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IT was a knight in Scotland borne Follow, my love, come over the strand Was taken prisoner, and left forlorne, Even by the good Earle of Northumberland. Then was he cast in prison strong, Follow, my love, come over the strand Where he could not walke nor lie along, Even by the goode Earle of Northumberland. And as in sorrow thus he lay, Follow, my love, come over the strand The Earle's sweete daughter walkt that way, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. And passing by, like an angell bright, Follow, my love, come over the strand The prisoner had of her a sight, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. And loud to her this knight did crie, Follow, my love, come over the strand The salt teares standing in his eye, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. 'Faire lady,' he said, 'Take pity on me, Follow, my love, come over the strand And let me not in prison dye, And you the faire flower of Northumberland.' 'Faire Sir, how should I take pity on thee, Follow, my love, come over the strand Thou being a foe to our countrey, And I the faire flower of Northumberland.' 'Faire lady, I am no foe,' he said, Follow, my love, come over the strand 'Through thy sweet love heere was I stayd, For thee, the faire flower of Northumberland.' 'Why shouldst thou come heere for love of me, Follow, my love, come over the strand Having wife and children in thy countrie? And I the faire flower of Northumberland.' 'I sweare by the blessed Trinitie, Follow, my love, come over the strand I have no wife nor children, I, Nor dwelling at home in merrie Scotland. 'If curteously you will set me free, Follow, my love, come over the strand I vow that I will marrie thee, So soone as I come in faire Scotland. 'Thou shalt be a lady of castles and towers, Follow, my love, come over the strand And sit like a queene in princely bowers, When I am at home in faire Scotland.' Then parted hence this lady gay, Follow, my love, come over the strand And got her father's ring away, To helpe this sad knight into faire Scotland. Likewise much gold she got by sleight, Follow, my love, come over the strand And all to help this forlorne knight To wend from her father to faire Scotland. Two gallant steedes, both good and able, Follow, my love, come over the strand She likewise tooke out of the stable, To ride with this knight into faire Scotland. 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 faire Scotland. This token set the prisoner free, Follow, my love, come over the strand Who straight went to this faire lady, To wend with her into faire Scotland. A gallant steede he did bestride, Follow, my love, come over the strand And with the lady away did ride, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. They rode till they came to a water cleare: Follow, my love, come over the strand 'Good Sir, how should I follow you heere, And I the faire flower of Northumberland? 'The water is rough and wonderfull deepe, Follow, my love, come over the strand An[d] on my saddle I shall not keepe, And I the faire flower of Northumberland.' 'Feare not the foord, faire lady,' quoth he, Follow, my love, come over the strand 'For long I cannot stay for thee, And thou the faire flower of Northumberland.' The lady prickt her wanton steed, Follow, my love, come over the strand And over the river swom with speede, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. From top to toe all wet was shee: Follow, my love, come over the strand 'This have I done for love of thee, And I the faire flower of Northumberland.' Thus rode she all one winter's night, Follow, my love, come over the strand Till Edenborow they saw in sight, The chiefest towne in all Scotland. 'Now chuse,' quoth he, 'Thou wanton flower, Follow, my love, come over the strand Whe'r thou wilt be my paramour, Or get thee home to Northumberland. 'For I have wife, and children five, Follow, my love, come over the strand In Edenborow they be alive; Then get thee home to faire England. 'This favour shalt thou have to boote, Follow, my love, come over the strand Ile have thy horse, go thou on foote, Go, get thee home to Northumberland.' 'O false and faithlesse knight,' quoth shee, Follow, my love, come over the strand 'And canst thou deale so bad with me, And I the faire flower of Northumberland? 'Dishonour not a ladie's name, Follow, my love, come over the strand But draw thy sword and end my shame, And I the faire flower of Northumberland.' He tooke her from her stately steed, Follow, my love, come over the strand And left her there in extreme need, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. Then sate she downe full heavily; Follow, my love, come over the strand At length two knights came riding by, Two gallant knights of faire England. She fell downe humbly on her knee, Follow, my love, come over the strand Saying, 'Courteous knights, take pittie on me, And I the faire flower of Northumberland. 'I have offended my father deere, Follow, my love, come over the strand And by a false knight that brought me heere, From the good Earle of Northumberland.' They tooke her up behind them then, Follow, my love, come over the strand And brought her to her father's againe, And he the good Earle of Northumberland. All you faire maidens be warned by me, Follow, my love, come over the strand Scots were never true, nor never will be, To lord, nor lady, nor faire England. |