Lord Thomas & Fair Eleanor- Kennison (VT) 1876; Flanders A
[From Flanders' Ancient Ballads, 1966 version A; also Vermont Folk Songs 1932; Josiah Samuel Kennison was born Nov. 22, 1866 in Waterville, Lamoille, Vermont and died July 22, 1954 in Granville, Washington, New York. This father was William Barnes Kennison (1818 – 1880) and his mother Sophronia Codding (1833 – 1886). He learned this when a child.
R. Mateson 2014]
Lord Thomas and Fair Eleanor- Sung by Josiah Samuel Kennison (VT) leaned when he was a child c. 1876; Flanders A
1. Lord Thomas, he was a noble lord,
The keeper of King's deer.
Fair Eleanor, she was a lady most bright,
Lord Thomas, he loved her dear.
Fair Eleanor, she was a lady most bright,
Lord Thomas, he loved her dear.
"Advise us both, dear Mother," he says,
''Advise us both as one.
Had I best marry fair Ellen, my dear,
Or bring the Brown Girl home?" [repeat last two lines throughout]
"The Brown Girl she has houses and land;
Fair Eleanor she has none.
Therefore I charge you with my best care
To bring the Brown Girl home."
He call-ed up his merry men all
And dressed them all in white
And every city that he rode through
They took him to be some knight.
He rode till he came to Fair Eleanor's gate,
He knocked aloud on the ring.
There was none as ready as Fair Ellen herself
To rise and let him in.
"Oh, what is the news, Lord Thomas?" she says,
"What news have you brought unto me?"
"I have come to invite you to my wedding."
"Well, that is sad news to me!"
"Advise us both, dear Mother," she says,
"Advise us both as one.
Had I best go to Lord Thomas' wedding
Or had I best stay at home?"
"There will be many of your friends there
And many that 'air your foes.
Therefore I charge you with my best care,
To Lord Thomas' wedding don't go."
"There will be many of my friends there,
And many that are my foes.
May it bring me life or bring me death,
To Lord Thomas' wedding I'll go."
She call-ed up her merry maids all
And dressed them all in green
And every city that she rode through
They took her to be some queen.
She rode till she came to Lord Thomas' gate,
She knocked aloud on the ring.
There was none so ready as Lord Thomas himself
To arise and let her in.
He took her by her lily-white hand
And led her across the floor
And seated her in a rocking chair
Among the ladies there
"Oh, who is that, Lord Thomas?" she says.
"Methinks she looks wonderful brown.
You might have had as fair a lady
As ever the sun shone on."
"Despise her not," Lord Thomas he says,
"Despise her not unto me.
I have more regard for your little finger
Than I have for her whole body."
The Brown Girl held a knife in her hand.,
A knife that was pierce and sharp.
She pierced it into Fair Eleanor's side
And touched her tender heart.
"'Oh, what is the matter?" Lord Thomas he says.
"Methinks you look wonderful pale.
The blood that once flowed in your cherry cheeks
Methinks is beginning to fail."
'Oh, 'air' you blind, Lord Thomas?" she says,
'Or can't you very well see?
The blood that once flowed in my cherry cheeks
Is a-trinkling down my knees."
Lord Thomas held a knife in his hand,
A knife that was pierce and sharp.
He cut the head of the Brown Girl off
And kicked it against the wall.
He placed the handle upon the floor
And the point against his heart.
There were never three lovers that ever met
m quick and forever to part.
Go dig my grave," Lord Thomas he says,
'Go dig it both wide and deep
And bury Fair Eleanor at my side
And the Brown Girl at my feet."
They dug his grave-- as Lord Thomas had said
They dug it both wide and deep,
They buried Fair Eleanor at his side
And the Brown Girl at his feet.