"The corn is turning ripe, Lord John,The nuts are growing fu',And ye are bound for your ain countrie;Fain wad I go wi' you.""Wi me, Marg'ret, wi me, Marg'ret,5What wad ye do wi' me?I've mair need o' a pretty little boy,To wait upon my steed.""It's I will be your pretty little boy,To wait upon your steed;10And ilka town that we come to,A pack of hounds I'll lead.""My hounds will eat o' the bread o' wheat,And ye of the bread of bran:And then you will sit and sigh,15That e'er ye loed a man."The first water that they cam to,I think they call it Clyde,He saftly unto her did say,—"Lady Marg'ret, will ye ride?"20The first step that she steppit in,She steppit to the knee;Says, "Wae be to ye, waefu' water,For through ye I maun be."The second step that she steppit in,25She steppit to the middle,And sigh'd, and said, Lady Margaret,"I've stain'd my gowden girdle."The third step that she steppit in,She steppit to the neck;30The pretty babe within her sides,The cauld it garr'd it squake."Lie still my babe, lie still my babe,Lie still as lang's ye may,For your father rides on horseback high,35Cares little for us twae."It's whan she cam to the other side,She sat doun on a stane;Says, "Them that made me, help me now,For I am far frae hame.40"How far is it frae your mither's bouer,Gude Lord John tell to me?""It's therty miles, Lady Margaret,It's therty miles and three:And ye'se be wed to ane o' her serving men,45For ye'se get na mair o' me."Then up bespak the wylie parrot,As it sat on the tree;—"Ye lee, ye lee, Lord John," it said,"Sae loud as I hear ye lee.50"Ye say it's thirty miles frae your mither's bouer,Whan it's but barely three;And she'll ne'er be wed to a serving man,For she'll be your ain ladie."* * * * * *Monie a lord and fair ladie55Met Lord John in the closs,But the bonniest face amang them a',Was hauding Lord John's horse.Monie a lord and gay ladieSat dining in the ha',60But the bonniest face that was there,Was waiting on them a'.O up bespak Lord John's sister,A sweet young maid was she:"My brither has brought a bonnie young page,65His like I ne'er did see;But the red flits fast frae his cheek,And the tear stands in his ee."But up bespak Lord John's mither,She spak wi' meikle scorn:70"He's liker a woman gret wi' bairn,Than onie waiting-man.""It's ye'll rise up, my bonnie boy,And gie my steed the hay:"—"O that I will, my dear master,75As fast as I can gae."She took the hay aneath her arm,The corn intil her hand;But atween the stable door and the staw,Lady Marg'ret made a stand.80* * * * * *"O open the door, Lady Margaret,O open and let me in;I want to see if my steed be fed,Or my grey hounds fit to rin.""I'll na open the door, Lord John," she said,85"I'll na open it to thee,Till ye grant to me my ae request,And a puir ane it's to me."Ye'll gie to me a bed in an outhouse,For my young son and me,90And the meanest servant in a' the place,To wait on him and me.""I grant, I grant, Lady Marg'ret," he said,"A' that, and mair frae me,The very best bed in a' the placeTo your young son and thee:95And my mither, and my sister dear,To wait on him and thee."And a' thae lands, and a' thae rents,They sall be his and thine;100Our wedding and our kirking day,They sall be all in ane."And he has tane Lady Margaret,And row'd her in the silk;And he has tane his ain young son,105And wash'd him in the milk.
"The corn is turning ripe, Lord John,The nuts are growing fu',And ye are bound for your ain countrie;Fain wad I go wi' you."
"Wi me, Marg'ret, wi me, Marg'ret,5What wad ye do wi' me?I've mair need o' a pretty little boy,To wait upon my steed."
"It's I will be your pretty little boy,To wait upon your steed;10And ilka town that we come to,A pack of hounds I'll lead."
"My hounds will eat o' the bread o' wheat,And ye of the bread of bran:And then you will sit and sigh,15That e'er ye loed a man."
The first water that they cam to,I think they call it Clyde,He saftly unto her did say,—"Lady Marg'ret, will ye ride?"20
The first step that she steppit in,She steppit to the knee;Says, "Wae be to ye, waefu' water,For through ye I maun be."
The second step that she steppit in,25She steppit to the middle,And sigh'd, and said, Lady Margaret,"I've stain'd my gowden girdle."
The third step that she steppit in,She steppit to the neck;30The pretty babe within her sides,The cauld it garr'd it squake.
"Lie still my babe, lie still my babe,Lie still as lang's ye may,For your father rides on horseback high,35Cares little for us twae."
It's whan she cam to the other side,She sat doun on a stane;Says, "Them that made me, help me now,For I am far frae hame.40
"How far is it frae your mither's bouer,Gude Lord John tell to me?""It's therty miles, Lady Margaret,It's therty miles and three:And ye'se be wed to ane o' her serving men,45For ye'se get na mair o' me."
Then up bespak the wylie parrot,As it sat on the tree;—"Ye lee, ye lee, Lord John," it said,"Sae loud as I hear ye lee.50
"Ye say it's thirty miles frae your mither's bouer,Whan it's but barely three;And she'll ne'er be wed to a serving man,For she'll be your ain ladie."
* * * * * *Monie a lord and fair ladie55Met Lord John in the closs,But the bonniest face amang them a',Was hauding Lord John's horse.
Monie a lord and gay ladieSat dining in the ha',60But the bonniest face that was there,Was waiting on them a'.
O up bespak Lord John's sister,A sweet young maid was she:"My brither has brought a bonnie young page,65His like I ne'er did see;But the red flits fast frae his cheek,And the tear stands in his ee."
But up bespak Lord John's mither,She spak wi' meikle scorn:70"He's liker a woman gret wi' bairn,Than onie waiting-man."
"It's ye'll rise up, my bonnie boy,And gie my steed the hay:"—"O that I will, my dear master,75As fast as I can gae."
She took the hay aneath her arm,The corn intil her hand;But atween the stable door and the staw,Lady Marg'ret made a stand.80
* * * * * *"O open the door, Lady Margaret,O open and let me in;I want to see if my steed be fed,Or my grey hounds fit to rin."
"I'll na open the door, Lord John," she said,85"I'll na open it to thee,Till ye grant to me my ae request,And a puir ane it's to me.
"Ye'll gie to me a bed in an outhouse,For my young son and me,90And the meanest servant in a' the place,To wait on him and me."
"I grant, I grant, Lady Marg'ret," he said,"A' that, and mair frae me,The very best bed in a' the placeTo your young son and thee:95And my mither, and my sister dear,To wait on him and thee.
"And a' thae lands, and a' thae rents,They sall be his and thine;100Our wedding and our kirking day,They sall be all in ane."
And he has tane Lady Margaret,And row'd her in the silk;And he has tane his ain young son,105And wash'd him in the milk.
From Kinloch'sAncient Scottish Ballads, p. 15.
There was a shepherd's dochterKept sheep on yonder hill;Bye cam a knicht frae the king's court,And he wad hae his will.Whan he had got his wills o' her,5His will as he has tane;"Wad ye be sae gude and kind,As tell to me your name?""Some ca's me Jock, some ca's me John,Some disna ken my name;10But whan I'm in the king's court,Mitchcock is my name.""Mitchcock! hey!" the lady did say,And spelt it oure again;"If that's your name in the Latin tongue,15Earl Richard is your name!"O jumpt he upon his horse,And said he wad gae ride;Kilted she her green claithing,And said she wad na bide.20And he was never sae discreet,As bid her loup on and ride;And she was ne'er sae meanly bred,As for to bid him bide.And whan they cam to yon water,25It was running like a flude;"I've learnt it in my mither's bouer,I've learnt it for my gude,That I can soum this wan water,Like a fish in a flude.30"I've learnt it in my father's bouer,Ive learnt it for my better,And I will soum this wan water,As tho' I was ane otter.""Jump on behind, ye weill-faur'd may,35Or do ye chuse to ride?""No, thank ye, sir," the lady said,"I wad rather chuse to wyde;"And afore that he was 'mid-water,She was at the ither side.40"Turn back, turn back, ye weill-faur'd may,My heart will brak in three;""And sae did mine, on yon bonnie hill-side,Whan ye wad na let me be.""Whare gat ye that gay claithing,45This day I see on thee?""My mither was a gude milk-nurse,And a gude nourice was she,She nurs'd the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter,And gat a' this to me."50Whan she cam to the king's court,She rappit wi' a ring;Sae ready was the king himsel'To lat the lady in."Gude day, gude day, my liege the king,55Gude day, gude day, to thee;""Gude day," quo' he, "my lady fair,What is't ye want wi' me?""There is a knicht into your court,This day has robbed me;"60"O has he tane your gowd," he says,"Or has he tane your fee?""He has na tane my gowd," she says,"Nor yet has he my fee;But he has tane my maiden-head,65The flow'r o' my bodie.""O gin he be a single man,His body I'll gie thee;But gin he be a married man,I'll hang him on a tree."70Then out bespak the queen hersel',Wha sat by the king's knee:"There's na a knicht in a' our courtWad hae dune that to thee,Unless it war my brither, Earl Richard,75And forbid it, it war he!""Wad ye ken your fause love,Amang a hundred men?""I wad," said the bonnie ladie,"Amang five hundred and ten."80The king made a' his merry men pass,By ane, by twa, and three;Earl Richard us'd to be the first man,But was hindmost man that day.He cam hauping on ae foot,85And winking wi' ae ee;"Ha! ha!" cried the bonnie ladie,"That same young man are ye."He has pou'd out a hundred pounds,Weel lockit in a glove;90"Gin ye be a courteous may,Ye'll chose anither love.""What care I for your hundred pounds?Nae mair than ye wad for mine;What's a hundred pounds to me,95To a marriage wi' a king!"I'll hae nane o' your gowd,Nor either o' your fee;But I will hae your ain bodie,The king has grantit me."100"O was ye gentle gotten, maid?Or was ye gentle born?Or hae ye onie gerss growin'?Or hae ye onie corn?"Or hae ye onie lands or rents105Lying at libertie?Or hae ye onie education,To dance alang wi' me?""I was na gentle gotten, madam,Nor was I gentle born;110Neither hae I gerss growin',Nor hae I onie corn."I hae na onie lands or rents,Lying at libertie;Nor hae I onie education,115To dance along wi' thee."Whan the marriage it was oure,And ilk ane took their horse,—"It never sat a beggar's brat,At na knicht's back to be."120He lap on ae milk-white steed,And she lap on anither,And syne the twa rade out the wayLike sister and like brither.The ladie met wi' a beggar-wife,125And gied her half o' crown—"Tell a' your neebours whan ye gae hame,That Earl Richard's your gude-son.""O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat,My heart will brak in three;"130"And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side,Whan ye wad na lat me be."Whan she cam to yon nettle-dyke—"An my auld mither was here,Sae weill as she wad ye pou;135She wad boil ye weill, and butter ye weill,And sup till she war fou,Syne laye her head upo' her dish doup,And sleep like onie sow."And whan she cam to Tyne's water,140She wylilie did say—"Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water,With thee I bid gude-day."Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water,To you I bid gude-een;145Whare monie a time I've fill'd my pock,At mid-day and at een.""Hoch! had I drank the well-water,Whan first I drank the wine,Never a mill-capon150Wad hae been a love o' mine."Whan she cam to Earl Richard's house,The sheets war Hollan' fine;"O haud awa thae linen sheets,And bring to me the linsey clouts,155I hae been best used in.""O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat,My heart will brak in three;""And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side,Whan ye wadna lat me be."160"I wish I had drank the well-water,Whan first I drank the beer;That ever a shepherd's dochterShou'd hae been my only dear!""Ye'll turn about, Earl Richard,165And mak some mair o' me:An ye mak me lady o' ae puir plow,I can mak you laird o' three.""If ye be the Earl o' Stockford's dochter,As I've some thouchts ye be,170Aft hae I waited at your father's yett,But your face I ne'er could see."Whan they cam to her father's yett,She tirled on the pin;And an auld belly-blind man was sittin' there,175As they were entering in:—"The meetest marriage," the belly-blind did cry,"Atween the ane and the ither;Atween the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter,And the Queen o' England's brither."180
There was a shepherd's dochterKept sheep on yonder hill;Bye cam a knicht frae the king's court,And he wad hae his will.
Whan he had got his wills o' her,5His will as he has tane;"Wad ye be sae gude and kind,As tell to me your name?"
"Some ca's me Jock, some ca's me John,Some disna ken my name;10But whan I'm in the king's court,Mitchcock is my name."
"Mitchcock! hey!" the lady did say,And spelt it oure again;"If that's your name in the Latin tongue,15Earl Richard is your name!"
O jumpt he upon his horse,And said he wad gae ride;Kilted she her green claithing,And said she wad na bide.20
And he was never sae discreet,As bid her loup on and ride;And she was ne'er sae meanly bred,As for to bid him bide.
And whan they cam to yon water,25It was running like a flude;"I've learnt it in my mither's bouer,I've learnt it for my gude,That I can soum this wan water,Like a fish in a flude.30
"I've learnt it in my father's bouer,Ive learnt it for my better,And I will soum this wan water,As tho' I was ane otter."
"Jump on behind, ye weill-faur'd may,35Or do ye chuse to ride?""No, thank ye, sir," the lady said,"I wad rather chuse to wyde;"And afore that he was 'mid-water,She was at the ither side.40
"Turn back, turn back, ye weill-faur'd may,My heart will brak in three;""And sae did mine, on yon bonnie hill-side,Whan ye wad na let me be."
"Whare gat ye that gay claithing,45This day I see on thee?""My mither was a gude milk-nurse,And a gude nourice was she,She nurs'd the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter,And gat a' this to me."50
Whan she cam to the king's court,She rappit wi' a ring;Sae ready was the king himsel'To lat the lady in.
"Gude day, gude day, my liege the king,55Gude day, gude day, to thee;""Gude day," quo' he, "my lady fair,What is't ye want wi' me?"
"There is a knicht into your court,This day has robbed me;"60"O has he tane your gowd," he says,"Or has he tane your fee?"
"He has na tane my gowd," she says,"Nor yet has he my fee;But he has tane my maiden-head,65The flow'r o' my bodie."
"O gin he be a single man,His body I'll gie thee;But gin he be a married man,I'll hang him on a tree."70
Then out bespak the queen hersel',Wha sat by the king's knee:"There's na a knicht in a' our courtWad hae dune that to thee,Unless it war my brither, Earl Richard,75And forbid it, it war he!"
"Wad ye ken your fause love,Amang a hundred men?""I wad," said the bonnie ladie,"Amang five hundred and ten."80
The king made a' his merry men pass,By ane, by twa, and three;Earl Richard us'd to be the first man,But was hindmost man that day.
He cam hauping on ae foot,85And winking wi' ae ee;"Ha! ha!" cried the bonnie ladie,"That same young man are ye."
He has pou'd out a hundred pounds,Weel lockit in a glove;90"Gin ye be a courteous may,Ye'll chose anither love."
"What care I for your hundred pounds?Nae mair than ye wad for mine;What's a hundred pounds to me,95To a marriage wi' a king!
"I'll hae nane o' your gowd,Nor either o' your fee;But I will hae your ain bodie,The king has grantit me."100
"O was ye gentle gotten, maid?Or was ye gentle born?Or hae ye onie gerss growin'?Or hae ye onie corn?
"Or hae ye onie lands or rents105Lying at libertie?Or hae ye onie education,To dance alang wi' me?"
"I was na gentle gotten, madam,Nor was I gentle born;110Neither hae I gerss growin',Nor hae I onie corn.
"I hae na onie lands or rents,Lying at libertie;Nor hae I onie education,115To dance along wi' thee."
Whan the marriage it was oure,And ilk ane took their horse,—"It never sat a beggar's brat,At na knicht's back to be."120
He lap on ae milk-white steed,And she lap on anither,And syne the twa rade out the wayLike sister and like brither.
The ladie met wi' a beggar-wife,125And gied her half o' crown—"Tell a' your neebours whan ye gae hame,That Earl Richard's your gude-son."
"O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat,My heart will brak in three;"130"And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side,Whan ye wad na lat me be."
Whan she cam to yon nettle-dyke—"An my auld mither was here,Sae weill as she wad ye pou;135She wad boil ye weill, and butter ye weill,And sup till she war fou,Syne laye her head upo' her dish doup,And sleep like onie sow."
And whan she cam to Tyne's water,140She wylilie did say—"Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water,With thee I bid gude-day.
"Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water,To you I bid gude-een;145Whare monie a time I've fill'd my pock,At mid-day and at een."
"Hoch! had I drank the well-water,Whan first I drank the wine,Never a mill-capon150Wad hae been a love o' mine."
Whan she cam to Earl Richard's house,The sheets war Hollan' fine;"O haud awa thae linen sheets,And bring to me the linsey clouts,155I hae been best used in."
"O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat,My heart will brak in three;""And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side,Whan ye wadna lat me be."160
"I wish I had drank the well-water,Whan first I drank the beer;That ever a shepherd's dochterShou'd hae been my only dear!"
"Ye'll turn about, Earl Richard,165And mak some mair o' me:An ye mak me lady o' ae puir plow,I can mak you laird o' three."
"If ye be the Earl o' Stockford's dochter,As I've some thouchts ye be,170Aft hae I waited at your father's yett,But your face I ne'er could see."
Whan they cam to her father's yett,She tirled on the pin;And an auld belly-blind man was sittin' there,175As they were entering in:—
"The meetest marriage," the belly-blind did cry,"Atween the ane and the ither;Atween the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter,And the Queen o' England's brither."180
☞Figures placed after words denote the pages in which they occur.