Canzoni contro la guerra - La Brigata Lolli

It befell at Martynmas
When wether waxed colde,
Captaine Care said to his men,
We must go take a holde.
Syck, sike, and to-towe sike,
And sike, and like to die;
The sikest nighte that euer I abode,
God Lord haue mercy on me!
Haille, master, and wether you will,
And wether ye like it best;
To the castle of Crecrynbroghe
And there we will take our reste.
I knowe wher is a gay castle,
Is builded of lyme and stone;
Within their is a gay ladie,
Her lord is riden and gone.
The ladie she lend on her castle-walle,
She loked vpp and downe;
There was she ware of an host of men,
Come riding to the towne.
Se yow, my meri men all,
And se yow what I see?
Yonder I see an host of men,
I muse who they bee.
She thought he had been her wed lord,
As he comd riding home;
Then was it traitur Captain Care,
The lord of Ester-towne.
They wer no soner at supper sett,
Then after said the grace,
Or Captaine Care and all his men
Wer lighte aboute the place.
Gyue ouer thi howsse, thou lady gay,
And I will make the a bande;
To-nighte thou shall ly within my armes,
To-morrowe thou shall ere my lande.
Then bespacke the eldest sonne,
That was both whitt and redde:
O mother dere, geue ouer your howsse,
Or elles we shalbe deade.