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.

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.

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,
As fair a lady as ever did see.
She shed her tear, 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?”

“I have land, land and I have living
And half Northumberland belongs to me.
I'd give it all to a brave young lady
If out of prison she would set me.”

She stole the key from her fathers pillow,
Poured Lord Bateman her fathers wine;
Every health they drank together,
“Oh I wish Lord Bateman you were mine.”

She's took him down to her father's harbour,
Found for him the ship of fame.
“Farewell, farewell, farewell Lord Bateman,
I'm sure I'll never see your face again.”

Seven long years were gone and past,
From her heart she had not ken free.
She's packed up all her gold clothing,
Swore Lord Bateman she would go see.

When she came to London city
She cried Lord Bateman through the town,
Every stranger that did pass by her
Did lead her on too Northumberland.

“Is this called Lord Bateman's castle?
Is his lordship here within?”
“Oh yes, oh yes,” cried the proud young porter,
Pray tell what news I may give to him.

“Go tell him send me a cut of bread,
Go tell him send me a cup of wine,
And to remember the brave young lady
Who did release him when he was confined.”

Away, away tore the proud young porter.
Away, away, away went he.
He cried, “Lord Bateman, my lord and master
I'm sure Sophia has crossed the sea.”

“She has got rings, rings on every finger,
And round her middle one she wears three.
She has more gold all about her person
For to buy Northumberland from under thee.”

“She tells you send her a cut of bread
And tells you send her a cup of wine,
And to remember the brave young lady
Who did release you when you were confined.”

Lord Bateman then in silence fell
From his heart he had not been free,
“I'll give you all my Father's stable
If my Sophia has crossed the sea.”

Bateman then too his true love flew
From their hearts they had not ken free
He's kissed her hand and he's kissed her cheek
And neither man nor woman speak
And never was love so complete
Since brave Sophia have acrossed the sea.