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. 
collapse sectionVI. 
expand section156. 
expand section157. 
expand section158. 
expand section159. 
expand section160. 
expand section161. 
expand section162. 
expand section163. 
expand section164. 
expand section165. 
expand section166. 
expand section167. 
expand section168. 
expand section169. 
expand section170. 
expand section171. 
expand section172. 
collapse section173. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
expand section174. 
expand section175. 
expand section176. 
expand section177. 
expand section178. 
expand section179. 
expand section180. 
expand section181. 
expand section182. 
expand section183. 
expand section184. 
expand section185. 
expand section186. 
expand section187. 
expand section188. 
expand sectionVII. 
expand sectionVIII. 
expand sectionIX. 

Love Gregory

THE LASS OF ROCH ROYAL—G

[_]

Buchan's MSS. II, 149; Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 198.

1

It fell on a Wodensday,
Love Gregory's taen the sea,
And he has left his lady Janet,
And a weary woman was she.

2

But she had na been in child-bed
A day but barely three,
Till word has come to Lady Janet
Love Gregory she would never see.

3

She's taen her mantle her middle about,
Her cane into her hand,
And she's awa to the salt-sea side,
As fast as she could gang.

4

‘Whare will I get a curious carpenter,
Will make a boat to me?
I'm going to seek him Love Gregory,
In's lands where eer he be.’

5

‘Here am I, a curious carpenter,
Will make a boat for thee,
And ye may seek him Love Gregory,
But him ye'll never see.’

6

She sailed up, she sailed down,
Thro many a pretty stream,
Till she came to that stately castle,
Where Love Gregory lay in.

7

‘Open, open, Love Gregory,
O open, and lat me in;
Your young son is in my arms,
And shivering cheek and chin.’

8

‘Had awa, ye ill woman,
Had far awa frae me;
Ye're but some witch, or some warlock,
Or the mermaid, troubling me.

9

‘My lady she's in Lochranline,
Down by Lochlearn's green;
This day she wadna sail the sea,
For goud nor warld's gain.

10

‘But if ye be my lady Janet,
As I trust not well ye be,
Come tell me oer some love-token
That past 'tween thee an me.’

11

‘Mind on, mind on now, Love Gregory,
Since we sat at the wine;

224

The rings that were on your fingers,
I gied thee mine for thine.

12

‘And mine was o the good red goud,
Yours o the silly tin,
And mine's been true, and very true,
But yours had a fause lynin.

13

‘But open, open, Love Gregory,
Open, and let me in;
Your young son is in my arms,
He'll be dead ere I win in.’

14

‘Had awa, ye ill woman,
Had far awa frae me;
Ye're but some witch, or some warlock,
Or the mermaid, troubling me.

15

‘But if ye be my lady Janet,
As I trust not well ye be;
Come tell me o'er some love-token
That past tween thee and me.’

16

‘Mind on, mind on, Love Gregory,
Since we sat at the wine;
The shifts that were upon your back,
I gave thee mine for thine.

17

‘And mine was o the good holland,
And yours o the silly twine,
And mine's been true, and very true,
But yours had fause lynin.’
[OMITTED]