of courage so free.
Quoth Dick, 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 Cockle, 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 Dick, You are like to stay till I have din'd:
You feed us with twatling 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 Cockle, and Richard, incontinent
Unto their places the king did advance.
Here with the ladies such sport they did make,
The nobles 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 Cockle 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 Cockle, I bid you adieu.

FOOTNOTES:

[133] The king says this.

[134] Ale and roasted apples.

[135] For good luck.

[136] Strutted.

LONDON:

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