114JOHNIE COCK

A.Percy Papers, Miss Fisher’s MS., No 5, 1780.

B.‘Johnny Cock,’ Pieces of Ancient Poetry from Unpublished Manuscripts and Scarce Books, Bristol, 1814, [John Fry], p. 53.

C.‘Johnny Cock,’ Pieces of Ancient Poetry, etc., p. 51.

D.‘Johnie of Cockerslee,’ Kinloch’s annotated copy of his Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 38bis.

E.‘Johnie o Cocklesmuir,’ Kinloch MSS, VII, 29; Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 36.

F.‘Johnie of Breadislee,’ Scott’s Minstrelsy, I, 59, 1802.

G.‘Johnnie Brad,’ Harris MS., fol. 25.

H.‘Johnnie o Cocklesmuir,’ Buchan’s MSS, I, 82; Dixon, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 77, Percy Society, vol. xvii.

I.‘Johnie of Braidisbank,’ Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, p. 23.

J.Chambers, Scottish Ballads, p. 181.

K.Finlay’s Scottish Ballads, I, xxxi: one stanza.

L.Harris MS., fol. 25 b: one stanza.

M.Froude, Thomas Carlyle, II, 335, New York, 1882, supplemented by Mrs Aitken: one stanza.

The first notice in print of this precious specimen of the unspoiled traditional ballad is in Ritson’s Scotish Song, 1794, I, xxxvi, note 25: the Rev. Mr Boyd, the translator of Dante, had a faint recollection of three ballads, one of which was called ‘Johny Cox.’ Before this, 1780, a lady of Carlisle had sent a copy to Doctor Percy,A. Scott, 1802, was the first to publish the ballad, selecting “the stanzas of greatest merit” from several copies which were in his hands. John Fry gave two valuable fragments,C,B(which he did not separate), in his Pieces of Ancient Poetry, 1814, from a manuscript “appearing to be the text-book of some illiterate drummer.”[1]I have been able to add only three versions to those which were already before the world,A,D,G; and of theseDis in part the same asE, previously printed by Kinloch.

Pinkerton, Select Scotish Ballads, II, xxxix, 1783, has preserved a stanza, which he assigns to a supposititious ballad of ‘Bertram the Archer:’[2]

‘My trusty bow of the tough yew,That I in London bought,And silken strings, if ye prove true,That my true-love has wrought.’

‘My trusty bow of the tough yew,

That I in London bought,

And silken strings, if ye prove true,

That my true-love has wrought.’

This stanza agrees withJ6, and withA18,H19 in part, and is very likely to belong here; but it might be a movable passage, or commonplace.

All the versions are in accord as to the primary points of the story. A gallant young fellow, who pays no regard to the game-laws, goes out, despite his mother’s entreaties, to ding the dun deer down. He kills a deer, and feasts himself and his dogs so freely on it thatthey all fall asleep. An old palmer, a silly auld, stane-auld carl, observes him, and carries word to seven foresters [fifteenB, three (?)C]. They beset Johnie and wound him; he kills all but one, and leaves that one, badly hurt, to carry tidings of the rest. Johnie sends a bird to his mother to bid her fetch him away,F19, 20, cf.B13; a bird warns his mother that Johnie tarries long,H21 (one of Buchan’s parrots). TheboyinA20, 21 is evidently a corruption ofbird. Information is given the mother in a different way inL.B-Gmust be adjudged to be incomplete;I-Mare mere fragments.Hhas a false and silly conclusion, 22–24, in imitation of Robin Hood and of Adam Bell. Mrs Harris had heard another version besidesG(of which she gives only one stanza,L), in which “Johnie is slain and thrown owre a milk-white steed; news is sent to Johnie’s mother, who flies to her son.” It is the one forester who is not quite killed that is thrown over his steed to carry tidings home,F18,G11.D19,E17, and Mrs Harris’s second version are, as to this point, evidently corrupted.

The hero’s name is Johnny Cock,B2,C1; Johny Cox, Rev. Mr Boyd; John o Cockis (Johny Cockis?),H17; Johny o Cockley’s Well,A14; o Cockerslee,D14; of Cockielaw, in one of the versions used by Scott forF; o Cocklesmuir,E13,H15. Again, Johnie Brad,G1,L; Johnie o Breadislee,F14; Braidislee,J2.

The hunting-ground, or the place where Johnie is discovered, is up in Braidhouplee, down in Bradyslee,A6, high up in Bradyslee, low down in Bradyslee,A12; Braidscaur Hill,D6, Braidisbanks,D12,I1; Bride’s Braidmuir,H2, 5; Broadspear Hill,E2, 5; Durrisdeer only inF4. The seven foresters are of Pickeram Side,A3, 19; of Hislinton,F9.B11reads, Fifteen foresters in the braid alow; which seems to require emendation, perhaps simply to Braid alow, perhaps to Braidislee.

With regard to the localities inA, Percy notes that Pickeram Side is in Northumbria, and that there is a Cockley Tower in Erringside, near Brady’s Cragg, and a Brady’s Cragg near Chollerford Bridge. There is a Cockley,aliasCocklaw, in Erringside, near Chollerton, in the south division of Tynedale Ward, parish of St John Lee. The Erring is a small stream which enters the Tyne between Chollerton and Chollerford. Again, Cocklaw Walls appears in the map of the Ordnance Survey, a little to the north and east of Cockley in Erringside, and Cocklaw Walls may represent the Cockley’s Well of the ballad. (Percy notes that Cockley’s Well is said to be near Bewcastle, Cumberland.) I have not found Brady’s Cragg or Pickeram Side in the Ordnance Survey maps, nor indeed any of the compounds of Braidy or Braid anywhere.

There is a Braid a little to the south of Edinburgh, Braid Hills and Braid Burn; and Motherwell, Minstrelsy, p. 17, says that there is tradition for this region having been the hunting-ground.

Scott’s copy,F, lays the scene in Dumfriesshire, and there is other tradition to the same effect.[3]

Percy was struck with the occurrence of the wolf inA17, found also inB10,C5. He considered, no doubt, that the mention of the wolf was a token of the high antiquity of the ballad. “Wolues that wyryeth men, wommen and children” are spoken of in Piers Plowman,C, Passus, X, v. 226, Skeat, 1886, I, 240, and theCtext is assigned to about 1393. Holinshed (1577), I, 378, says that though the island is void of wolves south of the Tweed, yet the Scots cannot boast the like, since they have grievous wolves.

Fis translated by Schubart, p. 187; Wolff,Halle der Völker, I, 41, Hausschatz, p. 224; Doenniges, p. 10; Gerhard, p. 51; R. von Bismarck, Deutsches Museum, 1858, I, 897; Cesare Cantù, Documenti alla Storia Universale, V, 806; in Le Magasin Pittoresque, 1838, p. 127 b; by Loève-Veimars, p. 296. Grundtvig, p. 269, No 41, translates a compound ofF,I,E(Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 36), andB; Knortz, Schottische Balladen, No 18, a mixture ofFand others.

Communicated to Percy by Miss Fisher, of Carlisle, 1780, No 5 of MS.

1Johny he has risen up i the morn,Calls for water to wash his hands;But little knew he that his bloody houndsWere bound in iron bands. bandsWere bound in iron bands2Johny’s mother has gotten word o that,And care-bed she has taen:‘O Johny, for my benison,I beg you’l stay at hame;For the wine so red, and the well baken bread,My Johny shall want nane.3‘There are seven forsters at Pickeram Side,At Pickeram where they dwell,And for a drop of thy heart’s bluidThey wad ride the fords of hell.’4Johny he’s gotten word of that,And he’s turnd wondrous keen;He’s put off the red scarlett,And he’s put on the Lincolm green.5With a sheaf of arrows by his side,And a bent bow in his hand,He’s mounted on a prancing steed,And he has ridden fast oer the strand.6He’s up i Braidhouplee, and down i Bradyslee,And under a buss o broom,And there he found a good dun deer,Feeding in a buss of ling.7Johny shot, and the dun deer lap,And she lap wondrous wide,Until they came to the wan water,And he stemd her of her pride.8He ’as taen out the little pen-knife,’Twas full three quarters long,And he has taen out of that dun deerThe liver bot and the tongue.9They eat of the flesh, and they drank of the blood,And the blood it was so sweet,Which caused Johny and his bloody houndsTo fall in a deep sleep.10By then came an old palmer,And an ill death may he die!For he’s away to Pickram Side,As fast as he can drie.11‘What news, what news?’ says the Seven Forsters,‘What news have ye brought to me?’‘I have noe news,’ the palmer said,‘But what I saw with my eye.12‘High up i Bradyslee, low down i Bradisslee,And under a buss of scroggs,O there I spied a well-wight man,Sleeping among his dogs.13‘His coat it was of light Lincolm,And his breeches of the same,His shoes of the American leather,And gold buckles tying them.’14Up bespake the Seven Forsters,Up bespake they ane and a’:O that is Johny o Cockleys Well,And near him we will draw.15O the first y stroke that they gae him,They struck him off by the knee;Then up bespake his sister’s son:‘O the next’ll gar him die!’16‘O some they count ye well-wight men,But I do count ye nane;For you might well ha wakend me,And askd gin I wad be taen.17‘The wildest wolf in aw this woodWad not ha done so by me;She’d ha wet her foot ith wan water,And sprinkled it oer my brae,And if that wad not ha wakend me,She wad ha gone and let me be.18‘O bows of yew, if ye be true,In London, where ye were bought,Fingers five, get up belive,Manhuid shall fail me nought.’19He has killd the Seven Forsters,He has killd them all but ane,And that wan scarce to Pickeram Side,To carry the bode-words hame.20‘Is there never a boy in a’ this woodThat will tell what I can say;That will go to Cockleys Well,Tell my mither to fetch me away?’21There was a boy into that wood,That carried the tidings away,And many ae was the well-wight manAt the fetching o Johny away.

1Johny he has risen up i the morn,Calls for water to wash his hands;But little knew he that his bloody houndsWere bound in iron bands. bandsWere bound in iron bands

Johny he has risen up i the morn,

Calls for water to wash his hands;

But little knew he that his bloody hounds

Were bound in iron bands. bands

Were bound in iron bands

2Johny’s mother has gotten word o that,And care-bed she has taen:‘O Johny, for my benison,I beg you’l stay at hame;For the wine so red, and the well baken bread,My Johny shall want nane.

Johny’s mother has gotten word o that,

And care-bed she has taen:

‘O Johny, for my benison,

I beg you’l stay at hame;

For the wine so red, and the well baken bread,

My Johny shall want nane.

3‘There are seven forsters at Pickeram Side,At Pickeram where they dwell,And for a drop of thy heart’s bluidThey wad ride the fords of hell.’

‘There are seven forsters at Pickeram Side,

At Pickeram where they dwell,

And for a drop of thy heart’s bluid

They wad ride the fords of hell.’

4Johny he’s gotten word of that,And he’s turnd wondrous keen;He’s put off the red scarlett,And he’s put on the Lincolm green.

Johny he’s gotten word of that,

And he’s turnd wondrous keen;

He’s put off the red scarlett,

And he’s put on the Lincolm green.

5With a sheaf of arrows by his side,And a bent bow in his hand,He’s mounted on a prancing steed,And he has ridden fast oer the strand.

With a sheaf of arrows by his side,

And a bent bow in his hand,

He’s mounted on a prancing steed,

And he has ridden fast oer the strand.

6He’s up i Braidhouplee, and down i Bradyslee,And under a buss o broom,And there he found a good dun deer,Feeding in a buss of ling.

He’s up i Braidhouplee, and down i Bradyslee,

And under a buss o broom,

And there he found a good dun deer,

Feeding in a buss of ling.

7Johny shot, and the dun deer lap,And she lap wondrous wide,Until they came to the wan water,And he stemd her of her pride.

Johny shot, and the dun deer lap,

And she lap wondrous wide,

Until they came to the wan water,

And he stemd her of her pride.

8He ’as taen out the little pen-knife,’Twas full three quarters long,And he has taen out of that dun deerThe liver bot and the tongue.

He ’as taen out the little pen-knife,

’Twas full three quarters long,

And he has taen out of that dun deer

The liver bot and the tongue.

9They eat of the flesh, and they drank of the blood,And the blood it was so sweet,Which caused Johny and his bloody houndsTo fall in a deep sleep.

They eat of the flesh, and they drank of the blood,

And the blood it was so sweet,

Which caused Johny and his bloody hounds

To fall in a deep sleep.

10By then came an old palmer,And an ill death may he die!For he’s away to Pickram Side,As fast as he can drie.

By then came an old palmer,

And an ill death may he die!

For he’s away to Pickram Side,

As fast as he can drie.

11‘What news, what news?’ says the Seven Forsters,‘What news have ye brought to me?’‘I have noe news,’ the palmer said,‘But what I saw with my eye.

‘What news, what news?’ says the Seven Forsters,

‘What news have ye brought to me?’

‘I have noe news,’ the palmer said,

‘But what I saw with my eye.

12‘High up i Bradyslee, low down i Bradisslee,And under a buss of scroggs,O there I spied a well-wight man,Sleeping among his dogs.

‘High up i Bradyslee, low down i Bradisslee,

And under a buss of scroggs,

O there I spied a well-wight man,

Sleeping among his dogs.

13‘His coat it was of light Lincolm,And his breeches of the same,His shoes of the American leather,And gold buckles tying them.’

‘His coat it was of light Lincolm,

And his breeches of the same,

His shoes of the American leather,

And gold buckles tying them.’

14Up bespake the Seven Forsters,Up bespake they ane and a’:O that is Johny o Cockleys Well,And near him we will draw.

Up bespake the Seven Forsters,

Up bespake they ane and a’:

O that is Johny o Cockleys Well,

And near him we will draw.

15O the first y stroke that they gae him,They struck him off by the knee;Then up bespake his sister’s son:‘O the next’ll gar him die!’

O the first y stroke that they gae him,

They struck him off by the knee;

Then up bespake his sister’s son:

‘O the next’ll gar him die!’

16‘O some they count ye well-wight men,But I do count ye nane;For you might well ha wakend me,And askd gin I wad be taen.

‘O some they count ye well-wight men,

But I do count ye nane;

For you might well ha wakend me,

And askd gin I wad be taen.

17‘The wildest wolf in aw this woodWad not ha done so by me;She’d ha wet her foot ith wan water,And sprinkled it oer my brae,And if that wad not ha wakend me,She wad ha gone and let me be.

‘The wildest wolf in aw this wood

Wad not ha done so by me;

She’d ha wet her foot ith wan water,

And sprinkled it oer my brae,

And if that wad not ha wakend me,

She wad ha gone and let me be.

18‘O bows of yew, if ye be true,In London, where ye were bought,Fingers five, get up belive,Manhuid shall fail me nought.’

‘O bows of yew, if ye be true,

In London, where ye were bought,

Fingers five, get up belive,

Manhuid shall fail me nought.’

19He has killd the Seven Forsters,He has killd them all but ane,And that wan scarce to Pickeram Side,To carry the bode-words hame.

He has killd the Seven Forsters,

He has killd them all but ane,

And that wan scarce to Pickeram Side,

To carry the bode-words hame.

20‘Is there never a boy in a’ this woodThat will tell what I can say;That will go to Cockleys Well,Tell my mither to fetch me away?’

‘Is there never a boy in a’ this wood

That will tell what I can say;

That will go to Cockleys Well,

Tell my mither to fetch me away?’

21There was a boy into that wood,That carried the tidings away,And many ae was the well-wight manAt the fetching o Johny away.

There was a boy into that wood,

That carried the tidings away,

And many ae was the well-wight man

At the fetching o Johny away.

Pieces of Ancient Poetry from Unpublished Manuscripts and Scarce Books, Bristol, 1814, p. 53.

1Fifteen foresters in the Braid alow,And they are wondrous fell;To get a drop of Johnny’s heart-bluid,They would sink a’ their souls to hell.2Johnny Cock has gotten word of this,And he is wondrous keen;Heś custan off the red scarlet,And on the Linkum green.3And he is ridden oer muir and muss,And over mountains high,Till he came to yon wan water,And there Johnny Cock did lie.4They have ridden oer muir and muss,And over mountains high,Till they met wi’ an old palmer,Was walking along the way.5‘What news, what news, old palmer?What news have you to me?’‘Yonder is one of the proudest wed sonsThat ever my eyes did see.’* * * * *6He’s taen out a horn from his side,And he blew both loud and shrill,Till a’ the fifteen forestersHeard Johnny Cock blaw his horn.7They have sworn a bluidy oath,And they swore all in one,That there was not a man among them a’Would blaw such a blast as yon.8And they have ridden oer muir and muss,And over mountains high,Till they came to yon wan water,Where Johnny Cock did lie.9They have shotten little Johnny Cock,A little above the ee:. . . . . . .‘For doing the like to me.10‘There’s not a wolf in a’ the woodWoud ’ ha’ done the like to me;‘She’d ha’ dipped her foot in coll water,And strinkled above my ee,And if I would not have waked for that,‘She’d ha’ gane and let me be.11‘But fingers five, come here, [come here,]And faint heart fail me nought,And silver strings, value me sma things,Till I get all this vengeance rowght!’12He ha[s] shot a’ the fifteen foresters,Left never a one but one,And he broke the ribs a that ane’s side,And let him take tiding home.13‘... a bird in a’ the woodCould sing as I could say,It would go in to my mother’s bower,And bid her kiss me, and take me away.’

1Fifteen foresters in the Braid alow,And they are wondrous fell;To get a drop of Johnny’s heart-bluid,They would sink a’ their souls to hell.

Fifteen foresters in the Braid alow,

And they are wondrous fell;

To get a drop of Johnny’s heart-bluid,

They would sink a’ their souls to hell.

2Johnny Cock has gotten word of this,And he is wondrous keen;Heś custan off the red scarlet,And on the Linkum green.

Johnny Cock has gotten word of this,

And he is wondrous keen;

Heś custan off the red scarlet,

And on the Linkum green.

3And he is ridden oer muir and muss,And over mountains high,Till he came to yon wan water,And there Johnny Cock did lie.

And he is ridden oer muir and muss,

And over mountains high,

Till he came to yon wan water,

And there Johnny Cock did lie.

4They have ridden oer muir and muss,And over mountains high,Till they met wi’ an old palmer,Was walking along the way.

They have ridden oer muir and muss,

And over mountains high,

Till they met wi’ an old palmer,

Was walking along the way.

5‘What news, what news, old palmer?What news have you to me?’‘Yonder is one of the proudest wed sonsThat ever my eyes did see.’

‘What news, what news, old palmer?

What news have you to me?’

‘Yonder is one of the proudest wed sons

That ever my eyes did see.’

* * * * *

6He’s taen out a horn from his side,And he blew both loud and shrill,Till a’ the fifteen forestersHeard Johnny Cock blaw his horn.

He’s taen out a horn from his side,

And he blew both loud and shrill,

Till a’ the fifteen foresters

Heard Johnny Cock blaw his horn.

7They have sworn a bluidy oath,And they swore all in one,That there was not a man among them a’Would blaw such a blast as yon.

They have sworn a bluidy oath,

And they swore all in one,

That there was not a man among them a’

Would blaw such a blast as yon.

8And they have ridden oer muir and muss,And over mountains high,Till they came to yon wan water,Where Johnny Cock did lie.

And they have ridden oer muir and muss,

And over mountains high,

Till they came to yon wan water,

Where Johnny Cock did lie.

9They have shotten little Johnny Cock,A little above the ee:. . . . . . .‘For doing the like to me.

They have shotten little Johnny Cock,

A little above the ee:

. . . . . . .

‘For doing the like to me.

10‘There’s not a wolf in a’ the woodWoud ’ ha’ done the like to me;‘She’d ha’ dipped her foot in coll water,And strinkled above my ee,And if I would not have waked for that,‘She’d ha’ gane and let me be.

‘There’s not a wolf in a’ the wood

Woud ’ ha’ done the like to me;

‘She’d ha’ dipped her foot in coll water,

And strinkled above my ee,

And if I would not have waked for that,

‘She’d ha’ gane and let me be.

11‘But fingers five, come here, [come here,]And faint heart fail me nought,And silver strings, value me sma things,Till I get all this vengeance rowght!’

‘But fingers five, come here, [come here,]

And faint heart fail me nought,

And silver strings, value me sma things,

Till I get all this vengeance rowght!’

12He ha[s] shot a’ the fifteen foresters,Left never a one but one,And he broke the ribs a that ane’s side,And let him take tiding home.

He ha[s] shot a’ the fifteen foresters,

Left never a one but one,

And he broke the ribs a that ane’s side,

And let him take tiding home.

13‘... a bird in a’ the woodCould sing as I could say,It would go in to my mother’s bower,And bid her kiss me, and take me away.’

‘... a bird in a’ the wood

Could sing as I could say,

It would go in to my mother’s bower,

And bid her kiss me, and take me away.’

Pieces of Ancient Poetry from Unpublished Manuscripts and Scarce Books, Bristol, 1814, p. 51.

1Johnny Cock, in a May morning,Sought water to wash his hands,And he is awa to louse his dogs,That’s tied wi iron bans.That’s tied wi iron bans2His coat it is of the light Lincum green,And his breiks are of the same;His shoes are of the American leather,Silver buckles tying them.3‘He’ hunted up, and so did ‘he’ down,Till ‘he’ came to yon bush of scrogs,And then to yon wan water,Where he slept among his dogs.* * * * *4Johnny Cock out-shot a’ the foresters,And out-shot a the three;Out shot a’ the foresters,Wounded Johnny aboun the bree.5‘Woe be to you, foresters,And an ill death may you die!For there would not a wolf in a’ the woodHave done the like to me.6‘For’ ’twould ha’ put its foot in the coll waterAnd ha strinkled it on my bree,And gin that would not have done,Would have gane and lett me be.7‘I often took to my motherThe dandoo and the roe,But now I’l take to my motherMuch sorrow and much woe.8‘I often took to my motherThe dandoo and the hare,But now I’l take to my motherMuch sorrow and much care.’

1Johnny Cock, in a May morning,Sought water to wash his hands,And he is awa to louse his dogs,That’s tied wi iron bans.That’s tied wi iron bans

Johnny Cock, in a May morning,

Sought water to wash his hands,

And he is awa to louse his dogs,

That’s tied wi iron bans.

That’s tied wi iron bans

2His coat it is of the light Lincum green,And his breiks are of the same;His shoes are of the American leather,Silver buckles tying them.

His coat it is of the light Lincum green,

And his breiks are of the same;

His shoes are of the American leather,

Silver buckles tying them.

3‘He’ hunted up, and so did ‘he’ down,Till ‘he’ came to yon bush of scrogs,And then to yon wan water,Where he slept among his dogs.

‘He’ hunted up, and so did ‘he’ down,

Till ‘he’ came to yon bush of scrogs,

And then to yon wan water,

Where he slept among his dogs.

* * * * *

4Johnny Cock out-shot a’ the foresters,And out-shot a the three;Out shot a’ the foresters,Wounded Johnny aboun the bree.

Johnny Cock out-shot a’ the foresters,

And out-shot a the three;

Out shot a’ the foresters,

Wounded Johnny aboun the bree.

5‘Woe be to you, foresters,And an ill death may you die!For there would not a wolf in a’ the woodHave done the like to me.

‘Woe be to you, foresters,

And an ill death may you die!

For there would not a wolf in a’ the wood

Have done the like to me.

6‘For’ ’twould ha’ put its foot in the coll waterAnd ha strinkled it on my bree,And gin that would not have done,Would have gane and lett me be.

‘For’ ’twould ha’ put its foot in the coll water

And ha strinkled it on my bree,

And gin that would not have done,

Would have gane and lett me be.

7‘I often took to my motherThe dandoo and the roe,But now I’l take to my motherMuch sorrow and much woe.

‘I often took to my mother

The dandoo and the roe,

But now I’l take to my mother

Much sorrow and much woe.

8‘I often took to my motherThe dandoo and the hare,But now I’l take to my motherMuch sorrow and much care.’

‘I often took to my mother

The dandoo and the hare,

But now I’l take to my mother

Much sorrow and much care.’

Kinloch’s annotated copy of his Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 38bis: a West-Country version.

1Up Johnie raise in a May morning,Calld for water to wash his hands,And he has calld for his gude gray hunds,That lay bund in iron bands. bandsThat lay bund in iron bands2‘Ye’ll busk, ye’ll busk my noble dogs,Ye’ll busk and mak them boun,For I’m going to the Braidscaur hill,To ding the dun deer doun.’3Whan Johnie’s mither gat word o that,On the very bed she lay,Says, Johnie, for my malison,I pray ye at hame to stay.4Your meat sall be of the very, very best,Your drink sall be the same,And ye will win your mither’s benison,Gin ye wad stay at hame.5But Johnie has cast aff the black velvet,And put on the Lincoln twine,And he is on to gude greenwud,As fast as he could gang.6His mither’s counsel he wad na tak,He’s aff, and left the toun,He’s aff unto the Braidscaur hill,To ding the dun deer doun.7Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,And he lookit aneath the sun,And there he spied the dun deer sleeping,Aneath a buss o whun.8Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap,And he’s scaithed him in the side,And atween the water and the wudHe laid the dun deer’s pride.9They ate sae meikle o the venison,And drank sae meikle o the blude,That Johnie and his twa gray hundsFell asleep in yonder wud.10By ther cam a silly auld man,And a silly auld man was he,And he’s aff to the proud foresters,As fast as he could dree.11‘What news, what news, my silly auld man?What news? come tell to me:’‘I heard na news, I speird na newsBut what my een did see.12‘As I cam in by Braidisbanks,And doun amang the whuns,The bonniest youngster eer I sawLay sleepin amang his hunds.13‘His cheeks war like the roses red,His neck was like the snaw;His sark was o the holland fine,And his jerkin lac’d fu braw.’14Up bespak the first forester,The first forester of a’:O this is Johnie o Cockerslee;Come draw, lads, we maun draw.15Up bespak the niest forester,The niest forester of a’:An this be Johnie o Cockerslee,To him we winna draw.16The first shot that they did shoot,They woundit him on the bree;Up bespak the uncle’s son,‘The niest will gar him die.’17The second shot that eer they shot,It scaithd him near the heart;‘I only wauken,’ Johnie cried,‘Whan first I find the smart.18‘Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,Stand stout, and dinna flee;Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,And we will gar them die.’19He has killed six o the proud foresters,And wounded the seventh sair:He laid his leg out owre his steed,Says, I will kill na mair.20‘Oh wae befa thee, silly auld man,An ill death may thee dee!Upon thy head be a’ this blude,For mine, I ween, is free.’

1Up Johnie raise in a May morning,Calld for water to wash his hands,And he has calld for his gude gray hunds,That lay bund in iron bands. bandsThat lay bund in iron bands

Up Johnie raise in a May morning,

Calld for water to wash his hands,

And he has calld for his gude gray hunds,

That lay bund in iron bands. bands

That lay bund in iron bands

2‘Ye’ll busk, ye’ll busk my noble dogs,Ye’ll busk and mak them boun,For I’m going to the Braidscaur hill,To ding the dun deer doun.’

‘Ye’ll busk, ye’ll busk my noble dogs,

Ye’ll busk and mak them boun,

For I’m going to the Braidscaur hill,

To ding the dun deer doun.’

3Whan Johnie’s mither gat word o that,On the very bed she lay,Says, Johnie, for my malison,I pray ye at hame to stay.

Whan Johnie’s mither gat word o that,

On the very bed she lay,

Says, Johnie, for my malison,

I pray ye at hame to stay.

4Your meat sall be of the very, very best,Your drink sall be the same,And ye will win your mither’s benison,Gin ye wad stay at hame.

Your meat sall be of the very, very best,

Your drink sall be the same,

And ye will win your mither’s benison,

Gin ye wad stay at hame.

5But Johnie has cast aff the black velvet,And put on the Lincoln twine,And he is on to gude greenwud,As fast as he could gang.

But Johnie has cast aff the black velvet,

And put on the Lincoln twine,

And he is on to gude greenwud,

As fast as he could gang.

6His mither’s counsel he wad na tak,He’s aff, and left the toun,He’s aff unto the Braidscaur hill,To ding the dun deer doun.

His mither’s counsel he wad na tak,

He’s aff, and left the toun,

He’s aff unto the Braidscaur hill,

To ding the dun deer doun.

7Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,And he lookit aneath the sun,And there he spied the dun deer sleeping,Aneath a buss o whun.

Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,

And he lookit aneath the sun,

And there he spied the dun deer sleeping,

Aneath a buss o whun.

8Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap,And he’s scaithed him in the side,And atween the water and the wudHe laid the dun deer’s pride.

Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap,

And he’s scaithed him in the side,

And atween the water and the wud

He laid the dun deer’s pride.

9They ate sae meikle o the venison,And drank sae meikle o the blude,That Johnie and his twa gray hundsFell asleep in yonder wud.

They ate sae meikle o the venison,

And drank sae meikle o the blude,

That Johnie and his twa gray hunds

Fell asleep in yonder wud.

10By ther cam a silly auld man,And a silly auld man was he,And he’s aff to the proud foresters,As fast as he could dree.

By ther cam a silly auld man,

And a silly auld man was he,

And he’s aff to the proud foresters,

As fast as he could dree.

11‘What news, what news, my silly auld man?What news? come tell to me:’‘I heard na news, I speird na newsBut what my een did see.

‘What news, what news, my silly auld man?

What news? come tell to me:’

‘I heard na news, I speird na news

But what my een did see.

12‘As I cam in by Braidisbanks,And doun amang the whuns,The bonniest youngster eer I sawLay sleepin amang his hunds.

‘As I cam in by Braidisbanks,

And doun amang the whuns,

The bonniest youngster eer I saw

Lay sleepin amang his hunds.

13‘His cheeks war like the roses red,His neck was like the snaw;His sark was o the holland fine,And his jerkin lac’d fu braw.’

‘His cheeks war like the roses red,

His neck was like the snaw;

His sark was o the holland fine,

And his jerkin lac’d fu braw.’

14Up bespak the first forester,The first forester of a’:O this is Johnie o Cockerslee;Come draw, lads, we maun draw.

Up bespak the first forester,

The first forester of a’:

O this is Johnie o Cockerslee;

Come draw, lads, we maun draw.

15Up bespak the niest forester,The niest forester of a’:An this be Johnie o Cockerslee,To him we winna draw.

Up bespak the niest forester,

The niest forester of a’:

An this be Johnie o Cockerslee,

To him we winna draw.

16The first shot that they did shoot,They woundit him on the bree;Up bespak the uncle’s son,‘The niest will gar him die.’

The first shot that they did shoot,

They woundit him on the bree;

Up bespak the uncle’s son,

‘The niest will gar him die.’

17The second shot that eer they shot,It scaithd him near the heart;‘I only wauken,’ Johnie cried,‘Whan first I find the smart.

The second shot that eer they shot,

It scaithd him near the heart;

‘I only wauken,’ Johnie cried,

‘Whan first I find the smart.

18‘Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,Stand stout, and dinna flee;Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,And we will gar them die.’

‘Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,

Stand stout, and dinna flee;

Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,

And we will gar them die.’

19He has killed six o the proud foresters,And wounded the seventh sair:He laid his leg out owre his steed,Says, I will kill na mair.

He has killed six o the proud foresters,

And wounded the seventh sair:

He laid his leg out owre his steed,

Says, I will kill na mair.

20‘Oh wae befa thee, silly auld man,An ill death may thee dee!Upon thy head be a’ this blude,For mine, I ween, is free.’

‘Oh wae befa thee, silly auld man,

An ill death may thee dee!

Upon thy head be a’ this blude,

For mine, I ween, is free.’

Kinloch’s MSS, VII, 29: from recitation in the North Country.

1Johnie rose up in a May morning,Calld for water to wash his hands,And he has calld for his gud gray hunds,That lay bund in iron bands. bandsThat lay bund in iron bands2‘Ye’ll busk, ye’ll busk my noble dogs,Ye’ll busk and mak them boun,For I’m gaing to the Broadspear hill,To ding the dun deer doun.’3Whan Johnie’s mither heard o this,She til her son has gane:‘Ye’ll win your mither’s benison,Gin ye wad stay at hame.4‘Your meat sall be o the very, very best,And your drink o the finest wine;And ye will win your mither’s benison,Gin ye wad stay at hame.’5His mither’s counsel he wad na tak,Nor wad he stay at hame;But he’s on to the Broadspear hill,To ding the dun deer doun.6Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,And a little below the sun,And there he spied the dun deer lying sleeping,Aneath a buss o brume.7Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap,And he has woundit him in the side,And atween the water and the wudHe laid the dun deer’s pride.8They ate sae meikle o the venison,And drank sae meikle o the blude,That Johnie and his twa gray hundsFell asleep in yonder wud.9By there cam a silly auld man,A silly auld man was he,And he’s aff to the proud foresters,To tell what he did see.10‘What news, what news, my silly auld man,What news? come tell to me:’‘Na news, na news,’ said the silly auld man,‘But what mine een did see.11‘As I cam in by yon greenwud,And doun amang the scrogs,The bonniest youth that ere I sawLay sleeping atween twa dogs.12‘The sark that he had on his backWas o the holland sma,And the coat that he had on his backWas laced wi gowd fu braw.’13Up bespak the first forester,The first forester ava:‘An this be Johnie o Cocklesmuir,It’s time we war awa.’14Up bespak the niest forester,The niest forester ava:‘An this be Johnie o Cocklesmuir,To him we winna draw.’15The first shot that they did shoot,They woundit him on the thie;Up bespak the uncle’s son,The niest will gar him die.16‘Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,Stand stout, and dinna flee;Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,And we will mak them dee.’17He has killed six o the proud foresters,And he has woundit the seventh sair;He laid his leg out oure his steed,Says, I will kill na mair.

1Johnie rose up in a May morning,Calld for water to wash his hands,And he has calld for his gud gray hunds,That lay bund in iron bands. bandsThat lay bund in iron bands

Johnie rose up in a May morning,

Calld for water to wash his hands,

And he has calld for his gud gray hunds,

That lay bund in iron bands. bands

That lay bund in iron bands

2‘Ye’ll busk, ye’ll busk my noble dogs,Ye’ll busk and mak them boun,For I’m gaing to the Broadspear hill,To ding the dun deer doun.’

‘Ye’ll busk, ye’ll busk my noble dogs,

Ye’ll busk and mak them boun,

For I’m gaing to the Broadspear hill,

To ding the dun deer doun.’

3Whan Johnie’s mither heard o this,She til her son has gane:‘Ye’ll win your mither’s benison,Gin ye wad stay at hame.

Whan Johnie’s mither heard o this,

She til her son has gane:

‘Ye’ll win your mither’s benison,

Gin ye wad stay at hame.

4‘Your meat sall be o the very, very best,And your drink o the finest wine;And ye will win your mither’s benison,Gin ye wad stay at hame.’

‘Your meat sall be o the very, very best,

And your drink o the finest wine;

And ye will win your mither’s benison,

Gin ye wad stay at hame.’

5His mither’s counsel he wad na tak,Nor wad he stay at hame;But he’s on to the Broadspear hill,To ding the dun deer doun.

His mither’s counsel he wad na tak,

Nor wad he stay at hame;

But he’s on to the Broadspear hill,

To ding the dun deer doun.

6Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,And a little below the sun,And there he spied the dun deer lying sleeping,Aneath a buss o brume.

Johnie lookit east, and Johnie lookit west,

And a little below the sun,

And there he spied the dun deer lying sleeping,

Aneath a buss o brume.

7Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap,And he has woundit him in the side,And atween the water and the wudHe laid the dun deer’s pride.

Johnie shot, and the dun deer lap,

And he has woundit him in the side,

And atween the water and the wud

He laid the dun deer’s pride.

8They ate sae meikle o the venison,And drank sae meikle o the blude,That Johnie and his twa gray hundsFell asleep in yonder wud.

They ate sae meikle o the venison,

And drank sae meikle o the blude,

That Johnie and his twa gray hunds

Fell asleep in yonder wud.

9By there cam a silly auld man,A silly auld man was he,And he’s aff to the proud foresters,To tell what he did see.

By there cam a silly auld man,

A silly auld man was he,

And he’s aff to the proud foresters,

To tell what he did see.

10‘What news, what news, my silly auld man,What news? come tell to me:’‘Na news, na news,’ said the silly auld man,‘But what mine een did see.

‘What news, what news, my silly auld man,

What news? come tell to me:’

‘Na news, na news,’ said the silly auld man,

‘But what mine een did see.

11‘As I cam in by yon greenwud,And doun amang the scrogs,The bonniest youth that ere I sawLay sleeping atween twa dogs.

‘As I cam in by yon greenwud,

And doun amang the scrogs,

The bonniest youth that ere I saw

Lay sleeping atween twa dogs.

12‘The sark that he had on his backWas o the holland sma,And the coat that he had on his backWas laced wi gowd fu braw.’

‘The sark that he had on his back

Was o the holland sma,

And the coat that he had on his back

Was laced wi gowd fu braw.’

13Up bespak the first forester,The first forester ava:‘An this be Johnie o Cocklesmuir,It’s time we war awa.’

Up bespak the first forester,

The first forester ava:

‘An this be Johnie o Cocklesmuir,

It’s time we war awa.’

14Up bespak the niest forester,The niest forester ava:‘An this be Johnie o Cocklesmuir,To him we winna draw.’

Up bespak the niest forester,

The niest forester ava:

‘An this be Johnie o Cocklesmuir,

To him we winna draw.’

15The first shot that they did shoot,They woundit him on the thie;Up bespak the uncle’s son,The niest will gar him die.

The first shot that they did shoot,

They woundit him on the thie;

Up bespak the uncle’s son,

The niest will gar him die.

16‘Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,Stand stout, and dinna flee;Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,And we will mak them dee.’

‘Stand stout, stand stout, my noble dogs,

Stand stout, and dinna flee;

Stand fast, stand fast, my gude gray hunds,

And we will mak them dee.’

17He has killed six o the proud foresters,And he has woundit the seventh sair;He laid his leg out oure his steed,Says, I will kill na mair.

He has killed six o the proud foresters,

And he has woundit the seventh sair;

He laid his leg out oure his steed,

Says, I will kill na mair.

Scott’s Minstrelsy, I, 59, 1802; made up from several different copies. Nithsdale.

1Johnie rose up in a May morning,Called for water to wash his hands:‘Gar loose to me the gude graie dogs,That are bound wi iron bands.’2When Johnie’s mother gat word o that,Her hands for dule she wrang:‘O Johnie, for my bennison,To the grenewood dinna gang!3‘Eneugh ye hae o the gude wheat-bread,And eneugh o the blude-red wine,And therefore for nae vennison, Johnie,I pray ye, stir frae hame.’4But Johnie’s buskt up his gude bend bow,His arrows, ane by ane,And he has gane to Durrisdeer,To hunt the dun deer down.5As he came down by Merriemass,And in by the benty line,There has he espied a deer lying,Aneath a bush of ling.6Johnie he shot, and the dun deer lap,And he wounded her on the side,But atween the water and the brae,His hounds they laid her pride.7And Johnie has bryttled the deer sae weelThat he’s had out her liver and lungs,And wi these he has feasted his bludey houndsAs if they had been erl’s sons.8They eat sae much o the vennison,And drank sae much o the blude,That Johnie and a’ his bludey houndsFell asleep as they had been dead.9And by there came a silly auld carle,An ill death mote he die!For he’s awa to Hislinton,Where the Seven Foresters did lie.10‘What news, what news, ye gray-headed carle?What news bring ye to me?’‘I bring nae news,’ said the gray-headed carle,‘Save what these eyes did see.11‘As I came down by Merriemass,And down amang the scroggs,The bonniest childe that ever I sawLay sleeping amang his dogs.12‘The shirt that was upon his backWas o the holland fine;The doublet which was over thatWas o the Lincome twine.13‘The buttons that were on his sleeveWere o the gowd sae gude;The gude graie hounds he lay amang,Their mouths were dyed wi blude.’14Then out and spak the first forester,The heid man ower them a’:If this be Johnie o Breadislee,Nae nearer will we draw.15But up and spak the sixth forester,His sister’s son was he:If this be Johnie o Breadislee,We soon shall gar him die.16The first flight of arrows the foresters shot,They wounded him on the knee;And out and spak the seventh forester,The next will gar him die.17Johnie’s set his back against an aik,His fute against a stane,And he has slain the Seven Foresters,He has slain them a’ but ane.18He has broke three ribs in that ane’s side,But and his collar bane;He’s laid him twa-fald ower his steed,Bade him carry the tidings hame.19‘O is there na a bonnie birdCan sing as I can say,Could flee away to my mother’s bower,And tell to fetch Johnie away?’20The starling flew to his mother’s window-stane,It whistled and it sang,And aye the ower-word o the tuneWas, Johnie tarries lang!21They made a rod o the hazel-bush,Another o the slae-thorn tree,And mony, mony were the menAt fetching our Johnie.22Then out and spake his auld mother,And fast her teirs did fa;Ye wad nae be warnd, my son Johnie,Frae the hunting to bide awa.23‘Aft hae I brought to BreadisleeThe less gear and the mair,But I neer brought to BreadisleeWhat grieved my heart sae sair.24‘But wae betyde that silly auld carle,An ill death shall he die;For the highest tree on MerriemassShall be his morning’s fee.’25Now Johnie’s gude bend bow is broke,And his gude graie dogs are slain,And his bodie lies dead in Durrisdeer,And his hunting it is done.

1Johnie rose up in a May morning,Called for water to wash his hands:‘Gar loose to me the gude graie dogs,That are bound wi iron bands.’

Johnie rose up in a May morning,

Called for water to wash his hands:

‘Gar loose to me the gude graie dogs,

That are bound wi iron bands.’

2When Johnie’s mother gat word o that,Her hands for dule she wrang:‘O Johnie, for my bennison,To the grenewood dinna gang!

When Johnie’s mother gat word o that,

Her hands for dule she wrang:

‘O Johnie, for my bennison,

To the grenewood dinna gang!

3‘Eneugh ye hae o the gude wheat-bread,And eneugh o the blude-red wine,And therefore for nae vennison, Johnie,I pray ye, stir frae hame.’

‘Eneugh ye hae o the gude wheat-bread,

And eneugh o the blude-red wine,

And therefore for nae vennison, Johnie,

I pray ye, stir frae hame.’

4But Johnie’s buskt up his gude bend bow,His arrows, ane by ane,And he has gane to Durrisdeer,To hunt the dun deer down.

But Johnie’s buskt up his gude bend bow,

His arrows, ane by ane,

And he has gane to Durrisdeer,

To hunt the dun deer down.

5As he came down by Merriemass,And in by the benty line,There has he espied a deer lying,Aneath a bush of ling.

As he came down by Merriemass,

And in by the benty line,

There has he espied a deer lying,

Aneath a bush of ling.

6Johnie he shot, and the dun deer lap,And he wounded her on the side,But atween the water and the brae,His hounds they laid her pride.

Johnie he shot, and the dun deer lap,

And he wounded her on the side,

But atween the water and the brae,

His hounds they laid her pride.

7And Johnie has bryttled the deer sae weelThat he’s had out her liver and lungs,And wi these he has feasted his bludey houndsAs if they had been erl’s sons.

And Johnie has bryttled the deer sae weel

That he’s had out her liver and lungs,

And wi these he has feasted his bludey hounds

As if they had been erl’s sons.

8They eat sae much o the vennison,And drank sae much o the blude,That Johnie and a’ his bludey houndsFell asleep as they had been dead.

They eat sae much o the vennison,

And drank sae much o the blude,

That Johnie and a’ his bludey hounds

Fell asleep as they had been dead.

9And by there came a silly auld carle,An ill death mote he die!For he’s awa to Hislinton,Where the Seven Foresters did lie.

And by there came a silly auld carle,

An ill death mote he die!

For he’s awa to Hislinton,

Where the Seven Foresters did lie.

10‘What news, what news, ye gray-headed carle?What news bring ye to me?’‘I bring nae news,’ said the gray-headed carle,‘Save what these eyes did see.

‘What news, what news, ye gray-headed carle?

What news bring ye to me?’

‘I bring nae news,’ said the gray-headed carle,

‘Save what these eyes did see.

11‘As I came down by Merriemass,And down amang the scroggs,The bonniest childe that ever I sawLay sleeping amang his dogs.

‘As I came down by Merriemass,

And down amang the scroggs,

The bonniest childe that ever I saw

Lay sleeping amang his dogs.

12‘The shirt that was upon his backWas o the holland fine;The doublet which was over thatWas o the Lincome twine.

‘The shirt that was upon his back

Was o the holland fine;

The doublet which was over that

Was o the Lincome twine.

13‘The buttons that were on his sleeveWere o the gowd sae gude;The gude graie hounds he lay amang,Their mouths were dyed wi blude.’

‘The buttons that were on his sleeve

Were o the gowd sae gude;

The gude graie hounds he lay amang,

Their mouths were dyed wi blude.’

14Then out and spak the first forester,The heid man ower them a’:If this be Johnie o Breadislee,Nae nearer will we draw.

Then out and spak the first forester,

The heid man ower them a’:

If this be Johnie o Breadislee,

Nae nearer will we draw.

15But up and spak the sixth forester,His sister’s son was he:If this be Johnie o Breadislee,We soon shall gar him die.

But up and spak the sixth forester,

His sister’s son was he:

If this be Johnie o Breadislee,

We soon shall gar him die.

16The first flight of arrows the foresters shot,They wounded him on the knee;And out and spak the seventh forester,The next will gar him die.

The first flight of arrows the foresters shot,

They wounded him on the knee;

And out and spak the seventh forester,

The next will gar him die.

17Johnie’s set his back against an aik,His fute against a stane,And he has slain the Seven Foresters,He has slain them a’ but ane.

Johnie’s set his back against an aik,

His fute against a stane,

And he has slain the Seven Foresters,

He has slain them a’ but ane.

18He has broke three ribs in that ane’s side,But and his collar bane;He’s laid him twa-fald ower his steed,Bade him carry the tidings hame.

He has broke three ribs in that ane’s side,

But and his collar bane;

He’s laid him twa-fald ower his steed,

Bade him carry the tidings hame.

19‘O is there na a bonnie birdCan sing as I can say,Could flee away to my mother’s bower,And tell to fetch Johnie away?’

‘O is there na a bonnie bird

Can sing as I can say,

Could flee away to my mother’s bower,

And tell to fetch Johnie away?’

20The starling flew to his mother’s window-stane,It whistled and it sang,And aye the ower-word o the tuneWas, Johnie tarries lang!

The starling flew to his mother’s window-stane,

It whistled and it sang,

And aye the ower-word o the tune

Was, Johnie tarries lang!

21They made a rod o the hazel-bush,Another o the slae-thorn tree,And mony, mony were the menAt fetching our Johnie.

They made a rod o the hazel-bush,

Another o the slae-thorn tree,

And mony, mony were the men

At fetching our Johnie.

22Then out and spake his auld mother,And fast her teirs did fa;Ye wad nae be warnd, my son Johnie,Frae the hunting to bide awa.

Then out and spake his auld mother,

And fast her teirs did fa;

Ye wad nae be warnd, my son Johnie,

Frae the hunting to bide awa.

23‘Aft hae I brought to BreadisleeThe less gear and the mair,But I neer brought to BreadisleeWhat grieved my heart sae sair.

‘Aft hae I brought to Breadislee

The less gear and the mair,

But I neer brought to Breadislee

What grieved my heart sae sair.

24‘But wae betyde that silly auld carle,An ill death shall he die;For the highest tree on MerriemassShall be his morning’s fee.’

‘But wae betyde that silly auld carle,

An ill death shall he die;

For the highest tree on Merriemass

Shall be his morning’s fee.’

25Now Johnie’s gude bend bow is broke,And his gude graie dogs are slain,And his bodie lies dead in Durrisdeer,And his hunting it is done.

Now Johnie’s gude bend bow is broke,

And his gude graie dogs are slain,

And his bodie lies dead in Durrisdeer,

And his hunting it is done.

Harris MS., fol. 25: from Mrs Harris’s recitation.

1Johnnie Brad, on a May mornin,Called for water to wash his hands,An there he spied his twa blude-hounds,Waur bound in iron bands. bandsWaur bound in iron bands2Johnnie’s taen his gude bent bow,Bot an his arrows kene,An strippit himsel o the scarlet red,An put on the licht Lincoln green.3Up it spak Johnnie’s mither,An’ a wae, wae woman was she:I beg you bide at hame, Johnnie,I pray be ruled by me.4Baken bread ye sall nae lack,An wine you sall lack nane;Oh Johnnie, for my benison,I beg you bide at hame!5He has made a solemn aith,Atween the sun an the mune,That he wald gae to the gude green wood,The dun deer to ding doon.6He luiket east, he luiket wast,An in below the sun,An there he spied the dun deer,Aneath a bush o brume.7The firsten shot that Johnnie shot,He wounded her in the side;The nexten shot that Johnnie shot,I wat he laid her pride.8He’s eaten o the venison,An drunken o the blude,Until he fell as sound asleepAs though he had been dead.9Bye there cam a silly auld man,And a silly auld man was he,An he’s on to the Seven Foresters,As fast as he can flee.10‘As I cam in by yonder haugh,An in among the scroggs,The bonniest boy that ere I sawLay sleepin atween his dogs.’* * * * *11The firsten shot that Johnnie shot,He shot them a’ but ane,An he flang him owre a milk-white steed,Bade him bear tidings hame.

1Johnnie Brad, on a May mornin,Called for water to wash his hands,An there he spied his twa blude-hounds,Waur bound in iron bands. bandsWaur bound in iron bands

Johnnie Brad, on a May mornin,

Called for water to wash his hands,

An there he spied his twa blude-hounds,

Waur bound in iron bands. bands

Waur bound in iron bands

2Johnnie’s taen his gude bent bow,Bot an his arrows kene,An strippit himsel o the scarlet red,An put on the licht Lincoln green.

Johnnie’s taen his gude bent bow,

Bot an his arrows kene,

An strippit himsel o the scarlet red,

An put on the licht Lincoln green.

3Up it spak Johnnie’s mither,An’ a wae, wae woman was she:I beg you bide at hame, Johnnie,I pray be ruled by me.

Up it spak Johnnie’s mither,

An’ a wae, wae woman was she:

I beg you bide at hame, Johnnie,

I pray be ruled by me.

4Baken bread ye sall nae lack,An wine you sall lack nane;Oh Johnnie, for my benison,I beg you bide at hame!

Baken bread ye sall nae lack,

An wine you sall lack nane;

Oh Johnnie, for my benison,

I beg you bide at hame!

5He has made a solemn aith,Atween the sun an the mune,That he wald gae to the gude green wood,The dun deer to ding doon.

He has made a solemn aith,

Atween the sun an the mune,

That he wald gae to the gude green wood,

The dun deer to ding doon.

6He luiket east, he luiket wast,An in below the sun,An there he spied the dun deer,Aneath a bush o brume.

He luiket east, he luiket wast,

An in below the sun,

An there he spied the dun deer,

Aneath a bush o brume.

7The firsten shot that Johnnie shot,He wounded her in the side;The nexten shot that Johnnie shot,I wat he laid her pride.

The firsten shot that Johnnie shot,

He wounded her in the side;

The nexten shot that Johnnie shot,

I wat he laid her pride.

8He’s eaten o the venison,An drunken o the blude,Until he fell as sound asleepAs though he had been dead.

He’s eaten o the venison,

An drunken o the blude,

Until he fell as sound asleep

As though he had been dead.

9Bye there cam a silly auld man,And a silly auld man was he,An he’s on to the Seven Foresters,As fast as he can flee.

Bye there cam a silly auld man,

And a silly auld man was he,

An he’s on to the Seven Foresters,

As fast as he can flee.

10‘As I cam in by yonder haugh,An in among the scroggs,The bonniest boy that ere I sawLay sleepin atween his dogs.’

‘As I cam in by yonder haugh,

An in among the scroggs,

The bonniest boy that ere I saw

Lay sleepin atween his dogs.’

* * * * *

11The firsten shot that Johnnie shot,He shot them a’ but ane,An he flang him owre a milk-white steed,Bade him bear tidings hame.

The firsten shot that Johnnie shot,

He shot them a’ but ane,

An he flang him owre a milk-white steed,

Bade him bear tidings hame.

Buchan’s MSS, I, 82; Dixon, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 77, Percy Society, vol. xvii.

1Johnnie raise up in a May morning,Calld for water to wash his hands,And he’s commant his bluidy dogsTo be loosd frae their iron bands. bandsTo be loosd frae their iron bands2‘Win up, win up, my bluidy dogs,Win up, and be unbound,And we will on to Bride’s Braidmuir,And ding the dun deer down.’3When his mother got word o that,Then she took bed and lay;Says, Johnnie, my son, for my blessing,Ye’ll stay at hame this day.4There’s baken bread and brown aleShall be at your command;Ye’ll win your mither’s blythe blessing,To the Bride’s Braidmuir nae gang.5Mony are my friends, mither,Though thousands were my foe;Betide me life, betide me death,To the Bride’s Braidmuir I’ll go.6The sark that was on Johnnie’s backWas o the cambric fine;The belt that was around his middleWi pearlins it did shine.7The coat that was upon his backWas o the linsey brown;And he’s awa to the Bride’s Braidmuir,To ding the dun deer down.8Johnnie lookd east, Johnnie lookd west,And turnd him round and round,And there he saw the king’s dun deer,Was cowing the bush o brune.9Johnnie shot, and the dun deer lap,He wounded her in the side;Between him and yon burnie-bank,Johnnie he laid her pride.10He ate sae muckle o the venison,He drank sae muckle bleed,Till he lay down between his hounds,And slept as he’d been dead.11But by there came a stane-auld man,An ill death mat he dee!For he is on to the Seven Foresters,As fast as gang could he.12‘What news, what news, ye stane-auld man?What news hae ye brought you wi?’‘Nae news, nae news, ye seven foresters,But what your eyes will see.13‘As I gaed i yon rough thick hedge,Amang yon bramly scroggs,The fairest youth that eer I sawLay sleeping between his dogs.14‘The sark that was upon his backWas o the cambric fine;The belt that was around his middleWi pearlins it did shine.’15Then out it speaks the first forester:Whether this be true or no,O if it’s Johnnie o Cocklesmuir,Nae forder need we go.16Out it spake the second forester,A fierce fellow was he:Betide me life, betide me death,This youth we’ll go and see.17As they gaed in yon rough thick hedge,And down yon forest gay,They came to that very same placeWhere John o Cockis he lay.18The first an shot they shot at him,They wounded him in the thigh;Out spake the first forester’s son:By the next shot he maun die.19‘O stand ye true, my trusty bow,And stout steel never fail!Avenge me now on all my foes,Who have my life i bail.’20Then Johnnie killd six foresters,And wounded the seventh sair;Then drew a stroke at the stane-auld man,That words he neer spake mair.21His mother’s parrot in window sat,She whistled and she sang,And aye the owerturn o the note,‘Young Johnnie’s biding lang.’22When this reached the king’s own ears,It grievd him wondrous sair;Says, I’d rather they’d hurt my subjects allThan Johnnie o Cocklesmuir.23‘But where are all my wall-wight men,That I pay meat and fee,Will gang the morn to Johnnie’s castle,See how the cause may be.’24Then he’s calld Johnnie up to court,Treated him handsomelie,And now to hunt in the Bride’s Braidmuir,For life has license free.

1Johnnie raise up in a May morning,Calld for water to wash his hands,And he’s commant his bluidy dogsTo be loosd frae their iron bands. bandsTo be loosd frae their iron bands

Johnnie raise up in a May morning,

Calld for water to wash his hands,

And he’s commant his bluidy dogs

To be loosd frae their iron bands. bands

To be loosd frae their iron bands

2‘Win up, win up, my bluidy dogs,Win up, and be unbound,And we will on to Bride’s Braidmuir,And ding the dun deer down.’

‘Win up, win up, my bluidy dogs,

Win up, and be unbound,

And we will on to Bride’s Braidmuir,

And ding the dun deer down.’

3When his mother got word o that,Then she took bed and lay;Says, Johnnie, my son, for my blessing,Ye’ll stay at hame this day.

When his mother got word o that,

Then she took bed and lay;

Says, Johnnie, my son, for my blessing,

Ye’ll stay at hame this day.

4There’s baken bread and brown aleShall be at your command;Ye’ll win your mither’s blythe blessing,To the Bride’s Braidmuir nae gang.

There’s baken bread and brown ale

Shall be at your command;

Ye’ll win your mither’s blythe blessing,

To the Bride’s Braidmuir nae gang.

5Mony are my friends, mither,Though thousands were my foe;Betide me life, betide me death,To the Bride’s Braidmuir I’ll go.

Mony are my friends, mither,

Though thousands were my foe;

Betide me life, betide me death,

To the Bride’s Braidmuir I’ll go.

6The sark that was on Johnnie’s backWas o the cambric fine;The belt that was around his middleWi pearlins it did shine.

The sark that was on Johnnie’s back

Was o the cambric fine;

The belt that was around his middle

Wi pearlins it did shine.

7The coat that was upon his backWas o the linsey brown;And he’s awa to the Bride’s Braidmuir,To ding the dun deer down.

The coat that was upon his back

Was o the linsey brown;

And he’s awa to the Bride’s Braidmuir,

To ding the dun deer down.

8Johnnie lookd east, Johnnie lookd west,And turnd him round and round,And there he saw the king’s dun deer,Was cowing the bush o brune.

Johnnie lookd east, Johnnie lookd west,

And turnd him round and round,

And there he saw the king’s dun deer,

Was cowing the bush o brune.

9Johnnie shot, and the dun deer lap,He wounded her in the side;Between him and yon burnie-bank,Johnnie he laid her pride.

Johnnie shot, and the dun deer lap,

He wounded her in the side;

Between him and yon burnie-bank,

Johnnie he laid her pride.

10He ate sae muckle o the venison,He drank sae muckle bleed,Till he lay down between his hounds,And slept as he’d been dead.

He ate sae muckle o the venison,

He drank sae muckle bleed,

Till he lay down between his hounds,

And slept as he’d been dead.

11But by there came a stane-auld man,An ill death mat he dee!For he is on to the Seven Foresters,As fast as gang could he.

But by there came a stane-auld man,

An ill death mat he dee!

For he is on to the Seven Foresters,

As fast as gang could he.

12‘What news, what news, ye stane-auld man?What news hae ye brought you wi?’‘Nae news, nae news, ye seven foresters,But what your eyes will see.

‘What news, what news, ye stane-auld man?

What news hae ye brought you wi?’

‘Nae news, nae news, ye seven foresters,

But what your eyes will see.

13‘As I gaed i yon rough thick hedge,Amang yon bramly scroggs,The fairest youth that eer I sawLay sleeping between his dogs.

‘As I gaed i yon rough thick hedge,

Amang yon bramly scroggs,

The fairest youth that eer I saw

Lay sleeping between his dogs.

14‘The sark that was upon his backWas o the cambric fine;The belt that was around his middleWi pearlins it did shine.’

‘The sark that was upon his back

Was o the cambric fine;

The belt that was around his middle

Wi pearlins it did shine.’

15Then out it speaks the first forester:Whether this be true or no,O if it’s Johnnie o Cocklesmuir,Nae forder need we go.

Then out it speaks the first forester:

Whether this be true or no,

O if it’s Johnnie o Cocklesmuir,

Nae forder need we go.

16Out it spake the second forester,A fierce fellow was he:Betide me life, betide me death,This youth we’ll go and see.

Out it spake the second forester,

A fierce fellow was he:

Betide me life, betide me death,

This youth we’ll go and see.

17As they gaed in yon rough thick hedge,And down yon forest gay,They came to that very same placeWhere John o Cockis he lay.

As they gaed in yon rough thick hedge,

And down yon forest gay,

They came to that very same place

Where John o Cockis he lay.

18The first an shot they shot at him,They wounded him in the thigh;Out spake the first forester’s son:By the next shot he maun die.

The first an shot they shot at him,

They wounded him in the thigh;

Out spake the first forester’s son:

By the next shot he maun die.

19‘O stand ye true, my trusty bow,And stout steel never fail!Avenge me now on all my foes,Who have my life i bail.’

‘O stand ye true, my trusty bow,

And stout steel never fail!

Avenge me now on all my foes,

Who have my life i bail.’

20Then Johnnie killd six foresters,And wounded the seventh sair;Then drew a stroke at the stane-auld man,That words he neer spake mair.

Then Johnnie killd six foresters,

And wounded the seventh sair;

Then drew a stroke at the stane-auld man,

That words he neer spake mair.

21His mother’s parrot in window sat,She whistled and she sang,And aye the owerturn o the note,‘Young Johnnie’s biding lang.’

His mother’s parrot in window sat,

She whistled and she sang,

And aye the owerturn o the note,

‘Young Johnnie’s biding lang.’

22When this reached the king’s own ears,It grievd him wondrous sair;Says, I’d rather they’d hurt my subjects allThan Johnnie o Cocklesmuir.

When this reached the king’s own ears,

It grievd him wondrous sair;

Says, I’d rather they’d hurt my subjects all

Than Johnnie o Cocklesmuir.

23‘But where are all my wall-wight men,That I pay meat and fee,Will gang the morn to Johnnie’s castle,See how the cause may be.’

‘But where are all my wall-wight men,

That I pay meat and fee,

Will gang the morn to Johnnie’s castle,

See how the cause may be.’

24Then he’s calld Johnnie up to court,Treated him handsomelie,And now to hunt in the Bride’s Braidmuir,For life has license free.

Then he’s calld Johnnie up to court,

Treated him handsomelie,

And now to hunt in the Bride’s Braidmuir,

For life has license free.

Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, p. 23.

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