Foure suitors att once unto her did goe;
They craved her favor, but still she sayd And you shall enjoye your prettye Bessee.

"And if any one here her birth doe disdaine,

The prayse of a woman in questyon to bringe Before her own face, were a flattering Her father is ready, with might and with thinge; maine,

But wee thinke thy father's baseness, quoth To proove shee is come of noble degree: they,

Might by thy bewtye be cleane put awaye."

They had noe sooner these pleasant words spoke,

But in comes the beggar cladd in a silke
cloke;

A faire velvet capp, and a fether had hee,
And now a musicyan forsooth he wold bee.

He had a daintye lute under his arme,
He touched the strings, which made such
a charme,

Saies, Please you to heare any musicke of
mee,

Ile sing you a song of pretty Bessee.

With that his lute he twanged straightway, And thereon begann most sweetlye to play;

And after that lessons were playd two or three,

He strayn'd out this song most delicatelie.

"A poore beggars daughter did dwell on

a greene,

Who for her fairenesse might well be a queene:

A blithe bonny lasse, and a daintye was shee,

And many one called her pretty Bessee.

"Her father hee had noe goods, nor noe land,

But beggd for a penny all day with his hand;

And yett to her marriage hee gave
thousands three,*

And still he hath somewhat for pretty
Bessee.

* So the folio MS.

Therfore never flout att prettye Bessee."

"A barons faire daughter stept forthe in❘ They all were amazed, as well they might