Now seven long years are gone and are past,
The old woman went to her long home at last;
The old woman died, and Sir Arthur was free,
And he soon came a-courting to charming Mollee.
Now charming Mollee in her carriage doth ride,
With her hounds at her feet, and her lord by her side:
Now all ye fair maids take a warning by me,
And ne’er love a married man till his wife dee.
THERE WAS AN OLD MAN CAME OVER THE LEA.
[This is a version of the Baillie of Berwick, which will be found in the Local Historian’s Table-Book. It was originally obtained from Morpeth, and communicated by W. H. Longstaffe, Esq., of Darlington, who says, ‘in many respects the Baillie of Berwick is the better edition—still mine may furnish an extra stanza or two, and the ha! ha! ha! is better than heigho, though the notes suit either version.’]
There was an old man came over the Lea,
Ha-ha-ha-ha! but I won’t have him. [237]
He came over the Lea,
A-courting to me,
With his grey beard newly-shaven.
My mother she bid me open the door:
I opened the door,
And he fell on the floor.
My mother she bid me set him a stool:
I set him a stool,
And he looked like a fool.
My mother she bid me give him some beer:
I gave him some beer,
And he thought it good cheer.
My mother she bid me cut him some bread:
I cut him some bread,
And I threw’t at his head.
My mother she bid me light him to bed:
I lit him to bed,
And wished he were dead.