I
A’ the boys of merry Lincoln
Were playing at the ba’[497],
And by it came him sweet Sir Hugh,
And he play’d o’er them a’.
II
He kick’d the ba’ with his right foot,
And catch’d it wi’ his knee,
And thro’-and-thro’ the Jew’s window
He gar’d the bonny ba’ flee.
III
He’s doen[498] him to the Jew’s castell,
And walk’d it round about;
And there he saw the Jew’s daughter
At the window looking out.
IV
‘Throw down the ba’, ye Jew’s daughter,
Throw down the ba’ to me!’—
‘Never a bit,’ says the Jew’s daughter,
‘Till up to me come ye.’—
V
‘How will I come up? How can I come up?
How can I come up to thee?
I winna come up, I darena come up,
Without my play-feres[499] three.’