Lord Bateman was a noble lord
A noble lord of high degree
And he shipped himself on board of a ship
Some foreign country he would go see.

Now he sailed east, and he sailed west,
He sailed until he came to proud Turkey
Where he was taken and put to prison
Until his life was nearly gone.

Now in the prison yard there grew a tree.
It grew so tall and it grew so strong
Where he was chained all by the middle
Until his life was nearly gone.

Now, his jailer he had one only daughter
So fair a damsel as you ever did see
She stole the key to her father's prison
And vowed Lord Bateman she would set free.

“Oh, have you got houses, or have you got land?
And does Northumberland belong to thee?
What would you give to that fair young woman
Who from your prison would set you free?”

“Oh, I've got houses and I've got land
And half Northumberland belongs to me
I'd give it all to the fair young woman
Who from me prison would set me free.”

She took him to her father's hall
And gave to him a glass of wine
And every health that she drank to him
“I wish, Lord Bateman, that you were mine.”

“For seven long years I'll make a vow
And seven years I'll keep it strong
If you will wed with no other woman
I will wed no other man.”

She took him to her father's harbour
And gave to him a ship of fame.
“Farewell, farewell to you, Lord Bateman
I fear I'll never see you again.”

Now seven long years have past and gone
And fourteen days were known to be
She has packed up all of her gay clothing
And vowed Lord Bateman she would go see.

Now, when she come to Lord Bateman's castle
So boldly she did ring the bell.
“Who's there? Who's there?” cries the proud young porter
“Who's there, pray come to me tell.”

“Oh, is this Lord Bateman's castle?
And is his Lordship there within?”
“O yes! O yes!” cries the proud young porter
“He's just now bringing his new bride in.”

“Go bid him fetch to me a slice of bread
And a bottle of the best of wine
Not forgetting that fair young woman
As did release him from close confine.”

Away, away went the young proud young porter
Away, away and away run he
Until he come to Lord Bateman's chamber
And fell down on his bended knee.

“What news, what news, my proud young porter
“What news, what news do you bring to me?”
“There is the fairest young woman waiting
That ever your two eyes did see.

“She's got a ring on every finger
And round one finger she has got three
And round her middle such gay clothing
As would buy half Northumberland free.

“She bids you fetch to her a slice of bread
And a bottle of the best of wine
Not forgetting that fair young woman
Who did release you from close confine.”

LordBateman he swore a mighty oath
And broke his sword in splinters three
“I would give all of my father's riches
If my Sophia had crossed the sea.”

Then up spoke the young bride's mother
That never was known to speak so free:
“You'll not forget my only daughter
Though your Sophia has crossed the sea.”

“I own I made a bride of your daughter
She's neither the better nor the worse for me.
She come to me with a horse and a saddle
She shall go home with a carriage and three.”

Lord Bateman prepared another marriage
And both their hearts so full of glee.
“I'll roam no more in foreign countries
Now my Sophia has returned to sea.”