Lord Bateman was a noble lord,
He was a lord of high degree;
He shipped himself on board of a vessel,
Some foreign countries for to go see.

Oh he sailed east and he sailed west,
Until he came to Santa Fe, [Turkey]
Where he was taken and put in irons,
Until his life was quite weary.

In this prison yard there grew a tree,
And there it grew both stout and strong;
And he was chained around the middle,
Until his life was nearly gone.

Now this Turk he had one only daughter,
As fair as eyes of men could see;
She stole the keys of her father's prison,
And she said Lord Bateman she would go see.

"Oh is it that true that you're Lord Bateman,
And does Northumberland belong to thee?
And what would you give to the fair young damsel,
Who out of prison would set you free?"

"Oh yes it is true that I'm Lord Bateman,
And that Northumberland belongs to me;
And I give it all to the fair young damsel,
Who out of prison would set me free."

She went unto her father's cellar,
And she brought unto him the very best wine;
And every health he drank unto her,
Said Lord Bateman, "I wish you were mine."

They made a vow between them two,
For seven long years they would keep it strong;
That he would marry no other woman,
Or she to no other man belong.

She took him to her father's harbour,
And she put him on board of a ship of Spain;
Said: "Farewell, farewell to thee Lord Bateman,
I'm afraid I'll never see thee again."

Now when seven long years had passed and gone,
And fourteen days, well known to me;
She put on all of her gay gold clothing,
And she said Lord Bateman she would go see.

And when she reached Lord Bateman's castle,
'Twas boldly then she rang the bell;
"Who's there who's there?"
cried the proud young porter,
"Who's there who's there?—come quickly tell."

"Oh is this Lord Bateman's castle?
And is his Lordship here within?"
"Oh, yes, oh, yes," cried the proud young porter,
"He's just now bringing his young bride in."

"Go bid him to send me a piece of cake,
And a bottle of his choicest wine;
And tell him not to forget that fair young damsel,
Who did release him when close confined."

Away, away, sped the proud young porter,
And away, and away, and away sped he;
Until he reached Lord Bateman's presence,
And down he fell on his bended knee.

"What news, what news my proud young porter,
What news, what news do you bring to me?"
"Oh there is one of the fairest damsels
That ever eyes of man did see.

"She has diamond rings upon every finger,
And upon one finger she has got three;
And she has more gold around her person,
Than would buy Northumberland from thee.

"She bids you send her a piece of cake,
And a bottle of your choicest wine,
And not to forget the fair young damsel,
Who did release you when close confined.

Lord Bateman then flew into a passion,
And he broke his sword into fragments three;
Saying, "I will wed no other damsel,
Since my Sophia has come to me."

'Twas up and spake the young bride's mother,
She was never known to speak so free:
Saying, "You'll not forget my only daughter,
Now your Sophia has come to thee."

"It is true that I married your only daughter,
Yet she's none the better or the worse for me;
She came to me on a horse and saddle,
I'll send her back in a chaise and three."

Lord Bateman fixed him another wedding,
And his brave heart was full of glee;
And he sailed no more into foreign countries,
Since his Sophia crossed the sea.

####.... Author unknown. Variant of Young Belchan [Child ballad #53] The English And Scottish Popular Ballads (1882-1898) edited by Francis James Child (Dover, 1965). Also a variant of a 19th-century British broadside ballad, Lord Bateman, published by W Armstrong (Liverpool) sometime between 1820 and 1824, and archived at the Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, shelfmark: Harding B 28(174) ....####

"I'll give all my father's wealth and riches
If fair Sophia has crossed the sea."

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