Knight from the North- J. Butler (Shrop) c.1870 Burne
[From "Shropshire folk-lore, ed. by C.S. Burne, from the collections of G.F. Jackson," 1883. Burne's notes follow.
R. Matteson 2018]
THE OUTLANDISH KNIGHT. Sung by Jane Butler, Edgmond, 1870-80— the text supplied from recitation of an old nurse at Ross, Herefordshire, Very little varied from * the common English stall copy of a ballad of which there are a variety of versions,' Scotch, Danish, and German (Percy- Society, Vol. XYII. ). Air given. Doff = to do off, specialty of this copy, see Shropshire Ward-Booh; 'Outlandish' = belonging to the Debateable Land between England and Scotland.
1. [An outlandish knight came from the north lands,)
A knight from the north countree,
[He told me he'd take me unto the north lands,
And there he would marry me.
2. “Come fetch me some of your father's gold,
And some of her mother's fee;
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stood thirty and three."
3. She fetched him some of her father's gold,
And some of her mother's fee;
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stood thirty and three.
4. She mounted her on the milk-white steed.
And he on the dapple-grey,
They rode until they came unto the sea-side
Three hours before it was day.
5. 'Light off, light off, thy milk-white steed.
And deliver it unto me ;
Six pretty maidens I've drownded here.
And thou the seventh shalt be! '
6. 'Doff off, doff off, thy silken gown.
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks it looks too rich and too gay.
All for to rot in the salt sea.
7. 'Doff off, doff off, thy silken stays,
And deliver them unto me;
Methinks they look too rich and too gay,
All for to rot in the salt sea.'
8. 'Doff of, doff off, thy holland smock,
And deliver it unto me ;
Methinks it looks too rich and too gay
All for to rot in the salt sea.'
9. 'If I must doff off my holland smock.
Pray turn thy hack unto me;
For it is not fitting that such a ruffian
A naked woman should see.'
10. He turned his back to-wards her,
And viewed the leaves so green,
She took him round the middle so small,
And tumbled him into the stream.
11. He dropp-ed high, He dropp-ed low,
Until he came to the side,
' Lay hold of my hand, my pretty Pollee,
And I will make thee my bride.'
12. 'Lie there, lie there, thou false-hearted man!
Lie there instead of me!
For six pretty maidens hast thou drownded here,
And the seventh has drownded thee.'
13. She mounted her on her milk-white steed.
And led the dapple-grey;
She rode till she came to her father's hall
An hour before it was day.
14. Then out spoke the pretty parrot,
'Thou hast tarried so long away,
O I greatly fear, my pretty Pollee,
Some ruffian has led thee astray.'
15. 'Hush, hush ! hush, hush t my pretty parrot,
Don't prittle nor prattle nor tell no tittles of me,
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold.
And the door of the best iyoree.'
16. [The king being in the chamber so high.
And hearing the parrot, did say,]
What is the matter, my pretty parrot.
That you prattle so long before day?'
17. ['It's no laughing matter,' the parrot did say.
That so loudly I called unto thee,]
For the cat was up in the window so high.
And I feared she would have me.'
18. Well turn-ed, well tum-ed, my pretty parrot
Well turn-ed, well turn-ed for me ;
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
And the door of the best ivoree.