F

a.Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 81, from Mr Nicol of Strichen, as learned in his youth from old people.b.Motherwell's MS., p. 459, derived, no doubt, from Buchan.

1Earl Richard, once upon a day,And all his valiant men so wight,He did him down to Barnisdale,Where all the land is fair and light.2He was aware of a damosel—I wot fast on she did her bound—With towers of gold upon her head,As fair a woman as could be found.3He said, Busk on you, fair ladye,The white flowers and the red;For I would give my bonnie shipTo get your maidenhead.4'I wish your bonnie ship rent and rive,And drown you in the sea;For all this would not mend the missThat ye would do to me.''The miss is not so great, ladye;Soon mended it might be.5'I have four an twenty mills in Scotland,Stands on the water of Tay;You'll have them, and as much flourAs they'll grind in a day.'6'I wish your bonnie ship rent and rive,And drown you in the sea;For all that would not mend the missThat ye would do to me.''The miss is not so great, ladye;Soon mended it will be.7'I have four an twenty milk-white cows,All calved in a day;You'll have them, and as much haind grassAs they all on can gae.'8'I wish your bonnie ship rent and rive,And drown you in the sea;For all that would not mend the missThat ye would do to me.''The miss is not so great, ladye;Soon mended it might be.9'I have four an twenty milk-white steeds,All foaled in one year;You'll have them, and as much red goldAs all their backs can bear.'10She turned her right and round about,And she swore by the mold;'I would not be your love,' said she,'For that church full of gold.'11He turned him right and round about,And he swore by the mess;Says, Ladye, ye my love shall be,And gold ye shall have less.12She turned her right and round about,And she swore by the moon;'I would not be your love,' says she,'For all the gold in Rome.'13He turned him right and round about,And he swore by the moon;Says, Ladye, ye my love shall be,And gold ye shall have none.14He caught her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And there has taken his will of her,Wholly without her leave.15The ladye frownd, and sadly blushd,And oh, but she thought shame!Says, If you are a knight at all,You surely will tell me your name.16'In some places they call me Jack,In other some they call me John;But when into the queen's court,O then Lithcock it is my name!'17'Lithcock! Lithcock!' the ladye said,And oft she spelt it ower again;'Lithcock! it's Latin,' the ladye said,'Richard's the English of that name.'18The knight he rode, the ladye ran,A live-long summer's day.Till they came to the wan waterThat all men do call Tay.19He set his horse head to the water,Just thro it for to ride,And the ladye was as ready as himThe waters for to wade.20For he had never been as kind-heartedAs to bid the ladye ride,And she had never been so low-heartedAs for to bid him bide.21But deep into the wan waterThere stands a great big stone;He turned his wight horse head about,Said, Ladye fair, will ye loup on?22She's taken the wand was in her handAnd struck it on the faem,And before he got the middle-streamThe ladye was on dry land:'By help of God and our Lady,My help lyes not in your hand!23'I learned it from my mother dear,Few are there that have learned better,When I come to deep water,I can swim thro like ony otter.24'I learned it from my mother dear,I find I learnd it for my weel,When I come to a deep water,I can swim thro like ony eel.'25'Turn back, turn back, you ladye fair,You know not what I see;There is a ladye in that castleThat will burn you and me.''Betide me weel, betide me wae,That ladye I will see.'26She took a ring from her finger,And gave it the porter for his fee;Says, Take you that, my good porter,And bid the queen speak to me.27And when she came before the queen,There she fell low down on her knee;Says, There is a knight into your courtThis day has robbed me.28'O has he robbed you of your gold,Or has he robbed you of your fee?''He has not robbed me of my gold,He has not robbed me of my fee;He has robbed me of my maidenhead,The fairest flower of my bodie.'29'There is no knight in all my court,That thus has robbed thee,But you'll have the truth of his right hand,Or else for your sake he'll die:30'Tho it were Earl Richard, my own brother,And, Oh, forbid that it be!'Then sighing said the ladye fair,I wot the same man is he.31The queen called on her merry men,Even fifty men and three;Earl Richard used to be the first man,But now the hindmost man was he.32He's taken out one hundred pounds,And told it in his glove;Says, Take you that, my ladye fair,And seek another love.33'Oh, no! oh, no!' the ladye cried,'That's what shall never be;I'll have the truth of your right hand,The queen it gave to me.'34['I wish I'd drunken your water, sister,When I did drink thus of your ale,That for a carl's fair daughterIt does me gar dree all this bale!]35'I wish I had drunk of your water, sister,When I did drink your wine,That for a carle's fair daughterIt does gar me dree all this pine!'36'May be I am a carle's daughter,And may be never nane;When ye met me in the greenwood,Why did you not let me alane?'37'Will you wear the short clothes,Or will you wear the side?Or will you walk to your wedding,Or will you till it ride?'38'I will not wear the short clothes,But I will wear the side;I will not walk to my wedding,But I to it will ride.'39When he was set upon the horse,The lady him behin,Then cauld and eerie were the wordsThe twa had them between.40She said, Good e'en, ye nettles tall,Just there where ye grow at the dyke;If the auld carline my mother were here,Sae weel's she would your pates pyke!41How she would stap you in her poke—I wot at that she wadna fail—And boil ye in her auld brass pan,And of ye make right good kail!42And she would meal you with millering,That she gathers at the mill,And make you thick as ony daigh:And when the pan was brimful,43Would mess you up in scuttle-dishes,Syne bid us sup till we were fou,Lay down her head upon a poke,Then sleep and snore like ony sow.44'Away, away, you bad woman!For all your vile words grieveth me;When you hide so little for yourself,I'm sure ye'll hide far less for me.45'I wish I had drunk your water, sister,When that I did drink of your wine,Since for a carle's fair daughter,It aye gars me dree all this pine.'46'May be I am a carle's daughter,And may be never nane;When ye met me in the good greenwood,Why did you not let me alane?47'Gude een, gude een, ye heather-berries,As ye're growing on yon hill;If the auld carline and her bags were here,I wot she would get meat her fill.48'Late, late at night, I knit our pokes,With even four an twenty knots;And in the morn at breakfast timeI'll carry the keys of an earl's locks.49'Late, late at night, I knit our pokes,With even four an twenty strings;And if you look to my white fingers,They have as many gay gold rings.'50'Away, away, ye ill woman!So sore your vile words grieveth me;When you hide so little for yourself,I'm sure ye'll hide far less for me.51'But if you are a carle's daughter,As I take you to be,How did you get the gay cloathingIn greenwood ye had on thee?'52'My mother, she's a poor woman,She nursed earl's children three,And I got them from a foster-sister,For to beguile such sparks as thee.'53'But if you be a carle's daughter,As I believe you be,How did you learn the good LatinIn greenwood ye spoke to me?'54'My mother, she's a mean woman,She nursd earl's children three;I learnt it from their chaplain,To beguile such sparks as ye.'55When mass was sung, and bells were rung,And all men bound for bed,Then Earl Richard and this ladyeIn ae bed they were laid.56He turned his face unto the stock,And she her's to the stane,And cauld and dreary was the loveThat was these twa between.57Great mirth was in the kitchen,Likewise intill the ha,But in his bed lay Earl Richard,Wiping the tears awa.58He wept till he fell fast asleep,Then slept till light was come;Then he did hear the gentlemenThat talked in the room:59Said, Saw ye ever a fitter match,Betwixt the ane and ither,The king of Scotland's fair dochterAnd the queen of England's brither?60'And is she the king o Scotland's fair dochter?This day, O weel is me!For seven times has my steed been saddled,To come to court with thee;And with this witty lady fair,How happy must I be!'

1Earl Richard, once upon a day,And all his valiant men so wight,He did him down to Barnisdale,Where all the land is fair and light.

2He was aware of a damosel—I wot fast on she did her bound—With towers of gold upon her head,As fair a woman as could be found.

3He said, Busk on you, fair ladye,The white flowers and the red;For I would give my bonnie shipTo get your maidenhead.

4'I wish your bonnie ship rent and rive,And drown you in the sea;For all this would not mend the missThat ye would do to me.''The miss is not so great, ladye;Soon mended it might be.

5'I have four an twenty mills in Scotland,Stands on the water of Tay;You'll have them, and as much flourAs they'll grind in a day.'

6'I wish your bonnie ship rent and rive,And drown you in the sea;For all that would not mend the missThat ye would do to me.''The miss is not so great, ladye;Soon mended it will be.

7'I have four an twenty milk-white cows,All calved in a day;You'll have them, and as much haind grassAs they all on can gae.'

8'I wish your bonnie ship rent and rive,And drown you in the sea;For all that would not mend the missThat ye would do to me.''The miss is not so great, ladye;Soon mended it might be.

9'I have four an twenty milk-white steeds,All foaled in one year;You'll have them, and as much red goldAs all their backs can bear.'

10She turned her right and round about,And she swore by the mold;'I would not be your love,' said she,'For that church full of gold.'

11He turned him right and round about,And he swore by the mess;Says, Ladye, ye my love shall be,And gold ye shall have less.

12She turned her right and round about,And she swore by the moon;'I would not be your love,' says she,'For all the gold in Rome.'

13He turned him right and round about,And he swore by the moon;Says, Ladye, ye my love shall be,And gold ye shall have none.

14He caught her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And there has taken his will of her,Wholly without her leave.

15The ladye frownd, and sadly blushd,And oh, but she thought shame!Says, If you are a knight at all,You surely will tell me your name.

16'In some places they call me Jack,In other some they call me John;But when into the queen's court,O then Lithcock it is my name!'

17'Lithcock! Lithcock!' the ladye said,And oft she spelt it ower again;'Lithcock! it's Latin,' the ladye said,'Richard's the English of that name.'

18The knight he rode, the ladye ran,A live-long summer's day.Till they came to the wan waterThat all men do call Tay.

19He set his horse head to the water,Just thro it for to ride,And the ladye was as ready as himThe waters for to wade.

20For he had never been as kind-heartedAs to bid the ladye ride,And she had never been so low-heartedAs for to bid him bide.

21But deep into the wan waterThere stands a great big stone;He turned his wight horse head about,Said, Ladye fair, will ye loup on?

22She's taken the wand was in her handAnd struck it on the faem,And before he got the middle-streamThe ladye was on dry land:'By help of God and our Lady,My help lyes not in your hand!

23'I learned it from my mother dear,Few are there that have learned better,When I come to deep water,I can swim thro like ony otter.

24'I learned it from my mother dear,I find I learnd it for my weel,When I come to a deep water,I can swim thro like ony eel.'

25'Turn back, turn back, you ladye fair,You know not what I see;There is a ladye in that castleThat will burn you and me.''Betide me weel, betide me wae,That ladye I will see.'

26She took a ring from her finger,And gave it the porter for his fee;Says, Take you that, my good porter,And bid the queen speak to me.

27And when she came before the queen,There she fell low down on her knee;Says, There is a knight into your courtThis day has robbed me.

28'O has he robbed you of your gold,Or has he robbed you of your fee?''He has not robbed me of my gold,He has not robbed me of my fee;He has robbed me of my maidenhead,The fairest flower of my bodie.'

29'There is no knight in all my court,That thus has robbed thee,But you'll have the truth of his right hand,Or else for your sake he'll die:

30'Tho it were Earl Richard, my own brother,And, Oh, forbid that it be!'Then sighing said the ladye fair,I wot the same man is he.

31The queen called on her merry men,Even fifty men and three;Earl Richard used to be the first man,But now the hindmost man was he.

32He's taken out one hundred pounds,And told it in his glove;Says, Take you that, my ladye fair,And seek another love.

33'Oh, no! oh, no!' the ladye cried,'That's what shall never be;I'll have the truth of your right hand,The queen it gave to me.'

34['I wish I'd drunken your water, sister,When I did drink thus of your ale,That for a carl's fair daughterIt does me gar dree all this bale!]

35'I wish I had drunk of your water, sister,When I did drink your wine,That for a carle's fair daughterIt does gar me dree all this pine!'

36'May be I am a carle's daughter,And may be never nane;When ye met me in the greenwood,Why did you not let me alane?'

37'Will you wear the short clothes,Or will you wear the side?Or will you walk to your wedding,Or will you till it ride?'

38'I will not wear the short clothes,But I will wear the side;I will not walk to my wedding,But I to it will ride.'

39When he was set upon the horse,The lady him behin,Then cauld and eerie were the wordsThe twa had them between.

40She said, Good e'en, ye nettles tall,Just there where ye grow at the dyke;If the auld carline my mother were here,Sae weel's she would your pates pyke!

41How she would stap you in her poke—I wot at that she wadna fail—And boil ye in her auld brass pan,And of ye make right good kail!

42And she would meal you with millering,That she gathers at the mill,And make you thick as ony daigh:And when the pan was brimful,

43Would mess you up in scuttle-dishes,Syne bid us sup till we were fou,Lay down her head upon a poke,Then sleep and snore like ony sow.

44'Away, away, you bad woman!For all your vile words grieveth me;When you hide so little for yourself,I'm sure ye'll hide far less for me.

45'I wish I had drunk your water, sister,When that I did drink of your wine,Since for a carle's fair daughter,It aye gars me dree all this pine.'

46'May be I am a carle's daughter,And may be never nane;When ye met me in the good greenwood,Why did you not let me alane?

47'Gude een, gude een, ye heather-berries,As ye're growing on yon hill;If the auld carline and her bags were here,I wot she would get meat her fill.

48'Late, late at night, I knit our pokes,With even four an twenty knots;And in the morn at breakfast timeI'll carry the keys of an earl's locks.

49'Late, late at night, I knit our pokes,With even four an twenty strings;And if you look to my white fingers,They have as many gay gold rings.'

50'Away, away, ye ill woman!So sore your vile words grieveth me;When you hide so little for yourself,I'm sure ye'll hide far less for me.

51'But if you are a carle's daughter,As I take you to be,How did you get the gay cloathingIn greenwood ye had on thee?'

52'My mother, she's a poor woman,She nursed earl's children three,And I got them from a foster-sister,For to beguile such sparks as thee.'

53'But if you be a carle's daughter,As I believe you be,How did you learn the good LatinIn greenwood ye spoke to me?'

54'My mother, she's a mean woman,She nursd earl's children three;I learnt it from their chaplain,To beguile such sparks as ye.'

55When mass was sung, and bells were rung,And all men bound for bed,Then Earl Richard and this ladyeIn ae bed they were laid.

56He turned his face unto the stock,And she her's to the stane,And cauld and dreary was the loveThat was these twa between.

57Great mirth was in the kitchen,Likewise intill the ha,But in his bed lay Earl Richard,Wiping the tears awa.

58He wept till he fell fast asleep,Then slept till light was come;Then he did hear the gentlemenThat talked in the room:

59Said, Saw ye ever a fitter match,Betwixt the ane and ither,The king of Scotland's fair dochterAnd the queen of England's brither?

60'And is she the king o Scotland's fair dochter?This day, O weel is me!For seven times has my steed been saddled,To come to court with thee;And with this witty lady fair,How happy must I be!'

a.Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 91; from the recitation of an old person.b.Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 184.

1Earl Lithgow he's a hunting gane,Upon a summer's day,And he's fa'en in with a weel-far'd maid,Was gathering at the slaes.2He's taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;He led her to the foot of a tree,At her he spierd nae leave.3The lassie being well learned,She turned her right around;Says, Will ye be as good, kind sir,As tell to me your name?4'Whiles they call me Jack,' he says,'And whiles they call me John;But when I'm in the queen's high court,Earl Litchcock is my name.'5The lassie being well learned,She spelld it ower again;Says, Litchcock is a Latin word,But Lithgow is your name.6The lassie being well learned,She spelld it ower again;Says, Lithgow is a gentle word,But Richard is your name.7She has kilted her green claithingA little abeen her knee;The gentleman rode, and the lassie ran,Till at the water o Dee.8When they were at the water o Dee,And at the narrow side,He turned about his high horse head,Says, Lassie, will ye ride?9'I learned it in my mother's bower,I wish I had learned it better,When I came to this wan water,To swim like ony otter.10'I learned it in my mother's bower,I wish I had learned it weel,That when I came to a wan water,To swim like ony eel.'11She has kilted her green claithingA little abeen her knee;The gentleman rode, the lassie swam,Thro the water o Dee:Before he was at the middle o the water,At the other side was she.12She sat there and drest hersell,And sat upon a stone;There she sat to rest hersell,And see how he'd come on.13'How mony miles hae ye to ride?How mony hae I to gang?''I've thirty miles to ride,' he says,'And ye've as mony to gang.'14'If ye've thirty miles to ride,' she says,'And I've as mony to gae,Ye'll get leave to gang yoursell;It will never be gane by me.'15She's gane to the queen's high court,And knocked at the pin;Who was sae ready as the proud porter,To let this lady in!16She's put her hand in her pocket,And gien him guineas three:'Ye will gang to the queen hersell,And tell her this frae me.17'There is a lady at your yettsCan neither card nor spin;But she can sit in a lady's bower,And lay gold on a seam.'18He's gane ben thro ae lang room,And he's gane ben thro twa,Till he came to a lang, lang trance,And then came to the ha.19When he came before the queen,Sat low down on his knee:'Win up, win up, my proud porter,What makes this courtesie?'20'There is a lady at your yettsCan neither card nor spin;But she can sit in a lady's bower,And lay gold on a seam.'21'If there is a lady at my yettsThat cannot card nor spin,Ye'll open my yetts baith wide and braid,And let this lady in.'22Now she has gane ben thro ae room,And she's gane ben thro twa,And she gaed ben a lang, lang trance,Till she came to the ha.23When she came before the queen,Sat low down on her knee:'Win up, win up, my fair woman,What makes such courtesie?'24'My errand it's to thee, O queen,My errand it's to thee;There is a man within your courtsThis day has robbed me.'25'O has he taen your purse, your purse,Or taen your penny-fee?Or has he taen your maidenhead,The flower of your bodie?'26'He hasna taen my purse, my purse,Nor yet my penny-fee,But he has taen my maidenhead,The flower of my bodi'27'It is if he be a batchelor,Your husband he shall be;But if he be a married man,High hanged he shall be.28'Except it be my brother, Litchcock,I hinna will it be he;'Sighd and said that gay lady,That very man is he.29She's calld on her merry men a',By ane, by twa, by three;Earl Litchcock used to be the first,But the hindmost man was he.30He came cripple on the back,Stane blind upon an ee;And sighd and said Earl Richard,I doubt this calls for me.31He's laid down a brand, a brand,And next laid down a ring;It's thrice she minted to the brand,But she's taen up the ring:There's not a knight in a' the court,But calld her a wise woman.32He's taen out a purse of gold,And tauld it on a stane;Says, Take ye that, my fair woman,And ye'll frae me be gane.33'I will hae nane o your purse[s] o gold,That ye tell on a stane;But I will hae yoursell,' she says,'Another I'll hae nane.'34He has taen out another purse,And tauld it in a glove;Says, Take ye that, my fair woman,And choice another love.35'I'll hae nane o your purses o gold,That ye tell in a glove;But I will hae yoursell,' she says,'I'll hae nae ither love.'36But he's taen out another purse,And tauld it on his knee;Said, Take ye that, ye fair woman,Ye'll get nae mair frae me.37'I'll hae nane o your purses o gold,That ye tell on your knee;But I will hae yoursell,' she says,'The queen has granted it me.'38'O will ye hae the short claithing,Or will ye hae the side?Or will ye gang to your wedding,Or will ye to it ride?'39'I winna hae the short claithing,But I will hae the side;I winna gang to my wedding,But to it I will ride.'40The first town that they came tillThey made the mass be sung,And the next town that they came tillThey made the bells be rung.41And the next town that they came tillHe bought her gay claithing,And the next town that they came tillThey held a fair wedding.42When they came to Mary-kirk,The nettles grew on the dyke:'If my auld mither, the carlin, were here,Sae well's she would you pyke.43'Sae well's she would you pyke' she says,'She woud you pyke and pou,And wi the dust lyes in the millSae woud she mingle you.44'She'd take a speen intill her hand,And sup ere she be fou,Syne lay her head upon a sod,And snore like ony sow.'45When she came to yon mill-dams,Says, Weel may ye clap;I wyte my minnie neer gaed by youWanting mony a lick.46He's drawn his hat out ower his face,Muckle shame thought he;She's driven her cap out ower her locks,And a light laugh gae she.47When they were wedded, and well bedded,And hame at dinner set,Then out it spake our bride hersell,And she spake never blate.48Put far awa your china plates,Put them far awa frae me,And bring to me my humble gockies,That I was best used wi.49Put far awa your siller speens,Had them far awa frae me,And bring to me my horn cutties,That I was best used wi.50When they were dined and well served,And to their dancing set,Out it spake our bride again,For she spake never blate.51If the auld carlin, my mither, were here,As I trust she will be,She'll fear the dancing frae us a',And gar her meal-bags flee.52When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' men bound for rest,Earl Richard and the beggar's daughterIn ae chamber were placed.53'Had far awa your fine claithing,Had them far awa frae me,And bring to me my fleachy clouts,That I was best used wi.54'Had far awa your holland sheets,Had them far awa frae me,And bring to me my canvas clouts,That I was best used wi.55'Lay a pock o meal beneath my head,Another aneath my feet,A pock o seeds beneath my knees,And soundly will I sleep.'56'Had far awa, ye carlin's get,Had far awa frae me;It disna set a carlin's getMy bed-fellow to be.'57'It's may be I'm a carlin's get,And may be I am nane;But when ye got me in good greenwood,How letna you me alane?'58'It is if you be a carlin's get,As I trust well ye be,Where got ye all the gay claithingYou brought to greenwood with thee?'59'My mother was an auld nourice,She nursed bairns three;And whiles she got, and whiles she staw,And she kept them a' for me;And I put them on in good greenwood,To beguile fause squires like thee.'60It's out then spake the Billy-Blin,Says, I speak nane out of time;If ye make her lady o nine cities,She'll make you lord o ten.61Out it spake the Billy-Blin,Says, The one may serve the other;The King of Gosford's ae daughter,And the Queen of Scotland's brother.62'Wae but worth you, Billy-Blin,An ill death may ye die!My bed-fellow he'd been for seven yearsOr he'd kend sae muckle frae me.'63'Fair fa ye, ye Billy-Blin,And well may ye aye be!In my stable is the ninth horse I've killd,Seeking this fair ladie:Now we're married, and now we're bedded,And in each other's arms shall lie.'

1Earl Lithgow he's a hunting gane,Upon a summer's day,And he's fa'en in with a weel-far'd maid,Was gathering at the slaes.

2He's taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;He led her to the foot of a tree,At her he spierd nae leave.

3The lassie being well learned,She turned her right around;Says, Will ye be as good, kind sir,As tell to me your name?

4'Whiles they call me Jack,' he says,'And whiles they call me John;But when I'm in the queen's high court,Earl Litchcock is my name.'

5The lassie being well learned,She spelld it ower again;Says, Litchcock is a Latin word,But Lithgow is your name.

6The lassie being well learned,She spelld it ower again;Says, Lithgow is a gentle word,But Richard is your name.

7She has kilted her green claithingA little abeen her knee;The gentleman rode, and the lassie ran,Till at the water o Dee.

8When they were at the water o Dee,And at the narrow side,He turned about his high horse head,Says, Lassie, will ye ride?

9'I learned it in my mother's bower,I wish I had learned it better,When I came to this wan water,To swim like ony otter.

10'I learned it in my mother's bower,I wish I had learned it weel,That when I came to a wan water,To swim like ony eel.'

11She has kilted her green claithingA little abeen her knee;The gentleman rode, the lassie swam,Thro the water o Dee:Before he was at the middle o the water,At the other side was she.

12She sat there and drest hersell,And sat upon a stone;There she sat to rest hersell,And see how he'd come on.

13'How mony miles hae ye to ride?How mony hae I to gang?''I've thirty miles to ride,' he says,'And ye've as mony to gang.'

14'If ye've thirty miles to ride,' she says,'And I've as mony to gae,Ye'll get leave to gang yoursell;It will never be gane by me.'

15She's gane to the queen's high court,And knocked at the pin;Who was sae ready as the proud porter,To let this lady in!

16She's put her hand in her pocket,And gien him guineas three:'Ye will gang to the queen hersell,And tell her this frae me.

17'There is a lady at your yettsCan neither card nor spin;But she can sit in a lady's bower,And lay gold on a seam.'

18He's gane ben thro ae lang room,And he's gane ben thro twa,Till he came to a lang, lang trance,And then came to the ha.

19When he came before the queen,Sat low down on his knee:'Win up, win up, my proud porter,What makes this courtesie?'

20'There is a lady at your yettsCan neither card nor spin;But she can sit in a lady's bower,And lay gold on a seam.'

21'If there is a lady at my yettsThat cannot card nor spin,Ye'll open my yetts baith wide and braid,And let this lady in.'

22Now she has gane ben thro ae room,And she's gane ben thro twa,And she gaed ben a lang, lang trance,Till she came to the ha.

23When she came before the queen,Sat low down on her knee:'Win up, win up, my fair woman,What makes such courtesie?'

24'My errand it's to thee, O queen,My errand it's to thee;There is a man within your courtsThis day has robbed me.'

25'O has he taen your purse, your purse,Or taen your penny-fee?Or has he taen your maidenhead,The flower of your bodie?'

26'He hasna taen my purse, my purse,Nor yet my penny-fee,But he has taen my maidenhead,The flower of my bodi'

27'It is if he be a batchelor,Your husband he shall be;But if he be a married man,High hanged he shall be.

28'Except it be my brother, Litchcock,I hinna will it be he;'Sighd and said that gay lady,That very man is he.

29She's calld on her merry men a',By ane, by twa, by three;Earl Litchcock used to be the first,But the hindmost man was he.

30He came cripple on the back,Stane blind upon an ee;And sighd and said Earl Richard,I doubt this calls for me.

31He's laid down a brand, a brand,And next laid down a ring;It's thrice she minted to the brand,But she's taen up the ring:There's not a knight in a' the court,But calld her a wise woman.

32He's taen out a purse of gold,And tauld it on a stane;Says, Take ye that, my fair woman,And ye'll frae me be gane.

33'I will hae nane o your purse[s] o gold,That ye tell on a stane;But I will hae yoursell,' she says,'Another I'll hae nane.'

34He has taen out another purse,And tauld it in a glove;Says, Take ye that, my fair woman,And choice another love.

35'I'll hae nane o your purses o gold,That ye tell in a glove;But I will hae yoursell,' she says,'I'll hae nae ither love.'

36But he's taen out another purse,And tauld it on his knee;Said, Take ye that, ye fair woman,Ye'll get nae mair frae me.

37'I'll hae nane o your purses o gold,That ye tell on your knee;But I will hae yoursell,' she says,'The queen has granted it me.'

38'O will ye hae the short claithing,Or will ye hae the side?Or will ye gang to your wedding,Or will ye to it ride?'

39'I winna hae the short claithing,But I will hae the side;I winna gang to my wedding,But to it I will ride.'

40The first town that they came tillThey made the mass be sung,And the next town that they came tillThey made the bells be rung.

41And the next town that they came tillHe bought her gay claithing,And the next town that they came tillThey held a fair wedding.

42When they came to Mary-kirk,The nettles grew on the dyke:'If my auld mither, the carlin, were here,Sae well's she would you pyke.

43'Sae well's she would you pyke' she says,'She woud you pyke and pou,And wi the dust lyes in the millSae woud she mingle you.

44'She'd take a speen intill her hand,And sup ere she be fou,Syne lay her head upon a sod,And snore like ony sow.'

45When she came to yon mill-dams,Says, Weel may ye clap;I wyte my minnie neer gaed by youWanting mony a lick.

46He's drawn his hat out ower his face,Muckle shame thought he;She's driven her cap out ower her locks,And a light laugh gae she.

47When they were wedded, and well bedded,And hame at dinner set,Then out it spake our bride hersell,And she spake never blate.

48Put far awa your china plates,Put them far awa frae me,And bring to me my humble gockies,That I was best used wi.

49Put far awa your siller speens,Had them far awa frae me,And bring to me my horn cutties,That I was best used wi.

50When they were dined and well served,And to their dancing set,Out it spake our bride again,For she spake never blate.

51If the auld carlin, my mither, were here,As I trust she will be,She'll fear the dancing frae us a',And gar her meal-bags flee.

52When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a' men bound for rest,Earl Richard and the beggar's daughterIn ae chamber were placed.

53'Had far awa your fine claithing,Had them far awa frae me,And bring to me my fleachy clouts,That I was best used wi.

54'Had far awa your holland sheets,Had them far awa frae me,And bring to me my canvas clouts,That I was best used wi.

55'Lay a pock o meal beneath my head,Another aneath my feet,A pock o seeds beneath my knees,And soundly will I sleep.'

56'Had far awa, ye carlin's get,Had far awa frae me;It disna set a carlin's getMy bed-fellow to be.'

57'It's may be I'm a carlin's get,And may be I am nane;But when ye got me in good greenwood,How letna you me alane?'

58'It is if you be a carlin's get,As I trust well ye be,Where got ye all the gay claithingYou brought to greenwood with thee?'

59'My mother was an auld nourice,She nursed bairns three;And whiles she got, and whiles she staw,And she kept them a' for me;And I put them on in good greenwood,To beguile fause squires like thee.'

60It's out then spake the Billy-Blin,Says, I speak nane out of time;If ye make her lady o nine cities,She'll make you lord o ten.

61Out it spake the Billy-Blin,Says, The one may serve the other;The King of Gosford's ae daughter,And the Queen of Scotland's brother.

62'Wae but worth you, Billy-Blin,An ill death may ye die!My bed-fellow he'd been for seven yearsOr he'd kend sae muckle frae me.'

63'Fair fa ye, ye Billy-Blin,And well may ye aye be!In my stable is the ninth horse I've killd,Seeking this fair ladie:Now we're married, and now we're bedded,And in each other's arms shall lie.'

Gibb MS., No 1. From recitation; traced to Mrs E. Lindsay, about 1800.

1Jo Janet has to the greenwood gane,Wi a' her maidens free,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .* * * * *2'Some ca me Jack, some ca me John,Some ca me Jing-ga-lee,But when I am in the queen's courtEarl Hitchcock they ca me.'3'Hitchcock, Hitchcock,' Jo Janet she said,An spelled it ower agane,'Hitchcock it's a Latin word;Earl Richard is your name.'4But when he saw she was book-learned,Fast to his horse hied he;But she kilted up her gay claithing,An fast, fast followed she.5Aye he rade, an aye she ran,The live-lang simmer's day,Till they came to the wan water,An a' men call it Tay.6She has tane the narrow fuird,An he has tane the wide,An ere he was in the middle-water,Jo Janet was at the ither side.7. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .As swift as eel or otter.8An when she cam to the queen's courtShe tirled at the pin,An wha sae ready as the queen herselTo let Jo Janet in!9. . . . . . .. . . . . . .'There is a knicht into your courtThis day has robbed me.'10'Has he robbed you o your gold, fair may,Or robbed you o your fee?Or robbed you o your maidenhead,The flower o your bodie?'11'He has nae robbed me o my gold,' she said,'Nor o my weel won fee,But he has robbed me o my maidenhead,The flower o my bodie.'12'It's if he be a married knight,It's hanged he shall be;But if he be a single knight,It's married ye sall be.13'There's but three knichts into my courtThis day hae been frae me,An ane is Earl Richard, my brither,An I hope it is na he:'Then sichin said Jo Janet,The very same man is he.14The queen has called on her merry menBy thirty and by three;He wont to be the foremost man,But hinmost in cam he.15'Is this your tricks abroad, Richard,Is this your tricks abroad,Wheneer ye meet a bonny mayTo lay her on the road?'* * * * *16But he took out a purse o gold,. . . . . . .Says, Tak you that, my bonny may,An seek nae mair o me.17'I winna hae your gold,' she said,'I winna hae your fee;I'll hae the troth o your right handThe queen has promised me.'* * * * *18As they rade bye yon bonny mill-townSae fair's the nettles grew;Quoth she, If my auld mither were here,Sae finely's she wad you pu.19She wad you nip, she wad you clip,Sae finely's she wad you pu,An pit you on in a wee, wee pat,An sup till she were fu,Syne rowe her heid in her gown-tail,An sleep like ony soo.20He drew his hat down ower his broos,An a doon look gae he,But she threw her locks out ower her cocks,An nae ways dung was she.21'It's if ye be a beggar's brat,As I dout na but ye be,It's where gat ye the gay claithingThat hings down to your knee?'22'My mither was nurse to Earl Marshall's dother,An a fine lady is she,An aye when she gets new claithingShe casts the auld to me:'An sichin said Earl Richard,My ain true-love is she!23But if you be a beggar's brat,As I doutna but ye be,Where got ye the Latin wordsYe said in greenwood to me?24'My mither was a bad woman,She served sic men as thee,An a' the gear at ever she gotShe waired it a' on me,An learned me weel the Latin tongue,To beguile sic sparks as thee.'25'Awa, awa, ye ill woman,An ill death mat ye dee!. . . . . . .. . . . . . .26When they were a' at supper set,An siller spoons gaen roun,It's, 'Haud awa yer siller spoons,Haud them far awa frae me,An bring to me a guid ramshorn,The thing I'm best used wi.'27An when they were at supper set,An the ale-caup gaen about,She took it in her arms twa,An sae clean's she lickit it oot.28He drew his hat doun ower his broos,An a doun look gae he,But she threw her locks out ower her cocks,An nae ways dung was she.29When mass was sung, and bells were rung,An a' men boun to bed,Earl Richard an Jo JanetIn ae bed they were laid.30He turned his face unto the stock,An sair, sair did he weep;She turned her face unto the wa,An sound she fell asleep.31. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .The Billie Blin stood up at their bed-feet.32Said, Saw ye ever a fitter matchAtween the tane and the tither,The Earl Marshall['s] ae dotherAn the Queen o Scotland's brither?33'Wae be to you for an ill woman,An ill death mat ye dee!For mony's the mare and mare's foalI've bursten seekin thee.'34... a cup o wine,Quoth, Here's to thee and me!If ye mak me lady o ae puir pleugh,I'll mak ye lord o three.

1Jo Janet has to the greenwood gane,Wi a' her maidens free,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

* * * * *

2'Some ca me Jack, some ca me John,Some ca me Jing-ga-lee,But when I am in the queen's courtEarl Hitchcock they ca me.'

3'Hitchcock, Hitchcock,' Jo Janet she said,An spelled it ower agane,'Hitchcock it's a Latin word;Earl Richard is your name.'

4But when he saw she was book-learned,Fast to his horse hied he;But she kilted up her gay claithing,An fast, fast followed she.

5Aye he rade, an aye she ran,The live-lang simmer's day,Till they came to the wan water,An a' men call it Tay.

6She has tane the narrow fuird,An he has tane the wide,An ere he was in the middle-water,Jo Janet was at the ither side.

7. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .As swift as eel or otter.

8An when she cam to the queen's courtShe tirled at the pin,An wha sae ready as the queen herselTo let Jo Janet in!

9. . . . . . .. . . . . . .'There is a knicht into your courtThis day has robbed me.'

10'Has he robbed you o your gold, fair may,Or robbed you o your fee?Or robbed you o your maidenhead,The flower o your bodie?'

11'He has nae robbed me o my gold,' she said,'Nor o my weel won fee,But he has robbed me o my maidenhead,The flower o my bodie.'

12'It's if he be a married knight,It's hanged he shall be;But if he be a single knight,It's married ye sall be.

13'There's but three knichts into my courtThis day hae been frae me,An ane is Earl Richard, my brither,An I hope it is na he:'Then sichin said Jo Janet,The very same man is he.

14The queen has called on her merry menBy thirty and by three;He wont to be the foremost man,But hinmost in cam he.

15'Is this your tricks abroad, Richard,Is this your tricks abroad,Wheneer ye meet a bonny mayTo lay her on the road?'

* * * * *

16But he took out a purse o gold,. . . . . . .Says, Tak you that, my bonny may,An seek nae mair o me.

17'I winna hae your gold,' she said,'I winna hae your fee;I'll hae the troth o your right handThe queen has promised me.'

* * * * *

18As they rade bye yon bonny mill-townSae fair's the nettles grew;Quoth she, If my auld mither were here,Sae finely's she wad you pu.

19She wad you nip, she wad you clip,Sae finely's she wad you pu,An pit you on in a wee, wee pat,An sup till she were fu,Syne rowe her heid in her gown-tail,An sleep like ony soo.

20He drew his hat down ower his broos,An a doon look gae he,But she threw her locks out ower her cocks,An nae ways dung was she.

21'It's if ye be a beggar's brat,As I dout na but ye be,It's where gat ye the gay claithingThat hings down to your knee?'

22'My mither was nurse to Earl Marshall's dother,An a fine lady is she,An aye when she gets new claithingShe casts the auld to me:'An sichin said Earl Richard,My ain true-love is she!

23But if you be a beggar's brat,As I doutna but ye be,Where got ye the Latin wordsYe said in greenwood to me?

24'My mither was a bad woman,She served sic men as thee,An a' the gear at ever she gotShe waired it a' on me,An learned me weel the Latin tongue,To beguile sic sparks as thee.'

25'Awa, awa, ye ill woman,An ill death mat ye dee!. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

26When they were a' at supper set,An siller spoons gaen roun,It's, 'Haud awa yer siller spoons,Haud them far awa frae me,An bring to me a guid ramshorn,The thing I'm best used wi.'

27An when they were at supper set,An the ale-caup gaen about,She took it in her arms twa,An sae clean's she lickit it oot.

28He drew his hat doun ower his broos,An a doun look gae he,But she threw her locks out ower her cocks,An nae ways dung was she.

29When mass was sung, and bells were rung,An a' men boun to bed,Earl Richard an Jo JanetIn ae bed they were laid.

30He turned his face unto the stock,An sair, sair did he weep;She turned her face unto the wa,An sound she fell asleep.

31. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .The Billie Blin stood up at their bed-feet.

32Said, Saw ye ever a fitter matchAtween the tane and the tither,The Earl Marshall['s] ae dotherAn the Queen o Scotland's brither?

33'Wae be to you for an ill woman,An ill death mat ye dee!For mony's the mare and mare's foalI've bursten seekin thee.'

34... a cup o wine,Quoth, Here's to thee and me!If ye mak me lady o ae puir pleugh,I'll mak ye lord o three.

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