{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch053.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch053.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch053.htm","text":"53A.1 IN London city was Bicham born,\nHe longd strange countries for to see,\nBut he was taen by a savage Moor,\nWho handld him right cruely.\n53A.2 For thro his shoulder he put a bore,\nAn thro the bore has pitten a tree,\nAn he\u2019s gard him draw the carts o wine,\nWhere horse and oxen had wont to be.\n53A.3 He\u2019s casten [him] in a dungeon deep,\nWhere he coud neither hear nor see;\nHe\u2019s shut him up in a prison strong,\nAn he\u2019s handld him right cruely.\n53A.4 O this Moor he had but ae daughter,\nI wot her name was Shusy Pye;\nShe\u2019s doen her to the prison-house,\nAnd she\u2019s calld Young Bicham one word by.\n53A.5 \u2018O hae ye ony lands or rents,\nOr citys in your ain country,\nCoud free you out of prison strong,\nAn coud mantain a lady free?\u2019\n53A.6 \u2018O London city is my own,\nAn other citys twa or three,\nCoud loose me out o prison strong,\nAn coud mantain a lady free.\u2019\n53A.7 O she has bribed her father\u2019s men\nWi meikle goud and white money,\nShe\u2019s gotten the key o the prison doors,\nAn she has set Young Bicham free.\n53A.8 She\u2019s gi\u2019n him a loaf o good white bread,\nBut an a flask o Spanish wine,\nAn she bad him mind on the ladie\u2019s love\nThat sae kindly freed him out o pine.\n53A.9 \u2018Go set your foot on good ship-board,\nAn haste you back to your ain country,\nAn before that seven years has an end,\nCome back again, love, and marry me.\u2019\n53A.10 It was long or seven years had an end\nShe longd fu sair her love to see;\nShe\u2019s set her foot on good ship-board,\nAn turnd her back on her ain country.\n53A.11 She\u2019s saild up, so has she doun,\nTill she came to the other side;\nShe\u2019s landed at Young Bicham\u2019s gates,\nAn I hop this day she sal be his bride.\n53A.12 \u2018Is this Young Bicham\u2019s gates?\u2019 says she,\n\u2018Or is that noble prince within?\u2019\n\u2018He\u2019s up the stairs wi his bonny bride,\nAn monny a lord and lady wi him.\u2019\n53A.13 \u2018O has he taen a bonny bride,\nAn has he clean forgotten me!\u2019\nAn sighing said that gay lady,\nI wish I were in my ain country!\n53A.14 But she\u2019s pitten her han in her pocket,\nAn gin the porter guineas three;\nSays, Take ye that, ye proud porter,\nAn bid the bridegroom speak to me.\n53A.15 O whan the porter came up the stair,\nHe\u2019s fa\u2019n low down upon his knee:\n\u2018Won up, won up, ye proud porter,\nAn what makes a\u2019 this courtesy?\u2019\n53A.16 I\u2019ve been porter at your gates\nThis mair nor seven years an three,\nBut there is a lady at them now\nThe like of whom I never did see.\n53A.17 \u2018For on every finger she has a ring,\nAn on the mid-finger she has three,\nAn there\u2019s as meikle goud aboon her brow\nAs woud buy an earldome o lan to me.\u2019\n53A.18 Then up it started Young Bicham,\nAn sware so loud by Our Lady,\n\u2018It can be nane but Shusy Pye,\nThat has come oer the sea to me.\u2019\n53A.19 O quickly ran he down the stair,\nO fifteen steps he has made but three;\nHe\u2019s tane his bonny love in his arms,\nAn a wot he kissd her tenderly.\n53A.20 \u2018O hae you tane a bonny bride?\nAn hae you quite forsaken me?\nAn hae ye quite forgotten her\nThat gae you life an liberty?\u2019\n53A.21 She\u2019s lookit oer her left shoulder\nTo hide the tears stood in her ee;\n\u2018Now fare thee well, Young Bicham,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018I\u2019ll strive to think nae mair on thee.\u2019\n53A.22 \u2018Take back your daughter, madam,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018An a double dowry I\u2019ll gi her wi;\nFor I maun marry my first true love,\nThat\u2019s done and suffered so much for me.\u2019\n53A.23 He\u2019s take his bonny love by the han,\nAnd led her to yon fountain stane;\nHe\u2019s changd her name frae Shusy Pye,\nAn he\u2019s cald her his bonny love, Lady Jane.\n53B: Young Beichan\n53B.1 IN England was Young Brechin born,\nOf parents of a high degree;\nThe selld him to the savage Moor,\nWhere they abused him maist cruellie.\n53B.2 Thro evry shoulder they bord a bore,\nAnd thro evry bore they pat a tree;\nThey made him draw the carts o wine,\nWhich horse and owsn were wont to drie.\n53B.3 The pat him into prison strong,\nWhere he could neither hear nor see;\nThey pat him in a dark dungeon,\nWhere he was sick and like to die.\n53B.4 \u2018Is there neer an auld wife in this town\nThat\u2019ll borrow me to be her son?\nIs there neer a young maid in this town\nWill take me for her chiefest one?\u2019\n53B.5 A Savoyen has an only daughter,\nI wat she\u2019s called Young Brichen by;\n\u2018O sleepst thou, wakest thou, Brichen?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or who is\u2019t that does on me cry?\n53B.6 \u2018O hast thou any house or lands,\nOr hast thou any castles free,\nThat thou wadst gi to a lady fair\nThat out o prison wad bring thee?\u2019\n53B.7 \u2018O lady, Lundin it is mine,\nAnd other castles twa or three;\nThese I wad gie to a lady fair\nThat out of prison wad set me free.\u2019\n53B.8 She\u2019s taen him by the milk-white hand,\nAnd led him to a towr sae hie,\nShe\u2019s made him drink the wine sae reid,\nAnd sung to him like a mavosie.\n53B.9 O these two luvers made a bond,\nFor seven years, and that is lang,\nThat he was to marry no other wife,\nAnd she\u2019s to marry no other man.\n53B.10 n seven years were past and gane,\nThis young lady began to lang,\nAnd she\u2019s awa to Lundin gane,\nTo see if Brechin\u2019s got safe to land.\n53B.11 When she came to Young Brechin\u2019s yett,\nShe chappit gently at the gin;\n\u2018Is this Young Brechin\u2019s yett?\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or is this lusty lord within?\u2019\n\u2018O yes, this is Lord Brechin\u2019s yett,\nAnd I wat this be his bridal een.\u2019\n53B.12 She\u2019s put her hand in her pocket,\nAnd thrawin the porter guineas three;\n\u2018Gang up the stair, young man,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018And bid your master come down to me.\n53B.13 \u2018Bid him bring a bite o his ae best bread,\nAnd a bottle o his ae best wine,\nAnd neer forget that lady fair\nThat did him out o prison bring.\u2019\n53B.14 The porter tripped up the stair,\nAnd fell low down upon his knee:\n\u2018Rise up, rise up, ye proud porter,\nWhat mean you by this courtesie?\u2019\n53B.15 \u2018O I hae been porter at your yett\nThis thirty years and a\u2019 but three;\nThere stands the fairest lady thereat\nThat ever my twa een did see.\n53B.16 \u2018On evry finger she has a ring,\nOn her mid-finger she has three;\nShe\u2019s as much gold on her horse\u2019s neck\nAs wad by a earldom o land to me.\n53B.17 \u2018She bids you send o your ae best bread,\nAnd a bottle o your ae best wine,\nAnd neer forget the lady fair\nThat out o prison did you bring.\u2019\n53B.18 He\u2019s taen the table wi his foot,\nAnd made the cups and cans to flee:\n\u2018I\u2019ll wager a\u2019 the lands I hae\nThat Susan Pye\u2019s come oer the sea.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53B.19 Then up and spak the bride\u2019s mother:\n\u2018And O an ill deid may ye die!\nIf ye didna except the bonny bride,\nYe might hae ay excepted me.\u2019\n53B.20 \u2018O ye are fair, and fair, madam,\nAnd ay the fairer may ye be!\nBut the fairest day that eer ye saw,\nYe were neer sae fair as yon lady.\u2019\n53B.21 O when these lovers two did meet,\nThe tear it blinded baith their ee;\n\u2018Gie me my faith and troth,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018For now fain hame wad I be.\u2019\n53B.22 \u2018Tak hame your daughter, madam,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018She\u2019s neer a bit the war o me;\nExcept a kiss o her bonny lips,\nOf her body I am free;\nShe came to me on a single horse,\nNow I\u2019ll send her hame in chariots three.\u2019\n53B.23 He\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd he\u2019s led her to a yard o stane;\nHe\u2019s changed her name frae Susan Pye,\nAnd calld her lusty Lady Jane.\n53C: Young Beichan\n53C.1 YOUNG Bekie was as brave a knight\nAs ever saild the sea;\nAn he\u2019s doen him to the court of France,\nTo serve for meat and fee.\n53C.2 He had nae been i the court of France\nA twelvemonth nor sae long,\nTil he fell in love with the king\u2019s daughter,\nAn was thrown in prison strong.\n53C.3 The king he had but ae daughter,\nBurd Isbel was her name;\nAn she has to the prison-house gane,\nTo hear the prisoner\u2019s mane.\n53C.4 \u2018O gin a lady woud borrow me,\nAt her stirrup-foot I wood rin;\nOr gin a widow wad borrow me,\nI woud swear to be her son.\n53C.5 \u2018Or gin a virgin woud borrow me,\nI woud wed her wi a ring;\nI\u2019d gi her ha\u2019s, I\u2019d gie her bowers,\nThe bonny towrs o Linne.\u2019\n53C.6 O barefoot, barefoot gaed she but,\nAn barefoot came she ben;\nIt was no for want o hose an shoone,\nNor time to put them on.\n53C.7 But a\u2019 for fear that her father dear\nHad heard her making din:\nShe\u2019s stown the keys o the prison-house dor\nAn latten the prisoner gang.\n53C.8 O whan she saw him, Young Bekie,\nHer heart was wondrous sair!\nFor the mice but an the bold rottons\nHad eaten his yallow hair.\n53C.9 She\u2019s gien him a shaver for his beard,\nA comber till his hair,\nFive hunder pound in his pocket,\nTo spen, an nae to spair.\n53C.10 She\u2019s gien him a steed was good in need,\nAn a saddle o royal bone,\nA leash o hounds o ae litter,\nAn Hector called one.\n53C.11 Atween this twa a vow was made,\n\u2019Twas made full solemnly,\nThat or three years was come an gane,\nWell married they should be.\n53C.12 He had nae been in\u2019s ain country\nA twelvemonth till an end,\nTill he\u2019s forcd to marry a duke\u2019s daughter,\nOr than lose a\u2019 his land.\n53C.13 \u2018Ohon, alas!\u2019 says Young Beckie,\n\u2018I know not what to dee;\nFor I canno win to Burd Isbel,\nAnd she kensnae to come to me.\u2019\n53C.14 O it fell once upon a day\nBurd Isbel fell asleep,\nAn up it starts the Belly Blin,\nAn stood at her bed-feet.\n53C.15 \u2018O waken, waken, Burd Isbel,\nHow [can] you sleep so soun,\nWhan this is Bekie\u2019s wedding day,\nAn the marriage gain on?\n53C.16 \u2018Ye do ye to your mither\u2019s bowr,\nThink neither sin nor shame;\nAn ye tak twa o your mither\u2019s marys,\nTo keep ye frae thinking lang.\n53C.17 \u2018Ye dress yoursel in the red scarlet,\nAn your marys in dainty green,\nAn ye pit girdles about your middles\nWoud buy an earldome.\n53C.18 \u2018O ye gang down by yon sea-side,\nAn down by yon sea-stran;\nSae bonny will the Hollans boats\nCome rowin till your han.\n53C.19 \u2018Ye set your milk-white foot abord,\nCry, Hail ye, Domine!\nAn I shal be the steerer o\u2019t,\nTo row you oer the sea.\u2019\n53C.20 She\u2019s tane her till her mither\u2019s bowr,\nThought neither sin nor shame,\nAn she took twa o her mither\u2019s marys,\nTo keep her frae thinking lang.\n53C.21 She dressd hersel i the red scarlet,\nHer marys i dainty green,\nAnd they pat girdles about their middles\nWoud buy an earldome.\n53C.22 An they gid down by yon sea-side,\nAn down by yon sea-stran;\nSae bonny did the Hollan boats\nCome rowin to their han.\n53C.23 She set her milk-white foot on board,\nCried, Hail ye, Domine!\nAn the Belly Blin was the steerer o\u2019t,\nTo row her oer the sea.\n53C.24 Whan she came to Young Bekie\u2019s gate,\nShe heard the music play;\nSae well she kent frae a\u2019 she heard,\nIt was his wedding day.\n53C.25 She\u2019s pitten her han in her pocket,\nGin the porter guineas three;\n\u2018Hae, tak ye that, ye proud porter,\nBid the bride-groom speake to me.\u2019\n53C.26 O whan that he cam up the stair,\nHe fell low down on his knee:\nHe haild the king, an he haild the queen,\nAn he haild him, Young Bekie.\n53C.27 \u2018O I\u2019ve been porter at your gates\nThis thirty years an three;\nBut there\u2019s three ladies at them now,\nTheir like I never did see.\n53C.28 \u2018There\u2019s ane o them dressd in red scarlet,\nAnd twa in dainty green,\nAn they hae girdles about their middles\nWoud buy an earldome.\u2019\n53C.29 Then out it spake the bierly bride,\nWas a\u2019 goud to the chin;\n\u2018Gin she be braw without,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018We\u2019s be as braw within.\u2019\n53C.30 Then up it starts him, Young Bekie,\nAn the tears was in his ee:\n\u2018I\u2019ll lay my life it\u2019s Burd Isbel,\nCome oer the sea to me.\u2019\n53C.31 O quickly ran he down the stair,\nAn whan he saw \u2019twas shee,\nHe kindly took her in his arms,\nAnd kissd her tenderly.\n53C.32 \u2018O hae ye forgotten, Young Bekie,\nThe vow ye made to me,\nWhan I took you out o the prison strong,\nWhan ye was condemnd to die?\n53C.33 \u2018I gae you a steed was good in need,\nAn a saddle o royal bone,\nA leash o hounds o ae litter,\nAn Hector called one.\u2019\n53C.34 It was well kent what the lady said,\nThat it wasnae a lee,\nFor at ilka word the lady spake,\nThe hound fell at her knee.\n53C.35 \u2018Tak hame, tak hame your daughter dear,\nA blessing gae her wi,\nFor I maun marry my Burd Isbel,\nThat\u2019s come oer the sea to me.\u2019\n53C.36 \u2018Is this the custom o your house,\nOr the fashion o your lan,\nTo marry a maid in a May mornin,\nAn send her back at even?\u2019\n53D: Young Beichan\n53D.1 YOUNG BEACHEN was born in fair London,\nAnd foreign lands he langed to see;\nHe was taen by the savage Moor,\nAn the used him most cruellie.\n53D.2 Through his showlder they pat a bore,\nAnd through the bore the pat a tree;\nThey made him trail their ousen carts,\nAnd they used him most cruellie.\n53D.3 The savage Moor had ae daughter,\nI wat her name was Susan Pay;\nAnd she is to the prison house,\nTo hear the prisoner\u2019s moan.\n53D.4 He made na his moan to a stocke,\nHe made na it to a stone,\nBit it was to the Queen of Heaven\nThat he made his moan.\n53D.5 \u2018Gin a lady wad borrow me,\nI at her foot wad run;\nAn a widdow wad borrow me,\nI wad become her son.\n53D.6 \u2018But an a maid wad borrow me,\nI wad wed her wi a ring;\nI wad make her lady of haas and bowers,\nAn of the high towers of Line.\u2019\n53D.7 \u2018Sing oer yer sang, Young Beachen,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Sing oer yer sang to me;\u2019\n\u2018I never sang that sang, lady,\nBut I wad sing to thee.\n53D.8 \u2018Gin a lady wad borrow me,\nI at her foot wad run;\nAn a widdow wad borrow me,\nI wad become her son.\n53D.9 \u2018But an a maid wad borrow me,\nI wad wed her wi a ring;\nI wad make her lady of haas and bowers,\nAn of the high towers of Line.\u2019\n53D.10 Saftly, [saftly] gaed she but,\nAn saftlly gaed she ben,\nIt was na for want of hose nor shoon,\nNor time to pet them on.\n53D.11 . . . . .\n. . . . .\nAn she has staen the keys of the prison,\nAn latten Young Beachen gang.\n53D.12 She gae him a leaf of her white bread,\nAn a bottle of her wine,\nShe bad him mind on the lady\u2019s love\nThat freed him out of pine.\n53D.13 She gae him a steed was guid in need,\nA saddle of the bane,\nFive hundred pown in his pocket,\nBad him gae speeding hame.\n53D.14 An a leash of guid grayhounds,\n. . . . .\n. . . . .\n. . . . .\n53D.15 Whan seven lang years were come and gane,\nShusie Pay thought lang,\nAn she is on to fair London,\nAs fast as she could gang.\n53D.16 Whan she cam to Young Beachen\u2019s gate,\n. . . . .\n\u2018Is Young Beachan at hame,\nOr is he in this countrie?\u2019\n53D.17 \u2018He is at hame, is hear,\u2019 they said,\n. . . . .\nAn sighan says her Susie Pay,\nHas he quite forgotten me?\n53D.18 On every finger she had a ring,\nOn the middle finger three;\nShe gae the porter ane of them:\n\u2018Get a word o your lord to me.\u2019\n53D.19 He gaed up the stair,\nFell low down on his knee:\n\u2018Win up, my proud porter,\nWhat is your will wi me?\u2019\n53D.20 \u2018I hae been porter at yer gate\nThis thirty year and three;\nThe fairst lady is at yer gate\nMine eyes did ever see.\u2019\n53D.21 Out spak the bride\u2019s mither,\nAn a haghty woman was she:\n\u2018If ye had na eccepted the bonny bride,\nYe might well ha eccepted me.\u2019\n53D.22 \u2018No disparagement to you, madam,\nNor none unto her Grace;\nThe sole of yonr lady\u2019s foot\nIs fairer than her face.\u2019\n53D.23 He\u2019s gaen the table wi his foot,\nAnd couped it wi his knee:\n\u2018I wad my head and a\u2019 my land\n\u2019Tis Susie Pay, come oer the sea.\u2019\n53D.24 The stair was thirty steps,\nI wat he made them three;\nHe took her in his arms twa:\n\u2018Susie Pay, ye\u2019r welcome to me.\u2019\n53D.25 \u2018Gie me a shive of your white bread,\nAn a bottle of your wine;\nDinna ye mind on the lady\u2019s love\nThat freed ye out of pine?\u2019\n53D.26 He took her . . . .\nDown to yon garden green,\nAn changed her name fra Susie Pay,\nAn called her bonny Lady Jean.\n53D.27 \u2018Yer daughter came here on high horse-back,\nShe sal gae hame in coaches three,\nAn I sall double her tocher our,\nShe\u2019s nane the war o me.\u2019\n53D.28 \u2018It\u2019s na the fashion o our countrie,\nNor yet o yer nane,\nTo wed a maid in the morning,\nAn send her hame at een.\u2019\n53D.29 \u2018It\u2019s na the fashion o my countrie,\nNor is it of my nane,\nBut I man mind on the lady\u2019s love\nThat freed me out of pine.\u2019\n53E: Young Beichan\n53E.1 IN London was Young Beichan born,\nHe longed strange countries for to see,\nBut he was taen by a savage Moor,\nWho handled him right cruellie.\n53E.2 For he viewed the fashions of that land,\nTheir way of worship viewed he,\nBut to Mahound or Termagant\nWould Beichan never bend a knee.\n53E.3 So in every shoulder they\u2019ve putten a bore,\nIn every bore they\u2019ve putten a tree,\nAnd they have made him trail the wine\nAnd spices on his fair bodie.\n53E.4 They\u2019ve casten him in a dungeon deep,\nWhere he could neither hear nor see,\nFor seven years they kept him there,\nTill he for hunger\u2019s like to die.\n53E.5 This Moor he had but ae daughter,\nHer name was called Susie Pye,\nAnd every day as she took the air,\nNear Beichan\u2019s prison she passed by.\n53E.6 O so it fell upon a day\nShe heard Young Beichan sadly sing:\n\u2018My hounds they all go masterless,\nMy hawks they flee from tree to tree,\nMy younger brother will heir my land,\nFair England again I\u2019ll never see!\u2019\n53E.7 All night long no rest she got,\nYoung Beichan\u2019s song for thinking on;\nShe\u2019s stown the keys from her father\u2019s head,\nAnd to the prison strong is gone.\n53E.8 And she has opend the prison doors,\nI wot she opend two or three,\nEre she could come Young Beichan at,\nHe was locked up so curiouslie.\n53E.9 But when she came Young Beichan before,\nSore wonderd he that may to see;\nHe took her for some fair captive:\n\u2018Fair Lady, I pray, of what countrie?\u2019\n53E.10 \u2018O have ye any lands,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Or castles in your own countrie,\nThat ye could give to a lady fair,\nFrom prison strong to set you free?\u2019\n53E.11 \u2018Near London town I have a hall,\nWith other castles two or three;\nI\u2019ll give them all to the lady fair\nThat out of prison will set me free.\u2019\n53E.12 \u2018Give me the truth of your right hand,\nThe truth of it give unto me,\nThat for seven years ye\u2019ll no lady wed,\nUnless it be along with me.\u2019\n53E.13 \u2018I\u2019ll give thee the truth of my right hand,\nThe truth of it I\u2019ll freely gie,\nThat for seven years I\u2019ll stay unwed,\nFor the kindness thou dost show to me.\u2019\n53E.14 And she has brib\u2019d the proud warder\nWi mickle gold and white monie,\nShe\u2019s gotten the keys of the prison strong,\nAnd she has set Young Beichan free.\n53E.15 She\u2019s gien him to eat the good spice-cake,\nShe\u2019s gien him to drink the blood-red wine,\nShe\u2019s bidden him sometimes think on her,\nThat sae kindly freed him out of pine.\n53E.16 She\u2019s broken a ring from her finger,\nAnd to Beichan half of it gave she:\n\u2018Keep it, to mind you of that love\nThe lady bore that set you free.\n53E.17 \u2018And set your foot on good ship-board,\nAnd haste ye back to your own countrie,\nAnd before that seven years have an end,\nCome back again, love, and marry me.\u2019\n53E.18 But long ere seven years had an end,\nShe longd full sore her love to see,\nFor ever a voice within her breast\nSaid, \u2018Beichan has broke his vow to thee:\u2019\nSo she\u2019s set her foot on good ship-board,\nAnd turnd her back on her own countrie.\n53E.19 She sailed east, she sailed west,\nTill to fair England\u2019s shore she came,\nWhere a bonny shepherd she espied,\nFeeding his sheep upon the plain.\n53E.20 \u2018What news, what news, thou bonny shepherd?\nWhat news hast thou to tell to me?\u2019\n\u2018Such news I hear, ladie,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018The like was never in this countrie.\n53E.21 \u2018There is a wedding in yonder hall,\nHas lasted these thirty days and three;\nYoung Beichan will not bed with his bride,\nFor love of one that\u2019s yond the sea.\u2019\n53E.22 She\u2019s put her hand in her pocket,\nGien him the gold and white monie:\n\u2018Hae, take ye that, my bonny boy,\nFor the good news thou tellst to me.\u2019\n53E.23 When she came to Young Beichan\u2019s gate,\nShe tirled softly at the pin;\nSo ready was the proud porter\nTo open and let this lady in.\n53E.24 \u2018Is this Young Beichan\u2019s hall,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018O is that noble lord within?\u2019\n\u2018Yea, he\u2019s in the hall among them all,\nAnd this is the day o his weddin.\u2019\n53E.25 \u2018And has he wed anither love?\nAnd has he clean forgotten me?\u2019\nAnd sighin said that gay ladie,\nI wish I were in my own countrie!\n53E.26 And she has taen her gay gold ring,\nThat with her love she brake so free;\nSays, Gie him that, ye proud porter,\nAnd bid the bridegroom speak to me.\n53E.27 When the porter came his lord before,\nHe kneeled down low on his knee:\n\u2018What aileth thee, my proud porter,\nThou art so full of courtesie?\u2019\n53E.28 \u2018I\u2019ve been porter at your gates,\nIt\u2019s thirty long years now and three;\nBut there stands a lady at them now,\nThe like o her did I never see.\n53E.29 \u2018For on every finger she has a ring,\nAnd on her mid-finger she has three,\nAnd as meickle gold aboon her brow\nAs would buy an earldom to me.\u2019\n53E.30 It\u2019s out then spak the bride\u2019s mother,\nAye and an angry woman was shee:\n\u2018Ye might have excepted our bonny bride,\nAnd twa or three of our companie.\u2019\n53E.31 \u2018O hold your tongue, thou bride\u2019s mother,\nOf all your folly let me be;\nShe\u2019s ten times fairer nor the bride,\nAnd all that\u2019s in your companie.\n53E.32 \u2018She begs one sheave of your white bread,\nBut and a cup of your red wine,\nAnd to remember the lady\u2019s love\nThat last relievd you out of pine.\u2019\n53E.33 \u2018O well-a-day!\u2019 said Beichan then,\n\u2018That I so soon have married thee!\nFor it can be none but Susie Pye,\nThat sailed the sea for love of me.\u2019\n53E.34 And quickly hied he down the stair;\nOf fifteen steps he made but three;\nHe\u2019s taen his bonny love in his arms,\nAnd kist and kist her tenderlie.\n53E.35 \u2018O hae ye taen anither bride?\nAnd hae ye quite forgotten me?\nAnd hae ye quite forgotten her\nThat gave your life and libertie?\u2019\n53E.36 She looked oer her left shoulder,\nTo hide the tears stood in her ee:\n\u2018Now fare thee well, Young Beichan,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018I\u2019ll try to think no more on thee.\u2019\n53E.37 \u2018O never, never, Susie Pye,\nFor surely this can never be,\nNor ever shall I wed but her\nThat\u2019s done and dreed so much for me.\u2019\n53E.38 Then out and spak the forenoon bride:\n\u2018My lord, your love it changeth soon;\nThis morning I was made your bride,\nAnd another chose ere it be noon.\u2019\n53E.39 O hold thy tongue, thou forenoon bride,\nYe\u2019re neer a whit the worse for me,\nAnd whan ye return to your own countrie,\nA double dower I\u2019ll send with thee.\u2019\n53E.40 He\u2019s taen Susie Pye by the white hand,\nAnd gently led her up and down,\nAnd ay as he kist her red rosy lips,\n\u2018Ye\u2019re welcome, jewel, to your own.\u2019\n53E.41 He\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd led her to yon fountain stane;\nHe\u2019s changed her name from Susie Pye,\nAnd he\u2019s call\u2019d her his bonny love, Lady Jane.\n53F: Young Beichan\n53F.1 IN the lands whre Lord Beichan was born,\nAmang the stately steps of stane,\nHe wore the goud at his left shoulder,\nBut to the Holy Land he\u2019s gane.\n53F.2 He was na lang in the Holy Land,\nAmang the Prudents that was black,\nHe was na lang in the Holy Land,\nTill the Prudent did Lord Beichan tak.\n53F.3 The gard him draw baith pleugh and harrow,\nAnd horse and oxen twa or three;\nThey cast him in a dark dungeon,\nWhare he coud neither hear nor see.\n53F.4 The Prudent had a fair daughter,\nI wot they ca\u2019d her Susy Pye,\nAnd all the keys in that city\nHang at that lady by and bye.\n53F.5 It once fell out upon a day\nThat into the prison she did gae,\nAnd whan she cam to the prison door,\nShe kneeled low down on her knee.\n53F.6 \u2018O hae ye ony lands, Beichan,\nOr hae ye ony castles hie,\nWhar ye wad tak a young thing to,\nIf out of prison I wad let thee?\u2019\n53F.7 \u2018Fair London\u2019s mine, dear lady,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018And other places twa or three,\nWhar I wad tak a young thing to,\nIf out of prison ye wad let me.\u2019\n53F.8 O she has opened the prison door,\nAnd other places twa or three,\nAnd gien him bread, and wine to drink,\nIn her own chamber privately.\n53F.9 O then she built a bonny ship,\nAnd she has set it on the main,\nAnd she has built a bonny ship,\nIt\u2019s for to tak Lord Beichan hame.\n53F.10 O she\u2019s gaen murning up and down,\nAnd she\u2019s gaen murnin to the sea,\nThen to her father she has gane in,\nWha spak to her right angrily.\n53F.11 \u2018O do ye mourn for the goud, daughter,\nOr do ye mourn for the whyte monie?\nOr do ye mourn for the English squire?\nI wat I will gar hang him hie.\u2019\n53F.12 \u2018I neither mourn for the goud, father,\nNor do I for the whyte monie,\nNor do I for the English squire;\nAnd I care na tho ye hang him hie.\n53F.13 \u2018But I hae promised an errand to go,\nSeven lang miles ayont the sea,\nAnd blythe and merry I never will be\nUntill that errand you let me.\u2019\n53F.14 \u2018That errand, daughter, you may gang,\nSeven long miles beyond the sea,\nSince blythe and merry you\u2019ll neer be\nUntill that errand I\u2019ll let thee.\u2019\n53F.15 O she has built a bonny ship,\nAnd she has set it in the sea,\nAnd she has built a bonny ship,\nIt\u2019s all for to tak her a long journie.\n53F.16 And she\u2019s sailed a\u2019 the summer day,\nI wat the wind blew wondrous fair;\nIn sight of fair London she has come,\nAnd till Lord Beichan\u2019s yett she walked.\n53F.17 Whan she cam till Lord Beichan\u2019s yett,\nShe rappit loudly at the pin:\n\u2018Is Beichan lord of this bonny place?\nI pray ye open and let me in.\n53F.18 \u2018And O is this Lord Beichan\u2019s yett,\nAnd is the noble lord within?\u2019\n\u2018O yes, it is Lord Beichan\u2019s yett,\nHe\u2019s wi his bride and mony a ane.\u2019\n53F.19 \u2018If you\u2019ll gang up to Lord Beichan,\nTell him the words that I tell thee;\nIt will put him in mind of Susy Pye,\nAnd the Holy Land, whareer he be.\n53F.20 \u2018Tell him to send one bite of bread,\nIt\u2019s and a glass of his gude red wine,\nNor to forget the lady\u2019s love\nThat loosed him out of prison strong.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53F.21 \u2018I hae been porter at your yett,\nI\u2019m sure this therty lang years and three,\nBut the fairest lady stands thereat\nThat evir my twa eyes did see.\n53F.22 \u2018On ilka finger she has a ring,\nAnd on the foremost she has three;\nAs muckle goud is on her head\nAs wad buy an earldom of land to thee.\n53F.23 \u2018She bids you send a bite of bread,\nIt\u2019s and a glass of your gude red wine,\nNor to forget the lady\u2019s love\nThat let you out of prison strong.\u2019\n53F.24 It\u2019s up and spak the bride\u2019s mother,\nA weight of goud hung at her chin:\n\u2018There is no one so fair without\nBut there are, I wat, as fair within.\u2019\n53F.25 It\u2019s up and spak the bride hersel,\nAs she sat by the gude lord\u2019s knee:\n\u2018Awa, awa, ye proud porter,\nThis day ye might hae excepted me.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53F.26 \u2018Tak hence, tak hence your fair daughter,\nTak hame your daughter fair frae me;\nFor saving one kiss of her bonny lips,\nI\u2019m sure of her body I am free.\n53F.27 \u2018Awa, awa, ye proud mither,\nIt\u2019s tak your daughter fair frae me;\nFor I brought her home with chariots six,\nAnd I\u2019ll send her back wi coaches three.\u2019\n53F.28 It\u2019s he\u2019s taen the table wi his fit,\nAnd syne he took it wi his knee;\nHe gard the glasses and wine so red,\nHe gard them all in flinders flee.\n53F.29 O he\u2019s gane down the steps of stairs,\nAnd a\u2019 the stately steps of stane,\nUntil he cam to Susy Pye;\nI wat the tears blinded baith their eyne.\n53F.30 He led her up the steps of stairs,\nAnd a\u2019 the stately steps of stane,\nAnd changed her name from Susy Pye,\nAnd ca\u2019d her lusty Lady Jane.\n53F.31 \u2018O fye, gar cooks mak ready meat,\nO fye, gar cooks the pots supply,\nThat it may be talked of in fair London,\nI\u2019ve been twice married in ae day.\u2019\n53G: Young Beichan\n53G.1 * * * *\n\u2018O WHARR\u2019rrS aught a\u2019 yon flock o sheep,\nAn wha\u2019s aught a\u2019 yon flock o kye?\nAn wha\u2019s aught a\u2019 yon pretty castles,\nThat you sae often do pass bye?\u2019\n53G.2 \u2018They\u2019re a\u2019 Lord Beekin\u2019s sheep,\nThey\u2019re a\u2019 Lord Beekin\u2019s kye;\nThey\u2019re a\u2019 Lord Beekin\u2019s castles,\nThat you sae often do pass bye.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53G.3 He\u2019s tane [the] table wi his feet,\nMade cups an candlesticks to flee:\n\u2018I\u2019ll lay my life \u2019tis Susy Pie,\nCome owr the seas to marry me.\u2019\n53H: Young Beichan\n53H.1 YOUNG BEICHAN was in London born,\nHe was a man of hie degree;\nHe past thro monie kingdoms great,\nUntil he cam unto Grand Turkie.\n53H.2 He viewd the fashions of that land,\nTheir way of worship viewed he,\nBut unto onie of their stocks\nHe wadna sae much as bow a knee:\n53H.3 Which made him to be taken straight,\nAnd brought afore their hie jurie;\nThe savage Moor did speak upricht,\nAnd made him meikle ill to dree.\n53H.4 In ilka shoulder they\u2019ve bord a hole,\nAnd in ilka hole they\u2019ve put a tree;\nThey\u2019ve made him to draw carts and wains,\nTill he was sick and like to dee.\n53H.5 But Young Beichan was a Christian born,\nAnd still a Christian was he;\nWhich made them put him in prison strang,\nAnd cauld and hunger sair to dree,\nAnd fed on nocht but bread and water,\nUntil the day that he mot dee.\n53H.6 In this prison there grew a tree,\nAnd it was unco stout and strang,\nWhere he was chained by the middle,\nUntil his life was almaist gane.\n53H.7 The savage Moor had but ae dochter,\nAnd her name it was Susie Pye,\nAnd ilka day as she took the air,\nThe prison door she passed bye.\n53H.8 But it fell ance upon a day,\nAs she was walking, she heard him sing;\nShe listend to his tale of woe,\nA happy day for Young Beichan!\n53H.9 \u2018My hounds they all go masterless,\nMy hawks they flee frae tree to tree,\nMy youngest brother will heir my lands,\nMy native land I\u2019ll never see.\u2019\n53H.10 \u2018O were I but the prison-keeper,\nAs I\u2019m a ladie o hie degree,\nI soon wad set this youth at large,\nAnd send him to his ain countrie.\u2019\n53H.11 She went away into her chamber,\nAll nicht she never closd her ee;\nAnd when the morning begoud to dawn,\nAt the prison door alane was she.\n53H.12 She gied the keeper a piece of gowd,\nAnd monie pieces o white monie,\nTo tak her thro the bolts and bars,\nThe lord frae Scotland she langd to see;\nShe saw young Beichan at the stake,\nWhich made her weep maist bitterlie.\n53H.13 \u2018O hae ye got onie lands,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or castles in your ain countrie?\nIt\u2019s what wad ye gie to the ladie fair\nWha out o prison wad set you free?\u2019\n53H.14 \u2018It\u2019s I hae houses, and I hae lands,\nWi monie castles fair to see,\nAnd I wad gie a\u2019 to that ladie gay,\nWha out o prison wad set me free.\u2019\n53H.15 The keeper syne brak aff his chains,\nAnd set Lord Beichan at libertie;\nShe filld his pockets baith wi gowd,\nTo tak him till his ain countrie.\n53H.16 She took him frae her father\u2019s prison,\nAnd gied to him the best o wine,\nAnd a brave health she drank to him:\n\u2018I wish, Lord Beichan, ye were mine!\n53H.17 \u2018It\u2019s seven lang years I\u2019ll mak a vow,\nAnd seven lang years I\u2019ll keep it true;\nIf ye\u2019ll wed wi na ither woman,\nIt\u2019s I will wed na man but you.\u2019\n53H.18 She\u2019s tane him to her father\u2019s port,\nAnd gien to him a ship o fame:\n\u2018Farewell, farewell, my Scottish lord,\nI fear I\u2019ll neer see you again.\u2019\n53H.19 Lord Beichan turnd him round about,\nAnd lowly, lowly loutit he:\n\u2018Ere seven lang years come to an end,\nI\u2019ll tak you to mine ain countrie.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53H.20 Then whan he cam to Glosgow town,\nA happy, happy man was he;\nThe ladies a\u2019 around him thrangd,\nTo see him come frae slaverie.\n53H.21 His mother she had died o sorrow,\nAnd a\u2019 his brothers were dead but he;\nHis lands they a\u2019 were lying waste,\nIn ruins were his castles free.\n53H.22 Na porter there stood at his yett,\nNa human creature he could see,\nExcept the screeching owls and bats,\nHad he to bear him companie.\n53H.23 But gowd will gar the castles grow,\nAnd he had gowd and jewels free,\nAnd soon the pages around him thrangd,\nTo serve him on their bended knee.\n53H.24 His hall was hung wi silk and satin,\nHis table rung wi mirth and glee,\nHe soon forgot the lady fair\nThat lowsd him out o slaverie.\n53H.25 Lord Beichan courted a lady gay,\nTo heir wi him his lands sae free,\nNeer thinking that a lady fair\nWas on her way frae Grand Turkie.\n53H.26 For Susie Pye could get na rest,\nNor day nor nicht could happy be,\nStill thinking on the Scottish lord,\nTill she was sick and like to dee.\n53H.27 But she has builded a bonnie ship,\nWeel mannd wi seamen o hie degree,\nAnd secretly she stept on board,\nAnd bid adieu to her ain countrie.\n53H.28 But whan she cam to the Scottish shore,\nThe bells were ringing sae merrilie;\nIt was Lord Beichan\u2019s wedding day,\nWi a lady fair o hie degree.\n53H.29 But sic a vessel was never seen;\nThe very masts were tappd wi gold,\nHer sails were made o the satin fine,\nMaist beautiful for to behold.\n53H.30 But whan the lady cam on shore,\nAttended wi her pages three,\nHer shoon were of the beaten gowd,\nAnd she a lady of great beautie.\n53H.31 Then to the skipper she did say,\n\u2018Can ye this answer gie to me?\nWhere are Lord Beichan\u2019s lands sae braid?\nHe surely lives in this countrie.\u2019\n53H.32 Then up bespak the skipper bold,\nFor he could speak the Turkish tongue:\n\u2018Lord Beichan lives not far away;\nThis is the day of his wedding.\u2019\n53H.33 \u2018If ye will guide me to Beichan\u2019s yetts,\nI will ye well reward,\u2019 said she;\nThen she and all her pages went,\nA very gallant companie.\n53H.34 When she cam to Lord Beichan\u2019s yetts,\nShe tirld gently at the pin;\nSae ready was the proud porter\nTo let the wedding guests come in.\n53H.35 \u2018Is this Lord Beichan\u2019s house,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or is that noble lord within?\u2019\n\u2018Yes, he is gane into the hall,\nWith his brave bride and monie ane.\u2019\n53H.36 \u2018Ye\u2019ll bid him send me a piece of bread,\nBot and a cup of his best wine;\nAnd bid him mind the lady\u2019s love\nThat ance did lowse him out o pyne.\u2019\n53H.37 Then in and cam the porter bold,\nI wat he gae three shouts and three:\n\u2018The fairest lady stands at your yetts\nThat ever my twa een did see.\u2019\n53H.38 Then up bespak the bride\u2019s mither,\nI wat an angry woman was she:\n\u2018You micht hae excepted our bonnie bride,\nTho she\u2019d been three times as fair as she.\u2019\n53H.39 \u2018My dame, your daughter\u2019s fair enough,\nAnd aye the fairer mot she be!\nBut the fairest time that eer she was,\nShe\u2019ll na compare wi this ladie.\n53H.40 \u2018She has a gowd ring on ilka finger,\nAnd on her mid-finger she has three;\nShe has as meikle gowd upon her head\nAs wad buy an earldom o land to thee.\n53H.41 \u2018My lord, she begs some o your bread,\nBot and a cup o your best wine,\nAnd bids you mind the lady\u2019s love\nThat ance did lowse ye out o pyne.\u2019\n53H.42 Then up and started Lord Beichan,\nI wat he made the table flee:\n\u2018I wad gie a\u2019 my yearlie rent\n\u2019Twere Susie Pye come owre the sea.\u2019\n53H.43 Syne up bespak the bride\u2019s mother,\nShe was never heard to speak sae free:\n\u2018Ye\u2019ll no forsake my ae dochter,\nTho Susie Pye has crossd the sea?\u2019\n53H.44 \u2018Tak hame, tak hame, your dochter, madam,\nFor she is neer the waur o me;\nShe cam to me on horseback riding,\nAnd she sall gang hame in chariot free.\u2019\n53H.45 He\u2019s tane Susie Pye by the milk-white hand,\nAnd led her thro his halls sae hie:\n\u2018Ye\u2019re now Lord Beichan\u2019s lawful wife,\nAnd thrice ye\u2019re welcome unto me.\u2019\n53H.46 Lord Beichan prepard for another wedding,\nWi baith their hearts sae fu o glee;\nSays, \u2018I\u2019ll range na mair in foreign lands,\nSin Susie Pye has crossd the sea.\n53H.47 \u2018Fy! gar a\u2019 our cooks mak ready,\nAnd fy! gar a\u2019 our pipers play,\nAnd fy! gar trumpets gae thro the toun,\nThat Lord Beichan\u2019s wedded twice in a day!\u2019\n53I: Young Beichan\n53I.1 IN London was Young Bechin born,\nForeign nations he longed to see;\nHe passed through many kingdoms great,\nAt length he came unto Turkie.\n53I.2 He viewed the fashions of that land,\nThe ways of worship viewed he,\nBut unto any of their gods\nHe would not so much as bow the knee.\n53I.3 every shoulder they made a bore,\nIn every bore they put a tree,\nThen they made him the winepress tread,\nAnd all in spite of his fair bodie.\n53I.4 They put him into a deep dungeon,\nWhere he could neither hear nor see,\nAnd for seven years they kept him there,\nTill for hunger he was like to die.\n53I.5 Stephen, their king, had a daughter fair,\nYet never a man to her came nigh;\nAnd every day she took the air,\nNear to his prison she passed by.\n53I.6 One day she heard Young Bechin sing\nA song that pleased her so well,\nNo rest she got till she came to him,\nAll in his lonely prison cell.\n53I.7 \u2018I have a hall in London town,\nWith other buildings two or three,\nAnd I\u2019ll give them all to the ladye fair\nThat from this dungeon shall set me free.\u2019\n53I.8 She stole the keys from her dad\u2019s head,\nAnd if she oped one door ay she opened three,\nTill she Young Bechin could find out,\nHe was locked up so curiouslie.\n* * * * *\n53I.9 \u2018I\u2019ve been a porter at your gate\nThis thirty years now, ay and three;\nThere stands a ladye at your gate,\nThe like of her I neer did see.\n53I.10 \u2018On every finger she has a ring,\nOn the mid-finger she has three;\nShe\u2019s as much gold about her brow\nAs would an earldom buy to me.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53I.11 He\u2019s taen her by the milk-white hand,\nHe gently led her through the green;\nHe changed her name from Susie Pie,\nAn he\u2019s called her lovely Ladye Jean.\n53J: Young Beichan\n53J.1 * * * *\nSHERR\u2019rrS taen the keys frae her fadder\u2019s coffer,\nTho he keeps them most sacredlie,\nAnd she has opend the prison strong,\nAnd set Young Beichan at libertie.\n* * * * *\n53J.2 . . . . . .\n. . . . .\n\u2018Gae up the countrie, my chile,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Till your fadder\u2019s wrath be turned from thee.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53J.3 She\u2019s put her han intill her purse,\nAnd gave the porter guineas three;\nSays, \u2018Tak ye that, ye proud porter,\nAnd tell your master to speak wi me.\n53J.4 \u2018Ye\u2019ll bid him bring a shower o his best love,\nBut and a bottle o his wine,\nAnd do to me as I did to him in time past,\nAnd brought him out o muckle pine.\u2019\n53J.5 He\u2019s taen the table wi his foot,\nAnd he has keppit it wi his knee:\n\u2018I\u2019ll wager my life and a\u2019 my lan,\nIt\u2019s Susan Pie come ower the sea.\n53J.6 \u2018Rise up, rise up, my bonnie bride,\nYe\u2019re neither better nor waur for me;\nYe cam to me on a horse and saddle,\nBut ye may gang back in a coach and three.\u2019\n53K: Young Beichan\n53K.1 * * * *\n\u2018There is a marriage in yonder hall,\nHas lasted thirty days and three;\nThe bridegroom winna bed the bride,\nFor the sake of one that\u2019s owre the sea.\u2019\n* * * * *\n53K.2 \u2018What news, what news, my brave young porter?\nWhat news, what news have ye for me?\u2019\n\u2018As beautiful a ladye stands at your gate\nAs eer my two eyes yet did see.\u2019\n53K.3 \u2018A slice of bread to her get ready,\nAnd a bottle of the best of wine;\nNot to forget that fair young ladye\nWho did release thee out of close confine.\u2019\n53K.4 Lord Bechin in a passion flew,\nAnd rent himself like a sword in three,\nSaying, \u2018I would give all my father\u2019s riches\nIf my Sophia was \u2019cross the sea.\u2019\n53K.5 Up spoke the young bride\u2019s mother,\nWho never was heard to speak so free,\nSaying, \u2018I hope you\u2019ll not forget my only daughter,\nThough your Sophia be \u2019cross the sea.\u2019\n53K.6 \u2018I own a bride I\u2019ve wed your daughter,\nShe\u2019s nothing else the worse of me;\nShe came to me on a horse and saddle,\nShe may go back in a coach and three.\u2019\n53L: Young Beichan\n53L.1 LORD BATEMAN was a noble lord,\nA noble lord of high degree;\nHe shipped himself all aboard of a ship,\nSome foreign country for to see.\n53L.2 He sailed east, he sailed west,\nUntil he came to famed Turkey,\nWhere he was taken and put to prison,\nUntil his life was quite weary.\n53L.3 All in this prison there grew a tree,\nO there it grew so stout and strong!\nWhere he was chained all by the middle,\nUntil his life was almost gone.\n53L.4 This Turk he had one only daughter,\nThe fairest my two eyes eer see;\nShe steel the keys of her father\u2019s prison,\nAnd swore Lord Bateman she would let go free.\n53L.5 O she took him to her father\u2019s cellar,\nAnd gave to him the best of wine;\nAnd every health she drank unto him\nWas, \u2018I wish, Lord Bateman, as you was mine.\u2019\n53L.6 \u2018O have you got houses, have you got land,\nAnd does Northumberland belong to thee?\nAnd what would you give to the fair young lady\nAs out of prison would let you go free?\u2019\n53L.7 \u2018O I\u2019ve got houses and I\u2019ve got land,\nAnd half Northumberland belongs to me;\nAnd I will give it all to the fair young lady\nAs out of prison would let me go free.\u2019\n53L.8 \u2018O in seven long years, I\u2019ll make a vow\nFor seven long years, and keep it strong,\nThat if you\u2019ll wed no other woman,\nO I will wed no other man.\u2019\n53L.9 O she took him to her father\u2019s harbor,\nAnd gave to him a ship of fame,\nSaying, Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman,\nI fear I never shall see you again.\n53L.10 Now seven long years is gone and past,\nAnd fourteen days, well known to me;\nShe packed up all her gay clothing,\nAnd swore Lord Bateman she would go see.\n53L.11 O when she arrived at Lord Bateman\u2019s castle,\nHow boldly then she rang the bell!\n\u2018Who\u2019s there? who\u2019s there?\u2019 cries the proud young porter,\n\u2018O come unto me pray quickly tell.\u2019\n53L.12 \u2018O is this here Lord Bateman\u2019s castle,\nAnd is his lordship here within?\u2019\n\u2018O yes, O yes,\u2019 cries the proud young porter,\n\u2018He\u2019s just now taking his young bride in.\u2019\n53L.13 \u2018O bid him to send me a slice of bread,\nAnd a bottle of the very best wine,\nAnd not forgetting the fair young lady\nAs did release him when close confine.\u2019\n53L.14 O away and away went this proud young porter,\nO away and away and away went he,\nUntil he come to Lord Bateman\u2019s chamber,\nWhen he went down on his bended knee.\n53L.15 \u2018What news, what news, my proud young porter?\nWhat news, what news? Come tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018O there is the fairest young lady\nAs ever my two eyes did see.\n53L.16 \u2018She has got rings on every finger,\nAnd on one finger she has got three;\nWith as much gay gold about her middle\nAs would buy half Northumberlee.\n53L.17 \u2018O she bids you to send her a slice of bread,\nAnd a bottle of the very best wine,\nAnd not forgetting the fair young lady\nAs did release you when close confine.\u2019\n53L.18 Lord Bateman then in passion flew,\nAnd broke his sword in splinters three,\nSaying, I will give half of my father\u2019s land,\nIf so be as Sophia has crossed the sea.\n53L.19 Then up and spoke this young bride\u2019s mother,\nWho never was heard to speak so free;\nSaying, You\u2019ll not forget my only daughter,\nIf so be as Sophia has crossed the sea.\n53L.20 \u2018O it\u2019s true I made a bride of your daughter,\nBut she\u2019s neither the better nor the worse for me;\nShe came to me with a horse and saddle,\nBut she may go home in a coach and three.\u2019\n53L.21 Lord Bateman then prepared another marriage,\nWith both their hearts so full of glee,\nSaying, I will roam no more to foreign countries,\nNow that Sophia has crossed the sea.\n53M: Young Beichan\n53M.1 YOUNG BONWELL was a squire\u2019s ae son,\nAnd a squire\u2019s ae son was he;\nHe went abroad to a foreign land,\nTo serve for meat and fee.\n53M.2 He hadna been in that country\nA twalmonth and a day,\nTill he was cast in prison strong,\nFor the sake of a lovely may.\n53M.3 \u2018O if my father get word of this,\nAt hame in his ain country,\nHe\u2019ll send red gowd for my relief,\nAnd a bag o white money.\n53M.4 \u2018O gin an earl woud borrow me,\nAt his bridle I woud rin;\nOr gin a widow woud borrow me,\nI\u2019d swear to be her son.\n53M.5 \u2018Or gin a may woud borrow me,\nI\u2019d wed her wi a ring,\nInfeft her wi the ha\u2019s and bowers\nO the bonny towers o Linne.\u2019\n53M.6 But it fell ance upon a day\nDame Essels she thought lang,\nAnd she is to the jail-house door,\nTo hear Young Bondwell\u2019s sang.\n53M.7 \u2018Sing on, sing on, my bonny Bondwell,\nThe sang ye sang just now:\u2019\n\u2018I never sang the sang, lady,\nBut I woud war\u2019t on you.\n53M.8 \u2018O gin my father get word o this,\nAt hame in his ain country,\nHe\u2019ll send red gowd for my relief,\nAnd a bag o white money.\n53M.9 \u2018O gin an earl woud borrow me,\nAt his bridle I woud rin;\nOr gin a widow would borrow me,\nI\u2019d swear to be her son.\n53M.10 \u2018O gin a may woud borrow me,\nI woud wed her wi a ring,\nInfeft her wi the ha\u2019s and bowers\nO the bonny towers o Linne.\u2019\n53M.11 She\u2019s stole the keys o the jail-house door,\nWhere under the bed they lay;\nShe\u2019s opend to him the jail-house door,\nAnd set Young Bondwell free.\n53M.12 She gae\u2019m a steed was swift in need,\nA saddle o royal ben,\nA hunder pund o pennies round,\nBade him gae roav an spend.\n53M.13 A couple o hounds o ae litter,\nAnd Cain they ca\u2019d the one;\nTwa gay gos-hawks she gae likeways,\nTo keep him onthought lang.\n53M.14 When mony days were past and gane,\nDame Essels thought fell lang,\nAnd she is to her lonely bower,\nTo shorten her wi a sang.\n53M.15 The sang has such a melody,\nIt lulld her fast asleep;\nUp starts a woman, clad in green,\nAnd stood at her bed-feet.\n53M.16 \u2018Win up, win up, Dame Essels,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018This day ye sleep ower lang;\nThe morn is the squire\u2019s wedding day,\nIn the bonny towers o Linne.\n53M.17 \u2018Ye\u2019ll dress yoursell in the robes o green,\nYour maids in robes sae fair,\nAnd ye\u2019ll put girdles about their middles,\nSae costly, rich and rare.\n53M.18 \u2018Ye\u2019ll take your maries alang wi you,\nTill ye come to yon strand;\nThere ye\u2019ll see a ship, wi sails all up,\nCome sailing to dry land.\n53M.19 \u2018Ye\u2019ll take a wand into your hand,\nYe\u2019ll stroke her round about,\nAnd ye\u2019ll take God your pilot to be,\nTo drown ye\u2019ll take nae doubt.\u2019\n53M.20 Then up it raise her Dame Essels,\nSought water to wash her hands,\nBut aye the faster that she washd,\nThe tears they trickling ran.\n53M.21 Then in it came her father dear,\nAnd in the floor steps he:\n\u2018What ails Dame Essels, my daughter dear,\nYe weep sae bitterlie?\n53M.22 \u2018Want ye a small fish frae the flood,\nOr turtle frae the sea?\nOr is there man in a\u2019 my realm\nThis day has offended thee?\u2019\n53M.23 \u2018I want nae small fish frae the flood,\nNor turtle frae the sea;\nBut Young Bondwell, your ain prisoner,\nThis day has offended me.\u2019\n53M.24 Her father turnd him round about,\nA solemn oath sware he:\n\u2018If this be true ye tell me now\nHigh hanged he shall be.\n53M.25 \u2018To-morrow morning he shall be\nHung high upon a tree:\u2019\nDame Essels whisperd to hersel,\n\u2018Father, ye\u2019ve made a lie.\u2019\n53M.26 She dressd hersel in robes o green,\nHer maids in robes sae fair,\nWi gowden girdles round their middles,\nSae costly, rich and rare.\n53M.27 She\u2019s taen her mantle her about,\nA maiden in every hand;\nThey saw a ship, wi sails a\u2019 up,\nCome sailing to dry land.\n53M.28 She\u2019s taen a wand intill her hand,\nAnd stroked her round about,\nAnd she\u2019s taen God her pilot to be,\nTo drown she took nae doubt.\n53M.29 So they saild on, and further on,\nTill to the water o Tay;\nThere they spied a bonny little boy,\nWas watering his steeds sae gay.\n53M.30 \u2018What news, what news, my little boy,\nWhat news hae ye to me?\nAre there any weddings in this place,\nOr any gaun to be?\u2019\n53M.31 \u2018There is a wedding in this place,\nA wedding very soon;\nThe morn\u2019s the young squire\u2019s wedding day,\nIn the bonny towers of Linne.\u2019\n53M.32 O then she walked alang the way\nTo see what coud be seen,\nAnd there she saw the proud porter,\nDrest in a mantle green.\n53M.33 \u2018What news, what news, porter?\u2019 she said,\n\u2018What news hae ye to me?\nAre there any weddings in this place,\nOr any gaun to be?\u2019\n53M.34 \u2018There is a wedding in this place,\nA wedding very soon;\nThe morn is Young Bondwell\u2019s wedding day,\nThe bonny squire o Linne.\u2019\n53M.35 \u2018Gae to your master, porter,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Gae ye right speedilie;\nBid him come and speak wi a maid\nThat wishes his face to see.\u2019\n53M.36 The porter\u2019s up to his master gane,\nFell low down on his knee;\n\u2018Win up, win up, my porter,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018Why bow ye low to me?\u2019\n53M.37 hae been porter at your yetts\nThese thirty years and three,\nBut fairer maids than\u2019s at them now\nMy eyes did never see.\n53M.38 \u2018The foremost she is drest in green,\nThe rest in fine attire,\nWi gowden girdles round their middles,\nWell worth a sheriff\u2019s hire.\u2019\n53M.39 Then out it speaks Bondwell\u2019s own bride,\nWas a\u2019 gowd to the chin;\n\u2018They canno be fairer thereout,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Than we that are therein.\u2019\n53M.40 \u2018There is a difference, my dame,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018\u2019Tween that ladye\u2019s colour and yours;\nAs much difference as you were a stock,\nShe o the lily flowers.\u2019\n53M.41 Then out it speaks him Young Bondwell,\nAn angry man was he:\n\u2018Cast up the yetts baith wide an braid,\nThese ladies I may see.\u2019\n53M.42 Quickly up stairs Dame Essel\u2019s gane,\nHer maidens next her wi;\nThen said the bride, This lady\u2019s face\nShows the porter\u2019s tauld nae lie.\n53M.43 The lady unto Bondwell spake,\nThese words pronounced she:\nO hearken, hearken, fause Bondwell,\nThese words that I tell thee.\n53M.44 Is this the way ye keep your vows\nThat ye did make to me,\nWhen your feet were in iron fetters,\nAe foot ye coudna flee?\n53M.45 I stole the keys o the jail-house door\nFrae under the bed they lay,\nAnd opend up the jail-house door,\nSet you at liberty.\n53M.46 Gae you a steed was swift in need,\nA saddle o royal ben,\nA hunder pund o pennies round,\nBade you gae rove an spend.\n53M.47 A couple o hounds o ae litter,\nCain they ca\u2019ed the ane,\nTwa gay gos-hawks as swift\u2019s eer flew,\nTo keep you onthought lang.\n53M.48 But since this day ye\u2019ve broke your vow,\nFor which ye\u2019re sair to blame,\nAnd since nae mair I\u2019ll get o you,\nO Cain, will ye gae hame?\n53M.49 \u2018O Cain! O Cain!\u2019 the lady cried,\nAnd Cain did her ken;\nThey baith flappd round the lady\u2019s knee,\nLike a couple o armed men.\n53M.50 He\u2019s to his bride wi hat in hand,\nAnd haild her courteouslie:\n\u2018Sit down by me, my bonny Bondwell,\nWhat makes this courtesie?\u2019\n53M.51 \u2018An asking, asking, fair lady,\nAn asking ye\u2019ll grant me;\u2019\n\u2018Ask on, ask on, my bonny Bondwell,\nWhat may your askings be?\u2019\n53M.52 \u2018Five hundred pounds to you I\u2019ll gie,\nOf gowd an white monie,\nIf ye\u2019ll wed John, my ain cousin;\nHe looks as fair as me.\u2019\n53M.53 \u2018Keep well your monie, Bondwell,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Nae monie I ask o thee;\nYour cousin John was my first love,\nMy husband now he\u2019s be.\u2019\n53M.54 Bondwell was married at morning ear,\nJohn in the afternoon;\nDame Essels is lady ower a\u2019 the bowers\nAnd the high towers o Linne.\n53N: Young Beichan\n53N.1 IN London was Young Bichen born,\nHe longd strange lands to see;\nHe set his foot on good ship-board,\nAnd he sailed over the sea.\n53N.2 He had not been in a foreign land\nA day but only three,\nTill he was taken by a savage Moor,\nAnd they used him most cruelly.\n53N.3 In every shoulder they put a pin,\nTo every pin they put a tree;\nThey made him draw the plow and cart,\nLike horse and oxen in his country.\n53N.4 He had not servd the savage Moor\nA week, nay scarcely but only three,\nTill he has casten him in prison strong,\nTill he with hunger was like to die.\n53N.5 It fell out once upon a day\nThat Young Bichen he made his moan,\nAs he lay bound in irons strong,\nIn a dark and deep dungeon.\n53N.6 \u2018An I were again in fair England,\nAs many merry day I have been,\nThen I would curb my roving youth\nNo more to see a strange land.\n53N.7 \u2018O an I were free again now,\nAnd my feet well set on the sea,\nI would live in peace in my own country,\nAnd a foreign land I no more would see.\u2019\n53N.8 The savage Moor had but one daughter,\nI wot her name was Susan Py;\nShe heard Young Bichen make his moan,\nAt the prison-door as she past by.\n53N.9 \u2018O have ye any lands,\u2019 she said,\n\u2018Or have you any money free,\nOr have you any revenues,\nTo maintain a lady like me?\u2019\n53N.10 \u2018O I have land in fair England,\nAnd I have estates two or three,\nAnd likewise I have revenues,\nTo maintain a lady like thee.\u2019\n53N.11 \u2018O will you promise, Young Bichen,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018And keep your vow faithful to me,\nThat at the end of seven years\nIn fair England you\u2019ll marry me?\n53N.12 \u2018I\u2019ll steal the keys from my father dear,\nTho he keeps them most secretly;\nI\u2019ll risk my life for to save thine,\nAnd set thee safe upon the sea.\u2019\n53N.13 She\u2019s stolen the keys from her father,\nFrom under the bed where they lay;\nShe opened the prison strong\nAnd set Young Bichen at liberty.\n53N.14 She\u2019s gone to her father\u2019s coffer,\nWhere the gold was red and fair to see;\nShe filled his pockets with good red gold,\nAnd she set him far upon the sea.\n53N.15 \u2018O mind you well, Young Bichen,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018The vows and oaths you made to me;\nWhen you are come to your native land,\nO then remember Susan Py!\u2019\n53N.16 But when her father he came home\nHe missd the keys there where they lay;\nHe went into the prison strong,\nBut he saw Young Bichen was away.\n53N.17 \u2018Go bring your daughter, madam,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018And bring her here unto me;\nAltho I have no more but her,\nTomorrow I\u2019ll gar hang her high.\u2019\n53N.18 The lady calld on the maiden fair\nTo come to her most speedily;\n\u2018Go up the country, my child,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Stay with my brother two years or three.\n53N.19 \u2018I have a brother, he lives in the isles,\nHe will keep thee most courteously\nAnd stay with him, my child,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Till thy father\u2019s wrath be turnd from thee.\u2019\n53N.20 Now will we leave young Susan Py\nA while in her own country,\nAnd will return to Young Bichen,\nWho is safe arrived in fair England.\n53N.21 He had not been in fair England\nAbove years scarcely three,\nTill he has courted another maid,\nAnd so forgot his Susan Py.\n53N.22 The youth being young and in his prime,\nOf Susan Py thought not upon,\nBut his love was laid on another maid,\nAnd the marriage-day it did draw on.\n53N.23 But eer the seven years were run,\nSusan Py she thought full long;\nShe set her foot on good ship-board,\nAnd she has saild for fair England.\n53N.24 On every finger she put a ring,\nOn her mid-finger she put three;\nShe filld her pockets with good red gold,\nAnd she has sailed oer the sea.\n53N.25 She had not been in fair England\nA day, a day, but only three,\nTill she heard Young Bichen was a bridegroom,\nAnd the morrow to be the wedding-day.\n53N.26 \u2018Since it is so,\u2019 said young Susan,\n\u2018That he has provd so false to me,\nI\u2019ll hie me to Young Bichen\u2019s gates,\nAnd see if he minds Susan Py.\u2019\n53N.27 She has gone up thro London town,\nWhere many a lady she there did spy;\nThere was not a lady in all London\nYoung Susan that could outvie.\n53N.28 She has calld upon a waiting-man,\nA waiting-man who stood near by:\n\u2018Convey me to Young Bichen\u2019s gates,\nAnd well rewarded shals thou be.\u2019\n53N.29 When she came to Young Bichen\u2019s gate\nShe chapped loudly at the pin,\nTill down there came the proud porter;\n\u2018Who\u2019s there,\u2019 he says, \u2019That would be in?\u2019\n53N.30 \u2018Open the gates, porter,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Open them to a lady gay,\nAnd tell your master, porter,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018To speak a word or two with me.\u2019\n53N.31 The porter he has opend the gates;\nHis eyes were dazzled to see\nA lady dressd in gold and jewels;\nNo page nor waiting-man had she.\n53N.32 \u2018O pardon me, madam,\u2019 he cried,\n\u2018This day it is his wedding-day;\nHe\u2019s up the stairs with his lovely bride,\nAnd a sight of him you cannot see.\u2019\n53N.33 She put her hand in her pocket,\nAnd therefrom took out guineas three,\nAnd gave to him, saying, Please, kind sir,\nBring down your master straight to me.\n53N.34 The porter up again has gone,\nAnd he fell low down on his knee,\nSaying, Master, you will please come down\nTo a lady who wants you to see.\n53N.35 A lady gay stands at your gates,\nThe like of her I neer did see;\nShe has more gold above her eye\nNor would buy a baron\u2019s land to me.\n53N.36 Out then spake the bride\u2019s mother,\nI\u2019m sure an angry woman was she:\n\u2018You\u2019re impudent and insolent,\nFor ye might excepted the bride and me.\u2019\n53N.37 \u2018Ye lie, ye lie, ye proud woman,\nI\u2019m sure sae loud as I hear you lie;\nShe has more gold on her body\nThan would buy the lands, the bride, and thee!\u2019\n53N.38 \u2018Go down, go down, porter,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018And tell the lady gay from me\nThat I\u2019m up-stairs wi my lovely bride,\nAnd a sight of her I cannot see.\u2019\n53N.39 The porter he goes down again,\nThe lady waited patiently:\n\u2018My master\u2019s with his lovely bride,\nAnd he\u2019ll not win down my dame to see.\u2019\n53N.40 From off her finger she\u2019s taen a ring;\n\u2018Give that your master,\u2019 she says, \u2019From me,\nAnd tell him now, young man,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018To send down a cup of wine to me.\u2019\n53N.41 \u2018Here\u2019s ring for you, master,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018On her mid-finger she has three,\nAnd you are desird, my lord,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018To send down a cup of wine with me.\u2019\n53N.42 He hit the table with his foot,\nHe kepd it with his right knee:\n\u2018I\u2019ll wed my life and all my land\nThat is Susan Py, come o\u2019er the sea!\u2019\n53N.43 He has gone unto the stair-head,\nA step he took but barely three;\nHe opend the gates most speedily,\nAnd Susan Py he there could see.\n53N.44 \u2018Is this the way, Young Bichen,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Is this the way you\u2019ve guided me?\nI relieved you from prison strong,\nAnd ill have you rewarded me.\n53N.45 mind ye, Young Bichen,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018The vows and oaths that ye made to me,\nWhen ye lay bound in prison strong,\nIn a deep dungeon of misery?\u2019\n53N.46 He took her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd led her into the palace fine;\nThere was not a lady in all the palace\nBut Susan Py did all outshine.\n53N.47 The day concluded with joy and mirth,\nOn every side there might you see;\nThere was great joy in all England\nFor the wedding-day of Susan Py.","title":"The Child Ballads: 53. Young Beichan","type":"page"}