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THE FAIR FLOWER OF NORTHUMBERLAND by ANONYMOUS

First Line: IT WAS A KNIGHT IN SCOTLAND BORNE
Last Line: "TO LORD, NOR LADY, NOR FAIRE ENGLAND"
It was a Knight in Scotland borne,
Follow my loue, leap ouer the strand:
Was taken prisoner and left forlorne
Euen by the good Earle of Northumberland.
Then was he cast in prison strong,
Follow my loue, leap ouer the strand:
Where he could not walke nor lye along,
Euen by the good Earle of Northumberland.
And as in sorrow thus he lay,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
The Earles sweet Daughter walkt that way,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
And passing by, like an Angell bright,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
This prisoner had of her a sight,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
And lowd to her this knight did cry,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
The salt teares standing in his eie,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
Faire Lady (he said) take pitty on me,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And let me not in prison dye,
And you the faire flower of Northumberland.
Faire Sir, how should I take pitty on thee,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Thou being a foe to our Country,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
Faire Lady, I am no foe (he said)
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Through thy sweete loue here was I staid,
For thee the faire flower of Northumberland.
Why shouldst thou come here for loue of me,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Hauing wife and children in thy Countrie,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
I sweare by the blessed Trinitie,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
I haue no wife nor children I,
Nor dwelling at home in merry Scotland.
If courteously you will set me free,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
I vow that I will marry thee,
So soone as I come in merry Scotland.
Thou shalt be Lady of Castles and Towres,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And sit like a Queen in princely bowers,
When I am at home in faire Scotland.
Then parted hence this Lady gay,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And got her fathers ring away,
To help this sad knight into faire Scotland.
Likewise much gold she got by sleight,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And all to help this forlorne knight
To wend from her father to faire Scotland.
Two gallant steeds both good and able,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
She likewise tooke out of the stable,
To ride with this knight into fair Scotland.
And to the Jaylor she sent this ring,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
The knight from prison forth to bring,
To wend with her into faire Scotland.
This token set this prisoner free,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Who straight went to this faire Lady,
To wend with her into faire Scotland.
A gallant steed he did bestride,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And with the Lady away did ride,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
They rode till they came to a water cleere,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Good sir how should I follow you here,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
The water is rough and wonderfull deep,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And on my saddle I shall not keep,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
Feare not the foord, faire Lady (quoth he),
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
For long I cannot stay for thee,
And thou the faire flower of Northumberland.
The Lady prickt her wanton steed,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And ouer the river swom with speed,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
From top to toe all wet was she,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
This haue I done for loue of thee,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
Thus rode she all one winters night,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Till Edenborow they saw in sight,
The chiefest towne in all Scotland.
Now chuse (quoth he) thou wanton flower,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Whether thou wilt be my Paramour,
Or get thee home to Northumberland.
For I haue wife and children fiue,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
In Edenborow they be aliue;
Then get thee home to faire England.
This fauour shalt thou haue to boote,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Ile haue thy horse, goe thou a foote,
Goe get thee home to Northumberland.
O false and faithlesse knight (quoth she)
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And canst thou deale so bad with me,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland?
Dishonour not a Ladies name,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
But draw thy sword, and end my shame,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
He tooke her from her stately Steed,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And left her there in extreme need,
And she the faire flower of Northumberland.
Then sat she downe full heauily,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
At length two knights came riding by,
Two gallant knights of faire England.
She fell downe humbly on her knee,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Saying, Courteous Knights take pitty on me,
And I the faire flower of Northumberland.
I haue offended my father deere,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And by a false knight that brought me here,
From the good Earle of Northumberland.
They tooke her up behinde [them] then,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
And brought her to her fathers againe,
And he the good Earle of Northumberland.
All you faire maidens be warned by me,
Follow my loue, come ouer the strand:
Scots were neuer true, nor neuer will be,
To Lord, nor Lady, nor faire England.



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