And the timber these two children[3] bare
Soe soone in sunder slode.
Then tooke they out theyr two good swordes,
And layden on full faste,
Till helme and hawberke, mail and sheelde,
They all were well-nye brast.
The Eldridge knighte was mickle of might,
And stiffe in stower did stande,
But Syr Cauline with a backward stroke
He smote off his right hand;
That soone he with paine and lacke of bloud
Fell downe on that lay-land.
Then up Syr Cauline lift his brande
All over his head so hye:
"And here I sweare by the holy roode,
Nowe, caytiffe, thou shalt dye."
Then up and came that ladye brighte,
Fast wringing of her hande:
"For the maydens love, that most you love,
Withold that deadlye brande:
"For the maydens love, that most you love,
Now smyte no more I praye;
And aye whatever thou wilt, my lord,
He shall thy hests obaye."
"Now sweare to mee, thou Eldridge knighte,
And here on this lay-land,
That thou wilt believe on Christe his laye,
And therto plight thy hand:
"And that thou never on Eldridge come
To sporte, gamon, or playe:
And that thou here give up thy armes
Until thy dying daye."
The Eldridge knighte gave up his armes
With many a sorrowfulle sighe;
And sware to obey Syr Caulines hest,
Till the tyme that he shold dye.
And he then up and the Eldridge knighte
Sett him on his saddle anone,
And the Eldridge knighte and his ladye
To theyr castle are they gone.
Then he tooke up the bloudy hand,
That was so large of bone,
And on it he founde five ringes of gold
Of knightes that had be slone.