{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch009.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch009.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch009.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 9A: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9A.1\tIT was a knight in Scotland borne\n Refrain:\tFollow, my love, come over the strand\n Was taken prisoner, and left forlorne,\n Refrain:\tEven by the good Earle of Northumberland.\n 9A.2\tThen was he cast in prison strong,\n Where he could not walke nor lie along,\n Refrain:\tEven by the goode Earle of Northumberland.\n 9A.3\tAnd as in sorrow thus he lay,\n The Earle\u2019s sweete daughter walkt that way,\n Refrain:\tAnd she the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.4\tAnd passing by, like an angell bright,\n The prisoner had of her a sight,\n Refrain:\tAnd she the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.5\tAnd loud to her this knight did crie,\n The salt teares standing in his eye,\n Refrain:\tAnd she the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.6\t\u2018Faire lady,\u2019 he said, \u2019Take pity on me,\n And let me not in prison dye,\n Refrain:\tAnd you the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.7\t\u2018Faire Sir, how should I take pity on thee,\n Thou being a foe to our countrey,\n Refrain:\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.8\t\u2018Faire lady, I am no foe,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018Through thy sweet love heere was I stayd,\n Refrain:\tFor thee, the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.9\t\u2018Why shouldst thou come heere for love of me,\n Having wife and children in thy countrie?\n Refrain:\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.10\t\u2018I sweare by the blessed Trinitie,\n I have no wife nor children, I,\n 9A.10r\tNor dwelling at home in merrie Scotland.\n 9A.11\t\u2018If curteously you will set me free,\n I vow that I will marrie thee,\n 9A.11r\tSo soone as I come in faire Scotland.\n 9A.12\t\u2018Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers,\n And sit like a queene in princely bowers,\n 9A.12r\tWhen I am at home in faire Scotland.\u2019\n 9A.13\tThen parted hence this lady gay,\n And got her father\u2019s ring away,\n 9A.13r\tTo helpe this sad knight into faire Scotland.\n 9A.14\tLikewise much gold she got by sleight,\n And all to help this forlorne knight\n 9A.14r\tTo wend from her father to faire Scotland.\n 9A.15\tTwo gallant steedes, both good and able,\n She likewise tooke out of the stable,\n 9A.15r\tTo ride with this knight into faire Scotland.\n 9A.16\tAnd to the jaylor she sent this ring,\n The knight from prison forth to bring,\n 9A.16r\tTo wend with her into faire Scotland.\n 9A.17\tThis token set the prisoner free,\n Who straight went to this faire lady,\n 9A.17r\tTo wend with her into faire Scotland.\n 9A.18\tA gallant steede he did bestride,\n And with the lady away did ride,\n 9A.18r\tAnd she the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.19\tThey rode till they came to a water cleare:\n \u2018Good Sir, how should I follow you heere,\n 9A.19r\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland?\n 9A.20\t\u2018The water is rough and wonderfull deepe,\n An[d] on my saddle I shall not keepe,\n 9A.20r\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.21\t\u2018Feare not the foord, faire lady,\u2019 quoth he,\n \u2018For long I cannot stay for thee,\n 9A.21r\tAnd thou the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.22\tThe lady prickt her wanton steed,\n And over the river swom with speede,\n 9A.22r\tAnd she the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.23\tFrom top to toe all wet was shee:\n \u2018This have I done for love of thee,\n 9A.23r\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.24\tThus rode she all one winter\u2019s night,\n Till Edenborow they saw in sight,\n 9A.24r\tThe chiefest towne in all Scotland.\n 9A.25\t\u2018Now chuse,\u2019 quoth he, \u2019Thou wanton flower,\n Whe\u2019r thou wilt be my paramour,\n 9A.25r\tOr get thee home to Northumberland.\n 9A.26\t\u2018For I have wife, and children five,\n In Edenborow they be alive;\n 9A.26r\tThen get thee home to faire England.\n 9A.27\t\u2018This favour shalt thou have to boote,\n Ile have thy horse, go thou on foote,\n 9A.27r\tGo, get thee home to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.28\t\u2018O false and faithlesse knight,\u2019 quoth shee,\n \u2018And canst thou deale so bad with me,\n 9A.28r\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland?\n 9A.29\t\u2018Dishonour not a ladie\u2019s name,\n But draw thy sword and end my shame,\n 9A.29r\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.30\tHe tooke her from her stately steed,\n And left her there in extreme need,\n 9A.30r\tAnd she the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.31\tThen sate she downe full heavily;\n At length two knights came riding by,\n 9A.31r\tTwo gallant knights of faire England.\n 9A.32\tShe fell downe humbly on her knee,\n Saying, \u2018Courteous knights, take pittie on me,\n 9A.32r\tAnd I the faire flower of Northumberland.\n 9A.33\t\u2018I have offended my father deere,\n And by a false knight that brought me heere,\n 9A.33r\tFrom the good Earle of Northumberland.\u2019\n 9A.34\tThey tooke her up behind them then,\n And brought her to her father\u2019s againe,\n 9A.34r\tAnd he the good Earle of Northumberland.\n 9A.35\tAll you faire maidens be warned by me,\n Scots were never true, nor never will be,\n 9A.35r\tTo lord, nor lady, nor faire England.\n \n \n \n 9B: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9B.1\tTHE provost\u2019s daughter went out a walking,\n Refrain:\tA may\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,\n Refrain:\tAnd she was the fair flower of Northumberland.\n 9B.2\t\u2018If any lady would borrow me\n Refrain:\tOut into the prison strong,\n 9B.2\tI would make her a lady of high degree,\n Refrain:\tFor I am a great lord in fair Scotland.\u2019\n 9B.3\tShe\u2019s done her to her father\u2019s bed-stock,\n Refrain:\tA may\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n 9B.3\tShe\u2019s stolen the keys o many braw lock,\n Refrain:\tAnd she\u2019s loosd him out o the prison strong.\n 9B.4\tShe\u2019s done her to her father\u2019s stable,\n Refrain:\tA may\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n 9B.4\tShe\u2019s taen out a steed that was both swift and able,\n Refrain:\tTo carry them both to fair Scotland.\n 9B.5\tO when they came to the Scottish cross,\n Refrain:\tA may\u2019s whiles is easy won\n 9B.5\t\u2018Ye brazen-faced whore, light off o my horse,\n Refrain:\tAnd go get you back to Northumberland!\u2019\n 9B.6\tO when they came to the Scottish moor,\n Refrain:\tA may\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n 9B.6\t\u2018Get off o my horse, you\u2019re a brazen-faced whore,\n Refrain:\tSo go get you back to Northumberland!\u2019\n 9B.7\t\u2018O pity on me, O pity,\u2019 said she,\n Refrain:\t\u2018O that my love was so easy won!\n 9B.7\tHave pity on me as I had upon thee,\n Refrain:\tWhen I loosd you out of the prison strong.\u2019\n 9B.8\t\u2018O how can I have pity on thee?\n Refrain:\tO why was your love so easy won!\n 9B.8\tWhen I have a wife and children three\n Refrain:\tMore worthy than a\u2019 Northumberland.\u2019\n 9B.9\t\u2018Cook in your kitchen I will be,\n Refrain:\tO that my love was so easy won!\n 9B.9\tAnd serve your lady most reverently,\n Refrain:\tFor I darena go back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9B.10\t\u2018Cook in my kitchen you shall not be,\n 9B.10r\tWhy was your love so easy won!\n 9B.10\tFor I will have no such servants as thee,\n 9B.10r\tSo get you back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9B.11\tBut laith was he the lassie to tyne,\n 9B.11r\tA may\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n 9B.11\tHe\u2019s hired an old horse and feed an old man,\n 9B.11r\tTo carry her back to Northumberland.\n 9B.12\tO when she came her father before,\n 9B.12r\tA may\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n 9B.12\tShe fell down on her knees so low\n 9B.12r\tFor she was the fair flower of Northumberland.\n 9B.13\t\u2018O daughter, O daughter, why was ye so bold,\n 9B.13r\tOr why was your love so easy won,\n 9B.13\tTo be a Scottish whore in your fifteen year old?\n 9B.13r\tAnd you the fair flower of Northumberland!\u2019\n 9B.14\tHer mother she gently on her did smile,\n 9B.14r\tO that her love was so easy won!\n 9B.14\t\u2018She is not the first that the Scotts have beguild,\n 9B.14r\tBut she\u2019s still the fair flower of Northumberland.\n 9B.15\t\u2018She shanna want gold, she shanna want fee,\n 9B.15r\tAltho that her love was so easy won,\n 9B.15\tShe shanna want gold to gain a man wi,\n 9B.15r\tAnd she\u2019s still the fair flower of Northumberland.\u2019\n \n \n \n 9C: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9C.1\tAS I went by a jail-house door,\n Refrain:\tMaid\u2019s love whiles is easy won\n I saw a prisoner standing there,\n Refrain:\t\u2018I wish I were home in fair Scotland.\n 9C.2\t\u2018Fair maid, will you pity me?\n Ye\u2019ll steal the keys, let me gae free:\n Refrain:\tI\u2019ll make you my lady in fair Scotland.\n 9C.3\t\u2018I\u2019m sure you have no need of me,\n For ye have a wife and bairns three,\n Refrain:\tThat lives at home in fair Scotland.\u2019\n 9C.4\tHe swore by him that was crownd with thorn,\n That he never had a wife since the day he was born,\n Refrain:\tBut livd a free lord in fair Scotland.\n 9C.5\tShe went unto her father\u2019s bed-head,\n She\u2019s stown the key o mony a lock,\n Refrain:\tShe\u2019s let him out o prison strong.\n 9C.6\tShe\u2019s went to her father\u2019s stable,\n She\u2019s stown a steed baith wight and able,\n Refrain:\tTo carry them on to fair Scotland.\n 9C.7\tThey rode till they came to a muir,\n He bade her light aff, they\u2019d call her a whore,\n Refrain:\tIf she didna return to Northumberland.\n 9C.8\tThey rode till they came to a moss,\n He bade her light aff her father\u2019s best horse,\n Refrain:\tAnd return her again to Northumberland.\n 9C.9\t\u2018I\u2019m sure I have no need of thee,\n When I have a wife and bairns three,\n Refrain:\tThat lives at home in fair Scotland.\u2019\n 9C.10\t\u2018I\u2019ll be cook in your kitchen,\n And serve your lady handsomelie,\n 9C.10r\tFor I darena gae back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9C.11\t\u2018Ye cannot be cook in my kitchen,\n My lady cannot fa sic servants as thee,\n 9C.11r\tSo ye\u2019ll return again to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9C.12\tWhen she went thro her father\u2019s ha,\n She looted her low amongst them a\u2019,\n 9C.12r\tShe was the fair flower o Northumberland.\n 9C.13\tOut spake her father, he spake bold,\n \u2018How could ye be a whore in fifteen years old,\n 9C.13r\tAnd you the flower of Northumberland?\u2019\n 9C.14\tOut spake her mother, she spake wi a smile,\n \u2018She\u2019s nae the first his coat did beguile,\n 9C.14r\tYe\u2019re welcome again to Northumberland.\u2019\n \n \n \n 9D: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9D.1\tSHE\u2019S gane down to her father\u2019s stable,\n Refrain:\tO my dear, and my love that she wan\n She\u2019s taen out a black steed baith sturdy and able,\n Refrain:\tAnd she\u2019s away to fair Scotland.\n 9D.2\tWhen they came to Scotland bridge,\n \u2018Light off, you whore, from my black steed,\n Refrain:\tAnd go your ways back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9D.3\t\u2018O take me by the body so meek,\n And throw me in the water so deep,\n Refrain:\tFor I daurna gae back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9D.4\t\u2018I\u2019ll no take thee by the body so meek,\n Nor throw thee in the water so deep;\n Refrain:\tThou may go thy ways back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9D.5\t\u2018Take me by the body so small,\n And throw me in yon bonny mill-dam,\n Refrain:\tFor I daurna gae back to Northumberland.\u2019\n \n \n \n 9E: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9E.1\tA BAILIFF\u2019S fair daughter, she lived by the Aln,\n Refrain:\tA young maid\u2019s love is easily won\n She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,\n Refrain:\tAnd she was the flower of Northumberland.\n 9E.2\t\u2018If ye could love me, as I do love thee,\n Refrain:\tA young maid\u2019s love is hard to win\n 9E.2\tI\u2019ll make you a lady of high degree,\n Refrain:\tWhen once we go down to fair Scotland.\u2019\n 9E.3\tTo think of the prisoner her heart was sore,\n Refrain:\tA young maid\u2019s love is easily won\n 9E.3\tHer love it was much, but her pity was more,\n Refrain:\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.4\tShe stole from her father\u2019s pillow the key,\n And out of the dungeon she soon set him free,\n Refrain:\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.5\tShe led him into her father\u2019s stable,\n And they\u2019ve taken a steed both gallant and able,\n Refrain:\tTo carry them down to fair Scotland.\n 9E.6\tWhen they first took the way, it was darling and dear;\n As forward they fared, all changed was his cheer,\n Refrain:\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.7\tThey rode till they came to a fair Scottish corse;\n Says he, \u2018Now, pray madam, dismount from my horse,\n Refrain:\tAnd go get you back to Northumberland.\n 9E.8\t\u2018It befits not to ride with a leman light,\n When awaits my returning my own lady bright,\n Refrain:\tMy own wedded wife in fair Scotland.\u2019\n 9E.9\tThe words that he said on her fond heart smote,\n She knew not in sooth if she lived or not,\n Refrain:\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.10\tShe looked to his face, and it kythed so unkind\n That her fast coming tears soon rendered her blind,\n 9E.10r\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.11\t\u2018Have pity on me as I had it on thee,\n 9E.11r\tO why was my love so easily won!\n 9E.11\tA slave in your kitchen I\u2019m willing to be,\n 9E.11r\tBut I may not go back to Northumberland.\n 9E.12\t\u2018Or carry me up by the middle sae sma,\n 9E.12r\tO why was my love so easily won!\n 9E.12\tAnd fling me headlong from your high castle wa,\n 9E.12r\tFor I dare not go back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9E.13\tHer wailing, her woe, for nothing they went,\n 9E.13r\tA young maid\u2019s love is easily won\n 9E.13\tHis bosom was stone and he would not relent,\n 9E.13r\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.14\tHe turned him around and he thought of a plan,\n He bought an old horse and he hired an old man,\n 9E.14r\tTo carry her back to Northumberland.\n 9E.15\tA heavy heart makes a weary way,\n She reached her home in the evening gray,\n 9E.15r\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.16\tAnd all as she stood at her father\u2019s tower-gate,\n More loud beat her heart than her knock thereat,\n 9E.16r\tAnd she, etc.\n 9E.17\tDown came her step-dame, so rugged and doure,\n 9E.17r\tO why was your love so easily won!\n 9E.17\t\u2018In Scotland go back to your false paramour,\n 9E.17r\tFor you shall not stay here in Northumberland.\u2019\n 9E.18\tDown came her father, he saw her and smiled,\n 9E.18r\tA young maid\u2019s love is easily won\n 9E.18\t\u2018You are not the first that false Scots have beguiled,\n 9E.18r\tAnd ye\u2019re aye welcome back to Northumberland.\n 9E.19\t\u2018You shall not want houses, you shall not want land,\n You shall not want gold for to gain a husband,\n 9E.19r\tAnd ye\u2019re aye welcome back to Northumberland.\u2019\n \n \n \n 9[F]: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9[F.1]\t* * * *\n She stole the keys from her father\u2019s bed-head,\n Refrain:\tO but her love it was easy won!\n 9[F.1]\tShe opened the gates, she opened them wide,\n Refrain:\tShe let him out o the prison strong.\n 9[F.2]\tShe went into her father\u2019s stable,\n Refrain:\tO but her love it was easy won!\n 9[F.2]\tShe stole a steed that was both stout and strong,\n Refrain:\tTo carry him hame frae Northumberland.\n * * * * *\n 9[F.3]\t\u2018I\u2019ll be cook in your kitchen,\n Refrain:\tNoo sure my love has been easy won!\n 9[F.3]\tI\u2019ll serve your own lady with hat an with hand,\n Refrain:\tFor I daurna gae back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9[F.4]\t\u2018I need nae cook in my kitchin,\n Refrain:\tO but your love it was easy won!\n 9[F.4]\tYe\u2019ll serve not my lady with hat or with hand,\n Refrain:\tFor ye maun gae back to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9[F.5]\tWhen she gaed hame, how her father did ban!\n Refrain:\t\u2018O but your love it was easy won!\n 9[F.5]\tA fair Scottish girl, not sixteen years old,\n Refrain:\tWas once the fair flower o Northumberland!\u2019\n \n \n \n 9[G]: The Fair Flower of Northumberland\n \n \n 9[G].1\t\u2018Why, fair maid, have pity on me,\u2019\n Refrain:\tWaly\u2019s my love wi the life that she wan\n 9[G.1]\t\u2018For I am bound in prison strong,\n Refrain:\tAnd under the heir o Northumberland.\u2019\n 9[G.2]\t\u2018How can I have pity on thee,\u2019\n Refrain:\tWaly\u2019s my love, etc.\n 9[G.2]\t\u2018When thou hast a wife and children three,\n Refrain:\tAll dwelling at home in fair Scotland?\u2019\n 9[G.3]\tNow he has sworn a solemn oath,\n Refrain:\tAn it was by eternity,\n 9[G.3]\tThat wife and children he had none,\n Refrain:\tAll dwelling at home in fair Scotland.\n 9[G.4]\tNow she\u2019s gone to her father\u2019s bedstock,\n Refrain:\tWaly\u2019s my love, etc.\n 9[G.4]\tAnd has stolen the key of the dungeon-lock,\n Refrain:\tAnd she the great heir o Northumberland.\n 9[G.5]\tAnd she\u2019s gone to her father\u2019s chest,\n She has stolen away a suit of the best,\n Refrain:\tAltho she was heir o Northumberland.\n 9[G.6]\tNow she\u2019s gone to her father\u2019s coffer,\n And has taen out gold nane kens how meickle,\n Refrain:\tAltho she, etc.\n 9[G.7]\tShe\u2019s gane to her father\u2019s stable,\n And taen out a steed baith lusty and able,\n Refrain:\tFor a\u2019 she was heir, etc.\n 9[G.8]\tThe rade till they came to Crafurdmoor,\n He bade her light down for an English whore,\n Refrain:\tAltho she, etc.\n 9[G.9]\tThe rade till the came to the water o Clyde,\n He bade her light down, nae farer she should ride,\n Refrain:\t\u2018For now I am at hame in fair Scotland.\u2019\n 9[G.10]\t\u2018Yonder view my castle,\u2019 said he;\n \u2018There I hae a wife and children three,\n 9[G.10r]\tAll dwelling at home,\u2019 etc.\n 9[G.11]\t\u2018O take me by the middle sae sma\n And thro me oer your castle-wa,\n 9[G.11r]\tFor I darena gang hame to Northumberland.\u2019\n 9[G.12]\tWhen she came to her father\u2019s yett,\n She durst hardly rapp thereat,\n 9[G.12r]\tAltho she was, etc.\n 9[G.13]\tOut then spoke her stepmother sour,\n She bad her pack off for an impudent whore,\n 9[G.13r]\t\u2018For thou shalt not be heir o Northumberland.\u2019\n 9[G.14]\tOut then spock her bastard brother;\n \u2018She\u2019ll hae nae mair grace than God has gien her,\n 9[G.14r]\tAnd she shall be heir o Northumberland.\u2019\n 9[G.15]\tOut and spoke her father sae mild,\n \u2018She\u2019s no the first maid a false Scot has beguild,\n 9[G.15r]\tAnd she shall be,\u2019 etc.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 10. The Twa Sisters","title":"The Child Ballads: 9. The Fair Flower of Northumberland","type":"page"}