Lord Bateman- Smith (WV) 1917 Cox C
[From Folk-Songs of the South- 1925; John Harrington Cox. His notes follow,
R. Matteson 2012, 2104]
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.
C. "Lord Bateman." Contributed by Mr. F. E. Smith, Dothan, Fayette County, January, 1917; learned from an older brother several years before in Roane County.
1 Lord Bateman was of England born,
And he was of some high degree;
He grew uneasy and discontented,
Until one voyage he took to sea.
2 He sailed east, he sailed west,
He sailed to the Turkish shore,
And there they caught him and put him in prison,
And he lived in hopes of freedom no more.
3 Through his left shoulder they bored a hole,
And through that hole they tied a string;
They made him pull cold cards of iron,
Till he was tired, sick, and sore.
4 The Turkish king had a lady fair,
And she was of some high degree;
She stoled the keys of her father's prison,
Saying, "Lord Bateman I'll set free."
5 She took him down into the cellar
And drew unto him the strong wine,
And every health she drank unto him,
Saying, "Lord Bateman, if you will be mine,
6 "I'll make a vow, I'll make it strong,
For seven long years or more to stand,
If you won't marry no other woman,
I won't marry no other man."
7 Seven long years had passed and gone,
Seven long years and almost three;
She gathered up her rich clothing,
Saying, "Lord Bateman I'll go to see."
8 She sailed east, she sailed west,
She sailed to Lord Bateman's home.
. . . . .
. . . . .
9. . . . . .
She knocked and jingled at the rings,
When none was so ready as the proud porter
To rise and let this lady in.
10 "There is a lady at your gate,
The finest lady you ever did see;
She has enough gold around her neck, sir,
To buy your bride and company."
11 Young Bateman rose up from his table
And split it into splinters three,
Saying, "Since I've met this Irish lady,
You are none the worst by me."