University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
expand sectionIV. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
collapse sectionVIII. 
expand section226. 
expand section227. 
expand section228. 
expand section229. 
expand section230. 
expand section231. 
expand section232. 
expand section233. 
expand section234. 
collapse section235. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section236. 
expand section237. 
expand section238. 
expand section239. 
expand section240. 
expand section241. 
expand section242. 
expand section243. 
expand section244. 
expand section245. 
expand section246. 
expand section247. 
expand section248. 
expand section249. 
expand section250. 
expand section251. 
expand section252. 
expand section253. 
expand section254. 
expand section255. 
expand section256. 
expand section257. 
expand section258. 
expand section259. 
expand section260. 
expand section261. 
expand section262. 
expand section263. 
expand section264. 
expand section265. 
expand sectionIX. 


293

Ritchie Storie

RICHIE STORY—A

[_]

Motherwell's MS., p. 426; from the recitation of Mrs--- of Kilbarchan, January 3, 1826.

1

The Earl of Wigton had three daughters,
Oh and a waly, but they were unco bonnie!
The eldest of them had the far brawest house,
But she's fallen in love with her footmanladdie.

2

As she was a walking doun by yon river-side,
Oh and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
There she espied her own footman,
With ribbons hanging over his shoulders sae bonnie.

3

‘Here's a letter to you, madame,
Here's a letter to you, madame;
The Earl of Hume is waiting on,
And he has his service to you, madame.’

4

‘I'll have none of his service,’ says she,
‘I'll have none of his service,’ says she,
‘For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'll marry none but you, Ritchie.’

5

‘O say not so again, madame,
O say not so again, madame;
For I have neither lands nor rents
For to keep you on, madam.’

6

‘I'll live where eer you please, Ritchie,
‘I'll live where eer you please, [Ritchie,]
And I'll be ready at your ca',
Either late or early, Ritchie.’

7

As they went in by Stirling toun,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
A' her silks were sailing on the ground,
But few of them knew of Ritchie Story.

8

As they went in by the Parliament Close,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
All the nobles took her by the hand,
But few of them knew she was Ritchie's lady.

9

As they came in by her goodmother's yetts,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
Her goodmother bade her kilt her coats,
And muck the byre with Ritchie Storie.

10

‘Oh, may not ye be sorry, madame,
Oh, may not ye be sorry, madame,
To leave a' your lands at bonnie Cumbernaud,
And follow home your footman-laddie?’

11

‘What need I be sorry?’ says she,
‘What need I be sorry?’ says she,
‘For I've gotten my lot and my heart's desire,
And what Providence has ordered for me.’