Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of high degree.
And he shipped himself on board a sailing ship,
Some foreign lands he would go and see.

He sailed East, and he sailed West,
Until he came to proud Turkey.
And he was taken and put in prison,
Until his life was quite weary.

The Turkman had one only daughter,
The fairest lady me eyes did see.
And she's stolen the keys of her father's prison,
And said Lord Bateman she would set free.

Have you got houses, have you got lands?
And does Northumb'rland belong to thee?
And what would you give to the fair young lady,
As would release you and set you free?

Oh I've got houses and I've got lands,
And half Northumb'rland belongs to me;
And I'd grant it all to the fair young lady,
As would release me and lett me free.

She's taken him to her father's hall
And given to him a glass of wine.
And ev'ry health that she drank unto him:
Was I wish, Lord Bateman, that you were mine.

For seven long years I'll make a vow,
And seven long years I'll keep it strong;
If you will wed with no other lady,
Then I will wed no other man.

She's taken him to her father's harbour,
And given to him a ship of fame:
Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman,
I fear I never shall see you again.

Seven long years were up and past
These seven long years as I tell to thee
And she's packed up all of her gay clothing,
And said Lord Bateman she would go see.

When she's come to Bateman's castle,
So boldly then she did ring the bell.
Who's there? Who's there?
Cried the proud young porter,
Who is there, come to me tell.

Isn't this here Lord Bateman's castle?
And is Lord Bateman here within?
O yes! O yes! cried the proud young porter
He's just now taken his new bride in.

Ttell him to bring me a slice off bread,
And bring a bottle of the best of wine;
And not to forget the fair young lady
That did release him when close confined.

Away and away went the young proud young porter,
Away nad away and away went he,
And when he's come to Bateman's chamber,
Down he fell upon bended knees.

What news, what news, says Lord Bateman
What news have you now brought to me?
There is the fairest of fine young ladies
That ever my own two eyes did see.

She bids you bring her a slice of bread,
And bring a bottle of the very best wine;
And not to forget the fair young lady,
That did release you when close confined.

Bateman arose all in a passion;
he's broken his sword in splinters three;
O I'd have give up all of my father's riches
If my Sophia have a-crossed the sea.

O then up spoke the young bride's mother,
Who was never heard to speak so free:
You'll not forget my only daughter
If but Sophia has come from sea.

Then up spoke the young bride's mother
Who never was heard to speak so free
What will you give to me only daughter
If your Sophia's come from sea.

I own I wed your only daughter;
She's neither the better nor worse for me.
She came to me on a horse and saddle;
She'll go home in a carriage and three.

Bateman's prepared another wedding,
With all their hearts so full of glee.
O never more will I range the ocean
Now my Sophia's come from sea.

LORD BATEMAN

Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
A noble lord of high degree.
And he shipped himself on board a sailing ship,
Some foreign lands he would go and see.

He sailed East, and he sailed West,
Until he came to proud Turkey.
And he was taken and put in prison,
Until his life was quite weary.

And in this pris'n there grew a tree,
It grew so stoutstout, it grew so strong,
He was chained up all by the middle,
Until his life was almost gone.

The Turk he had one only daughter,
The fairest creature that ever you'd see.
She stole the keys of her father's prison,
And swore Lord Bateman she would set free.

O, have you lands, O, have you livings?
And does Northumb'rland belong to thee?
What will you give a fair young lady,
If out of prison she'll set you free?

Yes, I've got lands and I've got livings,
And half Northumb'rland belongs to me;
I'll give it all to a fair young lady,
If out of prison she'll set me free.

She took him to her father's cellar
And gave to him the best of wine.
And ev'ry health that she drank unto him:
I wish, Lord Bateman, that you were mine.

For seven long years we'll make a vow,
For sev'n long years we'll keep it strong;
If you will wed with no other woman,
Then I will wed no other man.

She took him to her father's harbour,
She gave to him a ship of fame:
Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman,
I fear I never shall see you again.

Now seven long years are gone and past
And fourteen days, well known to me;
She packed up all her gay clothing,
And swore Lord Bateman she'd go and see.

And when she came to Lord Bateman's castle,
How boldly she did ring the bell.
Who's there? Who's there?
Cried the young proud porter,
Who's there, who's there, come quickly tell.

O, is this called Lord Bateman's castle?
And is his lordship here within?
O yes! O yes! cried the young proud porter
He has just now taken his young bride in.

You tell him to send me a slice off bread,
And a bottle of the best of wine;
And not forgetting that fair young lady
That did release him when close confined.

Away, away went the young proud porter,
Away, away, away went he,
Until he came to Lord Bateman's chamber,
Down on his bended knees fell he.

What news, what news, my young proud porter?
What news, what news hast thou brought to me?
There is the fairest of all young ladies
That ever my two eyes did see.

She has got rings round every finger;
Round one of them she has got three.
She has gold enough all round her middle
To buy Northumb'rland that belongs to thee.

She tells you to send her a slice of bread,
And a bottle of the best of wine;
And not forgetting that fair young lady,
That did release you when close confined.

Lord Bateman then in a passion flew;
he broke his sword in splinters three;
Half will I give of my father's portion
If but Sophia have a-crossed the sea.

O then up spoke the young bride's mother,
Who was never heard to speak so free:
You'll not forget my only daughter
If but Sophia have a-crossed the sea.

I own I made a bride of your daughter;
She's neither the better nor worse for me.
She came to me on a horse and saddle;
She may go back ina coach and three.

Lord Bateman prepared another marriage,
And both their hearts were full of glee.
I will range no more to a foreign country
Now since Sophia have a-crossed the sea.

LORD BATEMAN  from Digitrad

Lord Bateman was a noble lord
He thought himself of high degree
He could not rest, nor be contented
Until he'd sailed the old salt sea

He sailed to the east, he sailed to the westward
He sailed all over to Turkey's shore
And there the Turks threw him into prison
No hope of getting free any more

The Turk he had an only daughter
The fairest one eye ever did see
She stole the key to her father's prison
And there she set Lord Bateman free

Then she led him down to the lowest cellar
And gave him a drink of the strongest wine
Each moment seemed to last an hour
"Oh, Lord Bateman, if you were mine

"It's seven long years, let's make a bargain
It's seven long years, give me your hand
That you will wed no other maiden
And I will wed no other man"

Then she led him down to her father's harbor
And gave to him a ship so fine
"Farewell to you, farewell Lord Bateman
Farewell until we meet again"

When seven long years had gone and past over
It seemed to her like ninety-nine
She bundled up her fine gold clothing
Declared Lord Bateman, she'd go find

She sailed to the east, she sailed to the westward
She sailed till she came to England's shore
And when she came to Lord Bateman's castle
Straightway she knocked upon the door

"Oh now is this Lord Bateman's castle?
And is his lordship here within?"
"Oh yes, oh yes," cried the proud young porter
"He's just now taken his new bride in"

"Tell him to send me a slice of cake
And a bottle of the best of wine
And not to forget the fair young lady
Who did release him when close confined"

"What news, what news, my proud young porter
What news, whet news do you bring to me?"
"There is the fairest of young ladies
The fairest one eye ever did see

"She's got gold rings on every finger
And on her middle finger three
She's got as much gold around her middle
Would buy Northumberland from thee"

Lord Bateman rose from where he was sitting
His face it looked as white as snow
"Oh if this is the Turkish lady
I'm bound with her, love, for to go"

And then upspoke the young bride's mother
She'd never been known to speak so free
"Then what's to become of my young daughter
Who's just been made a bride to thee?"

Lord Bateman spoke to the young bride's mother
"She's none the better nor worse by me
She came here on a horse and saddle
She shall go home in a coach with thee

"Let another wedding be made ready
Another wedding there must be
I must go marry the Turkish lady
Who crossed the raging seas for me"

@love @English @jail @wedding
Child #53
recorded by the Golden Ring
tune "LORDBAT1" is from Sharp, English Folksongs.
filename LORDBATE
SF

THE TURKISH LADY  from Digitrad

You young and bold I pray draw near
And a pretty story you shall hear
It was of a Turkish young lady brave
Who fell in love with an English slave

He was a merchant's young son of late
As he was sailing up the Straight
It was by kind fortune he came to be
A slave unto some rich lady

She bound him in chains and fetters strong
She whipped and scourged him all along
It's no tongue can tell that I am very sure
The hardships that we poor slaves endure

She does dress herself all in rich array
And walked forth to view her flowers one day
Hearing a moan that the young man made
It's to him she goes and there she said

O what country man what country I pray are you
An English man madam it is true
Ah I wish you was some Turk said she
I'd free you from your slavery

I'd free you from your slavery work
If that you would but turn Turk
And I would yield myself your lawful wife
For I do love you as my life

O madam O madam then said he
That I'm sure can never be
I'd sooner be burnt unto a stake
Before my God I will forsake

She straight unto her chamber went
And spent that night in discontent
Young Cubed with his piercing dart
Soon gained this fair young lady's heart

Now to all her friends she bid adieu
For she loves an Englishman 'tis true
O now she is landed on the English shore
With silver and gold in great store

And now she is turned to an English dame
And married unto one of her slaves.

From Songs the Whalemen Sang, Huntington
Collected from the journal of Two Brothers, 1768
LORDBATE
Child #53
Laws O26
@slave @courting @marriage
filename TURKLADY
RG