A

A.'Brown Robin.'a.Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 37.b.Abbotsford MS., "Scottish Songs."B.'Love Robbie,' Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 136.C.'Brown Robyn and Mally,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 299.

A.'Brown Robin.'a.Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 37.b.Abbotsford MS., "Scottish Songs."

B.'Love Robbie,' Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 136.

C.'Brown Robyn and Mally,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 299.

'Brown Robin' was No 7 in William Tytler's Brown MS. The first stanza is cited by Anderson, Nichols's Literary Illustrations, VII, 177, and there were twenty-one stanzas, as inA a.A bmay have been a copy of the Tytler-Brown version. It does not seem to have been tampered with so much as other ballads in the same manuscript. The story undoubtedly stops at the right point inA, with the escape of the two lovers to the wood. The sequel inCis not at all beyond the inventive ability of Buchan's blind beggar, and some other blind beggar may have contrived the cane and the whale, the shooting and the hanging, inB.

Brown Robin is lover or husband of May Margerie, or May a Roe=Lillie Flower, in 'Jellon Grame,' No 90,B14,C7, and again of White Lilly in 'Rose the Red and White Lilly,' No 103,A7 ff.

We have money given over the wall by an eloping lady, as inB4, 5,C5, also in 'Willie o Douglas Dale,' No 101,C4, 5.

A1, nearly, is stanza 5 in Jamieson's 'Glenkindie;' see p. 141 of this volume, note toB.

Cis translated by Gerhard, p. 175.

a.Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 37.b.Abbotsford MS., "Scottish Songs."

1The king but an his nobles a'}bisSat birling at the wine;}He would ha nane but his ae daughterTo wait on them at dine.2She's servd them butt, she's servd them ben,Intill a gown of green,But her ee was ay on Brown Robin,That stood low under the rain.3She's doen her to her bigly bowr,As fast as she coud gang,An there she's drawn her shot-window,An she's harped an she sang.4'There sits a bird i my father's garden,An O but she sings sweet!I hope to live an see the dayWhan wi my love I'll meet.'5'O gin that ye like me as wellAs your tongue tells to me,What hour o the night, my lady bright,At your bowr sal I be?'6'Whan my father an gay GilbertAre baith set at the wine,O ready, ready I will beTo lat my true-love in.'7O she has birld her father's porterWi strong beer an wi wine,Untill he was as beastly drunkAs ony wild-wood swine:She's stown the keys o her father's yatesAn latten her true-love in.8Whan night was gane, an day was come,An the sun shone on their feet,Then out it spake him Brown Robin,I'll be discoverd yet.9Then out it spake that gay lady:My love, ye need na doubt;For wi ae wile I've got you in,Wi anither I'll bring you out.10She's taen her to her father's cellar,As fast as she can fare;She's drawn a cup o the gude red wine,Hung't low down by her gare;An she met wi her father dearJust coming down the stair.11'I woud na gi that cup, daughter,That ye hold i your hanFor a' the wines in my cellar,An gantrees whare the stan.'12'O wae be to your wine, father,That ever't came oer the sea;'T'is pitten my head in sick a steerI my bowr I canna be.'13'Gang out, gang out, my daughter dear,Gang out an tack the air;Gang out an walk i the good green wood,An a' your marys fair.'14Then out it spake the proud porter—Our lady wishd him shame—We'll send the marys to the wood,But we'll keep our lady at hame.'15'There's thirty marys i my bowr,There's thirty o them an three;But there's nae ane amo them a'Kens what flowr gains for me.'16She's doen her to her bigly bowr,As fast as she could gang,An she has dresst him Brown RobinLike ony bowr-woman.17The gown she pat upon her loveWas o the dainty green,His hose was o the saft, saft silk,His shoon o the cordwain fine.18She's pitten his bow in her bosom,His arrow in her sleeve,His sturdy bran her body next,Because he was her love.19Then she is unto her bowr-door,As fast as she coud gang;But out it spake the proud porter—Our lady wishd him shame—We'll count our marys to the wood,An we'll count them back again.'20The firsten mary she sent outWas Brown Robin by name;Then out it spake the king himsel,'This is a sturdy dame.'21O she went out in a May morning,In a May morning so gay,But she came never back again,Her auld father to see.

1The king but an his nobles a'}bisSat birling at the wine;}He would ha nane but his ae daughterTo wait on them at dine.

2She's servd them butt, she's servd them ben,Intill a gown of green,But her ee was ay on Brown Robin,That stood low under the rain.

3She's doen her to her bigly bowr,As fast as she coud gang,An there she's drawn her shot-window,An she's harped an she sang.

4'There sits a bird i my father's garden,An O but she sings sweet!I hope to live an see the dayWhan wi my love I'll meet.'

5'O gin that ye like me as wellAs your tongue tells to me,What hour o the night, my lady bright,At your bowr sal I be?'

6'Whan my father an gay GilbertAre baith set at the wine,O ready, ready I will beTo lat my true-love in.'

7O she has birld her father's porterWi strong beer an wi wine,Untill he was as beastly drunkAs ony wild-wood swine:She's stown the keys o her father's yatesAn latten her true-love in.

8Whan night was gane, an day was come,An the sun shone on their feet,Then out it spake him Brown Robin,I'll be discoverd yet.

9Then out it spake that gay lady:My love, ye need na doubt;For wi ae wile I've got you in,Wi anither I'll bring you out.

10She's taen her to her father's cellar,As fast as she can fare;She's drawn a cup o the gude red wine,Hung't low down by her gare;An she met wi her father dearJust coming down the stair.

11'I woud na gi that cup, daughter,That ye hold i your hanFor a' the wines in my cellar,An gantrees whare the stan.'

12'O wae be to your wine, father,That ever't came oer the sea;'T'is pitten my head in sick a steerI my bowr I canna be.'

13'Gang out, gang out, my daughter dear,Gang out an tack the air;Gang out an walk i the good green wood,An a' your marys fair.'

14Then out it spake the proud porter—Our lady wishd him shame—We'll send the marys to the wood,But we'll keep our lady at hame.'

15'There's thirty marys i my bowr,There's thirty o them an three;But there's nae ane amo them a'Kens what flowr gains for me.'

16She's doen her to her bigly bowr,As fast as she could gang,An she has dresst him Brown RobinLike ony bowr-woman.

17The gown she pat upon her loveWas o the dainty green,His hose was o the saft, saft silk,His shoon o the cordwain fine.

18She's pitten his bow in her bosom,His arrow in her sleeve,His sturdy bran her body next,Because he was her love.

19Then she is unto her bowr-door,As fast as she coud gang;But out it spake the proud porter—Our lady wishd him shame—We'll count our marys to the wood,An we'll count them back again.'

20The firsten mary she sent outWas Brown Robin by name;Then out it spake the king himsel,'This is a sturdy dame.'

21O she went out in a May morning,In a May morning so gay,But she came never back again,Her auld father to see.

Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 136, from the recitation of an old woman in Buckie, Enzie, Banffshire.

1'A feathered fowl's in your orchard, father,O dear, but it sings sweet!What would I give, my father dear,That bonnie bird to meet!'What would I give, etc.2'O hold your tongue, my daughter Mary,Let a' your folly be;There's six Scots lords tomorrow, child,That will a' dine wi me,And ye maun serve them a', Mary,As't were for meat and fee.'3She served them up, sae has she down,The footmen a' the same,But her mind was aye on Love Robbie,Stood out below the rain.4A hundred pun o pennies roun,Tied in a towel so sma,She has gien to him Love Robbie,Out oer the castle-wa;Says, Tak ye that, my love Robbie.And mysel ye may hae.5A hundred pun o pennies roun,Tied in a napkin white,She has gien to him Love Robbie,Out oer the garden-dyke;Says, Tak ye that, my Love Robbie,And mysel gin ye like.6'If this be true ye tell to me,As your tongue woudna lee,I shall be in your bigly bowerBefore the clock strike three;I shall be in your bigly bower,Dressd like a gay ladye.'7When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And all men bound for bed,Love Robbie came to Mary's bower,Dressd like a comely maid.8They had not kissd nor love clappëd,As lovers when they meet,Till sighing said he Love Robbie,My life, my life I doubt.9'Your life, your life, you Love Robbie,Your life you needna doubt;For it was wiles brought in Robbie,And wiles will lat him out.'10Then in it came her father dear,And stood upon the floor,And she filld the cup of good red wine,Said, Father, will ye drink more?11'O better I love the cup, Mary,The cup that's in your hand,Than all my barrels full of wine,On the gantrees where they stand.'12'O woe be to your wine, father,It eer came oer the sea!If I getna the air o good greenwoodO I will surely dee.'13'There's seven maries in your bower,There's seven o them and three,And I'll send them to good greenwood,For flowers to shortsome thee.'14'There's seven maries in my bower,There's seven o them and three,But there's nae a mary mang them a'Can pu flowers to shortsome me:''Then by my sooth,' said her father dear,'Let yoursel gang them wi.'15She dressd hersel in the royal red,Love Robbie was in dainty green;Love Robbie's brand was about his middle,And he shone like ony queen.16The firsten ane that took the floor,Love Robbie was that ane:'Now by my sooth,' said the proud porter,'She is a sonsie dame;I would not care now very muchTo turn her in again.'17'I'd fain see any woman or man,Of high or low degree,Would turn a mary in againThat once came out with me.'18They had not been in good greenwood,Pu'd a flower but only three,Till the porter stood behind a bush,And shot him Love Robbie.19Now word has come to her father dear,In the chamber where he lay,Lady Mary's sick in good greenwood,And cannot come away.20He's taen his mantle him about,His cane into his han,And he is on to good greenwood,As fast as he could gang.21'O want you fish out o the fleed,Or whale out o the sea?Or is there any one aliveThis day has angerd thee?'22'I want not fish out o the fleed,Nor whale out o the sea;But woe be to your proud porter,Sae sair's he's angerd me!He's shot the fairest flower this day,That would hae comfort me.'23'O hold your tongue, my daughter Mary,Let a' your folly be;Tomorrow ere I eat or drinkHigh hangëd shall he be.'

1'A feathered fowl's in your orchard, father,O dear, but it sings sweet!What would I give, my father dear,That bonnie bird to meet!'What would I give, etc.

2'O hold your tongue, my daughter Mary,Let a' your folly be;There's six Scots lords tomorrow, child,That will a' dine wi me,And ye maun serve them a', Mary,As't were for meat and fee.'

3She served them up, sae has she down,The footmen a' the same,But her mind was aye on Love Robbie,Stood out below the rain.

4A hundred pun o pennies roun,Tied in a towel so sma,She has gien to him Love Robbie,Out oer the castle-wa;Says, Tak ye that, my love Robbie.And mysel ye may hae.

5A hundred pun o pennies roun,Tied in a napkin white,She has gien to him Love Robbie,Out oer the garden-dyke;Says, Tak ye that, my Love Robbie,And mysel gin ye like.

6'If this be true ye tell to me,As your tongue woudna lee,I shall be in your bigly bowerBefore the clock strike three;I shall be in your bigly bower,Dressd like a gay ladye.'

7When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And all men bound for bed,Love Robbie came to Mary's bower,Dressd like a comely maid.

8They had not kissd nor love clappëd,As lovers when they meet,Till sighing said he Love Robbie,My life, my life I doubt.

9'Your life, your life, you Love Robbie,Your life you needna doubt;For it was wiles brought in Robbie,And wiles will lat him out.'

10Then in it came her father dear,And stood upon the floor,And she filld the cup of good red wine,Said, Father, will ye drink more?

11'O better I love the cup, Mary,The cup that's in your hand,Than all my barrels full of wine,On the gantrees where they stand.'

12'O woe be to your wine, father,It eer came oer the sea!If I getna the air o good greenwoodO I will surely dee.'

13'There's seven maries in your bower,There's seven o them and three,And I'll send them to good greenwood,For flowers to shortsome thee.'

14'There's seven maries in my bower,There's seven o them and three,But there's nae a mary mang them a'Can pu flowers to shortsome me:''Then by my sooth,' said her father dear,'Let yoursel gang them wi.'

15She dressd hersel in the royal red,Love Robbie was in dainty green;Love Robbie's brand was about his middle,And he shone like ony queen.

16The firsten ane that took the floor,Love Robbie was that ane:'Now by my sooth,' said the proud porter,'She is a sonsie dame;I would not care now very muchTo turn her in again.'

17'I'd fain see any woman or man,Of high or low degree,Would turn a mary in againThat once came out with me.'

18They had not been in good greenwood,Pu'd a flower but only three,Till the porter stood behind a bush,And shot him Love Robbie.

19Now word has come to her father dear,In the chamber where he lay,Lady Mary's sick in good greenwood,And cannot come away.

20He's taen his mantle him about,His cane into his han,And he is on to good greenwood,As fast as he could gang.

21'O want you fish out o the fleed,Or whale out o the sea?Or is there any one aliveThis day has angerd thee?'

22'I want not fish out o the fleed,Nor whale out o the sea;But woe be to your proud porter,Sae sair's he's angerd me!He's shot the fairest flower this day,That would hae comfort me.'

23'O hold your tongue, my daughter Mary,Let a' your folly be;Tomorrow ere I eat or drinkHigh hangëd shall he be.'

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 299.

1'There is a bird in my father's orchard,And dear, but it sings sweet!I hope to live to see the dayThis bird and I will meet.'2'O hold your tongue, my daughter Mally,Let a' your folly be;What bird is that in my orchardSae shortsome is to thee?3'There are four-an-twenty noble lordsThe morn shoud dine wi me;And ye maun serve them a', Mally,Like one for meat and fee.'4She servd the nobles all as one,The horsemen much the same;But her mind was aye to Brown Robyn,Beneath the heavy rain.5Then she's rowd up a thousand poundsIntil a servit white,And she gae that to Brown Robyn,Out ower the garden-dyke:Says, Take ye that, my love Robyn,And mysell gin ye like.6'If this be true, my dame,' he said,'That ye hae tauld to me,About the hour o twall at night,At your bower-door I'll be.'7But ere the hour o twall did chap,And lang ere it was ten,She had hersell there right and readyTo lat Brown Robyn in.8They hadna kissd nor love clappedTill the birds sang on the ha;'O,' sighing says him Brown Robyn,'I wish I were awa!'9They hadna sitten muckle langerTill the guards shot ower the way;Then sighing says him Brown Robyn,'I fear my life this day.'10'O had your tongue, my love Robyn,Of this take ye nae doubt;It was by wiles I brought you in,By wiles I'll bring you out.'11Then she's taen up a cup o wine,To her father went she;'O drink the wine, father,' she said,'O drink the wine wi me.'12'O well love I the cup, daughter,But better love I the wine;And better love I your fair bodyThan a' the gowd in Spain.'13'Wae be to the wine, father,That last came ower the sea;Without the air o gude greenwood,There's nae remeid for me.'14'Ye've thirty maries in your bower,Ye've thirty and hae three;Send ane o them to pu a flower,Stay ye at hame wi me.'15'I've thirty maries in my bower,I've thirty o them and nine;But there's nae a marie amo them a'That kens my grief and mind.16'For they may pu the nut, the nut,And sae may they the slae,But there's nane amo them a' that kensThe herb that I woud hae.'17'Well, gin ye gang to gude greenwood,Come shortly back again;Ye are sae fair and are sae rare,Your body may get harm.'18She dressd hersell into the red,Brown Robyn all in green,And put his brand across his middle,He was a stately dame.19The first ane stepped ower the yett,It was him Brown Robyn;'By my sooth,' said the proud porter,'This is a stately dame.20'O wi your leave, lady,' he said,'And leave o a' your kin,I woudna think it a great sinTo turn that marie in.'21'O had your tongue, ye proud porter,Let a' your folly be;Ye darena turn a marie inThat ance came forth wi me.'22'Well shall I call your maries out,And as well shall I in;For I am safe to gie my oathThat marie is a man.'23Soon she went to gude greenwood,And soon came back again;'Gude sooth,' replied the proud porter,'We've lost our stately dame.'24'My maid's faen sick in gude greenwood,And sick and liken to die;The morn before the cocks do craw,That marie I maun see.'25Out it spake her father then,Says, Porter, let me knowIf I will cause her stay at hame,Or shall I let her go?26'She says her maid's sick in the wood,And sick and like to die;I really think she is too gudeNor ever woud make a lie.'27Then he whispered in her ear,As she was passing by,'What will ye say if I revealWhat I saw wi my eye?'28'If ought ye ken about the same,O heal that well on me,And if I live or brook my life,Rewarded ye shall be.'29Then she got leave o her fatherTo gude greenwood again,And she is gane wi Brown Robyn,But't was lang ere she came hame.30O then her father began to mourn,And thus lamented he:'O I woud gie ten thousand poundsMy daughter for to see.'31'If ye will promise,' the porter said,'To do nae injury,I will find out your daughter dear,And them that's gane her wi.'32Then he did swear a solemn oath,By a' his gowd and land,Nae injury to them's be dune,Whether it be maid or man.33The porter then a letter wrote,And seald it wi his hand,And sent it to that lady fair,For to return hame.34When she came to her father's ha,He received her joyfullie,And married her to Brown Robyn;Now a happy man was he.35She hadna been in her father's haA day but barely three,Till she settled the porter well for life,Wi gowd and white monie.

1'There is a bird in my father's orchard,And dear, but it sings sweet!I hope to live to see the dayThis bird and I will meet.'

2'O hold your tongue, my daughter Mally,Let a' your folly be;What bird is that in my orchardSae shortsome is to thee?

3'There are four-an-twenty noble lordsThe morn shoud dine wi me;And ye maun serve them a', Mally,Like one for meat and fee.'

4She servd the nobles all as one,The horsemen much the same;But her mind was aye to Brown Robyn,Beneath the heavy rain.

5Then she's rowd up a thousand poundsIntil a servit white,And she gae that to Brown Robyn,Out ower the garden-dyke:Says, Take ye that, my love Robyn,And mysell gin ye like.

6'If this be true, my dame,' he said,'That ye hae tauld to me,About the hour o twall at night,At your bower-door I'll be.'

7But ere the hour o twall did chap,And lang ere it was ten,She had hersell there right and readyTo lat Brown Robyn in.

8They hadna kissd nor love clappedTill the birds sang on the ha;'O,' sighing says him Brown Robyn,'I wish I were awa!'

9They hadna sitten muckle langerTill the guards shot ower the way;Then sighing says him Brown Robyn,'I fear my life this day.'

10'O had your tongue, my love Robyn,Of this take ye nae doubt;It was by wiles I brought you in,By wiles I'll bring you out.'

11Then she's taen up a cup o wine,To her father went she;'O drink the wine, father,' she said,'O drink the wine wi me.'

12'O well love I the cup, daughter,But better love I the wine;And better love I your fair bodyThan a' the gowd in Spain.'

13'Wae be to the wine, father,That last came ower the sea;Without the air o gude greenwood,There's nae remeid for me.'

14'Ye've thirty maries in your bower,Ye've thirty and hae three;Send ane o them to pu a flower,Stay ye at hame wi me.'

15'I've thirty maries in my bower,I've thirty o them and nine;But there's nae a marie amo them a'That kens my grief and mind.

16'For they may pu the nut, the nut,And sae may they the slae,But there's nane amo them a' that kensThe herb that I woud hae.'

17'Well, gin ye gang to gude greenwood,Come shortly back again;Ye are sae fair and are sae rare,Your body may get harm.'

18She dressd hersell into the red,Brown Robyn all in green,And put his brand across his middle,He was a stately dame.

19The first ane stepped ower the yett,It was him Brown Robyn;'By my sooth,' said the proud porter,'This is a stately dame.

20'O wi your leave, lady,' he said,'And leave o a' your kin,I woudna think it a great sinTo turn that marie in.'

21'O had your tongue, ye proud porter,Let a' your folly be;Ye darena turn a marie inThat ance came forth wi me.'

22'Well shall I call your maries out,And as well shall I in;For I am safe to gie my oathThat marie is a man.'

23Soon she went to gude greenwood,And soon came back again;'Gude sooth,' replied the proud porter,'We've lost our stately dame.'

24'My maid's faen sick in gude greenwood,And sick and liken to die;The morn before the cocks do craw,That marie I maun see.'

25Out it spake her father then,Says, Porter, let me knowIf I will cause her stay at hame,Or shall I let her go?

26'She says her maid's sick in the wood,And sick and like to die;I really think she is too gudeNor ever woud make a lie.'

27Then he whispered in her ear,As she was passing by,'What will ye say if I revealWhat I saw wi my eye?'

28'If ought ye ken about the same,O heal that well on me,And if I live or brook my life,Rewarded ye shall be.'

29Then she got leave o her fatherTo gude greenwood again,And she is gane wi Brown Robyn,But't was lang ere she came hame.

30O then her father began to mourn,And thus lamented he:'O I woud gie ten thousand poundsMy daughter for to see.'

31'If ye will promise,' the porter said,'To do nae injury,I will find out your daughter dear,And them that's gane her wi.'

32Then he did swear a solemn oath,By a' his gowd and land,Nae injury to them's be dune,Whether it be maid or man.

33The porter then a letter wrote,And seald it wi his hand,And sent it to that lady fair,For to return hame.

34When she came to her father's ha,He received her joyfullie,And married her to Brown Robyn;Now a happy man was he.

35She hadna been in her father's haA day but barely three,Till she settled the porter well for life,Wi gowd and white monie.

A. a.

Written in stanzas of two long lines. The first stanza, as given by Anderson, is:

The king Val(?) and his nobles a'Sat drinking at the wine;He woud ha nane but his ae daughterTo wait on them at dine.

181. boson:the king's daughter must have been"a sturdy dame" too.212. so gray.The sun was up:see stanza 8.

181. boson:the king's daughter must have been"a sturdy dame" too.

212. so gray.The sun was up:see stanza 8.

12. Were drinking.21. She served them butt.22. Baith knights and gallants sheen.23. was still.32. might gang.33. And she has.41. in yonder tree.42. vow but he.44. my love and I shall.51. Gin ye luve me as weel, fair maid.61. my auld father.62. Sit drinking.63. will I.71. has hired the proud porter.72. Wi the ale but and the.

12. Were drinking.

21. She served them butt.

22. Baith knights and gallants sheen.

23. was still.

32. might gang.

33. And she has.

41. in yonder tree.

42. vow but he.

44. my love and I shall.

51. Gin ye luve me as weel, fair maid.

61. my auld father.

62. Sit drinking.

63. will I.

71. has hired the proud porter.

72. Wi the ale but and the.

75, 6.She's slipped aff hir silken sheen,And saftly trippd she down;She's stown the key o hir father's yate,And let hir true love in.

82. shined.83. out and spake.91. O out and spake.93. As wi ae wile I hae brought.101, 2.wanting.105. she has met her auld.106. Came creeping up.11.wanting.122. ever it crossd.123. It has put.124. canna stay.134. Wi a'141. and spake.142. send him.144. But keep the princess.154. flowr's gude.161. hied her.162. Sae fast as she might.

82. shined.

83. out and spake.

91. O out and spake.

93. As wi ae wile I hae brought.

101, 2.wanting.

105. she has met her auld.

106. Came creeping up.

11.wanting.

122. ever it crossd.

123. It has put.

124. canna stay.

134. Wi a'

141. and spake.

142. send him.

144. But keep the princess.

154. flowr's gude.

161. hied her.

162. Sae fast as she might.

163, 4.She's putten a goun upon hir loveWas of the dainty green.171, 2.The girdle round his stately waistWi gowd and silver shone.

163, 4.She's putten a goun upon hir loveWas of the dainty green.

171, 2.The girdle round his stately waistWi gowd and silver shone.

173. His stockings o.174. And his shune o the cordovan.181. She put.182. up her.183. her fair side next.19.wanting.203. By the faith o my body, then said the king.204. a lusty.211. gaed out.212. sae gay.

173. His stockings o.

174. And his shune o the cordovan.

181. She put.

182. up her.

183. her fair side next.

19.wanting.

203. By the faith o my body, then said the king.

204. a lusty.

211. gaed out.

212. sae gay.

A.'Brown Adam,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 17.B.'Broun Edom,' Harris MS., fol. 27 b, No 26.C.'Brown Adam the Smith,' Buchan MSS, I, 46.

A.'Brown Adam,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 17.

B.'Broun Edom,' Harris MS., fol. 27 b, No 26.

C.'Brown Adam the Smith,' Buchan MSS, I, 46.

'Brown Adam' was No 14 of the fifteen ballads furnished William Tytler by Mrs Brown in 1783: Anderson, in Nichols's Illustrations, VII, 178. The ballad was first printed in the Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, II, 16, 1802, with the omission of Mrs Brown's second stanza, and some changes. Scott remarks that he had seen a copy printed on a single sheet.

C1, 3, 6, 7 are very close toA1, 2, 3, 4.A2 was not printed by Scott, and if these stanzas were borrowed,A2 must have been taken from the Jamieson MS., to which other cases of correspondence warrant a suspicion that one of Buchan's contributors had access.Chas the usual marks of Buchan's copies, great length, vulgarity, and such extravagance and absurdity as are found in stanzas 23, 26, 29.

A Danish ballad, from manuscripts of the sixteenth century and later, has a remote likeness to 'Brown Adam:' 'Den afhugne Haand,' Grundtvig, No 199, IV, 153. Lawi Pedersøn, who has shown bad faith to women, makes love to Lutzelil, who knows his ways, and rejects him summarily. Lawi rides off in wrath, saying that she shall be sorry for it. The maid is afraid to go to church for nine months, but ventures at Easter. Lawi stops her in a wood. She begs him to do her no harm, feigns to be amenable, and gives him an assignation at an off-lying apartment in which she sleeps with her maids; then rides away, laughing over her successful evasion. She tells her father how she has met Lawi, and begs him to be on the watch. Lawi comes at night, knocks, and is answered, according to the formula of Danish ballads, that she has made no appointment and he cannot come in. Lawi threatens to take off the door, and does so. Lutzelil's father is standing ready with his sword, and cuts off Lawi's hand.

The copy in Scott's Minstrelsy is translated by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, No 45, p. 291; by Schubart, p. 65; Arndt, Blütenlese, p. 231; Rosa Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder, No 29, p. 130; Knortz, Schottische Balladen, No 2, p. 5.

Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 17.

1O wha woud wish the win to blaw,Or the green leaves fa therewith?Or wha wad wish a leeler loveThan Brown Adam the Smith?2His hammer's o the beaten gold,His study's o the steel,His fingers white are my delite,He blows his bellows well.3But they ha banishd him Brown AdamFrae father and frae mither,An they ha banishd him Brown AdamFrae sister and frae brither.4And they ha banishd Brown AdamFrae the flowr o a' his kin;An he's biggit a bowr i the good green woodBetwen his lady an him.5O it fell once upon a dayBrown Adam he thought lang,An he woud to the green wood gang,To hunt some venison.6He's ta'en his bow his arm oer,His bran intill his han,And he is to the good green wood,As fast as he coud gang.7O he's shot up, an he's shot down,The bird upo the briar,An he's sent it hame to his lady,Bade her be of good cheer.8O he's shot up, an he's shot down,The bird upo the thorn,And sent it hame to his lady,And hee'd be hame the morn.9Whan he came till his lady's bowr-doorHe stood a little foreby,And there he heard a fu fa'se knightTemptin his gay lady.10O he's taen out a gay gold ring,Had cost him mony a poun:'O grant me love for love, lady,An this sal be your own.'11'I loo Brown Adam well,' she says,'I wot sae does he me;An I woud na gi Brown Adam's loveFor nae fa'se knight I see.'12Out has he ta'en a purse of gold,Was a' fu to the string:'Grant me but love for love, lady,An a' this sal be thine.'13'I loo Brown Adam well,' she says,'An I ken sae does he me;An I woudna be your light lemanFor mair nor ye coud gie.'14Then out has he drawn his lang, lang bran,And he's flashd it in her een:'Now grant me love for love, lady,Or thro you this sal gang!'15'O,' sighing said that gay lady,'Brown Adam tarrys lang!'Then up it starts Brown Adam,Says, I'm just at your han.16He's gard him leave his bow, his bow,He's gard him leave his bran;He's gard him leave a better pledge,Four fingers o his right han.

1O wha woud wish the win to blaw,Or the green leaves fa therewith?Or wha wad wish a leeler loveThan Brown Adam the Smith?

2His hammer's o the beaten gold,His study's o the steel,His fingers white are my delite,He blows his bellows well.

3But they ha banishd him Brown AdamFrae father and frae mither,An they ha banishd him Brown AdamFrae sister and frae brither.

4And they ha banishd Brown AdamFrae the flowr o a' his kin;An he's biggit a bowr i the good green woodBetwen his lady an him.

5O it fell once upon a dayBrown Adam he thought lang,An he woud to the green wood gang,To hunt some venison.

6He's ta'en his bow his arm oer,His bran intill his han,And he is to the good green wood,As fast as he coud gang.

7O he's shot up, an he's shot down,The bird upo the briar,An he's sent it hame to his lady,Bade her be of good cheer.

8O he's shot up, an he's shot down,The bird upo the thorn,And sent it hame to his lady,And hee'd be hame the morn.

9Whan he came till his lady's bowr-doorHe stood a little foreby,And there he heard a fu fa'se knightTemptin his gay lady.

10O he's taen out a gay gold ring,Had cost him mony a poun:'O grant me love for love, lady,An this sal be your own.'

11'I loo Brown Adam well,' she says,'I wot sae does he me;An I woud na gi Brown Adam's loveFor nae fa'se knight I see.'

12Out has he ta'en a purse of gold,Was a' fu to the string:'Grant me but love for love, lady,An a' this sal be thine.'

13'I loo Brown Adam well,' she says,'An I ken sae does he me;An I woudna be your light lemanFor mair nor ye coud gie.'

14Then out has he drawn his lang, lang bran,And he's flashd it in her een:'Now grant me love for love, lady,Or thro you this sal gang!'

15'O,' sighing said that gay lady,'Brown Adam tarrys lang!'Then up it starts Brown Adam,Says, I'm just at your han.

16He's gard him leave his bow, his bow,He's gard him leave his bran;He's gard him leave a better pledge,Four fingers o his right han.

Harris MS., fol. 27 b, No 26.

1. . . . . . .. . . . . . .For wha ere had a lealer luveThan Broun Edom the smith?2His studie was o the beaten gowd,His hammer o the pith;His cords waur o the gude green silk,That blew his bellows with.3It fell out ance upon a timeBroun Edom he thoucht lang,That he wald gae to see his luve,By the le licht o the mune.

1. . . . . . .. . . . . . .For wha ere had a lealer luveThan Broun Edom the smith?

2His studie was o the beaten gowd,His hammer o the pith;His cords waur o the gude green silk,That blew his bellows with.

3It fell out ance upon a timeBroun Edom he thoucht lang,That he wald gae to see his luve,By the le licht o the mune.

Buchan MSS, I, 46.

1O wha woud wish the win to blaw,The green leaves fa therewith?O wha would wish a leeler luveThan Brown Adam the Smith?2O he forsook the royal court,And knights and lords sae gude,And he is to the black smithy,To learn to shoe a steed.3His hammer-shaft o gude red gowd,His studdy o the steel,His fingers whyte, and maids' delight,And blaws his bellows weel.4He being a favourite with the kingCaused him get mony a fae,And sae their plots they did contriveTo work him grief and wae.5Of treason then he was accusedBy his fause enemie,Which caused the king to make a vowThat banishd he shoud be.6Then banishd hae they Brown AdamFrae father and frae mither,And banishd hae they him Brown AdamFrae sister and frae brither.7And they hae banishd him Brown Adam,The flower o a' his kin;He built a bower in gude green wood,For his true love and him.8But it fell ance upon a dayThe king's young son thought lang,And minded him on Brown Adam,Oft rade on his right han.9Then he sent for him Brown Adam,To shoe his milk-white steed,That he might see him ance in court,Mang knights o noble bleed.10When Brown Adam he read these lines,A light laugh then gae hee:'What's this that's made their hearts to fa,They lang sae sair for mee?'11Then out it speaks his gay ladye:Brown Adam, bide wi mee;For if ye gang to court, I fearYour face I'll never see.12'Cheer up your heart, my ain true-love,Let naething cause your grief;Though I be absent for some days,Ye seen will get relief.'13Then he has kissd his gay ladye,And rade alang the lay,And hunted a' the wild birds there,As he rade on the way.14He shot the bunting o the bush,The linnet o the brier,And sent them on to gude green wood,His ladye's heart to cheer.15He shot the bunting o the bush,The linnet o the wand,And sent them on to his ladye,Forbade her to think lang.16He shot the bunting o the bush,The linnet o the thorn,And sent them on to his ladye,Said he'd be hame the morn.17A thought then came into his mind,As he rade on the way,Some evil in his absence mightBefa his ladye gay.18Now when he had the prince' steed shod,And bound again to ryde,He turned his horse to Ringlewood;Some days he meant to byde.19But when he turned to Ringlewood,Ae foot's horse woudna ryde;Whan he turned to his luver's bower,He flew like ony glyde.20When he drew near to his luve's bower,There he alighted down,For the hearing o his great horse trampEre he wan to the town.21Whan he came to his luver's bower,He heard a dolefu din;He wasna aware o a fu fause knight,His true-love's bower within.22He bound his steed to his ain stall,And gae him corn and hay,And listened at a shott-window,To hear what he would say.23The first and thing the knight drew out,It was a coffer fine;It was as fu o gude black silk,Make ladyes for to shine.24'Ye are too lack o luve, ladye,And that's a hatefu thing;Luve me, and lat Brown Adam be,And a' this shall be thine.'25'O well I like Brown Adam,' she said,'I wyte hee hates nae mee;I winna forsake him Brown AdamFor a' your gifts an thee.'26The next and thing the knight drew out,It was a coffer small;It was as fou o shambo gluves,Woud had her hands frae caul.27'Ye are too lack o luve, ladye,An that's a hatefu thing;Luve me, an lat Brown Adam be,An a' this shall be thine.'28'O well like I Brown Adam,' she said,'I'm sure he hates nae me;I winna forsake him Brown AdamFor a' your gifts an thee.'29The next and thing the knight drew outIt was a coffer fine;It was as fu of gude red gowdAs a guinea coud get in.30'You are too lack o luve, ladye,And that's a hatefu thing;Luve me, and lat Brown Adam be,And a' this shall be thine.'31'O well I like Brown Adam,' she said,'I'm sure hee hates nae mee;I winna forsake him Brown AdamFor a' the gowd ye 'll gie.'32Then his mild mood did quickly change,And grew mair fierce and cruel,And then drew out a trusty brand,Which made her heart to pruel.33'Since I by you am slighted sae,Since I frae you maun part,I swear a vow before I gae,That this shall pierce your heart.'34'But still I like Brown Adam,' she said,'I wat hee hates nae mee;And if he knew my troubles nowAt my call woud hee be.35'Although he were sax miles awa,He'd seen be at my han;But wae is me, sae may I say,Brown Adam tarries lang!'36He hit the door then wi his foot,Made a' the bands to flee:'Cheer up your heart, my luve Janet,Your love's nae far frae thee.'37Then he drew out a trusty brand,And chassd him thro the ha;The knight jumpd to a shott-window,And woud hae been awa.38'Stay still, stay still,' Brown Adam said,'Make nae sic haste frae mee;You or I maun rue the raceThat I came ower the lee.'39Then frae the knight he's taen a wad,His mantle and his brand;Likewise he's taen anither wad,His sword and his sword-hand.40He threw him ower the shott-window,Bade him lie there wi care,And never come back to gude green woodTo marr fair ladies mair.41'O I am brown,' said Brown Adam,'And I was never whyte;But my love has robes o different hues,To wear at her delyght.42'Her kirchies be o cambricks fine,Wi gowd pinnd to the chin;Her robes shall be o the scarlet hueShe shall gang daily in.'

1O wha woud wish the win to blaw,The green leaves fa therewith?O wha would wish a leeler luveThan Brown Adam the Smith?

2O he forsook the royal court,And knights and lords sae gude,And he is to the black smithy,To learn to shoe a steed.

3His hammer-shaft o gude red gowd,His studdy o the steel,His fingers whyte, and maids' delight,And blaws his bellows weel.

4He being a favourite with the kingCaused him get mony a fae,And sae their plots they did contriveTo work him grief and wae.

5Of treason then he was accusedBy his fause enemie,Which caused the king to make a vowThat banishd he shoud be.

6Then banishd hae they Brown AdamFrae father and frae mither,And banishd hae they him Brown AdamFrae sister and frae brither.

7And they hae banishd him Brown Adam,The flower o a' his kin;He built a bower in gude green wood,For his true love and him.

8But it fell ance upon a dayThe king's young son thought lang,And minded him on Brown Adam,Oft rade on his right han.

9Then he sent for him Brown Adam,To shoe his milk-white steed,That he might see him ance in court,Mang knights o noble bleed.

10When Brown Adam he read these lines,A light laugh then gae hee:'What's this that's made their hearts to fa,They lang sae sair for mee?'

11Then out it speaks his gay ladye:Brown Adam, bide wi mee;For if ye gang to court, I fearYour face I'll never see.

12'Cheer up your heart, my ain true-love,Let naething cause your grief;Though I be absent for some days,Ye seen will get relief.'

13Then he has kissd his gay ladye,And rade alang the lay,And hunted a' the wild birds there,As he rade on the way.

14He shot the bunting o the bush,The linnet o the brier,And sent them on to gude green wood,His ladye's heart to cheer.

15He shot the bunting o the bush,The linnet o the wand,And sent them on to his ladye,Forbade her to think lang.

16He shot the bunting o the bush,The linnet o the thorn,And sent them on to his ladye,Said he'd be hame the morn.

17A thought then came into his mind,As he rade on the way,Some evil in his absence mightBefa his ladye gay.

18Now when he had the prince' steed shod,And bound again to ryde,He turned his horse to Ringlewood;Some days he meant to byde.

19But when he turned to Ringlewood,Ae foot's horse woudna ryde;Whan he turned to his luver's bower,He flew like ony glyde.

20When he drew near to his luve's bower,There he alighted down,For the hearing o his great horse trampEre he wan to the town.

21Whan he came to his luver's bower,He heard a dolefu din;He wasna aware o a fu fause knight,His true-love's bower within.

22He bound his steed to his ain stall,And gae him corn and hay,And listened at a shott-window,To hear what he would say.

23The first and thing the knight drew out,It was a coffer fine;It was as fu o gude black silk,Make ladyes for to shine.

24'Ye are too lack o luve, ladye,And that's a hatefu thing;Luve me, and lat Brown Adam be,And a' this shall be thine.'

25'O well I like Brown Adam,' she said,'I wyte hee hates nae mee;I winna forsake him Brown AdamFor a' your gifts an thee.'

26The next and thing the knight drew out,It was a coffer small;It was as fou o shambo gluves,Woud had her hands frae caul.

27'Ye are too lack o luve, ladye,An that's a hatefu thing;Luve me, an lat Brown Adam be,An a' this shall be thine.'

28'O well like I Brown Adam,' she said,'I'm sure he hates nae me;I winna forsake him Brown AdamFor a' your gifts an thee.'

29The next and thing the knight drew outIt was a coffer fine;It was as fu of gude red gowdAs a guinea coud get in.

30'You are too lack o luve, ladye,And that's a hatefu thing;Luve me, and lat Brown Adam be,And a' this shall be thine.'

31'O well I like Brown Adam,' she said,'I'm sure hee hates nae mee;I winna forsake him Brown AdamFor a' the gowd ye 'll gie.'

32Then his mild mood did quickly change,And grew mair fierce and cruel,And then drew out a trusty brand,Which made her heart to pruel.

33'Since I by you am slighted sae,Since I frae you maun part,I swear a vow before I gae,That this shall pierce your heart.'

34'But still I like Brown Adam,' she said,'I wat hee hates nae mee;And if he knew my troubles nowAt my call woud hee be.

35'Although he were sax miles awa,He'd seen be at my han;But wae is me, sae may I say,Brown Adam tarries lang!'

36He hit the door then wi his foot,Made a' the bands to flee:'Cheer up your heart, my luve Janet,Your love's nae far frae thee.'

37Then he drew out a trusty brand,And chassd him thro the ha;The knight jumpd to a shott-window,And woud hae been awa.

38'Stay still, stay still,' Brown Adam said,'Make nae sic haste frae mee;You or I maun rue the raceThat I came ower the lee.'

39Then frae the knight he's taen a wad,His mantle and his brand;Likewise he's taen anither wad,His sword and his sword-hand.

40He threw him ower the shott-window,Bade him lie there wi care,And never come back to gude green woodTo marr fair ladies mair.

41'O I am brown,' said Brown Adam,'And I was never whyte;But my love has robes o different hues,To wear at her delyght.

42'Her kirchies be o cambricks fine,Wi gowd pinnd to the chin;Her robes shall be o the scarlet hueShe shall gang daily in.'

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