‘It is impossible that anything should be universally tasted and approved by a Multitude, tho’ they are only the Rabble of a Nation, which hath not in it some peculiar Aptness to please and gratify the Mind of Man.’

Addison.

CONTENTS

PAGE
[Map to illustrate Border Ballads]Frontispiece
[Preface]vii
[Ballads in the Third Series]ix
THE HUNTING OF THE CHEVIOT[1]
THE BATTLE OF OTTERBURN[16]
JOHNIE ARMSTRONG[30]
THE BRAES OF YARROW[34]
THE TWA BROTHERS[37]
THE OUTLYER BOLD[40]
MARY HAMILTON[44]
KINMONT WILLIE[49]
THE LAIRD O’ LOGIE[58]
CAPTAIN CAR[62]
SIR PATRICK SPENCE[68]
FLODDEN FIELD[71]
DICK O’ THE COW[75]
SIR HUGH IN THE GRIME’S DOWNFALL[89]
THE DEATH OF PARCY REED[93]
BEWICK AND GRAHAME[101]
THE FIRE OF FRENDRAUGHT[112]
GEORDIE[118]
THE BARON OF BRACKLEY[122]
THE GIPSY LADDIE[129]
BESSY BELL AND MARY GRAY[133]
SIR JAMES THE ROSE[135]
CLYDE’S WATER[140]
KATHARINE JAFFRAY[145]
LIZIE LINDSAY[148]
THE GARDENER[153]
JOHN O’ THE SIDE[156]
JAMIE DOUGLAS[164]
Waly, waly gin love be bonny[168]
THE HEIR OF LINNE[170]
EARL BOTHWELL[177]
DURHAM FIELD[181]
THE BATTLE OF HARLAW[194]
THE LAIRD OF KNOTTINGTON[200]
THE WHUMMIL BORE[204]
LORD MAXWELL’S LAST GOODNIGHT[206]
Appendix—
The Jolly Juggler[211]
[Index of Titles]217
[Index of First Lines]219

[ PREFACE]

Although a certain number of the ballads in this volume belong to England as much as to Scotland, the greater number are so intimately connected with Scottish history and tradition, that it would have been rash (to say the least) for a Southron to have ventured across the border unaided. It is therefore more than a pleasure to record my thanks to my friend Mr. A. Francis Steuart of Edinburgh, to whom I have submitted the proofs of these ballads. His extensive and peculiar knowledge of Scottish history and genealogy has been of the greatest service throughout.

I must also thank Mr. C. G. Tennant for assistance with the map given as frontispiece; and my unknown friend, Messrs. Constable’s reader, has supplied valuable help in detail.