A Tragical BALLAD,
Of the Unfortunate LOVE of
Lord THOMAS and Fair ELEANOR.
Together with
The DOWNFALL of the BROWN GIRL.
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LORD Thonas he was a bold Forrester,
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And a Chaser of the King's Deer:
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Fair Eleanor was a fine Woman,
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And Lord Thomas he lov'd her dear.
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Come riddle my Riddle, dear Mother, he said,
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And riddle us both as one,
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Whither I shall marry with fair Eleanor,
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And let the Brown Girl alone?
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The Brown Girl she has got Houses and Land,
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And Fair Eleanor she has got none:
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Therefore I charge you, on my Blessing,
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Bring me the Brown Girl home.
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And as it befel on a high Holiday,
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As many more do beside,
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Lord Thomas he went to Fair Eleanor,
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That should have been his Bride.
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But when he came to Fair Eleanor's Bower,
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He knocked then at the Ring.
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Then who was so ready as Fair Eleanor
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For to let Lord Thomas in.
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What News, what News, Lord Thomas, she said?
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What News hast thou brought unto me?
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I am come to bid thee to my Wedding.
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And that is bad News for thee.
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O God forbid! Lord Thomas, she said,
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That such a Thing should be done:
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I thought to have been thy Bride myself,
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And thou to have been the Bridegroom.
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Come riddle my Riddle, dear Mother, she said,
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And riddle it all in one:
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Whether I shall go to Lord Thomas's Wedding?
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Or whether I shall tarry at home.
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There's many are our Friends, Daughter,
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And many that are our Foes:
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Therefore I charge you on my Blessing,
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To Lord Thomas's Wedding don't go.
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There's many that are my Friends, Mother,
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If a Thousand more were my Foe.
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Betide me Life, betide me Death,
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To Lord Thomas's Wedding I'll go.
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She cloathed herself in gallant Attire,
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And her merry Men all in Green;
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And as they rode thro' every Place,
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They took her to be some Queen.
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But when she came to Lord Thomas's Gate,
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She knocked there at the Ring.
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And who was so ready as Lord Thomas,
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For to let Fair Eleanor in.
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Is this your Bride? Fair Eleanor said,
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Methinks she looks wonderful Brown;
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Thou might'st have had as fair a woman
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As ever trod upon the Ground.
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Despise her not, Lord Thomas he said.
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Despise her not unto me;
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For better I love thy little Finger,
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Than all her whole Body.
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This Brown Girl had a little Pen-Knife,
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Which was both long and sharp;
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And betwixt the short Ribs and the long,
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She prick'd fair Eleanor to the Heart.
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Oh Christ now save me! Lord Thomas he said,
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Methink's thou look'st wondrous wan,
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Thou used'st to look with as fresh a Colour
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As ever the Sun shined on.
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Oh! art thou blind, Lord Thomas, she said?
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Or canst thou not very well see?
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Oh! dost thou not see my dear Heart's Blood
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Run trikling down my Knee.
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Lord Thomas he had a Sword by his Side,
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As he walked about the Hall;
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He cut off his Bride's Head from her Shoulders,
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And he flung it against the Wall.
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He set the Hilt against the Ground,
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And the Point against his Heart.
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There never were three Lovers sure,
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That sooner did depart.
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