Classic Poem

But word is come to Warrington,
And Busye Hall is laid about;
S i r Iohn Butler and his merry men
Stand in ffull great doubt.

When they came to Busye Hall
Itt was the merke midnight,
And all the bridges were vp drawen,
And neuer a candle-light.

There they made them one good boate,
All of one good bull skinn;
Will iam Sauage was one of the ffirst
Tha t euer came itt w i thin.

Hee sayled ore his merrymen,
By two and two together,
And said itt was as good a bote
As ere was made of lether.

" Waken you, waken you, deare ffather!
God waken you w i thin!
For heere is yo u r vnekle Standlye
Come yo u r hall w i thin."

" If tha t be true, Ellen Butler,
These tydings you tell mee,
A hundred pound in good redd gold
This night will not borrow mee."

Then came downe Ellen Butler
And into her ffathers hall,
And then came downe Ellen Butler,
And shee was laced in pall.

" Where is thy ffather, Ellen Butler?
Haue done, and tell itt mee:"
" My ffather is now to London ridden,
As Christ shall haue p ar t of mee."

" Now nay, now nay, Ellen Butler,
Ffor soe itt must not bee;
Ffor ere I goe fforth of this hall,
Yo u r ffather I must see."

The sought tha t hall then vp and downe
Theras Iohn Butler lay;
The sought tha t hall then vp and downe
Theras Iohn Butler lay.

Ffaire him ffall, litle Holcrofft!
Soe merrilye he kept the dore,
Till tha t his head ffrom his shoulders
Came tumbling downe the ffloore.

" Yeeld thee, yeelde thee, Iohn Butler!
Yeelde thee now to mee!"
" I will yeelde me to my vnckle Stanlye,
And neere to ffalse Peeter Lee."

" A preist, a preist," saies Ellen Butler,
" To housle and to shriue!
A preist, a preist," sais Ellen Butler,
" While tha t my father is a man aliue!"

Then bespake him Will iam Sauage,
A shames death may hee dye!
Sayes, He shall haue no other preist
But my bright sword and mee.

The Ladye Butler is to London rydden,
Shee had better haue beene att home;
Shee might haue beggd her owne marryed lo rd
Att her good brother Iohn.

And as shee lay in leeue London,
And as shee lay in her bedd,
Shee dreamed her owne marryed lo rd
Was swiminnge in blood soe red.

Shee called vp her merry men all,
Long ere itt was day;
Saies, Wee must ryde to Busye Hall,
W i th all speed tha t wee may.

Shee mett w i th three Kendall men,
Were ryding by the way:
" Tydings, tydings, Kendall men,
I pray you tell itt mee!"

" Heauy tydings, deare madam;
Ffrom you wee will not leane;
The worthyest k nigh t in merry England,
Iohn Butler, Lord! hee is slaine!"

" Ffarewell, ffarwell, Iohn Butler!
Ffor thee I must neuer see:
Ffarewell, ffarwell, Busiye Hall!
For thee I will neu er come nye."

Now Ladye Butler is to London againe,
In all the speed might bee,
And when shee came before her prince,
Shee kneeled low downe on her knee.

" A boone, a boone, my leege!" shee sayes,
" Ffor Gods loue grant itt mee!"
" What is thy boone, Lady Butler?
Or what wold thou haue of mee?

" What is thy boone, Lady Butler?
Or what wold thou haue of mee?"
" Tha t ffalse Peeres of Lee, and my brother Stanley,
And Will iam Sauage, and all, may dye."

" Come you hither, Lady Butler,
Come you ower this stone;
Wold you haue three men ffor to dye,
All ffor the losse off one?

" Come you hither, Lady Butler,
With all the speed you may;
If thou wilt come to London, La dy Butler,
Thou shalt goe home Lady Gray."