Lady Nancy Bell- Ashby (MO) 1812 Belden B
[From: Old-Country Ballads in Missouri II by H. M. Belden; The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 19, No. 75 (Oct. - Dec., 1906), pp. 281-299. Listed in Ballads and Songs 1940.
R. Matteson 2014]
(b) LADY NANCY BELL- From James Ashby's MS. ballad-book, where it is dated January 26, 1812. Spelling, etc., standardized as in 10 (c).
Lord Lovel he stood at his castle gate
A-combing his milk-white steed,
When up came Lady Nancy Bell
To wish her lover good speed, speed, speed,
To wish her lover good speed. (Repeat last lines similarly)
"Oh, where are you going, Lord Lovel? " she said,
"Oh, where are you going?" said she.
"I 'm going, my Lady Nancy Bell,
Strange countries for to see."
"Oh, when will you be back, Lord Lovel?" said she,
"Oh, when will you be back?" said she.
"In a year or two, or three at the most,
I'll return to my fair Nancy."
He hadn't been gone but a year and a day,
Strange countries for to see,
Till a laughing thought came into his head,
Lady Nancy he'd go see.
He rode and he rode on his milk-white steed
Till he came to London town,
And there he heard St. Patrick's bells
And the people all mourning around.
"Oh, what is the matter?" Lord Lovel said he,
" Oh, what is the matter?" said he.
"The lady is dead," the woman replied,
"Some called her Lady Nancy."
He ordered the coffin to be opened wide
And the shroud to be turned down,
And there he kissed her clay-cold lips
Till the tears came trickling down.
Lady Nancy she died as it might be to-day,
Lord Lovel he died to-morrow;
Lady Nancy she died of pure, pure grief,
Lord Lovel he died from sorrow.
Lady Nancy was buried in St. Patrick's church,
Lord Lovel was buried in the choir;
And out of her bosom there grew a red rose,
And out of her lover's a briar.
It grew and it grew to the church steeple top,
And then it could grow no higher;
And there it entwined in a true-lovers' knot
For all true lovers to admire.