THE MAID AND THE PALMER
1.
The maid shee went to the well to washe,
Lillumwham, Lillumwham
The mayd shee went to the well to washe,
Whatt then, what then?
The maid shee went to the well to washe,
Dew ffell of her lilly white fleshe.
Grandam boy, grandam boy, heye!
Leg a derry Leg a merry mett mer whoope whir
Drivance, Larumben, Grandam boy, heye!
2.
2.1,2 ‘White’: so in the MS.; perhaps should be ‘while’ in each case. ‘washed’ is washee in the MS.
White shee washed & white shee ronge,
White shee hang’d o’ the hazle wand.
3.
There came an old palmer by the way,
Sais, ‘God speed thee well, thou faire maid.
4.
‘Hast either cupp or can,
To give an old palmer drinke therin?’
5.
Sayes, ‘I have neither cupp nor cann,
To give an old palmer drinke therin.’
6.
‘But an thy lemman came from Roome,
Cuppes & cannes thou wold ffind soone.’
7.
Shee sware by God & good St. John,
Lemman had shee never none.
8.
Saies, ‘Peace, ffaire mayd, you are fforsworne;
Nine children you have borne.
9.
9.1 ‘Three,’ Percy’s emendation of They in the MS.
9.2 ‘leade,’ vat.
‘Three were buryed under thy bed’s head;
Other three under thy brewing leade;
10.
10.1 ‘yon’: MS. won.
10.2 ‘&’ for and =
‘Other three on yon play greene;
Count, maide, & there be nine.’
11.
‘But I hope you are the good old man
That all the world beleeves upon.
12.
‘Old palmer, I pray thee,
Pennaunce that thou wilt give to me.’
13.
‘Penance I can give thee none,
But seven yeere to be a stepping-stone.
14.
‘Other seaven a clapper in a bell;
Other seven to lead an ape in hell.
15.
‘When thou hast thy penance done,
Then thou’st come a mayden home.’