A merry pleasant and delectable History, between King Edward the fourth, and a Tanner of Tamworth, as he road upon a time with his Nobles a hunting toward Drayton Basset. Very pleasant and merry to read. Printed at London by John Danter. 1596. A most pleasant History of King Edward the fourth, and a Tanner of Tamworth. IN Summer time when leaves grow green and blossoms bud on every tree, King Edward would a hunting ride, some pastime for to see. With hawk and hound he made him bound, with horn and eke with bow, Toward Drayton Basset he took his way, whosoever doth it know. But as our King on his way road forth, by eight a Clock of the day, He was ware of a tanner of merry Tamworth was in a acquaint of array. A good russet Coat the tanner had on, he thought it much pride, He road on a Mare cost four shillings, and under him a good Cow-hide. A pair of rough mittens the tanner did wear his hood was buckled under his chin, Yonder comes a good fellow said our King; that cares not whether he lose or win The tanner came singing on his Mare, with one so merry a note; He sung out of tune, he was past care, he had no need to grease his throat. Stand you here still my Lords now, under the green wood spray, And I will tide to yonder fellow, to wit what he will say. God speed good fellow said our King, thou art welcome sir quoth he, Which is the way to Drayton Basset, I pray thee tell to me. Marry that I will quoth the tanner, right as here I stand, The next pair of gallows that thou comes to turn in upon thy right hand. It is an unready way said our king, I tell you so moat I thee, I pray you show me the readiest way the town that I may see. Go play thee great javel quoth the tanner, I hold thee out of thy wit, All day have I ridden on Brock my mare, and I am fasting yet. Why we will to the town said our king, We will eat and drink and far of the best, and I will pay for the shot. God have mercy for nothing quoth the tanner, thou payest for none of mine, For I have as many Nobles in my purse, as thou hast pence in thine. God give you toy of yours said our king, and send thee well to proof, The tanner would feign have been a way, for he wend he had been a thief. What art thou good fellow quoth the tanner, of thee I am in great fear, For the clothes that thou wearest on thy back, are not for a Lord to wear. I never stole them said our king, I tell you sir by the Rood, No thou playest as many an unthrift doth, thou stand'st in the mids of thy good. What tidings hear you said our king, as you ride far and near, I hear no tidings quoth the tanner, but that cow hides are dear. Cow hides Cow hides then said our king, I know not what they be, Lo here thou mayst see one quoth the tanner. here lieth one under me. Know'st thou not a cow hide quoth the tanner, and hast gone so long to school: If ever thou come to dwell in the Country thou wilt be made a fool. What crafts man are you said our king, I pray you tell me now? I am a Barker quoth the tanner I am a Courtier said our King, forth of service I am worn, Full feign I would be your prentice he said, your cunning for to learn. Marry God forbidden quoth the tanner that such a prentice I should have, He would spend me more than he would get by forty shillings a year. One thing would I wit said our King if you will not seem strange, Though my horse be better than your Mare. with you feign would I change, Nay there thou liest yet quoth the tanner by Christ thou shalt abide, For if thou have Brock my Mare thou gets not my good Cowhide. I will not have it said our King I tell thee so moat I thee, I will not carry it away though you would give it me. Why then we must change quoth the tanner as needs me think thou wilt, But if you have Brock my Mare I will look to have some boot. That were against reason said our King, I tell you so moat I thee, My Horse is much better than your Mare, and that you may well see. A vice a vous now said the tanner, whether thou wilt or no, For my mare is gentle and will not kick but softly she will go. And thy horse is unhappy and un wieldie But always skipping here and there and therefore my mare is best. What boot will you have then said our king tell me now in this tide, Never a single penny quoth the tanner But a Noble of gold so red. Why there is your Noble said our king well paid look that you be. I would have sworn on a book quoth the tanner thou hadst not one penny. Now hath the king the tanner's Mare she is nothing fair fat nor round And the tanner hath the king's good steed the saddle is worth forty pound. The tanner took by the good Cowhide, of the ground where he stood, He threw it upon the King's Steed in the Saddle that was so good, The Steed stared upon the horns under the green wood spraie, He had weende the Devil of hell had been come to carry him thence away. The tanner looked as fast on the Stirrups, astonished sore he was, He marveled greatly in his mind, whether they were gold or bras. Help me good fellow quoth the tanner lightly that I were gone, My wife and my neighbours more and less, will say I am a Gentleman. The King took the tanner by the leg and lift him up a fit, The tanner girded out a good round fart, his belly it was so soft, You make great waste said our king, your courtesy is but small, Thy horse is so high; quoth the tanner again, I fear me of a fall. But when the tanner was in the saddle, the Steed began to blow and blast, And against the root of an old tree, the tanner down he cast. Abide good fellow said our king, ye make over great haste, Thou shalt have thy horse with a vengeance again, for my neck is well nigh braced. Why then we must change said our king, as me think needs thou wilt: But if you have your Mare again, I will look to have some boot. What boot wilt thou have quoth the tanner, tell me in this stowed. Never a groat nor penny said our king, but of thy gold twenty pound. Nay here is thy noble quath the tanner again, and Christ's blessing and mine, Yea here is twenty good groats more, go drink them at the wine. So moat I thee then said our king, it shall not slack my woe. For when a noble is in small money, full soon it is ago. Dost thou love to keep gold quoth the tanner. the king answered and said ye, Then I would thou were my near kinsman, for I think thou wilt thrive and thee. Now hath the tanner Brock his Mare, and under him his good cowhide, Our Noble King his horse again which was a well fair Steed. Now farewell good fellow quoth the tanner, I will vide no longer with thee, Carry yet a little while said our King and some pastime we will see. Our King set a Bugle to his mouth and blew a blast loud and small, Seven score Lords, Knights, Squires & Beomen came riding over a Dale. Now out alas quoth the tanner that ever I saw this tide, Thou art a strong thief yonder be thy fellows, will have my Mare and my Cowhide. They are no thieves than said our k●ng I tell you so moat I thee, It is my Lord of Drayton Basset. is come a hunting to me, But when before the king they came, they fell down on their knees, The tanner had liefer than a thousand pound, he had been from their companies. A collar a collar our king 'gan call, quoth the tanner it will breed sorrow, For after a collar cometh a halter, I traw I shall be hanged to morrow. Be not afraid tanner said our king, I tell thee so moat I thee. Lo here I make thee the best Esquire, in all the North Country. And Plumton Park I will give thee, and jacie in his tide, It is worth three hundred pounds by year, to prepare thy good Cowhide. God a mercy good fellow quoth the tanner. for this that thou hast done: The next time thou comest to Tamworth town, thou shalt have clouting leather for thy shone. Now God above speed well the Plough, and keep us from care and woe, Until every tanner in his Country.