Outlandish Knight- U. Ridley (Sus) 1962 Stubbs
[From: Stubbs, Life of a Man (1970) p.58.
R. Matteson 2018]
Outlandish Knight- sung by Ursula Ridley, West Hoathly Sussex in 1962. Collected by Ken Stubbs.
1 One outlandish knight came from out the north lands,
And he came a-wooing me;
He vowed he would take me unto the north lands,
And there he would marry me.
2 Go fetch me some of your father's gold,
And some of your mother's fee,
And two of the best horses from out of the stable,
Where they stand thirty and three.'
3 She mounted her on her milk white steed,
And he on the dapple grey;
They rode until they came unto the seaside,
Six hours before it was day.
4 'Light off, light off your milk-white steed,
Deliver it unto me;
Six pretty maids have I drown-ed here,
And you the seventh shall be.
6 'Take off, take off your Holland smock,
Deliver it unto me;
For I think it looks too good and fair
To rot all in the salt sea.'
7 'If I must take off my Holland smock,
Pray turn thy back unto me;
For I don't think it fitting that such a ruffian like you
A naked woman should see.'
8 He turn'd his back towards her
And view'd the leaves so green;
She put her arms 'round his middle so small,
And tumbl'd him into the stream.
9. 'Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted knight,
Lie there instead of me;
For six pretty maids have you drown-ed here,
And the seventh hath drown-ed thee.'
10 She mounted on her milk-white steed,
And led the dapple grey;
She rode till she came to her father's hall,
Two hours before it was day.
11 The parrot being in the window so high,
So proudly did call unto she,
What ails thee, what ails thee, my pretty lady
You tarried so long by the sea?'
12 'Nay now, nay now, my pretty parrot,
Don't tell no tales of me;
And your cage shall be made of the finest gold,
With the bars of the best ivory.'