The Textis from Sharpe’sBallad Book(1823). It is an extremely popular ballad in Scotland.
The Story .—Lady Jean Melville (in other versions Jean of Bethelnie, in Aberdeenshire), scarce sixteen years old, falls in love at first sight with Glenlogie, and tells him her mind. But he is already engaged, and Lady Jean takes to her care-bed. Her father offers the consolation, usual in such cases, of another and a richer husband. Jean, however, prefers the love of Glenlogie to the euphony of Drumfendrich, and gets her father’s chaplain to write a letter to Glenlogie, which is so well indited that it moves him to tears, and all ends happily.
1.Fourand twenty nobles sits in the king’s ha’,Bonnie Glenlogie is the flower among them a’.2.In came Lady Jean, skipping on the floor,And she has chosen Glenlogie ’mong a’ that was there.3.She turned to his footman, and thus she did say:‘Oh, what is his name? and where does he stay?’4.‘His name is Glenlogie, when he is from home;He is of the gay Gordons, his name it is John.’5.‘Glenlogie, Glenlogie, an you will prove kind,My love is laid on you; I am telling my mind.’6.He turned about lightly, as the Gordons does a’:‘I thank you, Lady Jean, my loves is promised awa’.’7.She called on her maidens her bed for to make,Her rings and her jewels all from her to take.8.In came Jeanie’s father, a wae man was he;Says, ‘I’ll wed you to Drumfendrich, he has mair gold than he.’9.Her father’s own chaplain, being a man of great skill,He wrote him a letter, and indited it well.10.The first lines he looked at, a light laugh laughed he;But ere he read through it the tears blinded his e’e.11.Oh, pale and wan looked she when Glenlogie cam in.But even rosy grew she when Glenlogie sat down.12.‘Turn round, Jeanie Melville, turn round to this side,And I’ll be the bridegroom, and you’ll be the bride.’13.Oh, ’twas a merry wedding, and the portion down told,Of bonnie Jeanie Melville, who was scarce sixteen years old.
1.
Fourand twenty nobles sits in the king’s ha’,
Bonnie Glenlogie is the flower among them a’.
2.
In came Lady Jean, skipping on the floor,
And she has chosen Glenlogie ’mong a’ that was there.
3.
She turned to his footman, and thus she did say:
‘Oh, what is his name? and where does he stay?’
4.
‘His name is Glenlogie, when he is from home;
He is of the gay Gordons, his name it is John.’
5.
‘Glenlogie, Glenlogie, an you will prove kind,
My love is laid on you; I am telling my mind.’
6.
He turned about lightly, as the Gordons does a’:
‘I thank you, Lady Jean, my loves is promised awa’.’
7.
She called on her maidens her bed for to make,
Her rings and her jewels all from her to take.
8.
In came Jeanie’s father, a wae man was he;
Says, ‘I’ll wed you to Drumfendrich, he has mair gold than he.’
9.
Her father’s own chaplain, being a man of great skill,
He wrote him a letter, and indited it well.
10.
The first lines he looked at, a light laugh laughed he;
But ere he read through it the tears blinded his e’e.
11.
Oh, pale and wan looked she when Glenlogie cam in.
But even rosy grew she when Glenlogie sat down.
12.
‘Turn round, Jeanie Melville, turn round to this side,
And I’ll be the bridegroom, and you’ll be the bride.’
13.
Oh, ’twas a merry wedding, and the portion down told,
Of bonnie Jeanie Melville, who was scarce sixteen years old.
The Textwas derived from Mr. Biot Edmondston’s memory of a ballad sung to him by an old man in Unst, Shetland. In the version sung, he notes, there were no stanzas to fill the obvious gap in the story after the first; but that after the fourth and the eighth stanzas, there had been certain verses which he had forgotten. In the first instance, these related that the lady had been carried off by fairies, and that the king, going in search of her, saw her one day among a company that passed into a castle on the hillside. After the eighth stanza, the ballad related that a messenger appeared behind the grey stone, and invited the king in.
The refrain is a startling instance of phonetic tradition, the words being repeated by rote long after the sense has been forgotten. It appears that the two lines are Unst pronunciation of Danish, and that they mean, respectively, ‘Early green’s the wood,’ and ‘Where the hart goes yearly.’
In this connection, compare Arthur Edmondston’sA View of the Ancient and Present State of the Zetland Islands(1809), vol. i. p. 142: ‘The island of Unst was its [pure Norse] last abode; and not more than thirty years ago several individuals there could speak it fluently.’ See also Rev. Dr. Barry’sHistory of the Orkney Islands(1805), Appendix No. X., pp. 484-490, a ballad of thirty-five quatrains in Norse as spoken in the Orkneys, the subject of which is a contest between a King of Norway and an Earl of Orkney, who hadmarried the King’s daughter, in her father’s absence, and without his consent.
The Story .—Doubtless few will recognise in this fragment an offshoot of the classical story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The ballad, however, cannot be said to be derived directly from the classical tale: rather it represents thedébrisof the mediæval romance ofOrfeo and Heurodis, where the kingdom of Faëry (see 4.1) replaces Hades, and the tale is given a happy ending by the recovery of Eurydice (for whom the Lady Isabel is here the substitute). The romance exists asOrfeo and Heurodisin the AuchinleckMS., of the fourteenth century, in the Advocates’ Library, Edinburgh; asKyng Orfewin AshmoleMS.61, of the fifteenth century; and asSir Orpheoin HarleianMS.3810.
1.Derlived a king inta da aste,Scowan ürla grünDer lived a lady in da wast.Whar giorten han grün oarlac2.Dis king he has a huntin’ gaen,He’s left his Lady Isabel alane.3.‘Oh I wis ye’d never gaen away,For at your hame is döl an’ wae.4.‘For da king o’ Ferrie we his daert,Has pierced your lady to da hert.’*****5.And aifter dem da king has gaen,But whan he cam it was a grey stane.6.Dan he took oot his pipes ta play,Bit sair his hert wi’ döl an’ wae.7.7.1‘noy,’ grief.And first he played da notes o’ noy,An’ dan he played da notes o’ joy.8.8.1‘The good gabber reel’ is a sprightly dance-tune.An’ dan he played da göd gabber reel,Dat meicht ha’ made a sick hert hale.*****9.9.1,2‘wir,’ ‘wis,’ our, us.‘Noo come ye in inta wir ha’,An’ come ye in among wis a’.’10.Now he’s gaen in inta der ha’,An’ he’s gaen in among dem a’.11.Dan he took out his pipes to play,Bit sair his hert wi’ döl an’ wae.12.An’ first he played da notes o’ noy,An’ dan he played da notes o’ joy.13.An’ dan he played da göd gabber reel,Dat meicht ha’ made a sick hert hale.14.‘Noo tell to us what ye will hae:What sall we gie you for your play?’15.‘What I will hae I will you tell,And dat’s me Lady Isabel.’16.‘Yees tak your lady, an’ yees gaeng hame,An’ yees be king ower a’ your ain.’17.He’s taen his lady, an’ he’s gaen hame,An’ noo he’s king ower a’ his ain.
1.
Derlived a king inta da aste,
Scowan ürla grün
Der lived a lady in da wast.
Whar giorten han grün oarlac
2.
Dis king he has a huntin’ gaen,
He’s left his Lady Isabel alane.
3.
‘Oh I wis ye’d never gaen away,
For at your hame is döl an’ wae.
4.
‘For da king o’ Ferrie we his daert,
Has pierced your lady to da hert.’
*****
5.
And aifter dem da king has gaen,
But whan he cam it was a grey stane.
6.
Dan he took oot his pipes ta play,
Bit sair his hert wi’ döl an’ wae.
7.
7.1‘noy,’ grief.
And first he played da notes o’ noy,
An’ dan he played da notes o’ joy.
8.
8.1‘The good gabber reel’ is a sprightly dance-tune.
An’ dan he played da göd gabber reel,
Dat meicht ha’ made a sick hert hale.
*****
9.
9.1,2‘wir,’ ‘wis,’ our, us.
‘Noo come ye in inta wir ha’,
An’ come ye in among wis a’.’
10.
Now he’s gaen in inta der ha’,
An’ he’s gaen in among dem a’.
11.
Dan he took out his pipes to play,
Bit sair his hert wi’ döl an’ wae.
12.
An’ first he played da notes o’ noy,
An’ dan he played da notes o’ joy.
13.
An’ dan he played da göd gabber reel,
Dat meicht ha’ made a sick hert hale.
14.
‘Noo tell to us what ye will hae:
What sall we gie you for your play?’
15.
‘What I will hae I will you tell,
And dat’s me Lady Isabel.’
16.
‘Yees tak your lady, an’ yees gaeng hame,
An’ yees be king ower a’ your ain.’
17.
He’s taen his lady, an’ he’s gaen hame,
An’ noo he’s king ower a’ his ain.
The Textis from Ravenscroft’sDeuteromelia(1609), reprinted almostverbatimin Tom Durfey’sPills to Purge Melancholy.
The Storywas sufficiently popular not only to have been revived, at the end of the seventeenth century, but to have had three other ‘Parts’ added to it, the whole four afterwards being combined into one broadside.
In similar Spanish, Portuguese, and French ballads, the damsel escapes by saying she is a leper, or the daughter of a leper, or otherwise diseased. Much the same story is told in Danish and German ballads.
1.1.2‘lay’ = lea, meadow-land.Yondercomes a courteous knight,Lustely raking over the lay;He was well ware of a bonny lasse,As she came wand’ring over the way.Then she sang downe a downe, hey downe derry(bis)2.‘Jove you speed, fayre ladye,’ he said,‘Among the leaves that be so greene;If I were a king, and wore a crowne,Full soone, fair lady, shouldst thou be a queen.3.‘Also Jove save you, faire lady,Among the roses that be so red;If I have not my will of you,Full soone, faire lady, shall I be dead.’4.4.4‘divel’s mouth.’ Skeat has suggested that this metaphor is derived from the devil’s mouth always being wide open in painted windows.Then he lookt east, then hee lookt west,Hee lookt north, so did he south;He could not finde a privy place,For all lay in the divel’s mouth.5.‘If you will carry me, gentle sir,A mayde unto my father’s hall,Then you shall have your will of me,Under purple and under paule.’6.He set her up upon a steed,And him selfe upon another,And all the day he rode her by,As though they had been sister and brother.7.7.3‘yode,’ went.7.4‘foure-ear’d.’ Child suggests, ‘as denoting a double ass?’When she came to her father’s hall,It was well walled round about;She yode in at the wicket-gate,And shut the foure-ear’d foole without.8.‘You had me,’ quoth she, ‘abroad in the field,Among the corne, amidst the hay,Where you might had your will of mee,For, in good faith, sir, I never said nay.9.‘Ye had me also amid the field,Among the rushes that were so browne,Where you might had your will of me,But you had not the face to lay me downe.’10.10.1,2See First Series, Introduction, p. xlix.He pulled out his nut-browne sword,And wipt the rust off with his sleeve,And said, ‘Jove’s curse come to his heart,That any woman would beleeve!’11.When you have your own true-loveA mile or twaine out of the towne,Spare not for her gay clothing,But lay her body flat on the ground.
1.
1.2‘lay’ = lea, meadow-land.
Yondercomes a courteous knight,
Lustely raking over the lay;
He was well ware of a bonny lasse,
As she came wand’ring over the way.
Then she sang downe a downe, hey downe derry(bis)
2.
‘Jove you speed, fayre ladye,’ he said,
‘Among the leaves that be so greene;
If I were a king, and wore a crowne,
Full soone, fair lady, shouldst thou be a queen.
3.
‘Also Jove save you, faire lady,
Among the roses that be so red;
If I have not my will of you,
Full soone, faire lady, shall I be dead.’
4.
4.4‘divel’s mouth.’ Skeat has suggested that this metaphor is derived from the devil’s mouth always being wide open in painted windows.
Then he lookt east, then hee lookt west,
Hee lookt north, so did he south;
He could not finde a privy place,
For all lay in the divel’s mouth.
5.
‘If you will carry me, gentle sir,
A mayde unto my father’s hall,
Then you shall have your will of me,
Under purple and under paule.’
6.
He set her up upon a steed,
And him selfe upon another,
And all the day he rode her by,
As though they had been sister and brother.
7.
7.3‘yode,’ went.
7.4‘foure-ear’d.’ Child suggests, ‘as denoting a double ass?’
When she came to her father’s hall,
It was well walled round about;
She yode in at the wicket-gate,
And shut the foure-ear’d foole without.
8.
‘You had me,’ quoth she, ‘abroad in the field,
Among the corne, amidst the hay,
Where you might had your will of mee,
For, in good faith, sir, I never said nay.
9.
‘Ye had me also amid the field,
Among the rushes that were so browne,
Where you might had your will of me,
But you had not the face to lay me downe.’
10.
10.1,2See First Series, Introduction, p. xlix.
He pulled out his nut-browne sword,
And wipt the rust off with his sleeve,
And said, ‘Jove’s curse come to his heart,
That any woman would beleeve!’
11.
When you have your own true-love
A mile or twaine out of the towne,
Spare not for her gay clothing,
But lay her body flat on the ground.
The Textis from Herd’sMSS., as given by Professor Child to form a regular sequence. The ballad also exists in an English broadside form.
The Storyof the ballad has a close counterpart in Flemish Belgium, and in southern France. The German variants, however, have a curious history. The English broadside ballad was translated into German by F. W. Meyer in 1789, and in this form gained such popularity that it was circulated not only as a broadside, but actually in oral tradition,—with the usual result of alteration. Its vogue was not confined to Germany, but spread to Hungary and Scandinavia, a Swedish broadside appearing within ten years of Meyer’s translation.
1.Hamecame our goodman,And hame came he,And then he saw a saddle-horse,Where nae horse should be.2.‘What’s this now, goodwife?What’s this I see?How came this horse here,Without the leave o’ me?’Recitative.‘A horse?’ quo’ she.‘Ay, a horse,’ quo’ he.3.3.2‘mat,’ may.3.3‘broad,’ brood:i.e.a sow that has a litter.3.4‘minnie,’ mother.‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,Ill mat ye see!‘Tis naething but a broad sow,My minnie sent to me.’‘A broad sow?’ quo’ he.‘Ay, a sow,’ quo’ shee.4.‘Far hae I ridden,And farer hae I gane,But a saddle on a sow’s backI never saw nane.’5.Hame came our goodman,And hame came he;He spy’d a pair of jack-boots,Where nae boots should be.6.‘What’s this now, goodwife?What’s this I see?How came these boots here,Without the leave o’ me?’‘Boots?’ quo’ she.‘Ay, boots,’ quo’ he.7.‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,And ill mat ye see!It’s but a pair of water-stoups,My minnie sent to me.’‘Water-stoups?’ quo’ he.‘Ay, water-stoups,’ quo’ she.8.‘Far hae I ridden,And farer hae I gane,But siller spurs on water-stoupsI saw never nane.’9.Hame came our goodman,And hame came he,And he saw a sword,Whare a sword should na be.10.‘What’s this now, goodwife?What’s this I see?How came this sword here,Without the leave o’ me?’‘A sword?’ quo’ she.‘Ay, a sword,’ quo’ he.11.11.3‘porridge-spurtle,’ stick for stirring porridge.‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,Ill mat ye see!It’s but a porridge-spurtle,My minnie sent to me.’‘A spurtle?’ quo’ he.‘Ay, a spurtle,’ quo’ she.12.‘Far hae I ridden,And farer hae I gane,But siller-handed spurtlesI saw never nane.’13.Hame came our goodman,And hame came he;There he spy’d a powder’d wig,Where nae wig shoud be.14.‘What’s this now, goodwife?What’s this I see?How came this wig here,Without the leave o’ me?’‘A wig?’ quo’ she.‘Ay, a wig,’ quo’ he.15.15.3‘clocken-hen,’ sitting hen.‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,And ill mat you see!’Tis naething but a clocken-hen,My minnie sent to me.’‘Clocken hen?’ quo’ he.‘Ay, clocken hen,’ quo’ she.16.‘Far hae I ridden,And farer hae I gane,But powder on a clocken-henI saw never nane.’17.Hame came our goodman,And hame came he,And there he saw a muckle coat,Where nae coat shoud be.18.‘What’s this now, goodwife?What’s this I see?How came this coat here,Without the leave o’ me?’‘A coat?’ quo’ she.‘Ay, a coat,’ quo’ he.19.‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,Ill mat ye see!It’s but a pair o’ blankets,My minnie sent to me.’‘Blankets?’ quo’ he.‘Ay, blankets,’ quo’ she.20.‘Far hae I ridden,And farer hae I gane,But buttons upon blanketsI saw never nane.’21.21.1‘Ben,’ indoors, or into the inner room.Ben went our goodman,And ben went he,And there he spy’d a sturdy man,Where nae man shoud be.22.‘What’s this now, goodwife?What’s this I see?How came this man here,Without the leave o’ me?’‘A man?’ quo’ she.‘Ay, a man,’ quo’ he.23.‘Poor blind body,And blinder mat ye be!It’s a new milking-maid,My mither sent to me.’‘A maid?’ quo’ he.‘Ay, a maid,’ quo’ she.24.‘Far hae I ridden,And farer hae I gane,But lang-bearded maidensI saw never nane.’
1.
Hamecame our goodman,
And hame came he,
And then he saw a saddle-horse,
Where nae horse should be.
2.
‘What’s this now, goodwife?
What’s this I see?
How came this horse here,
Without the leave o’ me?’
Recitative.
‘A horse?’ quo’ she.
‘Ay, a horse,’ quo’ he.
3.
3.2‘mat,’ may.
3.3‘broad,’ brood:i.e.a sow that has a litter.
3.4‘minnie,’ mother.
‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,
Ill mat ye see!
‘Tis naething but a broad sow,
My minnie sent to me.’
‘A broad sow?’ quo’ he.
‘Ay, a sow,’ quo’ shee.
4.
‘Far hae I ridden,
And farer hae I gane,
But a saddle on a sow’s back
I never saw nane.’
5.
Hame came our goodman,
And hame came he;
He spy’d a pair of jack-boots,
Where nae boots should be.
6.
‘What’s this now, goodwife?
What’s this I see?
How came these boots here,
Without the leave o’ me?’
‘Boots?’ quo’ she.
‘Ay, boots,’ quo’ he.
7.
‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,
And ill mat ye see!
It’s but a pair of water-stoups,
My minnie sent to me.’
‘Water-stoups?’ quo’ he.
‘Ay, water-stoups,’ quo’ she.
8.
‘Far hae I ridden,
And farer hae I gane,
But siller spurs on water-stoups
I saw never nane.’
9.
Hame came our goodman,
And hame came he,
And he saw a sword,
Whare a sword should na be.
10.
‘What’s this now, goodwife?
What’s this I see?
How came this sword here,
Without the leave o’ me?’
‘A sword?’ quo’ she.
‘Ay, a sword,’ quo’ he.
11.
11.3‘porridge-spurtle,’ stick for stirring porridge.
‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,
Ill mat ye see!
It’s but a porridge-spurtle,
My minnie sent to me.’
‘A spurtle?’ quo’ he.
‘Ay, a spurtle,’ quo’ she.
12.
‘Far hae I ridden,
And farer hae I gane,
But siller-handed spurtles
I saw never nane.’
13.
Hame came our goodman,
And hame came he;
There he spy’d a powder’d wig,
Where nae wig shoud be.
14.
‘What’s this now, goodwife?
What’s this I see?
How came this wig here,
Without the leave o’ me?’
‘A wig?’ quo’ she.
‘Ay, a wig,’ quo’ he.
15.
15.3‘clocken-hen,’ sitting hen.
‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,
And ill mat you see!
’Tis naething but a clocken-hen,
My minnie sent to me.’
‘Clocken hen?’ quo’ he.
‘Ay, clocken hen,’ quo’ she.
16.
‘Far hae I ridden,
And farer hae I gane,
But powder on a clocken-hen
I saw never nane.’
17.
Hame came our goodman,
And hame came he,
And there he saw a muckle coat,
Where nae coat shoud be.
18.
‘What’s this now, goodwife?
What’s this I see?
How came this coat here,
Without the leave o’ me?’
‘A coat?’ quo’ she.
‘Ay, a coat,’ quo’ he.
19.
‘Shame fa’ your cuckold face,
Ill mat ye see!
It’s but a pair o’ blankets,
My minnie sent to me.’
‘Blankets?’ quo’ he.
‘Ay, blankets,’ quo’ she.
20.
‘Far hae I ridden,
And farer hae I gane,
But buttons upon blankets
I saw never nane.’
21.
21.1‘Ben,’ indoors, or into the inner room.
Ben went our goodman,
And ben went he,
And there he spy’d a sturdy man,
Where nae man shoud be.
22.
‘What’s this now, goodwife?
What’s this I see?
How came this man here,
Without the leave o’ me?’
‘A man?’ quo’ she.
‘Ay, a man,’ quo’ he.
23.
‘Poor blind body,
And blinder mat ye be!
It’s a new milking-maid,
My mither sent to me.’
‘A maid?’ quo’ he.
‘Ay, a maid,’ quo’ she.
24.
‘Far hae I ridden,
And farer hae I gane,
But lang-bearded maidens
I saw never nane.’
The Textis taken from Buchan’sMSS., the Scots version being rather more condensed than the corresponding English broadside. There is a reference to this ballad in Munday’sDownfall of Robert, Earl of Huntington(1598); but earlier still, Skelton hints at it inColyn Cloute.
The Storycan be paralleled in French, Danish, and Persian ballads and tales, but is simple enough to have been invented by almost any people. Compare also the story ofThe Wright’s Chaste Wifeby Adam of Cobsam, E.E.T.S., 1865, ed. F. J. Furnivall.
1.1.2,4The burden is of course repeated in each stanza.O hearkenand hear, and I will you tellSing, Faldidae, faldidadiOf a friar that loved a fair maiden well.Sing, Faldi dadi di di(bis)2.The friar he came to this maiden’s bedside,And asking for her maidenhead.3.‘O I would grant you your desire,If ’t werena for fear o’ hell’s burning fire.’4.‘O’ hell’s burning fire ye need have no doubt;Altho’ you were in, I could whistle you out.’5.‘O if I grant to you this thing,Some money you unto me must bring.’6.He brought her the money, and did it down tell;She had a white cloth spread over the well.7.Then the fair maid cried out that her master was come;‘O,’ said the friar,’ then where shall I run?’8.‘O ye will go in behind yon screen,And then by my master ye winna be seen.’9.Then in behind the screen she him sent,But he fell into the well by accident.10.Then the friar cried out with a piteous moan,‘O help! O help me! or else I am gone.’11.‘Ye said ye wad whistle me out o’ hell;Now whistle your ain sel’ out o’ the well.’12.She helped him out and bade him be gone;The friar he asked his money again.13.‘As for your money, there is no much matterTo make you pay more for jumbling our water.’14.Then all who hear it commend this fair maidFor the nimble trick to the friar she played.15.15.2‘lugs,’ ears.The friar he walked on the street,And shaking his lugs like a well-washen sheep.
1.
1.2,4The burden is of course repeated in each stanza.
O hearkenand hear, and I will you tell
Sing, Faldidae, faldidadi
Of a friar that loved a fair maiden well.
Sing, Faldi dadi di di(bis)
2.
The friar he came to this maiden’s bedside,
And asking for her maidenhead.
3.
‘O I would grant you your desire,
If ’t werena for fear o’ hell’s burning fire.’
4.
‘O’ hell’s burning fire ye need have no doubt;
Altho’ you were in, I could whistle you out.’
5.
‘O if I grant to you this thing,
Some money you unto me must bring.’
6.
He brought her the money, and did it down tell;
She had a white cloth spread over the well.
7.
Then the fair maid cried out that her master was come;
‘O,’ said the friar,’ then where shall I run?’
8.
‘O ye will go in behind yon screen,
And then by my master ye winna be seen.’
9.
Then in behind the screen she him sent,
But he fell into the well by accident.
10.
Then the friar cried out with a piteous moan,
‘O help! O help me! or else I am gone.’
11.
‘Ye said ye wad whistle me out o’ hell;
Now whistle your ain sel’ out o’ the well.’
12.
She helped him out and bade him be gone;
The friar he asked his money again.
13.
‘As for your money, there is no much matter
To make you pay more for jumbling our water.’
14.
Then all who hear it commend this fair maid
For the nimble trick to the friar she played.
15.
15.2‘lugs,’ ears.
The friar he walked on the street,
And shaking his lugs like a well-washen sheep.
The Textis given here from Kinloch’sMSS. He gives also three other versions and various fragments. The tale is also found amongst the Roxburghe Ballads, asThe Beautifull Shepherdesse of Arcadia, in two broadsides printed about 1655 and 1680. This is the only English version extant. But earlier than any text of the ballad is a quotation from it in John Fletcher’sThe Pilgrim, iv. 2 (1621). The Scots versions, about a dozen in number, are far more lively than the broadside. Buchan printed two, of sixty and sixty-three stanzas respectively. Another text is delightfully inconsequent:—
‘“Some ca’ me Jack, some ca’ me John,Some ca’ me Jing-ga-lee,But when I am in the queen’s courtEarl Hitchcock they ca’ me.”“Hitchcock, Hitchcock,” Jo Janet she said,An’ spelled it ower agane,“Hitchcock it’s a Latin word;Earl Richard is your name.”But when he saw she was book-learned,Fast to his horse hied he....’
‘“Some ca’ me Jack, some ca’ me John,
Some ca’ me Jing-ga-lee,
But when I am in the queen’s court
Earl Hitchcock they ca’ me.”
“Hitchcock, Hitchcock,” Jo Janet she said,
An’ spelled it ower agane,
“Hitchcock it’s a Latin word;
Earl Richard is your name.”
But when he saw she was book-learned,
Fast to his horse hied he....’
Both this version (from the GibbMS.) and one of Buchan’s introduce the domestic genius known as the ‘Billy-Blin,’ for whom seeYoung Bekie, First Series, p. 6, ff.;Willie’s Lady,p. 19of this volume; andCospatrick,p. 26.
The Story .—The King of France’s auld dochter, disguised as a shepherdess, is accosted by Sweet William, brother to the Queen of Scotland, who gives his name as Wilfu’ Will, varied by Jack and John. He attempts to escape, but she follows him to court, and claims him in marriage from the king. He tries to avoid discovery by pretending to be a cripple, but she knows him, refuses to be bribed, marries him, and finally reveals herself to him.
Thedénouementof the story is reminiscent ofThe Marriage of Sir Gawain(First Series, pp. 107-118). A Danish ballad,Ebbe Galt, has similar incidents.
1.Therewas a shepherd’s dochterKept sheep upon yon hill,And by cam a gay braw gentleman,And wad hae had his will.2.He took her by the milk-white hand,And laid her on the ground,And whan he got his will o’ herHe lift her up again.3.‘O syne ye’ve got your will o’ me,Your will o’ me ye’ve taen,‘Tis all I ask o’ you, kind sir,Is to tell to me your name.’4.‘Sometimes they call me Jack,’ he said,‘Sometimes they call me John,But whan I am in the king’s court,My name is Wilfu’ Will.’5.Than he loup on his milk-white steed,And straught away he rade,And she did kilt her petticoats,And after him she gaed.6.He never was sae kind as say,‘O lassie, will ye ride?’Nor ever had she the courage to say,‘O laddie, will ye bide!’7.Until they cam to a wan water,Which was called Clyde,And then he turned about his horse,Said, ‘Lassie, will ye ride?’8.8.2‘weel,’ advantage. So, in the comparative, ‘better,’ 9.2.‘I learned it in my father’s hall,I learned it for my weel,That whan I come to deep water,I can swim as it were an eel.9.‘I learned it in my mother’s bower,I learned it for my better,That whan I come to broad water,I can swim like any otter.’10.He plunged his steed into the ford,And straught way thro’ he rade,And she set in her lilly feet,And thro’ the water wade.11.And whan she cam to the king’s court,She tirled on the pin,And wha sae ready’s the king himsel’To let the fair maid in?12.‘What is your will wi’ me, fair maid?What is your will wi’ me?’‘There is a man into your courtThis day has robbed me.’13.‘O has he taen your gold,’ he said,‘Or has he taen your fee?Or has he stown your maidenhead,The flower of your bodye?’14.‘He has na taen my gold, kind sir,Nor as little has he taen my fee,But he has taen my maidenhead,The flower of my bodye.’15.‘O gif he be a married man,High hangit shall he be,But gif he be a bachelor,His body I’ll grant thee.’16.‘Sometimes they call him Jack,’ she said,‘Sometimes they call him John,But when he’s in the king’s court,His name is Sweet William.’17.‘There’s not a William in a’ my court,Never a one but three,And one of them is the Queen’s brother;I wad laugh gif it war he.’18.The king called on his merry men,By thirty and by three;Sweet Willie, wha used to be foremost man,Was the hindmost a’ but three.19.19.2‘twa-fald o’er a tree,’ bent double on a stick.O he cam cripple, and he cam blind,Cam twa-fald o’er a tree:‘O be he cripple, or be he blind,This very same man is he.’20.‘O whether will ye marry the bonny may,Or hang on the gallows-tree?’‘O I will rather marry the bonny may,Afore that I do die.’21.But he took out a purse of gold,Weel locked in a glove:‘O tak ye that, my bonny may,And seek anither love.’22.‘O I will hae none o’ your gold,’ she says,‘Nor as little ony of your fee,But I will hae your ain body,The king has granted me.’23.O he took out a purse of gold;A purse of gold and store;‘O tak ye that, fair may,’ he said,‘Frae me ye’ll ne’er get mair.’24.‘O haud your tongue, young man,’ she says,‘And I pray you let me be;For I will hae your ain body,The king has granted me.’25.He mounted her on a bonny bay horse,Himsel’ on the silver grey;He drew his bonnet out o’er his een,He whipt and rade away.26.26.4‘Sned,’ cut, lop.O whan they cam to yon nettle bush,The nettles they war spread:‘O an my mither war but here,’ she says,‘These nettles she wad sned.’27.‘O an I had drank the wan waterWhan I did drink the wine,That e’er a shepherd’s dochterShould hae been a love o’ mine!’28.‘O may be I’m a shepherd’s dochter,And may be I am nane!But you might hae ridden on your ways,And hae let me alane.’29.29.2Two lines wanting in theMS.O whan they cam unto yon millShe heard the mill clap:..........30.30.3‘pock,’ bag.30.4‘grey,’i.e.grey meal, barley.‘Clap on, clap on, thou bonny mill,Weel may thou, I say,For mony a time thou’s filled my pockWi’ baith oat-meal and grey.’31.‘O an I had drank the wan waterWhan I did drink the wine,That e’er a shepherd’s dochterShould hae been a love o’ mine!’32.‘O may be I’m a shepherd’s dochter,And may be I am nane;But you might hae ridden on your ways,And hae let me alane.33.‘But yet I think a fitter matchCould scarcely gang thegitherThan the King of France’s auld dochterAnd the Queen of Scotland’s brither.’
1.
Therewas a shepherd’s dochter
Kept sheep upon yon hill,
And by cam a gay braw gentleman,
And wad hae had his will.
2.
He took her by the milk-white hand,
And laid her on the ground,
And whan he got his will o’ her
He lift her up again.
3.
‘O syne ye’ve got your will o’ me,
Your will o’ me ye’ve taen,
‘Tis all I ask o’ you, kind sir,
Is to tell to me your name.’
4.
‘Sometimes they call me Jack,’ he said,
‘Sometimes they call me John,
But whan I am in the king’s court,
My name is Wilfu’ Will.’
5.
Than he loup on his milk-white steed,
And straught away he rade,
And she did kilt her petticoats,
And after him she gaed.
6.
He never was sae kind as say,
‘O lassie, will ye ride?’
Nor ever had she the courage to say,
‘O laddie, will ye bide!’
7.
Until they cam to a wan water,
Which was called Clyde,
And then he turned about his horse,
Said, ‘Lassie, will ye ride?’
8.
8.2‘weel,’ advantage. So, in the comparative, ‘better,’ 9.2.
‘I learned it in my father’s hall,
I learned it for my weel,
That whan I come to deep water,
I can swim as it were an eel.
9.
‘I learned it in my mother’s bower,
I learned it for my better,
That whan I come to broad water,
I can swim like any otter.’
10.
He plunged his steed into the ford,
And straught way thro’ he rade,
And she set in her lilly feet,
And thro’ the water wade.
11.
And whan she cam to the king’s court,
She tirled on the pin,
And wha sae ready’s the king himsel’
To let the fair maid in?
12.
‘What is your will wi’ me, fair maid?
What is your will wi’ me?’
‘There is a man into your court
This day has robbed me.’
13.
‘O has he taen your gold,’ he said,
‘Or has he taen your fee?
Or has he stown your maidenhead,
The flower of your bodye?’
14.
‘He has na taen my gold, kind sir,
Nor as little has he taen my fee,
But he has taen my maidenhead,
The flower of my bodye.’
15.
‘O gif he be a married man,
High hangit shall he be,
But gif he be a bachelor,
His body I’ll grant thee.’
16.
‘Sometimes they call him Jack,’ she said,
‘Sometimes they call him John,
But when he’s in the king’s court,
His name is Sweet William.’
17.
‘There’s not a William in a’ my court,
Never a one but three,
And one of them is the Queen’s brother;
I wad laugh gif it war he.’
18.
The king called on his merry men,
By thirty and by three;
Sweet Willie, wha used to be foremost man,
Was the hindmost a’ but three.
19.
19.2‘twa-fald o’er a tree,’ bent double on a stick.
O he cam cripple, and he cam blind,
Cam twa-fald o’er a tree:
‘O be he cripple, or be he blind,
This very same man is he.’
20.
‘O whether will ye marry the bonny may,
Or hang on the gallows-tree?’
‘O I will rather marry the bonny may,
Afore that I do die.’
21.
But he took out a purse of gold,
Weel locked in a glove:
‘O tak ye that, my bonny may,
And seek anither love.’
22.
‘O I will hae none o’ your gold,’ she says,
‘Nor as little ony of your fee,
But I will hae your ain body,
The king has granted me.’
23.
O he took out a purse of gold;
A purse of gold and store;
‘O tak ye that, fair may,’ he said,
‘Frae me ye’ll ne’er get mair.’
24.
‘O haud your tongue, young man,’ she says,
‘And I pray you let me be;
For I will hae your ain body,
The king has granted me.’
25.
He mounted her on a bonny bay horse,
Himsel’ on the silver grey;
He drew his bonnet out o’er his een,
He whipt and rade away.
26.
26.4‘Sned,’ cut, lop.
O whan they cam to yon nettle bush,
The nettles they war spread:
‘O an my mither war but here,’ she says,
‘These nettles she wad sned.’
27.
‘O an I had drank the wan water
Whan I did drink the wine,
That e’er a shepherd’s dochter
Should hae been a love o’ mine!’
28.
‘O may be I’m a shepherd’s dochter,
And may be I am nane!
But you might hae ridden on your ways,
And hae let me alane.’
29.
29.2Two lines wanting in theMS.
O whan they cam unto yon mill
She heard the mill clap:
.....
.....
30.
30.3‘pock,’ bag.
30.4‘grey,’i.e.grey meal, barley.
‘Clap on, clap on, thou bonny mill,
Weel may thou, I say,
For mony a time thou’s filled my pock
Wi’ baith oat-meal and grey.’
31.
‘O an I had drank the wan water
Whan I did drink the wine,
That e’er a shepherd’s dochter
Should hae been a love o’ mine!’
32.
‘O may be I’m a shepherd’s dochter,
And may be I am nane;
But you might hae ridden on your ways,
And hae let me alane.
33.
‘But yet I think a fitter match
Could scarcely gang thegither
Than the King of France’s auld dochter
And the Queen of Scotland’s brither.’
The Textis from Herd’sAncient and Modern Scots Songs(1769), which is almost identical with a copy in Johnson’sMuseum. Another variant, also given in theMuseum, was contributed by Burns, who made it shorter and more dramatic.
The Storyof this farcical ballad has long been popular in many lands, European and Oriental, and has been introduced as an episode in English, French, and German plays. A close parallel to the ballad may be found in Straparola, DayVIII., first story.
1.Itfell about the Martinmas time,And a gay time it was then,When our goodwife got puddings to make,And she’s boil’d them in the pan.2.The wind sae cauld blew south and north,And blew into the floor;Quoth our goodman to our goodwife,‘Gae out and bar the door.’3.3.1‘hussyfskep’ = housewife’s skep, a straw basket for meal.‘My hand is in my hussyfskep,Goodman, as ye may see;An it shoud nae be barr’d this hundred year,It’s no be barr’d for me.’4.They made a paction ’tween them twa,They made it firm and sure,That the first word whae’er shoud speak,Shoud rise and bar the door.5.Then by there came two gentlemen,At twelve o’clock at night,And they could neither see house nor hall,Nor coal nor candle-light.6.6.4‘For,’i.e.to prevent: cp.Child Waters, 28.6(First Series, p. 41).‘Now whether is this a rich man’s house,Or whether is it a poor?’But ne’er a word wad ane o’ them speak,For barring of the door.7.And first they ate the white puddings,And then they ate the black;Tho’ muckle thought the goodwife to hersel’,Yet ne’er a word she spake.8.Then said the one unto the other,‘Here, man, tak ye my knife;Do ye tak aff the auld man’s beard,And I’ll kiss the goodwife.’9.9.3‘what ails ye,’ etc. = why not use the pudding-broth.‘But there’s nae water in the house,And what shall we do than?’‘What ails ye at the pudding-broo,That boils into the pan?’10.10.4‘sca’d,’ scald.O up then started our goodman,An angry man was he:‘Will ye kiss my wife before my een,And sca’d me wi’ pudding-bree?’11.Then up and started our goodwife,Gi’ed three skips on the floor:‘Goodman, you’ve spoken the foremost word,Get up and bar the door.’
1.
Itfell about the Martinmas time,
And a gay time it was then,
When our goodwife got puddings to make,
And she’s boil’d them in the pan.
2.
The wind sae cauld blew south and north,
And blew into the floor;
Quoth our goodman to our goodwife,
‘Gae out and bar the door.’
3.
3.1‘hussyfskep’ = housewife’s skep, a straw basket for meal.
‘My hand is in my hussyfskep,
Goodman, as ye may see;
An it shoud nae be barr’d this hundred year,
It’s no be barr’d for me.’
4.
They made a paction ’tween them twa,
They made it firm and sure,
That the first word whae’er shoud speak,
Shoud rise and bar the door.
5.
Then by there came two gentlemen,
At twelve o’clock at night,
And they could neither see house nor hall,
Nor coal nor candle-light.
6.
6.4‘For,’i.e.to prevent: cp.Child Waters, 28.6(First Series, p. 41).
‘Now whether is this a rich man’s house,
Or whether is it a poor?’
But ne’er a word wad ane o’ them speak,
For barring of the door.
7.
And first they ate the white puddings,
And then they ate the black;
Tho’ muckle thought the goodwife to hersel’,
Yet ne’er a word she spake.
8.
Then said the one unto the other,
‘Here, man, tak ye my knife;
Do ye tak aff the auld man’s beard,
And I’ll kiss the goodwife.’
9.
9.3‘what ails ye,’ etc. = why not use the pudding-broth.
‘But there’s nae water in the house,
And what shall we do than?’
‘What ails ye at the pudding-broo,
That boils into the pan?’
10.
10.4‘sca’d,’ scald.
O up then started our goodman,
An angry man was he:
‘Will ye kiss my wife before my een,
And sca’d me wi’ pudding-bree?’
11.
Then up and started our goodwife,
Gi’ed three skips on the floor:
‘Goodman, you’ve spoken the foremost word,
Get up and bar the door.’
Sincethe version given in the text was in type, my friend Mr. A. Francis Steuart of Edinburgh has kindly pointed out to me the following fuller and better variant of the ballad, which was unknown to Professor Child. It may be found in R. Menzies Fergusson’sRambling Sketches in the Far North and Orcadian Musings(1883), pp. 140-141, whence I have copied it, only adding the numbers to the stanzas.
1.InNorway lands there lived a maid,‘Hush, ba, loo lillie,’ this maid began;‘I know not where my baby’s father is,Whether by land or sea does he travel in.’2.It happened on a certain day,When this fair lady fell fast asleep,That in cam’ a good grey selchie,And set him doon at her bed feet,3.Saying, ‘Awak’, awak’, my pretty fair maid.For oh! how sound as thou dost sleep!An’ I’ll tell thee where thy baby’s father is;He’s sittin’ close at thy bed feet.’4.‘I pray, come tell to me thy name,Oh! tell me where does thy dwelling be?’‘My name it is good Hein Mailer,An’ I earn my livin’ oot o’ the sea.5.‘I am a man upon the land;I am a selchie in the sea;An’ whin I’m far frae every strand,My dwellin’ is in Shool Skerrie.’6.‘Alas! alas! this woeful fate!This weary fate that’s been laid for me!That a man should come frae the Wast o’ Hoy,To the Norway lands to have a bairn wi’ me.’7.‘My dear, I’ll wed thee with a ring,With a ring, my dear, I’ll wed wi’ thee.’‘Thoo may go wed thee weddens wi’ whom thoo wilt;For I’m sure thoo’ll never wed none wi’ me.’8.‘Thoo will nurse my little wee sonFor seven long years upo’ thy knee,An’ at the end o’ seven long yearsI’ll come back an’ pay the norish fee.’9.She’s nursed her little wee sonFor seven long years upo’ her knee,An’ at the end o’ seven long yearsHe cam’ back wi’ gold an’ white monie.10.She says, ‘My dear, I’ll wed thee wi’ a ring,With a ring, my dear, I’ll wed wi’ thee.’‘Thoo may go wed thee weddens wi’ whom thoo will;For I’m sure thoo’ll never wed none wi’ me.11.‘But I’ll put a gold chain around his neck,An’ a gey good gold chain it’ll be,That if ever he comes to the Norway lands,Thoo may hae a gey good guess on hi’.12.‘An’ thoo will get a gunner good,An’ a gey good gunner it will be,An’ he’ll gae oot on a May mornin’An’ shoot the son an’ the grey selchie.’13.Oh! she has got a gunner good,An’ a gey good gunner it was he,An’ he gaed oot on a May mornin’,An’ he shot the son and the grey selchie.
1.
InNorway lands there lived a maid,
‘Hush, ba, loo lillie,’ this maid began;
‘I know not where my baby’s father is,
Whether by land or sea does he travel in.’
2.
It happened on a certain day,
When this fair lady fell fast asleep,
That in cam’ a good grey selchie,
And set him doon at her bed feet,
3.
Saying, ‘Awak’, awak’, my pretty fair maid.
For oh! how sound as thou dost sleep!
An’ I’ll tell thee where thy baby’s father is;
He’s sittin’ close at thy bed feet.’
4.
‘I pray, come tell to me thy name,
Oh! tell me where does thy dwelling be?’
‘My name it is good Hein Mailer,
An’ I earn my livin’ oot o’ the sea.
5.
‘I am a man upon the land;
I am a selchie in the sea;
An’ whin I’m far frae every strand,
My dwellin’ is in Shool Skerrie.’
6.
‘Alas! alas! this woeful fate!
This weary fate that’s been laid for me!
That a man should come frae the Wast o’ Hoy,
To the Norway lands to have a bairn wi’ me.’
7.
‘My dear, I’ll wed thee with a ring,
With a ring, my dear, I’ll wed wi’ thee.’
‘Thoo may go wed thee weddens wi’ whom thoo wilt;
For I’m sure thoo’ll never wed none wi’ me.’
8.
‘Thoo will nurse my little wee son
For seven long years upo’ thy knee,
An’ at the end o’ seven long years
I’ll come back an’ pay the norish fee.’
9.
She’s nursed her little wee son
For seven long years upo’ her knee,
An’ at the end o’ seven long years
He cam’ back wi’ gold an’ white monie.
10.
She says, ‘My dear, I’ll wed thee wi’ a ring,
With a ring, my dear, I’ll wed wi’ thee.’
‘Thoo may go wed thee weddens wi’ whom thoo will;
For I’m sure thoo’ll never wed none wi’ me.
11.
‘But I’ll put a gold chain around his neck,
An’ a gey good gold chain it’ll be,
That if ever he comes to the Norway lands,
Thoo may hae a gey good guess on hi’.
12.
‘An’ thoo will get a gunner good,
An’ a gey good gunner it will be,
An’ he’ll gae oot on a May mornin’
An’ shoot the son an’ the grey selchie.’
13.
Oh! she has got a gunner good,
An’ a gey good gunner it was he,
An’ he gaed oot on a May mornin’,
An’ he shot the son and the grey selchie.
When the gunner returned from his expedition and showed the Norway woman the gold chain, which he had found round the neck of the young seal, the poor woman, realising that her son had perished, gives expression to her sorrow in the last stanza:—
14.‘Alas! alas! this woeful fate!This weary fate that’s been laid for me!’An’ ance or twice she sobbed and sighed,An’ her tender heart did brak in three.
14.
‘Alas! alas! this woeful fate!
This weary fate that’s been laid for me!’
An’ ance or twice she sobbed and sighed,
An’ her tender heart did brak in three.
Note.—Doubtlessgreyselchie is more correct thangreat, as in the other version. Some verses were forgotten after stanza 13.
‘Art thow i-wont at lychwakeAny playes for to make?’
‘Art thow i-wont at lychwake
Any playes for to make?’
John Myrc’sInstructions forParish Priests(circa 1450).
Aubrey’s version ofThe Lyke-Wake Dirgeis printed, more or less correctly, in the following places:—
i. Brand.Observations on Popular Antiquities, ed. Ellis (1813), ii. 180-81. (Not in first edition of Brand.)ii. W. J. Thoms.Anecdotes and Traditions, Camden Society, 1839, pp. 88-90, and notes pp. 90-91, which are reprinted by Britten (see below).iii. W. K. Kelly.Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folklore, 1863, pp. 116-17.iv. Edward Peacock. In notes, pp. 90-92, to John Myrc’sInstructions for Parish Priests, E.E.T.S., 1868. (Re-edited by F. J. Furnivall for the E.E.T.S., 1902, where the notes are on pp. 92-94.)v. James Britten.Aubrey’s Remains of Gentilisme and Judaisme:the wholeMS.edited for the Folklore Society, 1881, pp. 30-32.
i. Brand.Observations on Popular Antiquities, ed. Ellis (1813), ii. 180-81. (Not in first edition of Brand.)
ii. W. J. Thoms.Anecdotes and Traditions, Camden Society, 1839, pp. 88-90, and notes pp. 90-91, which are reprinted by Britten (see below).
iii. W. K. Kelly.Curiosities of Indo-European Tradition and Folklore, 1863, pp. 116-17.
iv. Edward Peacock. In notes, pp. 90-92, to John Myrc’sInstructions for Parish Priests, E.E.T.S., 1868. (Re-edited by F. J. Furnivall for the E.E.T.S., 1902, where the notes are on pp. 92-94.)
v. James Britten.Aubrey’s Remains of Gentilisme and Judaisme:the wholeMS.edited for the Folklore Society, 1881, pp. 30-32.
Aubrey’s remarks and sidenotes are as follow (LansdowneMS.231, fol. 114recto):—
‘From Mr. Mawtese, in whose father’s youth, sc. about 60 yeares since now (1686), at country vulgar Funerals, was sung this song.