LADY ISABELLA (OR THE TICHBORNE DOLE)

Lady Isabella, why do you weep so mournfully?
I hear the cries of Tichborne, as the hungry yearn for bread
Money for their sickly
And a graveyard for their dead
And a graveyard for their dead

Lady Isabella, why do you weep so mournfully?
Oh husband if you care, give them flour for their bread
Money for their sickly
And a graveyard for their dead
And a graveyard for their dead

Lady Isabella, why do you weep so mournfully?
I'll give you what you ask for, for I'm softened by you cries
You can have the ground you crawl around
Before your body dies
Before your body dies

Lady Isabella, why do you crawl so mournfully?
There's blood in your mouth and there's blood on your knee
But you've measured out the goodly sum of acres twenty three
Of acres twenty three

Lady Isabella, why do you sleep so mournfully?
You've given up your life for your husband's wicked soul
But you've given us forever the Tichborne Dole
Forever

It has a really nice tune but I'm not able to write the musical score I'm afraid. The song seems complete, but there may be more verses, I don't know. As I said I'd like to find out where the song originates, if it's traditional, or if contemporary, who wrote it. Either way it's a great song I'm sure you'll agree! I have heard of Lady Mabella, Malcolm, but it seems she has the alias Isabella as well, according to some sources (one being The Readers Digest book 'Folklore, Myths and Legends of Britain').