{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch108.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch108.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch108.htm","text":"108.1 AS I walked forth one morninge,\nBy one place that pleased mee,\nWherin I heard a wandering wight,\nSais, Christopher White is good companye.\n108.2 I drew me neere, and very neere,\nTill I was as neere as neere cold bee;\nLoth I was her councell to discreene,\nBecause I wanted companye.\n108.3 \u2018Say on, say on, thou well faire mayd,\nWhy makest thou moane soe heauilye?\u2019\nSais, All is for one wandering wight,\nIs banished forth of his owne countrye.\n108.4 \u2018I am the burgesse of Edenburrow,\nSoe am I more of townes three;\nI haue money and gold great store,\nCome, sweet wench, and ligg thy loue on mee.\u2019\n108.5 The merchant pulled forth a bagg of gold\nWhich had hundreds two or three;\nSais, Euery day throughout the weeke\nI\u2019le comt as much downe on thy knee.\n108.6 \u2018O merchant, take thy gold againe,\nA good liuing \u2019twill purchase thee;\nIf I be false to Christopher White,\nMerchant, I cannott be true to thee.\u2019\n108.7 Sais, I haue halls, soe haue I bowers,\nSais, I haue shipps sayling on the sea;\nI ame the burgess of Edenburrowe;\nCome, sweete wench, ligge thy loue on mee.\n108.8 Come on, come, thou well faire mayde,\nOf our matters lett vs goe throughe,\nFor to-morrowe I\u2019le marry thee,\nAnd thy dwelling shalbe in Edenburrough.\n108.9 The lady shee tooke this gold in her hand,\nThe teares th fell fast from her eye;\nSais, Siluer and gold makes my hart to turne,\nAnd makes me leaue good companye.\n108.10 They had not beene marryed\nNot ouer monthes two or three,\nBut tydings came to Edenburrowe\nThat all the merchants must to the sea.\n108.11 Then as this lady sate in a deske,\nShee made a loue-letter full round;\nShe mad a lettre to Christopher White,\nAnd in itt shee put a hundred pound.\n108.12 She lin\u2019d the letter with gold soe red,\nAnd mony good store in itt was found;\nShee sent itt to Christopher White,\nThat was soe far in the Scotts ground.\n108.13 Shee bade him then frankely spend,\nAnd looke that hee shold merry bee,\nAnd bid him come to Edenburrowe,\nNow all the merchants be to the sea.\n108.14 But Christopher came to leeue London,\nAnd there he kneeled lowly downe,\nAnd there hee begd his pardon then,\nOf our noble king that ware the crowne.\n108.15 But when he came to his true-loue\u2019s house,\nWhich was made both of lime and stone,\nShee tooke him by the lily-white hand,\nSais, True-loue, you are welcome home!\n108.16 Welcome, my honey, welcome, my ioy,\nWelcome, my true-loue; home to mee!\nFfor thou art hee that will lengthen my dayes,\nAnd I know thou art good companye.\n108.17 Christopher, I am a merchant\u2019s wiffe;\nChristopher, the more shall be your gaine;\nSiluer and gold you shall haue enough,\nOf the merchant\u2019s gold that is in Spaine.\n108.18 \u2018But if you be a merchant\u2019s wiffe,\nSomething t\u2019o much you are to blame;\nI will thee reade a loue-letter\nShall sture thy stumpes, thou noble dame.\u2019\n108.19 \u2018Althoug I be a marchant\u2019s wiffe,\n. . . shall . . mine\n. and g . . . . .\nInto England I\u2019le goe with the.\u2019\n108.20 They packet vp both siluer and plate,\nSiluer and gold soe great plentye,\nAnd they be gon into Litle England,\nAnd the marchant must them neuer see.\n108.21 And when the merchants they came home,\nTheir wiues to eche other can say,\nHeere hath beene good Christopher White,\nAnd he hath tane thy wiffe away.\n108.22 They haue packett vp spoone and plate,\nSiluer and gold great plenty,\nAnd they be gon into Litle England,\nAnd them againe thow must neuer see.\n108.23 \u2018I care nott for my siluer and gold,\nNor for my plate soe great plentye,\nBut I mourne for that like-some ladye\nThat Christopher White hath tane from mee.\n108.24 \u2018But one thing I must needs confesse,\nThis lady shee did say to me,\nIf shee were false to Christopher White,\nShee cold neuer be true to mee.\n108.25 \u2018All young men a warning take,\nA warning, looke, you take by mee;\nLooke that you loue your old loues best,\nFor infaith they are best companye.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 108. Christopher White","type":"page"}