He layd a bright browne fword by his fide,
And another att his feete:

And twentye good knights he placed at hand,
To watch him in his fleepe.'

And about the middle time of the night,

Came twentye-four traitours inn:

Sir Giles he was the foremost man,

The leader of that ginn.

Old Robin with his bright browne fword,

Sir Gyles head foon did winn: And feant of all thofe twenty-four, Went out one quick agenn.

None fave only a litle foot page,

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90

Crept forth at a window of stone:

And he had two armes when he came in,

95

And he went back with one.

Upp then came that ladie gaye

With torches burning bright:

She thought to have brought fir Gyles a drinke,
Butt the found her owne wedd knight.

The first thinge that she stumbled on

It was fir Gyles his foote:

Sayes, Ever alacke, and woe is mee!

Here lyes my sweete hart-roote.

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The

The next thinge that she stumbled on
It was fir Gyles his heade;
Sayes, Ever, alacke, and woe is me!
Heere lyes my true love deade.

Hee cutt the pappes beside her brest,
And did her body spille;

He cutt the eares beside her heade,
And bade her love her fille.

He called then up his litle foot-page,
And made him there his heyre;

And fayd henceforth my worldlye goodes
And countrye I forfweare.

He fhope the crosse on his right shouldèr,
Of the white clothe' and the redde*,
And went him into the holy land,

Wheras Christ was quicke and dead.

Ver. 118. fleshe. MS.

105

110

115

I 20

* Every perfon, who went on a CROISADE to the Holy Land, ufually wore a cross on his upper garment, on the right fhoulder, as a badge of his profeffion. Different nations were diftinguished by croffes of different colours: The English wore white; the French red; &c. This circumfance feems to be confounded in the ballad. [V. Spelman. Gloss.]

In the foregoing piece, Giles, fteward to a rich old merchant trading to Portugal, is qualified with the title of Sir, not as being a knight, but rather, I conceive, as having received an inferior order of priesthood.

IX.

CHILD WATER S.

C. 2.

CHILD is frequently used by our old writers, as a Title. It is repeatedly given to Prince Arthur in the Fairie Queen : and the fon of a king is in the fame poem called "Child "Triftram." [B. 5. c. 11. ft. 8. 13.-B. 6. ft. 36.-Ibid. c. 8. ft. 15.] In an old ballad quoted in Shakespeare's K. Lear, the hero of Ariofto is called Child Roland. Mr. Theobald fuppofes this ufe of the word was received along with their romances from the Spaniards, with whom Infante fignifies a "Prince." A more eminent critic tells us, that "in the old times of chivalry, the noble youth, "who were candidates for knighthood, during the time of "their probation were called Infans, Varlets, Damoyfels, "Bacheliers. The most noble of the youth were particu "larly called Infans." [Vid. Warb. Shakefp.] A late commentator on Spenfer obferves, that the Saxon word cnihz knight, fignifies also a Child." [See Upton's glofs to the F. 2.1

The Editor's folio MS. whence the following piece is taken (with fome corrections), affords feveral other ballads, wherein the word CHILD occurs as a title: but in none of thefe it fignifies "Prince.” See the fong intitled Gil Morrice, in this volume.

It ought to be observed, that the Word CHILD or CHIELD is ftill ufed in North Britain to denominate a Man, commonly with fome contemptuous character affixed to him, but Jometimes to denote Man in general.

Hilde Wat rs in his stable stoode

And ftroakt his milke white steede:

To him a fayre yonge ladye came

As ever ware womans weede.

Sayes,

Sayes, Chrift you fave, good Childe Waters;
Sayes, Christ you fave, and fee:
My girdle of gold that was too longe,

Is now too fhort for mee.

And all is with one chyld of yours,
I feele sturre att my fide:

My gowne of greene it is too straighte;
Before, it was too wide.

If the child be mine, faire Ellen, he fayd,
Be mine as you tell mee;

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10

Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both, 15 Take them your owne to bee.

If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he fayd,

Be mine, as you doe fweare:

Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,

And make that child your heyre.

Shee faies, I had rather have one kisse,

Child Waters, of thy mouth;

20

Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both,

That lye by north and fouth.

And I had rather have one twinkling,

Childe Waters, of thine ee:

Then I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both,

To take them mine owne to bee.

Ver. 13. be inne. MS.

25

To morrow, Ellen, I must forth ryde

Farr into the north countrie; The fairest lady that I can find, Ellen, must goe with mee.

'Thoughe I am not that lady fayre, 'Yet let me go with thee':

30

And ever I pray you, Child Watèrs,
Your foot-page let me bee.

35

As

If you will my foot-page be, Ellèn, you doe tell to mee;

Then you

muft cut your gowne of greene, An inch above your knee;

Soe muft you doe your yellowe lockes,

An inch above your ee:

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You must tell no man what is my name;

My foot-page then you fhall bee.

Shee, all the long day Child Waters rode,
Ran barefoote by his fide;

45

Yett was he never foe courteous a knighte,

To fay, Ellen, will you ryde?

Shee, all the long day Child Waters rode,
Ran barefoote thorow the broome;
Yett hee was never foe curteous a knighte,

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To fay, put on your fhoone,