Rich Nobleman- Masters (Dev) 1891 Baring-Gould MS
[From Sabine Baring-Gould Manuscript Collection (SBG/3/1/560) The Outlandish Knight [B]
R. Matteson 2018]
Rich Nobleman- sung by J. Masters of Bradstone Devon, June 1891
1. There was a rich nobleman I've heard tell
And he came a courting of me.
And he said, We will ride, & e'er we return
Then married we will be.
2. She went into her father's stable
She was gay as gay might be,
And she mounted upon her milk-white steed,
And the dapple grey rode he.
3. Jump off! Jump off! I pray, he said
And deliver your. horse to me,
Six pretty maids have I drowned here,
And the seventh thou shalt be.
4. Pull off, pull off, thy silken smock
And thy silken gown, said he.
Six pretty maids have I stripped here,
And the seventh thou shalt be.
5. Take up thy sickle and cut the nettle,
That grows on the water brim,
For fear it should stick in my gay gold locks,
And should sting my milk-white skin.
6. He took the sickle & cut the nettle
That grew on the water brim,
And she gave him a most cunning push,
And she speedily pushed him in.
7. O help! O help! my fair pretty maid,
And today I will marry thee
Lie there, lie there thou falsehearted knave,
Lie there & drown, said she.
8. Lie there, lie there! thou false hearted knave,
Lie there & drown, said she
Six pretty maids hast thou drown-ed here,
And the seventh drowneth thee.
9. Every leaf was oppress'd she heard no sound
Nor to lark nor thrush gave heed.
Nor the throstle did call in the hold of the tree
As she mounted her milk white steed.
10. And she mounted her on her milk-white steed
And she led the dapple grey,
And she rode till she came to her father's hall
|ust at the break of day.
11. O where have you been my fair pretty queen
The parrot he did say.
That you have been out all in the night
And return before the day.
12. O hush! g O hush! my pretty parrot,
O say not a word, said she.
Thy cage it shall be of the beaten gold,
That was of the timbern tree.
13. Then up & spake her father dear,
From the bed where on he lay,
O what is the matter with my parrot
That he chatters before the day.
14. The cat came to my own cage door,
And threatened to kill me.
And I called aloud for help to come,
To come & deliver me.
15. Well turn'd, well turn'd my pretty parrot
Well turn'd, well turn'd said she.
Thy cage shall be made of shining gold,
That was of the timbern tree.