Flower of Northumberland- R.Hutton (Rox) c.1824 Tefler, Child E
[From Mr. R. White's papers. Collected by Mr. James Telfer from a shepherd, Robert Hutton, Peel, Liddesdale, who wrote it down from memory, having heard it sung some years before by a man who in singing mangled the language sadly. Apparently it was edited by Tefler, a school teacher. According to Child: "E, a traditional version from the English border, has unfortunately been improved by some literary pen."
R. Matteson 2018]
'The Flower of Northumberland'- Child version E from James Tefler, schoolmaster of Saughtree, "as written down from memory by Robert Hutton, Shepherd, Peel, Liddesdale, County of Roxburgh."
1 A bailiff's fair daughter, she lived by the Aln,
A young maid's love is easily won
She heard a poor prisoner making his moan,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
2 'If ye could love me, as I do love thee,
A young maid's love is hard to win
I'll make you a lady of high degree,
When once we go down to fair Scotland.'
3 To think of the prisoner her heart was sore,
A young maid's love is easily won
Her love it was much, but her pity was more,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
4 She stole from her father's pillow the key,
A young maid's love is easily won
And out of the dungeon she soon set him free,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
5 She led him into her father's stable,
A young maid's love is easily won
And they've taken a steed both gallant and able,
To carry them down to fair Scotland.
6 When they first took the way, it was darling and dear;
A young maid's love is easily won
As forward they fared, all changed was his cheer,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
7 They rode till they came to a fair Scottish corse;
A young maid's love is easily won
Says he, 'Now, pray madam, dismount from my horse,
And go get you back to Northumberland.
8 'It befits not to ride with a leman light,
A young maid's love is easily won
When awaits my returning my own lady bright,
My own wedded wife in fair Scotland.'
9 The words that he said on her fond heart smote,
A young maid's love is easily won
She knew not in sooth if she lived or not,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
10 She looked to his face, and it kythed so unkind
A young maid's love is easily won
That her fast coming tears soon rendered her blind,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
11 'Have pity on me as I had it on thee,
O why was my love so easily won!
A slave in your kitchen I'm willing to be,
But I may not go back to Northumberland.
12 'Or carry me up by the middle sae sma,
O why was my love so easily won!
And fling me headlong from your high castle wa,
For I dare not go back to Northumberland.'
13 Her wailing, her woe, for nothing they went,
A young maid's love is easily won
His bosom was stone and he would not relent,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
14 He turned him around and he thought of a plan,
A young maid's love is easily won
He bought an old horse and he hired an old man,
To carry her back to Northumberland.
15 A heavy heart makes a weary way,
A young maid's love is easily won
She reached her home in the evening gray,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
16 And all as she stood at her father's tower-gate,
A young maid's love is easily won
More loud beat her heart than her knock thereat,
And she was the flower of Northumberland.
17 Down came her step-dame, so rugged and doure,
O why was your love so easily won!
'In Scotland go back to your false paramour,
For you shall not stay here in Northumberland.'
18 Down came her father, he saw her and smiled,
A young maid's love is easily won
'You are not the first that false Scots have beguiled,
And ye're aye welcome back to Northumberland.
19 'You shall not want houses, you shall not want land,
A young maid's love is easily won
You shall not want gold for to gain a husband,
And ye're aye welcome back to Northumberland.