Lovely Jenny's Garland, three copies, as early as 1775, but
without place or date.
| 1 |
When we were silly sisters seven,
sisters were so fair,
Five of us were brave knights' wives,
and died in childbed lair. |
| 2 |
Up then spake Fair Mary,
marry woud she nane;
If ever she came in man's bed,
the same gate wad she gang. |
| 3 |
'Make no vows, Fair Mary,
for fear they broken be;
Here's been the Knight of Wallington,
asking good will of thee.' |
| 4 |
'If here's been the knight, mother,
asking good will of me,
Within three quarters of a year
you may come bury me.' |
| 5 |
When she came to Wallington,
and into Wallington hall,
There she spy'd her mother dear,
walking about the wall. |
| 6 |
'You're welcome, daughter dear,
to thy castle and thy bowers;'
'I thank you kindly, mother,
I hope they'll soon be yours.' |
| 7 |
She had not been in Wallington
three quarters and a day,
Till upon the ground she could not walk,
she was a weary prey. |
| 8 |
She had not been in Wallington
three quarters and a night,
Till on the ground she coud not walk,
she was a weary wight. |
| 9 |
'Is there neer a boy in this town,
who'll win hose and shun,
That will run to fair Pudlington,
and bid my mother come?' |
| 10 |
Up then spake a little boy,
near unto a-kin;
'Full oft I have your errands gone,
but now I will it run.' |
| 11 |
Then she calld her waiting-maid
to bring up bread and wine:
'Eat and drink, my bonny boy,
thou'll neer eat more of mine. |
| 12 |
'Give my respects to my mother,
[as] she sits in her chair of stone,
And ask her how she likes the news,
of seven to have but one. |
| 13 |
['Give my respects to my mother,
as she sits in her chair of oak,
And bid her come to my sickening,
or my merry lake-wake.] |
| 14 |
'Give my love to my brother
William, Ralph, and John,
And to my sister Betty fair,
and to her white as bone. |
| 15 |
'And bid her keep her maidenhead,
be sure make much on't,
For if eer she come in man's bed,
the same gate will she gang.' |
| 16 |
Away this little boy is gone,
as fast as he could run;
When he came where brigs were broke,
he lay down and swum. |
| 17 |
When he saw the lady, he said,
Lord may your keeper be!
'What news, my pretty boy,
hast thou to tell to me?' |
| 18 |
'Your daughter Mary orders me,
as you sit in a chair of stone,
To ask you how you like the news,
of seven to have but one. |
| 19 |
'Your daughter gives commands,
as you sit in a chair of oak,
And bids you come to her sickening,
or her merry lake-wake. |
| 20 |
'She gives command to her brother
William, Ralph, and John,
[And] to her sister Betty fair,
and to her white as bone. |
| 21 |
'She bids her keep her maidenhead,
be sure make much on't,
for if eer she came in man's bed,
the same gate woud she gang.' |
| 22 |
She kickt the table with her foot,
she kickt it with her knee,
The silver plate into the fire,
so far she made it flee. |
| 23 |
Then she calld her waiting-maid
to bring her riding-hood,
So did she on her stable-groom
to bring her riding-steed. |
| 24 |
'Go saddle to me the black [the black,]
go saddle to me the brown,
Go saddle to me the swiftest steed
that eer rid [to] Wallington.' |
| 25 |
When they came to Wallington,
and into Wallington hall,
There she spy'd her son Fenwick,
walking about the wall. |
| 26 |
'God save you, dear son,
Lord may your keeper be!
Where is my daughter fair,
that used to walk with thee?' |
| 27 |
He turnd his head round about,
the tears did fill his ee:
''Tis a month,' he said, 'Since she
took her chambers from me.' |
| 28 |
She went on . . .
and there were in the hall
Four and twenty ladies,
letting the tears down fall. |
| 29 |
Her daughter had a scope
into her cheek and into her chin,
All to keep her life
till her dear mother came. |
| 30 |
'Come take the rings off my fingers,
the skin it is so white,
And give them to my mother dear,
for she was all the wite. |
| 31 |
'Come take the rings off my fingers,
the veins they are so red,
Give them to Sir William Fenwick,
I'm sure his heart will bleed.' |
| 32 |
She took out a razor
that was both sharp and fine,
And out of her left side has taken
the heir of Wallington. |
| 33 |
There is a race in Wallington,
and that I rue full sare;
Tho the cradle it be full spread up,
the bride-bed is left bare. |
