The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 53

-Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

IX. There were three lords came out of Spain, They came to court my daughter Jane;

My daughter Jane, she is too young To bear your false and flattering tongue.

So fare you well, so fare you well, I'll go and court some other girl.

Come back, come back, your coat is white, And choose the fairest in your sight.

The fairest one that I can see, Is [ ] come unto me.

-Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

X. Here come three dukes dressed all in green, They come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young To understand your flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, It is for her beauty she must be sold.

Eighteenpence would buy such a wench, As either you or your daughter Jane.[10]

-Middles.e.x (from Mrs. Pocklington-Coltman's maid).

XI. There came a king from Spain, To court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she's yet too young To be deluded by a flattering tongue.

Whether she's old, or whether she's young, It's for her beauty she must come.

Then turn about, her coat is thin, And seek the fairest of your right.

The fairest one that I can see Is fair and lovely Jan-ie.

Then here's my daughter safe and sound, And in her pocket three hundred pound, And on her finger a gay gold ring, She's fit to walk with any king.

-Annaverna, Ravensdale, Co. Louth (Miss R. Stephens).

XII. There came three dukes a-riding, riding, riding; Oh! we be come all out of Spain, All for to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She has not learned her mother-tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, The fate of beauty's to be sold.

Here's my daughter safe and sound, And in her pocket a thousand pound, And on her finger a gay gold ring.

Here's your daughter not safe nor sound, And in her pocket no thousand pound, And on her finger no gay gold ring; Open your door and take her in.

-London (Miss Dendy).

XIII. There came three dukes all out of Spain, All for to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is too young, She has not learned her mother-tongue.

Let her be young, let her be old, The fate of beauty's to be sold.

Walk through the parlour, walk through the hall, And choose the fairest one of all.

The fairest one that I can see Is little --, so come to me. No!

Will you come? No!

Naughty one, naughty one, you won't come out To join us in our dancing!

Will you come? Yes!

Now we've got a pretty fair one To join us in our dancing.

-Colleyhurst, Manchester (Miss Dendy).

XIV. Two poor gentlemen are come out of Spain, Come to court your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, is yet too young To understand your flattering tongue.

Let her be young, or let her be old, She must be sold for Spanish gold.

Turn back, turn back, you haughty knight, And take the fairest in your sight.

This is the fairest I can see, So ( ) must come to me.

-Bexley Heath (Miss Morris).

XV. Here come three lords all dressed in green, All for the sake of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is so young, She doesn't know her mother-tongue.

[Or,

My cake ain't baked, my ban [_qy._ beer or barm] ain't brewed, And yew can't hev my daughter Jane.]

Fie upon you and your daughter Jane; [scornfully,]

Eighteenpence will buy a good wench, As well as you and your daughter Jane.

-Swaffham, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

XVI. Here come three lords all dressed in green, Here come three lords all come from Spain, All for the sake of your daughter Jane.

My daughter Jane, she is so young, She hath no knowledge in her tongue.

-Kent (Miss Fowler).