The two constant Lovers in Scotland: OR, A pattern of true Love expressed in this ensuing Dialogue, between an Earls daughter in Scotland, and a poor Servingman; she refusing to marry the Lord Fenix, which her Father would force her to take, but clavae to her first Love Tomey o'th' Pots.  

To a pleasant new tune.  

IN Scotland there are Ladies fair,  
there's Ladies of Honour & high degree,  
hay down, down a down derry:  
But one excels above all the rest,  
and the Earl of Arundels' daughter is she.  
With hay down, derry down,  
long derry down derry.   

Both Knights and Lords of great account,  
comes thither a wooing for this Lady's sake:  
It fell on a day that E. Arundel said,  
daughter which of these lords will you take   

Or which of them now likes thee best,  
speak truth to me, but do not lie:  
Speak truth to me, and do not jest,  
who must heir my live when as I die.   

Lord Fenix is a Lord of high degree,  
and hath both Lands and live free:  
I tell thee daughter thou shalt him have,  
if thou wilt take any counsel at me.   

With that the young lady fell down of her knee,  
& trickling tears ran down her eye:  
As you are my father, and loves me dear,  
my heart is set where it must be.   

On a Servingman which is so poor,  
for all he hath is but pounds three:  
He was the first Lover that ere I had,  
and the last I mean him for to be.   

With that her father was sore offended,  
and fast he road at that same tide,  
Until he to the Lord Fenix came,  
and said, take thee my daughter for thy Bride   

The young Lady called up Jack her footboy  
I dare trust no man alive but thee:  
Thou must go my earand to Strawbery-Castle,  
to the place where Tomy othpotts doth lie.   

And carry this Letter in Parchment fair,  
that I have sealed with mine own hand:  
And when Tomey looks this Letter upon,  
be sure his Countenance thou understand.   

And if he either laugh or smile,  
he is not sorry at his heart:  
I must seek a new love where I will,  
for small of Tomey must be my part.   

But if he wax red in the face,  
and tricling tears fall from his eyes:  
Then let my Father say what he will,  
for true to Tomey I'll be always.   

And thou must tell him by word of mouth▪  
if this Letter cannot be read at that tide:  
That this day sen night & no longer hence,  
I must be lord William Fenix bride.   

The boy took leave of his Lady gay,  
and to Strawberry Castle he did him fast high:  
A Servingman did guide him the way,  
to the place where Tomey o'th' Pots did lie   

O Christ thee save good Tomey oath Pots,  
and Christ thee save as I thee see,  
Come read this Letter Tomey oath Potts,  
as thy true love hath sent to thee.   

Then Tomey he waxed red in the face,  
and trickling tears ran down his eyes:  
But never a letter could he read,  
if he should be hanged on th' gallow-tree   

She bid me tell you by word of mouth,  
if this letter could not be read at this tide  
That this day sen night & no longer hence  
she must be Lord William Fenix bride.   

Now in faith said Tomey, she is mine own,  
as all hereafter shall understand:  
Lord Fenix shall not marry her by night or day,  
unless he win her by his own hand   

For on Gilforth green I will her meet,  
and if she love me bid her for me pray:  
And there I will lose my life so sweet,  
or else her wedding I will stay.   

He called this boy unto accounts,  
think whether he loved this Lady gay:  
He gave him forty shilling for his message,  
and all he had was but pounds three.   

The boy took his leave of Tomey oath Potts,  
fearing that he had stayed too late:  
The young Lady did wait of his coming,  
and met him five miles out of the gate.   

O boney boy thou art not of age,  
therefore thou canst both mock & scorn:  
I will not believe what my love hath said,  
unless thou on this book be sworn.   

Now in faith gay lady I will not lie,  
and kissed the book full soon did he:  
One letter he could not read at that time,  
if he should have been hanged at gallo-tree   

He said in faith you are his own,  
as all hereafter shall understand:  
Lord Fenix shall not marry you by night or day  
unless he win you with his own hand.   

For on Gilforth green he will you meet,  
& if you love him you must for him pray:  
And there he will lose his life so sweet,  
or else your wedding he will stay.   

Let us leave talking of the boy,  
That with his gay Lady is turned home:  
Now let us go talk of Tomey oath Potts,  
and how to his master he is gone.   

WHen Tomey came his Master before,  
he kneeled down upon his knee,  
What tidings hast thou brought my man,  
as that thou makes such courtesy.   

O Christ you save dear Master he said,  
and Christ you save as I you see,  
for Gods love Master come read me this Letter,  
which my true love hath sent to me.   

His Master took this Letter in hand,  
and looked o'er it with his eye,  
In faith I am fain my man he said,  
as thou hast a Lady so true to thee.   

I have a Lady true to me,  
and false to her I'll never be:  
But ere this day senninght, and no longer hence,  
I must lose my love through poverty.   

Lord Fenix he will her have,  
because he hath more wealth than I:  
now hold thy tongue my man he said,  
for before that day many a one shall die   

O Tomey said he, I love thee well,  
and something for thee I will do,  
For Strawberry Castle shall be thine own  
so long as thou dost mean to woe.   

One half of my Lands I'll give thee a year,  
the which will raise thee many a pound,  
Before that thou lose thy bonny sweetheart,  
thou shalt drop angels with him to the ground.   

I have thirty Steeds in my Stable, strong,  
which any of them is good indeed,  
And a bunch of Spears hangs them among,  
and a Nag to carry thee swift with speed.   

My Suit of Armour thou shalt put on,  
so well it becomes thy fair body:  
And when thou comest on Gilford green  
thou'll look more like a Lord than he.   

My men shall all rise and with thee go,  
and I myself with thee will ride:  
And many a bloody wound will we make  
before that thou shalt lose thy bride.   

Now Christ reward you dear master he said  
for the good will you bear to me:  
But I trust to God in a little space,  
with my own hands to set her free.   

I'll none of your horse's master he said,  
for they cannot well skill of their trade:  
None but your grey Nag that hath a cut tail  
for he'll either, stand or turn again.   

One spear Master and no more,  
no more with me that I will take:  
And if that Spear it will not serve my turn,  
I'll suffer death for my true love's sake.    

The second part,  
To the same tune.  

EArly in the morning when day did spring  
on Gilforth green be time was he.  
There did he espy Lord Fenix coming,  
and with him a royal company.   

Gold Chains about their necks threescore,  
full well might seem fine Lords to ride:  
The young Lady followed far behind.  
sore against her will that she was a bride.   

There Tomey passed this Lady by,  
but never a word to her did say:  
Then strait to Lord Fenix he is gone,  
and gives him the right time of the day.   

O Christ you save Lord Fenix he said,  
And Christ you save as I you see:  
Thou art welcome Tomey oath Potts he said,  
a serving man into our company.   

O how doth thy Master Tomey oath Potts,  
tell me the truth and do not lie:  
My Master is well then Tomey replied,  
I thank my Lord and I thank not thee.   

O Christ you save Lord Fenix he said,  
and Christ you save as I you see:  
You may have choice of Ladies enough,  
and not take my true love from me.   

With that Lord Fenix was sore offended,  
and fast away he road at that tide:  
God forbidden Lord Fenix he said,  
a serving man should hold me from my bride   

But afterward Tomey did him meet,  
as one that came not thither to fly:  
And said Lord Fenix take thou my love,  
for I will not lose her cowardly.   

O meet me here to morrow he said,  
as thou art a man come but thyself,  
And if that I come any more,  
the Devil fetch my soul to hell.   

And so this wedding day was stayed,  
the Lady and Lords they turned home;  
The Lady made merry her maidens among  
& said Tomey I wish thou may win thy own.   

Early in the morning when day did spring  
on Gilforth green be time was he  
He waited long for Lord Fenix coming,  
but Lord William Fenix he could not see.   

We waited long and very long,  
until the Sun waxed very high,  
There was he beware of Lord Fenix coming,  
and with him other men three.   

Thou art a false thief Lord Fenix he said,  
because thou break'st thy promise with me▪  
Thou promisedst me to come by thyself,  
and thou hast brought other men three.   

But in regard I call thee thief.  
because thou hast broken promise with me;  
I vow and you were as many more,  
forsaken sure you should not be.   

These are my men Lord Fenix said,  
that every day do wait on me;  
If any of them do strike a stroke,  
in faith then hanged he shall be.   

They fetched a race and road about,  
and then they met full eagerly,  
Lord Fenix away by Tomeys' body glowed,  
and he ran him quite thorough the Thigh.   

Out of his saddle bore him he did,  
and laid his body on the ground,  
His Spear he ran thorough Tomeys' Thigh,  
in which it made a grievous wound.   

But Tomey quickley start up again,  
for as he was a Physician good,  
He laid his hand upon the wound,  
and quickly he did staunch the blood.   

Full lightly he leapt to his saddle again,  
forth of it long he did not stay:  
For he weighed more of the Lady's love,  
then of any life he had that day.   

They fetched a race and road about.  
the blood in Tomeys' body began to warm  
He away by Lord Fenix body glowde,  
and he ran him quite through the arm.   

Out of his saddle bore him he hath,  
of from his steed that mounted so high:  
Now rise and fight Lord Fenix he said,  
or else yield the Lady unto me.   

I'll yield the Lady unto thee,  
my arm no more my spear will guide:  
It was never better likely to prove,  
to hold a poor serving man from his Bride.   

But if thou wilt thus deal then with me,  
lest of this matter should rise any voice:  
That I have gotten the victory,  
than thou shalt have another choice.   

Yonder is a lane of two miles long,  
at either end then stand will we:  
we'll set the Lady in the midst,  
and whether she come to take her for me.   

If thou wilt thus deal said Fenix then,  
thou'll save my credit and honour high.  
And whether I win her or go without her,  
I'll be willing to give ten pounds to thee.   

There was a lane of two miles long,  
the Lady was set in the middle that tide  
She laughed & made merry her maids among  
& said Tomey o'th' Pots now I'll be thy bride,   

Now all you Ladies of high degree,  
and maids that married yet would be:  
Marry no man for goods or lands,  
unless you love him faithfully.   

For I had a love of my own she said,  
at Strawberrie Castle there lived he:  
I'll change his name from Tomey oath Pots,  
and the young E. of Arundel now he shall be   
FINIS.