Young Biechan, and Susie Pye/Young Biechan, and Susie Pye
Young Biechan and Susie Pye.
IN London was young Beichan born,
and foreign nations he long'd to see,
He pass'd thro' many kingdom great
till at length he came unto Turkey.
He view'd the fashions of that land'
their way of worship viewed he;
But unto any of their stocks
would not so much an bow the knee.
Which made him to be taken straight,
and brought before their jury,
The savage Moor did peak outright
bid him be us'd most cruely
In every shoulder they put a bore,
and in every bore they put a tree,
They maide him for to trail the wine,
and spices on his fair body.
They put him into a deep dugneon,
where he could neither hear nor see,
For seven years they kept him there,
till he for hunger was like to die.
Stephens there King had a daughter fair,
and they called her Susie Pye;
Who every day as she took the air,
near to the prison passed by.
But it fell out upon a day
she heard onng Beichan for to sing,
And the song it pleased her so well,
no rest she got till she came to him.
My hounds they all go masterless,
my hawks they flee from tree to tree,
My youngest brother will heir my land,
fair England again I'll never see.
But all that night no rest she got,
for thinking on young Beichan's song.
She stole the keys from her dad s head
and to the prison she is gone,
She has opened the prison doer,
I wot she opened two or three,
Before she could come Biechan at,
he was locked up so curiously.
But when Beichan she came before,
he admired much her there to see,
He thought she'd been some pris'ner ta'en,
fair lady I pray of what country?
Have you any lands. Biechan she said,
or have you any buildings free,
That you would give to a lady fair,
that out of prison could set you free.
⟨Near⟩ London town I have a hall,
with other buildings two or three,
⟨I'll⟩ give them to that Lady fair.
that from this dungeon will set me free,
⟨Give⟩ me the truth of your right hand,
The truth of it give unto me,
That for seven year, you'd no lady wed,
unless it be along with me.
⟨I'll⟩ give the truth of my right hand,
the truth of it I will freely gi'e,
For seven years I'll stay unwed,
for the kindness you doth shew to me.
She's taen him from the dungeon deep,
and set him in a room so free,
She gave him the red wine to drink,
His meat was the spice cake so free.
She kept him safe in her chamber,
till it fell out upon a day,
An English merchant there did come,
with whom she sent young Biechan awa
She broke a ring from her finger.
one half to Biechan gave speedily,
To keep in remembrance of that love,
that lady bore that set him free,
But when he arriv'd in London town,
his friends they all came him to see,
And would needs bave him chuse a wife
among the jolly company
O no, my friends, young Biechan said,
that would do me much injury,
Till seven years are almost gone.
I'll marry none in this country.
When seven years were almost gone,
this lady began for to think long,
She thought she heard a voice that said
young Biechan's broke his vows, mad
She packed up her gay clothing,
with rich jewels many a one
She sat her foot into a ship,
and away she's sail'd to see Biechan.
She ⟨sailed⟩ east she sailed west,
till to fair England's shore she came
Where a bonny shepherd she espied,
feeding his flock upon the plain,
What news what news my bonny shepherd
what news hast thou got to tell me,
Such news I hear madam, he says,
the like was ne'er in this country,
There is a wedding in yonder hall,
has held these thirty days and three,
The bridegroom will not bed with the bride
for love of one that's beyond the sea,
She put her hand in her pocket,
I wat she gave him guineas three,
Pray take that my bonny boy
for the good news thou tellest me,
When she came to Biechan's gate,
she tirled softly a' the pin,
So ready was the proud porter,
to open and let this lady in,
Is this young Biechan's hall, she said,
or is that noble lord within?
Yes, he's in the hall among them all,
this very day was his wedding.
She took the ring out of her pocket,
and to the porter she gave it free,
Run to young Biechan with all haste,
deliver my m ssage speedily.
When that he come his lord before,
he kneeled low down on his knee;
What aileth thee my proud porte
thou art ⟨so⟩ full of courtesy,
I have been porte at your gates,
these thirty long years and three,
Now there stands a lady at your gate.
the like of her I did never see ;
For on every finger she has a ring,
and on her mid finger she has three,
She's as much gold above her brow,
as would buy an earldom to me.
Out bespoke the bride's mother,
ay and an angry woman was she;
You might have excepted our bonny bride
and two or three of her company.
Hold your tongue, thou bride's mother,
of all your folly let me be,
She's ten times fairer than your bride,
and all that's in your company
She desires on sheaf of your wheat bread,
ay, and a glass of your red wine,
And to remember the Lady's love
which last reliev'd you out of pine.
O well a day! young Biechan said,
that I so soon have married thee,
For I do vow it is Susie Pye
has sail'd the seas for love of me.
He took the chair then with his foot,
the table with his knee took he,
The silver cup, and silver canns,
he made them all to flinders flee.
Out then bespoke the forenoon bride,
my lord your love it changes soon,
This morning I was made your bride,
and another chose ere it be noon,
Hold thy tongues thou forenoon bride,
you're ne'er a whit the worse of me,
And for every penny I got with thee,
O here I give to the back three.
He took her by the milk white hand,
says the half of my lands I'll give to thee
If then wilt marry brother Will,
who's a sprightly youth in a lady's eye,
I will not marry thy brother Will,
for all the land that I do see;
Give me my faith and truth Biechan,
and I wish I were in my own country.
I have the bride's shoes on my feet
likewise the bride's gloves on my hands,
For I will neither eat nor drink.
till I come unto my father's lands.
He's ta'en Susie Pye by the milk white hand
and gently led her up and down.
And ay he kiss'd her red rosy lips,
your welcome jewel to your own.
He's ta'en her by the milk white hand,
and he has led her to yonder green,
He's chang'd her name from Susie Pye,
and he's called her lovely Jean.