Of a stout cripple that kept the high-way, And begg'd for his living all time of the day, A story I'll tell you that pleasant shall be, The Cripple of Cornwall surnamed was he.
He crept on his hands and his knees up and down, In a torn jacket and a ragged torn gown, For he had never a leg to the knee; The Cripple of Cornwall surnamed was he.
He was of a stomach courageous and stout, For he had no cause to complain of the gout; To go upon stilts most cunning was he, With a staff on his neck most gallant to see.
Yea, no good fellowship would he forsake, Were it in secret a horse for to take; His stool he kept close in a hollow tree, That stood from the city a mile, two, or three.
Thus all the day long he begg'd for relief, And all the night long he played the false thief; For seven years together this custom kept he, And no man knew him such a person to be.
There were few graziers went on the way, But unto the Cripple for passage did pay, And every brave merchant that he did descry, He emptied their purses ere they did pass by.
The noble Lord Courtney, both gallant and bold, Rode forth with great plenty of silver and gold, At Exeter there a purchase to pay, But that the false Cripple the journey did stay.
For why, the false Cripple heard tidings of late, As he sat for alms at the nobleman's gate; This is, quoth the Cripple, a booty for me, And I'll follow it closely as closely may be.
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 clothed in canvass 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.