P. 449. #A# was first published in the second edition of Scott’s
Minstrelsy, 1803, I, 243.
#B# was repeated in the first edition of Scott’s Minstrelsy, I, 220,
1802, ‘The Laird of Ochiltree.’
452. The following is the original, unimproved copy of #A#. There is a
transcript of this, in William Laidlaw’s hand, “Scotch Ballads,” etc.,
No 23, which is somewhat retouched, but by no means with the freedom
exercised by the editor of the Minstrelsy. Some of Laidlaw’s changes
were adopted by Scott.
* * * * *
A
‘The Laird of Logie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,”
No 3 a, Abbotsford. Sent Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw;
received by him from Mr Bartram of Biggar.
1
I will sing, if ye will harken,
An ye wad listen unto me;
I’ll tell ye of a merry passage
Of the wanton laird of Young Logie.
2
Young Logie’s laid in Edin_borough_ chapel,
Carmichaell’s keeper of the key;
I heard a may lamenting sair,
All for the laird of Young Logie.
3
‘Lament, lament na, May Margret,
And o your weeping let me be;
For ye maun to the king y_ou_r sell,
And ask the life of Young Logie.’
4
May Margaret has kilted her green cleeding,
And she’s currld back her yellow hair,
And she’s away to the king hersell,
And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!
5
When she came before the king,
She fell low down on her knee:
‘It’s what’s your will wi me, May Margret,
And what makes all this courtesey?’
‘Naething, naething, my sovreign liege,
But grant me the life of Young Logie.’
6
‘O no, O no, May Margret,
No, in sooth it maun na be;
For the morn, or I taste meat or drink,
Hee hanged shall Young Logie be.’
7
She has stolen the king’s reeding-comb,
But an the queen her wedding-knife,
And she has sent it to Carmichaell,
To cause Young Logie come by life.
8
She sent him a purse of the red gold,
Another of the white money,
And sent him a pistol into each hand,
And bade him shoot when he got fra.
9
When he came to the Tolbooth stair,
There he loot his volley flee,
Wh_ich_ made the king in his chamber start,
Even in the chamber where he lay.
10
‘Gae out, gae out, my merrie men,
And gar Carmichael come speake wi me,
For I’ll lay my life the pledge of that,
That yon’s the volley of Young Logie.’
11
When Carmichael came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee;
The very first word that the king spake,
‘How dois the laird o Young Logie?’
12
Carmichael turnd him round about,
A wait the salt tear blint his eye:
‘There came a tacken frae the king
Has tean the laird awa frae me.’
13
‘Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?
Hast thou playd me that?’ quo he;
‘The morn the Justice Court’s to stand,
And Logie’s place ye maun supply.’
14
Carmichal’s awa to May Margr[e]t’s bower,
Een as fast as he may dree:
‘It’s if Young Logie be within,
Tell him to come speak to me.’
15
May Margret’s turnd her round about,
A wait a loud laughter gae she:
‘The egg is cheeped and the bird is flown,
And seek ye the laird of Young Logie.’
16
The one is sheppd at the pier o Leith,
The other at the Queen’s Ferry,
And she has gotten a father to her bairn,
The wanton laird of Young [Logie].
4^2. yer _for_ her.
6^4. Yea _for_ Hee. Hie _in Laidlaw’s transcript. Taking into
account the apparent_ yer _for_ her _in 4^2, it looks as if_
hea, _her were intended._
8^4. free?
12^2. blint _may be_ blent.
453. #B.# ‘The Winsome Laird of Young Logie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials
for Border Minstrelsy,” No 137 a, “sung by Lady A. Lindsay,” closely
resembles Herd’s version, but in one passage approaches #C#, and Young
Logie displaces Ochiltrie. This copy will be treated as #B b#.
* * * * *
#b.#
1^1. O _wanting_.
1^2. To the tale I tell.
1^8. How the.
1^4. The winsom laird of Young Logie.
2^1. Whan the queen did hear the same.
2^8. Alas for poor Lady Margaret.
3^2, 8^2. as _wanting_.
3^4. Or never kend.
4^1. Fye, oh no, said: that maunna be _wanting_.
4^2. Fy, O no, thus (_partly altered to_ this).
4^3. find out some cunning way.
4^4. To loose and let Young Logie free.
_Between 5^2 and 5^3_:
The king he’s risen and taen her up,
Says, What means a’ this curtesy. (_As_ 5^{3,4}.)
When you took me to be your queen,
You promisd me favours twa or three. (_As_ 6^{1,2}.)[152]
5^{3,4}:
The first ane that I ask of yow
Is to loose and let Young Logie free. (_As_ 6^{3,4}.)
6^1. O _wanting_: of me.
6^2. would hae granted.
6^4, 7^4. Winna save.
7^1. queen than she came.
7^2. And she came down.
8^{3–4}:
I wish that I had neer been born,
Or never kend Young Logie’s name. (_As in_ 3.)
9^1. Fye, oh no, said.
9^2. Fye, O no, this maun ne.
9^3. I ‘ll find out some other.
9^4. To save the life o.
10^1. she triped.
11^1. She gae to.
11^3. And twa.
11^4. And bade him shoot as he gaed by.
12^1. And _wanting_.
12^3. O peace: our gudely.
13^1. O _wanting_.
14^1. Gae bring to.
14^2. Gae bring them.
14^3. Before the: by ten.
14^4. they each ane.