Willie Wallace
GUDE WALLACE—F
[_]
Buchan's Gleanings, p. 114; from a gypsy tinker, p. 199.
1
Wallace in the high highlans,
Neither meat nor drink got he;
Said, Fa me life, or fa me death,
Now to some town I maun be.
2
He's put on his short claiding,
And on his short claiding put he;
Says, Fa me life, or fa me death,
Now to Perth-town I maun be.
3
He steped oer the river Tay,
I wat he steped on dry land;
He was aware of a well-fared maid,
Was washing there her lilie hands.
4
‘What news, what news, ye well-fared maid?
What news hae ye this day to me?’
‘No news, no news, ye gentle knight,
No news hae I this day to thee,
But fifteen lords in the hostage-house
Waiting Wallace for to see.’
5
‘If I had but in my pocket
The worth of one single pennie,
I would go to the hostage-house,
And there the gentlemen to see.’
6
She put her hand in her pocket,
And she has pulld out half-a-crown;
Says, Take ye that, ye belted knight,
'Twill pay your way till ye come down.
7
As he went from the well-fared maid,
A beggar bold I wat met he,
Was coverd wi a clouted cloak,
And in his hand a trusty tree.
8
‘What news, what news, ye silly auld man?
What news hae ye this day to gie?’
‘No news, no news, ye belted knight,
No news hae I this day to thee,
But fifteen lords in the hostage-house
Waiting Wallace for to see.’
9
‘Ye'll lend me your clouted cloak,
That covers you frae head to shie,
And I'll go to the hostage-house,
Asking there for some supplie.’
10
Now he's gone to the West-muir wood,
And there he's pulld a trusty tree;
And then he's on to the hostage gone,
Asking there for charitie.
11
Down the stair the captain comes,
Aye the poor man for to see:
‘If ye be a captain as good as ye look,
Ye'll give a poor man some supplie;
If ye be a captain as good as ye look,
A guinea this day ye'll gie to me.’
12
‘Where were ye born, ye crooked carle?
Where were ye born, in what countrie?’
‘In fair Scotland I was born,
Crooked carle that I be.’
13
‘I would give you fifty pounds,
Of gold and white monie,
I would give you fifty pounds,
If the traitor Wallace ye'd let me see.’
14
‘Tell down your money,’ said Willie Wallace,
‘Tell down your money, if it be good;
I'm sure I have it in my power,
And never had a better bode.
15
‘Tell down your money,’ said Willie Wallace,
‘And let me see if it be fine;
I'm sure I have it in my power
To bring the traitor Wallace in.’
16
The money was told on the table,
Silver bright of pounds fiftie;
‘Now here I stand,’ said Willie Wallace,
‘And what hae ye to say to me?’
17
He slew the captain where he stood,
The rest they did quack an roar;
He slew the rest around the room,
And askd if there were any more.
18
‘Come, cover the table,’ said Willie Wallace,
‘Come, cover the table now, make haste;
For it will soon be three lang days
Sin I a bit o meat did taste.’
19
The table was not well covered,
Nor yet was he set down to dine,
Till fifteen more of the English lords
Surrounded the house where he was in.
20
The guidwife she ran but the floor,
And aye the guidman he ran ben;
From eight o clock till four at noon
He has killd full thirty men.
21
He put the house in sick a swither
That five o them he sticket dead,
Five o them he drownd in the river,
And five hung in the West-muir wood.
22
Now he is on to the North-Inch gone,
Where the maid was washing tenderlie;
‘Now by my sooth,’ said Willie Wallace,
‘It's been a sair day's wark to me.’
23
He's put his hand in his pocket,
And he has pulld out twenty pounds;
Says, Take ye that, ye weel-fared maid,
For the gude luck of your half-crown.
