Then to his companions the matter he mov'd,
Which their false actions before had prov'd,
They make themselves ready and deeply they swear, The money's their own before they come there.
Upon his two stilts the Cripple did mount,
To have the best share it was his full account,
All cloathed in canvas down to the ground,
He took up his place his mates with him round.
Then came the Lord Courtney with half a score men,
Yet little suspecting these thieves in their den,
And they perceiving them come to their hand,
In a dark evening bid them to stand.
Deliver thy purse, quoth the Cripple, with speed,
We be good fellows and therefore have need,
Not so, quoth Lord Courtney, but this I'll tell ye,
Win it and wear it, else get none of me.
With that the Lord Courtney stood in his defence,
And so did his servants, but ere they went hence,
Two of the true men were slain in this fight,
And four of the thieves were put to the flight.
And while for their safeguard they run thus away,
The jolly bold Cripple did hold them in play,
And with his pike-staff he wounded them so,
As they were unable to run or to go.
With fighting the Lord Courtney was out of breath,
And most of his servants were wounded to death,
Then came other horsemen riding so fast,
The Cripple was forced to fly at the last.
And over a river that run there beside,
Which was very deep, and eighteen foot wide,
With his long staff and his stilts leaped he,
And shifted himself in an old hollow tree.
Then throughout the city was hue and cry made,
To have these thieves apprehended and staid,
The Cripple he creeps on his hands and his knees,
And in the high-way great passing he sees.
And as they came riding he begging doth say,
O give me one penny, good masters, I pray,
And thus unto Exeter creeps he along,
No man suspecting that he had done wrong,
Anon the Lord Courtney he spies in the street,
He comes unto him and kisses his feet,
God save your honor and keep you from ill,
And from the hands of your enemies still.
Amen, quoth Lord Courtney, and therewith threw down Unto the poor Cripple an English crown,
Away went the Cripple, and thus he did think,
Five hundred pounds more will make me to drink.
In vain that hue and cry it was made,
They found none of them though the country was laid,
But this grieved the Cripple night and day,
That he so unluckily mist of his play.
Nine hundred pound this Cripple had got,
By begging and thieving, so good was his lot,
A thousand pound he would make it, he said,
And then he would give over his trade.
But as he striv'd his mind to fulfill,
In following his actions so lewd and so ill,
At last he was taken the law to suffice,
Condemned and hanged at Exeter 'size.
Which made all men amazed to see,
That such an impudent cripple as he,
Should venture himself such actions as they,
To rob in such sort upon the high-way.
te hue and
none of the
Sered the Croppe
With fighting the Lord Courtney was out of brea
And most of his servants were wounded to death
Then came other horsemen riding so fast,
The Cripple was forced to fly at the last.
And over a river that run there beside,
Which was very deep, and eighteen foot w
With his long staff and his stilts leaped the
And shifted himself in an old hollow tred give H 1 *SE.
Then throughout the city was hue and
To have these thieves apprehended a
The Cripple he creeps on his hands
And in the high-way great passing
And as they came riding he beggir
O give me one penny, good maste
And thus unto Exeter creeps he
No man suspecting that he had
Anon the Lord Courtney he spi
He comes unto him and kisses
God save your honor and keep
And from the hands of your e
Amen, quoth Lord Courtney,
Unto the poor Cripple an E
Away went the Cripple, an
Five hundred pounds more
in that hue and cry it was made,
und none of them though the country was laid,
grieved the Cripple night and day,
unluckily mist of his play.
pound this Cripple had got,
I thieving, so good was his lot,
he would make it, he said,
give over his trade.
ind to full,
so lewd and so ill,
Jaw to suffice,
Exeter 'size.
to see, as he,
Fons as they,
i by me,
for to refrain,
company,
es are but vain,
ealth is vanity:
else but heaven to gain,
all that we must die.
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