Chapter IV: Part 4

25.
Yef that ye went, ye shulde repent;
For in the forest nowe
I haue purueid me of a maide,
Whom I loue more than you;
Another fayrer, than euer ye were,
I dare it wel auowe;
And of you bothe eche shulde be wrothe
With other, as I trowe;
It were myn ease, to lyue in pease,
So wyl I, yf I can:
Wherfore I to the wode wyl goo,
Alone a banysshid man.

26.
Though in the wood I undirstode
Ye had a paramour,
All this may nought reineue my thought,
But that I wil be your;
And she shal fynde me soft and kynde,
And curteis euery our;
Glad to fulfylle all that she wylle
Commaunde me to my power:
For had ye, loo, an hundred moo,
Yet wolde I be that one,
For, in my mynde, of all mankynde,
I loue but you alone.

27.
Myn owne dere loue, I see the proue
That ye be kynde and trewe,
Of mayde, and wyf, in al my lyf,
The best that euer I knewe.
Be mery and glad, be no more sad,
The case is chaunged newe;
For it were ruthe, that, for your trouth,
Ye shuld haue cause to rewe.
Be not dismayed; whatsoeuer I sayd
To you, whan I began,
I wyl not too the grene wod goo,
I am noo banysshyd man.

28.
This tidingis be more glad to me,
Than to be made a quene,
Yf I were sure they shuld endure;
But it is often seen,
When men wyl breke promyse, they speke
The wordis on the splene;
Ye shape some wyle me to begyle
And stele fro me, I wene:
Than were the case wurs than it was,
And I more woobegone:
For, in my mynde, of al mankynde
I loue but you alone.

29.
Ye shal not nede further to drede;
I wyl not disparage
You, (God defende!) syth you descend
Of so grete a lynage.
Now understonde; to Westmerlande,
Whiche is my herytage,
I wyl you brynge; and wyth a rynge,
By wey of maryage
I wyl you take, and lady make,
As shortly as I can:
Thus haue ye wone an erles son
And not a banysshyd man.

30.
Here may ye see, that wymen be
In loue, meke, kinde, and stable;
Late neuer man repreue them than,
Or calle them variable;
But rather prey God that we may
To them be comfortable;
Whiche somtyme prouyth suche as loueth,
Yf they be charitable.
For sith men wolde that wymen sholde
Be meke to them echeon,
Moche more ought they to God obey,
And serue but Hym alone.

[Annotations:
1.1: 'among,' from time to time.
1.5: 'neuer a dele,' not at all.
3.4: 'they' = the. 'in fere,' in company. 'and fere' (= fear) is
usually printed.
5.1: 'do,' done.
5.5: 'ton,' one.
5.10: _i.e._ I know no other advice.
6.4: 'derked,' darkened.
6.7: 'wheder,' whither.
7.2: 'distrayne,' affect.
7.5: 'aslake,' abate.
10.9: 'thoo,' those.
11.3: 'renne,' run.
11.6: A later edition of the _Chronicle_ reads--
'A bowe, redy to drawe.'
13.6: 'rescous,' rescue. Another edition has 'socurs.'
15.7: 'abowe,' above; 'roue,' roof.
18.7: 'hele,' health.
19.3: 'here,' hair; 'ere,' ear.
19.9: 'And,' If.
20.7: 'ensue,' follow.
22.2: The type is broken in the 1502 edition, which reads 'to say
be....'
23.6: 'yede,' went.
25.3: 'purueid (= purveyed) me,' provided myself.
26.9: 'moo' = mo, _i.e._ more.
30.10: 'echeon,' each one.]

FAIR JANET

+The Text.+--Of seven or eight variants of this ballad, only three preserve the full form of the story. On the whole, the one here given--from Sharp's _Ballad Book_, as sung by an old woman in Perthshire--is the best, as the other two--from Herd's _Scots Songs_, and the Kinloch MSS.--are slightly contaminated by extraneous matter.

+The Story+ is a simple ballad-tale of 'true-love twinned'; but the episode of the dancing forms a link with a number of German and Scandinavian ballads, in which compulsory dancing and horse-riding is made a test of the guilt of an accused maiden. In the Scotch ballad the horse-riding has shrunk almost to nothing, and the dancing is not compulsory. The resemblance is faint, and the barbarities of the Continental versions are happily wanting in our ballad.

FAIR JANET

1.
'Ye maun gang to your father, Janet,
Ye maun gang to him soon;
Ye maun gang to your father, Janet,
In case that his days are dune.'

2.
Janet's awa' to her father,
As fast as she could hie:
'O what's your will wi' me, father?
O what's your will wi' me?'

3.
'My will wi' you, Fair Janet,' he said,
'It is both bed and board;
Some say that ye lo'e Sweet Willie,
But ye maun wed a French lord.'

4.
'A French lord maun I wed, father?
A French lord maun I wed?
Then, by my sooth,' quo' Fair Janet,
'He's ne'er enter my bed.'

5.
Janet's awa' to her chamber,
As fast as she could go;
Wha's the first ane that tapped there,
But Sweet Willie her jo?

6.
'O we maun part this love, Willie,
That has been lang between;
There's a French lord coming o'er the sea,
To wed me wi' a ring;
There's a French lord coming o'er the sea,
To wed and tak' me hame.'

7.
'If we maun part this love, Janet,
It causeth mickle woe;
If we maun part this love, Janet,
It makes me into mourning go.'

8.
'But ye maun gang to your three sisters,
Meg, Marion, and Jean;
Tell them to come to Fair Janet,
In case that her days are dune.'

9.
Willie's awa' to his three sisters,
Meg, Marion, and Jean:
'O haste, and gang to Fair Janet,
I fear that her days are dune.'

10.
Some drew to them their silken hose,
Some drew to them their shoon,
Some drew to them their silk manteils,
Their coverings to put on,
And they're awa' to Fair Janet,
By the hie light o' the moon.

... ... ...

11.
'O I have born this babe, Willie,
Wi' mickle toil and pain;
Take hame, take hame, your babe, Willie,
For nurse I dare be nane.'

12.
He's tane his young son in his arms,
And kisst him cheek and chin,
And he's awa' to his mother's bower,
By the hie light o' the moon.

13.
'O open, open, mother,' he says,
'O open, and let me in;
The rain rains on my yellow hair,
And the dew drops o'er my chin,
And I hae my young son in my arms,
I fear that his days are dune.'

14.
With her fingers lang and sma'
She lifted up the pin,
And with her arms lang and sma'
Received the baby in.

15.
'Gae back, gae back now, Sweet Willie,
And comfort your fair lady;
For where ye had but ae nourice,
Your young son shall hae three.'

16.
Willie he was scarce awa',
And the lady put to bed,
When in and came her father dear:
'Make haste, and busk the bride.'

17.
'There's a sair pain in my head, father,
There's a sair pain in my side;
And ill, O ill, am I, father,
This day for to be a bride.'

18.
'O ye maun busk this bonny bride,
And put a gay mantle on;
For she shall wed this auld French lord,
Gin she should die the morn.'

19.
Some put on the gay green robes,
And some put on the brown;
But Janet put on the scarlet robes,
To shine foremost throw the town.

20.
And some they mounted the black steed,
And some mounted the brown;
But Janet mounted the milk-white steed,
To ride foremost throw the town.

21.
'O wha will guide your horse, Janet?
O wha will guide him best?'
'O wha but Willie, my true love?
He kens I lo'e him best.'

22.
And when they cam' to Marie's kirk,
To tye the haly ban',
Fair Janet's cheek looked pale and wan,
And her colour gaed and cam'.

23.
When dinner it was past and done,
And dancing to begin,
'O we'll go take the bride's maidens,
And we'll go fill the ring.'

24.
O ben then cam' the auld French lord,
Saying, 'Bride, will ye dance with me?'
'Awa', awa', ye auld French Lord,
Your face I downa see.'

25.
O ben then cam' now Sweet Willie,
He cam' with ane advance:
'O I'll go tak' the bride's maidens,
And we'll go tak' a dance.'

26.
'I've seen ither days wi' you, Willie,
And so has mony mae,
Ye would hae danced wi' me mysel',
Let a' my maidens gae.'

27.
O ben then cam' now Sweet Willie,
Saying, 'Bride, will ye dance wi' me?'
'Aye, by my sooth, and that I will,
Gin my back should break in three.'

28.
She had nae turned her throw the dance,
Throw the dance but thrice,
Whan she fell doun at Willie's feet,
And up did never rise.

29.
Willie's ta'en the key of his coffer,
And gi'en it to his man:
'Gae hame, and tell my mother dear
My horse he has me slain;
Bid her be kind to my young son,
For father has he nane.'

30.
The tane was buried in Marie's kirk,
And the tither in Marie's quire;
Out of the tane there grew a birk,
And the tither a bonny brier.

[Annotations:
5.4: 'jo,' sweetheart.
15.3: 'nourice,' nurse.
16.4: 'busk,' dress.
24.1: 'ben,' into the house.
24.4: 'downa,' like not to.]

BROWN ADAM

+The Text+ is given from the Jamieson-Brown MS. It was first printed by Scott, with the omission of the second stanza--perhaps justifiable--and a few minor changes. He notes that he had seen a copy printed on a single sheet.

+The Story+ has a remote parallel in a Danish ballad, extant in manuscripts of the sixteenth century and later, _Den afhugne Haand_. The tale is told as follows. Lutzelil, knowing the evil ways of Lawi Pederson, rejects his proffered love. Lawi vows she shall repent it, and the maiden is afraid for nine months to go to church, but goes at Easter. Lawi meets her in a wood, and repeats his offer. She begs him to do her no harm, feigns compliance, and makes an assignation in the chamber of her maids. She returns home and tells her father, who watches for Lawi. When he comes and demands admission, she denies the assignation. Lawi breaks down the door, and discovers Lutzelil's father with a drawn sword, with which he cuts off Lawi's hand.

The reason for objecting to the second stanza as here given is not so much the inadequacy of a golden hammer, or the unusual whiteness of the smith's fingers, but the rhyme in the third line.

BROWN ADAM

1.
O wha woud wish the win' to blaw,
Or the green leaves fa' therewith?
Or wha wad wish a leeler love
Than Brown Adam the Smith?

2.
His hammer's o' the beaten gold,
His study's o' the steel,
His fingers white are my delite,
He blows his bellows well.

3.
But they ha' banish'd him Brown Adam
Frae father and frae mither,
An' they ha' banish'd him Brown Adam
Frae sister and frae brither.

4.
And they ha' banish'd Brown Adam
Frae the flow'r o' a' his kin;
An' he's biggit a bow'r i' the good green wood
Betwen his lady an' him.

5.
O it fell once upon a day
Brown Adam he thought lang,
An' he woud to the green wood gang,
To hunt some venison.

6.
He's ta'en his bow his arm o'er,
His bran' intill his han',
And he is to the good green wood,
As fast as he coud gang.

7.
O he's shot up, an' he's shot down,
The bird upo' the briar,
An' he's sent it hame to his lady,
Bade her be of good cheer.

8.
O he's shot up, an' he's shot down,
The bird upo' the thorn,
And sent it hame to his lady,
And hee'd be hame the morn.

9.
Whan he came till his lady's bow'r-door
He stood a little forbye,
And there he heard a fu' fa'se knight
Temptin' his gay lady.

10.
O he's ta'en out a gay gold ring,
Had cost him mony a poun':
'O grant me love for love, lady,
An' this sal be your own.'

11.
'I loo Brown Adam well,' she says,
'I wot sae does he me;
An' I woud na gi' Brown Adam's love
For nae fa'se knight I see.'

12.
Out he has ta'en a purse of gold,
Was a' fu' to the string:
'Grant me but love for love, lady,
An' a' this sal be thine.'

13.
'I loo Brown Adam well,' she says,
'An' I ken sae does he me;
An' I woudna be your light leman
For mair nor ye coud gie.'

14.
Then out has he drawn his lang, lang bran',
An' he's flash'd it in her een:
'Now grant me love for love, lady,
Or thro' you this sal gang!'

15.
'O,' sighing said that gay lady,
'Brown Adam tarrys lang!'
Then up it starts Brown Adam,
Says, 'I'm just at your han'.'

16.
He's gard him leave his bow, his bow,
He's gard him leave his bran';
He's gard him leave a better pledge--
Four fingers o' his right han'.

[Annotations:
1.3: 'leeler,' more loyal.
2.2: 'study,' stithy, anvil.
4.3: 'biggit,' built.
5.2: 'thought lang,' thought (it) tedious; _i.e._ was bored. Cp.
_Young Bekie_, 16.4, etc.; _Johney Scot_, 6.2, and elsewhere.
9.2: 'forbye,' apart.
10.1: 'he' is of course the false knight.
11.1: 'loo,' love.
12.2: 'string': _i.e._ the top; purses were bags with a running string
to draw the top together.
15.2: 'lang': the MS. reads long.
16.1: etc., 'gard,' made.]

WILLIE O' WINSBURY

+The Text+ is from the Campbell MSS.

+The Story+ was imagined by Kinloch to possess a quasi-historical foundation: James V. of Scotland, who eventually married Madeleine, elder daughter of Francis I., having been previously betrothed 'by treaty' to Marie de Bourbon, daughter of the Duke of Vendome, returned to Scotland in 1537. The theory is neither probable nor plausible.

WILLIE O' WINSBURY

1.
The king he hath been a prisoner,
A prisoner lang in Spain, O,
And Willie o' the Winsbury
Has lain lang wi' his daughter at hame, O.

2.
'What aileth thee, my daughter Janet,
Ye look so pale and wan?
Have ye had any sore sickness,
Or have ye been lying wi' a man?
Or is it for me, your father dear,
And biding sae lang in Spain?'

3.
'I have not had any sore sickness,
Nor yet been lying wi' a man;
But it is for you, my father dear,
In biding sae lang in Spain.'

4.
'Cast ye off your berry-brown gown,
Stand straight upon the stone,
That I may ken ye by yere shape,
Whether ye be a maiden or none.'

5.
She's coosten off her berry-brown gown,
Stooden straight upo' yon stone;
Her apron was short, her haunches were round,
Her face it was pale and wan.

6.
'Is it to a man o' might, Janet?
Or is it to a man of fame?
Or is it to any of the rank robbers
That's lately come out o' Spain?'

7.
'It is not to a man of might,' she said,
'Nor is it to a man of fame;
But it is to William of Winsbury;
I could lye nae langer my lane.'

8.
The king's called on his merry men all,
By thirty and by three:
'Go fetch me William of Winsbury,
For hanged he shall be.'

9.
But when he cam' the king before,
He was clad o' the red silk;
His hair was like to threeds o' gold,
And his skin was as white as milk.

10.
'It is nae wonder,' said the king,
'That my daughter's love ye did win;
Had I been a woman, as I am a man,
My bedfellow ye should hae been.

11.
'Will ye marry my daughter Janet,
By the truth of thy right hand?
I'll gi'e ye gold, I'll gi'e ye money,
And I'll gi'e ye an earldom o' land.'

12.
'Yes, I'll marry yere daughter Janet,
By the truth of my right hand;
But I'll hae nane o' yer gold, I'll hae nane o' yer money,
Nor I winna hae an earldom o' land.

13.
'For I hae eighteen corn-mills
Runs all in water clear,
And there's as much corn in each o' them
As they can grind in a year.'

THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE

+The Text+ is from the early part of the Percy Folio, and the ballad is therefore deficient. Where gaps are marked in the text with a row of asterisks, about nine stanzas are lost in each case--half a page torn out by a seventeenth-century maidservant to light a fire! Luckily we can supply the story from other versions.

+The Story+, also given in _The Weddynge of Sr Gawen and Dame Ragnell_ (in the Rawlinson MS. c. 86 in the Bodleian Library), runs as follows:--

Shortly after Christmas, Arthur, riding by Tarn Wadling (still so called, but now pasture-land, in the forest of Inglewood), meets a bold baron, who challenges him to fight, unless he can win his ransom by returning on New Year's Day with an answer to the question, What does a woman most desire? Arthur relates the story to Gawaine, asks him and others for an answer to the riddle, and collects their suggestions in a book ('letters,' 24.1). On his way to keep his tryst with the baron, he meets an unspeakably ugly woman, who offers her assistance; if she will help him, Arthur says, she shall wed with Gawaine. She gives him the true answer, A woman will have her will. Arthur meets the baron, and after proffering the budget of answers, confronts him with the true answer. The baron exclaims against the ugly woman, whom he asserts to be his sister.

Arthur returns to his court, and tells his knights that a wife awaits one of them on the moor. Sir Lancelot, Sir Steven (who is not mentioned elsewhere in Arthurian tales), Sir Kay, Sir Bauier (probably Beduer or Bedivere), Sir Bore (Bors de Gauves), Sir Garrett (Gareth), and Sir Tristram ride forth to find her. At sight, Sir Kay, without overmuch chivalry, expresses his disgust, and the rest are unwilling to marry her. The king explains that he has promised to give her to Sir Gawaine, who, it seems, bows to Arthur's authority, and weds her. During the bridal night, she becomes a beautiful young woman. Further to test Gawaine, she gives him his choice: will he have her fair by day and foul by night, or foul by day and fair by night? Fair by night, says Gawaine. And foul to be seen of all by day? she asks. Have your way, says Gawaine, and breaks the last thread of the spell, as she forthwith explains: her step-mother had bewitched both her, to haunt the moor in ugly shape, till some knight should grant her _all_ her will, and her brother, to challenge all comers to fight him or answer the riddle.

Similar tales, but with the important variation--undoubtedly indigenous in the story--that the man who saves his life by answering the riddle has himself to wed the ugly woman, are told by Gower (_Confessio Amantis_, Book I.) and Chaucer (_The Tale of the Wyf of Bathe_). The latter, which is also Arthurian in its setting, was made into a ballad in the _Crown Garland of Golden Roses_ (_circ._ 1600), compiled by Richard Johnson. A parallel is also to be found in an Icelandic saga.

THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE

1.
Kinge Arthur liues in merry Carleile,
& seemely is to see,
& there he hath with him Queene Genever,
That bride soe bright of blee.

2.
And there he hath with [him] Queene Genever,
That bride soe bright in bower,
& all his barons about him stoode,
That were both stiffe and stowre.

3.
The king kept a royall Christmasse,
Of mirth and great honor,
And when . . .
... ... ...

*** *** ***

4.
'And bring me word what thing it is
That a woman [will] most desire;
This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur,' he sayes,
'For I'le haue noe other hier.'

5.
King Arthur then held vp his hand,
According thene as was the law;
He tooke his leaue of the baron there,
& homward can he draw.

6.
And when he came to merry Carlile,
To his chamber he is gone,
& ther came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine
As he did make his mone.

7.
And there came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine
That was a curteous knight;
'Why sigh you soe sore, vnckle Arthur,' he said,
'Or who hath done thee vnright?'

8.
'O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine,
That faire may thee beffall!
For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,
Thou wold not meruaile att all;

9.
'Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling,
A bold barron there I fand,
With a great club vpon his backe,
Standing stiffe and strong;

10.
'And he asked me wether I wold fight,
Or from him I shold begone,
Or else I must him a ransome pay
& soe depart him from.

11.
'To fight with him I saw noe cause,
Methought it was not meet,
For he was stiffe & strong with-all,
His strokes were nothing sweete;

12.
'Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine,
I ought to him to pay:
I must come againe, as I am sworne,
Vpon the Newyeer's day.

13.
'And I must bring him word what thing it is
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...

*** *** ***

14.
Then King Arthur drest him for to ryde
In one soe rich array
Toward the fore-said Tearne Wadling,
That he might keepe his day.

15.
And as he rode over a more,
Hee see a lady where shee sate
Betwixt an oke & a greene hollen;
She was cladd in red scarlett.

16.
Then there as shold haue stood her mouth,
Then there was sett her eye,
The other was in her forhead fast
The way that she might see.

17.
Her nose was crooked & turnd outward,
Her mouth stood foule a-wry;
A worse formed lady than shee was,
Neuer man saw with his eye.

18.
To halch vpon him, King Arthur,
This lady was full faine,
But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,
What he shold say againe.

19.
'What knight art thou,' the lady sayd,
'That will not speak to me?
Of me be thou nothing dismayd
Tho' I be vgly to see;

20.
'For I haue halched you curteouslye,
& you will not me againe;
Yett I may happen, Sir Knight,' shee said,
'To ease thee of thy paine.'

21.
'Giue thou ease me, lady,' he said,
'Or helpe me any thing,
Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen,
& marry him with a ring.'

22.
'Why, if I help thee not, thou noble King Arthur,
Of thy owne heart's desiringe,
Of gentle Gawaine . . .
... ... ...

*** *** ***

23.
And when he came to the Tearne Wadling
The baron there cold he finde,
With a great weapon on his backe,
Standing stiffe and stronge.

24.
And then he tooke King Arthur's letters in his hands,
& away he cold them fling,
& then he puld out a good browne sword,
& cryd himselfe a king.

25.
And he sayd, 'I haue thee & thy land, Arthur,
To doe as it pleaseth me,
For this is not thy ransome sure,
Therfore yeeld thee to me.'

26.
And then bespoke him noble Arthur,
& bad him hold his hand;
'& giue me leaue to speake my mind
In defence of all my land.'

27.
He said, 'As I came over a more,
I see a lady where shee sate
Betweene an oke & a green hollen;
She was clad in red scarlett;

28.
'And she says a woman will haue her will,
& this is all her cheef desire:
Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill,
This is thy ransome & all thy hyer.'

29.
He sayes, 'An early vengeance light on her!
She walkes on yonder more;
It was my sister that told thee this;
& she is a misshappen hore!

30.
'But heer He make mine avow to God
To doe her an euill turne,
For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,
In a fyer I will her burne.'

*** *** ***

[Annotations:
1.4: 'blee,' complexion.
2.4: Perhaps we should read 'stiff in stowre,' a constant expression
in ballads, 'sturdy in fight.'
11: Arthur's customary bravery and chivalry are not conspicuous in
this ballad.
18.1: 'halch upon,' salute.
21.1: 'Giue,' If.
27.3: 'hollen,' holly.
28.3: 'sckill,' reason, judgment.]

+The 2d Part+

31.
Sir Lancelott & Sir Steven bold
They rode with them that day,
And the formost of the company
There rode the steward Kay.

32.
Soe did Sir Bauier and Sir Bore,
Sir Garrett with them soe gay,
Soe did Sir Tristeram that gentle knight,
To the forrest fresh & gay.

33.
And when he came to the greene fforrest,
Vnderneath a greene holly tree
Their sate that lady in red scarlet
That vnseemly was to see.

34.
Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,
& looked vppon her swire;
'Whosoeuer kisses this lady,' he sayes,
'Of his kisse he stands in feare.'

35.
Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,
& looked vpon her snout;
'Whosoeuer kisses this lady,' he saies,
'Of his kisse he stands in doubt.'

36.
'Peace, cozen Kay,' then said Sir Gawaine,
'Amend thee of thy life;
For there is a knight amongst vs all
That must marry her to his wife.'

37.
'What! wedd her to wiffe!' then said Sir Kay,
'In the diuells name, anon!
Gett me a wiffe whereere I may,
For I had rather be slaine!'

38.
Then some tooke vp their hawkes in hast,
& some tooke vp their hounds,
& some sware they wold not marry her
For citty nor for towne.

39.
And then bespake him noble King Arthur,
& sware there by this day:
'For a litle foule sight & misliking
... ... ...

*** *** ***

40.
Then shee said, 'Choose thee, gentle Gawaine,
Truth as I doe say,
Wether thou wilt haue me in this liknesse
In the night or else in the day.'

41.
And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,
Was one soe mild of moode,
Sayes, 'Well I know what I wold say,
God grant it may be good!

42.
'To haue thee fowle in the night
When I with thee shold play;
Yet I had rather, if I might,
Haue thee fowle in the day.'

43.
'What! when Lords goe with ther feires,' shee said,
'Both to the ale & wine?
Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,
I must not goe withinne.'

44.
And then bespake him gentle Gawaine;
Said, 'Lady, thats but skill;
And because thou art my owne lady,
Thou shalt haue all thy will.'

45.
Then she said, 'Blessed be thou, gentle Gawaine,
This day that I thee see,
For as thou see[st] me att this time,
From hencforth I wil be:

46.
'My father was an old knight,
& yett it chanced soe
That he marryed a younge lady
That brought me to this woe.

47.
'Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,
To the greene forrest to dwell,
& there I must walke in womans likness,
Most like a feend of hell.

48.
'She witched my brother to a carlish b . . . . .
... ... ...
... ... ...
... ... ...

*** *** ***

49.
... ... ...
... ... ...
That looked soe foule, & that was wont
On the wild more to goe.

50.
'Come kisse her, brother Kay,' then said Sir Gawaine,
'& amend the of thy liffe;
I sweare this is the same lady
That I marryed to my wiffe.'

51.
Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,
Standing vpon his ffeete;
He swore, as he was trew knight,
The spice was neuer soe sweete.

52.
'Well, cozen Gawaine,' sayes Sir Kay,
'Thy chance is fallen arright,
For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids
I euer saw with my sight.'

53.
'It is my fortune,' said Sir Gawaine;
'For my Vnckle Arthur's sake
I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,
Great ioy that I may take.'

54.
Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,
Sir Kay tooke her by the tother,
They led her straight to King Arthur
As they were brother & brother.

55.
King Arthur welcomed them there all,
& soe did lady Geneuer his queene,
With all the knights of the round table
Most seemly to be seene.

56.
King Arthur beheld that lady faire
That was soe faire and bright,
He thanked Christ in Trinity
For Sir Gawaine that gentle knight;

57.
Soe did the knights, both more and lesse;
Reioyced all that day
For the good chance that hapened was
To Sir Gawaine & his lady gay.

[Annotations:
34.2: 'swire,' neck: the Folio reads _smire_.
37.4: 'slaine': the Folio gives _shaine_.
41.2: 'was' (Child's suggestion): the Folio reads _with_.
43.1: 'feires,' = feres, mates: the Folio reads _seires_.
44.2: Folio: _but a skill_: see note on 28.3.
48.1: 'carlish,' churlish.]

THE BOY AND THE MANTLE

+Text.+--The Percy Folio is the sole authority for this excellent lively ballad. It is here given as it stands in the manuscript, except for division into stanzas. Percy printed the ballad '_verbatim_,'--that is, with emendations--and also a revised version.

+The Story+, which exists in countless variations in many lands, is told from the earliest times in connection with the Arthurian legend-cycle. Restricting the article used as a criterion of chastity to a mantle, we find the elements of this ballad existing in French manuscripts of the thirteenth century (the romance called _Cort Mantel_); in a Norse translation of this 'fabliau'; in the Icelandic _Mantle Rhymes_ of the fifteenth century; in the _Scalachronica_ of Sir Thomas Gray of Heton (_circ._ 1355); in Germany, and in Gaelic (a ballad known in Irish writings, but not in Scottish); as well as in many other versions.

The trial by the drinking-horn is a fable equally old, as far as the evidence goes, and equally widespread; but it is not told elsewhere in connection with the parallel story of the mantle. Other tests used for the purpose of discovering infidelity or unchastity are:-- a crown, a magic bridge (German); a girdle (English; cp. Florimel's girdle in the _Faery Queen_, Book iv. Canto 5); a bed, a stepping-stone by the bedside, a chair (Scandinavian); flowers (Sanskrit); a shirt (German and Flemish); a picture (Italian, translated to England--cp. Massinger's _The Picture_ (1630), where he localises the story in Hungary); a ring (French); a mirror (German, French, and Italian); and so forth.

Caxton, in his preface to _Kyng Arthur_ (1485), says:-- 'Item, in the castel of Douer ye may see Gauwayn's skull and Cradok's mantel.' Sir Thomas Gray says the mantle was made into a chasuble, and was preserved at Glastonbury.

Thomas Love Peacock says (_The Misfortunes of Elphin_, chap. xii.), 'Tegau Eurvron, or Tegau of the Golden Bosom, was the wife of Caradoc [Craddocke], and one of the Three Chaste Wives of the island of Britain.' A similar statement is recorded by Percy at the end of his 'revised and altered' ballad, taking it from 'the Rev. Evan Evans, editor of the Specimens of Welsh Poetry.'

THE BOY AND THE MANTLE

1.
In the third day of May
to Carleile did come
A kind curteous child
that cold much of wisdome.

2.
A kirtle & a mantle
this child had vppon,
With brauches and ringes
full richelye bedone.

3.
He had a sute of silke,
about his middle drawne;
Without he cold of curtesye,
he thought itt much shame.

4.
'God speed thee, King Arthur,
sitting at thy meate!
& the goodly Queene Gueneuer!
I canott her fforgett.

5.
'I tell you lords in this hall,
I hett you all heede,
Except you be the more surer,
is you for to dread.'

6.
He plucked out of his potewer,
& longer wold not dwell,
He pulled forth a pretty mantle,
betweene two nut-shells.

7.
'Haue thou here, King Arthure,
haue thou heere of mee;
Give itt to thy comely queene,
shapen as itt is alreadye.

8.
'Itt shall neuer become that wiffe
that hath once done amisse':
Then euery knight in the King's court
began to care for his wiffe.

9.
Forth came dame Gueneuer,
to the mantle shee her bid;
The ladye shee was new-fangle,
but yett shee was affrayd.

10.
When shee had taken the mantle,
shee stoode as she had beene madd;
It was ffrom the top to the toe
as sheeres had itt shread.

11.
One while was itt gaule,
another while was itt greene;
Another while was itt wadded;
ill itt did her beseeme.

12.
Another while was it blacke,
& bore the worst hue;
'By my troth,' quoth King Arthur,
'I thinke thou be not true.'

13.
Shee threw downe the mantle,
that bright was of blee,
Fast with a rudd redd
to her chamber can shee flee.

14.
Shee curst the weauer and the walker
that clothe that had wrought,
& bade a vengeance on his crowne
that hither hath itt brought.

15.
'I had rather be in a wood,
vnder a greene tree,
Then in King Arthurs court,
shamed for to bee.'

16.
Kay called forth his ladye,
& bade her come neere;
Saies, 'Madam, & thou be guiltye,
I pray thee hold thee there.'

17.
Forth came his ladye
shortlye and anon,
Boldlye to the mantle
then is shee gone.

18.
When shee had tane the mantle,
& cast it her about,
Then was shee bare
all aboue the buttocckes.

19.
Then euery knight
that was in the Kings court
Talked, laug[h]ed, & showted,
full oft att that sport.

20.
Shee threw downe the mantle,
that bright was of blee,
Ffast with a red rudd
to her chamber can shee flee.

21.
Forth came an old knight,
pattering ore a creede,
& he proferred to this litle boy
20 markes to his meede,

22.
& all the time of the Christmasse
willinglye to ffeede;
For why this mantle might
doe his wiffe some need.

23.
When shee had tane the mantle,
of cloth that was made,
Shee had no more left on her
but a tassell and a threed:
Then euery knight in the Kings court
bade euill might shee speed.

24.
She threw downe the mantle,
that bright was of blee,
& fast with a redd rudd
to her chamber can shee flee.

25.
Craddocke called forth his ladye,
& bade her come in;
Saith, 'Winne this mantle, ladye,
with a litle dinne.

26.
'Winne this mantle, ladye,
& it shalbe thine
If thou neuer did amisse
since thou wast mine.'

27.
Forth came Craddockes ladye
shortlye & anon,
But boldlye to the mantle
then is shee gone.

28.
When shee had tane the mantle,
& cast itt her about,
Vpp att her great toe
itt began to crinkle & crowt;
Shee said, 'Bowe downe, mantle,
& shame me not for nought.

29.
'Once I did amisse,
I tell you certainlye,
When I kist Craddockes mouth
vnder a greene tree,
When I kist Craddockes mouth
before he marryed mee.'

30.
When shee had her shreeuen,
& her sines shee had tolde,
The mantle stoode about her
right as shee wold,

31.
Seemelye of coulour,
glittering like gold;
Then euery knight in Arthurs court
did her behold.

32.
Then spake dame Gueneuer
to Arthur our king:
'She hath tane yonder mantle,
not with wright but with wronge.

33.
'See you not yonder woman
that maketh her selfe soe cleane?
I haue seene tane out of her bedd
of men fiueteene;

34.
'Preists, clarkes, & wedded men,
from her by-deene;
Yett shee taketh the mantle,
& maketh her selfe cleane!'

35.
Then spake the litle boy
that kept the mantle in hold;
Sayes, 'King, chasten thy wiffe;
of her words shee is to bold.

36.
'Shee is a bitch & a witch,
& a whore bold;
King, in thine owne hall
thou art a cuchold.'

37.
A litle boy stoode
looking ouer a dore;
He was ware of a wyld bore,
wold haue werryed a man.

38.
He pulld forth a wood kniffe,
fast thither that he ran;
He brought in the bores head,
& quitted him like a man.

39.
He brought in the bores head,
and was wonderous bold;
He said there was neuer a cucholds kniffe
carue itt that cold.

40.
Some rubbed their k[n]iues
vppon a whetstone;
Some threw them vnder the table,
& said they had none.

41.
King Arthur & the child
stood looking them vpon;
All their k[n]iues edges
turned backe againe.

42.
Craddoccke had a litle kniue
of iron & of steele;
He birtled the bores head
wonderous weele,
That euery knight in the Kings court
had a morssell.

43.
The litle boy had a horne,
of red gold that ronge;
He said, 'There was noe cuckolde
shall drinke of my horne,
But he shold itt sheede,
either behind or beforne.'

44.
Some shedd on their shoulder,
& some on their knee;
He that cold not hitt his mouth
put it in his eye;
& he that was a cuckold,
euery man might him see.

45.
Craddoccke wan the horne
& the bores head;
His ladye wan the mantle
vnto her meede;
Euerye such a louely ladye,
God send her well to speede!

[Annotations:
2.3: 'brauches,' brooches.
5.2: 'hett,' bid; 'heede,' MS. heate.
6.1: 'potewer.' Child says:-- Read potener, French _pautonniere_,
pouch, purse.
8.4: Perhaps the line should end with 'his,' but 'wiffe' is the last
word in the manuscript.
9.3: 'new-fangle,' desirous of novelties.
11.1: 'gaule,' perhaps = gules, _i.e._ red.
11.3: 'wadded,' woad-coloured, _i.e._ blue.
13.2: 'blee,' colour.
13.3: 'rudd,' complexion.
14.1: 'walker,' fuller.
25.4: 'dinne,' trouble.
28.4: 'crowt,' pucker.
34.2: 'by-deene,' one after another.
37 and 38: Evidently some lines have been lost here, and the rhymes
are thereby confused.
42.3: 'birtled,' cut up.
43.2: 'ronge,' rang.]

JOHNEY SCOT

+The Text+ of this popular and excellent ballad is given from the Jamieson-Brown MS. It was copied, with wilful alterations, into Scott's Abbotsford MS. called _Scottish Songs_. Professor Child prints sixteen variants of the ballad, nearly all from manuscripts.

+The Story+ of the duel with the Italian is given with more detail in other versions. In two ballads from Motherwell's MS., where 'the Italian' becomes 'the Tailliant' or 'the Talliant,' the champion jumps over Johney's head, and descends on the point of Johney's sword. This exploit is paralleled in a Breton ballad, where the Seigneur Les Aubrays of St. Brieux is ordered by the French king to combat his wild Moor, who leaps in the air and is received on the sword of his antagonist. Again, in Scottish tradition, James Macgill, having killed Sir Robert Balfour about 1679, went to London to procure his pardon, which Charles +II.+ offered him on the condition of fighting an Italian gladiator. The Italian leaped once over James Macgill, but in attempting to repeat this manoeuvre was spitted by his opponent, who thereby procured not only his pardon, but also knighthood.

JOHNEY SCOT

1.
O Johney was as brave a knight
As ever sail'd the sea,
An' he's done him to the English court,
To serve for meat and fee.

2.
He had nae been in fair England
But yet a little while,
Untill the kingis ae daughter
To Johney proves wi' chil'.

3.
O word's come to the king himsel',
In his chair where he sat,
That his ae daughter was wi' bairn
To Jack, the Little Scott.

4.
'Gin this be true that I do hear,
As I trust well it be,
Ye pit her into prison strong,
An' starve her till she die.'

5.
O Johney's on to fair Scotland,
A wot he went wi' speed,
An' he has left the kingis court,
A wot good was his need.

6.
O it fell once upon a day
That Johney he thought lang,
An' he's gane to the good green wood,
As fast as he coud gang.

7.
'O whare will I get a bonny boy,
To rin my errand soon,
That will rin into fair England,
An' haste him back again?'

8.
O up it starts a bonny boy,
Gold yallow was his hair,
I wish his mother meickle joy,
His bonny love mieckle mair.

9.
'O here am I, a bonny boy,
Will rin your errand soon;
I will gang into fair England,
An' come right soon again.'

10.
O whan he came to broken briggs,
He bent his bow and swam;
An' whan he came to the green grass growan,
He slaikid his shoone an' ran.

11.
Whan he came to yon high castel,
He ran it roun' about,
An' there he saw the king's daughter,
At the window looking out.

12.
'O here's a sark o' silk, lady,
Your ain han' sew'd the sleeve;
You'r bidden come to fair Scotlan',
Speer nane o' your parents' leave.

13.
'Ha, take this sark o' silk, lady,
Your ain han' sew'd the gare;
You're bidden come to good green wood,
Love Johney waits you there.'

14.
She's turn'd her right and roun' about,
The tear was in her ee:
'How can I come to my true-love,
Except I had wings to flee?

15.
'Here am I kept wi' bars and bolts,
Most grievous to behold;
My breast-plate's o' the sturdy steel,
Instead of the beaten gold.

16.
'But tak' this purse, my bonny boy,
Ye well deserve a fee,
An' bear this letter to my love,
An' tell him what you see.'

17.
Then quickly ran the bonny boy
Again to Scotlan' fair,
An' soon he reach'd Pitnachton's tow'rs,
An' soon found Johney there.

18.
He pat the letter in his han'
An' taul' him what he sa',
But eer he half the letter read,
He loote the tears doun fa'.

19.
'O I will gae back to fair Englan',
Tho' death shoud me betide,
An' I will relieve the damesel
That lay last by my side.'

20.
Then out it spake his father dear,
'My son, you are to blame;
An' gin you'r catch'd on English groun',
I fear you'll ne'er win hame.'

21.
Then out it spake a valiant knight,
Johny's best friend was he;
'I can commaun' five hunder men,
An' I'll his surety be.'

22.
The firstin town that they came till,
They gard the bells be rung;
An' the nextin town that they came till,
They gard the mess be sung.

23.
The thirdin town that they came till,
They gard the drums beat roun';
The king but an' his nobles a'
Was startl'd at the soun'.

24.
Whan they came to the king's palace
They rade it roun' about,
An' there they saw the king himsel',
At the window looking out.

25.
'Is this the Duke o' Albany,
Or James, the Scottish king?
Or are ye some great foreign lord,
That's come a visiting?'

26.
'I'm nae the Duke of Albany,
Nor James, the Scottish king;
But I'm a valiant Scottish knight,
Pitnachton is my name.'

27.
'O if Pitnachton be your name,
As I trust well it be,
The morn, or I tast meat or drink,
You shall be hanged hi'.'

28.
Then out it spake the valiant knight
That came brave Johney wi';
'Behold five hunder bowmen bold,
Will die to set him free.'

29.
Then out it spake the king again,
An' a scornfu' laugh laugh he;
'I have an Italian in my house
Will fight you three by three.'

30.
'O grant me a boon,' brave Johney cried;
'Bring your Italian here;
Then if he fall beneath my sword,
I've won your daughter dear.'

31.
Then out it came that Italian,
An' a gurious ghost was he;
Upo' the point o' Johney's sword
This Italian did die.

32.
Out has he drawn his lang, lang bran',
Struck it across the plain:
'Is there any more o' your English dogs
That you want to be slain?'

33.
'A clark, a clark,' the king then cried,
'To write her tocher free';
'A priest, a priest,' says Love Johney,
'To marry my love and me.

34.
'I'm seeking nane o' your gold,' he says,
'Nor of your silver clear;
I only seek your daughter fair,
Whose love has cost her dear.'

[Annotations:
5.2,4: 'A wot' = I wis.
6.2: See _Young Bekie_, 16.4; _Brown Adam_, 5.2.
10: See _Lady Maisry_, 21; _Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet_, 12, etc.:
a stock ballad-phrase.
12.1: 'sark,' shift.
12.4: 'Speer' (speir), ask.
13.2: 'gare,' gore: see _Brown Robin_, 10.4.
18.4: 'loote,' let.
22.4: 'mess,' mass.
27.3: 'or,' ere.
29.2: The second 'laugh' is the past tense of the verb.
31.2: 'gurious,' grim, ugly.
33.2: 'tocher,' dowry.]

LORD INGRAM AND CHIEL WYET

+The Text+ is taken from Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, a similar version being given in Maidment's _North Countrie Garland_. A few alterations from the latter version are incorporated.

+The Story+ bears tokens of confusion with _Lady Maisry_ in some of the variants of either, but here the tragedy is that the bridegroom is brother to the lover. The end of this ballad in all its forms is highly unnatural in its style: why should Maisery's remorse at having been such an expense to Lord Ingram be three times as great as her grief for the loss of her lover? It is by no means romantic.

LORD INGRAM AND CHIEL WYET

1.
Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet
Was baith born in one bower;
Laid baith their hearts on one lady,
The less was their honour.

2.
Chiel Wyet and Lord Ingram
Was baith born in one hall;
Laid baith their hearts on one lady,
The worse did them befall.

3.
Lord Ingram woo'd her Lady Maisery
From father and from mother;
Lord Ingram woo'd her Lady Maisery
From sister and from brother.

4.
Lord Ingram woo'd her Lady Maisery
With leave of a' her kin;
And every one gave full consent,
But she said no to him.

5.
Lord Ingram woo'd her Lady Maisery
Into her father's ha';
Chiel Wyet woo'd her Lady Maisery
Amang the sheets so sma'.

6.
Now it fell out upon a day
She was dressing her head,
That ben did come her father dear,
Wearing the gold so red.

7.
He said, 'Get up now, Lady Maisery,
Put on your wedding gown;
For Lord Ingram he will be here,
Your wedding must be done.'

8.
'I'd rather be Chiel Wyet's wife,
The white fish for to sell,
Before I were Lord Ingram's wife,
To wear the silk so well.

9.
'I'd rather be Chiel Wyet's wife,
With him to beg my bread,
Before I were Lord Ingram's wife,
To wear the gold so red.

10.
'Where will I get a bonny boy,
Will win gold to his fee,
And will run unto Chiel Wyet's,
With this letter from me?'

11.
'O here I am, the boy,' says one,
'Will win gold to my fee,
And carry away any letter
To Chiel Wyet from thee.'

12.
And when he found the bridges broke
He bent his bow and swam;
And when he found the grass growing,
He hastened and he ran.

13.
And when he came to Chiel Wyet's castle,
He did not knock nor call,
But set his bent bow to his breast,
And lightly leaped the wall;
And ere the porter open'd the gate,
The boy was in the hall.

14.
The first line he looked on,
A grieved man was he;
The next line he looked on,
A tear blinded his ee:
Says, 'I wonder what ails my one brother,
He'll not let my love be!

15.
'But I'll send to my brother's bridal--
The bacon shall be mine--
Full four and twenty buck and roe,
And ten tun of the wine;
And bid my love be blythe and glad,
And I will follow syne.'

16.
There was not a groom about that castle,
But got a gown of green,
And all was blythe, and all was glad,
But Lady Maisery she was neen.

17.
There was no cook about that kitchen,
But got a gown of gray;
And all was blythe, and all was glad,
But Lady Maisery was wae.

18.
Between Mary Kirk and that castle
Was all spread ower with garl,
To keep Lady Maisery and her maidens
From tramping on the marl.

19.
From Mary Kirk to that castle
Was spread a cloth of gold,
To keep Lady Maisery and her maidens
From treading on the mold.

20.
When mass was sung, and bells was rung,
And all men bound for bed;
Then Lord Ingram and Lady Maisery
In one bed they were laid.

21.
When they were laid into their bed,
It was baith saft and warm,
He laid his hand over her side,
Says, 'I think you are with bairn.'

22.
'I told you once, so did I twice,
When ye came me to woo,
That Chiel Wyet, your only brother,
One night lay in my bower.

23.
'I told you twice, I told you thrice,
Ere ye came me to wed,
That Chiel Wyet, your one brother,
One night lay in my bed.'

24.
'O will you father your bairn on me,
And on no other man?
And I'll give him to his dowry
Full fifty ploughs of land.'

25.
'I will not father my bairn on you,
Nor on no wrongeous man,
Though ye would give him to his dowry
Five thousand ploughs of land.'

26.
Then up did start him Chiel Wyet,
Shed by his yellow hair,
And gave Lord Ingram to the heart
A deep wound and a sair.

27.
Then up did start him Lord Ingram,
Shed by his yellow hair,
And gave Chiel Wyet to the heart,
A deep wound and a sair.

28.
There was no pity for that two lords,
Where they were lying slain;
But all was for her Lady Maisery,
In that bower she gaed brain.

29.
There was no pity for that two lords,
When they were lying dead;
But all was for her Lady Maisery,
In that bower she went mad.

30.
Said, 'Get to me a cloak of cloth,
A staff of good hard tree;
If I have been an evil woman,
I shall beg till I dee.

31.
'For a bit I'll beg for Chiel Wyet,
For Lord Ingram I'll beg three;
All for the good and honourable marriage,
At Mary Kirk he gave me.'

[Annotations:
1.4: 'honour': Motherwell printed _bonheur_.
6.3: 'ben,' in.
8.2: 'sell': Motherwell gave _kill_.
12: Cp. _Lady Maisry_, 21.
16.4: 'neen,' none, not.
18.2: 'garl,' gravel.
26.1: Motherwell gives _did stand_.
28.4: 'brain,' mad.
30.2: 'tree,' wood.
31.1: 'a' = ae, each.]

THE TWA SISTERS O' BINNORIE

+Texts.+--The version here given is compounded from two different sources, almost of necessity. Stanzas 1-19 were given by Scott, compounded from W. Tytler's Brown MS. and the recitation of an old woman. But at stanza 20 Scott's version becomes eccentric, and he prints such verses as:--

'A famous harper passing by
The sweet pale face he chanced to spy ...

The strings he framed of her yellow hair,
Whose notes made sad the listening air.'

Stanzas 20-25, therefore, have been supplied from the Jamieson-Brown MS., which after this point does not descend from the high level of ballad-poetry.

+The Story.+--This is a very old and a very popular story. An early broadside exists, dated 1656, and the same version is printed in _Wit Restor'd_, 1658. Of Scandinavian ballads on the same subject, nine are Danish, two Icelandic, twelve Norwegian, four Faeroee, and eight or nine Swedish.

THE TWA SISTERS O' BINNORIE

1.
There were twa sisters sat in a bour,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
There came a knight to be their wooer,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

2.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon a' thing,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

3.
He courted the eldest with broach and knife,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
But he lo'ed the youngest aboon his life,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

4.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And sair envied her sister fair,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

5.
The eldest said to the youngest ane,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

6.
She's ta'en her by the lilly hand,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And led her down to the river-strand,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

7.
The youngest stude upon a stane,
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
The eldest came and pushed her in,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

8.
She took her by the middle sma',
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
And dashed her bonnie back to the jaw,
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie/_

9.
'O sister, sister, reach your hand!'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And ye shall be heir of half my land,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

10.
'O sister, I'll not reach my hand,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And I'll be heir of all your land,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

11.
'Shame fa' the hand that I should take,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'It's twin'd me and my world's make,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._

12.
'O sister, reach me but your glove,'
_Binnorie, O Binnorie!_
'And sweet William shall be your love,'
_By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie._