Chapter III: Appendix (2)

"Say on, say on," said then the king,
"It is weel spoken of thee;
For there is an Italian in my court
Shall fight you three by three."

O some is to the good green wood, 145
And some is to the plain,
The queen with all her ladies fair,
The king with his merry men,
Either to see fair Johnie flee,
Or else to see him slain. 150

They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
Wi' swords o' temper'd steel,
Until the draps o' red, red blood
Ran trinkling down the field.

They fought on, and Johnie fought on, 155
They fought right manfullie;
Till they left not alive, in a' the king's court,
A man only but three.

And they begoud at eight of the morn,
And they fought on till three; 160
When the Italian, like a swallow swift,[L161]
Owre Johnie's head did flee:

But Johnie being a clever young boy,
He wheeled him round about;
And on the point of Johnie's broad-sword, 165
The Italian he slew out.

"A priest, a priest," fair Johnie cried,
"To wed my love and me;"
"A clerk, a clerk," her father cried,
"To sum her tocher free." 170

"I'll hae none of your gold," fair Johnie cried,
"Nor none of your other gear;
But I will have my own fair bride,
For this day I've won her dear."

He's ta'en his true love by the hand, 175
He led her up the plain:
"Have you any more of your English dogs
You want for to have slain?"

He put a little horn to his mouth,
He blew 't baith loud and shill; 180
And honour is into Scotland gone,
In spite of England's skill.

He put his little horn to his mouth,
He blew it owre again;
And aye the sound the horn cryed 185
Was "Johnie and his men!"

137, 140, 143, Taillant.

161, 166 Taillant.

BROWN ADAM.

_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 159.

"There is a copy of this ballad in Mrs. Brown's collection. The
editor has seen one, printed on a single sheet. The epithet,
"Smith," implies, probably, the sirname, not the profession, of
the hero, who seems to have been an outlaw. There is, however, in
Mrs. Brown's copy, a verse of little merit, here omitted, alluding
to the implements of that occupation."

SCOTT.

O wha wad wish the wind to blaw,
Or the green leaves fa' therewith?
Or wha wad wish a lealer love
Than Brown Adam the Smith?

But they hae banished him, Brown Adam, 5
Frae father and frae mother;
And they hae banish'd him, Brown Adam,
Frae sister and frae brother.

And they hae banish'd him, Brown Adam,
The flower o' a' his kin; 10
And he's bigged a bour in gude green-wood
Atween his ladye and him.

It fell upon a summer's day,
Brown Adam he thought lang;
And, for to hunt some venison, 15
To green-wood he wald gang.

He has ta'en his bow his arm o'er,
His bolts and arrows lang;
And he is to the gude green-wood
As fast as he could gang. 20

O he's shot up, and he's shot down,
The bird upon the brier;
And he sent it hame to his ladye,
Bade her be of gude cheir.

O he's shot up, and he's shot down, 25
The bird upon the thorn;
And sent it hame to his ladye,
Said he'd be hame the morn.

When he cam to his lady's bour door
He stude a little forbye, 30
And there he heard a fou fause knight
Tempting his gay ladye.

For he's ta'en out a gay goud ring,
Had cost him many a poun',
"O grant me love for love, ladye, 35
And this sall be thy own."--

"I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she said;
"I trew sae does he me;
I wadna gie Brown Adam's love
For nae fause knight I see."-- 40

Out has he ta'en a purse o' gowd,
Was a' fou to the string,
"O grant me love for love, ladye,
And a' this sall be thine."--

"I lo'e Brown Adam weel," she says; 45
"I wot sae does he me:
I wadna be your light leman,
For mair than ye could gie."--

Then out he drew his lang bright brand,
And flash'd it in her een; 50
"Now grant me love for love, ladye,
Or thro' ye this sall gang!"--
Then, sighing, says that ladye fair,
"Brown Adam tarries lang!"--

Then in and starts him Brown Adam, 55
Says--"I'm just at your hand."--
He's gar'd him leave his bonny bow,
He's gar'd him leave his brand,
He's gar'd him leave a dearer pledge--
Four fingers o' his right hand. 60

LIZIE LINDSAY.

Complete copies of this pretty ballad are given in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 102, and in Whitelaw's _Book of Scottish Ballads_, p. 51. The latter we have printed with the present version, which, though lacking a stanza or two, is better in some respects than either of the others.--Robert Allan has made a song out of this ballad, Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_, ii. 100.

"Transmitted to the Editor by Professor SCOTT of Aberdeen, as it was taken down from the recitation of an old woman. It is very popular in the north-east of Scotland, and was familiar to the editor in his early youth; and from the imperfect recollection which he still retains of it, he has corrected the text in two or three unimportant passages." JAMIESON'S _Popular Ballads_, ii. 149.

"Will ye go to the Highlands, Lizie Lindsay,
Will ye go to the Highlands wi' me?
Will ye go to the Highlands, Lizie Lindsay,
And dine on fresh cruds and green whey?"

Then out spak Lizie's mother, 5
A good old lady was she,
"Gin ye say sic a word to my daughter,
I'll gar ye be hanged high."

"Keep weel your daughter frae me, madam;
Keep weel your daughter frae me; 10
I care as little for your daughter,
As ye can care for me."

Then out spak Lizie's ain maiden,
A bonny young lassie was she;
Says,--"were I the heir to a kingdom, 15
Awa' wi' young Donald I'd be."

"O say you sae to me, Nelly?
And does my Nelly say sae?
Maun I leave my father and mother,
Awa' wi' young Donald to gae?" 20

And Lizie's ta'en till her her stockings,
And Lizie's ta'en till her her shoen;
And kilted up her green claithing,
And awa' wi' young Donald she's gane.

The road it was lang and weary; 25
The braes they were ill to climb;
Bonny Lizie was weary wi' travelling,
And a fit furder coudna win.

And sair, O sair did she sigh,
And the saut tear blin'd her e'e; 30
"Gin this be the pleasures o' looing,
They never will do wi' me!"

"Now, haud your tongue, bonny Lizie;
Ye never shall rue for me;
Gi'e me but your love for my love, 35
It is a' that your tocher will be.

"And haud your tongue, bonny Lizie;
Altho' that the gait seem lang,
And you's ha'e the wale o' good living
Whan to Kincawsen we gang. 40

"There my father he is an auld cobler,
My mother she is an auld dey;
And we'll sleep on a bed o' green rashes,
And dine on fresh cruds and green whey."

"You're welcome hame, Sir Donald, 45
You're welcome hame to me."

"O ca' me nae mair Sir Donald;
There's a bonny young lady to come;
Sae ca' me nae mair Sir Donald,
But ae spring Donald your son." 50

"Ye're welcome hame, young Donald;
Ye're welcome hame to me;
Ye're welcome hame, young Donald,
And your bonny young lady wi' ye."

She's made them a bed of green rashes, 55
Weel cover'd wi' hooding o' grey;
Bonny Lizie was weary wi' travelling,
And lay till 'twas lang o' the day.

"The sun looks in o'er the hill-head,
And the laverock is liltin' gay; 60
Get up, get up, bonny Lizie,
You've lain till its lang o' the day.

"You might ha'e been out at the shealin,
Instead o' sae lang to lye,
And up and helping my mother 65
To milk baith her gaits and kye."

Then out spak Lizie Lindsay,
The tear blindit her eye;
"The ladies o' Edinburgh city
They neither milk gaits nor kye." 70

Then up spak young Sir Donald,
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
* * * * * *

"For I am the laird o' Kincawsyn,
And you are the lady free;
And * * * * *
* * * * * *

LIZZIE LINDSAY.

"This version of _Lizzie Lindsay_ is given from the recitation of a lady in Glasgow, and is a faithful transcript of the ballad as it used to be sung in the West of Scotland." WHITELAW'S _Book of Scottish Ballads_, p. 51.--A very good copy, from Mr. Kinloch's MS., is printed in Aytoun's _Ballads of Scotland_, i. 269, (_Donald of the Isles_.)

There was a braw ball in Edinburgh
And mony braw ladies were there,
But nae ane at a' the assembly
Could wi' Lizzie Lindsay compare.

In cam' the young laird o' Kincassie, 5
An' a bonnie young laddie was he--
"Will ye lea' yere ain kintra, Lizzie,
An' gang to the Hielands wi' me?"

She turned her roun' on her heel,
An' a very loud laughter gaed she-- 10
"I wad like to ken whar I was ganging,
And wha I was gaun to gang wi'."

"My name is young Donald M'Donald,
My name I will never deny;
My father he is an auld shepherd, 15
Sae weel as he can herd the kye!

"My father he is an auld shepherd,
My mother she is an auld dame;
If ye'll gang to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Ye's neither want curds nor cream." 20

"If ye'll call at the Canongate port,
At the Canongate port call on me,
I'll give you a bottle o' sherry,
And bear you companie."

He ca'd at the Canongate port, 25
At the Canongate port called he;
She drank wi' him a bottle o' sherry,
And bore him guid companie.

"Will ye go to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Will ye go to the Hielands wi' me? 30
If ye'll go to the Hielands, bonnie Lizzie,
Ye shall not want curds nor green whey."

In there cam' her auld mither,
A jolly auld lady was she--
"I wad like to ken whar she was ganging, 35
And wha she was gaun to gang wi'."

"My name is young Donald M'Donald,
My name I will never deny,
My father he is an auld shepherd,
Sae weel as he can herd the kye! 40

"O but I would give you ten guineas,
To have her one hour in a room,
To get her fair body a picture
To keep me from thinking long."

"O I value not your ten guineas, 45
As little as you value mine;
But if that you covet my daughter,
Take her with you, if you do incline."

"Pack up my silks and my satins,
And pack up my hose and my shoon, 50
And likewise my clothes in small bundles,
And away wi' young Donald I'll gang."

They pack'd up her silks and her satins,
They pack'd up her hose and her shoon,
And likewise her clothes in small bundles, 55
And away with young Donald she's gane.

When that they cam' to the Hielands,
The braes they were baith lang and stey;
Bonnie Lizzie was wearied wi' ganging--
She had travell'd a lang summer day. 60

"O are we near hame, Sir Donald,
O are we near hame, I pray?"
"We're no near hame, bonnie Lizzie,
Nor yet the half o' the way."

They cam' to a homely poor cottage, 65
An auld man was standing by;
"Ye're welcome hame, Sir Donald,
Ye've been sae lang away."

"O call me no more Sir Donald,
But call me young Donald your son; 70
For I have a bonnie young lady
Behind me for to come in."

"Come in, come in, bonnie Lizzie,
Come in, come in," said he,
"Although that our cottage be little, 75
Perhaps the better we'll 'gree.

"O make us a supper, dear mother,
And make it of curds an' green whey;
And make us a bed o' green rushes,
And cover it o'er wi' green hay." 80

"Rise up, rise up, bonnie Lizzie,
Why lie ye so long in the day;
Ye might ha'e been helping my mother
To make the curds and green whey."

"O haud your tongue, Sir Donald, 85
O haud your tongue I pray;
I wish I had ne'er left my mother,
I can neither make curds nor whey."

"Rise up, rise up, bonnie Lizzie,
And put on your satins so fine; 90
For we maun to be at Kincassie
Before that the clock strikes nine."

But when they came to Kincassie
The porter was standing by;--
"Ye're welcome home, Sir Donald, 95
Ye've been so long away."

It's down then came his auld mither,
With all the keys in her hand,
Saying, "Take you these, bonnie Lizzie,
All under them's at your command."

LIZAE BAILLIE.

From Herd's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 50. A longer version, from Buchan's larger collection, is in the Appendix. Mr. Chambers, assuming that the foregoing ballad of _Lizie Lindsay_ was originally the same as _Lizie Baillie_, has made out of various copies of both one story in two parts: _The Scottish Ballads_, p. 158. Smith has somewhat altered the language of this ballad: _Scottish Minstrel_, iv. 90.

Lizae Baillie's to Gartartan gane,
To see her sister Jean;
And there she's met wi' Duncan Gr[ae]me,
And he's convoy'd her hame.

"My bonny Lizae Baillie, 5
I'll row ye in my plaidie,
And ye maun gang alang wi' me,
And be a Highland lady."

"I'm sure they wadna ca' me wise,
Gin I wad gang wi' you, Sir; 10
For I can neither card nor spin,
Nor yet milk ewe or cow, Sir."

"My bonny Lizae Baillie,
Let nane o' these things daunt ye;
Ye'll hae nae need to card or spin, 15
Your mither weel can want ye."

Now she's cast aff her bonny shoen,
Made o' the gilded leather,
And she's put on her highland brogues,
To skip amang the heather: 20

And she's cast aff her bonny gown,
Made o' the silk and sattin,
And she's put on a tartan plaid,
To row amang the braken.

She wadna hae a Lawland laird, 25
Nor be an English lady;
But she wad gang wi' Duncan Gr[ae]me,
And row her in his plaidie.

She was nae ten miles frae the town,
When she began to weary; 30
She aften looked back, and said,
"Farewell to Castlecarry.

"The first place I saw my Duncan Gr[ae]me,
Was near yon holland bush;
My father took frae me my rings, 35
My rings but and my purse.

"But I wadna gie my Duncan Gr[ae]me
For a' my father's land,
Though it were ten times ten times mair,
And a' at my command." 40

* * * * * * * * *

Now wae be to you, loggerheads,
That dwell near Castlecarry,
To let awa' sic a bonny lass,
A Highlandman to marry. 45

GLASGOW PEGGY.

From recitation, in Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 174. Other copies are printed in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 155, (_Donald of the Isles_,) Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, p. 40, (and Chambers's _Popular Rhymes_, p. 27,) Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_, iv. 78.

The Lawland lads think they are fine,
But the hieland lads are brisk and gaucy;
And they are awa near Glasgow toun,
To steal awa a bonnie lassie.

"I wad gie my gude brown steed, 5
And sae wad I my gude grey naigie,
That I war fifty miles frae the toun,
And nane wi' me but my bonnie Peggy."

But up then spak the auld gudman,
And vow but he spak wondrous saucie;-- 10
"Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes,
But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie."

"I have got cows and ewes anew,
I've got gowd and gear already;
Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes, 15
But I will hae your bonnie Peggy."

"I'll follow you oure moss and muir,
I'll follow you oure mountains many,
I'll follow you through frost and snaw,
I'll stay na langer wi' my daddie." 20

He set her on a gude brown steed,
Himself upon a gude grey naigie;
They're oure hills, and oure dales,
And he's awa wi' his bonnie Peggy.

As they rade out by Glasgow toun, 25
And doun by the hills o' Achildounie,
There they met the Earl of Hume,
And his auld son, riding bonnie.

Out bespak the Earl of Hume,
And O but he spak wondrous sorry,-- 30
"The bonniest lass about a' Glasgow toun,
This day is awa wi' a hieland laddie."

As they rade bye auld Drymen toun,
The lassies leuch and lookit saucy,
That the bonniest lass they ever saw, 35
Sud be riding awa wi' a hieland laddie.

They rode on through moss and muir,
And so did they owre mountains many,
Until they cam to yonder glen,
And she's lain doun wi' her hieland laddie. 40

Gude green hay was Peggy's bed,
And brakens war her blankets bonnie;
Wi' his tartan plaid aneath her head,
And she's lain doun wi' her hieland laddie.

"There's beds and bowsters in my father's house, 45
There's sheets and blankets, and a' thing ready,
And wadna they be angry wi' me,
To see me lie sae wi' a hieland laddie."

"Tho' there's beds and beddin in your father's house,
Sheets and blankets and a' made ready, 50
Yet why sud they be angry wi' thee,
Though I be but a hieland laddie?

"It's I hae fifty acres of land,
It's a' plow'd and sawn already;
I am Donald the Lord of Skye, 55
And why sud na Peggy be call'd a lady?

"I hae fifty gude milk kye,
A' tied to the staws already;
I am Donald the Lord of Skye,
And why sud na Peggy be call'd a lady! 60

"See ye no a' yon castles and tow'rs?
The sun sheens owre them a sae bonnie;
I am Donald the Lord of Skye,
I think I'll mak ye as blythe as onie.

"A' that Peggy left behind 65
Was a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie;
Now I think she is better by far,
Than tho' she had got a lawland lairdie."

GLENLOGIE.

First published in the fourth volume of Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_. Great liberties, says Motherwell, have been taken with the songs in that work. Other versions are given in Sharpe's _Ballad Book_, and in Buchan's larger collection, i. 188, (_Jean o' Bethelnie's Love for Sir G. Gordon._)

Three score o' nobles rade up the king's ha',
But bonnie Glenlogie's the flower o' them a';
Wi' his milk-white steed and his bonnie black e'e,
"Glenlogie, dear mither, Glenlogie for me!"

"O haud your tongue, dochter, ye'll get better than he;" 5
"O say nae sae, mither, for that canna be;
Though Drumlie is richer, and greater than he,
Yet if I maun tak him, I'll certainly dee.

"Where will I get a bonnie boy, to win hose and shoon,
Will gae to Glenlogie, and cum again shun?"[L10] 10
"O here am I, a bonnie boy, to win hose and shoon,
Will gae to Glenlogie, and cum again shun."

When he gaed to Glenlogie, 'twas "wash and go dine;"
'Twas "wash ye, my pretty boy, wash and go dine;"
"O 'twas ne'er my father's fashion, and it ne'er shall be mine, 15
To gar a lady's hasty errand wait till I dine.

"But there is, Glenlogie, a letter for thee;"
The first line that he read, a low smile ga'e he,
The next line that he read, the tear blindit his e'e;
But the last line that he read, he gart the table flee. 20

"Gar saddle the black horse, gar saddle the brown;
Gar saddle the swiftest steed e'er rade frae a town;"
But lang ere the horse was drawn and brought to the green,
O bonnie Glenlogie was twa mile his lane.

"When he cam' to Glenfeldy's door, little mirth was there; 25
Bonnie Jean's mother was tearing her hair;
"Ye're welcome, Glenlogie, ye're welcome," said she,
"Ye're welcome, Glenlogie, your Jeanie to see."

Pale and wan was she, when Glenlogie gaed ben,
But red and rosy grew she whene'er he sat down; 30
She turned awa' her head, but the smile was in her e'e,
"O binna feared, mither, I'll maybe no dee."

10, 12 shun again.

JOHN O' HAZELGREEN.

Neither the present version of this ballad, (taken from Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 253,) nor that furnished by Kinloch, (_Jock o' Hazelgreen_, p. 206,) is at all satisfactory. Another, much superior in point of taste, but made up from four different copies, is given in Chambers's _Scottish Ballads_, p. 319.

Sir W. Scott's song of _Jock o' Hazeldean_ was suggested by a single stanza of this ballad, which he had heard as a fragment, thus:

"'Why weep ye by the tide ladye,
Why weep ye by the tide?
I'll wed ye to my youngest son,
And ye shall be his bride;
And ye shall be his bride, ladye,
Sae comely to be seen:'
But aye she loot the tears down fa'
For Jock o' Hazeldean."

As I went forth to take the air
Intill an evening clear,
And there I spied a lady fair
Making a heavy bier.
Making a heavy bier, I say, 5
But and a piteous meen;
And aye she sigh'd, and said, alas!
For John o' Hazelgreen.

The sun was sinking in the west,
The stars were shining clear; 10
When thro' the thickets o' the wood,
A gentleman did appear.
Says, "who has done you the wrong, fair maid,
And left you here alane;
Or who has kiss'd your lovely lips, 15
That ye ca' Hazelgreen?"

"Hold your tongue, kind sir," she said,
"And do not banter so;
How will ye add affliction
Unto a lover's woe? 20
For none's done me the wrong," she said,
"Nor left me here alane;
Nor none has kiss'd my lovely lips,
That I ca' Hazelgreen."

"Why weep ye by the tide, lady? 25
Why weep ye by the tide?
How blythe and happy might he be
Gets you to be his bride!
Gets you to be his bride, fair maid,
And him I'll no bemean; 30
But when I take my words again,
Whom call ye Hazelgreen?

"What like a man was Hazelgreen?
Will ye show him to me?"
"He is a comely proper youth, 35
I in my sleep did see;
Wi' arms tall, and fingers small,--
He's comely to be seen;"
And aye she loot the tears down fall
For John o' Hazelgreen. 40

"If ye'll forsake young Hazelgreen,
And go along with me,
I'll wed you to my eldest son,
Make you a lady free."
"It's for to wed your eldest son 45
I am a maid o'er mean;
I'll rather stay at home," she says,
"And die for Hazelgreen."

"If ye'll forsake young Hazelgreen,
And go along with me, 50
I'll wed you to my second son,
And your weight o' gowd I'll gie."
"It's for to wed your second son
I am a maid o'er mean;
I'll rather stay at home," she says, 55
"And die for Hazelgreen."

Then he's taen out a siller comb,
Comb'd down her yellow hair;
And looked in a diamond bright,
To see if she were fair. 60
"My girl, ye do all maids surpass
That ever I have seen;
Cheer up your heart, my lovely lass,
And hate young Hazelgreen."

"Young Hazelgreen he is my love, 65
And ever mair shall be;
I'll nae forsake young Hazelgreen
For a' the gowd ye'll gie."
But aye she sigh'd, and said, alas!
And made a piteous meen; 70
And aye she loot the tears down fa',
For John o' Hazelgreen.

He looked high, and lighted low,
Set her upon his horse;
And they rode on to Edinburgh, 75
To Edinburgh's own cross.
And when she in that city was,
She look'd like ony queen;
"'Tis a pity such a lovely lass
Shou'd love young Hazelgreen." 80

"Young Hazelgreen, he is my love,
And ever mair shall be;
I'll nae forsake young Hazelgreen
For a' the gowd ye'll gie."
And aye she sigh'd, and said, alas! 85
And made a piteous meen;
And aye she loot the tears down fa',
For John o' Hazelgreen.

"Now hold your tongue, my well-far'd maid,
Lat a' your mourning be, 90
And a' endeavours I shall try,
To bring that youth to thee;
If ye'll tell me where your love stays,
His stile and proper name."
"He's laird o' Taperbank," she says, 95
"His stile, Young Hazelgreen."

Then he has coft for that lady
A fine silk riding gown;
Likewise he coft for that lady
A steed, and set her on; 100
Wi' menji feathers in her hat,
Silk stockings and siller sheen;
And they are on to Taperbank,
Seeking young Hazelgreen.

They nimbly rode along the way, 105
And gently spurr'd their horse,
Till they rode on to Hazelgreen,
To Hazelgreen's own close.
Then forth he came, young Hazelgreen,
To welcome his father free; 110
"You're welcome here, my father dear,
And a' your companie."

But when he look'd o'er his shoulder,
A light laugh then gae he;
Says, "If I getna this lady, 115
It's for her I must die;
I must confess this is the maid
I ance saw in a dream,
A walking thro' a pleasant shade,
As fair's a cypress queen." 120

"Now hold your tongue, young Hazelgreen,
Lat a' your folly be;
If ye be wae for that lady,
She's thrice as wae for thee.
She's thrice as wae for thee, my son; 125
As bitter doth complain;
Well is she worthy o' the rigs
That lie on Hazelgreen."

He's taen her in his arms twa,
Led her thro' bower and ha'; 130
"Cheer up your heart, my dearest dear,
Ye're flower out o'er them a'.
This night shall be our wedding e'en,
The morn we'll say, Amen;
Ye'se never mair hae cause to mourn,-- 135
Ye're lady o' Hazelgreen."

THE FAUSE LOVER.

From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, i. 268. The fourth and fifth stanzas are found as a fragment in Herd's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 6, (ed. 1776,) thus:

"False luve, and hae ze played me this,
In the simmer, mid the flowers?
I sall repay ze back again,
In the winter mid the showers.

"Bot again, dear luve, and again, dear luve,
Will ze not turn again?
As ze look to ither women
Shall I to ither men."

Sir Walter Scott, also, as Chambers has pointed out, has, in _Waverley_, put two similar stanzas into the mouth of Davie Gellatley.

"False love, and hast thou played me this,
In summer, among the flowers?
I will repay thee back again,
In winter, amid the showers.

"Unless again, again, my love,
Unless ye turn again,
As you with other maidens rove,
I'll smile on other men."

A fair maid sat in her bower door,
Wringing her lily hands;
And by it came a sprightly youth,
Fast tripping o'er the strands.

"Where gang ye, young John," she says, 5
"Sae early in the day?
It gars me think, by your fast trip,
Your journey's far away."

He turn'd about wi' surly look,
And said, "What's that to thee? 10
I'm gaen to see a lovely maid,
Mair fairer far than ye."

"Now hae ye play'd me this, fause love,
In simmer, 'mid the flowers?
I sall repay ye back again, 15
In winter, 'mid the showers.

"But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
Will ye not turn again?
For as ye look to ither women,
Shall I to ither men." 20

"Make your choose o' whom you please,
For I my choice will have;
I've chosen a maid mair fair than thee,
I never will deceive."

But she's kilt up her claithing fine, 25
And after him gaed she;
But aye he said, "ye'll turn back,
Nae farder gang wi' me."

"But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
Will ye never love me again? 30
Alas! for loving you sae well,
And you nae me again."

The first an' town that they came till,
He bought her brooch and ring;
But aye he bade her turn again, 35
And gang nae farder wi' him.

"But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
Will ye never love me again?
Alas! for loving you sae well,
And you nae me again." 40

The niest an' town that they came till,
His heart it grew mair fain;
And he was deep in love wi' her,
As she was ower again.

The niest an' town that they came till, 45
He bought her wedding gown;
And made her lady o' ha's and bowers,
In bonny Berwick town.

THE GARDENER.

From Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 74. The last stanza but one is found in the preceding ballad. Another copy is given by Buchan, _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 187.

The gard'ner stands in his bouer door,
Wi' a primrose in his hand,
And bye there cam a leal maiden,
As jimp as a willow wand;
And bye there cam a leal maiden,
As jimp as a willow wand.

"O ladie can ye fancy me, 5
For to be my bride;
Ye'se get a' the flowers in my garden,
To be to you a weed.

"The lily white sall be your smock;
It becomes your body best; 10
Your head sall be buskt wi' gelly-flower,
Wi' the primrose in your breist.

"Your goun sall be the Sweet William;
Your coat the camovine;
Your apron o' the sallads neat, 15
That taste baith sweet and fine.

"Your hose sall be the brade kail-blade,
That is baith brade and lang;
Narrow, narrow, at the cute,
And brade, brade at the brawn. 20

"Your gloves sall be the marigold,
All glittering to your hand,
Weel spread owre wi' the blue blaewort,
That grows amang corn-land."

"O fare ye weil, young man," she says, 25
"Fareweil, and I bid adieu;
Sin ye've provided a weed for me
Amang the simmer flowers,
It's I'se provide anither for you,
Amang the winter-showers: 30

"The new fawn snaw to be your smock;
It becomes your bodie best;
Your head sall be wrapt wi' the eastern wind,
And the cauld rain on your breist."

THE DUKE OF ATHOL.

"Taken down from the recitation of an idiot boy in Wishaw." Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 170.

"I am gaing awa, Jeanie,
I am gaing awa,
I am gaing ayont the saut seas,
I'm gaing sae far awa."

"What will ye buy to me, Jamie, 5
What will ye buy to me?"
"I'll buy to you a silken plaid,
And send it wi' vanitie."

"That's na love at a', Jamie,
That's na love at a'; 10
All I want is love for love,
And that's the best ava.

"Whan will ye marry me, Jamie,
Whan will ye marry me?
Will ye tak me to your countrie,-- 15
Or will ye marry me?"

"How can I marry thee, Jeanie,
How can I marry thee?
Whan I've a wife and bairns three,--
Twa wad na weill agree." 20

"Wae be to your fause tongue, Jamie,
Wae be to your fause tongue;
Ye promised for to marry me,
And has a wife at hame!

"But if your wife wad dee, Jamie, 25
And sae your bairns three,
Wad ye tak me to your countrie,--
Or wad ye marry me?

"But sin they're all alive, Jamie,
But sin they're all alive, 30
We'll tak a glass in ilka hand,
And drink, 'Weill may they thrive.'"

"If my wife wad dee, Jeanie,
And sae my bairns three,
I wad tak ye to my ain countrie, 35
And married we wad be."

"O an your head war sair, Jamie,
O an your head war sair,
I'd tak the napkin frae my neck,
And tie doun your yellow hair." 40

"I hae na wife at a', Jeanie,
I hae na wife at a',
I hae neither wife nor bairns three;
I said it to try thee."

"Licht are ye to loup, Jamie, 45
Licht are ye to loup,
Licht are ye to loup the dyke,
Whan I maun wale a slap."

"Licht am I to loup, Jeanie,
Licht am I to loup; 50
But the hiest dyke that we come to,
I'll turn and tak you up.

"Blair in Athol is mine, Jeanie,
Blair in Athol is mine;
Bonnie Dunkel is whare I dwell, 55
And the boats o' Garry's mine.

"Huntingtower is mine, Jeanie,
Huntingtower is mine,
Huntingtower, and bonnie Belford,
And a' Balquhither's mine." 60

THE RANTIN' LADDIE.

An imperfect copy of this ballad was printed in Johnson's _Museum_, (p. 474,) contributed, Mr. Stenhouse informs us, by Burns. The present copy is from the _Thistle of Scotland_, p. 7. Another, shorter than either, is given in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 66, _Lord Aboyne_. (Also in Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_, iv. 6.)

"Aft hae I playd at cards and dice
For the love o' a bonny rantin' laddie,
But now I maun sit i' my father's kitchen nook,
And sing, 'Hush, balow, my baby.'

"If I had been wise, and had ta'en advice, 5
And dane as my bonny love bade me,
I would hae been married at Martinmas,
And been wi' my rantin' laddie.

"But I was na wise, I took nae advice,
Did not as my bonny love bade me, 10
And now I maun sit by mysel' i' the nook,
And rock my bastard baby.

"If I had horse at my command,
As often I had many,
I would ride on to the Castle o' Aboyne, 15
Wi' a letter to my rantin' laddie."

Down the stair her father came,
And looked proud and saucy;
"Who is the man, and what is his name,
That ye ca' your rantin' laddie? 20

"Is he a lord, or is he a laird,
Or is he but a caddie?
Or is it the young Earl o' Aboyne,
That ye ca' your rantin' laddie?"

"He is a young and noble lord, 25
He never was a caddie;
It is the noble Earl o' Aboyne
That I ca' my rantin' laddie."

"Ye shall hae a horse at your command,
As ye had often many, 30
To go to the Castle o' Aboyne,
Wi' a letter to your rantin' laddie."

"Where will I get a little page,
Where will I get a caddie,
That will run quick to bonny Aboyne, 35
Wi' this letter to my rantin' laddie?"

Then out spoke the young scullion boy,
Said, "Here am I, a caddie;
I will run on to bonny Aboyne
Wi' the letter to your rantin' laddie." 40

"Now when ye come to bonny Deeside,
Where woods are green and bonny,
Then will ye see the Earl o' Aboyne,
Among the bushes mony.

"And when ye come to the lands o' Aboyne, 45
Where all around is bonny,
Ye'll take your hat into your hand,
Gie this letter to my rantin' laddie."

When he came near the banks of Dee,
The birks were blooming bonny, 50
And there he saw the Earl o' Aboyne
Among the bushes mony.

"Where are ye going, my bonny boy,
Where are ye going, my caddie?"
"I am going to the Castle o' Aboyne 55
Wi' a letter to the rantin' laddie."

"See yonder is the castle there,
My young and handsome caddie,
And I myself am the Earl o' Aboyne,
Tho they ca' me the rantin' laddie." 60

"O pardon, my lord, if I've done wrong;
Forgive a simple caddie;
O pardon, pardon, Earl o' Aboyne,
I said but what she bade me."

"Ye've done no wrong, my bonny boy, 65
Ye've done no wrong, my caddie;"
Wi' hat in hand he bowed low,
Gave the letter to the rantin' laddie.

When young Aboyne looked the letter on,
O but he blinkit bonny; 70
But ere he read four lines on end,
The tears came trickling mony.

"My father will no pity shew,
My mother still does slight me,
And a' my friends have turned from me, 75
And servants disrespect me."

"Who are they dare be so bold
To cruelly use my lassie?
But I'll take her to bonny Aboyne,
Where oft she did caress me. 80

"Go raise to me five hundred men,
Be quick and make them ready;
Each on a steed, to haste their speed,
To carry home my lady."

As they rode on thro' Buchanshire, 85
The company were many,
Wi' a good claymore in every hand,
That glanced wondrous bonny.

When he came to her father's gate
He called for his lady; 90
"Come down, come down, my bonny maid,
And speak wi' your rantin' laddie."

When she was set on high horseback,
Row'd in the highland plaidie,
The bird i' the bush sung not so sweet, 95
As sung this bonny lady.

As they rode on thro' Buchanshire,
He cried, "Each lowland lassie,
Lay your love on some lowland lown,
And soon will he prove fause t' ye. 100

"But take my advice, and make your choice
Of some young highland laddie,
Wi' bonnet and plaid, whose heart is staid,
And he will not beguile ye."

As they rode on thro' Garioch land, 105
He rode up in a fury,
And cried, "Fall back each saucy dame,
Let the Countess of Aboyne before ye."

THE DUKE OF GORDON'S DAUGHTER.

Ritson's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 169.

"Alexander, third Earl of Huntly, was succeeded, in 1523, by his grandson Alexander, Lord Gordon, who actually had three daughters. I. Lady Elizabeth, the eldest, married to John, Earl of Athol. II. Lady Margaret, married to John, Lord Forbes. III. Lady Jean, the youngest, married _first_, to James, Earl of Bothwell, from whom she was divorced in 1568; she married, _secondly_, Alexander, Earl of Southerland, who died in 1594; and surviving him, she married, _thirdly_, Captain Alexander Ogilvie, son and successor of Sir Walter Ogilvie of Boym, who died in 1606 without issue." STENHOUSE, _Musical Museum_, iv. 378.

The dukedom of Gordon was not created until 1684, and therefore the first line should probably run as quoted by Burns,--

"The _Lord_ of Gordon had three daughters."

The duke of Gordon has three daughters,
Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean;
They would not stay in bonny Castle-Gordon,
But they would go to bonny Aberdeen.

They had not been in Aberdeen 5
A twelvemonth and a day,
Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.

Word came to the duke of Gordon,
In the chamber where he lay, 10
Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.

"Go saddle me the black horse,
And you'll ride on the grey;
And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen, 15
Where I have been many a day."

They were not a mile from Aberdeen,
A mile but only three,
Till he met with his two daughters walking,
But away was Lady Jean. 20

"Where is your sister, maidens?
Where is your sister, now?
Where is your sister, maidens,
That she is not walking with you?"

"O pardon us, honoured father, 25
O pardon us," they did say;
"Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she will gae."

When he came to Aberdeen,
And down upon the green, 30
There did he see Captain Ogilvie,
Training up his men.

"O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie,
And an ill death thou shalt die;
For taking to my daughter, 35
Hanged thou shalt be."

Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter,
And sent it to the king,
To cause hang Captain Ogilvie,
If ever he hanged a man. 40

"I will not hang Captain Ogilvie,
For no lord that I see;
But I'll cause him to put off the lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery."

Word came to Captain Ogilvie, 45
In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.

"If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
This pennance I'll take wi'; 50
If this be bonny Jeany Gordon,
All this I will dree."

Lady Jean had not been married,
Not a year but three,
Till she had a babe in every arm, 55
Another upon her knee.

"O but I'm weary of wandering!
O but my fortune is bad!
It sets not the duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a soldier lad. 60

"O but I'm weary of wandering!
O but I think lang!
It sets not the duke of Gordon's daughter,
To follow a single man."

When they came to the Highland hills, 65
Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean's shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.

"O wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the wind and the rain! 70
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No further am I able to gang.

"Wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the frost and the snow!
My feet is sore with going barefoot, 75
No farther am I able for to go.

"O! if I were at the glens of Foudlen,
Where hunting I have been,
I would find the way to bonny Castle-Gordon,
Without either stockings or shoon." 80

When she came to Castle-Gordon,
And down upon the green,
The porter gave out a loud shout,
"O yonder comes Lady Jean."

"O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon, 85
You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon,
But away with your Captain Ogilvie."

Now over seas went the captain,
As a soldier under command; 90
A message soon followed after,
To come and heir his brother's land.

"Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And heir your brother's land;
Come home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie, 95
Be earl of Northumberland."

"O what does this mean?" says the captain;
"Where's my brother's children three?"
"They are dead and buried,
And the lands they are ready for thee." 100

"Then hoist up your sails, brave captain,
Let's be jovial and free;
I'll to Northumberland, and heir my estate,
Then my dear Jeany I'll see."

He soon came to Castle-Gordon, 105
And down upon the green;
The porter gave out with a loud shout,
"Here comes Captain Ogilvie."

"You're welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Your fortune's advanced I hear; 110
No stranger can come unto my gates,
That I do love so dear."

"Sir, the last time I was at your gates,
You would not let me in;
I'm come for my wife and children, 115
No friendship else I claim."

"Come in, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And drink of the beer and the wine;
And thou shalt have gold and silver,
To count till the clock strike nine." 120

"I'll have none of your gold and silver,
Nor none of your white money;
But I'll have bonny Jeany Gordon;
And she shall go now with me."

Then she came tripping down the stair, 125
With the tear into her eye;
One babe was at her foot,
Another upon her knee.

"You're welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
With my young family; 130
Mount and go to Northumberland,
There a countess thou shalt be."

THE LAIRD O'LOGIE.

_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_, iii. 131.

An edition of this ballad was published in Herd's _Scottish Songs_, (i. 54,) and there is styled _The Young Laird of Ochiltrie_. Scott recovered the following copy from recitation, which is to be preferred to the other, as agreeing more closely with the real fact, both in the name and the circumstances.

The incident here celebrated occurred in the year 1592. Francis, Earl Bothwell, being then engaged in a wild conspiracy against James VI., succeeded in obtaining some followers even among the king's personal attendants. Among these was a gentleman named Weymis of Logie. Accused of treasonable converse with Bothwell, he confessed to the charge, and was, of course, in danger of expiating his crime by death. But he was rescued through the address and courage of Margaret Twynstoun, a lady of the court, to whom he was attached. It being her duty to wait on the queen the night of Logie's accusation, she left the royal chamber while the king and queen were asleep, passed to the room where he was kept in custody, and ordered the guard to bring the prisoner into the presence of their majesties. She received her lover at the chamber door, commanding the guard to wait there, and conveyed him to a window, from which he escaped by a long cord. This is the story as related in _The Historie of King James the Sext_, quoted by Scott.

I will sing, if ye will hearken,
If ye will hearken unto me;
The king has ta'en a poor prisoner,
The wanton laird o' young Logie.

Young Logie's laid in Edinburgh chapel, 5
Carmichael's the keeper o' the key;
And May Margaret's lamenting sair,
A' for the love of young Logie.

May Margaret sits in the queen's bouir,[L9]
Knicking her fingers ane by ane, 10
Cursing the day that she e'er was born,
Or that she e'er heard o' Logie's name.

"Lament, lament na, May Margaret,
And of your weeping let me be;
For ye maun to the king himsell, 15
To seek the life o' young Logie."

May Margaret has kilted her green cleiding,
And she has curl'd back her yellow hair,--
"If I canna get young Logie's life,
Farewell to Scotland for evermair." 20

When she came before the king,
She knelit lowly on her knee.
"O what's the matter, May Margaret?
And what need's a' this courtesie?"

"A boon, a boon, my noble liege, 25
A boon, a boon, I beg o' thee!
And the first boon that I come to crave
Is to grant me the life o' young Logie."

"O na, O na, May Margaret,
Forsooth, and so it mauna be; 30
For a' the gowd o' fair Scotland
Shall not save the life o' young Logie."

But she has stown the king's redding kaim,
Likewise the queen her wedding knife;
And sent the tokens to Carmichael, 35
To cause young Logie get his life.

She sent him a purse o' the red gowd,
Another o' the white monie;
She sent him a pistol for each hand,
And bade him shoot when he gat free. 40

When he came to the Tolbooth stair,
There he let his volley flee;
It made the king in his chamber start,
E'en in the bed where he might be.

"Gae out, gae out, my merrymen a', 45
And bid Carmichael come speak to me;
For I'll lay my life the pledge o' that,
That yon's the shot o' young Logie."

When Carmichael came before the king,
He fell low down upon his knee; 50
The very first word that the king spake
Was,--"Where's the laird of young Logie?"

Carmichael turn'd him round about,
(I wot the tear blinded his e'e,)--
"There came a token frae your grace 55
Has ta'en away the laird frae me."

"Hast thou play'd me that, Carmichael?
And hast thou play'd me that?" quoth he;
"The morn the Justice Court's to stand,
And Logie's place ye maun supplie." 60

Carmichael's awa to Margaret's bower,
Even as fast as he may drie,--
"O if young Logie be within,
Tell him to come and speak with me!"

May Margaret turn'd her round about, 65
(I wot a loud laugh laughed she,)--
"The egg is chipp'd, the bird is flown,
Ye'll see nae mair of young Logie."

The tane is shipped at the pier of Leith,
The tother at the Queen's Ferrie; 70
And she's gotten a father to her bairn,
The wanton laird of young Logie.

v. 9-12. This stanza was obtained by Motherwell from recitation.

THE GYPSIE LADDIE.

This ballad first appeared in print in the _Tea-Table Miscellany_, (ii. 282,) from which it was adopted into Herd's and Pinkerton's collections, Johnson's _Museum_, and Ritson's _Scottish Songs_. The version here selected, that of Finlay, (_Scottish Ballads_, ii. 39,) is nearly the same, but has two more stanzas, the third and the fourth. Different copies are given in Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 360, Smith's _Scottish Minstrel_, iii. 90, _The Songs of England and Scotland_, (by Peter Cunningham,) ii. 346, and Sheldon's _Minstrelsy of the English Border_, p. 329, (see our Appendix;) others, which we have not seen, in Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Dictionary_, Chambers's _Scottish Gypsies_, and _The Scot's Magazine_ for November, 1817.

There is a popular tradition, possessing, we believe, no foundation in fact, that the incidents of this ballad belong to the history of the noble family of Cassilis. The Lady Jean Hamilton, daughter of the Earl of Waddington, is said to have been constrained to marry a grim Covenanter, John, Earl of Cassilis, though her affections were already engaged to Sir John Faa of Dunbar. In 1643, several years after their union, when the Countess had given birth to two or three children, her husband being absent from home on a mission to the Assembly of Divines at Westminster, Sir John presented himself at Cassilis Castle, attended by a small band of gypsies, and himself disguised as one. The recollection of her early passion proved stronger than the marriage vow, and the lady eloped with her former lover. But before she had got far from home, the Earl happened to return. Learning what had occurred, he set out in pursuit with a considerable body of followers, and, arresting the fugitives, brought them back to his castle, where he hanged Sir John and his companions on a great tree before the gate. The Countess was obliged to witness the execution from a chamber window, and after a short confinement in the castle, was shut up for the rest of her life in a house at Maybole, four miles distant, which had been fitted up for her, with a staircase on which were carved a set of heads representing her lover and his troop.

Unfortunately for the truth of the story, letters are in existence, written by the Earl of Cassilis to the Lady Jean after the date of these events, which prove the subsistence of a high degree of mutual affection and confidence; and Finlay assures us that after a diligent search, he had been able to discern nothing that in the slightest confirmed the popular tale. The whole story is perhaps the malicious invention of an enemy of the house of Cassilis, and as such would not be unparalleled in the history of ballad poetry. See Dauney's _Ancient Scottish Melodies_, p. 269, and Chambers's _Scottish Ballads_, p. 143.

The gypsies came to our good lord's gate,
And wow but they sang sweetly;
They sang sae sweet and sae very complete,
That down came the fair lady.

And she came tripping doun the stair, 5
And a' her maids before her;
As soon as they saw her weel-far'd face,
They coost the glamer o'er her.

"O come with me," says Johnie Faw,
"O come with me, my dearie; 10
For I vow and I swear by the hilt of my sword,
That your lord shall nae mair come near ye."

Then she gied them the beer and the wine,
And they gied her the ginger;
But she gied them a far better thing, 15
The goud ring aff her finger.

"Gae tak frae me this gay mantle,
And bring to me a plaidie;
For if kith and kin and a' had sworn,
I'll follow the gypsie laddie. 20

"Yestreen I lay in a weel-made bed,
Wi' my good lord beside me;
But this night I'll lye in a tennant's barn,
Whatever shall betide me."

"Come to your bed," says Johnie Faw, 25
"O come to your bed, my dearie;
For I vow and swear by the hilt of my sword,
That your lord shall nae mair come near ye."

"I'll go to bed to my Johnie Faw,
I'll go to bed to my dearie; 30
For I vow and I swear by the fan in my hand,
That my lord shall nae mair come near me.

"I'll mak a hap to my Johnie Faw,
I'll mak a hap to my dearie;
And he's get a' the coat gaes round, 35
And my lord shall nae mair come near me."

And when our lord came hame at e'en,
And spier'd for his fair lady,
The tane she cry'd, and the other replied,
"She's away wi' the gypsie laddie." 40

"Gae saddle to me the black black steed,
Gae saddle and make him ready;
Before that I either eat or sleep,
I'll gae seek my fair lady."

And we were fifteen weel-made men, 45
Altho' we were na bonny;
And we were a' put down but ane,
For a fair young wanton lady.

LAIRD OF DRUM.

From Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_, p. 200, obtained from recitation. Another copy is furnished by Buchan, _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 194, which, with some variations, is printed again in _Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads_, Percy Society, vol. xvii. p. 53.

"This ballad," says Kinloch, was composed on the marriage of Alexander Irvine of Drum to his second wife, Margaret Coutts, a woman of inferior birth and manners, which step gave great offence to his relations. He had previously, in 1643, married Mary, fourth daughter of George, second Marquis of Huntly.