| 1 |
It happened once upon a time,
When the king he was from home,
Sir Fenwick he has stolen his jewels,
And laid the blame on James Hatley. |
| 2 |
James Hatley was in prison strong,
A wait he was condemned to die;
There was not one in all the court
To speak one word for James Hatley. |
| 3 |
No one but the king's daughter,
A wait she loved him tenderlie;
She's stolen the keys from her father's head,
And gaed and conversed wi James Hatley. |
| 4 |
'Come, tell to me noe, James,' she said,
'Come, tell to me if thou hast them stolen,
And I'll make a vow, and I'll keep it true,
Ye shall never be the worse of me.' |
| 5 |
'I have not stolen them, lady,' he said,
'Nor as little it was intended by me;
Sir Fenwick he has stolen them himself;
A wait he has laid the blame on me.' |
| 6 |
'One asking, one asking, father dear,
One asking, one asking grant to me,
For I never asked one in my life;
I am sure you cannot but grant it to me.' |
| 7 |
'Weel ask it, weel ask it, daughter dear,
Ask it, and it granted shall be;
If it should be my hole estate,
Naesaid, naesaid, it shall not be.' |
| 8 |
'I want none of your gold, father,
And I want none of your fee;
All that I ask, father dear,
It is the life of James Hatley.' |
| 9 |
'Weel ask it, weel ask it, daughter dear,
Weel ask it, and it answer d shall be;
For I'll make a vow, and I'll keep it true,
James Hatley shall never hang d be.' |
| 10 |
'Another asking, father dear,
Another asking grant to me;
Let Fenwick and Hatley go [to] the sword,
And let them try their verity.' |
| 11 |
'Tis weel asked, daughter dear,
'Tis weel asked, and it granted shall be;
For eer the morn or twelve o'clock
They both at the point of the sword shall be.' |
| 12 |
James Hatley was fifteen years old,
Sir Fenwick he was thirty three;
But James lap about, and he struck about,
Till he's gaen Sir Fenwick wounds three. |
| 13 |
'Hold up, hold, James Hatley,' he cry'd,
'And let my breath go out an;
For I have stolen them myself,
More shame and disgrace it is to me.' |
| 14 |
Up and spake an English lord,
And O but he spake haughtily!
'I would reather given my whole estates
Before ye had not hanged James Hatley.' |
| 15 |
But up and spake a Scottish lord,
And O but he spake boldly!
'I would reather hae foughten among blood to the knees
Before ye had hanged James Hatley.' |
| 16 |
Up and spake the king's eldest son,
'Come hame, James Hatley, and dine wi me;
For I've made a vow, I'll keep it true,
Ye's be my captain by land and by sea.' |
| 17 |
Up and spake the king's daughter,
'Come home, James Hatley, and dine wi me;
For I've made a vow, I'll keep it true,
I'll never marry a man but thee.' |
