'Sir Iohn Butler,' Percy Manuscript, p. 427;
Hales and Furnivall, III, 205.
| 1 |
But word is come to Warrington,
And Busye Hall is laid about;
Sir Iohn Butler and his merry men
Stand in full great doubt. |
| 2 |
When they came to Busye Hall
Itt was the merke midnight,
And all the bridges were vp drawen,
And neuer a candle-light. |
| 3 |
There they made them one good boate,
All of one good bull skinn;
William Sauage was one of the first
That euer came itt within. |
| 4 |
Hee sayled ore his merrymen,
By two and two together,
And said itt was as good a bote
As ere was made of lether. |
| 5 |
'Waken yoi, waken you, deare father!
God waken you within!
For heere is your vnckle Standlye
Come your hall within.' |
| 6 |
'If that be true, Ellen Butler,
These tydings you tell mee,
A hundred pound in good redd gold
This night will not borrow mee.' |
| 7 |
Then came downe Ellen Butler
And into her fathers hall,
And then came downe Ellen Butler,
And shee was laced in pall. |
| 8 |
'Where is thy father, Ellen Butler?
Haue done, and tell itt mee:'
'My father is now to London ridden,
As Christ shall haue part of mee.' |
| 9 |
'Now nay, now nay, Ellen Butler,
Ffor soe itt must not bee;
Ffor ere I goe forth of this hall,
Your father I must see.' |
| 10 |
The sought that hall then vp and downe
Theras Iohn Butler lay;
The sought that hall then vp and downe
Theras Iohn Butler lay. |
| 11 |
Ffaire him Ffall, litle Holcrofft!
Soe merrilye he kept the dore,
Till that his head from his shoulders
Came tumbling downe the floore. |
| 12 |
'Yeeld thee, yeelde thee, Iohn Butler!
Yeelde thee now to mee!'
'I will yeelde me to my vnckle Stanlye,
And neere to false Peeter Lee.' |
| 13 |
'A preist, a preist,' saies Ellen Butler,
'To housle and to shriue!
A preist, a preist,' sais Ellen Butler,
'While that my father is a man aliue!' |
| 14 |
Then bespake him William Sauage,
A shames death may hee dye!
Sayes, He shall haue no other preist
But my bright sword and mee. |
| 15 |
The Ladye Butler is to London rydden,
Shee had better haue beene att home;
Shee might haue beggd her owne marryed lord
Att her good brother Iohn. |
| 16 |
And as shee lay in leeue London,
And as shee lay in her bedd,
Shee dreamed her owne marryed lord
Was swiminnge in blood soe red. |
| 17 |
Shee called vp her merry men all,
Long ere itt was day;
Saies, Wee must ryde to Busye Hall,
With all speed that wee may. |
| 18 |
Shee matt with three Kendall men,
Were ryding by the way:
'Tydings, tydings, Kendall men,
I pray you tell itt mee!' |
| 19 |
'Heauy tydings, deare madam;
Ffrom you wee will not leane;
The worthyest knight in merry England,
Iohn Butler, Lord! hee is slaine!' |
| 20 |
'Ffarewell, farwell, Iohn Butler!
Ffor thee I must neuer see:
Ffarewell, farwell, Busiye Hall!
For thee I will neuer come nye.' |
| 21 |
Now Ladye Butler is to London againe,
In all the speed might bee,
And when shee came before her prince,
Shee kneeled low downe on her knee. |
| 22 |
'A boone, a boone, my leege!' shee sayes,
'Ffor Gods loue grant itt mee!'
'What is thy boone,Lady Butler?
Or what wold thou haue of mee? |
| 23 |
'What is thy boone, Lady Butler?
Or what wold thou haue of mee?'
'That false Peeres of Lee, and my brother Stanley,
And William Sauage, and all, may dye.' |
| 24 |
'Come you hither, Lady Butler,
Come you ower this stone;
Wold you haue three men for to dye,
All for the losse off one? |
| 25 |
'Come you hither, Lady Butler,
With all the speed you may;
If thou wilt come to London, Lady Butler,
Thou shalt goe home Lady Gray.' |
