James Hately
JAMES HATLEY—B
[_]
“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No
39, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, p. 18, “as sung by Chirsty
Robertson, Dunse.” The same, transcribed by Thomas
Wilkie, “Scotch Ballads,” etc., No 79. Abbotsford.
1
It happened once upon a time,
When the king he was from home,
False Fennick he has stolen his jewels,
And laid the blame on James Hately.
2
The day was sett [OMITTED]
And the wind blew shill oer the lea;
There was not one in all the court
To speak a word for James Hately.
3
James is to the prince's chamber gone,
And he's bowd low down on his knee:
‘What will ye do for me, my little pretty prince?
O what will ye do for your page, James Hately?’
4
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
‘And I will away to my father, the king,
And see if your life can savëd be.’
5
The prince he's to his father gone,
And he's bowed low down on his knee:
‘What will ye do for me, my father?
O what will ye do for my page, James Hately?’
6
‘James Hately has my jewels stolen,
A Norland lord hath told it to me;
James Hately has my jewels stolen,
And oer the barras he maun die.’
7
The prince he drew his little brown sword—
It was made of the metal so free—
And he swore he would fight them man by man
That would lay the blame on James Hately.
8
Up then spoke the false Fennick,
And an ill-spoken man was he;
‘James Hately has the king's jewels stolen,
[OMITTED]’
9
The prince he drew his little brown sword—
It was made of the metal so free—
And he's thrust it in false Fennick's side,
And given him death-wounds two or three.
10
‘O hold your hand, my little pretty prince,
And let my breath go out and in,
For spilling of my noble blood
And shaming of my noble kin.
11
‘O hold your hand, my little pretty prince,
And let my breath go out and in,
And there's the key of my coffer,
And you'll find the king's jewels lying therein.’
12
‘If this be true,’ the king he said,
‘If this be true ye tell to me,
I will take your lands, false Fennick,’ he said,
‘And give them all to James Hately.’
