An outlandish knight came from the North lands,
And he came a wooing to me
He promised he'd take me unto the North lands
And there he would marry me.
2. Come fetch me some of your father's gold
And some of your mother's fee;
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where there stand thirty and three.
3. She fetched him some of her father's gold,
And some of the mother's fee;
And two of the best nags out of the stable,
Where they stood thirty and three.
4. She mounted on the milk white steed
And he on the dapple grey
They rode till they came unto the sea side
Three hours before it was day.
5. Light off, light off thy milk-white steed,
And deliver it unto me;
Six pretty maidens have I drowned here,
And thou the seventh shall be.
6. Pull off, pull off thy silken gown,
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks it looks too rich and too gay
To rot in the salt sea.
7. Pull off, pull off thy silken stays,
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks they are too fine and gay
To rot in the salt sea.
8. Pull off, pull off thy Holland smock,
And deliver it unto me;
Methinks it looks too rich and gay,
To rot in the salt sea.
9. "If I must pull off my Holland smock,
Pray turn thy back unto me,
For it is not fitting that such a ruffian
A naked woman should see".
| 10. He turned his back towards her,
And viewed the leaves so green;
She catched him 'round the middle so small,
And tumbled him into the stream.
11. WHe dropped high, and he dropped low,
Until he came to the side,
Fetch hold of my hand, my pretty maiden,
And I will make you my bride.
12. Lie there, lie there you false-hearted man,
Lie there instead of me;
Six pretty maidens have you drowned here,
And the seventh hath drowned thee.
13. She mounted on the milk white steed,
And led the dapple grey,
She rode till she came to her own father's hall,
Three hours before it was day.
14. The parrot being in the window so high,
Hearing the lady did say,
I'm afraid that some ruffian has led you astray,
That you have tarried so long away.
15. Don't prittle, don't prattle, my pretty parrot,
Nor tell no tales of me;
Thy cage shall be made of the finest beaten gold,
Although it is made of a tree.
16. The king being in the chamber so high,
And hearing the parrot did say,
What ails you, what ails you, my pretty parrot,
That you prattle so long before day?
17. It's no laughing matter, the parrot did say,
But so loudly I call unto thee;
For the cats have got into the window so high,
And I feared they will have me.
18. Well turned, well turned, my pretty parrot,
Well turned, well turned for me;
Thy cage shall be made of the finest beaten gold,
And the door of the best ivory.
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