Chapter XXVI: Appendix (3)

12
'Cheer up your heart, my ain true-love,
Let naething cause your grief;
Though I be absent for some days,
Ye seen will get relief.'

13
Then he has kissd his gay ladye,
And rade alang the lay,
And hunted a' the wild birds there,
As he rade on the way.

14
He shot the bunting o the bush,
The linnet o the brier,
And sent them on to gude green wood,
His ladye's heart to cheer.

15
He shot the bunting o the bush,
The linnet o the wand,
And sent them on to his ladye,
Forbade her to think lang.

16
He shot the bunting o the bush,
The linnet o the thorn,
And sent them on to his ladye,
Said he'd be hame the morn.

17
A thought then came into his mind,
As he rade on the way,
Some evil in his absence might
Befa his ladye gay.

18
Now when he had the prince' steed shod,
And bound again to ryde,
He turned his horse to Ringlewood;
Some days he meant to byde.

19
But when he turned to Ringlewood,
Ae foot's horse woudna ryde;
Whan he turned to his luver's bower,
He flew like ony glyde.

20
When he drew near to his luve's bower,
There he alighted down,
For the hearing o his great horse tramp
Ere he wan to the town.

21
Whan he came to his luver's bower,
He heard a dolefu din;
He wasna aware o a fu fause knight,
His true-love's bower within.

22
He bound his steed to his ain stall,
And gae him corn and hay,
And listened at a shott-window,
To hear what he would say.

23
The first and thing the knight drew out,
It was a coffer fine;
It was as fu o gude black silk,
Make ladyes for to shine.

24
'Ye are too lack o luve, ladye,
And that's a hatefu thing;
Luve me, and lat Brown Adam be,
And a' this shall be thine.'

25
'O well I like Brown Adam,' she said,
'I wyte hee hates nae mee;
I winna forsake him Brown Adam
For a' your gifts an thee.'

26
The next and thing the knight drew out,
It was a coffer small;
It was as fou o shambo gluves,
Woud had her hands frae caul.

27
'Ye are too lack o luve, ladye,
An that's a hatefu thing;
Luve me, an lat Brown Adam be,
An a' this shall be thine.'

28
'O well like I Brown Adam,' she said,
'I'm sure he hates nae me;
I winna forsake him Brown Adam
For a' your gifts an thee.'

29
The next and thing the knight drew out
It was a coffer fine;
It was as fu of gude red gowd
As a guinea coud get in.

30
'You are too lack o luve, ladye,
And that's a hatefu thing;
Luve me, and lat Brown Adam be,
And a' this shall be thine.'

31
'O well I like Brown Adam,' she said,
'I'm sure hee hates nae mee;
I winna forsake him Brown Adam
For a' the gowd ye 'll gie.'

32
Then his mild mood did quickly change,
And grew mair fierce and cruel,
And then drew out a trusty brand,
Which made her heart to pruel.

33
'Since I by you am slighted sae,
Since I frae you maun part,
I swear a vow before I gae,
That this shall pierce your heart.'

34
'But still I like Brown Adam,' she said,
'I wat hee hates nae mee;
And if he knew my troubles now
At my call woud hee be.

35
'Although he were sax miles awa,
He'd seen be at my han;
But wae is me, sae may I say,
Brown Adam tarries lang!'

36
He hit the door then wi his foot,
Made a' the bands to flee:
'Cheer up your heart, my luve Janet,
Your love's nae far frae thee.'

37
Then he drew out a trusty brand,
And chassd him thro the ha;
The knight jumpd to a shott-window,
And woud hae been awa.

38
'Stay still, stay still,' Brown Adam said,
'Make nae sic haste frae mee;
You or I maun rue the race
That I came ower the lee.'

39
Then frae the knight he's taen a wad,
His mantle and his brand;
Likewise he's taen anither wad,
His sword and his sword-hand.

40
He threw him ower the shott-window,
Bade him lie there wi care,
And never come back to gude green wood
To marr fair ladies mair.

41
'O I am brown,' said Brown Adam,
'And I was never whyte;
But my love has robes o different hues,
To wear at her delyght.

42
'Her kirchies be o cambricks fine,
Wi gowd pinnd to the chin;
Her robes shall be o the scarlet hue
She shall gang daily in.'

* * * * *

#A.#

_Anderson cites the first stanza, in exact agreement with
the Jamieson MS., except that the third line begins with
~O~._

3^2. mother (?).

7^4. Beede (?).

15^2. long.

99

JOHNIE SCOT

#A.# 'Jack, the Little Scot,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 5.

#B.# 'McNaughtan,' Glenriddell MSS, XI, 78.

#C.# 'Johnie Scot,' Motherwell's MS., p. 213.

#D.# 'Johnnie Scot,' Motherwell's MS., p. 205.

#E.# 'McNachton,' Motherwell's MS., p. 113.

#F.# 'Bonnie Johnie Scot,' Motherwell's MS., p. 211.

#G.# 'Johnie Scott,' Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 35;
Motherwell's MS., p. 394.

#H.# 'Love Johny,' Kinloch MSS, VI, 53.

#I.# 'Johnie Buneftan,' Kinloch MSS, VII, 39, 41, 43, 45,
47, 49.

#J.# Kinloch MSS, VII, 40, 42, 46, 49.

#K.# 'Johnie, the Little Scot,' Kinloch MSS, I, 311.

#L.# 'Johnnie Scott,' Campbell MSS, I, 57.

#M.# 'Lord Johnnie Scott,' Campbell MSS, II, 335.

#N.# 'Lord John,' Buchan's Gleanings, p. 122.

#O.# 'Johnie Scot,' communicated by Mr Macmath.

#P.# Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 11.

#A# was No 2 of the fifteen ballads in William Tytler's lost Brown MS.: Nichols's Illustrations, VII, 176. There is a copy of #A# in the Abbotsford MS., "Scottish Songs," fol. 24, with many wilful alterations and a few readings from tradition. The ballad printed in Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 204, is a compound of #C#, #D#, #E#, and the one in Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 77, is made up from #I#, #J#, "recited versions obtained in the north and west" of Scotland, with some slight changes.

The story of 'Willie o Winsbury,' No 100, has considerable resemblance to that of 'Johnie Scot,' but Willie's extreme beauty moves the king, the lady's father, to offer his daughter to him in marriage, without a combat. Mrs Brown's version of 'Willie o Douglas Dale,' No 101, #A#, begins with the first stanza of her version of 'Johnie Scot,' #A#. So does 'Young Betrice,' another ballad of hers, No 5 of William Tytler's MS.:

Young Betrice was as brave a knight
As ever saild the sea,
And he's taen him to the court of France,
To serve for meat and fee.

Anderson, who cites this stanza, Nichols's Illustrations, as above, remarks: "The conduct of the story is different from that of No 2 ['Jack, the Little Scot'], which it resembles. Some of the lines are in 'Gil Morrice.'" 'Young Betrice' may possibly be a variety of 'Hugh Spencer:' see 'Hugh Spencer,' #C#.

There is resemblance to 'Child Maurice,' No 83, besides the commonplace of the messenger-boy, in the sending of a token to the lady, #A# 12, 13, #D# 6, #E# 2, #H# 4, 5, #J# 4, #M# 8, #N# 11, 12; 'Child Maurice,' #A# 7, 8, #B# 3, 4, #C# 3, 4, 5, #D#, #E# 6, 7, #F# 17, 18. In the present ballad the token is a sark of silk (#M# 8, simply shirt); so in 'Child Maurice,' #D# 7, #F# 18. The blessing on the errand-boy, #A# 8, is found in 'Fair Mary of Wallington,' No 91, #B# 9.

While John, the Scot, is in service at the English court, the king's daughter becomes with child to him. She is thrown into prison. Johnie, who has fled to Scotland, sends a messenger to her with a token which she will recognize, urging her to come to him. An answer is returned that she is in chains. Johnie resolves to go to the rescue. He is warned of the danger, but a body of Scots attends him, five hundred men, #A-D#, #O#, twenty-four, #E#, #G#, #I#; all unmarried, #B#, #D#, #E#, #G#, #H#, #I#, #O#. When he arrives at the English court, the king asks his name. His name is Pitnachton, #A# 26; McNaughtan, #B# 17, #E# 14, cf. #C# 16; Auchney, #H# 21; Buneftan, #I# 14; Johnie Scot, Love John, #C# 17, #K# 12, #L# 13, #N# 26; Earl Hector, #D# 18. The king will hang the Scot on his daughter's account. Resistance is threatened by Johnie's friends. The king has a champion who will fight them three by three, #A# 29, #B# 20, #E# 18, #F# 17, #N# 30. This champion is an Italian, #A# 29, #I# 17, #L# 16, #N# 31, #O# 8; an Itilian, #H# 27; Talliant, Tailliant, #C# 22, #D# 23, #F# 17, #G# 16. The Scot kills the Italian in a duel. In #C# 24, #D# 25, #F# 19, #G# 18, the Italian jumps over Johnie's head, skims over it like a swallow, and is apparently run through while so doing. Johnie calls for a priest to marry his love and him, the king for a clerk to write the tocher. But tocher is refused by the Scot, who wants only his dearly won lady.

The champion is described in #A# 31 as a gurious (grugous, gruous?) ghost; in #H# 27 as a greecy (frightful) ghost; in #L# 18 he is a fearsome sight, with three women's-spans between his brows and three yards between his shoulders; in the Abbotsford copy of #A#, 29, 30, a grisly sight, with a span between his eyes, between his shoulders three and three, and Johnie scarcely reaching his knee. These points are probably taken from another and a later ballad, which is perhaps an imitation, and might almost be called a parody, of Johnie Scot, 'Lang Johnny Moir:' see Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 248.

The process of striping a sword oer a stane or to the stran, #N# 28, #H# 28, striking it across the plain, #A# 32, #K# 14, is that of whetting or wiping, already noted under No 81, II, 243 f. To the places cited there may be added 'Child Maurice,' #F# 30, 'Jellon Grame,' No 90, #B# 8, 21, #C# 14, 'The Baffled Knight,' No 112, #A# 10. #G# 20^2 is a manifest corruption, a repetition of 17^2; #K# 14 has been corrected, in conformity with #A# 32.

The Rev. Andrew Hall, in his Interesting Roman Antiquities recently discovered in Fife, 1823, p. 216, relates the following story, on traditional authority.[164] James Macgill, of Lindores, had killed Sir Robert Balfour, of Denmiln, in a duel which he had wished to avoid, about the year 1679. Macgill "immediately went up to London in order to procure his pardon, which it seems the king, Charles the Second, offered to grant him upon condition of his fighting an Italian gladiator or bravo, or, as he was then called, a bully; which, it is said, none could be found to do.... Accordingly a large stage was erected for the exhibition before the king and court.... Sir James, it is said, stood on the defensive till the bully had spent himself a little, being a taller man than Sir James. In his mighty gasconading and bravadoing he actually leaped over the knight as if he would swallow him alive, but in attempting to do this a second time Sir James run his sword up through him, and then called out, 'I have spitted him; let them roast him who will.' This not only procured his pardon, but he was also knighted on the spot."

The exploit of Johnie Scot, and, if you please, of Sir James Macgill, has been achieved as well on the south side of the English Channel. The Breton seigneur Les Aubrays, or Lizandré, of St Brieux, is ordered by the French king to undertake a combat with his wild Moor. Les Aubrays asks a page, who brings the king's command, about the Moor's fashion of fighting. The Moor is master of devilish magic, and has herbs about him by virtue of which any wounds he may get are soon healed. The Breton is told, among other things, that he must throw holy water at the Moor the moment the savage draws, and when the Moor makes a leap in the air he must receive him on the point of his sword. These instructions are followed with perfect success. When the Moor is "swimming" in the air, Lizandré so disposes his sword as to take him on it. Luzel, 'Lezobre,' etc., 'Les Aubrays et le More du Roi,' second and third versions, I, 300-03, 294, 295; 'Le Géant Lizandré II, 568-71, 'Le Géant Les Aubrays,' 576-79; Poésies populaires de la France, MS., vol. i, near the beginning. Though the brave Breton is called giant in the title of Luzel's last two versions, nothing is said in the ballads of his being of unusual proportions. He is victorious in nineteen fights, but it is because of his profuse liberality to St Anne; it borders on the irreligious, therefore, to call him a giant.[165]

* * * * *

The copy in Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 204, is translated by Wolff, Halle der Völker, I, 15, Hausschatz, p. 210.

A

Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 5.

1
O Johney was as brave a knight
As ever saild 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 mither 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 castèl,
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 sewd 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 sewd the gare;
You're bidden come to good green wood,
Love Johney waits you there.'

14
She's turnd 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 reachd Pitnachton's towrs,
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 catchd on English groun,
I fear you'll neer 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 startld 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 i 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.'

B

Glenriddell MSS, XI, 78: 1791.

1
Johnny's into England gane,
Three quarters of a year;
Johnny's into England gane,
The king's banner to bear.

2
He had na been in England lang,
But and a little while,
Untill the king's daughter
To Johnny gaes wi child.

3
Word is to the kitchin gane,
And word is to the ha,
And word is to the king's palace,
Amang the nobles a'.

4
Word's gane to the king's palace,
The palace where she sat,
That his ae daughter gaes wi child
To Jock, the Little Scot.

5
'If she be wi child,' he says,
'As I trow well she be,
I'll put her into strang prison,
And hang her till she die.'

6
But up and spak young Johnny,
And O he spake in time:
Is there never a bony boy here
Will rin my errand soon?

7
That will gae to yon castle,
And look it round about?
And there he'll see a fair lady,
The window looking out.

8
Up then spak a bony boy,
And a bony boy was he:
I'll run thy errand, Johnny, he said,
Untill the day I die.

9
'Put on your gown o silk, madam,
And on your hand a glove,
And gang into the good green-wood,
To Johnny, your true-love.'

10
'The fetters they are on my feet,
And O but they are cauld!
My bracelets they are sturdy steel,
Instead of beaten gold.

11
'But I will write a lang letter,
And seal it tenderlie,
And I will send to my true-love,
Before that I do die.'

12
The first look that Johnny lookd,
A loud laughter gae he;
But the next look that Johnny gae,
The tear blinded his ee.

13
He says, I'll into England gae,
Whatever may betide,
And a' to seek a fair woman
That sud hae been my bride.

14
But up and speaks his father,
And O he spak in time:
If that ye into England gae,
I'm feerd ye neer come hame.

15
But up then speaks our gude Scotch king,
And a brisk young man was he:
He's hae five hunder o my life-guard,
To bear him companie.

16
When Johnny was on saddle set,
And seemly for to see,
There was not a married man
Into his companie.

17
When Johnny sat on saddle-seat,
And seemly to behold,
The hair that hang on Johnny's head
Was like the threads o gold.

18
When he cam to ...
He gard the bells a' ring,
Untill the king and a' his court
Did marvel at the thing.

19
'Is this the brave Argyle,' he said,
'That's landed and come hame?
Is this the brave Argyle,' he said,
'Or James, our Scottish king?'

20
'It's no the brave Argyle,' they said,
'That's landed and come hame;
But it is a brave young Scottish knight,
M^cNaughtan is his name.'

21
'If M^cNaughtan be his name,' he says,
'As I trow weel it be,
The fairest lady in a' my court
Gangs wi child to thee.'

22
'If that she be wi child,' he says,
'As I wat weel she be,
I'll mak it lord o a' my land,
And her my gay lady.'

23
'I have a champion in my court
Will fight you a' by three;'
But up then speaks a brisk young man,
And a brisk young man was he:
I will fight to my life's end,
Before poor Johnny die.

24
The king but and his nobles a'
Went out into the plain,
The queen but and her maidens a',
To see young Johnny slain.

25
The first wound that Johnny gae the champion
Was a deep wound and sair;
The next wound that he gae the champion,
He never spak mair.

26
'A priest, a priest,' young Johnny cries,
'To wed me and my love;'
'A clerk, a clerk,' the king he cries,
'To sign her tocher gude.'

27
'I'll hae nane o your goud,' he says,
'I'll hae nane o your gear,
But a' I want is my true-love,
For I hae bought her dear.'

28
He took out a little goat-horn,
And blew baith loud and shill;
The victry's into Scotland gane,
Tho sair against their will.

C

Motherwell's MS., p. 213: from the recitation of Mrs
Thomson, Kilbarchan.

1
O Johnie's to the hunting gone,
Unto the woods sae wild,
And Earl Percy's old daughter
To Johnie goes with child.

2
O word is to the kitchen gone,
And word is to the ha,
And word is to the highest towers,
Amang the nobles a'.

3
'If she be with child,' her father said,
'As woe forbid it be,
I'll put her into a prison strong,
And try the veritie.'

4
'But if she be with child,' her mother said,
'As woe forbid it be,
I'll put her intil a dungeon dark,
And hunger her till she die.'

5
Then she has wrote a braid letter,
And sealed it wi her hand,
And sent it to the merry green wood,
Wi her own boy at command.

6
The first line of the letter he read,
His heart was full of joy;
But he had not read a line past two
Till the salt tears blind his eye.

7
'O I must up to England go,
What ever me betide,
For to relieve that fair ladie
That lay last by my side.'

8
Out and spak his father then,
And he spak all in time:
Johnie, if ye to England go,
I fear ye'll neer return.

9
But out and spak his uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie:
Five hundred of my good life-guards
Shall go along with thee.

10
When they were mounted on their steeds,
They were comely to behold;
The hair that hung owre Johnie's shoulders
Was like the yellow gold.

11
The first town that they came to,
They made the bells to ring;
And when they rode the town all owre,
They made the trumpets sound.

12
When they came to Earl Percy's gates,
They rode them round about,
And who saw he but his own true-love,
At a window looking out!

13
'The doors they are bolted with iron and steel,
The windows round about;
My feet they are in fetters strong;
And how can I get out?

14
'My garters they are of the lead,
And oh but they be cold!
My breast-plate's of the beaten steel,
Instead of beaten gold.'

15
But when they came to Earl Percy's yett,
They tirled at the pin;
None was so ready as Earl Percy
To open and let them in.

16
'Art thou the King of Aulsberry,
Or art thou the King of Spain?
Or art thou one of our gay Scots lords,
M^cNachtan by thy name?'

17
'I'm not the King of Aulsberry,
Nor yet the King of Spain;
But I am one of our gay Scots lords,
Johnie Scot I am called by name.'

18
'If Johnie Scot be thy name,' he said,
'As I trow weel it be,
The fairest lady in a' our court
Gaes big with child to thee.'

19
'If she be with child,' fair Johnie said,
'As I trow weel she be,
I'll make it heir owre a' my land,
And her my gay ladie.'

20
'But if she be with child,' her father said,
'As I trow weel she be,
Tomorrow morn again eight o clock
High hanged thou shalt be.'

21
But out and spak his uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie:
Before that we see Johnie Scot slain,
We'll a' fight till we die.

22
'But is there ever a Tailliant about your court,
That will fight duels three?
Before that I be hanged or slain,
On the Tailliant's sword I'll die.'

23
But some is to the good green wood,
And some is to the plain,
Either to see fair Johnie hanged,
Or else to see him slain.

24
And they began at eight o clock of the morning,
And they fought on till three,
Till the Tailliant, like a swallow swift,
Owre Johnie's head did flee.

25
But Johnie being a clever young boy,
He wheeled him round about,
And on the point of Johnie's broad sword
The Tailliant he slew out.

26
'A priest, a priest,' fair Johnie cried,
'To wed my love and me;'
'A clerk, a clerk,' her father cried,
'To sum the tocher free.'

27
'I'll have none of your gold,' fair Johnie said,
'Nor none of your white monie;
But I will have my own fair bride,
For I vow that I've bought her dear.'

28
He's taen his true-love by the hand,
He led her up the plain:
'Have you any more of your English dogs
You want for to have slain?'

29
He took a little horn out of his pocket,
He blew it baith loud and shill,
And honour's into Scotland gone,
In spite of England's skill.

D

Motherwell MS., p. 205: #a#, "words and tune from Mrs
McNiccol," of Paisley, native of the parish of Houston;
#b#, variations from "John Lindsay, cowfeeder, Wallace
Street, Paisley."

1
O Johnnie Scot walks up and down
Among the woods sae wild;
Who but the Earl of Percy's ae daughter
To him goes big with child!

2
O word is to the kitchen gone,
And word's gone to the hall,
And word is to King Henry gane,
And amongst his nobles all.

3
O Johnnie's called his waiting-man,
His name was Germanie:
'O thou must to fair England go,
Bring me that fair ladie.'

4
He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate,
He tirled at the pin;
'O who is there?' said the proud porter,
'But I daurna let thee in.'

5
So he rade up, and he rode down,
Till he rode it round about;
Then he saw her at a wee window,
Where she was looking out.

6
'O thou must go to Johnnie Scot,
Unto the woods so green,
In token of thy silken shirt,
Thine own hand sewed the seam.'

7
'How can I go to Johnnie Scot?
Or how can I get out?
My breast plate's o the hard, hard iron,
With fetters round about.

8
'But I will write a lang letter,
And give it unto thee,
And thou must take that to Johnnie Scot,
See what answer he sends to me.'

9
When Johnnie looked the letter upon
A sorry man was he;
He had not read one line but two
Till the saut tear did blind his ee.

10
'O I must to fair England go,
Whatever me betide,
All for to fight for that gay ladie
That last lay by my side.'

11
O out and spoke his father then,
And he spoke well in time:
O if you to fair England go,
I doubt your coming home.

12
'O no, O no,' said good King James,
'Before such a thing shall be,
I'll send five hundred of my life-guards,
To bear Johnnie company.'

13
When they were all on saddle set,
Most pleasant to behold,
The hair that hung over Johnnie's neck
Was like the links of gold.

14
When they were all marching away,
Most beautiful to see,
There was not so much as a married man
In Johnnie's company.

15
O Johnnie was the foremost man
In the company that did ride;
King James he was the second man,
Wi his rapier by his side.

16
They rode till they came to Earl Percy's yate,
They tirled at the pin:
'O who is there?' said the proud porter;
'But I daurnot let thee in.

17
'Is it the Duke of York,' he said,
'Or James, our Scotish king?
Or is it one of the Scotish lords,
From hunting new come home?'

18
'It's not the Duke of York,' he said,
'Nor James, our Scotish king;
But it is one of the Scotish lords,
Earl Hector is my name.'

19
When Johnnie came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee:
'O the brawest lady in a' my court
With child goes big to thee.'

20
'O if she be with child,' Johnnie said,
'As I trew well she be,
I will make it heir of all my land,
And her my gay ladie.'

21
'But if she be with child,' said the king,
'As I trew well she be,
Before the morn at ten o clock
High hanged thou shalt be.'

22
'O no, O no,' said good King James,
'Before such a thing shall be,
Before that Johnnie Scot be hanged,
We'll a' fight till we die.'

23
'But there is a Talliant in my court,
Of men he will fight five;
Go bring them out to the green wood,
See wha will gain the prize.'

24
Lords and ladies flocked all,
They flocked all amain,
They flocked all to the green wood,
To see poor Johnnie slain.

25
This Talliant he could find no way
To be poor Johnnie's dead,
But, like unto a swallow swift,
He jumped oer Johnnie's head.

26
But Johnnie was a clever man,
Cunning and crafty withal,
And up on the top of his braid sword
He made this Talliant fall.

27
'A priest, a priest,' then Johnnie cried,
'To marry my love and me;'
'A clerk, a clerk,' her father cried,
'To sum the tocher free.'

28
'I'll take none of your gold,' Johnnie said,
'Nor none of your other gear,
But I'll just have my own true-love,
This day I've won her dear.'

E

Motherwell's MS., p. 113; from the recitation of T. Risk.

1
M^cNaughton's unto England gane,
The king's banner to bear:
'O do you see yon castle, boy?
It's walled round about;
There you will spy a fair ladye,
In the window looking out.'

2
'Here is a silken sark, fair lady,
Thine own hand sewed the sleeve,
And thou must go to yon green wood,
To Johnnie thy true-love.'

3
'The castle it is high, my boy,
And walled round about;
My feet are in the fetters strong,
And how can I get out?

4
'My garters o the gude black iron,
And they are very cold;
My breast plate's of the sturdy steel,
Instead of beaten gold.

5
'But had I paper, pen and ink,
And candle at my command,
It's I would write a lang letter
To John in fair Scotland.'

6
The first line that Johnnie looked on,
A loud, loud lauch leuch he;
The second line that Johnnie looked on,
The tear did blind his ee.

7
Says, I must unto England go,
Whatever me betide,
For to relieve my own fair lady,
That lay last by my side.

8
Then up and spoke Johnnie's auld mither,
A well spoke woman was she:
If you do go to England, Johnnie,
I may take farewell o thee.

9
Then up and spoke Johnnie's old father,
A well spoke man was he:
It's twenty-four of my gay troop
Shall go along with thee.

10
When Johnie was on saddle set,
Right comely to be seen,
There was not so much as a married man
In Johnie's companie;
There was not so much as a married man,
Not a one only but ane.

11
The first gude toun that Johnie came to,
He made the bells be rung;
The next gude toun that Johnie came to,
He made the psalms be sung.

12
The next gude toun that Johnie came to,
He made the drums beat round,
Till the king and all his merry men
A-marvelled at the sound.

13
'Are you the Duke of Mulberry,
Or James, our Scotish king?
Are you the Duke of Mulberry,
From Scotland new come home?'

14
'I'm not the Duke of Mulberry,
Nor James, our Scotish king;
But I am a true Scotishman,
M^cNaughtoun is my name.'

15
'If M^cNaughtoun be your name,' he said,
'As I trew well it be,
The fairest lady in a' my court
She goes with child to thee.

16
'If M^cNauchton be your name,' he said,
'As I trew well it be,
Tomorrow morn by eight o clock
O hanged you shall be.'

17
O Johnie had a bonnie little boy,
His name was Germany:
'Before that we be all hanged, my sovereign,
We'll fight you till we die.'

18
'Say on, say on, my bonnie little boy,
It is well spoken of thee,
For there is a campioun in my court
Shall fight you three by three.'

19
Next morning about eight o'clock
The king and his merry men,
The queen and all her maidens fair,
Came whistling down the green,
To see the cruel fight begin,
And see poor Johnnie slain.

20
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
Wi swords of tempered steel,
Until the drops of red, red blood
Ran prinkling down the field.

21
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
They fought so manfullie
They left not a man alive in all the king's court,
Not a man only but three.

22
'A priest, a priest,' poor Johnie cries,
'To wed my love and me;'
'A clerk, a clerk,' the king did cry,
'To write her portion free.'

23
'I'll have none of your gold,' he says,
'Nor none of your white money,
But I will have mine own fair lady,
Who has been dear to me.'

24
Johnie put a horn unto his mouth,
He blew it wondrous schill;
The sound is unto Scotland gane,
Sair against all their will.

25
He put his horn to his mouth,
He blew it ower again,
And aye the sound the horn cried,
'M^cNaughtoun's cure to them!'

F

Motherwell's MS., p. 211; from the recitation of Agnes
Laird, Kilbarchan, 21 June, 1825.

1
Word has to the kitchen gane,
And word has to the ha,
And word has to the king himsell,
In the chamber where he sat,
That his ae daughter gaes wi bairn
To bonnie Johnie Scot.

2
Word has to the kitchen gane,
And word has to the ha,
And word has to the queen hersell,
In the chamber where she sat,
That her ae dochter gaes wi bairn
To bonnie Johnie Scot.

3
'O if she be wi bairn,' he says,
'As I trew well she be,
We'll put her in a prison strang,
And try her verity.'

4
'O if she be wi bairn,' she says,
'As I trew weel she be,
We'll put her in a dungeon dark,
And hunger her till she die.'

5
Now she has written a letter,
And sealed it with her hand,
And sent it unto Johnie Scot,
To come at her command.

6
The first lang line that he looked to,
He laughed at the same;
The neist lang line that he did read,
The tears did blin his een.

7
'Once more to England I must go,
May God be my sure guide!
And all to see that lady fair
That last lay by my side.'

8
Then out bespoke our Scotish king,
And he spoke manfullie:
I and three thousand of my guards
Will bear you companye.

9
They all were mounted on horseback,
So gallantly they rode;
The hair that hung owre Johnie's shoulders
Was like the links of goud.

10
When they came to the king of England's gate,
They knocked at the pin;
So ready was the king himsell
To open and let them in.

11
'Are you the Duke [of York],' he says,
'Or are ye the King of Spain?
Or are ye some of the gay Scots boys,
From hunting now come hame?'

12
'I am not the Duke of York,' he says,
'Nor yet the King of Spain;
But I am one of the gay Scots boys,
From hunting just come hame.'

13
'If you are one of the Scots boys,
As I trew weel you be,
The fairest lady in my hall
Gaes big wi child to thee.'

14
'Then if she be wi bairn,' he says,
'As I trew weel she be,
I'll make him heir of a' my gear,
And her my fair ladye.'

15
'If she be wi bairn,' her father says,
'As I trew weel she be,
Before the morn at ten o'clock
High hanged thou shall be.'

16
Then out bespake our Scotish king,
And he spoke manfullie:
Before that Johnie Scott be slain,
We'll all fight till we die.

17
'I have a Talliant in my house
We'll fight your men by three;'
'Bring out your trooper,' Johnie says,
'For fain I would him see.'

18
Some gade unto the high mountain,
Some gade unto the plain,
Some at high windows looked out,
To see poor Johnie slain.

19
The Talliant he fought on a while,
Thinking Johnie would retire,
And then he, like a swallow swifte,
Owre Johnie's head did flee.

20
But Johnie was a clever man,
And turned about with speed,
And on the edge of his broadsword
He slew the Talliant dead.

21
Then he has brought the lady out,
And sat her on a dapple-gray,
And being mounted on before,
They briskly rode away.

22
Now the honour unto Scotland came,
In spite of England's skill;
The honour unto Scotland came
In spite of England's will.

G

Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 35, Motherwell MS., p. 394;
from the singing of Agnes Lyle, of Kilbarchan, 24 August,
1825.

1
Johnie Scott's a hunting gone,
To England woods so wild,
Until the king's old dochter dear
She goes to him with child.

2
'If she be with bairn,' her mother says,
'As I trew weel she be,
We'll put her in a dark dungeon,
And hunger her till she die.'

3
'If she be with bairn,' her father says,
'As oh forbid she be!
We'll put her in a prison strong,
And try the veritie.'

4
The king did write a long letter,
Sealed it with his own hand,
And he sent it to Johnie Scot,
To speak at his command.

5
When Johnie read this letter long,
The tear blindit his ee:
'I must away to Old England;
King Edward writes for me.'

6
Out and spak his mother dear,
She spoke aye in time:
Son, if thou go to Old England,
I fear thou'll neer come hame.

7
Out and spoke a Scotish prince,
And a weel spoke man was he:
Here's four and twenty o my braw troops,
To bear thee companie.

8
Away they gade, awa they rade,
Away they rade so slie;
There was not a maried man that day
In Johnie's companie.

9
The first good town that they passed thro,
They made their bells to ring;
The next good town that they passed thro,
They made their music sing.

10
The next gude town that they passed thro,
They made their drums beat round,
The king and a' his gay armies
Admiring at the sound.

11
When they came to the king's court,
They travelled round about,
And there he spied his own true-love,
At a window looking out.

12
'O fain wald I come down,' she says,
'Of that ye needna dout;
But my garters they're of cauld, cauld iron,
And I can no win out.

13
'My garters they're of cauld, cauld iron,
And it is very cold;
My breast-plate is of sturdy steel,
Instead o beaten gold.'

14
Out and spoke the king himsell,
And an angry man was he:
The fairest lady in a' my court,
She goes with child to thee.

15
'If your old doughter be with child,
As I trew weel she be,
I'le make it heir of a' my land,
And her my gay lady.'

16
'There is a Talliant in my court,
This day he's killed three;
And gin the morn by ten o'clock
He'll kill thy men and thee.'

17
Johnie took sword into his hand,
And walked cross the plain;
There was many a weeping lady there,
To see young Johnie slain.

18
The Talliant never knowing this,
Now he'll be Johnie's dead,
But, like unto a swallow swift,
He flew out owre his head.

19
Johnie was a valliant man,
Weel taught in war was he,
And on the point of his broad sword
The Talliant stickit he.

20
Johnie took sword into his hand,
And walked cross the plain:
'Are there here any more of your English dogs
That's wanting to be slain?

21
'A priest, a priest,' young Johnie cries,
'To wed my bride and me;'
'A clerk, a clerk,' her father cries,
'To tell her tocher wi.'

22
'I'm wanting none of your gold,' he says,
'As little of your gear;
But give me just mine own true-love,
I think I've won her dear.'

23
Johnie sets horn into his mouth,
And he blew loud and schrill;
The honour it's to Scotland come,
Sore against England's will.

H

Kinloch MSS, VI, 53, in an unknown hand.

1
'Where will I gett a bony boy,
That would fain win hose and shoon,
That will go on to yon palace,
Aud haste him back again?'

2
'Here am I, a bony boy,
That would fain win hose and shoon,
That will go on to yon palace,
And haste me back again.'

3
'When you come to yon palace,
You'l run it round about;
There you'l see a gay lady,
At the window looking out.

4
'Give hir this shirt of silk,
Hir own hand sewed the slive,
And bid her come to good green woods,
Spear no hir parents' leave.

5
'Give hir this shirt of silk, boy,
Hir own hand sewed the gare;
You'l bid her come to good green woods,
Love Johny, I'll meet hir there.'

6
When he came to yon palace,
He ran it round about,
And there he saw a gay lady,
At the window looking out.

7
'Take here this shirt of silk, lady,
Your own hand sewed the slive;
You're biden come to good green woods,
Spire no your parents' leave.

8
'Take here this shirt of silk, lady,
Your own hand sewed the gare;
You're biden come to good green woods,
Love Johny'll meet you there.'

9
'The staunchens they are strong, boy,
Dear, vow but they are stout!
My feet they are in strong fetters,
And how shall I win out?

10
'My garters is of the cold iron,
Dear, vow but they are cold!
And three splits of the sturdy steel,
Instead of beaten goold.

11
'But I will write a braud leter,
And sign it with my hand,
And I will send it to Love Johny,
Weel may he understand.'

12
And she has wrote [a] braud leter,
And signd it with hir hand,
And sent it on to Love Jony,
Weel did he understand.

13
When he got this letter,
A light laugh did he gie;
But or he read it half down through,
The salt tears blinded 's ee.

14
Says, I'll awa to fair England,
What ever may betide,
And all is for the fair lady
That lay close by my side.

15
Out it spoke Jony's mother,
And she spoke ay through pride;
Says, If ye go to fair England,
Sir, better to you bide.

16
When Jony was on his sadle set,
And seemly to behold,
Every tet o Love Jony's hair
Was like the threads of goold.

17
When Jony was on his sadle set,
And seemly for to see,
There was not a maried man
In a' Jony's company.

18
The first town that they came till,
They gard the bells be rung;
The next town that they came till,
They gard the mess bee sung.

19
When they came to the king's palace,
The drums they did beat round,
And the quien and her marys all
Amased at the sound.

20
'Is this the Duke of Mulberry,
Or James, our Scottish king?
Or is it any noble lord
That's going a visiting?'

21
'It's not the Duke of Mulberry,
Nor James, our Scottish king;
But it is Jack, the Little Scot,
And Auchney is his name.'

22
'If Auchney bee your name,' he said,
'As I trust weel it be,
The fairest lady in all my court
She goes with bairn to the.'

23
'If she be with bairn,' he said,
'As I doubt not nor she be,
I will make it heir oer all my land,
And hir my gay lady.'

24
The king he swore a solemn oath,
And a solemn oath swore he,
'The morn, before I eat or drink,
High hanged he shall be!'

* * * * * * *

25
The king and his nobles all
Went out into the plain,
And the quen and hir marys all,
To see Love Johny slain.

26
They fought up, and they fought down,
With swords of temperd steel,
But not a drop of Johny's blood
In that day he did spill.

27
Out they brought the Itilian,
And a greecy ghost was he,
But by the edge o Love Johny's sword
That Itilian did die.

28
Johny's taen his neat drawn sword,
And stript it to the stran:
'Is there any more of your English dogs
That wants for to be slain?'

29
'A clerck, a clerck,' now says the king,
'To sign her tocher free;'
'A priest, a priest,' said Love Johny,
'To mary my dear and me.

30
'I fought not for your goold, your goold,
I fought not for your gear,
But I fought for my rose Mary,
And vow! I've bought hir dear.'

I

Kinloch MSS, VII, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49.

1
Johnie is up to London gane,
Three quarters o the year,
And he is up to London gane,
The king's banner for to bear.

2
He had na been in fair London
A twalmonth and a day,
Till the king's ae daughter
To Johnie gangs wi child.

3
O word is to the kitchen gane,
And word is to the ha,
And word is to the king himsel
Amang his nobles a'.

* * * * * * *

4
She has wrote a braid letter,
She has wrote it tenderly,
And she's wrote a braid letter,
To lat her Johnie see

5
That her bower is very high,
It's aw weel walled about;
Her feet are in the fetters strang,
Her body looking out.

6
Her garters are of cauld iron,
And they are very cold;
Her breist-plate is o the sturdy steel,
Instead o the beaten gold.

7
Whan he lookit the letter on,
A licht lauch gaed he;
But eer he read it til an end,
The tear blindit his ee.

8
'I maun up to London gang,
Whatever me betide,
And louse that lady out o prison strang;
She lay last by my side.'

9
Up spak Johnie's ae best man,
That stood by Johnie's knie:
Ye'll get twenty four o my best men,
To bear ye companie.

10
When Johnie was in his saddle set,
A pleasant sicht to see,
There was na ae married man
In Johnie's companie.

11
The first toun that he cam till,
He made the mass be sung;
The niest toun that he cam till,
He made the bells be rung.

12
When he cam to fair London,
He made the drums gae round;
The king and his nobles aw
They marvelld at the sound.

13
'Is this the Duke of Winesberry,
Or James, the Scotish king?
Or is it a young gentleman,
That wants for to be in?'

14
'It's na the Duke of Winesberry,
Nor James, the Scotish king;
But it is a young gentleman,
Buneftan is his name.'

15
Up spak the king himsel,
An angry man was he:
The morn eer I eat or drink
Hie hangit sall he be.

16
Up spak Johnie's ae best man,
That stood by Johnie's knie:
Afore our master he be slain
We'll aw fecht till we die.

17
Up spak the king himsel,
And up spak he:
I have an Italian in my court
That will fecht ye manifullie.

18
'If ye hae an Italian in your court,
Fu fain wad I him see;
If ye hae an Italian in your court,
Ye may bring him here to me.'

19
The king and his nobles aw
Went tripping doun the plain,
Wi the queen and her maries aw,
To see fair Johnie slain.

20
Even anent the prison-door
The battle did begin;
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

21
They foucht up, and they foucht doun,
Wi swerds o tempered steel,
Til Johnie wi his gude braidswerd
Made the Italian for to yield.

22
He has kickd him with his foot,
And he has kickd him oure the plain;
'Onie mair Italians in your court
Ye want for to be slain?'

23
'A clerk, a clerk,' the king cried,
'To sign her tocher-fee;'
'A priest, a priest,' young Johnie said,
'To marry her and me.

24
For I want nane o your gowd,
Nor nane o your weel won fee;
I only want your fair dochter,
I have won her mannfullie.'

J

Kinloch MSS, VII, 40, 42, 46, 49.

1
O word is to the queen hersel,
In parlour whare she sat,
That the king's dochter goes wi child
To Jock, that little Scot.

2
O word is to the king himsel,
And an angry man was he;
Says, I will put her in cold prison,
And hunger her till she dee.

3
The ladie was laid in cold prison,
By the king, a grievous man;
And up and starts a little boy,
Upon her window-stane.

4
Says, Here's a silken shift, ladye,
Your ane hand sewed the sleeve,
And ye maun gang to yon greenwud,
And of your freends speir na leave.

5
'My bouer is very hie,' said the lady,
'And it's wondrous hie round about;
My feet are lockit in the iron fetters,
And how can I get out?

6
'But I will write a braid letter,
And seal it tenderlie,
And send it to yon greenwud,
And let young Johnie see.'

7
O Johnie's to his father gane,
And til him did say,
O I maun up to London, father,
And fecht for that lady gay.

8
His father spak but ae word,
Says, I speak it in time;
For an ye gang to London, Johnie,
I fear your coming hame.

9
And out and spak anither youth,
And a pretty youth was he:
Afore I see young Johnie dung
I'll fecht for him till I dee.

* * * * * * *

10
He has wallowd it, he has wallowd it,
He's wallowd it again;
Cries, Onie mae o your English dogs
That wants for to be slain?

11
He set the horn until his mouth,
And he has blawn baith loud and shill;
The victor's doun to Scotland gane,
Richt sair against their will.

K

Kinloch MSS, I, 311.

1
Johnie's up to England gane,
Three quarters o a year;
Johnie's up to England gane,
The king's banner to bear.