James Hatley
No: 244; variant: 244B
- IT happened once upon a time,
When the king he was from home,
False Fennick he has stolen his jewels,
And laid the blame on James Hately.
- The day was sett . .
And the wind blew shill oer the lea;
There was not one in all the court
To speak a word for James Hately.
- James is to the prince's chamber gone,
And he's bowd low down on his knee:
'What will ye do for me, my little pretty prince?
O what will ye do for your page, James Hately?'
- . . . .
. . . .
'And I will away to my father, the king,
And see if your life can save:d be.'
- Hte prince he's to his father gone,
And he's bowed low down on his knee:
'What will ye do for me, my father?
O what will ye do for my page, James Hatley?'
- 'James Hately has my jewels stolen,
A Norland lord hath told it to me;
James Hately has my jewels stolen,
And oer the barras he maun die.'
- The prince he drew his little brown sword----
It was made of the metal so free----
And he swore he would fight them man by man
That would lay the blame on James Hately.
- Up then spoke the false Fennick,
And an ill-spoken man was he;
'James Hately has the king's jewels stolen,
. . . . '
- The prince he drew his little brown sword----
It was made of the metal so free----
And he's thrust it in false Fennick's side,
And given him death-wounds two or three.
- 'O hold your hand, my little pretty prince,
And let my breath go out and in,
For spilling of my noble blood
And shaming of my noble kin.
- 'O hold your hand, my little pretty prince,
And let my breath go out and in,
And there's the key of my coffer,
And you'll find the king's jewels lying therein.'
- 'If this be true,' the king he said,
'If this be true ye tell to me,
I will take your lands, false Fennick,' he said,
'And give them all to James Hatley.'