She fell down humbly on her knee,125
Follow, my love, come over the strand,
Saying, "Courteous 'knights,' take pity on me,
And I the fair Flower of Northumberland.
"I have offended my father dear,
Follow, my love, come over the strand,130
And by a false knight, who brought me here
From the good Earl of Northumberland."
They took her up behind them then
Follow, my love, come over the strand,
And brought her to her father again,135
And he the good Earl of Northumberland.
All you fair maidens be warned by me,
Follow, my love, come over the strand,
Scots never were true, nor never will be,
To lord, nor lady, nor fair England.140
GENTLE HERDSMAN, TELL TO ME.
From Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, ii. 82.
"The scene of this beautiful old ballad is laid near Walsingham, in Norfolk, where was anciently an image of the Virgin Mary, famous over all Europe for the numerous pilgrimages made to it, and the great riches it possessed. Erasmus has given a very exact and humorous description of the superstitions practised there in his time. See his account of the Virgo Parathalassia, in his colloquy entitled, Peregrinatio Religionis Ergo. He tells us, the rich offerings in silver, gold, and precious stones that were there shown him were incredible, there being scarce a person of any note in England, but what some time or other paid a visit or sent a present to Our Lady of Walsingham. At the dissolution of the monasteries in 1538, this splendid image, with another from Ipswich, was carried to Chelsea, and there burnt in the presence of commissioners; who, we trust, did not burn the jewels and the finery.