FOOTNOTES:

The stanzas are written in the MS. in two long lines. The first stanza, as given by Anderson, is:

Willie was as brave a lordAs ever saild the sea,And he's gone to the English court,To serve for meat and fee.

13. Enlish.62, 72, 141, 241. &foran.224. tie(?).241. the bow.

13. Enlish.

62, 72, 141, 241. &foran.

224. tie(?).

241. the bow.

B. a.

273. And there.

151.OmitsFor.After 15, inserts:

151.OmitsFor.

After 15, inserts:

'Dame Oliphant, Dame Oliphant,A king's daughter are ye;But woud ye leave your father and mother,And gang awa wi me?''O I woud leave my father and mother,And the nearest that eer betide,And I woud nae be feard to gang,Gin ye war by my side.

'Dame Oliphant, Dame Oliphant,A king's daughter are ye;But woud ye leave your father and mother,And gang awa wi me?'

'O I woud leave my father and mother,And the nearest that eer betide,And I woud nae be feard to gang,Gin ye war by my side.

174. trinkle.193. there are.194. Then ever.202. table play.232. grow.264. pray you.After 30, inserts:

174. trinkle.

193. there are.

194. Then ever.

202. table play.

232. grow.

264. pray you.

After 30, inserts:

And lang and happy did they live,But now their days are deen,And in the kirk o sweet Saint BrideTheir graves are growing green.

Motherwell makes some alterations in his copy: as 13,laigh to sair; 124,and toil;whateer, in the second line of the second inserted stanza, above; besides others which are purely arbitrary. He hastable eyein 202, where Buchan printstable play, andliving, withbeingwritten over, in 263.

31, 81, 161. Oh.63. ceppit?161, 2. gie?There are appended to this version two stanzas of which Burton says: The reciter of this ballad is obstinate in persisting that the last two stanzas belong to it. They are evidently taken from 'The Birth of Robin Hood,' and have no connection with this ballad.See the following ballad.

31, 81, 161. Oh.

63. ceppit?

161, 2. gie?

There are appended to this version two stanzas of which Burton says: The reciter of this ballad is obstinate in persisting that the last two stanzas belong to it. They are evidently taken from 'The Birth of Robin Hood,' and have no connection with this ballad.See the following ballad.

FOOTNOTES:[167]For the five hundred pounds inA12,C4, 5, cf. 'Leesome Brand,'A12, 18, and the corresponding Scandinavian ballads.

[167]For the five hundred pounds inA12,C4, 5, cf. 'Leesome Brand,'A12, 18, and the corresponding Scandinavian ballads.

A.'The Birth of Robin Hood,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 44.B.'The Birth of Robin Hood,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 1.C.Kinloch's MSS, V, 330 f, two stanzas.

A.'The Birth of Robin Hood,' Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 44.

B.'The Birth of Robin Hood,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 1.

C.Kinloch's MSS, V, 330 f, two stanzas.

Awas taken down from Mrs Brown's recitation by Jamieson in 1800, and published in his collection in 1806, "without the alteration of a single word."Cwrongly forms the conclusion of 'Willie o Douglas Dale,' the preceding ballad. The copy in Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs,I, 128, is an abridgment ofB, with a very few trivial changes.

The first half of the story inA, 1-9, is that of'Willie of Douglas Dale,'A, 1-24, and there is a partial verbal correspondence.[168]In the latter a shepherd's daughter is engaged as nurse to the boy born in the wood, and Dame Oliphant is taken home by her lover and made lady of Douglas Dale. In the present ballad the lady's father tracks his daughter to the wood, finds the new-born child, adopts him as his grandson, and gives him the name Robin Hood, Willie [Archibald] disappearing from the scene.

The first part ofB4-18 is a variety of the wide-spread tragic ballad of 'Leesome Brand,' No 15. So, also, is the larger part of 'Willie o Douglas Dale,' with the tragic features dropped.

This ballad certainly does not belong to the cycle of Robin Hood, and for this reason the title hitherto borne by it could not be retained. The connection with Robin Hood was in all probability mediated by the name Brown Robin. Brown Robin plays the part of Willie [Archibald] in'Rose the Red and White Lily,'A25-29. Brown Robin's son, in 'Jellon Grame,' is called Robin after Robin Hood,B14,C7, 17. Brown Robin carries off his love to the wood in the ballad of the same name. The Earl of Huntingdon,B3, 21, has no place in the ancient traditional ballads of Robin Hood, but is of later literary invention.A17,B1,C1, may, however, very well have belonged to some Robin Hood ballad.

Ais translated by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, p. 22, No 3.

Jamieson's Popular Ballads, II, 44, from Mrs Brown's recitation.

1O Willie's large o limb and lith,And come o high degree,And he is gane to Earl Richard,To serve for meat and fee.2Earl Richard had but ae daughter,Fair as a lily-flower,And they made up their love-contractLike proper paramour.3It fell upon a simmer's nicht,Whan the leaves were fair and green,That Willie met his gay ladieIntil the wood alane.4'O narrow is my gown, Willie,That wont to be sae wide;And gane is a' my fair colour,That wont to be my pride.5'But gin my father should get wordWhat's past between us twa,Before that he should eat or drink,He'd hang you oer that wa.6'But ye'll come to my bower, Willie,Just as the sun gaes down,And kep me in your arms twa,And latna me fa down.'7O whan the sun was now gane down,He's doen him till her bower,And there, by the lee licht o the moon,Her window she lookit oer.8Intill a robe o red scarletShe lap, fearless o harm;And Willie was large o lith and limb,And keppit her in his arm.9And they've gane to the gude green wood,And, ere the night was deen,She's born to him a bonny young son,Amang the leaves sae green.10Whan night was gane, and day was come,And the sun began to peep,Up and raise the Earl RichardOut o his drowsy sleep.11He's ca'd upon his merry young men,By ane, by twa, and by three:'O what's come o my daughter dear,That she's nae come to me?12'I dreamt a dreary dream last night,God grant it come to gude!I dreamt I saw my daughter dearDrown in the saut sea flood.13'But gin my daughter be dead or sick,Or yet be stown awa,I mak a vow, and I'll keep it true,I'll hang ye ane and a'!'14They sought her back, they sought her fore,They sought her up and down;They got her in the gude green wood,Nursing her bonny young son.15He took the bonny boy in his arms,And kist him tenderlie;Says, Though I would your father hang,Your mother's dear to me.16He kist him oer and oer again:'My grandson I thee claim,And Robin Hood in gude green wood,And that shall be your name.'17And mony ane sings o grass, o grass,And mony ane sings o corn,And mony ane sings o Robin HoodKens little whare he was born.18It wasna in the ha, the ha,Nor in the painted bower,But it was in the gude green wood,Amang the lily-flower.

1O Willie's large o limb and lith,And come o high degree,And he is gane to Earl Richard,To serve for meat and fee.

2Earl Richard had but ae daughter,Fair as a lily-flower,And they made up their love-contractLike proper paramour.

3It fell upon a simmer's nicht,Whan the leaves were fair and green,That Willie met his gay ladieIntil the wood alane.

4'O narrow is my gown, Willie,That wont to be sae wide;And gane is a' my fair colour,That wont to be my pride.

5'But gin my father should get wordWhat's past between us twa,Before that he should eat or drink,He'd hang you oer that wa.

6'But ye'll come to my bower, Willie,Just as the sun gaes down,And kep me in your arms twa,And latna me fa down.'

7O whan the sun was now gane down,He's doen him till her bower,And there, by the lee licht o the moon,Her window she lookit oer.

8Intill a robe o red scarletShe lap, fearless o harm;And Willie was large o lith and limb,And keppit her in his arm.

9And they've gane to the gude green wood,And, ere the night was deen,She's born to him a bonny young son,Amang the leaves sae green.

10Whan night was gane, and day was come,And the sun began to peep,Up and raise the Earl RichardOut o his drowsy sleep.

11He's ca'd upon his merry young men,By ane, by twa, and by three:'O what's come o my daughter dear,That she's nae come to me?

12'I dreamt a dreary dream last night,God grant it come to gude!I dreamt I saw my daughter dearDrown in the saut sea flood.

13'But gin my daughter be dead or sick,Or yet be stown awa,I mak a vow, and I'll keep it true,I'll hang ye ane and a'!'

14They sought her back, they sought her fore,They sought her up and down;They got her in the gude green wood,Nursing her bonny young son.

15He took the bonny boy in his arms,And kist him tenderlie;Says, Though I would your father hang,Your mother's dear to me.

16He kist him oer and oer again:'My grandson I thee claim,And Robin Hood in gude green wood,And that shall be your name.'

17And mony ane sings o grass, o grass,And mony ane sings o corn,And mony ane sings o Robin HoodKens little whare he was born.

18It wasna in the ha, the ha,Nor in the painted bower,But it was in the gude green wood,Amang the lily-flower.

Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 1.

1Mony ane talks o the grass, the grass,And mony ane o the corn,And mony ane talks o gude Robin HoodKens little whar he was born.2He was gotten in a earl's ha,And in a lady's bower,And born into gude greenwood,Thro mony cauld winter's shower.3His father was the earl's own steward,Sprung frae sma pedigree;His mother, Earl Huntingdon's ae daughter,For he had nane else but she.4When nine months were near an end,And eight months they were gone,The lady's cheeks wi tears were wet,And thus she made her moan:5'What shall I say, my love Archibald,This day for you and me?I will be laid in cauld irons,And ye'll be hanged on tree.'6'What aileth my love Clementina?What gars you mourn sae sair?''You know,' said she, 'I'm with child to thee,These eight lang months and mair.'7'Will ye gae to my mother's bower,Stands on yon stately green?Or will ye gae to the gude greenwood,Where ye will not be seen?'8'I winna gang to your mother's bower,Stands on yon stately green;But I will on to gude greenwood,For I will not be seen.'9He's girt his sword down by his side,Took his lady by the hand,And they are on thro gude greenwood,As fast as they could gang.10With slowly steps these couple walkd,About miles scarcely three.When this lady, being sair wearied out,Lay down beneath a tree.11'O for a few of yon junipers,To cheer my heart again,And likewise for a gude midwife,To ease me of my pain!'12'I'll bring to you yon junipers,To cheer your heart again,And I'll be to you a gude midwife,To ease you of your pain.'13'Had far awa frae me, Archibald,For this will never dee;That's nae the fashion o our land,And it's nae be used by me.14'Ye'll take your small-sword by your side,Your buckler and your bow,And ye'll gae down thro gude greenwood,And hunt the deer and roe.15'You will stay in gude greenwood,And with the chase go on,Until yon white hind pass you by,Then straight to me ye'll come.'16He's girt his sword then by his side,His buckler and his bow,And he is on thro gude greenwood,To hunt the deer and roe.17And in the greenwood he did stay,And with the chase gaed on,Until the white hind passd him by,Then to his love he came.18He girt his sword then by his side,Fast thro greenwood went he,And there he found his love lie dead,Beneath the green oak tree.19The sweet young babe that she had bornRight lively seemed to be;'Ohon, alas!' said young Archibald,'A mournful scene to me!20'Altho my sweet babe is alive,This does increase my woe;How to nourish a motherless babeIs mair than I do know.'21He looked east, he looked west,To see what he could see,Then spied the Earl o Huntingdon,And mony a man him wi.22Then Archibald fled from the earl's face,Among the leaves sae green,That he might hear what might be said,And see, and nae be seen.23The earl straight thro the greenwood came,Unto the green oak tree,And there he saw his daughter dead,Her living child her wi.24Then he's taen up the little boy,Rowed him in his gown-sleeve;Said, Tho your father's to my loss,Your mother's to me leave.25And if ye live until I die,My bowers and lands ye'se heir;You are my only daughter's child;But her I never had mair.26Ye'se hae all kinds of nourishment,And likewise nurses three;If I knew where the fause knave were,High hanged should he be.27His daughter he buried in gude church-yard,All in a mournful mood,And brought the boy to church that day,And christend him Robin Hood.28This boy was bred in the earl's haTill he became a man,But loved to hunt in gude greenwood,To raise his noble fame.

1Mony ane talks o the grass, the grass,And mony ane o the corn,And mony ane talks o gude Robin HoodKens little whar he was born.

2He was gotten in a earl's ha,And in a lady's bower,And born into gude greenwood,Thro mony cauld winter's shower.

3His father was the earl's own steward,Sprung frae sma pedigree;His mother, Earl Huntingdon's ae daughter,For he had nane else but she.

4When nine months were near an end,And eight months they were gone,The lady's cheeks wi tears were wet,And thus she made her moan:

5'What shall I say, my love Archibald,This day for you and me?I will be laid in cauld irons,And ye'll be hanged on tree.'

6'What aileth my love Clementina?What gars you mourn sae sair?''You know,' said she, 'I'm with child to thee,These eight lang months and mair.'

7'Will ye gae to my mother's bower,Stands on yon stately green?Or will ye gae to the gude greenwood,Where ye will not be seen?'

8'I winna gang to your mother's bower,Stands on yon stately green;But I will on to gude greenwood,For I will not be seen.'

9He's girt his sword down by his side,Took his lady by the hand,And they are on thro gude greenwood,As fast as they could gang.

10With slowly steps these couple walkd,About miles scarcely three.When this lady, being sair wearied out,Lay down beneath a tree.

11'O for a few of yon junipers,To cheer my heart again,And likewise for a gude midwife,To ease me of my pain!'

12'I'll bring to you yon junipers,To cheer your heart again,And I'll be to you a gude midwife,To ease you of your pain.'

13'Had far awa frae me, Archibald,For this will never dee;That's nae the fashion o our land,And it's nae be used by me.

14'Ye'll take your small-sword by your side,Your buckler and your bow,And ye'll gae down thro gude greenwood,And hunt the deer and roe.

15'You will stay in gude greenwood,And with the chase go on,Until yon white hind pass you by,Then straight to me ye'll come.'

16He's girt his sword then by his side,His buckler and his bow,And he is on thro gude greenwood,To hunt the deer and roe.

17And in the greenwood he did stay,And with the chase gaed on,Until the white hind passd him by,Then to his love he came.

18He girt his sword then by his side,Fast thro greenwood went he,And there he found his love lie dead,Beneath the green oak tree.

19The sweet young babe that she had bornRight lively seemed to be;'Ohon, alas!' said young Archibald,'A mournful scene to me!

20'Altho my sweet babe is alive,This does increase my woe;How to nourish a motherless babeIs mair than I do know.'

21He looked east, he looked west,To see what he could see,Then spied the Earl o Huntingdon,And mony a man him wi.

22Then Archibald fled from the earl's face,Among the leaves sae green,That he might hear what might be said,And see, and nae be seen.

23The earl straight thro the greenwood came,Unto the green oak tree,And there he saw his daughter dead,Her living child her wi.

24Then he's taen up the little boy,Rowed him in his gown-sleeve;Said, Tho your father's to my loss,Your mother's to me leave.

25And if ye live until I die,My bowers and lands ye'se heir;You are my only daughter's child;But her I never had mair.

26Ye'se hae all kinds of nourishment,And likewise nurses three;If I knew where the fause knave were,High hanged should he be.

27His daughter he buried in gude church-yard,All in a mournful mood,And brought the boy to church that day,And christend him Robin Hood.

28This boy was bred in the earl's haTill he became a man,But loved to hunt in gude greenwood,To raise his noble fame.

Kinloch MSS, V, 330 f, the last two stanzas of 'Douglass Dale.'

1Mony ane speaks o grass, o grass,And mony mare o corn,And mony ane sings o Robin HeedKens little whare he was born.2He was born in good green wood,At the fut o yon olive tree;His father was a knight's ae son,And his mother a lady free.

1Mony ane speaks o grass, o grass,And mony mare o corn,And mony ane sings o Robin HeedKens little whare he was born.

2He was born in good green wood,At the fut o yon olive tree;His father was a knight's ae son,And his mother a lady free.

Christie says of his copy that the words sung by his maternal grandfather"were somewhat, as far as the Editor can remember, like those given by Buchan,and thatsome slight alterationswere made by himfrom the way the Editor heard the ballad sung."The alterations in Christie's eighteen stanzas are:13. mony talk.14. That kenna.84. Whare I will.151. in the.153. a white.182. gaed he.254. I neer.281. The.

The alterations in Christie's eighteen stanzas are:

13. mony talk.

14. That kenna.

84. Whare I will.

151. in the.

153. a white.

182. gaed he.

254. I neer.

281. The.

FOOTNOTES:[168]Compare No 102,A13, 4, and No 101,A13, 4; 23, 4and 83, 4; 3 and 3; 4 and 91, 2, 5, 6; 5 and 101, 2, 5, 6; 71, 82-4and 13; 93and 244. Also No 102,A3, and No 101,B13; 41, 2, 51, 4and 151, 2, 5, 6; 8 and 16. Also, No 102,A1, and No 101,C3; 8 and 6.

[168]Compare No 102,A13, 4, and No 101,A13, 4; 23, 4and 83, 4; 3 and 3; 4 and 91, 2, 5, 6; 5 and 101, 2, 5, 6; 71, 82-4and 13; 93and 244. Also No 102,A3, and No 101,B13; 41, 2, 51, 4and 151, 2, 5, 6; 8 and 16. Also, No 102,A1, and No 101,C3; 8 and 6.

A.'Rose the Red and White Lilly,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 1.B.'Rose the Red and White Lillie,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 67.C.'The Wedding of Robin Hood and Little John,' Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 69.

A.'Rose the Red and White Lilly,' Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 1.

B.'Rose the Red and White Lillie,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 67.

C.'The Wedding of Robin Hood and Little John,' Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 69.

Awas No 6 of the fifteen ballads written down by Mrs Brown for William Tytler in 1783: Anderson, in Nichols's Illustrations, VII, 176. This copy was printed by Scott in his Minstrelsy, II, 60, 1802, "chiefly from Mrs Brown's MS.," but with numerous alterations. Kinloch's annotated copy of his Ancient Scottish Ballads supplies an additional stanza ofC; the 17th.

The story inAis that Rose the Red andWhite Lily have a bad step-mother, who, however, has two good sons that love these maids: Brown Robin, Lily, and Arthur, Rose. The maids build a bower, in which the young people make very merry, and the step-mother, to spoil sport, tells her sons that they must sail the sea. Brown Robin goes to the wood, and Arthur to the king's court. The maids disguise themselves as men, and take service with their lovers: White Lily under the name of Roge the Round, and Rose the Red under that of Sweet Willy. Before they part they make a mutual vow that at three blasts of a horn the one shall come to the other's help. Once upon a time, when Robin and his men are putting the stone, Roge sets it seven foot beyond all the rest, but, having exerted herself too much in so doing, is fain to lean her back against an oak and utters a moan, by which Brown Robin perceives that Roge is a woman. Forty weeks after this Roge has occasion for the aid of a bower-wife. Brown Robin proffers his help, but it is declined; nevertheless, with an apparent but not a real inconsistency, the lady asks him to blow her horn, for she has a brother at the court who will come to her upon the sound. Robin replies that if she has a brother whom she loves better than him she may blow the horn herself. This she does, and Sweet Willy comes at once. Brown Robin will let no man enter the bower without a fight. Rose the Red is wounded, and avows herself to be a woman. Brown Robin is distressed: he wished never to see a woman's blood, for the sake of a maid named White Lily. Roge the Round reveals herself as that same. Word comes to the king's court that Brown Robin's man has borne a son, and the king declares that he will go to the wood to inquire into this marvel. Arthur will go with him, to find a foot-page who had left him. Arrived at the wood, Arthur blows his horn, and Sweet Willy comes running to him. Arthur asks the page why he had run away, and is told that it was to see a brother that lives in the wood. The king enters the bower, and finds White Lily nursing her son. This leads to an explanation on the part of Rose the Red. Brown Robin, coming in from hunting, starts to see the king. The king bids him have no fear, but quit the wood and come to court. Brown Robin and White Lily, Arthur and Rose the Red, go to church and are married.

InBthe two maids, ill-treated by their step-mother, betake themselves to the wood, where they meet, not Brown Robin, but Robin Hood, and take service with him. Rose and Lily change parts; Rose, under the name of Nicholas, consorting with Robin Hood, and Lily,aliasRoger Brown, with Little John. It is not, however, Robin Hood and Little John who turn out to be their lovers, but "a lad in the company," and "another youth among the company," stanzas 30, 51. Nothing is said of the king.

In the fragmentaryCthe maids are daughters of a king. Their proper names are not given, and we do not learn that the stepmother has a pair of sons. In consequence of the harshness of their step-mother, these king's daughters go to the wood as Nicholas and Rogee Roun, to seek Robin Hood, and they are discovered to be maids by a song which Rogee sings. Rogee is wedded to Robin Hood, and Nicholas to Little John.

It is easy to see that the Robin Hood ofB,C, was suggested by the Brown Robin ofA. The name Barnsdale inA12, 51 has certainly been adopted from the Robin Hood cycle, but in the present ballad is the residence of the father of Rose and Lily, not that of Robin Hood.

The only part of the ballad which has the stamp of indubitably ancient tradition is the child-birth in the wood, and this scene is the rightful, and perhaps exclusive, property of 'Leesome Brand,' No 15: see I, 182.A24-29,B40-47, are found again in 'Willie o Douglas Dale,'A15-17, 22, 23,B18, 19, 22, 24,C8-10, and the first part of 'Willie o Douglas Dale,' as well as of the ballad which immediately precedes the present, commonly called 'The Birth of Robin Hood,' is a variation of 'Leesome Brand.'

Robin Hood has no love-story in any ancient ballad, though his name has been foisted into modern love-ballads, as in 'Robin Hood andthe Tanner's Daughter,' No 8C. Maid Marian is a late accretion. There is a piteously vulgar broadside, in which Maid Marian, being parted from Robin Hood, dresses herself "like a page" (but armed fully), meets Robin Hood, also under disguise, and has an hour's fight with him. There is so far a resemblance in this toA30 ff,B49, that a woman disguised as a page fights with Robin Hood. I suppose the resemblance to be accidental, but whether it be or not, the question of 'Rose the Red and White Lily' being originally a Robin Hood ballad is not affected.

A3,B5, is likeC6 of 'The Clerk's Twa Sons o Owsenford,' No 72.

Scott's copy is translated by Doenniges, p. 40.

Jamieson-Brown MS., fol. 1.

1O Rose the Red and White Lilly,Their mother dear was dead,And their father married an ill woman,Wishd them twa little guede.2Yet she had twa as fu fair sonsAs eer brake manis bread,And the tane of them loed her White Lilly,An the tither lood Rose the Red.3O biggit ha they a bigly bowr,And strawn it oer wi san,And there was mair mirth i the ladies' bowrThan in a' their father's lan.4But out it spake their step-mother,Wha stood a little foreby:I hope to live and play the prankSal gar your loud sang ly.5She's calld upon her eldest son:Come here, my son, to me;It fears me sair, my eldest son,That ye maun sail the sea.6'Gin it fear you sair, my mither dear,Your bidding I maun dee;But be never war to Rose the RedThan ye ha been to me.'7'O had your tongue, my eldest son,For sma sal be her part;You'll nae get a kiss o her comely mouthGin your very fair heart should break.'8She's calld upon her youngest son:Come here, my son, to me;It fears me sair, my youngest son,That ye maun sail the sea.9'Gin it fear you sair, my mither dear,Your bidding I maun dee;But be never war to White LillyThan ye ha been to me.'10'O haud your tongue, my youngest son,For sma sall be her part;You'll neer get a kiss o her comely mouthTho your very fair heart should break.'11When Rose the Red and White LillySaw their twa loves were gane,Then stopped ha they their loud, loud sang,And tane up the still mournin;And their step-mother stood listnin by,To hear the ladies' mean.12Then out it spake her White Lilly:My sister, we'll be gane;Why should we stay in Barnsdale,To waste our youth in pain?13Then cutted ha they their green cloathingA little below their knee,An sae ha they there yallow hair,A little aboon there bree;An they've doen them to haely chapel,Was christened by Our Lady.14There ha they chang'd their ain twa names,Sae far frae ony town,An the tane o them hight Sweet Willy,An the tither o them Roge the Roun.15Between this twa a vow was made,An they sware it to fulfil;That at three blasts o a bugle-horn,She'd come her sister till.16Now Sweet Willy's gane to the kingis court,Her true-love for to see,An Roge the Roun to good green wood,Brown Robin's man to be.17As it fell out upon a dayThey a' did put the stane,Full seven foot ayont them a'She gard the puttin-stane gang.18She leand her back against an oak,And gae a loud Ohone!Then out it spake him Brown Robin,But that's a woman's moan!19'O ken ye by my red rose lip?Or by my yallow hair?Or ken ye by my milk-white breast?For ye never saw it bare?'20'I ken no by your red rose lip,Nor by your yallow hair;Nor ken I by your milk-white breast,For I never saw it bare;But come to your bowr whaever sae likes,Will find a lady there.'21'O gin ye come to my bowr within,Thro fraud, deceit, or guile,Wi this same bran that's in my han,I swear I will the kill.'22'But I will come thy bowr within,An spear nae leave,' quoth he;'An this same bran that's i my hanI sall ware back on the.'23About the tenth hour of the nightThe ladie's bower-door was broken,An eer the first hour of the dayThe bonny knave-bairn was gotten.24When days were gane, and months were run,The lady took travailing,And sair she cry'd for a bowr-woman,For to wait her upon.25Then out it spake him Brown Robin:Now what needs a' this din?For what coud any woman doBut I coud do the same?26''Twas never my mither's fashion,' she says,'Nor sall it ever be mine,That belted knights shoud eer remainWhere ladies dreed their pine.27'But ye take up that bugle-horn,An blaw a blast for me;I ha a brother i the kingis courtWill come me quickly ti.'28'O gin ye ha a brither on earthThat ye love better nor me,Te blaw the horn yoursel,' he says,'For ae blast I winna gie.'29She's set the horn till her mouth,And she's blawn three blasts sae shrill;Sweet Willy heard i the kingis court,And came her quickly till.30Then up it started Brown Robin,An an angry man was he:'There comes nae man this bowr withinBut first must fight wi me.'31O they hae fought that bowr withinTill the sun was gaing down,Till drops o blude frae Rose the RedCame hailing to the groun.32She leand her back against the wa,Says, Robin, let a' be;For it is a lady born and bredThat's foughten sae well wi thee.33O seven foot he lap a back;Says, Alas, and wae is me!I never wisht in a' my life,A woman's blude to see;An a' for the sake of ae fair maidWhose name was White Lilly.34Then out it spake her White Lilly,An a hearty laugh laugh she:She's lived wi you this year an mair,Tho ye kentna it was she.35Now word has gane thro a' the lan,Before a month was done,That Brown Robin's man, in good green wood,Had born a bonny young son.36The word has gane to the kingis court,An to the king himsel;'Now, by my fay,' the king could say,'The like was never heard tell!'37Then out it spake him Bold Arthur,An a hearty laugh laugh he:I trow some may has playd the loun,And fled her ain country.38'Bring me my steed,' then cry'd the king,'My bow and arrows keen;I'l ride mysel to good green wood,An see what's to be seen.'39'An't please your grace,' said Bold Arthur,'My liege, I'll gang you wi,An try to fin a little foot-page,That's strayd awa frae me.'40O they've hunted i the good green woodThe buck but an the rae,An they drew near Brown Robin's bowr,About the close of day.41Then out it spake the king in hast,Says, Arthur, look an seeGin that be no your little foot-pageThat leans against yon tree.42Then Arthur took his bugle-horn,An blew a blast sae shrill;Sweet Willy started at the sound,An ran him quickly till.43'O wanted ye your meat, Willy?Or wanted ye your fee?Or gat ye ever an angry word,That ye ran awa frae me?'44'I wanted nought, my master dear;To me ye ay was good;I came but to see my ae brother,That wons in this green wood.'45Then out it spake the king again,Says, Bonny boy, tell to meWha lives into yon bigly bowr,Stands by yon green oak tree?46'O pardon me,' says Sweet Willy,'My liege, I dare no tell;An I pray you go no near that bowr,For fear they do you fell.'47'O baud your tongue, my bonny boy,For I winna be said nay;But I will gang that bowr within,Betide me weel or wae.'48They've lighted off their milk-white steeds,An saftly enterd in,An there they saw her White Lilly,Nursing her bonny yong son.49'Now, by the rood,' the king coud say,This is a comely sight;I trow, instead of a forrester's man,This is a lady bright!'50Then out it spake her Rose the Red,An fell low down on her knee:O pardon us, my gracious liege,An our story I'll tell thee.51Our father was a wealthy lord,That wond in Barnsdale;But we had a wicked step-mother,That wrought us meickle bale.52Yet she had twa as fu fair sonsAs ever the sun did see,An the tane o them lood my sister dear,An the tither sayd he lood me.53Then out it spake him Bold Arthur,As by the king he stood:Now, by the faith o my body,This shoud be Rose the Red!54Then in it came him Brown Robin,Frae hunting o the deer,But whan he saw the king was there,He started back for fear.55The king has taen him by the hand,An bade him naithing dread;Says, Ye maun leave the good green wood,Come to the court wi speed.56Then up he took White Lilly's son,An set him on his knee;Says, Gin ye live to wiald a bran,My bowman ye sall bee.57The king he sent for robes of green,An girdles o shinning gold;He gart the ladies be arraydMost comely to behold.58They've done them unto Mary Kirk,An there gat fair wedding,An fan the news spread oer the lan,For joy the bells did ring.59Then out it spake her Rose the Red,An a hearty laugh laugh she:I wonder what would our step-dame say,Gin she this sight did see!

1O Rose the Red and White Lilly,Their mother dear was dead,And their father married an ill woman,Wishd them twa little guede.

2Yet she had twa as fu fair sonsAs eer brake manis bread,And the tane of them loed her White Lilly,An the tither lood Rose the Red.

3O biggit ha they a bigly bowr,And strawn it oer wi san,And there was mair mirth i the ladies' bowrThan in a' their father's lan.

4But out it spake their step-mother,Wha stood a little foreby:I hope to live and play the prankSal gar your loud sang ly.

5She's calld upon her eldest son:Come here, my son, to me;It fears me sair, my eldest son,That ye maun sail the sea.

6'Gin it fear you sair, my mither dear,Your bidding I maun dee;But be never war to Rose the RedThan ye ha been to me.'

7'O had your tongue, my eldest son,For sma sal be her part;You'll nae get a kiss o her comely mouthGin your very fair heart should break.'

8She's calld upon her youngest son:Come here, my son, to me;It fears me sair, my youngest son,That ye maun sail the sea.

9'Gin it fear you sair, my mither dear,Your bidding I maun dee;But be never war to White LillyThan ye ha been to me.'

10'O haud your tongue, my youngest son,For sma sall be her part;You'll neer get a kiss o her comely mouthTho your very fair heart should break.'

11When Rose the Red and White LillySaw their twa loves were gane,Then stopped ha they their loud, loud sang,And tane up the still mournin;And their step-mother stood listnin by,To hear the ladies' mean.

12Then out it spake her White Lilly:My sister, we'll be gane;Why should we stay in Barnsdale,To waste our youth in pain?

13Then cutted ha they their green cloathingA little below their knee,An sae ha they there yallow hair,A little aboon there bree;An they've doen them to haely chapel,Was christened by Our Lady.

14There ha they chang'd their ain twa names,Sae far frae ony town,An the tane o them hight Sweet Willy,An the tither o them Roge the Roun.

15Between this twa a vow was made,An they sware it to fulfil;That at three blasts o a bugle-horn,She'd come her sister till.

16Now Sweet Willy's gane to the kingis court,Her true-love for to see,An Roge the Roun to good green wood,Brown Robin's man to be.

17As it fell out upon a dayThey a' did put the stane,Full seven foot ayont them a'She gard the puttin-stane gang.

18She leand her back against an oak,And gae a loud Ohone!Then out it spake him Brown Robin,But that's a woman's moan!

19'O ken ye by my red rose lip?Or by my yallow hair?Or ken ye by my milk-white breast?For ye never saw it bare?'

20'I ken no by your red rose lip,Nor by your yallow hair;Nor ken I by your milk-white breast,For I never saw it bare;But come to your bowr whaever sae likes,Will find a lady there.'

21'O gin ye come to my bowr within,Thro fraud, deceit, or guile,Wi this same bran that's in my han,I swear I will the kill.'

22'But I will come thy bowr within,An spear nae leave,' quoth he;'An this same bran that's i my hanI sall ware back on the.'

23About the tenth hour of the nightThe ladie's bower-door was broken,An eer the first hour of the dayThe bonny knave-bairn was gotten.

24When days were gane, and months were run,The lady took travailing,And sair she cry'd for a bowr-woman,For to wait her upon.

25Then out it spake him Brown Robin:Now what needs a' this din?For what coud any woman doBut I coud do the same?

26''Twas never my mither's fashion,' she says,'Nor sall it ever be mine,That belted knights shoud eer remainWhere ladies dreed their pine.

27'But ye take up that bugle-horn,An blaw a blast for me;I ha a brother i the kingis courtWill come me quickly ti.'

28'O gin ye ha a brither on earthThat ye love better nor me,Te blaw the horn yoursel,' he says,'For ae blast I winna gie.'

29She's set the horn till her mouth,And she's blawn three blasts sae shrill;Sweet Willy heard i the kingis court,And came her quickly till.

30Then up it started Brown Robin,An an angry man was he:'There comes nae man this bowr withinBut first must fight wi me.'

31O they hae fought that bowr withinTill the sun was gaing down,Till drops o blude frae Rose the RedCame hailing to the groun.

32She leand her back against the wa,Says, Robin, let a' be;For it is a lady born and bredThat's foughten sae well wi thee.

33O seven foot he lap a back;Says, Alas, and wae is me!I never wisht in a' my life,A woman's blude to see;An a' for the sake of ae fair maidWhose name was White Lilly.

34Then out it spake her White Lilly,An a hearty laugh laugh she:She's lived wi you this year an mair,Tho ye kentna it was she.

35Now word has gane thro a' the lan,Before a month was done,That Brown Robin's man, in good green wood,Had born a bonny young son.

36The word has gane to the kingis court,An to the king himsel;'Now, by my fay,' the king could say,'The like was never heard tell!'

37Then out it spake him Bold Arthur,An a hearty laugh laugh he:I trow some may has playd the loun,And fled her ain country.

38'Bring me my steed,' then cry'd the king,'My bow and arrows keen;I'l ride mysel to good green wood,An see what's to be seen.'

39'An't please your grace,' said Bold Arthur,'My liege, I'll gang you wi,An try to fin a little foot-page,That's strayd awa frae me.'

40O they've hunted i the good green woodThe buck but an the rae,An they drew near Brown Robin's bowr,About the close of day.

41Then out it spake the king in hast,Says, Arthur, look an seeGin that be no your little foot-pageThat leans against yon tree.

42Then Arthur took his bugle-horn,An blew a blast sae shrill;Sweet Willy started at the sound,An ran him quickly till.

43'O wanted ye your meat, Willy?Or wanted ye your fee?Or gat ye ever an angry word,That ye ran awa frae me?'

44'I wanted nought, my master dear;To me ye ay was good;I came but to see my ae brother,That wons in this green wood.'

45Then out it spake the king again,Says, Bonny boy, tell to meWha lives into yon bigly bowr,Stands by yon green oak tree?

46'O pardon me,' says Sweet Willy,'My liege, I dare no tell;An I pray you go no near that bowr,For fear they do you fell.'

47'O baud your tongue, my bonny boy,For I winna be said nay;But I will gang that bowr within,Betide me weel or wae.'

48They've lighted off their milk-white steeds,An saftly enterd in,An there they saw her White Lilly,Nursing her bonny yong son.

49'Now, by the rood,' the king coud say,This is a comely sight;I trow, instead of a forrester's man,This is a lady bright!'

50Then out it spake her Rose the Red,An fell low down on her knee:O pardon us, my gracious liege,An our story I'll tell thee.

51Our father was a wealthy lord,That wond in Barnsdale;But we had a wicked step-mother,That wrought us meickle bale.

52Yet she had twa as fu fair sonsAs ever the sun did see,An the tane o them lood my sister dear,An the tither sayd he lood me.

53Then out it spake him Bold Arthur,As by the king he stood:Now, by the faith o my body,This shoud be Rose the Red!

54Then in it came him Brown Robin,Frae hunting o the deer,But whan he saw the king was there,He started back for fear.

55The king has taen him by the hand,An bade him naithing dread;Says, Ye maun leave the good green wood,Come to the court wi speed.

56Then up he took White Lilly's son,An set him on his knee;Says, Gin ye live to wiald a bran,My bowman ye sall bee.

57The king he sent for robes of green,An girdles o shinning gold;He gart the ladies be arraydMost comely to behold.

58They've done them unto Mary Kirk,An there gat fair wedding,An fan the news spread oer the lan,For joy the bells did ring.

59Then out it spake her Rose the Red,An a hearty laugh laugh she:I wonder what would our step-dame say,Gin she this sight did see!

Back to Index Next