Chapter XVII: Appendix: The Lovely Northerne Lasse (1)

#a.# Roxburghe Ballads, I, 190, in the Ballad Society’s reprint, ed.
W. Chappell, I, 587. #b.# Rawlinson Ballads, 566, fol. 205.

#a# WAS printed at London for F. Coules, who, according to Mr Chappell, flourished during the last five years of James First’s reign and throughout that of Charles First: dated by Mr Bullen, 1640. #b# was printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, and J. Wright, 1655–80 (Chappell). There is another copy in the Euing collection, No 166, printed for Francis Coles in the Old Bayly, who may be the same person as the printer of #a#; and a fourth in the Douce collection, II, 137, _verso_, without printer’s name. A copy differing from #a# by only three words is given by R. H. Evans, Old Ballads, 1810, I, 88.

Burton, in the fifth edition of his Anatomy of Melancholy, Oxford, 1638, p. 536, says: “The very rusticks and hog-rubbers ... have their ballads, country tunes, O the broome, the bonny, bonny broome,” etc. (Chappell). This remark is not found in the fourth edition, Oxford, 1632, p. 544. Concerning the air, see Chappell’s Popular Music, pp. 458–61, 613, 783.

THE LOVELY NORTHERNE LASSE.

Who in this ditty, here complaining, shewes
What harme she got, milking her dadyes ewes.

To a pleasant Scotch tune, called The broom of Cowden Knowes.

1
Through Liddersdale as lately I went,
I musing on did passe;
I heard a maid was discontent,
she sighd, and said, Alas!
_All maids that ever deceived was
beare a part of these my woes,
For once I was a bonny lasse,
when I milkt my dadyes ewes.
With, O the broome, the bonny broome,
the broome of Cowdon Knowes!
Faine would I be in the North Countrey,
to milke my dadyes ewes._

2
‘My love into the fields did come,
when my dady was at home;
Sugred words he gave me there,
praisd me for such a one.
His honey breath and lips so soft,
and his alluring eye
And tempting tong, hath woo’d me oft,
now forces me to cry,
_All maids_, &c.

3
‘He joyed me with his pretty chat,
so well discourse could he,
Talking of this thing and of that,
which greatly likëd me.
I was so greatly taken with his speech,
and with his comely making;
He usëd all the meanes could be
to inchant me with his speaking.

4
‘In Danby Forest I was borne;
my beauty did excell;
My parents dearely lovëd me
till my belly began to swell.
I might have beene a prince’s peere
when I came over the knoes,
Till the shepherds boy beguilëd me,
milking my dadyes ewes.

5
‘When once I felt my belly swell,
no longer might I abide;
My mother put me out of doores,
and bangd me backe and side.
Then did I range the world so wide,
wandering about the knoes,
Cursing the boy that helpëd me
to fold my dadyes ewes.

6
‘Who would have thought a boy so young
would have usd a maiden so
As to allure her with his tongue,
and then from her to goe?
Which hath also procured my woe,
to credit his faire shewes,
Which now too late repent I doe,
the milking of the ewes.

7
‘I often since have wisht that I
had never seen his face;
I needed not thus mournefully
have sighed, and said Alas!
I might have matchëd with the best,
as all the country knowes,
Had I escaped the shepherds boy
helpt me to fold my ewes.

8
‘All maidens faire, then have a care
when you a milking goe;
Trust not to young men’s tempting tongues,
that will deceive you so.
Them you shall finde to be unkinde
and glory in your woes;
For the shepheards boy beguilëd mee
folding my dadyes ewes.’

9
‘If you your virgin honours keepe,
esteeming of them deare,
You need not then to waile and weepe,
or your parents anger feare.
As I have said, of them beware
would glory in your woes;
You then may sing with merry cheere,
milking your dadyes ewes.’

10
A young man, hearing her complaint,
did pity this her case,
Saying to her, Sweet beautious saint,
I grieve so faire a face
Should sorrow so; then, sweeting, know,
to ease thee of thy woes,
Ile goe with thee to the North Country,
to milke thy dadyes ewes.

11
‘Leander like, I will remaine
still constant to thee ever,
As Piramus, or Troyalus,
till death our lives shall sever.
Let me be hated evermore,
of all men that me knowes,
If false to thee, sweet heart, I bee,
milking thy dadyes ewes.’

12
Then modestly she did reply,
‘Might I so happy bee
Of you to finde a husband kinde,
and for to marrie me,
Then to you I would during life
continue constant still,
And be a true, obedient wife,
observing of your will.
_With, O the broome, the bonny broome,
the broome of Cowden Knoes!
Faine would I be in the North Country,
milking my dadyes ewes._

13
Thus, with a gentle soft imbrace,
he tooke her in his armes,
And with a kisse he smiling said,
‘Ile shield thee from all harmes,
And instantly will marry thee,
to ease thee of thy woes,
And goe with thee to the North Country,
to milke thy dadyes ewes.’
_With, O the broome, the bonny broome,
the broome of Cowden Knoes!
Faine would I be in the North Country,
to milke my dadyes ewes._

* * * * *

#a.#

_After_ 7: The Second Part.

#b.#

_Title_: in the ditty.

2^1. field.

2^2. from home.

5^6. amongst _for_ about.

6^3. So to.

6^6. hath alas.

7. _Wanting._

8^5. Then.

9^1. virgins.

10^5. I know.

13^3. my _for_ thy.

13^9. With O the broom, &c.

218

THE FALSE LOVER WON BACK

#A.# ‘The Fause Lover,’ Buchan’s MSS, I, 114; Buchan’s Ballads of the
North of Scotland, I, 268.

#B.# ‘The place where my love Johnny dwells,’ Christie’s Traditional
Ballad Airs, I, 144.

A young man is deserting one maid for another. The object of his new fancy lives at a distance, and he is on his way to her. He is followed by his old love from stage to stage; he repelling her, and she tenderly remonstrating. His heart gradually softens; he buys her gifts from town to town, and though each time he bids her go back, he ends with buying her a wedding gown (ring) and marrying her.

Two pretty stanzas in #A#, 4, 5, seem not to belong to this story. The inconstant youth would have been only too glad to have the faithful maid look to other men, and gives her all liberty to do so. These two stanzas are first found in Herd’s MSS, I, 53, and in Herd’s Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 6, as follows:

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

Bot again, dear luve, and again, dear luve,
Will ye not turn again?
As ye look to ither women,
Sall I to ither men.

In a manuscript at Abbotsford, entitled Scottish Songs, 1795 (containing pieces dated up to 1806), fol. 69, they stand thus:

False luve, and hae ye played me this,
In simmer amang the flowers?
I shall repay you back agen
In winter amang the showers.

Unless again, again, dear luve,
But if ye turn agen,
As ye look other women to,
Sall I to other men.

Scott has put these verses, a little varied, into Davie Gellatley’s mouth, in the ninth chapter of ‘Waverley.’ The first, with a change, occurs also in ‘The Gardener,’ No 219, #A# 7, #B# 15, #C# 3.

#A# is translated by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder, p. 141, No 32; by Gerhard, p. 114.

* * * * *

A

<small>Buchan’s MSS, I, 114.</small>

1
A Fair maid sat in her bower-door,
Wringing her lily hands,
And by it came a sprightly youth,
Fast tripping oer the strands.

2
‘Where gang ye, young John,’ she says,
‘Sae early in the day?
It gars me think, by your fast trip,
Your journey’s far away.’

3
He turnd about wi surly look,
And said, What’s that to thee?
I’m gaen to see a lovely maid,
Mair fairer far than ye.

4
‘Now hae ye playd me this, fause love,
In simmer, mid the flowers?
I shall repay ye back again,
In winter, mid the showers.

5
‘But again, dear love, and again, dear love,
Will ye not turn again?
For as ye look to other women,
I shall to other men.’

6
‘Make your choice of whom you please,
For I my choice will have;
I’ve chosen a maid more fair than thee,
I never will deceive.’

7
But she’s kilt up her claithing fine,
And after him gaed she;
But aye he said, Ye’ll turn again,
Nae farder gae wi me.

8
‘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!’

9
The first an town that they came till,
He bought her brooch and ring;
And aye he bade her turn again,
And gang nae farder wi him.

10
‘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!’

11
The next an town that they came till,
He bought her muff and gloves;
But aye he bade her turn again,
And choose some other loves.

12
‘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!’

13
The next an town that they came till,
His heart it grew mair fain,
And he was as deep in love wi her
As she was ower again.

14
The next an town that they came till,
He bought her wedding gown,
And made her lady of ha’s and bowers,
Into sweet Berwick town.

* * * * *

B

Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 144; from the recitation of a
woman born in Buchan.

1
The sun shines high on yonder hill,
And low on yonder town;
In the place where my love Johnny dwells,
The sun gaes never down.

2
‘O when will ye be back, bonny lad,
O when will ye be hame?’
‘When heather-hills are nine times brunt,
And a’ grown green again.’

3
‘O that’s ower lang awa, bonny lad,
O that’s ower lang frae hame;
For I’ll be dead and in my grave
Ere ye come back again.’

4
He put his foot into the stirrup
And said he maun go ride,
But she kilted up her green claithing
And said she woudna bide.

5
The firsten town that they came to,
He bought her hose and sheen,
And bade her rue and return again,
And gang nae farther wi him.

6
‘Ye likena me at a’, bonny lad,
Ye likena me at a’;’
‘It’s sair for you likes me sae weel
And me nae you at a’.’

7
The nexten town that they came to,
He bought her a braw new gown,
And bade her rue and return again,
And gang nae farther wi him.

8
The nexten town that they came to,
He bought her a wedding ring,
And bade her dry her rosy cheeks,
And he would tak her wi him.

9
‘O wae be to your bonny face,
And your twa blinkin een!
And wae be to your rosy cheeks!
They’ve stown this heart o mine.

10
‘There’s comfort for the comfortless,
There’s honey for the bee;
There’s comfort for the comfortless,
There’s nane but you for me.’

* * * * *

#A.#

9^1. first and: come.

11^1, 13^1. next and.

_Variations in_ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 268.

5^4. Shall I.

6^1. your choose.

7^3. turn back.

7^4. gang.

11, 12. _Omitted._

13^3. as _wanting_.

14^4. In bonny Berwick.

219

THE GARDENER

#A.# Kinloch MSS, V, 47. ‘The Gardener,’ Kinloch MSS, VII, 19;
Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 74.

#B.# ‘The Gardener Lad,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland,
II, 187.

#C.# Fragment communicated by Dr Thomas Davidson.

A gardener will apparel a maid from head to foot with flowers, if she will be his bride. He gets a wintry answer: the snow shall be his shirt, the wind his hat, the rain his coat.

#B# 1–6 is mere jargon, foisted into this pretty ballad as a preface.

#A# 7, #B# 15, #C# 3, is found, substantially, in the preceding ballad, and perhaps belonged originally to neither.

Freely translated from #A# and #B# by Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder, p. 134, No 30.

* * * * *

A

Kinloch MSS, V, 47, in the handwriting of James Beattie; from the
recitation of his aunt, Miss Elizabeth Beattie.

1
The gardener stands in his bower-door,
With a primrose in his hand,
And by there came a leal maiden,
As jimp ‘s a willow wand.
And by, etc.

2
‘O lady, can you fancy me,
For to be my bride,
You’ll get a’ the flowers in my garden,
To be to you a weed.

3
‘The lily white shall be your smock;
Becomes your body neat;
And your head shall be deckd with jelly-flower,
And the primrose in your breast.

4
‘Your gown shall be o the sweet-william,
Your coat o camovine,
And your apron o the salads neat,
That taste baith sweet and fine.

5
‘Your stockings shall be o the broad kail-blade,
That is baith broad and long;
And narrow, narrow at the coot,
And broad, broad at the brawn.

6
‘Your gloves shall be the marygold,
All glittering to your hand,
Well spread oer wi the blue blaewort,
That grows in corn-land.’

7
‘O fare you well, young man,’ she says,
‘Farewell, and I bid adieu;
Since you’ve provided a weed for me,
Among the summer flowers,
Then I’ll provide another for you,
Among the winter showers.

8
‘The new-fallen snow to be your smock;
Becomes your body neat;
And your head shall be deckd with the eastern wind,
And the cold rain on your breast.’

* * * * *

B

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 187

1
All ye young men, I pray draw near,
I’ll let you hear my mind
Concerning those who fickle are,
And inconstant as the wind.

2
A pretty maid who late livd here,
And sweethearts many had,
The gardener-lad he viewd them all,
Just as they came and gaed.

3
The gardener-lad he viewd them all,
But swore he had no skill:
‘If I were to go as oft to her,
Ye surely would me kill.

4
‘I’m sure she’s not a proper maid,
I’m sure she is not tall;’
Another young man standing by,
He said, Slight none at all.

5
‘For we’re all come of woman,’ he said,
‘If ye woud call to mind,
And to all women for her sake
Ye surely should be kind.’

6
‘The summer hours and warm showers
Make the trees yield in the ground,
And kindly words will woman win,
And this maid I’ll surround.’

7
The maid then stood in her bower-door,
As straight as ony wand,
When by it came the gardener-lad,
With his hat in his hand.

8
‘Will ye live on fruit,’ he said?
‘Or will ye marry me?
And amongst the flowers in my garden
I’ll shape a weed for thee.’

9
‘I will live on fruit,’ she says,
‘But I’ll never marry thee;
For I can live without mankind,
And without mankind I’ll die.’

10
‘Ye shall not live without mankind,
If ye’ll accept of me;
For among the flowers in my garden
I’ll shape a weed for thee.

11
‘The lily white to be your smock;
Becomes your body best;
And the jelly-flower to be your quill,
And the red rose in your breast.

12
‘Your gown shall be o the pingo white,
Your petticoat cammovine,
Your apron o the seel o downs;
Come smile, sweet heart o mine!

13
‘Your shoes shall be o the gude rue red—
Never did I garden ill—
Your stockings o the mary mild;
Come smile, sweet heart, your fill!

14
‘Your gloves shall be o the green clover,
Comes lockerin to your hand,
Well dropped oer wi blue blavers,
That grow among white land.’

15
‘Young man, ye’ve shap’d a weed for me,
In summer among your flowers;
Now I will shape another for you,
Among the winter showers.

16
‘The snow so white shall be your shirt;
It becomes your body best;
The cold bleak wind to be your coat,
And the cold wind in your breast.

17
‘The steed that you shall ride upon
Shall be o the weather snell,
Well bridled wi the northern wind,
And cold sharp showers o hail.

18
‘The hat you on your head shall wear
Shall be o the weather gray,
And aye when you come into my sight
I’ll wish you were away.’

* * * * *

C

Communicated from memory by Dr Thomas Davidson as learned in Old
Deer, Aberdeenshire.

1
Burd Ellen stands in her bower-door,
As straucht ‘s a hollan wand,
And by it comes the gairdner-lad,
Wi a red rose in his hand.

2
Says, I have shapen a weed for thee
Amang my simmer flowers;
. . . . . . .
. . . . . .

* * * * * *

3
‘Gin ye hae shapen a weed for me,
Amang your simmer flowers,
It’s I’ll repay ye back again,
Amang the winter showers.

4
‘The steed that ye sall ride upon
Sall be o the frost sae snell,
And I’ll saddle him wi the norlan winds,
And some sharp showers o hail.’

* * * * * *

* * * * *

#A.#

_Kinloch has made changes in MSS, VII, 19, which appear in his
printed copy._

#C.#

2. “He goes on to describe his weed, promising to array her in
flowers more gorgeously than Solomon in all his glory.”

4. “She continues, after the same style.”

220

THE BONNY LASS OF ANGLESEY

#A.# ‘The Bonny Lass of Anglesey,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 148; Herd’s Ancient
and Modern Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 231.

#B.# ‘The Bonny Lass o Englessie’s Dance,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the
North of Scotland, II, 63.

This little ballad might perhaps rightfully have come in earlier, if I had known what to make of it. There is a resemblance, remarkable as far as it goes, to ‘Little Kirstin’s Dance,’ Grundtvig, V, 118, No 263. Here the dance is for a match; the lass asks what she is to have if she wins, and is promised fifteen (five) ploughs and a mill, and her choice of the king’s knights for a husband. In the Danish ballad (#A#), a king’s son, to induce Little Kirstin to dance before him, promises a succession of gifts, none of which avail until he plights his honor and troth. The remainder of the story is like the conclusion of ‘Gil Brenton,’ No 5: see especially I, 66. (Danish #A# is translated by Prior, III, 89, No 112.)

Kirstin tires out fifteen knights in Danish #A# 12, #B# 10, #D# 14 (in #C# 7 eleven); and a Kirstin tires out fifteen partners again in Grundtvig, No 126, #F# 32, No 245, #A# 16. In Norwegian versions of No 263, given by Grundtvig in an appendix, numbers are not specified; Kirstin in Norwegian #A# 6, #D# 18, tires out all the king’s knights.

Buchan quite frightens one by what he says of his version, II, 314: “It is altogether a political piece, and I do not wish to interfere much with it.”

* * * * *

A

Herd’s MSS, I, 148.

1
Our king he has a secret to tell,
And ay well keepit it must be:
The English lords are coming down
To dance and win the victory.

2
Our king has cry’d a noble cry,
And ay well keepit it must be:
‘Gar saddle ye, and bring to me
The bonny lass of Anglesey.’

3
Up she starts, as white as the milk,
Between him and his company:
What is the thing I hae to ask,
If I sould win the victory?’

4
‘Fifteen ploughs but and a mill
I gie thee till the day thou die,
And the fairest knight in a’ my court
To chuse thy husband for to be.’

5
She’s taen the fifteen lord[s] by the hand,
Saying, ‘Will ye come dance with me?’
But on the morn at ten o’clock
They gave it oer most shamefully.

6
Up then rais the fifteenth lord—
I wat an angry man was he—
Laid by frae him his belt and sword,
And to the floor gaed manfully.

7
He said, ‘My feet shall be my dead
Before she win the victory;’
But before ’twas ten o’clock at night
He gaed it oer as shamefully.

* * * * *

B

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 63.

1
Word has gane thro a’ this land,
And O well noticed it maun be!
The English lords are coming down
To dance and gain the victorie.

2
The king has made a noble cry,
And well attended it maun be:
‘Come saddle ye, and bring to me
The bonny lass o Englessie.’

3
She started up, a’ dress’d in white,
Between him and his companie;
Said, What will ye gie, my royal liege,
If I will dance this dance for thee?

4
‘Five good ploughs but and a mill
I’ll give you till the day ye die;
The bravest knight in all my court,
I’ll give, your husband for to be.’

5
She’s taen the first lord by the hand,
Says, ‘Ye’ll rise up and dance wi me;’
But she made a’ these lords fifeteen
To gie it up right shamefullie.

6
Then out it speaks a younger lord,
Says, ‘Fye for shame! how can this be?’
He loosd his brand frae aff his side,
Likewise his buckler frae his knee.

7
He sware his feet should be his dead
Before he lost the victorie;
He danc’d full fast, but tired at last,
And gae it up as shamefullie.

* * * * *

#A.#

1^2, 2^2. we’ll keep it must and be.

221

KATHARINE JAFFRAY

#A. a.# ‘Katharine Jaffray,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 61, II, 56. #b.# The
Aldine edition of Burns, 1839, III, 181, four stanzas.

#B.# ‘The Laird of Laminton,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 164, II, 58.

#C.# ‘Katherine Jaffarie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border
Minstrelsy,” No 30, Abbotsford.

#D.# ‘The Laird of Laminton,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border
Minstrelsy,” No 3, Abbotsford.

#E.# ‘Cathrine Jaffray,’ Skene MS., p. 81.

#F.# ‘Catherine Janferry,’ Kinloch MSS, V, 315.

#G.# ‘Catharine Jaffery,’ Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, 1824, p.
34.

#H.# Kinloch MSS, V, 313.

#I.# Motherwell’s MS., p. 327.

#J.# ‘Catherine Johnson,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 75; ‘Catherine
Johnstone,’ Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, 1827, p. 225.

#K.# ‘Loch-in-var,’ Buchan’s Gleanings, 1825, p. 74.

#L.# Macmath MS., p. 72, two stanzas.

The ballad was first published by Sir Walter Scott, under the title ‘The Laird of Laminton,’ in the first edition of the Minstrelsy, 1802, I, 216. This copy was fashioned by the editor from two in Herd’s MSS, #A#, #B#. In later editions of the Minstrelsy (III, 122, 1833), the ballad was given, with the title Katharine Janfarie, “in a more perfect state, from several recited copies.” Twelve stanzas out of twenty-one, however, are repeated from the first edition. Much the larger part of what is not in Herd is taken from #C#; the name Lochinvar is adopted from #D#.[116] A few peculiar readings may be from copies now not known, or may be the editor’s.

The ballad in Christie, II, 16, is Scott’s later copy, with the omission of the 16th stanza. That in Nimmo’s Songs and Ballads of Clydesdale, p. 141, is #J#, from Motherwell’s Minstrelsy.

A Scots laird wooes a Scots maid and wins her favor. An English laird or lord, very liberal as to gowd and gear, comes to court the same lass, gains the consent of her friends (who had at least made no opposition to the earlier suit), and sets the wedding-day. The first lover comes to the wedding, backed by a strong body of armed men, whom he keeps out of sight. He is asked why he has come; it is for a sight of the bride or a word with her, or to take a glass of wine with her or the bridegroom, and this had he will go away. Getting near the bride on this pretence, he swings her on to his horse and is off. A bloody fight follows, but the bride is not retrieved. Englishmen may take warning by this not to seek wives in Scotland; it will always end in their being tricked and balked.

The attitude of the young woman to her first lover is not distinctly brought out in several copies. That she had jilted him in favor of a wealthier Englishman would probably not lessen the Scot’s pleasure in carrying her off. In #E# 18, she does not go willingly; she greets and wrings her hands, and says it’s foul play.[117] In #F# 2, #G# 2, the first lover openly charges her with changing and foul play, and such is the implication in #E# 13. In #B# 14, the bride, seeing the bloodshed, exclaims, Wae’s me for foul play! and her lover replies, Wae to your wilful will for causing so much good blood to be spilt! from which we must infer a fault on her part. #I# 2 has the ambiguous line ‘and his love drew away,’ which cannot be interpreted to mean that the first lover was inconstant without flying in the face of all the other copies. #D#, #J#, #K#, unequivocally represent the lass as faithful to her first love. The bridegroom, in these versions, arranges the match with the family, and does not mention the matter to the lass until the wedding-day: so in #C#, #H#.[118] She sends word to her lover that if he will come for her she will go with him, #D#; writes ‘to let him understand,’ #J#, #K#, and not to pay him the cold compliment of an invitation to see her wed the man that has supplanted him, as in #B# 3, #E# 5,#F# 5, #I# 3.

In #E# 7–9, while the first lover is drinking with his comrades they incite him to carry off the bride on her wedding-day; so #G# 6, without explanation of the circumstances. In #E# 7–9, 12–15, he goes to the bridal-house, and sitting at a table vents words which the other guests cannot understand: there was a young man who loved a lass that to-day goes another man’s bride, and plays her old love foul play; had _he_ been so served, he would take the bride away. Upon this the English ask if he wishes a fight. There is something of this in #B# 7–10, #F# 13, 14, #G# 11–14.

The lover would wish to keep the strong body of men that he had brought with him quite in the background until their cue came. When, therefore, in #I# 8, 9, the bridegroom’s friends ask him what was that troop of younkers they had seen, he puts them off with the phrase, It must have been the Fairy Court; so in #L#. In #B# 5, 6 (where a stanza, and more, has dropped out), when the bridegroom sees this troop from a high window, the bride (from incredulity, it must be, and not because she is in concert with her old lover) says he must have seen the Fairy Court. #G# 15, 16, where the phrase comes in again, seems to have suffered corruption; any way, the passage is not quite intelligible to me.

Katharine Jaffray (Jamphray, Janfarie) is the lass’s name in #A#, #C-G#, #K#, #L#; Katharine Johnstone[119] in #J#; in #B#, #H#, #I#, she is nameless.

The lover is Lochinvar in #E#, #F#, #G#, #I#, #K#, #L# (note); Lamington in #D#, #H#, #J#; Lauderdale in #A#, #C#; he has no name in #B#. The bridegroom is Lochinvar in #D#, #H#; Lamington in #B#, Lymington, #K#; Lauderdale in #F#, #G#; Lochinton #A#, Lamendall #E#, Limberdale #I# (obvious mixtures of the preceding); Faughanwood in #C#; in #J# he has no name. The bridegroom should be an Englishman, but Lochinvar, Lamington, and Lauderdale are all south-Scottish names. #B# puts a Scot from the North Country in place of the titular Englishman of the other copies, but this Norland man is laird of Lamington.

The place of the fight is Cadan bank and Cadan brae, #C#, #D#; Cowden bank (banks) and Cowden brae (braes), #A#, #H#, #J#, the variation being perhaps due to the very familiar Cowdenknows; Callien, Caylin, Caley bank (buss) and brae, in #E#, #I#, #F#; Foudlin dyke and Foudlin stane in #K#. No place is named in #B#, #G#[120]. In #I#, the lass lives in Bordershellin.

A copy from the recitation of a young Irishwoman living in Taunton, Massachusetts (learned from print, I suppose, and in parts imperfectly remembered), puts the scene of the story at Edenborough town. A squire of high degree had courted a comely country girl. When her father came to hear of this, he was an angry man, and “requested of his daughter dear to suit his company,” or to match within her degree. The only son of a farmer in the east had courted this girl until he thought he had won her, and had got the consent of her father and mother. The girl writes the squire a letter to tell him that she is to be married to the farmer’s son. He writes in answer that she must dress in green at her wedding (a color which no Scots girl would wear, for ill luck), and he will wear a suit of the same, and wed her ‘in spite of all that’s there.’ He mounts eight squire-men on milk-white steeds, and rides ‘to the wedding-house, with the company dressed in green.’ (See the note to #L#.)

‘O welcome you, fair welcome!
And where have you spent all day?
Or did you see those gentlemen
That rode along this way?’

He looked at her and scoffed at her,
He smiled and this did say,
‘They might have been some fairy troops,
That rode along this way.’

She fills him a glass of new port wine, which he drinks to all the company, saying, Happy is the man that is called the groom, but another may love her as well as he and take her from his side.

Up spoke the intended groom,
And an angry man was he,
Saying, If it is to fight that you came here,
I am the man for thee.

‘It is not to fight that I came here,
But friendship for to show;
So give me one kiss from your lovely bride,
And away from you I’ll go.’

He took her by the waist so small,
And by the grass-green sleeve;
He took her out of the wedding-house,
Of the company asked no leave.

The drums did beat and the trumpets sound,
Most glorious to be seen,
And then away to Edenborough town,
With the company dressed in green.

Scott’s Lochinvar, in the fifth canto of Marmion, was modelled on ‘Katharine Jaffray.’

Another ballad (but a much later and inferior) in which a lover carries off a bride on her wedding-day is ‘Lord William,’ otherwise ‘Lord Lundy,’ to be given further on.

A Norse ballad of the same description is ‘Magnus Algotsøn,’ Grundtvig, No 181, III, 734,[121] Syv, No 77,==‘Ungen Essendal,’ Kristensen, Jydske Folkeminder, I, 104, No 41, ‘Hr. Essendal,’ X, 247, No 61, A, B. Syv’s version is translated by Jamieson, Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 335.

Scott’s ballad is translated by Schubart, p. 198, Doenniges, p. 15. Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 65, translates Aytoun.

* * * * *

A

#a.# Herd’s MSS, I, 61, II, 56. #b.# The Aldine edition of Burns’s
Poems, by Sir Harris Nicolas, 1839, III, 181, from Burns’s
autograph.

1
There livd a lass in yonder dale,
And doun in yonder glen, O
And Kathrine Jaffray was her name,
Well known by many men. O

2
Out came the Laird of Lauderdale,
Out frae the South Countrie,
All for to court this pretty maid,
Her bridegroom for to be.

3
He has teld her father and mither baith,
And a’ the rest o her kin,
And has teld the lass hersell,
And her consent has win.

4
Then came the Laird of Lochinton,
Out frae the English border,
All for to court this pretty maid,
Well mounted in good order.

5
He’s teld her father and mither baith,
As I hear sindry say,
But he has nae teld the lass her sell,
Till on her wedding day.

6
When day was set, and friends were met,
And married to be,
Lord Lauderdale came to the place,
The bridal for to see.

7
‘O are you came for sport, young man:
Or are you come for play?
Or are you come for a sight o our bride,
Just on her wedding day?’

8
‘I’m nouther come for sport,’ he says,
‘Nor am I come for play;
But if I had one sight o your bride,
I’ll mount and ride away.’

9
There was a glass of the red wine
Filld up them atween,
And ay she drank to Lauderdale,
Wha her true-love had been.

10
Then he took her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
And he mounted her high behind him there,
At the bridegroom he askt nae leive.

11
Then the blude run down by the Cowden Banks,
And down by Cowden Braes,
And ay she gard the trumpet sound,
‘O this is foul, foul play!’

12
Now a’ ye that in England are,
Or are in England born,
Come nere to Scotland to court a lass,
Or else ye’l get the scorn.

13
They haik ye up and settle ye by,
Till on your wedding day,
And gie ye frogs instead o fish,
And play ye foul, foul play.

* * * * *

B

Herd’s MSS, I, 164, II, 58.

1
The gallant laird of Lamington
Cam frae the North Countree
To court a gallant gay lady,
And wi presents entered he.

2
He neither stood for gould nor gear—
For she was a well-fared may—
And whan he got her friends’ consent
He set the wedding-day.

3
She’s sent unto her first fere love,
Gin he would come to see,
And he has sent word back again
Weel ans_were_d should she be.

4
He has sent a mess_en_g_e_r
Right quietly throe the land,
Wi mony armed men,
To be at his command.

5
The bridegroom looked out at a high window,
Beheld baith dool and doon,
And there he spied her first fere love,
Come riding to the toun.

6
She scoffed and she scorned him,
Upo the wedding-day,
And said it had been the Fairy Court
That he had seen in array.

7
But as he sat at yon table-head,
Amo yon gentlemen,
And he began to speak some words
That na ane there could ken.

8
‘There is a lass into this town—
She is a weel-far’d may—
She is another man’s bride today,
But she’ll play him foul play.’

9
Up did start the bonny bridegroom,
His hat into his hand,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . .

10
‘O cam you here, young man, to fight?
Or came you here to flee?
Or cam you here to drink good wine,
And be good company?’

11
They filled a cup o good red wine,
Drunk out between them twa:
‘For one dance wi your bonny bride,
I shall gae hame my wa.’

12
He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
He’s mounted her high behind himself,
At her kin’s speired nae leave.

13
Now . . . . . .
And swords flew in the skies,
And droop and drowsie was the blood
Ran our yon lilly braes.

14
The blood ran our the lilly bank,
And our the lilly brae,
And sighing said the bonny bride,
‘A, wae’s me for foul play!’

15
‘My blessing on your heart, sweet thing,
Wae to your wilfu will!
So many a gallant gentleman’s blood
This day as ye’ve garred spill.

16
‘But a’ you that is norland men,
If you be norland born,
Come never south to wed a bryde,
For they’ll play you the scorn.

17
‘They will play you the scorn
Upo your wedding-day,
And gie you frogs instead o fish,
And do you foul, foul play.’

* * * * *

C

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 30,
Abbotsford. Sent Scott by William Laidlaw, in September, 1802;
obtained by him from Jean Scott.

1
There leeft a may, an a weel-far’d may,
High, high up in yon glen; O
Her name was Katarine Janfarie,
She was courtit by monie men. O

2
Up then cam Lord Lauderdale,
Up thrae the Lawland border,
And he has come to court this may,
A’ mountit in gude order.

3
He’s telld her father, he’s telld her mother,
An a’ the lave o her kin,
An he has telld the bonnie lass hersel,
An has her favour win.

4
Out then cam Lord Faughanwood,
Out frae the English border,
An for to court this well-far’d may,
A’ mountit in gude order.

5
He telld her father, he telld her mother,
An a’ the rest o her kin,
But he neer telld the bonnie lass hersell
Till on her waddin-een.

6
When they war a’ at denner set,
Drinkin the bluid-red wine,
’Twas up then cam Lord Lauderdale,
The bridegroom soud hae been.

7
Up then spak Lord Faughanwood,
An he spak very slee:
‘O are ye come for sport?’ he says,
‘Or are ye come for play?
Or are ye come for a kiss o our bride,
An the morn her waddin-day?’

8
‘O I’m no come for ought,’ he says,
‘But for some sport or play;
An ae word o yer bonnie bride,
Than I’ll horse an ride away.’

9
She filld a cup o the gude red wine,
She filld it to the ee:
‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,
An a’ your companie.’

10
She filld a cup o the gude red wine,
She filld it to the brim:
‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,
My bridegroom should hae been.’

11
He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,
And by the gars-green sleeve,
An he has mountit her behind him,
O the bridegroom spierd nae leave.

12
‘It’[s] now take yer bride, Lord Faughanwood,
Now take her an ye may;
But if ye take yer bride again
We will ca it foul play.’

13
There war four a twenty bonnie boys,
A’ clad i the simple gray;
They said the wad take their bride again,
By the strang hand an the may.

14
Some o them were fu willin men,
But they war na willin a’;
Sae four an twentie ladies gay
Bade them ride on their way.

15
The bluid ran down by the Cadan bank,
An in by the Cadan brae,
An ther the gard the piper play
It was a’ for foul, foul play.

16
A’ ye lords in fair England
That live by the English border,
Gang never to Scotland to seek a wife,
Or than ye’ll get the scorn.

17
They’ll keep ye up i temper guid
Untill yer wadin-day,
They’ll thraw ye frogs instead o fish,
An steal your bride away.

* * * * *

D

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No. 3,
Abbotsford. Sent Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw;
received by him from Mr Bartram of Biggar.

1
There lives a lass into yon bank,
She lives hersell alone,
Her name is Kathrine Jamphray,
Well known by many a one.

2
Than came the Laird of Lamington,
It’s frae the West Countrie,
And for to court this bonnie may,
Her bridegroom hopes to be.

3
He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,
And the chief of all her kin,
But still he askd the lass hersell,
Till he had her true love won.

4
At length the Laird of Lachenware
Came from the English border,
And for to court this bonnie bride,
Was mounted in good order.

5
He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,
As I heard many say,
But he never loot the lassie wit
Till on her wedding-day.

6
She sent a spy into the west
Where Lamington might be,
That an he wad come and meet wi her
That she wad with him gae.

7
They taen her on to Lachenware,
As they have thought it meet;
They taen her on to Lachanware,
The wedding to compleat.

8
When they came to Lachanware,
And near-han by the town,
There was a dinner-making,
Wi great mirth and renown.

9
Lamington has mounted twenty-four wiel-wight men,
Well mounted in array,
And he’s away to see his bonnie bride,
Just on her wedding-day.

10
When she came out into the green,
Amang her company,
Says, ‘Lamington and Lachanware
This day shall fight for me.’

11
When he came to Lachanware,
And lighted on the green,
There was a cup of good red wine
Was filled them between,
And ay she drank to Lamington,
Her former love who’d been.

12
It’s out and spake the bridegroom,
And a angrie man was he:
‘It’s wha is this, my bonnie bride,
That ye loe better than me?

13
‘It’s came you here for sport, young man?
Or came you here for play?
Or came you for a sight of my bonnie bride,
Upon her wedding-day?’

14
‘I came not here for sport,’ he says,
‘Nor came I here for play;
But an I had ae word of your bride,
I’ll horse and gae my way.’

15
The first time that he calld on her,
Her answer was him Nay;
But the next time that he calld on her,
She was not slow to gae.

16
He took her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
He’s pulld her on behind him,
At the bridegroom speard nae leave.

17
The blood ran up the Caden bank,
And down the Caden brae,
And ay she bade the trumpet sound
‘It’s a’ for foul, foul play.’

18
‘I wonder o you English squires,
That are in England born,
That ye come to court our Scots lasses,
For fear ye get the scorn.

19
‘For fear you get the scorn,’ she says,
‘Upon y_ou_r wedding-day;
They’ll gee you frogs instead of fish,
And take your bride away.’

20
Fair fa the lads of Lamington,
Has taen their bride away!
They’ll set them up in temper wood
And scorn you all day.

* * * * *

E

Skene MS., p. 81; taken down in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1
Bonny Cathrin Jaffray,
That proper maid sae fare,
She has loved young Lochinvar,
She made him no compare.

2
He courted her the live-long winter-night,
Sae has he the simmer’s day;
He has courted her sae long
Till he sta her heart away.

3
But the lusty laird of Lamendall
Came frae the South Country,
An for to gain this lady’s love
In entreid he.

4
. . . . . . .
. . . . . .
He has gained her friends’ consent,
An sett the wedding-day.

5
The wedding-day it being set,
An a’ man to it . . . ,
She sent for her first fair love,
The wedding to come to.

6
His father an his mother came,
. . . . . . .
They came a’, but he came no;
It was a foul play.

7
Lochinvar, as his comrads
Sat drinkine at the wine,
[‘Fie] on you,’ said his comrads,
‘Tak yer bride for shame.

8
‘Had she been mine, as she was yours,
An done as she has done to you,
I wad tak her on her bridal-day,
Fra a’ her companie.

9
‘Fra a’ her companie,
Without any other stay;
I wad gie them frogs insted o fish,
An tak their bride away.’

10
He gat fifty young men,
They were gallant and gay,
An fifty maidens,
An left them on a lay.

11
Whan he cam in by Callien bank,
An in by Callien brae,
He left his company
Dancing on a lay.

12
He cam to the bridal-house,
An in entred he;
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

13
‘There was a young man in this place
Loved well a comly may,
But the day she gaes an ither man’s bride,
An played him foul play.

14
‘Had it been me as it was him,
An don as she has don him tee,
I wad ha geen them frogs instead o fish,
An taen their bride away.’

15
The English spiered gin he wad fight;
It spak well in his mind;
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

16
‘It was no for fightin I cam here,
But to bear good fellowship;
Gae me a glass wi your bridegroom,
An so I go my way.’

17
The glass was filled o guid red wine,
. . . between them twa:
‘Man, man I see yer bride,
An so I gae my waa.’

18
He was on guid horseback,
An whipt the bride him wi;
She grat an wrang her hands,
An said, ‘It is foul play.

19
. . . . . . .
‘An this I dare well say,
For this day I gaed anither man’s bride,
An it’s been foul play.’

20
But now sh’s Lochinvar’s wife,
. . . . . . .
He gaed them frogs instead o fish,
An tain their bride away.

* * * * *

F

Kinloch MSS, V, 315, in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.

1
Bonny Catherine Janferry,
The dainty dame so fair,
She’s faun in love wi young Lochinvar,
And she loved him without compare.

2
She loved him well, and wondrous well
To change her mind away;
But the day she goes another man’s bride,
And plays him foul play.

3
Home came the Laird o Lauderdale,
A’ from the South Countree,
And a’ to court this weel-fart may,
And I wat good tent took he.

4
Gold nor gear he did no spare,
She was so fair a may,
And he agreed wi her friends all,
And set the wedding-day.

5
She sent for her first true-love,
Her wedding to come tee;
His father and his mother both,
They were to come him wi.

6
His father and his mother both,
They were to come him wi;
And they came both, and he came no,
And this was foul play.

7
He’s sent a quiet messenger
Now out thro a’ the land,
To warn a hundred gentlemen,
O gallant and good renown.

8
O gallant and good renown,
And all o good aray,
And now he’s made his trumpet soun
A voss o foul play.

9
As they came up by Caley buss,
And in by Caley brae,
‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,
Stay still, if that you may.

10
‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,
Stay still, if that you may;
I’ll go to the bridal-house,
And see what they will say.’

11
When he gaed to the bridal-house,
And lighted and gaed in,
There were four and twenty English lords,
O gallant and good renown.

12
O gallant and good renown,
And all o good aray,
But aye he garred his trumpets soun
A voss o foul play.

13
When he was at the table set,
Amang these gentlemen,
He begoud to vent some words
They couldna understan.

14
The English lords, they waxed wroth
What could be in his mind;
They stert to foot, on horseback lap,
‘Come fecht! what’s i your mind?’

15
‘I came na here to feght,’ he said,
‘But for good sport and play;
And one glass wi yer bonny bridegroom,
And I’ll go boun away.’

16
The glass was filled o good reed wine,
And drunken atween the twa;
‘And one glass wi your bonny bride,
And I’se go boun away.’

17
Her maiden she stood forbye,
And quickly she said, ‘Nay
I winna gee a word o her
To none nor yet to thee.’

18
‘Oh, one word o yer bonny bride!
Will ye refuse me one?
Before her wedding-day was set,
I would hae gotten ten.

19
‘Take here my promise, maiden,
My promise and my hand,
Out oer her father’s gates this day
Wi me she shanna gang.’

20
He’s bent him oer his saddle-bow,
To kiss her ere he gaed,
And he fastened his hand in her gown-breast,
And tust her him behind.

21
He pat the spurs into his horse
And fast rade out at the gate;
Ye wouldna hae seen his yellow locks
For the dust o his horse feet.

22
Fast has he ridden the wan water,
And merrily taen the know,
And then the battle it began;
I’me sure it was na mow.

23
Bridles brack, and weight horse lap,
And blades flain in the skies,
And wan and drousie was the blood
Gaed lapperin down the lays.

24
Now all ye English lords,
In England where ye’r borne,
Come never to Scotland to woo a bride,
For they’le gie you the scorn.

25
For they’le gie you the scorn,
The scorn, if that they may;
They’ll gie you frogs instead of fish,
And steal your bride away.

* * * * *

G

Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 34.

1
O bonny Catharine Jaffery,
That dainty maid so fair,
Once lovd the laird of Lochinvar,
Without any compare.

2
Long time she lood him very well,
But they changed her mind away,
And now she goes another’s bride,
And plays him foul play.

3
The bonny laird of Lauderdale
Came from the South Countrie,
And he has wooed the pretty maid,
Thro presents entered he.

4
For tocher-gear he did not stand,
She was a dainty may;
He ‘greed him with her friends all,
And set the wedding-day.

5
When Lochinvar got word of this,
He knew not what to do,
For losing of a lady fair
That he did love so true.

6
‘But if I were young Lochinvar,
I woud not care a fly
To take her on her wedding-day
From all her company.

7
‘Get ye a quiet messenger,
Send him thro all your land
For a hundred and fifty brave young lads,
To be at your command.

8
‘To be all at your command,
And your bidding to obey,
Yet still cause you the trumpet sound
The voice of foul play.’

9
He got a quiet messenger
To send thro all his land,
And full three hundred pretty lads
Were all at his command.

10
Were all at his command,
And his bidding did obey,
Yet still he made the trumpet sound
The voice of foul play.

11
Then he went to the bridal-house.
Among the nobles a’,
And when he stepped upon the floor
He gave a loud huzza.

12
‘Huzza! huzza! you English men,
Or borderers who were born,
Neer come to Scotland for a maid,
Or else they will you scorn.

13
‘She’ll bring you on with tempting words,
Aye till the wedding-day,
Syne give you frogs instead of fish,
And play you foul play.’

14
The gentlemen all wondered
What could be in his mind,
And asked if he’d a mind to fight;
Why spoke he so unkind?

15
Did he e’er see such pretty men
As were there in array?
‘O yes,’ said he, ‘a Fairy Court
Were leaping on the hay.

16
‘As I came in by Hyland banks,
And in by Hyland braes,
There did I see a Fairy Court,
All leaping on the leas.

17
‘I came not here to fight,’ he said,
‘But for good fellowship gay;
I want to drink with your bridegroom,
And then I’ll boun my way.’

18
The glass was filled with good red wine,
And drunk between them twae:
‘Give me one shake of your bonny bride’s hand,
And then I’ll boun my way.’

19
He’s taen her by the milk-white hands,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
Pulld her on horseback him behind,
At her friends askd nae leave.

20
Syne rode the water with great speed,
And merrily the knows;
There fifty from the bridal came—
Indeed it was nae mows—

21
Thinking to take the bride again,
Thro strength if that they may;
But still he gart the trumpet sound
The voice of foul play.

22
There were four and twenty ladies fair
All walking on the lea;
He gave to them the bonny bride,
And bade them boun their way.

23
They splintered the spears in pieces now,
And the blades flew in the sky,
But the bonny laird of Lochinvar
Has gained the victory.

24
Many a wife- and widow’s son
Lay gasping on the ground,
But the bonny laird of Lochinvar
He has the victory won.

* * * * *

H

Kinloch MSS, V, 313.

1
There was a lady fair, fair,
Lived low down in yon glen, O
And she’s been courted far an near
By several gentlemen. O