This was a good thing for the tinkler indeed;
Then unto the court he was sent for with speed,
Where great store of pleasure and pastime was seen,
In the royal presence of King and of Queen.
Sir John of the Dale he has land, he has fee,
At the court of the king who so happy as he?
Yet still in his hall hangs the tinkler’s old sack,
And the budget of tools which he bore at his back.
THE KEACH I’ THE CREEL.
[This old and very humorous ballad has long been a favourite on both sides of the Border, but had never appeared in print till about 1845, when a Northumbrian gentleman printed a few copies for private circulation, from one of which the following is taken. In the present impression some trifling typographical mistakes are corrected, and the phraseology has been rendered uniform throughout. Keach i’ the Creel means the catch in the basket.]
A fair young May went up the street,
Some white fish for to buy;
And a bonny clerk’s fa’n i’ luve wi’ her,
And he’s followed her by and by, by,
And he’s followed her by and by.
‘O! where live ye my bonny lass,
I pray thee tell to me;
For gin the nicht were ever sae mirk,
I wad come and visit thee, thee;
I wad come and visit thee.’
‘O! my father he aye locks the door,
My mither keeps the key;
And gin ye were ever sic a wily wicht,
Ye canna win in to me, me;
Ye canna win in to me.’
But the clerk he had ae true brother,
And a wily wicht was he;
And he has made a lang ladder,
Was thirty steps and three, three;
Was thirty steps and three.
He has made a cleek but and a creel—
A creel but and a pin;
And he’s away to the chimley-top,
And he’s letten the bonny clerk in, in;
And he’s letten the bonny clerk in.
The auld wife, being not asleep,
Tho’ late, late was the hour;
I’ll lay my life,’ quo’ the silly auld wife,
‘There’s a man i’ our dochter’s bower, bower;
There’s a man i’ our dochter’s bower.’