It was a knight in Scotland born, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- Was taken prisoner and left forlorn, Even by the good Earl of Northumberland. II Then was he cast in prison strong, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- Where he could not walk nor lie along, Even by the good Earl of Northumberland. III And as in sorrow thus he lay, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- The Earl’s sweet daughter walk’d that way, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. IV And loud to her this knight did crie, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- The salt teares standing in his eye, And she the faire flower of Northumberland. V ‘Faire lady,’ he said, ‘take pity on me, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- And let me not in prison dee[452], And you the faire flower of Northumberland.’-- VI ‘Faire sir, how should I take pity on thee? _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- Thou being a foe to our countrie, And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’ VII ‘Faire lady, I am no foe,’ he said, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- ‘Through thy sweet love here was I stay’d, For thee, the faire flower of Northumberland.’-- VIII ‘Why shouldst thou come here for love of me, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- Having wife and children in thy countrie? --And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’-- IX ‘I swear by the blessèd Trinitie, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- I have no wife nor children, I, But I’ll make you my ladye in faire Scotland. X ‘I swear by Him that was crown’d with thorn, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- That I never had wife since the day I was born, But I live a free lord in faire Scotland.’-- XI She stole from her father’s pillow the key, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- And soon out of prison she’s set him free To wend with her into faire Scotland. XII Likewise much gold she got by sleight, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- And all to help this forlorne knight To wend from her father to faire Scotland. XIII She’s led him down to her father’s stable, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- And she’s stolen two steeds both wight[453] and able, To carry them on to faire Scotland. XIV They rode till they came to a water clear, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- ‘Good Sir, how should I follow you here, And I the faire flower of Northumberland? XV ‘The water is rough and wonderful steepe, _Follow, my love, come over the strand_-- And on my saddle I shall not keepe, And I the faire flower of Northumberland.’-- XVI