"O ye are welcome, rich merchants, Good saylors, welcome unto me: They swore by the rood, they were saylors good,

But rich merchants they could not be.

"To France nor Flanders dare we pass,

Nor Bordeaux voyage dare we fare, And all for a robber that lyes on the seas,

Who robs us of our merchant ware."

King Henry frowned, and turned him round,

And swore by the Lord that was mickle of might,

"I thought he had not been in the world,

Durst have wrought England such unright.'

The merchants sighed and said, "Alas!"

And thus they did their answer

frame;

And mickle debts, God wot, I owe,

And every man will have his own, And I am now to London bound,

Of ourgracious king to beg a boon."

"Thou shalt not need," Lord Howard says;

"Let me but once that robber see, For every penny tane thee fro It

shall be doubled shillings three."

"Now God forfend," the merchant said,

"That you should seek so far amiss!

God keep you out of that traitor's hands!

Full little ye wot what a man he is.

"He is brass within, and steel without,

With beams on his topcastle strong; And eighteen pieces of ordinance He carries on each side along.