C.

Glenriddell's MSS, vol. xi, No 17.

1I forbid ye, maidens a',That wear goud on your gear,To come and gae by Carterhaugh,For young Tom Line is there.2There's nane that gaes by CarterhaughBut they leave him a wad.Either their things or green mantles,Or else their maidenhead.3But Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little above her knee,And she has broded her yellow hairA little above her bree,And she has gaen for Carterhaugh,As fast as she can hie.4When she came to CarterhaughTom Line was at the well,And there she fand his steed standing,But away was himsell.5She hadna pu'd a double rose,A rose but only twae,Till up then started young Tom Line,Says, Lady, thou's pu nae mae.6Why pu's thou the rose, Janet?Why breaks thou the wand?Why comest thou to CarterhaughWithouthen my command?7'Fair Carterhaugh it is my ain,My daddy gave it me;I'll come and gae by Carterhaugh,And ask nae leave at thee.'* * * * *8Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she is on to her father's ha,As fast as she can hie.9Four and twenty ladies fairWere playing at the ba,And out then came fair Janet,The flowr amang them a'.10Four and twenty ladies fairWere playing at the chess,Out then came fair Janet,As green as ony glass.11Out spak an auld grey-headed knight,Lay owre the castle wa,And says, Alas, fair Janet,For thee we'll be blam'd a'.12'Had your tongue, you auld grey knight,Some ill dead may ye die!Father my bairn on whom I will,I'll father nane on thee.'13Out then spak her father dear,He spak baith thick and milde;'And ever alas, sweet Janet,' he says,'I think ye gae wi childe.'14'If that I gae wi child, father,Mysell bears a' the blame;There's not a laird about your haShall get the bairnie's name.15'If my lord were an earthly knight,As he's an elfish grey,I wad na gie my ain true-loveFor nae lord that ye hae.'16Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she's away to Carterhaugh,As fast as she can hie.17When she came to Carterhaugh,Tom Line was at the well,And there she faund his steed standing,But away was himsell.18She hadna pu'd a double rose,A rose but only twae,Till up then started young Tom Line,Says, Lady, thou's pu na mae.19Why pu's thou the rose, Janet,Out owr yon groves sae green,And a' to kill your bonny babe,That we gat us between?20'O tell me, tell me, Tom,' she says,'For's sake who died on tree,If eer ye were in holy chapel,Or christendom did see.'21'Roxburgh he was my grandfather,Took me with him to bide,And ance it fell upon a dayThat wae did me betide.22'Ance it fell upon a day,A cauld day and a snell,When we were frae the hunting come,That from my horse I fell.23'The Queen of Fairies she came by,Took me wi her to dwell,Evn where she has a pleasant landFor those that in it dwell,But at the end o seven years,They pay their teind to hell.24'The night it is gude Halloween,The fairie folk do ride,And they that wad their true-love win,At Miles Cross they maun bide.'25'But how shall I thee ken, Thomas,Or how shall I thee knaw,Amang a pack o uncouth knightsThe like I never saw?'26'The first company that passes by,Say na, and let them gae;The next company that passes by,Say na, and do right sae;The third company that passes by,Then I'll be ane o thae.27'Some ride upon a black, lady,And some ride on a brown,But I ride on a milk-white steed,And ay nearest the town:Because I was an earthly knightThey gae me that renown.28'My right hand will be glovd, lady,My left hand will be bare,And thae's the tokens I gie thee,Nae doubt I will be there.29'Then hie thee to the milk-white steed,And pu me quickly down,Cast thy green kirtle owr me,And keep me frae the rain.30'They'll turn me in thy arms, lady,An adder and a snake;But hold me fast, let me na gae,To be your warldly mate.31'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,A grey greyhound to girn;But hald me fast, let me na gae,The father o your bairn.32'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,A red het gad o iron;Then hand me fast, and be na feard,I'll do to you nae harm.33'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,A mother-naked man;Cast your green kirtle owr me,To keep me frae the rain.34'First dip me in a stand o milk,And then a stand o water;Haud me fast, let me na gae,I'll be your bairnie's father.'35Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she is on to Miles Cross,As fast as she can hie.36The first company that passd by,She said na, and let them gae;The next company that passed by,She said na, and did right sae;The third company that passed by,Then he was ane o thae.37She hied her to the milk-white steed,And pu'd him quickly down;She cast her green kirtle owr him,To keep him frae the rain;Then she did all was orderd her,And sae recoverd him.38Then out then spak the Queen o Fairies,Out o a bush o broom:'They that hae gotten young Tom LineHae got a stately groom.'39Out than spak the Queen o Fairies,Out o a bush of rye:'Them that has gotten young Tom LineHas the best knight in my company.40'Had I kend, Thomas,' she says,'A lady wad hae borrowd thee,I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een,Put in twa een o tree.41'Had I but kend, Thomas,' she says,'Before I came frae hame,I had taen out that heart o flesh,Put in a heart o stane.'

1I forbid ye, maidens a',That wear goud on your gear,To come and gae by Carterhaugh,For young Tom Line is there.

2There's nane that gaes by CarterhaughBut they leave him a wad.Either their things or green mantles,Or else their maidenhead.

3But Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little above her knee,And she has broded her yellow hairA little above her bree,And she has gaen for Carterhaugh,As fast as she can hie.

4When she came to CarterhaughTom Line was at the well,And there she fand his steed standing,But away was himsell.

5She hadna pu'd a double rose,A rose but only twae,Till up then started young Tom Line,Says, Lady, thou's pu nae mae.

6Why pu's thou the rose, Janet?Why breaks thou the wand?Why comest thou to CarterhaughWithouthen my command?

7'Fair Carterhaugh it is my ain,My daddy gave it me;I'll come and gae by Carterhaugh,And ask nae leave at thee.'

* * * * *

8Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she is on to her father's ha,As fast as she can hie.

9Four and twenty ladies fairWere playing at the ba,And out then came fair Janet,The flowr amang them a'.

10Four and twenty ladies fairWere playing at the chess,Out then came fair Janet,As green as ony glass.

11Out spak an auld grey-headed knight,Lay owre the castle wa,And says, Alas, fair Janet,For thee we'll be blam'd a'.

12'Had your tongue, you auld grey knight,Some ill dead may ye die!Father my bairn on whom I will,I'll father nane on thee.'

13Out then spak her father dear,He spak baith thick and milde;'And ever alas, sweet Janet,' he says,'I think ye gae wi childe.'

14'If that I gae wi child, father,Mysell bears a' the blame;There's not a laird about your haShall get the bairnie's name.

15'If my lord were an earthly knight,As he's an elfish grey,I wad na gie my ain true-loveFor nae lord that ye hae.'

16Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she's away to Carterhaugh,As fast as she can hie.

17When she came to Carterhaugh,Tom Line was at the well,And there she faund his steed standing,But away was himsell.

18She hadna pu'd a double rose,A rose but only twae,Till up then started young Tom Line,Says, Lady, thou's pu na mae.

19Why pu's thou the rose, Janet,Out owr yon groves sae green,And a' to kill your bonny babe,That we gat us between?

20'O tell me, tell me, Tom,' she says,'For's sake who died on tree,If eer ye were in holy chapel,Or christendom did see.'

21'Roxburgh he was my grandfather,Took me with him to bide,And ance it fell upon a dayThat wae did me betide.

22'Ance it fell upon a day,A cauld day and a snell,When we were frae the hunting come,That from my horse I fell.

23'The Queen of Fairies she came by,Took me wi her to dwell,Evn where she has a pleasant landFor those that in it dwell,But at the end o seven years,They pay their teind to hell.

24'The night it is gude Halloween,The fairie folk do ride,And they that wad their true-love win,At Miles Cross they maun bide.'

25'But how shall I thee ken, Thomas,Or how shall I thee knaw,Amang a pack o uncouth knightsThe like I never saw?'

26'The first company that passes by,Say na, and let them gae;The next company that passes by,Say na, and do right sae;The third company that passes by,Then I'll be ane o thae.

27'Some ride upon a black, lady,And some ride on a brown,But I ride on a milk-white steed,And ay nearest the town:Because I was an earthly knightThey gae me that renown.

28'My right hand will be glovd, lady,My left hand will be bare,And thae's the tokens I gie thee,Nae doubt I will be there.

29'Then hie thee to the milk-white steed,And pu me quickly down,Cast thy green kirtle owr me,And keep me frae the rain.

30'They'll turn me in thy arms, lady,An adder and a snake;But hold me fast, let me na gae,To be your warldly mate.

31'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,A grey greyhound to girn;But hald me fast, let me na gae,The father o your bairn.

32'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,A red het gad o iron;Then hand me fast, and be na feard,I'll do to you nae harm.

33'They'll turn me in your arms, lady,A mother-naked man;Cast your green kirtle owr me,To keep me frae the rain.

34'First dip me in a stand o milk,And then a stand o water;Haud me fast, let me na gae,I'll be your bairnie's father.'

35Janet has kilted her green kirtleA little aboon her knee,And she has snooded her yellow hairA little aboon her bree,And she is on to Miles Cross,As fast as she can hie.

36The first company that passd by,She said na, and let them gae;The next company that passed by,She said na, and did right sae;The third company that passed by,Then he was ane o thae.

37She hied her to the milk-white steed,And pu'd him quickly down;She cast her green kirtle owr him,To keep him frae the rain;Then she did all was orderd her,And sae recoverd him.

38Then out then spak the Queen o Fairies,Out o a bush o broom:'They that hae gotten young Tom LineHae got a stately groom.'

39Out than spak the Queen o Fairies,Out o a bush of rye:'Them that has gotten young Tom LineHas the best knight in my company.

40'Had I kend, Thomas,' she says,'A lady wad hae borrowd thee,I wad hae taen out thy twa grey een,Put in twa een o tree.

41'Had I but kend, Thomas,' she says,'Before I came frae hame,I had taen out that heart o flesh,Put in a heart o stane.'

Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 300.

* * * * *

1She's prickt hersell and prind hersell,By the ae light o the moon,And she's awa to Kertonha,As fast as she can gang.2'What gars ye pu the rose, Jennet?What gars ye break the tree?What gars you gang to KertonhaWithout the leave of me?'3'Yes, I will pu the rose, Thomas,And I will break the tree;For Kertonha shoud be my ain,Nor ask I leave of thee.'4'Full pleasant is the fairy land,And happy there to dwell;I am a fairy, lyth and limb,Fair maiden, view me well.5'O pleasant is the fairy land,How happy there to dwell!But ay at every seven years endWe're a' dung down to hell.6'The morn is good Halloween,And our court a' will ride;If ony maiden wins her man,Then she may be his bride.7'But first ye'll let the black gae by,And then ye'll let the brown;Then I'll ride on a milk-white steed,You'll pu me to the ground.8'And first, I'll grow into your armsAn esk but and an edder;Had me fast, let me not gang,I'll be your bairn's father.9'Next, I'll grow into your armsA toad but and an eel;Had me fast, let me not gang,If you do love me leel.10'Last, I'll grow into your armsA dove but and a swan;Then, maiden fair, you'll let me go,I'll be a perfect man.'* * * * *

1She's prickt hersell and prind hersell,By the ae light o the moon,And she's awa to Kertonha,As fast as she can gang.

2'What gars ye pu the rose, Jennet?What gars ye break the tree?What gars you gang to KertonhaWithout the leave of me?'

3'Yes, I will pu the rose, Thomas,And I will break the tree;For Kertonha shoud be my ain,Nor ask I leave of thee.'

4'Full pleasant is the fairy land,And happy there to dwell;I am a fairy, lyth and limb,Fair maiden, view me well.

5'O pleasant is the fairy land,How happy there to dwell!But ay at every seven years endWe're a' dung down to hell.

6'The morn is good Halloween,And our court a' will ride;If ony maiden wins her man,Then she may be his bride.

7'But first ye'll let the black gae by,And then ye'll let the brown;Then I'll ride on a milk-white steed,You'll pu me to the ground.

8'And first, I'll grow into your armsAn esk but and an edder;Had me fast, let me not gang,I'll be your bairn's father.

9'Next, I'll grow into your armsA toad but and an eel;Had me fast, let me not gang,If you do love me leel.

10'Last, I'll grow into your armsA dove but and a swan;Then, maiden fair, you'll let me go,I'll be a perfect man.'

* * * * *

a.Motherwell's MS., p. 532, a North Country version.b.Maidment's New Book of Old Ballads, 1844, p. 54, from the recitation of an old woman.c.Pitcairn's MSS, 1817-25, III, p. 67: "procured by David Webster, Bookseller, from tradition."

1O all you ladies young and gay,Who are so sweet and fair,Do not go into Chaster's wood,For Tomlin will be there.2Fair Margret sat in her bonny bower,Sewing her silken seam,And wished to be in Chaster's wood,Among the leaves so green.3She let her seam fall to her foot,The needle to her toe,And she has gone to Chaster's wood,As fast as she could go.4When she began to pull the flowers,She pulld both red and green;Then by did come, and by did go,Said, Fair maid, let aleene.5'O why pluck you the flowers, lady,Or why climb you the tree?Or why come ye to Chaster's woodWithout the leave of me?'6'O I will pull the flowers,' she said,'Or I will break the tree,For Chaster's wood it is my own,I'll no ask leave at thee.'7He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass green sleeve,And laid her low down on the flowers,At her he asked no leave.8The lady blushed, and sourly frowned,And she did think great shame;Says, 'If you are a gentleman,You will tell me your name.'9'First they did call me Jack,' he said,'And then they called me John,But since I lived in the fairy courtTomlin has always been my name.10'So do not pluck that flower, lady,That has these pimples gray;They would destroy the bonny babeThat we've got in our play.'11'O tell me, Tomlin,' she said,'And tell it to me soon,Was you ever at good church-door,Or got you christendoom?'12'O I have been at good church-door,And aff her yetts within;I was the Laird of Foulis's son,The heir of all this land.13'But it fell once upon a day,As hunting I did ride,As I rode east and west yon hillThere woe did me betide.14'O drowsy, drowsy as I was!Dead sleep upon me fell;The Queen of Fairies she was there,And took me to hersell.15'The Elfins is a pretty place,In which I love to dwell,But yet at every seven years' endThe last here goes to hell;And as I am ane o flesh and blood,I fear the next be mysell.16'The morn at even is Halloween;Our fairy court will ride,Throw England and Scotland both,Throw al the world wide;And if ye would me borrow,At Rides Cross ye may bide.17'You may go into the Miles Moss,Between twelve hours and one;Take holy water in your hand,And cast a compass round.18'The first court that comes along,You'll let them all pass by;The next court that comes along,Salute them reverently.19'The next court that comes alongIs clad in robes of green,And it's the head court of them all,For in it rides the queen.20'And I upon a milk-white steed,With a gold star in my crown;Because I am an earthly manI'm next to the queen in renown.21'Then seize upon me with a spring,Then to the ground I'll fa,And then you'll hear a rueful cryThat Tomlin is awa.22'Then I'll grow in your arms twoLike to a savage wild;But hold me fast, let me not go,I'm father of your child.23'I'll grow into your arms twoLike an adder or a snake;But hold me fast, let me not go,I'll be your earthly maick.24'I'll grow into your arms twoLike iron in strong fire;But hold me fast, let me not go,Then you'll have your desire.'25She rid down to Miles Cross,Between twelve hours and one,Took holy water in her hand,And cast a compass round.26The first court that came along,She let them all pass by;The next court that came alongSaluted reverently.27The next court that came alongWere clad in robes of green,When Tomlin, on a milk-white steed,She saw ride with the queen.28She seized him in her arms two,He to the ground did fa,And then she heard a ruefull cry'Tomlin is now awa.'29He grew into her arms twoLike to a savage wild;She held him fast, let him not go,The father of her child.30He grew into her arms twoLike an adder or a snake;She held him fast, let him not go,He was her earthly maick.31He grew into her arms twoLike iron in hot fire;She held him fast, let him not go,He was her heart's desire.32Then sounded out throw elphin court,With a loud shout and a cry,That the pretty maid of Chaster's woodThat day had caught her prey.33'O stay, Tomlin,' cried Elphin Queen,'Till I pay you your fee;''His father has lands and rents enough,He wants no fee from thee.'34'O had I known at early mornTomlin would from me gone,I would have taken out his heart of fleshPut in a heart of stone.'

1O all you ladies young and gay,Who are so sweet and fair,Do not go into Chaster's wood,For Tomlin will be there.

2Fair Margret sat in her bonny bower,Sewing her silken seam,And wished to be in Chaster's wood,Among the leaves so green.

3She let her seam fall to her foot,The needle to her toe,And she has gone to Chaster's wood,As fast as she could go.

4When she began to pull the flowers,She pulld both red and green;Then by did come, and by did go,Said, Fair maid, let aleene.

5'O why pluck you the flowers, lady,Or why climb you the tree?Or why come ye to Chaster's woodWithout the leave of me?'

6'O I will pull the flowers,' she said,'Or I will break the tree,For Chaster's wood it is my own,I'll no ask leave at thee.'

7He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass green sleeve,And laid her low down on the flowers,At her he asked no leave.

8The lady blushed, and sourly frowned,And she did think great shame;Says, 'If you are a gentleman,You will tell me your name.'

9'First they did call me Jack,' he said,'And then they called me John,But since I lived in the fairy courtTomlin has always been my name.

10'So do not pluck that flower, lady,That has these pimples gray;They would destroy the bonny babeThat we've got in our play.'

11'O tell me, Tomlin,' she said,'And tell it to me soon,Was you ever at good church-door,Or got you christendoom?'

12'O I have been at good church-door,And aff her yetts within;I was the Laird of Foulis's son,The heir of all this land.

13'But it fell once upon a day,As hunting I did ride,As I rode east and west yon hillThere woe did me betide.

14'O drowsy, drowsy as I was!Dead sleep upon me fell;The Queen of Fairies she was there,And took me to hersell.

15'The Elfins is a pretty place,In which I love to dwell,But yet at every seven years' endThe last here goes to hell;And as I am ane o flesh and blood,I fear the next be mysell.

16'The morn at even is Halloween;Our fairy court will ride,Throw England and Scotland both,Throw al the world wide;And if ye would me borrow,At Rides Cross ye may bide.

17'You may go into the Miles Moss,Between twelve hours and one;Take holy water in your hand,And cast a compass round.

18'The first court that comes along,You'll let them all pass by;The next court that comes along,Salute them reverently.

19'The next court that comes alongIs clad in robes of green,And it's the head court of them all,For in it rides the queen.

20'And I upon a milk-white steed,With a gold star in my crown;Because I am an earthly manI'm next to the queen in renown.

21'Then seize upon me with a spring,Then to the ground I'll fa,And then you'll hear a rueful cryThat Tomlin is awa.

22'Then I'll grow in your arms twoLike to a savage wild;But hold me fast, let me not go,I'm father of your child.

23'I'll grow into your arms twoLike an adder or a snake;But hold me fast, let me not go,I'll be your earthly maick.

24'I'll grow into your arms twoLike iron in strong fire;But hold me fast, let me not go,Then you'll have your desire.'

25She rid down to Miles Cross,Between twelve hours and one,Took holy water in her hand,And cast a compass round.

26The first court that came along,She let them all pass by;The next court that came alongSaluted reverently.

27The next court that came alongWere clad in robes of green,When Tomlin, on a milk-white steed,She saw ride with the queen.

28She seized him in her arms two,He to the ground did fa,And then she heard a ruefull cry'Tomlin is now awa.'

29He grew into her arms twoLike to a savage wild;She held him fast, let him not go,The father of her child.

30He grew into her arms twoLike an adder or a snake;She held him fast, let him not go,He was her earthly maick.

31He grew into her arms twoLike iron in hot fire;She held him fast, let him not go,He was her heart's desire.

32Then sounded out throw elphin court,With a loud shout and a cry,That the pretty maid of Chaster's woodThat day had caught her prey.

33'O stay, Tomlin,' cried Elphin Queen,'Till I pay you your fee;''His father has lands and rents enough,He wants no fee from thee.'

34'O had I known at early mornTomlin would from me gone,I would have taken out his heart of fleshPut in a heart of stone.'

Motherwell's Note-book, p. 13.

1Lady Margaret is over gravel green,And over gravel grey,And she's awa to Charteris ha,Lang lang three hour or day.2She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,A flower but only ane,Till up and started young Tamlin,Says, Lady, let alane.3She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,A flower but only twa,Till up and started young Tamlene,Atween her and the wa.4'How daur you pu my flower, madam?How daur ye break my tree?How daur ye come to Charter's ha,Without the leave of me?'5'Weel I may pu the rose,' she said,'But I daurna break the tree;And Charter's ha is my father's,And I'm his heir to be.'6'If Charteris ha be thy father's,I was ance as gude mysell;But as I came in by Lady Kirk,And in by Lady Well,7'Deep and drowsy was the sleepOn my poor body fell;By came the Queen of Faery,Made me with her to dwell.8'But the morn at een is Halloween,Our fairy foks a' do ride;And she that will her true-love win,At Blackstock she must bide.9'First let by the black,' he said,'And syne let by the brown;But when you see the milk-white steed,You'll pull his rider down.10'You'll pull him into thy arms,Let his bricht bridle fa,And he'll fa low into your armsLike stone in castle's wa.11'They'll first shape him into your armsAn adder or a snake;But hold him fast, let him not go,He'll be your world's make.12'They'll next shape him into your armsLike a wood black dog to bite;Hold him fast, let him not go,For he'll be your heart's delight.13'They'll next shape [him] into your armsLike a red-het gaud o airn;But hold him fast, let him not go,He's the father o your bairn.14'They'll next shape him into your armsLike the laidliest worm of Ind;But hold him fast, let him not go,And cry aye "Young Tamlin."'* * * * *15Lady Margaret first let by the black,And syne let by the brown,But when she saw the milk-white steedShe pulled the rider down.16She pulled him into her arms,Let his bright bridle fa',And he fell low into her arms,Like stone in castle's wa.17They first shaped him into armsAn adder or a snake;But she held him fast, let him not go,For he'd be her warld's make.18They next shaped him into her armsLike a wood black dog to bite;But she held him fast, let him not go,For he'd be her heart's delight.19They next shaped him into her armsLike a red-het gaud o airn;But she held him fast, let him not go,He'd be father o her bairn.20They next shaped him into her armsLike the laidliest worm of Ind;But she held him fast, let him not go,And cried aye 'Young Tamlin.'21The Queen of Faery turned her horse about,Says, Adieu to thee, Tamlene!For if I had kent what I ken this night,If I had kent it yestreen,I wad hae taen out thy heart o flesh,And put in a heart o stane.

1Lady Margaret is over gravel green,And over gravel grey,And she's awa to Charteris ha,Lang lang three hour or day.

2She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,A flower but only ane,Till up and started young Tamlin,Says, Lady, let alane.

3She hadna pu'd a flower, a flower,A flower but only twa,Till up and started young Tamlene,Atween her and the wa.

4'How daur you pu my flower, madam?How daur ye break my tree?How daur ye come to Charter's ha,Without the leave of me?'

5'Weel I may pu the rose,' she said,'But I daurna break the tree;And Charter's ha is my father's,And I'm his heir to be.'

6'If Charteris ha be thy father's,I was ance as gude mysell;But as I came in by Lady Kirk,And in by Lady Well,

7'Deep and drowsy was the sleepOn my poor body fell;By came the Queen of Faery,Made me with her to dwell.

8'But the morn at een is Halloween,Our fairy foks a' do ride;And she that will her true-love win,At Blackstock she must bide.

9'First let by the black,' he said,'And syne let by the brown;But when you see the milk-white steed,You'll pull his rider down.

10'You'll pull him into thy arms,Let his bricht bridle fa,And he'll fa low into your armsLike stone in castle's wa.

11'They'll first shape him into your armsAn adder or a snake;But hold him fast, let him not go,He'll be your world's make.

12'They'll next shape him into your armsLike a wood black dog to bite;Hold him fast, let him not go,For he'll be your heart's delight.

13'They'll next shape [him] into your armsLike a red-het gaud o airn;But hold him fast, let him not go,He's the father o your bairn.

14'They'll next shape him into your armsLike the laidliest worm of Ind;But hold him fast, let him not go,And cry aye "Young Tamlin."'

* * * * *

15Lady Margaret first let by the black,And syne let by the brown,But when she saw the milk-white steedShe pulled the rider down.

16She pulled him into her arms,Let his bright bridle fa',And he fell low into her arms,Like stone in castle's wa.

17They first shaped him into armsAn adder or a snake;But she held him fast, let him not go,For he'd be her warld's make.

18They next shaped him into her armsLike a wood black dog to bite;But she held him fast, let him not go,For he'd be her heart's delight.

19They next shaped him into her armsLike a red-het gaud o airn;But she held him fast, let him not go,He'd be father o her bairn.

20They next shaped him into her armsLike the laidliest worm of Ind;But she held him fast, let him not go,And cried aye 'Young Tamlin.'

21The Queen of Faery turned her horse about,Says, Adieu to thee, Tamlene!For if I had kent what I ken this night,If I had kent it yestreen,I wad hae taen out thy heart o flesh,And put in a heart o stane.

Motherwell's MS., p. 64, from the recitation of widow McCormick, February, 1825.

* * * * *

1She's taen her petticoat by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And she's awa to Chester wood,As fast as she could run.2She scarsely pulled a rose, a rose,She scarse pulled two or three,Till up there starts ThomasOn the Lady Margaret's knee.3She's taen her petticoat by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And Lady Margaret's gane hame agen,As fast as she could run.4Up starts Lady Margaret's sister,An angry woman was she:'If there ever was a woman wi child,Margaret, you are wi!'5Up starts Lady Margaret's mother,An angry woman was she:'There grows ane herb in yon kirk-yardThat will scathe the babe away.'6She took her petticoats by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And she's gane to yon kirk-yardAs fast as she could run.7She scarcely pulled an herb, an herb,She scarse pulled two or three,Till up starts there ThomasUpon this Lady Margret's knee.8'How dare ye pull a rose?' he says,'How dare ye break the tree?How dare ye pull this herb,' he says,'To scathe my babe away?9'This night is Halloweve,' he said,'Our court is going to waste,And them that loves their true-love bestAt Chester bridge they'll meet.10'First let pass the black,' he says,'And then let pass the brown,But when ye meet the milk-white steed,Pull ye the rider down.11'They'll turn me to an eagle,' he says,'And then into an ass;Come, hold me fast, and fear me not,The man that you love best.12'They'll turn me to a flash of fire,And then to a naked man;Come, wrap you your mantle me about,And then you'll have me won.'13She took her petticoats by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And she's awa to Chester bridge,As fast as she could run.14And first she did let pass the black,And then let pass the brown,But when she met the milk-white steed,She pulled the rider down.15They turned him in her arms an eagle,And then into an ass;But she held him fast, and feared him not,The man that she loved best.16They turned him into a flash of fire,And then into a naked man;But she wrapped her mantle him about,And then she had him won.17'O wae be to ye, Lady Margaret,And an ill death may you die,For you've robbed me of the bravest knightThat eer rode in our company.'

1She's taen her petticoat by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And she's awa to Chester wood,As fast as she could run.

2She scarsely pulled a rose, a rose,She scarse pulled two or three,Till up there starts ThomasOn the Lady Margaret's knee.

3She's taen her petticoat by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And Lady Margaret's gane hame agen,As fast as she could run.

4Up starts Lady Margaret's sister,An angry woman was she:'If there ever was a woman wi child,Margaret, you are wi!'

5Up starts Lady Margaret's mother,An angry woman was she:'There grows ane herb in yon kirk-yardThat will scathe the babe away.'

6She took her petticoats by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And she's gane to yon kirk-yardAs fast as she could run.

7She scarcely pulled an herb, an herb,She scarse pulled two or three,Till up starts there ThomasUpon this Lady Margret's knee.

8'How dare ye pull a rose?' he says,'How dare ye break the tree?How dare ye pull this herb,' he says,'To scathe my babe away?

9'This night is Halloweve,' he said,'Our court is going to waste,And them that loves their true-love bestAt Chester bridge they'll meet.

10'First let pass the black,' he says,'And then let pass the brown,But when ye meet the milk-white steed,Pull ye the rider down.

11'They'll turn me to an eagle,' he says,'And then into an ass;Come, hold me fast, and fear me not,The man that you love best.

12'They'll turn me to a flash of fire,And then to a naked man;Come, wrap you your mantle me about,And then you'll have me won.'

13She took her petticoats by the band,Her mantle owre her arm,And she's awa to Chester bridge,As fast as she could run.

14And first she did let pass the black,And then let pass the brown,But when she met the milk-white steed,She pulled the rider down.

15They turned him in her arms an eagle,And then into an ass;But she held him fast, and feared him not,The man that she loved best.

16They turned him into a flash of fire,And then into a naked man;But she wrapped her mantle him about,And then she had him won.

17'O wae be to ye, Lady Margaret,And an ill death may you die,For you've robbed me of the bravest knightThat eer rode in our company.'

Buchan's MSS, I, 8; Motherwell's MS., p. 595.

1Take warning, a' ye ladies fair,That wear gowd on your hair,Come never unto Charter's woods,For Tam-a-line he's there.2Even about that knight's middleO' siller bells are nine;Nae ane comes to Charter wood,And a maid returns again.3Lady Margaret sits in her bower door,Sewing at her silken seam;And she langd to gang to Charter woods,To pou the roses green.4She hadna poud a rose, a rose,Nor broken a branch but ane,Till by it came him true Tam-a-line,Says, Ladye, lat alane.5O why pou ye the rose, the rose?Or why brake ye the tree?Or why come ye to Charter woods,Without leave askd of me?6'I will pou the rose, the rose,And I will brake the tree;Charter woods are a' my ain,I'll ask nae leave o thee.'7He's taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And laid her low on gude green wood,At her he spierd nae leave.8When he had got his wills of her,His wills as he had taen,He's taen her by the middle sma,Set her to feet again.9She turnd her right and round about,To spier her true-love's name,But naething heard she, nor naething saw,As a' the woods grew dim.10Seven days she tarried there,Saw neither sun nor meen;At length, by a sma glimmering light,Came thro the wood her lane.11When she came to her father's court,As fine as ony queen;But when eight months were past and gane,Got on the gown o' green.12Then out it speaks an eldren knight,As he stood at the yett:'Our king's daughter, she gaes wi bairn,And we'll get a' the wyte.'13'O had your tongue, ye eldren man,And bring me not to shame;Although that I do gang wi bairn,Yese naeways get the blame.14'Were my love but an earthly man,As he's an elfin knight,I woudna gie my ain true loveFor a' that's in my sight.'15Then out it speaks her brither dear,He meant to do her harm:'There is an herb in Charter woodWill twine you an the bairn.'16She's taen her mantle her about,Her coffer by the band,And she is on to Charter wood,As fast as she coud gang.17She hadna poud a rose, a rose,Nor braken a branch but ane,Till by it came him Tam-a-Line,Says, Ladye, lat alane.18O why pou ye the pile, Margaret,The pile o the gravil green,For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got us between?19O why pou ye the pile, Margaret,The pile o the gravil gray,For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got in our play?20For if it be a knave-bairn,He's heir o a' my land;But if it be a lass-bairn,In red gowd she shall gang.21'If my luve were an earthly man,As he's an elfin rae,I coud gang bound, love, for your sake,A twalmonth and a day.'22'Indeed your love's an earthly man,The same as well as thee,And lang I've haunted Charter woods,A' for your fair bodie.'23'O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,O tell, an tell me true,Tell me this night, an mak nae lie,What pedigree are you?'24'O I hae been at gude church-door,An I've got Christendom;I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son,An heir ower a' his land.25'When I was young, o three years old,Muckle was made o me;My step-mother put on my claithes,An ill, ill sained she me.26'Ae fatal morning I went out,Dreading nae injury,And thinking lang, fell soun asleep,Beneath an apple tree.27'Then by it came the Elfin Queen,And laid her hand on me;And from that time since ever I mind,I've been in her companie.28'O Elfin it's a bonny place,In it fain woud I dwell;But ay at ilka seven years' endThey pay a tiend to hell,And I'm sae fou o flesh an blude,I'm sair feard for mysell.'29'O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,O tell, an tell me true;Tell me this night, an mak nae lie,What way I'll borrow you?'30'The morn is Halloweven night,The elfin court will ride,Through England, and thro a' Scotland,And through the world wide.31'O they begin at sky setting,Rides a' the evening tide;And she that will her true-love borrow,[At] Miles-corse will him bide.32'Ye'll do you down to Miles-corse,Between twall hours and ane,And full your hands o holy water,And cast your compass roun.33'Then the first an court that comes you tillIs published king and queen;The next an court that comes you till,It is maidens mony ane.34'The next an court that comes you tillIs footmen, grooms and squires;The next an court that comes you tillIs knights, and I'll be there.35'I Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,A goud star on my crown;Because I was an earthly knight,Got that for a renown.36'And out at my steed's right nostril,He'll breathe a fiery flame;Ye'll loot you low, and sain yoursel,And ye'll be busy then.37'Ye'll take my horse then by the head,And lat the bridal fa;The Queen o' Elfin she'll cry out,True Tam-a-Line's awa.38'Then I'll appear in your armsLike the wolf that neer woud tame;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,Case we neer meet again.39'Then I'll appear in your armsLike the fire that burns sae bauld;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,I'll be as iron cauld.40'Then I'll appear in your armsLike the adder an the snake;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,I am your warld's make.41'Then I'll appear in your armsLike to the deer sae wild;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,And I'll father your child.42'And I'll appear in your armsLike to a silken string;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,Till ye see the fair morning.43'And I'll appear in your armsLike to a naked man;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,And wi you I'll gae hame.'44Then she has done her to Miles-corse,Between twall hours an ane,And filled her hands o holy water,And kiest her compass roun.45The first an court that came her tillWas published king and queen;The niest an court that came her tillWas maidens mony ane.46The niest an court that came her tillWas footmen, grooms and squires;The niest an court that came her tillWas knights, and he was there.47True Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,A gowd star on his crown;Because he was an earthly man,Got that for a renown.48And out at the steed's right nostril,He breathd a fiery flame;She loots her low, an sains hersell,And she was busy then.49She's taen the horse then by the head,And loot the bridle fa;The Queen o Elfin she cried out,'True Tam-a-Line's awa.'50'Stay still, true Tam-a-Line,' she says,'Till I pay you your fee:''His father wants not lands nor rents,He'll ask nae fee frae thee.'51'Gin I bad kent yestreen, yestreen,What I ken weel the day,I shoud taen your fu fause heart,Gien you a heart o clay.'52Then he appeared in her armsLike the wolf that neer woud tame;She held him fast, let him not go,Case they neer meet again.53Then he appeared in her armsLike the fire burning bauld;She held him fast, let him not go,He was as iron cauld.54And he appeared in her armsLike the adder an the snake;She held him fast, let him not go,He was her warld's make.55And he appeared in her armsLike to the deer sae wild;She held him fast, let him not go,He's father o her child.56And he appeared in her armsLike to a silken string;She held him fast, let him not go,Till she saw fair morning.57And he appeared in her armsLike to a naked man;She held him fast, let him not go,And wi her he's gane hame.58These news hae reachd thro a' Scotland,And far ayont the Tay,That Lady Margaret, our king's daughter,That night had gaind her prey.59She borrowed her love at mirk midnight,Bare her young son ere day,And though ye'd search the warld wide,Ye'll nae find sic a may.

1Take warning, a' ye ladies fair,That wear gowd on your hair,Come never unto Charter's woods,For Tam-a-line he's there.

2Even about that knight's middleO' siller bells are nine;Nae ane comes to Charter wood,And a maid returns again.

3Lady Margaret sits in her bower door,Sewing at her silken seam;And she langd to gang to Charter woods,To pou the roses green.

4She hadna poud a rose, a rose,Nor broken a branch but ane,Till by it came him true Tam-a-line,Says, Ladye, lat alane.

5O why pou ye the rose, the rose?Or why brake ye the tree?Or why come ye to Charter woods,Without leave askd of me?

6'I will pou the rose, the rose,And I will brake the tree;Charter woods are a' my ain,I'll ask nae leave o thee.'

7He's taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And laid her low on gude green wood,At her he spierd nae leave.

8When he had got his wills of her,His wills as he had taen,He's taen her by the middle sma,Set her to feet again.

9She turnd her right and round about,To spier her true-love's name,But naething heard she, nor naething saw,As a' the woods grew dim.

10Seven days she tarried there,Saw neither sun nor meen;At length, by a sma glimmering light,Came thro the wood her lane.

11When she came to her father's court,As fine as ony queen;But when eight months were past and gane,Got on the gown o' green.

12Then out it speaks an eldren knight,As he stood at the yett:'Our king's daughter, she gaes wi bairn,And we'll get a' the wyte.'

13'O had your tongue, ye eldren man,And bring me not to shame;Although that I do gang wi bairn,Yese naeways get the blame.

14'Were my love but an earthly man,As he's an elfin knight,I woudna gie my ain true loveFor a' that's in my sight.'

15Then out it speaks her brither dear,He meant to do her harm:'There is an herb in Charter woodWill twine you an the bairn.'

16She's taen her mantle her about,Her coffer by the band,And she is on to Charter wood,As fast as she coud gang.

17She hadna poud a rose, a rose,Nor braken a branch but ane,Till by it came him Tam-a-Line,Says, Ladye, lat alane.

18O why pou ye the pile, Margaret,The pile o the gravil green,For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got us between?

19O why pou ye the pile, Margaret,The pile o the gravil gray,For to destroy the bonny bairnThat we got in our play?

20For if it be a knave-bairn,He's heir o a' my land;But if it be a lass-bairn,In red gowd she shall gang.

21'If my luve were an earthly man,As he's an elfin rae,I coud gang bound, love, for your sake,A twalmonth and a day.'

22'Indeed your love's an earthly man,The same as well as thee,And lang I've haunted Charter woods,A' for your fair bodie.'

23'O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,O tell, an tell me true,Tell me this night, an mak nae lie,What pedigree are you?'

24'O I hae been at gude church-door,An I've got Christendom;I'm the Earl o' Forbes' eldest son,An heir ower a' his land.

25'When I was young, o three years old,Muckle was made o me;My step-mother put on my claithes,An ill, ill sained she me.

26'Ae fatal morning I went out,Dreading nae injury,And thinking lang, fell soun asleep,Beneath an apple tree.

27'Then by it came the Elfin Queen,And laid her hand on me;And from that time since ever I mind,I've been in her companie.

28'O Elfin it's a bonny place,In it fain woud I dwell;But ay at ilka seven years' endThey pay a tiend to hell,And I'm sae fou o flesh an blude,I'm sair feard for mysell.'

29'O tell me, tell me, Tam-a-Line,O tell, an tell me true;Tell me this night, an mak nae lie,What way I'll borrow you?'

30'The morn is Halloweven night,The elfin court will ride,Through England, and thro a' Scotland,And through the world wide.

31'O they begin at sky setting,Rides a' the evening tide;And she that will her true-love borrow,[At] Miles-corse will him bide.

32'Ye'll do you down to Miles-corse,Between twall hours and ane,And full your hands o holy water,And cast your compass roun.

33'Then the first an court that comes you tillIs published king and queen;The next an court that comes you till,It is maidens mony ane.

34'The next an court that comes you tillIs footmen, grooms and squires;The next an court that comes you tillIs knights, and I'll be there.

35'I Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,A goud star on my crown;Because I was an earthly knight,Got that for a renown.

36'And out at my steed's right nostril,He'll breathe a fiery flame;Ye'll loot you low, and sain yoursel,And ye'll be busy then.

37'Ye'll take my horse then by the head,And lat the bridal fa;The Queen o' Elfin she'll cry out,True Tam-a-Line's awa.

38'Then I'll appear in your armsLike the wolf that neer woud tame;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,Case we neer meet again.

39'Then I'll appear in your armsLike the fire that burns sae bauld;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,I'll be as iron cauld.

40'Then I'll appear in your armsLike the adder an the snake;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,I am your warld's make.

41'Then I'll appear in your armsLike to the deer sae wild;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,And I'll father your child.

42'And I'll appear in your armsLike to a silken string;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,Till ye see the fair morning.

43'And I'll appear in your armsLike to a naked man;Ye'll had me fast, lat me not go,And wi you I'll gae hame.'

44Then she has done her to Miles-corse,Between twall hours an ane,And filled her hands o holy water,And kiest her compass roun.

45The first an court that came her tillWas published king and queen;The niest an court that came her tillWas maidens mony ane.

46The niest an court that came her tillWas footmen, grooms and squires;The niest an court that came her tillWas knights, and he was there.

47True Tam-a-Line, on milk-white steed,A gowd star on his crown;Because he was an earthly man,Got that for a renown.

48And out at the steed's right nostril,He breathd a fiery flame;She loots her low, an sains hersell,And she was busy then.

49She's taen the horse then by the head,And loot the bridle fa;The Queen o Elfin she cried out,'True Tam-a-Line's awa.'

50'Stay still, true Tam-a-Line,' she says,'Till I pay you your fee:''His father wants not lands nor rents,He'll ask nae fee frae thee.'

51'Gin I bad kent yestreen, yestreen,What I ken weel the day,I shoud taen your fu fause heart,Gien you a heart o clay.'

52Then he appeared in her armsLike the wolf that neer woud tame;She held him fast, let him not go,Case they neer meet again.

53Then he appeared in her armsLike the fire burning bauld;She held him fast, let him not go,He was as iron cauld.

54And he appeared in her armsLike the adder an the snake;She held him fast, let him not go,He was her warld's make.

55And he appeared in her armsLike to the deer sae wild;She held him fast, let him not go,He's father o her child.

56And he appeared in her armsLike to a silken string;She held him fast, let him not go,Till she saw fair morning.

57And he appeared in her armsLike to a naked man;She held him fast, let him not go,And wi her he's gane hame.

58These news hae reachd thro a' Scotland,And far ayont the Tay,That Lady Margaret, our king's daughter,That night had gaind her prey.

59She borrowed her love at mirk midnight,Bare her young son ere day,And though ye'd search the warld wide,Ye'll nae find sic a may.

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