The Textis from Alexander Fraser Tytler’s BrownMS., which was also the source of Scott’s version in theMinstrelsy. One line (31.1), closely resembling a line in Lady Wardlaw’s forged balladHardyknute, caused Sir Walter to investigate strictly the authenticity of the ballad, but the evidence of Lady Douglas, that she had learned the ballad in her childhood, and could still repeat much of it, removed his doubts. It is, however, quite possible, as Professor Child points out, ‘that Mrs. Brown may unconsciously have adopted this verse from the tiresome and affectedHardyknute, so much esteemed in her day.’
The Story.—InThe Complaynt of Scotlande(1549) there is mentioned a tale ‘how the King of Estmure Land married the King’s daughter of Westmure Land,’ and it has been suggested that there is a connection with the ballad.
This is another of the ballads of which the English form has become so far corrupted that we have to seek its Scandinavian counterpart to obtain the full form of the story. The ballad is especially popular in Denmark, where it is found in twenty-three manuscripts, as follows:—
The rich Svend wooes Lisbet, who favours William for his good qualities. Svend, ill with grief, is well-advised by his mother, not to care for a plighted maid, and ill-advised by his sister, to kill William. Svendtakes the latter advice, and kills William. Forty weeks later, Lisbet gives birth to a son, but Svend is told that the child is a girl. Eighteen years later, the young William, sporting with a peasant, quarrels with him; the peasant retorts, ‘You had better avenge your father’s death.’ Young William asks his mother who slew his father, and she, thinking him too young to fight, counsels him to bring Svend to a court. William charges him in the court with the murder of his father, and says that no compensation has been offered. Not a penny shall be paid, says Svend. William draws his sword, and slays him.
Icelandic, Swedish, and Färöe ballads tell a similar story.
1.King Easterhas courted her for her gowd,King Wester for her fee;King Honor for her lands sae braid,And for her fair body.2.They had not been four months married,As I have heard them tell,Until the nobles of the landAgainst them did rebel.3.3.1‘kaivles,’ lots.And they cast kaivles them amang,And kaivles them between;And they cast kaivles them amang,Wha shoud gae kill the king.4.O some said yea, and some said nay,Their words did not agree;Till up it gat him Fa’se Footrage,And sware it shoud be he.5.When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a’ man boon to bed,King Honor and his gay ladieIn a hie chamer were laid.6.Then up it raise him Fa’se Footrage,While a’ were fast asleep,And slew the porter in his lodge,That watch and ward did keep.7.O four and twenty silver keysHang hie upon a pin,And ay as a door he did unlock,He has fasten’d it him behind.8.Then up it raise him King Honor,Says, ‘What means a’ this din?Now what’s the matter, Fa’se Footrage,Or wha was’t loot you in?’9.‘O ye my errand well shall learnBefore that I depart’;Then drew a knife baith lang and sharpAnd pierced him thro’ the heart.10.Then up it got the Queen hersell,And fell low down on her knee:‘O spare my life now, Fa’se Footrage!For I never injured thee.11.‘O spare my life now, Fa’se Footrage!Until I lighter be!And see gin it be lad or lass,King Honor has left me wi’.’12.‘O gin it be a lass,’ he says,‘Weel nursed she shall be;But gin it be a lad-bairn,He shall be hanged hie.13.13.4‘gallows-pin,’ the projecting beam of the gallows.‘I winna spare his tender age,Nor yet his hie, hie kin;But as soon as e’er he born is,He shall mount the gallows-pin.’14.O four and twenty valiant knightsWere set the Queen to guard,And four stood ay at her bower-door,To keep baith watch and ward.15.But when the time drew till an endThat she should lighter be,She cast about to find a wileTo set her body free.16.16.1‘birled,’ plied.16.4‘wallwood,’ wild wood: a conventional ballad-phrase.O she has birled these merry young menWi’ strong beer and wi’ wine,Until she made them a’ as drunkAs any wall-wood swine.17.‘O narrow, narrow is this window,And big, big am I grown!’Yet thro’ the might of Our Ladie,Out at it she has won.18.She wander’d up, she wander’d down,She wander’d out and in;And at last, into the very swines’ stye,The Queen brought forth a son.19.Then they cast kaivles them amangWha should gae seek the Queen;And the kaivle fell upon Wise William,And he’s sent his wife for him.20.O when she saw Wise William’s wife,The Queen fell on her knee;‘Win up, win up, madame,’ she says,‘What means this courtesie?’21.‘O out of this I winna rise,Till a boon ye grant to me,To change your lass for this lad-bairn,King Honor left me wi’.22.‘And ye maun learn my gay gos-hawkeWell how to breast a steed;And I shall learn your turtle-dowAs well to write and read.23.‘And ye maun learn my gay gos-hawkeTo wield baith bow and brand;And I sall learn your turtle-dowTo lay gowd wi’ her hand.24.‘At kirk and market where we meet,We dare nae mair avowBut—“Dame, how does my gay gose-hawk?”“Madame, how does my dow?”’25.25.2A stock ballad-phrase.When days were gane, and years come on,Wise William he thought long;Out has he ta’en King Honor’s son,A hunting for to gang.26.It sae fell out at their hunting,Upon a summer’s day,That they cam’ by a fair castle,Stood on a sunny brae.27.‘O dinna ye see that bonny castleWi’ wa’s and towers sae fair?Gin ilka man had back his ain,Of it you shoud be heir.’28.‘How I shoud be heir of that castle,In sooth I canna see;When it belongs to Fa’se Footrage,And he’s nae kin to me.’29.‘O gin ye shoud kill him Fa’se Footrage,You woud do what is right;For I wot he kill’d your father dear,Ere ever you saw the light.30.‘Gin you shoud kill him Fa’se Footrage,There is nae man durst you blame;For he keeps your mother a prisoner,And she dares no take you hame.’31.The boy stared wild like a gray gose-hawk,Says, ‘What may a’ this mean?’‘My boy, you are King Honor’s son,And your mother’s our lawful queen.’32.‘O gin I be King Honor’s son,By Our Ladie I swear,This day I will that traytour slay,And relieve my mother dear!’33.33.1A ballad conventionality.He has set his bent bow till his breast,And lap the castle-wa’;And soon he’s siesed on Fa’se Footrage,Wha loud for help gan ca’.34.‘O haud your tongue now, Fa’se Footrage,Frae me ye shanno flee.’Syne pierced him through the foul fa’se heart,And set his mother free.35.And he has rewarded Wise WilliamWi’ the best half of his land;And sae has he the turtle dowWi’ the truth o’ his right hand.
1.
King Easterhas courted her for her gowd,
King Wester for her fee;
King Honor for her lands sae braid,
And for her fair body.
2.
They had not been four months married,
As I have heard them tell,
Until the nobles of the land
Against them did rebel.
3.
3.1‘kaivles,’ lots.
And they cast kaivles them amang,
And kaivles them between;
And they cast kaivles them amang,
Wha shoud gae kill the king.
4.
O some said yea, and some said nay,
Their words did not agree;
Till up it gat him Fa’se Footrage,
And sware it shoud be he.
5.
When bells were rung, and mass was sung,
And a’ man boon to bed,
King Honor and his gay ladie
In a hie chamer were laid.
6.
Then up it raise him Fa’se Footrage,
While a’ were fast asleep,
And slew the porter in his lodge,
That watch and ward did keep.
7.
O four and twenty silver keys
Hang hie upon a pin,
And ay as a door he did unlock,
He has fasten’d it him behind.
8.
Then up it raise him King Honor,
Says, ‘What means a’ this din?
Now what’s the matter, Fa’se Footrage,
Or wha was’t loot you in?’
9.
‘O ye my errand well shall learn
Before that I depart’;
Then drew a knife baith lang and sharp
And pierced him thro’ the heart.
10.
Then up it got the Queen hersell,
And fell low down on her knee:
‘O spare my life now, Fa’se Footrage!
For I never injured thee.
11.
‘O spare my life now, Fa’se Footrage!
Until I lighter be!
And see gin it be lad or lass,
King Honor has left me wi’.’
12.
‘O gin it be a lass,’ he says,
‘Weel nursed she shall be;
But gin it be a lad-bairn,
He shall be hanged hie.
13.
13.4‘gallows-pin,’ the projecting beam of the gallows.
‘I winna spare his tender age,
Nor yet his hie, hie kin;
But as soon as e’er he born is,
He shall mount the gallows-pin.’
14.
O four and twenty valiant knights
Were set the Queen to guard,
And four stood ay at her bower-door,
To keep baith watch and ward.
15.
But when the time drew till an end
That she should lighter be,
She cast about to find a wile
To set her body free.
16.
16.1‘birled,’ plied.
16.4‘wallwood,’ wild wood: a conventional ballad-phrase.
O she has birled these merry young men
Wi’ strong beer and wi’ wine,
Until she made them a’ as drunk
As any wall-wood swine.
17.
‘O narrow, narrow is this window,
And big, big am I grown!’
Yet thro’ the might of Our Ladie,
Out at it she has won.
18.
She wander’d up, she wander’d down,
She wander’d out and in;
And at last, into the very swines’ stye,
The Queen brought forth a son.
19.
Then they cast kaivles them amang
Wha should gae seek the Queen;
And the kaivle fell upon Wise William,
And he’s sent his wife for him.
20.
O when she saw Wise William’s wife,
The Queen fell on her knee;
‘Win up, win up, madame,’ she says,
‘What means this courtesie?’
21.
‘O out of this I winna rise,
Till a boon ye grant to me,
To change your lass for this lad-bairn,
King Honor left me wi’.
22.
‘And ye maun learn my gay gos-hawke
Well how to breast a steed;
And I shall learn your turtle-dow
As well to write and read.
23.
‘And ye maun learn my gay gos-hawke
To wield baith bow and brand;
And I sall learn your turtle-dow
To lay gowd wi’ her hand.
24.
‘At kirk and market where we meet,
We dare nae mair avow
But—“Dame, how does my gay gose-hawk?”
“Madame, how does my dow?”’
25.
25.2A stock ballad-phrase.
When days were gane, and years come on,
Wise William he thought long;
Out has he ta’en King Honor’s son,
A hunting for to gang.
26.
It sae fell out at their hunting,
Upon a summer’s day,
That they cam’ by a fair castle,
Stood on a sunny brae.
27.
‘O dinna ye see that bonny castle
Wi’ wa’s and towers sae fair?
Gin ilka man had back his ain,
Of it you shoud be heir.’
28.
‘How I shoud be heir of that castle,
In sooth I canna see;
When it belongs to Fa’se Footrage,
And he’s nae kin to me.’
29.
‘O gin ye shoud kill him Fa’se Footrage,
You woud do what is right;
For I wot he kill’d your father dear,
Ere ever you saw the light.
30.
‘Gin you shoud kill him Fa’se Footrage,
There is nae man durst you blame;
For he keeps your mother a prisoner,
And she dares no take you hame.’
31.
The boy stared wild like a gray gose-hawk,
Says, ‘What may a’ this mean?’
‘My boy, you are King Honor’s son,
And your mother’s our lawful queen.’
32.
‘O gin I be King Honor’s son,
By Our Ladie I swear,
This day I will that traytour slay,
And relieve my mother dear!’
33.
33.1A ballad conventionality.
He has set his bent bow till his breast,
And lap the castle-wa’;
And soon he’s siesed on Fa’se Footrage,
Wha loud for help gan ca’.
34.
‘O haud your tongue now, Fa’se Footrage,
Frae me ye shanno flee.’
Syne pierced him through the foul fa’se heart,
And set his mother free.
35.
And he has rewarded Wise William
Wi’ the best half of his land;
And sae has he the turtle dow
Wi’ the truth o’ his right hand.
‘Ouvre ta port’, Germin’, c’est moi qu’est ton mari.’‘Donnez-moi des indic’s de la première nuit,Et par là je croirai que vous et’s mon mari.’—Germaine.
‘Ouvre ta port’, Germin’, c’est moi qu’est ton mari.’
‘Donnez-moi des indic’s de la première nuit,
Et par là je croirai que vous et’s mon mari.’
—Germaine.
The Textis Fraser Tytler’s, taken down from the recitation of Mrs. Brown in 1800, who had previously (1783) recited a similar version to Jamieson. The later recitation, which was used by Scott, with others, seems to contain certain improvisations of Mrs. Brown’s which do not appear in the earlier form.
The Story.—A mother, who feigns to be her own son and demands tokens of the girl outside the gate, turns her son’s love away, and is cursed by him. Similar ballads exist in France, Germany, and Greece.
There is an early eighteenth-centuryMS.(Elizabeth Cochrane’sSong-Book) of this ballad, which gives a preliminary history. Isabel of Rochroyal dreams of her love Gregory; she rises up, calls for a swift steed, and rides forth till she meets a company. They ask her who she is, and are told that she is ‘Fair Isabel of Rochroyal,’ seeking her true-love Gregory. They direct her to ‘yon castle’; and thenceforth the tale proceeds much as in the other versions.
‘Lochryan,’ says Scott, ‘lies in Galloway;Roch—or Rough—royal, I have not found, but there is a Rough castle in Stirlingshire’ (Child).
1.‘O whawill shoe my fu’ fair foot?And wha will glove my hand?And wha will lace my middle jimp,Wi’ the new-made London band?2.‘And wha will kaim my yellow hair,Wi’ the new-made silver kaim?And wha will father my young son,Till Love Gregor come hame?’3.‘Your father will shoe your fu’ fair foot,Your mother will glove your hand;Your sister will lace your middle jimpWi’ the new-made London band.4.‘Your brother will kaim your yellow hair,Wi’ the new-made silver kaim;And the king of heaven will father your bairn,Till Love Gregor come haim.’5.‘But I will get a bonny boat,And I will sail the sea,For I maun gang to Love Gregor,Since he canno come hame to me.’6.O she has gotten a bonny boat,And sail’d the sa’t sea fame;She lang’d to see her ain true-love,Since he could no come hame.7.‘O row your boat, my mariners,And bring me to the land,For yonder I see my love’s castle,Closs by the sa’t sea strand.’8.She has ta’en her young son in her arms,And to the door she’s gone,And lang she’s knock’d and sair she ca’d,But answer got she none.9.‘O open the door, Love Gregor,’ she says,‘O open, and let me in;For the wind blaws thro’ my yellow hair,And the rain draps o’er my chin.’10.10.3‘warlock,’ wizard, magician.‘Awa’, awa’, ye ill woman,You ’r nae come here for good;You ’r but some witch, or wile warlock,Or mer-maid of the flood.’11.‘I am neither a witch nor a wile warlock,Nor mer-maid of the sea,I am Fair Annie of Rough Royal;O open the door to me.’12.‘Gin ye be Annie of Rough Royal—And I trust ye are not she—Now tell me some of the love-tokensThat past between you and me.’13.‘O dinna you mind now, Love Gregor,When we sat at the wine,How we changed the rings frae our fingers?And I can show thee thine.14.‘O yours was good, and good enneugh,But ay the best was mine;For yours was o’ the good red goud,But mine o’ the dimonds fine.15.‘But open the door now, Love Gregor,O open the door I pray,For your young son that is in my armsWill be dead ere it be day.’16.‘Awa’, awa’, ye ill woman,For here ye shanno win in;Gae drown ye in the raging sea,Or hang on the gallows-pin.’17.When the cock had crawn, and day did dawn,And the sun began to peep,Then it raise him Love Gregor,And sair, sair did he weep.18.18.2‘gars me greet,’ makes me weep.‘O I dream’d a dream, my mother dear,The thoughts o’ it gars me greet,That Fair Annie of Rough RoyalLay cauld dead at my feet.’19.‘Gin it be for Annie of Rough RoyalThat ye make a’ this din,She stood a’ last night at this door,But I trow she wan no in.’20.‘O wae betide ye, ill woman,An ill dead may ye die!That ye woudno open the door to her,Nor yet woud waken me.’21.O he has gone down to yon shore-side,As fast as he could fare;He saw Fair Annie in her boatBut the wind it toss’d her sair.22.And ‘Hey, Annie!’ and ‘How, Annie!O Annie, winna ye bide?’But ay the mair that he cried ‘Annie,’The braider grew the tide.23.And ‘Hey, Annie!’ and ‘How, Annie!Dear Annie, speak to me!’But ay the louder he cried ‘Annie,’The louder roar’d the sea.24.The wind blew loud, the sea grew rough,And dash’d the boat on shore;Fair Annie floats on the raging sea,But her young son raise no more.25.Love Gregor tare his yellow hair,And made a heavy moan;Fair Annie’s corpse lay at his feet,But his bonny young son was gone.26.O cherry, cherry was her cheek,And gowden was her hair,But clay cold were her rosey lips,Nae spark of life was there.27.And first he’s kiss’d her cherry cheek,And neist he’s kissed her chin;And saftly press’d her rosey lips,But there was nae breath within.28.‘O wae betide my cruel mother,And an ill dead may she die!For she turn’d my true-love frae the door,When she came sae far to me.’
1.
‘O whawill shoe my fu’ fair foot?
And wha will glove my hand?
And wha will lace my middle jimp,
Wi’ the new-made London band?
2.
‘And wha will kaim my yellow hair,
Wi’ the new-made silver kaim?
And wha will father my young son,
Till Love Gregor come hame?’
3.
‘Your father will shoe your fu’ fair foot,
Your mother will glove your hand;
Your sister will lace your middle jimp
Wi’ the new-made London band.
4.
‘Your brother will kaim your yellow hair,
Wi’ the new-made silver kaim;
And the king of heaven will father your bairn,
Till Love Gregor come haim.’
5.
‘But I will get a bonny boat,
And I will sail the sea,
For I maun gang to Love Gregor,
Since he canno come hame to me.’
6.
O she has gotten a bonny boat,
And sail’d the sa’t sea fame;
She lang’d to see her ain true-love,
Since he could no come hame.
7.
‘O row your boat, my mariners,
And bring me to the land,
For yonder I see my love’s castle,
Closs by the sa’t sea strand.’
8.
She has ta’en her young son in her arms,
And to the door she’s gone,
And lang she’s knock’d and sair she ca’d,
But answer got she none.
9.
‘O open the door, Love Gregor,’ she says,
‘O open, and let me in;
For the wind blaws thro’ my yellow hair,
And the rain draps o’er my chin.’
10.
10.3‘warlock,’ wizard, magician.
‘Awa’, awa’, ye ill woman,
You ’r nae come here for good;
You ’r but some witch, or wile warlock,
Or mer-maid of the flood.’
11.
‘I am neither a witch nor a wile warlock,
Nor mer-maid of the sea,
I am Fair Annie of Rough Royal;
O open the door to me.’
12.
‘Gin ye be Annie of Rough Royal—
And I trust ye are not she—
Now tell me some of the love-tokens
That past between you and me.’
13.
‘O dinna you mind now, Love Gregor,
When we sat at the wine,
How we changed the rings frae our fingers?
And I can show thee thine.
14.
‘O yours was good, and good enneugh,
But ay the best was mine;
For yours was o’ the good red goud,
But mine o’ the dimonds fine.
15.
‘But open the door now, Love Gregor,
O open the door I pray,
For your young son that is in my arms
Will be dead ere it be day.’
16.
‘Awa’, awa’, ye ill woman,
For here ye shanno win in;
Gae drown ye in the raging sea,
Or hang on the gallows-pin.’
17.
When the cock had crawn, and day did dawn,
And the sun began to peep,
Then it raise him Love Gregor,
And sair, sair did he weep.
18.
18.2‘gars me greet,’ makes me weep.
‘O I dream’d a dream, my mother dear,
The thoughts o’ it gars me greet,
That Fair Annie of Rough Royal
Lay cauld dead at my feet.’
19.
‘Gin it be for Annie of Rough Royal
That ye make a’ this din,
She stood a’ last night at this door,
But I trow she wan no in.’
20.
‘O wae betide ye, ill woman,
An ill dead may ye die!
That ye woudno open the door to her,
Nor yet woud waken me.’
21.
O he has gone down to yon shore-side,
As fast as he could fare;
He saw Fair Annie in her boat
But the wind it toss’d her sair.
22.
And ‘Hey, Annie!’ and ‘How, Annie!
O Annie, winna ye bide?’
But ay the mair that he cried ‘Annie,’
The braider grew the tide.
23.
And ‘Hey, Annie!’ and ‘How, Annie!
Dear Annie, speak to me!’
But ay the louder he cried ‘Annie,’
The louder roar’d the sea.
24.
The wind blew loud, the sea grew rough,
And dash’d the boat on shore;
Fair Annie floats on the raging sea,
But her young son raise no more.
25.
Love Gregor tare his yellow hair,
And made a heavy moan;
Fair Annie’s corpse lay at his feet,
But his bonny young son was gone.
26.
O cherry, cherry was her cheek,
And gowden was her hair,
But clay cold were her rosey lips,
Nae spark of life was there.
27.
And first he’s kiss’d her cherry cheek,
And neist he’s kissed her chin;
And saftly press’d her rosey lips,
But there was nae breath within.
28.
‘O wae betide my cruel mother,
And an ill dead may she die!
For she turn’d my true-love frae the door,
When she came sae far to me.’
The Textis from Motherwell’sMS., written from the recitation of a Mrs. King of Kilbarchan.
The Storyof the ballad is a mere remnant of the story told in the Gest of King Horn, preserved in three manuscripts, the oldest of which belongs to the thirteenth century. Similar stories are given in a French romance of the fourteenth century, and an English manuscript of the same date. The complete story in the Gest may be condensed as follows:—
Horn, son of Murry, King of Suddenne, was captured by Saracens, who killed his father, and turned him and his twelve companions adrift in a boat, which was eventually beached safely on the coast of Westerness, and Ailmar the king took them in and brought them up. Rymenhild his daughter, falling in love with Horn, offered herself to him. He refused, unless she would make the king knight him. She did so, and again claimed his love; but he said he must first prove his knighthood. She gave him a ring set with stones, such that he could never be slain if he looked on it and thought of her. His first feat was the slaying of a hundred heathens; then he returned to Rymenhild. Meanwhile, however, one of his companions had told the king that Horn meant to kill him and wed his daughter. Ailmar ordered Horn to quit his court; and Horn, having told Rymenhild that if he did not come back in seven years she might marry another, sailed to the court of King Thurston in Ireland, where he stayed for seven years, performing feats of valour with the aid of Rymenhild’s ring.
At the end of the allotted time, Rymenhild was to be married to King Modi of Reynis. Horn, hearing of this, went back to Westerness, arrived on the marriage-morn, met a palmer (the old beggar man of the ballad), changed clothes with him, and entered the hall. According to custom, Rymenhild served wine to the guests, and as Horn drank, he dropped her ring into the vessel. When she discovered it, she sent for the palmer, and questioned him. He said Horn had died on the voyage thither. Rymenhild seized a knife she had hidden to kill King Modi and herself if Horn came not, and set it to her breast. The palmer threw off his disguise, saying, ‘I am Horn.’ Still he would not wed her till he had regained his father’s kingdom of Suddenne, and went away and did so. Meanwhile a false friend seized Rymenhild; but on the marriage-day Horn returned, killed him, and finally made Rymenhild his wife and Queen of Suddenne.
Compare the story of Torello and the Saladin in theDecameron, Tenth Day, Novel 9.
1.InScotland there was a babie born,Lill lal, etc.And his name it was called young Hind Horn,With a fal lal, etc.2.He sent a letter to our kingThat he was in love with his daughter Jean.B*****3.BAfter stanza 2 there is a gap in the story. Other versions say that Hind Horn goes, or is sent, to sea.He’s gi’en to her a silver wand,With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.4.She’s gi’en to him a diamond ring,With seven bright diamonds set therein.5.‘When this ring grows pale and wan,You may know by it my love is gane.’6.One day as he looked his ring upon,He saw the diamonds pale and wan.7.He left the sea and came to land,And the first that he met was an old beggar man.8.‘What news, what news?’ said young Hind Horn;‘No news, no news,’ said the old beggar man.9.‘No news,’ said the beggar, ‘no news at a’,But there is a wedding in the king’s ha’.10.10.2The bride has lingered six weeks in hopes of Hind Horn’s return.‘But there is a wedding in the king’s ha’,That has halden these forty days and twa.’11.‘Will ye lend me your begging coat?And I’ll lend you my scarlet cloak.12.12.1‘rung,’ staff.‘Will you lend me your beggar’s rung?And I’ll gi’e you my steed to ride upon.13.’Will you lend me your wig o’ hair,To cover mine, because it is fair?’14.The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,But young Hind Horn for the king’s hall.15.The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.16.When he came to the king’s gate,He sought a drink for Hind Horn’s sake.17.The bride came down with a glass of wine,When he drank out the glass, and dropt in the ring.18.‘O got ye this by sea or land?Or got ye it off a dead man’s hand?’19.‘I got not it by sea, I got it by land,And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.’20.‘O I’ll cast off my gowns of brown,And beg wi’ you frae town to town.21.‘O I’ll cast off my gowns of red,And I’ll beg wi’ you to win my bread.’22.‘Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown,For I’ll make you lady o’ many a town.23.‘Ye needna cast off your gowns of red,It’s only a sham, the begging o’ my bread.’24.The bridegroom he had wedded the bride,But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.
1.
InScotland there was a babie born,
Lill lal, etc.
And his name it was called young Hind Horn,
With a fal lal, etc.
2.
He sent a letter to our king
That he was in love with his daughter Jean.B
*****
3.
BAfter stanza 2 there is a gap in the story. Other versions say that Hind Horn goes, or is sent, to sea.
He’s gi’en to her a silver wand,
With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.
4.
She’s gi’en to him a diamond ring,
With seven bright diamonds set therein.
5.
‘When this ring grows pale and wan,
You may know by it my love is gane.’
6.
One day as he looked his ring upon,
He saw the diamonds pale and wan.
7.
He left the sea and came to land,
And the first that he met was an old beggar man.
8.
‘What news, what news?’ said young Hind Horn;
‘No news, no news,’ said the old beggar man.
9.
‘No news,’ said the beggar, ‘no news at a’,
But there is a wedding in the king’s ha’.
10.
10.2The bride has lingered six weeks in hopes of Hind Horn’s return.
‘But there is a wedding in the king’s ha’,
That has halden these forty days and twa.’
11.
‘Will ye lend me your begging coat?
And I’ll lend you my scarlet cloak.
12.
12.1‘rung,’ staff.
‘Will you lend me your beggar’s rung?
And I’ll gi’e you my steed to ride upon.
13.
’Will you lend me your wig o’ hair,
To cover mine, because it is fair?’
14.
The auld beggar man was bound for the mill,
But young Hind Horn for the king’s hall.
15.
The auld beggar man was bound for to ride,
But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.
16.
When he came to the king’s gate,
He sought a drink for Hind Horn’s sake.
17.
The bride came down with a glass of wine,
When he drank out the glass, and dropt in the ring.
18.
‘O got ye this by sea or land?
Or got ye it off a dead man’s hand?’
19.
‘I got not it by sea, I got it by land,
And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.’
20.
‘O I’ll cast off my gowns of brown,
And beg wi’ you frae town to town.
21.
‘O I’ll cast off my gowns of red,
And I’ll beg wi’ you to win my bread.’
22.
‘Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown,
For I’ll make you lady o’ many a town.
23.
‘Ye needna cast off your gowns of red,
It’s only a sham, the begging o’ my bread.’
24.
The bridegroom he had wedded the bride,
But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.
The Textis that given by Percy in theReliques(1765), with the substitution ofwfor initialqu, andyfor initialz, as inYoung Waters(see p. 146). In the fourth edition of theReliquesPercy states that ‘this curious song was transmitted to the editor by Sir David Dalrymple, Bart., late Lord Hailes.’
Percy’s adoption of antique spelling in this ballad has caused some doubt to be thrown on its authenticity; but there is also a versionSon Davie, given in hisMinstrelsyby Motherwell, who, in referring to the version in theReliques, said there was reason for believing that Lord Hailes ‘made a few slight verbal improvements in the copy he transmitted, and altered the hero’s name to Edward, a name which, by the bye, never occurs in a Scottish ballad except where allusion is made to an English king.’
The Storyhas a close parallel in Swedish, the form of the ballad remaining in dialogue.
Motherwell points out that the verses of whichEdwardconsists generally form the conclusion of the ballad ofThe Twa Brothers, and also of certain versions ofLizie Wan; and is inclined to regardEdwardas detached from one of those ballads. More probably the reverse is the case, that the story ofEdwardhas been attached to the other ballads.
The present version of the ballad exhibits an unusual amplification of the refrain. The story is told in two lines of each eight-lined stanza; but the lyrical effect added by the elaborate refrain is almost unique.
1.‘Whydois your brand sae drap wi’ bluid,Edward, Edward?Why dois your brand sae drap wi’ bluid,And why sae sad gang yee, O?’‘O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,And I had nae mair bot hee, O.’2.‘Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,Edward, Edward.Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,My deir son I tell thee, O.’‘O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,That erst was sae fair and frie, O.’3.3.4‘dule,’ grief; ‘drie,’ suffer.‘Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,Edward, Edward:Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,Sum other dule ye drie, O.’‘O, I hae killed my fadir deir,Mither, mither:O, I hae killed my fadir deir,Alas! and wae is mee, O!’4.‘And whatten penance wul ye drie for that,Edward, Edward?And whatten penance will ye drie for that.My deir son, now tell me, O,‘Ile set my feit in yonder boat,Mither, mither:Ile set my feit in yonder boat,And Ile fare ovir the sea, O.’5.‘And what wul ye doe wi’ your towirs and your ha’,Edward, Edward?And what wul ye doe wi’ your towirs and your ha’,That were sae fair to see, O?’‘Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa’,Mither, mither:Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa’,For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.’6.6.5,7i.e.The world is wide.‘And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,Edward, Edward?And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,Whan ye gang ovir the sea, O?’‘The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,Mither, mither:The warldis room, let them beg thrae life,For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.’7.‘And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,Edward, Edward?And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?My deir son, now tell me, O.’‘The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,Mither, mither:The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.’
1.
‘Whydois your brand sae drap wi’ bluid,
Edward, Edward?
Why dois your brand sae drap wi’ bluid,
And why sae sad gang yee, O?’
‘O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
Mither, mither:
O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid,
And I had nae mair bot hee, O.’
2.
‘Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
Edward, Edward.
Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid,
My deir son I tell thee, O.’
‘O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
Mither, mither:
O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid,
That erst was sae fair and frie, O.’
3.
3.4‘dule,’ grief; ‘drie,’ suffer.
‘Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Edward, Edward:
Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair,
Sum other dule ye drie, O.’
‘O, I hae killed my fadir deir,
Mither, mither:
O, I hae killed my fadir deir,
Alas! and wae is mee, O!’
4.
‘And whatten penance wul ye drie for that,
Edward, Edward?
And whatten penance will ye drie for that.
My deir son, now tell me, O,
‘Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
Mither, mither:
Ile set my feit in yonder boat,
And Ile fare ovir the sea, O.’
5.
‘And what wul ye doe wi’ your towirs and your ha’,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye doe wi’ your towirs and your ha’,
That were sae fair to see, O?’
‘Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa’,
Mither, mither:
Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa’,
For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.’
6.
6.5,7i.e.The world is wide.
‘And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife,
Whan ye gang ovir the sea, O?’
‘The warldis room, late them beg thrae life,
Mither, mither:
The warldis room, let them beg thrae life,
For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.’
7.
‘And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir,
Edward, Edward?
And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir?
My deir son, now tell me, O.’
‘The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Mither, mither:
The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir,
Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.’
The Textis from Scott’sMinstrelsy of the Scottish Border(1803). Other forms give the name asLord Ronald, but Scott retainsRandalon the supposition that the ballad originated in the death of ‘Thomas Randolph, or Randal, Earl of Murray, nephew to Robert Bruce, and governor of Scotland,’ who died at Musselburgh in 1332.
The Storyof the ballad is found in Italian tradition nearly three hundred years ago, and also occurs in Dutch, German, Swedish, Danish, Magyar, Wendish, etc.
Certain variants of the ballad bear the title ofThe Croodlin Doo, and the ‘handsome young man’ is changed for a child, and the poisoner is the child’s step-mother. Scott suggests that this change was made ‘to excite greater interest in the nursery.’ In nearly all forms of the ballad, the poisoning is done by the substitution of snakes (‘eels’) for fish, a common method amongst the ancients of administering poison.
Child gives a collation of seven versions secured in America of late years, in each of which the name of Lord Randal has become corrupted to ‘Tiranti.’
The antiphonetic form of the ballad is popular, as being dramatic and suitable for singing. CompareEdward, also a dialogue between mother and son.
1.‘O wherehae ye been, Lord Randal, my son?O where hae ye been, my handsome young man?’‘I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon,For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’2.‘Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome youngman?‘‘I din’d wi’ my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’3.3.3‘broo’,’ broth.‘What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?’‘I gat eels boil’d in broo’; mother, make my bed soon,For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’4.‘What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son?What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?’‘O they swell’d and they died; mother, make my bed soon,For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’5.‘O I fear ye are poison’d, Lord Randal, my son!O I fear ye are poison’d, my handsome young man!’‘O yes, I am poison’d; mother, make my bed soon,For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down.’
1.
‘O wherehae ye been, Lord Randal, my son?
O where hae ye been, my handsome young man?’
‘I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’
2.
‘Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?
Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome youngman?‘
‘I din’d wi’ my true-love; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’
3.
3.3‘broo’,’ broth.
‘What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son?
What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?’
‘I gat eels boil’d in broo’; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’
4.
‘What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son?
What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?’
‘O they swell’d and they died; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m weary wi’ hunting, and fain wald lie down.’
5.
‘O I fear ye are poison’d, Lord Randal, my son!
O I fear ye are poison’d, my handsome young man!’
‘O yes, I am poison’d; mother, make my bed soon,
For I’m sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down.’
The Textis from Jamieson’sPopular Ballads. He obtained it from Mrs. Brown. It is by far the best version of a score or so in existence. The name of the hero varies from Lamkin, Lankin, Lonkin, etc., to Rankin and Balcanqual. I have been informed by Andrew McDowall, Esq., of an incomplete version in which Lamkin’s name has become ‘Bold Hang’em.’
Finlay (Scottish Ballads) remarks:— ‘All reciters agree that Lammikin, or Lambkin, is not the name of the hero, but merely an epithet.’
The Storyvaries little throughout all the versions, though in some, as in one known to Percy, it lacks much of the detail here given.
1.It’s Lamkin was a mason goodAs ever built wi’ stane;He built Lord Wearie’s castle,But payment got he nane.2.‘O pay me, Lord Wearie,Come, pay me my fee’:‘I canna pay you, Lamkin,For I maun gang o’er the sea.’3.‘O pay me now, Lord Wearie,Come, pay me out o’ hand’:‘I canna pay you, Lamkin,Unless I sell my land.’4.‘O gin ye winna pay me,I here sail mak’ a vow,Before that ye come hame again,Ye sall hae cause to rue.’5.Lord Wearie got a bonny ship,To sail the saut sea faem;Bade his lady weel the castle keep,Ay till he should come hame.6.6.1‘limmer,’ wretch, rascal.But the nourice was a fause limmerAs e’er hung on a tree;She laid a plot wi’ Lamkin,Whan her lord was o’er the sea.7.7.3‘shot-window’: see special section of the Introduction.She laid a plot wi’ Lamkin,When the servants were awa’,Loot him in at a little shot-window,And brought him to the ha’.8.‘O whare’s a’ the men o’ this house,That ca’ me Lamkin?’‘They’re at the barn-well thrashing;’Twill be lang ere they come in.’9.‘And whare’s the women o’ this house,That ca’ me Lamkin?’‘They’re at the far well washing;’Twill be lang ere they come in.’10.‘And whare’s the bairns o’ this house,That ca’ me Lamkin?’‘They’re at the school reading;’Twill be night or they come hame.’11.‘O whare’s the lady o’ this house,That ca’s me Lamkin?’‘She’s up in her bower sewing,But we soon can bring her down.’12.12.2‘gaire’;i.e.by his knee: see special section of the Introduction.Then Lamkin’s tane a sharp knife,That hung down by his gaire,And he has gi’en the bonny babeA deep wound and a sair.13.13.3‘bore,’ hole, crevice.Then Lamkin he rocked,And the fause nourice sang,Till frae ilkae bore o’ the cradleThe red blood out sprang.14.14.4‘greeting,’ crying.Then out it spak’ the lady,As she stood on the stair:‘What ails my bairn, nourice,That he’s greeting sae sair?15.‘O still my bairn, nourice,O still him wi’ the pap!’‘He winna still, lady,For this nor for that.’16.‘O still my bairn, nourice,O still him wi’ the wand!’‘He winna still, lady,For a’ his father’s land.’17.‘O still my bairn, nourice,O still him wi’ the bell!’‘He winna still, lady,Till ye come down yoursel’.’18.O the firsten step she steppit,She steppit on a stane;But the neisten step she steppit,She met him Lamkin.19.‘O mercy, mercy, Lamkin,Hae mercy upon me!Though you’ve ta’en my young son’s life,Ye may let mysel’ be.’20.‘O sall I kill her, nourice,Or sall I lat her be?’‘O kill her, kill her, Lamkin,For she ne’er was good to me.’21.‘O scour the bason, nourice,And mak’ it fair and clean,For to keep this lady’s heart’s blood,For she’s come o’ noble kin.’22.‘There need nae bason, Lamkin,Lat it run through the floor;What better is the heart’s bloodO’ the rich than o’ the poor?’23.23.3‘dowie,’ sad.But ere three months were at an end,Lord Wearie came again;But dowie, dowie was his heartWhen first he came hame.24.24.2‘chamer,’ chamber.24.4‘lamer,’ amber.‘O wha’s blood is this,’ he says,‘That lies in the chamer?’‘It is your lady’s heart’s blood;’T is as clear as the lamer.’25.25.4‘ava,’ at all.‘And wha’s blood is this,’ he says,‘That lies in my ha’?’‘It is your young son’s heart’s blood;’Tis the clearest ava.’26.26.3‘grat,’ greeted, wept.O sweetly sang the black-birdThat sat upon the tree;But sairer grat Lamkin,When he was condemn’d to die.27.And bonny sang the mavisOut o’ the thorny brake;But sairer grat the nourice,When she was tied to the stake.
1.
It’s Lamkin was a mason good
As ever built wi’ stane;
He built Lord Wearie’s castle,
But payment got he nane.
2.
‘O pay me, Lord Wearie,
Come, pay me my fee’:
‘I canna pay you, Lamkin,
For I maun gang o’er the sea.’
3.
‘O pay me now, Lord Wearie,
Come, pay me out o’ hand’:
‘I canna pay you, Lamkin,
Unless I sell my land.’
4.
‘O gin ye winna pay me,
I here sail mak’ a vow,
Before that ye come hame again,
Ye sall hae cause to rue.’
5.
Lord Wearie got a bonny ship,
To sail the saut sea faem;
Bade his lady weel the castle keep,
Ay till he should come hame.
6.
6.1‘limmer,’ wretch, rascal.
But the nourice was a fause limmer
As e’er hung on a tree;
She laid a plot wi’ Lamkin,
Whan her lord was o’er the sea.
7.
7.3‘shot-window’: see special section of the Introduction.
She laid a plot wi’ Lamkin,
When the servants were awa’,
Loot him in at a little shot-window,
And brought him to the ha’.
8.
‘O whare’s a’ the men o’ this house,
That ca’ me Lamkin?’
‘They’re at the barn-well thrashing;
’Twill be lang ere they come in.’
9.
‘And whare’s the women o’ this house,
That ca’ me Lamkin?’
‘They’re at the far well washing;
’Twill be lang ere they come in.’
10.
‘And whare’s the bairns o’ this house,
That ca’ me Lamkin?’
‘They’re at the school reading;
’Twill be night or they come hame.’
11.
‘O whare’s the lady o’ this house,
That ca’s me Lamkin?’
‘She’s up in her bower sewing,
But we soon can bring her down.’
12.
12.2‘gaire’;i.e.by his knee: see special section of the Introduction.
Then Lamkin’s tane a sharp knife,
That hung down by his gaire,
And he has gi’en the bonny babe
A deep wound and a sair.
13.
13.3‘bore,’ hole, crevice.
Then Lamkin he rocked,
And the fause nourice sang,
Till frae ilkae bore o’ the cradle
The red blood out sprang.
14.
14.4‘greeting,’ crying.
Then out it spak’ the lady,
As she stood on the stair:
‘What ails my bairn, nourice,
That he’s greeting sae sair?
15.
‘O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi’ the pap!’
‘He winna still, lady,
For this nor for that.’
16.
‘O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi’ the wand!’
‘He winna still, lady,
For a’ his father’s land.’
17.
‘O still my bairn, nourice,
O still him wi’ the bell!’
‘He winna still, lady,
Till ye come down yoursel’.’
18.
O the firsten step she steppit,
She steppit on a stane;
But the neisten step she steppit,
She met him Lamkin.
19.
‘O mercy, mercy, Lamkin,
Hae mercy upon me!
Though you’ve ta’en my young son’s life,
Ye may let mysel’ be.’
20.
‘O sall I kill her, nourice,
Or sall I lat her be?’
‘O kill her, kill her, Lamkin,
For she ne’er was good to me.’
21.
‘O scour the bason, nourice,
And mak’ it fair and clean,
For to keep this lady’s heart’s blood,
For she’s come o’ noble kin.’
22.
‘There need nae bason, Lamkin,
Lat it run through the floor;
What better is the heart’s blood
O’ the rich than o’ the poor?’
23.
23.3‘dowie,’ sad.
But ere three months were at an end,
Lord Wearie came again;
But dowie, dowie was his heart
When first he came hame.
24.
24.2‘chamer,’ chamber.
24.4‘lamer,’ amber.
‘O wha’s blood is this,’ he says,
‘That lies in the chamer?’
‘It is your lady’s heart’s blood;
’T is as clear as the lamer.’
25.
25.4‘ava,’ at all.
‘And wha’s blood is this,’ he says,
‘That lies in my ha’?’
‘It is your young son’s heart’s blood;
’Tis the clearest ava.’
26.
26.3‘grat,’ greeted, wept.
O sweetly sang the black-bird
That sat upon the tree;
But sairer grat Lamkin,
When he was condemn’d to die.
27.
And bonny sang the mavis
Out o’ the thorny brake;
But sairer grat the nourice,
When she was tied to the stake.
The Textis fromLovely Jenny’s Garland, as given with emendations by Professor Child. There is also a curiously perverted version in Herd’s manuscript, in which the verses require rearrangement before becoming intelligible.
The Storycan be gathered from the version here given without much difficulty. It turns on the marriage of Fair Mary, who is one of seven sisters fated to die of their first child. Fair Mary seems to be a fatalist, and, after vowing never to marry, accepts as her destiny the hand of Sir William Fenwick of Wallington. Three-quarters of a year later she sends to fair Pudlington for her mother. Her mother is much affected at the news (st. 22), and goes to Wallington. Her daughter, in travail, lays the blame on her, cuts open her side to give birth to an heir, and dies.
In a Breton ballad Pontplancoat thrice marries a Marguerite, and each of his three sons costs his mother her life.
In the Scottish ballad, a ‘scope’ is put in Mary’s mouth when the operation takes place. In the Breton ballad it is a silver spoon or a silver ball. ‘Scope,’ or ‘scobs’ as it appears in Herd, means a gag, and was apparently used to prevent her from crying out. But the silver spoon and ball in the Breton ballad would appear to have been used for Marguerite to bite on in her anguish, just as sailors chewed bullets while being flogged.
1.1.1‘silly,’ simple.1.4‘lair,’ lying-in.Whenwe were silly sisters seven,Sisters were so fair,Five of us were brave knights’ wives,And died in childbed lair.2.2.4‘gate,’ way.Up then spake Fair Mary,Marry woud she nane;If ever she came in man’s bed,The same gate wad she gang.3.‘Make no vows, Fair Mary,For fear they broken be;Here’s been the Knight of Wallington,Asking good will of thee.’4.‘If here’s been the knight, mother,Asking good will of me,Within three quarters of a yearYou may come bury me.’5.5.3‘her mother’ is, of course, her mother-in-law.When she came to Wallington,And into Wallington hall,There she spy’d her mother dear,Walking about the wall.6.‘You’re welcome, daughter dear,To thy castle and thy bowers’;‘I thank you kindly, mother,I hope they’ll soon be yours.’7.She had not been in WallingtonThree quarters and a day,Till upon the ground she could not walk,She was a weary prey.8.She had not been in WallingtonThree quarters and a night,Till on the ground she coud not walk,She was a weary wight.9.9.2‘shun’ = shoon, shoes.‘Is there ne’er a boy in this town,Who’ll win hose and shun,That will run to fair Pudlington,And bid my mother come?’10.Up then spake a little boy,Near unto a-kin;‘Full oft I have your errands gone,But now I will it run.’11.Then she call’d her waiting-maidTo bring up bread and wine;‘Eat and drink, my bonny boy,Thou’ll ne’er eat more of mine.12.‘Give my respects to my mother,She sits in her chair of stone,And ask her how she likes the news,Of seven to have but one.13.13. This stanza is not in the original, but is supplied from the boy’s repetition, st. 19.13.4‘lake-wake’ = lyke-wake: watching by a corpse.‘Give my respects to my mother,As she sits in her chair of oak,And bid her come to my sickening,Or my merry lake-wake.14.‘Give my love to my brotherWilliam, Ralph, and John,And to my sister Betty fair,And to her white as bone:15.‘And bid her keep her maidenhead,Be sure make much on ’t,For if e’er she come in man’s bed,The same gate will she gang.’16.Away this little boy is gone,As fast as he could run;When he came where brigs were broke,He lay down and swum.17.When he saw the lady, he said,‘Lord may your keeper be!’‘What news, my pretty boy,Hast thou to tell to me?’18.‘Your daughter Mary orders me,As you sit in a chair of stone,To ask you how you like the news,Of seven to have but one.19.‘Your daughter gives commands,As you sit in a chair of oak,And bids you come to her sickening,Or her merry lake-wake.20.‘She gives command to her brotherWilliam, Ralph, and John,[And] to her sister Betty fair,And to her white as bone.21.‘She bids her keep her maidenhead,Be sure make much on ’t,For if e’er she came in man’s bed,The same gate woud she gang.’22.22. This, in ballads, is a customary method of giving expression to strong emotion.She kickt the table with her foot,She kickt it with her knee,The silver plate into the fire,So far she made it flee.23.Then she call’d her waiting-maidTo bring her riding-hood,So did she on her stable-groomTo bring her riding-steed.24.‘Go saddle to me the black, [the black,]Go saddle to me the brown,Go saddle to me the swiftest steedThat e’er rid [to] Wallington.’25.When they came to Wallington,And into Wallington hall,There she spy’d her son Fenwick,Walking about the wall.26.‘God save you, dear son,Lord may your keeper be!Where is my daughter fair,That used to walk with thee?’27.He turn’d his head round about,The tears did fill his e’e:‘’Tis a month’ he said, ‘since sheTook her chambers from me.’28.She went on...And there were in the hallFour and twenty ladies,Letting the tears down fall.29.29.1‘scope,’ a gag.Her daughter had a scopeInto her cheek and into her chin,All to keep her lifeTill her dear mother came.30.30.4‘wite,’ blame:i.e.her mother was the cause of all her trouble.‘Come take the rings off my fingers,The skin it is so white,And give them to my mother dear,For she was all the wite.31.‘Come take the rings off my fingers,The veins they are so red,Give them to Sir William Fenwick,I’m sure his heart will bleed.’32.She took out a razorThat was both sharp and fine,And out of her left side has takenThe heir of Wallington.33.There is a race in Wallington,And that I rue full sare;Tho’ the cradle it be full spread upThe bride-bed is left bare.
1.
1.1‘silly,’ simple.
1.4‘lair,’ lying-in.
Whenwe were silly sisters seven,
Sisters were so fair,
Five of us were brave knights’ wives,
And died in childbed lair.
2.
2.4‘gate,’ way.
Up then spake Fair Mary,
Marry woud she nane;
If ever she came in man’s bed,
The same gate wad she gang.
3.
‘Make no vows, Fair Mary,
For fear they broken be;
Here’s been the Knight of Wallington,
Asking good will of thee.’
4.
‘If here’s been the knight, mother,
Asking good will of me,
Within three quarters of a year
You may come bury me.’
5.
5.3‘her mother’ is, of course, her mother-in-law.
When she came to Wallington,
And into Wallington hall,
There she spy’d her mother dear,
Walking about the wall.
6.
‘You’re welcome, daughter dear,
To thy castle and thy bowers’;
‘I thank you kindly, mother,
I hope they’ll soon be yours.’
7.
She had not been in Wallington
Three quarters and a day,
Till upon the ground she could not walk,
She was a weary prey.
8.
She had not been in Wallington
Three quarters and a night,
Till on the ground she coud not walk,
She was a weary wight.
9.
9.2‘shun’ = shoon, shoes.
‘Is there ne’er a boy in this town,
Who’ll win hose and shun,
That will run to fair Pudlington,
And bid my mother come?’
10.
Up then spake a little boy,
Near unto a-kin;
‘Full oft I have your errands gone,
But now I will it run.’
11.
Then she call’d her waiting-maid
To bring up bread and wine;
‘Eat and drink, my bonny boy,
Thou’ll ne’er eat more of mine.
12.
‘Give my respects to my mother,
She sits in her chair of stone,
And ask her how she likes the news,
Of seven to have but one.
13.
13. This stanza is not in the original, but is supplied from the boy’s repetition, st. 19.
13.4‘lake-wake’ = lyke-wake: watching by a corpse.
‘Give my respects to my mother,
As she sits in her chair of oak,
And bid her come to my sickening,
Or my merry lake-wake.
14.
‘Give my love to my brother
William, Ralph, and John,
And to my sister Betty fair,
And to her white as bone:
15.
‘And bid her keep her maidenhead,
Be sure make much on ’t,
For if e’er she come in man’s bed,
The same gate will she gang.’
16.
Away this little boy is gone,
As fast as he could run;
When he came where brigs were broke,
He lay down and swum.
17.
When he saw the lady, he said,
‘Lord may your keeper be!’
‘What news, my pretty boy,
Hast thou to tell to me?’
18.
‘Your daughter Mary orders me,
As you sit in a chair of stone,
To ask you how you like the news,
Of seven to have but one.
19.
‘Your daughter gives commands,
As you sit in a chair of oak,
And bids you come to her sickening,
Or her merry lake-wake.
20.
‘She gives command to her brother
William, Ralph, and John,
And to her white as bone.
21.
‘She bids her keep her maidenhead,
Be sure make much on ’t,
For if e’er she came in man’s bed,
The same gate woud she gang.’
22.
22. This, in ballads, is a customary method of giving expression to strong emotion.
She kickt the table with her foot,
She kickt it with her knee,
The silver plate into the fire,
So far she made it flee.
23.
Then she call’d her waiting-maid
To bring her riding-hood,
So did she on her stable-groom
To bring her riding-steed.
24.
‘Go saddle to me the black, [the black,]
Go saddle to me the brown,
Go saddle to me the swiftest steed
That e’er rid [to] Wallington.’
25.
When they came to Wallington,
And into Wallington hall,
There she spy’d her son Fenwick,
Walking about the wall.
26.
‘God save you, dear son,
Lord may your keeper be!
Where is my daughter fair,
That used to walk with thee?’
27.
He turn’d his head round about,
The tears did fill his e’e:
‘’Tis a month’ he said, ‘since she
Took her chambers from me.’
28.
She went on...
And there were in the hall
Four and twenty ladies,
Letting the tears down fall.
29.
29.1‘scope,’ a gag.
Her daughter had a scope
Into her cheek and into her chin,
All to keep her life
Till her dear mother came.
30.
30.4‘wite,’ blame:i.e.her mother was the cause of all her trouble.
‘Come take the rings off my fingers,
The skin it is so white,
And give them to my mother dear,
For she was all the wite.
31.
‘Come take the rings off my fingers,
The veins they are so red,
Give them to Sir William Fenwick,
I’m sure his heart will bleed.’
32.
She took out a razor
That was both sharp and fine,
And out of her left side has taken
The heir of Wallington.
33.
There is a race in Wallington,
And that I rue full sare;
Tho’ the cradle it be full spread up
The bride-bed is left bare.