Lord Bateman

Lord Bateman was a noble lord
A noble lord of high degree
He put himself on board a ship
Some foreign country he would go see
He sailed East and he sailed West
Sailed in to proud Turkey
But he was taken and put in prison
Until his life grew quite weary
In their prisons there grew a tree
Grew it stout and grew it strong
And he was chained up all about the middle
Until his life it was almost gone
The turnkey had one only daughter
A fairer a lady you ne’er did see
She shed her tear and she set her mind
She swore Lord Bateman she would go see

“Do you have land and do you have living
Does Northumberland belong to thee?
What would you give to a brave young lady
If out of prison she set you free?”
“I have land, land and I have living
Half Northumberland belongs to me
I'd give it all to a brave young lady
If out of prison she would set me”
She stole the key from her father’s pillow
Poured Lord Bateman her father’s wine
Every health they drank together
“Oh I wish Lord Bateman you were mine”
She's took him down to her father's harbour
Found for him the ship of fame
“Farewell, farewell, farewell Lord Bateman
I'm sure I'll never see your face again”

Seven long years were long and past
From her heart she had not been free
She packed up all of her finest clothing
Swore Lord Bateman she would go see
When she came to London city
Cried Lord Bateman through the town
Every stranger that did pass by her
Led her on to Northumberland
“Is this called Lord Bateman's castle?
Is his lordship here within?”
“Oh yes, oh yes,” cried the proud young porter
Tell what news I may give to him”
“Go tell him send me a cut of bread
Tell him send me a cup of wine
And to remember the brave young lady
Who did release him when he was confined”

Away, away tore the proud young porter
Away, away, and away went he
He cried, “Lord Bateman, my lord and master
I'm sure Sophia has crossed the sea”
“She tells you send her a cut of bread
Tells you send her a cup of wine
And to remember the brave young lady
Who did release you when you were confined”
Lord Bateman then in silence fell
From his heart he had not been free
“I'll give you all my father's stable
If my Sophia has crossed the sea”
Bateman then too his true love flew
From his heart he had not been free
And never was there a love so constant
As brave Sophia who crossed the sea

Trad, arr T Ashworth