"I never stole them," quoth our king,
"I tell you, Sir, by the roode."
"Then thou playest, as many an unthrift doth,
And standest in midds of thy goode."[4]
"What tydinges heare you," sayd the kynge,
"As you ryde farre and neare?"
"I heare no tydinges, Sir, by the masse,
But that cowe-hides are deare."
"Cow-hides! cow-hides! what things are those?
I marvell what they bee? "
"What, art thou a foole?" the tanner reply'd
"I carry one under mee."
"What craftsman art thou," said the king,
"I praye thee tell me trowe."
"I am a barker,[5] Sir, by my trade;
Nowe tell me what art thou?"
"I am a poor courtier, Sir," quoth he,
"That am forth of service worne;
And faine I wolde thy prentise bee,
Thy cunninge for to learne."
"Marrye heaven forfend, the tanner replyde,
That thou my prentise were:
Thou woldst spend more good than I shold winne
By fortye shilling a yere."
"Yet one thinge wolde I, sayd our king,
If thou wilt not seeme strange:
Thoughe my horse be better than thy mare,
Yet with thee I fain wold change."
"Why if with me thou faine wilt change,
As change full well maye wee,
By the faith of my bodye, thou proude fellòwe
I will have some boot of thee."
"That were against reason," sayd the king,
"I sweare, so mote I thee:
My horse is better than thy mare,
And that thou well mayst see.
"Yea, Sir, but Brocke is gentle and mild,
And softly she will fare:
Thy horse is unrulye and wild, I wiss;
Aye skipping here and theare."
"What boote wilt thou have?" our king reply'd;
"Now tell me in this stound."
"Noe pence, nor half pence, by my faye,
But a noble in gold so round."