The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
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| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
 | VIII. | Part VIII. |
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| IX. |
 | The English and Scottish Popular Ballads |  |
VIII. Part VIII.
226
LIZIE LINDSAY
256
Lizie Lindsay
LIZIE LINDSAY—A
[_]
a. Jamieson-Brown MS., Appendix, p. ii, as sent Jamieson by Professor Scott of Aberdeen, June 9, 1805. b. Jamieson's Popular Ballads, 1806, II, 149, “transmitted to the editor by Professor Scott of Aberdeen, as it was taken down from the recitation of an old woman,” but “corrected” from Jamieson's recollection in two or three passages.
1
Out it spake Lizee Linzee,The tear blinket in her ee;
How can I leave father and mother,
Along with young Donald to gae!
2
Out spoke Lizee's young handmaid,A bonny young lassie was she;
Said, Were I heress to a kingdom,
Along with young Donald I'd ga.
3
‘O say ye so to me, Nelly?O say ye so to me?
Must I leave Edinburgh city,
To the high Highland to gae?’
4
Out spoke Lizie's own mother,A good old lady was she;
If you speak such a word to my dochter,
I'll gar hang [you] hi.
5
‘Keep well your dochter from me, madam,Keep well your dochter fa me;
For I care as little for your dochter
As ye can care for me.’
257
6
The road grew wetty and dubby,And Lizee began to think lang;
Said, I wish had staid with my mother,
And nae wi young Donald had gane.
7
‘You'r welcome hame, Sir Donald,You'r thrice welcome to me;
You'r welcome hame, Sir Donald,
And your young lady you wi.’
8
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘Ye call na me Sir Donald,
But ca me Donald your son.’
9
‘Rise up, Lizee Linzee,You [have] lain too long in the day;
Ye might have helped my mother
To milch her goats and her kie.’
10
Out it spake Lizee Linzee,The tear blinket in her eye;
‘The ladys of Edinburgh city,
They neither milch goats nor kie.’
Donald of the Isles
LIZIE LINDSAY—B
1
It's of a young lord o the Hielands,A bonnie braw castle had he,
And he says to his lady mither,
‘My boon ye will grant to me:
Sall I gae to Edinbruch city,
And fesh hame a lady wi me?’
2
‘Ye may gae to Edinbruch city,And fesh hame a lady wi thee,
But see that ye bring her but flattrie,
And court her in grit povertie.’
3
‘My coat, mither, sall be o the plaiden,A tartan kilt oure my knee,
Wi hosens and brogues and the bonnet;
I'll court her wi nae flattrie.’
4
Whan he cam to Edinbruch city,He playd at the ring and the ba,
And saw monie a bonnie young ladie,
But Lizie Lindsay was first o them a'.
5
Syne, dressd in his Hieland grey plaiden,His bonnet abune his ee-bree,
He called on fair Lizie Lindsay;
Says, Lizie, will ye fancy me?
6
‘And gae to the Hielands, my lassie,And gae, gae wi me?
O gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay,
I'll feed ye on curds and green whey.
7
‘And ye'se get a bed o green bracken,My plaidie will hap thee and me;
Ye'se lie in my arms, bonnie Lizie,
If ye'll gae to the Hielands wi me.’
8
‘O how can I gae to the Hielands,Or how can I gae wi thee,
Whan I dinna ken whare I'm gaing,
Nor wha I hae to gae wi?’
9
‘My father, he is an auld shepherd,My mither, she is an auld dey;
My name it is Donald Macdonald,
My name I'll never deny.’
10
‘O Donald, I'll gie ye five guineasTo sit ae hour in my room,
Till I tak aff your ruddy picture;
Whan I hae't, I'll never think lang.’
11
‘I dinna care for your five guineas;It's ye that's the jewel to me;
I've plenty o kye in the Hielands,
To feed ye wi curds and green whey.
12
‘And ye'se get a bonnie blue plaidie,Wi red and green strips thro it a';
And I'll be the lord o your dwalling,
And that's the best picture ava.
13
‘And I am laird o a' my possessions;The king canna boast o na mair;
And ye'se hae my true heart in keeping,
There'll be na ither een hae a share.
14
‘Sae gae to the Hielands, my lassie,O gae awa happy wi me;
O gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay,
And hird the wee lammies wi me.’
258
15
‘O how can I gae wi a stranger,Oure hills and oure glens frae my hame?’
‘I tell ye I am Donald Macdonald;
I'll ever be proud o my name.’
16
Doun cam Lizie Lindsay's ain father,A knicht o a noble degree;
Says, If ye do steal my dear daughter,
It's hangit ye quickly sall be.
17
On his heel he turnd round wi a bouncie,And a licht lauch he did gie:
‘There's nae law in Edinbruch city
This day that can dare to hang me.’
18
Then up bespak Lizie's best woman,And a bonnie young lass was she;
‘Had I but a mark in my pouchie,
It's Donald that I wad gae wi.’
19
‘O Helen, wad ye leave your coffer,And a' your silk kirtles sae braw,
And gang wi a bare-houghd puir laddie,
And leave father, mither, and a'?
20
‘But I think he's a witch or a warlock,Or something o that fell degree,
For I'll gae awa wi young Donald,
Whatever my fortune may be.’
21
Then Lizie laid doun her silk mantle,And put on her waiting-maid's goun,
And aff and awa to the Hielands
She's gane wi this young shepherd loun.
22
Thro glens and oure mountains they wanderd,Till Lizie had scantlie a shoe;
‘Alas and ohone!’ says fair Lizie,
‘Sad was the first day I saw you!
I wish I war in Edinbruch city;
Fu sair, sair this pastime I rue.’
23
‘O haud your tongue now, bonnie Lizie,For yonder's the shieling, my hame;
And there's my guid auld honest mither,
That's coming to meet ye her lane.’
24
‘O ye're welcome, ye're welcome, Sir Donald,Ye're welcome hame to your ain.’
‘O ca me na young Sir Donald,
But ca me Donald my son;’
And this they hae spoken in Erse,
That Lizie micht not understand.
25
The day being weetie and daggie,They lay till't was lang o the day:
‘Win up, win up, bonnie Lizie,
And help at the milking the kye.’
26
O slowly raise up Lizie Lindsay,The saut tear blindit her ee:
‘O, war I in Edinbruch city,
The Hielands shoud never see me!’
27
He led her up to a hie mountain,And bade her look out far and wide:
‘I'm lord o thae isles and thae mountains,
And ye're now my beautiful bride.
28
‘Sae rue na ye've come to the Hielands,Sae rue na ye've come aff wi me,
For ye're great Macdonald's braw lady,
And will be to the dav that ye dee.’
Donald of the Isles
LIZIE LINDSAY—C
1
What wad ye gie to me, mither,What wad ye gie to me,
If I wad gae to Edinbruch city
And bring hame Lizie Lindsey to thee?’
2
‘Meikle wad I gie to thee, Donald,Meikle wad I gie to thee,
If ye wad gang to Edinbruch city
And court her as in povertie.’
3
Whan he cam to Edinbruch city,And there a while to resort,
He called on fair Lizie Lindsey,
Wha lived at the Canongate-Port.
4
‘Will ye gang to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsey?Will ye gae to the Hielands wi me?
And I will gie ye a cup o the curds,
Likewise a cup of green whey.
5
‘And I will gie ye a bed o green threshes,Likewise a happing o grey,
259
If ye'll gae to the Hielands wi me.’
6
‘How can I gang?’ says Lizie Lindsey,‘How can I gang wi thee?
I dinna ken whare I am gaing,
Nor wha I am gaing wi.’
7
‘My father is a cowper o cattle,My mither is an auld dey;
My name is Donald Macdonald,
My name I'll never deny.’
8
Doun cam Lizie Lindsey's father,A revrend auld gentleman was he:
‘If ye steal awa my dochter,
Hie hanged ye sall be.’
9
He turned him round on his heelAnd [a] licht lauch gied he:
‘There is na law in a' Edinbruch city
This day that can hang me.’
10
It's doun cam Lizie's hand-maid,A bonnie young lass was she:
‘If I had ae crown in a' the warld,
Awa wi that fellow I'd gae.’
11
‘Do ye say sae to me, Nelly?Do ye say sae to me?
Wad ye leave your father and mither,
And awa wi that fellow wad gae?’
12
She has kilted her coats o green silkA little below her knee,
And she's awa to the Hielands wi Donald,
To bear him companie.
13
And whan they cam to the valliesThe hie hills war coverd wi snow,
Which caused monie a saut tear
From Lizie's een to flow.
14
‘O, gin I war in Edinbruch city,And safe in my ain countrie,
O, gin I war in Edinbruch city,
The Hielands shoud never see me.’
15
‘O haud your tongue, Lizie Lindsey,Na mair o that let me see;
I'll tak ye back to Edinbruch city,
And safe to your ain countrie.’
16
‘Though I war in Edinbruch city,And safe in my ain countrie,
Though I war in Edinbruch city,
O wha wad care for me!’
17
Whan they cam to the shiels o Kilcushneuch,Out there cam an auld dey:
‘Ye're welcome here, Sir Donald,
You and your lady gay.’
18
‘Ca me na mair Sir Donald,But ca me Donald your son,
And I'll ca ye my auld mither,
Till the lang winter nicht is begun.’
19
‘A' this was spoken in Erse,That Lizie micht na ken;
A' this was spoken in Erse,
And syne the broad English began.
20
‘Ye'll gae and mak to our supperA cup o the curds and whey,
And ye'll mak a bed o green threshes,
Likewise a happing o grey.’
21
‘Won up, won up, Lizie Lindsey,Ye've lain oure lang in the day;
Ye micht hae been helping my mither
To milk the ewes and the kye.’
22
Then up got Lizie Lindsey,And the tear blindit her ee:
‘O, gin I war in Edinbruch city,
The Hielands shoud never see me!’
23
‘Won up, won up, Lizie Lindsey,A fairer sicht ye hae to see;
Do ye see yon bonnie braw castle?
Lady o it ye will be.’
260
Lizzy Lindsay
LIZIE LINDSAY—D
1
There dwalt a lass in the South Countrie,Lizzy Lindsay called by name,
And many a laird and lord sought her,
But nane o them a' could her gain.
2
Out spoke the heir o Kinkawsie,An down to his fader spoke he;
‘Fat, would ye think o me, fadther,
Fat would ye think o me,
To go to Edinburgh city,
Bring hame Lizzy Lindsay wi me?’
3
Out and spoke his auld modther,An auld revrend lady was she;
‘Court her wi nae fause flatterie,
But in great policie.’
4
He was nae in Edinbruch citieBut a twalmont an a day,
When a' the young lairds an the ladies
Went forth to sport an play:
There was nane like Lizzy Lindsay,
She was baith gallan an gay.
5
‘Will ye go to the Hielans, Lizzy Linsay?Will ye go to the Hielans wi me?
If ye'll go to the Hielans, Lizz[y] Linsay,
I'll gar ye get crouds an green whey.’
6
‘How can I go to the Hielans?Or hoo will I go with thee?
I dinna ken whaar I'm going,
Or fa't is I would go wi.’
7
‘My fadther he is an auld couper,My modther a brave auld dey;
If ye'll go to the Hieland[s], Lizzy Linsay,
I'll gar ye get cruds and green whey.’
8
Out it spoke Lizzy's best maiden,A wat a fine creature was she;
‘Tho I were born heir till a crown,
It's young Donald that I would go wi.’
9
‘Oh say ye sae to me, Nelly?Oh say ye sae to me?
Will I cast off my fine gowns and laces,
An gae to the Highlans him wi?’
10
She's putten her hand in her pocket,She's taen out ten guineas roun:
‘And that wad I gie to thee, Donald,
To stay but ae hour i my room,
Till I get your fair pictur painted,
To haud me unthought lang.’
11
‘I care as little for your guineasAs you can care for mine;
But gin that ye like my fair face,
Then gae wi me, if that ye incline.’
12
Out it spak Lizzy's auld mither,I wite a fine lady was she;
‘Gin I hear you speak sae to my daughter,
I vow I'se cause them hang thee.’
13
He turned about on his heel,And a loud, loud laughter gae he:
‘They are not in Edinburgh city,
I trow, that dare hang me.
14
‘But an ye come to the Canongate-Port —An there ye'll be sure to see me —
Bring wi ye a bottle of sherry,
I'll bear you good company.’
15
They sought all Edinboro citie,They sought it roun an roun,
Thinkin to fin Lizzy Lindsay,
But awa to the Highlans she's gane.
16
Whan they came to the shielin,Out bespoke the ould dye;
‘You're welcome home, Sir Donald,
Lang hae we been thinkin for thee.’
17
‘Ye'll call me nae mair Sir Donald,Ye'll call me nae sic thing;
But ye'se be my auld mither,
And I'se be Donald your sin.
18
‘Ye'll mak for us a supper,A supper o cruds and green whey,
And likewise a bed o green rashes,
For Lizzy and I to ly.’
19
She's made for them a supper,A supper o cruds and why,
And likewise a bed o green rashes,
For Lizzy an him to ly.
261
20
But Donald rose up i the mornin,The rest o his glens to spy;
It was to look for his goats,
His goats, his yows, an his kye.
21
But Lizzy, beein wearied wi travel,She lay till't was lang i the day:
‘Get up, get up, Lizzy Linsay,
What maks you sae lang for to ly?
You had better been helping my mither
To milk her yews and her kye.’
22
But Lizzy drew till her her stockins,The tears fell down on her eye:
‘I wish I were at Edinboro city,
I can neither milk yews nor kye.’
23
‘Oh hold your tongue, Lizzy Linsay,Your weepin I mustna be wi;
I'll sen you hame to your mither,
In the greatest o safety.’
24
But he has tane her by the han,And has shewn her the straight way to go:
‘An dont you see bonny Kincawsie,
Wher you and I is to ly?’
25
Out then comes his old mither,An twenty brave knichts her wi:
‘Y'er welcome home, Sir Donald,
Lang hae we been thinkin for thee.’
26
Out then comes his old father,An twenty brave ladies him wi:
‘You'r welcome home, Sir Donald,
An that fair creature you wi.’
27
He's taken her by the han,An he's shewn her the straight way in:
‘An ye'se be Lady Kincawsie,
An ye'se hae Donal, my sin.’
Bonny Lizie Lindsay
LIZIE LINDSAY—E
1
In Edinburgh lived a lady,Was ca'd Lizie Lindsay by name,
Was courted by mony fine suitors,
And mony rich person of fame:
Tho lords o renown had her courted,
Yet none her favour could gain.
2
Then spake the young laird o Kingcaussie,And a bonny young boy was he;
‘Then let me a year to the city,
I'll come, and that lady wi me.’
3
Then spake the auld laird o Kingcaussie,A canty auld mannie was he;
‘What think ye by our little Donald,
Sae proudly and crously cracks he?
4
‘But he's win a year to the city,If that I be a living man;
And what he can mak o this lady,
We shall lat him do as he can.’
5
He's stript aff his fine costly robes,And put on the single liverie;
With no equipage nor attendance,
To Edinburgh city went he.
6
Now there was a ball in the city,A ball o great mirth and great fame;
And fa danced wi Donald that day
But bonny Lizie Lindsay on the green!
7
‘Will ye gang to the Hielands, bonny Lizie?Will ye gang to the Hielands wi me?
Will ye leave the South Country ladies,
And gang to the Hielands wi me?’
8
The lady she turned about,And answered him courteouslie;
‘I'd like to ken faer I am gaun first,
And fa I am gaun to gang wi.’
9
‘O Lizie, ae favour I'll ask you,This favour I pray not deny;
Ye'll tell me your place o abode,
And your nearest o kindred do stay.’
10
‘Ye'll call at the Canogate-Port,At the Canogate-Port call ye;
I'll gie you a bottle o wine,
And I'll bear you my companie.’
262
11
Syne he called at the Canogate-Port,At the Canogate-Port calld he;
She gae him a bottle o wine,
And she gae him her companie.
12
‘Will ye gang to the Hielands, bonny Lizie?Will ye gang to the Hielands wi me?
Will ye leave the South Country ladies,
And gang to the Hielands wi me?’
13
Then out spake Lizie's auld mither,For a very auld lady was she;
‘If ye cast ony creed on my dochter,
High hanged I'll cause you to be.’
14
‘O keep hame your dochter, auld woman,And latna her gang wi me;
I can cast nae mair creed on your dochter,
Nae mair than she can on me.’
15
‘Now, young man, ae question I'll ask you,Sin ye mean to honour us sae;
Ye'll tell me how braid your lands lie,
Your name, and faer ye hae to gae.’
16
‘My father he is an auld soutter,My mither she is an auld dey,
And I'm but a puir broken trooper,
My kindred I winna deny.
17
‘Yet I'm nae a man o great honour,Nor am I a man o great fame;
My name it is Donald M'Donald,
I'll tell it, and winna think shame.
18
‘Will ye gang to the Hielands, bonny Lizie?Will ye gang to the Hielands wi me?
Will ye leave the South Country ladies,
And gang to the Hielands wi me?’
19
‘O Donald, I'll gie you ten guineas,If ye woud but stay in my room
Until that I draw your fair picture,
To look on it fan I think lang.’
20
‘No, I carena mair for your guineas,Nae mair than ye care for mine;
But if that ye love my ain person,
Gae wi me, maid, if ye incline.’
21
Then out spake Lizie's bower-woman,And a bonny young lassie was she;
Tho I was born heir to a crown,
Young Donald, I woud gang him wi.
22
Up raise then the bonny young lady,And drew till her stockings and sheen,
And packd up her claise in fine bundles,
And awa wi young Donald she's gane.
23
The roads they were rocky and knabby,The mountains were baith strait and stay;
When Lizie grew wearied wi travel,
For she'd travelld a very lang way.
24
‘O turn again, bonny Lizie Lindsay,O turn again,’ said he;
‘We're but ae day's journey frae town,
O turn, and I'll turn wi thee.’
25
Out speaks the bonny young lady,Till the saut tear blinded her ee;
Altho I'd return to the city,
There's nae person woud care for me.
26
When they came near the end o their journey,To the house o their father's milk-dey,
He said, Stay still there, Lizie Lindsay,
Till I tell my mither o thee.
27
When he came into the shielen,She hailed him courteouslie;
Said, Ye're welcome hame, Sir Donald,
There's been mony ane calling for thee.
28
‘O ca me nae mair, Sir Donald,But Donald M'Donald your son;
We'll carry the joke a bit farther,
There's a bonny young lady to come.’
29
When Lizie came into the shielen,She lookd as if she'd been a feel;
She sawna a seat to sit down on,
But only some sunks o green feall.
30
‘Now make us a supper, dear mither,The best o your cruds and green whey;
And make us a bed o green rashes,
And covert wi huddins sae grey.’
31
But Lizie being wearied wi travel,She lay till't was up i the day:
‘Ye might hae been up an hour seener,
To milk baith the ewes and the kye.’
32
Out then speaks the bonny young lady,Whan the saut tear drapt frae her eye;
I wish that I had bidden at hame,
I can neither milk ewes nor kye.
263
33
‘I wish that I had bidden at hame,The Hielands I never had seen,
Altho I love Donald M'Donald,
The laddie wi blythe blinking een.’
34
‘Win up, win up, O bonny Lizie,And dress in the silks sae gay;
I'll show you the yetts o Kingcaussie,
Whare I've playd me mony a day.’
35
Up raise the bonny young lady,And drest in the silks sae fine,
And into young Donald's arms
Awa to Kingcaussie she's gane.
36
Forth came the auld laird o Kingcaussie,And hailed her courteouslie;
Says, Ye're welcome, bonny Lizie Lindsay,
Ye're welcome hame to me.
37
‘Tho lords o renown hae you courted,Young Donald your favour has won;
Ye'se get a' the lands o Kingcaussie,
And Donald M'Donald, my son.’
Lizzie Lindsay
LIZIE LINDSAY—F
1
There was a braw ball in Edinburgh,And mony braw ladies were there,
But nae ane at a' the assembly
Could wi Lizzie Lindsay compare.
2
In cam the young laird o Kincassie,An a bonnie young laddie was he:
‘Will ye lea yere ain kintra, Lizzie,
An gang to the Hielands wi me?’
3
She turned her roun on her heel,An a very loud laughter gaed she:
‘I wad like to ken whar I was ganging,
And wha I was gaun to gang wi.’
4
‘My name is young Donald M'Donald,My name I will never deny;
My father he is an auld shepherd,
Sae weel as he can herd the kye!
5
‘My father he is an auld shepherd,My mother she is an auld dame;
If ye'll gang to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Ye's neither want curds nor cream.’
6
‘If ye'll call at the Canongate-Port,At the Canongate-Port call on me,
I'll give you a bottle o sherry,
And bear you companie.’
7
He ca'd at the Canongate-Port,At the Canongate-Port called he;
She drank wi him a bottle o sherry,
And bore him guid companie.
8
‘Will ye go to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie?Will ye go to the Hielands wi me?
If ye'll go to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Ye shall not want curds nor green whey.’
9
In there cam her auld mither,A jolly auld lady was she:
‘I wad like to ken whar she was ganging,
And wha she was gaun to gang wi.’
10
‘My name is young Donald M'Donald,My name I will never deny;
My father he is an auld shepherd,
Sae weel as he can herd the kye!
11
‘O but I would give you ten guineasTo have her one hour in a room,
To get her fair body a picture,
To keep me from thinking long.’
12
‘O I value not your ten guineas,As little as you value mine;
But if that you covet my daughter,
Take her with you, if you do incline.’
13
‘Pack up my silks and my satins,And pack up my hose and my shoon,
And likewise my clothes in small bundles,
And away wi young Donald I'll gang.’
14
They packd up her silks and her satins,They packd up her hose and her shoon,
264
And away with young Donald she's gane.
15
When that they cam to the Hielands,The braes they were baith lang and stey;
Bonnie Lizzie was wearied wi ganging,
She had travelld a lang summer day.
16
‘O are we near hame, Sir Donald?O are we near hame, I pray?’
‘We're no near hame, bonnie Lizzie,
Nor yet the half o the way.’
17
They cam to a homely poor cottage,An auld man was standing by:
‘Ye're welcome hame, Sir Donald,
Ye've been sae lang away.’
18
‘O call me no more Sir Donald,But call me young Donald your son,
For I have a bonnie young lady
Behind me for to come in.’
19
‘Come in, come in, bonnie Lizzie,Come in, come in,’ said he;
‘Although that our cottage be little,
Perhaps the better we'll gree.
20
‘O make us a supper, dear mother,And make it of curds an green whey;
And make us a bed o green rushes,
And cover it oer wi green hay.’
21
‘Rise up, rise up, bonnie Lizzie,Why lie ye so long in the day?
Ye might hae been helping my mother
To make the curds and green whey.’
22
‘O haud your tongue, Sir Donald,O haud your tongue, I pray;
I wish I had neer left my mother;
I can neither make curds nor whey.’
23
‘Rise up, rise up, bonnie Lizzie,And put on your satins so fine,
For we maun to be at Kincassie
Before that the clock strikes nine.’
24
But when they came to KincassieThe porter was standing by:
‘Ye're welcome home, Sir Donald,
Ye've been so long away.’
25
It's down then came his auld mither,With all the keys in her hand,
Saying, Take you these, bonnie Lizzie,
All under them's at your command.
Leezie Lindsay
LIZIE LINDSAY—G
1
‘Will you go to the Highlands wi me, Leezie?Will you go to the Highlands wi me?
Will you go to the Highlands wi me, Leezie?
And you shall have curds and green whey.’
2
Then up spoke Leezie's mother,A gallant old lady was she;
‘If you talk so to my daughter,
High hanged I'll gar you be.’
3
And then she changed her coaties,And then she changed them to green,
And then she changed her coaties,
Young Donald to gang wi.
4
But the roads grew broad and broad,And the mountains grew high and high,
Which caused many a tear
To fall from Leezie's eye.
5
But the roads grew broad and broadAnd the mountains grew high and high,
Till they came to the glens of Glen Koustie,
And out there came an old die.
6
‘You're welcome here, Sir Donald,And your fair ladie,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]’
7
‘O call not me Sir Donald,But call me Donald your son,
And I will call you mother,
Till this long night be done.’
265
8
These words were spoken in Gaelic,And Leezie did not them ken;
These words were spoken in Gaelic,
And then plain English began.
9
‘O make her a supper, mother,O make her a supper wi me;
O make her a supper, mother,
Of curds and green whey.’
10
‘You must get up, Leezie Lindsay,[OMITTED]
You must get up, Leezie Lindsay,
For it is far in the day.’
11
And then they went out together,And a braw new bigging saw she,
And out cam Lord Macdonald,
And his gay companie.
12
‘You're welcome here, Leezie Lindsay,The flower of a' your kin,
And you shall be Lady Macdonald,
Since you have got Donald, my son.’
LIZIE LINDSAY—H
1
Ther lives a maid in Edinbrugh citty,Elisa Lindsy they call her by name;
Monye an came to court her,
But a' ther suit was in vain.
2
Out spak the hear of Carnussë,An out spak he;
‘Fat wad ye think of me if I wad gae to Edinbrugh citty
An bring this fair creatur we me?’
3
‘If ye gae to Edinbrugh cityAn bring this fair creatur we the,
Bring her home we ne flatry,
But by grait policy.’
4
Fan he came to the Netherbou,Elisa Lindsy for to see,
She drank we him a bottel of cherry,
And bare him gued company.
5
‘Will ye goo to the Hillands we me, Lisee?Will ye go to [the] Hillands we me?
[OMITTED]
Ye's gett cruds an grean why.’
6
Out spak Lissy's mother,An out spak she;
‘If ye say so to my daughter,
[I] swaer I ell gar ye die.’
7
‘Keep well yer dother, old lady,Keep well yer dother fra me,
For I care as littel for yer dother
As she dos for me.’
8
Out spak Lissie Lindsy,We the tear in her eay;
‘I will gie ye ten gunies,
If ye wad bat sitt in my roum bat a whill
Till I dra you[r] picter,
To mind me on your swit smill.’
9
‘I care as littel for your ten guniesAs ye dou for mine,
But if ye love my person,
Goo we me if ye inclayn.’
10
Fan they came to Carnusie, an even to the glen,Out came the old day:
‘Ye'r welcom home, Sir Donall, ye'r welcom home,
An that fair creatur ye we.’
11
‘Caa na me mare Sir Donald,Bat caa me Donall, yer son,
An I'll caa ye my mother,
An caa me Donall, yer son:’
The words wer spoken in Ears,
Lissie she had nean.
12
‘Gett us a supper of cruds,[A supper of cruds] an green whay,
An a bed of the best of yeer rushes,
Besids a covering of gray.’
13
Lissy Lindsy bieng weary,She lay over long in they day:
‘Win up, Lissy Lindsy,
Ye haa layen our lang in the day;
Ye might haa ben out we my mider,
Milken the eus an the kay.’
266
14
Out spak Lissie Lindsy,The tear in her eay;
‘I wiss I wer in Edenbrugh citty,
I cannë milk eus nor kay.’
15
‘Hold your toung, Lissie Lindsy,An dou not freat on me,
For I will haa ye back to Edenbrugh citty,
Nou we grait safity.’
16
Out spak Lissie Lindsy,The tear in her eay;
‘If I wer in Edenbrugh citty,
They woud think littel of me.’
17
He touk her by the milk-white hand,Some other forest to vue;
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
18
Fan they came to Carnusy, out came Donal's father,A gay old knight was he;
Out cam Donald's father,
An four-an-tuenty him we.
19
‘Ye'r welcom, Lissie Lends[y],Dear welcom to me;
Ye's be Lady Carnusie,
An gett Donal, my son.’
20
Out came Donald's mother,An four-an-tuenty her we:
‘Ye'r welcom, my son,
An that fair creatur ye we.’
227
BONNY LIZIE BAILLIE
BONNY LIZIE BAILLIE
[_]
a. ‘Bonny Lizie Balie, A New Song very much in Request,’ Laing broadsides, No 46; no date or place. b. ‘Bonny Lizzie Bailie,’ Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs, 1859, p. 13. c. ‘My bonny Lizzie Baillie,’ Johnson's Museum, ed. 1853, IV, 451. d. ‘Lizae Baillie,’ Herd's MSS, I, 101, and, in part, II, 121. e. ‘Lizie Baillie,’ Campbell MSS, I, 98. f. ‘Lizzie Bailie,’ Smith's Scotish Minstrel, IV, 90. g. ‘Lizie Baillie,’ Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 173.
267
1
It fell about the Lambmass tide,When the leaves were fresh and green,
Lizie Bailie is to Gartartain [gane],
To see her sister Jean.
2
She had not been in GartartainEven but a little while
Till luck and fortune happend her,
And she went to the Isle.
3
And when she went into the IsleShe met with Duncan Grahame;
So bravely as he courted her!
And he convoyd her hame.
4
‘My bonny Lizie Bailie,I'll row thee in my pladie,
If thou will go along with me
And be my Highland lady.’
5
‘If I would go along with thee,I think I were not wise;
For I cannot milk cow nor ewe,
Nor yet can I speak Erse.’
6
‘Hold thy tongue, bonny Lizie Bailie,And hold thy tongue,’ said he;
‘For any thing that thou does lack,
My dear, I'll learn thee.’
7
She would not have a Lowland laird,He wears the high-heeld shoes;
She will marry Duncan Grahame,
For Duncan wears his trews.
8
She would not have a gentleman,A farmer in Kilsyth,
But she would have the Highland man,
He lives into Monteith.
9
She would not have the Lowland man,Nor yet the English laddie,
But she would have the Highland man,
To row her in his pladie.
10
He took her by the milk-white hand,And he convoyed her hame,
And still she thought, both night and day,
On bonny Duncan Grahame.
11
‘O bonny Duncan Grahame,Why should ye me miscarry?
For, if you have a love for me,
We'll meet a[t] Castle Carry.
12
‘As I came in by Dennie bridge,And by the holland-bush,
My mother took from me my cloaths,
My rings, ay and my purse.
13
‘Hold your tongue, my mother dear,For that I do not care;
For I will go with Duncan Grahame
Tho I should ner get mair.
14
‘For first when I met Duncan GrahameI met with meikle joy,
And many pretty Highland men
Was there at my convoy.’
268
15
And now he is gone through the muir,And she is through the glen:
‘O bonny Lizie Bailie,
When will we meet again!’
16
Shame light on these logerheadsThat lives in Castle Carry,
That let away the bonny lass
The Highland man to marry!
17
‘O bonny Lizie, stay at home!Thy mother cannot want thee;
For any thing that thou does lack,
My dear, I'll cause get thee.’
18
‘I would not give my Duncan GrahameFor all my father's land,
Although he had three lairdships more,
And all at my command.’
19
And she's cast off her silken gowns,That she weard in the Lowland,
And she's up to the Highland hills,
To wear [the] gowns of tartain.
20
And she's cast off her high-heeld shoes,Was made of the gilded leather,
And she's up to Gillecrankie,
To go among the heather.
21
And she's cast off her high-heeld shoes,And put on a pair of laigh ones,
And she's away with Duncan Grahame,
To go among the brachans.
22
‘O my bonny Lizie Bailie,Thy mother cannot want thee;
And if thou go with Duncan Grahame
Thou'll be a Gilliecrankie.’
23
‘Hold your tongue, my mother dear,And folly let thee be;
Should not I fancie Duncan Grahame
When Duncan fancies me?
24
‘Hold your tongue, my father dear,And folly let thee be;
For I will go with Duncan Grahame
Fore all the men I see.’
25
‘Who is it that's done this turn?Who has done this deed?’
‘A minister it's, father,’ she says,
‘Lives at the Rughburn bridge.’
26
‘A minister, daughter?’ he says,‘A minister for mister!’
‘O hold your tongue, my father dear,
He married first my sister.’
27
‘O fare you well, my daughter dear,So dearly as I lovd thee!
Since thou wilt go to Duncan Grahame,
My bonny Lizie Bailie.’
28
‘O fare you well, my father dear,Also my sister Betty;
O fare you well, my mother dear,
I leave you all compleatly.’
270
228
GLASGOW PEGGIE
271
Glasgow Peggie
GLASGOW PEGGIE—A
[_]
Sharpe's Ballad Book, No XV, p. 40. Sharpe has made a few slight changes in the text, besides regulating the spelling. The ballad is now given as it stands in the original copy.
1
‘As I cam in by boney Glassgow town,The Highland troops were a' before me,
And the bon[ey]est lass that ere I saw,
She lives in Glassgow, tha ca her Peggy.
2
‘I wad gie my boney black horse,So wad I my good gray nagie,
If I were a hundred miles in the North,
And nan wee me but my boney Peggy.’
3
Up then spoke her father dear,Dear vow! but he was wondrous sorey;
‘Weel may yea steel a cow or a ewe,
But ye darna steel my boney Peggy.’
4
Up then spoke her mother dear,Dear vow! but she spoke wondrious sorey;
‘Now, since I've brought ye up this length,
Wod ye gang awa wee a Highland fellow?’
5
He set her on his boney black horse,He set himsel on his good gray nagy;
They have riden over hill[s] and dales,
Now he is awa wee his boney Peggy.
6
They are riden or hills and dales,They have riden or mountains maney,
Untill that thay com to a low, low glen,
And there he's lain down wee his boney Peggy.
7
Up then spoke the Earll o Argyle,Dear vow! bet he spoke wondrous sorry;
‘The bonniest lass in a' Scotland
Is af an awa wi [a] Highland fellow!’
8
There bed was of the boney green grass,There blankets was o the hay sa boney;
He falded his philabeg below her head,
Now he's lawing down wee his boney Peggy.
9
Up then spoke the boney Lawland lass,And oh, but she spoke wondrous sorry;
‘A's warruant my mother would hae a gae soir heart
To see me lian here wi you, my Willie!’
10
‘In my father's house there's feather-beds,Feather-beds an blankets many;
The're a' mine, an the'll shoon be thine,
An what needs your mother be sae sorry, Peggie?
11
‘Dinna you see yon nine score o kye,Feding on yon hill sae boney?
The're a' mine, an the'll shoon be thine,
An what needs your mother be sorry, Peggie?
12
‘Dinna you see yon nine score o sheep,Feeding on yon brae sae bonny?
The're a' mine, an the'll shoon be thine,
An what needs your mother be sorry for you?
13
‘Dinna you see yon bonny white house,Shining on yon brae sae bonny?
An I am the earl o the Isle o Sky,
And surely my Peggie will be calle[d] a lady.’
Glasgow Peggy; or, Glasgow Peggie
GLASGOW PEGGIE—B
[_]
a. Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 174; from recitation. b. Kinloch MSS, VII, 259; “from Mrs K.'s recitation.” c. Aytoun's Ballads of Scotland, 1859, II, 230.
1
The Lawland lads think they are fine,But the Hieland lads are brisk and gaucy,
And they are awa, near Glasgow toun,
To steal awa a bonnie lassie.
2
‘I wad gie my gude brown steed,And sae wad I my gude grey naigie,
That I war fifty miles frae the toun,
And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggy.’
3
But up then spak the auld gudman,And vow! but he spak wondrous saucie;
‘Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes,
But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie.’
4
‘I have got cows and ewes anew,I've got gowd and gear already;
Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes,
But I will hae your bonnie Peggy.’
272
5
‘I'll follow you oure moss and muir,I'll follow you oure mountains many,
I'll follow you through frost and snaw,
I'll stay na langer wi my daddie.’
6
He set her on a gude brown steed,Himself upon a gude grey naigie;
They're oure hills, and oure dales,
And he's awa wi his bonnie Peggy.
7
As they rade out by Glasgow toun,And doun by the hills o Achildounie,
There they met the Earl of Hume,
And his auld son, riding bonnie.
8
Out bespak the Earl of Hume,And O! but he spak wondrous sorry;
‘The bonniest lass about a' Glasgow toun
This day is awa wi a Hieland laddie!’
9
As they rade bye auld Drymen toun,The lasses leuch and lookit saucy,
That the bonniest lass they ever saw
Sud be riding awa wi a Hieland laddie.
10
They rode on through moss and muir,And so did they owre mountains many,
Until that they cam to yonder glen,
And she's lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.
11
Gude green hay was Peggy's bed,And brakens war her blankets bonnie,
Wi his tartan plaid aneath her head;
And she's lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.
12
‘There's beds and bowsters in my father's house,There's sheets and blankets, and a' thing ready,
And wadna they be angry wi me,
To see me lie sae wi a Hieland laddie!’
13
‘Tho there's beds and beddin in your father's house,Sheets and blankets, and a' made ready,
Yet why sud they be angry wi thee,
Though I be but a Hieland laddie?
14
‘It's I hae fifty acres of land,It's a' plowd and sawn already;
I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,
And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?
15
‘I hae fifty gude milk kye,A' tied to the staws already;
I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,
And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?
16
‘See ye no a' yon castles and towrs?The sun sheens owre them a sae bonnie;
I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,
I think I'll mak ye as blythe as onie.’
17
A' that Peggy left behindWas a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie;
Now I think she is better by far
Than tho she had got a Lawland lairdie.
Galla Water; or, Bonny Peggy; or, Glasgow Peggie
GLASGOW PEGGIE—C
[_]
a. Motherwell's MS., p. 89; from recitation. b. “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 116, and Sharpe's Ballad Book, ed. 1880, p. 137, the last stanza.
1
‘He set her on his bonnie black horse,He set himsel on his good gray naigie;
He has ridden over hills, he has ridden over dales,
And he's quite awa wi my bonny Peggy.
2
‘Her brow it is brent and her middle it is jimp,Her arms are long and her fingers slender;
One sight of her eyes makes my very heart rejoice,
And wae's my heart that we should sunder!’
3
His sheets were of the good green hay,His blankets were of the brackens bonnie;
He's laid his trews beneath her head,
And she's lain down wi her Highland laddie.
4
‘I am my mother's ae daughter,And she had nae mair unto my daddie,
273
For to see me lye down with a Highland laddie.’
5
‘Ye are your mother's ae daughter,And she had nae mae unto your daddie;
This night she need not have a sore, sore heart
For to see you lie down with a Highland laddie.
6
‘I have four-and-twenty acres of land,It is ploughed, it is sown, and is always ready,
And you shall have servants at your command;
And why should you slight a Highland laddie?
7
‘I have four-and-twenty good milk-kye,They are feeding on yon meadow bonnie;
Besides, I have both lambs and ewes,
Going low in the haughs o Galla water.
8
‘My house it stands on yon hill-side,My broadsword, durk, and bow is ready,
And you shall have servants at your command;
And why may not Peggy be called a lady?’
Donald of the Isles
GLASGOW PEGGIE—D
1
A bonny laddie brisk and gay,A handsome youth sae brisk and gaddie,
And he is on to Glasgow town,
To steal awa his bonny Peggy.
2
When he came into Glasgow town,Upon her father's green sae steady,
‘Come forth, come forth, old man,’ he says,
‘For I am come for bonny Peggy.’
3
Out it spake her father then;‘Begone from me, ye Highland laddie;
There's nane in a' the West Country
Dare steal from me my bonny Peggy.’
4
‘I've ten young men all at my back,That ance to me were baith true and steady;
If ance I call, they'll soon be nigh,
And bring to me my bonny Peggy.’
5
Out it spake her mother then,Dear! but she spake wondrous saucy;
Says, Ye may steal my cow or ewe,
But I'll keep sight o my ain lassie.
6
‘Hold your tongue, old woman,’ he says,‘Ye think your wit it is fu ready;
For cow nor ewe I ever stole,
But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’
7
Then all his men they boldly came,That was to him baith true and steady,
And thro the ha they quickly went,
And forth they carried bonny Peggy.
8
Her father gae mony shout and cry,Her mother cursed the Highland laddie;
But he heard them as he heard them not,
But fixd his eye on bonny Peggy.
9
He set her on his milk-white steed,And he himsell on his grey naigie;
Still along the way they rode,
And he's awa wi bonny Peggy.
10
Says, I wad gie baith cow and ewe,And sae woud I this tartan plaidie,
That I was far into the north,
And alang wi me my bonny Peggy.
11
As they rode down yon pleasant glen,For trees and brambles were right mony,
There they met the Earl o Hume,
And his young son, were riding bonny.
12
Then out it spake the young Earl Hume,Dear! but he spake wondrous gaudie;
‘I'm wae to see sae fair a dame
Riding alang wi a Highland laddie.’
13
‘Hold your tongue, ye young Earl Hume,O dear! but ye do speak right gaudie;
There's nae a lord in a' the south
Dare eer compete wi a Highland laddie.’
14
Then he rade five miles thro the north,Thro mony hills sae rough and scroggie,
274
And he lay down wi bonny Peggy.
15
Then he inclosed her in his arms,And rowd her in his tartan plaidie:
‘There are blankets and sheets in my father's house,
How have I lien down wi a Highland laddie!’
16
Says he, There are sheep in my father's fauld,And every year their wool is ready;
By the same our debts we pay,
Altho I be but a Highland laddie.
17
‘There are fifty cows in my father's byre,That all are tyed to the stakes and ready;
Five thousand pounds I hae ilk year,
Altho I be but a Highland laddie.
18
‘My father has fifty well shod horse,Besides your steed and my grey naigie;
I'm Donald o the Isle o Sky,
Why may not yon be ca'd a lady?
19
‘See ye not yon fine castle,On yonder hill that stands sae gaudie?
And there we'll win this very night,
Where ye'll enjoy your Highland laddie.’
Glasgow Peggy
GLASGOW PEGGIE—E
[_]
Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 70, as sung by an old woman living near Keith, Banffshire.
1
The Hielan lads sae brisk and braw,The Hielan lads sae brisk and gaudie,
Hae gane awa to Glasgow town,
To steal awa the bonny Peggy.
2
As they cam on to Glasgow town,And passd the banks and braes sae bonny,
There they espied the weel-faurd may,
And she said to them her name was Peggy.
3
Their chief did meet her father soon,And O! but he was wondrous angry;
Says, Ye may steal my owsen and kye,
But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.
4
‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,For I've got cows and ewes already;
I come na to steal your owsen and kye,
But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’
5
He set her on a milk-white steed,And he himsel rode a gude grey naigie,
And they are on mony miles to the north,
And nane wi them but the bonny Peggy.
6
‘I hae fifty acres o gude red lan,And a' weel ploughd and sawn already,
And why should your father be angry wi me,
And ca me naething but a Hielan laddie?
7
‘I hae twenty weel mounted steeds,Black and brown and grey, already;
And ilk ane o them is tended by a groom,
Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.
8
‘I hae now ten thousand sheep,A' feeding on yon braes sae bonny,
And ilka hundred a shepherd has,
Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.
9
‘I hae a castle on yonder hill,It's a' set roun wi windows many;
I'm Lord M'Donald o the whole Isle of Skye;
And why shouldna Peggy be ca'd my Lady?’
10
Now a' that Peggy had beforeWas a wee cot-house and a little kail-yairdie,
But now she is lady o the whole Isle of Skye,
And now bonny Peggy is ca'd my Lady.
275
The Young Maclean
GLASGOW PEGGIE—F
1
The young Maclean is brisk an bauld,The young Maclean is rash an ready,
An he is to the Lowlands gane,
To steal awa a bonnie ladye.
2
Out an spak her auld father,An O! but he spak wondrous angry;
‘Ye may steal my cows an ewes,
But ye shall not steal my dochter Peggie.’
3
‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,For I hae gear enough already;
I cum na for your cows an ewes,
But I cum for your dochter Peggie.’
4
He set her on a milk-white steed,Himsel upon a gude gray naggie,
An they are to the Highlands gane,
The young Maclean an his bonnie ladye.
GLASGOW PEGGIE—G
[_]
Macmath MS., p. 93. Taken down at Crossmichael, Kirkcudbrightshire, 24th August, 1892, from the recitation of Miss Jane Webster, who had learned it more than fifty years before, at Airds of Kells, from the singing of Rosanna McGinnies.
1
It was on a day, and a fine summer's day,When the Lowlands they were making ready,
There I espied a weel-far'd lass,
She was gaun to Glasgow, and they ca her Peggy.
2
It's up then spak a silly auld man,And O but he spak wondrous poorly!
Sayin, Ye may steal awa my cows and my ewes,
But ye'll never steal awa my bonny Peggy.
3
‘O haud yer tongue, ye silly auld man,For ye hae said eneugh already,
For I'll never steal awa yer cows and yer ewes,
But I'll steal awa yer bonny Peggy.’
4
So he mounted her on a milk-white steed,Himsel upon a wee grey naigie,
And they hae ridden ower hill and dale,
And over moors and mosses many.
5
They rade till they cam to the head o yon glen,It might hae frightened anybody;
He said, Whether will ye go alongst with me,
Or will ye return back again to your mammie?
6
Their bed was o the green, green grass,And their blankets o the bracken sae bonnie,
And he's laid his trews beneath their head,
And Peggy's lain doun wi her Heilan laddie.
7
They lay till it cam to the break o day,Then up they rose and made them ready;
He said, Whether will ye go alongst with me,
Or will ye return back again to your mammie?
8
‘I'll follow you through frost and snow,I'll follow you through dangers many,
And wherever ye go I will go alongst with you,
For I'll never return back again to my mammie.’
9
‘I hae four-and-twenty gude milk-kye,They're a' bun in yon byre sae bonny,
And I am the earl o the Isle o Skye,
And why should not Peggy be called a lady?
10
‘I hae fifty acres o gude land,A' ploughed ower and sawn sae bonny,
And I am young Donald o the Isle o Skye,
And wherever I'm laird I'll make ye lady.’
276
229
EARL CRAWFORD
277
Earl Crawford
EARL CRAWFORD—A
[_]
a. Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 290, as taken down 1867-73, from the recitation of Mrs Mary Robertson, wife of James Robertson, shoemaker, Bogmoor, near Fochabers. b. Obtained by Mr Macmath, March 25, 1890, from the daughter of Mrs Robertson, Mrs Mary Thomson, wife of James Thomson, gardener at Gordon Castle gardens, Fochabers.
1
O we were sisters, sisters seven,We were a comely crew to see,
And some got lairds, and some got lords,
And some got knichts o hie degree;
And I mysel got the Earl o Crawford,
And wasna that a great match for me!
2
It was at fifteen that I was married,And at sixteen I had a son;
And wasna that an age ower tender
For a lady to hae her first-born!
And wasna, etc.
3
But it fell ance upon a dayI gaed into the garden green,
And naebody was therein walking
But Earl Crawford and his young son.
4
‘I wonder at you, ye Earl Crawford,I wonder at you wi your young son;
Ye daut your young son mair than your Lillie;
[I'm sure you got na him your lane.’]
5
[He turned about upon his heel,I wite an angry man was he;
Says, If I got nae my young son my lane,
Bring me here the one that helpet me.]
6
[‘O hold your tongue, my Earl Crawford,And a' my folly lat it be;
There was nane at the gettin o oor son,
Nae body only but you and me.’]
7
He set her on a milk-white steed,Her little young son her before;
Says, Ye maun gae to bonny Stobha,
For ye will enter my yates no more.
8
When she cam to her father's bowers,She lichtit low down on the stane,
And wha sae ready as her auld father
To welcome Lady Lillie in?
9
‘O how's a' wi you, my daughter Lillie,That ye come here sae hastilie?
And how's a' wi' the Earl o Crawford,
That he didna send a boy wi thee?’
10
‘O haud your tongue now, my old father,And ye'll lat a' your folly be;
For ae word that my merry mou spak
Has parted my good lord and me.’
11
‘O haud your tongue, my daughter Lillie,And a' your follies lat them be;
I'll double your portion ten times ower,
And a better match I'll get for thee.’
12
‘O haud your tongue now, my old father,And a' your folly lat it be;
I wouldna gie ae kiss o Crawford
For a' the goud that ye can gie.
13
‘Whare will I get a bonny boy,That's willin to win meat and fee,
Wha will gae on to Earl Crawford
An see an's heart be fawn to me?’
14
When he cam to the yates o Crawford,They were a' sitting down to dine:
‘How comes it now, ye Earl Crawford,
Ye arena takin Lady Lillie hame?’
15
‘Ye may gae tell her Lady Lillie,And ye maun neither lee nor len,
She may stay in her father's bowers,
For she'll not enter my yates again.’
16
When he cam back to her father's yates,He lichtit low down on his knee:
‘What news, what news, my bonny boy?
What news, what news hae ye to me?’
17
‘I'm bidden tell you, Lady Lillie —I'm bidden neither to lee nor len —
She may stay in her father's bowers,
For she'll not enter my yates again.’
18
She stretched out her lily hand,Says, ‘Adieu, adieu to ane and a!
Adieu, adieu to Earl Crawford!’
Wi that her sair heart brak in twa.
19
Then dowie, dowie her father raise up,And dowie, dowie the black put on,
278
And dowie, dowie sat thereon.
20
And dowie rade to the yates o Crawford,And when to Crawford's yates he came,
They were a' dressd in the robes o scarlet,
Just gaun to tak Lady Lillie hame.
21
‘Ye may cast aff your robes o scarlet —I wyte they set you wondrous weel —
And now put on the black sae dowie,
And come and bury your Lady Lill.’
22
He took his hat into his hand,And laid it low down by his knee:
‘An it be true that Lillie's dead,
The sun shall nae mair shine on me.’
Earl Crawford
EARL CRAWFORD—B
1
O we were seven bonny sisters,As fair women as fair could be,
And some got lairds, and some got lords,
And some got knights o high degree:
When I was married to Earl Crawford,
This was the fate befell to me.
2
When we had been married for some time,We walked in our garden green,
And aye he clappd his young son's head,
And aye he made sae much o him.
3
I turnd me right and round about,And aye the blythe blink in my ee:
‘Ye think as much o your young son
As ye do o my fair body.
4
‘What need ye clap your young son's head?What need ye make so much o him?
What need ye clap your young son's head?
I'm sure ye gotna him your lane.’
5
‘O if I gotna him my lane,Show here the man that helpëd me;
And for these words your ain mouth spoke
Heir o my land he neer shall be.’
6
He calld upon his stable-groomTo come to him right speedilie:
‘Gae saddle a steed to Lady Crawford,
Be sure ye do it hastilie.
7
‘His bridle gilt wi gude red gowd,That it may glitter in her ee;
And send her on to bonny Stobha,
All her relations for to see.’
8
Her mother lay oer the castle wa,And she beheld baith dale and down,
And she beheld her Lady Crawford,
As she came riding to the town.
9
‘Come here, come here, my husband dear,This day ye see not what I see;
For here there comes her Lady Crawford,
Riding alane upon the lee.’
10
When she came to her father's yates,She tirled gently at the pin:
‘If ye sleep, awake, my mother dear,
Ye'll rise lat Lady Crawford in.’
11
‘What news, what news, ye Lady Crawford,That ye come here so hastilie?’
‘Bad news, bad news, my mother dear,
For my gude lord's forsaken me.’
12
‘O wae's me for you, Lady Crawford,This is a dowie tale to me;
Alas! you were too young married
To thole sic cross and misery.’
13
‘O had your tongue, my mother dear,And ye'll lat a' your folly be;
It was a word my merry mouth spake
That sinderd my gude lord and me.’
14
Out it spake her brither then,Aye as he stept ben the floor:
‘My sister Lillie was but eighteen years
When Earl Crawford ca'ed her a whore.
279
15
‘But had your tongue, my sister dear,And ye'll lat a' your mourning bee;
I'll wed you to as fine a knight,
That is nine times as rich as hee.’
16
‘O had your tongue, my brither dear,And ye'll lat a' your folly bee;
I'd rather yae kiss o Crawford's mouth
Than a' his gowd and white monie.
17
‘But saddle to me my riding-steed,And see him saddled speedilie,
And I will on to Earl Crawford's,
And see if he will pity me.’
18
Earl Crawford lay o'er castle wa,And he beheld baith dale and down,
And he beheld her Lady Crawford,
As she came riding to the town.
19
He called ane o his livery menTo come to him right speedilie:
‘Gae shut my yates, gae steek my doors,
Keep Lady Crawford out frae me.’
20
When she came to Earl Crawford's yates,She tirled gently at the pin:
‘O sleep ye, wake ye, Earl Crawford,
Ye'll open, lat Lady Crawford in.
21
‘Come down, come down, O Earl Crawford,And speak some comfort unto me;
And if ye winna come yoursell,
Ye'll send your gentleman to me.’
22
‘Indeed I winna come mysell,Nor send my gentleman to thee;
For I tauld you when we did part
Nae mair my spouse ye'd ever bee.’
23
She laid her mouth then to the yates,And aye the tears drapt frae her ee;
Says, Fare ye well, Earl Crawford's yates,
You again I'll nae mair see.
24
Earl Crawford calld on his stable-groomTo come to him right speedilie,
And sae did he his waiting-man,
That did attend his fair bodie.
25
‘Ye will gae saddle for me my steed,And see and saddle him speedilie,
And I'll gang to the Lady Crawford,
And see if she will pity me.’
26
Lady Crawford lay oer castle-wa,And she beheld baith dale and down,
And she beheld him Earl Crawford,
As he came riding to the town.
27
Then she has calld ane o her maidsTo come to her right speedilie:
‘Gae shut my yates, gae steek my doors,
Keep Earl Crawford out frae me.’
28
When he came to Lady Crawford's yates,He tirled gently at the pin:
‘Sleep ye, wake ye, Lady Crawford,
Ye'll rise and lat Earl Crawford in.
29
‘Come down, come down, O Lady Crawford,Come down, come down, and speak wi me;
And gin ye winna come yoursell,
Ye'll send your waiting-maid to me.’
30
‘Indeed I winna come mysell,Nor send my waiting-maid to thee;
Sae take your ain words hame again
At Crawford castle ye tauld me.
31
‘O mother dear, gae make my bed,And ye will make it saft and soun,
And turn my face unto the west,
That I nae mair may see the sun.’
32
Her mother she did make her bed,And she did make it saft and soun;
True were the words fair Lillie spake,
Her lovely eyes neer saw the sun.
33
The Earl Crawford mounted his steed,Wi sorrows great he did ride hame;
But ere the morning sun appeard
This fine lord was dead and gane.
34
Then on ae night this couple died,And baith were buried in ae tomb:
Let this a warning be to all,
Their pride may not bring them low down.
281
230
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE LAIRD OF MELLERSTAIN
THE SLAUGHTER OF THE LAIRD OF MELLERSTAIN
1
[OMITTED]As they came in by the Eden side,
They heard a lady lamenting sair,
Bewailing the time she was a bride.
2
[OMITTED]A stately youth of blude and lane,
[OMITTED]
John Hately, the laird of Mellerstain.
3
‘Cowdenknows, had ye nae lack?And Earlstoun, had ye nae shame?
282
But ye never saw to bring him hame.’
4
And she has lookit to Fieldiesha,So has she through Yirdandstane;
She lookit to Earlstoun, and she saw the Fans,
But he's coming hame by West Gordon.
5
And she staggerd and she stood,6
‘[OMITTED][OMITTED] wude;
How can I keep in my wits,
When I look on my husband's blood?’
7
‘Had we been men as we are women,And been at his back when he was slain,
It should a been tauld for mony a lang year,
The slaughter o the laird of Mellerstain.’
231
THE EARL OF ERROL
283
Kate Carnegie
THE EARL OF ERROL—A
[_]
a. Campbell MSS., II, 94. b. The Edinburgh Magazine, or Literary Miscellany, June, 1803, p. 458.
1
There was a jury sat at Perth,In the merry month of May,
Betwixt the noble Duke of Perth
But and Sir Gilbert Hay.
2
My lord Kingside has two daughters,They are proper, straight and tall;
But my lord Carnegie he has two
That far excells them all.
3
Then Errol he has dressd him,As very well he could;
I'm sure there was not one cloth-yard
But what was trimmd with gold.
4
‘Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,Ane asking I've to thee;
I'm come to court your daughter Jean,
My wedded wife to be.’
5
‘My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,To one of high degree,
But where Jean got one guinea of gold
With Kate I'll give thee three.
6
‘Full fifteen hundred poundsHad Jean Carnegie,
But three fifteen hundred pounds
With Kate I'll gie to thee.’
7
Then Errol he has wed her,And fairly brought her hame;
There was nae peace between them twa
Till they sundered oer again.
8
When bells were rung, and mess was sung,And a' man bound to bed,
The Earl of Errol and his countess
In one chamber was laid.
9
Early in the morningMy lord Carnegie rose,
The Earl of Errol and his countess,
And they've put on their clothes.
10
Up spake my lord Carnegie;‘Kate, is your toucher won?’
‘Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,
If he be your good-son.
11
‘What need I wash my petticoatAnd hing it on a pin?
For I am as leal a maid yet
As yestreen when I lay down.
12
‘What need I wash my apronAnd hing it on the door?
It's baith side and wide enough,
Hangs even down before.’
13
Up spake my lord Carnegie;‘O Kate, what do ye think?
284
As lang as he's in drink.’
14
‘O what will ye beguile him wi?Or what will ye do than?
I'll swear before a justice-court
That he's no a sufficient man.
15
Then Errol he cam down the stair,As bold as oney rae:
‘Go saddle to me my Irish coach,
To Edinbro I'll go.’
16
When he came to Edinbro,He lighted on the green;
There were four-and-twenty maidens
A' dancing in a ring.
17
There were four-and-twenty maidensA' dancing in a row;
The fatest and the fairest
To bed wi him must go.
18
He's taen his Peggy by the hand,And he led her thro the green,
And twenty times he kissd her there,
Before his ain wife's een.
19
He's taen his Peggy by the hand,And he's led her thro the hall,
And twenty times he's kissd her there,
Before his nobles all.
20
‘Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,Look up, and think nae shame;
Ten hundred pounds I'll gie to you
To bear to me a son.’
21
He's keepit his Peggy in his roomThree quarter of a year,
And just at the nine months' end
She a son to him did bear.
22
‘Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I'll make your father sell his lands
Your toucher for to pay.’
23
‘To make my father sell his lands,It wad be a great sin,
To toucher oney John Sheephead
That canna toucher win.’
24
‘Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,Sae loud as I hear ye lie!
For yonder sits Lord Errol's son,
Upon his mother's knee;
For yonder sits Lord Errol's son,
Altho he's no by thee.’
25
‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,And set her on the glen;
For Errol canna please her,
Nor nane o Errol's men;
For Errol canna please her,
Nor twenty of his men.’
26
The ranting and the roving,The thing we a' do ken,
The lady lost her right that night,
The first night she lay down;
And the thing we ca the ranting o't,
The lady lies her lane.
THE EARL OF ERROL—B
1
Earell is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;
The greatest faut about the place
Earell's no a man.
What ye ca the danting o't,
According as ye ken,
For the pearting [OMITTED]
Lady Earell lyes her lane.
2
Earell is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;
The roses they graw red an white,
An apples they graw green.
3
‘What need I my apron washAn hing upon yon pin?
For lang will I gae out an in
Or I hear my bairnie's din.
4
‘What need I my apron washAn hing upo yon door?
285
An even down afore.
5
‘But I will lace my stays again,My middle jimp an sma;
I'l gae a' my days a maiden,
[Awa], Earell, awa!’
6
It fell ance upon a day Lord EarellWent to hunt him lane,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
7
He was na a mile fra the town,Nor yet sae far awa,
Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,
To try hir all the law.
8
Little did Lord Earell think,Whan he sat down to dine,
That his lady was on to Edinburgh,
Nor what was in her mind.
9
Till his best servant cameFor to lat him ken
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
10
She was na in at the toun-end,Nor yet sae far awa,
Till Earell was at her back,
His gaudy locks to sha.
11
She was na in at the loan-head,Nor just at the end,
Till Earell he was at her back,
Her errand for to ken.
12
‘As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,An me Sir Gilbert Hay,
I's gar yer father sell Kinaird,
Yer tocher for to pay.’
13
‘For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,It wad be a sin,
To gee it to ony naughty knight
That a tocher canna win.’
14
Out spak the first lord,The best amang them a';
‘I never seed a lady come
Wi sick matters to the law.’
15
Out spak the neest lord,The best o the town;
‘Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,
An put them in a roun,
An Earell in the midst o them,
An lat him chuse out ane.’
16
They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,An pit them in a roun,
An Earell in the mids o them,
An bad him chuse out ane.
17
He viewed them a' intill a raw,Even up an down,
An he has chosen a well-fared may,
An Meggie was her name.
18
He took her by the hand,Afore the nobles a',
An twenty times he kissed her mou,
An led her thro the ha.
19
‘Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,[Look up,] an think na shame;
As lang as ye see my gaudy locks,
Lady Earell's be yer name.’
20
There were fifteen noblemen,An as mony ladies gay,
To see Earell proven a man
[OMITTED]
21
‘Ye tak this well-fared may,And keep her three roun raiths o a year,
An even at the three raiths' end
I sall draw near.’
22
They hae taen that well-fared may,An keepd her three roun raiths o a year,
And even at the three raiths' end
Earell's son she bare.
23
The gentlemen they ga a shout,The ladies ga a caa,
Fair mat fa him Earell!
But ran to his lady.
24
He was na in at the town-head,Nor just at the end,
Till the letters they were waiting him
That Earell had a son.
286
25
‘Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,[Look up,] an think na shame;
As lang as ye see my bra black hat,
Lady Earell's be yer name.
26
‘I will gie my Meggie a mill,But an a piece o land,
[OMITTED]
To foster my young son.
27
‘Faur is a' my merry men a',That I pay meat an gaire,
To convey my Meggy hame,
[OMITTED]?’
28
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
Even in Lord Earell's coach
They conveyed the lassie hame.
29
‘Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,An take her to tha den,
For Earell canna pleas her,
Earell nor a' his men.’
30
‘Had I ben Lady Earell,Of sic a bonny place,
I wad na gaen to Edinburgh
My husband to disgrace.’
The Countess of Erroll
THE EARL OF ERROL—C
1
Erroll it's a bonny place,It stands upon a plain;
A bad report this ladie's raisd,
That Erroll is nae a man.
2
But it fell ance upon a dayLord Erroll went frae hame,
And he is on to the hunting gane,
Single man alane.
3
But he hadna been frae the townA mile but barely twa,
Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,
To gain him at the law.
4
O Erroll he kent little o thatTill he sat down to dine,
And as he was at dinner set
His servant loot him ken.
5
‘Now saddle to me the black, the black,Go saddle to me the brown,
And I will on to Edinburgh,
Her errands there to ken.’
6
She wasna well thro Aberdeen,Nor passd the well o Spa,
Till Erroll he was after her,
The verity to shaw.
7
She wasna well in Edinburgh,Nor even thro the town,
Till Erroll he was after her,
Her errands there to ken.
8
When he came to the court-house,And lighted on the green,
This lord was there in time enough
To hear her thus compleen:
9
‘What needs me wash my apron,Or drie't upon a door?
What needs I eek my petticoat,
Hings even down afore?
10
‘What needs me wash my apron,Or hing it upon a pin?
For lang will I gang but and ben
Or I hear my young son's din.’
11
‘They ca you Kate Carnegie,’ he says,‘And my name's Gilbert Hay;
I'll gar your father sell his land,
Your tocher down to pay.’
12
‘To gar my father sell his landFor that would be a sin,
To such a noughtless heir as you,
That canno get a son.’
13
Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,The best an lord ava;
‘I never saw a lady come
Wi sic matters to the law.’
14
Then out it speaks another lord,The best in a' the town;
287
Before Lord Erroll come:’
And he has chosen a tapster lass,
And Meggie was her name.
15
They kept up this fair maidenThree quarters of a year,
And then at that three quarters' end
A young son she did bear.
16
They hae gien to Meggie thenFive ploughs but and a mill,
And they hae gien her five hundred pounds,
For to bring up her chill.
17
There was no lord in EdinburghBut to Meggie gae a ring;
And there was na a boy in a' the town
But on Katie had a sang.
18
‘Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,And set her to the glen,
For Erroll canna pleasure her,
Nor nane o Erroll's men.’
19
Seven years on Erroll's tableThere stand clean dish and speen,
And every day the bell is rung,
Cries, Lady, come and dine.
Lord and Lady Errol; or, Errol's Place; or, Earl of Errol
THE EARL OF ERROL—D
[_]
a. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 158. b. Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 31. c. Kinloch's Ballad Book, p. 31.
1
O Errol's place is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;
The flowers on it grow red and white,
The apples red and green.
The ranting o't and the danting o't,
According as ye ken,
The thing they ca the danting o't,
Lady Errol lies her lane.
2
O Errol's place is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;
But what's the use of Errol's place?
He's no like other men.
3
‘As I cam in by yon canal,And by yon bowling-green,
I might hae pleased the best Carnegy
That ever bore that name.
4
‘As sure's your name is Kate Carnegy,And mine is Gibbie Hay,
I'll gar your father sell his land,
Your tocher for to pay.’
5
‘To gar my father sell his land,Would it not be a sin,
To give it to a naughtless lord
That couldna get a son?’
6
Now she is on to Edinburgh,For to try the law,
And Errol he has followed her,
His manhood for to shaw.
7
Then out it spake her sister,Whose name was Lady Jane;
‘Had I been Lady Errol,’ she says,
‘Or come of sic a clan,
I would not in this public way
Have sham'd my own gudeman.’
8
But Errol got it in his willTo choice a maid himsel,
And he has taen a country-girl,
Came in her milk to sell.
9
He took her by the milk-white hand,And led her up the green,
And twenty times he kissd her there,
Before his lady's een.
10
He took her by the milk-white hand,And led her up the stair;
Says, Thrice three hundred pounds I'll gie
To you to bear an heir.
11
He kept her there into a roomThree quarters of a year,
And when the three quarters were out
A braw young son she bear.
12
‘Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,And put her till a man,
For Errol he cannot please her,
Nor any of his men.’
288
THE EARL OF ERROL—E
[_]
C. K. Sharpe's Letters, ed. Allardyce, I, 180 ff; written down from the recitation of Violet Roddick, a woman living near Hoddam Castle, 1803. Sharpe's Ballad Book, 1823, p. 89.
1
O Errol it's a bonny place,It stands in yonder glen;
The lady lost the rights of it
The first night she gaed hame.
A waly and a waly!
According as ye ken,
The thing we ca the ranting o't,
Our lady lies her lane, O.
2
‘What need I wash my apron,Or hing it on yon door?
What need I truce my petticoat?
It hangs even down before.’
3
Errol's up to Edinburgh gaen,That bonny burrows-town;
He has chusit the barber's daughter,
The top of a' that town.
4
He has taen her by the milk-white hand,He has led her through the room,
And twenty times he's kisst her,
Before his lady's een.
5
‘Look up, look up now, Peggy,Look up, and think nae shame,
For I'll gie thee five hundred pound,
To buy to thee a gown.
6
‘Look up, look up, now, Peggy,Look up, and think nae shame,
For I'll gie thee five hundred pound
To bear to me a son.
7
‘As thou was Kate Carnegie,And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I'll gar your father sell his lands,
Your tocher-gude to pay.
8
‘Now he may take her back again,Do wi her what he can,
For Errol canna please her,
Nor ane o a' his men.’
9
‘Go fetch to me a pint of wine,Go fill it to the brim,
That I may drink my gude lord's health,
Tho Errol be his name.’
10
She has taen the glass into her hand,She has putten poison in,
She has signd it to her dorty lips,
But neer a drop went in.
11
Up then spake a little page,He was o Errol's kin;
‘Now fie upon ye, lady gay,
There's poison there within.
12
‘It's hold your hand now, Kate,’ he says,‘Hold it back again,
For Errol winna drink on't,
Nor none o a' his men.’
13
She has taen the sheets into her arms,She has thrown them oer the wa:
‘Since I maun gae maiden hame again,
Awa, Errol, awa!’
14
She's down the back o the garden,And O as she did murne!
‘How can a workman crave his wage,
When he never wrought a turn?’
The Earl of Erroll
THE EARL OF ERROL—F
1
O Erroll is a bonny place,And stands upon yon plane,
But the lady lost the rights o it
Yestreen or she came hame.
2
O Erroll is a bonny place,And lyes forenent the sun,
And the apples they grow red and white,
And peers o bonny green.
3
‘I nedna wash my apron,Nor hing it on the door;
But I may tuck my petticoat,
Hangs even down before.
4
‘Oh, Erroll, Erroll,Oh, Erroll if ye ken,
289
Or any of his men?’
5
She's turned her right and round about,Poured out a glass o wine;
Says, I will drink to my true love,
He'll drink to me again.
6
O Erroll stud into the fleer,He was an angry man:
‘See here it is a good gray-hun,
We'll try what is the run.’
7
Then Erroll stud into the fleer,Steered neither ee nor bree,
Till that he saw his good gray-hun
Was burst and going free.
8
‘But ye are Kate Carnegie,’ he said,‘And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;
I'se gar your father sell Kinnaird,
Your tocher-good to pay.’
9
Now she is on to Edinburgh,A' for to use the law,
And brave Erroll has followed her,
His yellow locks to sheu.
10
Out and spak her sister Jean,And an angry woman was she;
‘If I were lady of Erroll,
And hed as fair a face,
I would no go to Edinburgh,
My good lord to disgrace.’
291
232
RICHIE STORY
293
Ritchie Storie
RICHIE STORY—A
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.’
RICHIE STORY—B
1
Comarnad is a very bonny place,And there is ladies three, madam,
But the fairest and rairest o them a'
Has married Richard Storry.
2
‘O here is a letter to ye, madam,Here is a letter to ye, madam;
The Earle of Hume, that gallant knight,
Has fallen in love wi ye, madam.’
3
‘There is a letter to ye, madam,[There is a letter to ye, madam;]
That gallant knight, the Earl of Hume,
Desires to be yer servan true, madam.
4
‘I'll hae nane o his letters, Richard,I'll hae nane o his letters, [Richard;]
I hae voued, and will keep it true,
I'll marry nane but ye, Richie.’
5
‘Say ne sae to me, lady,Say ne sae to me, [lady,]
For I hae neither lands nor rents
To mentain ye, lady.’
6
‘Hunten Tour and Tillebarn,The House o Athol is mine, Richie,
An ye sal hae them a'
Whan ere ye incline, Richie.
7
‘For we will gae to sea, Richie,I'll sit upon the deck, Richie,
And be your servant ere and late,
At any hour ye like, [Richie.’]
294
8
‘O manna ye be sad, sister,An mann ye be sae sorry,
To leave the house o bonny Comarnad,
An follow Richard Storry?’
9
‘O what neads I be sad, sister,An how can I be sorry?
A bonny lad is my delit,
And my lot has been laid afore me.’
10
As she went up the Parliament Close,Wi her laced shoon so fine,
Many ane bad the lady good day,
But few thought o Richard's lady.
11
As she gaed up the Parliament Close,Wi her laced shoon so fine,
Mony ane hailed that gay lady,
But few hailed Richard Storry.
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.’
Richy Story
RICHIE STORY—D
1
As I came in by Thirlwirl Bridge,A coming frae the land of fair Camernadie,
There I met my ain true love,
Wi ribbons at her shoulders many.
2
‘Here is a letter to you, madam;[Here is a letter to you, madam;]
The Earl of Hume's eldest son
Sent this letter to you, madam.
3
‘I'll have none of his [letters], Richy,I'll have none of his letters, Richy;
295
I'll wed wi nane but you, Richy.’
4
‘Say not so again, madam,Say not so again, madam;
I have neither lands nor rents
To maintain you on, madam.’
5
‘I'll sit aneath the duke, Richy,I'll sit aneath the duke, Richy;
I'll sit on hand, at your command
At ony time ye like, Richy.’
6
As they came in by Thirlewirle bridge,A coming frae fair Cummernadie,
She brak the ribbons that tied her shoon
Wi following after the footman-laddie.
7
‘O but ye be sad, sister,O but ye be sad and sorry,
To leave the lands o bonnie Cummernad,
To gang alang wi a footman-laddie!’
8
‘How can I be sad, sister?How can I be sad or sorry?
I have gotten my heart's delight;
And what can ye get mair?’ says she.
9
To the house-end Richy brought his lady,To the house-end Richy brought his lady;
Her mother-in-law gart her kilt her coats,
And muck the byre wi Richy Story.
Richard Storie
RICHIE STORY—E
1
The Earl of Wigton has seven sisters,And O but they be wondrous bonnie!
And the bonniest lass amang them a'
Has fallen in love wi Richie Storie.
2
As I came down by yon river-side,And down by the banks of Eache bonnie,
There I met my own true-love,
Wi ribbons on her shoulders bonnie.
3
‘Here is a letter for you, madam,Here is a letter for you, madam;
The Earl of Aboyne has a noble design
To be a suitor to you, madam.’
4
‘I'll hae nane of his letters, Richie,I'll hae nane of his letters, Richie,
For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'll hae nane but you, Richie.’
5
‘Take your word again, madam,Take your word again, madam,
For I have neither land nor rents
For to mentain you on, madam.’
6
‘I'll sit below the dyke, Richie,I'll sit below the dyke, Richie,
And I will be at your command
At ony time you like, Richie.
7
‘Ribbons you shall wear, Richie,Ribbons you shall wear, Richie,
A cambric band about your neck,
And vow but ye'll be braw, Richie!’
8
As they came in by the West Port,The naps of gold were bobbing bonnie;
Many a one bade this lady gude-day,
But neer a one to Richie Storie.
9
As they came up the Parliament Close,Naps of gold were bobbing bonnie;
Many a gentleman lifted his cap,
But few kennd she was Richie's lady.
10
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
And ay methinks we'll drink the night
In Cambernauld sae bonnie.
11
‘It's are not you sick, sister,Are not you very sorrie,
To leave the lands of bonnie Cambernauld,
And run awae wi Richie Storie?’
12
‘Why should I be sick, sister,O why should I be any sorrie,
When I hae gotten my heart's delight?
I hae gotten the lot was laid afore me.’
296
Richie Storie; or, Richie Storrie
RICHIE STORY—F
1
The Erle o Wigton had three daughters,O braw wallie, but they were bonnie!
The youngest o them, and the bonniest too,
Has fallen in love wi Richie Storie.
2
‘Here's a letter for ye, madame,Here's a letter for ye, madame;
The Erle o Home wad fain presume
To be a suitor to ye, madame.’
3
‘I'l hae nane o your letters, Richie;I'l hae nane o your letters, Richie;
For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'l have none but you, Richie.’
4
‘O do not say so, madame;O do not say so, madame;
For I have neither land nor rent,
For to maintain you o, madame.
5
‘Ribands ye maun wear, madame,Ribands ye maun wear, madame;
With the bands about your neck
O the goud that shines sae clear, madame.’
6
‘I'l lie ayont a dyke, Richie,I'l lie ayont a dyke, Richie;
And I'l be aye at your command
And bidding, whan ye like, Richie.’
7
O he's gane on the braid, braid road,And she's gane through the broom sae bonnie,
Her silken robes down to her heels,
And she's awa wi Richie Storie.
8
This lady gade up the Parliament stair,Wi pendles in her lugs sae bonnie;
Mony a lord lifted his hat,
But little did they ken she was Richie's lady.
9
Up then spak the Erle o Home's lady;‘Was na ye richt sorrie, Annie,
To leave the lands o bonnie Cumbernauld
And follow Richie Storie, Annie?’
10
‘O what need I be sorrie, madame?O what need I be sorrie, madame?
For I've got them that I like best,
And war ordained for me, madame.’
11
‘Cumbernauld is mine, Annie,Cumbernauld is mine, Annie;
And a' that's mine, it shall be thine,
As we sit at the wine, Annie.’
Richard Storry; or, Richie Tory; or, Ritchie's Lady; or, Richie's Lady; or, The Earl of Winton's Daughter
RICHIE STORY—G
[_]
a. Kinloch MSS, I, 203, from Alexander Kinnear, of Stonehaven. b. Gibb MS., p. 77, from Mrs Gibb, senior. c. Murison MS., p. 82. d. Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 72, from the recitation of a native of Buchan. e. Kinloch MSS, VII, 263 (a fragment). f. Buchan's MSS, I, 87.
1
There were five ladies lived in a bouer,Lived in a bouer at Cumbernaldie;
The fairest and youngest o them a'
Has fa'n in love wi her footman-laddie.
2
‘Here is a letter to you, ladye,Here is a letter to you, ladye;
The Earl o Hume has written doun
That he will be your footman-laddie.’
3
‘I want nane o his service, Ritchie,I want nane o his service, Ritchie;
For I've made a vow, and I'll keep it true,
That I'll wed nane but thee, Ritchie.’
4
‘O that canna be, ladye,O that canna be, ladye;
For I've neither house nor land,
Nor ought suiting ye, ladye.’
5
‘Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
There's my hand, I'm at your command,
Marry me whan ye will, Ritchie!’
6
This boy he went to his bed,It was a' to try this fair ladye;
But she went up the stair to him:
‘Ye maun leave your comrades, Ritchie.
297
7
‘To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
For an my auld father he get word,
It's you he will cause hang, Ritchie.’
8
‘To the Borders we'll na gang, ladye,To the Borders we'll na gang, ladye;
For altho your auld father got word,
It's me he dare na hang, ladye.’
9
As they passed by her mither's bouer,O but her sisters they were sorry!
They bade her tak aff the robes o silk,
And muck the byres wi Ritchie Storry.
10
Whan they cam to yon hie hill,Dear vow, but the lady she was sorry!
She looked oure her left showther —
‘O an I war in bonny Cumbernaldie!’
11
‘O are na ye sorry now, ladye,O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
For to forsake the Earl o Hume,
And follow me, your footman-laddie?’
12
‘How could I be sorry, Ritchie,How could I be sorry, Ritchie?
Such a gudely man as you,
And the lot that lies afore me, Ritchie.’
13
As they rode up through Edinburgh toun,Her gowd watch hang doun sae gaudie;
Monie a lord made her a bow,
But nane o them thoucht she was Ritchie's ladye.
14
Whan they cam to Ritchie's yetts,Dear vow, but the music playd bonnie!
There were four-and-twenty gay ladies
To welcome hame Richard Storry's ladye.
15
He called for a priest wi speed,A priest wi speed was soon ready,
And she was na married to the Earl of Hume,
But she blesses the day she got Richard Storry.
16
A coach and six they did prepare,A coach and six they did mak ready,
A coach and six they did prepare,
And she blesses the day made her Ritchie's lady.
RICHIE STORY—H
Blair-in-Athol's mine, Ritchie,Blair-in-Athol's mine, Ritchie,
And bonny Dunkeld, where I do dwell,
And these shall a' be thine, Ritchie.
300
233
ANDREW LAMMIE
302
The Trumpeter of Fyvie
ANDREW LAMMIE—A
[_]
Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 126; “taken down by Dr Leyden from the recitation of a young lady, Miss Robson, of Edinburgh, who learned it in Teviotdale.”
1
‘At Fyvie's yetts there grows a flower,It grows baith braid and bonny;
There's a daisie in the midst o it,
And it's ca'd by Andrew Lammie.
2
‘O gin that flower war in my breast,For the love I bear the laddie!
I wad kiss it, and I wad clap it,
And daut it for Andrew Lammie.
3
‘The first time me and my love metWas in the woods of Fyvie;
He kissed my lips five thousand times,
And ay he ca'd me bonny,
And a' the answer he gat frae me,
Was, My bonny Andrew Lammie!’
4
‘Love, I maun gang to Edinburgh;Love, I maun gang and leave thee!’
303
But, O gin I were wi ye!’
5
‘But true and trusty will I be,As I am Andrew Lammie;
I'll never kiss a woman's mouth
Till I come back and see thee.’
6
‘And true and trusty will I be,As I am Tiftie's Annie;
I'll never kiss a man again
Till ye come back and see me.’
7
Syne he's come back frae EdinburghTo the bonny hows o Fyvie,
And ay his face to the nor-east,
To look for Tiftie's Annie.
8
‘I hae a love in Edinburgh,Sae hae I intill Leith, man;
I hae a love intill Montrose,
Sae hae I in Dalkeith, man.
9
‘And east and west, whereer I go,My love she's always wi me;
For east and west, whereer I go,
My love she dwells in Fyvie.
10
‘My love possesses a' my heart,Nae pen can eer indite her;
She's ay sae stately as she goes
That I see nae mae like her.
11
‘But Tiftie winna gie consentHis dochter me to marry,
Because she has five thousand marks,
And I have not a penny.
12
‘Love pines away, love dwines away,Love, love decays the body;
For love o thee, oh I must die;
Adieu, my bonny Annie!’
13
Her mither raise out o her bed,And ca'd on baith her women:
‘What ails ye, Annie, my dochter dear?
O Annie, was ye dreamin?
14
‘What dule disturbd my dochter's sleep?O tell to me, my Annie!’
She sighed right sair, and said nae mair
But, O for Andrew Lammie!
15
Her father beat her cruellie,Sae also did her mother;
Her sisters sair did scoff at her;
But wae betide her brother!
16
Her brother beat her cruellie,Till his straiks they werena canny;
He brak her back, and he beat her sides,
For the sake o Andrew Lammie.
17
‘O fie, O fie, my brother dear!The gentlemen'll shame ye;
The Laird o Fyvie he's gaun by,
And he'll come in and see me.
18
‘And he'll kiss me, and he'll clap me,And he will speer what ails me;
And I will answer him again,
It's a' for Andrew Lammie.’
19
Her sisters they stood in the door,Sair grievd her wi their folly:
‘O sister dear, come to the door,
Your cow is lowin on you.’
20
‘O fie, O fie, my sister dear!Grieve me not wi your folly;
I'd rather hear the trumpet sound
Than a' the kye o Fyvie.
21
‘Love pines away, love dwines away,Love, love decays the body;
For love o thee now I maun die;
Adieu to Andrew Lammie!’
22
But Tiftie's wrote a braid letter,And sent it into Fyvie,
Saying his daughter was bewitchd
By bonny Andrew Lammie.
23
‘Now, Tiftie, ye maun gie consent,And lat the lassie marry;’
‘I'll never, never gie consent
To the trumpeter of Fyvie.’
24
When Fyvie looked the letter on,He was baith sad and sorry:
Says, The bonniest lass o the country-side
Has died for Andrew Lammie.
25
O Andrew's gane to the house-topO the bonny house o Fyvie,
304
Oer the lawland leas o Fyvie.
26
‘Mony a time hae I walkd a' night,And never yet was weary;
But now I may walk wae my lane,
For I'll never see my deary.
27
‘Love pines away, love dwines away,Love, love decays the body;
For the love o thee now I maun die;
I come, my bonny Annie!’
Tifty's Nanny
ANDREW LAMMIE—B
1
‘There springs a rose in Fyvie's yard,And O but it springs bonny!
There's a daisy in the middle of it,
Its name is Andrew Lammie.
2
‘I wish the rose were in my breast,For the love I bear the daisy;
So blyth and merry as I would be,
And kiss my Andrew Lammie.
3
‘The first time I and my love metWas in the wood of Fyvie;
He kissëd and he dawted me,
Calld me his bonny Annie.
4
‘Wi apples sweet he did me treat,Which stole my heart so canny,
And ay sinsyne himself was kind,
My bonny Andrew Lammie.’
5
‘But I am going to Edinburgh,My love, I'm going to leave thee;’
She sighd full sore, and said no more,
‘I wish I were but wi you.’
6
‘I will buy thee a wedding-gown,My love, I'll buy it bonny;’
‘But I'll be dead or ye come back,
My bonny Andrew Lammie.’
7
‘I will buy you brave bridal shoes,My love, I'll buy them bonny;’
‘But I'll be dead or ye come back,
My bonny Andrew Lammie.’
8
‘If you'll be true and trusty too,As I am Andrew Lammie,
That you will neer kiss lad nor lown
Till I return to Fyvie.’
9
‘I shall be true and trusty too,As my name's Tifty's Nanny,
That I'll kiss neither lad nor lown
Till you return to Fyvie.’—
10
‘Love pines awa, love dwines awa,Love pines awa my body;
And love's crept in at my bed-foot,
And taen possession o me.
11
‘My father drags me by the hair,My mother sore does scold me;
And they would give one hundred merks,
To any one to wed me.
12
‘My sister stands at her bower-door,And she full sore does mock me,
And when she hears the trumpet sound,—
“Your cow is lowing, Nanny!”
13
‘O be still, my sister Jane,And leave off all your folly;
For I'd rather hear that cow low
Than all the kye in Fyvie.
14
‘My father locks the door at night,Lays up the keys fu canny,
And when he hears the trumpet sound,—
“Your cow is lowing, Nanny!”
15
‘O hold your tongue, my father dear,And let be a' your folly;
For I would rather hear that cow
Than all the kye in Fyvie.’
16
‘If you ding me, I will greet,And gentlemen will hear me;
Laird Fyvie will be coming by,
And he'll come in and see me.’
17
‘Yea, I will ding you though ye greetAnd gentlemen should hear you;
305
And did come in and see you.’
18
So they dang her, and she grat,And gentlemen did hear her,
And Fyvie he was coming by,
And did come in to see her.
19
‘Mill of Tifty, give consent,And let your daughter marry;
If she were full of as high blood
As she is full of beauty,
I would take her to myself,
And make her my own lady.’
20
‘Fyvie lands ly broad and wide,And O but they ly bonny!
But I would not give my own true-love
For all the lands in Fyvie.
21
‘But make my bed, and lay me down,And turn my face to Fyvie,
That I may see before I die
My bonny Andrew Lammie.’
22
They made her bed, and laid her down,And turnd her face to Fyvie;
She gave a groan, and died or morn,
So neer saw Andrew Lammie.
23
Her father sorely did lamentThe loss of his dear Nannie,
And wishd that he had gien consent
To wed with Andrew Lammie.
24
But ah! alas! it was too late,For he could not recall her;
Through time unhappy is his fate,
Because he did controul her.
25
You parents grave who children have,In crushing them be canny,
Lest for their part they break their heart,
As did young Tifty's Nanny.
Andrew Lammie
ANDREW LAMMIE—C
[_]
a. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 98; taken down “from the memory of a very old woman” (p. 197). b. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 239; a stall copy collated with a recited copy.
1
At Mill of Tifty lived a man,In the neighbourhood of Fyvie;
He had a luvely daughter fair,
Was callëd bonny Annie.
2
Her bloom was like the springing flowerThat hails the rosy morning,
With innocence and graceful mein
Her beautous form adorning.
3
Lord Fyvie had a trumpeterWhose name was Andrew Lammie;
He had the art to gain the heart
Of Mill of Tifty's Annie.
4
Proper he was, both young and gay,His like was not in Fyvie,
Nor was ane there that could compare
With this same Andrew Lammie.
5
Lord Fyvie he rode by the doorWhere livëd Tifty's Annie;
His trumpeter rode him before,
Even this same Andrew Lammie.
6
Her mother called her to the door:‘Come here to me, my Annie:
Did eer you see a prettier man
Than the trumpeter of Fyvie?’
7
Nothing she said, but sighing sore,Alas for bonnie Annie!
She durst not own her heart was won
By the trumpeter of Fyvie.
8
At night when all went to their bed,All slept full soon but Annie;
Love so oppresst her tender breast,
Thinking on Andrew Lammie.
9
‘Love comes in at my bed-side,And love lies down beyond me;
Love has possest my tender breast,
And love will waste my body.
10
‘The first time me and my love metWas in the woods of Fyvie;
His lovely form and speech so soft
Soon gaind the heart of Annie.
306
11
‘He called me mistress; I said, No,I'm Tifty's bonny Annie;
With apples sweet he did me treat,
And kisses soft and mony.
12
‘It's up and down in Tifty's den,Where the burn runs clear and bonny,
I've often gane to meet my love,
My bonny Andrew Lammie.’
13
But now alas! her father heardThat the trumpeter of Fyvie
Had had the art to gain the heart
Of Mill of Tifty's Annie.
14
Her father soon a letter wrote,And sent it on to Fyvie,
To tell his daughter was bewitchd
By his servant, Andrew Lammie.
15
Then up the stair his trumpeterHe callëd soon and shortly:
‘Pray tell me soon what's this you've done
To Tifty's bonny Annie.’
16
‘Woe be to Mill of Tifty's pride,For it has ruined many;
They'll not have't said that she should wed
The trumpeter of Fyvie.
17
‘In wicked art I had no part,Nor therein am I canny;
True love alone the heart has won
Of Tifty's bonny Annie.
18
‘Where will I find a boy so kindThat will carry a letter canny,
Who will run to Tifty's town,
Give it to my love Annie?
19
‘Tifty he has daughters threeWho all are wonderous bonny;
But ye'll ken her oer a' the rest;
Give that to bonny Annie.
20
‘It's up and down in Tifty's den,Where the burn runs clear and bonny,
There wilt thou come and I'll attend;
My love, I long to see thee.
21
‘Thou mayst come to the brig of Slugh,And there I'll come and meet thee;
It's there we will renew our love,
Before I go and leave you.
22
‘My love, I go to Edinburgh town,And for a while must leave thee;’
She sighëd sore, and said no more
But ‘I wish that I were with you!’
23
‘I'll buy to thee a bridal gown,My love, I'll buy it bonny;’
‘But I'll be dead ere ye come back
To see your bonny Annie.’
24
‘If ye'll be true and constant too,As I am Andrew Lammie,
I shall thee wed when I come back
To see the lands of Fyvie.’
25
‘I will be true and constant tooTo thee, my Andrew Lammie,
But my bridal bed or then'll be made
In the green church-yard of Fyvie.’
26
‘The time is gone, and now comes onMy dear, that I must leave thee;
If longer here I should appear,
Mill of Tifty he would see me.’
27
‘I now for ever bid adieuTo thee, my Andrew Lammie;
Or ye come back I will be laid
In the green church-yard of Fyvie.’
28
He hied him to the head of the house,To the house-top of Fyvie,
He blew his trumpet loud and shrill,
It was heard at Mill of Tifty.
29
Her father lockd the door at night,Laid by the keys fu canny,
And when he heard the trumpet sound
Said, Your cow is lowing, Annie.
30
‘My father dear, I pray forbear,And reproach not your Annie;
I'd rather hear that cow to low
Than all the kye in Fyvie.
31
‘I would not for my braw new gown,And all your gifts so many,
That it was told in Fyvie land
How cruel ye are to Annie.
307
32
‘But if ye strike me I will cry,And gentlemen will hear me;
Lord Fyvie will be riding by,
And he'll come in and see me.’
33
At the same time the lord came in;He said, What ails thee Annie?
‘It's all for love now I must die,
For bonny Andrew Lammie.’
34
‘Pray, Mill of Tifty, give consent,And let your daughter marry;’
‘It will be with some higher match
Than the trumpeter of Fyvie.’
35
‘If she were come of as high a kindAs she's advanced in beauty,
I would take her unto myself,
And make her my own lady.’
36
‘Fyvie lands are far and wide,And they are wonderous bonny;
But I would not leave my own true-love
For all the lands in Fyvie.’
37
Her father struck her wonderous sore,As also did her mother;
Her sisters also did her scorn,
But woe be to her brother!
38
Her brother struck her wonderous sore,With cruel strokes and many;
He broke her back in the hall-door,
For liking Andrew Lammie.
39
‘Alas! my father and my mother dear,Why so cruel to your Annie?
My heart was broken first by love,
My brother has broke my body.
40
‘O mother dear, make me my bed,And lay my face to Fyvie;
Thus will I lie, and thus will die
For my dear Andrew Lammie.
41
‘Ye neighbours hear, baith far and near,And pity Tifty's Annie,
Who dies for love of one poor lad,
For bonny Andrew Lammie.
42
‘No kind of vice eer staind my life,Or hurt my virgin honour;
My youthful heart was won by love,
But death will me exoner.’
43
Her mother than she made her bed,And laid her face to Fyvie;
Her tender heart it soon did break,
And never saw Andrew Lammie.
44
Lord Fyvie he did wring his hands,Said, Alas for Tifty's Annie!
The fairest flower's cut down by love
That ever sprang in Fyvie.
45
‘Woe be to Mill of Tifty's pride!He might have let them marry;
I should have given them both to live
Into the lands of Fyvie.’
46
Her father sorely now lamentsThe loss of his dear Annie,
And wishes he had given consent
To wed with Andrew Lammie.
47
When Andrew home frae Edinburgh came,With muckle grief and sorrow,
‘My love is dead for me to-day,
I'll die for her to-morrow.
48
‘Now I will run to Tifty's den,Where the burn runs clear and bonny;
With tears I'll view the brig of Slugh,
Where I parted from my Annie.
49
‘Then will I speed to the green kirk-yard,To the green kirk-yard of Fyvie,
With tears I'll water my love's grave,
Till I follow Tifty's Annie.’
308
234
CHARLIE MAC PHERSON
309
Charlie MacPherson
CHARLIE MAC PHERSON—A
1
Charlie MacPherson, that braw Hieland lad[die],On Valentine's even cam doun to Kinaltie,
Courtit Burd Hellen, baith wakin an sleepin:
‘Oh, fair fa them has my love in keepin!’
2
Charlie MacPherson cam doun the dykeside,Baith Milton an Muirton an a' bein his guide;
Baith Milton an Muirton an auld Water Nairn,
A' gaed wi him, for to be his warn.
3
Whan he cam to the hoose o Kinaltie,‘Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in!
Open your yetts, mistress, an lat us come in!
For here's a commission come frae your gudeson.
4
‘Madam,’ says Charlie, ‘whare [i]s your dochter?Mony time have I come to Kinatie an socht her;
Noo maun she goe wi me mony a mile,
Because I've brocht mony men frae the West Isle.’
5
‘As for my dochter, she has gane abroad,You'll no get her for her tocher gude;
She's on to Whitehouse, to marry auld Gairn:
Oh, fair fa them that wait on my bairn!’
6
Charlie MacPherson gaed up the dykeside,Baith Muirtoun an Milton an a' bein his guide;
Baith Muirton an Milton an auld Water Nairn,
A' gaed wi him, for to be his warn.
7
Whan he cam to the hoose in Braemar,Sae weel as he kent that his Nellie was there!
An Nellie was sittin upon the bed-side,
An every one there was ca'ing her, bride.
8
The canles gaed oot, they waurna weel licht,Swords an spears they glancet fou bricht;
Sae laith as she was her true-love to beguile,
Because he brocht mony men frae the West Isle.
310
Charlie M`Pherson
CHARLIE MAC PHERSON—B
1
Charlie M`Pherson, that brisk Highland laddie,At Valentine even he came to Kinadie:
2
To court her Burd Helen, baith waking and sleeping;Joy be wi them that has her a keeping!
3
Auldtown and Muirtown, likewise Billy Beg,All gaed wi Charlie, for to be his guide.
4
Jamie M`Robbie, likewise Wattie Nairn,All gaed wi Charlie, for to be his warran.
5
When they came to Kinadie, they knockd at the door;When nae ane woud answer, they gaed a loud roar.
6
‘Ye'll open the door, mistress, and lat us come in;For tidings we've brought frae your appearant guid-son.’
7
For to defend them, she was not able;They bangd up the stair, sat down at the table.
8
‘Ye'll eat and drink, gentlemen, and eat at your leisure;Nae thing's disturb you, take what's your pleasure.’
9
‘O madam,’ said he, ‘I'm come for your daughter;Lang hae I come to Kinadie and there sought her.
10
‘Now she's gae wi me for mony a mile,Before that I return unto the West Isle.’
11
‘My daughter's not at home, she is gone abroad;Ye darena now steal her, her tocher is guid.
12
‘My daughter's in Whitehouse, wi Mistress Dalgairn;Joy be wi them that waits on my bairn!’
13
The swords an the targe that hang about Charlie,They had sic a glitter, and set him sae rarelie!
14
They had sic a glitter, and kiest sic a glamour,They showed mair light than they had in the chamour.
15
To Whitehouse he went, and when he came thereRight sair was his heart when he went up the stair.
16
Burd Helen was sitting by Thomas' bed-side,And all in the house were addressing her, bride.
17
‘O farewell now, Helen, I'll bid you adieu;Is this a' the comfort I'm getting frae you?
18
‘It was never my intention ye shoud be the waur;My heavy heart light on Whitehouse o Cromar!
19
‘For you I hae travelled full mony lang mile,Awa to Kinadie, far frae the West Isle.
20
‘But now ye are married, and I am the waur;My heavy heart light on Whitehouse o Cromar!’
311
235
THE EARL OF ABOYNE
312
The Earl of Aboyne
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—A
1
The Earl of Aboyne he's courteous and kind,He's kind to every woman,
And the Earl of Aboyne he's courteous and kind,
But he stays ower lang in London.
2
The ladie she stood on her stair-head,Beholding his grooms a coming;
She knew by their livery and raiment so rare
That their last voyage was from London.
3
‘My groms all, ye'll be well in call,Hold all the stables shining;
With a bretther o degs ye'll clear up my nags,
Sin my gude Lord Aboyne is a coming.
4
‘My minstrels all, be well in call,Hold all my galleries ringing;
With music springs ye'll try well your strings,
Sin my gude lord's a coming.
5
‘My cooks all, be well in call,Wi pots and spits well ranked;
And nothing shall ye want that ye call for,
Sin my gude Lord Aboyne's a coming.
6
‘My chamber-maids, ye'll dress up my beds,Hold all my rooms in shining;
With Dantzic waters ye'll sprinkle my walls,
Sin my good lord's a coming.’
7
Her shoes was of the small cordain,Her stockings silken twisting;
Cambrick so clear was the pretty lady's smock,
And her stays o the braided sattin.
8
Her coat was of the white sarsenent,Set out wi silver quiltin,
And her gown was o the silk damask,
Set about wi red gold walting.
9
Her hair was like the threads of gold,Wi the silk and sarsanet shining,
Wi her fingers sae white, and the gold rings sae grite,
To welcome her lord from London.
10
Sae stately she steppit down the stair,And walkit to meet him coming;
Said, O ye'r welcome, my bonny lord,
Ye'r thrice welcome home from London!
11
‘If this be so that ye let me know,Ye'll come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my bonny wedding-day
Had I stayed the night in London.’
12
Then she turned her about wi an angry look,O for such an a sorry woman!
‘If this be so that ye let me know,
Gang kiss your ladies in London.’
13
Then he looked ower his left shoulderTo the worthie companie wi him;
313
The we've got, comin from London!
14
‘Get yer horse in call, my nobles all,And I'm sorry for yer coming,
But we'll horse, and awa to the bonny Bog o Gight,
And then we'll go on to London.’
15
‘If this be Thomas, as they call you,You'll see if he'll hae me with him;
And nothing shall he be troubled with me
But myself and my waiting-woman.’
16
‘I've asked it already, lady,’ he says,‘And your humble servant, madam;
But one single mile he winna lat you ride
Wi his company and him to London.’
17
A year and mare she lived in care,And docters wi her dealin,
And with a crack her sweet heart brack,
And the letters is on to London.
18
When the letters he got, they were all sealed in black,And he fell in a grievous weeping;
He said, She is dead whom I loved best
If I had but her heart in keepin.
19
Then fifteen o the finest lordsThat London could afford him,
From their hose to their hat, they were all clad in black,
For the sake of her corpse, Margaret Irvine.
20
The furder he gaed, the sorer he wept,Come keping her corpse, Margaret Irvine.
Until that he came to the yetts of Aboyne,
Where the corpse of his lady was lying.
The Earl of Aboyne
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—B
[_]
a. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 71, 1825. b. Gibb MS., p. 29, No 5, 1882, as learned by Mrs Gibb, senior, “fifty years ago,” in Strachan, Kincardineshire.
1
The Earl o Aboyne to old England's gone,An a his nobles wi him;
Sair was the heart his fair lady had
Because she wanna wi him.
2
As she was a walking in her garden green,Amang her gentlewomen,
Sad was the letter that came to her,
Her lord was wed in Lunan.
3
‘Is this true, my Jean,’ she says,‘My lord is wed in Lunan?’
‘O no, O no, my lady gay,
For the Lord o Aboyne is comin.’
4
When she was looking oer her castell-wa,She spied twa boys comin:
‘What news, what news, my bonny boys?
What news hae ye frae Lunan?’
5
‘Good news, good news, my lady gay,The Lord o Aboyne is comin;
He's scarcely twa miles frae the place,
Ye'll hear his bridles ringin.’
6
‘O my grooms all, be well on call,An hae your stables shinin;
Of corn an hay spare nane this day,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.
7
‘My minstrels all, be well on call,And set your harps a tunin,
Wi the finest springs, spare not the strings,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.
8
‘My cooks all, be well on call,An had your spits a runnin,
Wi the best o roast, an spare nae cost,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.
9
‘My maids all, be well on call,An hae your flours a shinin;
Cover oer the stair wi herbs sweet an fair,
Cover the flours wi linen,
An dress my bodie in the finest array,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.’
10
Her gown was o the guid green silk,Fastned wi red silk trimmin;
Her apron was o the guid black gaze,
Her hood o the finest linen.
11
Sae stately she stept down the stair,To look gin he was comin;
314
An Jean, her gentlewoman,
To bring her a bottle of the best wine,
To drink his health that's comin.
12
She's gaen to the close, taen him frae's horse,Says, You'r thrice welcome fra Lunan!
‘If I be as welcome hauf as ye say,
Come kiss me for my comin,
For tomorrow should been my wedding-day
Gin I'de staid on langer in Lunan.’
13
She turned about wi a disdainful lookTo Jean, her gentlewoman:
‘If tomorrow should been your wedding-day,
Go kiss your whores in Lunan.’
14
‘O my nobles all, now turn your steeds,I'm sorry for my comin;
For the night we'll alight at the bonny Bog o Gight,
Tomorrow tak horse for Lunan.’
15
‘O Thomas, my man, gae after him,An spier gin I'll win wi him;’
‘Yes, madam, I hae pleaded for thee,
But a mile ye winna win wi him.’
16
Here and there she ran in care,An doctors wi her dealin;
But in a crak her bonny heart brak,
And letters gaed to Lunan.
17
When he saw the letter sealed wi black,He fell on's horse a weeping:
‘If she be dead that I love best,
She has my heart a keepin.
18
‘My nobles all, ye'll turn your steeds,That comely face [I] may see then;
Frae the horse to the hat, a' must be black,
And mourn for bonny Peggy Irvine.’
19
When they came near to the place,They heard the dead-bell knellin,
And aye the turnin o the bell
Said, Come bury bonny Peggy Irvine.
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—C
1
The Earl of Aboyne he's careless an kin,An he is new come frae London;
He sent his man him before,
To tell o his hame-comin.
2
First she called on her chamberline,Sin on Jeanie, her gentlewoman:
‘Bring me a glass o the best claret win,
To drink my good lord's well-hame-comin.
3
‘My servants all, be ready at a call,[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
For the Lord of Aboyne is comin
4
‘My cooks all, be ready at a call[OMITTED]
Wi the very best of meat,
For the Lord of Aboyne is comin.
5
‘My maids all, be ready at a call,[OMITTED]
The rooms I've the best all to be dressd,
For the Lord of Aboyn is comin.’
6
She did her to the closs to take him fra his horse,An she welcomed him frae London:
[OMITTED]
‘Ye'r welcome, my good lord, frae London!’
7
‘An I be sae welcome, he says,‘Ye'll kiss me for my comin,
For the morn sud hae bin my weddin-day
Gif I had staid in London.’
8
She turned her about wi a disdainfull look,Dear, she was a pretty woman!
‘Gif the morn shud hae bin yer weddin-day,
Ye may kiss your whores in London.’
9
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
315
For I'll dine wi the Marquis of Huntley.’
10
She did her to his servant-man,I wat they caed him Peter Gordon:
‘Ye will ask my good lord if he will let me
Wi him a single mile to ride [to London].’
11
‘Ye need not, madam, [OMITTED]I have asked him already;
He will not let ye a single mile ride,
For he is to dine with the Marquis o Huntly.’
12
She called on her chamber-maid,Sin on Jean, her gentlewoman:
‘Ge make my bed, an tye up my head,
Woe's me for his hame-comin!’
13
She lived a year and day, wi mickle grief and wae,The doctors were wi her dealin;
Within a crack, her heart it brack,
An the letters they went to London.
14
He gae the table wi his foot,An koupd it wi his knee,
Gared silver cup an easer dish
In flinders flee.
15
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘I wad I had lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Or I had lost bonny Margat Irvine.’
16
He called on his best serving-man,I wat the caed him Peter Gordon:
‘Gae get our horses saddled wi speed,
Woe's me for our hame-comin!
17
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘For we will a' be in black, fra the hose to the hat,
Woe's me for bonny Margat Irvine!
18
‘We must to the North, to bury her corps,Alas for our hame-comin!
I rather I had lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Or I had lost bonny Margat Irvine.’
The Earl o Boyn
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—D
1
The guid Earl o Boyn's awa to Lonon gone,An a' his gallan grooms wie him,
But, for a' the ribbons that hing at her hat,
He has left his fair lady behind him.
2
He had not been in London tounA month but barely one, O,
Till the letters an the senes they came to her hand
That he was in love with another woman.
3
‘O what think ye o this, my bonny boy?’ she says,‘What think ye o my lord at London?
What think ye o this, my bonny boy?’ she says,
‘He's in love wie another woman.’
4
That lady lookd out at her closet-window,An saw the gallan grooms coming;
‘What think ye o this, my bonny boy?’ she says,
‘For yonder the gallan grooms coming.’
5
Stately, stately steppit she dounTo welcome the gallan grooms from London:
‘Ye're welcome, ye're welcome, gallan grooms a’;
Is the guid Earl o Boyn a coming?
6
‘What news, what news, my gallan grooms a'?What news have ye from London?
What news, what news, my gallan grooms a'?
Is the guid Earl o Boyn a-coming?’
7
‘No news, no news,’ said they gallan grooms a',‘No news hae we from London;
No news, no news,’ said the gallan grooms a',
‘But the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming,
An he's not two miles from the palace-gates,
An he's fast coming hame from London.’
8
‘Ye stable-grooms a’, be ready at the ca,An have a' your stables in shening,
316
Since the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming.
9
‘Ye pretty cooks a’, be ready at the ca,An have a' your spits in turning,
An see that ye spare neither cost nor pains,
Since the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming.
10
‘Ye servant-maids, ye'll trim up the beds,An wipe a' the rooms oer wie linnen,
An put a double daisy at every stair-head,
Since the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming.
11
‘Ye'll call to me my chambermaid,An Jean, my gentlewoman,
An they'll dress me in some fine array,
Since the good Earl o Boyn's a coming.’
12
Her stockens were o the good fine silk,An her shirt it was o the camric,
An her goun it was a' giltit oer,
An she was a' hung oer wie rubbies.
13
That lady lookd out at her closet-window,An she thought she saw him coming:
‘Go fetch to me some fine Spanish wine,
That I may drink his health that's a coming.’
14
Stately, stately steppit she dounTo welcome her lord from London,
An as she walked through the close
She's peed him from his horse.
15
‘Ye're welcome, ye're welcome, my dearest dear,Ye're three times welcome from London!’
‘If I be as welcome as ye say,
Ye'll kiss me for my coming;
Come kiss me, come kiss me, my dearest dear,
Come kiss me, my bonny Peggy Harboun.’
16
O she threw her arms aroun his neck,To kiss him for his coming:
‘If I had stayed another day,
I'd been in love wie another woman.’
17
She turned her about wie a very stingy look,She was as sorry as any woman;
She threw a napkin out-oure her face,
Says, Gang kiss your whore at London.
18
‘Ye'll mount an go, my gallan grooms a',Ye'll mount and back again to London;
Had I known this to be the answer my Meggy's gein me,
I had stayed some longer at London.’
19
‘Go, Jack, my livery boy,’ she says,‘Go ask if he'll take me wie him;
An he shall hae nae cumre o me
But mysel an my waiting-woman.’
20
‘O the laus o London the're very severe,They are not for a woman;
An ye are too low in coach for to ride,
I'm your humble servant, madam.
21
‘My friends they were a' angry at meFor marrying ane o the house o Harvey;
And ye are too low in coach for to ride,
I'm your humble servant, lady.
22
‘Go saddle for me my steeds,’ he says,‘Go saddle them soon and softly,
For I maun awa to the Bogs o the Geich,
An speak wi the Marquess o Huntly.’
23
The guid Earl o Boyn's awa to London gone,An a' his gallan gro[o]ms wie him;
But his lady fair he's left behind
Both a sick an a sorry woman.
24
O many were the letters she after him did send,A' the way back again to London,
An in less than a twelvemonth her heart it did break,
For the loss o her lord at London.
25
He was not won well to the Bogs o the Geich,Nor his horses scarcely batit,
Till the letters and the senes they came to his hand
That his lady was newly strickit.
26
‘O is she dead? or is she sick?O woe's me for my coming!
I'd rather a lost a' the Bogs o the Geich
Or I'd lost my bonny Peggy Harboun.’
27
He took the table wi his foot,Made a' the room to tremble:
‘I'd rather a lost a' the Bogs o the Geich
Or I'd lost my bonny Peggy Harboun.
28
‘Oh an alas! an O woe's me!An wo to the Marquess o Huntly.
317
To a true an a beautifu lady!’
29
There were fifteen o the bravest gentlemen,An the bravest o the lords o London,
They went a' to attend her burial-day,
But the Earl o Boyn could not go wi them.
Earl of Aboyne
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—E
1
‘My maidens fair, yoursels prepare.’2
You may weel knaw by her hair, wi the diamonds sae rare,That the Earl of Aboyne was comin.
3
‘My minstrels all, be at my call,Haud a' your rooms a ringin,
[OMITTED]
For the Earl of Aboyne is comin.’
4
‘Tomorrow soud hae been my bonnie waddinday,If I had staid in London.’
5
She turned her aboot wi an angry look,An sic an angry woman!
‘Gin tomorrow soud hae been your bonnie waddin-day,
Gae back to your miss in Lunnon.’
6
For mony a day an year that lady lived in care,An doctors wi her dealin,
Till just in a crack her very heart did brak,
An her letters went on to Lunnon.
7
There waur four-an-twenty o the noblest lordsThat Lonnon could aford him,
A' clead in black frae the saidle to the hat,
To convey the corpse o Peggy Ewan.
8
‘I'd rather hae lost a' the lands o AboyneThan lost my pretty Peggy Ewan.’
The Earl of Aboyne
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—F
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 635; “from the recitation of Margaret Black, wife of Archie Black, sailor in Ayr, a native of Aberdeenshire.”
1
The Earl of Aboyne is to London gane,And a' his nobles with him;
He's left his lady him behin,
He's awa, to remain in Lundon.
2
She's called upon her waiting-maidTo busk her in her claithin;
Her sark was o cambrick very fine,
And her bodice was the red buckskin.
3
Her stockings were o silk sae fine,And her shoon o the fine cordan;
Her coat was o the guid green silk,
Turnit up wi a siller warden.
4
Her goun was also o the silk,Turned up wi a siller warden,
And stately tripped she doun the stair,
As she saw her gude lord comin.
5
She gaed thro the close and grippit his horse,Saying, Ye're welcome hame frae London!
‘Gin that be true, come kiss me now,
Come kiss me for my coming.
6
‘For blythe and cantie may ye be,And thank me for my comin,
For the morn would hae been my wedding-day
Had I remained in London.’
7
She turnd her richt and round about,She was a waefu woman:
‘Gin the morn would hae been your weddin-day,
Gae kiss your whores in London.’
8
He turned him richt and round about,He was sorry for his comin:
‘Loup on your steeds, ye nobles a',
The morn we'll dine in London.’
318
9
She lived a year in meikle wae,And the doctors dealin wi her;
At lang and last her heart it brast
And the letters gade to London.
10
And when he saw the seals o black,He fell in a deadly weeping;
He said, She's dead whom I loed best,
And she had my heart in keeping.
11
‘Loup on your steeds, ye nobles a',I'm sorry for our comin;
Frae our horse to our hat, we'll gae in black,
And we'll murn for Peggy Irwine.’
12
They rade on but stap or stayTill they came to her father's garden,
Whare fifty o the bravest lords
Were convoying Peggy Irwine.
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—G
1
The Earl Aboyne to London has gane,And all his nobles with him;
For a' the braw ribbands he wore at his hat,
He has left his lady behind him.
2
She's called on her little foot-page,And Jean, her gentlewoman;
Said, Fill to me a full pint of wine,
And I'll drink it at my lord's coming.
3
‘You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome,’ she says,‘You're welcome home from London!’
‘If I be welcome as you now say,
Come kiss me, my bonnie Peggy Irvine.
4
‘Come kiss me, come kiss me, my lady,’ he says,‘Come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my wedding-day,
Had I staid any longer in London.’
5
She turned about with an angry look,Said, Woe's me for your coming!
If the morn should hae been your weddingday,
Go back to your whore in London.
6
He's called on his little foot-page,Said, Saddle both sure and swiftly,
And I'l away to the Bogs o the Gay,
And speak wi the Marquis o Huntly.
7
She has called on her little foot-page,Said, See if he'll take me with him;
And he shall hae nae mair cumber o me
But nysell and my servant-woman.
8
‘O London streets they are too strait,They are not for a woman,
And it is too low to ride in coach wi me
With your humble servant-woman.’
9
He had not been at the Bogs o the Gay,Nor yet his horse was baited,
Till a boy with a letter came to his hand
That his lady was lying streekit.
10
‘O woe! O woe! O woe!’ he says,‘O woe's me for my coming!
I had rather lost the Bogs o the Gay
Or I'd lost my bonny Peggy Irvine.
11
‘O woe! O woe! O woe!’ he said,‘O woe to the Marquis o Huntly,
Gard the Earl of Aboyne prove very unkind
To a good and a dutiful lady!’
Bonny Peggy Irvine
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—H
1
The Earl of Boon's to London gone,And all his merry men with him;
For a' the ribbonds hang at his horse's main.
He has left his lady behind him.
2
He had not been a night in town,Nor a day into the city,
319
And the ladies they did invite him.
3
His lady has lookit oer her left shoulder,To see if she saw him coming,
And then she saw her ain good lord,
Just newly come from London.
4
‘Come kiss me, my dear, come kiss me,’ he said,‘Come kiss me for my coming,
For if I had staid another day in town
Tomorrow I would hae been married in Lunnon.’
5
She turned about wi a very saucy look,As saucy as eer did a woman;
Says, If a' be true that I've heard of you,
You may go back and kiss your whores in Lunnon.
6
‘Go call on Jack, my waiting-man,’ he said,‘Go saddle and make him ready;
For I maun away to the Bughts o Gight,
To speak to the Marquess of Huntly.’
7
He had not been at the Bughts of the Gight,Nor the horses yet weel bated,
Until that the letters came ta him
That his lady was newly streeket.
8
‘Wae's me, my dear! wae's me!’ he said,‘It waes me for my coming;
For I wad rather lost a' the Bughts o the Gight
Or I had lost my bonny Peggy Irvine.’
Earl of Aboyne; or, Bonny Peggy Irvine
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—I
1
The Earl of Aboyne to London has gone,And all his nobles with him;
For all the braw ribbands he wore at his hat,
He has left his lady behind him.
2
She has to her high castle gane,To see if she saw him coming;
And who did she spy but her own servant Jack,
Coming riding home again from London.
3
‘What news, what news, my own servant Jack?What news have you got from London?’
‘Good news, good news, my lady,’ he says,
‘For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.’
4
She has to her kitchen-maid gane:‘Set your pots and your pans all a boiling;
Have every thing fine for gentry to dine,
For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.
5
‘Stable-grooms all, pray be well employed,Set your stable-bells all a ringing;
Let your hecks be overlaid with the finest of good hay,
For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.’
6
She has to her low gates gane,To see if she saw him coming,
And long seven miles before they came to town
She heard their bridles ringing.
7
‘Come kiss me, come kiss me, madam,’ he says,‘Come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my wedding-day
Had I staid any longer in London.’
8
She's turned about with an angry look,Says, Woe's me for thy coming!
If the morn should hae been your wedding-day,
Go back and kiss your whores in London.
9
They've turned their horses' heads around,Their faces all for London;
With their hands to their hats they all rode off,
And they're all away to London.
320
Earl of Aboyne; or, Bonny Peggy Irvine
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—J
1
The Earl of Aboyne has up to London gone,And all his nobles with him,
And three broad letters he sent into his love
He would wed another woman in London.
2
She has turned the honey month about,To see if he was coming,
And lang three miles ere he came to the town
She heard his bridle ringing.
3
She's went down unto the close and she's taen him from his horse,Says, Ye're welcome home from London!
‘If I be as welcome, dear Peggy, as you say,
Come kiss me for my coming.
4
‘Come kiss me, come kiss me, dear Peggy,’ he said,‘Come kiss me for my coming,
For tomorrow should have been my weddingday
Had I tarried any longer in London.’
5
She has turned herself round about,And she was an angry woman:
‘If tomorrow should have been your weddingday,
You may kiss with your sweethearts in London.’
6
‘Go saddle me my steed,’ he said,‘Saddle and make him ready;
For I must away to the bonny Bog of Keith,
For to visit the Marquis of Huntley.’
7
‘Go ask him, go ask, dear Thomas,’ she said,‘Go ask if he'll take me with him;’
‘I've asked him once, and I'll ask him no more,
For ye'll never ride a mile in his company.’
8
‘Go make to me my bed,’ she said,‘Make it soft and narrow;
For since my true lover has slighted me so,
I will die for him ere morrow.’
9
She has called her waiting-man,And Jean her gentlewoman:
‘Go bring to me a glass of red wine,
For I'm as sick as any woman.’
10
The bed it was not made nor well laid down,Nor yet the curtains drawn on,
Till stays and gown and all did burst,
And it's alace for bonny Peggy Irvine!
11
The Earl of Aboyne was not at the Bog of Keith,Nor met wi the Marquis of Huntley,
Till three broad letters were sent after him
That his pretty Peggy Irvine had left him.
12
He gave such a rap on the table where he satIt made all the room for to tremble:
‘I would rather I had lost all the rents of Aboyne
Than have lost my pretty Peggy Irvine.’
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—K
[_]
Communicated by Mr Alexander Laing; from the recitation of Miss Fanny Walker, of Mount Pleasant, near Newburgh-on-Tay.
1
The Earl o Aboyne is awa to Lunnon gane,An he's taen Joannan wi him,
An it ill be Yule ere he come again;
But he micht hae taen his bonnie Peggie Ewan.
2
Cook-maidens all, be ready at my call,Hae a' your pats an pans a-reekin;
For the finest o flowrs, gae through your bowrs,
For the Earl o Aboyne's a comin.
321
Earl of Aboyne
THE EARL OF ABOYNE—L
[_]
Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 54. “An old woman (native of Banfshire) sings ‘The Earl of Aboyne,’ beginning:”
And his hail court wi him;
Better he had staid at hame,
Or taen his lady wi him.
322
236
THE LAIRD O DRUM
323
Laird of Drum
THE LAIRD O DRUM—A
[_]
a. Kinloch MSS, V, 9, in the handwriting of James Beattie. b. Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 199; “from recitation.”
1
O it fell out upon a day,When Drums was going to ride, O
And there he met with a well-far'd may,
Keeping her flocks on yon side. O
2
‘O fair may, O rare may,Can not you fancy me?
Of a' the lasses here about
I like nane so well as thee.’
3
‘Set your love on another, kind sir,Set it not on me,
For I'm not fit to be your bride,
And your whore I'll never be.’
4
Drums is to her father gane,Keeping his flocks on yon hill,
And he has gotten his consent,
And the maid was at his will.
5
‘My daughter can neither read nor write,She was neer brought up at school;
But well can she milk cow and ewe,
And make a kebbuck well.
6
‘She'll winn in your barn at bear-seed time,Cast out your muck at Yule;
She'll saddle your steed in time o need,
Draw aff your boots hersell.’
7
‘Have not I no clergymen?Pay I no clergy fee?
I'll school her as I think fit,
And as I think fit to be.’
8
Drums is to the Highlands ganeFor to be made ready,
And a' the gentry thereabout
Says, Yonder comes Drums and his lady.
9
‘Peggy Coutts is a very bonnie bride,And Drums is a wealthy laddie;
But Drums might hae chosen a higher match
Than any shepherd's daughter.’
10
Then up bespake his brother John,Says, Brother you've done us wrong;
You've married ane below our degree,
A stain to a' our kin.
11
‘Hold your tongue, my brother John,I have done you no wrong;
For I've married ane to wirk and win,
And ye've married ane to spend.
12
‘The last time that I had a wife,She was above my degree;
I durst not come in her presence
But with my hat on my knee.’
13
There was four-and-twenty gentlemenStood at the yetts o Drum;
There was na ane amang them a'
That welcomd his lady in.
14
He's taen her by the milk-white handAnd led her in himsell,
And in thro ha's and in thro bowers,
‘And you're welcome, Lady o Drum.’
15
Thrice he kissd her cherry cheek,And thrice her cherry chin,
And twenty times her comely mouth,
‘And you're welcome, Lady o Drum.’
16
‘Ye shall be cook in my kitchen,Butler in my ha;
Ye shall be lady at my command
When I ride far awa.’
17
‘But what will I do when auld Drum dies,When auld Drum dies and leaves me?
Then I'll tak back my word again,
And the Coutts will come and see me.’
324
The Laird of Doune
THE LAIRD O DRUM—B
1
There was a knight, [an a gallant knight,]An a gallant knight was he,
An he's faen in love
Wi his shepherd's daghterie.
2
[OMITTED]He could neither gang nor ride,
He fell so deep in her fancy,
Till his nose began to bleed.
3
‘Bonny may, an bra may,Canna ye on me rue?
By a' the maid[s] I ever saw,
There is nane I loo by you.’
4
‘Ye'r a shepherd's ae daghter,An I'm a barron's son;
An what pleasure I wad hae
To see ye gae out an in!’
5
‘I'm a shepherd's ae dochter,An ye'r a barron's son;
An there is nae pleasure I could ha
To see ye gae out or in.
6
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘For I wadna gie the fancy of my bonny love
For na love nor favour o you.’
7
‘Bonny may, an bra may,Canna ye on me rue?
By a' the maids I ever saw
There is nane I loo by you.’
8
‘Lay na yer fancy, sir, on me,’ she says,‘Lay na yer fancy on me;
For I'm our low to be yer bride,
An yer quine I'll never be.
9
‘For I will wear nane o yer silks,Nor nane o yer scarlet claes;
For the hue o the whin shall be my gown,
An I will gae as I pleas.’
10
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘Ye'r na our laigh to be my bride,
An my quine ye's never be.
11
‘Bonny may, and bra may,Winna ye on me rue?
By a' the maids I ever see,
There's nane I loo but you.’
12
‘Gin ye ha faen so deep in my fancyYe can neither gan[g] nor ride,
Gae tak me to the middle o the ring,
An bring me guid companie.’
13
He has taen her by the milk-white handAnd led her thro haas an bowers:
‘Ye'r the choice of my heart,
An a' I hae is yours.’
14
He took her by the milk-white handAnd led her out and in:
‘Ye'r the choice o my heart,
My dear, ye'r welcome in.’
15
Out spake his brither John,‘Brither, ye ha done great wrong;
Ye hae married a wife this night
Disdained by a' yer kin.’
16
‘Hold yer tong, my brither John,For I hae don na wrong;
For I ha married a wife to [OMITTED],
An ye ha ane to spend.’
THE LAIRD O DRUM—C
[_]
From a MS. copy formerly in possession of Sir Walter Scott; communicated by the Rev. W. Forbes-Leith, through Mr Macmath.
1
There was a shepherd's daughterSheering at the bear,
And by cam the Laird o Drum,
On an evening clear.
2
‘O will ye fancy me, fair maid?O will ye fancy me?
O will ye fancy me, fair maid,
An lat the sheering be?’
325
3
‘O say na sae again, kind sir,O say na sae again;
I'm owr low to be your bride,
Ye'r born owr high a man.’
4
Said, Fair maid, O rare maid,Will ye on me rue?
Amang a' the lasses o the land
I fancy nane but you.
5
‘Lay your love on another,’ she said,‘And lay it not on me,
For I'm owr low to be your bride,
Your miss I'll never be.
6
‘Yonder is my father dear,Wi hogs upon yon hill;
Gif ye get but his consent,
I shall be at your will.’
7
He's taen him to her father dear,Keeps hogs upon yon hill,
An he has gotten his consent,
The may was at his will.
8
‘My daughter canna read or write,She never was at school;
Weel can she milk cow and ewe,
An serve your house fu weel.
9
‘Weel can she shack your barnsAn gae to mill an kill,
Saddle your steed in time o need,
And draw your boots hirsel.
10
‘She canna wear your silk sae fine,Nor yet your silver clear;
The hue o the ewe man be her weed,
Altho she was your dear.’
11
He's wedded the shepherd's daughter,An he has taen her hame;
He's wedded the shepherd's daughter,
An led her on to Drum.
12
There were four an twenty bold baronsStood at the yet o Drum;
There was na ane amang them a'
That welcomd his lady hame.
13
Out then spak his brother dear,Says, Ye'v done mickel wrong;
Ye'v wedded a mean woman,
The lack o a' our kin.
14
‘I never did thee wrong, brother,I never did thee wrong;
I've wedded a woman to work an win,
An ye hae ane to spen.
15
‘The last woman I weddedWas aboon my degree;
I could na sit in her presence
But wi hat upon my knee.’
16
He's taen her by the milk-white handAn led her but an ben,
An in the ha, amang them a',
He's hailed her Lady Drum.
17
‘Now I've wedded the shepherd's daughter,An I hae brought her hame,
In the ha, amang ye a',
She is welcome hame to Drum.’
The Laird of Drum
THE LAIRD O DRUM—D
[_]
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 194. b. Buchan's MSS, II, 101. c. The New Deeside Guide, by James Brown [Joseph Robertson], [1832], p. 11. d. Gibb MS., p. 21, No 4, from the recitation of a schoolfellow at Auchinblae, Kincardineshire, about 1851.
1
The laird o Drum is a hunting gane,All in a morning early,
And he did spy a well-far'd may,
Was shearing at her barley.
2
‘O will ye fancy me, fair may,And let your shearing be, O
And gang and be the lady o Drum?
O will ye fancy me?’ O
3
‘I winna fancy you,’ she says,‘Nor let my shearing be;
For I'm ower low to be Lady Drum,
And your miss I'd scorn to be.’
4
‘But ye'll cast aff that gown o grey,Put on the silk and scarlet;
326
You'll neither be miss nor harlot.’
5
‘Then dee you to my father dear,Keeps sheep on yonder hill;
To ony thing he bids me do
I'm always at his will.’
6
He has gane to her father dear,Keeps sheep on yonder hill:
‘I'm come to marry your ae daughter,
If ye'll gie me your gude will.’
7
‘She'll shake your barn, and winna your corn,And gang to mill and kill;
In time of need she'll saddle your steed;
And I'll draw your boots mysell.’
8
‘O wha will bake my bridal bread,And wha will brew my ale,
And wha will welcome my lady hame,
It's mair than I can tell.’
9
Four an twenty gentle knightsGied in at the yetts o Drum;
But nae a man lifted his hat
Whan the lady o Drum came in.
10
But he has taen her by the hand,And led her but and ben;
Says, You'r welcome hame, my lady Drum,
For this is your ain land.
11
For he has taen her by the hand,And led her thro the ha;
Says, You'r welcome hame, my lady Drum,
To your bowers ane and a'.
12
Then he['s] stript her o the robes o grey,Drest her in the robes o gold,
And taen her father frae the sheep-keeping,
Made him a bailie bold.
13
She wasna forty weeks his wifeTill she brought hame a son;
She was as well a loved lady
As ever was in Drum.
14
Out it speaks his brother dear,Says, You've dune us great wrang;
You've married a wife below your degree,
She's a mock to all our kin.
15
Out then spake the Laird of Drum,Says, I've dune you nae wrang;
I've married a wife to win my bread,
You've married ane to spend.
16
‘For the last time that I was married,She was far abeen my degree;
She wadna gang to the bonny yetts o Drum
But the pearlin abeen her ee,
And I durstna gang in the room where she was
But my hat below my knee.’
17
When they had eaten and well drunken,And all men bound for bed,
The Laird o Drum and his lady gay
In ae bed they were laid.
18
‘Gin ye had been o high renown,As ye are o low degree,
We might hae baith gane down the streets
Amang gude companie.’
19
‘I tauld you ere we were wedYou were far abeen my degree;
But now I'm married, in your bed laid,
And just as gude as ye.
20
‘Gin ye were dead, and I were dead,And baith in grave had lain,
Ere seven years were at an end,
They'd not ken your dust frae mine.’
The Laird of Drum
THE LAIRD O DRUM—E
[_]
From Dr Joseph Robertson's interleaved and annotated copy of The New Deeside Guide, [nominally] by James Brown [but written by Joseph Robertson], Aberdeen [1832]; inserted at p. 12.
1
The Laird of Drum is a wooing gane,All in a morning early,
And there he spied a weel-far'd may,
She was shearing at her barley.
2
‘Will you fancy me, my bonny may,And will you fancy me? O
And will you come and be Lady Drum,
And let your shearing a be?’ O
327
3
‘It's I winna fancy you, kind sir,I winna fancy thee;
For I'm too low to be lady o Drum,
And your whore I would scorn to be.’
4
‘Ye'll cast aff the robes of gray,And put on the silk and the scarlet,
And here to you I'll make a vow
Ye'se neither be whore nor harlot.’
5
‘I winna cast aff the robes o gray,To put on the silk and the scarlet,
But I'll wear the colour of the ewe,
For they set me better than a' that.
6
‘But ye'll do you doun to my father dear,Keeping sheep on yonder hill,
And the first ae thing that he bids me I'll do,
For I wirk aye at his will.’
7
He's done him doun to her father dear,Keeping sheep on yonder hill:
‘Ye hae a pretty creature for your daughter;
Dear me! but I like her well.’
8
‘It's she can neither read nor write,She was never brought up at the squeel;
She canna wash your china cups,
Nor yet mak a dish o tea.
9
‘But well can she do a' ither thing,For I learnt the girly mysell;
She'll fill in your barn, and winnow your corn,
She'll gang to your kill and your mill,
And, time o need, she'll saddle your steed,
And draw your boots hersell.’
10
‘Wha will bake my bridal bread,And wha will brew my ale?
Wha will welcome my lady in?
For it's more than I can tell.’
11
There was four-and-twenty gentlemenStood a' in the yetts o Drum,
But there was nane o them lifted their hats
To welcome the young lady in.
12
But up spake his ae brither,Says, Brither, ye hae done wrang;
Ye have married a wife this day
A lauch to a' our kin.
13
‘I've married ane to win my bread,But ye married ane to spend;
But as lang's I'm able to walk to the yetts o Drum
On me she may depend.
14
‘The last lady that I did wedWas far above my command;
I durst not enter the bower where she was
But my hat low in my hand.’
15
When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' man bound for bed,
The Laird o Drum and the shepherd's dother
In one bed they were laid.
16
‘If ye were come o noble bleedAn were as high as me,
We could gang to the yetts o Drum
Amangst gueed companie.’
17
‘I tald you ere we was wedI was oer low for thee,
But now we are wedd and in ae bed laid,
And you must be content wi me.
18
‘For an ye were dead, an I were dead,And laid in the dust low down,
When we were baith turnd up again
Wha could ken your mould frae mine?’
The Ladye o the Drum; or, The Laird o the Drum
THE LAIRD O DRUM—F
[_]
a. Manuscript of David Louden, Morham, Haddington, p. 7, 1873; from Mrs Dickson, Rentonhall, derived from her great-grandmother. b. Macmath MS., p. 13; from Mr William Traquair, S.S.C., Edinburgh, obtained originally in Perthshire.
1
‘Oh, will ye fancy me, fair maid?Oh, will ye fancy me? O
Or will ye go to be ladye o the Drum,
An let a' your shearin abe? O
An let a' your shearin abe? O
An let a' your shearin abe?’ O
2
‘I can neither read nor write,Nor neer been brocht up at schule;
But I can do all other things,
An keep a hoose richt weel.
328
3
‘My faither he's a puir shepherd-man,Herds his hogs on yonder hill;
Gin ye will go get his consent,
Then I'll be at your call.’
4
He has gane to her father,That herds hogs on yonder hill;
He said, ‘You've got a pretty daughter,
I'd fain tak her to my sel.’
5
‘She can neither read nor write,Was neer brocht up at schule;
But she can do all other things,
An I learnt aye the lassie my sel.
6
‘She'll milk your cows, she'll carry your corn,She'll gang to the mill or the kiln;
She'll saddle your steed at any time of need,
And she'll brush up your boots hersel.’
7
‘It's who will bake my bridal bread?Or who will brew my ale?
Or who will welcome this bonnie lassie in?
For it's more than I can tell.’
8
There's four-and-twenty gentlemenStand doun at the gate o the Drum;
Not one of them all would take off his hat
For to welcome the bonnie lassie in.
9
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘Oh, brother, you've married a wife this day
A disgrace to all our kin.’
10
‘Oh, brother, I've married a wife to win,And ye've got one to spen,
And as long as the bonnie lassie walks out and in
She shall aye be the ladye o the Drum.’
11
When all was done, and no bells rung,And all men bound for their bed,
The laird and the shepherd's bonnie daughter
In one bed they were laid.
12
‘Though I'm not of as noble blood,Nor yet of as high degree,
Now I lie locked in your arms two,
And you must be contented wi me.
13
‘If you were dead, and I were dead,And baith laid in one grave,
If we were baith to be raised up again,
Wha would ken your dust frae mine?
332
237
THE DUKE OF GORDON'S DAUGHTER
THE DUKE OF GORDON'S DAUGHTER
[_]
a. ‘The Duke of Gordon's Daughter,’ The Duke of Gordon's Garland, Percy Papers, and another edition in a volume of garlands formerly in Heber's library. b. ‘The Duke of Gordon's Daughters,’ a stall-copy, printed for John Sinclair, Dumfries. c. ‘The Duke of Gordon's Daughters,’ Stirling, printed by M. Randall. d. ‘The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters,’ Peterhead, printed by P. Buchan. e. ‘The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 125. f. ‘The Duke o Gordon's Daughters,’ Murison MS., p. 90, Aberdeenshire. g. ‘The Duke o Gordon's Daughter,’ Gibb MS., p. 13, No 3, from the recitation of Mrs Gibb, senior. h. ‘The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters,’ Macmath MS., p. 31, a fragment recited by Mrs Macmath, senior, in 1874, and learned by her fifty years before.
333
1
The Duke of Gordon has three daughters,Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean;
They would not stay in bonny Castle Gordon,
But they would go to bonny Aberdeen.
2
They had not been in AberdeenA twelvemonth and a day
Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
3
Word came to the Duke of Gordon,In the chamber where he lay,
Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
4
‘Go saddle me the black horse,And you'll ride on the grey,
And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen,
Where I have been many a day.’
5
They were not a mile from Aberdeen,A mile but only three,
Till he met with his two daughters walking,
But away was Lady Jean.
6
‘Where is your sister, maidens?Where is your sister now?
Where is your sister, maidens,
That she is not walking with you?’
7
‘O pardon us, honoured father,O pardon us,’ they did say;
‘Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she will gae.’
8
When he came to Aberdeen,And down upon the green,
There did he see Captain Ogilvie,
Training up his men.
9
‘O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie,And an ill death thou shalt die;
For taking to thee my daughter,
Hangëd thou shalt be.’
10
Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter,And sent it to the king,
To cause hang Captain Ogilvie
If ever he hanged a man.
334
11
‘I will not hang Captain Ogilvie,For no lord that I see;
But I'll cause him to put off the lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.’
12
Word came to Captain Ogilvie,In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.
13
‘If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,This pennance I'll take wi;
If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
All this I will dree.’
14
Lady Jean had not been married,Not a year but three,
Till she had a babe in every arm,
Another upon her knee.
15
‘O but I'm weary of wandering!O but my fortune is bad!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a soldier-lad.
16
‘O but I'm weary of wandering!O but I think lang!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a single man.’
17
When they came to the Highland hills,Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean's shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.
18
‘O wo to the hills and the mountains!Wo to the wind and the rain!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No further am I able to gang.
19
‘Wo to the hills and the mountains!Wo to the frost and the snow!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No farther am I able for to go.
20
‘O if I were at the glens of Foudlen,Where hunting I have been,
I would find the way to bonny Castle Gordon,
Without either stockings or shoon.’
21
When she came to Castle Gordon,And down upon the green,
The porter gave out a loud shout,
‘O yonder comes Lady Jean!’
22
‘O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon,
But away with your Captain Ogilvie.’
23
Now over seas went the captain,As a soldier under command;
A message soon followed after
To come and heir his brother's land.
24
‘Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie,And heir your brother's land;
Come home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Be Earl of Northumberland.’
25
‘O what does this mean?’ says the captain;‘Where's my brother's children three?’
‘They are dead and buried,
And the lands they are ready for thee.’
26
‘Then hoist up your sails, brave captain,Let's be jovial and free;
I'll to Northumberland and heir my estate,
Then my dear Jeany I'll see.’
27
He soon came to Castle Gordon,And down upon the green;
The porter gave out with a loud shout,
‘Here comes Captain Ogilvie!’
28
‘You're welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,Your fortune's advanced I hear;
No stranger can come unto my gates
That I do love so dear.’
29
‘Sir, the last time I was at your gates,You would not let me in;
I'm come for my wife and children,
No friendship else I claim.’
30
‘Come in, pretty Captain Ogilvie,And drink of the beer and the wine;
And thou shalt have gold and silver
To count till the clock strike nine.’
31
‘I'll have none of your gold or silver,Nor none of your white-money;
But I'll have bonny Jeany Gordon,
And she shall go now with me.’
335
32
Then she came tripping down the stair,With the tear into her eye;
One babe was at her foot,
Another upon her knee.
33
‘You're welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,With my young family;
Mount and go to Northumberland,
There a countess thou shall be.’
338
238
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE
339
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—A
1
Four an twenty noblemen they rode thro Banchory fair,But bonnie Glenlogie was flower [of a'] that was there.
2
Four and twenty noblemen rode from Banchory ha,But bonnie Glenlogie he was flower of them a'.
3
‘O bonnie Glenlogie, be constant and kind,An, bonnie Glenlogie, I'll tell you my mind.
4
[OMITTED] so frank and so free,[OMITTED] and I get na Glenlogie, I'll die.’
5
‘O bonnie Jeanie, your portion's but smaTo lay your love on me, that's promist awa.’
6
Her cherry cheeks grew pale an wan; with the tear in her ee,‘Gin I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die.’
7
Ben came her father, steps to her bowr:‘Dear Jeanie, you'r acting the part of a [whore].
8
‘You're seeking ane that cares na for thee;Ye's get Lord William, let Glenlogie be.’
9
‘O had you still, father, let your folly be;Gin I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die.’
10
Ben came her mother, steps on the floor:‘Dear daughter Jeanie, you're acting the [whore],
11
‘Seeking of ane that cares na for thee;For ye'll get Lord William, let Glenlogie be.’
12
‘O had your tongue, mother, and let me be;An I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die.’
13
O ben came her father's chaplain, a man of great skill,And he has written a broad letter, and he has pennd it well.
14
H'as pennd it well, an sent it awaTo bonnie Glenlogie, the flower of them a'.
15
When he got the letter, his tears did down fa‘She's laid her love on me, that was promist awa.’
16
He calld on his servant wi speed, and bade him saddle his horses, and bridle them a':‘For she has laid her love on me, altho I was promist awa.’
340
17
The horses were saddled wi speed, but ere they came he was four mile awa,To Jean of Bethelny, the flowr of them a'.
18
But when he came to her bowr she was pale and wan,But she grew red and ruddy when Glenlogie came in.
19
‘Cheer up, bonnie Jeannie, ye are flowr o them a';I have laid my love on you, altho I was promist awa.’
20
Her beauty was charming, her tocher down tauld;Bonnie Jean of Bethelny was scarce fifteen year auld.
Glenlogie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—B
1
Four and twenty nobles sits in the king's ha,Bonnie Glenlogie is the flower among them a'.
2
In came Lady Jean, skipping on the floor,And she has chosen Glenlogie'mong a' that was there.
3
She turned to his footman, and thus she did say:Oh, what is his name? and where does he stay?
4
‘His name is Glenlogie, when he is from home;He is of the gay Gordons, his name it is John.’
5
‘Glenlogie, Glenlogie, an you will prove kind,My love is laid on you; I am telling my mind.’
6
He turned about lightly, as the Gordons does a':‘I thank you, Lady Jean, my loves is promised awa.’
7
She called on her maidens her bed for to make,Her rings and her jewels all from her to take.
8
In came Jeanie's father, a wae man was he;Says, I'll wed you to Drumfendrich, he has mair gold than he.
9
Her father's own chaplain, being a man of great skill,He wrote him a letter, and indited it well.
10
The first lines he looked at, a light laugh laughed he;But ere he read through it the tears blinded his ee.
11
Oh, pale and wan looked she when Glenlogie cam in,But even rosy grew she when Glenlogie sat down.
12
‘Turn round, Jeanie Melville, turn round to this side,And I'll be the bridegroom, and you'll be the bride.’
13
Oh,'t was a merry wedding, and the portion down told,Of bonnie Jeanie Melville, who was scarce sixteen years old.
Glenlogie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—C
[_]
Gibb MS., No 6, p. 33, from the recitation of Mrs Gibb, senior; traced to Mrs E. Lindsay, about 1800.
1
There was three score o nobles sat at the king's dine,An bonny Glenlogie was flower o thrice nine.
2
[OMITTED] cam trippin downstair,An she fancied Glenlogie ower a' that was there.
341
3
She called on the footman that ran by his side,Says, What is that man's name, an where does he bide?
4
‘His name is Glenlogie when he goes from home.But he's of the great Gordons, an his name is Lord John.’
5
‘Glenlogie! Glenlogie! Glenlogie!’ said she,‘An for bonnie Glenlogie I surely will die.’
6
She called on her maidens to make her her bed,[OMITTED]
7
When Glenlogie got the letter, amang noblemen,‘Dear me,’ said Glenlogie, ‘what does young women mean!’
8
Then up spake his father, Let it never be saidThat such a fine lady should die for your sake.
9
‘Go saddle my black horse, go saddle him soon,Till I go to Bethelnie, to see Lady Jean.’
10
When he got to Bethelnie, there was naebody thereBut was weeping an wailing an tearing their hair.
11
‘Turn round, Jeanie Gordon, turn round to this side;I'll be the bridegroom, an ye's be the bride.’
There waur aucht an forty nobles
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—D
1
There waur aucht an forty nobles rade to the king's ha,But bonnie Glenlogie was the flour o them a'.
2
There waur aucht an forty nobles rade to the king's dine,But bonnie Glenlogie was the flour o thrice nine.
3
Bonnie Jeanie Melville cam trippin doun the stair,An whan she saw Glenlogie her hairt it grew sair.
4
[OMITTED]‘He's of the gay Gordons, his name it is John.’
5
‘Oh, Logie! Oh, Logie! Oh, Logie!’ said she,‘If I get na Glenlogie, I surely will dee.’
6
He turned him aboot, as the Gordons do a',Says, I thank you, Lady Jeanie, but I'm promised awa.
7
She called on her maidens her hands for to take,An the rings from her fingers she did them a' break.
8
‘Oh, what is my lineage, or what is my make.That such a fine lady suld dee for my sake?’
9
Such a pretty wedding, as I have been told,An bonnie Jeanie Melville was scarce sixteen years old.
342
Jean o Bethelnie's Love for Sir G. Gordon; or, Bonnie Jean o Bethelnie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—E
[_]
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 188. b. Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 54.
1
There were four-and-twenty ladies dined i the Queen's ha,And Jean o Bethelnie was the flower o them a'.
2
Four-and-twenty gentlemen rode thro Banchory fair,But bonny Glenlogie was the flower that was there.
3
Young Jean at a window she chanced to sit nigh,And upon Glenlogie she fixed an eye.
4
She calld on his best man, unto him did say,O what is that knight's name? or where does he stay?
5
‘He's of the noble Gordons, of great birth and fame;He stays at Glenlogie, Sir George is his name.’
6
Then she wrote a broad letter, and wrote it in haste;To send to Glenlogie, she thought it was best.
7
Says, O brave Glenlogie, unto me be kind;I've laid my love on you, and told you my mind.
8
Then reading the letter, as he stood on the green,Says, I leave you to judge, sirs; what does women mean?
9
Then turnd about sprightly, as the Gordons do a':‘Lay not your love on me, I'm promisd awa.’
10
When she heard this answer, her heart was like to break,That she laid her love on him, and him so ungrate.
11
Then she calld on her maidens to lay her to bed,And take her fine jewels and lay them aside.
12
‘My seals and my signets, no more shall I crave;But linen and trappin, a chest and a grave.’
13
Her father stood by her, possessëd with fearTo see his dear daughter possessëd with care.
14
Says, Hold your tongue, Jeannie, let all your folly be;I'll wed you to Dumfedline, he is better than he.
15
‘O hold your tongue, father, and let me alane;If I getna Glenlogie, I'll never have ane.
16
‘His bonny jimp middle, his black rolling eye,If I getna Glenlogie, I'm sure I shall die.’
17
But her father's old chaplain, a man of great skill,He wrote a broad letter, and pennëd it well.
18
Saying, O brave Glenlogie, why must it be so?A maid's love laid on you, shall she die in her woe?
19
Then reading the letter, his heart was like to breakThat such a leal virgin should die for his sake.
20
Then he calld on his footman, and likewise his groom,Says, Get my horse saddled and bridlëd soon.
21
Before the horse was saddled and brought to the yate,Bonnie Glenlogie was five miles on foot.
22
When he came to Bethelnie, he saw nothing thereBut weeping and wailing, vexation and care.
23
Then out spake her father, with the tear in his ee,You're welcome, Glenlogie, you're welcome to me.
24
‘If ye make me welcome, as welcome's ye say,Ye'll show me the chamber where Jeannie does lay.’
25
Then one o her maidens took him by the hand,To show him the chamber where Jeannie lay in.
343
26
Before that she saw him, she was pale and wan;But when she did see him, she grew ruddy again.
27
‘O turn, bonny Jeannie, turn you to your side;For I'll be the bridegroom, and ye'll be the bride.’
28
When Jeannie was married, her tocher down tauld,Bonny Jean o Bethelnie was fifteen years auld.
Jean o Bethelnie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—F
1
Fourscore nobles ride in the king's court,And bonny Earl Ogie's the flower of the rout;
Fourscore lean oer the castle-wa,
But Jean of Bethelnie's the flower of em a'.
2
She writ a broad letter, and pennd it fou lang,And sent it Earl Ogie as fast as't can gang:
‘Bonny Earl Ogie, be courteous and kind;
I've laid my love on thee; maun I die in my prime?’
3
‘O pox on thee, Jenny, for being sae slaw!Bonny Earl Ogie is promisd awa:’
This letter was like to mak her heart break,
For revealing her mind to a man so ingrate.
4
‘Come here, all my handmaids, O do this with speed,Take my gowns and my passments, and lay me to bed;
Lay me to my bed, it is all that I crave;
Wi my sark in my coffin, lay me in my grave.’
5
Her father beheld her with heart full of grief,And spoke these words to her, to gi her relief:
Hawd your tongue, Jenny, your mourning let be,
You shall have Drumfinely, who's as good as he.
6
‘Haud your tongue, father, your words make me sad;If I get not Earl Ogie, I still shall be bad;
With his bonny streight body, and black rolling eee,
If I get not Earl Ogie, for him I mun dee.’
7
Her father, king's chaplain, and one of great skill,Did write a broad letter, and pennd it fou weel;
He as writ a broad letter, and pennd it fou lang,
And sent it Earl Ogie as fast as't can gang.
8
‘Bonny Earl Ogie, be courteous and kind;My daughter loves you; must she die in her prime?’
When he read the first lines, a loud laugh gave he;
But or he redd the middle, the tear filld his ee.
9
‘Come here, all my footmen, and also my groom,Go saddle my horses, and saddle them soon:’
They were not weel saddled and set on the green
Or bonny Earl Ogie was twa mile his lain.
10
When he came to Bethelnie, he nothing saw thereBut mourning and weeping, lamentation and care:
‘O you that's her handmaid, take me by the hand,
Lead me to the chamber that Jenny lies in.’
11
When thither he came, she was pale and half dead;As soon as she saw him, her cheeks they grew red:
‘Come, turn thee, my Jenny, come, turn on thy side,
I'll be the bridegroom, you shall be the bride.’
12
Her spirit revived to hear him say sae,And thus ended luckily all her great wae;
Then streight were they married, with joy most profound,
And Jean of Bethelnie was sav'd from the ground.
344
Glenlogie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—G
[_]
Alexander Laing's MS., “Ancient Ballads and Songs, etc., etc., from the Recitation of Old People,” p. 8, 1829.
1
There was mony a braw noble cum to our king's ha,But the bonnie Glenlogie was the flower o them a';
An the young ladye Jeanye, sae gude an sae fair,
She fancyd Glenlogie aboon a' that were there.
2
She speered at his footman that rode by his sideHis name an his surname an whare he did bide:
‘He bides a[t] Glenlogie whan he is at hame,
He is of the gay Gordons, an John is his name.’
3
‘Oh, Logie, Glenlogie, I'll tell you my mind;My luve is laid on you, O wad ye prove kind!’
He turned him about, as the Gordons do a',
‘I thank [you], fair ladye, but I'm promised awa.’
4
She called on her maidens her hands for to take,An the rings on her fingers she did them a' break:
‘Oh, Logie, Glenlogie! Oh, Logie!’ said she,
‘Gin I get na Glenlogie, I'm sure I will die.’
5
‘O hold your tongue, daughter, an weep na sae sair,For ye'll get Drumfindlay, his father's young heir.’
‘O hold your tongue, father, an let me alane,
Gin I get na Glenlogie, I winna hae ane.’
6
Her father wrote a broad letter wi speed,And ordered his footman to run and ride;
He wrote a broad letter, he wrote it wi skill,
An sent it to Glenlogie, who had dune her the ill.
7
The first line that he read, a light laugh gae he;The next line that he read, the tear filld his ee:
‘O what a man am I, an hae I a maik,
That such a fine ladye shoud die for my sake?
8
‘Ye'll saddle my horse, an ye'll saddle him sune,An, when he is saddled, bring him to the green:’
His horse was na saddled an brocht to the green,
When Glenlogie was on the road three miles his lane.
9
When he came to her father's, he saw naething thereBut weeping an wailing an sobbing fu sair:
O pale an wan was she when Logie gaed in,
But red an ruddie grew she when Logie gaed ben.
10
‘O turn, Ladye Jeany, turn ye to your side,For I'll be the bridegroom, an ye'll be the bride:’
It was a blythe wedding as ever I've seen,
An bonny Jeany Melville was scarce seventeen.
Glenlogie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—H
1
Six and six nobles gaed to Belhelvie fair,But bonnie Glenlogie was flowr o a' there;
Bonnie Jean o Behelvie gaed tripping doun the stair,
And fancied Glenlogie afore a' that was there.
2
She said to his serving-man, as he stood aside,O what is that man's name, and whare does he bide?
‘They call him Glenlogie whan he goes frae home,
But he's come o the grand Gordons, and [h]is name is Lord John.’
3
‘Glenlogie, Glenlogie, be constant and kind;I've laid my love on you, I'll tell you my mind:’
‘O wae's me heart, Jeanie, your tocher's oure sma;
Lay na your love on me, for I'm promised awa.’
345
4
She called for the servant to show her a room,Likewise for a handmaid to mak her bed doun;
Wi that Jeanie's father cam stepping on the floor,
Says, What is the matter my dochter lies here?
5
‘Forgie, honourd father, my folly,’ said she,‘But for the sake o Glenlogie your dochter will dee:’
‘O cheer up, my dochter, for I'll gie ye my hand
That ye'se get young Glenforbar, w'an earldom of land.
6
‘O cheer up, my dochter, turn ance frae the wa,And ye'll get Glenforbar, the flowr o them a':’
‘I wad rather tak Glenlogie wi his staff in his hand
Afore I wad tak Glenforbar wi an earldom of land.’
7
Jeanie's father was a scholar, and a man o grit wit,And he wrote him a letter, he thought it was fit.
8
When Glenlogie gat the letter, he was amang nobles a',[OMITTED] he lute his hat fa:
‘I wonder i the warld what women see at me,
For bonnie Jean o Belhelvie is a dying for me:’
9
He calld for his servant to saddle his steed,[OMITTED] wi speed;
The horse was na saddled, but out on the green,
Till bonnie Glenlogie was some miles him leen.
10
Whan he cam to Belhelvie, he rade round about,And he saw Jeanie's father at a window look out.
11
Bonnie Jean o Belhevie lay pale and wan,But red and ruddy grew she when Glenlogie cam in:
‘Lie yont, bonnie Jeanie, and let me lie down,
For ye'se be bride, and I'se be bridegroom.’
Glenogie
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE—I
[_]
a. “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border-Minstrelsy,” No. 77. Written down from the recitation of Mrs Graham, of Inchbrakie, by Mrs Steuart, of Dalguise, and given, September, 1802, to Mr Robert Carlyle, by whom it was communicated to Sir Walter Scott. b. Smith's Scotish Minstrel, IV, 78 (of the second edition).
1
‘There's fifty young nobles rides up the king's hallAnd bonny Glenlogie's the flower of them all;
Wi his milk-white steed, and his black rolling ee,
If I get na Glenlogie, it's certain I'll die.
2
‘Where will I get a bonny boy, to win hose and shoon,To go to Glenlogie and bid Logie come?’
‘Here am I a pretty boy, to win baith hose and shoon,
To go to Glenlogie and bid Logie come.’
3
When he came to Glenlogie, it was ‘wash and go dine:’‘Come in, my pretty boy, wash and go dine:’
‘It was no my father's fashion, and I hope it'll no be mine,
To run a lady's hasty errand, then to go dine.
4
‘Here take this letter, Glenlogie,’ said he.The first ane line that he read, a low smile gave he;
The next ane line that he read, the tear blinded his ee;
But the next line that he read he garrd the table flee.
5
‘O saddle to me the black horse, saddle to me the brown,Saddle to me the swiftest horse that eer rode frae the town:’
But lang or the horses could be brought to the green
Bonie Glenlogie was twa mile his lean.
346
6
When he came to Glenfeldy's gates, little mirth was there,Bonie Jean's mother was tearing her hair:
‘You're welcome, Glenlogie, you're welcome to me,
You're welcome, Glenlogie, your Jeanie to see.’
7
O pale and wan was she when Logie came in,But red and rosy grew she wheneer he sat down:
‘O turn you, bonie Jeanie, O turn you to me,
For, if you'll be the bride, the bridegroom I will be.’
347
239
LORD SALTOUN AND AUCHANACHIE
Lord Salton and Auchanachie
LORD SALTOUN AND AUCHANACHIE—A
[_]
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 133, 1828. b. Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 10, 1824; Buchan's Gleanings, p. 161, 1825.
1
‘Auchanachie Gordon is bonny and braw,He would tempt any woman that ever he saw;
He would tempt any woman, so has he tempted me,
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.’
2
In came her father, tripping on the floor,Says, Jeanie, ye're trying the tricks o a whore;
Ye're caring for them that cares little for thee;
Ye must marry Salton, leave Auchanachie.
3
‘Auchanachie Gordon, he is but a man;Altho he be pretty, where lies his free land?
Salton's lands they lie broad, his towers they stand hie,
Ye must marry Salton, leave Auchanachie.
4
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘Salton will gar you wear silk gowns fring'd to thy knee,
But ye'll never wear that wi your love Auchanachie.’
5
‘Wi Auchanachie Gordon I would beg my breadBefore that wi Salton I'd wear gowd on my head,
Wear gowd on my head, or gowns fring'd to the knee;
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.
348
6
‘O Salton's [a] valley lies low by the sea,He's bowed on the back, and thrawin on the knee;’
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
7
‘O Salton's a valley lies low by the sea;Though he's bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee,
Though he's bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee,
The bonny rigs of Salton they're nae thrawin tee.’
8
‘O you that are my parents to church may me bring,But unto young Salton I'll never bear a son;
For son or for daughter, I'll ne'er bow my knee,
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.’
9
When Jeanie was married, from church was brought hame,When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been,
When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been,
She's called for a chamber, to weep there her lane.
10
‘Come to your bed, Jeanie, my honey and my sweet,For to stile you mistress I do not think it meet:’
‘Mistress or Jeanie, it is a' ane to me,
It's in your bed, Salton, I never will be.’
11
Then out spake her father, he spake wi renown;Some of you that are maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown;
Some of you that are maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown,
And I'll mend the marriage wi ten thousand crowns.
12
Then ane of her maidens they loosed aff her gown,But bonny Jeanie Gordon she fell in a swoon;
She fell in a swoon low down by their knee;
Says, Look on, I die for my love Auchanachie!
13
That very same day Miss Jeanie did die,And hame came Auchanachie, hame frae the sea;
Her father and mither welcomd him at the gate;
He said, Where's Miss Jeanie, that she's nae here yet?
14
Then forth came her maidens, all wringing their hands,Saying, Alas for your staying sae lang frae the land!
Sae lang frae the land, and sae lang on the fleed!
They've wedded your Jeanie, and now she is dead.
15
‘Some of you, her maidens, take me by the hand,And show me the chamber Miss Jeanie died in;’
He kissd her cold lips, which were colder than stane,
And he died in the chamber that Jeanie died in.
Young Annochie; or, Lord Saltoun and Annachie
LORD SALTOUN AND AUCHANACHIE—B
1
‘Buchan, it's bonnie, an there lies my love,My heart is fixt on him, it winna remove;
It winna remove for a' at I can dee,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’
2
Her father cam trippin, cam trippin ben the floor,Says, Jeannie, ye hae but the tricks o a whore;
Ye care little for the man that cares muckle for thee,
But I'll cause you marry Saltoun, let Annochie be.
349
3
‘Ye may marry me to Saltoun before that I go home,But it is to Lord Saltoun I'll never bear a son;
A son nor a daughter I'll never bear to he,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’
4
‘All you that is her maidens, ye'll tak her by the han,An I will inheft her o five thousan poun;
She'll wear silk to her heel and gowd to her knee,
An I'll cause her to forsake him Young Annochie.’
5
‘All you that is my maidens winna tak me by the han,I winna be inhefted o five thousan poun;
I'll nae wear silk to my heal nor wear gowd to my knee,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’
6
‘All you that is her maidens, ye'll show her to her bed;The blankets they are ready, the sheets are comely spread;
She shall lie in my airms till twelve o the day,
An I'll cause her to forsake him Young Annochie.’
7
‘All you that is my maidens winna show me to my bed,Tho the blankets they be ready, the sheets be comely spread;
I'll nae lie in your airms till twelve o the day,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’
8
It's that day they wedded her, an that day she died,An that day Young Annochie cam in on the tide;
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
9
Her maidens did meet him, a' wringin their hans,Sayin, It's a' for your stayin so long on the sans!
They've wedded your Jeannie, an now she is dead,
An it's a' for your stayin sae long on the fleed.
10
‘All you that is her maidens ye'll tak me by the han,Ye'll show me the bower that Jeannie lies in:’
He kissed her cold lips, they were both white an red,
And for bonnie Jeannie Gordon Young Annochie died.
351
240
THE RANTIN LADDIE
The Rantin Laddie; or, Lord Aboyne
THE RANTIN LADDIE—A
[_]
a. Johnson's Musical Museum, No 462, p. 474, communicated by Robert Burns; 1797. b. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 66, 1828.
1
‘Aften hae I playd at the cards and the dice,For the love of a bonie rantin laddie,
But now I maun sit in my father's kitchenneuk
And balow a bastard babie.
2
‘For my father he will not me own,And my mother she neglects me,
And a' my friends hae lightlyed me,
And their servants they do slight me.
3
‘But had I a servant at my command,As aft times I've had many,
That wad rin wi a letter to bonie Glenswood,
Wi a letter to my rantin laddie!’
4
‘O is he either a laird or a lord,Or is he but a cadie,
That ye do him ca sae aften by name
Your bonie, bonie rantin laddie?’
5
‘Indeed he is baith a laird and a lord,And he never was a cadie,
But he is the Earl o bonie Aboyne,
And he is my rantin laddie.’
6
‘O ye'se get a servant at your command,As aft times ye've had many,
That sall rin wi a letter to bonie Glenswood,
A letter to your rantin laddie.’
7
When Lord Aboyne did the letter get,O but he blinket bonie!
But or he had read three lines of it
I think his heart was sorry.
8
‘O wha is [this] daur be sae bauldSae cruelly to use my lassie?
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
9
‘For her father he will not her know,And her mother she does slight her,
And a' her friends hae lightlied her,
And their servants they neglect her.
352
10
‘Go raise to me my five hundred men,Make haste and make them ready,
With a milk-white steed under every ane,
For to bring hame my lady.’
11
As they cam in thro Buchanshire,They were a company bonie,
With a gude claymor in every hand,
And O but they shin'd bonie!
The Rantin Laddie
THE RANTIN LADDIE—B
1
‘Oft have I playd at the cards an the dyce,The war so very enticin;
But this is a sad an a sorrowfu seat,
To see my apron risin.
2
‘Oft hae I playd at the cards an the diceFor love of my [rantin] laddie;
But now I man sit in my father's kitchie-nouk,
A rokkin o my baby.
3
‘But gin I had ane o my father's servans,For he has so mony,
That wad gae to the wood o Glentanner,
Wi a letter to the rantin laddie!’
4
‘Here am I, ane o your father's servans,For he has sae mony,
That will gae to the wood o Glentanner,
Wi a letter to the rantin laddie.’
5
‘Fan ye gae to Aboyne,To the woods o Glentanner sae bonny,
Wi your hat in your hand gie a bow to the ground,
In the presence o the rantin laddie.’
6
Fan he gaed to Aboyne,To the woods o Glentanner sae bonny,
Wi his hat in his hand he gied a bow to the ground,
In the presence of the rantin laddie.
7
Fan he looked the letter onSae loud as he was laughin!
But or he read it to an end
The tears they cam down rappin.
8
‘O fa is this or fa is thatHas been so ill to my Maggie?
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
9
‘But ye gett four-and-twenty milk white steeds,Wi an car [OMITTED]
An as mony gay ladies to ride them on,
To gae an bring hame my Maggie.’
10
‘Ye get four-an-twenty bonny brown steeds,Wi an car o an ome,
An as mony knights to ride them on,
To gae an bring hame my Maggie.’
11
Ye lasses a', far ever ye be,An ye match wi ony o our Deeside laddies,
Ye'll happy be, ye'l happy be,
For they are frank an kind.
The Rantin Laddie
THE RANTIN LADDIE—C
1
‘Aft hae I playd at cards and diceFor the love o a bonny rantin laddie,
But now I maun sit i my father's kitchen-nook,
And sing, Hush, balow, my baby.
2
‘If I had been wise, and had taen advice,And dane as my bonny love bade me,
I would hae been married at Martinmass,
And been wi my rantin laddie.
3
‘But I was na wise, I took nae advice,Did not as my bonny love bade me,
And now I maun sit by mysel i the nook,
And rock my bastard baby.
4
‘If I had horse at my command,As often I had many,
353
Wi a letter to my rantin laddie.’
5
Down the stair her father came,And lookëd proud and saucy:
‘Who is the man, and what is his name,
That ye ca your rantin laddie?
6
‘Is he a lord, or is he a laird?Or is he but a caddie?
Or is it the young Earl o Aboyne
That ye ca your rantin laddie?’
7
‘He is a young and noble lord,He never was a caddie;
It is the noble Earl o Aboyne
That I ca my rantin laddie.’
8
‘Ye shall hae a horse at your command,As ye had often many,
To go to the Castle o Aboyne,
Wi a letter to your rantin laddie.
9
‘Where will I get a little page,Where will I get a caddie,
That will run quick to bonny Aboyne,
Wi this letter to my rantin laddie?’
10
Then out spoke the young scullion-boy,Said, Here am I, a caddie;
I will run on to bonny Aboyne,
Wi the letter to your rantin laddie.
11
‘Now when ye come to bonny Deeside,Where woods are green and bonny,
There will ye see the Earl o Aboyne,
Among the bushes mony.
12
‘And when ye come to the lands o Aboyne,Where all around is bonny,
Ye'll take your hat into your hand,
Gie this letter to my rantin laddie.’
13
When he came near the banks of Dee,The birks were blooming bonny,
And there he saw the Earl o Aboyne,
Among the bushes mony.
14
‘Where are ye going, my bonny boy?Where are ye going, my caddie?’
‘I am going to the Castle o Aboyne,
Wi a letter to the rantin laddie.’
15
‘See yonder is the castle then,My young and handsome caddie,
And I myself am the Earl o Aboyne,
Tho they ca me the rantin laddie.’
16
‘O pardon, my lord, if I've done wrong;Forgive a simple caddie;
O pardon, pardon, Earl o Aboyne,
I said but what she bade me.’
17
‘Ye have done no wrong, my bonny boy,Ye've done no wrong, my caddie;’
Wi hat in hand he bowed low,
Gave the letter to the rantin laddie.
18
When young Aboyne looked the letter on,O but he blinkit bonny!
But ere he read four lines on end
The tears came trickling mony.
19
‘My father will no pity shew,My mother still does slight me,
And a' my friends have turnd from me,
And servants disrespect me.’
20
‘Who are they dare be so boldTo cruelly use my lassie?
But I'll take her to bonny Aboyne,
Where oft she did caress me.
21
‘Go raise to me five hundred men,Be quick and make them ready;
Each on a steed, to haste their speed,
To carry home my lady.’
22
As they rode on thro Buchanshire,The company were many,
Wi a good claymore in every hand,
That glancëd wondrous bonny.
23
When he came to her father's gate,He called for his lady:
‘Come down, come down, my bonny maid,
And speak wi your rantin laddie.’
24
When she was set on high horseback,Rowd in the Highland plaidie,
The bird i the bush sang not so sweet
As sung this bonny lady.
25
As they rode on thro Buchanshire,He cried, Each Lowland lassie,
354
And soon will he prove fause t' ye.
26
‘But take my advice, and make your choiceOf some young Highland laddie,
Wi bonnet and plaid, whose heart is staid,
And he will not beguile ye.’
27
As they rode on thro Garioch land,He rode up in a fury,
And cried, Fall back, each saucy dame,
Let the Countess of Aboyne before ye.
Bonnie Rantin Laddie
THE RANTIN LADDIE—D
1
‘Aft hae I played at the cards and the dice,It was a' for the sake o my laddie,
But noo I sit i my father's kitchie-neuk,
Singing ba to a bonnie bastard babbie.
2
‘Whar will I get a bonnie boy sae kinAs will carry a letter cannie,
That will rin on to the gates o the Boyne,
Gie the letter to my rantin laddie?’
3
‘Here am I, a bonnie boy sae kin,As will carry a letter cannie,
That will rin on to the gates o the Boyne,
Gie the letter to your rantin laddie.’
4
‘When ye come to the gates o the Boyne,An low doon on yon cassie,
Ye'll tak aff your hat an ye'll mak a low bow,
Gie the letter to my rantin laddie.’
5
‘When ye come to the gates o the Boyne,Ye'll see lords an nobles monie;
But ye'll ken him among them a',
He's my bonnie, bonnie rantin laddie.’
6
‘Is your bonnie love a laird or a lord,Or is he a cadie,
That ye call him so very often by name
Your bonnie rantin laddie?’
7
‘My love's neither a laird nor a lord,Nor is he a cadie,
But he is yerl o a' the Boyne,
An he is my bonnie rantin laddie.’
8
When he read a line or two,He smilëd eer sae bonnie;
But lang ere he cam to the end
The tears cam trinklin monie.
9
‘Whar will I find fifty noble lords,An as monie gay ladies,
355
241
THE BARON O LEYS
356
THE BARON O LEYS—A
1
The Laird of Leys is on to Edinbrugh,To shaw a fit o his follie;
He drest himsel in the crimson-brown,
An he provd a rantin laddie.
2
Ben came a weel-faird lass,Says, Laddie, how do they ca ye?
‘They ca me this, an they ca me that,
Ye wudna ken fat they ca me;
But whan I'm at home on bonnie Deeside
They ca me The Rantin Laddie.’
3
They sought her up, they sought her down,They sought her in the parlour;
She coudna be got but whar she was,
In the bed wi The Rantin Laddie.
4
‘Tell me, tell me, Baron of Leys,Ye tell me how they ca ye!
Your gentle blood moves in my side,
An I dinna ken how they ca ye.’
5
‘They ca me this, an they ca me that,Ye couldna ken how they ca me;
But whan I'm at home on bonnie Deeside
They ca me The Rantin Laddie.’
6
‘Tell me, tell me, Baron of Leys,Ye tell me how they ca ye!
Your gentle blood moves in my side,
An I dinna ken how to ca ye.’
7
‘Baron of Leys, it is my stile,Alexander Burnett they ca me;
Whan I'm at hame on bonnie Deeside
My name is The Rantin Laddie.’
8
‘Gin your name be Alexander Burnett,Alas that ever I saw ye!
For ye hae a wife and bairns at hame,
An alas for lyin sae near ye!
9
‘But I'se gar ye be headit or hangt,Or marry me the morn,
Or else pay down ten thousand crowns
For giein o me the scorn.’
10
‘For my head, I canna want;I love my lady dearly;
But some o my lands I maun lose in the case,
Alas for lyin sae near ye!’
11
Word has gane to the Lady of LeysThat the laird he had a bairn;
The warst word she said to that was,
‘I wish I had it in my arms.
12
‘For I will sell my jointure-lands—I am broken an I'm sorry—
An I'll sell a', to my silk gowns,
An get hame my rantin laddie.’
Laird o Leys
THE BARON O LEYS—B
1
The Laird o Leys is to London gane;He was baith full and gawdie;
For he shod his steed wi siller guid,
And he's playd the ranting laddie.
2
He hadna been in fair LondonA twalmonth and a quarter,
Till he met wi a weel-faurd may,
Wha wishd to know how they ca'd him.
3
‘They ca me this, and they ca me that,And they're easy how they've ca'd me;
357
They ca me The Ranting Laddie.’
4
‘Awa wi your jesting, sir,’ she said,‘I trow you're a ranting laddie;
But something swells atween my sides,
And I maun ken how they ca thee.’
5
‘They ca me this, and they ca me that,And they're easy how they ca me;
The Baron o Leys my title is,
And Sandy Burnet they ca me.’
6
‘Tell down, tell down ten thousand crowns,Or ye maun marry me the morn;
Or headit or hangit ye sall be,
For ye sanna gie me the scorn.’
7
‘My head's the thing I canna weel want;My lady she loves me dearlie;
Nor yet hae I means ye to maintain;
Alas for the lying sae near thee!’
8
But word's gane doun to the Lady o LeysThat the Baron had got a babie:
‘The waurst o news!’ my lady she said,
‘I wish I had hame my laddie.
9
‘But I'll sell aff my jointure-house,Tho na mair I sud be a ladie;
I'll sell a' to my silken goun,
And bring hame my rantin laddie.’
10
So she is on to London gane,And she paid the money on the morn;
She paid it doun and brought him hame,
And gien them a' the scorn.
The Baron o Leys
THE BARON O LEYS—C
1
The Baron o Leys to France is gane,The fashion and tongue to learn,
But hadna been there a month or twa
Till he gat a lady wi bairn.
2
But it fell ance upon a dayThe lady mournd fu sairlie;
Says, Who's the man has me betrayed?
It gars me wonder and fairlie.
3
Then to the fields to him she went,Saying, Tell me what they ca thee;
Or else I'll mourn and rue the day,
Crying, alas that ever I saw thee!
4
‘Some ca's me this, some ca's me that,I carena fat befa me;
For when I'm at the schools o France
An awkward fellow they ca me.’
5
‘Wae's me now, ye awkward fellow,And alas that ever I saw thee!
Wi you I'm in love, sick, sick in love,
And I kenna well fat they ca thee.’
6
‘Some ca's me this, some ca's me that,What name does best befa me;
For when I walk in Edinburgh streets
The Curling Buckle they ca me.’
7
‘O wae's me now, O Curling Buckle,And alas that ever I saw thee!
For I'm in love, sick, sick in love,
And I kenna well fat they ca thee.’
8
‘Some ca's me this, some ca's me that,Whatever name best befa's me;
But when I'm in Scotland's king's high court
Clatter the Speens they ca me.’
9
‘O wae's me now, O Clatter the Speens,And alas that ever I saw thee!
For I'm in love, sick, sick in love,
And I kenna well fat to ca thee.’
10
‘Some ca's me this, some ca's me that,I carena what they ca me;
But when wi the Earl o Murray I ride
It's Scour the Brass they ca me.’
11
‘O wae's me now, O Scour the Brass,And alas that ever I saw thee!
358
And I kenna well fat to ca thee.’
12
‘Some ca's me this, some ca's me that,Whatever name best befa's me;
But when I walk thro Saint Johnstone's town
George Burnett they ca me.’
13
‘O wae's me, O wae's me, George Burnett,And alas that ever I saw thee!
For I'm in love, sick, sick in love,
And I kenna well fat to ca thee.’
14
‘Some ca's me this, some ca's me that,Whatever name best befa's me;
But when I am on bonny Dee side
The Baron o Leys they ca me.’
15
‘O weal is me now, O Baron o Leys,This day that ever I saw thee!
There's gentle blood within my sides,
And now [I] ken fat they ca thee.
16
‘But ye'll pay down ten thousand crowns,Or marry me the morn;
Else I'll cause you be headed or hangd
For gieing me the scorn.’
17
‘My head is a thing I cannot well want;My lady loves me sae dearly;
But I'll deal the gold right liberally
For lying ae night sae near thee.’
18
When word had gane to the Lady o LeysThe baron had gotten a bairn,
She clapped her hands, and this did say,
‘I wish he were in my arms!
19
‘O weal is me now, O Baron o Leys,For ye hae pleased me sairly;
Frae our house is banishd the vile reproach
That disturbed us late and early.’
20
When she looked ower her castle-wa,To view the woods sae rarely,
There she spied the Baron o Leys
Ride on his steed sae rarely.
21
Then forth she went her baron to meet,Says, Ye're welcome to me, fairly!
Ye'se hae spice-cakes, and seed-cakes sweet,
And claret to drink sae rarely.
242
THE COBLE O CARGILL
THE COBLE O CARGILL
[_]
‘The Coble o Cargill,’ Motherwell's MS., p. 80; ‘The Weary Coble o Cargill,’ Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 230. Communicated to Motherwell by William George, tenant in Cambus Michael, Perthshire, who took it from the recitation of an old woman.
359
1
David Drummond's destinie,Gude man o appearance o Cargill;
I wat his blude rins in the flude,
Sae sair against his parents' will.
2
She was the lass o Balathy toun,And he the butler o Stobhall,
And mony a time she wauked late
To bore the coble o Cargill.
3
His bed was made in Kercock ha,Of gude clean sheets and of [the] hay;
He wudna rest ae nicht therein,
But on the prude waters he wud gae.
4
His bed was made in Balathy toun,Of the clean sheets and of the strae;
But I wat it was far better made
Into the bottom o bonnie Tay.
5
She bored the coble in seven pairts,I wat her heart might hae been fu sair;
For there she got the bonnie lad lost
Wi the curly locks and the yellow hair.
6
He put his foot into the boat,He little thocht o ony ill;
But before that he was mid-waters,
The weary coble began to fill.
7
‘Woe be to the lass o Balathy toun,I wat an ill death may she die!
For she bored the coble in seven pairts,
And let the waters perish me.
8
‘Oh, help, oh help, I can get nane,Nae help o man can to me come!’
This was about his dying words,
When he was choaked up to the chin.
9
‘Gae tell my father and my motherIt was naebody did me this ill;
I was a-going my ain errands,
Lost at the coble o bonnie Cargill.’
10
She bored the boat in seven pairts,I wat she bored it wi gude will;
And there they got the bonnie lad's corpse,
In the kirk-shot o bonnie Cargill.
11
Oh a' the keys o bonnie StobhaI wat they at his belt did hing;
But a' the keys of bonnie Stobha
They now ly low into the stream.
12
A braver page into his ageNeer set a foot upon the plain;
His father to his mother said,
‘Oh, sae soon as we've wanted him!
360
13
‘I wat they had mair luve than thisWhen they were young and at the scule;
But for his sake she wauked late,
And bored the coble o bonnie Cargill.’
14
‘There's neer a clean sark gae on my back,Nor yet a kame gae in my hair;
There's neither coal nor candle-licht
Shall shine in my bouir for evir mair.
15
‘At kirk nor market I'se neer be at,Nor yet a blythe blink in my ee;
There's neer a ane shall say to anither,
That's the lassie gard the young man die.
16
‘Between the yates o bonnie StobhaAnd the kirk-style o bonnie Cargill,
There is mony a man and mother's son
That was at my love's burial.’
243
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)
362
The Fair Maid of Bristol; or, Bateman; or, John True
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—A
1
There dwelt a fair maid in the West,Of worthy birth and fame,
Neer unto Plimouth, stately town,
Jane Reynolds was her name.
2
This damsel dearly was belovdBy many a proper youth,
And what of her is to be said
Is known for very truth.
3
Among the rest a seaman braveUnto her a wooing came;
A comely proper youth he was,
James Harris calld by name.
4
The maid and young man was agreed,As time did them allow,
And to each other secretly
They made a solemn vow,
5
That they would ever faithfull beWhilst Heaven afforded life;
He was to be her husband kind,
And she his faithfull wife.
6
A day appointed was alsoWhen they was to be married;
But before these things were brought to pass
Matters were strangely carried.
363
7
All you that faithfull lovers beGive ear and hearken well,
And what of them became at last
I will directly tell.
8
The young man he was prest to sea,And forcëd was to go;
His sweet-heart she must stay behind,
Whether she would or no.
9
And after he was from her goneShe three years for him staid,
Expecting of his comeing home,
And kept herself a maid.
10
At last news came that he was deadWithin a forraign land,
And how that he was buried
She well did understand,
11
For whose sweet sake the maiden sheLamented many a day,
And never was she known at all
The wanton for to play.
12
A carpenter that livd hard by,When he heard of the same,
Like as the other had done before,
To her a wooing came.
13
But when that he had gained her loveThey married were with speed,
And four years space, being man and wife,
They loveingly agreed.
14
Three pritty children in this timeThis loving couple had,
Which made their father's heart rejoyce,
And mother wondrous glad.
15
But as occasion servd, one timeThe good man took his way
Some three days journey from his home,
Intending not to stay.
16
But, whilst that he was gone away,A spirit in the night
Came to the window of his wife,
And did her sorely fright.
17
Which spirit spake like to a man,And unto her did say,
‘My dear and onely love,’ quoth he,
‘Prepare and come away.
18
‘James Harris is my name,’ quoth he,‘Whom thou didst love so dear,
And I have traveld for thy sake
At least this seven year.
19
‘And now I am returnd again,To take thee to my wife,
And thou with me shalt go to sea,
To end all further strife.’
20
‘O tempt me not, sweet James,’ quoth she,‘With thee away to go;
If I should leave my children small,
Alas! what would they do?
21
‘My husband is a carpenter,A carpenter of great fame;
I would not for five hundred pounds
That he should know the same.’
22
‘I might have had a king's daughter,And she would have married me;
But I forsook her golden crown,
And for the love of thee.
23
‘Therefore, if thou'lt thy husband forsake,And thy children three also,
I will forgive the[e] what is past,
If thou wilt with me go.’
24
‘If I forsake my husband andMy little children three,
What means hast thou to bring me to,
If I should go with thee?’
25
‘I have seven ships upon the sea;When they are come to land,
Both marriners and marchandize
Shall be at thy command.
26
‘The ship wherein my love shall sailIs glorious to behold;
The sails shall be of finest silk,
And the mast of shining gold.’
27
When he had told her these fair tales,To love him she began,
Because he was in human shape,
Much like unto a man.
28
And so together away they wentFrom off the English shore,
And since that time the woman-kind
Was never seen no more.
29
But when her husband he come homeAnd found his wife was gone,
And left her three sweet pretty babes
Within the house alone,
30
He beat his breast, he tore his hair,The tears fell from his eyes,
And in the open streets he run
With heavy doleful cries.
364
31
And in this sad distracted caseHe hangd himself for woe
Upon a tree near to the place;
The truth of all is so.
32
The children now are fatherless,And left without a guide,
But yet no doubt the heavenly powers
Will for them well provide.
The Distressed Ship—Carpenter
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—B
1
‘Well met, well met, my own true love,Long time I have been seeking thee;
I am lately come from the salt sea,
And all for the sake, love, of thee.
2
‘I might have had a king's daughter,And fain she would have married me;
But I've forsaken all her crowns of gold,
And all for the sake, love, of thee.’
3
‘If you might have had a king's daughter,I think you much to blame;
I would not for five hundred pounds
That my husband should hear the same.
4
‘For my husband is a carpenter,And a young ship-carpenter is he,
And by him I have a little son,
Or else, love, I'd go along with thee.
5
‘But if I should leave my husband dear,Likewise my little son also,
What have you to maintain me withal,
If I along with you should go?’
6
‘I have seven ships upon the seas,And one of them brought me to land,
And seventeen mariners to wait on thee,
For to be, love, at your command.
7
‘A pair of slippers thou shalt have,They shall be made of beaten gold,
Nay and be lin'd with velvet soft,
For to keep thy feet from cold.
8
‘A gilded boat thou then shall have,The oars shall gilded be also,
And mariners to row the[e] along,
For to keep thee from thy overthrow.’
9
They had not been long upon the seaBefore that she began to weep:
‘What, weep you for my gold?’ he said,
‘Or do you weep for my fee?
10
‘Or do you weep for some other young manThat you love much better than me?’
‘No, I do weep for my little son,
That should have come along with me.’
11
She had not been upon the seasPassing days three or four
But the mariner and she were drowned,
And never were heard of more.
12
When tidings to old England cameThe ship-carpenter's wife was drownd,
He wrung his hands and tore his hair,
And grievously fell in a swoon.
13
‘Oh cursed be those mariners!For they do lead a wicked life;
They ruind me, a ship-carpenter,
By deluding away my wife.’
James Herries
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—C
1
‘O are ye my father? Or are ye my mother?Or are ye my brother John?
Or are ye James Herries, my first true-love,
Come back to Scotland again?’
2
‘I am not your father, I am not your mother,Nor am I your brother John;
But I'm James Herries, your first true-love,
Come back to Scotland again.’
3
‘Awa, awa, ye former lovers,Had far awa frae me!
365
Ye'll neer see joy o me.’
4
‘Had I kent that ere I came here,I neer had come to thee;
For I might hae married the king's daughter,
Sae fain she woud had me.
5
‘I despised the crown o gold,The yellow silk also,
And I am come to my true-love,
But with me she'll not go.’
6
‘My husband he is a carpenter,Makes his bread on dry land,
And I hae born him a young son;
Wi you I will not gang.’
7
‘You must forsake your dear husband,Your little young son also,
Wi me to sail the raging seas,
Where the stormy winds do blow.’
8
‘O what hae you to keep me wi,If I should with you go,
If I'd forsake my dear husband,
My little young son also?’
9
‘See ye not yon seven pretty ships?The eighth brought me to land,
With merchandize and mariners,
And wealth in every hand.’
10
She turnd her round upon the shoreHer love's ships to behold;
Their topmasts and their mainyards
Were coverd oer wi gold.
11
Then she's gane to her little young son,And kissd him cheek and chin;
Sae has she to her sleeping husband,
And dune the same to him.
12
‘O sleep ye, wake ye, my husband?I wish ye wake in time!
I woudna for ten thousand pounds
This night ye knew my mind.’
13
She's drawn the slippers on her feet,Were coverd oer wi gold,
Well lined within wi velvet fine,
To had her frae the cold.
14
She hadna sailed upon the seaA league but barely three
Till she minded on her dear husband,
Her little young son tee.
15
‘O gin I were at land again,At land where I woud be,
The woman neer shoud bear the son
Shoud gar me sail the sea.’
16
‘O hold your tongue, my sprightly flower,Let a' your mourning be;
I'll show you how the lilies grow
On the banks o Italy.’
17
She hadna sailed on the seaA day but barely ane
Till the thoughts o grief came in her mind,
And she langd for to be hame.
18
‘O gentle death, come cut my breath,I may be dead ere morn!
I may be buried in Scottish ground,
Where I was bred and born!’
19
‘O hold your tongue, my lily leesome thing,Let a' your mourning be;
But for a while we'll stay at Rose Isle,
Then see a far countrie.
20
‘Ye'se neer be buried in Scottish ground,Nor land ye's nae mair see;
I brought you away to punish you
For the breaking your vows to me.
21
‘I said ye shoud see the lilies growOn the banks o Italy;
But I'll let you see the fishes swim,
In the bottom o the sea.’
22
He reached his hand to the topmast,Made a' the sails gae down,
And in the twinkling o an ee
Baith ship and crew did drown.
23
The fatal flight o this wretched maidDid reach her ain countrie;
Her husband then distracted ran,
And this lament made he:
24
‘O wae be to the ship, the ship,And wae be to the sea,
366
Took Jeanie Douglas frae me!
25
‘O bonny, bonny was my love,A pleasure to behold;
The very hair o my love's head
Was like the threads o gold.
26
‘O bonny was her cheek, her cheek,And bonny was her chin,
And bonny was the bride she was,
The day she was made mine!’
The Carpenter's Wife
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—D
1
‘O whare hae ye been, my dearest dear,These seven lang years and more?’
‘O I am come to seek my former vows,
That ye promisd me before.’
2
‘Awa wi your former vows,’ she says,‘Or else ye will breed strife;
Awa wi your former vows,’ she says,
‘For I'm become a wife.
3
‘I am married to a ship-carpenter,A ship-carpenter he's bound;
I wadna he kend my mind this nicht
For twice five hundred pound.’
4
She has put her foot on gude ship-board,And on ship-board she's gane,
And the veil that hung oure her face
Was a' wi gowd begane.
5
She had na sailed a league, a league,A league but barely twa,
Till she did mind on the husband she left,
And her wee young son alsua.
6
‘O haud your tongue, my dearest dear,Let all your follies abee;
I'll show whare the white lillies grow,
On the banks of Italie.’
7
She had na sailed a league, a league,A league but barely three,
Till grim, grim grew his countenance,
And gurly grew the sea.
8
‘O haud your tongue, my dearest dear,Let all your follies abee;
I'll show whare the white lillies grow,
In the bottom of the sea.’
9
He's tane her by the milk-white hand,And he's thrown her in the main;
And full five-and-twenty hundred ships
Perishd all on the coast of Spain.
The Dæmon Lover
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—E
1
‘Where have you been, my long lost lover,This seven long years and more?’
‘I've been seeking gold for thee, my love,
And riches of great store.
2
‘Now I'm come for the vows you promised me,You promised me long ago;’
‘My former vows you must forgive,
For I'm a wedded wife.’
3
‘I might have been married to a king's daughter,Far, far ayont the sea;
But I refused the crown of gold,
And it's all for the love of thee.’
4
‘If you might have married a king's daughter,Yourself you have to blame;
For I'm married to a ship's-carpenter,
And to him I have a son.
5
‘Have you any place to put me in,If I with you should gang?’
‘I've seven brave ships upon the sea,
All laden to the brim.
6
‘I'll build my love a bridge of steel,All for to help her oer;
367
To keep my love from the cold.’
7
She took her eldest son into her arms,And sweetly did him kiss:
‘My blessing go with you, and your father too,
For little does he know of this.’
8
As they were walking up the street,Most beautiful for to behold,
He cast a glamour oer her face,
And it shone like the brightest gold.
9
As they were walking along the sea-side,Where his gallant ship lay in,
So ready was the chair of gold
To welcome this lady in.
10
They had not sailed a league, a league,A league but scarsely three,
Till altered grew his countenance,
And raging grew the sea.
11
When they came to yon sea-side,She set her down to rest;
It's then she spied his cloven foot,
Most bitterly she wept.
12
‘O is it for gold that you do weep?Or is it for fear?
Or is it for the man you left behind
When that you did come here?’
13
‘It is not for gold that I do weep,O no, nor yet for fear;
But it is for the man I left behind
When that I did come here.
14
‘O what a bright, bright hill is yon,That shines so clear to see?’
‘O it is the hill of heaven,’ he said,
‘Where you shall never be.’
15
‘O what a black, dark hill is yon,That looks so dark to me?’
‘O it is the hill of hell,’ he said,
‘Where you and I shall be.
16
‘Would you wish to see the fishes swimIn the bottom of the sea,
Or wish to see the leaves grow green
On the banks of Italy?’
17
‘I hope I'll never see the fishes swimOn the bottom of the sea,
But I hope to see the leaves grow green
On the banks of Italy.’
18
He took her up to the topmast high,To see what she could see;
He sunk the ship in a flash of fire,
To the bottom of the sea.
The Dæmon Lover
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—F
[_]
Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, fifth edition, 1812, II, 427; taken down from the recitation of Walter Grieve by William Laidlaw.
1
‘O where have you been, my long, long love,This long seven years and mair?’
‘O I'm come to seek my former vows
Ye granted me before.’
2
‘O hold your tongue of your former vows,For they will breed sad strife;
O hold your tongue of your former vows,
For I am become a wife.’
3
He turned him right and round about,And the tear blinded his ee:
‘I wad never hae trodden on Irish ground,
If it had not been for thee.
4
‘I might hae had a king's daughter,Far, far beyond the sea;
I might have had a king's daughter,
Had it not been for love o thee.’
5
‘If ye might have had a king's daughter,Yer sel ye had to blame;
Ye might have taken the king's daughter,
For ye kend that I was nane.
6
‘If I was to leave my husband dear,And my two babes also,
O what have you to take me to,
If with you I should go?’
368
7
‘I hae seven ships upon the sea—The eighth brought me to land—
With four-and-twenty bold mariners,
And music on every hand.’
8
She has taken up her two little babes,Kissd them baith cheek and chin:
‘O fair ye weel, my ain two babes,
For I'll never see you again.’
9
She set her foot upon the ship,No mariners could she behold;
But the sails were o the taffetie,
And the masts o the beaten gold.
10
She had not sailed a league, a league,A league but barely three,
When dismal grew his countenance,
And drumlie grew his ee.
11
They had not saild a league, a league,A league but barely three,
Until she espied his cloven foot,
And she wept right bitterlie.
12
‘O hold your tongue of your weeping,’ says he,‘Of your weeping now let me be;
I will shew you how the lilies grow
On the banks of Italy.’
13
‘O what hills are yon, yon pleasant hills,That the sun shines sweetly on?’
‘O yon are the hills of heaven,’ he said,
‘Where you will never win.’
14
‘O whaten a mountain is yon,’ she said,‘All so dreary wi frost and snow?’
‘O yon is the mountain of hell,’ he cried,
‘Where you and I will go.’
15
He strack the tap-mast wi his hand,The fore-mast wi his knee,
And he brake that gallant ship in twain,
And sank her in the sea.
The Dæmon Lover
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—G
1
‘I have seven ships upon the sea,Laden with the finest gold,
And mariners to wait us upon;
All these you may behold.
2
‘And I have shoes for my love's feet,Beaten of the purest gold,
And linëd wi the velvet soft,
To keep my love's feet from the cold.
3
‘O how do you love the ship?’ he said,‘Or how do you love the sea?
And how do you love the bold mariners
That wait upon thee and me?’
4
‘O I do love the ship,’ she said,‘And I do love the sea;
But woe be to the dim mariners,
That nowhere I can see!’
5
They had not sailed a mile awa,Never a mile but one,
When she began to weep and mourn,
And to think on her little wee son.
6
‘O hold your tongue, my dear,’ he said,‘And let all your weeping abee,
For I'll soon show to you how the lilies grow
On the banks of Italy.’
7
They had not sailed a mile awa,Never a mile but two,
Until she espied his cloven foot,
From his gay robes sticking thro.
8
They had not sailed a mile awa,Never a mile but three,
When dark, dark, grew his eerie looks,
And raging grew the sea.
9
They had not sailed a mile awa,Never a mile but four,
When the little wee ship ran round about,
And never was seen more.
369
The Banks of Italy
JAMES HARRIS (THE DÆMON LOVER)—H
[_]
Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 138; taken down by the editor's father from the singing of an aged relative.
1
He's given her a pair of shoes,To hold her frae the cold;
The one side of them was velvaret,
And the other beaten gold.
2
Up she has taen her little wee son,And given him kisses three;
Says, Fare ye weel, my little wee son,
I'm gaun to sail the sea.
370
244
JAMES HATLEY
371
James Hatley; or, James Hatelie
JAMES HATLEY—A
[_]
a. “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 35, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, p. 6, Abbotsford; “from Betty Hoyl, who learned it from her mother,” Gattonside. b. Campbell MSS, II, 289. c. R. Chambers, The Romantic Scottish Ballads, etc., 1859, p. 37; “taken down many years ago from the singing of an old man in the south of Scotland.”
1
It happened once upon a time,When the king he was from home,
Sir Fenwick he has stolen his jewels,
And laid the blame on James Hatley.
2
James Hatley was in prison strong,A wait he was condemned to die;
There was not one in all the court
To speak one word for James Hatley.
3
No one but the king's daughter,A wait she loved him tenderlie;
She's stolen the keys from her father's head,
And gaed and conversed wi James Hatley.
4
‘Come, tell to me now, James,’ she said,‘Come, tell to me if thou hast them stolen,
And I'll make a vow, and I'll keep it true,
Ye shall never be the worse of me.’
5
‘I have not stolen them, lady,’ he said,‘Nor as little it was intended by me;
Sir Fenwick he has stolen them himself;
A wait he has laid the blame on me.’
6
‘One asking, one asking, father dear,One asking, one asking grant to me,
For I never asked one in my life;
I am sure you cannot but grant it to me.’
7
‘Weel ask it, weel ask it, daughter dear,Ask it, and it granted shall be;
If it should be my hole estate,
Naesaid, naesaid, it shall not be.’
8
‘I want none of your gold, father,And I want none of your fee;
All that I ask, father dear,
It is the life of James Hatley.’
9
‘Weel ask it, weel ask it, daughter dear,Weel ask it, and it answerëd shall be;
For I'll make a vow, and I'll keep it true,
James Hatley shall never hangëd be.’
10
‘Another asking, father dear,Another asking grant to me;
Let Fenwick and Hatley go [to] the sword,
And let them try their verity.’
11
‘'Tis weel askëd, daughter dear,'Tis weel asked, and it granted shall be;
For eer the morn or twelve o'clock
They both at the point of the sword shall be.’
12
James Hatley was fifteen years old,Sir Fenwick he was thirty three;
But James lap about, and he struck about,
Till he's gaen Sir Fenwick wounds three.
13
‘Hold up, hold up, James Hatley,’ he cry'd,‘And let my breath go out and in;
For I have stolen them myself,
More shame and disgrace it is to me.’
14
Up and spake an English lord,And O but he spake haughtily!
‘I would reather given my whole estates
Before ye had not hanged James Hatley.’
15
But up and spake a Scottish lord,And O but he spake boldly!
‘I would reather hae foughten among blood to the knees
Before ye had hanged James Hatley.’
372
16
Up and spake the king's eldest son,‘Come hame, James Hatley, and dine wi me;
For I've made a vow, I'll keep it true,
Ye's be my captain by land and by sea.’
17
Up and spake the king's daughter,‘Come home, James Hatley, and dine wi me;
For I've made a vow, I'll keep it true,
I'll never marry a man but thee.’
James Hately
JAMES HATLEY—B
[_]
“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 39, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, p. 18, “as sung by Chirsty Robertson, Dunse.” The same, transcribed by Thomas Wilkie, “Scotch Ballads,” etc., No 79. Abbotsford.
1
It happened once upon a time,When the king he was from home,
False Fennick he has stolen his jewels,
And laid the blame on James Hately.
2
The day was sett [OMITTED]And the wind blew shill oer the lea;
There was not one in all the court
To speak a word for James Hately.
3
James is to the prince's chamber gone,And he's bowd low down on his knee:
‘What will ye do for me, my little pretty prince?
O what will ye do for your page, James Hately?’
4
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
‘And I will away to my father, the king,
And see if your life can savëd be.’
5
The prince he's to his father gone,And he's bowed low down on his knee:
‘What will ye do for me, my father?
O what will ye do for my page, James Hately?’
6
‘James Hately has my jewels stolen,A Norland lord hath told it to me;
James Hately has my jewels stolen,
And oer the barras he maun die.’
7
The prince he drew his little brown sword—It was made of the metal so free—
And he swore he would fight them man by man
That would lay the blame on James Hately.
8
Up then spoke the false Fennick,And an ill-spoken man was he;
‘James Hately has the king's jewels stolen,
[OMITTED]’
9
The prince he drew his little brown sword—It was made of the metal so free—
And he's thrust it in false Fennick's side,
And given him death-wounds two or three.
10
‘O hold your hand, my little pretty prince,And let my breath go out and in,
For spilling of my noble blood
And shaming of my noble kin.
11
‘O hold your hand, my little pretty prince,And let my breath go out and in,
And there's the key of my coffer,
And you'll find the king's jewels lying therein.’
12
‘If this be true,’ the king he said,‘If this be true ye tell to me,
I will take your lands, false Fennick,’ he said,
‘And give them all to James Hately.’
373
Jamie O'Lee
JAMES HATLEY—C
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 654; “from the recitation of the wife of Charles Drain, sow-gelder, etc., Kilmarnock.”
1
There was a fause knicht in the court,And he was fu o treacherie,
And he staw the queen's jewels in the nicht,
And left the wyte on Jamie O'Lee.
2
The king he wrate a braid letter,And sealed it richt tenderlie,
And he sent it to his only son,
To come and speak to him speedilie.
3
When he cam afore the king,He kneeled low down on his knee:
‘What is your will, my sovereign leige?
What is your will? cum tell to me.’
4
‘Jamie O'Lee has my jewels stown,As the English lord tells unto me,
And out o Scotland he shall be sent,
And sent awa to Germanie.’
5
‘O no, O no,’ then said the prince,‘Sic things as that can never be;
But get me a man that will take on hand
The morn to fecht young Jamie O'Lee.’
6
Syne out and spak the fause Phenix,And oh, he spak richt spitefullie;
‘I am the man will tak on han
To fecht and conquer Jamie O'Lee.’
7
‘Oh no, oh no,’ syne said the prince,‘Sic things as that can never bee,
For Jamie O'Lee's no fifteen years auld,
And ye, fause Phenix, are thretty three.’
8
The prince he mounted then wi speed,He's aff wi tidings to Jamie O'Lee,
Saying, The morn's morning ye maun fecht,
Or out o England banisht bee.
9
When Jamie O'Lee the tidings heard,Fast the saut tear blindit his ee;
‘I'm saikless o thae jewels,’ he said,
‘As the bairn that sits on the nourice knee.’
10
Then Phenix munted a scaffold hie,A' for to shaw his veritie;
Whilk gart the nobles a' to cry
‘A dead man are ye, Jamie O'Lee!’
11
The first straik the fause Phenix gied,He gart the blude rin speedilie;
It gart the prince's heart to ache,
And cry, Oh, alace for my Jamie O'Lee!
12
Jamie O'Lee he stepped back,Waiting for opportunitie,
And wi his sword baith lang and sharp
He ran it thro Phenix fause bodie.
13
‘O haud your hand, Jamie O'Lee,’ he said,‘And let the breath remain in me,
And skail nae mair o my noble blude,
'Tis a great disgrace to my loyaltie.’
14
‘Confess, confess, ye fause Phenix,Confess your faults this day to me;
Were there nae mair men in a' England,
My ain twa hands your death suld be.’
15
‘Ye were sae great wi king and queen,I thocht I wuld hae banisht thee,
And I staw the queen's jewels in the nicht,
And left the wyte on Jamie O'Lee.’
16
Syne out and spak the king himsell,Saying, Jamie O'Lee, come hame wi me,
And there's no a knicht in a' my court
But what at your command sall be.
17
Syne out and spak the queen hersell,Saying, Jamie O'Lee, come hame wi me,
And there's no a month in a' the year
But changed and brothered ye sall be.
18
Syne out and spak the prince himsell,Saying, Jamie O'Lee, come hame wi me;
I hae free lands in a' Scotland,
And at your command they a' sall be.
19
‘I thank ye, king, and I thank ye, queen,I thank ye a', nobilitie,
But a prince's page I was a' my life,
And a prince's page I yet will be.’
20
The king gied him a silk waistcoat,And it was lined wi the taffetie,
Wi a band o gowd around his neck,
And a prince's page he seems to be.
375
245
YOUNG ALLAN
377
YOUNG ALLAN—A
1
A' the skippers of bonny Lothain,As they sat at the wine,
There fell a reesin them amang,
An it was in unhappy time.
2
Some o them reesd their hawks,An some o them their hounds,
An some o them their ladies gay,
Trod neatly on the ground;
Young Allan he reesd his comely cog,
That lay upon the strand.
3
‘I hae as good a ship this dayAs ever sailed our seas,
Except it be the Burges Black,
But an the Small Cordvine,
The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;
We's lay that three bye in time.’
4
Out spak there a little boy,Just at Young Allan's knee:
‘Ye lie, ye lie, Young Allan,
Sae loud's I hear ye lie.
5
‘For my master has a little boatWill sail thrice as well as thine;
For she'll gang in at your foremast,
An gae out your fore-lee,
An nine times in a winter night
She'll tak the wind frae thee.’
6
‘O what will ye wad, ye Young Allan?Or what will ye wad wi me?’
‘I'll wad my head against your land
Till I get more monnie.’
7
They had na saild a league,A league but barely three,
But through an thro the bonny ship
They saw the green wall sea.
8
They had na saild a league,A league but barely five,
But through an thro their bonny ship
They saw the green well wave.
9
He gaed up to the topmast,To see what he coud see,
And there he saw the Burgess Black,
But an the Small Cordvine,
The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;
The three was rent in nine.
10
Young Allan grat an wrang his hands,An he kent na what to dee:
‘The win is loud, and the waves are proud,
An we'll a' sink in the sea.
11
‘But gin I coud get a bonny boyWad tak my helm in han,
That would steer my bonny ship,
An bring her safe to land,
12
‘He shoud get the twa part o my goud,The third part o my land,
An gin we win safe to shore
He shoud get my dochter Ann.’
13
‘O here am I, a bonny boyThat will tak your helm in han,
An will steer your bonny ship
An bring her safe to lan.
14
‘Ye tak four-an-twenty feather-bedsAn lay the bonny ship round,
An as much of the good canvas
As mak her hale an soun.’
15
They took four-an-twenty feather-bedsAn laid the bonny ship roun,
378
As made her hale an soun.
16
‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,An goud sall be your hire!’
Whan the bonny ship heard o that,
That goud shoud be her hire,
She sprang as fast frae the sat water
As sparks do frae the fire.
17
‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,And goud sall be your fee!’
Whan the bonny ship heard o that,
That goud shoud be her fee,
She sprang as fast frae the sat water
As the leaf does frae the tree.
18
The sailors stan on the shore-side,Wi their auld baucheld sheen:
‘Thanks to God an our guid master
That ever we came safe to land!’
19
‘Whar is the bonny boyThat took my helm in han,
That steerd my bonny ship,
An brought her safe to lan?
20
‘He's get the twa part o my goud,The third part o my lan,
An, since we're come safe to shore,
He's get my dochter Ann.’
21
‘O here am I, the bonny boyThat took your helm in han,
That steered your bonny ship,
An brought her safe to lan.
22
‘I winna hae the twa part o your goud,Nor the third part o your lan,
But, since we hae win safe to shore,
I'll wed your dochter Ann.’
23
Forty ships went to the sea,Forty ships and five,
An there never came ane o a' back,
But Young Allan, alive.
Young Allan
YOUNG ALLAN—B
1
There were four-an-twenty sailors boldSat drinking at the wine;
There fell a rousing them among,
In an unseally time.
2
Some there reasd their hawk, their hawk,And some there reasd their hound,
But Young Allan reasd his comely cog,
As she floats on the feam.
3
‘There's not a ship amang you a'Will sail alang wi me,
But the comely cog o Heckland Hawk,
And Flower o Germanie,
And the Black Snake o Leve London;
They are all gane frae me.’
4
The wager was a gude wager,Of fifty tuns of wine,
And as much o the gude black silk
As cleathd their lemans fine.
5
At midnight dark the wind up stark,The seas began to rout;
Young Allan and his bonny new ship
Gaed three times witherlins about.
6
‘O faer will I get a bonny boyWill take my helm in hand
Ere I gang up to the tapmast-head
To look for some dry land?’
7
‘O waken, waken your drunken men,As they lie drunk wi wine;
For when ye came thro Edinburgh town
Ye bought them shoes o ben.
8
‘There was no shoe made for my feet,Nor gluve made for my hand;
But nevertheless, my dear master,
I'll take your helm in hand
Till ye gae to the topmast head
And look for some dry land.’
9
‘I cannot see no day, no day,Nor no meathe can I ken;
379
Lies floating on the faem.’
10
‘Come down, come down, my dear master,You see not what I see;
Through an through your bonny new ship
Comes in the green haw sea.’
11
‘Take fifty ells o the canvas broadAnd wrap it in a' roun,
And as much o good pich an tar
Make her go hale an soun.
12
‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,And haste ye to dry lan,
And every nail that is in you
Shall be a gay gold pin.
13
‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,And hae me to some lan,
And a firlot full o guineas red
Will be dealt at the lan's end.’
14
The ship she hearkend to their voiceAnd listend to their leed,
And she gaed thro the green haw sea
Like fire out o a gleed.
15
When the ship got word o that,Goud was to be her beat,
She's flowen thro the stormy seas
Like sparks out o a weet.
16
The first an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Troup;
Wi cannons an great shooting there,
They held Young Allan out.
17
The next an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Lee;
Wi piping an sweet singing there,
They towed Young Allan tee.
18
The next an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Lin;
Wi drums beating and pipers playing,
They towed Young Allan in,
And Allan's lady she was there,
To welcome Allan hame.
19
‘O faer is my little boy,’ he said,‘That I brought oer the sea?’
‘I'm coming, master, running, master,
At your command shall be.’
20
‘O take to you my comely cog,And wed my daughter free,
And a' for this ae night's wark
That ye did wake wi me.’
Young Allan
YOUNG ALLAN—C
1
All the skippers o ScarsburghSat drinking at the wine;
There fell a rousing them amang,
On an unseally time.
2
Some there rousd their hawk, their hawk,And some there rousd their hound,
But Young Allan rousd his comely cog,
As she stood on dry ground.
3
‘There's nae a ship in ScarsburghWill sail the seas wi mine,
Except it be the Burgess Black,
Or than the smack calld Twine.
4
‘There's nae a ship amang you a'Will sail alang wi me,
But the comely cog o Hecklandhawk,
And Flower o Yermanie,
And the Black Snake o Leve London;
They are a' gane frae me.’
5
Out it speaks a little wee boyStood by Young Allan's knee;
‘My master has a coal-carrier
Will take the wind frae thee.
6
‘She will gae out under the leaf,Come in under the lee,
And nine times in a winter night
She'll turn the wind wi thee.’
380
7
When they had wagerd them amangFull fifty tuns o wine,
Besides as mickle gude black silk
As clathe their lemans fine,
8
When all the rest went to the tows,All the whole night to stay,
Young Allan he went to his bower,
There with his God to pray.
9
‘There shall nae man gang to my shipTill I say mass and dine,
And take my leave o my lady;
Gae to my bonny ship syne.’
10
Then they saild east on Saturday,On Sunday sailëd west;
Likewise they sailed on Mononday
Till twelve, when they did rest.
11
At midnight dark the wind up stark,And seas began to rout,
Till Allan and his bonny new ship
Gaed three times witherlands about.
12
‘O,’ sighing says the Young Allan,‘I fear a deadly storm;
For mony a heaving sinking sea
Strikes sair on my ship's stern.
13
‘Where will I get a little wee boyWill take my helm in hand
Till I gang up to my tapmast
And see for some dry land?’
14
‘O waken, waken your drunken men,As they lye drunk wi wine;
For when ye came thro Edinbro town
Ye bought them sheen o ben.
15
‘There was nae shoe made for my foot,Nor gluve made for my hand;
But nevertheless, my dear master,
I'll take your helm in hand
Till ye gang to the tall tapmast
And look for some dry land.
16
‘And here am I, a little wee boyWill take your helm in han
Till ye gang up to your tapmast,
But, master, stay not lang.’
17
‘I cannot see nae day, nae day,Nor nae meathe can I ken;
But mony a bonny feather-bed
Lyes floating on the faem,
And the comely cog o Normanshore,
She never will gang hame.’
18
The comely cog o NicklingameCame sailing by his hand;
Says, Gae down, gae down, ye gude skipper,
Your ship sails on the sand.
19
‘Come down, come down, my gude master,Ye see not what I see;
For thro and thro our comely cog
I see the green haw sea.’
20
‘Take fifty ells o gude canvasAnd wrap the ship a' round;
And pick her weell, and spare her not,
And make her hale and sound.
21
‘If ye will sail, my bonny ship,Till we come to dry land,
For ilka iron nail in you,
Of gowd there shall be ten.’
22
The ship she listend all the while,And, hearing of her hire,
She flew as swift threw the saut sea
As sparks do frae the fire.
23
The first an shore that they came till,They ca'd it Howdoloot;
Wi drums beating and cannons shouting,
They held our gude ship out.
24
The next an shore that they came till,They ca'd it Howdilee;
Wi drums beating and fifes playing,
They bare her to the sea.
25
The third an shore that they came till,They ca'd it Howdilin;
Wi drums beating and pipes playing,
They towd our gude ship in.
26
The sailors walkd upon the shore,Wi their auld baucheld sheen,
And thanked God and their Lady,
That brought them safe again.
381
27
‘For we went out o ScarsburghWi fifty ships and three;
But nane o them came back again
But Young Allan, ye see.’
28
‘Come down, come down, my little wee boy,Till I pay you your fee;
I hae but only ae daughter,
And wedded to her ye'se be.’
Young Allan
YOUNG ALLAN—D
1
There was three lords sat drinkin wineIn bonnie Aberdeen, [O]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
2
Some o them talked o their merchandise,An some o their ladies fine, [O]
But Young Allan he talked o his bonnie ship,
That cost him mony a poun.
3
‘Whar will I get a bonnie wee boyThat'll tak my helm in han, O
Till I gang up to my high topmast
An look oot for some dry lan?
4
‘He'll get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,An the third pairt o my lan,
An gin he row me safe on shore
He shall hae my daughter Ann.’
5
‘O here am I, a bonny wee boyThat'll tak your helm in han
Till ye gang up to your high topmast
An look oot for some dry lan.
6
‘I'll nae seek your gowd, nor I'll nae seek your gear,Nor the third pairt o your lan,
But gin I row you safe to shore
I shall hae your daughter Ann.
7
‘Come doon, come doon, Young Allan,’ he cries,‘Ye see nae what I see;
For through an through your bonnie ship-side
An I see the open sea.
8
‘Ye'll tak twenty-four o your feather-beds,Ye'll busk your bonnie ship roon,
An as much o the guid canvas-claith
As gar her gang hale an soun.
9
‘An whar ye want an iron boltYe'll ca a siller pin,
An whar ye want an oaken bolt
Ye'll beat the yellow gold in.’
10
He's taen twenty-four o his feather-bedsAn buskit's bonnie ship roon,
An as much o the guid canvas-claith
As gar her gang hale an soun.
11
An whar he's wantit an iron boltHe's ca'd a siller pin,
An whar he's wantit an oaken bolt
He's beat the yellow gold in.
12
The firstan shore that they cam till,It was the shore o Linn;
They held their spears an beenits oot,
An they wouldna lat Allan in.
13
The neistan shore that they cam tillIt was the shore o [OMITTED];
[OMITTED]
An they turned their ship aboot.
14
But the neistan shore that they cam till,'Twas bonnie Aberdeen;
The fifes an drums they a' did play,
To welcome Allan in.
15
‘O where is he, the bonnie wee boyThat took my helm in han
Till I gied up to my high topmast
An lookd oot for some dry lan?
16
‘He's get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,An the third pairt o my lan,
An since he's rowt me safe to shore
He sall hae my daughter Ann.’
382
17
‘O here am I, the bonnie wee boyThat took your helm in han
Till ye gied up to your high topmast
An lookd oot for some dry lan.
18
‘I'll nae seek half o your good, nor half o your gear,Nor the third pairt o your lan,
But since I've rowt you safe to shore
I sall hae your daughter Ann.’
Earl Patrick
YOUNG ALLAN—E
1
The king he sits in Dumfermline,Birlin at the wine,
And callin for the best skipper
That ever sailed the faem.
2
Then out it spak a bonny boy,Sat at the king's right knee;
‘Earl Patrick is the best skipper
That ever sailed the sea.’
3
The king he wrote a braed letter,And sealed it wi his ring,
And sent it to Earl Patrick,
[OMITTED]
4
‘Oh wha is this, or wha is that,Has tald the king o me?
For I was niver a gude mariner,
And niver sailed the sea.
5
‘Ye'll eat and drink, my merry young men,The red wine you amang,
For blaw it wind, or blaw it sleet,
Our ship maun sail the morn.
6
‘Late yestreen I saw the new meenWi the auld meen in hir arm,’
And sichand said him Earl Patrick,
‘I fear a deadly storm.’
7
They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro mony a stormy stream,
Till they saw the Dam o Micklengaem,
When she sank amang the faem.
8
They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro many a stormy stream,
Till they saw the Duke o Normandy,
And she sank among the faem.
9
They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro many a stormy stream,
Till they saw the Black Shater o Leve London,
And her topmast gaed in nine.
10
‘Where will I get a bonny boyThat will tack my helm in hand
Till I gang up to my topmast,
And spy for some dry land?’
11
‘Now here am I, a bonny boyWill tack yer helm in hand
Till ye go up to your topmast
But I fear ye'll never see land.’
12
‘Cum down, cum down, my gude master,Ye see not what I see,
For through and through yer bonny ship
I see the raging sea.’
13
‘Ye'll tak four-and-twenty fether-bedsAnd lay my bonny ship roun,
And as muckle o the fine canvas
As make her haill and soun.
14
‘And where she wants an iron nailO silver she's hae three,
And where she wants a timmer-pin
We'll rap the red goud in.’
15
The firsten shore that they cam till,They cad it shore the Linn;
Wi heart and hand and good command,
They towed their bonny ship in.
16
The nexten shore that they came till,They caad it shore the Lee;
With heart and hand and good command,
They towed the bonny ship tee.
17
There was twenty ships gaed to the sea,Twenty ships and ane,
And there was na ane came back again
But Earl Patrick alane.
383
246
REDESDALE AND WISE WILLIAM
Reedisdale and Wise William
REDESDALE AND WISE WILLIAM—A
[_]
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 70; written down from memory by Mr Nicol, Strichen, as learned in his earlier years from old people.
1
When Reedisdale and Wise WilliamWere drinking at the wine,
There fell a roosing them amang,
On an unruly time.
384
2
For some o them hae roosd their hawks,And other some their hounds,
And other some their ladies fair,
And their bowers whare they walkd in.
3
When out it spake him Reedisdale,And a rash word spake he;
Says, There is not a lady fair,
In bower wherever she be,
But I could aye her favour win
Wi ae blink o my ee.
4
Then out it spake him Wise William,And a rash word spake he;
Says, I have a sister of my own,
In bower where ever she be,
And ye will not her favour win
With three blinks of your ee.
5
‘What will ye wager, Wise William?My lands I'll wad with thee;’
‘I'll wad my head against your land,
Till I get more monie.’
6
Then Reedisdale took Wise William,Laid him in prison strang,
That he might neither gang nor ride,
Nor ae word to her send.
7
But he has written a braid letter,Between the night and day,
And sent it to his own sister
By dun feather and gray.
8
When she had read Wise William's letter,She smilëd and she leugh;
Said, Very well, my dear brother,
Of this I have eneuch.
9
She looked out at her west windowTo see what she could see,
And there she spied him Reedisdale
Come riding ower the lea.
10
Says, Come to me, my maidens all,Come hitherward to me;
For here it comes him Reedisdale,
Who comes a-courting me.
11
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,A sight of you give me;’
‘Go from my yetts now, Reedisdale,
For me you will not see.’
12
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,A sight of you give me;
And bonny are the gowns of silk
That I will give to thee.’
13
‘If you have bonny gowns of silk,O mine is bonny tee;
Go from my yetts now, Reedisdale,
For me you shall not see.’
14
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,A sight of you I'll see;
And bonny jewels, brooches and rings
I will give unto thee.’
15
‘If you have bonny brooches and rings,O mine are bonny tee;
Go from my yetts now, Reedisdale,
For me you shall not see.’
16
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,One sight of you I'll see;
And bonny are the ha's and bowers
That I will give to thee.’
17
‘If you have bonny ha's and bowers,O mine are bonny tee;
Go from my yetts now, Reedisdale,
For me you shall not see.’
18
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,A sight of you I'll see;
And bonny are my lands so broad
That I will give to thee.’
19
‘If you have bonny lands so broad,O mine are bonny tee;
Go from my yetts now, Reedisdale,
For me ye will not see.’
20
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,A sight of you I'll see;
And bonny are the bags of gold
That I will give to thee.’
21
‘If you have bonny bags of gold,I have bags of the same;
Go from my yetts now, Reedisdale,
For down I will not come.’
22
‘Come down, come down, my lady fair,One sight of you I'll see;
385
If better cannot be.’
23
Then he has set the house on fire,And all the rest it tuke;
He turned his wight horse head about,
Said, Alas, they'll ne'er get out!
24
‘Look out, look out, my maidens fair,And see what I do see,
How Reedisdale has fired our house,
And now rides oer the lea.
25
‘Come hitherwards, my maidens fair,Come hither unto me;
For thro this reek, and thro this smeek,
O thro it we must be!’
26
They took wet mantles them about,Their coffers by the band,
And thro the reek, and thro the flame,
Alive they all have wan.
27
When they had got out thro the fire,And able all to stand,
She sent a maid to Wise William,
To bruik Reedisdale's land.
28
‘Your lands is mine now, Reedisdale,For I have won them free;’
‘If there is a gude woman in the world,
Your one sister is she.’
Roudesdales
REDESDALE AND WISE WILLIAM—B
1
Roudesdales an Clerk WilliamSat birlin at the wine,
An a' the talk was them atween
Was aboot the ladies fine, fine,
Was aboot the ladies fine.
2
Says Roudesdales to Clerk William,I'll wad my lands wi thee,
I'll wad my lands against thy head,
An that is what I'll dee,
3
‘That there's no a leddy in a' the land,That's fair, baith ee an bree,
That I winna wed withoot courtin,
Wi ae blink o my ee.’
4
Says William, I've an ae sister,She's fair, baith ee an bree;
An you'll no wed her withoot courtin,
Wi ae blink o your ee.’
5
He has wrote a broad letter,Between the nicht an the day,
An sent it to his ae sister
Wi the white feather an the gray.
6
The firsten line she luekit on,A licht lauchter gae she;
But eer she read it to the end
The tear blindit her ee.
7
‘Oh wae betide my ae brither,Wald wad his head for me,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]’
8
Roudesdales to her bour has gane,An rade it round aboot,
An there he saw that fair ladie,
At a window lookin oot.
9
‘Come doon, come doon, you fair ladie,Ae sicht o you to see;
For the rings are o the goud sae ried
That I will gie to thee.’
10
‘If yours are o the goud sae ried,Mine's o the silver clear;
So get you gone, you Roudesdales,
For you sall no be here.’
11
‘Come doon, come doon, you lady fair,Ae sicht o you to see;
For the gouns are o the silk sae fine
That I will gie to thee.’
12
‘If yours are o the silk sae fine,Mine's o the bonnie broun;
386
For I will no come doon.’
13
‘Come doon, come doon, you ladie fair,Ae sicht o you to see;
For the steeds are o the milk sae white
That I will gie to thee.’
14
‘If yours are o the milk sae white,Mine's o the bonnie broun;
Sae get you gone, you Roudesdales,
For I will no come doon.’
15
‘Come doon, come doon, you ladie fair,Ae sicht o you to see;
Or I will set your bour on fire
Atween your nurse an thee.’
16
‘You may set my bowr on fire,As I doubt na you will dee,
But there'll come a sharp shour frae the wast
Will slocken't speedilie.’
17
He has set her bour on fire,An quickly it did flame;
But there cam a sharp shour frae the wast
That put it oot again.
18
Oot amang the fire an smokeThat bonnie lady cam,
Wi as muckle goud aboon her bree
As wald bocht an earldom.
19
‘Oh wae betide you, ill woman,An ill, ill died may you dee!
For ye hae won your brither's head,
An I go landless free.’
REDESDALE AND WISE WILLIAM—C
1
Redesdale and Clerk WilliamSat drinking at the wine;
They hae fawn a wagering them atween
At a wanhappy time.
2
‘What will ye wad,’ says Redesdale,‘O what will ye wad wi me
That there's na a lady in a' the land
But I wad win wi ae blink o my ee?’
387
247
LADY ELSPAT
Lady Elspat
[_]
a. Jamieson-Brown MS., p. 19. Printed in Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 191. b. “Scottish Songs,” MS., fol. 30, Abbotsford Library, N. 3, in the handwriting of Walter Scott, about 1795.
1
‘How brent's your brow, my Lady Elspat!How golden yallow is your hair!
Of all the maids of fair Scotland,
There's nane like Lady Elspat fair.’
2
‘Perform your vows, Sweet William,’ she says,‘The vows which ye ha made to me,
An at the back o my mother's castle
This night I'll surely meet wi thee.’
3
But wae be to her brother's page,Who heard the words this twa did say!
He's told them to her lady mother,
Who wrought Sweet William mieckle wae.
4
For she has taen him Sweet William,An she's gard bind him wi his bow-string
Till the red bluide o his fair body
Frae ilka nail o his hand did spring.
388
5
O it fell once upon a timeThat the Lord Justice came to town;
Out has she taen him Sweet William,
Brought him before Lord Justice boun.
6
‘An what is the crime, now, madame,’ he says,‘Has been committed by this young man?’
‘O he has broken my bonny castel,
That was well biggit wi lime an stane.
7
‘An he has broken my bonny coffers,That was well banded wi aiken ban,
An he has stoln my rich jewels;
I wot he has them every one.’
8
Then out it spake her Lady Elspat,As she sat by Lord Justice knee;
‘Now ye hae taul your tale, mother,
I pray, Lord Justice, you'l now hear me.
9
‘He has na broken her bonny castel,That was well biggit wi lime an stane,
Nor has he stoln her rich jewels,
For I wot she has them every one.
10
‘But tho he was my first true love,An tho I had sworn to be his bride,
Cause he had not a great estate,
She would this way our loves divide.’
11
An out it spake the Lord Justice,I wot the tear was in his ee;
‘I see nae fault in this young man,
Sae loose his bans, an set him free.
12
‘Take back your love, now, Lady Elspat,An my best blessing you baith upon!
For gin he be your first true love,
He is my eldest sister's son.
13
‘There is a steed in my stableCost me baith gold and white money;
Ye's get as mieckle o my free lan
As he'll ride about in a summer's day.’
389
248
THE GREY COCK, OR, SAW YOU MY FATHER?
THE GREY COCK, OR, SAW YOU MY FATHER?
[_]
a. ‘The Grey Cock,’ Herd's Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 324; Herd's MSS, I, 4; Herd's Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 208. b. ‘Saw you my father?’ Chappell's Popular Music, p. 731.
390
1
‘O saw ye my father? or saw ye my mother?Or saw ye my true-love John?’
‘I saw not your father, I saw not your mother,
But I saw your true-love John.
2
‘It's now ten at night, and the stars gie nae light,And the bells they ring ding, dang;
He's met wi some delay that causeth him to stay,
But he will be here ere lang.’
3
The surly auld carl did naething but snarl,And Johny's face it grew red;
Yet, tho he often sighd, he neer a word replied
Till all were asleep in bed.
4
Up Johny rose, and to the door he goes,And gently tirlëd the pin;
The lassie taking tent unto the door she went,
And she opend and let him in.
5
‘And are ye come at last? and do I hold ye fast?And is my Johny true?’
‘I hae nae time to tell, but sae lang's I like mysell
Sae lang will I love you.’
6
‘Flee, flee up, my bonny grey cock,And craw whan it is day;
Your neck shall be like the bonny beaten gold,
And your wings of the silver grey.’
7
The cock prov'd false, and untrue he was,For he crew an hour oer soon;
The lassie thought it day when she sent her love away,
And it was but a blink of the moon
391
249
AULD MATRONS
Auld Matrons
AULD MATRONS
[_]
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 238; Motherwell's MS., p. 585, with the title ‘Love Annie.’
1
My love she is a gentlewoman,Has her living by the seam;
I kenna how she is provided
This night for me and my foot-groom.
2
He is gane to Annie's bower-door,And gently tirled at the pin:
‘Ye sleep, ye wake, my love Annie,
Ye'll rise and lat your true-love in.’
3
Wi her white fingers lang and smaShe gently lifted up the pin;
Wi her arms lang and bent
She kindly caught sweet Willie in.
4
‘O will ye go to cards or dice?Or will ye go to play?
Or will ye go to a well made bed,
And sleep a while till day?’
5
‘I winna gang to cards nor dice,Nor yet will I to play;
But I will gang to a well made bed,
And sleep a while till day.
6
‘My love Annie, my dear Annie,I would be at your desire;
But wae mat fa the auld Matrons,
As she sits by the kitchen fire!’
392
7
‘Keep up your heart, Willie,’ she said,‘Keep up your heart, dinna fear;
It's seven years, and some guid mair,
Sin her foot did file the flear.’
8
They hadna kissd nor love clapped,As lovers when they meet,
Till up it raise the auld Matrons,
Sae well's she spread her feet.
9
O wae mat fa the auld Matrons,Sae clever's she took the gate!
And she's gaen ower yon lang, lang hill,
Knockd at the sheriff's yate.
10
‘Ye sleep, ye wake, my lord?’ she said;‘Are ye not your bower within?
There's a knight in bed wi your daughter,
I fear she's gotten wrang.’
11
‘Ye'll do ye down thro Kelso town,Waken my wall-wight men;
And gin ye hae your wark well dune
I'll be there at command.’
12
She's done her down thro Kelso town,Wakend his wall-wight men;
But gin she had her wark well done
He was there at command.
13
He had his horse wi corn fodderd,His men armd in mail;
He gae the Matrons half a merk
To show them ower the hill.
14
Willie sleepd, but Annie wakedTill she heard their bridles ring;
Then tapped on her love's shoulder,
And said, Ye've sleepit lang.
15
‘O save me, save me, my blessd lady,Till I've on my shooting-gear;
I dinna fear the king himsell,
Tho he an's men were here.’
16
Then they shot in, and Willie out,The arrows graz'd his brow;
The maid she wept and tore her hair,
Says, This can never do.
17
Then they shot in, and he shot out,The bow brunt Willie's hand;
But aye he kissd her ruby lips,
Said, My dear, thinkna lang.
18
He set his horn to his mouth,And has blawn loud and shrill,
And he's calld on his brother John,
In Ringlewood he lay still.
19
The first an shot that Lord John shot,He wound fifty and fifteen;
The next an shot that Lord John shot,
He ca'd out the sheriff's een.
20
‘O some o you lend me an arm,Some o you lend me twa;
And they that came for strife this day,
Take horse, ride fast awa.
21
‘But wae mat fa yon, auld Matrons,An ill death mat ye die!
I'll burn you on yon high hill-head,
Blaw your ashes in the sea.’
393
250
HENRY MARTYN
Henry Martyn
HENRY MARTYN—A
[_]
Taken down by the Rev. S. Baring-Gould. a. From Matthew Baker, an old cripple, Lew Down, Devon. b. From Roger Luxton, an old man at Halwell, North Devon.
1
In merry Scotland, in merry ScotlandThere lived brothers three;
They all did cast lots which of them should go
A robbing upon the salt sea,
2
The lot it fell on Henry Martyn,The youngest of the three;
That he should go rob on the salt, salt sea,
To maintain his brothers and he.
3
He had not a sailed a long winter's night,Nor yet a short winter's day,
Before that he met with a lofty old ship,
Come sailing along that way.
4
O when she came by Henry Martyn,‘I prithee now, let us go!’
‘O no! God wot, that, that will I not,
O that will I never do.
5
‘Stand off! stand off!’ said Henry Martyn,‘For you shall not pass by me;
For I am a robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain us brothers three.
394
6
‘How far, how far,’ cries Henry Martyn,‘How far do you make it?’ said he;
‘For I am a robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain us brothers three.’
7
For three long hours they merrily fought,For hours they fought full three;
At last a deep wound got Henry Martyn,
And down by the mast fell he.
8
'Twas broadside to a broadside then,And a rain and hail of blows,
But the salt sea ran in, ran in, ran in,
To the bottom then she goes.
9
Bad news, bad news for old England,Bad news has come to the town,
For a rich merchant's vessel is cast away,
And all her brave seamen drown.
10
Bad news, bad news through London street,Bad news has come to the king,
For all the brave lives of the mariners lost,
That are sunk in the watery main.
Henry Martin
HENRY MARTYN—B
[_]
a. A broadside, Catnach, Seven Dials. b. Kidson, Traditional Tunes, p. 31, 1891; from fishermen at Flamborough, Yorkshire. c. Kidson, etc., p. 30; “sung by a very old woman ... about ninety years ago.”
1
There was three brothers in merry Scotland,In merry Scotland there were three,
And each of these brothers they did cast lots,
To see which should rob the salt sea.
2
Then this lot did fall on young Henry Martyn,The youngest of these brothers three,
So now he's turnd robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3
He had not saild one long winter's night,One cold winter's night before day,
Before he espied a rich merchant-ship,
Come bearing straight down that way.
4
‘Who are you? Who are you?’ said Henry Martyn,‘Or how durst thou come so nigh?’
‘I'm a rich merchant-ship for old England bound,
If you please, will you let me pass by.’
5
‘O no! O no!’ cried Henry Martyn,‘O no! that never can be,
Since I have turnd robber all on the salt seas,
To maintain my two brothers and me.
6
‘Now lower your topsails, you alderman bold,Come lower them under my lee;’
Saying, ‘I am resolved to pirate you here,
To maintain my two brothers and me.’
7
Then broadside to broadside to battle they wentFor two or three hours or more;
At last Henry Martyn gave her a death-wound,
And down to the bottom went she.
8
Bad news, bad news to England has come,Bad news I will tell to you all,
'Twas a rich merchant-ship to England was bound,
And most of her merry men drownd.
Robin Hood
HENRY MARTYN—C
[_]
Motherwell's MS., p. 660; from the recitation of Alexander Macdonald, coal-heaver, Barkip, parish of Dalry, Ayr; a song of his mother's, a native of Ireland.
1
There were three brothers in bonnie Scotland,In bonnie Scotland lived they,
And they cuist kevels themsells amang,
Wha sould gae rob upon the salt sea.
2
The lot it fell upon bold Robin Hood,The youngest brither of the hale three:
‘O, I sall gae rob upon the salt sea,
And it's all to mauntain my two brothers and me.’
395
3
They hadna sailed a lang winter night,A lang winter night scarselie,
Till they were aware of a tall, tall ship,
Coming sailin down under the lee.
4
‘O where are you bound for, my bonnie ship?’Bold Robin Hood he did cry;
‘O I'm a bold merchantman, for London bound,
And I pray you, good sir, let us by.’
5
‘O no! O no!’ said bold Robin Hood,‘O no such thing may be;
For I will gae in and plunder your ship,
And your fair bodies I'll drown in the sea.’
6
O he has gone in and plundered their ship,And holes in her bottom bored three;
The water came in so thick and so fast
That down, down to the bottom gade she.
7
Bad news, bad news to old England is gone,Bad news to our king, old Henrie,
That his merchant-goods were taken on board,
And thirty-five seamen drownd in the sea.
[Andrew Bodee]
HENRY MARTYN—D
[_]
Communicated by Mr George M. Richardson, as learned by a lady in northern New Hampshire more than fifty years ago from an aged aunt.
1
Three loving brothers in Scotland dwelt,Three loving brothers were they,
And they cast lots to see which of the three
Should go robbing all oer the salt sea, salt sea,
Should go robbing all oer the salt sea.
2
The lot it fell to Andrew Bodee,The youngest of the three,
That he should leave the other two,
And go robbing all oer the salt sea.
Andrew Bartin
HENRY MARTYN—E
[_]
Communicated by Miss Louise Porter Haskell as derived from Gen. E.P. Alexander of South Carolina, and derived by him from the singing of a cadet at West Point Military Academy in the winter of 1856-7. Two or three slight corrections have been made by Mrs A. C. Haskell, sister of Gen. Alexander. This copy comes nearer than the others to the original Andrew Barton; but sts 11-13 are derived from Captain Ward, No 287, 8, 10.
1
Three bold brothers of merrie Scotland,And three bold brothers were they,
And they cast lots the one with the other,
To see who should go robbing all oer the salt sea;
And they cast lots the one with the other,
To see who should go robbing all oer the salt sea.
2
The lot it fell on Andrew Bartin,The youngest of the three,
That he should go robbing all oer the salt sea,
To maintain his two brothers and he.
3
He had not sailed but one long summer night,When daylight did appear;
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
At last she came sailing quite near.
4
‘Who art? who art?’ says Andrew Bartin,‘Who art thee comes sailing so nigh?’
‘We are the rich merchants of merrie England,
Just please for to let us pass by.’
5
‘Pass by? pass by?’ says Andrew Bartin,‘No, no, that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men drown in the sea.’
6
Now when this news reached merrie England—King George he wore the crown—
That his ship and his cargo were taken away,
And his brave men they were all drowned.
7
‘Go build me a ship,’ says Captain Charles Stewart,‘A ship both stout and sure,
And if I dont fetch this Andrew Bartin,
My life shall no longer endure.’
8
He had not sailed but one long summer night,When daylight did appear,
He saw a ship sailing far off and far round,
And then she came sailing quite near.
9
‘Who art? who art?’ says Captain Charles Stewart,‘Who art comes sailing so nigh?’
‘We are the bold brothers of merrie Scotland,
Just please for to let us pass by.’
10
‘Pass by? pass by?’ says Captain Charles Stewart,‘No, no, that never can be;
Your ship and your cargo I will take away,
And your brave men carry with me.’
11
‘Come on! come on!’ says Andrew Bartin,‘I value you not one pin;
And though you are lined with good brass without,
I'll show you I've fine steel within.’
12
Then they drew up a full broadsideAnd at each other let pour;
They had not fought for four hours or more,
When Captain Charles Stewart gave oer.
13
‘Go home! go home!’ says Andrew Bartin,‘And tell your king for me,
That he may reign king of the merry dry land,
But that I will be king of the sea.’
396
251
LANG JOHNNY MORE
Lang Johnny Moir
LANG JOHNNY MORE
397
1
There lives a man in Rynie's land,Anither in Auchindore,
The bravest lad amo them a'
Was lang Johnny Moir.
2
Young Johnny was an airy blade,Fu sturdy, stout, and strang;
The sword that hang by Johnny's side
Was just full ten feet lang.
3
Young Johnny was a clever youth,Fu sturdy, stout, and wight,
Just full three yards around the waist,
And fourteen feet in hight.
4
But if a' be true they tell me now,And a' be true I hear,
Young Johnny's on to Lundan gane,
The king's banner to bear.
398
5
He hadna been in fair LundanBut twalmonths twa or three
Till the fairest lady in a' Lundan
Fell in love wi young Johnny.
6
This news did sound thro Lundan town,Till it came to the king
That the muckle Scot had fa'in in love
Wi his daughter, Lady Jean.
7
Whan the king got word o that,A solemn oath sware he,
This weighty Scot sall strait a rope,
And hanged he shall be.
8
When Johnny heard the sentence past,A light laugh then gae he:
‘While I hae strength to wield my blade,
Ye darena a' hang me.’
9
The English dogs were cunning rogues;About him they did creep,
And gae him draps o lodomy
That laid him fast asleep.
10
Whan Johnny wakend frae his sleepA sorry heart had he;
His jaws and hands in iron bands,
His feet in fetters three.
11
‘O whar will I get a little wee boyWill work for meat and fee,
That will rin on to my uncle,
At the foot of Benachie?’
12
‘Here am I, a little wee boyWill work for meat and fee,
That will rin on to your uncle,
At the foot of Benachie.’
13
‘Whan ye come whar grass grows green,Slack your shoes and rin;
And whan ye come whar water's strong,
Ye'll bend your bow and swim.
14
‘And whan ye come to BenachieYe'll neither chap nor ca;
Sae well's ye'll ken auld Johnny there,
Three feet abeen them a'.
15
‘Ye'll gie to him this braid letter,Seald wi my faith and troth,
And ye'll bid him bring alang wi him
The body Jock o Noth.’
16
Whan he came whar grass grew green,He slackt his shoes and ran;
And whan he came whar water's strong
He bent his bow and swam.
17
And whan he came to BenachieDid neither chap nor ca;
Sae well's he kent auld Johnny there,
Three feet abeen them a'.
18
‘What news, what news, my little wee boy?Ye never were here before;’
‘Nae news, nae news, but a letter from
Your nephew, Johnny Moir.
19
‘Ye'll take here this braid letter,Seald wi his faith and troth,
And ye're bidden bring alang wi you
The body Jock o Noth.’
20
Benachie lyes very low,The tap o Noth lyes high;
For a' the distance that's between,
He heard auld Johnny cry.
21
Whan on the plain these champions met,Twa grizly ghosts to see,
There were three feet between their brows,
And shoulders were yards three.
22
These men they ran ower hills and dales,And ower mountains high,
Till they came on to Lundan town,
At the dawn o the third day.
23
And whan they came to Lundan townThe yetts were lockit wi bands,
And wha were there but a trumpeter,
Wi trumpet in his hands?
24
‘What is the matter, ye keepers all?Or what's the matter within
That the drums do beat and bells do ring,
And make sic dolefu din?’
25
‘There's naething the matter,’ the keeper said,‘There's naething the matter to thee,
But a weighty Scot to strait the rope,
And the morn he maun die.’
26
‘O open the yetts, ye proud keepers,Ye'll open without delay;’
The trembling keeper, smiling, said,
‘O I hae not the key.’
399
27
‘Ye'll open the yetts, ye proud keepers,Ye'll open without delay,
Or here is a body at my back
Frae Scotland has brought the key.’
28
‘Ye'll open the yetts,’ says Jock o Noth,‘Ye'll open them at my call;’
Then wi his foot he has drove in
Three yards braid o the wall.
29
As they gaed in by Drury Lane,And down by the town's hall,
And there they saw young Johnny Moir
Stand on their English wall.
30
‘Ye're welcome here, my uncle dear,Ye're welcome unto me;
Ye'll loose the knot, and slack the rope,
And set me frae the tree.’
31
‘Is it for murder, or for theft?Or is it for robberie?
If it is for ony heinous crime,
There's nae remeid for thee.’
32
‘It's nae for murder, nor for theft,Nor yet for robberie;
A' is for the loving a gay lady
They're gaun to gar me die.’
33
‘O whar's thy sword,’ says Jock o Noth,‘Ye brought frae Scotland wi thee?
I never saw a Scotsman yet
But coud wield a sword or tree.’
34
‘A pox upo their lodomy,On me had sic a sway
Four o their men, the bravest four,
They bore my blade away.’
35
‘Bring back his blade,’ says Jock o Noth,‘And freely to him it gie,
Or I hae sworn a black Scot's oath
I'll gar five million die.
36
‘Now whar's the lady?’ says Jock o Noth,‘Sae fain I woud her see;’
‘She's lockd up in her ain chamber,
The king he keeps the key.’
37
So they hae gane before the king,With courage bauld and free;
Their armour bright cast sic a light
That almost dim'd his ee.
38
‘O whar's the lady?’ says Jock o Noth,‘Sae fain as I woud her see;
For we are come to her wedding,
Frae the foot o Benachie.’
39
‘O take the lady,’ said the king,‘Ye welcome are for me;
I never thought to see sic men,
Frae the foot o Benachie.’
40
‘If I had kend,’ said Jock o Noth,‘Ye'd wonderd sae muckle at me,
I woud hae brought ane larger far
By sizes three times three.
41
‘Likewise if I had thought I'd beenSic a great fright to thee,
I'd brought Sir John o Erskine Park;
He's thretty feet and three.’
42
‘Wae to the little boy,’ said the king,‘Brought tidings unto thee!
Let all England say what they will,
High hangëd shall he be.’
43
‘O if ye hang the little wee boyBrought tidings unto me,
We shall attend his burial,
And rewarded ye shall be.’
44
‘O take the lady,’ said the king,‘And the boy shall be free;’
‘A priest, a priest,’ then Johnny cried,
‘To join my love and me.’
45
‘A clerk, a clerk,’ the king replied,‘To seal her tocher wi thee;’
Out it speaks auld Johnny then,
These words pronounced he:
46
‘I want nae lands and rents at hame,I'll ask nae gowd frae thee;
I am possessd o riches great,
Hae fifty ploughs and three;
Likewise fa's heir to ane estate
At the foot o Benachie.
47
‘Hae ye ony masons in this place,Or ony at your call,
400
To build your broken wall?’
48
‘Yes, there are masons in this place,And plenty at my call;
But ye may gang frae whence ye came,
Never mind my broken wall.’
49
They've taen the lady by the handAnd set her prison-free;
Wi drums beating, and fifes playing,
They spent the night wi glee.
50
Now auld Johnny Moir, and young Johnny Moir,And Jock o Noth, a' three,
The English lady, and little wee boy,
Went a' to Benachie.
252
THE KITCHIE-BOY
401
THE KITCHIE-BOY—A
1
There was a lady fair,An een a lady of birth an fame,
She eyed her father's kitchen-boy,
The greater was her shame.
2
She could never her love reveal,Nor to him talk,
But in the forest wide an brade,
Where they were wont to walk.
3
It fell ance upon a dayHer father gaed frae home,
And she sent for the kitchen-boy
To her own room.
4
‘Canna ye fancy me, Willie?Canna ye fancy me?
By a' the lords I ever saw
There is nane I loo but ye.’
5
‘O latna this be kent, lady,O latna this be [OMITTED],
For gin yer father got word of this
I vou he'd gar me die.’
6
‘Yer life shall no be taen, Willie,Yer life sal na be taen;
I wad er loss my ain heart's blood
Or thy body gat wrang.’
7
Wi her monny fair speechesShe made the boy bold,
Till he began to kiss an clap,
An on her sine lay hold.
8
They hadna kissed an love claped,As lovers whan they meet,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
9
‘The master-cook he will on me call,An answered he man be;
An it wer kent I war in bower wi thee.
I fear they wad gar me die.’
10
‘The master-cook may on ye call,But answerd he will never be,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
11
‘For I hae three coffers fu o goud,Yer eyen did never see,
An I will build a bonny ship for my love.
An set her to the sea,
And sail she east or sail she wast
The ship sal be fair to see.’
12
She has built a bonny ship,And set her to the sea;
The topmasts war o the red goud,
The sails of tafetie.
13
She gae him a gay goud ring,[OMITTED]
To mind him on a gay lady
That ance bear love to him.
14
The day was fair, the ship was rare,Whan that swain set to sea;
Whan that day twal-moth came and gaed,
At London landed he.
402
15
A lady looked our the castle-wa,Beheld the day gae down,
And she beheld that bonny ship
Come hailing to the town.
16
‘Come here, come here, my maries a',Ye see na what I see;
The bonniest ship is come to land
Yer eyes did ever see.
17
‘Gae busk ye, busk ye, my maries a',Busk ye unco fine,
Till I gae down to yon shore-side,
To invite yon squar to dine.
18
‘O ye come up, gay young squar,An take wi me a dine;
Ye sal eat o the guid white loaf,
An drink the claret wine.’
19
‘I thank ye for yer bread,I thank ye for yer wine,
I thank ye for yer courticie,
But indeed I hanna time.’
20
‘Canna ye fancy me?’ she says,‘Canna ye fancy me?
O a' the lords an lairds I see
There's nane I fancy but ye.’
21
‘The'r far awa fra me,’ he says,‘The'r clean ayont the sea,
That has my heart in hand,
An my love ae sal be.’
22
‘Here is a guid goud ring, [OMITTED]It will mind ye on a gay lady
That ance bare love to ye.’
23
‘I ha a ring on my fingerI loe thrice as well as thine,
Tho yours were o the guid red goud
An mine but simple tin.’
24
The day was fair, the ship was rare,Whan that squar set to sea;
Whan that day twal-month came an gaed,
At hame again landed he.
25
The lady's father looked our castle-wa,To see the day gae down,
An he beheld that bonny ship
Come hailing to the town.
26
‘Come here, my daughter,Ye see na what I see;
The bonniest ship is come to land
My eyes did ever see.
27
‘Gae busk ye, my dochter,G[a]e busk ye unco fine,
An I'll gae down to yon shore-side,
To invite the squar to dine;
I wad gie a' my rents
To hae ye married to him.’
28
‘The'r far awa frae me,’ she says,‘Far ayont the sea,
That has my heart in hand
An my love ai sal be.’
29
‘O will ye come, ye gay hine squar,An take wi me a dine?
Ye sal eat o the guid white bread,
And drink the claret wine.’
30
‘I thank ye for yer bread,I thank ye for yer wine,
I thank ye for yer courticie,
For indeed I hanna grait time.
31
‘O canna ye fancy me?’ he says,‘O canna ye fancy me?
O a' the ladys I eer did see
There's nane I loo by ye.’
32
‘They are far awa fra me,’ she says,‘The'r far ayont the sea,
That has my heart in hand,
An my love ay sall be.’
33
‘Here it is, a gay goud ring,[OMITTED]
It will mind ye on a gay hin chil
That ance bare love to ye.’
34
‘O gat ye that ring on the sea sailing?Or gat ye it on the land?
O gat ye it on the shore laying,
On a drowned man's hand?’
35
‘I got na it on the sea sailing,I got na it on the land,
403
On a drowned man's hand.
36
‘O bonny was his cheek,An lovely was his face!’
‘Allas!’ says she, ‘it is my true-love Willie,’
[OMITTED]
37
He turned him round about,An sweetly could he smile;
She turned her round, says, My love Willie,
How could ye me beguile?
38
‘A priest! a priest!’ the old man cries,‘An lat this twa married be:’
Little did the old man kin
It was his ain kitchen-boy.
Earl Richard's Daughter
THE KITCHIE-BOY—B
1
Earl Richard had but ae daughter,A maid o birth and fame;
She loved her father's kitchen-boy,
The greater was her shame.
2
But she could neer her true-love see,Nor with him could she talk,
In towns where she had wont to go,
Nor fields where she could walk.
3
But it fell ance upon a dayHer father went from home;
She's calld upon the kitchen boy
To come and clean her room.
4
‘Come sit ye down by me, Willie,Come sit ye down by me;
There's nae a lord in a' the north
That I can love but thee.’
5
‘Let never the like be heard, lady,Nor let it ever be;
For if your father get word o this
He will gar hang me hie.’
6
‘O ye shall neer be hangd, Willie,Your blude shall neer be drawn;
I'll lay my life in pledge o thine
Your body's neer get wrang.’
7
‘Excuse me now, my comely dame,No langer here I'll stay;
You know my time is near expir'd,
And now I must away.
8
‘The master-cook will on me call,And answered he must be;
If I am found in bower with thee,
Great anger will there be.’
9
‘The master-cook will on you call,But shall not answerd be;
I'll put you in a higher place
Than any cook's degree.
10
‘I have a coffer full of gold,Another of white monie,
And I will build a bonny ship,
And set my love to sea.
11
‘Silk shall be your sailing-clothes,Gold yellow is your hair,
As white like milk are your twa hands,
Your body neat and fair.’
12
This lady, with her fair speeches,She made the boy grow bold,
And he began to kiss and clap,
And on his love lay hold.
13
And she has built a bonny ship,Set her love to the sea,
Seven score o brisk young men
To bear him companie.
14
Then she's taen out a gay gold ring,To him she did it gie:
‘This will mind you on the ladie, Willie,
That's laid her love on thee.’
15
Then he's taen out a piece of gold,And he brake it in two:
‘All I have in the world, my dame,
For love I give to you.’
16
Now he is to his bonny ship,And merrily taen the sea;
The lady lay oer castle-wa,
The tear blinded her ee.
17
They had not saild upon the seaA week but barely three
When came a prosperous gale of wind,
On Spain's coast landed he.
18
A lady lay oer castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,
404
Come sailing to the town.
19
‘Come here, come here, my maries a',Ye see not what I see;
For here I see the bonniest ship
That ever saild the sea.
20
‘In her there is the bravest squireThat eer my eyes did see;
All clad in silk and rich attire,
And comely, comely's he.
21
‘O busk, O busk, my maries all,O busk and make ye fine;
And we will on to yon shore-side,
Invite yon squire to dine.
22
‘Will ye come up to my castleWi me and take your dine?
And ye shall eat the gude white bread,
And drink the claret wine.’
23
‘I thank you for your bread, lady,I thank you for your wine;
I thank you for your kind offer,
But now I have not time.’
24
‘I would gie all my land,’ she says,‘Your gay bride were I she;
And then to live on a small portion
Contented I would be.’
25
‘She's far awa frae me, lady,She's far awa frae me
That has my heart a-keeping fast,
And my love still she'll be.’
26
‘But ladies they are unconstant,When their loves go to sea,
And she'll be wed ere ye gae back;
My love, pray stay wi me.’
27
‘If she be wed ere I go back,And prove sae false to me,
I shall live single all my life;
I'll neer wed one but she.’
28
Then she's taen out a gay gold ring,And gae him presentlie:
‘'Twill mind you on the lady, young man,
That laid her love on thee.’
29
‘The ring that's on my mid-fingerIs far dearer to me,
Tho yours were o the gude red gold,
And mine the metal free.’
30
He viewd them all, baith neat and small,As they stood on the shore,
Then hoist the mainsail to the wind,
Adieu, for evermore!
31
He had not saild upon the seaA week but barely three
Until there came a prosperous gale,
In Scotland landed he.
32
But he put paint upon his face,And oil upon his hair,
Likewise a mask above his brow,
Which did disguise him sair.
33
Earl Richard lay oer castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,
And he beheld the bonny ship
Come sailing to the town.
34
‘Come here, come here, my daughter dear,Ye see not what I see;
For here I see the bonniest ship
That ever saild the sea.
35
‘In her there is the bravest squireThat eer my eyes did see;
O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,
Come here, come here, to me.
36
‘O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,O busk, and make ye fine,
And we will on to the shore-side,
Invite yon squire to dine.’
37
‘He's far awa frae me, father,He's far awa frae me
Who has the keeping o my heart,
And I'll wed nane but he.’
38
‘Whoever has your heart in hand,Yon lad's the match for thee,
And he shall come to my castle
This day and dine wi me.
39
‘Will ye come up to my castleWith me and take your dine?
And ye shall eat the gude white bread,
And drink the claret wine.’
40
‘Yes, I'll come up to your castleWith you and take my dine,
For I would give my bonny ship
Were your fair daughter mine.’
41
‘I would give all my lands,’ he said,‘That your bride she would be;
Then to live on a small portion
Contented would I be.’
42
As they gaed up from yon sea-strandAnd down the bowling-green,
405
For fear he should be seen.
43
He's done him down from bower to bower,Likewise from bower to ha,
And there he saw that lady gay,
The flower out-oer them a'.
44
He's taen her in his arms twa,And haild her courteouslie:
‘Excuse me, sir, there's no strange man
Such freedom use with me.’
45
Her father turnd him round about,A light laugh then gave he:
‘Stay, I'll retire a little while,
Perhaps you may agree.’
46
Now Willie's taen a gay gold ring,And gave her presentlie;
Says, Take ye that, ye lady fair,
A love-token from me.
47
‘O got ye't on the sea sailing?Or got ye't on the sand?
Or got ye't on the coast of Spain,
Upon a dead man's hand?’
48
‘Fine silk it was his sailing-clothes,Gold yellow was his hair;
It would hae made a hale heart bleed
To see him lying there.
49
‘He was not dead as I passd by,But no remeid could be;
He gave me this token to bear
Unto a fair ladie.
50
‘And by the marks he has descryvdI'm sure that you are she;
So take this token of free will,
For him you'll never see.’
51
In sorrow she tore her mantle,With care she tore her hair:
‘Now since I've lost my own true-love,
I'll neer love young men mair.’
52
He drew the mask from off his face,The lady sweetly smiled:
‘Awa, awa, ye fause Willie!
How have you me beguiled?’
53
Earl Richard he went thro the ha,The wine-glass in his hand,
But little thought his kitchen-boy
Was heir oer a' his land.
54
But this she kept within her heart,And never told to one
Until nine months they were expir'd,
That her young son came home.
55
She told it to her father dear;he said, Daughter, well won;
You've married for love, not for gold,
Your joys will neer be done.
Bonny Foot-Boy
THE KITCHIE-BOY—C
1
O there was a ladie, a noble ladie,She was a ladie of birth and fame,
But she fell in love wi her father's foot-boy,
I wis she was the mair to blame.
2
A word of him she neer could getTill her father was a hunting gone;
Then she calld on the bonny foot-boy
To speak wi her in her bower alone.
3
Says, Ye ken you are my love, Willie,And that I am a ladie free,
And there's naething ye can ask, Willie,
But at your bidding I maun be.
4
O the loving looks that ladie gaveSoon made the bonny boy grow bold,
And the loving words that ladie spake
As soon on them he did lay hold.
5
She has taen a ring frae her white finger,And unto him she did it gie;
Says, Wear this token for my sake,
And keep it till the day you die.
6
‘But shoud my father get word of thisI fear we baith will have cause to rue,
For to some nunnery I shoud be sent,
And I fear, my love, he would ruin you.
7
‘But here is a coffer of the good red gowd,I wot my mother left it to me;
And wi it you'll buy a bonny ship,
And ye maun sail the raging sea;
Then like some earl or baron's son
You can come back and marrie me.
406
8
‘But stay not lang awa, Willie,O stay not lang across the fame,
For fear your ladie shoud lighter be,
Or your young son shoud want a name.’
9
He had not been o the sea saillingBut till three months were come and gane,
Till he has landed his bonny ship;
It was upon the coast of Spain.
10
There was a ladie of high degreeThat saw him walking up and down;
She fell in love wi sweet Willie,
But she wist no how to make it known.
11
She has calld up her maries a',Says, Hearken well to what I say;
There is a young man in yon ship
That has been my love this many a day.
12
‘Now bear a hand, my maries a',And busk me brave and make me fine,
And go wi me to yon shore-side
To invite that noble youth to dine.’
13
O they have buskit that ladie gayIn velvet pall and jewels rare;
A poor man might have been made rich
Wi half the pearles they pat in her hair.
14
Her mantle was of gowd sae red,It glaned as far as ane coud see;
Sweet Willie thought she had been the queen,
And bowd full low and bent his knee.
15
She's gard her maries step aside,And on sweet Willie sae did smile;
She thought that man was not on earth
But of his heart she could beguile.
16
Says, Ye maun leave your bonny shipAnd go this day wi me and dine,
And you shall eat the baken meat,
And you shall drink the Spanish wine.
17
‘I canna leave my bonny ship,Nor go this day to dine wi thee,
For a' my sails are ready bent
To bear me back to my ain countrie.’
18
‘O gin you'd forsake your bonny shipAnd wed a ladie of this countrie,
I would make you lord of a' this town,
And towns and castles twa or three.’
19
‘Should I wed a ladie of this countrie,In sooth I woud be sair to blame,
For the fairest ladie in fair Scotland
Woud break her heart gin I gaed na hame.’
20
‘That ladie may choose another lord,And you another love may choose;
There is not a lord in this countrie
That such a proffer could refuse.’
21
‘O ladie, shoud I your proffer take,You'd soon yoursell have cause to rue,
For the man that his first love forsakes
Would to a seccond neer prove true.’
22
She has taen a ring frae her white finger,It might have been a prince's fee;
Says, Wear this token for my sake,
And give me that which now I see.
23
‘Take back your token, ye ladie fair;This ring you see on my right hand
Was gien me by my ain true-love,
Before I left my native land.
24
‘And tho yours woud buy it nine times oerI far more dearly prize my ain;
Nor woud I make the niffer,’ he says,
‘For a' the gowd that is in Spain.’
25
The ladie turnd her head awayTo dry the sat tears frae her eyne;
She naething more to him did say
But, I wish your face I neer had seen!
26
He has set his foot on good ship-board,The ladie waved her milk-white hand,
The wind sprang up and filld his sails,
And he quickly left the Spanish land.
27
He soon came back to his native strand,He langd his ain true-love to see;
Her father saw him come to land,
And took him some great lord to be.
28
Says, Will ye leave your bonny shipAnd come wi me this day to dine?
And you shall eat the baken meat,
And you shall drink the claret wine.
29
‘O I will leave my bonny ship,And gladly go wi you to dine,
And I woud gie thrice three thousand pounds
That your fair daughter were but mine.’
30
‘O gin ye will part wi your bonny shipAnd wed a ladie of this countrie,
I will gie you my ae daughter,
Gin she'll consent your bride to be.’
31
O he has blaket his bonny faceAnd closs tuckd up his yellow hair;
His true-love met them at the yate,
But she little thought her love was there.
407
32
‘O will you marrie this lord, daughter,That I've brought hame to dine wi me?
You shall be heir of a' my lands,
Gin you'll consent his bride to be.’
33
She looked oer her left shoulder,I wot the tears stood in her eye;
Says, The man is on the sea sailling
That fair wedding shall get of me.
34
Then Willie has washd his bonny face,And he's kaimd down his yellow hair;
He took his true-love in his arms,
And kindly has he kissd her there.
35
She's looked in his bonny face,And thro her tears did sweetly smile,
Then sayd, Awa, awa, Willie!
How could you thus your love beguile?
36
She kept the secret in her breast,Full seven years she's kept the same,
Till it fell out at a christning-feast,
And then of it she made good game.
37
And her father laughd aboon the rest,And said, My daughter, you'r nae to blame;
For you've married for love, and no for land,
So a' my gowd is yours to claim.
The Kitchie-Boy
THE KITCHIE-BOY—D
1
There lived a lady in the northO muckle birth an fame;
She's faun in love wi her kitchie-boy,
The greater was her shame.
2
‘Maister cook, he will cry oot,An answered he maun be;’
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
3
‘I hae a coffer o ried gowdMy mither left to me,
An I will build a bonnie ship,
And send her ower the sea,
An you'll come hame like lord or squire,
An answered you maun be.’
4
She has biggit a bonnie ship,Sent her across the main,
An in less than sax months an a day
That ship cam back again.
5
‘Go dress, go dress, my dochter Janet,Go dress, an mak you fine,
An we'll go doun to yon shore-side
An bid yon lords to dine.’
6
He's pued the black mask ower his face,Kaimed doun his yellow hair,
A' no to lat her father ken
That ere he had been there.
7
‘Oh, got you that by sea sailin?Or got you that by land?
Or got you that on Spanish coast,
Upon a died man's hand?’
8
‘I got na that by sea sailin,I got na that by land;
But I got that on Spanish coast,
Upon a died man's hand.’
9
He's pued the black mask aff his face,Threw back his yellow hair,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
10
‘A priest, a priest,’ the lady she cried,‘To marry my love an me;’
‘A clerk, a clerk,’ her father cried,
‘To sign her tocher free.’
Willie, the Kitchie-Boy
THE KITCHIE-BOY—E
[OMITTED]1
And she has built a lofty ship,And set her to the main;
The masts o her were o gude reed gowd,
And the sails o silver clear.
408
2
‘Ye winna bide three months awaWhen ye'll return again,
In case your lady lichter be,
And your baby want the name.’
3
But the wind blew high,The mariners they did land at Lundin soon.
4
A lady sat on the castell-wa,Beheld baith dale and down,
And there she saw this lofty ship,
Comin sailin in the Downs.
5
‘Look out, look out, my maidens a',Ye seena what I see;
For I do see as bonny a ship
As ever sailed the sea,
And the master o her's the bonniest boy
That ever my eyes did see.’
6
She's taen her mantell her about,Her cane intill her han,
And she's away to the shore-side,
Till invite the square to dine.
7
‘O will ye come to our castell?Or will ye sup or dine?’
‘O excuse me, madam,’ he said,
‘For I hae but little time.’
8
The wind blew high,The mariners they did land at home again.
9
The old man sat in the castell-wa,Beholding dale and down,
And there he spied this goodly ship
Come sailin to the town.
10
‘Look out, look out, my dauchter dear,Ye see not what I see;
For I do see as bonny a ship
As ever sailed the sea.
11
‘And the master o her's the bonniest boyThat my eyes did ever see,
And if I were a woman as I'm a man
My husband he should be.’
12
‘Haud far awa frae me, fader,Haud far awa frae me,
For I never had a lad but ane,
And he's far awa at sea.
13
‘There is a love-token atween us twa,It'll be mair ere it be less,
An aye the langer he bides awa
It will the mair encreass.’
14
He's taen his mantell him about,His cane intil his hand,
And he's awa to the shore-side,
To invite the square to dine.
15
‘O will ye come to our castle?Or will ye sup or dine?’
‘Indeed I will, kind sir,’ he said,
‘Tho I've but little time.’
16
The lady sat on castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,
But he's put his veil upon his face,
That she might not him ken.
409
253
THOMAS O YONDERDALE
THOMAS O YONDERDALE
[_]
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 221. b. Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 96.
1
Lady Maisry lives intill a bower,She never wore but what she would;
Her gowns were o the silks sae fine,
Her coats stood up wi bolts o gold.
2
Mony a knight there courted her,And gentlemen o high degree,
But it was Thomas o Yonderdale
That gaind the love o this ladie.
3
Now he has hunted her till her bower,Baith late at night and the mid day,
But when he stole her virgin rose
Nae mair this maid he would come nigh.
4
But it fell ance upon a timeThomas her bower he walkëd by;
There he saw her Lady Maisry,
Nursing her young son on her knee.
5
‘O seal on you, my bonny babe,And lang may ye my comfort be!
Your father passes by our bower,
And now minds neither you nor me.’
6
Now when Thomas heard her speak,The saut tear trinkled frae his ee;
To Lady Maisry's bower he went,
Says, Now I'm come to comfort thee.
7
‘Is this the promise ye did makeLast when I was in your companie?
You said before nine months were gane
Your wedded wife that I should be.’
410
8
‘If Saturday be a bonny day,Then, my love, I maun sail the sea;
But if I live for to return,
O then, my love, I'll marry thee.’
9
‘I wish Saturday a stormy day,High and stormy be the sea,
Ships may not sail, nor boats row,
But gar true Thomas stay wi me.’
10
Saturday was a bonny day,Fair and leesome blew the wind;
Ships did sail, and boats did row,
Which had true Thomas to unco ground.
11
He hadna been on unco groundA month, a month but barely three,
Till he has courted anither maid,
And quite forgotten Lady Maisry.
12
Ae night as he lay on his bed,In a dreary dream dreamed he
That Maisry stood by his bedside,
Upbraiding him for's inconstancie.
13
He's calld upon his little boy,Says, Bring me candle, that I see;
And ye maun gang this night, [my] boy,
Wi a letter to a gay ladie.
14
‘It is my duty you to serve,And bring you coal and candle-light,
And I would rin your errand, master,
If't were to Lady Maisry bright.
15
‘Tho my legs were sair I coudna gang,Tho the night were dark I coudna see,
Tho I should creep on hands and feet,
I woud gae to Lady Maisry.’
16
‘Win up, win up, my bonny boy,And at my bidding for to be;
For ye maun quickly my errand rin,
For it is to Lady Maisry.
17
‘Ye'll bid her dress in the gowns o silk,Likewise in the coats o cramasie;
Ye'll bid her come alang wi you,
True Thomas's wedding for to see.
18
‘Ye'll bid her shoe her steed before,And a' gowd graithing him behind;
On ilka tip o her horse mane,
Twa bonny bells to loudly ring.
19
‘And on the tor o her saddleA courtly bird to sweetly sing;
Her bridle-reins o silver fine,
And stirrups by her side to hing.’
20
She dressd her in the finest silk,Her coats were o the cramasie,
And she's awa to unco land,
True Thomas's wedding for to see.
21
At ilka tippet o her horse mane,Twa bonny bells did loudly ring,
And on the tor o her saddle
A courtly bird did sweetly sing.
22
The bells they rang, the bird he sang,As they rode in yon pleasant plain;
Then soon she met true Thomas's bride,
Wi a' her maidens and young men.
23
The bride she garned round about,‘I wonder,’ said she, ‘who this may be?
It surely is our Scottish queen,
Come here our wedding for to see.’
24
Out it speaks true Thomas's boy,‘She maunna lift her head sae hie;
But it's true Thomas's first love,
Come here your wedding for to see.’
25
Then out bespake true Thomas's bride,I wyte the tear did blind her ee;
If this be Thomas's first true-love,
I'm sair afraid he'll neer hae me.
26
Then in it came her Lady Maisry,And aye as she trips in the fleer,
‘What is your will, Thomas?’ she said,
‘This day, ye know, ye calld me here.’
27
‘Come hither by me, ye lily flower,Come hither and set ye down by me,
For ye're the ane I've call'd upon,
And ye my wedded wife maun be.’
28
Then in it came true Thomas's bride,And aye as she trippd on the stane,
‘What is your will, Thomas?’ she said,
‘This day, ye know, ye calld me hame.’
29
‘Ye hae come on hired horseback,But ye'se gae hame in coach sae free;
For here's the flower into my bower
I mean my wedded wife shall be.’
411
30
‘O ye will break your lands, Thomas,And part them in divisions three;
Gie twa o them to your ae brother,
And cause your brother marry me.’
31
‘I winna break my lands,’ he said,‘For ony woman that I see;
My brother's a knight o wealth and might,
He'll wed nane but he will for me.’
254
LORD WILLIAM, OR, LORD LUNDY
Sweet William
LORD WILLIAM, OR, LORD LUNDYA
1
Sweet William's gone over seas,Some unco lair to learn,
And our gude Bailie's ae dochter
Is awa to learn the same.
2
In one broad buke they learned baith,In one broad bed they lay;
412
He gart her come away.
3
‘It's you must marry that Southland lord,His lady for to be;
It's ye maun marry that Southland lord,
Or nocht ye'll get frae me.’
4
‘I must marry that Southland lord,Father, an it be your will;
But I rather it were my burial-day,
My grave for to fill.’
5
She walked up, she walked down,Had none to make her moan,
Nothing but the pretty bird
Sat on the causey-stone.
6
‘If thou could speak, wee bird,’ she says,‘As weell as thou can flee,
I would write a long letter
To Will ayont the sea.’
7
‘What thou wants wi Will,’ it says,‘Thou'll seal it with thy ring,
Tak a thread o silk and anither o twine,
About my neck will hing.’
8
What she wanted wi WillieShe sealed it wi a ring,
Took a thread of silk, another o twine,
About its neck did hing.
9
This bird flew high, this bird flew low,This bird flew owre the sea,
Until it entered the same room
Wherein was Sweet Willie.
10
This bird flew high, this bird flew low,Poor bird, it was mistaen!
It let the letter fa on Baldie's breist,
Instead of Sweet William.
11
‘Here's a letter, William,’ he says,‘I'm sure it's not to me;
And gin the morn gin twelve o'clock
Your love shall married be.’
12
‘Come saddle to me my horse,’ he said,‘The brown and a' that's speedie,
And I'll awa to Old England,
To bring home my ladie.’
13
Awa he gaed, awa he rade,Awa wi mickle speed;
He lichtit at every twa miles' end,
Lichtit and changed his steed.
14
When she entered the church-style,The tear was in her ee;
But when she entered the church-door
A blythe sicht did she see.
15
‘O hold your hand, you minister,Hold it a little wee,
Till I speak wi the bonnie bride,
For she's a friend to me.
16
‘Stand off, stand off, you braw bridegroom,Stand off a little wee;
Stand off, stand off, you braw bridegroom,
For the bride shall join wi me.’
17
Up and spak the bride's father,And an angry man was he;
‘If I had pistol, powther and lead,
And all at my command,
I would shoot thee stiff and dead
In the place where thou dost stand.’
18
Up and spoke then Sweet William,And a blithe blink from his ee;
‘If ye neer be shot till I shoot you,
Ye'se neer be shot for me.
19
‘Come out, come out, my foremost man,And lift my lady on;
Commend me all to my good-mother,
At night when ye gang home.’
Lord Lundy
LORD WILLIAM, OR, LORD LUNDY—B
1
Lord William has but ae dear son,In this world had nae mair;
Lord Lundie had but ae daughter,
And he will hae nane but her.
2
They dressed up in maids' array,And passd for sisters fair;
413
For to seek after lear.
3
They baith did eat at ae braid board,In ae bed baith did lye;
When Lord Lundie got word o that,
He's taen her soon away.
4
When Lord Lundie got word of that,An angry man was he;
He wrote his daughter on great haste
To return right speedilie.
5
When she looked the letter upon,A light laugh then gae she;
But ere she read it till an end
The tear blinded her ee.
6
‘Bad news, bad news, my love Willie,Bad news is come to me;
My father's written a braid letter,
Bids me gae speedilie.
7
‘Set trysts, set trysts, my love Willie,Set trysts, I pray, wi me;
Set trysts, set trysts, my love Willie,
When will our wedding be.’
8
‘On Wednesday, on Wednesday,The first that ever ye see;
On Wednesday at twelve o'clock,
My dear, I'll meet wi thee.’
9
When she came to her father's ha,He hailed her courteouslie;
Says, I'll forgie offences past,
If now ye'll answer me.
10
‘Will ye marry yon young prince,Queen of England to be?
Or will you marry Lord William's son,
Be loved by nane but he?’
11
‘I will marry yon young prince,Father, if it be your will;
But I woud rather I were dead and gane,
My grave I woud win till.’
12
When she was in her saddle set,She skyred like the fire,
To go her bridegroom for to meet,
For whom she'd nae desire.
13
On every tippet o her horse maneThere hang a siller bell,
And whether the wind blew east or west
They gae a sundry knell.
14
And when she came to Mary's kirkShe skyred like the fire;
There her young bridegroom she did meet,
For whom she'd nae desire.
15
She looked ower her left shoulder,The tear blinded her ee;
But looking ower her right shoulder,
A blythe sight then saw she.
16
There she saw Lord William's son,And mony a man him wi,
Wi targes braid and glittering spears
All marching ower the lee.
17
The minister looked on a bookHer marriage to begin:
‘If there is naething to be said,
These two may join in ane.’
18
‘O huly, huly, sir,’ she said,‘O stay a little wee;
I hae a friend to welcome yet
That's been a dear friend to me.’
19
O then the parson he spake out,A wise word then spake he;
‘You might hae had your friends welcomd
Before ye'd come to me.’
20
Then in it came the bride's first love,And mony a man him wi:
‘Stand back, stand back, ye jelly bridegroom,
Bride, ye maun join wi me.’
21
Then out it speaks him Lord Lundie,An angry man was he;
‘Lord William's son will hae my daughter
Without leave askd of me.
22
‘But since it's sae that she will gang,And proved sae fause to thee,
I'll make a vow, and keep it true,
Nae portion shall I gie.’
23
Then out it speaks the bride's first love,And [a] light laugh then gae he;
414
That ye can gie to me.
24
‘Your gude red gold I value not,Nor yet your white monie;
I hae her by the hand this day
That's far dearer to me.
25
‘So gie the prince a coffer o goldWhen he gaes to his bed,
And bid him clap his coffer o gold,
And I'll clap my bonny bride.’
Lord William
LORD WILLIAM, OR, LORD LUNDY—C
1
Lord William has gane oer the seaFor to seek after lear;
Lord Lundie had but ae daughter,
And he'd wed nane but her.
2
Upon a book they both did read,And in ae bed did ly:
‘But if my father get word of this,
I'll soon be taen away.’
3
‘Your father's gotten word of this,Soon married then ye'll be;
Set trysts, set trysts wi me, Janet,
Set trysts, set trysts wi me.
4
‘Set trysts, set trysts wi me, Janet,When your wedding-day's to be;
‘On Saturday, the first that comes,
Must be my wedding-day.’
5
‘Bad news, bad news is come, Janet,Bad news is come to me;
Your father's gotten word of this,
Soon married then ye'll be.’
6
‘O will ye marry the young prince, daughter,The queen of England to be?
Or will ye marry Lord William,
And die immediately?’
7
‘O I will marry the young prince, father,Because it is your will;
But I wish it was my burial-day,
For my grave I could gang till.’
8
When they gaed in into the kirk,And ae seat they sat in,
The minister took up the book,
The marriage to begin.
9
‘Lay down the book, O dear, kind sir,And wait a little wee;
I have a lady to welcome yet,
She's been a good friend to me.’
10
Out then spake the minister,An angry man was he;
‘You might have had your ladies welcomd
Before ye came to me.’
11
She looked oer her left shoulder,And tears did blind her ee;
But she looked oer her right shoulder,
And a blythe sight saw she,
For in there came him Lord William,
And his valiant company.
12
And in there came him Lord William,His armour shining clear,
And in it came him Lord William,
And many glittering spear.
13
‘Stand by, stand by, ye bonny bridegroom,Stand by, stand by,’ said he;
‘Stand by, stand by, ye bonny bridegroom,
Bride, ye maun join wi me.
14
‘Let the young prince clap his coffer of goldWhen he gangs to his bed;
Let the young prince clap his coffer of gold,
But I'll clap my bonny bride.’
15
Out it spake him Lord Lundie,And an angry man was he;
‘My daughter will marry him Lord William,
It seems, in spite of me.’
415
255
WILLIE'S FATAL VISIT
WILLIE'S FATAL VISIT
1
'Twas on an evening fair I went to take the air,I heard a maid making her moan;
Said, Saw ye my father? Or saw ye my mother?
Or saw ye my brother John?
Or saw ye the lad that I love best,
And his name it is Sweet William?
2
‘I saw not your father, I saw not your mother,Nor saw I your brother John;
But I saw the lad that ye love best,
And his name it is Sweet William.’
3
‘O was my love riding? or was he running?Or was he walking alone?
Or says he that he will be here this night?
O dear, but he tarries long!’
4
‘Your love was not riding, nor yet was he running,But fast was he walking alone;
He says that he will be here this night to thee,
And forbids you to think long.’
5
Then Willie he has gane to his love's door,And gently tirled the pin:
‘O sleep ye, wake ye, my bonny Meggie,
Ye'll rise, lat your true love in.’
6
The lassie being swack ran to the door fu snack,And gently she lifted the pin,
Then into her arms sae large and sae lang
She embraced her bonny love in.
7
‘O will ye gang to the cards or the dice,Or to a table o wine?
Or will ye gang to a well-made bed,
Well coverd wi blankets fine?’
8
‘O I winna gang to the cards nor the dice,Nor yet to a table o wine;
416
Well coverd wi blankets fine.’
9
‘My braw little cock, sits on the house tap,Ye'll craw not till it be day,
And your kame shall be o the gude red gowd,
And your wings o the siller grey.’
10
The cock being fause untrue he was,And he crew an hour ower seen;
They thought it was the gude day-light,
But it was but the light o the meen.
11
‘Ohon, alas!’ says bonny Meggie then,‘This night we hae sleeped ower lang!’
‘O what is the matter?’ then Willie replied,
‘The faster then I must gang.’
12
Then Sweet Willie raise, and put on his claise,And drew till him stockings and sheen,
And took by his side his berry-brown sword,
And ower yon lang hill he's gane.
13
As he gaed ower yon high, high hill,And down yon dowie den,
Great and grievous was the ghost he saw,
Would fear ten thousand men.
14
As he gaed in by Mary kirk,And in by Mary stile,
Wan and weary was the ghost
Upon sweet Willie did smile.
15
‘Aft hae ye travelld this road, Willie,Aft hae ye travelld in sin;
Ye neer said sae muckle for your saul
As My Maker bring me hame!
16
‘Aft hae ye travelld this road, Willie,Your bonny love to see;
But ye'll never travel this road again
Till ye leave a token wi me.’
17
Then she has taen him Sweet Willie,Riven him frae gair to gair,
And on ilka seat o Mary's kirk
O Willie she hang a share;
Even abeen his love Meggie's dice,
Hang's head and yellow hair.
18
His father made moan, his mother made moan,But Meggie made muckle mair;
His father made moan, his mother made moan,
But Meggie reave her yellow hair.
256
ALISON AND WILLIE
ALISON AND WILLIE
[_]
a. ‘My luve she lives in Lincolnshire,’ Harris MS., fol. 18 b; Mrs Harris. b. ‘Alison’ Buchan's MSS., I, 231.
1
‘My luve she lives in Lincolnshire,I wat she's neither black nor broun,
But her hair is like the thread o gowd,
Aye an it waur weel kaimëd doun.’
2
She's pued the black mask owre her face,An blinkit gaily wi her ee:
‘O will you to my weddin come,
An will you bear me gude companie?’
417
3
‘I winna to your weddin come,Nor [will] I bear you gude companie,
Unless you be the bride yoursell,
An me the bridegroom to be.’
4
‘For me to be the bride mysel,An you the bonnie bridegroom to be —
Cheer up your heart, Sweet Willie,’ she said,
‘For that's the day you'll never see.
5
‘Gin you waur on your saiddle set,An gaily ridin on the way,
You'll hae nae mair mind o Alison
Than she waur dead an laid in clay.’
6
When he was on his saiddle set,An slowly ridin on the way,
He had mair mind o Alison
Than he had o the licht o day.
7
He saw a hart draw near a hare,An aye that hare drew near a toun,
An that same hart did get a hare,
But the gentle knicht got neer a toun.
8
He leant him owre his saiddle-bow,An his heart did brak in pieces three;
Wi sighen said him Sweet Willie,
‘The pains o luve hae taen hald o me.’
9
[OMITTED][OMITTED]
There cam a white horse an a letter,
That stopped the weddin speidilie.
10
She leant her back on her bed-side,An her heart did brak in pieces three;
She was buried an bemoaned,
But the birds waur Willie's companie.
257
BURD ISABEL AND EARL PATRICK
418
Burd Bell
BURD ISABEL AND EARL PATRICK—A
1
There is a stane in yon water,It's lang or it grow green;
It's a maid that maks her ain fortune,
It'll never end its leen.
2
Burd Bell was na full fyfteenTill to service she did gae;
Burd Bell was na full sixteen
Till big wi bairn was scho.
3
‘Burd Bell she is a gude woman,She bides at hame wi me;
She never seeks to gang to church,
But bides at hame wi me.’
4
It fell ance upon a dayShe fell in travail-pain;
He is gane to the stair-head
Some ladies to call in.
5
‘O gin ye hae a lass-bairn, Burd Bell,A lass-bairn though it be,
Twenty ploughs bot and a mill
Will mak ye lady free.
6
‘But gin ye hae a son, Burd Bell,Ye'se be my wedded wife,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
7
The knichts they knack their white fingers,The ladies sat and sang,
T was a' to cheer bonnie Burd Bell,
She was far sunk in pain.
8
Earl Patrick is to his mither gane,As fast as he could hie:
‘An askin, an askin, dear mither,
An askin I want frae thee.
419
9
‘Burd Bell has born to me a son;What sall I do her wi?’
‘Gie her what ye like, Patrick,
Mak na her your ladie.’
10
He has gane to bonnie Burd Bell,Hir heart was pressd wi care:
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
11
‘My father will dee, bonnie Burd Bell,My mither will do the same,
And whan ye hear that they are gane
It's then I'll bring ye hame.’
12
Earl Patrick's bigget to her a bour,And strawn it round wi sand;
He coverd it wi silver on the outside,
Wi the red gowd within.
13
It happened ance upon a dayShe was kaiming his yellow hair,
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
14
‘Your father is dead, Earl Patrick,Your mither is the same;
And what is the reason, Earl Patrick,
Ye winna tak me hame?’
15
‘I've bigget to you a bonnie bour,I've strawn it round wi sand;
I've coverd it wi silver on the outside,
Wi gude red gowd within.
16
‘If eer I marry anither woman,Or bring anither hame,
I wish a hundred evils may enter me,
And may I fa oure the brim!’
17
It was na very lang after thisThat a duke's dochter he's wed,
Wi a waggon fu of gowd
[OMITTED]
18
Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,And spied baith dale and down,
And there she saw Earl patrick's aunt
Come riding to the town.
19
‘What want ye here, Earl Patrick's aunt?What want ye here wi me?’
‘I want Earl Patrick's bonnie young son;
His bride fain wad him see.’
20
‘I wad like to see that woman or man,Of high or low degree,
That wad tak the bairn frae my foot
That I ance for bowd my knee.’
21
‘Burd Bell, she's the bauldest womanThat ever I did see:’
‘It's I'll gang to bonnie Burd Bell,
She was never bauld to me.’
22
Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,Behauding brave dale and down,
And there she spied him Earl Patrick
Slowly riding to the town.
23
‘What said ye to my great-grand-aunt[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
[OMITTED]
24
‘I said nathing to your great-grand-auntBut I will say to thee:
I wad like to see the woman or man,
Of high or low degree,
That wad tak the bairn frae my foot
I ance for bowd my knee.
25
‘O dinna ye mind, Earl Patrick,The vows ye made to me,
That a hundred evils wad enter you
If ye provd fause to me?’
26
He's turnd him richt and round about,His horse head to the wind,
The hundred evils enterd him,
And he fell oure the brim.
420
Burd Isbel and Sir Patrick
BURD ISABEL AND EARL PATRICK—B
1
Take warning, a' ye young women,Of low station or hie,
Lay never your love upon a man
Above your ain degree.
2
Thus I speak by Burd Isbel;She was a maid sae fair,
She laid her love on Sir Patrick,
She'll rue it for evermair.
3
And likewise, a' ye sprightly youths,Of low station or hie,
Lay never your love upon a maid
Below your ain degree.
4
And thus I speak by Sir Patrick,Who was a knight sae rare;
He's laid his love on Burd Isbel,
He'll rue it for evermair.
5
Burd Isbel was but ten years auld,To service she has gane;
And Burd Isbel was but fifeteen
Whan her young son came hame.
6
It fell ance upon a dayStrong travelling took she;
None there was her bower within
But Sir Patrick and she.
7
‘This is a wark now, Sir Patrick,That we twa neer will end;
Ye'll do you to the outer court
And call some women in.’
8
He's done him to the outer court,And stately there did stand;
Eleven ladies he's calld in,
Wi ae shake o his hand.
9
‘Be favourable to Burd Isbel,Deal favourable if ye may;
Her kirking and her fair wedding
Shall baith stand on ae day.
10
‘Deal favourable to Burd Isbel,Whom I love as my life;
Ere this day month be come and gane,
She's be my wedded wife.’
11
Then he is on to his father,Fell low down on his knee;
Says, Will I marry Burd Isbel?
She's born a son to me.
12
‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,Or use her as ye like;
Ye'll gar her wear the silks sae red
And sae may ye the white.
O woud ye marry Burd Isbel,
Make her your heart's delight?
13
‘You want not lands nor rents, Patrick,You know your fortune's free;
But ere you'd marry Burd Isbel
I'd rather bury thee.
14
‘Ye'll build a bower for Burd Isbel,And set it round wi sand;
Make as much mirth in Isbel's bower
As ony in a' the land.’
15
Then he is to his mother gane,Fell low down on his knee:
‘O shall I marry Burd Isbel?
She's born a son to me.’
16
‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,Or use her as ye like;
Ye'll gar her wear the silks sae red,
And sae may ye the white.
O would ye marry Burd Isbel,
Make her wi me alike?
17
‘You want not lands and rents, Patrick,You know your fortune's free;
But ere you marry Burd Isbel
I'd rather bury thee.
18
‘Ye'll build a bower to Burd Isbel,And set it round wi glass;
Make as much mirth in Isbel's bower
As ony in a' the place.’
19
He's done him down thro ha, thro ha,Sae has he in thro bower;
The tears ran frae his twa grey eyes,
And loot them fast down pour.
20
‘My father and my mother baithTo age are coming on;
When they are dead and buried baith,
Burd Isbel I'll bring home.’
421
21
The words that passd atween these twaOught never to be spoken;
The vows that passd atween these twa
Ought never to be broken.
22
Says he, If I another court,Or wed another wife,
May eleven devils me attend
At the end-day o my life.
23
But his father he soon did die,His mother nae lang behind;
But Sir Patrick of Burd Isbel
He now had little mind.
24
It fell ance upon a day,As she went out to walk,
And there she saw him Sir Patrick,
Going wi his hound and hawk.
25
‘Stay still, stay still, now Sir Patrick,O stay a little wee,
And think upon the fair promise
Last year ye made to me.
26
‘Now your father's dead, kind sir,And your mother the same;
Yet nevertheless now, Sir Patrick,
Ye're nae bringing me hame.’
27
‘If the morn be a pleasant day,I mean to sail the sea,
To spend my time in fair England,
All for a month or three.’
28
He hadna been in fair EnglandA month but barely ane
Till he forgot her Burd Isbel,
The mother of his son.
29
Some time he spent in fair England,And when returnd again
He laid his love on a duke's daughter,
And he has brought her hame.
30
Now he's forgot his first true loveHe ance lovd ower them a';
But now the devil did begin
To work between them twa.
31
When Sir Patrick he was wed,And all set down to dine,
Upon his first love, Burd Isbel,
A thought ran in his mind.
32
He calld upon his gude grand-auntTo come right speedilie;
Says, Ye'll gae on to Burd Isbel,
Bring my young son to me.
33
She's taen her mantle her about,Wi gowd gloves on her hand,
And she is on to Burd Isbel,
As fast as she coud gang.
34
She haild her high, she haild her low,With stile in great degree:
‘O busk, O busk your little young son,
For he maun gang wi me.’
35
‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,‘O low station or hie,
Woud take the bairn frae my foot,
For him I bowed my knee.
36
‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,‘O low station or mean,
Woud take the bairn frae my foot
Whom I own to be mine.’
37
Then she has done her hame again,As fast as gang coud she;
‘Present,’ said he, ‘my little young son,
For him I wish to see.’
38
‘Burd Isbel's a bauld woman,’ she said,‘As eer I yet spake wi;’
But sighing said him Sir Patrick,
She ne'er was bauld to me.
39
But he's dressd in his best array,His gowd rod in his hand,
And he is to Burd Isbel's bower,
As fast as he coud gang.
40
‘O how is this, Burd Isbel,’ he said,‘So ill ye've used me?
What gart you anger my gude grand-aunt,
That I did send to thee?’
41
‘If I hae angerd your gude grand-aunt,O then sae lat it be;
I said naething to your gude grand-aunt
But what I'll say to thee.
422
42
‘Iwoud fain see the one, I said,O low station or hie,
Wha woud take this bairn frae my foot,
For him I bowed the knee.
43
‘I woud fain see the one, I said,O low station or mean,
Woud take this bairn frae my foot
Whom I own to be mine.’
44
‘O if I had some counsellers here,And clerks to seal the band,
I woud infeft your son this day
In third part o my land.’
45
‘I hae two couzins, Scottish clerks,Wi bills into their hand,
An ye'll infeft my son this day
In third part o your land.’
46
Then he calld in her Scottish clerks,Wi bills into their hand,
And he's infeft his son that day
The third part o his land.
47
To ane o these young clerks she spoke,Clerk John it was his name;
Says, Of my son I gie you charge
Till I return again.
48
‘Ye'll take here my son, clerk John,Learn him to dance and sing,
And I will to some unco land,
Drive love out of my mind.
49
‘And ye'll take here my son, clerk John,Learn him to hunt the roe,
And I will to some unco land;
Now lat Sir Patrick go.
50
‘But I'll cause this knight at church-door stand;For a' his noble train;
For selling o his precious soul
Dare never come farther ben.’
Earl Patrick and Burd Isabel
BURD ISABEL AND EARL PATRICK—C
1
All young maidens fair and gay,Whatever your station be,
Never lay your love upon a man
Above your own degree.
2
I speak it all by Bird Isabel;She was her father's dear,
She laid her love on Earl Patrick,
Which she rues ever mair.
3
‘Oh, we began a wark, Patrick,That we two cannot end;
Go you unto the outer stair
And call some women in.’
4
He's gone unto the outer stair,And up in it did stand,
And did bring in eleven ladies,
With one sign of his hand.
5
He did him to the doctor's shop,As fast as he could gang,
But ere the doctor could get there
Bird Isabel bore a son.
6
But he has courted a duke's daughter,Lived far beyont the sea;
Burd Isabel's parents were but mean,
They had not gear to gie.
7
He has courted a duke's daughter,Lived far beyond the foam;
Burd Isabel was a mean woman,
And tocher she had none.
8
Now it fell once upon a dayHis wedding day was come;
He's hied him to his great-grand-aunt,
As fast as he could gang.
9
Says, Will you go this errand, aunt?Go you this errand for me,
And if I live and bruick my life
I will go as far for thee.
10
‘Go and bring me Bird Isbel's son,Dressed in silks so fine,
And if he live to be a man
He shall heir all my land.’
11
Now she went hailing to the door,And hailing ben the floor,
423
And she, her Isabel dear.
12
‘I came to take Earl Patrick's son,To dress in silks so fine;
For if he live to be a man
He is to heir his land.’
13
‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,‘Of high station or mean,
Daur take this bairn from my knee?
For he is called mine.
14
‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,‘Of mean station or hie,
Daur tak this bairn frae my foot?
For him I bowed my knee.’
15
His aunt went hailing to his door,And hailing ben the floor,
And she has styled him, Patrick,
And [he] her, aunty dear.
16
She says, I have been east and west,And far beyond the sea,
But Isabel is the boldest woman
That ever my eyes did see.
17
‘You surely dream, my aunty dear,For that can never be;
Burd Isabel's not a bold woman,
She never was bold to me.’
18
Now he went hailing to her door,And hailing ben the floor,
And she has styled him, Patrick,
And he her, Isabel dear.
19
‘O ye have angered my great-grand-aunt;You know she's a lady free;’
‘I said naught to your great-grand-aunt
But what I'll say to thee.
20
‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,Of high station or mean,
Daur tak this bairn from my knee?
For he is called mine.
21
‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,Of mean station or hie,
Daur tak this bairn from my foot?
For him I bowed my knee.
22
‘But I'll cause you stand at good church-door,For all your noble train;
For selling of your precious soul,
You shall not get further ben.’
258
BROUGHTY WA'S
BROUGHTY WA'S
[_]
a. ‘Helen,’ Buchan's MSS, I, 233.
b. ‘Burd Hellen,’ or, ‘Browghty Wa's,’ Harris MS., fol. 17 b; from Mrs Harris.
424
1
Burd Helen was her mother's dear,Her father's heir to be;
He was the laird of Broughty Walls,
And the provost o Dundee.
2
Burd Helen she was much admiredBy all that were round about;
Unto Hazelan she was betrothed,
Her virgin days were out.
3
Glenhazlen was a comely youth,And virtuous were his friends;
He left the schools o bonny Dundee
And on to Aberdeen.
4
It fell upon a Christmas DayBurd Helen was left alone
For to keep her father's towers;
They stand two miles from town.
5
Glenhazlen's on to Broughty Walls,Was thinking to win in;
But the wind it blew, and the rain dang on
And wat him to the skin.
6
He was very well entertaind,Baith for his bed and board,
Till a band o men surrounded them,
Well armd wi spear and sword.
7
They hurried her along wi them,Lockd up her maids behind;
They threw the keys out-ower the walls,
That none the plot might find.
8
They hurried her along wi them,Ower mony a rock and glen,
But, all that they could say or do.
From weeping would not refrain.
9
‘The Hiland hills are hie, hie hills,The Hiland hills are hie;
They are no like the banks o Tay,
Or bonny town o Dundee.’
10
It fell out ance upon a dayThey went to take the air;
She threw hersell upon the stream,
Against wind and despair.
11
It was sae deep he coudna wide,Boats werna to be found,
But he leapt in after himsell,
And sunk down like a stone.
12
She kilted up her green claidingA little below her knee,
And never rest nor was undrest
Till she reachd again Dundee.
13
‘I learned this at Broughty Walls,At Broughty near Dundee,
That if water were my prison strong
I would swim for libertie.’
425
259
LORD THOMAS STUART
LORD THOMAS STUART
1
Thomas Stuart was a lord,A lord of mickle land;
He used to wear a coat of gold,
But now his grave is green.
2
Now he has wooed the young countess,The Countess of Balquhin,
An given her for a morning-gift
Strathboggie and Aboyne.
3
But women's wit is aye willful,Alas that ever it was sae!
She longed to see the morning-gift
That her gude lord to her gae.
4
When steeds were saddled an weel bridled,An ready for to ride,
There came a pain on that gude lord,
His back, likewise his side.
5
He said, Ride on, my lady fair,May goodness be your guide!
For I'm sae sick an weary that
No farther can I ride.
6
Now ben did come his father dear,Wearing a golden band;
Says, Is there nae leech in Edinburgh
Can cure my son from wrang?
7
‘O leech is come, an leech is gane,Yet, father, I'm aye waur;
There's not a leech in Edinbro
Can death from me debar.
8
‘But be a friend to my wife, father,Restore to her her own;
Restore to her my morning-gift,
Strathboggie and Aboyne.
9
‘It had been gude for my wife, father,To me she'd born a son;
He would have got my land an rents,
Where they lie out an in.
10
‘It had been gude for my wife, father,To me she'd born an heir;
He would have got my land an rents,
Where they lie fine an fair.’
426
11
The steeds they strave into their stables,The boys could'nt get them bound;
The hounds lay howling on the leech,
Cause their master was behind.
12
‘I dreamed a dream since late yestreen,I wish it may be good,
That our chamber was full of swine,
An our bed full of blood.’
13
I saw a woman come from the West,Full sore wringing her hands,
And aye she cried, Ohon, alas!
My good lord's broken bands.
14
As she came by my good lord's bower,Saw mony black steeds an brown:
‘I'm feared it be mony unco lords
Havin my love from town!’
15
As she came by my gude lord's bower,Saw mony black steeds an grey:
‘I'm feared it's mony unco lords
Havin my love to the clay!’
260
LORD THOMAS AND LADY MARGARET
427
Lord Thomas; or, Lord Thomas and Lady Margaret
LORD THOMAS AND LADY MARGARET—A
[_]
a. Motherwell's MS., p. 407; from the recitation of Mrs Parkhill, Maxweltown, 28 September, 1825 (with variations, furnished by another person of the same neighborhood, interlined). b. Motherwell's MS., p. 71; from Miss—, Glasgow.
1
Lord Thomas is to the hunting gone,To hunt the fallow deer;
Lady Margaret's to the greenwood shaw,
To see her lover hunt there.
2
He has looked over his left shoulder,To see what might be seen,
And there he saw Lady Margaret,
As she was riding her lane.
3
He called on his servants all,By one, by two, by three:
‘Go hunt, go hunt that wild woman,
Go hunt her far from me!’
4
They hunted her high, they hunted her low,They hunted her over the plain,
And the red scarlet robes Lady Margaret had on
Would never be mended again.
5
They hunted her high, they hunted her low,They hunted her over the plain,
Till at last she spy'd a tall young man,
As he was riding alane.
6
‘Some relief, some relief, thou tall young man!Some relief I pray thee grant me!
For I am a lady deep wronged in love,
And chased from my own countrie.’
7
‘No relief, no relief, thou lady fair,No relief will I grant unto thee
Till once thou renounce all the men in the world
My wedded wife for to be.’
8
Then he set her on a milk-white steed,Himself upon a gray,
And he has drawn his hat over his face,
And chearfully they rode away.
9
Lady Margaret was at her bower-window,Sewing her silken seam,
And there she spy'd, like a wandering bodie,
Lord Thomas begging alane.
10
‘Some relief, some relief, thou lady fair!Some relief, I pray thee grant me!
For I am a puir auld doited carle,
And banishd from my ain countrie.’
11
‘No relief, no relief, thou perjured man,No relief will I grant unto thee;
For oh, if I had thee within my bower,
There hanged dead thou would be.’
12
‘No such thing, Lady Margaret,’ he said,‘Such a thing would never be;
For with my broadsword I would kill thy wedded lord,
And carry thee far off with me.’
13
‘Oh no, no! Lord Thomas,’ she said,‘Oh, no such things must be;
For I have wine in my cellars,
And you must drink with me.’
14
Lady Margaret then called her servants all,By one, by two, by three:
‘Go fetch me the bottles of blude-red wine,
That Lord Thomas may drink with me.’
15
They brought her the bottles of blude-red wine,By one, by two, by three,
And with her fingers long and small
She poisond them all three.
16
She took the cup in her lilly-white hand,Betwixt her finger and her thumb,
She put it to her red rosy lips,
But never a drop went down.
17
Then he took the cup in his manly hand,Betwixt his finger and his thumb,
He put it to his red rosy lips,
And so merrily it ran down.
18
‘Oh, I am wearied drinking with thee, Margaret!I am wearied drinking with thee!’
‘And so was I,’ Lady Margaret said,
‘When thou hunted thy hounds after me.’
19
‘But I will bury thee, Lord Thomas,’ she said,‘Just as if thou wert one of my own;
And when that my good lord comes home
I will say thou's my sister's son.’
428
Clerk Tamas
LORD THOMAS AND LADY MARGARET—B
1
Clerk Tamas lovd her fair AnnieAs well as Mary lovd her son;
But now he hates her fair Annie,
And hates the lands that she lives in.
2
‘Ohon, alas!’ said fair Annie,‘Alas! this day I fear I'll die;
But I will on to sweet Tamas,
And see gin he will pity me.’
3
As Tamas lay ower his shott-window,Just as the sun was gaen down,
There he beheld her fair Annie,
As she came walking to the town.
4
‘O where are a' my well-wight men,I wat, that I pay meat and fee,
For to lat a' my hounds gang loose
To hunt this vile whore to the sea.’
5
The hounds they knew the lady well,And nane o them they woud her bite,
Save ane that is ca'd Gaudywhere,
I wat he did the lady smite.
6
‘O wae mat worth ye, Gaudywhere!An ill reward this is to me;
For ae bit that I gae the lave,
I'm very sure I've gien you three.
7
‘For me, alas! there's nae remeid,Here comes the day that I maun die;
I ken ye lovd your master well,
And sae, alas for me! did I.’
8
A captain lay ower his ship-window,Just as the sun was gaen down;
There he beheld her fair Annie,
As she was hunted frae the town.
9
‘Gin ye'll forsake father and mither,And sae will ye your friends and kin,
Gin ye'll forsake your lands sae broad,
Then come and I will take you in.’
10
‘Yes, I'll forsake baith father and mither,And sae will I my friends and kin;
Yes, I'll forsake my lands sae broad,
And come, gin ye will take me in.’
11
Then a' thing gaed frae fause Tamas,And there was naething byde him wi;
Then he thought lang for Arrandella,
It was fair Annie for to see.
12
‘How do ye now, ye sweet Tamas?And how gaes a' in your countrie?’
‘I'll do better to you than ever I've done,
Fair Annie, gin ye'll come an see.’
13
‘O Guid forbid,’ said fair Annie,‘That e'er the like fa in my hand!
Woud I forsake my ain gude lord
And follow you, a gae-through-land?
14
‘Yet nevertheless now, sweet Tamas,Ye'll drink a cup o wine wi me,
And nine times in the live lang day
Your fair claithing shall changed be.’
15
Fair Annie pat it till her cheek,Sae did she till her milk-white chin,
Sae did she till her flattering lips,
But never a drap o wine gaed in.
16
Tamas pat it till his cheek,Sae did he till his dimpled chin;
He pat it till his rosy lips,
And then the well o wine gaed in.
17
‘These pains,’ said he, ‘are ill to bide;Here is the day that I maun die;
O take this cup frae me, Annie,
For o the same I am weary.’
18
‘And sae was I o you, Tamas,When I was hunted to the sea;
But I'se gar bury you in state,
Which is mair than ye'd done to me.’
429
261
LADY ISABEL
Lady Isabel
LADY ISABEL
430
1
'T was early on a May morningLady Isabel combd her hair;
But little kent she, or the morn
She woud never comb it mair.
2
'T was early on a May morningLady Isabel rang the keys;
But little kent she, or the morn
A fey woman she was.
3
Ben it came her step-mother,As white's the lily flower:
‘It's tauld me this day, Isabel,
You are your father's whore.’
4
‘O them that tauld you that, mother,I wish they neer drink wine;
For if I be the same woman
My ain sell drees the pine.
5
‘And them that's tauld you that, mother,I wish they neer drink ale;
For if I be the same woman
My ain sell drees the dail.’
6
‘It may be very well seen, Isabel,It may be very well seen;
He buys to you the damask gowns,
To me the dowie green.’
7
‘Ye are of age and I am young,And young amo my flowers;
The fairer that my claithing be,
The mair honour is yours.
8
‘I hae a love beyond the sea,And far ayont the faem;
For ilka gown my father buys me,
My ain luve sends me ten.’
9
‘Come ben, come ben now, Lady Isabel,And drink the wine wi me;
I hae twa jewels in ae coffer,
And ane o them I'll gie [ye].’
10
‘Stay still, stay still, my mother dear,Stay still a little while,
Till I gang into Marykirk;
It's but a little mile.’
11
When she gaed on to Marykirk,And into Mary's quire,
There she saw her ain mother
Sit in a gowden chair.
12
‘O will I leave the lands, mother?Or shall I sail the sea?
Or shall I drink this dowie drink
That is prepar'd for me?’
13
‘Ye winna leave the lands, daughter,Nor will ye sail the sea,
But ye will drink this dowie drink
This woman's prepar'd for thee.
14
‘Your bed is made in a better placeThan ever hers will be,
And ere ye're cauld into the room
Ye will be there wi me.’
15
‘Come in, come in now, Lady Isabel,And drink the wine wi me;
I hae twa jewels in ae coffer,
And ane o them I'll gie [ye].’
16
‘Stay still, stay still, my mother dear,Stay still a little wee,
Till I gang to yon garden green,
My Maries a' to see.’
431
17
To some she gae the broach, the broach,To some she gae a ring;
But wae befa her step-mother!
To her she gae nae thing.
18
‘Come in, come in now, Lady Isabel,And drink the wine wi me;
I hae twa jewels in ae coffer,
And ane o them I'll gie [ye].’
19
Slowly to the bower she came,And slowly enterd in,
And being full o courtesie,
Says, Begin, mother, begin.
20
She put it till her cheek, her cheek,Sae did she till her chin,
Sae did she till her fu fause lips,
But never a drap gaed in.
21
Lady Isabel put it till her cheek,Sae did she till her chin,
Sae did she till her rosy lips,
And the rank poison gaed in.
22
‘O take this cup frae me, mother,O take this cup frae me;
My bed is made in a better place
Than ever yours will be.
23
‘My bed is in the heavens high,Amang the angels fine;
But yours is in the lowest hell,
To drie torment and pine.’
24
Nae moan was made for Lady IsabelIn bower where she lay dead,
But a' was for that ill woman,
In the fields mad she gaed.
262
LORD LIVINGSTON
Lord Livingston
LORD LIVINGSTON
432
1
It fell about the Lammas time,When wightsmen won their hay,
A' the squires in merry Linkum
Went a' forth till a play.
2
They playd until the evening tide,The sun was gaeing down;
A lady thro plain fields was bound,
A lily leesome thing.
3
Two squires that for this lady pledged,In hopes for a renown,
The one was calld the proud Seaton,
The other Livingston.
4
‘When will ye, Michaell o Livingston,Wad for this lady gay?’
‘To-morrow, to-morrow,’ said Livingston,
‘To-morrow, if you may.’
5
Then they hae wadded their wagers,And laid their pledges down;
To the high castle o Edinbro
They made them ready boun.
6
The chamber that they did gang in,There it was daily dight;
The kipples were like the gude red gowd,
As they stood up in hight,
And the roof-tree like the siller white,
And shin'd like candles bright.
7
The lady fair into that haWas comely to be seen;
Her kirtle was made o the pa,
Her gowns seemd o the green.
8
Her gowns seemd like green, like green,Her kirtle o the pa;
A siller wand intill her hand,
She marshalld ower them a'.
9
She gae every knight a lady bright,And every squire a may;
Her own sell chose him Livingston,
They were a comely tway.
10
Then Seaton started till his foot,The fierce flame in his ee:
‘On the next day, wi sword in hand,
On plain fields meet ye me.’
11
When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' man bound for bed,
Lord Livingston and his fair dame
In bed were sweetly laid.
12
The bed, the bed where they lay inWas coverd wi the pa;
A covering o the gude red gowd
Lay nightly ower the twa.
13
So they lay there, till on the mornThe sun shone on their feet;
Then up it raise him Livingston
To draw to him a weed.
14
The first an weed that he drew onWas o the linen clear;
The next an weed that he drew on,
It was a weed o weir.
15
The niest an weed that he drew onWas gude iron and steel;
Twa gloves o plate, a gowden helmet,
Became that hind chiel weel.
433
16
Then out it speaks that lady gay—A little forbye stood she—
‘I'll dress mysell in men's array,
Gae to the fields for thee.’
17
‘O God forbid,’ said Livingston,‘That eer I dree the shame;
My lady slain in plain fields,
And I coward knight at hame!’
18
He scarcely travelled frae the townA mile but barely twa
Till he met wi a witch-woman,
I pray to send her wae!
19
‘This is too gude a day, my lord,To gang sae far frae town;
This is too gude a day, my lord,
On field to make you boun.
20
‘I dreamd a dream concerning thee,O read ill dreams to guid!
Your bower was full o milk-white swans,
Your bride's bed full o bluid.’
21
‘O bluid is gude,’ said Livingston,‘To bide it whoso may;
If I be frae yon plain fields,
Nane knew the plight I lay.’
22
Then he rade on to plain fieldsAs swift's his horse coud hie,
And there he met the proud Seaton,
Come boldly ower the lee.
23
‘Come on to me now, Livingston,Or then take foot and flee;
This is the day that we must try
Who gains the victorie.’
24
Then they fought with sword in handTill they were bluidy men;
But on the point o Seaton's sword
Brave Livingston was slain.
25
His lady lay ower castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,
When Blenchant brave, his gallant steed,
Came prancing to the town.
26
‘O where is now my ain gude lordHe stays sae far frae me?’
‘O dinna ye see your ain gude lord
Stand bleeding by your knee?’
27
‘O live, O live, Lord Livingston,The space o ae half hour,
There's nae a leech in Edinbro town
But I'll bring to your door.’
28
‘Awa wi your leeches, lady,’ he said,‘Of them I'll be the waur;
There's nae a leech in Edinbro town
That can strong death debar.
29
‘Ye'll take the lands o LivingstonAnd deal them liberallie,
To the auld that may not, the young that cannot,
And blind that does na see,
And help young maidens' marriages,
That has nae gear to gie.’
30
‘My mother got it in a book,The first night I was born,
I woud be wedded till a knight,
And him slain on the morn.
31
‘But I will do for my love's sakeWhat ladies woudna thole;
Ere seven years shall hae an end,
Nae shoe's gang on my sole.
32
‘There's never lint gang on my head,Nor kame gang in my hair,
Nor ever coal nor candle-light
Shine in my bower mair.’
33
When seven years were near an end,The lady she thought lang,
And wi a crack her heart did brake,
And sae this ends my sang.
434
263
THE NEW-SLAIN KNIGHT
The New-Slain Knight
THE NEW-SLAIN KNIGHT
1
My heart is lighter than the poll;My folly made me glad,
As on my rambles I went out,
Near by a garden-side.
2
I walked on, and farther on,Love did my heart engage;
There I spied a well-faird maid,
Lay sleeping near a hedge.
3
Then I kissd her with my lipsAnd stroked her with my hand:
‘Win up, win up, ye well-faird maid,
This day ye sleep oer lang.
4
‘This dreary sight that I hae seenUnto my heart gives pain;
At the south side o your father's garden,
I see a knight lies slain.’
5
‘O what like was his hawk, his hawk?Or what like was his hound?
And what like was the trusty brand
This new-slain knight had on?’
6
‘His hawk and hound were from him gone,His steed tied to a tree;
A bloody brand beneath his head,
And on the ground lies he.’
7
‘O what like was his hose, his hose?And what like were his shoon?
And what like was the gay clothing
This new-slain knight had on?’
435
8
‘His coat was of the red scarlet,His waistcoat of the same;
His hose were of the bonny black,
And shoon laced with cordin.
9
‘Bonny was his yellow hair,For it was new combd down;’
Then, sighing sair, said the lady fair,
‘I combd it late yestreen.
10
‘O wha will shoe my fu fair foot?Or wha will glove my hand?
Or wha will father my dear bairn,
Since my love's dead and gane?’
11
‘O I will shoe your fu fair foot,And I will glove your hand;
And I'll be father to your bairn,
Since your love's dead and gane.’
12
‘I winna father my bairn,’ she said,‘Upon an unkent man;
I'll father it on the King of Heaven,
Since my love's dead and gane.’
13
The knight he knackd his white fingers,The lady tore her hair;
He's drawn the mask from off his face,
Says, Lady, mourn nae mair.
14
‘For ye are mine, and I am thine,I see your love is true;
And if I live and brook my life
Ye'se never hae cause to rue.’
264
THE WHITE FISHER
The White Fisher
THE WHITE FISHER
436
1
‘It is a month, and isna mair,Love, sin I was at thee,
But find a stirring in your side;
Who may the father be?
2
‘Is it to a lord of might,Or baron of high degree?
Or is it to the little wee page
That rode along wi me?’
3
‘It is not to a man of might,Nor baron of high degree,
But it is to a popish priest;
My lord, I winna lie.
4
‘He got me in my bower alone,As I sat pensively;
He vowed he would forgive my sins,
If I would him obey.’
5
Now it fell ance upon a dayThis young lord went from home,
And great and heavy were the pains
That came this lady on.
6
Then word has gane to her gude lord,As he sat at the wine,
And when the tidings he did hear
Then he came singing hame.
7
When he came to his own bower-door,He tirled at the pin:
‘Sleep ye, wake ye, my gay lady,
Ye'll let your gude lord in.’
8
Huly, huly raise she up,And slowly put she on,
And slowly came she to the door;
She was a weary woman.
9
‘Ye'll take up my son, Willie,That ye see here wi me,
And hae him down to yon shore-side,
And throw him in the sea.
10
‘Gin he sink, ye'll let him sink,Gin he swim, ye'll let him swim;
And never let him return again
Till white fish he bring hame.’
11
Then he's taen up his little young son,And rowd him in a band,
And he is on to his mother,
As fast as he could gang.
12
‘Ye'll open the door, my mother dear,Ye'll open, let me come in;
My young son is in my arms twa,
And shivering at the chin.’
13
‘I tauld you true, my son Willie,When ye was gaun to ride,
That lady was an ill woman
That ye chose for your bride.’
14
‘O hold your tongue, my mother dear,Let a' your folly be;
I wat she is a king's daughter
That's sent this son to thee.
15
‘I wat she was a king's daughterI loved beyond the sea,
And if my lady hear of this
Right angry will she be.’
16
‘If that be true, my son Willie—Your ain tongue winna lie—
Nae waur to your son will be done
Than what was done to thee.’
17
He's gane hame to his lady,And sair mourning was she:
‘What ails you now, my lady gay,
Ye weep sa bitterlie?’
18
‘O bonny was the white fisherThat I sent to the sea;
But lang, lang will I look for fish
Ere white fish he bring me!
19
‘O bonny was the white fisherThat ye kiest in the faem;
But lang, lang will I look for fish
Ere white fish he fetch hame!
20
‘I fell a slumbering on my bedThat time ye went frae me,
And dreamd my young son filld my arms,
But when waked, he's in the sea.’
21
‘O hold your tongue, my gay lady,Let a' your mourning be,
And I'll gie you some fine cordial,
My love, to comfort thee.’
22
‘I value not your fine cordial,Nor aught that ye can gie;
Who could hae drownd my bonny young son
Could as well poison me.’
23
‘Cheer up your heart, my lily flower,Think nae sic ill o me;
Your young son's in my mother's bower,
Set on the nourice knee.
437
24
‘Now, if ye'll be a gude woman,I'll neer mind this to thee;
Nae waur is done to your young son
Than what was done to me.’
25
‘Well fell's me now, my ain gude lord;These words do cherish me;
If it hadna come o yoursell, my lord,
'Twould neer hae come o me.’
265
THE KNIGHT'S GHOST
The Knight's Ghost
1
‘There is a fashion in this land,And even come to this country,
That every lady should meet her lord
When he is newly come frae sea:
2
‘Some wi hawks, and some wi hounds,And other some wi gay monie;
But I will gae myself alone,
And set his young son on his knee.’
3
She's taen her young son in her arms,And nimbly walkd by yon sea-strand,
And there she spy'd her father's ship,
As she was sailing to dry land.
4
‘Where hae ye put my ain gude lord,This day he stays sae far frae me?’
‘If ye be wanting your ain gude lord,
A sight o him ye'll never see.’
438
5
‘Was he brunt? or was he shot?Or was he drowned in the sea?
Or what's become o my ain gude lord,
That he will neer appear to me?’
6
‘He wasna brunt, nor was he shot,Nor was he drowned in the sea;
He was slain in Dumfermling,
A fatal day to you and me.’
7
‘Come in, come in, my merry young men,Come in and drink the wine wi me;
And a' the better ye shall fare
For this gude news ye tell to me.’
8
She's brought them down to yon cellar,She brought them fifty steps and three;
She birled wi them the beer and wine,
Till they were as drunk as drunk could be.
9
Then she has lockd her cellar-door,For there were fifty steps and three:
‘Lie there, wi my sad malison,
For this bad news ye've tauld to me.’
10
She's taen the keys intill her handAnd threw them deep, deep in the sea:
‘Lie there, wi my sad malison,
Till my gude lord return to me.’
11
Then she sat down in her own room,And sorrow lulld her fast asleep,
And up it starts her own gude lord,
And even at that lady's feet.
12
‘Take here the keys, Janet,’ he says,‘That ye threw deep, deep in the sea;
And ye'll relieve my merry young men,
For they've nane o the swick o me.
13
‘They shot the shot, and drew the stroke,And wad in red bluid to the knee;
Nae sailors mair for their lord coud do
Nor my young men they did for me.’
14
‘I hae a question at you to ask,Before that ye depart frae me;
You'll tell to me what day I'll die,
And what day will my burial be?’
15
‘I hae nae mair o God's powerThan he has granted unto me;
But come to heaven when ye will,
There porter to you I will be.
16
‘But ye'll be wed to a finer knightThan ever was in my degree;
Unto him ye'll hae children nine,
And six o them will be ladies free.
17
‘The other three will be bold young men,To fight for king and countrie;
The ane a duke, the second a knight,
And third a laird o lands sae free.’
| The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | |