were particularly called Infans.” (Vide Warb. Shakesp.] A late, commentator on Spenser observes, that the Saxon word cniht knight, signifies also a Child. (See Upton's Gloss. to the Faerie Queen.]

The Editor's MS. collection, whence the following piece is taken, affords several other ballads, wherein the word Child occurs as title: but in none of these it signifies Prince. See the song entitled Gil Morrice in this volume.

It ought to be observed that the word Child, or Chield, is still used in North Britain to denominate a man, commonly with some contemptuous character affixed to him, but sometimes to denote man in general.

CHILDE WATERS in his stable stoode

And stroakt his milke-white steede:
To him a fayre yonge ladye came

As ever ware womans weede.

5

Sayes, Christ you save, good Childe Waters:

Sayes, Christ you save, and see:
My girdle of gold that was too longe,

Is now too short for mee.

10

And all is with one childe of yours,

I feele sturre at my side:
My gowne of greene it is too straighte;

Before, it was too wide.
If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he sayd,

Be mine as you tell mee;
Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,

Take them your owne to bee.
If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he sayd,

Be mine, as you doe sweare:
Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,

And make that childe your heyre.

15

20

Shee sayes, I had rather have one kisse,

Childe Waters, of thy mouth;
Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both

That lye by north and southe.
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.

25

ܕ

30

35

40

To morrowe, Ellen, I must forth ryde

Farr into the north countree; The fayrest ladye that I can finde,

Ellen, must goe with mee.
“Thoughe I am not that ladye fayre,

Yet let me go with thee:'
And ever I pray you, Childe Waters,

Your foot-page let me bee.
If you will my foot-page bee, Ellen,
As
you

doe tell to mee;
Then you must cut your gowne of greene,

An inch above your knee:
Soe must you doe your yellowe lockes,

An inch above your ee:
You must tell no man what is my name;

My footpage then you shall bee.
Shee, all the long daye Childe Waters rode,

Ran barefoote by his syde;
Yet was he never soe courteous a knighte,

To say, Ellen, will you ryde?
Shee, all the long daye Childe Waters rode,

Ran barefoote thorow the broome;
Yet was hee never soe courteous a knighte,

To say, put on your shoone.

45

50

Ride softlye, shee sayd, O Childe Waters,

Why doe you ryde so fast?
The childe, which is no mans but thine,

My bodye itt will brast.

55

Hee sayth, seest thou yond water, Ellen,

That flows from banke to brimme. I trust in God, O Childe Waters,

You never will seel me swimme.

60

But when shee came to the water syde,

She sayled to the chinne:
Nowe the Lord of heaven be my speede,

For I must learne to swimme.

65

The salt waters bare up her clothes;

Our Ladye bare up her chinne:
Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord,

To see faire Ellen swimme.

70

1 1

75

And when shee over the water was

Shee then came to his knee:
Hee sayd, Come hither, thou fayre Ellen,

Loe yonder what I see.
Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen?

Of redd gold shines the yate:
Of twenty foure faire ladyes there
The fairest is

my

mate.
Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellen ?

Of redd golde shines the towre:
There are twenty four fayre ladyes there,

The fayrest is my paramoure.
I see the hall now, Childe Waters,

Of redd golde shines the yate:

80

85

90

God give you good now of yourselfe,

And of your worthye mate.
I see the hall now, Childe Waters,

Of redd golde shines the towre:
God give you good now of yourselfe,

And of your paramoure.
There twenty four fayre ladyes were

A playing at the ball:
And Ellen the fayrest ladye there,

Must bring his steed to the stall.
There twenty four fayre ladyes were,

A playinge at the chesse;
And Ellen the fayrest ladye there,

Must bring his horse to gresse.
And then bespake Childe Waters sister,

These were the wordes sayd shee:
You have the prettyest page, brother,

That ever I did see.

95

100

105

But that his bellye it is soe bigge,

His girdle stands soe hye:
And ever I pray you, Childe Waters,

Let him in my chamber lye.
It is not fit for a little foot page,

That has run throughe mosse and myre,
To lye in the chamber of any ladye,

That weares soe riche attyre.
It is more meete for a little foot page,

That has run throughe mosse and myre,
To take his supper upon his knee,

And lye by the kitchen fyre.

110

Ver. 84, worldlye. MS.

115

120

125

Now when they had supped every one,

To bedd they tooke theyr waye:
He sayd, come hither, my little foot-page,

And hearken what I saye.
Goe thee downe into yonder towne,

And lowe into the streete;
The fayrest ladye that thou canst finde,

Hyre in mine armes to sleepe,
And take her up in thine armes twaine,

For filing% of her feete.
Ellen is gone into the towne:

And lowe into the streete:
The fayrest ladye that shee colde finde,

She hyred in his armes to sleepe;
And tooke her up in her armes twayne,

For filing of her feete.
I prayè you nowe, good Childe Waters,
Let mee lye at your

feete:
For there is noe place about this house,

Where I may 'saye a sleepe.
'He gave her leave, and fair Ellen

Down at his beds feet laye:'
This done the nighte drove on apace,

And when it was neare the daye,
Hee sayd, Rise up, my little foot-page,

Give my steede corne and haye;
And give him nowe the good black oats,

To carry mee better awaye.
Up then rose the fayre Ellen
And
gave

his steede corne and haye:

V. 132, i. e. essay, attempt. 2 1. e. defiling. See Warton's Observ. vol. ii. p. 158.

130

135

140