Hugh of Lincoln- Hoover (NY via PA) pre1933 Henry A
[From: Folk Songs from the Southern Highlands, collected & edited By Mellinger Edward Henry, 1938. Also found as Scarborough C (Song Catcher). The title seems to not be local- at least "Hugh of Lincoln" is not mentioned in the text. Perhaps it was supplied by Henry, in print, or someone gave the title from a Child ballad to the informant. Henry's note's follow.
R. Matteson 2013, 2015]
SIR HUGH, OR THE JEW'S DAUGHTER
(Child, No. 155)
For American texts, see Belden, No. 8; Campbell and Sharp, No. 26; Cox, No. 9; Davis, No. 33; Hudson, No. 17; Pound, Ballads, No. 5; Scarborough, p. 5 3; Shearin, p. 4; Shearin and Combs, p. 8; C. A. Smith, p. 15; Reed Smith, Ballads, No. 11; Newell, Games and Songs of American Children, p. 75; Journal, XV, 195 (H. E. Krehbiel); XIX, 293 (Belden); XXIX, 164 (Tolman); XXX, 322 (Kittredge); XXXV, 344 (Tolman and Eddy); XXXIX, 108 (Hudson), 212 (Rinker); XLIV, 64 (Henry). For a full and interesting history of the ballad, see Davis, No. 33. Add Journal, XLIV, 296 (Parsons); Jones, p. 13; Bulletin, No. 5, pp. 6—7.
A. "Hugh of Lincoln." Obtained from Mr. M. M. Hoover, 50 Morningside Drive, New York City, who had it from his mother in southeastern Pennsylvania.
1. It rained a mist, it rained a mist;
It rained all over the town;
Till every boy in Scotland
Went out to toss his ball.
2. At first he tossed his ball too high;
And then again too low;
Till over into the Jew's garden it went
Where no one had dared to go.
3. Out came the Jew's daughter, all dressed, all dressed;
All dressed in the finest of jewels;
Come in, come in, you little lambkin,
You shall have your ball back again.
4. "I will not come in, I shall not come in,
Unless my playmates do;
For whoever comes in will never come back,
Will never come back any more."
5. At first she showed him a gay gold ring;
And then a yellow, mellow apple;
And then a cherry as red as blood,
Which enticed the little boy in.
6. And then she took him by the hand;
And through the castle she went;
And pitched him into a cellar below,
Where no one could hear his lament.
7. "Oh, spare me, oh, spare me," the little boy cried,
That little boy cried he,
"And if ever I live to be a man,
My treasures shall be thine."
8. Then she took him out again;
And pinned him in a napkin;
And called for a basin washed with gold,
To catch his heart's blood in.
9. "Oh, lay my prayer book at my head;
My Bible at my heart;
And if my playmates should ask for me,
Oh, tell them that we must part.
10. "Oh, lay my prayer book at my heart;
My Bible at my head;
And if mother should ask of me,
Oh, tell her that I am dead."