your land for to loose me.

22.
'And fare thou well, Much, Miller's son!
Much, Miller's son, I say;
Thou has been better at mirk midnight
Than ever thou was at noon o' the day.

23.
'And fare thou well, my good lord Clough!
Thou art thy father's son and heir;
Thou never saw him in all thy life
But with him durst thou break a spear.

24.
'We are brothers childer nine or ten,
And sisters children ten or eleven;
We never came to the field to fight,
But the worst of us was counted a man.'

25.
But then bespake him Hobby Noble,
And spake these words unto him;
Says 'Sleepest thou, wakest thou, John o' the Side,
Or art thou this castle within?'

26.
'But who is there,' quoth John o' the Side,
'That knows my name so right and free?'
'I am a bastard-brother of thine;
This night I am comen for to loose thee.'

27.
'Now nay, now nay,' quoth John o' the Side,
'It fears me sore that will not be,
For a peck of gold and silver,' John said,
'In faith this night will not loose me.'

28.
But then bespake him Hobby Noble,
And till his brother thus said he;
Says 'Four shall take this matter in hand,
And two shall tent our geldings free.'

29.
Four did break one door without,
Then John brake five himsel';
But when they came to the iron door,
It smote twelve upon the bell.

30.
'It fears me sore,' said Much, the Miller,
'That here taken we all shall be;'
'But go away, brethren,' said John o' the Side,
'For ever alas! this will not be.'

31.
'But fie upon thee!' said Hobby Noble;
'Much, the Miller, fie upon thee!
It sore fears me,' said Hobby Noble,
'Man that thou wilt never be.'

32.
But then he had Flanders files two or thee,
And he filed down that iron door,
And took John out of the New Castle,
And said 'Look thou never come here more!'

33.
When he had him forth of the New Castle,
'Away with me, John, thou shalt ride.'
But ever alas! it could not be,
For John could neither sit nor stride.

34.
But then he had sheets two or three,
And bound John's bolts fast to his feet,
And set him on a well good steed,
Himself on another by him set.

35.
Then Hobby Noble smiled and lough,
And spoke these words in mickle pride;
'Thou sits so finely on thy gelding
That, John, thou rides like a bride.'

36.
And