- Written by
- [Traditional]
- Language
- English
- Comments
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aka "Lord Baker" and "Young Bekie" [Roud 40; Child 53#L; G/D 5:1023; Henry H470; Ballad Index C053; VWML PG/6/11, PG/6/12, CJS2/10/695; Bodleian Roud 40; Wiltshire 877; trad]. A widespread and popular ballad, the hero being variously Lord Bateman in England, Young Beichan in Scotland and Lord Akeman in Newfoundland. Synopsis - Beichan is born in London but travels to far lands. He is taken prisoner, with different captors appearing in different variations, usually being a Moor, though sometimes the king of France after Beichan fell in love with his daughter. Lamenting his fate, Beichan promises to be a son to any married woman who will rescue him, or a husband to an unmarried one. The daughter of his captor rescues him, and he leaves, promising to marry her. He does not return. She sets out after him—in some variants, because warned by a household spirit, Belly Blin, that he is about to marry—and arrives as he is marrying another. In some variants, he is constrained to marry; often he is fickle. His porter tells him of a woman at his gate, and he instantly realizes it is the woman who rescued him. He sends his new bride home and marries her.
This ballad is also known in Norse, Spanish, and Italian variants. - Licensing
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Versions
Young Beichan / Lord Bateman written by [Traditional] English