G
Buchan's MSS, II, 174; Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 212.
1 Seven years the king he staid
Into the land of Spain,
And seven years True Thomas was
His daughter's chamberlain.
2 But it fell ance upon a day
The king he did come home;
She baked and she benjed ben,
And did him there welcome.
3 'What aileth you, my daughter Janet,
You look sae pale and wan?
There is a dreder in your heart,
Or else you love a man.'
4 'There is no dreder in my heart,
Nor do I love a man;
But it is for your lang byding
Into the land of Spain.'
5 'Ye'll cast aff your bonny brown gown,
And lay it on a stone,
And I'll tell you, my jelly Janet,
If ever ye lovd a man.'
6 She's cast aff her bonny brown gown,
And laid it on a stone;
Her belly was big, her twa sides high,
Her colour it was quite gane.
7 'Is it to a man o the might, Janet,
Or is it till a man o the main?
Or is it to one o my poor soldiers,
That I brought hame frae Spain?'
8 'It's not till a man o the might,' she says,
'Nor yet to a man o the main;
But it's to Thomas o Winsbury,
That cannot longer len.'