The Laird of Roslin's Daughter
CAPTAIN WEDDERBURN'S COURTSHIP—C
[_]
Sheldon's Minstrelsy of the English Border, p. 232, as recited
“by a lady of Berwick on Tweed, who used to sing it
in her childhood, and had learnt it from her nurse.”
1
The laird of Roslin's daughter walked thro the wood her lane,
And by came Captain Wedderburn, a servant to the Queen;
He said unto his serving man, Wer't not agaynst the law,
I would tak her to my ain house as lady o my ha.
2
He said, My pretty ladye, I pray give me your hand;
You shall have drums and trumpets always at your command;
With fifty men to guard you, that well their swords can draw,
And I'll tak ye to my ain bed, and lay you next the wa.
3
‘I'm walking in my feyther's shaws:’ quo he, My charming maid,
I am much better than I look, so be you not afraid;
For I serve the queen of a' Scotland, and a gentil dame is she;
So we'se be married ere the morn, gin ye can fancy me.
4
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‘The sparrow shall toot on his horn, gif naething us befa,
And I'll mak you up a down-bed, and lay you next the wa.
5
‘Now hold away from me, kind sir, I pray you let me be;
I wont be lady of your ha till you answer questions three;
Questions three you must answer me, and that is one and twa,
Before I gae to Woodland's house, and be lady o your ha.
6
‘You must get me to my supper a chicken without a bone;
You must get me to my supper a cherry without a stone;
You must get me to my supper a bird without a ga,
Before I go to Woodland's house and be lady of your ha.’
7
‘When the cherry is in the bloom, I'm sure it has no stone;
When the chicken's in the shell, I'm sure it has nae bone;
The dove she is a gentil bird, and flies without a ga;
So I've answered you your questions three, and you're lady of my ha.’
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8
‘Questions three you must answer me: What's higher than the trees?
And what is worse than woman's voice? What's deeper than the seas?’
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9
He answered then so readily: Heaven's higher than the trees;
The devil's worse than woman's voice; hell's deeper than the seas;
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10
‘One question still you must answer me, or you I laugh to scorn;
Go seek me out an English priest, of woman never born;’
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11
‘Oh then,’ quo he, ‘my young brother from mother's side was torn,
And he's a gentil English priest, of woman never born;’
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12
Little did his lady think, that morning when she raise,
It was to be the very last of all her mayden days;
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