A fragment in Herd’s MSS, I, 105, II, 161, belongs, if not to this ballad, at least to one in which an attempt is made to tame a shrew by castigation.

‘Now tak a cud in ilka hand

And bace[90] her up and doun, man,

And she’ll be an o the best wives

That ever took the town, man.’


And Jammie’s turnd him round about,

He’s done a manly feat:

‘Get up, get up, ye dirty slut,

And gie to me my meat.’