14.

Shee curst the weauer and the walker that clothe that had wrought, & bade a vengeance on his crowne that hither hath itt brought.

15.

'I had rather be in a wood, vnder a greene tree, Then in King Arthurs court, shamed for to bee.'

16.

Kay called forth his ladye, & bade her come neere; Saies, 'Madam, & thou be guiltye, I pray thee hold thee there.'

17.

Forth came his ladye shortlye and anon, Boldlye to the mantle then is shee gone.

18.

When shee had tane the mantle, & cast it her about, Then was shee bare all aboue the buttocckes.

19.

Then euery knight that was in the Kings court Talked, laug[h]ed, & showted, full oft att that sport.

20.

Shee threw downe the mantle, that bright was of blee, Ffast with a red rudd to her chamber can shee flee.

21.

Forth came an old knight, pattering ore a creede, & he proferred to this litle boy 20 markes to his meede,

22.

& all the time of the Christmasse willinglye to ffeede; For why this mantle might doe his wiffe some need.

23.

When shee had tane the mantle, of cloth that was made, Shee had no more left on her but a tassell and a threed: Then euery knight in the Kings court bade euill might shee speed.

24.

She threw downe the mantle, that bright was of blee, & fast with a redd rudd to her chamber can shee flee.

25.

Craddocke called forth his ladye, & bade her come in; Saith, 'Winne this mantle, ladye, with a litle dinne.

26.

'Winne this mantle, ladye, & it shalbe thine If thou neuer did amisse since thou wast mine.'

27.

Forth came Craddockes ladye shortlye & anon, But boldlye to the mantle then is shee gone.

28.

When shee had tane the mantle, & cast itt her about, Vpp att her great toe itt began to crinkle & crowt; Shee said, 'Bowe downe, mantle, & shame me not for nought.

29.

'Once I did amisse, I tell you certainlye, When I kist Craddockes mouth vnder a greene tree, When I kist Craddockes mouth before he marryed mee.'

30.

When shee had her shreeuen, & her sines shee had tolde, The mantle stoode about her right as shee wold,

31.

Seemelye of coulour, glittering like gold; Then euery knight in Arthurs court did her behold.

32.

Then spake dame Gueneuer to Arthur our king: 'She hath tane yonder mantle, not with wright but with wronge.

33.

'See you not yonder woman that maketh her selfe soe cleane?

I haue seene tane out of her bedd of men fiueteene;

34.

'Preists, clarkes, & wedded men, from her by-deene; Yett shee taketh the mantle, & maketh her selfe cleane!'

35.

Then spake the litle boy that kept the mantle in hold; Sayes, 'King, chasten thy wiffe; of her words shee is to bold.

36.

'Shee is a bitch & a witch, & a whore bold; King, in thine owne hall thou art a cuchold.'

37.

A litle boy stoode looking ouer a dore; He was ware of a wyld bore, wold haue werryed a man.

38.

He pulld forth a wood kniffe, fast thither that he ran; He brought in the bores head, & quitted him like a man.

39.

He brought in the bores head, and was wonderous bold; He said there was neuer a cucholds kniffe carue itt that cold.

40.

Some rubbed their k[n]iues vppon a whetstone; Some threw them vnder the table, & said they had none.

41.

King Arthur & the child stood looking them vpon; All their k[n]iues edges turned backe againe.

42.

Craddoccke had a litle kniue of iron & of steele; He birtled the bores head wonderous weele, That euery knight in the Kings court had a morssell.

43.

The litle boy had a horne, of red gold that ronge; He said, 'There was noe cuckolde shall drinke of my horne, But he shold itt sheede, either behind or beforne.'

44.

Some shedd on their shoulder, & some on their knee; He that cold not hitt his mouth put it in his eye; & he that was a cuckold, euery man might him see.

45.

Craddoccke wan the horne & the bores head; His ladye wan the mantle vnto her meede; Euerye such a louely ladye, God send her well to speede!

[Annotations: 2.3: 'brauches,' brooches.