PART I.

In famous York city a farmer did dwell, Who was belov'd by his neighbours full well; He had a good wife that was virtuous and fair, And by her he had a child every year.

In seven years' time six children they had, Which made both the father and mother's heart glad. But a little time, as we do hear say, This farmer in wealth and stock did decay;

Although that once he had riches great store, In little time after he quickly grew poor; He strove all he could, but alas! could not thrive, Nor hardly could keep his poor children alive.

But children came faster than silver or gold, For his wife she conceived again, we are told, And when her time came, in hard travail she fell; But, if you will mind, a strange wonder I'll tell.

A rich noble knight did chance to ride by, And hearing this woman to shriek and cry; He being well learned in planets and signs, Did look on a book which puzzled his mind:

For the more he did look, still the more he did read, And found that the fate this young child had decreed, Who was born in that house that same hour and tide, He found it was she that must be his sweet bride.

But judge how the knight was disturbed in mind, When he in that book his own fortune did find; He quickly rode home, but was sorely oppress'd; From that very moment he could have no rest;

All night he did tumble and toss in his bed, And very strange projects did run in his head; Then he was resolved very quickly indeed, To alter that fortune he found was decreed.

With a murdering heart next morning he rose, And to the house of the farmer he goes; Then asking the man, with a heart full of spite, If the child was alive that was born last night?

"Worthy sir," says the farmer, "although I'm poor, I had one born last night, and six long before; Four sons and three daughters I now have alive, Which are all in good health and likely to thrive."

The knight he reply'd, "If that seven you have, Let me have the youngest, I'll keep her most brave; For you very well with one daughter can spare, Which, if you will grant, I will make her my heir:

"For I am a knight of noble degree, And if you will part with your child unto me, Full three hundred pounds unto you I will give, When I from your hands your daughter receive."

The father and mother, with tears in their eyes, Did hear this fine offer, and were in surprize; And seeing the knight so gallant and gay, Presented the infant unto him that day.

But they spoke to him with words most mild, "We beseech you, kind sir, to be kind to our child." "You need not fear it," the knight did say, "For I will maintain her most gallant and gay."

Then with this sweet baby away he did ride, Until that he came to a broad river side; With cruelty bent he resolved, indeed, To drown the young infant that moment with speed.

Says he, "If you live, you must needs be my wife; But I am resolved to bereave you of life: For 'till you are dead I no other can have, Therefore you shall lie in a watery grave."

In speaking these words, that moment, they say, He flung the sweet babe in the river straightway; And being well pleased when this he had done, Did leap on his horse and quickly rode home.

But mind how good fortune did for her provide, For the child was drove safe on her back by the tide. There was a man fishing as fortune would have, Who saw the child floating upon the salt wave.

He soon took her up but was in amaze, He kiss'd her, and bless'd her, and on her did gaze; And seeing he had ne'er a child in his life, He presently carried her home to his wife.

His wife she was pleased the child for to see, And said, "My dear husband, be ruled by me, Since we have no child, if you let me alone, We'll keep this sweet baby and call it our own."

The good man consented, as I have been told, And spared for neither silver nor gold, Until she was aged eleven full years; And then her sweet beauty began to appear.