James Hatley

False Phoenix rides in the carriage high

And he will walk in infamy

For he robbed the queen of her finest jewel

And he laid the blame on James Hatley

James Hatley's bound down in iron strong

James Hatley he is condemned to die

And there is no one who can be found

Who will say one word that will set him free

Except it be for the king's own daughter

And, oh, but she loved him tenderly

She stole the keys from her father's pillar

And she run down to him, James Hatley

"Ah, tell it now, young man," she cries

"Tell it true and tell it to me

And I'll make a vow and I'll keep it true

That you never will be the worse for me"

"I never robbed, lady," he cries

"Not by the light or by the day

It was Phoenix came thief in the night

And now he has laid the blame on me"

An asking, asking, oh, father dear

For just one asking, oh, grant to me

I never asked once in all my life

And I'm sure that now you'll grant this to me

For I want none of your gold, father

And I want none of your land free

All that I ask, and I ask it now

James Hatley never shall be hanged high

Another asking, oh, father dear

Another asking, oh, grant to me

And let these two men go to the sword

And let them try their verity

Oh, bravely asked, oh, my daughter dear

But now your asking, it saddens me

For James Hatley's fifteen years old

And Phoenix, he is thirty-three

False Phoenix stood on the field of battle

All for to show his verity

And all the people stood round about

Cried, "A dead man are you, James Hatley"

And the very first blow that False Phoenix struck

He made the blood run speedily

And all the people stood round about

They cried, "Oh, and alas for you, James Hatley"

But he stood back, him fifteen years old

He's waiting for opportunity