Lyrics James Hatley - Martin Carthy

False Fenwick plied in the carriage high
All he was walking in for me
For he robbed the queen of her finest jewel
And laid the blame on James Hatley
James Hatley′s bound down in iron strong
James Hatley he is condemned to die
And there is no one who can be found
Who will say one word that will set him free
Except it be for the king's daughter
And oh but she loved him tenderly
She stole the keys from her father′s pillow
And she run down to him, James Hatley
"Ah, tell it now, young man," she cries
"Tell it true and tell it to me
And I'll make a vow, and I'll keep it true
That you never will be the worse for me."
"I never robbed, lady," he cries
"Not by the night nor by the day
It was Fenwick came thief in the night
And now he has laid the blame on me."
"One asking, asking, oh father dear
Oh, just one asking, oh, grant to me
I never asked once in all my life
And I′m sure that now you′ll grant this to me."
"For I want none of your gold, father
And I want none of your land and fee
All that I ask and I ask it now
James Hatley never shall be hanged high."
"Another asking, oh father dear
Another asking, oh, grant to me:
And let these two men go to the sword
And let them try their verity."
"Oh, bravely asked, oh my daughter dear
But now your asking it saddens me
For James Hatley's fifteen years old
And Fenwick he is thirty-three
False Fenwick strolled on the field of battle
All for to show his verity
And all the people stood roundabout
Cried, "A dead man are you, James Hatley."
And the very first blow that false Fenwick struck
He made the blood run speedily
And all the people stood roundabout
They cried, "Oh, at last for you, James Hatley."
But he stood back, him fifteen years old
He′s waiting for opportunity
And with his sword both long and sharp
He has run it through false Fenwick's body
He struck him swift and he struck him sure
He struck him down all to his knee
And all the people stood roundabout
Heard Fenwick cry loud in misery
"Oh, hold your hand now, young man," he cries
And let the breath still remain in me
It was I who came thief in the night
Your disgrace and shame it is now on me."
"Oh, shed no more of my noble blood
This great disgrace to my loyalty
It was I who came thief in the night
And I laid the blame on James Hatley."
And up and spoke him an English lord
And oh, but he spoke haughtily:
"I would have give all of my estate
Just to see James Hatley be hanged high."
But up she rose then, the queen herself
I heard her voice ring so loud and high:
"There′s men would have fought blood up to their knee
Before you'd hanged him, James Hatley."
And up and rose him the king′s own son
"Come home, James Hatley, and dine with me
I've made a vow and I'll keep it true
You′ll be my captain by land and sea."
And up and spoke up the king′s daughter
"Come home, James Hatley, and dine with me
For I've made a vow and I′ll keep it true
You will wed and bed with no one but me."