Rhymes of Northern Bards / Being a Curious Collection of Old and New Songs and Poems, Peculiar to the Counties of Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, and Durham

by Unknown

Methinks I see an English host

A-coming branken us upon.

If this be true, my little boy,

An it be troth that thou tells me,

The brawest bower in Otterbourne,

This day shall be thy morning fee.

But if it be false, my little boy,

And but a lie that thou tells me;

On the highest tree that’s in Otterbourne,

With my awin hands I’ll hing thee hie.