the sake of fidelity to the original text, may be paralleled by
the similarly sudden lapse of taste in the _Nut-Brown Maid_. We can but
hope--as indeed is probable--that the objectionable lines are in each
case interpolated.

'Child,' as in 'Child Roland,' etc., is a title of courtesy = Knight.

CHILD WATERS

1.
Childe Watters in his stable stoode,
& stroaket his milke-white steede;
To him came a ffaire young ladye
As ere did weare womans weede.

2.
Saies, 'Christ you saue, good Chyld Waters!'
Sayes, 'Christ you saue and see!
My girdle of gold which was too longe
Is now to short ffor mee.

3.
'& all is with one chyld of yours,
I ffeele sturre att my side:
My gowne of greene, it is to strayght;
Before it was to wide.'

4.
'If the child be mine, faire Ellen,' he sayd,
'Be mine, as you tell mee,
Take you Cheshire & Lancashire both,
Take them your owne to bee.

5.
'If the child be mine, ffaire Ellen,' he said,
'Be mine, as you doe sweare,
Take you Cheshire & Lancashire both,
& make that child your heyre.'

6.
Shee saies, 'I had rather haue one kisse,
Child Waters, of thy mouth,
Then I would have Cheshire & Lancashire both,
That lyes by north & south.

7.
'& I had rather haue a twinkling,
Child Waters, of your eye,
Then I would have Cheshire & Lancashire both,
To take them mine oune to bee!'

8.
'To-morrow, Ellen, I must forth ryde
Soe ffar into the north countrye;
The ffairest lady that I can ffind,
Ellen, must goe with mee.'
'& euer I pray you, Child Watters,
Your ffootpage let me bee!'

9.
'If you will my ffootpage be, Ellen,
As you doe tell itt mee,
Then you must cut your gownne of greene
An inch aboue your knee.

10.
'Soe must you doe your yellow lockes
Another inch aboue your eye;
You must tell no man what is my name;
My ffootpage then you shall bee.'

11.
All this long day Child Waters rode,
Shee ran bare ffoote by his side;
Yett was he neuer soe curteous a knight,
To say, 'Ellen, will you ryde?'

12.
But all this day Child Waters rode,
She ran barffoote thorow the broome!
Yett he was neuer soe curteous a knight
As to say, 'Put on your shoone.'

13.
'Ride softlye,' shee said, 'Child Watters:
Why do you ryde soe ffast?
The child, which is no mans but yours,
My bodye itt will burst.'