JOHNIE OF COCKLESMUIR.
From Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 38. This version was procured in the North Country. The termination would seem to be wanting, for the story must have had a tragical conclusion. Buchan's copy ends very insipidly with the King's granting Johny a free license to hunt!
Johnie rose up in a May morning,
Call'd for water to wash his hands;
And he has call'd for his gude gray hunds,
That lay bund in iron bands, bands,
That lay bund in iron bands.
"Ye'll busk, ye'll busk my noble dogs,5
Ye'll busk and mak them boun,
For I'm going to the Broadspear-hill,
To ding the dun deer doun, doun, &c.
Whan Johnie's mither heard o' this,
She til her son has gane—10
"Ye'll win your mither's benison,
Gin ye wad stay at hame.
"Your meat sall be of the very very best,
And your drink o' the finest wine;
And ye will win your mither's benison,15
Gin ye wad stay at hame."
His mither's counsel he wad na tak,
Nor wad he stay at hame;
But he's on to the Broadspear-hill,
To ding the dun deer doun.20
Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,
And a little below the sun;
And there he spied the dun deer sleeping,
Aneath a buss o' brume.