Transcriber's Notes

Linenotes have been grouped at the end of each ballad or ballad section. Linenote anchors have been added to the text which provide a link to the appropriate note.

Irregular and inconsistent spellings have been retained as in the original. Typographical errors such as wrongly placed line numbers, punctuation or inconsistent formatting have been corrected without comment. Where changes have been made to the wording these are listed at the[ end of the book].

ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH
BALLADS.

EDITED BY
FRANCIS JAMES CHILD.

VOLUME IV.

BOSTON:
LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY.
M.DCCC.LX.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857 by Little, Brown and Company, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE:
STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY
H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY.

BOOK IV.

CONTINUED.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME FOURTH.

BOOK IV. (continued.)

APPENDIX.

YOUNG BEICHAN AND SUSIE PYE.

An inspection of the first hundred lines of Robert of Gloucester's Life and Martyrdom of Thomas Beket, (edited for the Percy Society by W. H. Black, vol. xix,) will leave no doubt that the hero of this ancient and beautiful tale is veritably Gilbert Becket, father of the renowned Saint Thomas of Canterbury. Robert of Gloucester's story coincides in all essential particulars with the traditionary legend, but Susie Pye is, unfortunately, spoken of in the chronicle by no other name than the daughter of the Saracen Prince Admiraud.

We have thought it well to present the three best versions of so popular and interesting a ballad. The two which are given in the body of this work are Jamieson's, from Popular Ballads, ii. 117, and ii. 127. [In the Appendix is Kinloch's], from Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 260. Other printed copies are Lord Beichan, in Richardson's Borderer's Table Book, vii. 20, communicated by J. H. Dixon, who has inserted the same in Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs, Percy Society, vol. xvii. p. 85; Lord Bateman, the common

English broadside (at p. 95 of the collection just cited); and Young Bondwell, published from Buchan's MS. in Scottish Traditionary Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 1, (Percy Soc. vol. xvii.) identical, we suppose, with the copy referred to by Motherwell in Scarce Ancient Ballads, Peterhead, 1819. There is a well-known burlesque of the ordinary English ballad, called The Loving Ballad of Lord Bateman, with comical illustrations by Cruikshank. On this was founded a burlesque drama, produced some years ago at the Strand Theatre, London, with great applause.

"This ballad, and that which succeeds it in this collection, (both on the same subject,) are given from copies taken from Mrs. Brown's recitation, collated with two other copies procured from Scotland, one in MS., another very good one printed for the stalls; a third, in the possession of the late Reverend Jonathan Boucher of Epsom, taken from recitation in the North of England; and a fourth, about one third as long as the others, which the Editor picked off an old wall in Piccadilly."

Jamieson's interpolations have been omitted.

In London was young Beichan born,
He longed strange countries for to see;
But he was taen by a savage moor,
Who handled him right cruellie;

For he viewed the fashions of that land;5
Their way of worship viewed he;
But to Mahound, or Termagant,
Would Beichan never bend a knee.

So in every shoulder they've putten a bore;
In every bore they've putten a tree;10
And they have made him trail the wine
And spices on his fair bodie.

They've casten him in a dungeon deep,
Where he could neither hear nor see;
For seven years they kept him there,15
Till he for hunger's like to die.

This Moor he had but ae daughter,
Her name was called Susie Pye;
And every day as she took the air,
Near Beichan's prison she passed by.20

O so it fell, upon a day
She heard young Beichan sadly sing;
"My hounds they all go masterless;
My hawks they flee from tree to tree;
My younger brother will heir my land;25
Fair England again I'll never see!"

All night long no rest she got,
Young Beichan's song for thinking on;
She's stown the keys from her father's head,
And to the prison strong is gone.30

And she has open'd the prison doors,
I wot she open'd two or three,
Ere she could come young Beichan at,
He was locked up so curiouslie.

But when she came young Beichan before,35
Sore wonder'd he that may to see;
He took her for some fair captive;—
"Fair Lady, I pray, of what countrie?"

"O have ye any lands," she said,
"Or castles in your own countrie,40
That ye could give to a lady fair,
From prison strong to set you free?"

"Near London town I have a hall,
With other castles two or three;
I'll give them all to the lady fair45
That out of prison will set me free."

"Give me the truth of your right hand,
The truth of it give unto me,
That for seven years ye'll no lady wed,
Unless it be along with me."50

"I'll give thee the truth of my right hand,
The truth of it I'll freely gie,
That for seven years I'll stay unwed,
For the kindness thou dost show to me."

And she has brib'd the proud warder55
Wi' mickle gold and white monie;
She's gotten the keys of the prison strong,
And she has set young Beichan free.

She's gi'en him to eat the good spice-cake,
She's gi'en him to drink the blood-red wine;
She's bidden him sometimes think on her,60
That sae kindly freed him out of pine.

She's broken a ring from her finger,
And to Beichan half of it gave she:
"Keep it, to mind you of that love65
The lady bore that set you free.

"And set your foot on good ship-board,
And haste ye back to your own countrie;
And before that seven years have an end,
Come back again, love, and marry me."70

But long ere seven years had an end,
She long'd full sore her love to see;
For ever a voice within her breast
Said, "Beichan has broke his vow to thee."
So she's set her foot on good ship-board,75
And turn'd her back on her own countrie.

She sailed east, she sailed west,
Till to fair England's shore she came;
Where a bonny shepherd she espied,
Feeding his sheep upon the plain.80

"What news, what news, thou bonny shepherd?
What news hast thou to tell to me?"
"Such news I hear, ladie," he says,
"The like was never in this countrie.

"There is a wedding in yonder hall,85
Has lasted these thirty days and three;
Young Beichan will not bed with his bride,
For love of one that's yond the sea."

She's put her hand in her pocket,
Gi'en him the gold and white monie;90
"Hae, take ye that, my bonny boy,
For the good news thou tell'st to me."

When she came to young Beichan's gate,
She tirled softly at the pin;
So ready was the proud porter95
To open and let this lady in.

"Is this young Beichan's hall," she said,
"Or is that noble lord within?"
"Yea, he's in the hall among them all,
And this is the day o' his weddin."100

"And has he wed anither love?
And has he clean forgotten me?"
And, sighin', said that gay ladie,
"I wish I were in my own conntrie."

And she has taen her gay gold ring,105
That with her love she brake so free;
Says, "Gie him that, ye proud porter,
And bid the bridegroom speak to me."

[ When the porter came his lord before,
He kneeled down low on his knee——110
"What aileth thee, my proud porter,
Thou art so full of courtesie?"
]

"I've been porter at your gates,
It's thirty long years now and three;
But there stands a lady at them now,115
The like o' her did I never see;

"For on every finger she has a ring,
And on her mid finger she has three;
And as meickle gold aboon her brow
As would buy an earldom to me."120

Its out then spak the bride's mother,
Aye and an angry woman was shee;
"Ye might have excepted our bonny bride,
And twa or three of our companie."

"O hold your tongue, thou bride's mother;125
Of all your folly let me be;
She's ten times fairer nor the bride,
And all that's in your companie.

"She begs one sheave of your white bread,
But and a cup of your red wine;130
And to remember the lady's love,
That last reliev'd you out of pine."

"O well-a-day!" said Beichan then,
"That I so soon have married thee!
For it can be none but Susie Pye,145
That sailed the sea for love of me."

And quickly hied he down the stair;
Of fifteen steps he made but three;
He's ta'en his bonny love in his arms,
And kist, and kist her tenderlie.150

"O hae ye ta'en anither bride?
And hae ye quite forgotten me?
And hae ye quite forgotten her,
That gave you life and libertie?"

She looked o'er her left shoulder,145
To hide the tears stood in her e'e:
"Now fare thee well, young Beichan," she says,
"I'll try to think no more on thee."

"O never, never, Susie Pye,
For surely this can never be;150
Nor ever shall I wed but her
That's done and dree'd so much for me."

Then out and spak the forenoon bride,—
"My lord, your love it changeth soon;
This morning I was made your bride,155
And another chose ere it be noon."

"O hold thy tongue, thou forenoon bride;
Ye're ne'er a whit the worse for me;
And whan ye return to your own countrie,
A double dower I'll send with thee."160

He's taen Susie Pye by the white hand,
And gently led her up and down;
And ay as he kist her red rosy lips,
"Ye're welcome, jewel, to your own."

He's taen her by the milk-white hand,165
And led her to yon fountain stane;
He's changed her name from Susie Pye,
And he's call'd her his bonny love, Lady Jane.

[109-112].

But when he came Lord Jockey before,
He kneeled lowly on his knee:
"What news, what news, thou Tommy Pots,
Thou art so full of courtesie?"

The Lovers' Quarrel, v. 133-136.

YOUNG BEKIE.

Young Bekie was as brave a knight
As ever sail'd the sea;
And he's doen him to the [court o' France],
To serve for meat and fee.

He hadna been in the court o' France5
A twelvemonth nor sae lang,
Till he fell in love wi' the king's daughter,
And was thrown in prison strang.

The king he had but ae daughter,
Burd Isbel was her name;10
And she has to the prison gane,
To hear the prisoner's mane.

"O gin a lady wad borrow me,
At her stirrup I wad rin;
Or gin a widow wad borrow me,15
I wad swear to be her son.

"Or gin a virgin wad borrow me,
I wad wed her wi' a ring;
I'd gi'e her ha's, I'd gi'e her bowers,
The bonny towers o' Linne."20

O barefoot barefoot gaed she but,
And barefoot cam she ben;
It wasna for want o' hose and shoon,
Nor time to put them on;

But a' for fear that her father25
Had heard her makin' din;
For she's stown the keys of the prison,
And gane the dungeon within.

And when she saw him, young Bekie,
Wow, but her heart was sair!30
For the mice, but and the bald rattons,
Had eaten his yellow hair.

She's gotten him a shaver for his beard,
A comber till his hair;
Five hundred pound in his pocket,35
To spend, and nae to spare.

She's gi'en him a steed was good in need,
And a saddle o' royal bane;
A leash o' hounds o' ae litter,
And Hector called ane.40

Atween thir twa a vow was made,
'Twas made full solemnlie,
That or three years were come and gane,
Weel married they should be.

He hadna been in's ain countrie45
A twelvemonth till an end,
Till he's forced to marry a duke's daughter,
Or than lose a' his land.

"Ochon, alas!" says young Bekie,
"I kenna what to dee;50
For I canna win to Burd Isbel,
And she canna come to me."

O it fell out upon a day
Burd Isbel fell asleep,
And up it starts the Billy Blin,55
And stood at her bed feet.

"O waken, waken, Burd Isbel;
How can ye sleep so soun';
When this is Bekie's wedding day,

And the marriage gaing on?60

"Ye do ye till your mither's bower,
As fast as ye can gang;
And ye tak three o' your mother's marys,
To haud ye unthocht lang.

"Ye dress yoursel i' the red scarlet,65
And your marys in dainty green;
And ye put girdles about your middle
Wad buy an earldome.

"Syne ye gang down by yon sea-side,
And down by yon sea-strand;70
And bonny will the Hollans boats
Come rowin' till your hand.

"Ye set your milk-white foot on board,
Cry, 'Hail ye, Domine!'
And I will be the steerer o't,75
To row you o'er the sea."

She's ta'en her till her mither's bower,
As fast as she could gang;
And she's ta'en twa o' her mither's marys,
To haud her unthocht lang.80

She's drest hersel i' the red scarlet,
Her marys i' the dainty green;
And they've put girdles about their middle
Would buy an earldome.

And they gaed down by yon sea-side,85
And down by yon sea-strand;
And sae bonny as the Hollans boats
Come rowin' till their hand.

She set her milk-white foot on board,
Cried, "Hail ye, Domine!"90
And the Billy Blin was the steerer o't,
To row her o'er the sea.

Whan she cam to young Bekie's gate,
She heard the music play;
And her mind misgae by a' she heard,95
That 'twas his wedding day.

She's pitten her hand in her pocket,
Gi'en the porter markis three;
"Hae, take ye that, ye proud porter,
Bid your master speake to me."100

O whan that he cam up the stair,
He fell low down on his knee:
He hail'd the king, and he hail'd the queen,
And he hail'd him, young Bekie.

"O I have been porter at your gates105
This thirty years and three;
But there are three ladies at them now,
Their like I did never see.

"There's ane o' them drest in red scarlet,
And twa in dainty green;110
And they hae girdles about their middles
Would buy an earldome."

Then out and spak the bierdly bride,
"Was a' goud to the chin;
"Gin she be fine without," she says,115
"We's be as fine within."

Then up it starts him, young Bekie,
And the tear was in his e'e:
"I'll lay my life it's Burd Isbel,
Come o'er the sea to me."120

O quickly ran he down the stair;
And whan he saw 'twas she,
He kindly took her in his arms,
And kist her tenderlie.

"O hae ye forgotten now, young Bekie,125
The vow ye made to me,
When I took you out of prison strang,
When ye was condemned to die?

"I gae you a steed was good in need,
And a saddle o' royal bane;130
A leash o' hounds o' ae litter;
And Hector called ane."

It was weel kent what the lady said,
That it was nae a lie;
For at the first word the lady spak,135
The hound fell at her knee.

"Tak hame, tak hame your daughter dear;
A blessing gang her wi';
For I maun marry my Burd Isbel,
That's come o'er the sea to me."140

"Is this the custome o' your house,
Or the fashion o' your land,
To marry a maid in a May morning,
Send her back a maid at e'en?"

[3]. Court o' France. "And first, here to omit the programe of him and his mother, named Rose, whom Polyd. Virgilius falsely nameth to be a Saracen, when indeed she came out of the parts bordering neere to Normandy." Fox, Acts and Monuments, cited by Motherwell, p. xvi.

HYND HORN.

Those metrical romances, which in the chivalrous ages, constituted the most refined pastime of a rude nobility, are known in many cases to have been adapted for the entertainment of humbler hearers, by abridgment in the form of ballads. Such was the case with the ancient gest of King Horn. Preserved in several MSS., both French and English, in something of its original proportions, an epitome of it has also descended to us through the mouths of the people.

An imperfect copy of the following piece was inserted by Cromek in his Select Scottish Songs, (London, 1810, vol. ii. p. 204-210.) Better editions have since been furnished by Kinloch, Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 138; [Motherwell], Minstrelsy, p. 95; and [Buchan], Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 268. Of these, we reprint the last two.

All the poems relating to Horn, in French and English, including the Scottish ballads above mentioned, are collected by Michel in a beautiful volume of the Bannatyne Club, Horn et Rimenhild, Paris, 1845.

From Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 35.

Near Edinburgh was a young child born,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And his name it was called Young Hynd Horn,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

Seven lang years he served the King,5
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And it's a' for the sake of his dochter Jean,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

The King an angry man was he,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;10
He sent young Hynd Horn to the sea,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"O I never saw my love before,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
Till I saw her thro' an augre bore,15
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"And she gave to me a gay gold ring,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
With three shining diamonds set therein,

And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.20

"And I gave to her a silver wand,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
With three singing laverocks set thereon,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"What if those diamonds lose their hue,25
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
Just when my love begins for to rew,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie?"

"For when your ring turns pale and wan,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;30
Then I'm in love with another man,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

He's left the land, and he's gone to the sea,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And he's stayed there seven years and a day,35
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

Seven lang years he has been on the sea,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And Hynd Horn has looked how his ring may be,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.40

But when he looked this ring upon,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
The shining diamonds were both pale and wan,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

O the ring it was both black and blue,45
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And she's either dead, or she's married,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

He's left the seas, and he's come to the land,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;50
And the first he met was an auld beggar man,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"What news, what news, my silly auld man?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
For it's seven years since I have seen land,55
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"What news, what news, thou auld beggar man?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
What news, what news, by sea or land?
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."60

"No news at all," said the auld beggar man,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
"But there is a wedding in the King's hall,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"There is a King's dochter in the West,65
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And she has been married thir nine nights past,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"Into the bride-bed she winna gang,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;70
Till she hears tell of her ain Hynd Horn,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

"Wilt thou give to me thy begging coat?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And I'll give to thee my scarlet cloak,75
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"Wilt thou give to me thy begging staff?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And I'll give to thee my good gray steed,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."80

The auld beggar man cast off his coat,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And he's ta'en up the scarlet cloak,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

The auld beggar man threw down his staff,85
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And he has mounted the good gray steed,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;90
But young Hynd Horn for the King's hall,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
But young Hynd Horn was bound for the bride,95
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

When he came to the King's gate,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
He asked a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.100

These news unto the bonnie bride came,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
That at the yett there stands an auld man,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"There stands an auld man at the King's gate,105
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
He asketh a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"I'll go through nine fires so hot,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;110
But I'll give him a drink for young Hynd Horn's sake,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

She went to the gate where the auld man did stand,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;

And she gave him a drink out of her own hand,115
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

She gave him a cup out of her own hand,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
He drunk out the drink, and dropt in the ring,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.120

"Got thou it by sea, or got thou it by land?
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
Or got thou it off a dead man's hand?
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

"I got it not by sea, but I got it by land,125
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
For I got it out of thine own hand,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

"I'll cast off my gowns of brown,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;130
And I'll follow thee from town to town,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

"I'll cast off my gowns of red,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
And along with thee I'll beg my bread,135
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

"Thou need not cast off thy gowns of brown,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;

For I can make thee lady of many a town,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.140

"Thou need not cast off thy gowns of red,
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
For I can maintain thee with both wine and bread,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie."

The bridegroom thought he had the bonnie bride wed,145
With a hey lillelu and a how lo lan;
But young Hynd Horn took the bride to the bed,
And the birk and the brume blooms bonnie.

HYND HORN.

From Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, ii. 268.

"Hynd Horn fair, and Hynd Horn free,
O where were you born, in what countrie?"
"In gude greenwood, there I was born,
And all my forbears me beforn.

"O seven years I served the king,5
And as for wages, I never gat nane;
But ae sight o' his ae daughter,
And that was thro' an augre bore.

"My love gae me a siller wand,
'Twas to rule ower a' Scotland;10
And she gae me a gay gowd ring,
The virtue o't was above a' thing."

"As lang's this ring it keeps the hue,
Ye'll know I am a lover true;
But when the ring turns pale and wan,15
Ye'll know I love another man."

He hoist up sails, and awa' sail'd he,
And sail'd into a far countrie;
And when he look'd upon his ring,
He knew she loved another man.20

He hoist up sails and home came he,
Home unto his ain countrie;
The first he met on his own land,
It chanc'd to be a beggar man.

"What news, what news, my gude auld man?25
What news, what news, hae ye to me?"
"Nae news, nae news," said the auld man,
"The morn's our queen's wedding day."

"Will ye lend me your begging weed,
And I'll lend you my riding steed?"30
"My begging weed will ill suit thee,
And your riding steed will ill suit me."

But part be right, and part be wrang,
Frae the beggar man the cloak he wan;
"Auld man, come tell to me your leed,35
What news ye gie when ye beg your bread."

"As ye walk up unto the hill,
Your pike staff ye lend ye till;
But whan ye come near by the yett,

Straight to them ye will upstep.40

"Take nane frae Peter, nor frae Paul,
Nane frae high or low o' them all;
And frae them all ye will take nane,
Until it comes frae the bride's ain hand."

He took nane frae Peter, nor frae Paul,45
Nane frae the high nor low o' them all;
And frae them all he would take nane,
Until it came frae the bride's ain hand.

The bride came tripping down the stair,
The combs o' red gowd in her hair;50
A cup o' red wine in her hand,
And that she gae to the beggar man.

Out o' the cup he drank the wine,
And into the cup he dropt the ring;
"O got ye't by sea, or got ye't by land,55
Or got ye't on a drown'd man's hand?"

"I got it not by sea, nor got it by land,
Nor got I it on a drown'd man's hand;
But I got it at my wooing gay,
And I'll gie't you on your wedding day."60

"I'll take the red gowd frae my head,
And follow you, and beg my bread;
I'll take the red gowd frae my hair,
And follow you for evermair."

Atween the kitchen and the ha',65
He loot his cloutie cloak down fa';
And wi' red gowd shone ower them a',
And frae the bridegroom the bride he sta'.

KATHARINE JANFARIE.

A story similar to this occurs in various forms both in Scotland and the Scandinavian kingdoms. Scott inserted the ballad in his first edition under the title of The Laird of Laminton; the present copy is an improved one obtained by him from several recitations. (Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, iii. 122.) Other versions are [Motherwell's, printed with this], Maidment's, in his North Countrie Garland, p. 34, (Catharine Jaffery), and Buchan's, in his Gleanings, p. 74, (Loch-in-var.) Sweet William, in Motherwell's collection, ([see Appendix],) is still another variety.

Jamieson has translated a Danish ballad which, though not cognate with these, exhibits nearly the same incidents, and we have inserted it [in the Appendix].

It need hardly be remarked that the spirited ballad of Lochinvar in Marmion is founded on this ancient legend.

There was a may, and a weel-far'd may,
Lived high up in yon glen:
Her name was Katharine Janfarie,
She was courted by mony men.

Up then came Lord Lauderdale,5
Up frae the Lawland Border;
And he has come to court this may,
A' mounted in good order.

He told na her father, he told na her mother,
And he told na ane o' her kin;10
But he whisper'd the bonnie lassie hersell,
And has her favour won.

But out then cam Lord Lochinvar,
Out frae the English Border,
All for to court this bonny may,15
Weel mounted, and in order.

He told her father, he told her mother,
And a' the lave o' her kin;
But he told na the bonnie may hersell,
Till on her wedding e'en.20

She sent to the Lord o' Lauderdale,
Gin he wad come and see;
And he has sent word back again,
Weel answer'd she suld be.

And he has sent a messenger,25
Right quickly through the land,
And raised mony an armed man
To be at his command.

The bride looked out at a high window,
Beheld baith dale and down,30
And she was aware of her first true love,
With riders mony a one.

She scoffed him, and scorned him,
Upon her wedding day;
And said—it was the fairy court,35
To see him in array!

"O come ye here to fight, young lord,
Or come ye here to play,
Or come ye here to drink good wine
Upon the wedding day?"40

"I come na here to fight," he said,
"I come na here to play;
I'll but lead a dance wi' the bonny bride,
And mount, and go my way."

It is a glass of the blood-red wine45
Was filled up them between,
And aye she drank to Lauderdale,
Wha her true love had been.

He's ta'en her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve;50
He's mounted her hie behind himsell,
At her kinsmen speir'd na leave.

"Now take your bride, Lord Lochinvar,
Now take her, if you may!
But if you take your bride again,55
We'll call it but foul play."

There were four-and-twenty bonnie boys,
A' clad in the Johnstone grey;
They said they would take the bride again,
By the strong hand, if they may.60

Some o' them were right willing men,
But they were na willing a';
And four-and-twenty Leader lads
Bid them mount and ride awa'.

Then whingers flew frae gentles' sides,65
And swords flew frae the shea's,
And red and rosy was the blood
Ran down the lily braes.

The blood ran down by Caddon bank,
And down by Caddon brae;70
And, sighing, said the bonnie bride,
"O wae's me for foul play!"

My blessing on your heart, sweet thing,
Wae to your wilfu' will!
There's mony a gallant gentleman75
Whae's bluid ye have garr'd to spill.

Now a' you lords of fair England,
And that dwell by the English Border,
Come never here to seek a wife,
For fear of sic disorder.80

They'll haik ye up, and settle ye bye,
Till on your wedding day,
Then gie ye frogs instead of fish,
And play ye foul foul play.

CATHERINE JOHNSTONE.

Obtained from recitation, in the West of Scotland. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 225.

There was a lass, as I heard say,
Liv'd low doun in a glen;
Her name was Catherine Johnstone,
Weel known to many men.

Doun came the laird o' Lamington,5
Doun from the South Countrie;
And he is for this bonnie lass,
Her bridegroom for to be.

He's ask'd her father and mother,
The chief of a' her kin;10
And then he ask'd the bonnie lass,
And did her favour win.

Doun came an English gentleman,
Doun from the English border;
He is for this bonnie lass,15
To keep his house in order.

He ask'd her father and mother,
As I do hear them say;
But he never ask'd the lass hersell,
Till on her wedding day.20

But she has wrote a long letter,
And sealed it with her hand;
And sent it to Lord Lamington,
To let him understand.

The first line o' the letter he read,25
He was baith glad and fain;
But or he read the letter o'er,
He was baith pale and wan.

Then he has sent a messenger,
And out through all his land;30
And four-and-twenty armed men
Was all at his command.

But he has left his merry men all,
Left them on the lee;
And he's awa to the wedding house,35
To see what he could see.

But when he came to the wedding house,
As I do understand,
There were four-and-twenty belted knights

Sat at a table round.40

They rose all to honour him,
For he was of high renown;
They rose all for to welcome him,
And bade him to sit down.

O meikle was the good red wine45
In silver cups did flow;
But aye she drank to Lamington,
For with him would she go.

O meikle was the good red wine
In silver cups gaed round;50
At length they began to whisper words,
None could them understand.

"O came ye here for sport, young man,
Or came ye here for play?
Or came ye for our bonnie bride,55
On this her wedding day?"

"I came not here for sport," he said,
"Neither did I for play;
But for one word o' your bonnie bride,
I'll mount and go away."60

They set her maids behind her,
To hear what they would say;
But the first question he ask'd at her
Was always answered nay;
The next question he ask'd at her65
Was, "Mount and come away?"

It's up the Couden bank,
And doun the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a weel won play.70

O meikle was the blood was shed
Upon the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
It's a' fair play.

Come, a' ye English gentlemen,75
That is of England born,
Come na doun to Scotland,
For fear ye get the scorn.

They'll feed ye up wi' flattering words,
And that's foul play;80
And they'll dress you frogs instead of fish,
Just on your wedding day.

BONNY BABY LIVINGSTON.

Jamieson's Popular Ballads, ii. 135, from Mrs. Brown's recitation. Barbara Livingston, a shorter piece, with a different catastrophe, is given [in the Appendix], from Motherwell's collection.

O bonny Baby Livingstone
Gaed out to view the hay;
And by it cam him Glenlyon,
Staw bonny Baby away.

And first he's taen her silken coat,5
And neist her satten gown;
Syne row'd her in his tartan plaid,
And happ'd her round and roun'.

He's mounted her upon a steed,
And roundly rade away;10
And ne'er loot her look back again
The lee-lang simmer day.

He's carried her o'er yon hich hich hill,
Intill a Highland glen,
And there he met his brother John15
Wi' twenty armed men.

And there were cows, and there were ewes,
And there were kids sae fair;
But sad and wae was bonny Baby,
Her heart was fu' o' care.20

He's taen her in his arms twa,
And kist her cheek and chin;
"I wad gi'e a' my flocks and herds,
Ae smile frae thee to win."

"A smile frae me ye'se never win;25
I'll ne'er look kind on thee;
Ye've stown me awa frae a' my kin,
Frae a' that's dear to me.

"Dundee, kind sir, Dundee, kind sir,
Tak me to bonny Dundee;30
For ye sall ne'er my favour win
Till it ance mair I see."

"Dundee, Baby! Dundee, Baby!
Dundee ye ne'er shall see;
But I will carry you to Glenlyon,35
Where you my bride shall be.

"Or will ye stay at Achingour,
And eat sweet milk and cheese;
Or gang wi' me to Glenlyon,
And there we'll live at our ease?"40

"I winna stay at Achingour;
I care neither for milk nor cheese;
Nor gang wi' thee to Glenlyon;
For there I'll ne'er find ease."

Then out it spak his brother John;45
"If I were in your place,
I'd send that lady hame again,
For a' her bonny face.

"Commend me to the lass that's kind,
Though nae sae gently born;50
And, gin her heart I coudna win,
To take her hand I'd scorn."

"O haud your tongue, my brother John;
Ye wisna what ye say;
For I hae lued that bonny face55
This mony a year and day.

"I've lued her lang, and lued her weel,
But her love I ne'er could win;
And what I canna fairly gain,

To steal I think nae sin."60

Whan they cam to Glenlyon castle,
They lighted at the yett;
And out they cam, his three sisters,
Their brother for to greet.

And they have taen her, bonny Baby,65
And led her o'er the green;
And ilka lady spak a word,
But bonny Baby spake nane.

Then out it spak her, bonny Jane,
The youngest o' the three:70
"O lady, why look ye sae sad?
Come tell your grief to me."

"O wharefore should I tell my grief,
Since lax I canna find?
I'm far frae a' my kin and friends,75
And my love I left behind.

"But had I paper, pen, and ink,
Afore that it were day,
I yet might get a letter wrate,
And sent to Johnie Hay.80

"And gin I had a bonny boy,
To help me in my need,
That he might rin to bonny Dundee,
And come again wi' speed!"

And they hae gotten a bonny boy85
Their errand for to gang;
And bade him run to Bonny Dundee,
And nae to tarry lang.

The boy he ran o'er muir and dale,
As fast as he could flee;90
And e'er the sun was twa hours hight,
The boy was at Dundee.

Whan Johnie lookit the letter on,
A hearty laugh leuch he;
But ere he read it till an end,95
The tear blinded his e'e.

"O wha is this, or wha is that,
Has stown my love frae me?
Although he were my ae brither,
An ill dead sall he die.100

"Gae, saddle to me the black," he says;
"Gae, saddle to me the brown;
Gae, saddle to me the swiftest steed,
That ever rade frae the town."

He's call'd upon his merry men a',105
To follow him to the glen;
And he's vow'd he'd neither eat nor sleep
Till he got his love again.

He's mounted him on a milk-white steed,
And fast he rade away;110
And he's come to Glenlyon's yett,
About the close o' day.

As Baby at her window stood,
And the west-wind saft did blaw,
She heard her Johnie's well-kent voice115
Aneath the castle wa'.

"O Baby, haste, the window loup;
I'll kep you in my arm;
My merry men a' are at the yett
To rescue you frae harm."120

She to the window fix'd her sheets,
And slipped safely down;
And Johnie catched her in his arms,
Ne'er loot her touch the groun'.

Glenlyon and his brother John125
Were birling in the ha',
When they heard Johnie's bridle ring
As fast he rade awa'.

"Rise, Jock; gang out and meet the priest;
I hear his bridle ring;130
My Baby now shall be my wife,
Before the laverock sing."

"O brother, this is nae the priest;
I fear he'll come o'er late;
For armed men wi' shining brands135
Stand at the castle yett."