University of Virginia Library

Search this document 
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads

Edited by Francis James Child.

expand sectionI. 
expand sectionII. 
expand sectionIII. 
collapse sectionIV. 
expand section83. 
expand section84. 
expand section85. 
expand section86. 
expand section87. 
expand section88. 
expand section89. 
expand section90. 
expand section91. 
expand section92. 
expand section93. 
expand section94. 
expand section95. 
expand section96. 
expand section97. 
expand section98. 
expand section99. 
expand section100. 
expand section101. 
expand section102. 
expand section103. 
expand section104. 
expand section105. 
expand section106. 
expand section107. 
expand section108. 
expand section109. 
collapse section110. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section111. 
expand section112. 
expand section113. 
expand sectionV. 
expand sectionVI. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

Richie Story; or, Ritchie's Tory Laddie

RICHIE STORY—C

[_]

a. “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 65, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, 1813-15, p. 53, from the singing or recitation of Miss Euphemia Hislope. b. Campbell MSS, II, 116.

1

There are three white hens i the green, madam,
There are three white hens i the green, madam,
But Richie Story he's comd by,
And he's stollen away the fairest of them.

2

‘O are'int ye now sad, sister,
O are'in[t] ye now sad, sister,
To leave your bowers and your bony Skimmerknow,
And follow the lad they call Richie Story?’

3

‘O say not that again, sister,
O say not that again, sister,
For he is the lad that I love best,
And he is the lot that has fallen to me.’

4

‘O there's a letter to thee, madam,
O there's a letter to thee, madam;
The Earl of Hume and Skimmerjim,
For to be sweethearts to thee, madam.’

5

‘But I'll hae none of them, Richie,
But I'll hae none of them, Richie,
For I have made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
I'll have none but Ric[h]ie Story.’

6

‘O say not that again, madam,
O say not that again, madam,
For the Earl of Hume and Skimmerjim,
They are men of high renown.’

7

‘Musslebury's mine, Richie,
Musslebury's mine, Richie,
And a' that's mine it shall be thine,
If you will marry me, Richie.’

8

As she went up through Glasgow city,
Her gold watch was shining pretty;
Many [a] lord bade her good day,
But none thought she was a footman's lady.

9

As she went up through London city,
There she met her scolding minny:
‘Cast off your silks and kilt your coats,
And muck the byre wi Richie Story.’

10

‘Hold your tongue, my scolding minnie,
Hold your tongue, my scolding minnie;
For I'll cast of my silks and kilt my coats,
And muck the byres wi Richie Story.’