Mythology & Folklore

The Maid Freed from the Gallows (Child 95B)

by Traditional Ballads (Child collection) traditional; texts recorded c. 13th–19th century

From The English and Scottish Popular Ballads, ed. F. J. Child (1882–98)

Mythology & Folklore

'It's hold your hand, dear judge,' she says,
'O hold your hand for a while!
For yonder I see my father a coming,
Riding many's the mile.

'Have you any gold, father?' she says,
'Or have you any fee?
Or did you come to see your own daughter a hanging,
Like a dog, upon a tree?'

'I have no gold, daughter,' he says,
'Neither have I any fee;
But I am come to see my ain daughter hanged,
And hanged she shall be.'

'Hey the broom, and the bonny, bonny broom,
The broom o the Cauthery Knowes!
I wish I were at hame again,
Milking my ain daddie's ewes.

'Hold your hand, dear judge,' she says,
'O hold your hand for a while!
For yonder I see my own mother coming,
Riding full many a mile.

'Have you any gold, mother?' she says,
'Or have you any fee?
Or did you come to see your own daughter hanged,
Like a dog, upon a tree?'

'I have no gold, daughter,' she says,
'Neither have I any fee;
But I am come to see my own daughter hanged,
And hanged she shall be.'

'Hey the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom,
The broom o the Cauthery Knowes!
I wish I were at hame again,
Milking my ain daddie's ewes.

'Hold your hand, dear judge,' she says,
'O hold your hand for a while!
For yonder I see my ae brother a coming,
Riding many's the mile.

'Have you any gold, brother?' she says,
'Or have you any fee?
Or did you come to see your ain sister a hanging,
Like a dog, upon a tree?'

'I have no gold, sister,' he says,
'Nor have I any fee;
But I am come to see my ain sister hanged,
And hanged she shall be.'

'Hey the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom,
The broom o the Cathery Knowes!
I wish I were at hame again,
Milking my ain daddie's ewes.

'Hold your hand, dear judge,' she says,
'O hold your hand for a while!
For yonder I see my own true-love coming,
Riding full many a mile.

'Have you any gold, my true-love?' she says,
'Or have you any fee?
Or have you come to see your own love hanged,
Like a dog, upon a tree?'

MLA

Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Maid Freed from the Gallows (Child 95B).” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/378/.

Chicago

Traditional Ballads (Child collection). “The Maid Freed from the Gallows (Child 95B).” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/child-ballads/378/.

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