221KATHARINE JAFFRAY

A. a.‘Katharine Jaffray,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 61, II, 56.b.The Aldine edition of Burns, 1839, III, 181, four stanzas.

B.‘The Laird of Laminton,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 164, II, 58.

C.‘Katherine Jaffarie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 30, Abbotsford.

D.‘The Laird of Laminton,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 3, Abbotsford.

E.‘Cathrine Jaffray,’ Skene MS., p. 81.

F.‘Catherine Janferry,’ Kinloch MSS, V, 315.

G.‘Catharine Jaffery,’ Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, 1824, p. 34.

H.Kinloch MSS, V, 313.

I.Motherwell’s MS., p. 327.

J.‘Catherine Johnson,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 75; ‘Catherine Johnstone,’ Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, 1827, p. 225.

K.‘Loch-in-var,’ Buchan’s Gleanings, 1825, p. 74.

L.Macmath MS., p. 72, two stanzas.

The ballad was first published by Sir Walter Scott, under the title ‘The Laird of Laminton,’ in the first edition of the Minstrelsy, 1802, I, 216. This copy was fashioned by the editor from two in Herd’s MSS,A,B. In later editions of the Minstrelsy (III, 122, 1833), the ballad was given, with the title Katharine Janfarie, “in a more perfect state, from several recited copies.” Twelve stanzas out of twenty-one, however, are repeated from the first edition. Much the larger part of what is not in Herd is taken fromC; the name Lochinvar is adopted fromD.[116]A few peculiar readings may be from copies now not known, or may be the editor’s.

The ballad in Christie, II, 16, is Scott’s later copy, with the omission of the 16th stanza. That in Nimmo’s Songs and Ballads of Clydesdale, p. 141, isJ, from Motherwell’s Minstrelsy.

A Scots laird wooes a Scots maid and wins her favor. An English laird or lord, very liberal as to gowd and gear, comes to court the same lass, gains the consent of her friends (who had at least made no opposition to the earlier suit), and sets the wedding-day. The first lover comes to the wedding, backed by a strong body of armed men, whom he keeps out of sight. He is asked why he has come; it is for a sight of the bride or a word with her, or to take a glass of wine with her or the bridegroom, and this had he will go away. Getting near the bride on this pretence, he swings her on to his horse and is off. A bloody fight follows, but the bride is not retrieved. Englishmen may take warning by this not to seek wives in Scotland; it will always end in their being tricked and balked.

The attitude of the young woman to her first lover is not distinctly brought out in several copies. That she had jilted him in favor of a wealthier Englishman would probablynot lessen the Scot’s pleasure in carrying her off. InE18, she does not go willingly; she greets and wrings her hands, and says it’s foul play.[117]InF2,G2, the first lover openly charges her with changing and foul play, and such is the implication inE13. InB14, the bride, seeing the bloodshed, exclaims, Wae’s me for foul play! and her lover replies, Wae to your wilful will for causing so much good blood to be spilt! from which we must infer a fault on her part.I2 has the ambiguous line ‘and his love drew away,’ which cannot be interpreted to mean that the first lover was inconstant without flying in the face of all the other copies.D,J,K, unequivocally represent the lass as faithful to her first love. The bridegroom, in these versions, arranges the match with the family, and does not mention the matter to the lass until the wedding-day: so inC,H.[118]She sends word to her lover that if he will come for her she will go with him,D; writes ‘to let him understand,’J,K, and not to pay him the cold compliment of an invitation to see her wed the man that has supplanted him, as inB3,E5,F5,I3.

InE7–9, while the first lover is drinking with his comrades they incite him to carry off the bride on her wedding-day; soG6, without explanation of the circumstances. InE7–9, 12–15, he goes to the bridal-house, and sitting at a table vents words which the other guests cannot understand: there was a young man who loved a lass that to-day goes another man’s bride, and plays her old love foul play; hadhebeen so served, he would take the bride away. Upon this the English ask if he wishes a fight. There is something of this inB7–10,F13, 14,G11–14.

The lover would wish to keep the strong body of men that he had brought with him quite in the background until their cue came. When, therefore, inI8, 9, the bridegroom’s friends ask him what was that troop of younkers they had seen, he puts them off with the phrase, It must have been the Fairy Court; so inL. InB5, 6 (where a stanza, and more, has dropped out), when the bridegroom sees this troop from a high window, the bride (from incredulity, it must be, and not because she is in concert with her old lover) says he must have seen the Fairy Court.G15, 16, where the phrase comes in again, seems to have suffered corruption; any way, the passage is not quite intelligible to me.

Katharine Jaffray (Jamphray, Janfarie) is the lass’s name inA,C-G,K,L; Katharine Johnstone[119]inJ; inB,H,I, she is nameless.

The lover is Lochinvar inE,F,G,I,K,L(note); Lamington inD,H,J; Lauderdale inA,C; he has no name inB. The bridegroom is Lochinvar inD,H; Lamington inB, Lymington,K; Lauderdale inF,G; LochintonA, LamendallE, LimberdaleI(obvious mixtures of the preceding); Faughanwood inC; inJhe has no name. The bridegroom should be an Englishman, but Lochinvar, Lamington, and Lauderdale are all south-Scottish names.Bputs a Scot from the North Country in place of the titular Englishman of the other copies, but this Norland man is laird of Lamington.

The place of the fight is Cadan bank and Cadan brae,C,D; Cowden bank (banks) and Cowden brae (braes),A,H,J, the variation being perhaps due to the very familiar Cowdenknows; Callien, Caylin, Caley bank (buss) and brae, inE,I,F; Foudlin dyke and Foudlin stane inK. No place is named inB,G[120]. InI, the lass lives in Bordershellin.

A copy from the recitation of a youngIrishwoman living in Taunton, Massachusetts (learned from print, I suppose, and in parts imperfectly remembered), puts the scene of the story at Edenborough town. A squire of high degree had courted a comely country girl. When her father came to hear of this, he was an angry man, and “requested of his daughter dear to suit his company,” or to match within her degree. The only son of a farmer in the east had courted this girl until he thought he had won her, and had got the consent of her father and mother. The girl writes the squire a letter to tell him that she is to be married to the farmer’s son. He writes in answer that she must dress in green at her wedding (a color which no Scots girl would wear, for ill luck), and he will wear a suit of the same, and wed her ‘in spite of all that’s there.’ He mounts eight squire-men on milk-white steeds, and rides ‘to the wedding-house, with the company dressed in green.’ (See the note toL.)

‘O welcome you, fair welcome!And where have you spent all day?Or did you see those gentlemenThat rode along this way?’He looked at her and scoffed at her,He smiled and this did say,‘They might have been some fairy troops,That rode along this way.’

‘O welcome you, fair welcome!And where have you spent all day?Or did you see those gentlemenThat rode along this way?’

‘O welcome you, fair welcome!

And where have you spent all day?

Or did you see those gentlemen

That rode along this way?’

He looked at her and scoffed at her,He smiled and this did say,‘They might have been some fairy troops,That rode along this way.’

He looked at her and scoffed at her,

He smiled and this did say,

‘They might have been some fairy troops,

That rode along this way.’

She fills him a glass of new port wine, which he drinks to all the company, saying, Happy is the man that is called the groom, but another may love her as well as he and take her from his side.

Up spoke the intended groom,And an angry man was he,Saying, If it is to fight that you came here,I am the man for thee.‘It is not to fight that I came here,But friendship for to show;So give me one kiss from your lovely bride,And away from you I’ll go.’He took her by the waist so small,And by the grass-green sleeve;He took her out of the wedding-house,Of the company asked no leave.The drums did beat and the trumpets sound,Most glorious to be seen,And then away to Edenborough town,With the company dressed in green.

Up spoke the intended groom,And an angry man was he,Saying, If it is to fight that you came here,I am the man for thee.

Up spoke the intended groom,

And an angry man was he,

Saying, If it is to fight that you came here,

I am the man for thee.

‘It is not to fight that I came here,But friendship for to show;So give me one kiss from your lovely bride,And away from you I’ll go.’

‘It is not to fight that I came here,

But friendship for to show;

So give me one kiss from your lovely bride,

And away from you I’ll go.’

He took her by the waist so small,And by the grass-green sleeve;He took her out of the wedding-house,Of the company asked no leave.

He took her by the waist so small,

And by the grass-green sleeve;

He took her out of the wedding-house,

Of the company asked no leave.

The drums did beat and the trumpets sound,Most glorious to be seen,And then away to Edenborough town,With the company dressed in green.

The drums did beat and the trumpets sound,

Most glorious to be seen,

And then away to Edenborough town,

With the company dressed in green.

Scott’s Lochinvar, in the fifth canto of Marmion, was modelled on ‘Katharine Jaffray.’

Another ballad (but a much later and inferior) in which a lover carries off a bride on her wedding-day is ‘Lord William,’ otherwise ‘Lord Lundy,’ to be given further on.

A Norse ballad of the same description is ‘Magnus Algotsøn,’ Grundtvig, No 181, III, 734,[121]Syv, No 77,==‘Ungen Essendal,’ Kristensen, Jydske Folkeminder, I, 104, No 41, ‘Hr. Essendal,’ X, 247, No 61, A, B. Syv’s version is translated by Jamieson, Illustrations of Northern Antiquities, p. 335.

Scott’s ballad is translated by Schubart, p. 198, Doenniges, p. 15. Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 65, translates Aytoun.

a.Herd’s MSS, I, 61, II, 56.b.The Aldine edition of Burns’s Poems, by Sir Harris Nicolas, 1839, III, 181, from Burns’s autograph.

1There livd a lass in yonder dale,And doun in yonder glen, OAnd Kathrine Jaffray was her name,Well known by many men. O2Out came the Laird of Lauderdale,Out frae the South Countrie,All for to court this pretty maid,Her bridegroom for to be.3He has teld her father and mither baith,And a’ the rest o her kin,And has teld the lass hersell,And her consent has win.4Then came the Laird of Lochinton,Out frae the English border,All for to court this pretty maid,Well mounted in good order.5He’s teld her father and mither baith,As I hear sindry say,But he has nae teld the lass her sell,Till on her wedding day.6When day was set, and friends were met,And married to be,Lord Lauderdale came to the place,The bridal for to see.7‘O are you came for sport, young man:Or are you come for play?Or are you come for a sight o our bride,Just on her wedding day?’8‘I’m nouther come for sport,’ he says,‘Nor am I come for play;But if I had one sight o your bride,I’ll mount and ride away.’9There was a glass of the red wineFilld up them atween,And ay she drank to Lauderdale,Wha her true-love had been.10Then he took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And he mounted her high behind him there,At the bridegroom he askt nae leive.11Then the blude run down by the Cowden Banks,And down by Cowden Braes,And ay she gard the trumpet sound,‘O this is foul, foul play!’12Now a’ ye that in England are,Or are in England born,Come nere to Scotland to court a lass,Or else ye’l get the scorn.13They haik ye up and settle ye by,Till on your wedding day,And gie ye frogs instead o fish,And play ye foul, foul play.

1There livd a lass in yonder dale,And doun in yonder glen, OAnd Kathrine Jaffray was her name,Well known by many men. O

There livd a lass in yonder dale,

And doun in yonder glen, O

And Kathrine Jaffray was her name,

Well known by many men. O

2Out came the Laird of Lauderdale,Out frae the South Countrie,All for to court this pretty maid,Her bridegroom for to be.

Out came the Laird of Lauderdale,

Out frae the South Countrie,

All for to court this pretty maid,

Her bridegroom for to be.

3He has teld her father and mither baith,And a’ the rest o her kin,And has teld the lass hersell,And her consent has win.

He has teld her father and mither baith,

And a’ the rest o her kin,

And has teld the lass hersell,

And her consent has win.

4Then came the Laird of Lochinton,Out frae the English border,All for to court this pretty maid,Well mounted in good order.

Then came the Laird of Lochinton,

Out frae the English border,

All for to court this pretty maid,

Well mounted in good order.

5He’s teld her father and mither baith,As I hear sindry say,But he has nae teld the lass her sell,Till on her wedding day.

He’s teld her father and mither baith,

As I hear sindry say,

But he has nae teld the lass her sell,

Till on her wedding day.

6When day was set, and friends were met,And married to be,Lord Lauderdale came to the place,The bridal for to see.

When day was set, and friends were met,

And married to be,

Lord Lauderdale came to the place,

The bridal for to see.

7‘O are you came for sport, young man:Or are you come for play?Or are you come for a sight o our bride,Just on her wedding day?’

‘O are you came for sport, young man:

Or are you come for play?

Or are you come for a sight o our bride,

Just on her wedding day?’

8‘I’m nouther come for sport,’ he says,‘Nor am I come for play;But if I had one sight o your bride,I’ll mount and ride away.’

‘I’m nouther come for sport,’ he says,

‘Nor am I come for play;

But if I had one sight o your bride,

I’ll mount and ride away.’

9There was a glass of the red wineFilld up them atween,And ay she drank to Lauderdale,Wha her true-love had been.

There was a glass of the red wine

Filld up them atween,

And ay she drank to Lauderdale,

Wha her true-love had been.

10Then he took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,And he mounted her high behind him there,At the bridegroom he askt nae leive.

Then he took her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

And he mounted her high behind him there,

At the bridegroom he askt nae leive.

11Then the blude run down by the Cowden Banks,And down by Cowden Braes,And ay she gard the trumpet sound,‘O this is foul, foul play!’

Then the blude run down by the Cowden Banks,

And down by Cowden Braes,

And ay she gard the trumpet sound,

‘O this is foul, foul play!’

12Now a’ ye that in England are,Or are in England born,Come nere to Scotland to court a lass,Or else ye’l get the scorn.

Now a’ ye that in England are,

Or are in England born,

Come nere to Scotland to court a lass,

Or else ye’l get the scorn.

13They haik ye up and settle ye by,Till on your wedding day,And gie ye frogs instead o fish,And play ye foul, foul play.

They haik ye up and settle ye by,

Till on your wedding day,

And gie ye frogs instead o fish,

And play ye foul, foul play.

Herd’s MSS, I, 164, II, 58.

1The gallant laird of LamingtonCam frae the North CountreeTo court a gallant gay lady,And wi presents entered he.2He neither stood for gould nor gear—For she was a well-fared may—And whan he got her friends’ consentHe set the wedding-day.3She’s sent unto her first fere love,Gin he would come to see,And he has sent word back againWeel answered should she be.4He has sent a messengerRight quietly throe the land,Wi mony armed men,To be at his command.5The bridegroom looked out at a high window,Beheld baith dool and doon,And there he spied her first fere love,Come riding to the toun.6She scoffed and she scorned him,Upo the wedding-day,And said it had been the Fairy CourtThat he had seen in array.7But as he sat at yon table-head,Amo yon gentlemen,And he began to speak some wordsThat na ane there could ken.8‘There is a lass into this town—She is a weel-far’d may—She is another man’s bride today,But she’ll play him foul play.’9Up did start the bonny bridegroom,His hat into his hand,. . . . . . .. . . . . .10‘O cam you here, young man, to fight?Or came you here to flee?Or cam you here to drink good wine,And be good company?’11They filled a cup o good red wine,Drunk out between them twa:‘For one dance wi your bonny bride,I shall gae hame my wa.’12He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,He’s mounted her high behind himself,At her kin’s speired nae leave.13Now . . . . . .And swords flew in the skies,And droop and drowsie was the bloodRan our yon lilly braes.14The blood ran our the lilly bank,And our the lilly brae,And sighing said the bonny bride,‘A, wae’s me for foul play!’15‘My blessing on your heart, sweet thing,Wae to your wilfu will!So many a gallant gentleman’s bloodThis day as ye’ve garred spill.16‘But a’ you that is norland men,If you be norland born,Come never south to wed a bryde,For they’ll play you the scorn.17‘They will play you the scornUpo your wedding-day,And gie you frogs instead o fish,And do you foul, foul play.’

1The gallant laird of LamingtonCam frae the North CountreeTo court a gallant gay lady,And wi presents entered he.

The gallant laird of Lamington

Cam frae the North Countree

To court a gallant gay lady,

And wi presents entered he.

2He neither stood for gould nor gear—For she was a well-fared may—And whan he got her friends’ consentHe set the wedding-day.

He neither stood for gould nor gear—

For she was a well-fared may—

And whan he got her friends’ consent

He set the wedding-day.

3She’s sent unto her first fere love,Gin he would come to see,And he has sent word back againWeel answered should she be.

She’s sent unto her first fere love,

Gin he would come to see,

And he has sent word back again

Weel answered should she be.

4He has sent a messengerRight quietly throe the land,Wi mony armed men,To be at his command.

He has sent a messenger

Right quietly throe the land,

Wi mony armed men,

To be at his command.

5The bridegroom looked out at a high window,Beheld baith dool and doon,And there he spied her first fere love,Come riding to the toun.

The bridegroom looked out at a high window,

Beheld baith dool and doon,

And there he spied her first fere love,

Come riding to the toun.

6She scoffed and she scorned him,Upo the wedding-day,And said it had been the Fairy CourtThat he had seen in array.

She scoffed and she scorned him,

Upo the wedding-day,

And said it had been the Fairy Court

That he had seen in array.

7But as he sat at yon table-head,Amo yon gentlemen,And he began to speak some wordsThat na ane there could ken.

But as he sat at yon table-head,

Amo yon gentlemen,

And he began to speak some words

That na ane there could ken.

8‘There is a lass into this town—She is a weel-far’d may—She is another man’s bride today,But she’ll play him foul play.’

‘There is a lass into this town—

She is a weel-far’d may—

She is another man’s bride today,

But she’ll play him foul play.’

9Up did start the bonny bridegroom,His hat into his hand,. . . . . . .. . . . . .

Up did start the bonny bridegroom,

His hat into his hand,

. . . . . . .

. . . . . .

10‘O cam you here, young man, to fight?Or came you here to flee?Or cam you here to drink good wine,And be good company?’

‘O cam you here, young man, to fight?

Or came you here to flee?

Or cam you here to drink good wine,

And be good company?’

11They filled a cup o good red wine,Drunk out between them twa:‘For one dance wi your bonny bride,I shall gae hame my wa.’

They filled a cup o good red wine,

Drunk out between them twa:

‘For one dance wi your bonny bride,

I shall gae hame my wa.’

12He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,He’s mounted her high behind himself,At her kin’s speired nae leave.

He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

He’s mounted her high behind himself,

At her kin’s speired nae leave.

13Now . . . . . .And swords flew in the skies,And droop and drowsie was the bloodRan our yon lilly braes.

Now . . . . . .

And swords flew in the skies,

And droop and drowsie was the blood

Ran our yon lilly braes.

14The blood ran our the lilly bank,And our the lilly brae,And sighing said the bonny bride,‘A, wae’s me for foul play!’

The blood ran our the lilly bank,

And our the lilly brae,

And sighing said the bonny bride,

‘A, wae’s me for foul play!’

15‘My blessing on your heart, sweet thing,Wae to your wilfu will!So many a gallant gentleman’s bloodThis day as ye’ve garred spill.

‘My blessing on your heart, sweet thing,

Wae to your wilfu will!

So many a gallant gentleman’s blood

This day as ye’ve garred spill.

16‘But a’ you that is norland men,If you be norland born,Come never south to wed a bryde,For they’ll play you the scorn.

‘But a’ you that is norland men,

If you be norland born,

Come never south to wed a bryde,

For they’ll play you the scorn.

17‘They will play you the scornUpo your wedding-day,And gie you frogs instead o fish,And do you foul, foul play.’

‘They will play you the scorn

Upo your wedding-day,

And gie you frogs instead o fish,

And do you foul, foul play.’

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 30, Abbotsford. Sent Scott by William Laidlaw, in September, 1802; obtained by him from Jean Scott.

1There leeft a may, an a weel-far’d may,High, high up in yon glen; OHer name was Katarine Janfarie,She was courtit by monie men. O2Up then cam Lord Lauderdale,Up thrae the Lawland border,And he has come to court this may,A’ mountit in gude order.3He’s telld her father, he’s telld her mother,An a’ the lave o her kin,An he has telld the bonnie lass hersel,An has her favour win.4Out then cam Lord Faughanwood,Out frae the English border,An for to court this well-far’d may,A’ mountit in gude order.5He telld her father, he telld her mother,An a’ the rest o her kin,But he neer telld the bonnie lass hersellTill on her waddin-een.6When they war a’ at denner set,Drinkin the bluid-red wine,’Twas up then cam Lord Lauderdale,The bridegroom soud hae been.7Up then spak Lord Faughanwood,An he spak very slee:‘O are ye come for sport?’ he says,‘Or are ye come for play?Or are ye come for a kiss o our bride,An the morn her waddin-day?’8‘O I’m no come for ought,’ he says,‘But for some sport or play;An ae word o yer bonnie bride,Than I’ll horse an ride away.’9She filld a cup o the gude red wine,She filld it to the ee:‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,An a’ your companie.’10She filld a cup o the gude red wine,She filld it to the brim:‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,My bridegroom should hae been.’11He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the gars-green sleeve,An he has mountit her behind him,O the bridegroom spierd nae leave.12‘It’[s] now take yer bride, Lord Faughanwood,Now take her an ye may;But if ye take yer bride againWe will ca it foul play.’13There war four a twenty bonnie boys,A’ clad i the simple gray;They said the wad take their bride again,By the strang hand an the may.14Some o them were fu willin men,But they war na willin a’;Sae four an twentie ladies gayBade them ride on their way.15The bluid ran down by the Cadan bank,An in by the Cadan brae,An ther the gard the piper playIt was a’ for foul, foul play.16A’ ye lords in fair EnglandThat live by the English border,Gang never to Scotland to seek a wife,Or than ye’ll get the scorn.17They’ll keep ye up i temper guidUntill yer wadin-day,They’ll thraw ye frogs instead o fish,An steal your bride away.

1There leeft a may, an a weel-far’d may,High, high up in yon glen; OHer name was Katarine Janfarie,She was courtit by monie men. O

There leeft a may, an a weel-far’d may,

High, high up in yon glen; O

Her name was Katarine Janfarie,

She was courtit by monie men. O

2Up then cam Lord Lauderdale,Up thrae the Lawland border,And he has come to court this may,A’ mountit in gude order.

Up then cam Lord Lauderdale,

Up thrae the Lawland border,

And he has come to court this may,

A’ mountit in gude order.

3He’s telld her father, he’s telld her mother,An a’ the lave o her kin,An he has telld the bonnie lass hersel,An has her favour win.

He’s telld her father, he’s telld her mother,

An a’ the lave o her kin,

An he has telld the bonnie lass hersel,

An has her favour win.

4Out then cam Lord Faughanwood,Out frae the English border,An for to court this well-far’d may,A’ mountit in gude order.

Out then cam Lord Faughanwood,

Out frae the English border,

An for to court this well-far’d may,

A’ mountit in gude order.

5He telld her father, he telld her mother,An a’ the rest o her kin,But he neer telld the bonnie lass hersellTill on her waddin-een.

He telld her father, he telld her mother,

An a’ the rest o her kin,

But he neer telld the bonnie lass hersell

Till on her waddin-een.

6When they war a’ at denner set,Drinkin the bluid-red wine,’Twas up then cam Lord Lauderdale,The bridegroom soud hae been.

When they war a’ at denner set,

Drinkin the bluid-red wine,

’Twas up then cam Lord Lauderdale,

The bridegroom soud hae been.

7Up then spak Lord Faughanwood,An he spak very slee:‘O are ye come for sport?’ he says,‘Or are ye come for play?Or are ye come for a kiss o our bride,An the morn her waddin-day?’

Up then spak Lord Faughanwood,

An he spak very slee:

‘O are ye come for sport?’ he says,

‘Or are ye come for play?

Or are ye come for a kiss o our bride,

An the morn her waddin-day?’

8‘O I’m no come for ought,’ he says,‘But for some sport or play;An ae word o yer bonnie bride,Than I’ll horse an ride away.’

‘O I’m no come for ought,’ he says,

‘But for some sport or play;

An ae word o yer bonnie bride,

Than I’ll horse an ride away.’

9She filld a cup o the gude red wine,She filld it to the ee:‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,An a’ your companie.’

She filld a cup o the gude red wine,

She filld it to the ee:

‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,

An a’ your companie.’

10She filld a cup o the gude red wine,She filld it to the brim:‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,My bridegroom should hae been.’

She filld a cup o the gude red wine,

She filld it to the brim:

‘Here’s a health to you, Lord Lauderdale,

My bridegroom should hae been.’

11He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,And by the gars-green sleeve,An he has mountit her behind him,O the bridegroom spierd nae leave.

He’s taen her by the milk-white hand,

And by the gars-green sleeve,

An he has mountit her behind him,

O the bridegroom spierd nae leave.

12‘It’[s] now take yer bride, Lord Faughanwood,Now take her an ye may;But if ye take yer bride againWe will ca it foul play.’

‘It’[s] now take yer bride, Lord Faughanwood,

Now take her an ye may;

But if ye take yer bride again

We will ca it foul play.’

13There war four a twenty bonnie boys,A’ clad i the simple gray;They said the wad take their bride again,By the strang hand an the may.

There war four a twenty bonnie boys,

A’ clad i the simple gray;

They said the wad take their bride again,

By the strang hand an the may.

14Some o them were fu willin men,But they war na willin a’;Sae four an twentie ladies gayBade them ride on their way.

Some o them were fu willin men,

But they war na willin a’;

Sae four an twentie ladies gay

Bade them ride on their way.

15The bluid ran down by the Cadan bank,An in by the Cadan brae,An ther the gard the piper playIt was a’ for foul, foul play.

The bluid ran down by the Cadan bank,

An in by the Cadan brae,

An ther the gard the piper play

It was a’ for foul, foul play.

16A’ ye lords in fair EnglandThat live by the English border,Gang never to Scotland to seek a wife,Or than ye’ll get the scorn.

A’ ye lords in fair England

That live by the English border,

Gang never to Scotland to seek a wife,

Or than ye’ll get the scorn.

17They’ll keep ye up i temper guidUntill yer wadin-day,They’ll thraw ye frogs instead o fish,An steal your bride away.

They’ll keep ye up i temper guid

Untill yer wadin-day,

They’ll thraw ye frogs instead o fish,

An steal your bride away.

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No. 3, Abbotsford. Sent Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw; received by him from Mr Bartram of Biggar.

1There lives a lass into yon bank,She lives hersell alone,Her name is Kathrine Jamphray,Well known by many a one.2Than came the Laird of Lamington,It’s frae the West Countrie,And for to court this bonnie may,Her bridegroom hopes to be.3He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,And the chief of all her kin,But still he askd the lass hersell,Till he had her true love won.4At length the Laird of LachenwareCame from the English border,And for to court this bonnie bride,Was mounted in good order.5He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,As I heard many say,But he never loot the lassie witTill on her wedding-day.6She sent a spy into the westWhere Lamington might be,That an he wad come and meet wi herThat she wad with him gae.7They taen her on to Lachenware,As they have thought it meet;They taen her on to Lachanware,The wedding to compleat.8When they came to Lachanware,And near-han by the town,There was a dinner-making,Wi great mirth and renown.9Lamington has mounted twenty-four wiel-wight men,Well mounted in array,And he’s away to see his bonnie bride,Just on her wedding-day.10When she came out into the green,Amang her company,Says, ‘Lamington and LachanwareThis day shall fight for me.’11When he came to Lachanware,And lighted on the green,There was a cup of good red wineWas filled them between,And ay she drank to Lamington,Her former love who’d been.12It’s out and spake the bridegroom,And a angrie man was he:‘It’s wha is this, my bonnie bride,That ye loe better than me?13‘It’s came you here for sport, young man?Or came you here for play?Or came you for a sight of my bonnie bride,Upon her wedding-day?’14‘I came not here for sport,’ he says,‘Nor came I here for play;But an I had ae word of your bride,I’ll horse and gae my way.’15The first time that he calld on her,Her answer was him Nay;But the next time that he calld on her,She was not slow to gae.16He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,He’s pulld her on behind him,At the bridegroom speard nae leave.17The blood ran up the Caden bank,And down the Caden brae,And ay she bade the trumpet sound‘It’s a’ for foul, foul play.’18‘I wonder o you English squires,That are in England born,That ye come to court our Scots lasses,For fear ye get the scorn.19‘For fear you get the scorn,’ she says,‘Upon your wedding-day;They’ll gee you frogs instead of fish,And take your bride away.’20Fair fa the lads of Lamington,Has taen their bride away!They’ll set them up in temper woodAnd scorn you all day.

1There lives a lass into yon bank,She lives hersell alone,Her name is Kathrine Jamphray,Well known by many a one.

There lives a lass into yon bank,

She lives hersell alone,

Her name is Kathrine Jamphray,

Well known by many a one.

2Than came the Laird of Lamington,It’s frae the West Countrie,And for to court this bonnie may,Her bridegroom hopes to be.

Than came the Laird of Lamington,

It’s frae the West Countrie,

And for to court this bonnie may,

Her bridegroom hopes to be.

3He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,And the chief of all her kin,But still he askd the lass hersell,Till he had her true love won.

He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,

And the chief of all her kin,

But still he askd the lass hersell,

Till he had her true love won.

4At length the Laird of LachenwareCame from the English border,And for to court this bonnie bride,Was mounted in good order.

At length the Laird of Lachenware

Came from the English border,

And for to court this bonnie bride,

Was mounted in good order.

5He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,As I heard many say,But he never loot the lassie witTill on her wedding-day.

He asked at her father, sae did he at her mother,

As I heard many say,

But he never loot the lassie wit

Till on her wedding-day.

6She sent a spy into the westWhere Lamington might be,That an he wad come and meet wi herThat she wad with him gae.

She sent a spy into the west

Where Lamington might be,

That an he wad come and meet wi her

That she wad with him gae.

7They taen her on to Lachenware,As they have thought it meet;They taen her on to Lachanware,The wedding to compleat.

They taen her on to Lachenware,

As they have thought it meet;

They taen her on to Lachanware,

The wedding to compleat.

8When they came to Lachanware,And near-han by the town,There was a dinner-making,Wi great mirth and renown.

When they came to Lachanware,

And near-han by the town,

There was a dinner-making,

Wi great mirth and renown.

9Lamington has mounted twenty-four wiel-wight men,Well mounted in array,And he’s away to see his bonnie bride,Just on her wedding-day.

Lamington has mounted twenty-four wiel-wight men,

Well mounted in array,

And he’s away to see his bonnie bride,

Just on her wedding-day.

10When she came out into the green,Amang her company,Says, ‘Lamington and LachanwareThis day shall fight for me.’

When she came out into the green,

Amang her company,

Says, ‘Lamington and Lachanware

This day shall fight for me.’

11When he came to Lachanware,And lighted on the green,There was a cup of good red wineWas filled them between,And ay she drank to Lamington,Her former love who’d been.

When he came to Lachanware,

And lighted on the green,

There was a cup of good red wine

Was filled them between,

And ay she drank to Lamington,

Her former love who’d been.

12It’s out and spake the bridegroom,And a angrie man was he:‘It’s wha is this, my bonnie bride,That ye loe better than me?

It’s out and spake the bridegroom,

And a angrie man was he:

‘It’s wha is this, my bonnie bride,

That ye loe better than me?

13‘It’s came you here for sport, young man?Or came you here for play?Or came you for a sight of my bonnie bride,Upon her wedding-day?’

‘It’s came you here for sport, young man?

Or came you here for play?

Or came you for a sight of my bonnie bride,

Upon her wedding-day?’

14‘I came not here for sport,’ he says,‘Nor came I here for play;But an I had ae word of your bride,I’ll horse and gae my way.’

‘I came not here for sport,’ he says,

‘Nor came I here for play;

But an I had ae word of your bride,

I’ll horse and gae my way.’

15The first time that he calld on her,Her answer was him Nay;But the next time that he calld on her,She was not slow to gae.

The first time that he calld on her,

Her answer was him Nay;

But the next time that he calld on her,

She was not slow to gae.

16He took her by the milk-white hand,And by the grass-green sleeve,He’s pulld her on behind him,At the bridegroom speard nae leave.

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

He’s pulld her on behind him,

At the bridegroom speard nae leave.

17The blood ran up the Caden bank,And down the Caden brae,And ay she bade the trumpet sound‘It’s a’ for foul, foul play.’

The blood ran up the Caden bank,

And down the Caden brae,

And ay she bade the trumpet sound

‘It’s a’ for foul, foul play.’

18‘I wonder o you English squires,That are in England born,That ye come to court our Scots lasses,For fear ye get the scorn.

‘I wonder o you English squires,

That are in England born,

That ye come to court our Scots lasses,

For fear ye get the scorn.

19‘For fear you get the scorn,’ she says,‘Upon your wedding-day;They’ll gee you frogs instead of fish,And take your bride away.’

‘For fear you get the scorn,’ she says,

‘Upon your wedding-day;

They’ll gee you frogs instead of fish,

And take your bride away.’

20Fair fa the lads of Lamington,Has taen their bride away!They’ll set them up in temper woodAnd scorn you all day.

Fair fa the lads of Lamington,

Has taen their bride away!

They’ll set them up in temper wood

And scorn you all day.

Skene MS., p. 81; taken down in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1Bonny Cathrin Jaffray,That proper maid sae fare,She has loved young Lochinvar,She made him no compare.2He courted her the live-long winter-night,Sae has he the simmer’s day;He has courted her sae longTill he sta her heart away.3But the lusty laird of LamendallCame frae the South Country,An for to gain this lady’s loveIn entreid he.4. . . . . . .. . . . . .He has gained her friends’ consent,An sett the wedding-day.5The wedding-day it being set,An a’ man to it . . . ,She sent for her first fair love,The wedding to come to.6His father an his mother came,. . . . . . .They came a’, but he came no;It was a foul play.7Lochinvar, as his comradsSat drinkine at the wine,[‘Fie] on you,’ said his comrads,‘Tak yer bride for shame.8‘Had she been mine, as she was yours,An done as she has done to you,I wad tak her on her bridal-day,Fra a’ her companie.9‘Fra a’ her companie,Without any other stay;I wad gie them frogs insted o fish,An tak their bride away.’10He gat fifty young men,They were gallant and gay,An fifty maidens,An left them on a lay.11Whan he cam in by Callien bank,An in by Callien brae,He left his companyDancing on a lay.12He cam to the bridal-house,An in entred he;. . . . . . .. . . . . . .13‘There was a young man in this placeLoved well a comly may,But the day she gaes an ither man’s bride,An played him foul play.14‘Had it been me as it was him,An don as she has don him tee,I wad ha geen them frogs instead o fish,An taen their bride away.’15The English spiered gin he wad fight;It spak well in his mind;. . . . . . .. . . . . . .16‘It was no for fightin I cam here,But to bear good fellowship;Gae me a glass wi your bridegroom,An so I go my way.’17The glass was filled o guid red wine,. . . between them twa:‘Man, man I see yer bride,An so I gae my waa.’18He was on guid horseback,An whipt the bride him wi;She grat an wrang her hands,An said, ‘It is foul play.19. . . . . . .‘An this I dare well say,For this day I gaed anither man’s bride,An it’s been foul play.’20But now sh’s Lochinvar’s wife,. . . . . . .He gaed them frogs instead o fish,An tain their bride away.

1Bonny Cathrin Jaffray,That proper maid sae fare,She has loved young Lochinvar,She made him no compare.

Bonny Cathrin Jaffray,

That proper maid sae fare,

She has loved young Lochinvar,

She made him no compare.

2He courted her the live-long winter-night,Sae has he the simmer’s day;He has courted her sae longTill he sta her heart away.

He courted her the live-long winter-night,

Sae has he the simmer’s day;

He has courted her sae long

Till he sta her heart away.

3But the lusty laird of LamendallCame frae the South Country,An for to gain this lady’s loveIn entreid he.

But the lusty laird of Lamendall

Came frae the South Country,

An for to gain this lady’s love

In entreid he.

4. . . . . . .. . . . . .He has gained her friends’ consent,An sett the wedding-day.

. . . . . . .

. . . . . .

He has gained her friends’ consent,

An sett the wedding-day.

5The wedding-day it being set,An a’ man to it . . . ,She sent for her first fair love,The wedding to come to.

The wedding-day it being set,

An a’ man to it . . . ,

She sent for her first fair love,

The wedding to come to.

6His father an his mother came,. . . . . . .They came a’, but he came no;It was a foul play.

His father an his mother came,

. . . . . . .

They came a’, but he came no;

It was a foul play.

7Lochinvar, as his comradsSat drinkine at the wine,[‘Fie] on you,’ said his comrads,‘Tak yer bride for shame.

Lochinvar, as his comrads

Sat drinkine at the wine,

[‘Fie] on you,’ said his comrads,

‘Tak yer bride for shame.

8‘Had she been mine, as she was yours,An done as she has done to you,I wad tak her on her bridal-day,Fra a’ her companie.

‘Had she been mine, as she was yours,

An done as she has done to you,

I wad tak her on her bridal-day,

Fra a’ her companie.

9‘Fra a’ her companie,Without any other stay;I wad gie them frogs insted o fish,An tak their bride away.’

‘Fra a’ her companie,

Without any other stay;

I wad gie them frogs insted o fish,

An tak their bride away.’

10He gat fifty young men,They were gallant and gay,An fifty maidens,An left them on a lay.

He gat fifty young men,

They were gallant and gay,

An fifty maidens,

An left them on a lay.

11Whan he cam in by Callien bank,An in by Callien brae,He left his companyDancing on a lay.

Whan he cam in by Callien bank,

An in by Callien brae,

He left his company

Dancing on a lay.

12He cam to the bridal-house,An in entred he;. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

He cam to the bridal-house,

An in entred he;

. . . . . . .

13‘There was a young man in this placeLoved well a comly may,But the day she gaes an ither man’s bride,An played him foul play.

‘There was a young man in this place

Loved well a comly may,

But the day she gaes an ither man’s bride,

An played him foul play.

14‘Had it been me as it was him,An don as she has don him tee,I wad ha geen them frogs instead o fish,An taen their bride away.’

‘Had it been me as it was him,

An don as she has don him tee,

I wad ha geen them frogs instead o fish,

An taen their bride away.’

15The English spiered gin he wad fight;It spak well in his mind;. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

The English spiered gin he wad fight;

It spak well in his mind;

. . . . . . .

16‘It was no for fightin I cam here,But to bear good fellowship;Gae me a glass wi your bridegroom,An so I go my way.’

‘It was no for fightin I cam here,

But to bear good fellowship;

Gae me a glass wi your bridegroom,

An so I go my way.’

17The glass was filled o guid red wine,. . . between them twa:‘Man, man I see yer bride,An so I gae my waa.’

The glass was filled o guid red wine,

. . . between them twa:

‘Man, man I see yer bride,

An so I gae my waa.’

18He was on guid horseback,An whipt the bride him wi;She grat an wrang her hands,An said, ‘It is foul play.

He was on guid horseback,

An whipt the bride him wi;

She grat an wrang her hands,

An said, ‘It is foul play.

19. . . . . . .‘An this I dare well say,For this day I gaed anither man’s bride,An it’s been foul play.’

. . . . . . .

‘An this I dare well say,

For this day I gaed anither man’s bride,

An it’s been foul play.’

20But now sh’s Lochinvar’s wife,. . . . . . .He gaed them frogs instead o fish,An tain their bride away.

But now sh’s Lochinvar’s wife,

. . . . . . .

He gaed them frogs instead o fish,

An tain their bride away.

Kinloch MSS, V, 315, in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.

1Bonny Catherine Janferry,The dainty dame so fair,She’s faun in love wi young Lochinvar,And she loved him without compare.2She loved him well, and wondrous wellTo change her mind away;But the day she goes another man’s bride,And plays him foul play.3Home came the Laird o Lauderdale,A’ from the South Countree,And a’ to court this weel-fart may,And I wat good tent took he.4Gold nor gear he did no spare,She was so fair a may,And he agreed wi her friends all,And set the wedding-day.5She sent for her first true-love,Her wedding to come tee;His father and his mother both,They were to come him wi.6His father and his mother both,They were to come him wi;And they came both, and he came no,And this was foul play.7He’s sent a quiet messengerNow out thro a’ the land,To warn a hundred gentlemen,O gallant and good renown.8O gallant and good renown,And all o good aray,And now he’s made his trumpet sounA voss o foul play.9As they came up by Caley buss,And in by Caley brae,‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,Stay still, if that you may.10‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,Stay still, if that you may;I’ll go to the bridal-house,And see what they will say.’11When he gaed to the bridal-house,And lighted and gaed in,There were four and twenty English lords,O gallant and good renown.12O gallant and good renown,And all o good aray,But aye he garred his trumpets sounA voss o foul play.13When he was at the table set,Amang these gentlemen,He begoud to vent some wordsThey couldna understan.14The English lords, they waxed wrothWhat could be in his mind;They stert to foot, on horseback lap,‘Come fecht! what’s i your mind?’15‘I came na here to feght,’ he said,‘But for good sport and play;And one glass wi yer bonny bridegroom,And I’ll go boun away.’16The glass was filled o good reed wine,And drunken atween the twa;‘And one glass wi your bonny bride,And I’se go boun away.’17Her maiden she stood forbye,And quickly she said, ‘NayI winna gee a word o herTo none nor yet to thee.’18‘Oh, one word o yer bonny bride!Will ye refuse me one?Before her wedding-day was set,I would hae gotten ten.19‘Take here my promise, maiden,My promise and my hand,Out oer her father’s gates this dayWi me she shanna gang.’20He’s bent him oer his saddle-bow,To kiss her ere he gaed,And he fastened his hand in her gown-breast,And tust her him behind.21He pat the spurs into his horseAnd fast rade out at the gate;Ye wouldna hae seen his yellow locksFor the dust o his horse feet.22Fast has he ridden the wan water,And merrily taen the know,And then the battle it began;I’me sure it was na mow.23Bridles brack, and weight horse lap,And blades flain in the skies,And wan and drousie was the bloodGaed lapperin down the lays.24Now all ye English lords,In England where ye’r borne,Come never to Scotland to woo a bride,For they’le gie you the scorn.25For they’le gie you the scorn,The scorn, if that they may;They’ll gie you frogs instead of fish,And steal your bride away.

1Bonny Catherine Janferry,The dainty dame so fair,She’s faun in love wi young Lochinvar,And she loved him without compare.

Bonny Catherine Janferry,

The dainty dame so fair,

She’s faun in love wi young Lochinvar,

And she loved him without compare.

2She loved him well, and wondrous wellTo change her mind away;But the day she goes another man’s bride,And plays him foul play.

She loved him well, and wondrous well

To change her mind away;

But the day she goes another man’s bride,

And plays him foul play.

3Home came the Laird o Lauderdale,A’ from the South Countree,And a’ to court this weel-fart may,And I wat good tent took he.

Home came the Laird o Lauderdale,

A’ from the South Countree,

And a’ to court this weel-fart may,

And I wat good tent took he.

4Gold nor gear he did no spare,She was so fair a may,And he agreed wi her friends all,And set the wedding-day.

Gold nor gear he did no spare,

She was so fair a may,

And he agreed wi her friends all,

And set the wedding-day.

5She sent for her first true-love,Her wedding to come tee;His father and his mother both,They were to come him wi.

She sent for her first true-love,

Her wedding to come tee;

His father and his mother both,

They were to come him wi.

6His father and his mother both,They were to come him wi;And they came both, and he came no,And this was foul play.

His father and his mother both,

They were to come him wi;

And they came both, and he came no,

And this was foul play.

7He’s sent a quiet messengerNow out thro a’ the land,To warn a hundred gentlemen,O gallant and good renown.

He’s sent a quiet messenger

Now out thro a’ the land,

To warn a hundred gentlemen,

O gallant and good renown.

8O gallant and good renown,And all o good aray,And now he’s made his trumpet sounA voss o foul play.

O gallant and good renown,

And all o good aray,

And now he’s made his trumpet soun

A voss o foul play.

9As they came up by Caley buss,And in by Caley brae,‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,Stay still, if that you may.

As they came up by Caley buss,

And in by Caley brae,

‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,

Stay still, if that you may.

10‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,Stay still, if that you may;I’ll go to the bridal-house,And see what they will say.’

‘Stay still, stay still, my merry young men,

Stay still, if that you may;

I’ll go to the bridal-house,

And see what they will say.’

11When he gaed to the bridal-house,And lighted and gaed in,There were four and twenty English lords,O gallant and good renown.

When he gaed to the bridal-house,

And lighted and gaed in,

There were four and twenty English lords,

O gallant and good renown.

12O gallant and good renown,And all o good aray,But aye he garred his trumpets sounA voss o foul play.

O gallant and good renown,

And all o good aray,

But aye he garred his trumpets soun

A voss o foul play.

13When he was at the table set,Amang these gentlemen,He begoud to vent some wordsThey couldna understan.

When he was at the table set,

Amang these gentlemen,

He begoud to vent some words

They couldna understan.

14The English lords, they waxed wrothWhat could be in his mind;They stert to foot, on horseback lap,‘Come fecht! what’s i your mind?’

The English lords, they waxed wroth

What could be in his mind;

They stert to foot, on horseback lap,

‘Come fecht! what’s i your mind?’

15‘I came na here to feght,’ he said,‘But for good sport and play;And one glass wi yer bonny bridegroom,And I’ll go boun away.’

‘I came na here to feght,’ he said,

‘But for good sport and play;

And one glass wi yer bonny bridegroom,

And I’ll go boun away.’

16The glass was filled o good reed wine,And drunken atween the twa;‘And one glass wi your bonny bride,And I’se go boun away.’

The glass was filled o good reed wine,

And drunken atween the twa;

‘And one glass wi your bonny bride,

And I’se go boun away.’

17Her maiden she stood forbye,And quickly she said, ‘NayI winna gee a word o herTo none nor yet to thee.’

Her maiden she stood forbye,

And quickly she said, ‘Nay

I winna gee a word o her

To none nor yet to thee.’

18‘Oh, one word o yer bonny bride!Will ye refuse me one?Before her wedding-day was set,I would hae gotten ten.

‘Oh, one word o yer bonny bride!

Will ye refuse me one?

Before her wedding-day was set,

I would hae gotten ten.

19‘Take here my promise, maiden,My promise and my hand,Out oer her father’s gates this dayWi me she shanna gang.’

‘Take here my promise, maiden,

My promise and my hand,

Out oer her father’s gates this day

Wi me she shanna gang.’

20He’s bent him oer his saddle-bow,To kiss her ere he gaed,And he fastened his hand in her gown-breast,And tust her him behind.

He’s bent him oer his saddle-bow,

To kiss her ere he gaed,

And he fastened his hand in her gown-breast,

And tust her him behind.

21He pat the spurs into his horseAnd fast rade out at the gate;Ye wouldna hae seen his yellow locksFor the dust o his horse feet.

He pat the spurs into his horse

And fast rade out at the gate;

Ye wouldna hae seen his yellow locks

For the dust o his horse feet.

22Fast has he ridden the wan water,And merrily taen the know,And then the battle it began;I’me sure it was na mow.

Fast has he ridden the wan water,

And merrily taen the know,

And then the battle it began;

I’me sure it was na mow.

23Bridles brack, and weight horse lap,And blades flain in the skies,And wan and drousie was the bloodGaed lapperin down the lays.

Bridles brack, and weight horse lap,

And blades flain in the skies,

And wan and drousie was the blood

Gaed lapperin down the lays.

24Now all ye English lords,In England where ye’r borne,Come never to Scotland to woo a bride,For they’le gie you the scorn.

Now all ye English lords,

In England where ye’r borne,

Come never to Scotland to woo a bride,

For they’le gie you the scorn.

25For they’le gie you the scorn,The scorn, if that they may;They’ll gie you frogs instead of fish,And steal your bride away.

For they’le gie you the scorn,

The scorn, if that they may;

They’ll gie you frogs instead of fish,

And steal your bride away.

Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 34.

1O bonny Catharine Jaffery,That dainty maid so fair,Once lovd the laird of Lochinvar,Without any compare.2Long time she lood him very well,But they changed her mind away,And now she goes another’s bride,And plays him foul play.3The bonny laird of LauderdaleCame from the South Countrie,And he has wooed the pretty maid,Thro presents entered he.4For tocher-gear he did not stand,She was a dainty may;He ‘greed him with her friends all,And set the wedding-day.5When Lochinvar got word of this,He knew not what to do,For losing of a lady fairThat he did love so true.6‘But if I were young Lochinvar,I woud not care a flyTo take her on her wedding-dayFrom all her company.7‘Get ye a quiet messenger,Send him thro all your landFor a hundred and fifty brave young lads,To be at your command.8‘To be all at your command,And your bidding to obey,Yet still cause you the trumpet soundThe voice of foul play.’9He got a quiet messengerTo send thro all his land,And full three hundred pretty ladsWere all at his command.10Were all at his command,And his bidding did obey,Yet still he made the trumpet soundThe voice of foul play.11Then he went to the bridal-house.Among the nobles a’,And when he stepped upon the floorHe gave a loud huzza.12‘Huzza! huzza! you English men,Or borderers who were born,Neer come to Scotland for a maid,Or else they will you scorn.13‘She’ll bring you on with tempting words,Aye till the wedding-day,Syne give you frogs instead of fish,And play you foul play.’14The gentlemen all wonderedWhat could be in his mind,And asked if he’d a mind to fight;Why spoke he so unkind?15Did he e’er see such pretty menAs were there in array?‘O yes,’ said he, ‘a Fairy CourtWere leaping on the hay.16‘As I came in by Hyland banks,And in by Hyland braes,There did I see a Fairy Court,All leaping on the leas.17‘I came not here to fight,’ he said,‘But for good fellowship gay;I want to drink with your bridegroom,And then I’ll boun my way.’18The glass was filled with good red wine,And drunk between them twae:‘Give me one shake of your bonny bride’s hand,And then I’ll boun my way.’19He’s taen her by the milk-white hands,And by the grass-green sleeve,Pulld her on horseback him behind,At her friends askd nae leave.20Syne rode the water with great speed,And merrily the knows;There fifty from the bridal came—Indeed it was nae mows—21Thinking to take the bride again,Thro strength if that they may;But still he gart the trumpet soundThe voice of foul play.22There were four and twenty ladies fairAll walking on the lea;He gave to them the bonny bride,And bade them boun their way.23They splintered the spears in pieces now,And the blades flew in the sky,But the bonny laird of LochinvarHas gained the victory.24Many a wife- and widow’s sonLay gasping on the ground,But the bonny laird of LochinvarHe has the victory won.

1O bonny Catharine Jaffery,That dainty maid so fair,Once lovd the laird of Lochinvar,Without any compare.

O bonny Catharine Jaffery,

That dainty maid so fair,

Once lovd the laird of Lochinvar,

Without any compare.

2Long time she lood him very well,But they changed her mind away,And now she goes another’s bride,And plays him foul play.

Long time she lood him very well,

But they changed her mind away,

And now she goes another’s bride,

And plays him foul play.

3The bonny laird of LauderdaleCame from the South Countrie,And he has wooed the pretty maid,Thro presents entered he.

The bonny laird of Lauderdale

Came from the South Countrie,

And he has wooed the pretty maid,

Thro presents entered he.

4For tocher-gear he did not stand,She was a dainty may;He ‘greed him with her friends all,And set the wedding-day.

For tocher-gear he did not stand,

She was a dainty may;

He ‘greed him with her friends all,

And set the wedding-day.

5When Lochinvar got word of this,He knew not what to do,For losing of a lady fairThat he did love so true.

When Lochinvar got word of this,

He knew not what to do,

For losing of a lady fair

That he did love so true.

6‘But if I were young Lochinvar,I woud not care a flyTo take her on her wedding-dayFrom all her company.

‘But if I were young Lochinvar,

I woud not care a fly

To take her on her wedding-day

From all her company.

7‘Get ye a quiet messenger,Send him thro all your landFor a hundred and fifty brave young lads,To be at your command.

‘Get ye a quiet messenger,

Send him thro all your land

For a hundred and fifty brave young lads,

To be at your command.

8‘To be all at your command,And your bidding to obey,Yet still cause you the trumpet soundThe voice of foul play.’

‘To be all at your command,

And your bidding to obey,

Yet still cause you the trumpet sound

The voice of foul play.’

9He got a quiet messengerTo send thro all his land,And full three hundred pretty ladsWere all at his command.

He got a quiet messenger

To send thro all his land,

And full three hundred pretty lads

Were all at his command.

10Were all at his command,And his bidding did obey,Yet still he made the trumpet soundThe voice of foul play.

Were all at his command,

And his bidding did obey,

Yet still he made the trumpet sound

The voice of foul play.

11Then he went to the bridal-house.Among the nobles a’,And when he stepped upon the floorHe gave a loud huzza.

Then he went to the bridal-house.

Among the nobles a’,

And when he stepped upon the floor

He gave a loud huzza.

12‘Huzza! huzza! you English men,Or borderers who were born,Neer come to Scotland for a maid,Or else they will you scorn.

‘Huzza! huzza! you English men,

Or borderers who were born,

Neer come to Scotland for a maid,

Or else they will you scorn.

13‘She’ll bring you on with tempting words,Aye till the wedding-day,Syne give you frogs instead of fish,And play you foul play.’

‘She’ll bring you on with tempting words,

Aye till the wedding-day,

Syne give you frogs instead of fish,

And play you foul play.’

14The gentlemen all wonderedWhat could be in his mind,And asked if he’d a mind to fight;Why spoke he so unkind?

The gentlemen all wondered

What could be in his mind,

And asked if he’d a mind to fight;

Why spoke he so unkind?

15Did he e’er see such pretty menAs were there in array?‘O yes,’ said he, ‘a Fairy CourtWere leaping on the hay.

Did he e’er see such pretty men

As were there in array?

‘O yes,’ said he, ‘a Fairy Court

Were leaping on the hay.

16‘As I came in by Hyland banks,And in by Hyland braes,There did I see a Fairy Court,All leaping on the leas.

‘As I came in by Hyland banks,

And in by Hyland braes,

There did I see a Fairy Court,

All leaping on the leas.

17‘I came not here to fight,’ he said,‘But for good fellowship gay;I want to drink with your bridegroom,And then I’ll boun my way.’

‘I came not here to fight,’ he said,

‘But for good fellowship gay;

I want to drink with your bridegroom,

And then I’ll boun my way.’

18The glass was filled with good red wine,And drunk between them twae:‘Give me one shake of your bonny bride’s hand,And then I’ll boun my way.’

The glass was filled with good red wine,

And drunk between them twae:

‘Give me one shake of your bonny bride’s hand,

And then I’ll boun my way.’

19He’s taen her by the milk-white hands,And by the grass-green sleeve,Pulld her on horseback him behind,At her friends askd nae leave.

He’s taen her by the milk-white hands,

And by the grass-green sleeve,

Pulld her on horseback him behind,

At her friends askd nae leave.

20Syne rode the water with great speed,And merrily the knows;There fifty from the bridal came—Indeed it was nae mows—

Syne rode the water with great speed,

And merrily the knows;

There fifty from the bridal came—

Indeed it was nae mows—

21Thinking to take the bride again,Thro strength if that they may;But still he gart the trumpet soundThe voice of foul play.

Thinking to take the bride again,

Thro strength if that they may;

But still he gart the trumpet sound

The voice of foul play.

22There were four and twenty ladies fairAll walking on the lea;He gave to them the bonny bride,And bade them boun their way.

There were four and twenty ladies fair

All walking on the lea;

He gave to them the bonny bride,

And bade them boun their way.

23They splintered the spears in pieces now,And the blades flew in the sky,But the bonny laird of LochinvarHas gained the victory.

They splintered the spears in pieces now,

And the blades flew in the sky,

But the bonny laird of Lochinvar

Has gained the victory.

24Many a wife- and widow’s sonLay gasping on the ground,But the bonny laird of LochinvarHe has the victory won.

Many a wife- and widow’s son

Lay gasping on the ground,

But the bonny laird of Lochinvar

He has the victory won.

Kinloch MSS, V, 313.

Back to Index Next