The English and Scottish Popular Ballads :: :: University of Virginia Library

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No. 3, Abbotsford. Sent Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw; received by him from Mr Bartram of Biggar.

1

There lives a lass into yon bank,
She lives hersell alone,
Her name is Kathrine Jamphray,
Well known by many a one.

2

Than came the Laird of Lamington,
It's frae the West Countrie,
And for to court this bonnie may,
Her bridegroom hopes to be.

3

He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,
And the chief of all her kin,
But still he askd the lass hersell,
Till he had her true love won.

4

At length the Laird of Lachenware
Came from the English border,
And for to court this bonnie bride,
Was mounted in good order.

5

He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,
As I heard many say,
But he never loot the lassie wit
Till on her wedding-day.

6

She sent a spy into the west
Where Lamington might be,
That an he wad come and meet wi her
That she wad with him gae.

7

They taen her on to Lachenware,
As they have thought it meet;
They taen her on to Lachanware,
The wedding to compleat.

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8

When they came to Lachanware,
And near-han by the town,
There was a dinner-making,
Wi great mirth and renown.

9

Lamington has mounted twenty-four wiel-wight men,
Well mounted in array,
And he's away to see his bonnie bride,
Just on her wedding-day.

10

When she came out into the green,
Amang her company,
Says, ‘Lamington and Lachanware
This day shall fight for me.’

11

When he came to Lachanware,
And lighted on the green,
There was a cup of good red wine
Was filled them between,
And ay she drank to Lamington,
Her former love who'd been.

12

It's out and spake the bridegroom,
And a angrie man was he:
‘It's wha is this, my bonnie bride,
That ye loe better than me?

13

‘It's came you here for sport, young man?
Or came you here for play?
Or came you for a sight of my bonnie bride,
Upon her wedding-day?’

14

‘I came not here for sport,’ he says,
‘Nor came I here for play;
But an I had ae word of your bride,
I'll horse and gae my way.’

15

The first time that he calld on her,
Her answer was him Nay;
But the next time that he calld on her,
She was not slow to gae.

16

He took her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
He's pulld her on behind him,
At the bridegroom speard nae leave.

17

The blood ran up the Caden bank,
And down the Caden brae,
And ay she bade the trumpet sound
‘It's a' for foul, foul play.’

18

‘I wonder o you English squires,
That are in England born,
That ye come to court our Scots lasses,
For fear ye get the scorn.

19

‘For fear you get the scorn,’ she says,
‘Upon your wedding-day;
They'll gee you frogs instead of fish,
And take your bride away.’

20

Fair fa the lads of Lamington,
Has taen their bride away!
They'll set them up in temper wood
And scorn you all day.