Lord Bateman- Taylor (ME) 1929 Barry D
[From British Ballads from Maine; Barry Eckstorm, Smyth; 1929, p. 116. Their notes follow. This print version is similar to Child L (c.1815), the Lord Bateman broadside. One exceptional difference is stanza 2, 2nd line:
Until he came up to Sentipee,
Measure 15 is also lacking a line. This version, without the first stanza, was published in The Best Loved Poems of the American People - Page 233; Hazel Felleman 1936.
R. Matteson 2014]
Lord Bateman- taken from a scrapbook of Mrs. Taylor of Southwest Habour.
1. Lord Bateman he was a noble lord,
A noble lord of high degree;
He shipped himself on board a vessel,
Some foreign countries for to see.
2. He sailed East, and he sailed west,
Until he came up to Sentipee,
Where he was ta'en and bound in irons,
Until his life was quite wearee.
3. And in this prison there grew a tree,
And there it grew so stout and strong,
They took and chained him round his middle,
Until his life was nearly gone.
4. Now this Turk he had an only daughter,
As fair as any two eyes did see,
She stole the keys of her father's prison,
And said Lord Bateman she would go see.
5. Lord Bateman, have you got houses and lands,
And doth Northumberland belong to thee?
What will you give to the fair young lady
Who out of prison sets you free?
6. Oh yes, I have houses and lands,
And half Northumberland belongs to me,
I'll give it all up to the fair young lady,
Who out of prison sets me free.
7. Then she took him to her father's cellar,
And gave to him the very best wine,
And every health she drank unto him,
Seh said, "Lord Bateman, I wish you were mine."
8. Then they a vow for seven long years,
For seven years they would keep strong,
That he would marry no other woman,
And she would marry no other man.
9. Then she took him to her father's harbour
And gave to him a ship of fame,
"Farewell farewell, farewell Lord Bateman,
I fear I ne'er shall see you again!"
10 When seven long years had passed and gone,
And fourteen days well known to me,
She packed up all her gay gold clothing,
And said Lord Bateman she would go see'
11 And when she reached Lord Batemants castle,
She boldly then did ring the belL
"Who's there, who's there?" cries the proud young porter,
"Who's there, who's there? come quickly tell."
12 "And what is this? Lord Bateman's castle?
And is his lordship here within?"
tto yes, O yes !" cried the proud young porter,
'ille's just taking his fair bride in."
13. "Go bid him send me a slice of bread,
And eke a bottle of his very best wine,
And not forget the fair young lady
Who did release him from close confine."
14. And away and away sped this proud young porter,
And away and away, and away flew he,
Until he reached Lord Bateman's chamber,
He then fell down on his bended knee.
15. "What news, what news can you tell to me?"
"O, there is one of the finest ladies
That ever my two eyes did see!"
16. "She has diamond rings on every finger,
And on one she has got three,
And enough gay gold about her clothing
That would buy all Northumberlee!
17. "She bids you send her a slice of bread,
And a bottle of your very best wine,
And not forget the fair young lady
Who did release you when in close confine."
18. Then Lord Bateman he flies in a passion,
And he split his sword in splinters three,
"I'll roam no more in foreign countries,
Now my Sophia's crossed the sea !"
19. Then up spoke the young bride's mother,
Who'd never been known to speak so free,
'You'll not forget my only daughter
If a Sophia's crossed the sea."
20. "I'll own I've made your daughter a bride,
But she's none the better or the worse for me,
She came to me on a, horse and saddle,
She may go back in her coach and three!"
21. Then Lord Bateman fixed another wedding,
And with his heart so full of glee,
He roamed no more in foreign countries,
Now his Sophia's crossed the sea.