Mick, thanks for keeping us up to date with Roud. That is very helpful.

I'm going to start with the versions that Flanders collected in Vermont. Here is the one she got from Elmer George of East Calais, Vermont (no date).

The House Carpenter

"Well met, well met, my pretty fair maid,"
"No so very well met," said she,
"For I am married to a house carpenter,
And a very fine man is he;
For I am married to a house carpenter,
And a very fine man is he."

"If you forsake your house carpenter
And go along with me,
I will take you there where the grass grows green
On the banks of the sweet vallee."
(Repeat last two lines of each verse.)

"If I forsake my house carpenter
And go along with thee,
What have you there to entertain me on,
To keep me from slavery?"

"Oh, I have ships all in the bay
And plenty more upon land,
Five hundred and ten of as fine young men.
They are all at your command."

She took her babe all in her arms
And gave him kisses three.
"Stay at home, stay at home with your own father dear,
For he's good companee."

She went upstairs to dress herself
Most beautiful to behold.
'Twas then she walk-ed the streets all along,
And she shone like the glittering gold.

She had not sailed six weeks on the sea,
Oh, no, not more than three,
Before this fair lady began for to mourn
And she mourned most bitterlee.

"What, do you mourn for gold," he said,
"Or do you mourn for me,
Or do you mourn for your house carpenter
That you left to follow me?"

"I do not mourn for gold," she cries;
"I do not mourn for thee
But I do mourn for my house carpenter
And likewise my fair babee."

She had not sailed eight weeks on the sea,
Oh, no, not more than four,
Before that hole in the ship sprang a leak
And this mourner was heard no more.

Flanders says that when Mr. George began to sing this song for her, "different members of his family within doors joined in and were echoed by the little child playing on the lawn outside..." (A GARLAND OF GREEN MOUNTAIN SONG, 80)