Kinge and Miller
1
H ENERY , our royall K ing , wold goe a huntinge
to the greene fforrest soe pleasant & fayre,
to haue the harts chased, the daintye does tripping;
to merry Sherwood his nobles repayre;
hauke & hound was vnbound, all things p re pared
for the same to the game w i th good regard.
2
All a longe sum m ers day rode the K ing pleasantlye
w i th all his princes & nobles eche one,
chasing the hart & hind & the bucke gallantlye,
till the darke euening inforced them turne home.
then at last, ryding fast, he had lost quite
all his Lords in the wood in the darke night.
3
Wandering thus wearilye all alone vp & downe,
w i th a rude Miller he mett att the Last,
asking the ready way vnto fayre Nottingham.
“S i r,” Q uo th the Miller, “I meane not to Iest,
yett I thinke what I thinke truth for to say,
you doe not lightlye goe out of yo u r way.”
4
“Why, what dost thou thinke of me?” Q uo th our K ing merrily,
“passing thy iudgment vpon me soe breefe”
“good faith,” Q uo th the Miller, “I meane not to flatter thee,
“I gesse thee to bee some gentleman theefe;
stand thee backe in the darke! light not adowne,
lest I p re sentlye cracke thy knaues cro[wn]e!”
5
“Thou doest abuse me much,” q uo th our K ing , “saying thus.
I am a gentleman, and lodging doe lacke.”
“thou hast not,” q uo th the Miller, “a groat in thy pursse;
all thine inheritance hanges on thy backe.”
“I haue gold to discharge for tha t I call;
if itt be 40 pence, I will pay all.”
6
“If thou beest a true man,” then said the Miller,
“I sweare by my tole dish Ile lodge theo all night.”
“Heeres my hand,” q uo th our K ing , “ tha t was I eu er .”
“nay, soft,” q uo th the Miller, “thou mayst be a sprite;
better He know thee ere hands I will shake;
w i th none but honest men hands will I take.”
7
Thus they went all alonge into the Millers house,
where they were seeding of puddings & souce
the Miller first entered in, then after went the K ing ;
neu er came he in soe smoakye a house
“now,” q uo th hee, “let me see heere what you are.”
Q uo th our K ing , “looke you[r] fill, & doe not spare.”
8
“I like well thy countenance; thou hast an honest fac[e];
w i th my sonne Richard this night thou shalt Lye.”
Q uo th his wiffe, “by my troth it is a good hansome yout[h];
yet it is best, husband, to deale warrilye
art thou not a runaway? I pray thee, youth, tell;
show vs thy pasport & all shalbe well.”
9
Then our K ing p re sentlye, making lowe curtesie,
w i th his hatt in his hand, this he did say:
“I haue noe pasport, nor neu er was seruitor,
but a poore Courtyer rode out of the way;
& for yo u r kindnesse now offered to me,
I will requite it in eu er ye degree.”
10
Then to the Miller his wiffe whisp er d secretlye,
saing, “it seemeth the youth is of good kin
both by his apparell & by his Manners;
to turne him out, certainely it were a great sin.”
“yea,” q uo th hee, “you may see hee hath some grace,
when as he speaks to his betters in place.”
11
“Well,” q uo th the Millers wiffe, “younge man, welcome heer[e]!
& tho I sayt, well lodged shalt thou be;
fresh straw I will lay vpon yo u r bed soe braue,
good browne hempen sheetes likwise,” Q uo th shee
“I,” q uo th the goodman, “& when tha t is done,
thou shalt lye noe worse then our owne sonne.”
12
“Nay first,” q uo th Richard, “good fellowe, tell me true,
hast thou noe creep er s in thy gay hose?
art thou not troubled w i th the Scabbado?”
“pray you,” q uo th the K ing , “what things are those?
art thou not lowsye nor scabbed?” q uo th hee;
“if thou beest, surely thou lyest not w i th me.”
13
This caused our K ing suddenly to laugh most hartilye
till the teares trickled downe from his eyes
then to there supp er were thé sett orderlye,
to hott bag puddings & good apple pyes;
nappy ale, good & stale, in a browne bowle,
w hi ch did about the bord Merrilye troule.
14
“Heere,” q uo th the Miller, “good fellowe, Ile drinke to thee
& to all the courtnolls tha t curteous bee.”
“I pledge thee,” q uo th our K ing , “& thanke thee heartilye
for my good welcome in eu er ye degree;
& heere in like manner I drinke to thy sonne.”
“doe then,” saies Rich ard , “& quicke let it come.”
15
“Wiffe,” q uo th the Miller, “feitch me forth lightfoote,
tha t wee of his sweetnesse a litle may tast.”
a faire venson pastye shee feiched forth p re sentlye.
“eate,” q uo th the Miller “but first make noe wast;
heer is dainty Lightfoote.” “infaith,” q uo th our K ing ,
“I neu er before eate of soe dayntye a thinge.”
16
“Iwis,” said Richard, “noe dayntye att all it is,
for wee doe eate of it eu er ye day.”
“in what place,” sayd our K ing , “may be bought lik to th[is?]”
“wee neu er pay peennye for it, by my fay;
from merry Sherwood wee feitch it home heero;
now & then we make bold w i th our Kings deere.”
17
“Then I thinke,” q uo th our K ing , “ tha t it is Venison.”
“eche foole,” q uo th Richard, “full well may see tha t;
neu er are we w i thout 2 or 3 in the rooffe,
verry well fleshed & exellent ffatt
but I pray thee say nothing where-ere thou goe,
we wold not for 2 pence the K ing shold it know.”
18
“doubt not,” saies our K ing , “my p ro mised secresye;
the K ing shall neu er know more ont for mee.”
a cupp of lambes woole they dranke vnto him,
& to their bedds thé past p re sentlye
the Nobles next Morning went all vp & downe
for to seeke the K ing in eu er ye towne;
19
At last, att the Miller's house soone thé did spye him plaine,
as he was mounting vpon his faire steede;
to whome thé came p re sentlye, falling downe on their knees,
w hi ch made the Millers hart wofullye bleed.
Shaking & quaking before him he stood,
thinking he shold be hanged by the rood.
20
The K[ing] p er ceiuing him fearfully tremblinge,
drew forth his sword, but nothing he said;
the Miller downe did fall crying before them all,
doubtinge the K ing wold cut of his head.
but he, his kind curtesie for to requite,
gaue him great liuing, & dubd him a K nigh t.
21
When as our noble K ing came from Nottingam,
& w i th his nobles in westminster Lay,
recounting the sports & the pastime thé had tane
in this late p ro gresse along on the way;
of them all, great & small, hee did p ro test
the Miller of Mansfeild liked him best;
22
“And now, my Lo rd s,” q uo th the K ing , “I am determined,
against St Georges next sumptuous feast,
tha t this old Miller, o u r youngest confirmed K nigh t,
w i th his sonne Richard, shalbe both my guest;
for in this merryment it is my desire
to talke w i th this Iollye K nigh t & the younge squier.”
23
When as the Noble Lords saw the K ing s merriment,
thé were right Ioyfull & glad in their harts
a Pursiuant thé sent straight on this busines,
the w hi ch oftentimes vsed those p ar ts
when he came to the place where he did dwell,
His message merrilye then he did tell.
24
“God saue yo u r worshippe,” then said the messenger,
“& grant yo u r Ladye her owne harts desire;
& to yo u r sonne Rich ard good fortune & happinesse,
tha t sweet younge gentleman & gallant squier!
our K ing greets you well, & thus doth say,
‘you must come to the court on St. Georges day’;
25
“Therfore in any case fayle not to be in place”
“I-wis,” q uo th the Miller, “it is an odd Iest!
what shold wee doe there?” he sayd, “infaith I am halfe afraid.”
“I doubt,” q uo th Richard, “to be hanged att the least.”
“nay,” q uo th the Messenger, “you doe mistake;
our K ing p re pares a great feast for yo u r sake.”
26
“Then,” said the Miller, “now by my troth, Messenger,
thou hast contented my worshipp full well:
hold! there is 3 farthings to quite thy great gentleness
for these happy tydings w hi ch thou dost me tell.
let me see! hearest thou me? tell to our K ing ,
weèle wayte on his Mastershipp in eu er ye thing.”
27
The pursivant smyled at their simplicitye;
& making many leggs, tooke their reward,
& takeing then his leaue w i th great humilitye,
to the K ing s court againe hee repayred,
showing vnto his grace in eu er ye degree
the K nigh ts most liberall giffts & great bountye.
28
When hee was gone away, thus can the Miller say,
“heere comes expences & charges indeed!
now must wee needs be braue, tho wee spend all wee haue;
for of new garments wee haue great need.
of horsses & serving men wee must haue store,
w i th bridles & sadles & 20, things more.”
29
“Tushe, S i r Iohn,” q uo th his wiffe, “neither doe frett nor frowne!
you shall bee att noe more charges of mee!
for I will turne & trim vp my old russett gowne,
w i th eu er ye thing else as fine as may bee;
& on our Mill horsses full swift wee will ryd,
w i th pillowes & pannells as wee shall p ro vyde.”
30
In this most statelye sort thé rod vnto the court,
their lusty sonne Rich ard formost of all,
who sett vp by good hap a cockes fether in his cappe;
& soe thé ietted downe towards the K ing s hall,
the Merry old Miller w i th his hands on his side,
his wiffe like Maid Marryan did Mince at tha t tyde.
31
The K ing & his nobles tha t hard of their coming,
meeting this gallant K nigh t w i th this braue traine,
“welcome, S i r K nigh t,” q uo th hee, “w i th this yo u r gay Lady!
good S i r Iohn Cockle, once welcome againe;
& soe is this squier of courage soe free!”
Q uo th dicke, “abotts on you! doe you know me?”
32
Q uo th our K ing gentlye, “how shall I forgett thee?
thou wast my owne bed-fellow; well tha t I wot,
but I doe thinke on a tricke; tell me, pray thee, dicke,
how w i th farting we made the bed hott.”
“thou horson happy knaue,” the[n] q uo th the K nigh t,
“speake cleanly to our [king now,] or else goe shite!”
33
The king and his councellors hartilye laugh at this,
while the K ing tooke them by the hand.
w i th Ladyes & their maids, like to the Q ueene of spades
the Millers wiffe did most orderlye stand;
a milkemaids curtesye at eu er ye word,
& downe these folkes were set to the bord,
34
Where the K ing royally w i th princely Maiestye
sate at his dinner w i th Ioy & delight.
when he had eaten well, to resting then hee fell;
taking a bowle of wine, dranke to the K nigh t,
“heeres to you both!” he sayd, “in ale, wine, & beere,
thanking you hartilye for all my good cheere.”
35
Q uo th S i r Iohn Cookle, “Ile pledge you a pottle,
were it the best ale in Nottingam-shire.”
“but then,” said our K ing , “I thinke on a thinge,
some of yo u r lightfoote I wold we had heere.”
“ho: ho:” Q uo th Rich ard , “full well I may say it;
its knauerye to eate it & then to bewray it.”
36
“What! art thou hungry?” q uo th our K ing merrilye,
“infaith I take it verry vnkind;
I thought thou woldest pledg me in wine or ale heartil[y]”
“yee are like to stay,” q uo th Dicke, “till I haue dind;
you feed vs w i th twatling dishes soe small.
zounds! a blacke pudding is better then all.”
37
“I, marry,” q uo th our K ing , “ tha t were a daintye thing,
if wee cold gett one heere for to eate.”
w i th tha t, dicke straight arose, & plucket one out of his h[ose,]
w hi ch w i th heat of his breech began for to sweate.
the K ing made p ro fer to snatch it away;
“its meate for yo u r M aster , good S i r, you shall stay!”
38
Thus w i th great merriment was the time wholy spent;
& then the Ladyes p re pared to dance.
old S i r Iohn Cockle & Rich ard incontinent
vnto this practise the K ing did advance,
where-w i th the Ladyes such sport thé did make,
the Nobles w i th laughing did make their heads ake.
39
Many thankes for their paines the K ing did giue them then,
asking young Richard if he wold be wed:
“amongst these ladyes faire, tell me w hi ch liketh thee”
Q uo th hee, “Iugg Grumball w i th the red head;
shees my loue; shees my liffe; her will I wed;
shee hath sworne I shall haue her maidenhead.”
40
Then S i r Iohn Cockle the K ing called vnto him;
& of Merry sherwood made him ou er seer,
& gaue him out of hand 300 yearlye,
“but now take heede you steale noe more of my deere!
& once a quarter lets heare haue yo u r vew;
& thus, S i r Iohn Cockle, I bid thee adew!”
H ENERY , our royall K ing , wold goe a huntinge
to the greene fforrest soe pleasant & fayre,
to haue the harts chased, the daintye does tripping;
to merry Sherwood his nobles repayre;
hauke & hound was vnbound, all things p re pared
for the same to the game w i th good regard.
2
All a longe sum m ers day rode the K ing pleasantlye
w i th all his princes & nobles eche one,
chasing the hart & hind & the bucke gallantlye,
till the darke euening inforced them turne home.
then at last, ryding fast, he had lost quite
all his Lords in the wood in the darke night.
3
Wandering thus wearilye all alone vp & downe,
w i th a rude Miller he mett att the Last,
asking the ready way vnto fayre Nottingham.
“S i r,” Q uo th the Miller, “I meane not to Iest,
yett I thinke what I thinke truth for to say,
you doe not lightlye goe out of yo u r way.”
4
“Why, what dost thou thinke of me?” Q uo th our K ing merrily,
“passing thy iudgment vpon me soe breefe”
“good faith,” Q uo th the Miller, “I meane not to flatter thee,
“I gesse thee to bee some gentleman theefe;
stand thee backe in the darke! light not adowne,
lest I p re sentlye cracke thy knaues cro[wn]e!”
5
“Thou doest abuse me much,” q uo th our K ing , “saying thus.
I am a gentleman, and lodging doe lacke.”
“thou hast not,” q uo th the Miller, “a groat in thy pursse;
all thine inheritance hanges on thy backe.”
“I haue gold to discharge for tha t I call;
if itt be 40 pence, I will pay all.”
6
“If thou beest a true man,” then said the Miller,
“I sweare by my tole dish Ile lodge theo all night.”
“Heeres my hand,” q uo th our K ing , “ tha t was I eu er .”
“nay, soft,” q uo th the Miller, “thou mayst be a sprite;
better He know thee ere hands I will shake;
w i th none but honest men hands will I take.”
7
Thus they went all alonge into the Millers house,
where they were seeding of puddings & souce
the Miller first entered in, then after went the K ing ;
neu er came he in soe smoakye a house
“now,” q uo th hee, “let me see heere what you are.”
Q uo th our K ing , “looke you[r] fill, & doe not spare.”
8
“I like well thy countenance; thou hast an honest fac[e];
w i th my sonne Richard this night thou shalt Lye.”
Q uo th his wiffe, “by my troth it is a good hansome yout[h];
yet it is best, husband, to deale warrilye
art thou not a runaway? I pray thee, youth, tell;
show vs thy pasport & all shalbe well.”
9
Then our K ing p re sentlye, making lowe curtesie,
w i th his hatt in his hand, this he did say:
“I haue noe pasport, nor neu er was seruitor,
but a poore Courtyer rode out of the way;
& for yo u r kindnesse now offered to me,
I will requite it in eu er ye degree.”
10
Then to the Miller his wiffe whisp er d secretlye,
saing, “it seemeth the youth is of good kin
both by his apparell & by his Manners;
to turne him out, certainely it were a great sin.”
“yea,” q uo th hee, “you may see hee hath some grace,
when as he speaks to his betters in place.”
11
“Well,” q uo th the Millers wiffe, “younge man, welcome heer[e]!
& tho I sayt, well lodged shalt thou be;
fresh straw I will lay vpon yo u r bed soe braue,
good browne hempen sheetes likwise,” Q uo th shee
“I,” q uo th the goodman, “& when tha t is done,
thou shalt lye noe worse then our owne sonne.”
12
“Nay first,” q uo th Richard, “good fellowe, tell me true,
hast thou noe creep er s in thy gay hose?
art thou not troubled w i th the Scabbado?”
“pray you,” q uo th the K ing , “what things are those?
art thou not lowsye nor scabbed?” q uo th hee;
“if thou beest, surely thou lyest not w i th me.”
13
This caused our K ing suddenly to laugh most hartilye
till the teares trickled downe from his eyes
then to there supp er were thé sett orderlye,
to hott bag puddings & good apple pyes;
nappy ale, good & stale, in a browne bowle,
w hi ch did about the bord Merrilye troule.
14
“Heere,” q uo th the Miller, “good fellowe, Ile drinke to thee
& to all the courtnolls tha t curteous bee.”
“I pledge thee,” q uo th our K ing , “& thanke thee heartilye
for my good welcome in eu er ye degree;
& heere in like manner I drinke to thy sonne.”
“doe then,” saies Rich ard , “& quicke let it come.”
15
“Wiffe,” q uo th the Miller, “feitch me forth lightfoote,
tha t wee of his sweetnesse a litle may tast.”
a faire venson pastye shee feiched forth p re sentlye.
“eate,” q uo th the Miller “but first make noe wast;
heer is dainty Lightfoote.” “infaith,” q uo th our K ing ,
“I neu er before eate of soe dayntye a thinge.”
16
“Iwis,” said Richard, “noe dayntye att all it is,
for wee doe eate of it eu er ye day.”
“in what place,” sayd our K ing , “may be bought lik to th[is?]”
“wee neu er pay peennye for it, by my fay;
from merry Sherwood wee feitch it home heero;
now & then we make bold w i th our Kings deere.”
17
“Then I thinke,” q uo th our K ing , “ tha t it is Venison.”
“eche foole,” q uo th Richard, “full well may see tha t;
neu er are we w i thout 2 or 3 in the rooffe,
verry well fleshed & exellent ffatt
but I pray thee say nothing where-ere thou goe,
we wold not for 2 pence the K ing shold it know.”
18
“doubt not,” saies our K ing , “my p ro mised secresye;
the K ing shall neu er know more ont for mee.”
a cupp of lambes woole they dranke vnto him,
& to their bedds thé past p re sentlye
the Nobles next Morning went all vp & downe
for to seeke the K ing in eu er ye towne;
19
At last, att the Miller's house soone thé did spye him plaine,
as he was mounting vpon his faire steede;
to whome thé came p re sentlye, falling downe on their knees,
w hi ch made the Millers hart wofullye bleed.
Shaking & quaking before him he stood,
thinking he shold be hanged by the rood.
20
The K[ing] p er ceiuing him fearfully tremblinge,
drew forth his sword, but nothing he said;
the Miller downe did fall crying before them all,
doubtinge the K ing wold cut of his head.
but he, his kind curtesie for to requite,
gaue him great liuing, & dubd him a K nigh t.
21
When as our noble K ing came from Nottingam,
& w i th his nobles in westminster Lay,
recounting the sports & the pastime thé had tane
in this late p ro gresse along on the way;
of them all, great & small, hee did p ro test
the Miller of Mansfeild liked him best;
22
“And now, my Lo rd s,” q uo th the K ing , “I am determined,
against St Georges next sumptuous feast,
tha t this old Miller, o u r youngest confirmed K nigh t,
w i th his sonne Richard, shalbe both my guest;
for in this merryment it is my desire
to talke w i th this Iollye K nigh t & the younge squier.”
23
When as the Noble Lords saw the K ing s merriment,
thé were right Ioyfull & glad in their harts
a Pursiuant thé sent straight on this busines,
the w hi ch oftentimes vsed those p ar ts
when he came to the place where he did dwell,
His message merrilye then he did tell.
24
“God saue yo u r worshippe,” then said the messenger,
“& grant yo u r Ladye her owne harts desire;
& to yo u r sonne Rich ard good fortune & happinesse,
tha t sweet younge gentleman & gallant squier!
our K ing greets you well, & thus doth say,
‘you must come to the court on St. Georges day’;
25
“Therfore in any case fayle not to be in place”
“I-wis,” q uo th the Miller, “it is an odd Iest!
what shold wee doe there?” he sayd, “infaith I am halfe afraid.”
“I doubt,” q uo th Richard, “to be hanged att the least.”
“nay,” q uo th the Messenger, “you doe mistake;
our K ing p re pares a great feast for yo u r sake.”
26
“Then,” said the Miller, “now by my troth, Messenger,
thou hast contented my worshipp full well:
hold! there is 3 farthings to quite thy great gentleness
for these happy tydings w hi ch thou dost me tell.
let me see! hearest thou me? tell to our K ing ,
weèle wayte on his Mastershipp in eu er ye thing.”
27
The pursivant smyled at their simplicitye;
& making many leggs, tooke their reward,
& takeing then his leaue w i th great humilitye,
to the K ing s court againe hee repayred,
showing vnto his grace in eu er ye degree
the K nigh ts most liberall giffts & great bountye.
28
When hee was gone away, thus can the Miller say,
“heere comes expences & charges indeed!
now must wee needs be braue, tho wee spend all wee haue;
for of new garments wee haue great need.
of horsses & serving men wee must haue store,
w i th bridles & sadles & 20, things more.”
29
“Tushe, S i r Iohn,” q uo th his wiffe, “neither doe frett nor frowne!
you shall bee att noe more charges of mee!
for I will turne & trim vp my old russett gowne,
w i th eu er ye thing else as fine as may bee;
& on our Mill horsses full swift wee will ryd,
w i th pillowes & pannells as wee shall p ro vyde.”
30
In this most statelye sort thé rod vnto the court,
their lusty sonne Rich ard formost of all,
who sett vp by good hap a cockes fether in his cappe;
& soe thé ietted downe towards the K ing s hall,
the Merry old Miller w i th his hands on his side,
his wiffe like Maid Marryan did Mince at tha t tyde.
31
The K ing & his nobles tha t hard of their coming,
meeting this gallant K nigh t w i th this braue traine,
“welcome, S i r K nigh t,” q uo th hee, “w i th this yo u r gay Lady!
good S i r Iohn Cockle, once welcome againe;
& soe is this squier of courage soe free!”
Q uo th dicke, “abotts on you! doe you know me?”
32
Q uo th our K ing gentlye, “how shall I forgett thee?
thou wast my owne bed-fellow; well tha t I wot,
but I doe thinke on a tricke; tell me, pray thee, dicke,
how w i th farting we made the bed hott.”
“thou horson happy knaue,” the[n] q uo th the K nigh t,
“speake cleanly to our [king now,] or else goe shite!”
33
The king and his councellors hartilye laugh at this,
while the K ing tooke them by the hand.
w i th Ladyes & their maids, like to the Q ueene of spades
the Millers wiffe did most orderlye stand;
a milkemaids curtesye at eu er ye word,
& downe these folkes were set to the bord,
34
Where the K ing royally w i th princely Maiestye
sate at his dinner w i th Ioy & delight.
when he had eaten well, to resting then hee fell;
taking a bowle of wine, dranke to the K nigh t,
“heeres to you both!” he sayd, “in ale, wine, & beere,
thanking you hartilye for all my good cheere.”
35
Q uo th S i r Iohn Cookle, “Ile pledge you a pottle,
were it the best ale in Nottingam-shire.”
“but then,” said our K ing , “I thinke on a thinge,
some of yo u r lightfoote I wold we had heere.”
“ho: ho:” Q uo th Rich ard , “full well I may say it;
its knauerye to eate it & then to bewray it.”
36
“What! art thou hungry?” q uo th our K ing merrilye,
“infaith I take it verry vnkind;
I thought thou woldest pledg me in wine or ale heartil[y]”
“yee are like to stay,” q uo th Dicke, “till I haue dind;
you feed vs w i th twatling dishes soe small.
zounds! a blacke pudding is better then all.”
37
“I, marry,” q uo th our K ing , “ tha t were a daintye thing,
if wee cold gett one heere for to eate.”
w i th tha t, dicke straight arose, & plucket one out of his h[ose,]
w hi ch w i th heat of his breech began for to sweate.
the K ing made p ro fer to snatch it away;
“its meate for yo u r M aster , good S i r, you shall stay!”
38
Thus w i th great merriment was the time wholy spent;
& then the Ladyes p re pared to dance.
old S i r Iohn Cockle & Rich ard incontinent
vnto this practise the K ing did advance,
where-w i th the Ladyes such sport thé did make,
the Nobles w i th laughing did make their heads ake.
39
Many thankes for their paines the K ing did giue them then,
asking young Richard if he wold be wed:
“amongst these ladyes faire, tell me w hi ch liketh thee”
Q uo th hee, “Iugg Grumball w i th the red head;
shees my loue; shees my liffe; her will I wed;
shee hath sworne I shall haue her maidenhead.”
40
Then S i r Iohn Cockle the K ing called vnto him;
& of Merry sherwood made him ou er seer,
& gaue him out of hand 300 yearlye,
“but now take heede you steale noe more of my deere!
& once a quarter lets heare haue yo u r vew;
& thus, S i r Iohn Cockle, I bid thee adew!”
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