Chapter XI: Appendix: Lord Barnaby (2)

He's ta'en a lock o' her yellow hair,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
And made a string to his fiddle there,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.

He's taen a lith o' her little finger bane, 65
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_;
And he's made a pin to his fiddle then,
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.

The firstand spring the fiddle did play,
_Hey wi' the gay and the grinding_; 70
Said, "Ye'll drown my sister, as she's dune me."
_At the bonny, bonny bows o' London_.

I.

THE CROODLIN DOO. See _Lord Donald_, p. 244.

From Chambers's _Scottish Ballads_, p. 324. Other copies in _The Scot's Musical Museum_, (1853,) vol. iv. 364*, and Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 179.

"O whaur hae ye been a' the day,
My little wee croodlin doo?"
"O I've been at my grandmother's;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo."

"O what gat ye at your grandmother's, 5
My little wee croodlin doo?"
"I got a bonnie wee fishie;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo."

"O whaur did she catch the fishie,
My bonnie wee croodlin doo?" 10
"She catch'd it in the gutter-hole;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo."

"And what did she do wi' the fish,
My little wee croodlin doo?"
"She boiled it in a brass pan; 15
O mak my bed, mammie, noo."

"And what did ye do wi' the banes o't,
My bonnie wee croodlin doo?"
"I gied them to my little dog;
Mak my bed, mammie, noo," 20

"And what did your little doggie do,
My bonnie wee croodlin doo?"
"He stretch'd out his head, his feet, and dee'd,
And so will I, mammie, noo!"

II.

THE SNAKE-COOK.

From oral tradition, in Erk's _Deutscher Leiderhort_, p. 6. Our homely translation is, as far as possible, word for word. Other German versions are _The Stepmother_, at p. 5 of the same collection, (or Uhland, i. 272,) and _Grandmother Adder-cook_, at p. 7. The last is translated by Jamieson, _Illustrations of Northern Antiquities_, p. 320.

"Where hast thou been away so long,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"O I have been at my true-love's,
Lady mother, ah me!
_My young life, 5
She has poisoned for me_."

"What gave she thee to eat,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"She cooked me a speckled fish,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c. 10

"And how many pieces cut she thee,
Henry my dearest son?"
"She cut three little pieces from it,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.

"Where left she then the third piece, 15
Henry, my dearest son?"
"She gave it to her dark-brown dog,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.

"And what befell the dark-brown dog,
Henry, my dearest son?" 20
"His belly burst in the midst in two,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.

"What wishest thou for thy father,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish him a thousandfold boon and blessing, 25
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.

"What wishest thou for thy mother,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish for her eternal bliss,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c. 30

"What wishest thou for thy true-love,
Henry, my dearest son?"
"I wish her eternal hell and torment,
Lady mother, ah me!" &c.

III.

THE CHILD'S LAST WILL.

_Den lillas Testamente: Svenska Folk-Visor_, iii. 13. Translated in _Literature and Romance of Northern Europe_, i. 265. See also Arwidsson's _Forns[oa]nger_, ii. 90.

"So long where hast thou tarried,
Little daughter dear?"
"I have tarried with my old nurse,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 5

"What gave she thee for dinner,
Little daughter dear?"
"A few small speckled fishes,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 10

"What didst thou do with the fish-bones,
Little daughter dear?"
"Gave them to the beagle,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 15

"What wish leav'st thou thy father,
Little daughter dear?"
"The blessedness of heaven,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 20

"What wish leav'st thou thy mother,
Little daughter dear?"
"All the joys of heaven,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 25

"What wish leav'st thou thy brother,
Little daughter dear?"
"A fleet ship on the waters,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 30

"What wish leav'st thou thy sister,
Little daughter dear?"
"Golden chests and caskets,
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 35

"What wish leav'st thou thy step-mother,
Little daughter dear?"
"Of hell the bitter sorrow
Sweet step-mother mine."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 40

"What wish leav'st thou thy old nurse,
Little daughter dear?"
"For her I wish the same pangs,
Sweet step-mother mine.
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 45

"But now the time is over
When I with you can stay;
The little bells of heaven
Are ringing me away."
_For ah, ah!--I am so ill--ah!_ 50

THE THREE KNIGHTS. See p. 251.

From the second edition of Gilbert's _Ancient Christmas Carols_, &c. p. 68.

There did three Knights come from the West,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And these three Knights courted one Lady,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

The first Knight came was all in white, 5
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And asked of her, if she'd be his delight,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

The next Knight came was all in green,
_With the high and the lily oh_! 10
And asked of her, if she'd be his Queen,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

The third Knight came was all in red,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And asked of her, if she would wed, 15
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"Then have you asked of my Father dear,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
Likewise of her who did me bear?
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_. 20

"And have you asked of my brother John?
_With the high and the lily oh_!
And also of my sister Anne?"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"Yes, I have asked of your Father dear, 25
_With the high and the lily oh_!
Likewise of her who did you bear,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"And I have asked of your sister Anne,
_With the high and the lily oh_! 30
But I've not asked of your brother John,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

[Here some verses seem to be wanting.]

For on the road as they rode along,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
There did they meet with her brother John, 35
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

She stooped low to kiss him sweet,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
He to her heart did a dagger meet,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_. 40

"Ride on, ride on," cried the serving man,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"Methinks your bride she looks wond'rous wan,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"I wish I were on yonder stile, 45
_With the high and the lily oh_!
For there I would sit and bleed awhile,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"I wish I were on yonder hill,
_With the high and the lily oh_! 50
There I'd alight and make my will,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"What would you give to your Father dear?"
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"The gallant steed which doth me bear," 55
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"What would you give to your Mother dear?"
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"My wedding shift which I do wear,
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_. 60

"But she must wash it very clean,
_With the high and the lily oh_!
For my heart's blood sticks in every seam,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"What would you give to your sister Anne?" 65
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"My gay gold ring, and my feathered fan,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"What would you give to your brother John?"
_With the high and the lily oh_! 70
"A rope and gallows to hang him on,"
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

"What would you give to your brother John's wife?"
_With the high and the lily oh_!
"A widow's weeds, and a quiet life," 75
_As the rose was so sweetly blown_.

THE CRUEL MOTHER. See p. 262.

From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 222.

It fell ance upon a day, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
It fell ance upon a day, _Stirling for aye_;
It fell ance upon a day,
The clerk and lady went to play,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 5

"If my baby be a son, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
If my baby be a son, _Stirling for aye_;
If my baby be a son,
I'll make him a lord o' high renown,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 10

She's lean'd her back to the wa', _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's lean'd her back to the wa', _Stirling for aye_;
She's lean'd her back to the wa',
Pray'd that her pains might fa',
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 15

She's lean'd her back to the thorn, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's lean'd her back to the thorn, _Stirling for aye_;
She's lean'd her back to the thorn,
There has her baby born,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 20

"O bonny baby, if ye suck sair, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
O bonny baby, if ye suck sair, _Stirling for aye_;
O bonny baby, if ye suck sair,
You'll never suck by my side mair,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 25

She's riven the muslin frae her head, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's riven the muslin frae her head, _Stirling for aye_;
She's riven the muslin frae her head,
Tied the baby hand and feet,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 30

Out she took her little penknife, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
Out she took her little penknife, _Stirling for aye_;
Out she took her little penknife,
Twin'd the young thing o' its life,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 35

She's howk'd a hole anent the meen, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen, _Stirling for aye_;
She's howk'd a hole anent the meen,
There laid her sweet baby in,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 40

She had her to her father's ha', _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She had her to her father's ha', _Stirling for aye_;
She had her to her father's ha',
She was the meekest maid amang them a',
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 45

It fell ance upon a day, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
It fell ance upon a day, _Stirling for aye_;
It fell ance upon a day,
She saw twa babies at their play,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 50

"O bonny babies, gin ye were mine, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
O bonny babies, gin ye were mine, _Stirling for aye_;
O bonny babies, gin ye were mine,
I'd cleathe you in the silks sae fine,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 55

"O wild mother, when we were thine, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
O wild mother, when we were thine, _Stirling for aye_;
O wild mother, when we were thine,
You cleath'd us not in silks sae fine,
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 60

"But now we're in the heavens high, _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
But now we're in the heavens high, _Stirling for aye_;
But now we're in the heavens high,
And you've the pains o' hell to try,"
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 65

She threw hersell ower the castle-wa', _Edinbro'_, _Edinbro'_,
She threw hersell ower the castle-wa', _Stirling for aye_;
She threw hersell ower the castle-wa',
There I wat she got a fa',
_So proper Saint Johnston stands fair upon Tay_. 70

THE MINISTER'S DOCHTER O' NEWARKE.

See p. 262.

From _Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads_, Percy Society, vol. xvii. p. 51. This is the same ballad, with trifling variations, as _The Minister's Daughter of New York_, Buchan, ii. 217.

The Minister's dochter o' Newarke,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Has fa'en in luve wi' her father's clerk,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

She courted him sax years and a day, 5
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
At length her fause-luve did her betray,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

She did her doun to the green woods gang,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_, 10
To spend awa' a while o' her time,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

She lent her back unto a thorn,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_;
And she's got her twa bonnie boys born, 15
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

She's ta'en the ribbons frae her hair,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Boun' their bodies fast and sair,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_. 20

She's put them aneath a marble stane,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Thinkin' a may to gae her hame,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

Leukin' o'er her castel wa', 25
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
She spied twa bonny boys at the ba',
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"O bonny babies, if ye were mine,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_, 30
I woud feed ye wi' the white bread and wine,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"I wou'd feed ye with the ferra cow's milk,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
An' dress ye i' the finest silk," 35
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"O cruel mother, when we were thine,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
We saw nane o' your bread and wine,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_. 40

"We saw nane o' your ferra cow's milk,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Nor wore we o' your finest silk,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"O bonny babies, can ye tell me, 45
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
What sort o' death for ye I maun dee,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"Yes, cruel mother, we'll tell to thee,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_, 50
What sort o' death for us ye maun dee,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"Seven years a fool i' the woods,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
"Seven years a fish i' the floods, 55
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"Seven years to be a church bell,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Seven years a porter i' hell,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_. 60

"Welcome, welcome, fool i' the wood,
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
Welcome, welcome, fish i' the flood,
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

"Welcome, welcome, to be a church bell, 65
_Hey wi' the rose and the lindie O_,
But heavens keep me out o' hell,"
_Alane by the green burn sidie O_.

BONDSEY AND MAISRY. See p. 298.

From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 265.

"O come along wi' me, brother,
Now come along wi' me;
And we'll gae seek our sister Maisry,
Into the water o' Dee."

The eldest brother he stepped in, 5
He stepped to the knee;
Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,
Says, "This water's nae for me."

The second brother he stepped in,
He stepped to the quit; 10
Then out he jump'd upo' the bank,
Says, "This water's wond'rous deep."

When the third brother stepped in,
He stepped to the chin;
Out he got, and forward wade, 15
For fear o' drowning him.

The youngest brother he stepped in,
Took 's sister by the hand;
Said, "Here she is, my sister Maisry,
Wi' the hinny draps on her chin. 20

"O if I were in some bonny ship,
And in some strange countrie,
For to find out some conjurer,
To gar Maisry speak to me!"

Then out it speaks an auld woman, 25
As she was passing by;
"Ask of your sister what you want,
And she will speak to thee."

"O sister, tell me who is the man,
That did your body win? 30
And who is the wretch, tell me, likewise,
That threw you in the lin?"

"O Bondsey was the only man
That did my body win;
And likewise Bondsey was the man 35
That threw me in the lin."

"O will we Bondsey head, sister?
Or will we Bondsey hang?
Or will we set him at our bow end,
Lat arrows at him gang?" 40

"Ye winna Bondsey head, brothers,
Nor will ye Bondsey hang;
But ye'll take out his twa grey e'en,
Make Bondsey blind to gang.

"Ye'll put to the gate a chain o' gold, 45
A rose garland gar make;
And ye'll put that in Bondsey's head,
A' for your sister's sake."

LADY DIAMOND.

From the Percy Society Publications, xvii. 71. The same in Buchan, ii. 206. The ballad is given in Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, under the title of _Dysmal_, and by Aytoun, _Ballads of Scotland_, 2d ed., ii. 173, under that of _Lady Daisy_. All these names are corruptions of Ghismonda, on whose well-known story (_Decamerone_, iv. 1, 9) the present is founded.--This piece and the next might better have been inserted at p. 347, as a part of the Appendix to Book III.

There was a king, an' a curious king,
An' a king o' royal fame;
He had ae dochter, he had never mair,
Ladye Diamond was her name.

She's fa'en into shame, an' lost her gude name, 5
An' wrought her parents 'noy;
An' a' for her layen her luve so low,
On her father's kitchen boy.

Ae nicht as she lay on her bed,
Just thinkin' to get rest, 10
Up it came her old father,
Just like a wanderin' ghaist.

"Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says,
"Rise up, put on your goun;
Rise up, rise up, ladye Diamond," he says, 15
"For I fear ye gae too roun'."

"Too roun I gae, yet blame me nae;
Ye'll cause me na to shame;
For better luve I that bonnie boy
Than a' your weel-bred men." 20

The king's ca'd up his wa'-wight men,
That he paid meat an' fee:
"Bring here to me that bonnie boy,
An' we'll smore him right quietlie."

Up hae they ta'en that bonnie boy, 25
Put him 'tween twa feather beds;
Naethin' was dane, nor naethin' said,
Till that bonnie bonnie boy was dead.

The king's ta'en out a braid braid sword,
An' streak'd it on a strae; 30
An' thro' an' thro' that bonnie boy's heart
He's gart cauld iron gae.

Out has he ta'en his poor bluidie heart,
Set it in a tasse o' gowd,
And set it before ladye Diamonds face, 35
Said "Fair ladye, behold!"

Up has she ta'en this poor bludie heart,
An' holden it in her han';
"Better luved I that bonnie bonnie boy
Than a' my father's lan'." 40

Up has she ta'en his poor bludie heart,
An' laid it at her head;
The tears awa' frae her eyne did flee,
An' ere midnicht she was dead.

THE WEST COUNTRY DAMOSELS COMPLAINT.

From Collier's _Book of Roxburghe Ballads_, p. 202.

After a broadside "printed by P. Brooksby, at the Golden Bull in Westsmith-field, neer the Hospitall Gate." The first ten or twelve stanzas seem to be ancient.

"When will you marry me, William,
And make me your wedded wife?
Or take you your keen bright sword,
And rid me out of my life."

"Say no more then so,[L5] lady, 5
Say you no more then so,
For you shall unto the wild forrest,
And amongst the buck and doe.

"Where thou shalt eat of the hips and haws,
And the roots that are so sweet, 10
And thou shalt drink of the cold water
That runs underneath your feet."

Now had she not been in the wild forrest
Passing three months and a day,
But with hunger and cold she had her fill, 15
Till she was quite worn away.

At last she saw a fair tyl'd house,
And there she swore by the rood,
That she would to that fair tyl'd house,
There for to get her some food. 20

But when she came unto the gates,
Aloud, aloud she cry'd,
"An alms, an alms, my own sister!
I ask you for no pride."

Her sister call'd up her merry men all, 25
By one, by two, and by three,
And bid them hunt away that wild doe,
As far as e'er they could see.

They hunted her o're hill and dale,
And they hunted her so sore, 30
That they hunted her into the forrest,
Where her sorrows grew more and more.

She laid a stone all at her head,
And another all at her feet,
And down she lay between these two, 35
Till death had lull'd her asleep.

When sweet Will came and stood at her head,
And likewise stood at her feet,
A thousand times he kiss'd her cold lips,
Her body being fast asleep. 40

Yea, seaven times he stood at her feet,
And seaven times at her head;
A thousand times he shook her hand,
Although her body was dead.

"Ah wretched me!" he loudly cry'd, 45
"What is it that I have done?
O wou'd to the powers above I'de dy'd,
When thus I left her alone!

"Come, come, you gentle red-breast now,
And prepare for us a tomb, 50
Whilst unto cruel Death I bow,
And sing like a swan my doom.

"Why could I ever cruel be
Unto so fair a creature;
Alas! she dy'd for love of me, 55
The loveliest she in nature!

"For me she left her home so fair
To wander in this wild grove,
And there with sighs and pensive care
She ended her life for love. 60

"O constancy, in her thou'rt lost!
Now let women boast no more;
She's fled unto the Elizian coast,
And with her carry'd the store.

"O break, my heart, with sorrow fill'd, 65
Come, swell, you strong tides of grief!
You that my dear love have kill'd,
Come, yield in death to me relief.

"Cruel her sister, was't for me
That to her she was unkind? 70
Her husband I will never be,
But with this my love be joyn'd.

"Grim Death shall tye the marriage bands,
Which jealousie shan't divide;
Together shall tye our cold hands, 75
Whilst here we lye side by side.

"Witness, ye groves, and chrystal streams,
How faithless I late have been;
But do repent with dying leaves
Of that my ungrateful sin; 80

"And wish a thousand times that I
Had been but to her more kind,
And not have let a virgin dye,
Whose equal there's none can find.

"Now heaps of sorrow press my soul; 85
Now, now 'tis she takes her way;
I come, my love, without controule,
Nor from thee will longer stay."

With that he fetch'd a heavy groan,
Which rent his tender breast, 90
And then by her he laid him down,
When as Death did give him rest.

Whilst mournful birds, with leavy bows,
To them a kind burial gave,
And warbled out their love-sick vows, 95
Whilst they both slept in their grave.

5, so then.

THE BRAVE EARL BRAND AND THE KING OF ENGLAND'S DAUGHTER. See p. 114.

From Bell's _Ballads of the Peasantry of England_, p. 122.

This ballad, which was printed by Bell from the recitation of an old Northumberland fiddler, is defective in the tenth and the last stanzas, and has suffered much from corruption in the course of transmission. The name of the hero, however, is uncommonly well preserved, and affords a link, rarely occurring in English, with the corresponding Danish and Swedish ballads, a good number of which have Hildebrand, though more have Ribold. It may be observed that in _Hildebrand og Hilde_ (Grundtvig, No. 83), the knight has the rank here ascribed to the lady.

"Hand heede hertug Hyldebraand,
Kongens s[:o]nn aff Engeland."

The "old Carl Hood" who gives the alarm in this ballad, is called in most of the Danish ballads "a rich earl"; in one a treacherous man, in another a young Carl, and in a third an old man; which together furnish the elements of his character here of a treacherous old Carl.

O did you ever hear of the brave Earl Brand?
_Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!_
He's courted the king's daughter o' fair England,
_I' the brave nights so early._

She was scarcely fifteen years that tide,
When sae boldly she came to his bed-side.

"O Earl Brand, how fain wad I see 5
A pack of hounds let loose on the lea."

"O lady fair, I have no steed but one,
But thou shalt ride and I will run."

"O Earl Brand, but my father has two,
And thou shalt have the best of tho." 10

Now they have ridden o'er moss and moor,
And they have met neither rich nor poor.

Till at last they met with old Carl Hood,
He's aye for ill, and never for good.

"Now, Earl Brand, an ye love me, 15
Slay this old carl, and gar him dee."

"O lady fair, but that would be sair,
To slay an auld carl that wears grey hair.

"My own lady fair, I'll not do that,
I'll pay him his fee......." 20

"O where have ye ridden this lee lang day,
And where have ye stown this fair lady away?"

"I have not ridden this lee lang day,
Nor yet have I stown this lady away.

"For she is, I trow, my sick sister, 25
Whom I have been bringing fra Winchester."

"If she's been sick, and nigh to dead,
What makes her wear the ribbon so red?

"If she's been sick, and like to die,
What makes her wear the gold sae high?" 30

When came the carl to the lady's yett,
He rudely, rudely rapped thereat.

"Now where is the lady of this hall?"
"She's out with her maids a-playing at the ball."

"Ha, ha, ha! ye are all mista'en; 35
Ye may count your maidens owre again.

"I met her far beyond the lea,
With the young Earl Brand, his leman to be."

Her father of his best men armed fifteen,
And they're ridden after them bidene. 40

The lady looked owre her left shoulder then;
Says, "O Earl Brand, we are both of us ta'en."

"If they come on me one by one,
You may stand by till the fights be done.

"But if they come on me one and all, 45
You may stand by and see me fall."

They came upon him one by one,
Till fourteen battles he has won.

And fourteen men he has them slain,
Each after each upon the plain. 50

But the fifteenth man behind stole round,
And dealt him a deep and deadly wound.

Though he was wounded to the deid,
He set his lady on her steed.

They rode till they came to the river Doune, 55
And there they lighted to wash his wound.

"O Earl Brand, I see your heart's blood!"
"It's nothing but the glent and my scarlet hood."[L58]

They rode till they came to his mother's yett,
So faint and feebly he rapped thereat. 60

"O my son's slain, he is falling to swoon,
And it's all for the sake of an English loon!"

"O say not so, my dearest mother,
But marry her to my youngest brother.

"To a maiden true he'll give his hand, 65
To the king's daughter o' fair England.

"[To the king's daughter o' fair England,]
_Hey lillie, ho lillie lallie!_
To a prize that was won by a slain brother's brand,"
_I' the brave nights so early._

58. Qy.? _of_ my scarlet hood.

LA VENDICATRICE. See p. 273.

From _Canti Popolari Inediti Umbri, Piceni, Piemontesi, Latini, raccolti e illustrati da_ ORESTE MARCOALDI. Genova, 1855. p. 167.--From Alessandria.

"Oh varda ben, Munfrenna,[L1]
Oh varda qul cast[e']:[L2]
I'[e'] trentatr[e'] fantenni[L3]
Ch' a j' ho menaji me.[L4]
I m' han neg[a'][L5] l' amure,
La testa a j' ho taj[e']."[L6]

"Ch' u 'm digga l[:u], Sior[L7] Conte;
Ch' u 'm lassa la so' sp[a']."[L8]
"Oh dim[i'] ti, Monfrenna,
Cosa ch' a 't na voi fa'?"[L10]
"A voi taj[e'][L11] 'na frasca,
Per ombra al me' cav[a']."[L12]
Lesta con la spadenna[L13]
Al cor a j' ha pass[a'].

"Va l[a'], va l[a'], Sior Conte,
Va l[a'] 'nte quei boscon;[L16]
Le spenni[L17] e li serpenti
Saran toi[L18] compagnon."

1 guarda ben, Monferina.

2 quel castello.

3 fanciulle.

4 menate io.

5 negato.

6 tagliato.

7 dica lei, signor.

8 sua spada.

10 vuoi fare.

11 tagliare.

12 cavallo.

13 spadina.

16 (_boscon_) cespugli.

17 spine.

18 tuoi.

GLOSSARY.

[pointing hand] Figures placed after words denote the pages in which they occur.

aboon, _above_, _upon_.

abound, 335, _bound_.

abune a' thing, _above all things_.

a dee, 335, _to do_.

ae, _one_.

aft, _oft_.

aith, _oath_.

an, _if_.

ance, _once_.

anent, _opposite to_.

are, _early_.

assoile, _absolve_.

aucht, _owns_;
wha is aucht that bairn? _who is it owns that child?_

ava, _of all_.

a-warslin, _a wrestling_.

ayont, _beyond_.

ba', _ball_.

badena, _abode not_.

bairn, _child_.

baith, _both_.

ban, 89, _bond_.

beet, 340, _add fuel_.

bierdly, _large and well-made_, _stately_.

biggins, _buildings_.

ben, _in_, _within_.

bestan, _best_.

best young man, _bridesman_.

bidden, _bidding_.

bidene, _in a company_, _forthwith_ (?)

billie, _comrade_, _brother_.

binna, _beest not_.

birk, _birch_.

birling, _pouring out_ [_drink_], _drinking_.

blan, _ceased_, _stopped_.

blate, _sheepish_, _ashamed_.

blear, [noun,] _dimness_.

blinkit, _blinked_, _winked_.

blinne, _cease_.

borrow, _ransom_.

bouerie, _chamber_.

boun, _ready_.

bour, bower, _chamber_.

bra', braw, _handsome_.

bracken, _female fern_.

brae, _hill-side_.

braid, _broad_.

brain, _mad_.

brent, _burnt_;
308, v. 31, _straight_?

bridesteel, (Buchan,) 183, _bridal_?

brigg, brigue, _bridge_.

broo, _broth_.

brook, _enjoy_.

brunt, _burnt_.

buird, _board_.

burd, _lady_.

burn, _brook_.

busking, _dressing_, _making ready_.

but, butt, _without_.

but and, _and also_.

byre, _cow-house_.

ca', _call_.

cannel, 327. Qy. a corruption?

canny, _knowing_, _expert_, _gentle_, _adroitly_, _carefully_.

cast, _trick_, _turn_.

channerin, _fretting_.

chap, _tap_, _rap_;
chappit, 11, _tapped_, _rapped_;
at the chin, _should probably be_ at the pin, _or tongue of the
latch_.

cheir, _cheer_.

claise, _clothes_.

clap, _fondle_;
clappit, _patted_, _fondled_.

cleading, _clothing_.

clecked, _hatched_.

cleed, _clothe_.

cleiding, _clothing_.

clerks, _scholars_.

cliding, _clothing_.

close, _lane_.

cod, _pillow_.

coil, 324, _cock of hay_.

coost, _cast_.

could, _used with the infinitive as an auxiliary, to form a past
tense_.

crap, _crop_, _top_.

croodlin doo, _cooing dove_.

crowse, _brisk_.

cuik, _cook_.

curches, _kerchiefs_. R. Jamieson, "_linen caps tying under the
chin._"

cuttit, _cut_.

dabs, _pricks_.

dang, 301, _overcome_;
361, _pushed_.

dapperby, 189, _dapper_?

daut, _fondle_, _caress_.

daw, _dawn_.

dead, _death_.

dear-boucht, _dear-bought_.

deas, _sometimes a pew in a church_.

dee, _die_.

dee, do, _avail_.

deid, _death_.

deight, dight, _decked_.

den, _valley_.

depart, 124, _part_.

dight, 253, _skilfully_, _readily_?

dighted, _dressed_, _wiped_.

dine, _dinner_.

ding, _strike_.

dinna, _do not_.

disna, _does not_.

dool, _sorrow_.

dout, _fear_.

dowie, _mournful_, _sad_, _gloomy_.

downa, _cannot_.

dows, _doves_.

dreaded, _doubted_.

dree, _suffer_.

drew up with, 94, _formed relations of love with_.

drie, _suffer_.

drumly, _troubled_.

dule, _grief_, _sorrow_.

dune, _done_.

dwines, _dwindles_.

e'e, _eye_.

een, _eye_, _eyes_.

eneuch, _enough_.

ezer, _azure_.

fadge, _clumsy woman_.

faem, _foam_.

fare, _go_.

farrow-cow, _a barren cow_.

fee, _property_, _wages_.

fell, _hill_.

fell, _strange_.

ferra cow, _farrow cow_, _a cow not with calf_.

ffree, _noble_.

firstan, firstand, _first_.

fit, _foot_.

fitches, 329, _flitches_?

flang'd, _flung_.

fleed, _flood_.

foremost man, _bridesman_.

forlorn, _lost_.

fou, fow, _full_.

frush, _brittle_.

fur, furrow, _a furrows length_, _furlong_.

gaed, _went_.

gair, 354, _gore_, _strip_. See gare.

gang, _go_;
gangs, _goes_.

gar, _make_.

gare, 55, _gore_;
apparently, here, _skirt_. So, hung low down by his gair, 296, _by
the edge of his frock_. The word seems also to be used vaguely
in romances for _clothing_.

garl, _gravel_.

gate, _way_.

gear, _goods_, _clothes_.

gin, _trick_, _wile_.

gleed, _a burning coal_;
97, _blaze_.

glent, _gleam_, _glimmer_.

gone, _go_.

gowd, _gold_;
gowden, _golden_.

gowk, _fool_.

gravat, _cravat_?

greaf, _grave_.

greet, _cry_, _weep_.

gris, _a costly fur_.

grit, _big_.

groom, _man_.

gross, _heavy_.

gryte, _great_, _big_.

Gude, _God_.

ha', _hall_.

had her, _betook her_.

hallow-days, _holidays_.

haly, _holy_.

happit, _covered_.

hass, _neck_.

haud, _hold_;
haud unthought lang, _keep from ennui_.

hause, _neck_.

head, _behead_.

healy, _slowly_, _softly_.

heght, _promised_.

her lane, _herself alone_.

herried, _robbed_.

hich, _high_.

hinny, _honey_.

hip, _the berry which contains the stones or seeds of the dog-rose_.

hooly, _slowly_, _gently_.

how, _ho!_

hows, _hollows_, _dells_.

howket, _dug_.

huggell, _huddle_, _cuddle_.

huly, _slowly_.

intill, _into_, _in_.

into, _on_.

iwis, _certainly_.

jaw, 233, _wave_.

jawing, _dashing_.

jimp, _slender_.

jo, _sweetheart_.

jollie, _handsome_.

jow, _stroke in tolling_.

kell, _caul_, _a species of cap, or net-work, worn by women as a
head-dress_.

kembe, _comb_;
kembing, _combing_.

kenna, _know not_;
kentna, _knew not_.

kens, _knows_.

kerches, _kerchiefs_.

kilted, _tucked up_.

kin, _kind_;
a' kin, _all kind_.

kist, _chest_.

kitchey, _kitchen_.

know, _knoll_.

kye, _cows_.

kythe, _become_, _manifest_.

laigh, _low_.

lain, _alone_;
ye're your lain, _you are alone_;
hir lain, _her alone_.

lair, _learning_.

lane, _alone_;
the same in combination with the pronouns _my_, _his_, _her_,
_its_, _&c._

lap, _leapt_.

latten, _let_.

lauch, _laugh_.

laumer, 327, _amber_.

lave, _rest_.

lealest, _truest_, _chastest_.

lear, _lore_, _lesson_.

lease, _leash_.

lee, _lonesome_.

lee-lang, _livelong_.

lei, 132, _lonesome_.

len, _lie_.

lent, _leaned_.

let, _stop_, _delay_.

leuch, leugh, _laughed_.

lichtly, _lightly_.

lig, _lie_.

lighter, _delivered_.

limmers, _strumpets_.

linn, _the pool under a cataract_, _cataract_.

lith, _joint_.

lither, _naughty_, _wicked_.

looten, _let_.

loup, _leap_.

lourd, _liefer_, _rather_.

louted, _bent_.

louze, _loosen_.

lykewake, _watching of a dead body_.

mae, _more_.

maene, moan, _lamentation_.

maist, 58, maistly, _almost_.

make, _mate_.

mane, _moan_.

maries, _maids_.

marrow, _mate_.

mat, _may_.

maun, _must_.

maunna, _may not_.

may, _maid_.

meen, _moan_, _lament_.

message, _messenger_.

micht, _might_.

mind, _remember_.

mirk, _murky_.

mith, _might_.

Moll Syms, 359, _a celebrated dance tune of the 16th century_.

mools, _the earth of the grave_, _the dust of the dead_.

mot, _may_.

my lane, _alone by myself_.

niest, _next_.

nourice, _nurse_.

oer, ower, _over_, _too_.

ohon, _alas_.

owsen, _oxen_.

Owsenford, _Oxford_.

pa', pall, _rich cloth_.

Parish, _Paris_.

part, 151, _separate from_.

pat, _pot_.

pearlin' gear, _pearl ornaments_.

pin, _door-latch_.

plat, _plaited_.

plea, _quarrel_.

pot, _a pool_, _or deep place, in a river_.

prin, _pin_.

propine, _gift_.

putten down, _hung_.

queet, quit, _ancle_.

quhair, quhat, quhy, &c., _where_, _what_, _why_, _&c._

rair'd, _roared_.

rave, _tore off_.

reavel'd, _tangled_.

rede, _advice_, _advise_;
263, _story_.

reest, _roost_.

renown, [Buchan,] 169, _haughtiness_?

rigland shire, 331?

rin, _run_.

ritted, _routed_, _struck_.

riv't, _tear it_.

row, _roll_.

row'd, _rolled_.

sabelline, _sable_.

sanna, _shall not_.

sarbit, _an exclamation of sorrow_.

sark, _shirt_.

saugh, _willow_.

scheet, _school_.

schill, _shrill_.

scug, _expiate_.

see, (save and,) _protect_.

seen, sen, _then_, _since_.

send, 334, _the messengers sent for the bride at a wedding_.

sets, _suits_.

shed by, 77, _parted_, _put back_.

sheen, _shine_.

sheen, _shoes_.

sheet, _shoot_.

sheuch, _furrow_, _ditch_.

shimmerd, _shone_.

shot-window, _a projected window_.

sic, _such_.

sich, _sigh_.

sindle, _seldom_.

sinsyne, _since_.

skinkled, _sparkled_.

slack, _a gap or pass between two hills_.

slait, _passed across_, _whetted_.

slap, _a narrow pass between two hills_.

smore, _smother_.

snood, _a fillet or ribbon for the hair_.

socht, _sought_.

sorray, _sorrow_.

soum, sowm, _swim_.

spakes, _spokes_, _bars_.

speer, speir, _ask_.

spreckl'd, _speckled_.

stap, _stuff_.

stean, _stone_.

steek'd, _fastened_.

stey, _steep_.

stint, _stop_.

stock, _the forepart of a bed_.

stout, 300, _haughty_.

strae, stray, _straw_.

straiked, streaked, _stroked_, _drew_.

streek, _stretch_;
streekit, _stretched_;
streikit, _laid out_.

striped, _thrust_.

suld, _should_.

syke, _marshy bottom_.

syne, _then_, _afterwards_.

tane, _one_, [_after the._]

tasse, _cup_.

tate, _lock_ (_of hair_).

tee, _too_.

teem, _empty_.

teen, _sorrow_, _suffering_.

tent, _heed_.

thae, _these_.

the, _thrive_.

thegither, _together_.

thir, tho, _these_, _those_.

thorn'd, 335, _eaten_?

thought lang, _felt ennui_.

thouth, _thought_, _seemed_.

thraw, 302, _writhe_, _twist_;
thrawen, _crooked_.

thresel-cock, _throstle_, _thrush_.

threw, 130, _throve_.

thrild upon a pinn. See _tirled_ below.

tift, _puff_ (_of wind_).

till, _to_, _on_.

tirled at the pin, _trilled or rattled, at the door-latch, to obtain
entrance_.

tither, _other_.

tocher, _dowry_.

toomly, _empty_.

tow, _rope_.

triest, tryst, _make an assignation_.

true, _trow_.

twain, _part_.

twal, _twelve_.

twin, _part_;
twinn'd, _deprived_, _parted_.

unco, _unknown_, _strange_.

virr, _strength_.

vow, _interjection of surprise_.

wad, _would_.

wadded, _wagered_, _staked_.

wadding, _wedding_.

wae, waeful', _sad_, _sorrowful_.

waked, _watched_.

walde, _would_.

wale, _choice_.

wambe, wame, _womb_.

wan, _reached_.

wand, wandie, _bough_, _wand_, _stick_.

wan na in, _got not in_.

wap, _throw_.

wappit, _beat_, _fluttered_.

warde, 35, _advise_, _forewarn_.

wark, _work_.

warlock, _wizzard_.

warstan, _worst_.

warstled, _wrestled_.

wat, _know_.

water-kelpy, _a malicious spirit thought to haunt fords and ferries,
especially in storms, and to swell the waters beyond their
ordinary limit, for the destruction of luckless travellers_.

wavers, 40, _wanders_.

wa'-wight, 383, _waled_, _picked_, _strong-men or warriors_. See
vol. vi. 220, v. 15.

wean, _child_.

wee, _little_.

weed, _dress_.

weir-horse, _war-horse_.

werne, _were_.

wha is aught, _who is it owns_.

whang, _thong_.

whaten, _what_.

wicht, _strong_, _agile_.

widdershins, _the contrary way_, _round about_.

wide, _wade_.

wight, _strong_, _agile_.

win, _arrive_, _reach_, _come_, _get_.

winna, _will not_.

winsome, _charming_, _attractive_.

woe, _sad_.

won up, _got up_.

wood, _mad_;
wood-wroth, _mad with anger_.

worth, _be_;
wae worth you, _sorrow come upon you_.

wow, _alas_.

wraith, _wroth_.

wrongous, _wrong_.

wull, _will_.

wyte, _punish_, _blame_.

yae, _every_.

yare, _ready_.

yeats, yetts, _gates_.

yestreen, _yesterday_.

yird-fast, _fixed in the earth_.

yode, _went_.

yont, _beyond_, _further off_.

Yule, _Christmas_.

ze, zet, zour, &c., _ye_, _yet_, _your_.

* * * * *

Transcriber's Notes

Irregular and inconsistent spellings have been retained as in the original. Typographical errors such as wrongly placed line numbers and punctuation have been corrected without comment. Where changes have been made to the wording these are listed as follows:

Page 10, line 33: added missing opening quotation mark ("But look that ye tell na Gib your man,...)

Page 38, line note 157: reference originally read "177".

Page 55, line 47, 48: added missing quotation marks (Lye yont, lye yont, Willie," she says, / "For your sweat I downa bide O.")

Page 97, line 97: added final comma ("Now haud your tongue, my lord," she said, ...)

Page 118, line 58, 59: removed unnecessary quotation mark ("Get up, and let me in!-- / Get up, get up, lady mother," he says, ...)

Page 119, line 71: deleted duplicate "the" (Out o' the lady's grave grew a bonny red rose).

Page 184, line 50: deleted erroneous closing quotation mark (Says, "What means a' this mourning?)

Page 189, line 41 and page 396: "dapperpy" appears in the text but is "dapperby" in the Glossary (O he has pou'd aff his dapperby coat, ...)

Page 227, line 41: added open quotation mark ("And quhat wul ze leive to zour bairns and zour wife,)

Page 263 line 16: added missing period (A playing at the ba'."--)

Page 270, line 24: changed "Doan" to "Doun" (Doun by the greenwud sae bonnie)

Page 300: added missing closing quotation mark (... taken place in Bothwell church." SCOTT.)

Page 338, line 11: changed "Majorie" to "Marjorie" (That Lady Marjorie she gaes wi' child, ...)

Page 347: heading "Book IV" removed. Note that it does not appear in the Table of Contents and there are several references to ballads and page numbers after this point as part of the Appendix. Note also that Volume 3 starts with "Book III (continued)".

Page 352, line 42: added closing quotation mark ("Where leav'st thou thy youthful daughter, / Merry son of mine?")

Page 401, changed "widdershius" to "widdershins" (widdershins, _the contrary way_, _round about_.)