I.

Motherwell's MS., p. 147. From I. Goldie, March, 1825.

1There were three sisters lived in a hall,Hey with the gay and the grandeur OAnd there came a lord to court them all.At the bonnie bows o London town2He courted the eldest with a penknife,And he vowed that he would take her life.3He courted the youngest with a glove,And he said that he'd be her true love.4'O sister, O sister, will you go and take a walk,And see our father's ships how they float?5'O lean your foot upon the stone,And wash your hand in that sea-foam.'6She leaned her foot upon the stone,But her eldest sister has tumbled her down.7'O sister, sister, give me your hand,And I'll make you lady of all my land.'8'O I'll not lend to you my hand,But I'll be lady of your land.'9'O sister, sister, give me your glove,And I'll make you lady of my true love.'10'It's I'll not lend to you my glove,But I'll be lady of your true love.'11Sometimes she sank, and sometimes she swam,Until she came to a miller's dam.12The miller's daughter was coming out wi speed,For water for to bake some bread.13'O father, father, stop the dam,For it's either a lady or a milk-white swan.'14He dragged her out unto the shore,And stripped her of all she wore.15By cam a fiddler, and he was fair,And he buskit his bow in her bonnie yellow hair.16By cam her father's harper, and he was fine,And he made a harp o her bonny breast-bone.17When they came to her father's court,The harp [and fiddle these words] spoke:18'O God bless my father the king,And I wish the same to my mother the queen.19'My sister Jane she tumbled me in,. . . . . . .* * * * *

1There were three sisters lived in a hall,Hey with the gay and the grandeur OAnd there came a lord to court them all.At the bonnie bows o London town

2He courted the eldest with a penknife,And he vowed that he would take her life.

3He courted the youngest with a glove,And he said that he'd be her true love.

4'O sister, O sister, will you go and take a walk,And see our father's ships how they float?

5'O lean your foot upon the stone,And wash your hand in that sea-foam.'

6She leaned her foot upon the stone,But her eldest sister has tumbled her down.

7'O sister, sister, give me your hand,And I'll make you lady of all my land.'

8'O I'll not lend to you my hand,But I'll be lady of your land.'

9'O sister, sister, give me your glove,And I'll make you lady of my true love.'

10'It's I'll not lend to you my glove,But I'll be lady of your true love.'

11Sometimes she sank, and sometimes she swam,Until she came to a miller's dam.

12The miller's daughter was coming out wi speed,For water for to bake some bread.

13'O father, father, stop the dam,For it's either a lady or a milk-white swan.'

14He dragged her out unto the shore,And stripped her of all she wore.

15By cam a fiddler, and he was fair,And he buskit his bow in her bonnie yellow hair.

16By cam her father's harper, and he was fine,And he made a harp o her bonny breast-bone.

17When they came to her father's court,The harp [and fiddle these words] spoke:

18'O God bless my father the king,And I wish the same to my mother the queen.

19'My sister Jane she tumbled me in,. . . . . . .

* * * * *

Kinloch MSS,V, 425. From the recitation of M. Kinnear, 23d August, 1826.

1There war twa sisters lived in a bouer,Binnorie and BinnorieThere cam a squire to court them baith.At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie2He courted the eldest with jewels and rings,But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.3He courted the eldest with a penknife,He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.4It fell ance upon a dayThat these twa sisters hae gane astray.5It was for to meet their father's ships that had come in.. . . . . . .6As they walked up the linn,The eldest dang the youngest in.7'O sister, sister, tak my hand,And ye'll hae Lud John and aw his land.'8With a silver wand she pushd her in,. . . . . . .9'O sister, sister, tak my glove,And ye sall hae my ain true love.'10The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.It was for a water to bake her bread.11'O father, father, gae slack your dam;There's either a white fish or a swan.'* * * * *12Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.13And the first spring that he playd,It said, 'It was my sister threw me in.'

1There war twa sisters lived in a bouer,Binnorie and BinnorieThere cam a squire to court them baith.At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie

2He courted the eldest with jewels and rings,But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.

3He courted the eldest with a penknife,He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.

4It fell ance upon a dayThat these twa sisters hae gane astray.

5It was for to meet their father's ships that had come in.. . . . . . .

6As they walked up the linn,The eldest dang the youngest in.

7'O sister, sister, tak my hand,And ye'll hae Lud John and aw his land.'

8With a silver wand she pushd her in,. . . . . . .

9'O sister, sister, tak my glove,And ye sall hae my ain true love.'

10The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.It was for a water to bake her bread.

11'O father, father, gae slack your dam;There's either a white fish or a swan.'

* * * * *

12Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.

13And the first spring that he playd,It said, 'It was my sister threw me in.'

Notes and Queries, 4th S.,V, 23, from the north of Ireland.

1There were two ladies playing ball,Hey, ho, my Nannie OA great lord came to court them all.The swan she does swim bonnie O2He gave to the first a golden ring,He gave to the second a far better thing.* * * * *3He made a harp of her breast-bone. . . . . . .4He set it down upon a stone,And it began to play its lone.

1There were two ladies playing ball,Hey, ho, my Nannie OA great lord came to court them all.The swan she does swim bonnie O

2He gave to the first a golden ring,He gave to the second a far better thing.

* * * * *

3He made a harp of her breast-bone. . . . . . .

4He set it down upon a stone,And it began to play its lone.

Mr G.R. Kinloch's papers, Kinloch MSS,II, 59. From Mrs Lindores.

1'O sister, sister, gie me your hand,Binnorie and BinnorieAnd I'll give the half of my fallow-land,By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.'* * * * *2The first time the bonnie fiddle played,'Hang my sister, Alison,' it said,'At the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.'

1'O sister, sister, gie me your hand,Binnorie and BinnorieAnd I'll give the half of my fallow-land,By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.'

* * * * *

2The first time the bonnie fiddle played,'Hang my sister, Alison,' it said,'At the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.'

a.From oral tradition, Notes and Queries, 1st S.,V, 316.b.The Scouring of the White Horse, p. 161. From North Wales.

1O was it eke a pheasant cock,Or eke a pheasant hen,Or was it the bodye of a fair ladye,Come swimming down the stream?2O it was not a pheasant cock,Nor eke a pheasant hen,But it was the bodye of a fair ladyeCame swimming down the stream.* * * * *3And what did he do with her fair bodye?Fal the lal the lal laral lodyHe made it a case for his melodye.Fal, etc.4And what did he do with her legs so strong?He made them a stand for his violon.5And what did he do with her hair so fine?He made of it strings for his violine.6And what did he do with her arms so long?He made them bows for his violon.7And what did he do with her nose so thin?He made it a bridge for his violin.8And what did he do with her eyes so bright?He made them spectacles to put to his sight.9And what did he do with her petty toes?He made them a nosegay to put to his nose.

1O was it eke a pheasant cock,Or eke a pheasant hen,Or was it the bodye of a fair ladye,Come swimming down the stream?

2O it was not a pheasant cock,Nor eke a pheasant hen,But it was the bodye of a fair ladyeCame swimming down the stream.

* * * * *

3And what did he do with her fair bodye?Fal the lal the lal laral lodyHe made it a case for his melodye.Fal, etc.

4And what did he do with her legs so strong?He made them a stand for his violon.

5And what did he do with her hair so fine?He made of it strings for his violine.

6And what did he do with her arms so long?He made them bows for his violon.

7And what did he do with her nose so thin?He made it a bridge for his violin.

8And what did he do with her eyes so bright?He made them spectacles to put to his sight.

9And what did he do with her petty toes?He made them a nosegay to put to his nose.

Taken down from recitation at Old Deir, 1876, by Mrs A.F. Murison. MS., p. 79.

1There lived twa sisters in yonder ha,Binórie O an BinórieThey hadna but ae lad atween them twa,He's the bonnie miller lad o Binórie.2It fell oot upon a day,The auldest ane to the youngest did say,At the bonnie mill-dams o Binórie,3'O sister, O sister, will ye go to the dams,To hear the blackbird thrashin oer his songs?At the,' etc.4'O sister, O sister, will ye go to the dams,To see oor father's fish-boats come safe to dry lan?An the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.'5They hadna been an oor at the dams,Till they heard the blackbird thrashin oer his tune,At the, etc.6They hadna been an oor at the damsTill they saw their father's fish-boats come safe to dry lan,Bat they sawna the bonnie miller laddie.7They stood baith up upon a stane,An the eldest ane dang the youngest in,I the, etc.8She swam up, an she swam doon,An she swam back to her sister again,I the, etc.9'O sister, O sister, len me your han,An yes be heir to my true love,He's the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.'10'It was not for that love at I dang you in,But ye was fair and I was din,And yes droon i the dams o Binorie.'11The miller's daughter she cam oot,For water to wash her father's hans,Frae the, etc.12'O father, O father, ye will fish your dams,An ye'll get a white fish or a swan,I the,' etc.13They fished up and they fished doon,But they got nothing but a droonet woman,I the, etc.14Some o them kent by her skin sae fair,But weel kent he by her bonnie yallow hairShe's the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie.15Some o them kent by her goons o silk,But weel kent he by her middle sae jimp,She's the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie.16Mony ane was at her oot-takin,But mony ane mair at her green grave makin,At the bonny mill-dams o Binorie.

1There lived twa sisters in yonder ha,Binórie O an BinórieThey hadna but ae lad atween them twa,He's the bonnie miller lad o Binórie.

2It fell oot upon a day,The auldest ane to the youngest did say,At the bonnie mill-dams o Binórie,

3'O sister, O sister, will ye go to the dams,To hear the blackbird thrashin oer his songs?At the,' etc.

4'O sister, O sister, will ye go to the dams,To see oor father's fish-boats come safe to dry lan?An the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.'

5They hadna been an oor at the dams,Till they heard the blackbird thrashin oer his tune,At the, etc.

6They hadna been an oor at the damsTill they saw their father's fish-boats come safe to dry lan,Bat they sawna the bonnie miller laddie.

7They stood baith up upon a stane,An the eldest ane dang the youngest in,I the, etc.

8She swam up, an she swam doon,An she swam back to her sister again,I the, etc.

9'O sister, O sister, len me your han,An yes be heir to my true love,He's the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.'

10'It was not for that love at I dang you in,But ye was fair and I was din,And yes droon i the dams o Binorie.'

11The miller's daughter she cam oot,For water to wash her father's hans,Frae the, etc.

12'O father, O father, ye will fish your dams,An ye'll get a white fish or a swan,I the,' etc.

13They fished up and they fished doon,But they got nothing but a droonet woman,I the, etc.

14Some o them kent by her skin sae fair,But weel kent he by her bonnie yallow hairShe's the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie.

15Some o them kent by her goons o silk,But weel kent he by her middle sae jimp,She's the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie.

16Mony ane was at her oot-takin,But mony ane mair at her green grave makin,At the bonny mill-dams o Binorie.

[Pinkerton's] Scottish Tragic Ballads, p. 72.

1There were twa sisters livd in a bouir,Binnorie, O BinnorieTheir father was a baron of pouir.By the bonnie mildams of Binnorie2The youngest was meek, and fair as the mayWhan she springs in the east wi the gowden day.3The eldest austerne as the winter cauld,Ferce was her saul, and her seiming was bauld.4A gallant squire cam sweet Isabel to wooe;Her sister had naething to luve I trow.5But filld was she wi dolour and ire,To see that to her the comlie squire6Preferd the debonair Isabel:Their hevin of luve of spyte was her hell.7Till ae ein she to her sister can say,'Sweit sister, cum let us wauk and play.'8They wauked up, and they wauked down,Sweit sang the birdis in the vallie loun.9Whan they cam to the roaring lin,She drave unweiting Isabel in.10'O sister, sister, tak my hand,And ye sall hae my silver fan.11'O sister, sister, tak my middle,And ye sall hae my gowden girdle.'12Sumtimes she sank, sumtimes she swam,Till she cam to the miller's dam.13The miller's dochtor was out that ein,And saw her rowing down the streim.14'O father deir, in your mil-damThere is either a lady or a milk-white swan!'15Twa days were gane, whan to her deirHer wraith at deid of nicht cold appeir.16'My luve, my deir, how can ye sleip,Whan your Isabel lyes in the deip!17'My deir, how can ye sleip bot painWhan she by her cruel sister is slain!'18Up raise he sune, in frichtfu mude:'Busk ye, my meiny, and seik the flude.'19They socht her up and they socht her doun,And spyd at last her glisterin gown.20They raisd her wi richt meikle care;Pale was her cheik and grein was her hair.

1There were twa sisters livd in a bouir,Binnorie, O BinnorieTheir father was a baron of pouir.By the bonnie mildams of Binnorie

2The youngest was meek, and fair as the mayWhan she springs in the east wi the gowden day.

3The eldest austerne as the winter cauld,Ferce was her saul, and her seiming was bauld.

4A gallant squire cam sweet Isabel to wooe;Her sister had naething to luve I trow.

5But filld was she wi dolour and ire,To see that to her the comlie squire

6Preferd the debonair Isabel:Their hevin of luve of spyte was her hell.

7Till ae ein she to her sister can say,'Sweit sister, cum let us wauk and play.'

8They wauked up, and they wauked down,Sweit sang the birdis in the vallie loun.

9Whan they cam to the roaring lin,She drave unweiting Isabel in.

10'O sister, sister, tak my hand,And ye sall hae my silver fan.

11'O sister, sister, tak my middle,And ye sall hae my gowden girdle.'

12Sumtimes she sank, sumtimes she swam,Till she cam to the miller's dam.

13The miller's dochtor was out that ein,And saw her rowing down the streim.

14'O father deir, in your mil-damThere is either a lady or a milk-white swan!'

15Twa days were gane, whan to her deirHer wraith at deid of nicht cold appeir.

16'My luve, my deir, how can ye sleip,Whan your Isabel lyes in the deip!

17'My deir, how can ye sleip bot painWhan she by her cruel sister is slain!'

18Up raise he sune, in frichtfu mude:'Busk ye, my meiny, and seik the flude.'

19They socht her up and they socht her doun,And spyd at last her glisterin gown.

20They raisd her wi richt meikle care;Pale was her cheik and grein was her hair.

a.Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland,II, 128.b.Traditional Ballad Airs, edited by W. Christie,I, 42.

1There were twa sisters in a bower,Hey wi the gay and the grindingAnd ae king's son has courted them baith.At the bonny bonny bows o London2He courted the youngest wi broach and ring,He courted the eldest wi some other thing.3It fell ance upon a dayThe eldest to the youngest did say,4'Will ye gae to yon Tweed mill-dam,And see our father's ships come to land?'5They baith stood up upon a stane,The eldest dang the youngest in.6She swimmed up, sae did she down,Till she came to the Tweed mill-dam.7The miller's servant he came out,And saw the lady floating about.8'O master, master, set your mill,There is a fish, or a milk-white swan.'9They could not ken her yellow hair,[For] the scales o gowd that were laid there.10They could not ken her fingers sae white,The rings o gowd they were sae bright.11They could not ken her middle sae jimp,The stays o gowd were so well laced.12They could not ken her foot sae fair,The shoes o gowd they were so rare.13Her father's fiddler he came by,Upstarted her ghaist before his eye.14'Ye'll take a lock o my yellow hair,Ye'll make a string to your fiddle there.15'Ye'll take a lith o my little finger bane,And ye'll make a pin to your fiddle then.'16He's taen a lock o her yellow hair,And made a string to his fiddle there.17He's taen a lith o her little finger bane,And he's made a pin to his fiddle then.18The firstand spring the fiddle did play,Said, 'Ye'll drown my sister, as she's dune me.'

1There were twa sisters in a bower,Hey wi the gay and the grindingAnd ae king's son has courted them baith.At the bonny bonny bows o London

2He courted the youngest wi broach and ring,He courted the eldest wi some other thing.

3It fell ance upon a dayThe eldest to the youngest did say,

4'Will ye gae to yon Tweed mill-dam,And see our father's ships come to land?'

5They baith stood up upon a stane,The eldest dang the youngest in.

6She swimmed up, sae did she down,Till she came to the Tweed mill-dam.

7The miller's servant he came out,And saw the lady floating about.

8'O master, master, set your mill,There is a fish, or a milk-white swan.'

9They could not ken her yellow hair,[For] the scales o gowd that were laid there.

10They could not ken her fingers sae white,The rings o gowd they were sae bright.

11They could not ken her middle sae jimp,The stays o gowd were so well laced.

12They could not ken her foot sae fair,The shoes o gowd they were so rare.

13Her father's fiddler he came by,Upstarted her ghaist before his eye.

14'Ye'll take a lock o my yellow hair,Ye'll make a string to your fiddle there.

15'Ye'll take a lith o my little finger bane,And ye'll make a pin to your fiddle then.'

16He's taen a lock o her yellow hair,And made a string to his fiddle there.

17He's taen a lith o her little finger bane,And he's made a pin to his fiddle then.

18The firstand spring the fiddle did play,Said, 'Ye'll drown my sister, as she's dune me.'

a.Motherwell's MS., p. 245.b.Motherwell's Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. xx, xx.

1There were twa ladies in a bower,Hey my bonnie Nannie OThe old was black and the young ane fair.And the swan swims bonnie O2Once it happened on a dayThe auld ane to the young did say,3The auld ane to the young did say,'Will you gae to the green and play?'4'O sister, sister, I daurna gang,For fear I file my silver shoon.'5It was not to the green they gaed,But it was to the water of Tweed.6She bowed her back and she's taen her on,And she's tumbled her in Tweed mill-dam.7'O sister, O sister, O tak my hand,And I'll mak you heir of a' my land.'8'O sister, O sister, I'll no take your hand,And I'll be heir of a' your land.'9'O sister, O sister, O tak my thumb,And I'll give you my true-love John.'10'O sister, O sister, I'll no tak your thumb,And I will get your true-love John.'11Aye she swattered and aye she swam,Until she came to the mouth of the dam.12The miller's daughter went out to Tweed,To get some water to bake her bread.13In again she quickly ran:'Here's a lady or a swan in our mill-dam.'14Out went the miller and his manAnd took the lady out of the dam.15They laid her on the brae to dry;Her father's fiddler then rode by.16When he this lady did come near,Her ghost to him then did appear.17'When you go to my father the king,You'll tell him to burn my sister Jean.18'When you go to my father's gate,You'll play a spring for fair Ellen's sake.19'You'll tak three links of my yellow hair,And play a spring for evermair.'

1There were twa ladies in a bower,Hey my bonnie Nannie OThe old was black and the young ane fair.And the swan swims bonnie O

2Once it happened on a dayThe auld ane to the young did say,

3The auld ane to the young did say,'Will you gae to the green and play?'

4'O sister, sister, I daurna gang,For fear I file my silver shoon.'

5It was not to the green they gaed,But it was to the water of Tweed.

6She bowed her back and she's taen her on,And she's tumbled her in Tweed mill-dam.

7'O sister, O sister, O tak my hand,And I'll mak you heir of a' my land.'

8'O sister, O sister, I'll no take your hand,And I'll be heir of a' your land.'

9'O sister, O sister, O tak my thumb,And I'll give you my true-love John.'

10'O sister, O sister, I'll no tak your thumb,And I will get your true-love John.'

11Aye she swattered and aye she swam,Until she came to the mouth of the dam.

12The miller's daughter went out to Tweed,To get some water to bake her bread.

13In again she quickly ran:'Here's a lady or a swan in our mill-dam.'

14Out went the miller and his manAnd took the lady out of the dam.

15They laid her on the brae to dry;Her father's fiddler then rode by.

16When he this lady did come near,Her ghost to him then did appear.

17'When you go to my father the king,You'll tell him to burn my sister Jean.

18'When you go to my father's gate,You'll play a spring for fair Ellen's sake.

19'You'll tak three links of my yellow hair,And play a spring for evermair.'

Copied Oct. 26, 1861, by J.F. Campbell, Esq., from a collection made by Lady Caroline Murray; traced by her to an old nurse, and beyond the beginning of this century.

1There dwelt twa sisters in a bower,Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!And the youngest she was the fairest flower.On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!2There cam a knight to court the twa,But on the youngest his love did fa.3He courted the eldest with ring and wi glove,But he gave the youngest all his love.4He courted the eldest with brooch and wi knife,But he loved the youngest as his life.5'O sister, O sister, will ye come to the stream,To see our father's ships come in?'6The youngest stood upon a stane,Her sister came and pusht her in.7'O sister, O sister, come reach me your hand,And ye shall hae all our father's land.8'O sister, O sister, come reach me your glove,And you shall hae William to be your true love.'9'I did not put you in with the designJust for to pull you out again.'10Some time she sank, some time she swam,Until she came to a miller's dam.11The miller's daughter dwelt on the Tweed,She went for water to bake her bread.12'O faither, faither, come drag me your dam,For there's aither a lady in't, or a milk-white swan.'13The miller went, and he dragd his dam,And he brought her fair body to lan.14They couldna see her waist sae smaFor the goud and silk about it a'.15They couldna see her yallow hairFor the pearls and jewels that were there.16Then up and spak her ghaist sae green,'Do ye no ken the king's dochter Jean?17'Tak my respects to my father the king,And likewise to my mother the queen.18'Tak my respects to my true love William,Tell him I deid for the love of him.19'Carry him a lock of my yallow hair,To bind his heart for evermair.'

1There dwelt twa sisters in a bower,Oh and ohone, and ohone and aree!And the youngest she was the fairest flower.On the banks of the Banna, ohone and aree!

2There cam a knight to court the twa,But on the youngest his love did fa.

3He courted the eldest with ring and wi glove,But he gave the youngest all his love.

4He courted the eldest with brooch and wi knife,But he loved the youngest as his life.

5'O sister, O sister, will ye come to the stream,To see our father's ships come in?'

6The youngest stood upon a stane,Her sister came and pusht her in.

7'O sister, O sister, come reach me your hand,And ye shall hae all our father's land.

8'O sister, O sister, come reach me your glove,And you shall hae William to be your true love.'

9'I did not put you in with the designJust for to pull you out again.'

10Some time she sank, some time she swam,Until she came to a miller's dam.

11The miller's daughter dwelt on the Tweed,She went for water to bake her bread.

12'O faither, faither, come drag me your dam,For there's aither a lady in't, or a milk-white swan.'

13The miller went, and he dragd his dam,And he brought her fair body to lan.

14They couldna see her waist sae smaFor the goud and silk about it a'.

15They couldna see her yallow hairFor the pearls and jewels that were there.

16Then up and spak her ghaist sae green,'Do ye no ken the king's dochter Jean?

17'Tak my respects to my father the king,And likewise to my mother the queen.

18'Tak my respects to my true love William,Tell him I deid for the love of him.

19'Carry him a lock of my yallow hair,To bind his heart for evermair.'

a.Notes and Queries, 1st S.,VI, 102, from Lancashire.b.Written down for J.F. Campbell, Esq., Nov. 7, 1861, at Wishaw House, Lancashire, by Lady Louisa Primrose,c.'The Scouring of the White Horse,' p. 158, from Berkshire, as heard by Mr Hughes from his father.

1There was a king of the north countree,Bow down, bow down, bow downThere was a king of the north countree,And he had daughters one, two, three.I'll be true to my love, and my love'll be true to me2To the eldest he gave a beaver hat,And the youngest she thought much of that.3To the youngest he gave a gay gold chain,And the eldest she thought much of the same.4These sisters were walking on the bryn,And the elder pushed the younger in.5'Oh sister, oh sister, oh lend me your hand,And I will give you both houses and land.'6'I'll neither give you my hand nor glove,Unless you give me your true love.'7Away she sank, away she swam,Until she came to a miller's dam.8The miller and daughter stood at the door,And watched her floating down the shore.9'Oh father, oh father, I see a white swan,Or else it is a fair woman.'10The miller he took up his long crook,And the maiden up from the stream he took.11'I'll give to thee this gay gold chain,If you'll take me back to my father again.'12The miller he took the gay gold chain,And he pushed her into the water again.13The miller was hanged on his high gateFor drowning our poor sister Kate.14The cat's behind the buttery shelf,If you want any more, you may sing it yourself.

1There was a king of the north countree,Bow down, bow down, bow downThere was a king of the north countree,And he had daughters one, two, three.I'll be true to my love, and my love'll be true to me

2To the eldest he gave a beaver hat,And the youngest she thought much of that.

3To the youngest he gave a gay gold chain,And the eldest she thought much of the same.

4These sisters were walking on the bryn,And the elder pushed the younger in.

5'Oh sister, oh sister, oh lend me your hand,And I will give you both houses and land.'

6'I'll neither give you my hand nor glove,Unless you give me your true love.'

7Away she sank, away she swam,Until she came to a miller's dam.

8The miller and daughter stood at the door,And watched her floating down the shore.

9'Oh father, oh father, I see a white swan,Or else it is a fair woman.'

10The miller he took up his long crook,And the maiden up from the stream he took.

11'I'll give to thee this gay gold chain,If you'll take me back to my father again.'

12The miller he took the gay gold chain,And he pushed her into the water again.

13The miller was hanged on his high gateFor drowning our poor sister Kate.

14The cat's behind the buttery shelf,If you want any more, you may sing it yourself.

Kinloch MSS,VI, 89, in Kinloch's hand.

* * * * *1'O father, father, swims a swan,'This story I'll vent to thee'O father, father, swims a swan,Unless it be some dead woman.'I'll prove true to my true love,If my love prove true to me2The miller he held out his long fish hook,And hooked this fair maid from the brook.3She offered the miller a gold ring staneTo throw her into the river again.4Down she sunk, and away she swam,Until she came to her father's brook.5The miller was hung at his mill-gate,For drowning of my sister Kate.

* * * * *

1'O father, father, swims a swan,'This story I'll vent to thee'O father, father, swims a swan,Unless it be some dead woman.'I'll prove true to my true love,If my love prove true to me

2The miller he held out his long fish hook,And hooked this fair maid from the brook.

3She offered the miller a gold ring staneTo throw her into the river again.

4Down she sunk, and away she swam,Until she came to her father's brook.

5The miller was hung at his mill-gate,For drowning of my sister Kate.

Allingham's Ballad Book, p. xxxiii. From Ireland.

'Sister, dear sister, where shall we go play?'Cold blows the wind, and the wind blows low'We shall go to the salt sea's brim.'And the wind blows cheerily around us, high ho

Communicated by Mr W.W. Newell, as repeated by an ignorant woman in her dotage, who learned it at Huntington, Long Island, N.Y.

1There was a man lived in the mist,Bow down, bow downHe loved his youngest daughter best.The bow is bent to me,So you be true to your own true love,And I'll be true to thee.2These two sisters went out to swim;The oldest pushed the youngest in.3First she sank and then she swam,First she sank and then she swam.4The miller, with his rake and hook,He caught her by the petticoat.* * * * *

1There was a man lived in the mist,Bow down, bow downHe loved his youngest daughter best.The bow is bent to me,So you be true to your own true love,And I'll be true to thee.

2These two sisters went out to swim;The oldest pushed the youngest in.

3First she sank and then she swam,First she sank and then she swam.

4The miller, with his rake and hook,He caught her by the petticoat.

* * * * *

A. b.

11, went a-playing.Burden2.a downe-o.

11, went a-playing.

Burden2.a downe-o.

11. went a-playing.Burden1,2.With a hey down, down, a down, down-a.42. Till oat-meal and salt grow both on a tree.61. ran hastily down the clift.62. And up he took her without any life.132. Moll Symns.141, 151. Then he bespake.172. And let him go i the devil's name.

11. went a-playing.

Burden1,2.With a hey down, down, a down, down-a.

42. Till oat-meal and salt grow both on a tree.

61. ran hastily down the clift.

62. And up he took her without any life.

132. Moll Symns.

141, 151. Then he bespake.

172. And let him go i the devil's name.

11, went a-playing.12, ships sailing in.21. into.32. me up on.62. withouten life.

11, went a-playing.

12, ships sailing in.

21. into.

32. me up on.

62. withouten life.

B. a.

26, 27, 28.Anithas been written in as a conjectural emendation by Jamieson,he did it play, {it/he} playd; anditis adopted by Jamieson in his printed copy: see below,d26, 27, 28.

The first stanza only, agreeing witha1, is given by Anderson, Nichols's Illustrations,VII, 178.

Evidently a copy of Mrs Brown's version, and in Scott's MS. it has the air, as all the Tytler-Brown ballads had. Still it has but twenty-three stanzas, whereas Dr Anderson gives fifty-eight lines as the extent of the Tytler-Brown copy of 'The Cruel Sister' (Nichols, Illus. Lit. Hist.,VII, 178). This, counting the first stanza, with the burden, as four lines, according to the arrangement in Scott's MS., would tally exactly with the Jamieson-Brown MS.,B a.It would seem thatB chad been altered by somebody in order to remove the absurd combination of sea and mill-dam; the invitation to go see the ships come to land,B a7, is omitted, and "the deep mill-dam" substituted, in 8, for "yon sea-stran." Stanza 17 ofc, "They raisd her," etc., cited below, occurs in Pinkerton,N20, and is more likely to be his than anybody's.21. brooch and ring.22. abune a' thing.31. wooed ... with glove and knife.32. looed the second.52. she well nigh brist.7.wanting.82. led her to the deep mill-dam.92. Her cruel sister pushd her in.112. And Ise mak ye.12.wanting.141. Shame fa the hand that I shall tak.151. gowden hair.152. gar ... maiden ever mair.16.wanting.171. Then out and cam.172. swimming down.181. O father, haste and draw.191. his dam.192. And then. (?)Instead of 20-22:

It would seem thatB chad been altered by somebody in order to remove the absurd combination of sea and mill-dam; the invitation to go see the ships come to land,B a7, is omitted, and "the deep mill-dam" substituted, in 8, for "yon sea-stran." Stanza 17 ofc, "They raisd her," etc., cited below, occurs in Pinkerton,N20, and is more likely to be his than anybody's.

21. brooch and ring.

22. abune a' thing.

31. wooed ... with glove and knife.

32. looed the second.

52. she well nigh brist.

7.wanting.

82. led her to the deep mill-dam.

92. Her cruel sister pushd her in.

112. And Ise mak ye.

12.wanting.

141. Shame fa the hand that I shall tak.

151. gowden hair.

152. gar ... maiden ever mair.

16.wanting.

171. Then out and cam.

172. swimming down.

181. O father, haste and draw.

191. his dam.

192. And then. (?)

Instead of 20-22:

They raisd her wi meikle dule and care,Pale was her cheek and green was her hair.

241. that corpse upon.252. he's strung.261, 271, 281,fortune,line, if the copy be right.271. The next.281. The last.282. fause Ellen."Note by Ritson. 'The fragment of a very different copy of this ballad has been communicated to J.R. by a friend at Dublin.'" [J.C. Walker, no doubt.]

241. that corpse upon.

252. he's strung.

261, 271, 281,fortune,line, if the copy be right.

271. The next.

281. The last.

282. fause Ellen.

"Note by Ritson. 'The fragment of a very different copy of this ballad has been communicated to J.R. by a friend at Dublin.'" [J.C. Walker, no doubt.]

Jamieson, Popular Ballads and Songs,I, 48, says that he gives his text verbatim as it was taken from the recitation of the lady in Fifeshire (Mrs Brown), to whom both he and Scott were so much indebted. That this is not to be understood with absolute strictness will appear from the variations which are subjoined. Jamieson adds that he had received another copy from Mrs Arrott of Aberbrothick, "but as it furnished no readings by which the text could have been materially improved," it was not used. Both Jamieson and Scott substitute the "Binnorie" burden, "the most common and popular," says Scott, for the one given by Mrs Brown, with which Mrs Arrott's agreed. It may be added that Jamieson's interpolations are stanzas 20, 21, 27, etc., and not, as he says (I, 49), 19, 20, 27, etc. These interpolations also occur as such in the manuscript.11. sisters livd.22. aboon.32. he loved.42. and sair envied.51. Intill her bower she coudna.52. maistly brast.112. mak ye.142. me o.161.omitsan.162. came to the mouth o yon mill-dam.182. There's.202. that was.222. that were.261. it did.271. it playd seen.281. thirden tune that it.A copy in Motherwell's MS., p. 239, is derived from Jamieson's printed edition. It omits the interpolated stanzas, and makes a few very slight changes.

11. sisters livd.

22. aboon.

32. he loved.

42. and sair envied.

51. Intill her bower she coudna.

52. maistly brast.

112. mak ye.

142. me o.

161.omitsan.

162. came to the mouth o yon mill-dam.

182. There's.

202. that was.

222. that were.

261. it did.

271. it playd seen.

281. thirden tune that it.

A copy in Motherwell's MS., p. 239, is derived from Jamieson's printed edition. It omits the interpolated stanzas, and makes a few very slight changes.

Back to Index Next