Therefore, in any case, fail not to be in place.

I wis, quoth the miller, this is an odd jest: What should we do there? faith, I am half afraid.

I doubt, quoth Richard, to be hang'd at the least.

Nay, quoth the messenger, you do mistake; Our king he provides a great feast for your sake.

Then said the miller, By my troth, messenger, Thou hast contented my worship full well.

Hold, here are three farthings, to quite thy gentleness, For these happy tidings which thou dost tell.

Let me see, hear thou me; tell to our king, We'll wait on his mastership in everything.

The pursuivant smiled at their simplicity, And, making many legs, took the reward; And his leave taking with great humility To the king's court again he repaired; Showing unto his grace, merry and free, The knight's most liberal gift and bounty.

When he was gone away, thus 'gan the miller say, Here come expenses and charges indeed; Now must we needs be brave, tho' we spend all we have; For of new garments we have great need: Of horses and serving-men we must have store, With bridles and saddles, and twenty things more.

Tush, sir John, quo' his wife, why should you fret, or frown?

You shall ne'er be at no charges for me; For I will turn and trim up my old russet gown, With everything else as fine as may be; And on our mill-horses swift we will ride, With pillows and pannels, as we shall provide.

In this most stately sort, rode they unto the court, Their jolly son Richard rode foremost of all; Who set up, for good hap,[135] a c.o.c.k's feather in his cap, And so they jetted[136] down to the king's hall; The merry old miller with hands on his side; His wife, like maid Marian, did mince at that tide.

The king and his n.o.bles that heard of their coming, Meeting this gallant knight with his brave train; Welcome, sir knight, quoth he, with your gay lady: Good sir John c.o.c.kle, once welcome again: And so is the squire of courage so free.

Quoth d.i.c.k, A bots on you! do you know me?

The king and his courtiers laugh at this heartily, While the king taketh them both by the hand; With the court-dames and maids, like to the queen of spades, The miller's wife did so orderly stand.

A milk-maid's courtesy at every word; And down all the folks were set to the board.

There the king royally, in princely majesty, Sate at his dinner with joy and delight; When they had eaten well, then he to jesting fell, And in a bowl of wine drank to the knight: Here's to you both, in wine, ale, and beer; Thanking you heartily for my good cheer.

Quoth sir John c.o.c.kle, I'll pledge you a pottle, Were it the best ale in Nottinghamshire: But then, said our king, now I think of a thing; Some of your lightfoot I would we had here.

Ho! ho! quoth Richard, full well I may say it, 'Tis knavery to eat it, and then to betray it.

Why art thou angry? quoth our king merrily; In faith I take it now very unkind: I thought thou wouldst pledge me in ale and wine heartily.

Quoth d.i.c.k, You are like to stay till I have din'd: You feed us with t.w.a.tling dishes so small; Zounds, a black-pudding is better than all.

Thus in great merriment was the time wholly spent; And then the ladies prepared to dance.

Old Sir John c.o.c.kle, and Richard, incontinent Unto their places the king did advance.

Here with the ladies such sport they did make, The n.o.bles with laughing did make their sides ache.

Many thanks for their pains did the king give them, Asking young Richard then, if he would wed; Among these ladies free, tell me which liketh thee?

Quoth he, Jugg Grumball, Sir, with the red head: She's my love, she's my life, her will I wed; She hath sworn I shall have her wedding bed.

Then sir John c.o.c.kle the king called unto him, And of merry Sherwood made him o'erseer; And gave him out of hand three hundred pound yearly: Take heed now you steal no more of my deer: And once a quarter let's here have your view; And now, sir John c.o.c.kle, I bid you adieu.

FOOTNOTES:

[133] The king says this.

[134] Ale and roasted apples.

[135] For good luck.

[136] Strutted.