The Outlandish Knight

[Verse 1]
An outlandish knight came from the north lands
And he's courted a lady fair
And he's said he would take her to those northern lands
And there he would marry her

[Verse 2]
"Go fetch me some of your father's gold
And some of your mother's fee
And two of the fine horses from out of the stable
Where there stand thirty and three."

[Verse 3]
So she mounts all on her milk white steed
And he on the dapple grey
And they rode till they came unto the seaside
Three hours before it was day

[Verse 4]
"Light off, light off, your milk white steed
And deliver it unto me
For six pretty maidens have I drowned here
And the seventh will surely be thee

[Verse 5]
"And take off, take off your silken clothes
And deliver them unto me
For I do fear that they are too fine
To rot all in the salt sea"

[Verse 6]
"If I must take off my silken clothes
Then turn your back to me
For it is not fitting that such a rogue
A naked woman should see

[Verse 7]
"And cut away the brambles so sharp
Those brambles from off the brim
For I do fear they will tangle my hair
And scratch my tender skin"

[Verse 8]
So he's turned his back all on that maid
And he's bent low over the brim
And she's taken him round his slender waist
And she's tumbled him into the stream

[Verse 9]
He's dropped high, he's dropped low
Until he came to the side
"Catch hold of my hand, my fair pretty maid
And then I will make you my bride"

[Verse 10]
"Lie there, lie there you false-hearted man
Lie there instead of me
For six pretty maidens have you drowned here
And the seventh hath drowned thee"

[Verse 11]
And she's mounted on her milk white steed
She's led the dapple grey
She's rode till she's come to her father's house
Three hours before it was day

[Verse 12]
The parrot hung in the window so high
And he's heard what the lady did say
"Oh, what ails thee, what ails thee my pretty lady?
You've tarried so long away"

[Verse 13]
And the King he was in his bedroom so high
And he's heard what the parrot did say
"What ails thee, what ails thee, my pretty Polly?
You're prattling so long before day"

[Verse 14]
"It's no laughing matter," the parrot did say
"So loudly I called to thee
For the cat she has got in the window so high
And I fear she's the death of me"

[Verse 15]
"Well turned, well turned, my pretty Polly
Well turned, well turned for me
Your cage will be made of the glittering gold
And the door of the best ivory"