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The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

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THE FAIR FLOWER OF NORTHUMBERLAND—F

[_]

Gibb MS., No 8: from Jeannie Stirling, a young girl, as learned from her grandmother.

[OMITTED]

1

She stole the keys from her father's bed-head,
O but her love it was easy won!
She opened the gates, she opened them wide,
She let him out o the prison strong.

2

She went into her father's stable,
O but her love it was easy won!
She stole a steed that was both stout and strong,
To carry him hame frae Northumberland.
[OMITTED]

3

‘I'll be cook in your kitchen,
Noo sure my love has been easy won!
I'll serve your own lady with hat an with hand,
For I daurna gae back to Northumberland.’

4

‘I need nae cook in my kitchin,
O but your love it was easy won!
Ye'll serve not my lady with hat or with hand,
For ye maun gae back to Northumberland.’

5

When she gaed hame, how her father did ban!
‘O but your love it was easy won!
A fair Scottish girl, not sixteen years old,
Was once the fair flower o Northumberland!’