The Textis from Alexander Laing’sScarce Ancient Ballads(1822). A similar version occurs in Buchan’sGleanings(1825). Professor Gummere, in printing the first text, omits six stanzas, on the assumption that they represent part of a second ballad imperfectly incorporated. But I think the ballad can be read as it stands below, though doubtless ‘his ladie’s’ remark, st. 11, is out of place.
The Storyseems to be a combination of at least two. An old Baron of Brackley, ‘an honest aged man,’ was slain in 1592 by ‘caterans’ or freebooters who had been entertained hospitably by him. In 1666 John Gordon of Brackley began a feud with John Farquharson of Inverey by seizing some cattle or horses—accounts differ—by way of fines due for taking fish out of season. This eventually led to the slaying of Brackley and certain of his adherents.
Professor Child suspects a commixture of the two episodes in the one ballad, or more probably, a grafting of a later ballad on to an earlier one. The character of the Baron as revealed in the ballad more closely resembles that of the 1592 episode, while the details of the fray are in keeping with the later story.
‘Peggy,’ the Baron’s wife, was Margaret Burnet, cousin to Gilbert, Bishop of Salisbury. After Brackley’s death she married again, but not her husband’s murderer, as the end of our ballad scandalously suggests.
Brackley is near Ballater, about forty miles west of Aberdeen.
1.1.2‘yett,’ gate.Invereycam doun Deeside, whistlin’ and playin’,He was at brave Braikley’s yett ere it was dawin’.2.He rappit fu’ loudly an’ wi’ a great roar,Cried, ‘Cum doun, cum doun, Braikley, and open the door.3.‘Are ye sleepin’, Baronne, or are ye wakin’?Ther’s sharpe swords at your yett, will gar your blood spin.4.‘Open the yett, Braikley, and lat us within,Till we on the green turf gar your bluid rin.’5.5.2‘spulyie,’ spoil.Out spak the brave baronne, owre the castell-wa’;‘Are ye cum to spulyie and plunder mi ha’?6.‘But gin ye be gentlemen, licht and cum in:Gin ye drink o’ my wine, ye’ll nae gar my bluid spin.7.7.1‘widifu’s,’ gallows-birds (lit. ‘halter-fulls’).‘Gin ye be hir’d widifu’s, ye may gang by,Ye may gang to the lowlands and steal their fat ky.8.8.1‘rievers,’ robbers; ‘ketterin’ = cateran, marauder freebooter.‘Ther spulyie like rievers o’ wyld ketterin clan,Who plunder unsparing baith houses and lan’.9.‘Gin ye be gentlemen, licht and cum [in],Ther’s meat and drink i’ my ha’ for every man.10.‘Gin ye be hired widifu’s, ye may gang by,Gang doun to the lowlands, and steal horse and ky.’11.Up spak his ladie, at his bak where she lay,‘Get up, get up, Braikley, an be not afraid;The’r but young hir’d widifu’s wi’ belted plaids.’12.‘Cum kiss me, mi Peggy, I’le nae langer stay,For I will go out and meet Inverey.13.‘But haud your tongue, Peggy, and mak nae sic din,For yon same hir’d widifu’s will prove themselves men.’14.14.2‘rocks,’ distaffs.She called on her marys, they cam to her hand;Cries, ‘Bring me your rocks, lassies, we will them command.15.‘Get up, get up, Braikley, and turn bak your ky,Or me and mi women will them defy.16.‘Cum forth then, mi maidens, and show them some play;We’ll ficht them, and shortly the cowards will fly.17.‘Gin I had a husband, whereas I hae nane,He woud nae ly i’ his bed and see his ky taen.18.‘Ther’s four-and-twenty milk-whit calves, twal o’ them ky,In the woods o’ Glentanner, it’s ther thei a’ ly.19.‘Ther’s goat i’ the Etnach, and sheep o’ the brae,An a’ will be plunder’d by young Inverey.’20.‘Now haud your tongue, Peggy, and gie me a gun,Ye’ll see me gae furth, but I’ll never cum in.21.‘Call mi brother William, mi unkl also,Mi cousin James Gordon; we’ll mount and we’ll go.’22.When Braikley was ready and stood i’ the closs,He was the bravest baronne that e’er mounted horse.23.Whan all wer assembled o’ the castell green,No man like brave Braikley was ther to be seen.24......‘Turn bak, brother William, ye are a bridegroom;25.‘Wi’ bonnie Jean Gordon, the maid o’ the mill;O’ sichin’ and sobbin’ she’ll soon get her fill.’26.‘I’m no coward, brother, ’tis ken’d I’m a man;I’ll ficht i’ your quarral as lang’s I can stand.27.‘I’ll ficht, my dear brother, wi’ heart and gudewill,And so will young Harry that lives at the mill.28.‘But turn, mi dear brother, and nae langer stay:What’ll cum o’ your ladie, gin Braikley thei slay?29.‘What’ll cum o’ your ladie and bonnie young son?O what’ll cum o’ them when Braikley is gone?’30.‘I never will turn: do you think I will fly?But here I will ficht, and here I will die.’31.‘Strik, dogs,’ crys Inverey, ‘and ficht till ye’re slayn,For we are four hundred, ye are but four men.32.‘Strik, strik, ye proud boaster, your honour is gone,Your lands we will plunder, your castell we’ll burn.’33.At the head o’ the Etnach the battel began,At Little Auchoilzie thei kill’d the first man.34.First thei kill’d ane, and soon they kill’d twa,Thei kill’d gallant Braikley, the flour o’ them a’.35.Thei kill’d William Gordon, and James o’ the Knox,And brave Alexander, the flour o’ Glenmuick.36.What sichin’ and moaning was heard i’ the glen,For the Baronne o’ Braikley, who basely was slayn!37.‘Cam ye bi the castell, and was ye in there?Saw ye pretty Peggy tearing her hair?’38.‘Yes, I cam by Braikley, and I gaed in there,And there saw his ladie braiding her hair.39.‘She was rantin’, and dancin’, and singin’ for joy,And vowin’ that nicht she woud feest Inverey.40.‘She eat wi’ him, drank wi’ him, welcom’d him in,Was kind to the man that had slain her baronne.’41.Up spake the son on the nourice’s knee,‘Gin I live to be a man, revenged I’ll be.’42.Ther’s dool i’ the kitchin, and mirth i’ the ha’,The Baronne o’ Braikley is dead and awa’.
1.
1.2‘yett,’ gate.
Invereycam doun Deeside, whistlin’ and playin’,
He was at brave Braikley’s yett ere it was dawin’.
2.
He rappit fu’ loudly an’ wi’ a great roar,
Cried, ‘Cum doun, cum doun, Braikley, and open the door.
3.
‘Are ye sleepin’, Baronne, or are ye wakin’?
Ther’s sharpe swords at your yett, will gar your blood spin.
4.
‘Open the yett, Braikley, and lat us within,
Till we on the green turf gar your bluid rin.’
5.
5.2‘spulyie,’ spoil.
Out spak the brave baronne, owre the castell-wa’;
‘Are ye cum to spulyie and plunder mi ha’?
6.
‘But gin ye be gentlemen, licht and cum in:
Gin ye drink o’ my wine, ye’ll nae gar my bluid spin.
7.
7.1‘widifu’s,’ gallows-birds (lit. ‘halter-fulls’).
‘Gin ye be hir’d widifu’s, ye may gang by,
Ye may gang to the lowlands and steal their fat ky.
8.
8.1‘rievers,’ robbers; ‘ketterin’ = cateran, marauder freebooter.
‘Ther spulyie like rievers o’ wyld ketterin clan,
Who plunder unsparing baith houses and lan’.
9.
‘Gin ye be gentlemen, licht and cum [in],
Ther’s meat and drink i’ my ha’ for every man.
10.
‘Gin ye be hired widifu’s, ye may gang by,
Gang doun to the lowlands, and steal horse and ky.’
11.
Up spak his ladie, at his bak where she lay,
‘Get up, get up, Braikley, an be not afraid;
The’r but young hir’d widifu’s wi’ belted plaids.’
12.
‘Cum kiss me, mi Peggy, I’le nae langer stay,
For I will go out and meet Inverey.
13.
‘But haud your tongue, Peggy, and mak nae sic din,
For yon same hir’d widifu’s will prove themselves men.’
14.
14.2‘rocks,’ distaffs.
She called on her marys, they cam to her hand;
Cries, ‘Bring me your rocks, lassies, we will them command.
15.
‘Get up, get up, Braikley, and turn bak your ky,
Or me and mi women will them defy.
16.
‘Cum forth then, mi maidens, and show them some play;
We’ll ficht them, and shortly the cowards will fly.
17.
‘Gin I had a husband, whereas I hae nane,
He woud nae ly i’ his bed and see his ky taen.
18.
‘Ther’s four-and-twenty milk-whit calves, twal o’ them ky,
In the woods o’ Glentanner, it’s ther thei a’ ly.
19.
‘Ther’s goat i’ the Etnach, and sheep o’ the brae,
An a’ will be plunder’d by young Inverey.’
20.
‘Now haud your tongue, Peggy, and gie me a gun,
Ye’ll see me gae furth, but I’ll never cum in.
21.
‘Call mi brother William, mi unkl also,
Mi cousin James Gordon; we’ll mount and we’ll go.’
22.
When Braikley was ready and stood i’ the closs,
He was the bravest baronne that e’er mounted horse.
23.
Whan all wer assembled o’ the castell green,
No man like brave Braikley was ther to be seen.
24.
.....
‘Turn bak, brother William, ye are a bridegroom;
25.
‘Wi’ bonnie Jean Gordon, the maid o’ the mill;
O’ sichin’ and sobbin’ she’ll soon get her fill.’
26.
‘I’m no coward, brother, ’tis ken’d I’m a man;
I’ll ficht i’ your quarral as lang’s I can stand.
27.
‘I’ll ficht, my dear brother, wi’ heart and gudewill,
And so will young Harry that lives at the mill.
28.
‘But turn, mi dear brother, and nae langer stay:
What’ll cum o’ your ladie, gin Braikley thei slay?
29.
‘What’ll cum o’ your ladie and bonnie young son?
O what’ll cum o’ them when Braikley is gone?’
30.
‘I never will turn: do you think I will fly?
But here I will ficht, and here I will die.’
31.
‘Strik, dogs,’ crys Inverey, ‘and ficht till ye’re slayn,
For we are four hundred, ye are but four men.
32.
‘Strik, strik, ye proud boaster, your honour is gone,
Your lands we will plunder, your castell we’ll burn.’
33.
At the head o’ the Etnach the battel began,
At Little Auchoilzie thei kill’d the first man.
34.
First thei kill’d ane, and soon they kill’d twa,
Thei kill’d gallant Braikley, the flour o’ them a’.
35.
Thei kill’d William Gordon, and James o’ the Knox,
And brave Alexander, the flour o’ Glenmuick.
36.
What sichin’ and moaning was heard i’ the glen,
For the Baronne o’ Braikley, who basely was slayn!
37.
‘Cam ye bi the castell, and was ye in there?
Saw ye pretty Peggy tearing her hair?’
38.
‘Yes, I cam by Braikley, and I gaed in there,
And there saw his ladie braiding her hair.
39.
‘She was rantin’, and dancin’, and singin’ for joy,
And vowin’ that nicht she woud feest Inverey.
40.
‘She eat wi’ him, drank wi’ him, welcom’d him in,
Was kind to the man that had slain her baronne.’
41.
Up spake the son on the nourice’s knee,
‘Gin I live to be a man, revenged I’ll be.’
42.
Ther’s dool i’ the kitchin, and mirth i’ the ha’,
The Baronne o’ Braikley is dead and awa’.
The Textis from Motherwell’sMS., a copy from tradition in Renfrewshire in 1825. The ballad exists both in English and Scottish, and though the English ballad is probably derived from the Scottish, it was the first in print. It is also calledJohnnie Faa. Motherwell, in printing an elaborated version of the following text (Minstrelsy, 1827, p. 360), called itGypsie Davy.
The Story.—Singers—presumably gipsies—entice Lady Cassillis down to hear them, and cast glamour on her. She follows their chief, Gipsy Davy, but finds (stt. 5 and 6) that the conditions are changed. Her lord misses her, seeks her ‘thro’ nations many,’ and finds her drinking with the gipsy chief. He asks her to return home with him. At this point the present version becomes difficult, and the bearing of st. 12 is not apparent. We may gather that the lady returned home with her husband, as he proceeded to hang sixteen of the gipsies.
This version calls the lady ‘Jeanie Faw,’ but the majority call the gipsy chief Johnnie Faa, which is a well-known name amongst gipsies, and occurs as early as 1540 as the name of the ‘lord and earl of Little Egypt.’ Gipsies being expelled from Scotland by Act of Parliament in 1609, a Captain Johnnë Faa and seven others were hanged in 1624 for disobeying the ordinance, and this execution is sufficient to account for the introduction of the name into a ballad of this kind.
The ballad has no certain connection with the Cassillis family, and it has been suggested that the word is simply a corruption of ‘castle,’ the original beginning of the ballad being
‘The gipsies came to the castle-gate.’
‘The gipsies came to the castle-gate.’
If this be so, the present form of the ballad illustrates admirably two methods of corruption by tradition.
1.Therecam singers to Earl Cassillis’ gates,And oh, but they sang bonnie!They sang sae sweet and sae complete,Till down cam the earl’s lady.2.2.3‘weel-faur’d,’ well-favoured.She cam tripping down the stair,And all her maids before her;As soon as they saw her weel-faur’d faceThey coost their glamourye owre her.3.They gave her o’ the gude sweet-meats,The nutmeg and the ginger,And she gied them a far better thing,Ten gold rings aff her finger.4.‘Tak from me my silken cloak,And bring me down my plaidie;For it is good eneuch,’ she said,‘To follow a Gipsy Davy.5.5.4‘a wheen,’ a pack [of].‘Yestreen I rode this water deep,And my gude lord beside me;But this nicht I maun set in my pretty fit and wade,A wheen blackguards wading wi’ me,6.‘Yestreen I lay in a fine feather-bed,And my gude lord beyond me;But this nicht I maun lie in some cauld tenant’s-barn,A wheen blackguards waiting on me.’7.‘Come to thy bed, my bonny Jeanie Faw,Come to thy bed, my dearie,For I do swear by the top o’ my spear,Thy gude lord’ll nae mair come near thee.’8.When her gude lord cam hame at nicht,It was asking for his fair ladye;One spak slow, and another whisper’d out,‘She’s awa’ wi’ Gipsey Davy!’9.‘Come saddle to me my horse,’ he said;‘Come saddle and mak him readie!For I’ll neither sleep, eat, nor drink,Till I find out my lady.’10.They socht her up, they socht her doun,They socht her thro’ nations many,Till at length they found her out in Abbey dale,Drinking wi’ Gipsey Davy.11.‘Rise, oh, rise! my bonny Jeanie Faw;Oh, rise, and do not tarry!Is this the thing ye promised to meWhen at first I did thee marry?’12.They drank her cloak, so did they her goun,They drank her stockings and her shoon,And they drank the coat that was nigh to her smock,And they pawned her pearled apron.13.They were sixteen clever men,Suppose they were na bonnie;They are a’ to be hang’d on ae tree,For the stealing o’ Earl Cassilis’ lady.14.‘We are sixteen clever men,One woman was a’ our mother;We are a’ to be hanged on ae day,For the stealing of a wanton lady.’
1.
Therecam singers to Earl Cassillis’ gates,
And oh, but they sang bonnie!
They sang sae sweet and sae complete,
Till down cam the earl’s lady.
2.
2.3‘weel-faur’d,’ well-favoured.
She cam tripping down the stair,
And all her maids before her;
As soon as they saw her weel-faur’d face
They coost their glamourye owre her.
3.
They gave her o’ the gude sweet-meats,
The nutmeg and the ginger,
And she gied them a far better thing,
Ten gold rings aff her finger.
4.
‘Tak from me my silken cloak,
And bring me down my plaidie;
For it is good eneuch,’ she said,
‘To follow a Gipsy Davy.
5.
5.4‘a wheen,’ a pack [of].
‘Yestreen I rode this water deep,
And my gude lord beside me;
But this nicht I maun set in my pretty fit and wade,
A wheen blackguards wading wi’ me,
6.
‘Yestreen I lay in a fine feather-bed,
And my gude lord beyond me;
But this nicht I maun lie in some cauld tenant’s-barn,
A wheen blackguards waiting on me.’
7.
‘Come to thy bed, my bonny Jeanie Faw,
Come to thy bed, my dearie,
For I do swear by the top o’ my spear,
Thy gude lord’ll nae mair come near thee.’
8.
When her gude lord cam hame at nicht,
It was asking for his fair ladye;
One spak slow, and another whisper’d out,
‘She’s awa’ wi’ Gipsey Davy!’
9.
‘Come saddle to me my horse,’ he said;
‘Come saddle and mak him readie!
For I’ll neither sleep, eat, nor drink,
Till I find out my lady.’
10.
They socht her up, they socht her doun,
They socht her thro’ nations many,
Till at length they found her out in Abbey dale,
Drinking wi’ Gipsey Davy.
11.
‘Rise, oh, rise! my bonny Jeanie Faw;
Oh, rise, and do not tarry!
Is this the thing ye promised to me
When at first I did thee marry?’
12.
They drank her cloak, so did they her goun,
They drank her stockings and her shoon,
And they drank the coat that was nigh to her smock,
And they pawned her pearled apron.
13.
They were sixteen clever men,
Suppose they were na bonnie;
They are a’ to be hang’d on ae tree,
For the stealing o’ Earl Cassilis’ lady.
14.
‘We are sixteen clever men,
One woman was a’ our mother;
We are a’ to be hanged on ae day,
For the stealing of a wanton lady.’
The Textis from Sharpe’sBallad Book. A parody of this ballad, concerning an episode of the end of the seventeenth century, shows it to have been popular not long after its making. In England it has become a nursery rhyme (see Halliwell’sNursery Rhymes, p. 246).
The Story.—In 1781 a Major Barry, then owner of Lednock, recorded the following tradition. Mary Gray was the daughter of the Laird of Lednock, near Perth, and Bessy Bell was the daughter of the Laird of Kinvaid, a neighbouring place. Both were handsome, and the two were intimate friends. Bessy Bell being come on a visit to Mary Gray, they retired, in order to avoid an outbreak of the plague, to a bower built by themselves in a romantic spot called Burnbraes, on the side of Branchie-burn, three-quarters of a mile from Lednock House. The ballad does not sayhowthe ‘pest cam,’ but tradition finds a cause for their deaths by inventing a young man, in love with both, who visited them and brought the infection. They died in the bower, and were buried in the Dranoch-haugh (‘Stronach haugh,’ 3.3), near the bank of the river Almond. The grave is still visited by pious pilgrims.
Major Barry mentions 1666 as the year, but the plague did not reach Scotland in that year. Probably the year in question was 1645, when the district was ravaged with the pestilence.
1.1.3‘bigget,’ built.1.4‘theekit,’ thatched.O BessieBell and Mary Gray,They war twa bonnie lasses;They bigget a bower on yon burn-brae,And theekit it o’er wi’ rashes.2.They theekit it o’er wi’ rashes green,They theekit it o’er wi’ heather;But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,And slew them baith thegither.3.3.4i.e.to bask beneath the sun.They thought to lie in Methven kirk-yard,Amang their noble kin;But they maun lye in Stronach haugh,To biek forenent the sin.4.And Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,They war twa bonnie lasses;They bigget a bower on yon burn-brae,And theekit it o’er wi’ rashes.
1.
1.3‘bigget,’ built.
1.4‘theekit,’ thatched.
O BessieBell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;
They bigget a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it o’er wi’ rashes.
2.
They theekit it o’er wi’ rashes green,
They theekit it o’er wi’ heather;
But the pest cam frae the burrows-town,
And slew them baith thegither.
3.
3.4i.e.to bask beneath the sun.
They thought to lie in Methven kirk-yard,
Amang their noble kin;
But they maun lye in Stronach haugh,
To biek forenent the sin.
4.
And Bessy Bell and Mary Gray,
They war twa bonnie lasses;
They bigget a bower on yon burn-brae,
And theekit it o’er wi’ rashes.
The Textis from Motherwell’sMinstrelsy(1827). It is based on a stall-copy, presumably similar to one preserved by Sir Walter Scott at Abbotsford, combined with a version from recitation, which Child none the less calls ‘well remembered from print.’
The Storyhas no historical foundation, as far as can be discovered; and for once we have a traditional tale inculcating a moral, though we do not understand why the ‘nourice’ betrays Sir James to his enemies.
Michael Bruce wrote a version of the story of this ballad, which seems to have become more popular than the ballad itself. It may be seen in A. B. Grosart’s edition of his works (1865), p. 197.
1.O heardye of Sir James the Rose,The young heir of Buleighan?For he has killed a gallant squire,And his friends are out to take him.2.Now he’s gone to the house of Marr,Where the Nourice was his leman;To seek his dear he did repair,Thinking she would befriend him.3.‘Where are you going, Sir James?’ she says,‘Or where now are you riding?’‘Oh, I am bound to a foreign land,For now I’m under hiding.4.‘Where shall I go? where shall I run?Where shall I go to hide me?For I have killed a gallant squire,And they’re seeking to slay me.’5.‘O go ye down to yon ale-house,And I’ll there pay your lawin’;And if I be a maiden true,I’ll meet you in the dawin‘.’6.’I’ll no go down to yon ale-house,For you to pay my lawin’;There’s forty shillings for one supper,I’ll stay in’t till the dawin‘.’7.7.2‘brechan,’ plaid.He’s turned him richt and round about,And rowed him in his brechan;And he has gone to take his sleep,In the lowlands of Buleighan.8.He had not weel gone out o’ sicht,Nor was he past Millstrethen,Till four-and-twenty belted knights,Came riding owre the Lethan.9.‘O have ye seen Sir James the Rose,The young heir of Buleighan?For he has killed a gallant squire,And we’re sent out to take him.’10.‘O I have seen Sir James,’ she says,‘For he passed here on Monday;If the steed be swift that he rides on,He’s past the gates o’ London.’11.As they rode on man after man,Then she cried out behind them,‘If you do seek Sir James the Rose,I’ll tell you where you’ll find him.’12.‘Seek ye the bank abune the mill,In the lowlands of Buleighan;And there you’ll find Sir James the Rose,Lying sleeping in his brechan.13.‘You must not wake him out of sleep,Nor yet must you affright him,Till you drive a dart quite through his heart,And through his body pierce him.’14.They sought the bank abune the mill,In the lowlands of Buleighan,And there they found Sir James the Rose,Lying sleeping in his brechan.15.Up then spake Sir John the GraemeWho had the charge a-keeping,‘It shall ne’er be said, dear gentlemen,We killed a man when a-sleeping.’16.They seized his broad sword and his targe,And closely him surrounded;And when he waked out of his sleep,His senses were confounded.17.‘O pardon, pardon, gentlemen,Have mercy now upon me.’‘Such as you gave, such you shall have,And so we fall upon thee.’18.‘Donald, my man, wait me upon,And I’ll gie you my brechan;And if you stay here till I die,You’ll get my trews of tartan.19.‘There is fifty pounds in my pocket,Besides my trews and brechan,Ye’ll get my watch and diamond ring,And take me to Loch-Largan.’20.Now they’ve ta’en out his bleeding heart,And stuck it on a spear,Then took it to the House of Marr,And gave it to his dear.21.But when she saw his bleeding heart,She was like one distracted,She wrung her hands and tore her hair,Crying, ‘Oh! what have I acted.22.‘It’s for your sake, Sir James the Rose,That my poor heart’s a-breaking;Cursed be the day I did thee betray,Thou brave knight o’ Buleighan.’23.Then up she rose, and forth she goes,And in that fatal hourShe bodily was borne away,And never was seen more.24.But where she went was never kent;And so, to end the matter,A traitor’s end you may dependCan never be no better.
1.
O heardye of Sir James the Rose,
The young heir of Buleighan?
For he has killed a gallant squire,
And his friends are out to take him.
2.
Now he’s gone to the house of Marr,
Where the Nourice was his leman;
To seek his dear he did repair,
Thinking she would befriend him.
3.
‘Where are you going, Sir James?’ she says,
‘Or where now are you riding?’
‘Oh, I am bound to a foreign land,
For now I’m under hiding.
4.
‘Where shall I go? where shall I run?
Where shall I go to hide me?
For I have killed a gallant squire,
And they’re seeking to slay me.’
5.
‘O go ye down to yon ale-house,
And I’ll there pay your lawin’;
And if I be a maiden true,
I’ll meet you in the dawin‘.’
6.
’I’ll no go down to yon ale-house,
For you to pay my lawin’;
There’s forty shillings for one supper,
I’ll stay in’t till the dawin‘.’
7.
7.2‘brechan,’ plaid.
He’s turned him richt and round about,
And rowed him in his brechan;
And he has gone to take his sleep,
In the lowlands of Buleighan.
8.
He had not weel gone out o’ sicht,
Nor was he past Millstrethen,
Till four-and-twenty belted knights,
Came riding owre the Lethan.
9.
‘O have ye seen Sir James the Rose,
The young heir of Buleighan?
For he has killed a gallant squire,
And we’re sent out to take him.’
10.
‘O I have seen Sir James,’ she says,
‘For he passed here on Monday;
If the steed be swift that he rides on,
He’s past the gates o’ London.’
11.
As they rode on man after man,
Then she cried out behind them,
‘If you do seek Sir James the Rose,
I’ll tell you where you’ll find him.’
12.
‘Seek ye the bank abune the mill,
In the lowlands of Buleighan;
And there you’ll find Sir James the Rose,
Lying sleeping in his brechan.
13.
‘You must not wake him out of sleep,
Nor yet must you affright him,
Till you drive a dart quite through his heart,
And through his body pierce him.’
14.
They sought the bank abune the mill,
In the lowlands of Buleighan,
And there they found Sir James the Rose,
Lying sleeping in his brechan.
15.
Up then spake Sir John the Graeme
Who had the charge a-keeping,
‘It shall ne’er be said, dear gentlemen,
We killed a man when a-sleeping.’
16.
They seized his broad sword and his targe,
And closely him surrounded;
And when he waked out of his sleep,
His senses were confounded.
17.
‘O pardon, pardon, gentlemen,
Have mercy now upon me.’
‘Such as you gave, such you shall have,
And so we fall upon thee.’
18.
‘Donald, my man, wait me upon,
And I’ll gie you my brechan;
And if you stay here till I die,
You’ll get my trews of tartan.
19.
‘There is fifty pounds in my pocket,
Besides my trews and brechan,
Ye’ll get my watch and diamond ring,
And take me to Loch-Largan.’
20.
Now they’ve ta’en out his bleeding heart,
And stuck it on a spear,
Then took it to the House of Marr,
And gave it to his dear.
21.
But when she saw his bleeding heart,
She was like one distracted,
She wrung her hands and tore her hair,
Crying, ‘Oh! what have I acted.
22.
‘It’s for your sake, Sir James the Rose,
That my poor heart’s a-breaking;
Cursed be the day I did thee betray,
Thou brave knight o’ Buleighan.’
23.
Then up she rose, and forth she goes,
And in that fatal hour
She bodily was borne away,
And never was seen more.
24.
But where she went was never kent;
And so, to end the matter,
A traitor’s end you may depend
Can never be no better.
The Textis from the SkeneMS., but I have omitted the three final lines, which do not make a complete stanza, and, when compared with Scott’s ‘Old Lady’s’ version, are obviously corrupt. The last verse should signify that the mothers of Willie and Meggie went up and down the bank saying, ‘Clyde’s water has done us wrong!’
The ballad is better known asWillie and May Margaret.
The Story.—Willie refuses his mother’s request to stay at home, as he wishes to visit his true-love. The mother puts her malison, or curse, upon him, but he rides off. Clyde is roaring, but Willie says, ‘Drown me as I come back, but spare me as I go,’ which is Martial’s
‘Parcite dum propero, mergite cum redeo,’
‘Parcite dum propero, mergite cum redeo,’
and occurs in other English broadsides. Meggie will not admit Willie, and he rides away. Meggie awakes, and learns that she has dismissed her true-love in her sleep. Our ballad is deficient here, but it is obvious from st. 19 that both lovers are drowned. We must understand, therefore, that Meggie follows Willie across Clyde. A variant of the ballad explains that she found him ‘in the deepest pot’ in all Clyde’s water, and drowned herself.
Child notes that there is a very popular Italianballad of much the same story, except that the mother’s curse is on the girl and not the man.
There is a curious change in the style of spelling from stanza 15 to the end.
1.‘Yegie corn unto my horse,An’ meat unto my man,For I will gae to my true-love’s gatesThis night, gin that I can.’2.‘O stay at hame this ae night, Willie,This ae bare night wi’ me;The best bed in a’ my houseSall be well made to thee.’3.‘I carena for your beds, mither,I carena ae pin,For I’ll gae to my love’s gatesThis night, gin I can win.’4.‘O stay, my son Willie, this night,This ae night wi’ me;The best hen in a’ my roostSall be well made ready for thee.’5.‘I carena for your hens, mither,I carena ae pin;I sall gae to my love’s gatesThis night, gin I can win.’6.6.4‘malisen,’ curse.‘Gin ye winna stay, my son Willie,This ae bare night wi’ me,Gin Clyde’s water be deep and fu’ o’ flood,My malisen drown ye!’7.7.4‘fleyt,’ frightened.He rode up yon high hill,An’ down yon dowie glen;The roaring o’ Clyde’s waterWad hae fleyt ten thousand men.8.‘O spare me, Clyde’s water,O spare me as I gae!Mak me your wrack as I come back,But spare me as I gae!’9.He rade in, and farther in,Till he came to the chin;And he rade in, and farther in,Till he came to dry lan’.10.And whan he came to his love’s gates,He tirled at the pin.‘Open your gates, Meggie,Open your gates to me,For my beets are fu’ o’ Clyde’s water,And the rain rains oure my chin.’11.‘I hae nae lovers therout,’ she says,‘I hae nae love within;My true-love is in my arms twa,An’ nane will I lat in.’12.‘Open your gates, Meggie, this ae night,Open your gates to me;For Clyde’s water is fu’ o’ flood,An’ my mither’s malison’ll drown me.’13.‘Ane o’ my chamers is fu’ o’ corn,’ she says,‘An’ ane is fu’ o’ hay;Anither is fu’ o’ gentlemen,An’ they winna move till day.’14.14.4‘read,’ interpret.14.6‘standing,’staringin manuscript.Out waked her May Meggie,Out o’ her drousy dream:‘I dreamed a dream sin the yestreen,(God read a’ dreams to guid!)That my true-love WillieWas standing at my bed-feet.’15.‘Now lay ye still, my ae dochter,An’ keep my back fra thecall’,For it’s na the space of hafe an hourSen he gad fra yerhall’.’16.‘An’ hey, Willie, an’ hoa, Willie,Winne ye turn agen?’But ay the louder that she crayedHe rod agenst the wind.17.He rod up yon high hill,An’ doun yon douey den;The roring that was in Clide’s waterWad ha’ flayed ten thousand men.18.He road in, an’ farder in,Till he came to the chine;An’ he road in, an’ farder in,Bat never mare was seen......19.19.4‘sneed,’ snood, fillet.Ther was na mare seen of that guid lordBat his hat frae his head;There was na mare seen of that ladyBat her comb an’ her sneed......
1.
‘Yegie corn unto my horse,
An’ meat unto my man,
For I will gae to my true-love’s gates
This night, gin that I can.’
2.
‘O stay at hame this ae night, Willie,
This ae bare night wi’ me;
The best bed in a’ my house
Sall be well made to thee.’
3.
‘I carena for your beds, mither,
I carena ae pin,
For I’ll gae to my love’s gates
This night, gin I can win.’
4.
‘O stay, my son Willie, this night,
This ae night wi’ me;
The best hen in a’ my roost
Sall be well made ready for thee.’
5.
‘I carena for your hens, mither,
I carena ae pin;
I sall gae to my love’s gates
This night, gin I can win.’
6.
6.4‘malisen,’ curse.
‘Gin ye winna stay, my son Willie,
This ae bare night wi’ me,
Gin Clyde’s water be deep and fu’ o’ flood,
My malisen drown ye!’
7.
7.4‘fleyt,’ frightened.
He rode up yon high hill,
An’ down yon dowie glen;
The roaring o’ Clyde’s water
Wad hae fleyt ten thousand men.
8.
‘O spare me, Clyde’s water,
O spare me as I gae!
Mak me your wrack as I come back,
But spare me as I gae!’
9.
He rade in, and farther in,
Till he came to the chin;
And he rade in, and farther in,
Till he came to dry lan’.
10.
And whan he came to his love’s gates,
He tirled at the pin.
‘Open your gates, Meggie,
Open your gates to me,
For my beets are fu’ o’ Clyde’s water,
And the rain rains oure my chin.’
11.
‘I hae nae lovers therout,’ she says,
‘I hae nae love within;
My true-love is in my arms twa,
An’ nane will I lat in.’
12.
‘Open your gates, Meggie, this ae night,
Open your gates to me;
For Clyde’s water is fu’ o’ flood,
An’ my mither’s malison’ll drown me.’
13.
‘Ane o’ my chamers is fu’ o’ corn,’ she says,
‘An’ ane is fu’ o’ hay;
Anither is fu’ o’ gentlemen,
An’ they winna move till day.’
14.
14.4‘read,’ interpret.
14.6‘standing,’staringin manuscript.
Out waked her May Meggie,
Out o’ her drousy dream:
‘I dreamed a dream sin the yestreen,
(God read a’ dreams to guid!)
That my true-love Willie
Was standing at my bed-feet.’
15.
‘Now lay ye still, my ae dochter,
An’ keep my back fra thecall’,
For it’s na the space of hafe an hour
Sen he gad fra yerhall’.’
16.
‘An’ hey, Willie, an’ hoa, Willie,
Winne ye turn agen?’
But ay the louder that she crayed
He rod agenst the wind.
17.
He rod up yon high hill,
An’ doun yon douey den;
The roring that was in Clide’s water
Wad ha’ flayed ten thousand men.
18.
He road in, an’ farder in,
Till he came to the chine;
An’ he road in, an’ farder in,
Bat never mare was seen.
.....
19.
19.4‘sneed,’ snood, fillet.
Ther was na mare seen of that guid lord
Bat his hat frae his head;
There was na mare seen of that lady
Bat her comb an’ her sneed.
.....
The Textis from Herd’sMSS., two copies showing a difference of one word and a few spellings. Stt. 3 and 5 are interchanged for the sake of the sense.
Many copies of this ballad exist (Child prints a dozen), but this one is both the shortest and simplest.
The Story.—InThe Cruel Brother(First Series, p. 76) it was shown that a lover must ‘speak to the brother’ of his lady. Here the lesson, it seems, is that he must ‘tell the lass herself’ before her wedding-day. Katharine, however, not only proves her faith to her first lover (her ‘grass-green’ dress, 10.2, shows an ill-omened marriage), but prefers the Scot to the Southron. This lesson the ballad drives home in the last two verses.
Presumably Scott foundedYoung Lochinvaron the story of this ballad, as in six versions the Scots laird bears that name.
1.Thereliv’d a lass in yonder dale,And doun in yonder glen, O,And Kath’rine Jaffray was her name,Well known by many men, O.2.Out came the Laird of Lauderdale,Out frae the South Countrie,All for to court this pretty maid,Her bridegroom for to be.3.He has teld her father and mither baith,And a’ the rest o’ her kin,And has teld the lass hersell,And her consent has win.4.Then came the Laird of Lochinton,Out frae the English border,All for to court this pretty maid,Well mounted in good order.5.He’s teld her father and mither baith,As I hear sindry say,But he has nae teld the lass hersell,Till on her wedding day.6.When day was set, and friends were met,And married to be,Lord Lauderdale came to the place,The bridal for to see.7.‘O are you come for sport, young man?Or are you come for play?Or are you come for a sight o’ our bride,Just on her wedding day?’8.‘I’m nouther come for sport,’ he says,‘Nor am I come for play;But if I had one sight o’ your bride,I’ll mount and ride away.’9.There was a glass of the red wineFill’d up them atween,And ay she drank to Lauderdale,Wha her true-love had been.10.Then he took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And he mounted her high behind him there,At the bridegroom he askt nae leive.11.Then the blude run down by Cowden Banks,And down by Cowden Braes,And ay she gard the trumpet sound,‘O this is foul, foul play!’12.Now a’ ye that in England are,Or are in England born,Come nere to Scotland to court a lass,Or else ye’l get the scorn.13.13.1‘haik ye up,’ kidnap (Jamieson), but ? delude, or keep in suspense.They haik ye up and settle ye by,Till on your wedding day,And gie ye frogs instead o’ fish,And play ye foul, foul play.
1.
Thereliv’d a lass in yonder dale,
And doun in yonder glen, O,
And Kath’rine Jaffray was her name,
Well known by many men, O.
2.
Out came the Laird of Lauderdale,
Out frae the South Countrie,
All for to court this pretty maid,
Her bridegroom for to be.
3.
He has teld her father and mither baith,
And a’ the rest o’ her kin,
And has teld the lass hersell,
And her consent has win.
4.
Then came the Laird of Lochinton,
Out frae the English border,
All for to court this pretty maid,
Well mounted in good order.
5.
He’s teld her father and mither baith,
As I hear sindry say,
But he has nae teld the lass hersell,
Till on her wedding day.
6.
When day was set, and friends were met,
And married to be,
Lord Lauderdale came to the place,
The bridal for to see.
7.
‘O are you come for sport, young man?
Or are you come for play?
Or are you come for a sight o’ our bride,
Just on her wedding day?’
8.
‘I’m nouther come for sport,’ he says,
‘Nor am I come for play;
But if I had one sight o’ your bride,
I’ll mount and ride away.’
9.
There was a glass of the red wine
Fill’d up them atween,
And ay she drank to Lauderdale,
Wha her true-love had been.
10.
Then he took her by the milk-white hand,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
And he mounted her high behind him there,
At the bridegroom he askt nae leive.
11.
Then the blude run down by Cowden Banks,
And down by Cowden Braes,
And ay she gard the trumpet sound,
‘O this is foul, foul play!’
12.
Now a’ ye that in England are,
Or are in England born,
Come nere to Scotland to court a lass,
Or else ye’l get the scorn.
13.
13.1‘haik ye up,’ kidnap (Jamieson), but ? delude, or keep in suspense.
They haik ye up and settle ye by,
Till on your wedding day,
And gie ye frogs instead o’ fish,
And play ye foul, foul play.
The Textis from Kinloch’sMSS.He obtained it from Mearnsshire, and remarks that according to the tradition of that district the heroine was said to have been a daughter of Lindsay of Edzell, though he had searched in vain for genealogical confirmation of the tradition.
The Story.—‘Ballads of this description,’ says Professor Child, ‘are peculiarly liable to interpolation and debasement.’ In this version the most offending stanza is the tenth; and the extra two lines in stt. 22 and 24 also appear to be unnecessary. The anapaestic metre of this version should be noted.
The ballad was and is a great favourite with singers, and the tune may be found in several of the collections of Scottish songs.
1.It’s of a young lord o’ the Hielands,A bonnie braw castle had he,And he says to his lady mither,‘My boon ye will grant to me:Sall I gae to Edinbruch city,And fesh hame a lady wi’ me?’2.‘Ye may gae to Edinbruch city,And fesh hame a lady wi’ thee,But see that ye bring her but flatt’rie,And court her in grit povertie.’3.‘My coat, mither, sall be o’ the plaiden,A tartan kilt oure my knee,Wi’ hosens and brogues and the bonnet;I’ll court her wi’ nae flatt’rie.’4.Whan he cam to Edinbruch city,He play’d at the ring and the ba’,And saw monie a bonnie young ladie,But Lizie Lindsay was first o’ them a’.5.Syne, dress’d in his Hieland grey plaiden,His bonnet abune his e’e-bree,He called on fair Lizie Lindsay;Says, ‘Lizie, will ye fancy me?6.‘And gae to the Hielands, my lassie,And gae, gae wi’ me?O gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay,I’ll feed ye on curds and green whey.7.‘And ye’se get a bed o’ green bracken;My plaidie will hap thee and me;Ye’se lie in my arms, bonnie Lizie,If ye’ll gae to the Hielands wi’ me.’8.‘O how can I gae to the HielandsOr how can I gae wi’ thee,Whan I dinna ken whare I’m gaing,Nor wha I hae to gae wi‘?’9.9.2‘dey,’ dairy-woman.‘My father, he is an auld shepherd,My mither, she is an auld dey;My name it is Donald Macdonald,My name I’ll never deny.’10.‘O Donald, I’ll gie ye five guineasTo sit ae hour in my room,Till I tak aff your ruddy picture;Whan I hae’t, I’ll never think lang.’11.‘I dinna care for your five guineas;It’s ye that’s the jewel to me;I’ve plenty o’ kye in the Hielands,To feed ye wi’ curds and green whey.12.‘And ye’se get a bonnie blue plaidie,Wi’ red and green strips thro’ it a’;And I’ll be the lord o’ your dwalling,And that’s the best picture ava’.13.‘And I am laird o’ a’ my possessions;The king canna boast o’ na mair;And ye’se hae my true heart in keeping,There’ll be na ither e’en hae a share.14.‘Sae gae to the Hielands, my lassie,O gae awa’ happy wi’ me;O gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay.And hird the wee lammies wi’ me.’15.‘O how can I gae wi’ a stranger,Oure hills and oure glens frae my hame?’‘I tell ye I am Donald Macdonald;I’ll ever be proud o’ my name.’16.Doun cam Lizie Lindsay’s ain father,A knicht o’ a noble degree;Says, ‘If ye do steal my dear daughter,It’s hangit ye quickly sall be.’17.On his heel he turn’d round wi’ a bouncie,And a licht lauch he did gie;‘There’s nae law in Edinbruch cityThis day that can dare to hang me.’18.Then up bespak Lizie’s best woman,And a bonnie young lass was she;‘Had I but a mark in my pouchie,It’s Donald that I wad gae wi‘.’19.19.3‘bare-hough’d,’ with bare thighs.‘O Helen, wad ye leave your coffer,And a’ your silk kirtles sae braw,And gang wi’ a bare-hough’d puir laddie,And leave father, mither, and a’?20.20.1‘warlock,’ wizard.‘But I think he’s a witch or a warlock,Or something o’ that fell degree,For I’ll gae awa’ wi’ young Donald,Whatever my fortune may be.’21.Then Lizie laid doun her silk mantle,And put on her waiting-maid’s goun,And aff and awa’ to the HielandsShe’s gane wi’ this young shepherd loun.22.Thro’ glens and oure mountains they wander’d,Till Lizie had scantlie a shoe;‘Alas and ohone!’ says fair Lizie,‘Sad was the first day I saw you!I wish I war in Edinbruch city;Fu’ sair, sair this pastime I rue.’23.23.2‘shieling,’ hut.‘O haud your tongue now, bonnie Lizie,For yonder’s the shieling, my hame,And there’s my guid auld honest mither,That’s coming to meet ye her lane.’24.‘O ye’re welcome, ye’re welcome, Sir Donald,Ye’re welcome hame to your ain.’‘O ca’ me na young Sir Donald,But ca’ me Donald my son.’And this they hae spoken in Erse,That Lizie micht not understand.25.25.1‘daggie,’ drizzling.The day being weetie and daggie,They lay till ’twas lang o’ the day.‘Win up, win up, bonnie Lizie,And help at the milking the kye.’26.O slowly raise up Lizie Lindsay,The saut tear blindit her e’e.‘O war I in Edinbruch city,The Hielands shoud never see me!’27.He led her up to a hie mountain,And bade her look out far and wide.‘I’m lord o’ thae isles and thae mountains,And ye’re now my beautiful bride.28.‘Sae rue na ye’ve come to the Hielands,Sae rue na ye’ve come aff wi’ me,For ye’re great Macdonald’s braw lady,And will be to the day that ye dee.’
1.
It’s of a young lord o’ the Hielands,
A bonnie braw castle had he,
And he says to his lady mither,
‘My boon ye will grant to me:
Sall I gae to Edinbruch city,
And fesh hame a lady wi’ me?’
2.
‘Ye may gae to Edinbruch city,
And fesh hame a lady wi’ thee,
But see that ye bring her but flatt’rie,
And court her in grit povertie.’
3.
‘My coat, mither, sall be o’ the plaiden,
A tartan kilt oure my knee,
Wi’ hosens and brogues and the bonnet;
I’ll court her wi’ nae flatt’rie.’
4.
Whan he cam to Edinbruch city,
He play’d at the ring and the ba’,
And saw monie a bonnie young ladie,
But Lizie Lindsay was first o’ them a’.
5.
Syne, dress’d in his Hieland grey plaiden,
His bonnet abune his e’e-bree,
He called on fair Lizie Lindsay;
Says, ‘Lizie, will ye fancy me?
6.
‘And gae to the Hielands, my lassie,
And gae, gae wi’ me?
O gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay,
I’ll feed ye on curds and green whey.
7.
‘And ye’se get a bed o’ green bracken;
My plaidie will hap thee and me;
Ye’se lie in my arms, bonnie Lizie,
If ye’ll gae to the Hielands wi’ me.’
8.
‘O how can I gae to the Hielands
Or how can I gae wi’ thee,
Whan I dinna ken whare I’m gaing,
Nor wha I hae to gae wi‘?’
9.
9.2‘dey,’ dairy-woman.
‘My father, he is an auld shepherd,
My mither, she is an auld dey;
My name it is Donald Macdonald,
My name I’ll never deny.’
10.
‘O Donald, I’ll gie ye five guineas
To sit ae hour in my room,
Till I tak aff your ruddy picture;
Whan I hae’t, I’ll never think lang.’
11.
‘I dinna care for your five guineas;
It’s ye that’s the jewel to me;
I’ve plenty o’ kye in the Hielands,
To feed ye wi’ curds and green whey.
12.
‘And ye’se get a bonnie blue plaidie,
Wi’ red and green strips thro’ it a’;
And I’ll be the lord o’ your dwalling,
And that’s the best picture ava’.
13.
‘And I am laird o’ a’ my possessions;
The king canna boast o’ na mair;
And ye’se hae my true heart in keeping,
There’ll be na ither e’en hae a share.
14.
‘Sae gae to the Hielands, my lassie,
O gae awa’ happy wi’ me;
O gae to the Hielands, Lizie Lindsay.
And hird the wee lammies wi’ me.’
15.
‘O how can I gae wi’ a stranger,
Oure hills and oure glens frae my hame?’
‘I tell ye I am Donald Macdonald;
I’ll ever be proud o’ my name.’
16.
Doun cam Lizie Lindsay’s ain father,
A knicht o’ a noble degree;
Says, ‘If ye do steal my dear daughter,
It’s hangit ye quickly sall be.’
17.
On his heel he turn’d round wi’ a bouncie,
And a licht lauch he did gie;
‘There’s nae law in Edinbruch city
This day that can dare to hang me.’
18.
Then up bespak Lizie’s best woman,
And a bonnie young lass was she;
‘Had I but a mark in my pouchie,
It’s Donald that I wad gae wi‘.’
19.
19.3‘bare-hough’d,’ with bare thighs.
‘O Helen, wad ye leave your coffer,
And a’ your silk kirtles sae braw,
And gang wi’ a bare-hough’d puir laddie,
And leave father, mither, and a’?
20.
20.1‘warlock,’ wizard.
‘But I think he’s a witch or a warlock,
Or something o’ that fell degree,
For I’ll gae awa’ wi’ young Donald,
Whatever my fortune may be.’
21.
Then Lizie laid doun her silk mantle,
And put on her waiting-maid’s goun,
And aff and awa’ to the Hielands
She’s gane wi’ this young shepherd loun.
22.
Thro’ glens and oure mountains they wander’d,
Till Lizie had scantlie a shoe;
‘Alas and ohone!’ says fair Lizie,
‘Sad was the first day I saw you!
I wish I war in Edinbruch city;
Fu’ sair, sair this pastime I rue.’
23.
23.2‘shieling,’ hut.
‘O haud your tongue now, bonnie Lizie,
For yonder’s the shieling, my hame,
And there’s my guid auld honest mither,
That’s coming to meet ye her lane.’
24.
‘O ye’re welcome, ye’re welcome, Sir Donald,
Ye’re welcome hame to your ain.’
‘O ca’ me na young Sir Donald,
But ca’ me Donald my son.’
And this they hae spoken in Erse,
That Lizie micht not understand.
25.
25.1‘daggie,’ drizzling.
The day being weetie and daggie,
They lay till ’twas lang o’ the day.
‘Win up, win up, bonnie Lizie,
And help at the milking the kye.’
26.
O slowly raise up Lizie Lindsay,
The saut tear blindit her e’e.
‘O war I in Edinbruch city,
The Hielands shoud never see me!’
27.
He led her up to a hie mountain,
And bade her look out far and wide.
‘I’m lord o’ thae isles and thae mountains,
And ye’re now my beautiful bride.
28.
‘Sae rue na ye’ve come to the Hielands,
Sae rue na ye’ve come aff wi’ me,
For ye’re great Macdonald’s braw lady,
And will be to the day that ye dee.’
The Textof this pretty little song is taken from Kinloch’sMSS., where it is in James Beattie’s handwriting. InFive Excellent New Songs, printed at Edinburgh in 1766, there is an older but much corrupted version of this song, confused with two other songs, a ’Thyme’ song and the favourite ‘I sowed the seeds of love.’ It is printed as two songs,The New Lover’s GarlandandThe Young Maid’s Answer, both with the following refrain:—
‘Brave sailing here, my dear,And better sailing there,And brave sailing in my love’s arms,O if I were there!’
‘Brave sailing here, my dear,
And better sailing there,
And brave sailing in my love’s arms,
O if I were there!’
The Storyis so slight that the song can scarcely be counted as a narrative. But it is one of the lyrical dialogues covered by the word ‘ballad,’ and was not ruled out by Professor Child. There seems to be a loss of half a verse in 7, which should doubtless be two stanzas.