A Tragical Ballad on the Unfortunate LOVE
OF
Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor,
TOGETHER
With the DOWNFAL of the Brown GIRL.
To a pleasant Tune, call'd, Lord Thomas, etc.
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LOrd Thomas he was a bold Forrester,
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and a Chaser of the King's deer;
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Fair Ellinor 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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Whether I shall marry with fair Ellinor,
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and let the Brown Girl alone?
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The Brown Girl she has got houses and lands,
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and fair Ellinor she as 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 did more beside,
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Lord Thomas he went to fair Ellinor,
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that should have been his Bride.
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But when he came to fair Ellinors bower,
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he knocked there at the ring;
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But who was so ready as fair Ellinor,
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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 Brid[e] my own self,
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and you 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 Thomass wedding,
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or whether I shall tarry at home?
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There's many that are your Friends, Daughter,
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and many that are your Foe,
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Therefore I charge you on my blessing,
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to Lord Thomass 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 my life, betide my death,
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to Lord Thomass 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 rid thorough every Town,
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they took her to have been a Queen.
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But when she came to Lord Thomass gate,
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she knocked there at the ring;
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But who was so ready as Lord Thomas,
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to let fair Ellinor in.
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Is this your Bride? fair Ellin she said,
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methinks she looks wondrous brown:
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Thou might'st have had as fair a Woman
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as ever trod on the ground.
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Despise her not, fair Ellin, 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 Bride had a little pen-knife,
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that was both long and sharp,
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And betwixt the short ribs and the long,
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prick'd fair Ellinor to the heart.
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Oh! Christ now save thee, Lord Thomas, he said
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methinks thou look'st wondous wan:
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Thou us'd for to look with as fresh a colour,
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as ever the sun shin'd on.
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Oh art thou blind! Lord Thomas, she said,
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or canst thou n[o]t very well see?
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Oh! dost thou not see my own heart's blood
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runs trickling down my knee?
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Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side,
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as he walk'd about the hall,
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He cut off his Bride's head from her shoulders
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and he threw 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 was never three Lovers that ever met
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more sooner they did depart.
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