Francis James Child

“ He sett himselfe on one good steed,
This lady on a palfray,
And sett his litle horne to his mouth,
And roundlie he rode away.
He had not ridden past a mile,
A mile out of the towne,
. . .
. . .
Her father was readye with her seuen brether,
He said, ‘Sett thou my daughter downe!
For it ill beseemes thee, thou false churles sonne,
To carry her forth of this towne!’
But lowd thou lyest, Sir Iohn the knight,
Thou now doest lye of me;
A knight me gott, and a lady me bore ”

“ HE has lookit over his left shoulder,
And through his bonnie bridle rein,
And he spy’d her father and her seven bold brethren,
Come riding down the glen.
‘O hold my horse, Lady Margret,’ he said,
O hold my horse by the bonnie bridle rein,
Till I fight your father and seven bold brethren,
As they come riding down the glen.’
Some time she rade, and some time she gaed,
Till she that place did near,
And there she spy’d her seven bold brethren slain,
And her father who loved her so dear.
‘O hold you hand, sweet William,’ she said,
‘Your bull baits are wondrous sair ”

“ And he’s come whistling all along.
hGude Earl Brand, I see blood:’
‘It’s but the shade o my scarlet robe.’
They cam till they cam to the water aflood;
He’s lighted down and he’s wushen aff the blood.
His mother walks the floor alone:
‘O yonder does come my poor son. ”