Kinloch MSS, VII, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49.
1 Johnie is up to London gane,
Three quarters o the year,
And he is up to London gane,
The king's banner for to bear.
2 He had na been in fair London
A twalmonth and a day,
Till the king's ae daughter
To Johnie gangs wi child.
3 O word is to the kitchen gane,
And word is to the ha,
And word is to the king himsel
Amang his nobles a'.
* * * * *
4 She has wrote a braid letter,
She has wrote it tenderly,
And she's wrote a braid letter,
To lat her Johnie see
5 That her bower is very high,
It's aw weel walled about;
Her feet are in the fetters strang,
Her body looking out.
6 Her garters are of cauld iron,
And they are very cold;
Her breist-plate is o the sturdy steel,
Instead o the beaten gold.
7 Whan he lookit the letter on,
A licht lauch gaed he;
But eer he read it til an end,
The tear blindit his ee.
8 'I maun up to London gang,
Whatever me betide,
And louse that lady out o prison strang;
She lay last by my side.'