Tony Rose - Clerk Saunders lyrics

So sad and rainy was the night As e'er did rain from town to town; Clerk Saunders and his gay lady Were walking in the fields so brown. "Oh a bed, a bed," Clerk Saunders cried, "A bed, a bed for you and me." "There's never a one," said the gay lady, "Until it we'both to married be. For I have seven brothers bold Unto you they bear no good will, And if they catch you in my bower They would value not your blood to spill." "Love, then take the napkin in your hand, Hold it up before your eye, That you might swear and save your oath That you saw not Sandy here this night. And you'll take me up in your two arms, Carry me unto your bed, That you might swear and save your oath: That your bower Sandy ne'er did tread." So she's taken the napkin in her hand, Just held it up before her eye, That she might swear and save her oath That she saw not Sandy there that night. And she's taken him up in her two arms, She's carried him unto her bed, That she might swear and save her oath That her bower Sandy ne'er did tread. Then in and came those brothers bold And all their torches burning bright, Said they, "We have but one sister And do see, she's lying with some knight." Then up and spoke the foremost man, "I know they have been lovers dear." And up and spoke the second man, "They've been in love for many's the year." And up and spoke the third of them, "It is great sin these two to twain." And up and spoke the fourth of them, "It is a sin to k** a sleeping man." And up and spoke the fifth of them, "I vow they'll ne'er be twained by me." And up and spoke the sixth of them, "We'll take our leave and go our way." But up and spoke the seventh man, "I vow an ill d**h he may die! For I wear the sharp sword at my side That soon shall make Clerk Sandy die." And he's drawn out that nut brown sword, He's drawn it three times through the straw And in Clerk Saundy's body fair: That tempered steel went through and through. They've lain there in each other's arms Until the dawning of the day; Then kindly to him she did say, "Oh it's time, my love, you were away. Oh you are the sleepiest young man," she said, "That ever my two eyes did see. You've lain this night within my arms, I am sure it is a shame to be." Then she's turned the blanket to the foot And there she's seen his bloody wounds. "Oh cursed be my brothers bold! I vow an ill d**h they may die." And it's in and came her father dear, Said, "Daughter, let your mourning be. We'll take Clerk Saunders to his grave, Then come back and comfort thee." "Oh comfort well your seven sons, Or no man e'er shall comfort me. For since you've slain my own true love Oh wedded I shall never be. And I will do for my love's sake What many a lady would not do, For seven long years shall come and go Ere I wear stocking or I wear shoe. There'll ne'er a shirt go on my back And ne'er a comb go in my hair, And never a coal nor a candle light Shall shine into my bower no more."