The Book of Old English Ballads Part 7

"Away" quoth he "with this silly foole!

In prison fast let her lie: For she is come of the English bloud, And for these words she shall dye."

With that bespake Lord Thomas Howard, The Queenes chamberlaine that day: "If that you put Queene Margaret to death, Scotland shall rue it alway."

Then in a rage King Jamie did say, "Away with this foolish mome; He shall be hanged, and the other be burned, So soone as I come home."

At Flodden Field the Scots came in, Which made our English men faine; At Bramstone Greene this battaile was seene, There was King Jamie slaine.

His bodie never could be found, When he was over throwne, And he that wore faire Scotland's crowne That day could not be knowne.

Then presently the Scot did flie, Their cannons they left behind; Their ensignes gay were won all away, Our souldiers did beate them blinde.

To tell you plaine, twelve thousand were slaine, That to the fight did stand, And many prisoners tooke that day, The best in all Scotland.

That day made many [a] fatherlesse child, And many a widow poore, And many a Scottish gay lady Sate weeping in her bower.

Jack with a feather was lapt all in leather, His boastings were all in vaine; He had such a chance, with a new morrice-dance He never went home againe.

This was written to adapt the ballad to the seventeenth century.

Now heaven we laude that never more Such biding shall come to hand; Our King, by othe, is King of both England and faire Scotland.

Helen of Kirkconnell

I wad I were where Helen lies; Night and day on me she cries; O that I were where Helen lies, On fair Kirkconnell lea!

Curst be the heart that thought the thought, And curst the hand that fired the shot, When in my arms burd Helen dropt, And died to succour me!

O think na but my heart was sair When my Love dropt and spak nae mair!

I laid her down wi' meikle care, On fair Kirkconnell lea.

As I went down the water side, Nane but my foe to be my guide, Nane but my foe to be my guide, On fair Kirkconnell lea.

I lighted down my sword to draw, I hacked him in pieces sma', I hacked him in pieces sma', For her sake that died for me.

O Helen fair, beyond compare!

I'll make a garland of thy hair, Shall bind my heart for evermair, Until the day I dee!

O that I were where Helen lies Night and day on me she cries; Out of my bed she bids me rise, Says, "Haste, and come to me!"

O Helen fair! O Helen chaste!

If I were with thee, I were blest, Where thou lies low and takes thy rest, On fair Kirkconnell lea.

I wad my grave were growing green, A winding-sheet drawn ower my een, And I in Helen's arms lying, On fair Kirkconnell lea.

I wad I were where Helen lies!

Night and day on me she cries, And I am weary of the skies, Since my Love died for me.

Robin Hood and Allen-a-Dale

Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw, That lived in Nottinghams.h.i.+re.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood All under the greenwood tree, There he was aware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was clad in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay And he did frisk it over the plain, And chaunted a roundelay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood Amongst the leaves so gay, There did he espy the same young man Come drooping along the way.

The scarlet he wore the day before It was clean cast away; And at every step he fetched a sigh, "Alas! and a well-a-day!"

Then stepped forth brave Little John, And Midge, the miller's son; Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he see them come.

"Stand off! stand off!" the young man said, "What is your will with me?"

"You must come before our master straight, Under yon greenwood tree."

And when he came bold Robin before, Robin asked him courteously, O, hast thou any money to spare, For my merry men and me?

"I have no money," the young man said, "But five s.h.i.+llings and a ring; And that I have kept this seven long years, To have at my wedding.

"Yesterday I should have married a maid, But she was from me ta'en, And chosen to be an old knight's delight, Whereby my poor heart is slain."

"What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, "Come tell me, without any fail."

"By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "My name it is Allen-a-Dale."

"What wilt thou give me," said Robin Hood, "In ready gold or fee, To help thee to thy true love again, And deliver her unto thee?"

"I have no money," then quoth the young man, "No ready gold nor fee, But I will swear upon a book Thy true servant for to be."

"How many miles is it to thy true love?

Come tell me without guile."

"By the faith of my body," then said the young man, "It is but five little mile."

Then Robin he hasted over the plain, He did neither stint nor lin, Until he came unto the church Where Allen should keep his weddin'.