Page
9 a. Young Beichan and Susie Pye 1
9 b. Young Bekie 10
10 a. Hynd Horn, [Motherwell] 17
10 b. Hynd Horn, [Buchan] 25
11 a. Katharine Janfarie 29
11 b. Catherine Johnstone 34
12. Bonny Baby Livingston 38
13. The Broom of Cowdenknows 45
14. Johnie Scot 50
15. Brown Adam 60
16 a. Lizie Lindsay, [Jamieson] 63
16 b. Lizzie Lindsay, [Whitelaw] 68
17. Lizae Baillie 73
18. Glasgow Peggy 76
19. Glenlogie 80
20. John O'Hazelgreen 83
21. The Fause Lover 89
22. The Gardener 92
23. The Duke of Athol 94
24. The Rantin' Laddie 97
25. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter 102
26. The Laird o'Logie 109
27. The Gypsie Laddie 114
28. Laird of Drum 118
29 a. Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament, [Ramsay] 123
29 b. Lady Anne Bothwell's Lament, [Percy] 129
30 a. Waly, waly, but Love be bonny 132
30 b. Lord Jamie Douglas 135
31. The Nutbrowne Maide 143
32. The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington 158
33. The Blind Beggar's Daughter of Bednall Green 161
34. The Famous Flower of Serving Men 174
35. The Fair Flower of Northumberland 180
36. Gentle Herdsman, Tell to me 187
37. As I came from Walsingham 191
38. King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid 195
39. The Spanish Lady's Love 201
40. Patient Grissel 207
41. The King of France's Daughter 216
42. Constance of Cleveland 225
43. Willow, Willow, Willow 234
44. Greensleeves 240
45. Robene and Makyne 245
APPENDIX.
Lord Beichan and Susie Pye 253
Sweet William 261
Young Child Dyring 265
Barbara Livingston 270
Lang Johnny Moir 272
Lizie Baillie 280
Johnnie Faa and the Countess o'Cassilis 283
Jamie Douglas 287
Laird of Blackwood 290
The Provost's Dochter 292
Blancheflour and Jellyflorice 295
Chil Ether 299
Young Bearwell 302
Lord Thomas of Winesberry and the King's Daughter 305
Lady Elspat 308
The Lovers Quarrel 311
The Merchant's Daughter of Bristow 328
GLOSSARY 339
YOUNG BEICHAN AND SUSIE PYE.
An inspection of the first hundred lines of Robert of Gloucester's
_Life and Martyrdom of Thomas Beket_, (edited for the Percy Society by
W. H. Black, vol. xix,) will leave no doubt that the hero of this
ancient and beautiful tale is veritably Gilbert Becket, father of the
renowned Saint Thomas of Canterbury. Robert of Gloucester's story
coincides in all essential particulars with the traditionary legend,
but Susie Pye is, unfortunately, spoken of in the chronicle by no
other name than the daughter of the Saracen Prince Admiraud.
We have thought it well to present the three best versions of so
popular and interesting a ballad. The two which are given in the body
of this work are Jamieson's, from _Popular Ballads_, ii. 117, and ii.
127. In the Appendix is Kinloch's, from _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p.
260. Other printed copies are _Lord Beichan_, in Richardson's
_Borderer's Table Book_, vii. 20, communicated by J. H. Dixon, who has
inserted the same in _Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs_, Percy
Society, vol. xvii. p. 85; _Lord Bateman_, the common English
broadside (at p. 95 of the collection just cited); and _Young
Bondwell_, published from Buchan's MS. in _Scottish Traditionary
Versions of Ancient Ballads_, p. 1, (Percy Soc. vol. xvii.) identical,
we suppose, with the copy referred to by Motherwell in _Scarce Ancient
Ballads_, Peterhead, 1819. There is a well-known burlesque of the
ordinary English ballad, called _The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman_,
with comical illustrations by Cruikshank. On this was founded a
burlesque drama, produced some years ago at the Strand Theatre,
London, with great applause.
"This ballad, and that which succeeds it in this collection, (both on
the same subject,) are given from copies taken from Mrs. Brown's
recitation, collated with two other copies procured from Scotland, one
in MS., another very good one printed for the stalls; a third, in the
possession of the late Reverend Jonathan Boucher of Epsom, taken from
recitation in the North of England; and a fourth, about one third as
long as the others, which the Editor picked off an old wall in
Piccadilly."
Jamieson's interpolations have been omitted.
In London was young Beichan born,
He longed strange countries for to see;
But he was taen by a savage moor,
Who handled him right cruellie;
For he viewed the fashions of that land; 5
Their way of worship viewed he;
But to Mahound, or Termagant,
Would Beichan never bend a knee.
So in every shoulder they've putten a bore;
In every bore they've putten a tree; 10
And they have made him trail the wine
And spices on his fair bodie.
They've casten him in a dungeon deep,
Where he could neither hear nor see;
For seven years they kept him there, 15
Till he for hunger's like to die.
This Moor he had but ae daughter,
Her name was called Susie Pye;
And every day as she took the air,
Near Beichan's prison she passed by. 20
O so it fell, upon a day
She heard young Beichan sadly sing;
"My hounds they all go masterless;
My hawks they flee from tree to tree;
My younger brother will heir my land; 25
Fair England again I'll never see!"
All night long no rest she got,
Young Beichan's song for thinking on;
She's stown the keys from her father's head,
And to the prison strong is gone. 30
And she has open'd the prison doors,
I wot she open'd two or three,
Ere she could come young Beichan at,
He was locked up so curiouslie.
But when she came young Beichan before, 35
Sore wonder'd he that may to see;
He took her for some fair captive;--
"Fair Lady, I pray, of what countrie?"
"O have ye any lands," she said,
"Or castles in your own countrie, 40
That ye could give to a lady fair,
From prison strong to set you free?"
"Near London town I have a hall,
With other castles two or three;
I'll give them all to the lady fair 45
That out of prison will set me free."
"Give me the truth of your right hand,
The truth of it give unto me,
That for seven years ye'll no lady wed,
Unless it be along with me." 50
"I'll give thee the truth of my right hand,
The truth of it I'll freely gie,
That for seven years I'll stay unwed,
For the kindness thou dost show to me."
And she has brib'd the proud warder 55
Wi' mickle gold and white monie;
She's gotten the keys of the prison strong,
And she has set young Beichan free.
She's gi'en him to eat the good spice-cake,
She's gi'en him to drink the blood-red wine;
She's bidden him sometimes think on her, 60
That sae kindly freed him out of pine.
She's broken a ring from her finger,
And to Beichan half of it gave she:
"Keep it, to mind you of that love 65
The lady bore that set you free.
"And set your foot on good ship-board,
And haste ye back to your own countrie;
And before that seven years have an end,
Come back again, love, and marry me." 70
But long ere seven years had an end,
She long'd full sore her love to see;
For ever a voice within her breast
Said, "Beichan has broke his vow to thee."
So she's set her foot on good ship-board, 75
And turn'd her back on her own countrie.
She sailed east, she sailed west,
Till to fair England's shore she came;
Where a bonny shepherd she espied,
Feeding his sheep upon the plain. 80
"What news, what news, thou bonny shepherd?
What news hast thou to tell to me?"
"Such news I hear, ladie," he says,
"The like was never in this countrie.
"There is a wedding in yonder hall, 85
Has lasted these thirty days and three;
Young Beichan will not bed with his bride,
For love of one that's yond the sea."
She's put her hand in her pocket,
Gi'en him the gold and white monie; 90
"Hae, take ye that, my bonny boy,
For the good news thou tell'st to me."
When she came to young Beichan's gate,
She tirled softly at the pin;
So ready was the proud porter 95
To open and let this lady in.
"Is this young Beichan's hall," she said,
"Or is that noble lord within?"
"Yea, he's in the hall among them all,
And this is the day o' his weddin." 100
"And has he wed anither love?
And has he clean forgotten me?"
And, sighin', said that gay ladie,
"I wish I were in my own conntrie."
And she has taen her gay gold ring, 105
That with her love she brake so free;
Says, "Gie him that, ye proud porter,
And bid the bridegroom speak to me."
When the porter came his lord before,[L109]
He kneeled down low on his knee---- 110
"What aileth thee, my proud porter,
Thou art so full of courtesie?"
"I've been porter at your gates,
It's thirty long years now and three;
But there stands a lady at them now, 115
The like o' her did I never see;
"For on every finger she has a ring,
And on her mid finger she has three;
And as meickle gold aboon her brow
As would buy an earldom to me." 120
Its out then spak the bride's mother,
Aye and an angry woman was shee;
"Ye might have excepted our bonny bride,
And twa or three of our companie."
"O hold your tongue, thou bride's mother; 125
Of all your folly let me be;
She's ten times fairer nor the bride,
And all that's in your companie.
"She begs one sheave of your white bread,
But and a cup of your red wine; 130
And to remember the lady's love,
That last reliev'd you out of pine."
"O well-a-day!" said Beichan then,
"That I so soon have married thee!
For it can be none but Susie Pye, 135
That sailed the sea for love of me."
And quickly hied he down the stair;
Of fifteen steps he made but three;
He's ta'en his bonny love in his arms,
And kist, and kist her tenderlie. 140
"O hae ye ta'en anither bride?
And hae ye quite forgotten me?
And hae ye quite forgotten her,
That gave you life and libertie?"
She looked o'er her left shoulder, 145
To hide the tears stood in her e'e:
"Now fare thee well, young Beichan," she says,
"I'll try to think no more on thee."
"O never, never, Susie Pye,
For surely this can never be; 150
Nor ever shall I wed but her
That's done and dree'd so much for me."
Then out and spak the forenoon bride,--
"My lord, your love it changeth soon;
This morning I was made your bride, 155
And another chose ere it be noon."
"O hold thy tongue, thou forenoon bride;
Ye're ne'er a whit the worse for me;
And whan ye return to your own countrie,
A double dower I'll send with thee." 160
He's taen Susie Pye by the white hand,
And gently led her up and down;
And ay as he kist her red rosy lips,
"Ye're welcome, jewel, to your own."
He's taen her by the milk-white hand, 165
And led her to yon fountain stane;
He's changed her name from Susie Pye,
And he's call'd her his bonny love, Lady Jane.
109-112.
But when he came Lord Jockey before,
He kneeled lowly on his knee:
"What news, what news, thou Tommy Pots,
Thou art so full of courtesie?"
_The Lovers' Quarrel_, v. 133-136.
YOUNG BEKIE.
Young Bekie was as brave a knight
As ever sail'd the sea;
And he's doen him to the court o' France,[L3]
To serve for meat and fee.
He hadna been in the court o' France 5
A twelvemonth nor sae lang,
Till he fell in love wi' the king's daughter,
And was thrown in prison strang.
The king he had but ae daughter,
Burd Isbel was her name; 10
And she has to the prison gane,
To hear the prisoner's mane.
"O gin a lady wad borrow me,
At her stirrup I wad rin;
Or gin a widow wad borrow me, 15
I wad swear to be her son.
"Or gin a virgin wad borrow me,
I wad wed her wi' a ring;
I'd gi'e her ha's, I'd gi'e her bowers,
The bonny towers o' Linne." 20
O barefoot barefoot gaed she but,
And barefoot cam she ben;
It wasna for want o' hose and shoon,
Nor time to put them on;
But a' for fear that her father 25
Had heard her makin' din;
For she's stown the keys of the prison,
And gane the dungeon within.
And when she saw him, young Bekie,
Wow, but her heart was sair! 30
For the mice, but and the bald rattons,
Had eaten his yellow hair.
She's gotten him a shaver for his beard,
A comber till his hair;
Five hundred pound in his pocket, 35
To spend, and nae to spare.
She's gi'en him a steed was good in need,
And a saddle o' royal bane;
A leash o' hounds o' ae litter,
And Hector called ane. 40
Atween thir twa a vow was made,
'Twas made full solemnlie,
That or three years were come and gane,
Weel married they should be.
He hadna been in's ain countrie 45
A twelvemonth till an end,
Till he's forced to marry a duke's daughter,
Or than lose a' his land.
"Ochon, alas!" says young Bekie,
"I kenna what to dee; 50
For I canna win to Burd Isbel,
And she canna come to me."
O it fell out upon a day
Burd Isbel fell asleep,
And up it starts the Billy Blin, 55
And stood at her bed feet.
"O waken, waken, Burd Isbel;
How can ye sleep so soun';
When this is Bekie's wedding day,
And the marriage gaing on? 60
"Ye do ye till your mither's bower,
As fast as ye can gang;
And ye tak three o' your mother's marys,
To haud ye unthocht lang.
"Ye dress yoursel i' the red scarlet, 65
And your marys in dainty green;
And ye put girdles about your middle
Wad buy an earldome.
"Syne ye gang down by yon sea-side,
And down by yon sea-strand; 70
And bonny will the Hollans boats
Come rowin' till your hand.
"Ye set your milk-white foot on board,
Cry, 'Hail ye, Domine!'
And I will be the steerer o't, 75
To row you o'er the sea."
She's ta'en her till her mither's bower,
As fast as she could gang;
And she's ta'en twa o' her mither's marys,
To haud her unthocht lang. 80
She's drest hersel i' the red scarlet,
Her marys i' the dainty green;
And they've put girdles about their middle
Would buy an earldome.
And they gaed down by yon sea-side, 85
And down by yon sea-strand;
And sae bonny as the Hollans boats
Come rowin' till their hand.
She set her milk-white foot on board,
Cried, "Hail ye, Domine!" 90
And the Billy Blin was the steerer o't,
To row her o'er the sea.
Whan she cam to young Bekie's gate,
She heard the music play;
And her mind misgae by a' she heard, 95
That 'twas his wedding day.
She's pitten her hand in her pocket,
Gi'en the porter markis three;
"Hae, take ye that, ye proud porter,
Bid your master speake to me." 100
O whan that he cam up the stair,
He fell low down on his knee:
He hail'd the king, and he hail'd the queen,
And he hail'd him, young Bekie.
"O I have been porter at your gates 105
This thirty years and three;
But there are three ladies at them now,
Their like I did never see.
"There's ane o' them drest in red scarlet,
And twa in dainty green; 110
And they hae girdles about their middles
Would buy an earldome."
Then out and spak the bierdly bride,
"Was a' goud to the chin;
"Gin she be fine without," she says, 115
"We's be as fine within."
Then up it starts him, young Bekie,
And the tear was in his e'e:
"I'll lay my life it's Burd Isbel,
Come o'er the sea to me." 120
O quickly ran he down the stair;
And whan he saw 'twas she,
He kindly took her in his arms,
And kist her tenderlie.
"O hae ye forgotten now, young Bekie, 125
The vow ye made to me,
When I took you out of prison strang,
When ye was condemned to die?
"I gae you a steed was good in need,
And a saddle o' royal bane; 130
A leash o' hounds o' ae litter;
And Hector called ane."
It was weel kent what the lady said,
That it was nae a lie;
For at the first word the lady spak, 135
The hound fell at her knee.
"Tak hame, tak hame your daughter dear;
A blessing gang her wi';
For I maun marry my Burd Isbel,
That's come o'er the sea to me." 140
"Is this the custome o' your house,
Or the fashion o' your land,
To marry a maid in a May morning,
Send her back a maid at e'en?"
3. _Court o' France._ "And first, here to omit the programe of him and
his mother, named Rose, whom Polyd. Virgilius falsely nameth to be a
Saracen, when indeed she came out of the parts bordering neere to
_Normandy_." Fox, _Acts and Monuments_, cited by Motherwell, p. xvi.
HYND HORN.
Those metrical romances, which in the chivalrous ages, constituted the
most refined pastime of a rude nobility, are known in many cases to
have been adapted for the entertainment of humbler hearers, by
abridgment in the form of ballads. Such was the case with the ancient
_gest_ of _King Horn_. Preserved in several MSS., both French and
English, in something of its original proportions, an epitome of it
has also descended to us through the mouths of the people.
An imperfect copy of the following piece was inserted by Cromek in his
_Select Scottish Songs_, (London, 1810, vol. ii. p. 204-210.) Better
editions have since been furnished by Kinloch, _Ancient Scottish
Ballads_, p. 138; Motherwell, _Minstrelsy_, p. 95; and Buchan,
_Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 268. Of these, we reprint the
last two.
All the poems relating to Horn, in French and English, including the
Scottish ballads above mentioned, are collected by Michel in a
beautiful volume of the Bannatyne Club, _Horn et Rimenhild_, Paris,
1845.
From Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 35.
Near Edinburgh was a young child born,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And his name it was called Young Hynd Horn,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
Seven lang years he served the King, 5
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And it's a' for the sake of his dochter Jean,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
The King an angry man was he,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 10
He sent young Hynd Horn to the sea,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"O I never saw my love before,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
Till I saw her thro' an augre bore, 15
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"And she gave to me a gay gold ring,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
With three shining diamonds set therein,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_. 20
"And I gave to her a silver wand,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
With three singing laverocks set thereon,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"What if those diamonds lose their hue, 25
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
Just when my love begins for to rew,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_?"
"For when your ring turns pale and wan,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 30
Then I'm in love with another man,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
He's left the land, and he's gone to the sea,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And he's stayed there seven years and a day, 35
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
Seven lang years he has been on the sea,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And Hynd Horn has looked how his ring may be,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_. 40
But when he looked this ring upon,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
The shining diamonds were both pale and wan,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
O the ring it was both black and blue, 45
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And she's either dead, or she's married,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
He's left the seas, and he's come to the land,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 50
And the first he met was an auld beggar man,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"What news, what news, my silly auld man?
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
For it's seven years since I have seen land, 55
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"What news, what news, thou auld beggar man?
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
What news, what news, by sea or land?
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_." 60
"No news at all," said the auld beggar man,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
"But there is a wedding in the King's hall,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"There is a King's dochter in the West, 65
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And she has been married thir nine nights past,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"Into the bride-bed she winna gang,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 70
Till she hears tell of her ain Hynd Horn,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
"Wilt thou give to me thy begging coat?
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And I'll give to thee my scarlet cloak, 75
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"Wilt thou give to me thy begging staff?
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And I'll give to thee my good gray steed,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_." 80
The auld beggar man cast off his coat,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And he's ta'en up the scarlet cloak,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
The auld beggar man threw down his staff, 85
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And he has mounted the good gray steed,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 90
But young Hynd Horn for the King's hall,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
But young Hynd Horn was bound for the bride, 95
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
When he came to the King's gate,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
He asked a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_. 100
These news unto the bonnie bride came,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
That at the yett there stands an auld man,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"There stands an auld man at the King's gate, 105
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
He asketh a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"I'll go through nine fires so hot,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 110
But I'll give him a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
She went to the gate where the auld man did stand,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And she gave him a drink out of her own hand, 115
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
She gave him a cup out of her own hand,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
He drunk out the drink, and dropt in the ring,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_. 120
"Got thou it by sea, or got thou it by land?
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
Or got thou it off a dead man's hand?
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
"I got it not by sea, but I got it by land, 125
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
For I got it out of thine own hand,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
"I'll cast off my gowns of brown,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_; 130
And I'll follow thee from town to town,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
"I'll cast off my gowns of red,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
And along with thee I'll beg my bread, 135
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
"Thou need not cast off thy gowns of brown,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
For I can make thee lady of many a town,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_. 140
"Thou need not cast off thy gowns of red,
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
For I can maintain thee with both wine and bread,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_."
The bridegroom thought he had the bonnie bride wed, 145
_With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan_;
But young Hynd Horn took the bride to the bed,
_And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie_.
HYND HORN.
From Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 268.
"Hynd Horn fair, and Hynd Horn free,
O where were you born, in what countrie?"
"In gude greenwood, there I was born,
And all my forbears me beforn.
"O seven years I served the king, 5
And as for wages, I never gat nane;
But ae sight o' his ae daughter,
And that was thro' an augre bore.
"My love gae me a siller wand,
'Twas to rule ower a' Scotland; 10
And she gae me a gay gowd ring,
The virtue o't was above a' thing."
"As lang's this ring it keeps the hue,
Ye'll know I am a lover true;
But when the ring turns pale and wan, 15
Ye'll know I love another man."
He hoist up sails, and awa' sail'd he,
And sail'd into a far countrie;
And when he look'd upon his ring,
He knew she loved another man. 20
He hoist up sails and home came he,
Home unto his ain countrie;
The first he met on his own land,
It chanc'd to be a beggar man.
"What news, what news, my gude auld man? 25
What news, what news, hae ye to me?"
"Nae news, nae news," said the auld man,
"The morn's our queen's wedding day."
"Will ye lend me your begging weed,
And I'll lend you my riding steed?" 30
"My begging weed will ill suit thee,
And your riding steed will ill suit me."
But part be right, and part be wrang,
Frae the beggar man the cloak he wan;
"Auld man, come tell to me your leed, 35
What news ye gie when ye beg your bread."
"As ye walk up unto the hill,
Your pike staff ye lend ye till;
But whan ye come near by the yett,
Straight to them ye will upstep. 40
"Take nane frae Peter, nor frae Paul,
Nane frae high or low o' them all;
And frae them all ye will take nane,
Until it comes frae the bride's ain hand."
He took nane frae Peter, nor frae Paul, 45
Nane frae the high nor low o' them all;
And frae them all he would take nane,
Until it came frae the bride's ain hand.
The bride came tripping down the stair,
The combs o' red gowd in her hair; 50
A cup o' red wine in her hand,
And that she gae to the beggar man.
Out o' the cup he drank the wine,
And into the cup he dropt the ring;
"O got ye't by sea, or got ye't by land, 55
Or got ye't on a drown'd man's hand?"
"I got it not by sea, nor got it by land,
Nor got I it on a drown'd man's hand;
But I got it at my wooing gay,
And I'll gie't you on your wedding day." 60
"I'll take the red gowd frae my head,
And follow you, and beg my bread;
I'll take the red gowd frae my hair,
And follow you for evermair."
Atween the kitchen and the ha', 65
He loot his cloutie cloak down fa';
And wi' red gowd shone ower them a',
And frae the bridegroom the bride he sta'.
KATHARINE JANFARIE.
A story similar to this occurs in various forms both in Scotland and
the Scandinavian kingdoms. Scott inserted the ballad in his first
edition under the title of _The Laird of Laminton_; the present copy
is an improved one obtained by him from several recitations.
(_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 122.) Other versions are
Motherwell's, printed with this, Maidment's, in his _North Countrie
Garland_, p. 34, (_Catharine Jaffery_), and Buchan's, in his
_Gleanings_, p. 74, (_Loch-in-var._) _Sweet William_, in Motherwell's
collection, (see Appendix,) is still another variety.
Jamieson has translated a Danish ballad which, though not cognate with
these, exhibits nearly the same incidents, and we have inserted it in
the Appendix.
It need hardly be remarked that the spirited ballad of _Lochinvar_ in
_Marmion_ is founded on this ancient legend.
There was a may, and a weel-far'd may,
Lived high up in yon glen:
Her name was Katharine Janfarie,
She was courted by mony men.
Up then came Lord Lauderdale, 5
Up frae the Lawland Border;
And he has come to court this may,
A' mounted in good order.
He told na her father, he told na her mother,
And he told na ane o' her kin; 10
But he whisper'd the bonnie lassie hersell,
And has her favour won.
But out then cam Lord Lochinvar,
Out frae the English Border,
All for to court this bonny may, 15
Weel mounted, and in order.
He told her father, he told her mother,
And a' the lave o' her kin;
But he told na the bonnie may hersell,
Till on her wedding e'en. 20
She sent to the Lord o' Lauderdale,
Gin he wad come and see;
And he has sent word back again,
Weel answer'd she suld be.
And he has sent a messenger, 25
Right quickly through the land,
And raised mony an armed man
To be at his command.
The bride looked out at a high window,
Beheld baith dale and down, 30
And she was aware of her first true love,
With riders mony a one.
She scoffed him, and scorned him,
Upon her wedding day;
And said--it was the fairy court, 35
To see him in array!
"O come ye here to fight, young lord,
Or come ye here to play,
Or come ye here to drink good wine
Upon the wedding day?" 40
"I come na here to fight," he said,
"I come na here to play;
I'll but lead a dance wi' the bonny bride,
And mount, and go my way."
It is a glass of the blood-red wine 45
Was filled up them between,
And aye she drank to Lauderdale,
Wha her true love had been.
He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve; 50
He's mounted her hie behind himsell,
At her kinsmen speir'd na leave.
"Now take your bride, Lord Lochinvar,
Now take her, if you may!
But if you take your bride again, 55
We'll call it but foul play."
There were four-and-twenty bonnie boys,
A' clad in the Johnstone grey;
They said they would take the bride again,
By the strong hand, if they may. 60
Some o' them were right willing men,
But they were na willing a';
And four-and-twenty Leader lads
Bid them mount and ride awa'.
Then whingers flew frae gentles' sides, 65
And swords flew frae the shea's,
And red and rosy was the blood
Ran down the lily braes.
The blood ran down by Caddon bank,
And down by Caddon brae; 70
And, sighing, said the bonnie bride,
"O wae's me for foul play!"
My blessing on your heart, sweet thing,
Wae to your wilfu' will!
There's mony a gallant gentleman 75
Whae's bluid ye have garr'd to spill.
Now a' you lords of fair England,
And that dwell by the English Border,
Come never here to seek a wife,
For fear of sic disorder. 80
They'll haik ye up, and settle ye bye,
Till on your wedding day,
Then gie ye frogs instead of fish,
And play ye foul foul play.
CATHERINE JOHNSTONE.
Obtained from recitation, in the West of Scotland. Motherwell's
_Minstrelsy_, p. 225.
There was a lass, as I heard say,
Liv'd low doun in a glen;
Her name was Catherine Johnstone,
Weel known to many men.
Doun came the laird o' Lamington, 5
Doun from the South Countrie;
And he is for this bonnie lass,
Her bridegroom for to be.
He's ask'd her father and mother,
The chief of a' her kin; 10
And then he ask'd the bonnie lass,
And did her favour win.
Doun came an English gentleman,
Doun from the English border;
He is for this bonnie lass, 15
To keep his house in order.
He ask'd her father and mother,
As I do hear them say;
But he never ask'd the lass hersell,
Till on her wedding day. 20
But she has wrote a long letter,
And sealed it with her hand;
And sent it to Lord Lamington,
To let him understand.
The first line o' the letter he read, 25
He was baith glad and fain;
But or he read the letter o'er,
He was baith pale and wan.
Then he has sent a messenger,
And out through all his land; 30
And four-and-twenty armed men
Was all at his command.
But he has left his merry men all,
Left them on the lee;
And he's awa to the wedding house, 35
To see what he could see.
But when he came to the wedding house,
As I do understand,
There were four-and-twenty belted knights
Sat at a table round. 40
They rose all to honour him,
For he was of high renown;
They rose all for to welcome him,
And bade him to sit down.
O meikle was the good red wine 45
In silver cups did flow;
But aye she drank to Lamington,
For with him would she go.
O meikle was the good red wine
In silver cups gaed round; 50
At length they began to whisper words,
None could them understand.
"O came ye here for sport, young man,
Or came ye here for play?
Or came ye for our bonnie bride, 55
On this her wedding day?"
"I came not here for sport," he said,
"Neither did I for play;
But for one word o' your bonnie bride,
I'll mount and go away." 60
They set her maids behind her,
To hear what they would say;
But the first question he ask'd at her
Was always answered nay;
The next question he ask'd at her 65
Was, "Mount and come away?"
It's up the Couden bank,
And doun the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a weel won play. 70
O meikle was the blood was shed
Upon the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a' fair play.
Come, a' ye English gentlemen, 75
That is of England born,
Come na doun to Scotland,
For fear ye get the scorn.
They'll feed ye up wi' flattering words,
And that's foul play; 80
And they'll dress you frogs instead of fish,
Just on your wedding day.
BONNY BABY LIVINGSTON.
Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, ii. 135, from Mrs. Brown's recitation.
_Barbara Livingston_, a shorter piece, with a different catastrophe,
is given in the Appendix, from Motherwell's collection.
O bonny Baby Livingstone
Gaed out to view the hay;
And by it cam him Glenlyon,
Staw bonny Baby away.
And first he's taen her silken coat, 5
And neist her satten gown;
Syne row'd her in his tartan plaid,
And happ'd her round and roun'.
He's mounted her upon a steed,
And roundly rade away; 10
And ne'er loot her look back again
The lee-lang simmer day.
He's carried her o'er yon hich hich hill,
Intill a Highland glen,
And there he met his brother John 15
Wi' twenty armed men.
And there were cows, and there were ewes,
And there were kids sae fair;
But sad and wae was bonny Baby,
Her heart was fu' o' care. 20
He's taen her in his arms twa,
And kist her cheek and chin;
"I wad gi'e a' my flocks and herds,
Ae smile frae thee to win."
"A smile frae me ye'se never win; 25
I'll ne'er look kind on thee;
Ye've stown me awa frae a' my kin,
Frae a' that's dear to me.
"Dundee, kind sir, Dundee, kind sir,
Tak me to bonny Dundee; 30
For ye sall ne'er my favour win
Till it ance mair I see."
"Dundee, Baby! Dundee, Baby!
Dundee ye ne'er shall see;
But I will carry you to Glenlyon, 35
Where you my bride shall be.
"Or will ye stay at Achingour,
And eat sweet milk and cheese;
Or gang wi' me to Glenlyon,
And there we'll live at our ease?" 40
"I winna stay at Achingour;
I care neither for milk nor cheese;
Nor gang wi' thee to Glenlyon;
For there I'll ne'er find ease."
Then out it spak his brother John; 45
"If I were in your place,
I'd send that lady hame again,
For a' her bonny face.
"Commend me to the lass that's kind,
Though nae sae gently born; 50
And, gin her heart I coudna win,
To take her hand I'd scorn."
"O haud your tongue, my brother John;
Ye wisna what ye say;
For I hae lued that bonny face 55
This mony a year and day.
"I've lued her lang, and lued her weel,
But her love I ne'er could win;
And what I canna fairly gain,
To steal I think nae sin." 60
Whan they cam to Glenlyon castle,
They lighted at the yett;
And out they cam, his three sisters,
Their brother for to greet.
And they have taen her, bonny Baby, 65
And led her o'er the green;
And ilka lady spak a word,
But bonny Baby spake nane.
Then out it spak her, bonny Jane,
The youngest o' the three: 70
"O lady, why look ye sae sad?
Come tell your grief to me."
"O wharefore should I tell my grief,
Since lax I canna find?
I'm far frae a' my kin and friends, 75
And my love I left behind.
"But had I paper, pen, and ink,
Afore that it were day,
I yet might get a letter wrate,
And sent to Johnie Hay. 80
"And gin I had a bonny boy,
To help me in my need,
That he might rin to bonny Dundee,
And come again wi' speed!"
And they hae gotten a bonny boy 85
Their errand for to gang;
And bade him run to Bonny Dundee,
And nae to tarry lang.
The boy he ran o'er muir and dale,
As fast as he could flee; 90
And e'er the sun was twa hours hight,
The boy was at Dundee.
Whan Johnie lookit the letter on,
A hearty laugh leuch he;
But ere he read it till an end, 95
The tear blinded his e'e.
"O wha is this, or wha is that,
Has stown my love frae me?
Although he were my ae brither,
An ill dead sall he die. 100
"Gae, saddle to me the black," he says;
"Gae, saddle to me the brown;
Gae, saddle to me the swiftest steed,
That ever rade frae the town."
He's call'd upon his merry men a', 105
To follow him to the glen;
And he's vow'd he'd neither eat nor sleep
Till he got his love again.
He's mounted him on a milk-white steed,
And fast he rade away; 110
And he's come to Glenlyon's yett,
About the close o' day.
As Baby at her window stood,
And the west-wind saft did blaw,
She heard her Johnie's well-kent voice 115
Aneath the castle wa'.
"O Baby, haste, the window loup;
I'll kep you in my arm;
My merry men a' are at the yett
To rescue you frae harm." 120
She to the window fix'd her sheets,
And slipped safely down;
And Johnie catched her in his arms,
Ne'er loot her touch the groun'.
Glenlyon and his brother John 125
Were birling in the ha',
When they heard Johnie's bridle ring
As fast he rade awa'.
"Rise, Jock; gang out and meet the priest;
I hear his bridle ring; 130
My Baby now shall be my wife,
Before the laverock sing."
"O brother, this is nae the priest;
I fear he'll come o'er late;
For armed men wi' shining brands 135
Stand at the castle yett."
"Haste, Donald, Duncan, Dugald, Hugh,
Haste, tak your sword and spear;
We'll gar these traytors rue the hour
That e'er they ventured here." 140
The Highlandmen drew their claymores,
And gae a warlike shout;
But Johnie's merry men kept the yett,
Nae ane durst venture out.
The lovers rade the lee-lang night, 145
And safe got on their way;
And Bonny Baby Livingstone
Has gotten Johny Hay.
"Awa, Glenlyon! fy for shame!
Gae hide you in some den; 150
You've latten your bride be stown frae you,
For a' your armed men."
THE BROOM OF COWDENKNOWS.
_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 37. For other versions, see
_Bonny May_, Herd's _Scottish Songs_, i. 159, and Johnson's _Museum_,
p. 113; _Broom o' the Cowdenknowes_, Buchan, i. 172; _Laird of
Ochiltree_, Kinloch, 160; _Laird of Lochnie_, Kinloch, 167.
O the broom, and the bonny bonny broom,
And the broom of the Cowdenknows!
And aye sae sweet as the lassie sang,
I' the bought, milking the ewes.
The hills were high on ilka side, 5
An' the bought i' the lirk o' the hill,
And aye, as she sang, her voice it rang,
Out o'er the head o' yon hill.
There was a troup o' gentlemen
Came riding merrilie by, 10
And one of them has rode out o' the way,
To the bought to the bonny may.
"Weel may ye save an' see, bonny lass,
An' weel may ye save an' see."--
"An' sae wi' you, ye weel-bred knight, 15
And what's your will wi' me?"--
"The night is misty and mirk, fair may,
And I have ridden astray,
And will you be so kind, fair may,
As come out and point my way?"-- 20
"Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider!
Your steed's baith stout and strang;
For out of the bought I dare na come,
For fear 'at ye do me wrang."--
"O winna ye pity me, bonny lass, 25
O winna ye pity me?
An' winna ye pity my poor steed,
Stands trembling at yon tree?"--
"I wadna pity your poor steed,
Though it were tied to a thorn; 30
For if ye wad gain my love the night,
Ye wad slight me ere the morn.
"For I ken you by your weel-busket hat,
And your merrie twinkling ee,
That ye're the Laird o' the Oakland hills, 35
An' ye may weel seem for to be."--
"But I am not the Laird o' the Oakland hills,
Ye're far mista'en o' me;
But I'm ane o' the men about his house,
An' right aft in his companie."-- 40
He's ta'en her by the middle jimp,
And by the grass-green sleeve;
He's lifted her over the fauld-dyke,
And speer'd at her sma' leave.
O he's ta'en out a purse o' gowd, 45
And streek'd her yellow hair;
"Now, take ye that, my bonny may,
Of me till you hear mair."--
O he's leapt on his berry-brown steed,
An' soon he's o'erta'en his men; 50
And ane and a' cried out to him,
"O master, ye've tarry'd lang!"--
"O I hae been east, and I hae been west,
An' I hae been far o'er the knowes,
But the bonniest lass that ever I saw 55
Is i' the bought, milking the ewes."--
She set the cog upon her head,
An' she's gane singing hame;
"O where hae ye been, my ae daughter?
Ye hae na been your lane."-- 60
"O naebody was wi' me, father,
O naebody has been wi' me;
The night is misty and mirk, father,
Yee may gang to the door and see.
"But wae be to your ewe-herd, father, 65
And an ill deed may he die;
He bug the bought at the back o' the knowe,
And a tod has frighted me.
"There came a tod to the bought door,
The like I never saw; 70
And ere he had ta'en the lamb he did,
I had lourd he had ta'en them a'."--
O whan fifteen weeks was come and gane,
Fifteen weeks and three,
That lassie began to look thin and pale, 75
An' to long for his merry-twinkling ee.
It fell on a day, on a het simmer day,
She was ca'ing out her father's kye,
Bye came a troop o' gentlemen,
A' merrilie riding bye. 80
"Weel may ye save an' see, bonny may,
Weel may ye save and see!
Weel I wat, ye be a very bonny may,
But whae's aught that babe ye are wi'?"--
Never a word could that lassie say, 85
For never a ane could she blame,
An' never a word could the lassie say,
But "I have a gudeman at hame."--
"Ye lied, ye lied, my very bonny may,
Sae loud as I hear you lie; 90
For dinna ye mind that misty night
I was i' the bought wi' thee?
"I ken you by your middle sae jimp,
An' your merry-twinkling ee,
That ye're the bonny lass i' the Cowdenknow, 95
An' ye may weel seem for to be."--
Then he's leapt off his berry-brown steed,
An' he's set that fair may on--
"Ca' out your kye, gude father, yoursell,
For she's never ca' them out again. 100
"I am the Laird of the Oakland hills,
I hae thirty plows and three;
An' I hae gotten the bonniest lass
That's in a' the south countrie."
JOHNIE SCOT.
The edition of this ballad here printed was prepared by Motherwell
from three copies obtained from recitation, (_Minstrelsy_, p. 204.)
Other versions have been published in Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish
Ballads_, p. 78, Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 248,
and his _Gleanings_, p. 122. The proper names which occur in the
course of the piece vary considerably in the different copies. In two
of Motherwell's, the hero's designation was Johnie Scot, in a third,
Johnie M'Nauchton. In one of Buchan's he is styled Love John, in the
other, Lang Johnny Moir. In Kinloch's copy, "Buneftan is his name,"
and he is also called "Jack that little Scot," which seems to have
been the title of the ballad in an unpublished collection quoted by
Ritson in his _Dissertation on Scottish Song_, p. lxxxi. In like
manner, for the King of Aulsberry, (v. 111,) we have the various
readings, Duke of Marlborough, Duke of Mulberry, Duke of York, and
Duke of Winesberrie, and in the following verse, James the Scottish
King, for the King of Spain.
The following passage, illustrative of the feat of arms accomplished
by Johnie Scot, was pointed out to Motherwell by Mr. Sharpe:--James
Macgill, of Lindores, having killed Sir Robert Balfour, of Denmiln, in
a duel, "immediately went up to London in order to procure his pardon,
which, it seems, the King (Charles the Second) offered to grant him,
upon condition of his fighting an Italian gladiator, or bravo, or, as
he was called, a bully, which, it is said, none could be found to do.
Accordingly, a large stage was erected for the exhibition before the
King and court. Sir James, it is said, stood on the defensive till the
bully had spent himself a little; being a taller man than Sir James,
in his mighty gasconading and bravadoing, he actually leapt over the
knight as if he would swallow him alive; but, in attempting to do this
a second time, Sir James ran his sword up through him, and then called
out, 'I have spitted him, let them roast him who will.' This not only
procured his pardon, but he was also knighted on the spot."--Small's
_Account of Roman Antiquities recently discovered in Fife_, p. 217.
From Buchan's _Lang Johnny Moir_, printed in the Appendix, it will be
seen that the title of Little Scot is not to be taken literally, but
that the doughty champion was a man of huge stature.
O Johnie Scot 's to the hunting gane,
Unto the woods sae wild;
And Earl Percy's ae daughter
To him goes big wi' child.
O word is to the kitchen gane, 5
And word is to the ha',
And word is to the highest towers,
Among the nobles a'.
"If she be wi' child," her father said,
"As woe forbid it be! 10
I'll put her into a prison strang,
And try the veritie."
"But if she be wi' child," her mother said,
"As woe forbid it be!
I'll put her intill a dungeon dark, 15
And hunger her till she die."
O Johnie 's called his waiting man,
His name was Germanie:
"It 's thou must to fair England gae,
Bring me that gay ladie. 20
"And here it is a silken sark,
Her ain hand sewed the sleeve;
Bid her come to the merry green wood,
To Johnie her true love."
He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate, 25
He tirled at the pin:
"O wha is there?" said the proud porter;
"But I daurna let thee in."
It's he rode up, and he rode down,
He rode the castle about, 30
Until he spied a fair ladie
At a window looking out.
"Here is a silken sark," he said,
"Thy ain hand sewed the sleeve;
And ye must gae to the merry green woods, 35
To Johnie Scot thy love."
"The castle it is high, my boy,
And walled round about;
My feet are in the fetters strong,
And how can I get out? 40
"My garters are o' the gude black iron,
And O but they be cold;
My breast-plate's o' the sturdy steel,
Instead of beaten gold.
"But had I paper, pen, and ink, 45
Wi' candle at my command,
It's I would write a lang letter
To John in fair Scotland."
Then she has written a braid letter,
And sealed it wi' her hand, 50
And sent it to the merry green wood,
Wi' her own boy at command.
The first line of the letter Johnie read,
A loud, loud lauch leuch he;
But he had not read ae line but twa, 55
Till the saut tears did blind his ee.
"O I must up to England go,
Whatever me betide,
For to relieve mine own fair ladie,
That lay last by my side." 60
Then up and spak Johnie's auld mither,
A weel spoke woman was she:
"If you do go to England, Johnie,
I may take fareweel o' thee."
And out and spak his father then, 65
And he spak well in time:
"If thou unto fair England go,
I fear ye'll ne'er come hame."
But out and spak his uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie: 70
"Five hundred of my good life-guards
Shall bear him companie."
When they were all on saddle set,
They were comely to behold;
The hair that hung owre Johnie's neck shined 75
Like the links o' yellow gold.
When they were all marching away,
Most pleasant for to see,
There was not so much as a married man
In Johnie's companie. 80
Johnie Scot himsell was the foremost man
In the company that did ride;
His uncle was the second man,
Wi' his rapier by his side.
The first gude town that Johnie came to, 85
He made the bells be rung;
And when he rode the town all owre,
He made the psalms be sung.
The next gude town that Johnie came to,
He made the drums beat round; 90
And the third gude town that he came to,
He made the trumpets sound,
Till King Henry and all his merry men
A-marvelled at the sound.
And when they came to Earl Percy's yates, 95
They rode them round about;
And who saw he but his own true love
At a window looking out?
"O the doors are bolted with iron and steel,
So are the windows about; 100
And my feet they are in fetters strong;
And how can I get out?
"My garters they are of the lead,
And O but they be cold;
My breast-plate's of the hard, hard steel, 105
Instead of beaten gold."
But when they came to Earl Percy's yett,
They tirled at the pin;
None was so ready as Earl Percy himsell
To open and let them in. 110
"Art thou the King of Aulsberry,
Or art thou the King of Spain?
Or art thou one of our gay Scots lords,
M'Nachton be thy name?"
"I'm not the King of Aulsberry, 115
Nor yet the King of Spain;
But am one of our gay Scots lords,
Johnie Scot I am called by name."
When Johnie came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee: 120
"If Johnie Scot be thy name," he said,
"As I trew weel it be,
Then the brawest lady in a' my court
Gaes big wi' child to thee."
"If she be with child," fair Johnie said, 125
"As I trew weel she be,
I'll make it heir owre a' my land,
And her my gay ladie."
"But if she be wi' child," her father said,
"As I trew weel she be, 130
To-morrow again eight o'clock,
High hanged thou shalt be."
Out and spoke Johnie's uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie:
"Before that we see fair Johnie hanged, 135
We'll a' fight till we die."
"But is there ever an Italian about your court,[L137]
That will fight duels three?
For before that I be hanged," Johnie said,
"On the Italian's sword I'll die." 140
"Say on, say on," said then the king,
"It is weel spoken of thee;
For there is an Italian in my court
Shall fight you three by three."
O some is to the good green wood, 145
And some is to the plain,
The queen with all her ladies fair,
The king with his merry men,
Either to see fair Johnie flee,
Or else to see him slain. 150
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
Wi' swords o' temper'd steel,
Until the draps o' red, red blood
Ran trinkling down the field.
They fought on, and Johnie fought on, 155
They fought right manfullie;
Till they left not alive, in a' the king's court,
A man only but three.
And they begoud at eight of the morn,
And they fought on till three; 160
When the Italian, like a swallow swift,[L161]
Owre Johnie's head did flee:
But Johnie being a clever young boy,
He wheeled him round about;
And on the point of Johnie's broad-sword, 165
The Italian he slew out.
"A priest, a priest," fair Johnie cried,
"To wed my love and me;"
"A clerk, a clerk," her father cried,
"To sum her tocher free." 170
"I'll hae none of your gold," fair Johnie cried,
"Nor none of your other gear;
But I will have my own fair bride,
For this day I've won her dear."
He's ta'en his true love by the hand, 175
He led her up the plain:
"Have you any more of your English dogs
You want for to have slain?"
He put a little horn to his mouth,
He blew 't baith loud and shill; 180
And honour is into Scotland gone,
In spite of England's skill.
He put his little horn to his mouth,
He blew it owre again;
And aye the sound the horn cryed 185
Was "Johnie and his men!"
137, 140, 143, Taillant.
161, 166 Taillant.
BROWN ADAM.
_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 159.
"There is a copy of this ballad in Mrs. Brown's collection. The
editor has seen one, printed on a single sheet. The epithet,
"Smith," implies, probably, the sirname, not the profession, of
the hero, who seems to have been an outlaw. There is, however, in
Mrs. Brown's copy, a verse of little merit, here omitted, alluding
to the implements of that occupation."
SCOTT.
O wha wad wish the wind to blaw,
Or the green leaves fa' therewith?
Or wha wad wish a lealer love
Than Brown Adam the Smith?
But they hae banished him, Brown Adam, 5
Frae father and frae mother;
And they hae banish'd him, Brown Adam,
Frae sister and frae brother.
And they hae banish'd him, Brown Adam,
The flower o' a' his kin; 10
And he's bigged a bour in gude green-wood
Atween his ladye and him.
It fell upon a summer's day,
Brown Adam he thought lang;
And, for to hunt some venison, 15
To green-wood he wald gang.
He has ta'en his bow his arm o'er,
His bolts and arrows lang;
And he is to the gude green-wood
As fast as he could gang. 20
O he's shot up, and he's shot down,
The bird upon the brier;
And he sent it hame to his ladye,
Bade her be of gude cheir.
O he's shot up, and he's shot down, 25
The bird upon the thorn;
And sent it hame to his ladye,
Said he'd be hame the morn.
When he cam to his lady's bour door
He stude a little forbye, 30
And there he heard a fou fause knight
Tempting his gay ladye.
For he's ta'en out a gay goud ring,
Had cost him many a poun',
"O grant me love for love, ladye, 35
And this sall be thy own."--
"I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she said;
"I trew sae does he me;
I wadna gie Brown Adam's love
For nae fause knight I see."-- 40
Out has he ta'en a purse o' gowd,
Was a' fou to the string,
"O grant me love for love, ladye,
And a' this sall be thine."--
"I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she says; 45
"I wot sae does he me:
I wadna be your light leman,
For mair than ye could gie."--
Then out he drew his lang bright brand,
And flash'd it in her een; 50
"Now grant me love for love, ladye,
Or thro' ye this sall gang!"--
Then, sighing, says that ladye fair,
"Brown Adam tarries lang!"--
Then in and starts him Brown Adam, 55
Says--"I'm just at your hand."--
He's gar'd him leave his bonny bow,
He's gar'd him leave his brand,
He's gar'd him leave a dearer pledge--
Four fingers o' his right hand. 60
LIZIE LINDSAY.
Complete copies of this pretty ballad are given in Buchan's _Ballads
of the North of Scotland_, ii. 102, and in Whitelaw's _Book of
Scottish Ballads_, p. 51. The latter we have printed with the present
version, which, though lacking a stanza or two, is better in some
respects than either of the others.--Robert Allan has made a song out
of this ballad, Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_, ii. 100.
"Transmitted to the Editor by Professor SCOTT of Aberdeen, as it was
taken down from the recitation of an old woman. It is very popular in
the north-east of Scotland, and was familiar to the editor in his
early youth; and from the imperfect recollection which he still
retains of it, he has corrected the text in two or three unimportant
passages." JAMIESON'S _Popular Ballads_, ii. 149.
"Will ye go to the Highlands, Lizie Lindsay,
Will ye go to the Highlands wi' me?
Will ye go to the Highlands, Lizie Lindsay,
And dine on fresh cruds and green whey?"
Then out spak Lizie's mother, 5
A good old lady was she,
"Gin ye say sic a word to my daughter,
I'll gar ye be hanged high."
"Keep weel your daughter frae me, madam;
Keep weel your daughter frae me; 10
I care as little for your daughter,
As ye can care for me."
Then out spak Lizie's ain maiden,
A bonny young lassie was she;
Says,--"were I the heir to a kingdom, 15
Awa' wi' young Donald I'd be."
"O say you sae to me, Nelly?
And does my Nelly say sae?
Maun I leave my father and mother,
Awa' wi' young Donald to gae?" 20
And Lizie's ta'en till her her stockings,
And Lizie's ta'en till her her shoen;
And kilted up her green claithing,
And awa' wi' young Donald she's gane.
The road it was lang and weary; 25
The braes they were ill to climb;
Bonny Lizie was weary wi' travelling,
And a fit furder coudna win.
And sair, O sair did she sigh,
And the saut tear blin'd her e'e; 30
"Gin this be the pleasures o' looing,
They never will do wi' me!"
"Now, haud your tongue, bonny Lizie;
Ye never shall rue for me;
Gi'e me but your love for my love, 35
It is a' that your tocher will be.
"And haud your tongue, bonny Lizie;
Altho' that the gait seem lang,
And you's ha'e the wale o' good living
Whan to Kincawsen we gang. 40
"There my father he is an auld cobler,
My mother she is an auld dey;
And we'll sleep on a bed o' green rashes,
And dine on fresh cruds and green whey."
"You're welcome hame, Sir Donald, 45
You're welcome hame to me."
"O ca' me nae mair Sir Donald;
There's a bonny young lady to come;
Sae ca' me nae mair Sir Donald,
But ae spring Donald your son." 50
"Ye're welcome hame, young Donald;
Ye're welcome hame to me;
Ye're welcome hame, young Donald,
And your bonny young lady wi' ye."
She's made them a bed of green rashes, 55
Weel cover'd wi' hooding o' grey;
Bonny Lizie was weary wi' travelling,
And lay till 'twas lang o' the day.
"The sun looks in o'er the hill-head,
And the laverock is liltin' gay; 60
Get up, get up, bonny Lizie,
You've lain till its lang o' the day.
"You might ha'e been out at the shealin,
Instead o' sae lang to lye,
And up and helping my mother 65
To milk baith her gaits and kye."
Then out spak Lizie Lindsay,
The tear blindit her eye;
"The ladies o' Edinburgh city
They neither milk gaits nor kye." 70
Then up spak young Sir Donald,
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
"For I am the laird o' Kincawsyn,
And you are the lady free;
And * * * * *
* * * * * *
LIZZIE LINDSAY.
"This version of _Lizzie Lindsay_ is given from the recitation of a
lady in Glasgow, and is a faithful transcript of the ballad as it used
to be sung in the West of Scotland." WHITELAW'S _Book of Scottish
Ballads_, p. 51.--A very good copy, from Mr. Kinloch's MS., is printed
in Aytoun's _Ballads of Scotland_, i. 269, (_Donald of the Isles_.)
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.
In cam' the young laird o' Kincassie, 5
An' a bonnie young laddie was he--
"Will ye lea' yere ain kintra, Lizzie,
An' gang to the Hielands wi' me?"
She turned her roun' on her heel,
An' a very loud laughter gaed she-- 10
"I wad like to ken whar I was ganging,
And wha I was gaun to gang wi'."
"My name is young Donald M'Donald,
My name I will never deny;
My father he is an auld shepherd, 15
Sae weel as he can herd the kye!
"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." 20
"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."
He ca'd at the Canongate port, 25
At the Canongate port called he;
She drank wi' him a bottle o' sherry,
And bore him guid companie.
"Will ye go to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Will ye go to the Hielands wi' me? 30
If ye'll go to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Ye shall not want curds nor green whey."
In there cam' her auld mither,
A jolly auld lady was she--
"I wad like to ken whar she was ganging, 35
And wha she was gaun to gang wi'."
"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! 40
"O but I would give you ten guineas,
To have her one hour in a room,
To get her fair body a picture
To keep me from thinking long."
"O I value not your ten guineas, 45
As little as you value mine;
But if that you covet my daughter,
Take her with you, if you do incline."
"Pack up my silks and my satins,
And pack up my hose and my shoon, 50
And likewise my clothes in small bundles,
And away wi' young Donald I'll gang."
They pack'd up her silks and her satins,
They pack'd up her hose and her shoon,
And likewise her clothes in small bundles, 55
And away with young Donald she's gane.
When that they cam' to the Hielands,
The braes they were baith lang and stey;
Bonnie Lizzie was wearied wi' ganging--
She had travell'd a lang summer day. 60
"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."
They cam' to a homely poor cottage, 65
An auld man was standing by;
"Ye're welcome hame, Sir Donald,
Ye've been sae lang away."
"O call me no more Sir Donald,
But call me young Donald your son; 70
For I have a bonnie young lady
Behind me for to come in."
"Come in, come in, bonnie Lizzie,
Come in, come in," said he,
"Although that our cottage be little, 75
Perhaps the better we'll 'gree.
"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 o'er wi' green hay." 80
"Rise up, rise up, bonnie Lizzie,
Why lie ye so long in the day;
Ye might ha'e been helping my mother
To make the curds and green whey."
"O haud your tongue, Sir Donald, 85
O haud your tongue I pray;
I wish I had ne'er left my mother,
I can neither make curds nor whey."
"Rise up, rise up, bonnie Lizzie,
And put on your satins so fine; 90
For we maun to be at Kincassie
Before that the clock strikes nine."
But when they came to Kincassie
The porter was standing by;--
"Ye're welcome home, Sir Donald, 95
Ye've been so long away."
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."
LIZAE BAILLIE.
From Herd's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 50. A longer version, from Buchan's
larger collection, is in the Appendix. Mr. Chambers, assuming that the
foregoing ballad of _Lizie Lindsay_ was originally the same as _Lizie
Baillie_, has made out of various copies of both one story in two
parts: _The Scottish Ballads_, p. 158. Smith has somewhat altered the
language of this ballad: _Scottish Minstrel_, iv. 90.
Lizae Baillie's to Gartartan gane,
To see her sister Jean;
And there she's met wi' Duncan Gr[ae]me,
And he's convoy'd her hame.
"My bonny Lizae Baillie, 5
I'll row ye in my plaidie,
And ye maun gang alang wi' me,
And be a Highland lady."
"I'm sure they wadna ca' me wise,
Gin I wad gang wi' you, Sir; 10
For I can neither card nor spin,
Nor yet milk ewe or cow, Sir."
"My bonny Lizae Baillie,
Let nane o' these things daunt ye;
Ye'll hae nae need to card or spin, 15
Your mither weel can want ye."
Now she's cast aff her bonny shoen,
Made o' the gilded leather,
And she's put on her highland brogues,
To skip amang the heather: 20
And she's cast aff her bonny gown,
Made o' the silk and sattin,
And she's put on a tartan plaid,
To row amang the braken.
She wadna hae a Lawland laird, 25
Nor be an English lady;
But she wad gang wi' Duncan Gr[ae]me,
And row her in his plaidie.
She was nae ten miles frae the town,
When she began to weary; 30
She aften looked back, and said,
"Farewell to Castlecarry.
"The first place I saw my Duncan Gr[ae]me,
Was near yon holland bush;
My father took frae me my rings, 35
My rings but and my purse.
"But I wadna gie my Duncan Gr[ae]me
For a' my father's land,
Though it were ten times ten times mair,
And a' at my command." 40
* * * * * * * * *
Now wae be to you, loggerheads,
That dwell near Castlecarry,
To let awa' sic a bonny lass,
A Highlandman to marry. 45
GLASGOW PEGGY.
From recitation, in Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 174.
Other copies are printed in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of
Scotland_, ii. 155, (_Donald of the Isles_,) Sharpe's _Ballad Book_,
p. 40, (and Chambers's _Popular Rhymes_, p. 27,) Smith's _Scottish
Minstrel_, iv. 78.
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.
"I wad gie my gude brown steed, 5
And sae wad I my gude grey naigie,
That I war fifty miles frae the toun,
And nane wi' me but my bonnie Peggy."
But up then spak the auld gudman,
And vow but he spak wondrous saucie;-- 10
"Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes,
But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie."
"I have got cows and ewes anew,
I've got gowd and gear already;
Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes, 15
But I will hae your bonnie Peggy."
"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." 20
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.
As they rade out by Glasgow toun, 25
And doun by the hills o' Achildounie,
There they met the Earl of Hume,
And his auld son, riding bonnie.
Out bespak the Earl of Hume,
And O but he spak wondrous sorry,-- 30
"The bonniest lass about a' Glasgow toun,
This day is awa wi' a hieland laddie."
As they rade bye auld Drymen toun,
The lassies leuch and lookit saucy,
That the bonniest lass they ever saw, 35
Sud be riding awa wi' a hieland laddie.
They rode on through moss and muir,
And so did they owre mountains many,
Until they cam to yonder glen,
And she's lain doun wi' her hieland laddie. 40
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.
"There's beds and bowsters in my father's house, 45
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."
"Tho' there's beds and beddin in your father's house,
Sheets and blankets and a' made ready, 50
Yet why sud they be angry wi' thee,
Though I be but a hieland laddie?
"It's I hae fifty acres of land,
It's a' plow'd and sawn already;
I am Donald the Lord of Skye, 55
And why sud na Peggy be call'd a lady?
"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 call'd a lady! 60
"See ye no a' yon castles and tow'rs?
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.
"A' that Peggy left behind 65
Was a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie;
Now I think she is better by far,
Than tho' she had got a lawland lairdie."
GLENLOGIE.
First published in the fourth volume of Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_.
Great liberties, says Motherwell, have been taken with the songs in
that work. Other versions are given in Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, and in
Buchan's larger collection, i. 188, (_Jean o' Bethelnie's Love for Sir
G. Gordon._)
Three score o' nobles rade up the king's ha',
But bonnie Glenlogie's the flower o' them a';
Wi' his milk-white steed and his bonnie black e'e,
"Glenlogie, dear mither, Glenlogie for me!"
"O haud your tongue, dochter, ye'll get better than he;" 5
"O say nae sae, mither, for that canna be;
Though Drumlie is richer, and greater than he,
Yet if I maun tak him, I'll certainly dee.
"Where will I get a bonnie boy, to win hose and shoon,
Will gae to Glenlogie, and cum again shun?"[L10] 10
"O here am I, a bonnie boy, to win hose and shoon,
Will gae to Glenlogie, and cum again shun."
When he gaed to Glenlogie, 'twas "wash and go dine;"
'Twas "wash ye, my pretty boy, wash and go dine;"
"O 'twas ne'er my father's fashion, and it ne'er shall be mine, 15
To gar a lady's hasty errand wait till I dine.
"But there is, Glenlogie, a letter for thee;"
The first line that he read, a low smile ga'e he,
The next line that he read, the tear blindit his e'e;
But the last line that he read, he gart the table flee. 20
"Gar saddle the black horse, gar saddle the brown;
Gar saddle the swiftest steed e'er rade frae a town;"
But lang ere the horse was drawn and brought to the green,
O bonnie Glenlogie was twa mile his lane.
"When he cam' to Glenfeldy's door, little mirth was there; 25
Bonnie Jean's mother was tearing her hair;
"Ye're welcome, Glenlogie, ye're welcome," said she,
"Ye're welcome, Glenlogie, your Jeanie to see."
Pale and wan was she, when Glenlogie gaed ben,
But red and rosy grew she whene'er he sat down; 30
She turned awa' her head, but the smile was in her e'e,
"O binna feared, mither, I'll maybe no dee."
10, 12 shun again.
JOHN O' HAZELGREEN.
Neither the present version of this ballad, (taken from Buchan's
_Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 253,) nor that furnished by
Kinloch, (_Jock o' Hazelgreen_, p. 206,) is at all satisfactory.
Another, much superior in point of taste, but made up from four
different copies, is given in Chambers's _Scottish Ballads_, p. 319.
Sir W. Scott's song of _Jock o' Hazeldean_ was suggested by a single
stanza of this ballad, which he had heard as a fragment, thus:
"'Why weep ye by the tide ladye,
Why weep ye by the tide?
I'll wed ye to my youngest son,
And ye shall be his bride;
And ye shall be his bride, ladye,
Sae comely to be seen:'
But aye she loot the tears down fa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean."
As I went forth to take the air
Intill an evening clear,
And there I spied a lady fair
Making a heavy bier.
Making a heavy bier, I say, 5
But and a piteous meen;
And aye she sigh'd, and said, alas!
For John o' Hazelgreen.
The sun was sinking in the west,
The stars were shining clear; 10
When thro' the thickets o' the wood,
A gentleman did appear.
Says, "who has done you the wrong, fair maid,
And left you here alane;
Or who has kiss'd your lovely lips, 15
That ye ca' Hazelgreen?"
"Hold your tongue, kind sir," she said,
"And do not banter so;
How will ye add affliction
Unto a lover's woe? 20
For none's done me the wrong," she said,
"Nor left me here alane;
Nor none has kiss'd my lovely lips,
That I ca' Hazelgreen."
"Why weep ye by the tide, lady? 25
Why weep ye by the tide?
How blythe and happy might he be
Gets you to be his bride!
Gets you to be his bride, fair maid,
And him I'll no bemean; 30
But when I take my words again,
Whom call ye Hazelgreen?
"What like a man was Hazelgreen?
Will ye show him to me?"
"He is a comely proper youth, 35
I in my sleep did see;
Wi' arms tall, and fingers small,--
He's comely to be seen;"
And aye she loot the tears down fall
For John o' Hazelgreen. 40