The Keeper & the Lady
All for bold keeper in the search of his deers,
For the likes of bold keeper you seldom shall hear;
He courted a nobleman’s daughter so fair,
And you seldom shall hear of such doings. As sung by Danny Brazil, Gloucester 5 January 1966 (Springthyme 66.2.6, 7). In: Shepheard, Peter. Folk Songs and Ballads of the Brazil Family of Gloucester (1967).
All for bold keeper in the search of his deers,
For the likes of bold keeper you seldom shall hear;
He courted a nobleman’s daughter so fair,
And you seldom shall hear of such doings.
“Now then, bold keeper, don’t you fancy me?
I’m a match for some Lord that’s higher than thee;
For your wealth and my wealth they never could agree,
So take that as an answer bold keeper.”
“That answer, fair lady, I never could take,
For the likes of that answer calls my heart to ache;
My life I would rather lay down to a stake, [lay down to a stake: give my life
Before I’d lose the goodwill of that lady.”
“Your life you would rather lay down to a stake,
My parents would say there’s no in to a cloud.” [no in to a cloud: no chance in a lifetime
“A cloud, dearest Polly, I’ll frownd and I’ll stoar, [I’ll frown and I’ll swear
That my father’s a nobleman, gentleman born.”
“If thou art willing, to the church we will ride,
And there we’ll get married brave lady.”
As they was a-riding through meadows so wide,
With their large swords and buckles hung down by their side;
There she met her father with twenty bright men,
And their large glittering swords drawed ready.
“Now then bold keeper, don’t you stand to prattle,
I can see by the way that they means for a battle.”
They cut and they slay on the ground that they stood on,
And the lady held the horse while bold keeper fowght on.
“Now then bold keeper, I pray hold your hand,
You shall have my daughter ten thousand in hand.”
“Oh no, dearest father, that is too small a sum.”
“It’s hold your tongue daughter, this will shall be done;
You shall have your husband, you both shall be as one,
And we’ll die by the hands of bold keeper.” [die by the hands of: bow to the will of
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