Lord Bateman- Copley (WV) c.1880 Cox A
[From: Folk Songs from the South, 1925 by John Harrington Cox, University of West Virginia.
R. Matteson 2014]
8. YOUNG BEICHAN (Child, No. 53)
Three variants have been found in West Virginia under the titles: "Lord Bateman" and "Lord Batesman" (cf. Cox, xlv, 160). These three are so similar in language and story that they must needs have a common source. Lord Bateman, an Englishman of high degree, grows discontented and takes a sea journey. He is captured by the Turks, put into prison, has a hole bored through his left shoulder, and is set at hard labor. The King's daughter steals the keys to the prison, takes him to her father's hall, and regales him with the finest wine. He promises to bestow upon her house and lands if she will set him free. Thereupon
they mutually vow that for seven years he is to marry no other lady and she is to marry no other man. After seven years and almost three, she crosses the ocean to find him and comes to his hall upon his wedding day. When the porter announces her arrival, Lord Bateman leaps from his chair, vows he will have the Turkish lady, and peremptorily sends the bride home.
The similarities of this version to Child L are so striking that there must be some connection between them. There is also a notable differentiation. Stanza A 3, substantially the same in B and C, does not appear in Child L, while Child L 3, a striking stanza telling of the tree which grew in the prison, to which Lord Bateman was chained, is not found in the West Virginia version. It would seem that Child L and the West Virginia version have a common source, in which occurred the boring of the hole in his shoulder and the growing of the tree in the prison.
For a list of American texts, with English and American references and discussion, see Kittredge, Journal, xxx, 294. Add Campbell and Sharp, No. 12 (North Carolina, Kentucky); Mackenzie, p. 115 (Nova Scotia); Pound, No. 14 (Indiana); cf. Journal, xxxv, 340; Bulletin, Nos. 6-9.
A. "Lord Bateman" Communicated by Anna Copley, Shoals, Wayne County, December 26, 1915; learned by her brothers and Mr. Luther Burwell about thirty-five years previously from Mr. James Forbes.
1 Lord Bateman was in England born,
And he was of a high degree;
He grew uneasy and discontented
And made a vow he would go to sea.
2 He sailed east and he sailed west,
Until he came to the Turkish shore,
And there was taken and put in prison,
. . . . . . .
3 Through his left shoulder a hole they bore,
And through the same a rope was tied,
And he was made to drag cold iron,
Till he was sick and like to died.
4 The Turkish king had a daughter fair,
And she was of a high degree;
She stole the keys of her father's prison
And vowed Lord Bateman she would set free.
5 She took him into her father's hall,
And drew for him the best of wine;
And every health she drank unto him,
She said, "Lord Bateman, I wish you were mine.
6 "O have you lands and have you living,
And have you houses of high degree?
And would you give to a Turkish lady,
Who out of prison set you free?"
7 "O, I have lands and I have living,
And I have houses of high degree;
And I would give to a fair lady,
Who out of prison set me free.'
8 "Let's make a vow, let's make a strong one,
Let's make a vow seven years to stand:
If you never will marry no other woman,
I never will wed no other man."
9. . . . . . . .
Seven years had gone and almost three,
She gathered up her gay clothing,
And vowed Lord Bateman she would go see.
10 She rode till she came to Lord Bateman's hall
And there did knock and loud did call.
"Who's there? Who's there?" cried the proud porter,
"Who knocks so loud and don't come in?"
11 "Is this Lord Bateman's hall?" she said,
"Or is he here himself within?"
"O yes, O yes," cried the proud porter,
"He has this day his bride brought in."
12 "Go bid him mind of the wine so strong;
Go bid him mind of the roaring sea;
Go bid him mind of the Turkish lady
Who out of prison set him free."
13 "There is a lady at yonders hall,
And she is of a high degree;
She wears a gold ring on her fourth finger
And round her waist has diamonds three.
14 "She bids you mind the wine so strong;
She bids you mind the roaring sea;
She bids you mind of a Turkish lady
Who out of prison set you free."
15 He rose from the chair wherein he sat
And bursted the table in pieces three,
Saying, "I'll lose my life for the Turkish lady
Who out of prison set me free.
16 "Take away, take away this bride of mine,
For she is none the worse for me;
She came to me on a horse and saddle,
I'll send her away in coaches three."