Lord Benwall- Anon (Scot) c.1730 Elizabeth Cochrane
[From: Elizabeth Cochrane's Songbook, Collection of Songs English and Scots, 1730 (?). Harvard College Library. Child's comment follows. Several sections, missing stanzas, are noted by the asterisks.
R. Matteson 2018]
It has been suggested to me that "the Haleigh throw" in E 6 is a corruption of the High Leith Row, a street in Edinburgh. I have not as yet been able to obtain information of such a street.
'Lord Benwall'- Child 5 E; Elizabeth Cochrane's Song-Book, p. 146, No. 112.
1 Lord Benwall he's a hunting gone;
Hey down, etc.
He's taken with him all his merry men.
Hey, etc.
2 As he was walking late alone,
Hey down, etc.
He spyed a lady both brisk and young.
Hey, etc.
3 He keeped her so long and long,
Hey down, etc.
From the evening late till the morning came.
Hey, etc.
4 All that he gave her at their parting
Hey down, etc.
Was a pair of gloves and a gay gold ring.
Hey, etc.
5 Lord Benwall he's a wooing gone,
Hey down, etc.
And he's taken with him all his merry men.
Hey, etc.
6 As he was walking the Haleigh throw,
Hey down, etc.
He spy'd seven ladyes all in a row.
Hey, etc.
7 He cast a lot among them all;
Hey down, etc.
Upon the youngest the lot did fall.
Hey, etc.
8 He wedded her and brought her home,
Hey down, etc.
And by the way she made great moan.
Hey, etc.
9 'What aileth my dearest and dayly flower?
Hey down, etc.
What ails my dear, to make such moan?
Hey, etc.
10 'Does the steed carry you too high?
Hey down, etc.
Or does thy pillow sit awry?
Hey, etc.
11 'Or does the wind blow in thy glove?
Hey down, etc.
Or is thy heart after another love?'
Hey, etc.
12 'The steed does not carry me too high,
Hey down, etc.
Nor does my pillow sit awry.
Hey, etc.
13 'Nor does the wind blow in my glove,
Hey down, etc.
Nor is my heart after another love.'
Hey, etc.
14 When they were doun to supper set,
Hey down, etc.
The weary pain took her by the back.
Hey, etc.
15 'What ails my dearest and dayly flower?
Hey down, etc.
What ails my dearest, to make such moan?'
Hey, etc.
16 'I am with child, and it's not to thee,
Hey down, etc.
And oh and alas, what shall I doe!'
Hey, etc.
17 'I thought I had got a maid so mild;
Hey down, etc.
But I have got a woman big with child.
Hey, etc.
18 'I thought I had got a dayly flower;
Hey down, etc.
I have gotten but a common whore.'
Hey, etc.
* * * * *
19 'Rise up, Lord Benwall, go to your hall,
Hey down, etc.
And cherrish up your merry men all.'
Hey, etc.
* * * * *
20 'As I was walking once late alone,
Hey down, etc.
I spy'd a lord, both brisk and young.
Hey, etc.
21 'He keeped me so long and long,
Hey down, etc.
From evening late till the morning came.
Hey, etc.
22 'All that he gave me at our parting
Hey down, etc.
Was a pair of gloves and a gay gold ring.
Hey, etc.
23 'If you will not believe what I tell to thee,
Hey down, etc.
There's the key of my coffer, you may go and see.'
Hey, etc.
24 His mother went, and threw and flang,
Hey down, etc.
Till to her hand the ring it came.
Hey, etc.
25 'Lord Benwall, wilt thou tell to me
Hey down, etc.
Where is the ring I gave to thee?'
Hey, etc.
26 'Now I would give all my lands and tower,
Hey down, etc.
To have that lady in my bower.
Hey, etc.
27 'I would give all my lands and rents,
Hey down, etc.
To have that lady in my tents.'
Hey, etc.
28 'You need not give all your lands and tower,
Hey down, etc.
For you have that lady in your power.
Hey, etc.
29 'You need not give all your lands and rents,
Hey down, etc.
For you have that lady in your tents.'
Hey, etc.
30 Now it was written on the child's breast-bone
Hey down, etc.
Lord Benwall's sirname and his name.
Hey, etc.
31 It was written on the child's right hand
Hey down, etc.
That he should be heir of Lord Benwall's land.
Hey, etc.
32 'Canst cloath my lady in the silk,
Hey down, etc.
And feed my young son with the milk.'
Hey, etc.