But fyr Cauline with a backward' stroke,
He fmote off his right-hand;

That foone he with paine and lacke of bloud
Fell downe on that lay-land.

110

Then up fyr Cauline lift his brande

All over his head fo hye:

And here I sweare by the holy roode,

115

Nowe, caytiffe, thou shalt dye.

Then up and came that ladye brighte,
Fafte wringing of her hande :

For the maydens love, that moft you love,
Withold that deadlye brande.

For the maydens love, that most you love,
Now fmyte no more I praye;

And

aye whatever thou wilt, my lord,

He fhall thy hefts obaye,

120

Now sweare to mee, thou Eldridge knighte, 125

And here on this lay-land,

That thou wilt believe on Chrift his laye,

And therto plight thy hand:

And that thou never on Eldridge come

To fporte, gamon, or playe:

130

And that thou here give up thy armes

Until thy dying daye.

The

Ver. 109. aukeward. MS.

The Eldridge knighte gave up his armes
With many a forrowfulle fighe;

And fware to obey fyr Caulines heft,
Till the tyme that he fhold dye.

And he then up and the Eldridge knighte
Sett him in his faddle anone,

And the Eldridge knighte and his ladye

135

To theyr caftle are they gone.

140

O ladye, I have bin on the Eldridge hills;

155

These tokens I bring away.

Now

Now welcome, welcome, fyr Caulìne,

Thrice welcome unto mee,

For now I perceive thou art a true knighte,

Of valour bolde and free.

O ladye, I am thy own true knighte,

Thy hefts for to obaye :

And mought I hope to winne thy love!-

Ne more his tonge colde faye.

The ladye blufhed fcarlette redde,

And fette a gentill fighe :

Alas! fyr knight how may this bee,

For my degree's foe highe?

But fith thou hast hight, thou comely youth,

160

165

170

For and ever my father fholde it ken,
I wot he wolde us floe.

From that daye forthe that ladye fayre
Lovde fyr Caulìne the knighte:

180

From that daye forthe he only joyde

Whan fhee was in his fight.

185

Yea and oftentimes they mette
Within a fayre arbòure,

Where they in love and sweet daliaunce
Paft manye a pleafaunt houre.

PART THE SECOND.

E

VERYE white will have its blacke,
And everye fweete its fowre:
This founde the ladye Chriftabelle
In an untimely howre.

And into the arboure as he went

To reft his wearye feet,

He found his daughter and fyr Caulìne

There fette in daliaunce fweet.

The kinge hee fterted forthe, I-wys,

And an angrye man was hee:

10

Nowe, traytoure, thou shalt hange or drawe,

15

And rewe shall thy ladìe.

Then forthe fyr Cauline he was ledde,

And throwne in dungeon deepe :

And the ladye into a towre so hye,
There left to wayle and weepe.

The queene she was fyr Caulines friend,

And to the kinge fayd shee:

I praye you fave fyr Caulines life,

And let him banisht bee.

20

Now, dame, that traitor fhal be fent

25

Acrofs the falt sea fome :

But here I will make thee a band,

If ever he come within this land,

A foule deathe is his doome.

All woe-begone was that gentil knight
To parte from his ladyè;

30

And