True Lovers; Or, The King’s Commands Must Be Obey’d

The True Lovers; Or, The King’s Commands Must Be Obey’d.

J. Catnach, Printer, 2, Monmouth-Court.

Abroad as I was walking alone
I heard two lovers talking a talking alone
Says the young one to the fair one,
Bonnie lassie this way,
The King he has commanded us,
And his orders we must obey.
That’s not what you promised me when you did me beguile,
You promised to marry me, when you got me with child,
So do not me forsake but pity on me take,
For real is my woe,
Thro’ Scotland, Ireland, and France,
Along with you I’ll go.
Those long and weary travellings would hurt your tender feet,
Those hills and lofty mountains would cause you for to weep,
Besides you would not yield to lay in an open field,
With me all night long;
Your parents would be angry,
If along with me you’d been.
My parents I don’t value nor my foes I don’t fear
Along with my valiant sailor I will travel far & near,
It’s gold shall never me deceive or any other fee,
Along with you I will go,
To fight the French and the Spaniards
Or any other daring foe.
Since you are so venturesome to venture your sweet life,
First I will marry you and make you my lawful wife,
If any one offend you its I will defend you,
And that you shall see you shall hear the drums
And the trumpet sounds,
In the wars of Germany.

*Transcriber’s note: Dugaw’s catalogue contains multiple variants of this ballad; this is the first of the variants listed. To review other variants of this ballad, please consult the Dugaw catalogue.

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