X:1
T:The Fair Flower of Northumberland
B:Bruce and Stokoe,  Northumbrian Minstrelsy, Newcastle-Upon Tyne, 188(reissued Llanerch)
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w:It was a knight_ in Scot-*land born,
d e g B2 A | B d d d2
w:Fol-low, my love, come o-ver the strand,
 A |(de) f B B A |A B d e2
w:Was ta-*ken pris'-ner and left_ for-lorn,
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w:Ev-en by the good Earl of Nor-thum-ber-land.
W:It was a knight, in Scotland born,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Was taken prisoner and left forlorn,
W:Even by the good Earl of Northumberland.
W:
W:Then was he cast in prison strong
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Where he could not walk nor lay along,
W:Even by the good Earl of Northumberland.
W:
W:And as in sorrow thus he lay,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:The Earl's sweet daughter passed that way,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:And passing by, like an angel bright,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:The prisoner had of her a sight,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:And aloud to her this knight did cry,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:The salt tears standing in her eye,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland,
W:
W:"Fair lady," he said, "take pity on me,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And let me not in prison dee,
W:And you the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:"Fair sir, how should I take pity on thee,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Thou being a foe to our countree,
W:And I the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:"Fair lady, I am no foe," he said,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:"Through thy sweet love here was I stayed,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:"Why should'st thou come here for love of me,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Having wife and bairns in thy own countree,
W:And I the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"I swear by the blessed Trinity,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:That neither wife nor bairns have I,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"If courteously them wilt set me free,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:I vow that I will marry thee,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"Thou shall be lady of castles and towers,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And sit like a queen in princely bowers,
W:Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:Then parted hence this lady gay,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And got her father's ring away,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:Likewise much gold got she by sleight,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And all to help this forlorn knight,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:Two gallant steeds, both good and able,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:She likewise took out of the stable,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:And to the gaoler she sent the ring,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Who the knight from prison forth did bring,
W:To meet the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:This token set the prisoner free,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Who straight went to this fair lady,
W:And she, the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:A gallant steed he did bestride,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And with the lady away did ride,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:They rode till they came to a water clear;
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:"Good sir, how shall I follow you here,
W:And I the fair flower of Northumberland?
W:
W:"The water is rough and wonderful deep,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And on my saddle I shall not keep,
W:And I the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:"Fear not the ford, fair lady!" quoth he,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:"For long I cannot stay for thee,
W:Even thou the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:The lady prickt her gallant steed,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And over the water swam with speed,
W:Even she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:From top to toe all wet was she,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:"This have I done for love of thee,
W:Even I the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:Thus rode she all one winter's night,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Till Edinborough they saw in sight.
W:The fairest town in all Scotland.
W:
W:"Now choose," quoth he, "thou wanton flower;
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:If thou wilt be my paramour,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"For I have a wife and children five,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:In Edinborough they be alive,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"And if thou wilt not give thy hand,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Then got thee home to fair England,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"This favour thou shalt have to boot,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:I'll have thy horse; go thou on foot,
W:And thou the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:"O false and faithless knight," quoth she:
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:"And canst thou deal so bad with me,
W:And I the fair flower of Northumberland?"
W:
W:"Dishonour not a lady's name,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:But draw thy sword and end my shame,
W:And I the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:He took her from her stately steed,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And left her there in extreme need,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:Then sat she down full heavily,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:At length two knights came riding by,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:Two gallant knights of fair England,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And there they found her on the strand
W:Even she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:She fell down humbly on her knee,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:Crying, "Courteous knights take pity on me,
W:Even I the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:"I have offended my father dear,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:For a false knight that brought me here,
W:Even I the fair flower of Northumberland."
W:
W:They took her up beside them then,
W:Follow, my love, come over the strand,
W:And brought her to her father again,
W:And she the fair flower of Northumberland.
W:
W:Now all you fair maids be warned by me,
W:Follow no Scotchman over the strand;
W:Scots never were true, nor ever will be,
W:To lord nor lady nor fair England.
W: