Ungrateful Knight- (Lon) 1790 Ritson, Child Ab
[From: Ancient Songs and Ballads from Henry II to the Revolution, Volume 2 by Joseph Ritson, J. Frank, first edition was 1790. Taken from Thomas Deloney (c.1543–1600), an English novelist and balladist. Ritson claims that, "Deloney narrowly escaped being committed to the Counter, by the Lord Mayor, in 1696, for ridiculing the Queen, and book of orders, about the dearth of corn, in a “scurrilous ballad." Ritson notes follow,
R. Matteson 2018]
The Ungrateful Knight and the Fair Flower of Northumberland is preserved in the History of Jack of Newbery, already mentioned, where it is thus -introduced. “ His Majesty [i. e. K. Henry the 8th, who was then upon a visit to Jack] came next among the spinners and carders, who were merrily a working: .- . . . The King and Queen and all the nobility heedfully beheld these women, who for the most part were very fair and comely creatures; and were all attired alike from top to toe. _Then (after due reverence) the maidens in dulcet ma.nner- chanted out this song, two of them singing the ditty, and all the rest bearing the burden.”
IT was a knight, in Scotland born,
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
Was taken prisoner and left forlorn,
Even by the good earl of Northumberland.
Then was he cast in prison strong,
(Follow, my love, ‘ come ’ over the strand),
Where he could not walk nor lye along,
Even by the good earl of N orthumberland.
And as in sorrow thus he lay,
(Follow, my love, come over the strand), 10
The earl[s] sweet daughter walks that way,
And she is the fair flower of Northumberland.
And passing by, like an angel bright,
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
The prisoner had of her a sight,
And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
And aloud to her this knight did cry
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
The salt tears standing in his eye,
And she the fair flower of Northumberland. 20
Fair lady, he said, take pity on me
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And let me not in prison die,
And you the fair flower of Northumberland;
“Fair sir, how should I take pity on thee
(Follow, rny love, come over the strand),
Thou being a foe to our country,
And I the fair flower of Northumberland. ”
Fair lady, I am no foe, he said,
(Follow, my love, come over the strand), 30
Through thy sweet love here was I stay’d,
For thee, the fair flower of Northumberland.
“Why should’st thou come here for love of me
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
Having wife and children in thy country,
And I the fair flower of Northumberland?”
“I swear, by the blessed trinity
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
I have no wife nor children I,
Nor dwelling at home in merry Scotland. 40
If, courteously, you will set me free
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
I vow that I will marry thee,
So soon as I come in fair Scotland.
Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And sit, like a queen, in princely bowers,
When I am at home in fair Scotland.”
Then parted hence this lady gay
(Follow, my love, come over the strand), 50
And got her fathers ring away,
To help this knight into fair Scotland.
Likewise, much gold she got by sleight
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And all to help this forlorn knight,
To wend from her father to fair Scotland.
Two gallant steeds, both good and able
(Follow, my love,’ come over the strand),
She, likewise, took out of the stable,
To ride'with the knight into fair Scotland. 60
And to the jaylor she sent this ring
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
The knight from prison forth ‘ to’ bring,
To wend with her into fair Scotland.
This token set the prisoner free
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
Who straight went to this fair lady,
To wend with her into fair Scotland.
A gallant steed he did bestride
(Follow, my love, come over the strand), 70
And, with the lady, away did ride,
And she the fair flower of N orthumberland.
They rode till they came to a water clear
(Follow, my love, come over the strand) :
“Good sir, how should I follow you here,
And I the fair flower of Northumberland?
The water is rough and wonderful deep
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And on my saddle I shall not keep,
And I the fair flower of Northumberland.” 80
Fear not the foard, fair lady, quoth he,
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
For long I cannot stay for thee,
And thou the fair flower of N orthumberland.
The lady prickt her wanton steed
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And over the river swom with speed,
And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
From top to toe all wet was she.
(Follow, my love, come over the strand): 90
“ This have I done, for love of thee, -
And I the fair flower of Northumberland.”
Thus rode she all one winters night
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
Till Edenborough they saw in sight,
The fairest town in all Scotlzlnd.
Now chuse, quoth he, thou wanton flower
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
‘Whether’ thou wilt be my paramour,
Or get thee home to Northumberland. 100
For I have wife and children five
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
In Edenborough they be alive,
Then get thee home to fair England.
This favour thou shalt have to boot
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
I’le have ‘thy’ horse, go thou on foot,
Go, get thee home, to Northu’mberlénd.-
O false and faithless knight! quoth she
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And can’st thou deal so bad with me,
And I the fair flower of Northumberland?
Dishonour not a ladies name
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
But draw thy sword and end my shame,
'And I the fair flower of N orthumberland.
He took her from her stately steed
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And left her there, in extream need,
And she the fair flower of Northumberland. 120
Then sat she down full heavily
(Follow, my love, come over the strand);
At length two knights came riding by,
Two gallant knights of fair England.
She fell down humbly, on her knee
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
Saying, Courteous ‘ knights ’ take pity on me,
And I the fair flower of Northumberland.
I have offended my father dear
(Follow, my love, come over the strand), 130
And by a false knight that brought me here,
From the good earl of Northumberland.
They took her up behind them then
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
And brought her to her father again,
And he the good earl of Northumberland.
All you fair maidens be warned by me
(Follow, my love, come over the strand),
Scots never were true, nor never will be,
To lord, nor lady, nor fair England. 140