Page:The white doe of Rylstone - or, The fate of the Nortons. A poem (IA whitedoeofrylsto00wordrich).pdf/164

At court then for my dearest lord,
  His faithful borrowe I will bee.

Now nay, now nay, my ladye deare;
  Far lever had I lose my life,
Than leave among my cruell foes
  My love in jeopardy and strife.

But come thon hither, my little foot-page,
  Come thou hither unto mee,
To Maister Norton thou must goe
  In all the haste that ever may bee.

Commend me to that gentleman,
  And beare this letter here fro mee;
And say that earnestly I praye,
  He will ryde in my companie.

One while the little foot-page went,
  And another while he ran;
Untill he came to his journey’s end,
  The little foot-page never blan.

When to that gentleman he came,
  Down he kneeled on his knee;
And took the letter betwixt his hands,
  And lett the gentleman it see.

And when the letter it was redd,
  Affore that goodlye companie,
I wis if you the truthe wold know,
  There was many a weeping eye.