APPENDIX
Herd’s MSS, I, 55, II, 187; Herd’s Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 6.
1
‘O my bonie, bonie may,
Will ye not rue upon me?
A sound, sound sleep I’ll never get
Untill I lie ayon thee.
2
‘I’ll gie ye four-and-twenty good milk-kye,
Wer a’ caft in ae year, may,
And a bonie bull to gang them by,
That blude red is his hair, may.’
3
‘I hae nae houses, I hae nae land,
I hae nae gowd or fee, sir;
I am oer low to be your bryde,
Your loon I’ll never be, sir.’
* * * * * *
Motherwell’s MS., p. 37; from the recitation of Thomas Risk, smith, learned by him in his youth at St Ninian’s, Stirlingshire.
1
Montrose he had a poor shepherd,
And a poor shepherd was he;
He had as fair a daughter
As ever you could see,
And an earl has fallen in love wi her,
And his bride now she must be.
2
The earl he came to the shepherd’s door,
And he tirled at the pin;
Slowly rose the fair maid
For to let the earl in.
3
‘Good day, good day, fair maid,’ he says;
‘Good day, good day,’ said she;
‘Good day unto thee, noble sir,
What is thy will with me?’
4
‘I’m so possessed with love to thee,
That I cannot gang nor stand
Till you go unto yonder church,
To give me thy right hand.’
5
‘Oh, no, oh no,’ the fair maid says,
‘Oh that can never be;
For thou art a lord of good estate,
And I but of mean degree.
6
‘Oh no, oh no,’ the fair maid says,
‘Thou’rt rich and I am poor;
And I am owre mean to be thy wife,
Too good to be thy whore.
7
‘I can shape, and I can sew,
And cows and yowes can milk,
But I was neer brought up in a lady’s room,
To sew satin nor silk.
8
‘And if you had your will of me
Ye wud me soon forget;
Ye wad gar turn me doun your stairs
And bar on me your yett.’
9
‘Oh no, oh no,’ the earl says,
‘For so shall never be;
For this night or I eat or drink
My honoured bride you shall be.’
10
‘My father he’s a poor shepherd,
He’s herding on yon hill;
You may go to my old father,
And ask at him his will.’
11
The earl he went to the poor shepherd,
Who was herding on the lea;
‘Good day, good day, shepherd,’ he says;
‘Good day, good day,’ said he,
Good day unto your honour, sir;
What is your will with me?’
12
‘Oh you have a fair daughter;
Will ye give her to me,
Silk and satin she shall wear,
And, shepherd, so shall ye.’
13
‘It’s true I have a fair daughter,
But I’ll not give her to thee;
For thou art a lord of good estate,
And she but of mean degree.
14
‘The reason is, thou art too rich,
And my daughter is too poor;
She is ower mean to be thy wife,
Too good to be thy whoore.
15
‘She can shape, etc. (as verse 7).
16
‘And if you had your will of her, etc. (8).
17
‘Oh no, oh no,’ the earl says, etc. (9).
18
The earl he to the fair maid again,
Who was spinning at her wheel;
She had but one petticoat on her,
But oh she set it weel!
19
‘Cast off, cast off that petticoat
That you were wont to wear,
And put on a gown of the satin silk,
With a garland in your hair.’
20
She cast off the petticoat
That she was wont to wear,
And she put on a gown of the satin silk,
With a garland in her hair.
21
Many, many was there that night
To bear them company;
And she is the earl’s wife,
She’s thrice fairer than he.
Motherwell’s MS., p. 252; from the recitation of Mrs Crum, Dumbarton, 7 April, 1825.
1
‘O fair maid and true maid,
Will ye not on me rue, maid?
Here’s my hand, my heart’s command,
I’ll come and go by you, maid.
2
‘I’ve four-and-twenty good milk-kye,
A’ calved in a[e] year, maid,
And a bonnie bill to eisin them,
Just as red as your hair, maid.’
3
‘Your kye go as far in my heart
As they go in my heel, sir;
And, altho I be but a shepherd’s dochter,
I love my body weel, sir.
4
‘I love my body weel, sir,
And my maidenhead far better;
And I’ll keep it to marry me,
Because I’m scarse o tocher.’
5
This knicht he turned his bridle about,
While the tear stood in his ee;
And he’s awa to her father gane,
As fast as he could dree.
6
‘Gude een, gude een, you gude auld man,’
‘Gude een, you earl’s knicht, sir;’
‘But you have a fair dochter,’ he says,
‘Will you grant her to me, sir?
O silks and satins she shall wear,
Indeed and so shall ye, sir.’
7
‘I have a fair dochter,’ he says,
‘She’s fair of blood and bane, sir;
But an ye had your will o her
Ye wud leave her alane, sir.’
8
‘Ye would steek her not your chamber-doors,
And bar her at your yett, sir;
And an ye had your will o her
Ye wud her soon forget, sir.’
9
This knicht he turned his bridle about,
While the tear stood in his ee,
And he’s awa to this fair maid gane,
As fast as he could drie.
10
‘O fair maid and true maid,
Will ye not on me rue, maid?
Here’s my hand, my heart’s command,
I’ll come and go by you, maid.
11
‘Cast aff, cast aff your gay black gowns,
Put on your gowns of silk, maid;
Cast aff, cast aff your gay black snoods,
Put the garlands on your hair, maid.’
12
‘It’s I can bake, and I can brew,
And good kye can I milk, sir;
But I was neer born in the time o the year
To wear the gowns o silk, sir.
13
‘Yestreen I was a shepherd’s dochter,
Whistling my hogs to the hill;
But the nicht I am an earl’s lady,
I may wear what I will.’
Johnson’s Museum, No 397, p. 410.
As I went out ae May morning,
A May morning it chanc’d to be,
There I was aware of a weelfar’d maid,
Cam linkin oer the lea to me.
O but she was a weelfar’d maid,
The bonniest lass that’s under the sun;
I spier’d gin she could fancy me,
But her answer was, I am too young.
‘To be your bride I am too young,
To be your loun wad shame my kin;
So therefore, pray, young man, begone,
For you never, never shall my favour win.’
237
THE DUKE OF GORDON’S DAUGHTER
a. ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Daughter,’ The Duke of Gordon’s Garland, Percy Papers, and another edition in a volume of garlands formerly in Heber’s library. b. ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Daughters,’ a stall-copy, printed for John Sinclair, Dumfries. c. ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Daughters,’ Stirling, printed by M. Randall. d. ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Three Daughters,’ Peterhead, printed by P. Buchan. e. ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Three Daughters,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 125. f. ‘The Duke o Gordon’s Daughters,’ Murison MS., p. 90, Aberdeenshire. g. ‘The Duke o Gordon’s Daughter,’ Gibb MS., p. 13, No 3, from the recitation of Mrs Gibb, senior. h. ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Three Daughters,’ Macmath MS., p. 31, a fragment recited by Mrs Macmath, senior, in 1874, and learned by her fifty years before.
A copy of a was reprinted by Ritson, Scotish Songs, 1794, II, 169. (There are three slight variations in Ritson, two of which are misprints.) Fifteen stanzas are given from Ritson in Johnson’s Musical Museum, ‘The Duke of Gordon has three daughters,’ No 419, p. 431, 1797 (with a single variation and the correction of a misprint). Smith’s Scotish Minstrel, IV, 98, repeats the stanzas in the Museum, inserting a few words to fill out lines for singing. Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 2, has made up a ballad from three “traditional” copies. A fragment of four stanzas in Notes and Queries, Second Series, VII, 418, requires no notice.
Burns gave the first stanza as follows (Cromek’s Reliques, p. 229, ed, 1817; Cromek’s Select Scotish Songs, I, 86, 1810):
The lord o Gordon had three dochters,
Mary, Marget, and Jean;
They wad na stay at bonie Castle Gordon,
But awa to Aberdeen.
The first sister’s name is given as Mary in e also.
It is very likely that the recited copies were originally learned from print. e and g have two stanzas which do not appear in a-d, but these may occur in some other stall-copy, or have been borrowed from some other ballad.
Ritson pointed out that George Gordon, the fourth Earl of Huntly, killed at Corrichie in 1562, had three daughters, named Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean, and that Jean, the youngest, married Alexander Ogilvie, Laird of Boyne. These facts, however, can have no relevancy to this ballad. Ogilvie was Lady Jean Gordon’s third husband, and at the death of the second, in 1594, she was in her fiftieth year, or near to that. Her marriage with the Laird of Boyne was “for the utility and profit of her children,” of which she had a full quiver.[[139]]
Jean, one of the three daughters of the Duke of Gordon (there was no Duke of Gordon before 1684, but that is early enough for our ballad), falls in love with Captain Ogilvie at Aberdeen. Her father threatens to have the captain hanged, and writes to the king to ask that favor. The king refuses to hang Ogilvie, but reduces him to the ranks, makes him a ‘single’ man. The pair lead a wandering life for three years, and are blessed with as many children. At the end of that time they journey afoot to the Highland hills, and present themselves at Castle Gordon in great destitution. Lady Jean is welcomed; the duke will have nothing to do with Ogilvie. Ogilvie goes over seas as a private soldier, but is soon after sent for as heir to the earldom of Northumberland. The duke is now eager to open Castle Gordon to the Captain. Ogilvie wants nothing there but Jean Gordon, whom, with her three children, he takes to Northumberland to enjoy his inheritance.
Nothing in the story of the ballad is known to have even a shadow of foundation in fact.
1
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.
2
They had not been in Aberdeen
A twelvemonth and a day
Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
3
Word came to the Duke of Gordon,
In the chamber where he lay,
Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
4
‘Go saddle me the black horse,
And you’ll ride on the grey,
And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen,
Where I have been many a day.’
5
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.
6
‘Where is your sister, maidens?
Where is your sister now?
Where is your sister, maidens,
That she is not walking with you?’
7
‘O pardon us, honoured father,
O pardon us,’ they did say;
‘Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she will gae.’
8
When he came to Aberdeen,
And down upon the green,
There did he see Captain Ogilvie,
Training up his men.
9
‘O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie,
And an ill death thou shalt die;
For taking to thee my daughter,
Hangëd thou shalt be.’
10
Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter,
And sent it to the king,
To cause hang Captain Ogilvie
If ever he hanged a man.
11
‘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.’
12
Word came to Captain Ogilvie,
In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.
13
‘If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
This pennance I’ll take wi;
If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
All this I will dree.’
14
Lady Jean had not been married,
Not a year but three,
Till she had a babe in every arm,
Another upon her knee.
15
‘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.
16
‘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.’
17
When they came to the Highland hills,
Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean’s shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.
18
‘O wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the wind and the rain!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No further am I able to gang.
19
‘Wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the frost and the snow!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No farther am I able for to go.
20
‘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.’
21
When she came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green,
The porter gave out a loud shout,
‘O yonder comes Lady Jean!’
22
‘O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon,
But away with your Captain Ogilvie.’
23
Now over seas went the captain,
As a soldier under command;
A message soon followed after
To come and heir his brother’s land.
24
‘Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And heir your brother’s land;
Come home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Be Earl of Northumberland.’
25
‘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.’
26
‘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.’
27
He soon came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green;
The porter gave out with a loud shout,
‘Here comes Captain Ogilvie!’
28
‘You’re welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Your fortune’s advanced I hear;
No stranger can come unto my gates
That I do love so dear.’
29
‘Sir, the last time I was at your gates,
You would not let me in;
I’m come for my wife and children,
No friendship else I claim.’
30
‘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.’
31
‘I’ll have none of your gold or silver,
Nor none of your white-money;
But I’ll have bonny Jeany Gordon,
And she shall go now with me.’
32
Then she came tripping down the stair,
With the tear into her eye;
One babe was at her foot,
Another upon her knee.
33
‘You’re welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
With my young family;
Mount and go to Northumberland,
There a countess thou shall be.’
a.
The Duke of Gordon’s Garland, composed of several excellent New Songs. I. The Duke of Gordon’s Daughter. II. A new song calld Newcastle Ale. Licensed and enterd according to order.
Heber’s copy differs in a few places from Percy’s, and generally for the worse.
42. on wanting.
74. she woud.
103. cause wanting.
134. will not.
162. think it.
182. and rain.
243. you.
244. And be.
322. tears in her eyes.
Ritson’s. 93. wants thee. 133. wants for. 311. gold and.
b.
Two copies, one in the British Museum, 1078. i. 20 (7), Printed at the St. Michael Press, by C. M’Lachlan, Dumfries, dated in the catalogue 1785?
c.
British Museum, 11621. b. 12 (28), dated 1810?
A beautiful old song, entitled the Duke of Gordon’s three Daughters. To which is added The Challenge. Stirling: Printed by M. Randall.
d.
British Museum, 1078. k. 4 (5), dated 1820? The Duke of Gordon’s Three Daughters. To which is added Mrs Burns Lament for Burns. Peterhead: Printed by P. Buchan.
b, c, d.
11. had.
13. stay at.
14. they went to.
21. in bonny.
23. Till Jean.
24. b. him went she. c, d. And from him she would not stay.
31. come.
33,4. How Lady Jean fell in love with a captain, And from him she would not stay.
41. to me: horse, he cry’d.
42. My servant shall ride on.
43. will go.
44. Forthwith to bring her away.
52. only one.
53. walking wanting.
62,3. O where.
64. c, d. not along with.
71. b. us, they did say.
74. And from him she would (c, d, will) not stay.
81. to bonny.
84. b. A training of. c, d. A training his gallant.
91. woe be to thee.
94. High hanged. b. shalt thou.
101. b. The Duke he wrote. c, d. The D. of G. wrote a letter.
102. b. he sent.
103. Desiring him to hang.
104. b. eer he causd hang any. c, d. For marrying his daughter Jean.
111. b. O no I. c, d. Said the king, I’ll not.
112. b. For any (c, d, all the) offence that.
113. him put off the scarlet.
121. Now word.
123. To strip off.
131,3. b. Jean.
133. c, d. for my true-love.
134. this and more I’ll.
142. c, d. Not wanting. b, c, d. but only.
144. And another.
151. b. weary, weary wandering. c, d. weary wandering.
16.
O hold thy tongue, bonny Jean Gordon,
O hold your tongue, my lamb! (c, d. thy)
For once I was a noble captain,
Now for thy sake a single man.
171. b. O high is the hills and the mountains. c, d, high were: and mountains.
172. b. and the.
18,19. Wanting.
201. b. was in. c, d. were in.
203. I could go. b. Jean for Castle, wrongly.
19–21 of bare displaced, and come after b 26: or, 23–27 of a follow a 20, and then come this stanza (not in a) and a 21, 22.
After 20. b:
O hold thy tongue, bonny Jean (c, d. your) Gordon,
O hold your tongue, my dow!
I’ve but one half-crown in the world,
I’ll buy hose and shoon (c, d. And I’ll) to you.
211. b. Then, wrongly. b, c, d. to bonny.
212. And coming over the green.
213. b. porter cried out with a cry. c, d. called out very loudly.
214. b. O wanting. b, c, d. comes our.
221. b. O wanting. b, c, d. Jean.
222. b. dearly. c, d. Her father he did say.
223. Thou art: Jean.
224. Captain wanting.
231. over the.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which caused a countermand.
241. b. home now pretty. c, d. home now brave.
242. To enjoy your.
243. b. home now pretty. c, d. O come home gallant.
244. You’r the heir of.
251. c, d. O wanting.
253. O they. b. are all.
254. The lands. b. all ready.
262. And let’s.
263. I’ll go home and have my.
264. And then.
271. bonny Castle.
272. b. And then at the gate stood he. c, d. he stood, wrongly.
273. b. porter cry’d out. c, d. cry’d with a loud voice.
274. c, d. O here. b. comes the.
281. c, d. O you’re welcome now, Captain.
283. b. come to. c, d. come within.
291. b. at wrongly omitted. b, c, d. gate.
293. c, d. Now I’m.
30, 31. Wanting.
321. c, d. Then Jean came.
322. c, d. The salt tear in.
323. babe she had at every foot.
324. c, d. And one in her arms did ly.
33. b.
You’re welcome, bonny Jean Gordon,
You are dearly welcome to me;
You’re welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
Countess of Cumberland to be.
c, d.
The Captain took her straight in his arms,
O a happy man was he!
Saying, Welcome, etc., as in b.
334. c, d. Northumberland.
After 33. b.
So the captain came off with his lady, (c, d. The captain)
And also his sweet babes three; (c, d. And his lovely babies three)
Saying, I’m as good blood by descent,
Tho the great Duke o Gordon you be.
e-h are but partially collated.
e.
11. had.
12. Lady Mary, Margret, and Jean.
14. they wadna bide.
74. From him she will not stay.
8. Wanting.
94. Hie hangit shalt thou be.
103. Desiring to hang.
104. For marrying his dochter Jean.
112. For a’ the offence I see.
113. gar him throw aff his broad scarlet.
134. A’ this and mair I’ll dree.
142. A year but only three.
151. weary wandering.
16. As in b, c, d.
171. High war the hills and the mountains.
18, 19. Wanting.
203. I could ga.
After 20:
‘O an I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
. . . . . . .
O an I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
There I’d get hose and sheen.’
‘Though ye war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
Your father is sae hard-hearted a man
He wad na lat you in.’
‘If I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
My mither’s a tender-hearted woman,
She wad rise and lat me in.’
Then: O haud your tongue—I’ll buy hose and sheen to you, as in b, c, d.
224. awa wi your Ogilvie.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which causd a countermand.
244. Ye’re the heir of.
263. I’ll gae hame and heir my estate.
After 26:
‘Then hoist up your sail,’ said the Captain,
‘And we’ll gae oure the sea,
And I’ll gae to bonnie Castle Gordon,
There my dear Jeanie to see.’
272. And whan in sicht cam he.
Between 28, 29:
‘The last time I cam to your yetts
Ye wadna let me in,
But now I’m again at your yetts,
And in I will not gang.’
30, 31. Wanting.
322. Wi the saut tear in her ee.
323. A babe she held in every arm.
324. Anither gaun at her knee.
33. As in c, d, and a concluding stanza as in b, c, d.
f.
11. had.
22. Months but barely three.
24, 34, 74. fae him she winna stay.
31. Word’s come.
62. sister Jean.
64. ye are walkin alane.
94. High hangëd.
104. If ever he hangëd ane.
132,4. A’ this I’ll dee an mair.
14. Wanting.
151. weary wanrin.
154. a single sodger lad.
16. As in b, c, d.
18, 19. Wanting.
202. Fa monie merry day I hae been.
After 20 a stanza as in b, c, d, and then this silly one:
‘O they would be bad stockins,
O they would be worse sheen,
O they would be bad stockins
Ye’d get for half a crown.’
211. they cam to bonnie Aberdeen.
224. awa wi your Ogilvie.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which proved a counterman.
244. You’re the heir o.
26, 30, 31. Wanting.
322. Wi the saut tear in her ee.
323. She had a babe in ilka airm.
324. An a third whar nane could see.
332. Ye’re welcome, thrice welcome to me.
333,4.
Ye’re welcome, bonnie Jeannie Gordon,
Countess o Northumberlan to be.
g.
11. had.
22. A month but only one.
34. from him she wald not stay.
42. My servant shall ride on.
44. An forthwith bring her away.
52. only one.
64. she’s not along with you.
74. from him she will not stay.
84. Training his gallant men.
94. It’s high hangit ye sall.
103. It was to hang.
104. For marrying his daughter Jean.
112. For all the offence I can see.
114. 124. Put on but the.
13.
‘A’ this I will do for your sake, Jeanie Gordon,
A’ this I will do for thee;
I will cast aff the gold lace an scarlet,
Put on but the single livery.’
142. Ae year but only three.
154. a single soldier-lad.
16.
‘O haud your tongue, Jeannie Gordon,
An dinna ye lichtlie me;
I was tane frae a captain’s commission
An made low for lyin wi thee.’
(17 as 15.) 171. High were the hills an the mountains.
18, 19. Wanting.
Before 20:
‘Haud your tongue, Jeannie Gordon,
Ye needna gloom on me;
I hae but ae half-crown in the warld,
I’ll buy stockings an shoon to thee.’
201. If I were in the bonny glens o Ourdlie.
202. Where mony bonny days I hae been.
After 20:
‘If ye were at bonny Castle Gordon,
An lichtit on the green,
Your faither is a hard-hearted man,
He wald na let you in.’
‘If I were at bonny Castle Gordon,
An lichtit on the green,
My mother’s a good-hearted woman,
She wald open an lat me in.’
22.
The Duke o Gordon cam trippin doun stairs
Wi the saut tear in his ee: (cf. 322)
‘Ye’re welcome here, Jeannie Gordon,
Wi a’ your young family, (cf. 332)
Ye’re welcome here, Jeannie Gordon,
But awa wi your Ogilvie.’
231,2.
The Captain took ship an sailed,
He sailed from the land.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which caused a countermand.
241,3. Come back, come back, C. O.
244. You are earl.
25. Wanting.
263. I will gae hame an.
272. An lichtit on the green.
274. Says, Here’s Captain Ogilvie again.
After 27:
The Duke o Gordon cam trippin doun stairs,
Wi his hat into his hand:
‘Ye’re welcome hame, Captain Ogilvie,
The heir o Northumberland.’
After 28:
‘Put up your hat, Duke o Gordon,
An do not let it fa;
It never set the noble Duke o Gordon
To bow to a single soldier-lad.’
294. No ither favour I claim.
30, 31. Wanting.
322. the saut tear in her ee.
323,4.
You’re welcome hame, Captain Ogilvie,
You’re dearly welcome to me.
33. Wanting.
After 33: The Captain went aff with his lady, nearly as in b-e.
The order of stanzas is deranged. Some of the variations are clearly misremembrances.
h.
Nine stanzas only.
11. had.
14. wud awa.
22. A month but barely twa.
24. from him she wudna stay.
34. from him she will not stay.
112. For any offence that.
151. weary, weary wanderin.
After 15: Had yer tongue—I’ll buy hose and shoon for you, Had yer tongue—For your sake I’m a single man.
224. awa wi your Ogilvie.
Christie’s ballad has many of the readings of a, and a few of the editor’s. Of “two verses, as sung in the counties of Banff and Moray, hitherto unpublished,” one is in all copies except a; the other is the inept stanza (see f):
‘Oh, coarse, coarse would be the stockings,
And coarser would be the shoon,
Oh, coarse, coarse would they baith be,
You would buy for ae siller crown.’
238
GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE
A. Skene MS., p. 13.
B. ‘Glenlogie,’ Sharpe’s Ballad Book, 1823, p. 37.
C. ‘Glenlogie,’ Gibb MS., No 6, p. 33.
D. ‘There waur aucht an forty nobles,’ Harris MS., fol. 17.
E. a. ‘Jean o Bethelnie’s Love for Sir G. Gordon,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 188. b. ‘Bonnie Jean o Bethelnie,’ Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 54.
F. ‘Jean o Bethelnie,’ Percy Papers, communicated by R. Lambe, 1768.
G. ‘Glenlogie,’ Alexander Laing’s MS., p. 8.
H. ‘Glenlogie,’ Kinloch MSS, V, 431.
I. a. “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 77, Abbotsford. b. ‘Glenogie,’ Smith’s Scotish Minstrel, IV, 78, 1822.
‘Glenlogie,’ in Chambers’ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, 1826, p. 200, is a repetition of B. F, the copy earliest taken down, is not pure and unvarnished tradition. The reconstructed copy in the Ballad Minstrelsy of Scotland, Glasgow, 1871, p. 506, was “based on a MS. version communicated to Mr Buchan in a letter from Mr Alexander Laing, dated Brechin, April 9th, 1829, and there given by him as taken down from the recitation of the amiable daughter of a clergyman in the North.” G, from Laing’s MS., may be supposed to be the ballad sent to Buchan by Laing. I b has been touched up by one of “that parliament of gentle ladies,” in Motherwell’s phrase, who had charge of the literary part of Smith’s Scotish Minstrel.
Jean of Bethelnie, A, C, E, F, Jean Melville, B, D, G, of the age of fifteen or sixteen, scarce seventeen, G, falls in love at sight with Glenlogie (Earl Ogie, F, Glenogie, I b), and opens her mind to him. Glenlogie, though much flattered, is obliged to say that he is already promised.[[140]] Jean takes to her bed, determined to die. Her father (mother, A[[141]]), as all too frequently happens at such conjunctures, proposes the miserable comfort of another and a better match, and, as usual, is told to hold his tongue. The chaplain of the family (the father himself is a king’s chaplain in F) takes the business in hand, and writes a broad, long, and well-penned letter to Glenlogie, setting forth the desperate condition of the girl. Glenlogie is so much affected that he rides to Bethelnie with all haste and presents himself to Jean as her bridegroom, although promised awa.
The young lady is Jean Gordon in C. H has changed Bethelnie to Belhelvie, another Aberdeenshire town. I has Glenfeldy for Bethelnie.
Gerhard, p. 103, has translated E a; Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 15, Aytoun’s copy, that is, B.