217THE BROOM OF COWDENKNOWS

A.‘The Laird of Knotington,’ Percy papers, 1768.

B.‘Bonny May.’a.Herd’s Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 308; 1776, I, 98.b.Johnson’s Museum, No 110, p. 113.

C.‘Laird o Ochiltree,’ Kinloch MSS, VII, 143; Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 160.

D.‘The Laird o Ochiltree Wa’s,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 517.

E.Motherwell’s MS., p. 175.

F.‘Bonny May,’ Gibb MS., p. 9.

G.‘The Broom of Cowdenknows,’ Scott’s Minstrelsy, III, 280, 1803; III, 37, 1833.

H.‘The Maid o the Cowdenknows,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 137.

I.‘Laird o Lochnie,’ Kinloch MSS, VII, 153; Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 167.

J.Kinloch MSS, VI, 11.

K.‘Maiden o the Cowdenknowes,’ Dr Joseph Robertson’s Journal of Excursions, No 6.

L.‘The Broom of the Cowden Knowes,’ Buchan’s MSS, II, 178.

M.‘Broom o the Cowdenknowes,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 172.

N.‘The Laird of Lochinvar,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 145.

This ballad was widely diffused in Scotland. “It would be useless,” says Motherwell, “to enumerate the titles of the different versions which are common among reciters.” “Each district has its own version,” says Kinloch. So it must have done no little mischief in its day. The earliest known copies,A,B, are of the second half of the last century.

There is an English “ditty” (not a traditional ballad) of a northern lass who got harm while milking her father’s ewes, which was printed in the first half of the seventeenth century. It is here given in an appendix. This ditty is “to a pleasant Scotch tune called The broom of Cowden Knowes,” and the burden is:

With, O the broome, the bonny broome,The broome of Cowden Knowes!Fain would I be in the North Countrey,To milk my dadyes ewes.

With, O the broome, the bonny broome,

The broome of Cowden Knowes!

Fain would I be in the North Countrey,

To milk my dadyes ewes.

The tune was remarkably popular, and the burden is found, variously modified, in connection with several songs: see Chappell’s Popular Music, pp. 458–461, 613, 783. ‘The Broom of Cowdenknows,’ a “new” song, in the Tea-Table Miscellany, p. 22, Dublin, 1729, has the burden not greatly changed; alsoG,L,M, of this ballad.

There is very little story to the English ditty. A maid is beguiled by a shepherd-boy while milking her father’s ewes; the consequences are what might be expected; her mother puts her out of doors, and she ranges the world; a young man who hears her complaint offers to marry her, and go to the North Country with her to milk her father’s ewes. The Scottish ballad could not have been developed from a story of this description. On the other hand, it is scarcely to be believed that the author of the English ditty, if he had known the Scottish ballad, would have dropped all the interesting particulars. It is possible that he may have just heard about it, but much more likely that he knew only the burden and built his very slight tale on that. It may be observed that his maid, though she haunts Liddesdale, and should have belonged to Cowdenknowes, was born in Danby Forest, Yorkshire.

Two passages which do not occur inAmay have been later additions:D9, 10,F5, 6,G13, 14,M19, 20, in which the laird, returning to his men, is told that he has tarried long, and answers that, east or west, he has never seen so bonny a lass as was in the ewe-buchts; andH12–15,J2–5,L5–8, where the laird tries to pass himself off for one of his men, and the maid for one of her mother’s servants (found in part, also, inG9, 10,I5,M12–14). “The maid of a place, such as the maid of the Cowdenknows,” as Dr Joseph Robertson remarks, “means the eldest daughter of the tenant or proprietor, who is generally called by the name of his farm.”[115]

It is obvious that the maid would keep her counsel when she came back to her father. She puts him off with a riddle,C9,D13,E11,F9,G18,H20,J6,L14,M23,N7, which it is the height of absurdity to make her explain, as is done inA11,B4,C10,D14,E12; and so of the exclamation against the shepherd if uttered in the father’s presence, as inF8,H19,I11,L13,N8.

H10, 11 (cf.D6), where the maid asks the man’s name, is a familiar commonplace: see No 39, I, 340 a; No 50, I, 444, 446; No 110, II, 458 ff. (especially p. 473,H3, 4); No 111, II, 478 f.

Mhas many spurious stanzas of its own; as 3–5, 25, 30–32, 35.Nis quite perverted from 9 to 28. It is impossible that 9–14 should follow upon 8, and stanzas 15–27 have not a genuine word in them.

Cunningham has rewritten the ballad, Songs of Scotland, II, 113. He says that through Dumfriesshire and Galloway the hero is always Lord Lochinvar, and cites this stanza, which he had heard sung:

For I do guess, by your golden-rimmed hat,And by the silken string,That ye are the lord of the Lochinvar,Who beguiles all our young women.

For I do guess, by your golden-rimmed hat,

And by the silken string,

That ye are the lord of the Lochinvar,

Who beguiles all our young women.

‘Malfred og Sadelmand,’ Kristensen, I, 258, No 99, is an independent ballad, but has some of the traits of this: the maid, who is treated with great violence, asks the knight’s name, as inH,D; he comes back to marry her, after she has borne twins.

Cowdenknowes is on the east bank of Leader, near Earlston, and some four or five miles from Melrose. Auchentrone, inBb11, Stenhouse conjectures to be a corruption of Auchentroich, an estate in the county of Stirling, and Oakland Hills, inG, to be Ochil Hills, in the same county: Musical Museum, IV, 112.

Bis translated by Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 92, No 29.

Percy papers; communicated to Percy by R. Lambe, of Norham, August 17, 1768, and dated May, 1768.

1There was a troop of merry gentlemenWas riding atween twa knows,And they heard the voice of a bonny lass,In a bught milking her ews.2There’s ane o them lighted frae off his steed,And has ty’d him to a tree,And he’s gane away to yon ew-bught,To hear what it might be.3‘O pity me, fair maid,’ he said,‘Take pity upon me;O pity me, and my milk-white steedThat’s trembling at yon tree.’4‘As for your steed, he shall not wantThe best of corn and hay;But as to you yoursel, kind sir,I’ve naething for to say.’5He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the green gown-sleeve,And he as led her into the ew-bught,Of her friends he speerd nae leave.6He as put his hand in his pocket,And given her guineas three:‘If I dinna come back in half a year,Then luke nae mair for me.7‘Now show to me the king’s hie street,Now show to me the way;Now show to me the king’s hie street,And the fair water of Tay.’8She showd to him the king’s hie street,She showd to him the way;She showd him the way that he was to go,By the fair water of Tay.9When she came hame, her father said,‘Come, tell to me right plain;I doubt you’ve met some in the way,You have not been your lain.’10‘The night it is baith mist and mirk,You may gan out and see;The night is mirk and misty too,There’s nae body been wi me.11‘There was a tod came to your flock,The like I neer did see;When he spake, he lifted his hat,He had a bonny twinkling eee.’12When fifteen weeks were past and gane,Full fifteen weeks and three,Then she began to think it langFor the man wi the twinkling eee.13It fell out on a certain day,When she cawd out her father’s ky,There was a troop of gentlemenCame merrily riding by.14‘Weel may ye sigh and sob,’ says ane,‘Weel may you sigh and see;Weel may you sigh, and say, fair maid,Wha’s gotten this bairn wi thee?’15She turned her sel then quickly about,And thinking meikle shame,‘O no kind sir, it is na sae,For it has a dad at hame.’16‘O hawd your tongue, my bonny lass,Sae loud as I hear you lee!For dinna you mind that summer nightI was in the bught wi thee?’17He lighted off his milk-white steed,And set this fair maid on;‘Now caw out your ky, good father,’ he said,‘She’ll neer caw them out again.18‘I am the laird of Knottington,I’ve fifty plows and three;I’ve gotten now the bonniest lassThat is in the hale country.’

1There was a troop of merry gentlemenWas riding atween twa knows,And they heard the voice of a bonny lass,In a bught milking her ews.

There was a troop of merry gentlemen

Was riding atween twa knows,

And they heard the voice of a bonny lass,

In a bught milking her ews.

2There’s ane o them lighted frae off his steed,And has ty’d him to a tree,And he’s gane away to yon ew-bught,To hear what it might be.

There’s ane o them lighted frae off his steed,

And has ty’d him to a tree,

And he’s gane away to yon ew-bught,

To hear what it might be.

3‘O pity me, fair maid,’ he said,‘Take pity upon me;O pity me, and my milk-white steedThat’s trembling at yon tree.’

‘O pity me, fair maid,’ he said,

‘Take pity upon me;

O pity me, and my milk-white steed

That’s trembling at yon tree.’

4‘As for your steed, he shall not wantThe best of corn and hay;But as to you yoursel, kind sir,I’ve naething for to say.’

‘As for your steed, he shall not want

The best of corn and hay;

But as to you yoursel, kind sir,

I’ve naething for to say.’

5He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the green gown-sleeve,And he as led her into the ew-bught,Of her friends he speerd nae leave.

He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,

And by the green gown-sleeve,

And he as led her into the ew-bught,

Of her friends he speerd nae leave.

6He as put his hand in his pocket,And given her guineas three:‘If I dinna come back in half a year,Then luke nae mair for me.

He as put his hand in his pocket,

And given her guineas three:

‘If I dinna come back in half a year,

Then luke nae mair for me.

7‘Now show to me the king’s hie street,Now show to me the way;Now show to me the king’s hie street,And the fair water of Tay.’

‘Now show to me the king’s hie street,

Now show to me the way;

Now show to me the king’s hie street,

And the fair water of Tay.’

8She showd to him the king’s hie street,She showd to him the way;She showd him the way that he was to go,By the fair water of Tay.

She showd to him the king’s hie street,

She showd to him the way;

She showd him the way that he was to go,

By the fair water of Tay.

9When she came hame, her father said,‘Come, tell to me right plain;I doubt you’ve met some in the way,You have not been your lain.’

When she came hame, her father said,

‘Come, tell to me right plain;

I doubt you’ve met some in the way,

You have not been your lain.’

10‘The night it is baith mist and mirk,You may gan out and see;The night is mirk and misty too,There’s nae body been wi me.

‘The night it is baith mist and mirk,

You may gan out and see;

The night is mirk and misty too,

There’s nae body been wi me.

11‘There was a tod came to your flock,The like I neer did see;When he spake, he lifted his hat,He had a bonny twinkling eee.’

‘There was a tod came to your flock,

The like I neer did see;

When he spake, he lifted his hat,

He had a bonny twinkling eee.’

12When fifteen weeks were past and gane,Full fifteen weeks and three,Then she began to think it langFor the man wi the twinkling eee.

When fifteen weeks were past and gane,

Full fifteen weeks and three,

Then she began to think it lang

For the man wi the twinkling eee.

13It fell out on a certain day,When she cawd out her father’s ky,There was a troop of gentlemenCame merrily riding by.

It fell out on a certain day,

When she cawd out her father’s ky,

There was a troop of gentlemen

Came merrily riding by.

14‘Weel may ye sigh and sob,’ says ane,‘Weel may you sigh and see;Weel may you sigh, and say, fair maid,Wha’s gotten this bairn wi thee?’

‘Weel may ye sigh and sob,’ says ane,

‘Weel may you sigh and see;

Weel may you sigh, and say, fair maid,

Wha’s gotten this bairn wi thee?’

15She turned her sel then quickly about,And thinking meikle shame,‘O no kind sir, it is na sae,For it has a dad at hame.’

She turned her sel then quickly about,

And thinking meikle shame,

‘O no kind sir, it is na sae,

For it has a dad at hame.’

16‘O hawd your tongue, my bonny lass,Sae loud as I hear you lee!For dinna you mind that summer nightI was in the bught wi thee?’

‘O hawd your tongue, my bonny lass,

Sae loud as I hear you lee!

For dinna you mind that summer night

I was in the bught wi thee?’

17He lighted off his milk-white steed,And set this fair maid on;‘Now caw out your ky, good father,’ he said,‘She’ll neer caw them out again.

He lighted off his milk-white steed,

And set this fair maid on;

‘Now caw out your ky, good father,’ he said,

‘She’ll neer caw them out again.

18‘I am the laird of Knottington,I’ve fifty plows and three;I’ve gotten now the bonniest lassThat is in the hale country.’

‘I am the laird of Knottington,

I’ve fifty plows and three;

I’ve gotten now the bonniest lass

That is in the hale country.’

a.Herd’s Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 308.b.Johnson’s Museum, No 110, p. 113.

1It was on an evning sae saft and sae clearA bonny lass was milking the kye,And by came a troup of gentlemen,And rode the bonny lassie by.2Then one of them said unto her,‘Bonny lass, prythee shew me the way:’‘O if I do sae, it may breed me wae,For langer I dare nae stay.’* * * * * *3But dark and misty was the nightBefore the bonny lass came hame:‘Now where hae you been, my ae doughter?I am sure you was nae your lane.’4‘O father, a tod has come oer your lamb,A gentleman of high degree,And ay whan he spake he lifted his hat,And bonny, bonny blinkit his ee.’5Or eer six months were past and gane,Six months but and other three,The lassie begud for to fret and to frown,And think lang for his blinkin ee.6‘O wae be to my father’s shepherd,An ill death may he die!He bigged the bughts sae far frae hame,And trysted a gentleman to me!’7It fell upon another fair eveningThe bonny lassie was milking her ky,And by came the troop of gentlemen,And rode the bonny lassie by.8Then one of them stopt, and said to her,‘Whae’s aught that baby ye are wi?’The lassie began for to blush, and think,To a father as good as ye.9‘O had your tongue, my bonny may,Sae loud I hear you lie!O dinnae you mind the misty nightI was in the bught with thee?’10Now he’s come aff his milk-white steed,And he has taen her hame:‘Now let your father bring hame the ky,You neer mair shall ca them agen.11‘I am a lord of castles and towers,With fifty ploughs of land and three,And I have gotten the bonniest lassThat is in this countrie.’

1It was on an evning sae saft and sae clearA bonny lass was milking the kye,And by came a troup of gentlemen,And rode the bonny lassie by.

It was on an evning sae saft and sae clear

A bonny lass was milking the kye,

And by came a troup of gentlemen,

And rode the bonny lassie by.

2Then one of them said unto her,‘Bonny lass, prythee shew me the way:’‘O if I do sae, it may breed me wae,For langer I dare nae stay.’

Then one of them said unto her,

‘Bonny lass, prythee shew me the way:’

‘O if I do sae, it may breed me wae,

For langer I dare nae stay.’

* * * * * *

3But dark and misty was the nightBefore the bonny lass came hame:‘Now where hae you been, my ae doughter?I am sure you was nae your lane.’

But dark and misty was the night

Before the bonny lass came hame:

‘Now where hae you been, my ae doughter?

I am sure you was nae your lane.’

4‘O father, a tod has come oer your lamb,A gentleman of high degree,And ay whan he spake he lifted his hat,And bonny, bonny blinkit his ee.’

‘O father, a tod has come oer your lamb,

A gentleman of high degree,

And ay whan he spake he lifted his hat,

And bonny, bonny blinkit his ee.’

5Or eer six months were past and gane,Six months but and other three,The lassie begud for to fret and to frown,And think lang for his blinkin ee.

Or eer six months were past and gane,

Six months but and other three,

The lassie begud for to fret and to frown,

And think lang for his blinkin ee.

6‘O wae be to my father’s shepherd,An ill death may he die!He bigged the bughts sae far frae hame,And trysted a gentleman to me!’

‘O wae be to my father’s shepherd,

An ill death may he die!

He bigged the bughts sae far frae hame,

And trysted a gentleman to me!’

7It fell upon another fair eveningThe bonny lassie was milking her ky,And by came the troop of gentlemen,And rode the bonny lassie by.

It fell upon another fair evening

The bonny lassie was milking her ky,

And by came the troop of gentlemen,

And rode the bonny lassie by.

8Then one of them stopt, and said to her,‘Whae’s aught that baby ye are wi?’The lassie began for to blush, and think,To a father as good as ye.

Then one of them stopt, and said to her,

‘Whae’s aught that baby ye are wi?’

The lassie began for to blush, and think,

To a father as good as ye.

9‘O had your tongue, my bonny may,Sae loud I hear you lie!O dinnae you mind the misty nightI was in the bught with thee?’

‘O had your tongue, my bonny may,

Sae loud I hear you lie!

O dinnae you mind the misty night

I was in the bught with thee?’

10Now he’s come aff his milk-white steed,And he has taen her hame:‘Now let your father bring hame the ky,You neer mair shall ca them agen.

Now he’s come aff his milk-white steed,

And he has taen her hame:

‘Now let your father bring hame the ky,

You neer mair shall ca them agen.

11‘I am a lord of castles and towers,With fifty ploughs of land and three,And I have gotten the bonniest lassThat is in this countrie.’

‘I am a lord of castles and towers,

With fifty ploughs of land and three,

And I have gotten the bonniest lass

That is in this countrie.’

Kinloch MSS, VII, 143, from the recitation of Jenny Watson, 24 April, 1826; Clydesdale.

1It was on a day whan a lovely mayWas cawing out her father’s kye,And she spied a troop o’ gentlemen,As they war passing bye.2‘O show me the way, my pretty maid,O show me the way,’ said he;‘My steed has just now rode wrong,And the way I canna see.’3‘O haud you on the same way,’ she said,‘O haud ye on ‘t again,For, if ye haud on the king’s hieway,Rank rievers will do ye na harm.’4He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the gerss-green sleeve,And he has taiglet wi the fair may,And of her he askd na leave.5Whan ance he got her gudwill,Of her he craved na mair,But he poud out a ribbon frae his pouch,And snooded up the may’s hair.6He put his hand into his pouch,And gave her guineas three:‘If I come na back in twenty weeks,Ye need na look mair for me.’7But whan the may did gang hame,Her father did her blame;‘Whare hae ye been now, dame?’ he said‘For ye’ve na been your lane.’8‘The nicht is misty and mirk, father,Ye may come to the door and see;The nicht is misty and mirk, father,And there’s na body wi me.9‘But there cam a tod to your flock, father,The like o him I never saw;Or he had tane the lambie that he had,I wad rather he had tane them aw.10‘But he seemd to be a gentleman,Or a man of some pious degree;For whanever he spak, he lifted up his hat,And he had [a] bonnie twinkling ee.’11Whan twenty weeks were come and gane,Twenty weeks and three,The lassie began to grow thick in the waist,And thoucht lang for his twinkling ee.12It fell upon a day whan bonnie mayWas cawing out the kye,She spied the same troop o gentlemen,As they war passing bye.13‘O well may you save, my pretty may,Weill may you save and see!Weill may ye save, my lovely may!Go ye wi child to me?’14But the may she turnd her back to him,She begoud to think meikle shame;‘Na, na, na, na, kind sir,’ she said,‘I’ve a gudeman o my ain.’15‘Sae loud as I hear ye lie, fair may,Sae loud as I hear ye lee!Dinna ye mind o yon misty nichtWhan I was in the bucht wi thee?’16He lichted aff his hie, hie horse,And he set the bonnie may on:‘Now caw out your kye, gud father,Ye maun caw them out your lone.17‘For lang will ye caw them out,And weary will ye be,Or ye get your dochter again. . . . . . .18He was the laird o Ochiltree,Of therty ploughs and three,And he has stown awa the loveliest mayIn aw the south cuntree.

1It was on a day whan a lovely mayWas cawing out her father’s kye,And she spied a troop o’ gentlemen,As they war passing bye.

It was on a day whan a lovely may

Was cawing out her father’s kye,

And she spied a troop o’ gentlemen,

As they war passing bye.

2‘O show me the way, my pretty maid,O show me the way,’ said he;‘My steed has just now rode wrong,And the way I canna see.’

‘O show me the way, my pretty maid,

O show me the way,’ said he;

‘My steed has just now rode wrong,

And the way I canna see.’

3‘O haud you on the same way,’ she said,‘O haud ye on ‘t again,For, if ye haud on the king’s hieway,Rank rievers will do ye na harm.’

‘O haud you on the same way,’ she said,

‘O haud ye on ‘t again,

For, if ye haud on the king’s hieway,

Rank rievers will do ye na harm.’

4He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the gerss-green sleeve,And he has taiglet wi the fair may,And of her he askd na leave.

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And by the gerss-green sleeve,

And he has taiglet wi the fair may,

And of her he askd na leave.

5Whan ance he got her gudwill,Of her he craved na mair,But he poud out a ribbon frae his pouch,And snooded up the may’s hair.

Whan ance he got her gudwill,

Of her he craved na mair,

But he poud out a ribbon frae his pouch,

And snooded up the may’s hair.

6He put his hand into his pouch,And gave her guineas three:‘If I come na back in twenty weeks,Ye need na look mair for me.’

He put his hand into his pouch,

And gave her guineas three:

‘If I come na back in twenty weeks,

Ye need na look mair for me.’

7But whan the may did gang hame,Her father did her blame;‘Whare hae ye been now, dame?’ he said‘For ye’ve na been your lane.’

But whan the may did gang hame,

Her father did her blame;

‘Whare hae ye been now, dame?’ he said

‘For ye’ve na been your lane.’

8‘The nicht is misty and mirk, father,Ye may come to the door and see;The nicht is misty and mirk, father,And there’s na body wi me.

‘The nicht is misty and mirk, father,

Ye may come to the door and see;

The nicht is misty and mirk, father,

And there’s na body wi me.

9‘But there cam a tod to your flock, father,The like o him I never saw;Or he had tane the lambie that he had,I wad rather he had tane them aw.

‘But there cam a tod to your flock, father,

The like o him I never saw;

Or he had tane the lambie that he had,

I wad rather he had tane them aw.

10‘But he seemd to be a gentleman,Or a man of some pious degree;For whanever he spak, he lifted up his hat,And he had [a] bonnie twinkling ee.’

‘But he seemd to be a gentleman,

Or a man of some pious degree;

For whanever he spak, he lifted up his hat,

And he had [a] bonnie twinkling ee.’

11Whan twenty weeks were come and gane,Twenty weeks and three,The lassie began to grow thick in the waist,And thoucht lang for his twinkling ee.

Whan twenty weeks were come and gane,

Twenty weeks and three,

The lassie began to grow thick in the waist,

And thoucht lang for his twinkling ee.

12It fell upon a day whan bonnie mayWas cawing out the kye,She spied the same troop o gentlemen,As they war passing bye.

It fell upon a day whan bonnie may

Was cawing out the kye,

She spied the same troop o gentlemen,

As they war passing bye.

13‘O well may you save, my pretty may,Weill may you save and see!Weill may ye save, my lovely may!Go ye wi child to me?’

‘O well may you save, my pretty may,

Weill may you save and see!

Weill may ye save, my lovely may!

Go ye wi child to me?’

14But the may she turnd her back to him,She begoud to think meikle shame;‘Na, na, na, na, kind sir,’ she said,‘I’ve a gudeman o my ain.’

But the may she turnd her back to him,

She begoud to think meikle shame;

‘Na, na, na, na, kind sir,’ she said,

‘I’ve a gudeman o my ain.’

15‘Sae loud as I hear ye lie, fair may,Sae loud as I hear ye lee!Dinna ye mind o yon misty nichtWhan I was in the bucht wi thee?’

‘Sae loud as I hear ye lie, fair may,

Sae loud as I hear ye lee!

Dinna ye mind o yon misty nicht

Whan I was in the bucht wi thee?’

16He lichted aff his hie, hie horse,And he set the bonnie may on:‘Now caw out your kye, gud father,Ye maun caw them out your lone.

He lichted aff his hie, hie horse,

And he set the bonnie may on:

‘Now caw out your kye, gud father,

Ye maun caw them out your lone.

17‘For lang will ye caw them out,And weary will ye be,Or ye get your dochter again. . . . . . .

‘For lang will ye caw them out,

And weary will ye be,

Or ye get your dochter again

. . . . . . .

18He was the laird o Ochiltree,Of therty ploughs and three,And he has stown awa the loveliest mayIn aw the south cuntree.

He was the laird o Ochiltree,

Of therty ploughs and three,

And he has stown awa the loveliest may

In aw the south cuntree.

Motherwell’s MS., p. 517; from the singing of Mrs Storie, of Lochwinnoch.

1O bonnie May is to the yowe-buchts gane,For to milk her daddie’s yowes,And ay she sang, and her voice it rangOut-ower the tap o the knows, knows, knowes,Out-owr the tap o the knowes.2Ther cam a troop o gentilmen,As they were rydand by,And ane o them he lichtit doun,For to see May milkand her kye.3‘Milk on, milk on, my bonnie lass,Milk on, milk on,’ said he,‘For out o the buchts I winna gangTill ye shaw me owr the lee.’4‘Ryde on, ryde on, ye rank rydars,Your steeds are stout and strang,For out o the yowe-buchts I winna gae,For fear that ye do me some wrang.’5He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the green gown-sleive,And thare he took his will o her,Bot o her he askit nae leive.6But whan he gat his will o herHe loot her up again,And a’ this bonny maid said or didWas, Kind sir, tell me your name.7He pou’t out a sillar kame,Sayand, Kame your yellow hair;And, gin I be na back in three quarters o a year,It’s o me ye’ll see nae mair.8He pu’t out a silken purseAnd he gied her guineas thrie,Saying, Gin I may na be back in three quarters o a year,It will pay the nourice fee.9He put his fut into the stirrupAnd rade after his men,And a’ that his men said or didWas, Kind maister, ye’ve taiglit lang.10‘I hae rade east, I hae rade wast,And I hae rade owr the knowes,But the bonniest lassie that I ever sawWas in the yowe-buchts, milkand her yowes.’11She put the pail upon her heid,And she’s gane merrilie hame,And a’ that her faither said or didWas, Kind dochter, ye’ve taiglit lang.12‘Oh, wae be to your men, faither,And an ill deth may they die!For they cawit a’ the yowes out-owre the knowes,And they left naebody wi me.13‘There cam a tod unto the bucht,The like I never saw,An, afore that he took the ane that he took,I wad leifar he had tane ither twa.14‘There cam a tod unto the bucht,The like I never did see,And, ay as he spak, he liftit his hat,And he had a bonnie twinkland ee.’15It was on a day, and it was a fine simmer day,She was cawing out her faither’s kye,There cam a troup o gentilmen,And they rade ways the lass near by.16‘Wha has dune to you this ill, my dear?Wha has dune to you this wrang?’And she had na a word to say for hersellBut, ‘Kind sir, I hae a man o my ain.’17‘Ye lie, ye lie, bonnie May,’ he says,‘Aloud I hear ye lie!For dinna ye mind yon bonnie simmer nichtWhan ye war in the yowe-buchts wi me?18‘Licht doun, licht doun, my foremaist man,Licht doun and let her on,For monie a time she cawit her faither’s kye,But she’ll neir caw them again.19‘For I am the laird o Ochiltree Wawis,I hae threttie pleuchs and thrie,And I hae tane awa the bonniest lassThat is in a’ the north countrie.’

1O bonnie May is to the yowe-buchts gane,For to milk her daddie’s yowes,And ay she sang, and her voice it rangOut-ower the tap o the knows, knows, knowes,Out-owr the tap o the knowes.

O bonnie May is to the yowe-buchts gane,

For to milk her daddie’s yowes,

And ay she sang, and her voice it rang

Out-ower the tap o the knows, knows, knowes,

Out-owr the tap o the knowes.

2Ther cam a troop o gentilmen,As they were rydand by,And ane o them he lichtit doun,For to see May milkand her kye.

Ther cam a troop o gentilmen,

As they were rydand by,

And ane o them he lichtit doun,

For to see May milkand her kye.

3‘Milk on, milk on, my bonnie lass,Milk on, milk on,’ said he,‘For out o the buchts I winna gangTill ye shaw me owr the lee.’

‘Milk on, milk on, my bonnie lass,

Milk on, milk on,’ said he,

‘For out o the buchts I winna gang

Till ye shaw me owr the lee.’

4‘Ryde on, ryde on, ye rank rydars,Your steeds are stout and strang,For out o the yowe-buchts I winna gae,For fear that ye do me some wrang.’

‘Ryde on, ryde on, ye rank rydars,

Your steeds are stout and strang,

For out o the yowe-buchts I winna gae,

For fear that ye do me some wrang.’

5He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the green gown-sleive,And thare he took his will o her,Bot o her he askit nae leive.

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And by the green gown-sleive,

And thare he took his will o her,

Bot o her he askit nae leive.

6But whan he gat his will o herHe loot her up again,And a’ this bonny maid said or didWas, Kind sir, tell me your name.

But whan he gat his will o her

He loot her up again,

And a’ this bonny maid said or did

Was, Kind sir, tell me your name.

7He pou’t out a sillar kame,Sayand, Kame your yellow hair;And, gin I be na back in three quarters o a year,It’s o me ye’ll see nae mair.

He pou’t out a sillar kame,

Sayand, Kame your yellow hair;

And, gin I be na back in three quarters o a year,

It’s o me ye’ll see nae mair.

8He pu’t out a silken purseAnd he gied her guineas thrie,Saying, Gin I may na be back in three quarters o a year,It will pay the nourice fee.

He pu’t out a silken purse

And he gied her guineas thrie,

Saying, Gin I may na be back in three quarters o a year,

It will pay the nourice fee.

9He put his fut into the stirrupAnd rade after his men,And a’ that his men said or didWas, Kind maister, ye’ve taiglit lang.

He put his fut into the stirrup

And rade after his men,

And a’ that his men said or did

Was, Kind maister, ye’ve taiglit lang.

10‘I hae rade east, I hae rade wast,And I hae rade owr the knowes,But the bonniest lassie that I ever sawWas in the yowe-buchts, milkand her yowes.’

‘I hae rade east, I hae rade wast,

And I hae rade owr the knowes,

But the bonniest lassie that I ever saw

Was in the yowe-buchts, milkand her yowes.’

11She put the pail upon her heid,And she’s gane merrilie hame,And a’ that her faither said or didWas, Kind dochter, ye’ve taiglit lang.

She put the pail upon her heid,

And she’s gane merrilie hame,

And a’ that her faither said or did

Was, Kind dochter, ye’ve taiglit lang.

12‘Oh, wae be to your men, faither,And an ill deth may they die!For they cawit a’ the yowes out-owre the knowes,And they left naebody wi me.

‘Oh, wae be to your men, faither,

And an ill deth may they die!

For they cawit a’ the yowes out-owre the knowes,

And they left naebody wi me.

13‘There cam a tod unto the bucht,The like I never saw,An, afore that he took the ane that he took,I wad leifar he had tane ither twa.

‘There cam a tod unto the bucht,

The like I never saw,

An, afore that he took the ane that he took,

I wad leifar he had tane ither twa.

14‘There cam a tod unto the bucht,The like I never did see,And, ay as he spak, he liftit his hat,And he had a bonnie twinkland ee.’

‘There cam a tod unto the bucht,

The like I never did see,

And, ay as he spak, he liftit his hat,

And he had a bonnie twinkland ee.’

15It was on a day, and it was a fine simmer day,She was cawing out her faither’s kye,There cam a troup o gentilmen,And they rade ways the lass near by.

It was on a day, and it was a fine simmer day,

She was cawing out her faither’s kye,

There cam a troup o gentilmen,

And they rade ways the lass near by.

16‘Wha has dune to you this ill, my dear?Wha has dune to you this wrang?’And she had na a word to say for hersellBut, ‘Kind sir, I hae a man o my ain.’

‘Wha has dune to you this ill, my dear?

Wha has dune to you this wrang?’

And she had na a word to say for hersell

But, ‘Kind sir, I hae a man o my ain.’

17‘Ye lie, ye lie, bonnie May,’ he says,‘Aloud I hear ye lie!For dinna ye mind yon bonnie simmer nichtWhan ye war in the yowe-buchts wi me?

‘Ye lie, ye lie, bonnie May,’ he says,

‘Aloud I hear ye lie!

For dinna ye mind yon bonnie simmer nicht

Whan ye war in the yowe-buchts wi me?

18‘Licht doun, licht doun, my foremaist man,Licht doun and let her on,For monie a time she cawit her faither’s kye,But she’ll neir caw them again.

‘Licht doun, licht doun, my foremaist man,

Licht doun and let her on,

For monie a time she cawit her faither’s kye,

But she’ll neir caw them again.

19‘For I am the laird o Ochiltree Wawis,I hae threttie pleuchs and thrie,And I hae tane awa the bonniest lassThat is in a’ the north countrie.’

‘For I am the laird o Ochiltree Wawis,

I hae threttie pleuchs and thrie,

And I hae tane awa the bonniest lass

That is in a’ the north countrie.’

Motherwell’s Manuscript, p. 175; “from the recitation of Mrs Thomson, Kilbarchan, a native of Dumbartonshire, where she learned it.”

1There was a may, and a bonnie may,In the bught, milking the ewes,And by came a troop of gentlemen,And they rode by and by.2‘O I’ll give thee my milk-white steed,It cost me three hundred pound,If ye’ll go to yon sheep-bught,And bring yon fair maid doun.’3‘Your steed ye canna want, master,But pay to ane a fee;Fifty pound of good red gold,To be paid down to me.’4‘Come shew me the way, pretty may,’ he said,‘For our steeds are quite gone wrong;Will you do to me such a courtesyAs to shew us the near-hand way?’5‘O go ye doun to yon meadow,Where the people are mowing the hay;Go ye doun to yon meadow,And they’ll shew you the near-hand way.’6But he’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;He’s bowed her body to the ground,Of her kin he asked no leave.7When he lifted her up againHe’s gien her guineas three:‘If I be na back gin three quarters o a year,Ye need neer think mair on me.’* * * * * *8‘O where hast thou been, bonnie may,’ he said,‘O where hast thou been sae lang?O where hast thou been, bonnie may?’ he said,‘Thou hast na been sae lang thy lane.’9‘O come to the door and see, father,O come to the door and see,And see such a weety and a windy night;There were nobody wi me.10‘But wae be to your herd, father,And an ill death may he die!For he left the ewes strayed owre the knowes,And he left naebody wi me.11‘But there came a tod to your bught, father,The like o him I neer saw;For or he had taen the bonnie lamb he took,Ye had as weel hae gien them a’.12‘There came a tod to your bught, father,The like o him I neer did see;For aye when he spak he lifted up his hat,And he had a bonnie twinkling ee.’13But when twenty weeks were come and gane,Aye, twenty weeks and three,This lassie began to spit and to spew,And to lang for the twinkling ee.14It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day,She was ca‘ing out her father’s kye,And by came a troop of gentlemen,And they rode by and by.15‘O wha got the bairn wi thee, bonnie may?O wha got the bairn wi thee?’. . . . . . .. . . . . . .16She turned hersell right round about.She began to blush and think shame,And never a word this bonnie lassie spokBut ‘I have a good-man at hame.’17‘Thou lie, thou lie, my bonnie may,Sae loud I hear thee lie!Do ye mind o the weety and windy nightWhen I was in the ewe-bught wi thee?18‘Light off, light off, the gentlest of my men,And set her on behind,And ca out your kye, good father, yoursell,For she’ll never ca them out again.’19He was the laird o twenty plough o land,Aye, twenty plough and three,And he’s taen awa the bonniest lassWas in a’ the south countrie.

1There was a may, and a bonnie may,In the bught, milking the ewes,And by came a troop of gentlemen,And they rode by and by.

There was a may, and a bonnie may,

In the bught, milking the ewes,

And by came a troop of gentlemen,

And they rode by and by.

2‘O I’ll give thee my milk-white steed,It cost me three hundred pound,If ye’ll go to yon sheep-bught,And bring yon fair maid doun.’

‘O I’ll give thee my milk-white steed,

It cost me three hundred pound,

If ye’ll go to yon sheep-bught,

And bring yon fair maid doun.’

3‘Your steed ye canna want, master,But pay to ane a fee;Fifty pound of good red gold,To be paid down to me.’

‘Your steed ye canna want, master,

But pay to ane a fee;

Fifty pound of good red gold,

To be paid down to me.’

4‘Come shew me the way, pretty may,’ he said,‘For our steeds are quite gone wrong;Will you do to me such a courtesyAs to shew us the near-hand way?’

‘Come shew me the way, pretty may,’ he said,

‘For our steeds are quite gone wrong;

Will you do to me such a courtesy

As to shew us the near-hand way?’

5‘O go ye doun to yon meadow,Where the people are mowing the hay;Go ye doun to yon meadow,And they’ll shew you the near-hand way.’

‘O go ye doun to yon meadow,

Where the people are mowing the hay;

Go ye doun to yon meadow,

And they’ll shew you the near-hand way.’

6But he’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve;He’s bowed her body to the ground,Of her kin he asked no leave.

But he’s taen her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass-green sleeve;

He’s bowed her body to the ground,

Of her kin he asked no leave.

7When he lifted her up againHe’s gien her guineas three:‘If I be na back gin three quarters o a year,Ye need neer think mair on me.’

When he lifted her up again

He’s gien her guineas three:

‘If I be na back gin three quarters o a year,

Ye need neer think mair on me.’

* * * * * *

8‘O where hast thou been, bonnie may,’ he said,‘O where hast thou been sae lang?O where hast thou been, bonnie may?’ he said,‘Thou hast na been sae lang thy lane.’

‘O where hast thou been, bonnie may,’ he said,

‘O where hast thou been sae lang?

O where hast thou been, bonnie may?’ he said,

‘Thou hast na been sae lang thy lane.’

9‘O come to the door and see, father,O come to the door and see,And see such a weety and a windy night;There were nobody wi me.

‘O come to the door and see, father,

O come to the door and see,

And see such a weety and a windy night;

There were nobody wi me.

10‘But wae be to your herd, father,And an ill death may he die!For he left the ewes strayed owre the knowes,And he left naebody wi me.

‘But wae be to your herd, father,

And an ill death may he die!

For he left the ewes strayed owre the knowes,

And he left naebody wi me.

11‘But there came a tod to your bught, father,The like o him I neer saw;For or he had taen the bonnie lamb he took,Ye had as weel hae gien them a’.

‘But there came a tod to your bught, father,

The like o him I neer saw;

For or he had taen the bonnie lamb he took,

Ye had as weel hae gien them a’.

12‘There came a tod to your bught, father,The like o him I neer did see;For aye when he spak he lifted up his hat,And he had a bonnie twinkling ee.’

‘There came a tod to your bught, father,

The like o him I neer did see;

For aye when he spak he lifted up his hat,

And he had a bonnie twinkling ee.’

13But when twenty weeks were come and gane,Aye, twenty weeks and three,This lassie began to spit and to spew,And to lang for the twinkling ee.

But when twenty weeks were come and gane,

Aye, twenty weeks and three,

This lassie began to spit and to spew,

And to lang for the twinkling ee.

14It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day,She was ca‘ing out her father’s kye,And by came a troop of gentlemen,And they rode by and by.

It fell on a day, and a bonnie summer day,

She was ca‘ing out her father’s kye,

And by came a troop of gentlemen,

And they rode by and by.

15‘O wha got the bairn wi thee, bonnie may?O wha got the bairn wi thee?’. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

‘O wha got the bairn wi thee, bonnie may?

O wha got the bairn wi thee?’

. . . . . . .

16She turned hersell right round about.She began to blush and think shame,And never a word this bonnie lassie spokBut ‘I have a good-man at hame.’

She turned hersell right round about.

She began to blush and think shame,

And never a word this bonnie lassie spok

But ‘I have a good-man at hame.’

17‘Thou lie, thou lie, my bonnie may,Sae loud I hear thee lie!Do ye mind o the weety and windy nightWhen I was in the ewe-bught wi thee?

‘Thou lie, thou lie, my bonnie may,

Sae loud I hear thee lie!

Do ye mind o the weety and windy night

When I was in the ewe-bught wi thee?

18‘Light off, light off, the gentlest of my men,And set her on behind,And ca out your kye, good father, yoursell,For she’ll never ca them out again.’

‘Light off, light off, the gentlest of my men,

And set her on behind,

And ca out your kye, good father, yoursell,

For she’ll never ca them out again.’

19He was the laird o twenty plough o land,Aye, twenty plough and three,And he’s taen awa the bonniest lassWas in a’ the south countrie.

He was the laird o twenty plough o land,

Aye, twenty plough and three,

And he’s taen awa the bonniest lass

Was in a’ the south countrie.

Gibb MS., p. 9. “From recitation; traced to Mary Jack, Lochlee, Forfarshire, died 1881, aged 94.”

1Bonny may has to the ewe-bughts gane,To milk her father’s ewes,An aye as she milked her bonny voice rangFar out amang the knowes.* * * * * *2‘Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may,Milk on, milk on,’ said he;‘Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may;Will ye shew me out-ower the lea?’3‘Ride on, ride on, stout rider,’ she said,‘Yere steed’s baith stout and strang;For out o the ewe-bught I daurna come,For fear ye do me wrang.’4But he’s tane her by the milk-white hand,An by the green gown-sleeve,An he’s laid her low on the dewy grass,An at nae ane spiered he leave.5Then he’s mounted on his milk-white steed,An ridden after his men,An a’ that his men they said to himWas, Dear master, ye’ve tarried lang.6‘I’ve ridden east, an I’ve ridden wast,An I’ve ridden amang the knowes,But the bonniest lassie eer I sawWas milkin her daddie’s yowes.’7She’s taen the milk-pail on her heid,An she’s gane langin hame,An a her father said to herWas, Daughter, ye’ve tarried lang.8‘Oh, wae be to your shepherds! father,For they take nae care o the sheep;For they’ve bygit the ewe-bught far frae hame,An they’ve trysted a man to me.9‘There came a tod unto the bucht,An a waefu tod was he,An, or ever he had tane that ae ewe-lamb,I had rather he had tane ither three.’10But it fell on a day, an a bonny summer day,She was ca’in out her father’s kye,An bye came a troop o gentlemen,Cam ridin swiftly bye.11Out an spoke the foremost ane,Says, Lassie hae ye got a man?She turned herself saucy round about,Says, Yes, I’ve ane at hame.12‘Ye lee, ye lee, ye my bonny may,Sae loud as I hear ye lee!For dinna ye mind that misty nichtYe were in the ewe-bughts wi me?’13He ordered ane o his men to get down;Says, Lift her up behind me;Your father may ca in the kye when he likes,They sall neer be ca’ed in by thee.14‘For I’m the laird o Athole swaird,Wi fifty ploughs an three,An I hae gotten the bonniest lassIn a’ the north countrie.’

1Bonny may has to the ewe-bughts gane,To milk her father’s ewes,An aye as she milked her bonny voice rangFar out amang the knowes.

Bonny may has to the ewe-bughts gane,

To milk her father’s ewes,

An aye as she milked her bonny voice rang

Far out amang the knowes.

* * * * * *

2‘Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may,Milk on, milk on,’ said he;‘Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may;Will ye shew me out-ower the lea?’

‘Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may,

Milk on, milk on,’ said he;

‘Milk on, milk on, my bonny, bonny may;

Will ye shew me out-ower the lea?’

3‘Ride on, ride on, stout rider,’ she said,‘Yere steed’s baith stout and strang;For out o the ewe-bught I daurna come,For fear ye do me wrang.’

‘Ride on, ride on, stout rider,’ she said,

‘Yere steed’s baith stout and strang;

For out o the ewe-bught I daurna come,

For fear ye do me wrang.’

4But he’s tane her by the milk-white hand,An by the green gown-sleeve,An he’s laid her low on the dewy grass,An at nae ane spiered he leave.

But he’s tane her by the milk-white hand,

An by the green gown-sleeve,

An he’s laid her low on the dewy grass,

An at nae ane spiered he leave.

5Then he’s mounted on his milk-white steed,An ridden after his men,An a’ that his men they said to himWas, Dear master, ye’ve tarried lang.

Then he’s mounted on his milk-white steed,

An ridden after his men,

An a’ that his men they said to him

Was, Dear master, ye’ve tarried lang.

6‘I’ve ridden east, an I’ve ridden wast,An I’ve ridden amang the knowes,But the bonniest lassie eer I sawWas milkin her daddie’s yowes.’

‘I’ve ridden east, an I’ve ridden wast,

An I’ve ridden amang the knowes,

But the bonniest lassie eer I saw

Was milkin her daddie’s yowes.’

7She’s taen the milk-pail on her heid,An she’s gane langin hame,An a her father said to herWas, Daughter, ye’ve tarried lang.

She’s taen the milk-pail on her heid,

An she’s gane langin hame,

An a her father said to her

Was, Daughter, ye’ve tarried lang.

8‘Oh, wae be to your shepherds! father,For they take nae care o the sheep;For they’ve bygit the ewe-bught far frae hame,An they’ve trysted a man to me.

‘Oh, wae be to your shepherds! father,

For they take nae care o the sheep;

For they’ve bygit the ewe-bught far frae hame,

An they’ve trysted a man to me.

9‘There came a tod unto the bucht,An a waefu tod was he,An, or ever he had tane that ae ewe-lamb,I had rather he had tane ither three.’

‘There came a tod unto the bucht,

An a waefu tod was he,

An, or ever he had tane that ae ewe-lamb,

I had rather he had tane ither three.’

10But it fell on a day, an a bonny summer day,She was ca’in out her father’s kye,An bye came a troop o gentlemen,Cam ridin swiftly bye.

But it fell on a day, an a bonny summer day,

She was ca’in out her father’s kye,

An bye came a troop o gentlemen,

Cam ridin swiftly bye.

11Out an spoke the foremost ane,Says, Lassie hae ye got a man?She turned herself saucy round about,Says, Yes, I’ve ane at hame.

Out an spoke the foremost ane,

Says, Lassie hae ye got a man?

She turned herself saucy round about,

Says, Yes, I’ve ane at hame.

12‘Ye lee, ye lee, ye my bonny may,Sae loud as I hear ye lee!For dinna ye mind that misty nichtYe were in the ewe-bughts wi me?’

‘Ye lee, ye lee, ye my bonny may,

Sae loud as I hear ye lee!

For dinna ye mind that misty nicht

Ye were in the ewe-bughts wi me?’

13He ordered ane o his men to get down;Says, Lift her up behind me;Your father may ca in the kye when he likes,They sall neer be ca’ed in by thee.

He ordered ane o his men to get down;

Says, Lift her up behind me;

Your father may ca in the kye when he likes,

They sall neer be ca’ed in by thee.

14‘For I’m the laird o Athole swaird,Wi fifty ploughs an three,An I hae gotten the bonniest lassIn a’ the north countrie.’

‘For I’m the laird o Athole swaird,

Wi fifty ploughs an three,

An I hae gotten the bonniest lass

In a’ the north countrie.’

Scott’s Minstrelsy, III, 280, 1803; from Ettrick Forest.

1O the broom, and the bonny, bonny broom,And the broom of the Cowdenknows!And aye sae sweet as the lassie sang,I the bought, milking the ewes.2The hills were high on ilka side,An the bought i the lirk o the hill,And aye, as she sang, her voice it rangOut-oer the head o yon hill.3There was a troop o gentlemenCame riding merrilie by,And one o them has rode out o the way,To the bought to the bonny may.4‘Weel may ye save an see, bonny lass,An weel may ye save an see!’‘An sae wi you, ye weel-bred knight,And what’s your will wi me?’5‘The night is misty and mirk, fair may,And I have ridden astray,And will ye be so kind, fair may,As come out and point my way?’6‘Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider!Your steed’s baith stout and strang;For out of the bought I dare na come,For fear at ye do me wrang.’7‘O winna ye pity me, bonny lass?O winna ye pity me?An winna ye pity my poor steed,Stands trembling at yon tree?’8‘I wadna pity your poor steed,Tho it were tied to a thorn;For if ye wad gain my love the nightYe wad slight me ere the morn.9‘For I ken you by your weel-busked hat,And your merrie twinkling ee,That ye’re the laird o the Oakland hills,An ye may weel seem for to be.’10‘But I am not the laird o the Oakland hills,Ye’re far mistaen o me;But I’m ane o the men about his house,An right aft in his companie.’11He’s taen her by the middle jimp,And by the grass-green sleeve,He’s lifted her over the fauld-dyke,And speerd at her sma leave.12O he’s taen out a purse o gowd,And streekd her yellow hair:‘Now take ye that, my bonnie may,Of me till you hear mair.’13O he’s leapt on his berry-brown steed,An soon he’s oertaen his men;And ane and a’ cried out to him,O master, ye’ve tarryd lang!14‘O I hae been east, and I hae been west,An I hae been far oer the knows,But the bonniest lass that ever I sawIs i the bought, milkin the ewes.’15She set the cog upon her head,An she’s gane singing hame:‘O where hae ye been, my ae daughter?Ye hae na been your lane.’16‘O nae body was wi me, father,O nae body has been wi me;The night is misty and mirk, father,Ye may gang to the door and see.17‘But wae be to your ewe-herd, father,And an ill deed may he die!He bug the bought at the back o the knowAnd a tod has frighted me.18‘There came a tod to the bought-door,The like I never saw;And ere he had taken the lamb he didI had lourd he had taen them a’.’19O whan fifteen weeks was come and gane,Fifteen weeks and three,That lassie began to look thin and pale,An to long for his merry-twinkling ee.20It fell on a day, on a het simmer day,She was ca’ing out her father’s kye,By came a troop o gentlemen,A’ merrilie riding bye.21‘Weel may ye save an see, bonny may!Weel may ye save and see!Weel I wat ye be a very bonny may,But whae’s aught that babe ye are wi?’22Never a word could that lassie say,For never a ane could she blame,An never a word could the lassie say,But, I have a good man at hame.23‘Ye lied, ye lied, my very bonny may,Sae loud as I hear you lie!For dinna ye mind that misty nightI was i the bought wi thee?24‘I ken you by your middle sae jimp,An your merry-twinkling ee,That ye’re the bonny lass i the Cowdenknow,An ye may weel seem for to be.’25Than he’s leapd off his berry-brown steed,An he’s set that fair may on:‘Caw out your kye, gude father, yoursel,For she’s never caw them out again.26‘I am the laird of the Oakland hills,I hae thirty plows and three,An I hae gotten the bonniest lassThat’s in a’ the south country.’

1O the broom, and the bonny, bonny broom,And the broom of the Cowdenknows!And aye sae sweet as the lassie sang,I the bought, milking the ewes.

O the broom, and the bonny, bonny broom,

And the broom of the Cowdenknows!

And aye sae sweet as the lassie sang,

I the bought, milking the ewes.

2The hills were high on ilka side,An the bought i the lirk o the hill,And aye, as she sang, her voice it rangOut-oer the head o yon hill.

The hills were high on ilka side,

An the bought i the lirk o the hill,

And aye, as she sang, her voice it rang

Out-oer the head o yon hill.

3There was a troop o gentlemenCame riding merrilie by,And one o them has rode out o the way,To the bought to the bonny may.

There was a troop o gentlemen

Came riding merrilie by,

And one o them has rode out o the way,

To the bought to the bonny may.

4‘Weel may ye save an see, bonny lass,An weel may ye save an see!’‘An sae wi you, ye weel-bred knight,And what’s your will wi me?’

‘Weel may ye save an see, bonny lass,

An weel may ye save an see!’

‘An sae wi you, ye weel-bred knight,

And what’s your will wi me?’

5‘The night is misty and mirk, fair may,And I have ridden astray,And will ye be so kind, fair may,As come out and point my way?’

‘The night is misty and mirk, fair may,

And I have ridden astray,

And will ye be so kind, fair may,

As come out and point my way?’

6‘Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider!Your steed’s baith stout and strang;For out of the bought I dare na come,For fear at ye do me wrang.’

‘Ride out, ride out, ye ramp rider!

Your steed’s baith stout and strang;

For out of the bought I dare na come,

For fear at ye do me wrang.’

7‘O winna ye pity me, bonny lass?O winna ye pity me?An winna ye pity my poor steed,Stands trembling at yon tree?’

‘O winna ye pity me, bonny lass?

O winna ye pity me?

An winna ye pity my poor steed,

Stands trembling at yon tree?’

8‘I wadna pity your poor steed,Tho it were tied to a thorn;For if ye wad gain my love the nightYe wad slight me ere the morn.

‘I wadna pity your poor steed,

Tho it were tied to a thorn;

For if ye wad gain my love the night

Ye wad slight me ere the morn.

9‘For I ken you by your weel-busked hat,And your merrie twinkling ee,That ye’re the laird o the Oakland hills,An ye may weel seem for to be.’

‘For I ken you by your weel-busked hat,

And your merrie twinkling ee,

That ye’re the laird o the Oakland hills,

An ye may weel seem for to be.’

10‘But I am not the laird o the Oakland hills,Ye’re far mistaen o me;But I’m ane o the men about his house,An right aft in his companie.’

‘But I am not the laird o the Oakland hills,

Ye’re far mistaen o me;

But I’m ane o the men about his house,

An right aft in his companie.’

11He’s taen her by the middle jimp,And by the grass-green sleeve,He’s lifted her over the fauld-dyke,And speerd at her sma leave.

He’s taen her by the middle jimp,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

He’s lifted her over the fauld-dyke,

And speerd at her sma leave.

12O he’s taen out a purse o gowd,And streekd her yellow hair:‘Now take ye that, my bonnie may,Of me till you hear mair.’

O he’s taen out a purse o gowd,

And streekd her yellow hair:

‘Now take ye that, my bonnie may,

Of me till you hear mair.’

13O he’s leapt on his berry-brown steed,An soon he’s oertaen his men;And ane and a’ cried out to him,O master, ye’ve tarryd lang!

O he’s leapt on his berry-brown steed,

An soon he’s oertaen his men;

And ane and a’ cried out to him,

O master, ye’ve tarryd lang!

14‘O I hae been east, and I hae been west,An I hae been far oer the knows,But the bonniest lass that ever I sawIs i the bought, milkin the ewes.’

‘O I hae been east, and I hae been west,

An I hae been far oer the knows,

But the bonniest lass that ever I saw

Is i the bought, milkin the ewes.’

15She set the cog upon her head,An she’s gane singing hame:‘O where hae ye been, my ae daughter?Ye hae na been your lane.’

She set the cog upon her head,

An she’s gane singing hame:

‘O where hae ye been, my ae daughter?

Ye hae na been your lane.’

16‘O nae body was wi me, father,O nae body has been wi me;The night is misty and mirk, father,Ye may gang to the door and see.

‘O nae body was wi me, father,

O nae body has been wi me;

The night is misty and mirk, father,

Ye may gang to the door and see.

17‘But wae be to your ewe-herd, father,And an ill deed may he die!He bug the bought at the back o the knowAnd a tod has frighted me.

‘But wae be to your ewe-herd, father,

And an ill deed may he die!

He bug the bought at the back o the know

And a tod has frighted me.

18‘There came a tod to the bought-door,The like I never saw;And ere he had taken the lamb he didI had lourd he had taen them a’.’

‘There came a tod to the bought-door,

The like I never saw;

And ere he had taken the lamb he did

I had lourd he had taen them a’.’

19O whan fifteen weeks was come and gane,Fifteen weeks and three,That lassie began to look thin and pale,An to long for his merry-twinkling ee.

O whan fifteen weeks was come and gane,

Fifteen weeks and three,

That lassie began to look thin and pale,

An to long for his merry-twinkling ee.

20It fell on a day, on a het simmer day,She was ca’ing out her father’s kye,By came a troop o gentlemen,A’ merrilie riding bye.

It fell on a day, on a het simmer day,

She was ca’ing out her father’s kye,

By came a troop o gentlemen,

A’ merrilie riding bye.

21‘Weel may ye save an see, bonny may!Weel may ye save and see!Weel I wat ye be a very bonny may,But whae’s aught that babe ye are wi?’

‘Weel may ye save an see, bonny may!

Weel may ye save and see!

Weel I wat ye be a very bonny may,

But whae’s aught that babe ye are wi?’

22Never a word could that lassie say,For never a ane could she blame,An never a word could the lassie say,But, I have a good man at hame.

Never a word could that lassie say,

For never a ane could she blame,

An never a word could the lassie say,

But, I have a good man at hame.

23‘Ye lied, ye lied, my very bonny may,Sae loud as I hear you lie!For dinna ye mind that misty nightI was i the bought wi thee?

‘Ye lied, ye lied, my very bonny may,

Sae loud as I hear you lie!

For dinna ye mind that misty night

I was i the bought wi thee?

24‘I ken you by your middle sae jimp,An your merry-twinkling ee,That ye’re the bonny lass i the Cowdenknow,An ye may weel seem for to be.’

‘I ken you by your middle sae jimp,

An your merry-twinkling ee,

That ye’re the bonny lass i the Cowdenknow,

An ye may weel seem for to be.’

25Than he’s leapd off his berry-brown steed,An he’s set that fair may on:‘Caw out your kye, gude father, yoursel,For she’s never caw them out again.

Than he’s leapd off his berry-brown steed,

An he’s set that fair may on:

‘Caw out your kye, gude father, yoursel,

For she’s never caw them out again.

26‘I am the laird of the Oakland hills,I hae thirty plows and three,An I hae gotten the bonniest lassThat’s in a’ the south country.’

‘I am the laird of the Oakland hills,

I hae thirty plows and three,

An I hae gotten the bonniest lass

That’s in a’ the south country.’

Kinloch MSS, I, 137; from Mrs Boutchart.

1There was a may, a maiden sae gay,Went out wi her milking-pail;Lang she foucht or her ewes wad bucht,And syne she a milking fell.2And ay as she sang the rocks they rang,Her voice gaed loud and shill;Ye wad hae heard the voice o the maidOn the tap o the ither hill.3And ay she sang, and the rocks they rang,Her voice gaed loud and hie;Till by there cam a troop o gentlemen,A riding up that way.4‘Weel may ye sing, ye bonnie may,Weel and weel may ye sing!The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk,And we hae ridden wrang.’5‘Haud by the gate ye cam, kind sir,Haud by the gate ye cam;But tak tent o the rank river,For our streams are unco strang.’6‘Can ye na pity me, fair may,Canna ye pity me?Canna ye pity my puir steed,Stands trembling at yon tree?’7‘What pity wad ye hae, kind sir?What wad ye hae frae me?If he has neither corn nor hay,He has gerss at libertie.’8‘Can ye na pity me, fair may,Can ye na pity me?Can ye na pity a gentle knichtThat’s deeing for love o thee?’9He’s tane her by the milk-white hand,And by the gerss-green sleeve;He’s laid her laigh at the bucht-end,At her kin speird na leave.10‘After ye hae tane your will o me,Your will as ye hae tane,Be as gude a gentle knichtAs tell to me your name.’11‘Some do ca me Jack,’ says he,‘And some do ca me John;But whan I’m in the king’s hie courtDuke William is my name.12‘But I ken by your weel-faurd face,And by your blinking ee,That ye are the Maid o the Cowdenknows,And seem very weel to be.’13‘I am na the maid o the Cowdenknows,Nor does not think to be;But I am ane o her best maids,That’s aft in her companie.14‘But I ken by your black, black hat,And by your gay gowd ring,That ye are the Laird o Rochna hills,Wha beguiles a’ our women.’15‘I am na the Laird o Rochna hills.Nor does na think to be;But I am ane o his best men,That’s aft in his companie.’16He’s put his hand in his pocketAnd tane out guineas three;Says, Tak ye that, my bonnie may;It’ll pay the nourice fee.17She’s tane her cog upon her head,And fast, fast gaed she hame:‘Whare hae ye been, my dear dochter?Ye hae na been your lane.18‘The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk;Ye may look out and see;The ewes war skippin oure the knowes,They wad na bucht in for me.19‘But wae be to your shepherd, father,An ill death may he dee!He bigget the buchts sae far frae the toun,And he trysted a man to me.20‘There cam a tod amang the flock,The like o him I neer did see;Afore he had tane the lamb that he took,I’d rather he’d tane ither three.’21Whan twenty weeks war past and gane,Twenty weeks and three,The lassie begoud to spit and spue,And thought lang for ‘s blinkin ee.22’Twas on a day, and a day near bye,She was ca’ing out the kye,That by cam a troop o merry gentlemen,Cam riding bye that way.23‘Wha’s gien ye the scorn, bonnie may?O wha’s done ye the wrang?’‘Na body, na body, kind sir,’ she said,‘My baby’s father’s at hame.’24‘Ye lee, ye lee, fause may,’ he said,‘Sae loud as I hear ye lee!Dinna ye mind o the mirk misty nichtI buchted the ewes wi thee?’25‘Weel may I mind yon mirk misty nicht,Weel may I mind,’ says she;‘For ay whan ye spak ye lifted up your hat,Ye had a merry blinkin ee.’26He’s turned him round and richt about,And tane the lassie on;‘Ca out your ky, auld father,’ he said,‘She sall neer ca them again.27‘For I am the Laird o Rochna hills,O thirty plows and three;And I hae gotten the bonniest lassO a’ the west countrie.’28‘And I’m the Maid o the Cowdenknows,O twenty plows and three;And I hae gotten the bonniest ladIn a’ the north countrie.’

1There was a may, a maiden sae gay,Went out wi her milking-pail;Lang she foucht or her ewes wad bucht,And syne she a milking fell.

There was a may, a maiden sae gay,

Went out wi her milking-pail;

Lang she foucht or her ewes wad bucht,

And syne she a milking fell.

2And ay as she sang the rocks they rang,Her voice gaed loud and shill;Ye wad hae heard the voice o the maidOn the tap o the ither hill.

And ay as she sang the rocks they rang,

Her voice gaed loud and shill;

Ye wad hae heard the voice o the maid

On the tap o the ither hill.

3And ay she sang, and the rocks they rang,Her voice gaed loud and hie;Till by there cam a troop o gentlemen,A riding up that way.

And ay she sang, and the rocks they rang,

Her voice gaed loud and hie;

Till by there cam a troop o gentlemen,

A riding up that way.

4‘Weel may ye sing, ye bonnie may,Weel and weel may ye sing!The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk,And we hae ridden wrang.’

‘Weel may ye sing, ye bonnie may,

Weel and weel may ye sing!

The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk,

And we hae ridden wrang.’

5‘Haud by the gate ye cam, kind sir,Haud by the gate ye cam;But tak tent o the rank river,For our streams are unco strang.’

‘Haud by the gate ye cam, kind sir,

Haud by the gate ye cam;

But tak tent o the rank river,

For our streams are unco strang.’

6‘Can ye na pity me, fair may,Canna ye pity me?Canna ye pity my puir steed,Stands trembling at yon tree?’

‘Can ye na pity me, fair may,

Canna ye pity me?

Canna ye pity my puir steed,

Stands trembling at yon tree?’

7‘What pity wad ye hae, kind sir?What wad ye hae frae me?If he has neither corn nor hay,He has gerss at libertie.’

‘What pity wad ye hae, kind sir?

What wad ye hae frae me?

If he has neither corn nor hay,

He has gerss at libertie.’

8‘Can ye na pity me, fair may,Can ye na pity me?Can ye na pity a gentle knichtThat’s deeing for love o thee?’

‘Can ye na pity me, fair may,

Can ye na pity me?

Can ye na pity a gentle knicht

That’s deeing for love o thee?’

9He’s tane her by the milk-white hand,And by the gerss-green sleeve;He’s laid her laigh at the bucht-end,At her kin speird na leave.

He’s tane her by the milk-white hand,

And by the gerss-green sleeve;

He’s laid her laigh at the bucht-end,

At her kin speird na leave.

10‘After ye hae tane your will o me,Your will as ye hae tane,Be as gude a gentle knichtAs tell to me your name.’

‘After ye hae tane your will o me,

Your will as ye hae tane,

Be as gude a gentle knicht

As tell to me your name.’

11‘Some do ca me Jack,’ says he,‘And some do ca me John;But whan I’m in the king’s hie courtDuke William is my name.

‘Some do ca me Jack,’ says he,

‘And some do ca me John;

But whan I’m in the king’s hie court

Duke William is my name.

12‘But I ken by your weel-faurd face,And by your blinking ee,That ye are the Maid o the Cowdenknows,And seem very weel to be.’

‘But I ken by your weel-faurd face,

And by your blinking ee,

That ye are the Maid o the Cowdenknows,

And seem very weel to be.’

13‘I am na the maid o the Cowdenknows,Nor does not think to be;But I am ane o her best maids,That’s aft in her companie.

‘I am na the maid o the Cowdenknows,

Nor does not think to be;

But I am ane o her best maids,

That’s aft in her companie.

14‘But I ken by your black, black hat,And by your gay gowd ring,That ye are the Laird o Rochna hills,Wha beguiles a’ our women.’

‘But I ken by your black, black hat,

And by your gay gowd ring,

That ye are the Laird o Rochna hills,

Wha beguiles a’ our women.’

15‘I am na the Laird o Rochna hills.Nor does na think to be;But I am ane o his best men,That’s aft in his companie.’

‘I am na the Laird o Rochna hills.

Nor does na think to be;

But I am ane o his best men,

That’s aft in his companie.’

16He’s put his hand in his pocketAnd tane out guineas three;Says, Tak ye that, my bonnie may;It’ll pay the nourice fee.

He’s put his hand in his pocket

And tane out guineas three;

Says, Tak ye that, my bonnie may;

It’ll pay the nourice fee.

17She’s tane her cog upon her head,And fast, fast gaed she hame:‘Whare hae ye been, my dear dochter?Ye hae na been your lane.

She’s tane her cog upon her head,

And fast, fast gaed she hame:

‘Whare hae ye been, my dear dochter?

Ye hae na been your lane.

18‘The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk;Ye may look out and see;The ewes war skippin oure the knowes,They wad na bucht in for me.

‘The nicht is misty, weet, and mirk;

Ye may look out and see;

The ewes war skippin oure the knowes,

They wad na bucht in for me.

19‘But wae be to your shepherd, father,An ill death may he dee!He bigget the buchts sae far frae the toun,And he trysted a man to me.

‘But wae be to your shepherd, father,

An ill death may he dee!

He bigget the buchts sae far frae the toun,

And he trysted a man to me.

20‘There cam a tod amang the flock,The like o him I neer did see;Afore he had tane the lamb that he took,I’d rather he’d tane ither three.’

‘There cam a tod amang the flock,

The like o him I neer did see;

Afore he had tane the lamb that he took,

I’d rather he’d tane ither three.’

21Whan twenty weeks war past and gane,Twenty weeks and three,The lassie begoud to spit and spue,And thought lang for ‘s blinkin ee.

Whan twenty weeks war past and gane,

Twenty weeks and three,

The lassie begoud to spit and spue,

And thought lang for ‘s blinkin ee.

22’Twas on a day, and a day near bye,She was ca’ing out the kye,That by cam a troop o merry gentlemen,Cam riding bye that way.

’Twas on a day, and a day near bye,

She was ca’ing out the kye,

That by cam a troop o merry gentlemen,

Cam riding bye that way.

23‘Wha’s gien ye the scorn, bonnie may?O wha’s done ye the wrang?’‘Na body, na body, kind sir,’ she said,‘My baby’s father’s at hame.’

‘Wha’s gien ye the scorn, bonnie may?

O wha’s done ye the wrang?’

‘Na body, na body, kind sir,’ she said,

‘My baby’s father’s at hame.’

24‘Ye lee, ye lee, fause may,’ he said,‘Sae loud as I hear ye lee!Dinna ye mind o the mirk misty nichtI buchted the ewes wi thee?’

‘Ye lee, ye lee, fause may,’ he said,

‘Sae loud as I hear ye lee!

Dinna ye mind o the mirk misty nicht

I buchted the ewes wi thee?’

25‘Weel may I mind yon mirk misty nicht,Weel may I mind,’ says she;‘For ay whan ye spak ye lifted up your hat,Ye had a merry blinkin ee.’

‘Weel may I mind yon mirk misty nicht,

Weel may I mind,’ says she;

‘For ay whan ye spak ye lifted up your hat,

Ye had a merry blinkin ee.’

26He’s turned him round and richt about,And tane the lassie on;‘Ca out your ky, auld father,’ he said,‘She sall neer ca them again.

He’s turned him round and richt about,

And tane the lassie on;

‘Ca out your ky, auld father,’ he said,

‘She sall neer ca them again.

27‘For I am the Laird o Rochna hills,O thirty plows and three;And I hae gotten the bonniest lassO a’ the west countrie.’

‘For I am the Laird o Rochna hills,

O thirty plows and three;

And I hae gotten the bonniest lass

O a’ the west countrie.’

28‘And I’m the Maid o the Cowdenknows,O twenty plows and three;And I hae gotten the bonniest ladIn a’ the north countrie.’

‘And I’m the Maid o the Cowdenknows,

O twenty plows and three;

And I hae gotten the bonniest lad

In a’ the north countrie.’

Kinloch MSS, VII, 153; from the recitation of Miss M. Kinnear, August 23, 1826, a North Country version.

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