The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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| IX. |
 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
Johnnie Scott
JOHNIE SCOT—L
1
Johnnie Scott's a hunting gane,To England's woods sae wild;
The fairest flower of all England
To Johnnie provd big with child.
2
It's word's going up, and word's going down,Going to the king's bower,
That his dear daughter was with child,
That was his daily flower.
3
‘If she be with child,As I suppose she be,
I'll put her into prison strong,
And hunger her till she die.’
4
The king he wrote a letter broad,And sealed it with his hands,
And sent it down to Johnnie Scott,
In Scotland where he stands.
5
The first line that Johnnie lookd on,A merry man was he;
The next line that he lookd on,
The salt tears blinded his eye.
6
Out then spoke his old father,Who neer spoke out of time:
And if you go to England, son,
I doubt your coming home.
7
Out then spoke our Scottish James,Sitting low by Johnnie's knee:
Fifteen score of my life-guards
Shall ride in your company.
8
When Johnnie came to the king's courtHe rode it round about,
And there he spied his own true-love,
From the jail-window looking out.
9
‘Come down, true-love,’ said Johnnie Scott,‘And now you'll ride behind me;
Before I leave fair England
Some life shall die for thee.’
10
‘My feet are in the fetters strong,I'm belted round about;
My breastplate is of the stubborn steel,
Instead of beaten gold.’
11
When Johnnie came to the king's bowerHe tinkled at the ring;
Who was so ready as the king himself
To let proud Johnnie in!
12
‘Are ye the Duke of Marlborough,’ he said,‘Or James, our Scottish king?
Or are you my bastard son,
From Scotland new come home?’
13
‘I'm not the Duke of Marlborough,’ he said,‘Nor James, our Scottish king;
But I am just a good Scotch lad,
And Johnnie Scott's my name.’
14
‘If you be Johnnie Scott,’ says he,‘As I suppose you be,
The fairest flower in all England
Is big with child by thee.’
15
‘If she be big with child,’ said he,‘As I hope her to be,
I'll make it heir of all my lands,
And she my gay lady.’
16
‘O no,’ then the king he crys,‘There's no such thing will be;
394
And by his hands ye'll die.’
17
‘I'll stand my ground,’ says Johnnie Scott,‘I'll stand it till I die;
I'll stand my ground,’ says Johnnie Scott,
‘One foot I'd scorn to fly.’
18
When the Italian was brought out,A fearsome sight was he;
Between his brows three women's spang,
His shoulders was yards three.
19
As Johnnie, being a crafty lad,Well tried at the sword was he,
Upon the point of his broad sword
He made the Italian die.
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |