Steeleye Span: The Royal Forester [Trad. Arr. Hart / Prior / Kemp / Knight / Johnson]
Maddy Prior - vocals Peter Knight - fiddle, viola, vocals Tim Hart - dulcimer, vocals Bob Johnson - guitar Rick Kemp - bass.
Subtitled 'The Aboriculturist Meets Superwoman'.
From the singing of John Strachan. The first English text appeared in Anchovy Ram's elementary drum tutor 'Half way to Para-diddle', published in 1293. Although a faithful translation of the original Latin there is still scholarly dispute as to the spelling of the name 'Erwilian' and over the use of the word 'leylan'.
This song was recorded by Steeleye Span for their fourth album Below The Salt, which was the first of their longest-living ``classic'' line-up. A live recording from the Royal Opera Theatre in Adelaide during Steeleye's Australia tour of 1982 was intended for inclusion on the On Tour Australian release but was subsequently deleted due to time limitations of vinyl pressings. It appeared later on the Steeleye Span / Maddy Prior sampler A Rare Collection 1972-1996.
Steeleye Span sing The Royal Forester
THE ROYAL FORESTER
I am a forester of this land As you may plainly see, It's the mantle of your maidenhead That I would have from thee.
He's taken her by the milk-white hand, And by the leylan sleeve, He's lain her down upon her back And asked no man's leave.
Now since you've lain me down young man You must take me up again, And since you've had your will on me, Come tell to me your name.
Some call me Jim, some call me John, Begad it's all the same, But when I'm in the king's high court Erwilian is my name.
She being a good scholar She's spelt it over again, "Erwilian, that's a Latin word, But Willy is your name."
Now when he heard his name pronounced, He mounted his high horse, She's belted up her petticoat And followed with all her force.
He rode and she ran A long summer day, Until they came by the river That's commonly called the Tay.
"The water it's too deep my love, I'm afraid you cannot wade," But afore he'd ridden his horse well in She was on the other side.
She went up to the king's high door, She knocked and she went in, Said, "One of your chancellors robbed me, And he's robbed me right and clean."
"Has he robbed you of your mantle? Has he robbed you of your ring? "No he's robbed me of my maidenhead And another I can't find."
"If he be a married man Then hang-ed he shall be, And if he be a single man He shall marry thee.
This couple they got married, They live in Huntly town, She's the Earl of Airlie's daughter, And he's the blacksmith's son.