The Sacking of Arlee- Murphy (ME) 1942 Olney
[From: Flanders, Ancient Ballads Traditionally Sung in New England 3 1963, pp. 191-192.
This 3 stanza fragment is from the same source as Barry B, Capt. Lewis Freeman Gott of Bernard (see his text below). Harriet Gott Murphy is either his daughter or niece. Notice that Flanders does not even mention Barry B or that this version was published.
R. Matteson 2015]
The Sacking of Arlee-- As sung by Mrs. Harriet Gott Murphy of Maine. Mrs. Murphy of Rumford Centre, remembers hearing this ballad sung when a small child by her father and uncle, whose ancestors were the settlers of Gott Island. M. Olney, Collector; September 12, 1942.
A maiden fair from her window high
Looked down to him quite surly;
She wished her knight with his soldiers smong
To defend the courts of Arlee.
"Come down to me, my fair young maid,
Come down and kiss me fairly,
As I vow and I swear by the broadside I wear
I will not leave a standing stone in Arlee."
He took her by her left hand
And turned her round quite squarely;
He took her up to the highest mountain top,
Saying, "Look upon the sacking of Arlee."
______________________________
From British Ballads From Maine, 1929:
B. "The Plundering of Arley." Sent in 1924, by Capt. Lewis Freeman Gott of Bernard.
1 It was in the Wars of the Roses white and red,
And in the days of Prince Charley;
Argyle drew up with his ten thousand strong
Before the courts of Arley.
2 A maiden fair from a window high
Looked down to him quite surley,
She wished for her Knight with his soldiers strong
To defend the courts of Arley.
3 "Come down to me, my fair young maid,
Come down and kiss me fairly,
As I vow and f swear by the broad sword I wear
I will not leave a standing stone in Arley."
4 "I will not come down, young man," said she,
"I will not come down to you from Arley,
I will not come down, young man," said she,
"And I will not kiss you squarely."
5 "But there's one thing I would ask of you,
And I hope you will grant it fairly,
It is, take me down to the low green valley low,
That I may [not] see the plundering of Arley."
6 He took me by my left shoulder,
He turned me round quite squarely,
He carried me up to the highest mountain top,
Saying, "Look well upon the plundering of Arley."
7 "If my brave Knight had been at home,
Instead of in the wars with Prince Charley,
Then you with all your ten thousand strong
Would never had the plundering of Arley."