Lord Bateman

Lord Bateman was a noble lord, A noble lord of high degree, He put himself on board a ship, Some foreign country he would go see. And He sailed East and he sailed West, Sailed in to proud Turkey, But he was taken and put in prison, Until his life grew quite weary. And in their prisons they grew a tree, They grew it stout and grew it strong, And he was chained up all by the middle, Until his life was almost gone. But Turkey had one only daughter, A finer lady you ne'er did see, She shed her tear, and she set her mind, And she swore Lord Bateman she would go see. Do you have land, do you have living, Does Northumberland belong to thee? What would you give to a brave young lady, If out of prison she set you free? Oh I have land, land and I have living, Half Northumberland belongs to me, I'd give it all to a brave young lady, If out of prison she did set me. She stole the key from her father's pillow, Poured Lord Bateman her father's wine, And every health they drank together, Oh I wish Lord Bateman you were mine. She's taken him down to her father's harbour, Found for him that ship of fame, Farewell, farewell, farewell Lord Bateman, I know I'll never see your face again, Seven years have gone and past, From her heart she had not been free, She's packed up all of her gold clothing, Swore Lord Bateman she would go see. And when she came to London city, Cried Lord Bateman through all the town, Every stranger that did pass by her, Did lead her on to Northumberland. Is this called Lord Bateman's castle? Is his lordship here within? Oh yes, oh yes cried the proud young porter, Tell what news can I give to him? Go tell him send me a cut of bread, Tell him send me a cup of wine, And to remember the brave young lady, Who did release him when he was confined. So away, away tore the proud young porter, Away, away, away went he, He's cried Lord Bateman my lord and master, But your Sophia has crossed the sea. She has got rings, rings on every finger, Round her middle one she has three, She has more gold all about her person, To buy Northumberland from under thee. Lord Bateman then his silence drew, From his heart he had not been free, I'll give you all my Father's stable, If my Sophia has crossed the sea. Lord Bateman then to his true love flew, From his heart he had not been free, And never was there a love so constant, Since bold Sophia has crossed the sea