Outlandish Knight- J. Vincent (Som) 1905 Sharp MS
[From Cecil Sharp Manuscript Collection (at Clare College, Cambridge) (CJS2/9/749)
R. Matteson 2018]
The Outlandish Knight- sung by John Vincent of Priddy, Somerset on 21 December, 1905. Collector Sharp, Cecil J.
1. From the north lands there came a northering knight
And he came a-wooing to me;
He told me he would take me unto the north lands,
And there for to 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 her on her middlek [milk] white steed,
He on the dappler grey;
They rode till they came to the sea side,
Three hours before it was day.
5 Light off, light off thy middlek white steed,
And deliver it unto me;
For six pretty maids have I drowned here,
And thou the seventh shall be.
6 Pull off, pull off thy silken clothes,
And deliver it unto me;
I think it looks too rich and gay
To rot all in the salt sea.
7 Pull off, pull off thy holland smock,
And deliver it unto me;
I think it looks too rich and gay
To rot all in the salt sea.
8 'If I must pull off my Holland smock,
And deliver it unto thee;
I think it is not fit that such a ruffian
A naked woman should see.'
9 He turned his back towards her
And viewed the leaves so green;
She caught him round the middle so small,
And bundled him into the stream.
10 He crop-ped high and he crop-ped low,
Until he came to the side;
'Catch hold of my hand, my pretty Polly,
And I will make thee my bride.'
11 Lie there, lie there, you false-hearted man,
Lie there in the place of me;
For six pretty maids have you drowned here,
And the seventh hast drowned thee.'
12 She mounted on her middlek white steed,
And ledden the dapple grey;
She rode till she came to her own father's hall,
Two hours before it was day.
14 The parrot being in the window so high,
Hearing the lady, did say,
What ails thee, what ails thee, my pretty lady,
Thou hast tarried so long away.
13 The King being up in the bedroom so high,
And hearing the lady did say,
'What ails thee, what ails thee, my pretty Polly,
Thou hast prattled so long before day?
14 'It's no laughing matter,' the parrot did say,
But so loudly I call unto thee,
The cat has got into the window so high,
And I'm afraid she'll have I.'
15 Well turn-ed, well turn-ed, my pretty Polly,
Well turn-ed, well turn-ed for me;
Thy cage shall be made of the glittering gold,
And the door of the best ivory.