omeward to allay the anxiety of thy
mother. Whenever I have need of a quick wit and a nimble brain I will
call on thee."

"Glad am I to have pleased thee," returned Francis. "There is naught that
I would not undertake for thee, my father."

"I believe it, Francis."

The next morning early they set forth on the return journey. Lord
Stafford seemed to have thrown aside the weight of misgiving that had
oppressed him on his way thither, and was full of the gayest spirits.
With laughter and story did he beguile the way, and once as he jestingly
spoke of her attire, he said laughingly,

"Listen, Francis, and I will tell thee of another such an one. Hast thou
ever heard how the serving man became a queen?"

"The serving man a queen?" cried the girl. "Why how could that be,
father?"

"Listen, and you shall hear." In a rich full voice he trolled the
following ballad:

THE FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING MEN

"You beauteous ladyes, great and small,
I write unto you one and all,
Whereby that you may understand
What I have suffered in the land.

"I was by birth a lady faire,
An ancient baron's only heire,
And when my goode old father died
Then I became a young knight's bride.

"And then my love built me a bower,
Bedecked with many a fragrant flower;
A braver bower you ne'er did see
Than my true love did build for me.

"And there I lived a lady gay
Till fortune wrought my love's decay;
For there came foes so fierce a band,
That soon they overran the land.

"They came upon us in the night,
And rent my bower and slew my knight;
And trembling hid in man's array,
I scarce with life escaped away.

"Yet though my heart was full of care,
Heaven would not suffer me to despair;
Wherefore in haste I changed my name
From fair Elise to Sweet Williame.

"And then withal I cut my hair,
Resolv'd my man's attire to wear;
And in my beaver, hose and band,
I travel'd far through many a land.

"At length all wearied with my toil,
I sate me down to rest awhile;
My heart it was so filled with woe,
That down my cheeks the tears did flow.