Motherwell MS., p. 205: a, "words and tune from Mrs McNiccol," of Paisley, native of the parish of Houston; b, variations from "John Lindsay, cowfeeder, Wallace Street, Paisley."
1 O Johnnie Scot walks up and down
Among the woods sae wild;
Who but the Earl of Percy's ae daughter
To him goes big with child!
2 O word is to the kitchen gone,
And word's gone to the hall,
And word is to King Henry gane,
And amongst his nobles all.
3 O Johnnie's called his waiting-man,
His name was Germanie:
'O thou must to fair England go,
Bring me that fair ladie.'
4 He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate,
He tirled at the pin;
'O who is there?' said the proud porter,
'But I daurna let thee in.'
5 So he rade up, and he rode down,
Till he rode it round about;
Then he saw her at a wee window,
Where she was looking out.
6 'O thou must go to Johnnie Scot,
Unto the woods so green,
In token of thy silken shirt,
Thine own hand sewed the seam.'
7 'How can I go to Johnnie Scot?
Or how can I get out?
My breast plate's o the hard, hard iron,
With fetters round about.
8 'But I will write a lang letter,
And give it unto thee,
And thou must take that to Johnnie Scot,
See what answer he sends to me.'
9 When Johnnie looked the letter upon
A sorry man was he;
He had not read one line but two
Till the saut tear did blind his ee.