| 1 |
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. |
| 2 |
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. |
| 3 |
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. |
| 4 |
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. |
| 5 |
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. |
| 6 |
'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.' |
| 7 |
'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.' |
| 8 |
'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.' |
| 9 |
'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.' |
| 10 |
'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. |
| 11 |
'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. |
| 12 |
'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.' |
| 13 |
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. |
| 14 |
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. |
| 15 |
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. |
| 16 |
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. |
| 17 |
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. |
| 18 |
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. |
| 19 |
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? |
| 20 |
'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.' |
| 21 |
'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.' |
| 22 |
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. |
| 23 |
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.' |
| 24 |
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. |
| 25 |
'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. |
| 26 |
'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. |
| 27 |
'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.' |
| 28 |
'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? |
| 29 |
'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.' |
| 30 |
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. |
| 31 |
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. |
| 32 |
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. |
| 33 |
'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.' |
| 34 |
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. |
| 35 |
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. |
