1It fell about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew shrill and cauld,Said Captain Gordon to his men,We’ll a’draw to som hauld.2‘And whatena hauld shall we draw to,To be the nearest hame?’‘We will draw to the ha o bonny Cargarff;The laird is na at hame.’3The lady sat on her castle-wa,Beheld both dale and down;And she beheld the fause GordonCome halycon to the town.4‘Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,Gie ower yer house to me;Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,Or in it you shall die.’5‘I’ll no gie ower my bonny house,To lord nor yet to loun;I’ll no gie ower my bonny houseTo the traitors of Auchindown.’* * * * *6Then up and spak her youngest son,Sat at the nourice’s knee:‘O mother dear, gie ower yer house,For the reek o’t smothers me.’7‘I would gie a’my goud, my child,Sae would I a’my fee,For ae blast o the westlan win,To blaw the reek frae thee.’8Then up and spak her eldest heir,He spak wi muckle pride:‘Now mother dear, keep weel yer house,And I’ll fight by yer side.’
1It fell about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew shrill and cauld,Said Captain Gordon to his men,We’ll a’draw to som hauld.2‘And whatena hauld shall we draw to,To be the nearest hame?’‘We will draw to the ha o bonny Cargarff;The laird is na at hame.’3The lady sat on her castle-wa,Beheld both dale and down;And she beheld the fause GordonCome halycon to the town.4‘Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,Gie ower yer house to me;Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,Or in it you shall die.’5‘I’ll no gie ower my bonny house,To lord nor yet to loun;I’ll no gie ower my bonny houseTo the traitors of Auchindown.’* * * * *6Then up and spak her youngest son,Sat at the nourice’s knee:‘O mother dear, gie ower yer house,For the reek o’t smothers me.’7‘I would gie a’my goud, my child,Sae would I a’my fee,For ae blast o the westlan win,To blaw the reek frae thee.’8Then up and spak her eldest heir,He spak wi muckle pride:‘Now mother dear, keep weel yer house,And I’ll fight by yer side.’
1It fell about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew shrill and cauld,Said Captain Gordon to his men,We’ll a’draw to som hauld.
1
It fell about the Martinmas time,
When the wind blew shrill and cauld,
Said Captain Gordon to his men,
We’ll a’draw to som hauld.
2‘And whatena hauld shall we draw to,To be the nearest hame?’‘We will draw to the ha o bonny Cargarff;The laird is na at hame.’
2
‘And whatena hauld shall we draw to,
To be the nearest hame?’
‘We will draw to the ha o bonny Cargarff;
The laird is na at hame.’
3The lady sat on her castle-wa,Beheld both dale and down;And she beheld the fause GordonCome halycon to the town.
3
The lady sat on her castle-wa,
Beheld both dale and down;
And she beheld the fause Gordon
Come halycon to the town.
4‘Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,Gie ower yer house to me;Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,Or in it you shall die.’
4
‘Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,
Gie ower yer house to me;
Now, Lady Cargarff, gie ower yer house,
Or in it you shall die.’
5‘I’ll no gie ower my bonny house,To lord nor yet to loun;I’ll no gie ower my bonny houseTo the traitors of Auchindown.’
5
‘I’ll no gie ower my bonny house,
To lord nor yet to loun;
I’ll no gie ower my bonny house
To the traitors of Auchindown.’
* * * * *
* * * * *
6Then up and spak her youngest son,Sat at the nourice’s knee:‘O mother dear, gie ower yer house,For the reek o’t smothers me.’
6
Then up and spak her youngest son,
Sat at the nourice’s knee:
‘O mother dear, gie ower yer house,
For the reek o’t smothers me.’
7‘I would gie a’my goud, my child,Sae would I a’my fee,For ae blast o the westlan win,To blaw the reek frae thee.’
7
‘I would gie a’my goud, my child,
Sae would I a’my fee,
For ae blast o the westlan win,
To blaw the reek frae thee.’
8Then up and spak her eldest heir,He spak wi muckle pride:‘Now mother dear, keep weel yer house,And I’ll fight by yer side.’
8
Then up and spak her eldest heir,
He spak wi muckle pride:
‘Now mother dear, keep weel yer house,
And I’ll fight by yer side.’
The New Statistical Account of Scotland, V, 846, Parish of Loudoun, by Rev. Norman Macleod: “known among the peasantry from time immemorial.”
1It fell about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew snell and cauld,That Adam o Gordon said to his men,Where will we get a hold?2See [ye] not where yonder fair castleStands on yon lily lee?The laird and I hae a deadly feud,The lady fain would I see.3As she was up on the househead,Behold, on looking down,She saw Adam o Gordon and his men,Coming riding to the town.4The dinner was not well set down,Nor the grace was scarcely said,Till Adam o Gordon and his menAbout the walls were laid.5‘It’s fause now fa thee, Jock my man!Thou might a let me be;Yon man has lifted the pavement-stone,An let in the low unto me.’6‘Seven years I served thee, fair ladie,You gave me meat and fee;But now I am Adam o Gordon’s man,An maun either do it or die.’7‘Come down, come down, my lady Loudoun,Come down thou unto me!I’ll wrap thee on a feather-bed,Thy warrand I shall be.’8‘I’ll no come down, I’ll no come down,For neither laird no[r] loun;Nor yet for any bloody butcherThat lives in Altringham town.9‘I would give the black,’ she says,‘And so would I the brown,If that Thomas, my only son,Could charge to me a gun.’10Out then spake the lady Margaret,As she stood on the stair;The fire was at her goud garters,The lowe was at her hair.11‘I would give the black,’ she says,‘And so would I the brown,For a drink of yon water,That runs by Galston Town.’12Out then spake fair Annie,She was baith jimp and sma‘O row me in a pair o sheets,And tow me down the wa!’13‘O hold thy tongue, thou fair Annie,And let thy talkin be;For thou must stay in this fair castle,And bear thy death with me.’14‘O mother,’ spoke the lord Thomas,As he sat on the nurse’s knee,‘O mother, give up this fair castle,Or the reek will worrie me.’15‘I would rather be burnt to ashes sma,And be cast on yon sea-foam,Before I’d give up this fair castle,And my lord so far from home.16‘My good lord has an army strong,He’s now gone oer the sea;He bad me keep this gay castle,As long as it would keep me.17‘I’ve four-and-twenty brave milk kye,Gangs on yon lily-lee;I’d give them a’ for a blast of wind,To blaw the reek from me.’18O pittie on yon fair castle,That’s built with stone and lime!But far mair pittie on Lady Loudoun,And all her children nine!
1It fell about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew snell and cauld,That Adam o Gordon said to his men,Where will we get a hold?2See [ye] not where yonder fair castleStands on yon lily lee?The laird and I hae a deadly feud,The lady fain would I see.3As she was up on the househead,Behold, on looking down,She saw Adam o Gordon and his men,Coming riding to the town.4The dinner was not well set down,Nor the grace was scarcely said,Till Adam o Gordon and his menAbout the walls were laid.5‘It’s fause now fa thee, Jock my man!Thou might a let me be;Yon man has lifted the pavement-stone,An let in the low unto me.’6‘Seven years I served thee, fair ladie,You gave me meat and fee;But now I am Adam o Gordon’s man,An maun either do it or die.’7‘Come down, come down, my lady Loudoun,Come down thou unto me!I’ll wrap thee on a feather-bed,Thy warrand I shall be.’8‘I’ll no come down, I’ll no come down,For neither laird no[r] loun;Nor yet for any bloody butcherThat lives in Altringham town.9‘I would give the black,’ she says,‘And so would I the brown,If that Thomas, my only son,Could charge to me a gun.’10Out then spake the lady Margaret,As she stood on the stair;The fire was at her goud garters,The lowe was at her hair.11‘I would give the black,’ she says,‘And so would I the brown,For a drink of yon water,That runs by Galston Town.’12Out then spake fair Annie,She was baith jimp and sma‘O row me in a pair o sheets,And tow me down the wa!’13‘O hold thy tongue, thou fair Annie,And let thy talkin be;For thou must stay in this fair castle,And bear thy death with me.’14‘O mother,’ spoke the lord Thomas,As he sat on the nurse’s knee,‘O mother, give up this fair castle,Or the reek will worrie me.’15‘I would rather be burnt to ashes sma,And be cast on yon sea-foam,Before I’d give up this fair castle,And my lord so far from home.16‘My good lord has an army strong,He’s now gone oer the sea;He bad me keep this gay castle,As long as it would keep me.17‘I’ve four-and-twenty brave milk kye,Gangs on yon lily-lee;I’d give them a’ for a blast of wind,To blaw the reek from me.’18O pittie on yon fair castle,That’s built with stone and lime!But far mair pittie on Lady Loudoun,And all her children nine!
1It fell about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew snell and cauld,That Adam o Gordon said to his men,Where will we get a hold?
1
It fell about the Martinmas time,
When the wind blew snell and cauld,
That Adam o Gordon said to his men,
Where will we get a hold?
2See [ye] not where yonder fair castleStands on yon lily lee?The laird and I hae a deadly feud,The lady fain would I see.
2
See [ye] not where yonder fair castle
Stands on yon lily lee?
The laird and I hae a deadly feud,
The lady fain would I see.
3As she was up on the househead,Behold, on looking down,She saw Adam o Gordon and his men,Coming riding to the town.
3
As she was up on the househead,
Behold, on looking down,
She saw Adam o Gordon and his men,
Coming riding to the town.
4The dinner was not well set down,Nor the grace was scarcely said,Till Adam o Gordon and his menAbout the walls were laid.
4
The dinner was not well set down,
Nor the grace was scarcely said,
Till Adam o Gordon and his men
About the walls were laid.
5‘It’s fause now fa thee, Jock my man!Thou might a let me be;Yon man has lifted the pavement-stone,An let in the low unto me.’
5
‘It’s fause now fa thee, Jock my man!
Thou might a let me be;
Yon man has lifted the pavement-stone,
An let in the low unto me.’
6‘Seven years I served thee, fair ladie,You gave me meat and fee;But now I am Adam o Gordon’s man,An maun either do it or die.’
6
‘Seven years I served thee, fair ladie,
You gave me meat and fee;
But now I am Adam o Gordon’s man,
An maun either do it or die.’
7‘Come down, come down, my lady Loudoun,Come down thou unto me!I’ll wrap thee on a feather-bed,Thy warrand I shall be.’
7
‘Come down, come down, my lady Loudoun,
Come down thou unto me!
I’ll wrap thee on a feather-bed,
Thy warrand I shall be.’
8‘I’ll no come down, I’ll no come down,For neither laird no[r] loun;Nor yet for any bloody butcherThat lives in Altringham town.
8
‘I’ll no come down, I’ll no come down,
For neither laird no[r] loun;
Nor yet for any bloody butcher
That lives in Altringham town.
9‘I would give the black,’ she says,‘And so would I the brown,If that Thomas, my only son,Could charge to me a gun.’
9
‘I would give the black,’ she says,
‘And so would I the brown,
If that Thomas, my only son,
Could charge to me a gun.’
10Out then spake the lady Margaret,As she stood on the stair;The fire was at her goud garters,The lowe was at her hair.
10
Out then spake the lady Margaret,
As she stood on the stair;
The fire was at her goud garters,
The lowe was at her hair.
11‘I would give the black,’ she says,‘And so would I the brown,For a drink of yon water,That runs by Galston Town.’
11
‘I would give the black,’ she says,
‘And so would I the brown,
For a drink of yon water,
That runs by Galston Town.’
12Out then spake fair Annie,She was baith jimp and sma‘O row me in a pair o sheets,And tow me down the wa!’
12
Out then spake fair Annie,
She was baith jimp and sma
‘O row me in a pair o sheets,
And tow me down the wa!’
13‘O hold thy tongue, thou fair Annie,And let thy talkin be;For thou must stay in this fair castle,And bear thy death with me.’
13
‘O hold thy tongue, thou fair Annie,
And let thy talkin be;
For thou must stay in this fair castle,
And bear thy death with me.’
14‘O mother,’ spoke the lord Thomas,As he sat on the nurse’s knee,‘O mother, give up this fair castle,Or the reek will worrie me.’
14
‘O mother,’ spoke the lord Thomas,
As he sat on the nurse’s knee,
‘O mother, give up this fair castle,
Or the reek will worrie me.’
15‘I would rather be burnt to ashes sma,And be cast on yon sea-foam,Before I’d give up this fair castle,And my lord so far from home.
15
‘I would rather be burnt to ashes sma,
And be cast on yon sea-foam,
Before I’d give up this fair castle,
And my lord so far from home.
16‘My good lord has an army strong,He’s now gone oer the sea;He bad me keep this gay castle,As long as it would keep me.
16
‘My good lord has an army strong,
He’s now gone oer the sea;
He bad me keep this gay castle,
As long as it would keep me.
17‘I’ve four-and-twenty brave milk kye,Gangs on yon lily-lee;I’d give them a’ for a blast of wind,To blaw the reek from me.’
17
‘I’ve four-and-twenty brave milk kye,
Gangs on yon lily-lee;
I’d give them a’ for a blast of wind,
To blaw the reek from me.’
18O pittie on yon fair castle,That’s built with stone and lime!But far mair pittie on Lady Loudoun,And all her children nine!
18
O pittie on yon fair castle,
That’s built with stone and lime!
But far mair pittie on Lady Loudoun,
And all her children nine!
Motherwell’s MS., p. 543, from the recitation of May Richmond, at the Old Kirk of Loudon.
1It was in and about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew schill and cauld,That Adam o Gordon said to his men,Whare will we get a hauld?2‘Do ye not see yon bonnie castell,That stands on Loudon lee?The lord and I hae a deadlie feed,And his lady fain wuld I see.’3Lady Campbell was standing in the close,A preenin o her goun,Whan Adam o Gordon and his menCam riding thro Galston toun.4The dinner was na weel set doun,Nor yet the grace weel said,Till Adam o Gordon and a’his menAround the wa’s war laid.5‘Come doun, come down, Ladie Campbell,’ he said,‘Come doun and speak to me;I’ll kep thee in a feather bed,And thy warraner I will be.’6‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,Nor to ony lord nor loun;Nor yet to thee, thou bloody butcher,The laird o Auchruglen toun.’7‘Come doun, come doun, Ladye Campbell,’ he said,‘Cum doun and speak to me;I’ll kep thee on the point o my sword,And thy warraner I will be.’8‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,Nor to ony lord or loun,Nor yet to thee, thou bludie butcher,The laird o Auchruglen toun.’9‘Syne gin ye winna come doun,’ he said,‘A’ for to speak to me,I’ll tye the bands around my waist,And fire thy death sall be.’10‘I’d leifer be burnt in ashes sma,And cuist in yon sea-faem,Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,And my gude lord frae hame.11‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,He’s new gane ower the sea;He bade me keep this bonnie castell,As lang’s it wuld keep me.’12‘Set fire to the house,’ said bauld Gordon,‘Set fire to the house, my men;We’ll gar Lady Campbell come for to rewAs she burns in the flame.’13‘O wae be to thee, Carmichael,’ she said,‘And an ill death may ye die!For ye hae lifted the pavement-stane,And loot up the lowe to me.14‘Seven years ye war about my house,And received both meat and fee:’‘And now I’m Adam o Gordon’s man,I maun either do or dee.’15‘Oh I wad gie the black,’ she said,‘And I wuld gie the brown,All for ae cup o the cauld waterThat rins to Galstoun toun.’16Syne out and spak the auld dochter,She was baith jimp and sma:‘O row me in a pair o sheets,And fling me ower the wa!’17They row’t her in a pair o sheets,And flang her ower the wa,And on the point o Gordon’s swordShe gat a deadlie fa.18He turned her ower, and ower again,And oh but she looked wan!‘I think I’ve killed as bonnie a faceAs ere the sun shined on.’19He turned her ower, and ower again,And oh but she lookt white!‘I micht hae spared this bonnie face,To hae been some man’s delight!’20Syne out and spak Lady Margaret,As she stood on the stair:‘The fire is at my gowd garters,And the lowe is at my hair.’21Syne out and spak fair Ladie Ann,Frae childbed whare she lay:‘Gie up this bonnie castell, mother,And let us win away.’22‘Lye still, lye still, my fair Annie,And let your talking be;For ye maun stay in this bonnie castellAnd dree your death wi me.’23‘Whatever death I am to dree,I winna die my lane:I’ll tak a bairn in ilka armAnd the third is in my wame.’24Syne out and spak her youngest son,A bonnie wee boy was he:‘Gae doun, gae doun, mother,’ he said,‘Or the lowe will worry me.’25‘I’d leifer be brent in ashes smaAnd cuist in yon sea-faem,Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,And my guid lord frae hame.26‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,He’s new gane ower the sea;But gin he eer returns again,Revenged my death sall be.’27Syne out and spak her waitin-maid:Receive this babe frae me,And save the saikless babie’s life,And I’ll neer seek mair fee.28‘How can I tak the bairn?’ she said,‘How can I tak’t?’ said she,‘For my hair was ance five quarters lang,And ’tis now brent to my bree.’29She rowit it in a feather-bed,And flang it ower the wa,But on the point o Gordon’s swordIt gat a deidlie fa.30‘I wuld gie Loudon’s bonnie castell,And Loudon’s bonnie lee,All gin my youngest son JohnnieCould charge a gun to me.31‘Oh, I wuld gie the black,’ she said,‘And sae wuld I the bay,Gin young Sir George could take a steedAnd quickly ride away.’32Syne out and spak her auldest son,As he was gaun to die:‘Send doun your chamber-maid, mother,She gaes wi bairn to me.’33‘Gin ye were not my eldest son,And heir o a’ my land,I’d tye a sheet around thy neck,And hang thee with my hand.34‘I would gie my twenty gude milk-kye,That feed on Shallow lee,A’for ae blast o the norland wind,To blaw the lowe frae me.’35Oh was na it a pitie o yon bonnie castell,That was biggit wi stane and lime!But far mair pity o Lady Ann Campbell,That was brunt wi her bairns nine.36Three o them war married wives,And three o them were bairns,And three o them were leal maidens,That neer lay in men’s arms.37And now Lord Loudon he’s come hame,And a sorry man was he:‘He micht hae spared my lady’s life,And wreakit himsell on me!38‘But sin we’ve got thee, bauld Gordon,Wild horses shall thee tear,For murdering o my ladie bricht,Besides my children dear.’
1It was in and about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew schill and cauld,That Adam o Gordon said to his men,Whare will we get a hauld?2‘Do ye not see yon bonnie castell,That stands on Loudon lee?The lord and I hae a deadlie feed,And his lady fain wuld I see.’3Lady Campbell was standing in the close,A preenin o her goun,Whan Adam o Gordon and his menCam riding thro Galston toun.4The dinner was na weel set doun,Nor yet the grace weel said,Till Adam o Gordon and a’his menAround the wa’s war laid.5‘Come doun, come down, Ladie Campbell,’ he said,‘Come doun and speak to me;I’ll kep thee in a feather bed,And thy warraner I will be.’6‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,Nor to ony lord nor loun;Nor yet to thee, thou bloody butcher,The laird o Auchruglen toun.’7‘Come doun, come doun, Ladye Campbell,’ he said,‘Cum doun and speak to me;I’ll kep thee on the point o my sword,And thy warraner I will be.’8‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,Nor to ony lord or loun,Nor yet to thee, thou bludie butcher,The laird o Auchruglen toun.’9‘Syne gin ye winna come doun,’ he said,‘A’ for to speak to me,I’ll tye the bands around my waist,And fire thy death sall be.’10‘I’d leifer be burnt in ashes sma,And cuist in yon sea-faem,Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,And my gude lord frae hame.11‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,He’s new gane ower the sea;He bade me keep this bonnie castell,As lang’s it wuld keep me.’12‘Set fire to the house,’ said bauld Gordon,‘Set fire to the house, my men;We’ll gar Lady Campbell come for to rewAs she burns in the flame.’13‘O wae be to thee, Carmichael,’ she said,‘And an ill death may ye die!For ye hae lifted the pavement-stane,And loot up the lowe to me.14‘Seven years ye war about my house,And received both meat and fee:’‘And now I’m Adam o Gordon’s man,I maun either do or dee.’15‘Oh I wad gie the black,’ she said,‘And I wuld gie the brown,All for ae cup o the cauld waterThat rins to Galstoun toun.’16Syne out and spak the auld dochter,She was baith jimp and sma:‘O row me in a pair o sheets,And fling me ower the wa!’17They row’t her in a pair o sheets,And flang her ower the wa,And on the point o Gordon’s swordShe gat a deadlie fa.18He turned her ower, and ower again,And oh but she looked wan!‘I think I’ve killed as bonnie a faceAs ere the sun shined on.’19He turned her ower, and ower again,And oh but she lookt white!‘I micht hae spared this bonnie face,To hae been some man’s delight!’20Syne out and spak Lady Margaret,As she stood on the stair:‘The fire is at my gowd garters,And the lowe is at my hair.’21Syne out and spak fair Ladie Ann,Frae childbed whare she lay:‘Gie up this bonnie castell, mother,And let us win away.’22‘Lye still, lye still, my fair Annie,And let your talking be;For ye maun stay in this bonnie castellAnd dree your death wi me.’23‘Whatever death I am to dree,I winna die my lane:I’ll tak a bairn in ilka armAnd the third is in my wame.’24Syne out and spak her youngest son,A bonnie wee boy was he:‘Gae doun, gae doun, mother,’ he said,‘Or the lowe will worry me.’25‘I’d leifer be brent in ashes smaAnd cuist in yon sea-faem,Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,And my guid lord frae hame.26‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,He’s new gane ower the sea;But gin he eer returns again,Revenged my death sall be.’27Syne out and spak her waitin-maid:Receive this babe frae me,And save the saikless babie’s life,And I’ll neer seek mair fee.28‘How can I tak the bairn?’ she said,‘How can I tak’t?’ said she,‘For my hair was ance five quarters lang,And ’tis now brent to my bree.’29She rowit it in a feather-bed,And flang it ower the wa,But on the point o Gordon’s swordIt gat a deidlie fa.30‘I wuld gie Loudon’s bonnie castell,And Loudon’s bonnie lee,All gin my youngest son JohnnieCould charge a gun to me.31‘Oh, I wuld gie the black,’ she said,‘And sae wuld I the bay,Gin young Sir George could take a steedAnd quickly ride away.’32Syne out and spak her auldest son,As he was gaun to die:‘Send doun your chamber-maid, mother,She gaes wi bairn to me.’33‘Gin ye were not my eldest son,And heir o a’ my land,I’d tye a sheet around thy neck,And hang thee with my hand.34‘I would gie my twenty gude milk-kye,That feed on Shallow lee,A’for ae blast o the norland wind,To blaw the lowe frae me.’35Oh was na it a pitie o yon bonnie castell,That was biggit wi stane and lime!But far mair pity o Lady Ann Campbell,That was brunt wi her bairns nine.36Three o them war married wives,And three o them were bairns,And three o them were leal maidens,That neer lay in men’s arms.37And now Lord Loudon he’s come hame,And a sorry man was he:‘He micht hae spared my lady’s life,And wreakit himsell on me!38‘But sin we’ve got thee, bauld Gordon,Wild horses shall thee tear,For murdering o my ladie bricht,Besides my children dear.’
1It was in and about the Martinmas time,When the wind blew schill and cauld,That Adam o Gordon said to his men,Whare will we get a hauld?
1
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the wind blew schill and cauld,
That Adam o Gordon said to his men,
Whare will we get a hauld?
2‘Do ye not see yon bonnie castell,That stands on Loudon lee?The lord and I hae a deadlie feed,And his lady fain wuld I see.’
2
‘Do ye not see yon bonnie castell,
That stands on Loudon lee?
The lord and I hae a deadlie feed,
And his lady fain wuld I see.’
3Lady Campbell was standing in the close,A preenin o her goun,Whan Adam o Gordon and his menCam riding thro Galston toun.
3
Lady Campbell was standing in the close,
A preenin o her goun,
Whan Adam o Gordon and his men
Cam riding thro Galston toun.
4The dinner was na weel set doun,Nor yet the grace weel said,Till Adam o Gordon and a’his menAround the wa’s war laid.
4
The dinner was na weel set doun,
Nor yet the grace weel said,
Till Adam o Gordon and a’his men
Around the wa’s war laid.
5‘Come doun, come down, Ladie Campbell,’ he said,‘Come doun and speak to me;I’ll kep thee in a feather bed,And thy warraner I will be.’
5
‘Come doun, come down, Ladie Campbell,’ he said,
‘Come doun and speak to me;
I’ll kep thee in a feather bed,
And thy warraner I will be.’
6‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,Nor to ony lord nor loun;Nor yet to thee, thou bloody butcher,The laird o Auchruglen toun.’
6
‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,
Nor to ony lord nor loun;
Nor yet to thee, thou bloody butcher,
The laird o Auchruglen toun.’
7‘Come doun, come doun, Ladye Campbell,’ he said,‘Cum doun and speak to me;I’ll kep thee on the point o my sword,And thy warraner I will be.’
7
‘Come doun, come doun, Ladye Campbell,’ he said,
‘Cum doun and speak to me;
I’ll kep thee on the point o my sword,
And thy warraner I will be.’
8‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,Nor to ony lord or loun,Nor yet to thee, thou bludie butcher,The laird o Auchruglen toun.’
8
‘I winna come doun and speak to thee,
Nor to ony lord or loun,
Nor yet to thee, thou bludie butcher,
The laird o Auchruglen toun.’
9‘Syne gin ye winna come doun,’ he said,‘A’ for to speak to me,I’ll tye the bands around my waist,And fire thy death sall be.’
9
‘Syne gin ye winna come doun,’ he said,
‘A’ for to speak to me,
I’ll tye the bands around my waist,
And fire thy death sall be.’
10‘I’d leifer be burnt in ashes sma,And cuist in yon sea-faem,Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,And my gude lord frae hame.
10
‘I’d leifer be burnt in ashes sma,
And cuist in yon sea-faem,
Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,
And my gude lord frae hame.
11‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,He’s new gane ower the sea;He bade me keep this bonnie castell,As lang’s it wuld keep me.’
11
‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,
He’s new gane ower the sea;
He bade me keep this bonnie castell,
As lang’s it wuld keep me.’
12‘Set fire to the house,’ said bauld Gordon,‘Set fire to the house, my men;We’ll gar Lady Campbell come for to rewAs she burns in the flame.’
12
‘Set fire to the house,’ said bauld Gordon,
‘Set fire to the house, my men;
We’ll gar Lady Campbell come for to rew
As she burns in the flame.’
13‘O wae be to thee, Carmichael,’ she said,‘And an ill death may ye die!For ye hae lifted the pavement-stane,And loot up the lowe to me.
13
‘O wae be to thee, Carmichael,’ she said,
‘And an ill death may ye die!
For ye hae lifted the pavement-stane,
And loot up the lowe to me.
14‘Seven years ye war about my house,And received both meat and fee:’‘And now I’m Adam o Gordon’s man,I maun either do or dee.’
14
‘Seven years ye war about my house,
And received both meat and fee:’
‘And now I’m Adam o Gordon’s man,
I maun either do or dee.’
15‘Oh I wad gie the black,’ she said,‘And I wuld gie the brown,All for ae cup o the cauld waterThat rins to Galstoun toun.’
15
‘Oh I wad gie the black,’ she said,
‘And I wuld gie the brown,
All for ae cup o the cauld water
That rins to Galstoun toun.’
16Syne out and spak the auld dochter,She was baith jimp and sma:‘O row me in a pair o sheets,And fling me ower the wa!’
16
Syne out and spak the auld dochter,
She was baith jimp and sma:
‘O row me in a pair o sheets,
And fling me ower the wa!’
17They row’t her in a pair o sheets,And flang her ower the wa,And on the point o Gordon’s swordShe gat a deadlie fa.
17
They row’t her in a pair o sheets,
And flang her ower the wa,
And on the point o Gordon’s sword
She gat a deadlie fa.
18He turned her ower, and ower again,And oh but she looked wan!‘I think I’ve killed as bonnie a faceAs ere the sun shined on.’
18
He turned her ower, and ower again,
And oh but she looked wan!
‘I think I’ve killed as bonnie a face
As ere the sun shined on.’
19He turned her ower, and ower again,And oh but she lookt white!‘I micht hae spared this bonnie face,To hae been some man’s delight!’
19
He turned her ower, and ower again,
And oh but she lookt white!
‘I micht hae spared this bonnie face,
To hae been some man’s delight!’
20Syne out and spak Lady Margaret,As she stood on the stair:‘The fire is at my gowd garters,And the lowe is at my hair.’
20
Syne out and spak Lady Margaret,
As she stood on the stair:
‘The fire is at my gowd garters,
And the lowe is at my hair.’
21Syne out and spak fair Ladie Ann,Frae childbed whare she lay:‘Gie up this bonnie castell, mother,And let us win away.’
21
Syne out and spak fair Ladie Ann,
Frae childbed whare she lay:
‘Gie up this bonnie castell, mother,
And let us win away.’
22‘Lye still, lye still, my fair Annie,And let your talking be;For ye maun stay in this bonnie castellAnd dree your death wi me.’
22
‘Lye still, lye still, my fair Annie,
And let your talking be;
For ye maun stay in this bonnie castell
And dree your death wi me.’
23‘Whatever death I am to dree,I winna die my lane:I’ll tak a bairn in ilka armAnd the third is in my wame.’
23
‘Whatever death I am to dree,
I winna die my lane:
I’ll tak a bairn in ilka arm
And the third is in my wame.’
24Syne out and spak her youngest son,A bonnie wee boy was he:‘Gae doun, gae doun, mother,’ he said,‘Or the lowe will worry me.’
24
Syne out and spak her youngest son,
A bonnie wee boy was he:
‘Gae doun, gae doun, mother,’ he said,
‘Or the lowe will worry me.’
25‘I’d leifer be brent in ashes smaAnd cuist in yon sea-faem,Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,And my guid lord frae hame.
25
‘I’d leifer be brent in ashes sma
And cuist in yon sea-faem,
Or I’d gie up this bonnie castell,
And my guid lord frae hame.
26‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,He’s new gane ower the sea;But gin he eer returns again,Revenged my death sall be.’
26
‘For my gude lord’s in the army strong,
He’s new gane ower the sea;
But gin he eer returns again,
Revenged my death sall be.’
27Syne out and spak her waitin-maid:Receive this babe frae me,And save the saikless babie’s life,And I’ll neer seek mair fee.
27
Syne out and spak her waitin-maid:
Receive this babe frae me,
And save the saikless babie’s life,
And I’ll neer seek mair fee.
28‘How can I tak the bairn?’ she said,‘How can I tak’t?’ said she,‘For my hair was ance five quarters lang,And ’tis now brent to my bree.’
28
‘How can I tak the bairn?’ she said,
‘How can I tak’t?’ said she,
‘For my hair was ance five quarters lang,
And ’tis now brent to my bree.’
29She rowit it in a feather-bed,And flang it ower the wa,But on the point o Gordon’s swordIt gat a deidlie fa.
29
She rowit it in a feather-bed,
And flang it ower the wa,
But on the point o Gordon’s sword
It gat a deidlie fa.
30‘I wuld gie Loudon’s bonnie castell,And Loudon’s bonnie lee,All gin my youngest son JohnnieCould charge a gun to me.
30
‘I wuld gie Loudon’s bonnie castell,
And Loudon’s bonnie lee,
All gin my youngest son Johnnie
Could charge a gun to me.
31‘Oh, I wuld gie the black,’ she said,‘And sae wuld I the bay,Gin young Sir George could take a steedAnd quickly ride away.’
31
‘Oh, I wuld gie the black,’ she said,
‘And sae wuld I the bay,
Gin young Sir George could take a steed
And quickly ride away.’
32Syne out and spak her auldest son,As he was gaun to die:‘Send doun your chamber-maid, mother,She gaes wi bairn to me.’
32
Syne out and spak her auldest son,
As he was gaun to die:
‘Send doun your chamber-maid, mother,
She gaes wi bairn to me.’
33‘Gin ye were not my eldest son,And heir o a’ my land,I’d tye a sheet around thy neck,And hang thee with my hand.
33
‘Gin ye were not my eldest son,
And heir o a’ my land,
I’d tye a sheet around thy neck,
And hang thee with my hand.
34‘I would gie my twenty gude milk-kye,That feed on Shallow lee,A’for ae blast o the norland wind,To blaw the lowe frae me.’
34
‘I would gie my twenty gude milk-kye,
That feed on Shallow lee,
A’for ae blast o the norland wind,
To blaw the lowe frae me.’
35Oh was na it a pitie o yon bonnie castell,That was biggit wi stane and lime!But far mair pity o Lady Ann Campbell,That was brunt wi her bairns nine.
35
Oh was na it a pitie o yon bonnie castell,
That was biggit wi stane and lime!
But far mair pity o Lady Ann Campbell,
That was brunt wi her bairns nine.
36Three o them war married wives,And three o them were bairns,And three o them were leal maidens,That neer lay in men’s arms.
36
Three o them war married wives,
And three o them were bairns,
And three o them were leal maidens,
That neer lay in men’s arms.
37And now Lord Loudon he’s come hame,And a sorry man was he:‘He micht hae spared my lady’s life,And wreakit himsell on me!
37
And now Lord Loudon he’s come hame,
And a sorry man was he:
‘He micht hae spared my lady’s life,
And wreakit himsell on me!
38‘But sin we’ve got thee, bauld Gordon,Wild horses shall thee tear,For murdering o my ladie bricht,Besides my children dear.’
38
‘But sin we’ve got thee, bauld Gordon,
Wild horses shall thee tear,
For murdering o my ladie bricht,
Besides my children dear.’
A.
Stanzas 1–15 have been revised, or altered, in another hand.
21. masterin my copy: mary, Furnivall.
31. wher isis inserted.
32. edinbuildedhas been run through with a line.
34. riden & gonestruck out, andryd from homwritten over.
41. shestruck out.
51. Se yowchanged toCom yow hether: merimenin MS.
52.Changed toAnd look what I do see. And (&),both in the original text and in the revised, is renderedOin my copy.
53.Changed toYonder is ther.
54. musen,as a correction: Furnivall.
61. own wed,as a correction: Furnivall.
62. ythadforAs he.
83. thou shall ly inaltered tothoust ly wtin.
102. Notis a correction: Furnivall. My copy hasno.
113. thissubstituted foryonder.
121.Changed toShe styfly stod on her castle wall.
123. but thenstruck out.
124. shestruck out.
131. I will:MS. torn.
153. arme,Furnivall:my copy, armes.
154. wyllsubstituted forshall.
194.Editors supplyThe smokeat the beginning of the line.
203. westeyn:Furnivall.
214.MS. hasthee.
233. Saith: no close,Furnivall. South: in close,my copy. to chose,Böddeker.
242.Perhapscarnall:Furnivall.
251. Bushin my copy: merymenin MS.
253. dreme, hallin my copy:Furnivall as printed.
261. bushtin my copy: buskt,Furnivall.
262,3.My copy rendersAnd (&) O:Furnivall as printed.
284.Editors supplyawayeat the end of the line. Böddeker readsso gai.
292. bandelooks likebaides,one stroke of thenwanting.
301.Should we not readmeforeny? sheforhein my copy: he,Furnivall.
Andfor&throughout.
Finis perme Willelmum Asheton, clericum.
Bymy copyis meant a collation made for me by Miss Lucy Toulmin Smith.
B.
133. 2.
144, 163, 181. 3.
103, 214.Half a page gone.
Andfor&.
D.
271, 281. Mudiemen, Mudie men.
Quhen, ze, zour,etc.,are here spelledwhen, ye, your,etc.
F.
54. the loun to:cf.G134.
G.
64.Another recitation gaveAuchindown.