16_The English and Scottish popular ballads, volume 1 (of 5)

Janet has kilted her green kirtle

A little aboon her knee,

And she has snooded her yellow hair

A little aboon her bree,

And she's away to Carterhaugh,

As fast as she can hie.

When she came to Carterhaugh,

Tom Line was at the well,

And there she faund his steed standing,

But away was himsell.

She hadna pu'd a double rose,

A rose but only twae,

Till up then started young Tom Line,

Says, Lady, thou's pu na mae.

Why pu's thou the rose, Janet,

Out owr yon groves sae green,

And a' to kill your bonny babe,

That we gat us between?

'O tell me, tell me, Tom,' she says,

'For's sake who died on tree,

If eer ye were in holy chapel,

Or christendom did see.'

'Roxburgh he was my grandfather,

Took me with him to bide,

And ance it fell upon a day

That wae did me betide.

'Ance it fell upon a day,

A cauld day and a snell,

When we were frae the hunting come,

That from my horse I fell.

'The Queen of Fairies she came by,

Took me wi her to dwell,

Evn where she has a pleasant land

For those that in it dwell,

But at the end o seven years,

They pay their teind to hell.

'The night it is gude Halloween,

The fairie folk do ride,

And they that wad their true-love win,

At Miles Cross they maun bide.'

'But how shall I thee ken, Thomas,

Or how shall I thee knaw,

Amang a pack o uncouth knights

The like I never saw?'

'The first company that passes by,

Say na, and let them gae;

The next company that passes by,

Say na, and do right sae;

The third company that passes by,

Then I'll be ane o thae.

'Some ride upon a black, lady,

And some ride on a brown,

But I ride on a milk-white steed,

And ay nearest the town:

Because I was an earthly knight

They gae me that renown.

'My right hand will be glovd, lady,

My left hand will be bare,

And thae's the tokens I gie thee,

Nae doubt I will be there.

'Then hie thee to the milk-white steed,

And pu me quickly down,

Cast thy green kirtle owr me,

And keep me frae the rain.

'They'll turn me in thy arms, lady,

An adder and a snake;

But hold me fast, let me na gae,

To be your warldly mate.

'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,

A grey greyhound to girn;

But hald me fast, let me na gae,

The father o your bairn.

'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,

A red het gad o iron;

Then hand me fast, and be na feard,

I'll do to you nae harm.

'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,

A mother-naked man;

Cast your green kirtle owr me,

To keep me frae the rain.

'First dip me in a stand o milk,

And then a stand o water;

Haud me fast, let me na gae,

I'll be your bairnie's father.'

Janet has kilted her green kirtle

A little aboon her knee,

And she has snooded her yellow hair

A little aboon her bree,

And she is on to Miles Cross,

As fast as she can hie.

The first company that passd by,

She said na, and let them gae;

The next company that passed by,

She said na, and did right sae;

The third company that passed by,

Then he was ane o thae.

She hied her to the milk-white steed,

And pu'd him quickly down;

She cast her green kirtle owr him,

To keep him frae the rain;

Then she did all was orderd her,

And sae recoverd him.

Then out then spak the Queen o Fairies,

Out o a bush o broom:

'They that hae gotten young Tom Line

Hae got a stately groom.'

Out than spak the Queen o Fairies,

Out o a bush of rye:

'Them that has gotten young Tom Line

Has the best knight in my company.

'Had I kend, Thomas,' she says,

'A lady wad hae borrowd thee,

I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een,

Put in twa een o tree.

'Had I but kend, Thomas,' she says,

'Before I came frae hame,

I had taen out that heart o flesh,

Put in a heart o stane.'

Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 300.

* * * * * * *

She's prickt hersell and prind hersell,

By the ae light o the moon,

And she's awa to Kertonha,

As fast as she can gang.

'What gars ye pu the rose, Jennet?

What gars ye break the tree?

What gars you gang to Kertonha

Without the leave of me?'

'Yes, I will pu the rose, Thomas,

And I will break the tree;

For Kertonha shoud be my ain,

Nor ask I leave of thee.'

'Full pleasant is the fairy land,

And happy there to dwell;

I am a fairy, lyth and limb,

Fair maiden, view me well.

'O pleasant is the fairy land,

How happy there to dwell!

But ay at every seven years end

We're a' dung down to hell.

'The morn is good Halloween,

And our court a' will ride;

If ony maiden wins her man,

Then she may be his bride.

'But first ye'll let the black gae by,

And then ye'll let the brown;

Then I'll ride on a milk-white steed,

You'll pu me to the ground.

'And first, I'll grow into your arms

An esk but and an edder;

Had me fast, let me not gang,

I'll be your bairn's father.

'Next, I'll grow into your arms

A toad but and an eel;

Had me fast, let me not gang,

If you do love me leel.

'Last, I'll grow into your arms

A dove but and a swan;

Then, maiden fair, you'll let me go,

I'll be a perfect man.'

* * * * * * *

#a.# Motherwell's MS., p. 532, a North Country version.

#b.# Maidment's New Book of Old Ballads, 1844, p. 54, from

the recitation of an old woman. #c.# Pitcairn's MSS,

1817-25, III, p. 67: "procured by David Webster,

Bookseller, from tradition."

O all you ladies young and gay,

Who are so sweet and fair,

Do not go into Chaster's wood,

For Tomlin will be there.

Fair Margret sat in her bonny bower,

Sewing her silken seam,

And wished to be in Chaster's wood,

Among the leaves so green.

She let her seam fall to her foot,

The needle to her toe,

And she has gone to Chaster's wood,

As fast as she could go.

When she began to pull the flowers,

She pulld both red and green;

Then by did come, and by did go,

Said, Fair maid, let aleene.

'O why pluck you the flowers, lady,

Or why climb you the tree?

Or why come ye to Chaster's wood

Without the leave of me?'

'O I will pull the flowers,' she said,

'Or I will break the tree,

For Chaster's wood it is my own,

I'll no ask leave at thee.'

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass green sleeve,

And laid her low down on the flowers,

At her he asked no leave.

The lady blushed, and sourly frowned,

And she did think great shame;

Says, 'If you are a gentleman,

You will tell me your name.'

'First they did call me Jack,' he said,

'And then they called me John,

But since I lived in the fairy court

Tomlin has always been my name.

'So do not pluck that flower, lady,

That has these pimples gray;

They would destroy the bonny babe

That we've got in our play.'

'O tell me, Tomlin,' she said,

'And tell it to me soon,

Was you ever at good church-door,

Or got you christendoom?'

'O I have been at good church-door,

And aff her yetts within;

I was the Laird of Foulis's son,

The heir of all this land.

'But it fell once upon a day,

As hunting I did ride,

As I rode east and west yon hill

There woe did me betide.

'O drowsy, drowsy as I was!

Dead sleep upon me fell;

The Queen of Fairies she was there,

And took me to hersell.

'The Elfins is a pretty place,

In which I love to dwell,

But yet at every seven years' end

The last here goes to hell;

And as I am ane o flesh and blood,

I fear the next be mysell.

'The morn at even is Halloween;

Our fairy court will ride,

Throw England and Scotland both,

Throw al the world wide;

And if ye would me borrow,

At Rides Cross ye may bide.

'You may go into the Miles Moss,

Between twelve hours and one;

Take holy water in your hand,

And cast a compass round.

'The first court that comes along,

You'll let them all pass by;

The next court that comes along,

Salute them reverently.

'The next court that comes along

Is clad in robes of green,

And it's the head court of them all,

For in it rides the queen.

'And I upon a milk-white steed,

With a gold star in my crown;

Because I am an earthly man

I'm next to the queen in renown.

'Then seize upon me with a spring,

Then to the ground I'll fa,

And then you'll hear a rueful cry

That Tomlin is awa.

'Then I'll grow in your arms two

Like to a savage wild;

But hold me fast, let me not go,

I'm father of your child.

'I'll grow into your arms two

Like an adder or a snake;

But hold me fast, let me not go,

I'll be your earthly maick.

'I'll grow into your arms two

Like iron in strong fire;

But hold me fast, let me not go,

Then you'll have your desire.'

She rid down to Miles Cross,

Between twelve hours and one,

Took holy water in her hand,

And cast a compass round.

The first court that came along,

She let them all pass by;

The next court that came along

Saluted reverently.

The next court that came along

Were clad in robes of green,

When Tomlin, on a milk-white steed,

She saw ride with the queen.

She seized him in her arms two,

He to the ground did fa,

And then she heard a ruefull cry

'Tomlin is now awa.'

He grew into her arms two

Like to a savage wild;

She held him fast, let him not go,

The father of her child.

He grew into her arms two

Like an adder or a snake;

She held him fast, let him not go,

He was her earthly maick.

He grew into her arms two

Like iron in hot fire;

She held him fast, let him not go,

He was her heart's desire.

Then sounded out throw elphin court,

With a loud shout and a cry,

That the pretty maid of Chaster's wood

That day had caught her prey.

'O stay, Tomlin,' cried Elphin Queen,

'Till I pay you your fee;'

'His father has lands and rents enough,

He wants no fee from thee.'

'O had I known at early morn

Tomlin would from me gone,

I would have taken out his heart of flesh

Put in a heart of stone.'

Motherwell's Note-book, p. 13.

Lady Margaret is over gravel green,

And over gravel grey,

And she's awa to Charteris ha,

Lang lang three hour or day.

She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,

A flower but only ane,

Till up and started young Tamlin,

Says, Lady, let alane.

She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,

A flower but only twa,

Till up and started young Tamlene,

Atween her and the wa.

'How daur you pu my flower, madam?

How daur ye break my tree?

How daur ye come to Charter's ha,

Without the leave of me?'

'Weel I may pu the rose,' she said,

'But I daurna break the tree;

And Charter's ha is my father's,

And I'm his heir to be.'

'If Charteris ha be thy father's,

I was ance as gude mysell;

But as I came in by Lady Kirk,

And in by Lady Well,

'Deep and drowsy was the sleep

On my poor body fell;

By came the Queen of Faery,

Made me with her to dwell.

'But the morn at een is Halloween,

Our fairy foks a' do ride;

And she that will her true-love win,

At Blackstock she must bide.

'First let by the black,' he said,

'And syne let by the brown;

But when you see the milk-white steed,

You'll pull his rider down.

'You'll pull him into thy arms,

Let his bricht bridle fa,

And he'll fa low into your arms

Like stone in castle's wa.

'They'll first shape him into your arms

An adder or a snake;

But hold him fast, let him not go,

He'll be your world's make.

'They'll next shape him into your arms

Like a wood black dog to bite;

Hold him fast, let him not go,

For he'll be your heart's delight.

'They'll next shape [him] into your arms

Like a red-het gaud o airn;

But hold him fast, let him not go,

He's the father o your bairn.

'They'll next shape him into your arms

Like the laidliest worm of Ind;

But hold him fast, let him not go,

And cry aye "Young Tamlin."'

* * * * * * *

Lady Margaret first let by the black,

And syne let by the brown,

But when she saw the milk-white steed

She pulled the rider down.

She pulled him into her arms,

Let his bright bridle fa',

And he fell low into her arms,

Like stone in castle's wa.

They first shaped him into arms

An adder or a snake;

But she held him fast, let him not go,

For he'd be her warld's make.

They next shaped him into her arms

Like a wood black dog to bite;

But she held him fast, let him not go,

For he'd be her heart's delight.

They next shaped him into her arms

Like a red-het gaud o airn;

But she held him fast, let him not go,

He'd be father o her bairn.

They next shaped him into her arms

Like the laidliest worm of Ind;

But she held him fast, let him not go,

And cried aye 'Young Tamlin.'

The Queen of Faery turned her horse about,

Says, Adieu to thee, Tamlene!

For if I had kent what I ken this night,

If I had kent it yestreen,

I wad hae taen out thy heart o flesh,

And put in a heart o stane.

Motherwell's MS., p. 64, from the recitation of widow

McCormick, February, 1825.

* * * * * * *

She's taen her petticoat by the band,

Her mantle owre her arm,

And she's awa to Chester wood,

As fast as she could run.

She scarsely pulled a rose, a rose,

She scarse pulled two or three,

Till up there starts Thomas

On the Lady Margaret's knee.

She's taen her petticoat by the band,

Her mantle owre her arm,

And Lady Margaret's gane hame agen,

As fast as she could run.

Up starts Lady Margaret's sister,

An angry woman was she:

'If there ever was a woman wi child,

Margaret, you are wi!'

Up starts Lady Margaret's mother,

An angry woman was she:

'There grows ane herb in yon kirk-yard

That will scathe the babe away.'

She took her petticoats by the band,

Her mantle owre her arm,

And she's gane to yon kirk-yard

As fast as she could run.

She scarcely pulled an herb, an herb,

She scarse pulled two or three,

Till up starts there Thomas

Upon this Lady Margret's knee.

'How dare ye pull a rose?' he says,

'How dare ye break the tree?

How dare ye pull this herb,' he says,

'To scathe my babe away?

'This night is Halloweve,' he said,

'Our court is going to waste,

And them that loves their true-love best

At Chester bridge they'll meet.

'First let pass the black,' he says,

'And then let pass the brown,

But when ye meet the milk-white steed,

Pull ye the rider down.

'They'll turn me to an eagle,' he says,

'And then into an ass;

Come, hold me fast, and fear me not,

The man that you love best.

'They'll turn me to a flash of fire,

And then to a naked man;

Come, wrap you your mantle me about,

And then you'll have me won.'

She took her petticoats by the band,

Her mantle owre her arm,

And she's awa to Chester bridge,

As fast as she could run.

And first she did let pass the black,

And then let pass the brown,

But when she met the milk-white steed,

She pulled the rider down.

They turned him in her arms an eagle,

And then into an ass;

But she held him fast, and feared him not,

The man that she loved best.

They turned him into a flash of fire,

And then into a naked man;

But she wrapped her mantle him about,

And then she had him won.

'O wae be to ye, Lady Margaret,

And an ill death may you die,

For you've robbed me of the bravest knight

That eer rode in our company.'

Buchan's MSS, I, 8; Motherwell's MS., p. 595.

Take warning, a' ye ladies fair,

That wear gowd on your hair,

Come never unto Charter's woods,

For Tam-a-line he's there.

Even about that knight's middle

O' siller bells are nine;

Nae ane comes to Charter wood,

And a maid returns again.

Lady Margaret sits in her bower door,

Sewing at her silken seam;

And she langd to gang to Charter woods,

To pou the roses green.

She hadna poud a rose, a rose,

Nor broken a branch but ane,

Till by it came him true Tam-a-line,

Says, Ladye, lat alane.

O why pou ye the rose, the rose?

Or why brake ye the tree?

Or why come ye to Charter woods,

Without leave askd of me?

'I will pou the rose, the rose,

And I will brake the tree;

Charter woods are a' my ain,

I'll ask nae leave o thee.'

He's taen her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

And laid her low on gude green wood,

At her he spierd nae leave.

When he had got his wills of her,

His wills as he had taen,

He's taen her by the middle sma,

Set her to feet again.

She turnd her right and round about,

To spier her true-love's name,

But naething heard she, nor naething saw,

As a' the woods grew dim.

Seven days she tarried there,

Saw neither sun nor meen;

At length, by a sma glimmering light,

Came thro the wood her lane.

When she came to her father's court,

As fine as ony queen;

But when eight months were past and gane,

Got on the gown o' green.

Then out it speaks an eldren knight,

As he stood at the yett:

'Our king's daughter, she gaes wi bairn,

And we'll get a' the wyte.'

'O had your tongue, ye eldren man,

And bring me not to shame;

Although that I do gang wi bairn,

Yese naeways get the blame.

'Were my love but an earthly man,

As he's an elfin knight,

I woudna gie my ain true love

For a' that's in my sight.'

Then out it speaks her brither dear,

He meant to do her harm:

'There is an herb in Charter wood

Will twine you an the bairn.'

She's taen her mantle her about,

Her coffer by the band,

And she is on to Charter wood,

As fast as she coud gang.

She hadna poud a rose, a rose,

Nor braken a branch but ane,

Till by it came him Tam-a-Line,

Says, Ladye, lat alane.

O why pou ye the pile, Margaret,

The pile o the gravil green,

For to destroy the bonny bairn

That we got us between?

O why pou ye the pile, Margaret,

The pile o the gravil gray,

For to destroy the bonny bairn

That we got in our play?

For if it be a knave-bairn,

He's heir o a' my land;

But if it be a lass-bairn,

In red gowd she shall gang.

'If my luve were an earthly man,

As he's an elfin rae,

I coud gang bound, love, for your sake,

A twalmonth and a day.'

'Indeed your love's an earthly man,

The same as well as thee,

And lang I've haunted Charter woods,

A' for your fair bodie.'

'O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,

O tell, an tell me true,

Tell me this night, an mak nae lie,

What pedigree are you?'

'O I hae been at gude church-door,

An I've got Christendom;

I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son,

An heir ower a' his land.

'When I was young, o three years old,

Muckle was made o me;

My step-mother put on my claithes,

An ill, ill sained she me.

'Ae fatal morning I went out,

Dreading nae injury,

And thinking lang, fell soun asleep,

Beneath an apple tree.

'Then by it came the Elfin Queen,

And laid her hand on me;

And from that time since ever I mind,

I've been in her companie.

'O Elfin it's a bonny place,

In it fain woud I dwell;

But ay at ilka seven years' end

They pay a tiend to hell,

And I'm sae fou o flesh an blude,

I'm sair feard for mysell.'

'O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,

O tell, an tell me true;

Tell me this night, an mak nae lie,

What way I'll borrow you?'

'The morn is Halloweven night,

The elfin court will ride,

Through England, and thro a' Scotland,

And through the world wide.

'O they begin at sky setting,

Rides a' the evening tide;

And she that will her true-love borrow,

[At] Miles-corse will him bide.

'Ye'll do you down to Miles-corse,

Between twall hours and ane,

And full your hands o holy water,

And cast your compass roun.

'Then the first an court that comes you till

Is published king and queen;

The next an court that comes you till,

It is maidens mony ane.

'The next an court that comes you till

Is footmen, grooms and squires;

The next an court that comes you till

Is knights, and I'll be there.

'I Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,

A goud star on my crown;

Because I was an earthly knight,

Got that for a renown.

'And out at my steed's right nostril,

He'll breathe a fiery flame;

Ye'll loot you low, and sain yoursel,

And ye'll be busy then.

'Ye'll take my horse then by the head,

And lat the bridal fa;

The Queen o' Elfin she'll cry out,

True Tam-a-Line's awa.

'Then I'll appear in your arms

Like the wolf that neer woud tame;

Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,

Case we neer meet again.

'Then I'll appear in your arms

Like the fire that burns sae bauld;

Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,

I'll be as iron cauld.

'Then I'll appear in your arms

Like the adder an the snake;

Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,

I am your warld's make.

'Then I'll appear in your arms

Like to the deer sae wild;

Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,

And I'll father your child.

'And I'll appear in your arms

Like to a silken string;

Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,

Till ye see the fair morning.

'And I'll appear in your arms

Like to a naked man;

Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,

And wi you I'll gae hame.'

Then she has done her to Miles-corse,

Between twall hours an ane,

And filled her hands o holy water,

And kiest her compass roun.

The first an court that came her till

Was published king and queen;

The niest an court that came her till

Was maidens mony ane.

The niest an court that came her till

Was footmen, grooms and squires;

The niest an court that came her till

Was knights, and he was there.

True Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,

A gowd star on his crown;

Because he was an earthly man,

Got that for a renown.

And out at the steed's right nostril,

He breathd a fiery flame;

She loots her low, an sains hersell,

And she was busy then.

She's taen the horse then by the head,

And loot the bridle fa;

The Queen o Elfin she cried out,

'True Tam-a-Line's awa.'

'Stay still, true Tam-a-Line,' she says,

'Till I pay you your fee:'

'His father wants not lands nor rents,

He'll ask nae fee frae thee.'

'Gin I bad kent yestreen, yestreen,

What I ken weel the day,

I shoud taen your fu fause heart,

Gien you a heart o clay.'

Then he appeared in her arms

Like the wolf that neer woud tame;

She held him fast, let him not go,

Case they neer meet again.

Then he appeared in her arms

Like the fire burning bauld;

She held him fast, let him not go,

He was as iron cauld.

And he appeared in her arms

Like the adder an the snake;

She held him fast, let him not go,

He was her warld's make.

And he appeared in her arms

Like to the deer sae wild;

She held him fast, let him not go,

He's father o her child.

And he appeared in her arms

Like to a silken string;

She held him fast, let him not go,

Till she saw fair morning.

And he appeared in her arms

Like to a naked man;

She held him fast, let him not go,

And wi her he's gane hame.

These news hae reachd thro a' Scotland,

And far ayont the Tay,

That Lady Margaret, our king's daughter,

That night had gaind her prey.

She borrowed her love at mirk midnight,

Bare her young son ere day,

And though ye'd search the warld wide,

Ye'll nae find sic a may.

Campbell MSS, II, 129.

I forbid ye, maidens a',

That wears gowd in your hair,

To come or gang by Carterhaugh,

For young Tam Lane is there.

I forbid ye, maidens a',

That wears gowd in your green,

To come or gang by Carterhaugh,

For fear of young Tam Lane.

'Go saddle for me the black,' says Janet,

'Go saddle for me the brown,

And I'll away to Carterhaugh,

And flower mysell the gown.

'Go saddle for me the brown,' says Janet,

'Go saddle for me the black,

And I'll away to Carterhaugh,

And flower mysel a hat.'

* * * * * * *

She had not pulld a flowr, a flowr,

A flower but only three,

Till up there startit young Tam Lane,

Just at bird Janet's knee.

'Why pullst thou the herb, Janet,

And why breaks thou the tree?

Why put you back the bonny babe

That's between you and me?'

'If my child was to an earthly man,

As it is to a wild buck rae,

I would wake him the length of the winter's night,

And the lea lang simmer's day.'

'The night is Halloween, Janet,

When our gude neighbours will ride,

And them that would their true-love won

At Blackning Cross maun bide.

'Many will the black ride by,

And many will the brown,

But I ride on a milk-white steed,

And ride nearest the town:

Because I was a christened knight

They gie me that renown.

'Many will the black ride by,

But far mae will the brown;

But when ye see the milk-white stead,

Grip fast and pull me down.

'Take me in yer arms, Janet,

An ask, an adder lang;

The grip ye get ye maun haud fast,

I'll be father to your bairn.

'Take me in your arms, Janet,

An adder and a snake;

The grip ye get ye maun haud fast,

I'll be your warld's make.'

* * * * * * *

Up bespak the Queen of Fairies,

She spak baith loud and high:

'Had I kend the day at noon

Tam Lane had been won from me,

'I wad hae taen out his heart o flesh,

Put in a heart o tree,

That a' the maids o Middle Middle Mist

Should neer hae taen Tam Lane frae me.'

Up bespack the Queen of Fairies,

And she spak wi a loud yell:

'Aye at every seven year's end

We pay the kane to hell,

And the koors they hae gane round about,

And I fear it will be mysel.'

#a.# Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, II, 337, ed. 1833.

#b.# II, 228, ed. 1802.

'O I forbid ye, maidens a',

That wear gowd on your hair,

To come or gae by Carterhaugh,

For young Tamlane is there.

'There's nane that gaes by Carterhaugh

But maun leave him a wad,

Either gowd rings, or green mantles,

Or else their maidenheid.

'Now gowd rings ye may buy, maidens,

Green mantles ye may spin,

But, gin ye lose your maidenheid,

Ye'll neer get that agen.'

But up then spak her, fair Janet,

The fairest o a' her kin:

'I'll cum and gang to Carterhaugh,

And ask nae leave o him.'

Janet has kilted her green kirtle

A little abune her knee,

And she has braided her yellow hair

A little abune her bree.

And when she came to Carterhaugh,

She gaed beside the well,

And there she fand his steed standing,

But away was himsell.

She hadna pu'd a red red rose,

A rose but barely three,

Till up and starts a wee wee man,

At lady Janet's knee.

Says, Why pu ye the rose, Janet?

What gars ye break the tree?

Or why come ye to Carterhaugh,

Withouten leave o me?