There is a piece called Flodden Field in Herd's Scottish Songs, i. 86. It is made up of certain ridiculous anonymous verses, and of the stanzas written by Miss Jane Elliot and by Mrs. Cockburn to the old air The Flowers of the Forest,—"I've heard them lilting," and "I've seen the smiling." The first and last lines of the first stanza of Miss Elliot's verses are from an ancient and now forgotten song.
"I've heard them lilting at the ewes milking
.........
.........
The flowers of the forest are a' wede away."
A lady repeated to Sir Walter Scott another fragment of the original ballad.
"I ride single on my saddle,
For the flowers of the forest are a' wede away."
Minstrelsy, iii. 333.
King Jamie hath made a vow,
Keep it well if he may!
That he will be at lovely London
Upon Saint James his day.
"Upon Saint James his day at noon,5
At fair London will I be,
And all the lords in merry Scotland,
They shall dine there with me."
Then bespake good Queen Margaret,
The tears fell from her eye:10
"Leave off these wars, most noble king,
Keep your fidelity.