B

Kinloch MSS, V, 399, in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.

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1

‘Ye’ll stay this night wi me, Lord John,

Ye’ll stay this night wi me,

For there is appearence of good greement

Betwixt Frendraught and thee.’

2

‘How can I bide, or how shall I bide,

Or how can I bide wi thee,

Sin my lady is in the lands of Air,

And I long till I her see?’

3

‘Oh stay this night wi me, Lord John,

Oh stay this night wi me,

And bonny[’s] be the morning-gift

That I will to you gie.

4

‘I’ll gie you a Strathboggie lands,

And the laigh lands o Strathray,

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

5

‘Ye’ll stay this night wi me, Lord John,

Ye’ll stay this night wi me,

And I’ll lay you in a bed of down,

And Rothiemay you wi.’

6

When mass was sung, and bells were rung,

And a’ men bun to bed,

Gude Lord John and Rothiemay

In one chamber were laid.

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7

Out hes he taen his little psalm-buik,

And verses sang he three,

And aye at every verse’s end,

‘God end our misery!’

8

The doors were shut, the keys were thrown

Into a vault of stone,

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

9

He is dune him to the weir-window,

The stauncheons were oer strong;

There he saw him Lord George Gordon

Come haisling to the town.

10

‘What news, what news now, George Gordon?

Whats news hae you to me?

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

11

He’s dune him to the weir-window,

The stauncheons were oer strang;

And there he saw the Lady Frendraught,

Was walking on the green.

12

‘Open yer doors now, Lady Frendraught,

Ye’ll open yer doors to me;

And bonny’s be the mornin-gift

That I shall to you gie.

13

‘I’ll gie you a’ Straboggie lands,

And the laigh lands o Strathbrae,

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

14

‘Now there’s the rings frae my fingers,

And the broach frae my breast-bone;

Ye’ll gae that to my gude ladye

. . . . . . .

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15

‘How can I loup, or how shall I loup?

How can I loup to thee?

When the blood is boiling in my body,

And my feet burnin frae me?’

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16

‘If I was swift as any swallow,

And then had wings to fly,

I could fly on to fause Frendraught

And cry vengeance till I die.’