[Footnote 10: wise-egger, a philosopher.]
[Footnote 17: a hood, or covering for the back part of the head.]
[Footnote 19: borders of gold and silver, on which was laid thin plates of either metal counterchanged, not unlike the present spangled laces.]
[Footnote 36: a manner of asking a favour.]
[Footnote 38: carefully, with circumspection.]
[Footnote 58: the hidden or secret part of.]
[Footnote 64: a country dance, still practised in the North.]
Onne Ruddeborne[1] bank twa pynynge Maydens fate, Theire teares faste dryppeynge to the waterre cleere; Echone bementynge[2] for her absente mate, Who atte Seyncte Albonns shouke the morthynge[3] speare. The nottebrowne Elinoure to Juga fayre 5 Dydde speke acroole[4], wythe languishment of eyne, Lyche droppes of pearlie dew, lemed[5] the quyvryng brine.
O gentle Juga! heare mie dernie[6] plainte, To fyghte for Yorke mie love ys dyghte[7] in stele; O maie ne sanguen steine the whyte rose peyncte, 10 Maie good Seyncte Cuthberte watche Syrre Roberte wele. Moke moe thanne deathe in phantasie I feele; See! see! upon the grounde he bleedynge lies; Inhild[8] some joice[9] of lyfe or else mie deare love dies.
Systers in sorrowe, on thys daise-ey'd banke, 15 Where melancholych broods, we wyll lamente; Be wette wythe mornynge dewe and evene danke; Lyche levynde[10] okes in eche the odher bente, Or lyche forlettenn[11] halles of merriemente, Whose gastlie mitches[12] holde the traine of fryghte[13], 20 Where lethale[14] ravens bark, and owlets wake the nyghte.
No moe the miskynette[15] shall wake the morne, The minstrelle daunce, good cheere, and morryce plaie; No moe the amblynge palfrie and the horne Shall from the lessel[16] rouze the foxe awaie; 25 I'll seke the foreste alle the lyve-longe daie; Alle nete amenge the gravde chyrche[17] glebe wyll goe, And to the passante Spryghtes lecture[18] mie tale of woe.
Whan mokie[19] cloudis do hange upon the leme Of leden[20] Moon, ynn sylver mantels dyghte; 30 The tryppeynge Faeries weve the golden dreme Of Selyness[21], whyche flyethe wythe the nyghte; Thenne (botte the Seynctes forbydde!) gif to a spryte Syrr Rychardes forme ys lyped, I'll holde dystraughte Hys bledeynge claie-colde corse, and die eche daie ynn thoughte. 35