tanner was in the king's saddle
astonid then he was;
He knew not that the stirrops that he did wear,
whether they were gold or brass.

25.

But when the steed saw the black cow-tale wag,
for and the black cow-horn,
The steed began to run away,
as the divel the tanner had born.

26.

Untill he came unto a nook,
a little beside an ash;
The steed gave the tanner such a fall
his neck was almost brast.

27.

" Take thy horse again, with a vengeance, " he said,
" with me he shall not abide. "
" It is no marvell, " said the king, and laught,
" he knew not your cow-hide.

28.

" But if that we needs now must change,
as change that well we mought,
I'le swear to you plain, if you have your mare,
I look to have some boot. "

29.

" What boot will you ask? " quoth the tanner,
" What boot will you ask on this ground? "
" No pence nor half-pence, " said our king,
" but a noble in gold so round. "

30.

" Here's twenty good groats, " said the tanner,
" and twenty more I have of thine;
I have ten groats more in my purse,
we'l drink five of them at the wine. "

31.

The king set a bugle-horn to his mouth,
that blew both loud and shrill,
And five hundred lords and knights
came riding over a hill.

32.

" Away, with a vengeance, " quoth the tanner,
" with thee I'le no longer abide;
Thou art a strong thief, yonder be thy fellows,
they will steal away my cow-hide. "

33.

" No, I protest, " then said our king,
" for so it may not be;
They be the lords of Drayton Basset,
come out of the North Country. "

34.

But when they came before the king
full low they fell on their knee;
The tanner had rather than a thousand pound
he had been out of his company.

35.

" A coller! a coller! " then said the king,
" coller! " then did he cry;
Then would he have given a thousand pound
he had not been so nigh.

36.

" A coller? a coller? " then quoth the tanner,
" it is a thing which will breed sorrow;
For after a coller commeth a halter,
and I shall be hanged tomorrow. "

37.

" No, do not fear, " the king did say;
" for pastime thou hast shown me,
No coller nor halter thou shalt have,
but I will give thee a fee.

38.

" For Plompton Park I will give thee,
with tenements three beside,
Which is worth three hundred pound a year,
to maintain thy good cow-hide. "

39.

" Godamercy, Godamercy, " quoth the tanner;
" for this good deed thou hast done,
If ever thou comest to merry Tamworth,
thou shalt have clouting-leather for thy shone. "