"John, Lord Maxwell, with whose 'Goodnight' the reader is here presented, was son to him who fell at
the battle of Dryffe Sands, and is said to have early avowed the deepest revenge for his father's death. Such, indeed, was the fiery and untameable spirit of the man, that neither the threats nor entreaties of the King himself could make him lay aside his vindictive purpose; although Johnstone, the object of his resentment, had not only reconciled himself to the court, but even obtained the wardenry of the Middle Marches, in room of Sir John Carmichael, murdered by the Armstrongs. Lord Maxwell was therefore prohibited to approach the Border counties; and having, in contempt of that mandate, excited new disturbances, he was confined in the castle of Edinburgh. From this fortress, however, he contrived to make his escape; and, having repaired to Dumfriesshire, he sought an amicable interview with Johnstone, under a pretence of a wish to accommodate their differences. Sir Robert Maxwell, of Orchardstane, (mentioned in the ballad, verse 1,) who was married to a sister of Sir James Johnstone, persuaded his brother-in-law to accede to Maxwell's proposal."
So far Sir Walter Scott. The meeting took place on the 6th of April, 1608, in the presence of Sir Robert Maxwell, each party being accompanied by a single follower. While the chieftains were conferring together, Charles Maxwell, the attendant of Lord John, maliciously began an altercation with the servant of Johnstone, and shot him with a pistol, and Sir James, looking round at the report, was himself shot by Lord Maxwell in the back with two poisoned bullets.
The murderer escaped to France, but afterwards venturing to return to Scotland, was apprehended,
brought to trial at Edinburgh, and beheaded on the 21st of May, 1613. We may naturally suppose that the Goodnight was composed shortly after Lord Maxwell fled across the seas, certainly before 1613.
This ballad was first printed in the Border Minstrelsy "from a copy in Glenriddel's MSS., with some slight variations from tradition."
"Adieu, madame, my mother dear,
But and my sisters three!
Adieu, fair Robert of Orchardstane!
My heart is wae for thee.
Adieu, the lily and the rose,5
The primrose fair to see!
Adieu, my ladye, and only joy!
For I may not stay with thee.
"Though I hae slain the Lord Johnstone,
What care I for their feid?10
My noble mind their wrath disdains,—
He was my father's deid.
Both night and day I labour'd oft
Of him avenged to be;
But now I've got what lang I sought,15
And I may not stay with thee.
"Adieu, Drumlanrig! false wert aye—
And Closeburn in a band!
The Laird of Lag, frae my father that fled,
When the Johnston struck aff his hand!20
They were three brethren in a band—
Joy may they never see!
Their treacherous art, and cowardly heart,
Has twined my love and me.