Outlandish Knight- Anon (Heref) 1909 Leather
[From: Ella Mary Leather Manuscript Collection (EML/3/6). The last stanza is incomplete and the end is missing.
R. Mastteson 2018]
The Outlandish Knight- collected by Ella Mary about 1909 in Herefordshire[?]
(1) The Outlandish Knight came from the North land
He came a-wooing to me
He told me he'd take me to the North land
And there he would marry me
(2) "Go fetch me some of your father's gold
And some of your mother's fee
And two of the best nags out of the stable
Where there stands thirty and three.
(3) She fetched him some of her father's gold
And some of her mother's fee
And two of the best nags out of the stable
Where there stands thirty and three.
(4) She mounted on her milk white steed
He on the dapple grey
They rode till they came unto the sea side
Three hours before it were day
(5) "Light off light off thy milk white steed
And deliver him unto me
For six pretty maids have I drowned here
And you the seventh shall be.
(6) "Pull off pull off thy silken gown clothes
And deliver them up to me
Me thinks they look too rich and too gay
To rot all in the salt sea."
(7) "Then if I must pull off my silken clothes
Pray turn your back to me
For it is not fitting that such a rough man
A naked woman should see."
(8) He turned his back towards her
And viewing the leaves so green
She catched him round the middle so small
And bundled him into the stream
(9) He drooped high, he drooped low
Until he came to the side
"Catch hold of my hand my pretty lady
And I will make you my bride."
(10) "Lie there lie there thou false hearted man
Lie there instead of me
For six pretty maids have you drowned here
The seventh hath drowned thee.
(11) She mounted on her milk white steed
And led the dapple grey
She rode till she came to her father's hall
Three hours before it were day
(12) The parrot being up in the window so high
And hearing a lady did say
'What ails you, what ails you my pretty lady
That you tarry so long before day?'
(13) "Don't prittle or prattle my pretty Polly
Nor tell no tales of me
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold
Although it is made of a tree."
(14) The King being up in the chamber so high
And hearing the Parrot did say [ ]