Part 9

An apple upon his head he set, And then his bow he bent, Six score paces they were out met, And thither Cloudeslie went; There he drew out a fair broad arrow; His bow was great and long; He set that arrow in his bow, That was both stiff and strong.

He prayed the people that was there, That they would still stand: For he that shooteth for such a wag-er Hath need of a steady hand. Much people prayed for Cloudeslie, That his life saved might be; And when he made him ready to shoot, There was many a weeping ee.

Thus Cloudeslie cleft the apple in two, As many a man might see. "Now God forbid," then said the King, "That ever thou shoot at me! I give thee eighteen pence a day, And my bow shalt thou bear, And over all the north countree I make thee chief rid-er."--

"And I give thee seventeen pence a day," said the Queen, "By God and by my fay, Come fetch thy payment when thou wilt, No man shall say thee nay. William, I make thee a gentleman Of clothing and of fee, And thy two brethren yeomen of my chamber: For they are seemly to see;

"Your son, for he is tender of age, Of my wine-cellar shall he be, And when he cometh to man's estate, Better preferred shall he be. And, William, bring me your wife," said the Queen, "Me longeth her sore to see; She shall be my chief gentlewoman, To govern my nursery."

The yeomen thanked them full courteously, And said: "To some bishop we'll wend, Of all the sins that we have done To be assoiled at his hand." So forth be gone these good yeomen, As fast as they might hie; And after came and dwelt with the King, And died good men all three.

Thus ended the lives of these good yeomen, God send them eternal bliss; And all that with a hand-bow shooteth, That of heaven they may never miss!

BINNORIE.

There were two sisters sat in a bour; Binnorie, O Binnorie! There came a knight to be their wooer By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie.

He courted the eldest with glove and ring, But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing.

He courted the eldest with brooch and knife, But he lo'ed the youngest aboon his life.

The eldest she was vex-ed sair, And sore envi-ed her sister fair.

Upon a morning fair and clear She cried upon her sister dear:

"O, sister, come to yon river strand, And see our father's ships come to land."

She's ta'en her by the lily hand, And led her down to the river strand.

And as they walk-ed by the linn, The eldest dang the youngest in.

"O, sister, sister, reach your hand, And ye'll be heir to a' my land!"--

"Foul fa' the hand that I wad take To twin me o' my warld's make!"--

"O, sister, reach me but your glove, And sweet William shall be your love!"--

"Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove, And sweet William shall be my love:

"Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair Garr'd me gang maiden evermair."

She clasped her hands about a broom root, But her cruel sister she loosed them out.

Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam, Until she came to the miller's dam.

The miller's daughter was baking bread, She went for water as she had need.

"O father, father, draw your dam! There's either a maid or a milk-white swan!"

The miller hasted and drew his dam, And there he found a drowned wom-an.

You couldna see her yellow hair For gowd and pearls that were sae rare;

You couldna see her middle sma', Her gowden girdle was sae bra'.