No. 9: The Fair Flower of Northumberland
[Thomas Deloney's ballad (Child A) is found in his book "Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, in his younger yeares called Jacke of Newberie" which according to Halliwell "was licensed to T. Myllington on March 7th, 1596. . ." Although Deloney was from London and the theme is about a false Scottish knight who dupes a Northumbrian maid to escape from prison, the ballad had some popularity in Scotland and along the Scottish/English border. Nearly a half-dozen versions were collected in Scotland by Carpenter in the early 1930s and several before by Grieg in the early 1900s, the best perhaps being Annie Shirer's from Kininmonth and Bell Duncan's from Insch. This tradition extended at least into the 1980s as reflected by two recordings made of County Angus singer Maureen Jelks and Aberdeen singer Lizzie Higgins (daughter of Jeannie Robertson) in the School of Scottish Studies collection.
No authentic versions have been collected in North America, although John Jacob Niles has reported three. Niles recreations have proven to be, for the most part, his own personal adaptations from print sources which he has unfortunately assigned to alleged informants.
For detailed information see British Versions headnotes,
R. Matteson 2018]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (Added at the end of Child's Narrative)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-E; (F-G were added in Additions; Changes for A b, B b, and C b are given in End-Notes. An additional text is given in Additions and Corrections.)
5. End Notes
6. "Additions and Corrections"
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column)
1. Recordings & Info: The Fair Flower of Northumberland
A. The Fair Flower of Northumberland: Roud Index Listing
2. Sheet Music: The Fair Flower of Northumberland (Bronson's texts and some music examples)
3. US & Canadian Versions
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-G with additional notes)]
The Fair Flower of Northumberland: Child's Narrative
A. a. Deloney's 'Jack of Newbury,' reprint of 1859, p. 61.
b. 'The Ungrateful Knight and the Fair Flower of Northumberland,' Ritson's Ancient Songs, 208. 1790, p. 169.
B. a. Kinloch Manuscripts, v, 49.
b. 'The Provost's Dochter,' Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 131.
C. 'The Betrayed Lady.'
a. Buchan's Manuscripts, II, 166.
b. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 208
D. Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 102 from Mrs. Nicol, of Paisley.
E. 'The Flower of Northumberland,' Mr. Robert White's papers.
[F. 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland,' Gibb Manuscript, No 8.
G. 'The Heiress of Northumberland,' from C.K. Sharpe's first collection, p. 7.]
The earliest copy of this ballad is introduced as 'The Maidens' Song,'[1] in Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, in his younger years called Jacke of Newberie, a book written as early as 1597. Mr Halliwell reprinted the "9th" edition, of the date 1633,[2] in 1859, and the ballad is found at p. 61 of the reprint (A). The copy in Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169, has a few variations, which are probably to be explained by Ritson having used some other edition of Deloney. Ritson's text is used in The Borderer's Table Book, VI, 25, and was taken thence into Sheldon's Minstrelsy of the English Border, with some arbitrary alterations. The ballad was formerly popular in Scotland. Kinloch and Buchan printed B and C with some slight changes; the texts are now given as they stand in the manuscripts. E, a traditional version from the English border, has unfortunately been improved by some literary pen.
An English lady is prevailed upon to release a Scot from prison, and to fly with him, on the promise of being made his wife, and (A) lady of castles and towers. She takes much gold with her (A), and a swift steed (two, A). According to A they come to a rough river; the lady is alarmed, but swims it, and is wet from top to toe. On coming within sight of Edinburgh, the faithless knight bids her choose whether she will be his paramour or go back: he has wife and children. She begs him to draw his sword and end her shame: he takes her horse away, and leaves her. Two English knights come by, who restore her to her father. The dismissal takes place at the Scottish cross and moor in B; at a moor and a moss, C; at Scotland bridge, D; at a fair Scottish cross, B. She offers to be servant in his kitchen rather than go back, B, C, E; begs him to throw her into the water, D; from his castle wall, E. He fees an old man to take her home on an old horse, B, E.
We do not find the whole of this story repeated among other European nations, but there are interesting agreements in parts with Scandinavian, Polish, and German ballads.
There is some resemblance in the first half to a pretty ballad of the northern nations which treats in a brief way the theme of our exquisite romance of 'The Nutbrown Maid:' Danish, 'Den Trofaste Jomfru,' Grundtvig, No 249, rv, 494, nine copies, A-I, the first three from 16th or 17th century manuscripts, the others from tradition of this century, as are also the following: K-M, 'Den Fredløse,' Kristensen, n, 191, No 57: Swedish, 'De sju Gullbergen,' A, Afzelius, No 79, in, 71, new ed., No 64, I, 322; B, C, Grundtvig, iv, 507 f: Norwegian A, 'Herre Per og stolt Margit,' Landstad, No 74, p. 590; B, 'Herr' Nikelus,' Landstad, No 75, p. 594.[3] All tell very much the same tale. A knight carries off a maid on his horse, making her magnificent promises, among which are eight gold castles, Dan. C, D, E, H, I; one, K, L, M; eight, Norw. A; nine, Norw. B; seven, Swed. B; seven gold mountains, Swed. A, perhaps, by mistake of bergen for borgar.[4] She gets her gold together while he is saddling his horse, Dan. A, C, D, P, H, M; Swed. A; Norw. A, B. They come to a sea-strand or other water, it is many miles to the nearest land, Dan. B, D, Swed. A, C; the lady wishes she were at home, Dan. E, P, Swed. B, C. He swims the horse across, Dan. A, B, D, E, F, H, K, L, M; Swed. A, B, C [part of the way, having started in a boat, Norw. A, B]. The maid wrings her clothes, Dan. A, D, K, L; Swed. A; Norw. A, B. She asks, Where are the gold castles which you promised? Dan. C 7, D 14, K 9, L 7, M 8; Norw. A 22, B 16.[5] He tells her that he has no gold castle but this green turf, Dan. C 8; he needs none but the black ground and thick wood, Dan. K 10: he is a penniless, banished man. She offers him her gold to buy him a charter of peace. In all, except Dan. A, B, C, and the incomplete Dan. I, Norw. B, he goes on to say that he has plighted faith to another woman, and she meekly replies, Then I will be your servant. He continues the trial no further, reveals himself as of wealth and rank, says that she shall have ladies to wait on her, and makes her his queen. The knight is king of England in Dan. B, H, King Henry, simply, in Dan. F. The gold castles prove to be realities: there is in Dan. E even one more than was promised.[6]
The Polish ballads of the class of 'Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight ' (see p. 39 f) have thus much in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland:' a maid is induced to go off with a man on horseback, and takes gold with her; after going a certain distance, he bids her return home; in AA, H, R, he gives her her choice whether to return or to jump into the river; she prefers death (cf. D 3, 5, p. 116); in all they finally come to a river, or other water, into which he throws her.[7]
There is a German ballad which has some slight connection with all the foregoing, and a very slight story it is altogether: 'Stolz Heinrich,' Simrock, No 9, p. 23, 'Stolz Syburg,' Reiffenberg, No 16, p. 32, No 17, p. 34, from the Lower Rhine and Münster; made over, in Kretzschmer, I, 187, No 106. Heinrich, or Syburg, wooes a king's daughter in a distant land. He asks her to go with him, and says he has seven mills in his country. "Tell me what they grind," says Margaret, "and I will go with you." The mills grind sugar and cinnamon, mace and cloves. They come to a green heath. Margaret thinks she sees the mills gleaming: he tells her that a green heath is all he has. "Then God have mercy that I have come so far," she says; draws a sword, kneels before him, and stabs herself.
The ballad of 'Young Andrew,' further on, has points in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland.'
C is translated by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Lieder der Vorzeit, No 31, p. 137.
Footnotes:
1. "Two of them singing the dittie," says Deloney, "and all the rest bearing the burden."
2. The earliest edition now known to exist is of 1619.
3. Some of these ballads begin with stanzas which are found also in Kvindemorderen and Ribold ballads (our No 4, No 7), where also a young woman is carried off furtively by a man. This is only what is to be expected.
4. By mistake, most probably. But in one of the Polish ballads, cited a little further on, Q (Kolberg, P. 1. Polskiego, 5 pp), the maid is told, "In my country the mountains are golden, the mountains are of gold."
5. So 'Lady Isabel and the Elf Knight,' D 11: 'Is this your bowers and lofty towers?'
6. There is a similarity, which is perhaps not accidental, between these Scandinavian ballads and 'Child Waters.' Child Waters makes Ellen swim a piece of water, shows her his hall "of red gold shines the tower" where the fairest lady is his paramour, subjects her to menial services, and finally, her patience withstanding all trials, marries her.
7. They pass the water in Q only, and that in a boat. She is thrown in from a bridge in V, W, the bridge of Cracow in C: cf. Scotland bridge, D 2 of this ballad. By a curious accident, it is at a wayside crucifix that the man begins his change of demeanor in Polish CC 2 (Kolberg, ddd), as in B 5, E 7, of this ballad, it is at a Scottish cross.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
The earliest copy of this ballad is introduced as 'The Maiden's Song' in Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, in his younger yeares called Jacke of Newberie, a book written as early as 1597. Halliwell reprinted the "9th" edition, of the date 1633, in 1859. We do not find the story of this ballad repeated as a whole among other European nations, but there are interesting agreements in parts with Scandinavian, Polish, and German ballads. There is also some resemblance in the first half to a pretty ballad of the northern nations which treats in a brief way the theme of our exquisite romance of 'The Nutbrown Maid' (see Grundtvig, No. 249). The ballad of 'Young Andrew' (No. 4S) has points in common with 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland.'
Child 9 Texts A-G; The Fair Flower of Northumberland
'The Maidens' Song'- Version A a.
a. Deloney's Pleasant History of John Winchcomb, 9th ed., London, 1633, reprinted by Halliwell, p. 61.
b. Ritson's Ancient Songs, 1790, p. 169.
1 It was a knight in Scotland borne
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Was taken prisoner, and left forlorne,
Even by the good Earle of Northumberland.
2 Then was he cast in prison strong,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Where he could not walke nor lie along,
Even by the goode Earle of Northumberland.
3 And as in sorrow thus he lay,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
The Earle's sweete daughter walkt that way,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
4 And passing by, like an angell bright,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
The prisoner had of her a sight,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
5 And loud to her this knight did crie,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
The salt teares standing in his eye,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
6 'Faire lady,' he said, 'Take pity on me,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And let me not in prison dye,
And you the faire flower of Northumberland.'
7 'Faire Sir, how should I take pity on thee,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Thou being a foe to our countrey,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'
8 'Faire lady, I am no foe,' he said,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
'Through thy sweet love heere was I stayd,
For thee, the faire flower of Northumberland.'
9 'Why shouldst thou come heere for love of me,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Having wife and children in thy countrie?
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'
10 'I sweare by the blessed Trinitie,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
I have no wife nor children, I,
Nor dwelling at home in merrie Scotland.
11 'If curteously you will set me free,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
I vow that I will marrie thee,
So soone as I come in faire Scotland.
12 'Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And sit like a queene in princely bowers,
When I am at home in faire Scotland.'
13 Then parted hence this lady gay,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And got her father's ring away,
To helpe this sad knight into faire Scotland.
14 Likewise much gold she got by sleight,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And all to help this forlorne knight
To wend from her father to faire Scotland.
15 Two gallant steedes, both good and able,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
She likewise tooke out of the stable,
To ride with this knight into faire Scotland.
16 And to the jaylor she sent this ring,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
The knight from prison forth to bring,
To wend with her into faire Scotland.
17 This token set the prisoner free,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Who straight went to this faire lady,
To wend with her into faire Scotland.
18 A gallant steede he did bestride,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And with the lady away did ride,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
19 They rode till they came to a water cleare:
Follow, my love, come over the strand
'Good Sir, how should I follow you heere,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland?
20 'The water is rough and wonderfull deepe,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
An[d] on my saddle I shall not keepe,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'
21 'Feare not the foord, faire lady,' quoth he,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
'For long I cannot stay for thee,
And thou the faire flower of Northumberland.'
22 The lady prickt her wanton steed,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And over the river swom with speede,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
23 From top to toe all wet was shee:
Follow, my love, come over the strand
'This have I done for love of thee,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'
24 Thus rode she all one winter's night,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Till Edenborow they saw in sight,
The chiefest towne in all Scotland.
25 'Now chuse,' quoth he, 'Thou wanton flower,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Whe'r thou wilt be my paramour,
Or get thee home to Northumberland.
26 'For I have wife, and children five,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
In Edenborow they be alive;
Then get thee home to faire England.
27 'This favour shalt thou have to boote,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Ile have thy horse, go thou on foote,
Go, get thee home to Northumberland.'
28 'O false and faithlesse knight,' quoth shee,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
'And canst thou deale so bad with me,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland?
29 'Dishonour not a ladie's name,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
But draw thy sword and end my shame,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.'
30 He tooke her from her stately steed,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And left her there in extreme need,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
31 Then sate she downe full heavily;
Follow, my love, come over the strand
At length two knights came riding by,
Two gallant knights of faire England.
32 She fell downe humbly on her knee,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Saying, 'Courteous knights, take pittie on me,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
33 'I have offended my father deere,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And by a false knight that brought me heere,
From the good Earle of Northumberland.'
34 They tooke her up behind them then,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
And brought her to her father's againe,
And he the good Earle of Northumberland.
35 All you faire maidens be warned by me,
Follow, my love, come over the strand
Scots were never true, nor never will be,
To lord, nor lady, nor faire England.
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'The Provost's Dochter'- Version B a
a. Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 49, in the handwriting of J. Beattie.
b. Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 134, from the recitation of Miss E. Beattie.
1 The provost's daughter went out a walking,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,
And she was the fair flower of Northumberland.
2 'If any lady would borrow me
Out into the prison strong,
I would make her a lady of high degree,
For I am a great lord in fair Scotland.'
3 She's done her to her father's bed-stock,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She's stolen the keys o many braw lock,
And she's loosd him out o the prison strong.
4 She's done her to her father's stable,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She's taen out a steed that was both swift and able,
To carry them both to fair Scotland.
5 O when they came to the Scottish cross,
A may's whiles is easy won
'Ye brazen-faced whore, light off o my horse,
And go get you back to Northumberland!'
6 O when they came to the Scottish moor,
A may's love whiles is easy won
'Get off o my horse, you're a brazen-faced whore,
So go get you back to Northumberland!'
7 'O pity on me, O pity,' said she,
'O that my love was so easy won!
Have pity on me as I had upon thee,
When I loosd you out of the prison strong.'
8 'O how can I have pity on thee?
O why was your love so easy won!
When I have a wife and children three
More worthy than a' Northumberland.'
9 'Cook in your kitchen I will be,
O that my love was so easy won!
And serve your lady most reverently,
For I darena go back to Northumberland.'
10 'Cook in my kitchen you shall not be,
Why was your love so easy won!
For I will have no such servants as thee,
So get you back to Northumberland.'
11 But laith was he the lassie to tyne,
A may's love whiles is easy won
He's hired an old horse and feed an old man,
To carry her back to Northumberland.
12 O when she came her father before,
A may's love whiles is easy won
She fell down on her knees so low
For she was the fair flower of Northumberland.
13 'O daughter, O daughter, why was ye so bold,
Or why was your love so easy won,
To be a Scottish whore in your fifteen year old?
And you the fair flower of Northumberland!'
14 Her mother she gently on her did smile,
O that her love was so easy won!
'She is not the first that the Scotts have beguild,
But she's still the fair flower of Northumberland.
15 'She shanna want gold, she shanna want fee,
Altho that her love was so easy won,
She shanna want gold to gain a man wi,
And she's still the fair flower of Northumberland.'
----------
'The Betrayed Lady'- Version C a
a. Buchan's Manuscripts, II, 166.
b. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 208.
1 As I went by a jail-house door,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
I saw a prisoner standing there,
'I wish I were home in fair Scotland.
2 'Fair maid, will you pity me?
Maid's love whiles is easy won
Ye'll steal the keys, let me gae free:
I'll make you my lady in fair Scotland.
3 'I'm sure you have no need of me,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
For ye have a wife and bairns three,
That lives at home in fair Scotland.'
4 He swore by him that was crownd with thorn,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
That he never had a wife since the day he was born,
But livd a free lord in fair Scotland.
5 She went unto her father's bed-head,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
She's stown the key o mony a lock,
She's let him out o prison strong.
6 She's went to her father's stable,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
She's stown a steed baith wight and able,
To carry them on to fair Scotland.
7 They rode till they came to a muir,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
He bade her light aff, they'd call her a whore,
If she didna return to Northumberland.
8 They rode till they came to a moss,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
He bade her light aff her father's best horse,
And return her again to Northumberland.
9 'I'm sure I have no need of thee,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
When I have a wife and bairns three,
That lives at home in fair Scotland.'
10 'I'll be cook in your kitchen,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
And serve your lady handsomelie,
For I darena gae back to Northumberland.'
11 'Ye cannot be cook in my kitchen,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
My lady cannot fa sic servants as thee,
So ye'll return again to Northumberland.'
12 When she went thro her father's ha,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
She looted her low amongst them a',
She was the fair flower o Northumberland.
13 Out spake her father, he spake bold,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
'How could ye be a whore in fifteen years old,
And you the flower of Northumberland?'
14 Out spake her mother, she spake wi a smile,
Maid's love whiles is easy won
'She's nae the first his coat did beguile,
Ye're welcome again to Northumberland.'
--------------------
['She's gane down to her father's stable'] Version D
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 102.
1 She's gane down to her father's stable,
O my dear, and my love that she wan
She's taen out a black steed baith sturdy and able,
And she's away to fair Scotland.
2 When they came to Scotland bridge,
O my dear, and my love that she wan
'Light off, you whore, from my black steed,
And go your ways back to Northumberland.'
3 'O take me by the body so meek,
O my dear, and my love that she wan
And throw me in the water so deep,
For I daurna gae back to Northumberland.'
4 'I'll no take thee by the body so meek,
O my dear, and my love that she wan
Nor throw thee in the water so deep;
Thou may go thy ways back to Northumberland.'
5 'Take me by the body so small,
O my dear, and my love that she wan
And throw me in yon bonny mill-dam,
For I daurna gae back to Northumberland.'
----------------
'The Flower of Northumberland'- Version E
"Written down from memory by Robert Hutton, Shepherd, Peel, Liddesdale." Mr. R. White's papers.
1 A bailiff's fair daughter, she lived by the Aln,
A young maid's love is easily won
She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
2 'If ye could love me, as I do love thee,
A young maid's love is hard to win
I'll make you a lady of high degree,
When once we go down to fair Scotland.'
3 To think of the prisoner her heart was sore,
A young maid's love is easily won
Her love it was much, but her pity was more,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
4 She stole from her father's pillow the key,
A young maid's love is easily won
And out of the dungeon she soon set him free,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
5 She led him into her father's stable,
A young maid's love is easily won
And they've taken a steed both gallant and able,
To carry them down to fair Scotland.
6 When they first took the way, it was darling and dear;
A young maid's love is easily won
As forward they fared, all changed was his cheer,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
7 They rode till they came to a fair Scottish corse;
A young maid's love is easily won
Says he, 'Now, pray madam, dismount from my horse,
And go get you back to Northumberland.
8 'It befits not to ride with a leman light,
A young maid's love is easily won
When awaits my returning my own lady bright,
My own wedded wife in fair Scotland.'
9 The words that he said on her fond heart smote,
A young maid's love is easily won
She knew not in sooth if she lived or not,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
10 She looked to his face, and it kythed so unkind
A young maid's love is easily won
That her fast coming tears soon rendered her blind,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
11 'Have pity on me as I had it on thee,
O why was my love so easily won!
A slave in your kitchen I'm willing to be,
But I may not go back to Northumberland.
12 'Or carry me up by the middle sae sma,
O why was my love so easily won!
And fling me headlong from your high castle wa,
For I dare not go back to Northumberland.'
13 Her wailing, her woe, for nothing they went,
A young maid's love is easily won
His bosom was stone and he would not relent,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
14 He turned him around and he thought of a plan,
A young maid's love is easily won
He bought an old horse and he hired an old man,
To carry her back to Northumberland.
15 A heavy heart makes a weary way,
A young maid's love is easily won
She reached her home in the evening gray,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
16 And all as she stood at her father's tower-gate,
A young maid's love is easily won
More loud beat her heart than her knock thereat,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
17 Down came her step-dame, so rugged and doure,
O why was your love so easily won!
'In Scotland go back to your false paramour,
For you shall not stay here in Northumberland.'
18 Down came her father, he saw her and smiled,
A young maid's love is easily won
'You are not the first that false Scots have beguiled,
And ye're aye welcome back to Northumberland.
19 'You shall not want houses, you shall not want land,
A young maid's love is easily won
You shall not want gold for to gain a husband,
And ye're aye welcome back to Northumberland.
---------------------
'The Fair Flower of Northumberland'- Version F
Gibb Manuscript, No 8: 'The Fair Flower o Northumberland,' from Jeannie Stirling, a young girl, as learned from her grandmother.
1 * * * *
She stole the keys from her father's bed-head,
O but her love it was easy won!
She opened the gates, she opened them wide,
She let him out o the prison strong.
2 She went into her father's stable,
O but her love it was easy won!
She stole a steed that was both stout and strong,
To carry him hame frae Northumberland.
* * * * *
3 'I'll be cook in your kitchen,
Noo sure my love has been easy won!
I'll serve your own lady with hat an with hand,
For I daurna gae back to Northumberland.'
4 'I need nae cook in my kitchin,
O but your love it was easy won!
Ye'll serve not my lady with hat or with hand,
For ye maun gae back to Northumberland.'
5 When she gaed hame, how her father did ban!
'O but your love it was easy won!
A fair Scottish girl, not sixteen years old,
Was once the fair flower o Northumberland!'
------------------------
'The Heiress of Northumberland'- Version G
from C.K. Sharpe's first collection, p. 7.
1 'Why, fair maid, have pity on me,'
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'For I am bound in prison strong,
And under the heir o Northumberland.'
2 'How can I have pity on thee,'
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'When thou hast a wife and children three,
All dwelling at home in fair Scotland?'
3 Now he has sworn a solemn oath,
An it was by eternity,
That wife and children he had none,
All dwelling at home in fair Scotland.
4 Now she's gone to her father's bedstock,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And has stolen the key of the dungeon-lock,
And she the great heir o Northumberland.
5 And she's gone to her father's chest,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
She has stolen away a suit of the best,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
6 Now she's gone to her father's coffer,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And has taen out gold nane kens how meickle,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
7 She's gane to her father's stable,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And taen out a steed baith lusty and able,
For a' she was heir o Northumberland.
8 The rade till they came to Crafurdmoor,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
He bade her light down for an English whore,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
9 The rade till the came to the water o Clyde,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
He bade her light down, nae farer she should ride,
'For now I am at hame in fair Scotland.'
10 'Yonder view my castle,' said he;
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'There I hae a wife and children three,
All dwelling at home in Northumberland.
11 'O take me by the middle sae sma
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And thro me oer your castle-wa,
For I darena gang hame to Northumberland.'
12 When she came to her father's yett,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
She durst hardly rapp thereat,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
13 Out then spoke her stepmother sour,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
She bad her pack off for an impudent whore,
'For thou shalt not be heir o Northumberland.'
14 Out then spock her bastard brother;
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'She'll hae nae mair grace than God has gien her,
And she shall be heir o Northumberland.'
15 Out and spoke her father sae mild,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'She's no the first maid a false Scot has beguild,
And she shall be heir o Northumberland.'
End-notes: 9. The Fair Flower of Northumberland
A. a. 2. Halliwell's Deloney, in the first line of the burden, has leape over, but not elsewhere.
92. in the.
252. Where.
A b. 32. walks.
34. she is.
51. aloud.
133. omits sad.
153. the knight.
162. forth did.
243. The fairest.
271. thou shalt.
322. knight.
352. never were.
B. b. 22. this prison.
43. omits that was.
63. ye brazen-fac'd.
113. He hired.
123. fell at his feet.
131. omits so.
141. mother on her sae gentlie smild, etc.
C a. 82. Her bade.
83. return him.
C b. 51. into.
132. at fifteen.
D. 2. Thus in Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xv:
When they came to Scotland brig,
O my dear, my love that she wan!
'Light off, ye hure, from my black steed,
And hie ye awa to Northumberland.'
E. "The Flower of Northumberland. Written down from memory by Robert Hutton, Shepperd, Peel, Liddesdale, and sent by James Telf or to his friend Robert White, Newcastle on Tyne. 20 copies printed." Mr White's note.
Additions and Corrections:
P. 111 a. B b, as prepared by Kinloch for printing, is found in Kinloch Manuscripts, VII, 105.
Add: F. 'The Fair Flower of Northumberland,' Gibb Manuscript, No 8.
117. Add version F.
P. 116 a, C 5 1 . Bed-head should certainly be bedstock: cf. B 3[1].
P. 113. The Servian hero Marko Kraljević' is guilty of the same ingratitude. The daughter of the Moorish king releases him from a long captivity and makes him rich gifts. He promises to marry her and they go off together. During a halt the princess embraces him, and he finds her black face and white teeth so repulsive that he strikes off her head. He seeks to atone for his sin by pious foundations. Servian, Vuk, II, No 44 [Bowring, p. 86]; Croat, Bogišić, p. 16; Bulgarian, Miladinof, No 54, Kačanofskij, No 132. (W.W.)
To be Corrected in the Print:
499 a, 9, line 8 f. Read Vuk, II, 376, No 64.
504 a, third line from the bottom. Read O for J.
504 b, third line. Read Rae.
505 a, 134. Read And aye. 181. Read o the.
---------------
P. 116. D. In a copy sent by Motherwell to C.K. Sharpe with a letter, October 8, 1825, this version is said to have been obtained from Mrs. Nicol, of Paisley.
117, 493 a. G. 'The Heiress of Northumberland,' from C.K. Sharpe's first collection, p. 7.
Sir W. Scott, commenting on this copy (to which he by mistake gives the title of The Stirrup of Northumberland), says: "An edition considerably varied both from Ritson's and the present I have heard sung by the Miss Tytlers of Woodhouselee. The tune is a very pretty lilt." Sharpe's Ballad Book, ed. 1880, p. 142.
At the end of the ballad we are told: Tradition's story is that the hero of this song was one of the Earls of Douglass, who was taken captive and put in prison by Percy, Earl of Northumberland.
1 'Why, fair maid, have pity on me,'
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'For I am bound in prison strong,
And under the heir o Northumberland.'
2 'How can I have pity on thee,'
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'When thou hast a wife and children three,
All dwelling at home in fair Scotland?'
3 Now he has sworn a solemn oath,
And it was by eternity,
That wife and children he had none,
All dwelling at home in fair Scotland.
4 Now she's gone to her father's bedstock,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And has stolen the key of the dungeon-lock,
And she the great heir o Northumberland.
5 And she's gone to her father's chest,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
She has stolen away a suit of the best,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
6 Now she's gone to her father's coffer,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And has taen out gold nane kens how meickle,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
7 She's gane to her father's stable,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And taen out a steed baith lusty and able,
For a' she was heir o Northumberland.
8 The rade till they came to Crafurdmoor,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
He bade her light down for an English whore,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
9 The rade till the came to the water o Clyde,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
He bade her light down, nae farer she should ride,
'For now I am at hame in fair Scotland.'
10 'Yonder view my castle,' said he;
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'There I hae a wife and children three,
All dwelling at home in fair Schotland.
11 'O take me by the middle sae sma
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
And thro me oer your castle-wa,
For I darena gang hame to Northumberland.'
12 When she came to her father's yett,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
She durst hardly rapp thereat,
Altho she was heir o Northumberland.
13 Out then spoke her stepmother sour,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
She bad her pack off for an impudent whore,
'For thou shalt not be heir o Northumberland.'
14 Out then spock her bastard brother;
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'She'll hae nae mair grace than God has gien her,
And she shall be heir o Northumberland.'
14 Out and spoke her father sae mild,
Waly's my love wi the life that she wan
'She's no the first maid a false Scot has beguild,
And she shall be heir o Northumberland.