C

a.Jamieson's Brown MS., fol. 22, taken down from Mrs Brown's recitation before 1783.b.A. Fraser Tytler's Brown MS., No 9, as recited by Mrs Brown in 1800.

1'I warn ye all, ye gay ladies,That wear scarlet an brown,That ye dinna leave your father's house,To follow young men frae town.'2'O here am I, a lady gay,That wears scarlet an brown,Yet I will leave my father's house,An follow Lord John frae the town.'3Lord John stood in his stable-door,Said he was bound to ride;Burd Ellen stood in her bowr-door,Said she'd rin by his side.4He's pitten on his cork-heeld shoone,An fast awa rade he;She's clade hersel in page array,An after him ran she.5Till they came till a wan water,An folks do ca it Clyde;Then he's lookit oer his left shoulder,Says, Lady, can ye wide?6'O I learnt it i my father house,An I learnt it for my weal,Wenneer I came to a wan water,To swim like ony eel.'7But the firstin stap the lady stappit,The water came til her knee;'Ohon, alas!' said the lady,'This water's oer deep for me.'8The nextin stap the lady stappit,The water came till her middle;An sighin says that gay lady,I've wat my gouden girdle9The nextin stap the lady stappit,The water came till her pap;An the bairn that was in her twa sidesFor caul begane to quake.10'Lye still, lye still, my ain dear babe,Ye work your mither wae;Your father rides on high horse-back,Cares little for us twae.'11O about the midst o Clyden waterThere was a yeard-fast stane;He lightly turnd his horse about,An took her on him behin.12'O tell me this now, good Lord John,An a word ye dinna lee,How far it is to your lodgin,Whare we this night maun be?'13'O see you nae yon castle, Ellen,That shines sae fair to see?There is a lady in it, Ellen,Will sunder you an me.14'There is a lady in that castleWill sunder you and I:''Betide me well, betide me wae,I sal go there an try.'15'O my dogs sal eat the good white bread,An ye sal eat the bran;Then will ye sigh, an say, alas!That ever I was a man!'16'O I sal eat the good white bread,An your dogs sal eat the bran;An I hope to live an bless the day,That ever ye was a man.'17'O my horse sal eat the good white meal,An ye sal eat the corn;Then will ye curse the heavy hourThat ever your love was born.'18'O I sal eat the good white meal,An your horse sal eat the corn;An I ay sall bless the happy hourThat ever my love was born.'19O four an twenty gay ladiesWelcomd Lord John to the ha,But a fairer lady then them a'Led his horse to the stable sta.20An four an twenty gay ladiesWelcomd Lord John to the green,But a fairer lady than them a'At the manger stood alane.21Whan bells were rung, an mass was sung,An a' men boun to meat,Burd Ellen at a bye-tableAmo the foot-men was set.22'O eat an drink, my bonny boy,The white bread an the beer:''The never a bit can I eat or drink,My heart's sae full of fear.'23'O eat an drink, my bonny boy,The white bread an the wine:''O I canna eat nor drink, master,My heart's sae full of pine.'24But out it spake Lord John's mother,An a wise woman was she:'Whare met ye wi that bonny boy,That looks sae sad on thee?25'Sometimes his cheek is rosy red,An sometimes deadly wan;He's liker a woman big wi bairn,Than a young lord's serving man.'26'O it makes me laugh, my mother dear,Sic words to hear frae thee;He is a squire's ae dearest son,That for love has followd me.27'Rise up, rise up, my bonny boy,Gi my horse corn an hay:''O that I will, my master dear,As quickly as I may.'28She's taen the hay under her arm,The corn intill her han,An she's gane to the great stable,As fast as eer she can.29'O room ye roun, my bonny broun steeds,O room ye near the wa;For the pain that strikes me thro my sidesFull soon will gar me fa.'30She's leand her back against the wa;Strong travail seizd her on;An even amo the great horse feetBurd Ellen brought forth her son.31Lord John'[s] mither intill her bowrWas sitting all alone,Whan, i the silence o the night,She heard fair Ellen's moan.32'Won up, won up, my son,' she says,'Go se how a' does fare;For I think I hear a woman's groans,An a bairn greeting sair.'33O hastily he gat him up,Stayd neither for hose nor shoone,An he's doen him to the stable-door,Wi the clear light o the moon.34He strack the door hard wi his foot,An sae has he wi his knee,An iron locks an iron barsInto the floor flung he:'Be not afraid, Burd Ellen,' he says,'Ther's nane come in but me.'35Up he has taen his bonny young son,An gard wash him wi the milk;An up has he taen his fair lady,Gard row her in the silk.36'Cheer up your heart, Burd Ellen,' he says,'Look nae mair sad nor wae;For your marriage an your kirkin tooSal baith be in ae day.'

1'I warn ye all, ye gay ladies,That wear scarlet an brown,That ye dinna leave your father's house,To follow young men frae town.'

2'O here am I, a lady gay,That wears scarlet an brown,Yet I will leave my father's house,An follow Lord John frae the town.'

3Lord John stood in his stable-door,Said he was bound to ride;Burd Ellen stood in her bowr-door,Said she'd rin by his side.

4He's pitten on his cork-heeld shoone,An fast awa rade he;She's clade hersel in page array,An after him ran she.

5Till they came till a wan water,An folks do ca it Clyde;Then he's lookit oer his left shoulder,Says, Lady, can ye wide?

6'O I learnt it i my father house,An I learnt it for my weal,Wenneer I came to a wan water,To swim like ony eel.'

7But the firstin stap the lady stappit,The water came til her knee;'Ohon, alas!' said the lady,'This water's oer deep for me.'

8The nextin stap the lady stappit,The water came till her middle;An sighin says that gay lady,I've wat my gouden girdle

9The nextin stap the lady stappit,The water came till her pap;An the bairn that was in her twa sidesFor caul begane to quake.

10'Lye still, lye still, my ain dear babe,Ye work your mither wae;Your father rides on high horse-back,Cares little for us twae.'

11O about the midst o Clyden waterThere was a yeard-fast stane;He lightly turnd his horse about,An took her on him behin.

12'O tell me this now, good Lord John,An a word ye dinna lee,How far it is to your lodgin,Whare we this night maun be?'

13'O see you nae yon castle, Ellen,That shines sae fair to see?There is a lady in it, Ellen,Will sunder you an me.

14'There is a lady in that castleWill sunder you and I:''Betide me well, betide me wae,I sal go there an try.'

15'O my dogs sal eat the good white bread,An ye sal eat the bran;Then will ye sigh, an say, alas!That ever I was a man!'

16'O I sal eat the good white bread,An your dogs sal eat the bran;An I hope to live an bless the day,That ever ye was a man.'

17'O my horse sal eat the good white meal,An ye sal eat the corn;Then will ye curse the heavy hourThat ever your love was born.'

18'O I sal eat the good white meal,An your horse sal eat the corn;An I ay sall bless the happy hourThat ever my love was born.'

19O four an twenty gay ladiesWelcomd Lord John to the ha,But a fairer lady then them a'Led his horse to the stable sta.

20An four an twenty gay ladiesWelcomd Lord John to the green,But a fairer lady than them a'At the manger stood alane.

21Whan bells were rung, an mass was sung,An a' men boun to meat,Burd Ellen at a bye-tableAmo the foot-men was set.

22'O eat an drink, my bonny boy,The white bread an the beer:''The never a bit can I eat or drink,My heart's sae full of fear.'

23'O eat an drink, my bonny boy,The white bread an the wine:''O I canna eat nor drink, master,My heart's sae full of pine.'

24But out it spake Lord John's mother,An a wise woman was she:'Whare met ye wi that bonny boy,That looks sae sad on thee?

25'Sometimes his cheek is rosy red,An sometimes deadly wan;He's liker a woman big wi bairn,Than a young lord's serving man.'

26'O it makes me laugh, my mother dear,Sic words to hear frae thee;He is a squire's ae dearest son,That for love has followd me.

27'Rise up, rise up, my bonny boy,Gi my horse corn an hay:''O that I will, my master dear,As quickly as I may.'

28She's taen the hay under her arm,The corn intill her han,An she's gane to the great stable,As fast as eer she can.

29'O room ye roun, my bonny broun steeds,O room ye near the wa;For the pain that strikes me thro my sidesFull soon will gar me fa.'

30She's leand her back against the wa;Strong travail seizd her on;An even amo the great horse feetBurd Ellen brought forth her son.

31Lord John'[s] mither intill her bowrWas sitting all alone,Whan, i the silence o the night,She heard fair Ellen's moan.

32'Won up, won up, my son,' she says,'Go se how a' does fare;For I think I hear a woman's groans,An a bairn greeting sair.'

33O hastily he gat him up,Stayd neither for hose nor shoone,An he's doen him to the stable-door,Wi the clear light o the moon.

34He strack the door hard wi his foot,An sae has he wi his knee,An iron locks an iron barsInto the floor flung he:'Be not afraid, Burd Ellen,' he says,'Ther's nane come in but me.'

35Up he has taen his bonny young son,An gard wash him wi the milk;An up has he taen his fair lady,Gard row her in the silk.

36'Cheer up your heart, Burd Ellen,' he says,'Look nae mair sad nor wae;For your marriage an your kirkin tooSal baith be in ae day.'

Kinloch's annotated copy of his Ancient Scottish Ballads, Kinloch MSS, IV, 180.

1'The corn is turning ripe, Lord John,The nuts are growing fu,And ye are bound for your ain countrie,Fain wad I go wi you.'2'Wi me, Margret, wi me, Margret,What wad ye do wi me?I've mair need o a pretty little boy,To wait upon my steed.'3'It's I will be your pretty little boy,To wait upon your steed;And ilka town that we come to,A pack of hounds I'll lead.'4'My hounds will eat o the bread o wheat,And ye of the bread of bran;And then you will sit and sigh,That eer ye loed a man.'5The first water that they cam to,I think they call it Clyde,He saftly unto her did say,Lady Margret, will ye ride?6The first step that she steppit in,She steppit to the knee;Says, Wae be to ye, waefu water,For through ye I maun be.7The second step that she steppit in,She steppit to the middle,And sighd, and said, Lady Margaret,'I've staind my gowden girdle.'8The third step that she steppit in,She steppit to the neck;The pretty babe within her sides,The cauld it garrd it squake.9'Lie still my babe, lie still my babe,Lie still as lang's ye may,For your father rides on horseback high,Cares little for us twae.'10It's whan she cam to the other side,She sat doun on a stane;Says, Them that made me, help me now,For I am far frae hame.11'How far is it frae your mither's bouer,Gude Lord John tell to me?''It's therty miles, Lady Margaret,It's therty miles and three:And yese be wed to ane o her serving men,For yese get na mair o me.'12Then up bespak the wylie parrot,As it sat on the tree,'Ye lee, ye lee, Lord John,' it said,'Sae loud as I hear ye lee.13'Ye say it's therty miles frae your mither's bouer,Whan it's but barely three;And she'll neer be wed to a serving man,For she'll be your ain ladie.'14['O dinna ye see yon bonnie castle,Lies on yon sunny lea?And yese get ane o my mither's men,For yese get na mair o me.']15['Well see I yon bonnie castle,Lies on yon sunny lea,But Ise neer hae nane o your mither's men,Tho I never gat mair o thee.']16[Whan he cam to the porter's yettHe tirled at the pin,And wha sae ready as the bauld porterTo open and lat him in.]17Monie a lord and fair ladieMet Lord John in the closs,But the bonniest face amang them a'Was hauding Lord John's horse.18[Monie a lord and lady brichtMet Lord John on the green,But the bonniest boy amang them a'Was standing by, him leen.]19Monie a lord and gay ladieSat dining in the ha,But the bonniest face that was thereWas waiting on them a'.20O up bespak Lord John's sister,A sweet young maid was she:'My brither has brought a bonnie young page,His like I neer did see;But the red flits fast frae his cheek,And the tear stands in his ee.'21But up bespak Lord John's mither,She spak wi meikle scorn:'He's liker a woman gret wi bairn,Than onie waiting-man.'22'It's ye'll rise up, my bonnie boy,And gie my steed the hay:''O that I will, my dear master,As fast as I can gae.'23She took the hay aneath her arm,The corn intil her hand,But atween the stable-door and the staw,Lady Margret made a stand.24[Whan bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' men boun for bed,Lord John, mither, and sister gayIn ae bour they were laid.]25[Lord John had na weel gat aff his claise,Nor was he weel laid doun,Till his mither heard a bairn greet,And a woman's heavy moan.]26['Win up, win up, Lord John,' she said,'Seek neither hose nor shoon;For I've heard a bairn loud greet,And a woman's heavy moan.']27[Lord John raise, put on his claise,Sought neither hose nor shoon,Atween the ha and the stable-doorHe made na a step but ane.]28'O open the door, Lady Margaret,O open and let me in;I want to see if my steed be fed,Or my grey-hounds fit to rin.'29'I'll na open the door, Lord John,' she said,'I'll na open it to thee,Till ye grant to me my ae request,And a puir ane it's to me.30'Ye'll gie to me a bed in an outhouse,For my young son and me,And the meanest servant in a' the place,To wait on him and me.'31[He's tane the door wi his fit,And he keppd it wi his knee,He made the door o double dealsIn splinders soon to flee.]32['An askin, an askin, grant me, Lord John,An askin ye'll grant me;The meanest maid about the placeTo bring a glass o water to me.']33'I grant, I grant, Lady Margret,' he said,'A' that, and mair frae me,The very best bed in a' the placeTo your young son and thee,And my mither, and my sister dear,To wait on him and thee.34'And a' thae lands, and a' thae rents,They sall be his and thine;Our wedding and our kirking day,They sall be all in ane.'35And he has tane Lady Margaret,And rowd her in the silk,And he has tane his ain young son,And washd him in the milk.

1'The corn is turning ripe, Lord John,The nuts are growing fu,And ye are bound for your ain countrie,Fain wad I go wi you.'

2'Wi me, Margret, wi me, Margret,What wad ye do wi me?I've mair need o a pretty little boy,To wait upon my steed.'

3'It's I will be your pretty little boy,To wait upon your steed;And ilka town that we come to,A pack of hounds I'll lead.'

4'My hounds will eat o the bread o wheat,And ye of the bread of bran;And then you will sit and sigh,That eer ye loed a man.'

5The first water that they cam to,I think they call it Clyde,He saftly unto her did say,Lady Margret, will ye ride?

6The first step that she steppit in,She steppit to the knee;Says, Wae be to ye, waefu water,For through ye I maun be.

7The second step that she steppit in,She steppit to the middle,And sighd, and said, Lady Margaret,'I've staind my gowden girdle.'

8The third step that she steppit in,She steppit to the neck;The pretty babe within her sides,The cauld it garrd it squake.

9'Lie still my babe, lie still my babe,Lie still as lang's ye may,For your father rides on horseback high,Cares little for us twae.'

10It's whan she cam to the other side,She sat doun on a stane;Says, Them that made me, help me now,For I am far frae hame.

11'How far is it frae your mither's bouer,Gude Lord John tell to me?''It's therty miles, Lady Margaret,It's therty miles and three:And yese be wed to ane o her serving men,For yese get na mair o me.'

12Then up bespak the wylie parrot,As it sat on the tree,'Ye lee, ye lee, Lord John,' it said,'Sae loud as I hear ye lee.

13'Ye say it's therty miles frae your mither's bouer,Whan it's but barely three;And she'll neer be wed to a serving man,For she'll be your ain ladie.'

14['O dinna ye see yon bonnie castle,Lies on yon sunny lea?And yese get ane o my mither's men,For yese get na mair o me.']

15['Well see I yon bonnie castle,Lies on yon sunny lea,But Ise neer hae nane o your mither's men,Tho I never gat mair o thee.']

16[Whan he cam to the porter's yettHe tirled at the pin,And wha sae ready as the bauld porterTo open and lat him in.]

17Monie a lord and fair ladieMet Lord John in the closs,But the bonniest face amang them a'Was hauding Lord John's horse.

18[Monie a lord and lady brichtMet Lord John on the green,But the bonniest boy amang them a'Was standing by, him leen.]

19Monie a lord and gay ladieSat dining in the ha,But the bonniest face that was thereWas waiting on them a'.

20O up bespak Lord John's sister,A sweet young maid was she:'My brither has brought a bonnie young page,His like I neer did see;But the red flits fast frae his cheek,And the tear stands in his ee.'

21But up bespak Lord John's mither,She spak wi meikle scorn:'He's liker a woman gret wi bairn,Than onie waiting-man.'

22'It's ye'll rise up, my bonnie boy,And gie my steed the hay:''O that I will, my dear master,As fast as I can gae.'

23She took the hay aneath her arm,The corn intil her hand,But atween the stable-door and the staw,Lady Margret made a stand.

24[Whan bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' men boun for bed,Lord John, mither, and sister gayIn ae bour they were laid.]

25[Lord John had na weel gat aff his claise,Nor was he weel laid doun,Till his mither heard a bairn greet,And a woman's heavy moan.]

26['Win up, win up, Lord John,' she said,'Seek neither hose nor shoon;For I've heard a bairn loud greet,And a woman's heavy moan.']

27[Lord John raise, put on his claise,Sought neither hose nor shoon,Atween the ha and the stable-doorHe made na a step but ane.]

28'O open the door, Lady Margaret,O open and let me in;I want to see if my steed be fed,Or my grey-hounds fit to rin.'

29'I'll na open the door, Lord John,' she said,'I'll na open it to thee,Till ye grant to me my ae request,And a puir ane it's to me.

30'Ye'll gie to me a bed in an outhouse,For my young son and me,And the meanest servant in a' the place,To wait on him and me.'

31[He's tane the door wi his fit,And he keppd it wi his knee,He made the door o double dealsIn splinders soon to flee.]

32['An askin, an askin, grant me, Lord John,An askin ye'll grant me;The meanest maid about the placeTo bring a glass o water to me.']

33'I grant, I grant, Lady Margret,' he said,'A' that, and mair frae me,The very best bed in a' the placeTo your young son and thee,And my mither, and my sister dear,To wait on him and thee.

34'And a' thae lands, and a' thae rents,They sall be his and thine;Our wedding and our kirking day,They sall be all in ane.'

35And he has tane Lady Margaret,And rowd her in the silk,And he has tane his ain young son,And washd him in the milk.

Kinloch MSS, VII, 325.

* * * * *24Lord John rose, put on his clothes,Sought neither stockens nor shoon,An between the ha and the stableHe made not a step but one.25'O open, open, to me, Burd Ellen,O open an let me in:''O yes, O yes, will I, Lord John,But not till I can win;O yes, will I, Lord John,' she says,'But I'm lyin wi your young son.'26He's taen the door wi his foot,An he kepped it wi his knee;He made the door of double dealsIn splinders soon to flee.27'An askin ye'll grant me, Lord John,An askin ye'll grant me;May the meanest maid about the placeBring a glass o water to me?'28'O hold your tongue, Burd Ellen,' he said,'Lat a' your askins be;For the best maid about the houseShall bring a glass o wine to thee.29'An the best bed about it a',For my young son an thee;My mother and my ae sisterSal bear you company.30'Your marriage an your kirkin dayThey sal be both in ane,An a' these ha's an bowers, Burd Ellen,They sal be yours an mine.'

* * * * *

24Lord John rose, put on his clothes,Sought neither stockens nor shoon,An between the ha and the stableHe made not a step but one.

25'O open, open, to me, Burd Ellen,O open an let me in:''O yes, O yes, will I, Lord John,But not till I can win;O yes, will I, Lord John,' she says,'But I'm lyin wi your young son.'

26He's taen the door wi his foot,An he kepped it wi his knee;He made the door of double dealsIn splinders soon to flee.

27'An askin ye'll grant me, Lord John,An askin ye'll grant me;May the meanest maid about the placeBring a glass o water to me?'

28'O hold your tongue, Burd Ellen,' he said,'Lat a' your askins be;For the best maid about the houseShall bring a glass o wine to thee.

29'An the best bed about it a',For my young son an thee;My mother and my ae sisterSal bear you company.

30'Your marriage an your kirkin dayThey sal be both in ane,An a' these ha's an bowers, Burd Ellen,They sal be yours an mine.'

Harris MS., No 8, fol. 12 b: originally from Jannie Scott, an old nurse in Perthshire, about 1790.

1'I beg you bide at hame, Margaret,An sew your silken seam;If ye waur in the wide Hielands,Ye wald be owre far frae hame.'2'I winna bide at hame,' she said,'Nor sew my silken seam;For if I waur in the wide Hielands,I wald no be owre far frae hame.'3'My steed sall drink the blude-red wine,An you the water wan;I'll mak you sigh, an say, alace,That ever I loed a man!'4'Though your steed does drink the blude-red wine,An me the water wan,Yet will I sing, an merry be,That ever I loed a man.'5'My hounds shall eat the bread o wheat,An you the bread o bran;I'll mak you sigh, an say, alace,That ever you loed Lord John!'6'Though your hounds do eat the bread o wheat,An me the bread o bran,Yet will I sing, an merrie be,That ever I loed Lord John.'7He turned aboot his high horse head,An awa he was boun to ride;She kilted up her green clieden,An after him she gaed.8Whan they cam to that waterWhilk a' man ca the Clyde,He turned aboot his high horse head,Said, Ladie, will you ride?9'I learnt it in my mother's bour,I wish I had learnt it weel,That I could swim this wan waterAs weel as fish or eel.'10Whan at the middle o that water,She sat doon on a stone;He turned aboot his high horse head,Says, Ladie, will ye loup on?11'I learnt in my mother's bour,I wish I had learnt it better,That I culd swim this wan waterAs weel as eel or otter.'12He has taen the narrow ford,An she has taen the wide;Lang, lang ere he was at the middle,She was sittin at the ither side.13. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Wi sighen said that Fair Margaret,Alace, I'm far frae hame!14'Hoo mony miles is't to your castle?Noo Lord John, tell to me;''Hoo mony miles is't to my castle?It's thirty miles an three:'Wi sighen said that Fair Margaret,It'll never be gane by me!15But up it spak the wily bird,As it sat on the tree,'Rin on, rin on noo, Fair Margaret,It scarcely miles is three.'16Whan they cam to the wide Hielands,An lichted on the green,Every an spak Erse to anither,But Margaret she spak nane.17Whan they waur at table set,An birlin at the best,Margaret set at a bye-table,An fain she wald hain rest.18'Oh mither, mither, mak my bedWi clean blankets an sheets,An lay my futeboy at my feet,The sounder I may sleep.'19She has made Lord John his bed,Wi clean blankets an sheets,An laid his futeboy at his feet,But neer a wink culd he sleep.20'Win up, win up noo, Fair Margaret,An see that my steed has meat;See that his corn is in his travisse,Nor lyin amang his feet.'21Slowly, slowly rase she up,An slowly put she on,An slowly gaed she doon the stair,Aye makin a heavy moan.* * * * *22'An asken, an asken, gude Lord John,I pray you grant it me;For the warst bed in a' your hoose,To your young son an me.'23'Your asken is but sma, Margaret,Sune grantet it shall be;For the best bed in a' my hooseIs owre little for thee.'24'An asken, an asken, gude Lord John,I pray you grant it me;For the warst ale in a' your hoose,That ye wald gie to me.'25'Your asken is but sma, Margaret,Sune grantet it sall be;For the best wine in a' my hooseIs owre little for thee.26'But cheer up your heart noo, Fair Margaret,For, be it as it may,Your kirken an your fair weddinSall baith be on one day.'

1'I beg you bide at hame, Margaret,An sew your silken seam;If ye waur in the wide Hielands,Ye wald be owre far frae hame.'

2'I winna bide at hame,' she said,'Nor sew my silken seam;For if I waur in the wide Hielands,I wald no be owre far frae hame.'

3'My steed sall drink the blude-red wine,An you the water wan;I'll mak you sigh, an say, alace,That ever I loed a man!'

4'Though your steed does drink the blude-red wine,An me the water wan,Yet will I sing, an merry be,That ever I loed a man.'

5'My hounds shall eat the bread o wheat,An you the bread o bran;I'll mak you sigh, an say, alace,That ever you loed Lord John!'

6'Though your hounds do eat the bread o wheat,An me the bread o bran,Yet will I sing, an merrie be,That ever I loed Lord John.'

7He turned aboot his high horse head,An awa he was boun to ride;She kilted up her green clieden,An after him she gaed.

8Whan they cam to that waterWhilk a' man ca the Clyde,He turned aboot his high horse head,Said, Ladie, will you ride?

9'I learnt it in my mother's bour,I wish I had learnt it weel,That I could swim this wan waterAs weel as fish or eel.'

10Whan at the middle o that water,She sat doon on a stone;He turned aboot his high horse head,Says, Ladie, will ye loup on?

11'I learnt in my mother's bour,I wish I had learnt it better,That I culd swim this wan waterAs weel as eel or otter.'

12He has taen the narrow ford,An she has taen the wide;Lang, lang ere he was at the middle,She was sittin at the ither side.

13. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Wi sighen said that Fair Margaret,Alace, I'm far frae hame!

14'Hoo mony miles is't to your castle?Noo Lord John, tell to me;''Hoo mony miles is't to my castle?It's thirty miles an three:'Wi sighen said that Fair Margaret,It'll never be gane by me!

15But up it spak the wily bird,As it sat on the tree,'Rin on, rin on noo, Fair Margaret,It scarcely miles is three.'

16Whan they cam to the wide Hielands,An lichted on the green,Every an spak Erse to anither,But Margaret she spak nane.

17Whan they waur at table set,An birlin at the best,Margaret set at a bye-table,An fain she wald hain rest.

18'Oh mither, mither, mak my bedWi clean blankets an sheets,An lay my futeboy at my feet,The sounder I may sleep.'

19She has made Lord John his bed,Wi clean blankets an sheets,An laid his futeboy at his feet,But neer a wink culd he sleep.

20'Win up, win up noo, Fair Margaret,An see that my steed has meat;See that his corn is in his travisse,Nor lyin amang his feet.'

21Slowly, slowly rase she up,An slowly put she on,An slowly gaed she doon the stair,Aye makin a heavy moan.

* * * * *

22'An asken, an asken, gude Lord John,I pray you grant it me;For the warst bed in a' your hoose,To your young son an me.'

23'Your asken is but sma, Margaret,Sune grantet it shall be;For the best bed in a' my hooseIs owre little for thee.'

24'An asken, an asken, gude Lord John,I pray you grant it me;For the warst ale in a' your hoose,That ye wald gie to me.'

25'Your asken is but sma, Margaret,Sune grantet it sall be;For the best wine in a' my hooseIs owre little for thee.

26'But cheer up your heart noo, Fair Margaret,For, be it as it may,Your kirken an your fair weddinSall baith be on one day.'

Jamieson's Popular Ballads, I, 114, from Mrs Arrot of Arberbrothick.

1Lord Thomas stands in his stable-door,Seeing his steeds kaimd down;Lady Ellen sits at her bower-door,Sewing her silver seam.2'O will ye stay at hame, Ellen,And sew your silver seam?Or will ye to the rank highlands?For my lands lay far frae hame.'3'I winna stay at hame, Lord Thomas,And sew my silver seam;But I'll gae to the rank highlands,Tho your lands lay far frae hame.'* * * * *4'An asking, an asking, Lord Thomas,I pray thee grant it me;How many miles into your fair tower,And house where you would be?'5'Your asking fair, Lady Ellen,' he says,'Shall now be granted thee;For to my castle where it standsIs thirty miles and three:''O wae is me,' says Lady Ellen,'It will never be run by me.'6But up and spak the wily pyot,That sat upon the tree:'Sae loud, sae loud, ye fause, fause knight,Sae loud as I hear you lie!7'For to your dwelling-house,' it says,'Of miles it's scantly three:''O weel is me,' says Lady Ellen;'It shall be run by me.'* * * * *8'O mither, mither, mak my bed,And mak it braid and wide,And lay my little page at my feet,Whatever may betide.'* * * * *9'An asking, an asking, Lord Thomas,I pray thee grant it me;O grant me a cup of cold water,Between my young son and me.'10'What you do ask, Lady Ellen,Shall soon be granted thee;The best bread and the best wine,Between my young son and thee.'11'I ask again, my good Lord Thomas,I ask again of thee;The poorest cot-house in your land,Between my young son and me.'12'Your asking now, dear Lady Ellen,I quickly grant to thee;The best bower about my tower,Between my young son and thee.'

1Lord Thomas stands in his stable-door,Seeing his steeds kaimd down;Lady Ellen sits at her bower-door,Sewing her silver seam.

2'O will ye stay at hame, Ellen,And sew your silver seam?Or will ye to the rank highlands?For my lands lay far frae hame.'

3'I winna stay at hame, Lord Thomas,And sew my silver seam;But I'll gae to the rank highlands,Tho your lands lay far frae hame.'

* * * * *

4'An asking, an asking, Lord Thomas,I pray thee grant it me;How many miles into your fair tower,And house where you would be?'

5'Your asking fair, Lady Ellen,' he says,'Shall now be granted thee;For to my castle where it standsIs thirty miles and three:''O wae is me,' says Lady Ellen,'It will never be run by me.'

6But up and spak the wily pyot,That sat upon the tree:'Sae loud, sae loud, ye fause, fause knight,Sae loud as I hear you lie!

7'For to your dwelling-house,' it says,'Of miles it's scantly three:''O weel is me,' says Lady Ellen;'It shall be run by me.'

* * * * *

8'O mither, mither, mak my bed,And mak it braid and wide,And lay my little page at my feet,Whatever may betide.'

* * * * *

9'An asking, an asking, Lord Thomas,I pray thee grant it me;O grant me a cup of cold water,Between my young son and me.'

10'What you do ask, Lady Ellen,Shall soon be granted thee;The best bread and the best wine,Between my young son and thee.'

11'I ask again, my good Lord Thomas,I ask again of thee;The poorest cot-house in your land,Between my young son and me.'

12'Your asking now, dear Lady Ellen,I quickly grant to thee;The best bower about my tower,Between my young son and thee.'

Buchan's MSS, II, 129.

1The knight he stands in stable-door,Says he, I will go ride;The lady's kilted her gay cloathing,And ran low by his side.2He has ridden, and she has run,Till they came to yon water wan;He has ridden, and she has run,Like to his waiting man.3He has ridden, and she has run,Till they came on to Clyde;The knight he rode on high horseback,But the lady she bot wide.4The first step that the lady stepped,She stept into the knee;The bairn that was between her sidesThere he gied spartles three.5'Lie still, lie still, my bonny boy,Ye work your mother woe;Your father rides on high horseback,Cares little for us two.'6The nextand step that lady stepped.She stept into the pap;The bairn that was between her sidesThere spartled and he lap.7'Ly still, ly still, my bonny boy,You work your mother's woe;Your father rides on high horseback,Cares little for us two.'8In the middle of that waterThere stands a yird-fast stone;He turnd his horse head back again,Said, Lady, loup ye on.9She hadna ridden a mile, a mile,O never a mile but ane,Till she grew sick, and so wearyShe couldna ride nor gang.10'Ride on, ride on, my gay lady,You see not what I see;For yonder is my father's castle,A little beyond the lee,And ye'll get ane of my father's men.But, lady, neer lippen on me.'11There were four and twenty bonny ladiesLed Willie frae bower to ha,But the bonniest lady among them a'Led his steed to the sta.12When they were at the table set,And sitting at their dine,Out it spake his mother dear.And she spake aye in time.13'Sometimes your boy's red, Willie,And other times he's wan;He looks like a woman wi bairn,But no ways like a man.'14'Win up, win up, my bonny boy,Go look your master's steed;See that his meat be at his head,And not among his feet.'15O healy, healy raise she up,And healy gaed she down,And healy opend the stable-door,And as healy gaed she in,And even among that big horse feetShe bear her dear young son.16As Willie's mother was walking alone,Between the bower and ha,She thought she heard a bairn's greetAnd lady's moan in the sta.17'Gude make ye safe, my ae son Willie,Gude keep ye safe frae harm;Ye might hae chosen a lighter foot-boyThan a women in travilling.'18He hit the table wi his foot,He kept it wi his knee,Till silver cups and silver spoonsInto the floor did flee.19There were fifteen steps into that stair,I wat he made them a' but three;He's to the stable gane in haste,And a' to see his gay lady.20'I am not come o sic low kin,Nor yet sic low degree,That you needed to banish me frae your sight,That ye left nae woman wi me.'21'I wish I'd drunken the wan waterWhen I did drink the wine,Or when I left my lady gay,And her at sic a time.22'But up ye'll take my dear young son,And wash him wi the milk,And up ye'll take my lady gayAnd row her in the silk;For her kirking and her fair weddingShall baith stand in ae day.'

1The knight he stands in stable-door,Says he, I will go ride;The lady's kilted her gay cloathing,And ran low by his side.

2He has ridden, and she has run,Till they came to yon water wan;He has ridden, and she has run,Like to his waiting man.

3He has ridden, and she has run,Till they came on to Clyde;The knight he rode on high horseback,But the lady she bot wide.

4The first step that the lady stepped,She stept into the knee;The bairn that was between her sidesThere he gied spartles three.

5'Lie still, lie still, my bonny boy,Ye work your mother woe;Your father rides on high horseback,Cares little for us two.'

6The nextand step that lady stepped.She stept into the pap;The bairn that was between her sidesThere spartled and he lap.

7'Ly still, ly still, my bonny boy,You work your mother's woe;Your father rides on high horseback,Cares little for us two.'

8In the middle of that waterThere stands a yird-fast stone;He turnd his horse head back again,Said, Lady, loup ye on.

9She hadna ridden a mile, a mile,O never a mile but ane,Till she grew sick, and so wearyShe couldna ride nor gang.

10'Ride on, ride on, my gay lady,You see not what I see;For yonder is my father's castle,A little beyond the lee,And ye'll get ane of my father's men.But, lady, neer lippen on me.'

11There were four and twenty bonny ladiesLed Willie frae bower to ha,But the bonniest lady among them a'Led his steed to the sta.

12When they were at the table set,And sitting at their dine,Out it spake his mother dear.And she spake aye in time.

13'Sometimes your boy's red, Willie,And other times he's wan;He looks like a woman wi bairn,But no ways like a man.'

14'Win up, win up, my bonny boy,Go look your master's steed;See that his meat be at his head,And not among his feet.'

15O healy, healy raise she up,And healy gaed she down,And healy opend the stable-door,And as healy gaed she in,And even among that big horse feetShe bear her dear young son.

16As Willie's mother was walking alone,Between the bower and ha,She thought she heard a bairn's greetAnd lady's moan in the sta.

17'Gude make ye safe, my ae son Willie,Gude keep ye safe frae harm;Ye might hae chosen a lighter foot-boyThan a women in travilling.'

18He hit the table wi his foot,He kept it wi his knee,Till silver cups and silver spoonsInto the floor did flee.

19There were fifteen steps into that stair,I wat he made them a' but three;He's to the stable gane in haste,And a' to see his gay lady.

20'I am not come o sic low kin,Nor yet sic low degree,That you needed to banish me frae your sight,That ye left nae woman wi me.'

21'I wish I'd drunken the wan waterWhen I did drink the wine,Or when I left my lady gay,And her at sic a time.

22'But up ye'll take my dear young son,And wash him wi the milk,And up ye'll take my lady gayAnd row her in the silk;For her kirking and her fair weddingShall baith stand in ae day.'

Motherwell's MS., p. 277, from Marjory Johnston, servant to W. Parker, manufacturer, Paisley.

* * * * *

1'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,For the water's both broad and long:'First she went into the shoulders,And sine unto the chin.2'How far is it to your hall, Lord John?How far is it? I pray of thee:''The nearest way unto my hallIs thirty miles and three.3'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,Ye'll sink before ye win owre:''I am too big with bairn,' she says,'To sink or I win owre.'4'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,Turn back, I pray of thee;For I've got a wife and seven bairns,I like far better than thee.'5And then spak a wild parrot,Sat high upon the tree:'Gang on, gang on, O Burd Alone,[He likes nane better nor thee.]6'For Lord John has neither wife nor bairns,He likes better than thee,And the nearest way to Lord John's hallIs only short miles three.'7When she was come to Lord John's hall,Lords, knights and ladies brawWas there to welcome them hame;But the bravest in the ha,She waited at Lord John's back,Serving the tables a'.8When she was laid into her bed,Amang the servants a' ilk ane,The mother heard a babie greet,And a lady make a heavy maen.9'Rise up, rise up, Lord John,' she said,'Bind on thy hose and shoon;Thow might hae got some other ladyThan a lady big wi bairn.'10Lord John awa to the hay-loft,Where his lady lay;'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,'O rise and let me in;It's I have got no loves without,But I've got one within.'11'I ask three favours of you, Lord John,I ask three favours of thee;I ask a bottle of your sma, sma beer,For your old son and me.'12'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,'O rise and let me in;My wine and gin is at your command,And that of my old son.'13'The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,The next favour I ask of thee,Is the meanest room in all your house,For your young son and me.14'The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,The next favour I ask of thee,Is the meanest maid in a' your house,To wait on your yong son and me.'15'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,'O rise and let me in;For thy bridal and thy banquet dayShall both be held in ane.'

1'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,For the water's both broad and long:'First she went into the shoulders,And sine unto the chin.

2'How far is it to your hall, Lord John?How far is it? I pray of thee:''The nearest way unto my hallIs thirty miles and three.

3'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,Ye'll sink before ye win owre:''I am too big with bairn,' she says,'To sink or I win owre.'

4'Turn back, turn back, O Burd Alone,Turn back, I pray of thee;For I've got a wife and seven bairns,I like far better than thee.'

5And then spak a wild parrot,Sat high upon the tree:'Gang on, gang on, O Burd Alone,[He likes nane better nor thee.]

6'For Lord John has neither wife nor bairns,He likes better than thee,And the nearest way to Lord John's hallIs only short miles three.'

7When she was come to Lord John's hall,Lords, knights and ladies brawWas there to welcome them hame;But the bravest in the ha,She waited at Lord John's back,Serving the tables a'.

8When she was laid into her bed,Amang the servants a' ilk ane,The mother heard a babie greet,And a lady make a heavy maen.

9'Rise up, rise up, Lord John,' she said,'Bind on thy hose and shoon;Thow might hae got some other ladyThan a lady big wi bairn.'

10Lord John awa to the hay-loft,Where his lady lay;'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,'O rise and let me in;It's I have got no loves without,But I've got one within.'

11'I ask three favours of you, Lord John,I ask three favours of thee;I ask a bottle of your sma, sma beer,For your old son and me.'

12'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,'O rise and let me in;My wine and gin is at your command,And that of my old son.'

13'The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,The next favour I ask of thee,Is the meanest room in all your house,For your young son and me.

14'The next favour I ask of you, Lord John,The next favour I ask of thee,Is the meanest maid in a' your house,To wait on your yong son and me.'

15'O rise, O rise, my love,' he says,'O rise and let me in;For thy bridal and thy banquet dayShall both be held in ane.'

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