Obtained by Mr Macmath from the recitation of his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, formerly of Airds of Kells, Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, Galloway, who learned it many years ago from the wife of Peter McGuire, then cotman at Airds.
1
'O whare are ye gaun?'
Says the false knight upon the road:
'I am gaun to the schule,'
Says the wee boy, and still he stood.
2
'Wha's aught the sheep on yonder hill?'
'They are my papa's and mine.'
3
'How many of them's mine?'
'A' them that has blue tails.'
4
'I wish you were in yonder well:'
'And you were down in hell.'
4. Lady Isabel and the Elf-Knight.
P. [22] b. D. Add: d. 'The historical ballad of May Culzean,' an undated stall-copy.
[26] b. Another Dutch version (Frisian), spirited, but with gaps, is given by Dykstra and van der Meulen, In Doaze fol alde Snypsnaren, Frjentsjer, 1882, p. 118, 'Jan Alberts,' 66 vv. (Köhler.)
D. Jan Alberts sings a song, and those that hear it know it not. It is heard by a king's daughter, who asks her mother's leave to go out for a walk, and is told that it is all one where she goes or stays, if she keeps her honor. Her father says the same, when she applies for his leave. She goes to her bedroom and dresses herself finely, dons a gold crown, puts her head out of the window, and cries, Now am I Jan Alberts' bride. Jan Alberts takes her on his horse; they ride fast and long, with nothing to eat or drink for three days. She then asks Jan why he gives her nothing, and he answers that he shall ride to the high tree where hang fourteen fair maids. Arrived there, he gives her the choice of tree, sword, or water. She chooses the sword, bids him spare his coat, for a pure maid's blood goes far, and before his coat is half off his head lies behind him. The head cries, Behind the bush is a pot of grease; smear my neck with it. She will not smear from a murderer's pot, nor blow in a murderer's horn. She mounts his horse, and rides far and long. Jan Alberts' mother comes to meet her, and asks after him. She says he is not far off, and is sporting with fourteen maids. Had you told me this before, I would have laid you in the water, says the mother. The maid rides on till she comes to her father's gate. Then she cries to her father to open, for his youngest daughter is without. The father not bestirring himself, she swims the moat, and, the door not being open, goes through the glass. The next day she dries her clothes.
[30] a, [37] a. There is a Low German version of the first class, A-F, in Spee, Volksthümliches vom Niederrhein, Köln, 1875, Zweites Heft, p. 3, 'Schöndili,' 50 vv. (Köhler.)