rly,' stately.]

OLD ROBIN OF PORTINGALE

+Text.+-- The Percy Folio is the sole authority for this excellent
ballad, and the text of the MS. is therefore given here _literatim_, in
preference to the copy served up 'with considerable corrections' by
Percy in the _Reliques_. I have, however, substituted a few obvious
emendations suggested by Professor Child, giving the Folio reading in a
footnote.

+The Story+ is practically identical with that of _Little Musgrave and
Lady Barnard_; but each is so good, though in a different vein, that
neither could be excluded.

The last stanza narrates the practice of burning a cross on the flesh of
the right shoulder when setting forth to the Holy Land--a practice which
obtained only among the very devout or superstitious of the Crusaders.
Usually a cross of red cloth attached to the right shoulder of the coat
was deemed sufficient.

OLD ROBIN OF PORTINGALE

1.
God! let neuer soe old a man
Marry soe yonge a wiffe
As did old Robin of Portingale!
He may rue all the dayes of his liffe.

2.
Ffor the Maior's daughter of Lin, God wott,
He chose her to his wife,
& thought to haue liued in quiettnesse
With her all the dayes of his liffe.

3.
They had not in their wed bed laid,
Scarcly were both on sleepe,
But vpp she rose, & forth shee goes
To Sir Gyles, & fast can weepe.

4.
Saies, 'Sleepe you, wake you, faire Sir Gyles
Or be not you within?'
... ... ...
... ... ...

5.
'But I am waking, sweete,' he said,
'Lady, what is your will?'
'I haue vnbethought me of a wile,
How my wed lord we shall spill.

6.
'Four and twenty knights,' she sayes,
'That dwells about this towne,
Eene four and twenty of my next cozens,
Will helpe to dinge him downe.'

7.
With that beheard his litle foote page,
As he was watering his master's steed,
Soe ... ... ...
His verry heart did bleed;

8.
He mourned, sikt, & wept full sore;
I sweare by the holy roode,
The teares he for his master wept
Were blend water & bloude.

9.
With that beheard his deare master
As in his garden sate;
Sayes, 'Euer alacke, my litle page,
What causes thee to weepe?

10.
'Hath any one done to thee wronge,
Any of thy fellowes here?
Or is any of thy good friends dead,
Which makes thee shed such teares?

11.
'Or if it be my head kookes man