222BONNY BABY LIVINGSTON

A.‘Bonny Baby Livingston.’a.Jamieson-Brown MS.b.Jamieson’s Popular Ballads, II, 135.

B.‘Barbara Livingston,’ Buchan’s MSS, I, 77.

C.Motherwell’s MS., p. 375; ‘Barbara Livingston,’ Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, p. 304.

D.‘Annie Livingston,’ Campbell MSS, II, 254.

E.‘Baby Livingstone,’ Kinloch MSS, V, 355.

Mrs Brown was not satisfied withA b, which Jamieson had taken down from her mouth, and after a short time she sent himA a. The verbal differences are considerable. We need not suppose that Mrs Brown had heard two “sets” or “ways,” of which she blended the readings; the fact seems to be that, at the time when she recited to Jamieson, she was not in good condition to remember accurately.

A a.Glenlion carries off Barbara Livingston from Dundee and takes her to the Highlands.She is in a stupor of grief. Glenlion folds her in his arms, and says that he would give all his flocks and herds for a kind look. She tells him that he shall never get look or smile unless he takes her back to Dundee; and he her that she shall never see Dundee till he has married her. His brother John tries to dissuade him; he himself would scorn a hand without a heart; but Glenlion has long loved her, and is resolved to keep her, nevertheless. Glenlion’s three sisters receive Baby kindly, and the youngest begs her to disclose the cause of her grief. Baby tells the sympathetic Jean that she has been stolen from her friends and from her lover, and obtains not only the means of writing a letter to Johny Hay, the lover, but a swift-footed boy to carry it to Dundee. Johny Hay, with a band of armed men, makes all speed to Glenlion’s castle. He calls to Baby to jump, and he will catch her; she, more prudently, slips down on her sheets; her lover takes her on his horse and rides away. Glenlion hears the ring of a bridle and thinks it is the priest come to marry him. His brother corrects the mistake; there are armed men at the castle-gate, and it turns out that there are enough of them to deter Glenlion’s Highlanders from an attack. So Johny Hay conveys Baby Livingstone safely back to Dundee.

The other versions give the story a tragical catastrophe. InB, Barbara is forced into Glenlion’s bed. Afterwards she exclaims that if she had paper and pen she would write to her lover in Dundee. No difficulty seems to be made; she writes her letter, and sends it by the ever-ready boy. Geordie, lying in a window, sees the boy, asks for news, and is told that his love is stolen by Glenlion. He orders his horse, in fact three horses, and also a mourning hat and cloak; but though he tires out all three horses, his love is dead before he reaches Glenlion. This copy is pieced out with all sorts of commonplaces from other ballads: see 9 (which is nonsense), 10, 13, 14, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30.

Cis a briefer, that is, an unfarced, form ofB. Glenlion is corrupted to Linlyon.

Dhas its commonplaces again. For Barbara we have Annie, and Glendinning for Glenlion, and a brother Jemmy instead of a lover. InEthe ravisher is Lochell.

Dr Joseph Robertson in his Adversaria, MS., p. 87, gives these two lines of ‘Baby Livingston:’

O bony Baby LivingstonWas playin at the ba.[122]

O bony Baby Livingston

Was playin at the ba.[122]

The kidnapping of women for a compulsory marriage was a practice which prevailed for hundreds of years, and down to a late date, and, of course, not only in Great Britain. The unprotected female, especially if she had any property, must have been in a state of miserable insecurity, and even a convent was far from furnishing her an asylum. See for England, in the first half of the fifteenth century, Beamont’s Annals of the Lords of Warrington, pp. 256–61 and 265 f.; for Scotland, in the same century and the two following, Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 99 ff., R. Chambers’s Domestic Annals of Scotland, 1858, I, 223–5, 415 f.; for Ireland, Froude, The English in Ireland in the Eighteenth Century, 1872, I, 417 ff. Other Scottish ballads celebrating similar abductions are ‘Eppie Morrie,’ ‘The Lady of Arngosk,’ and ‘Rob Roy,’ which immediately follow.[123]

A bis translated by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, p. 126, No 18.

a.Jamieson-Brown MS., Appendix, p. xii, sent by Mrs Brown to Jamieson, in a letter dated September 15, 1800.b.Jamieson’s Popular Ballads, II, 135, as taken from Mrs Brown’s recitation a short time before a was written down.

1O bonny Baby LivingstonWent forth to view the hay,And by it came him Glenlion,Sta bonny Baby away.2O first he’s taen her silken coat,And neest her satten gown,Syne rowd her in a tartan plaid,And hapd her round and rown.3He has set her upon his steedAnd roundly rode away,And neer loot her look back againThe live-long summer’s day.4He’s carried her oer hills and muirsTill they came to a Highland glen,And there he’s met his brother John,With twenty armed men.5O there were cows, and there were ewes,And lasses milking there,But Baby neer anse lookd about,Her heart was filld wi care.6Glenlion took her in his arms,And kissd her, cheek and chin;Says, I’d gie a’ these cows and ewesBut ae kind look to win.7‘O ae kind look ye neer shall get,Nor win a smile frae me,Unless to me you’ll favour shew,And take me to Dundee.’8‘Dundee, Baby? Dundee, Baby?Dundee you neer shall seeTill I’ve carried you to GlenlionAnd have my bride made thee.9‘We’ll stay a while at Auchingour,And get sweet milk and cheese,And syne we’ll gang to Glenlion,And there live at our ease.’10‘I winna stay at Auchingour,Nor eat sweet milk and cheese,Nor go with thee to Glenlion,For there I’ll neer find ease.’11Than out it spake his brother John,‘O were I in your place,I’d take that lady hame again,For a’ her bonny face.12‘Commend me to the lass that’s kind,Tho na so gently born;And, gin her heart I coudna gain,To take her hand I’d scorn.’13‘O had your tongue now, John,’ he says,‘You wis na what you say;For I’ve lood that bonny faceThis twelve month and a day.14‘And tho I’ve lood her lang and sairA smile I neer coud win;Yet what I’ve got anse in my powerTo keep I think nae sin.’15When they came to Glenlion castle,They lighted at the yate,And out it came his sisters three,Wha did them kindly greet.16O they’ve taen Baby by the handsAnd led her oer the green,And ilka lady spake a word,But bonny Baby spake nane.17Then out it spake her bonny Jean,The youngest o the three,‘O lady, dinna look sae sad,But tell your grief to me.’18‘O wherefore should I tell my grief,Since lax I canna find?I’m stown frae a’ my kin and friends,And my love I left behind.19‘But had I paper, pen, and ink,Before that it were day,I yet might get a letter sentIn time to Johny Hay.’20O she’s got paper, pen, and ink,And candle that she might see,And she has written a broad letterTo Johny at Dundee.21And she has gotten a bonny boy,That was baith swift and strang,Wi philabeg and bonnet blue,Her errand for to gang.22‘O boy, gin ye’d my blessing winAnd help me in my need,Run wi this letter to my love,And bid him come wi speed.23‘And here’s a chain of good red gowd,And gowdn guineas three,And when you’ve well your errand done,You’ll get them for your fee.’24The boy he ran oer hill and dale.Fast as a bird coud flee,And eer the sun was twa hours heightThe boy was at Dundee.25And when he came to Johny’s doorHe knocked loud and sair;Then Johny to the window came,And loudly cry’d, ‘Wha’s there?’26‘O here’s a letter I have brought,Which ye maun quickly read,And, gin ye woud your lady save,Gang back wi me wi speed.’27O when he had the letter read,An angry man was he;He says, Glenlion, thou shalt rueThis deed of villany!28‘O saddle to me the black, the black,O saddle to me the brown,O saddle to me the swiftest steedThat eer rade frae the town.29‘And arm ye well, my merry men a’.And follow me to the glen,For I vow I’ll neither eat nor sleepTill I get my love again.’30He’s mounted on a milk-white steed,The boy upon a gray,And they got to Glenlion’s castleAbout the close of day.31As Baby at her window stood,The west wind saft did bla;She heard her Johny’s well-kent voiceBeneath the castle wa.32‘O Baby, haste, the window jump!I’ll kep you in my arm;My merry men a’ are at the yate,To rescue you frae harm.’33She to the window fixt her sheetsAnd slipped safely down,And Johny catchd her in his arms,Neer loot her touch the ground.34When mounted on her Johny’s horse,Fou blithely did she say,‘Glenlion, you hae lost your bride!She’s aff wi Johny Hay.’35Glenlion and his brother JohnWere birling in the ha,When they heard Johny’s bridle ring,As first he rade awa.36‘Rise, Jock, gang out and meet the priest,I hear his bridle ring;My Baby now shall be my wifeBefore the laverocks sing.’37‘O brother, this is not the priest;I fear he’ll come oer late;For armed men with shining brandsStand at the castle-yate.’38‘Haste Donald, Duncan, Dugald, Hugh!Haste, take your sword and spier!We’ll gar these traytors rue the hourThat eer they ventured here.’39The Highland men drew their claymores,And gae a warlike shout,But Johny’s merry men kept the yate,Nae ane durst venture out.40The lovers rade the live-lang night,And safe gat on their way,And bonny Baby LivingstonHas gotten Johny Hay.41‘Awa, Glenlion! fy for shame!Gae hide ye in some den!You’ve lettn your bride be stown frae you.For a’ your armed men.’

1O bonny Baby LivingstonWent forth to view the hay,And by it came him Glenlion,Sta bonny Baby away.

O bonny Baby Livingston

Went forth to view the hay,

And by it came him Glenlion,

Sta bonny Baby away.

2O first he’s taen her silken coat,And neest her satten gown,Syne rowd her in a tartan plaid,And hapd her round and rown.

O first he’s taen her silken coat,

And neest her satten gown,

Syne rowd her in a tartan plaid,

And hapd her round and rown.

3He has set her upon his steedAnd roundly rode away,And neer loot her look back againThe live-long summer’s day.

He has set her upon his steed

And roundly rode away,

And neer loot her look back again

The live-long summer’s day.

4He’s carried her oer hills and muirsTill they came to a Highland glen,And there he’s met his brother John,With twenty armed men.

He’s carried her oer hills and muirs

Till they came to a Highland glen,

And there he’s met his brother John,

With twenty armed men.

5O there were cows, and there were ewes,And lasses milking there,But Baby neer anse lookd about,Her heart was filld wi care.

O there were cows, and there were ewes,

And lasses milking there,

But Baby neer anse lookd about,

Her heart was filld wi care.

6Glenlion took her in his arms,And kissd her, cheek and chin;Says, I’d gie a’ these cows and ewesBut ae kind look to win.

Glenlion took her in his arms,

And kissd her, cheek and chin;

Says, I’d gie a’ these cows and ewes

But ae kind look to win.

7‘O ae kind look ye neer shall get,Nor win a smile frae me,Unless to me you’ll favour shew,And take me to Dundee.’

‘O ae kind look ye neer shall get,

Nor win a smile frae me,

Unless to me you’ll favour shew,

And take me to Dundee.’

8‘Dundee, Baby? Dundee, Baby?Dundee you neer shall seeTill I’ve carried you to GlenlionAnd have my bride made thee.

‘Dundee, Baby? Dundee, Baby?

Dundee you neer shall see

Till I’ve carried you to Glenlion

And have my bride made thee.

9‘We’ll stay a while at Auchingour,And get sweet milk and cheese,And syne we’ll gang to Glenlion,And there live at our ease.’

‘We’ll stay a while at Auchingour,

And get sweet milk and cheese,

And syne we’ll gang to Glenlion,

And there live at our ease.’

10‘I winna stay at Auchingour,Nor eat sweet milk and cheese,Nor go with thee to Glenlion,For there I’ll neer find ease.’

‘I winna stay at Auchingour,

Nor eat sweet milk and cheese,

Nor go with thee to Glenlion,

For there I’ll neer find ease.’

11Than out it spake his brother John,‘O were I in your place,I’d take that lady hame again,For a’ her bonny face.

Than out it spake his brother John,

‘O were I in your place,

I’d take that lady hame again,

For a’ her bonny face.

12‘Commend me to the lass that’s kind,Tho na so gently born;And, gin her heart I coudna gain,To take her hand I’d scorn.’

‘Commend me to the lass that’s kind,

Tho na so gently born;

And, gin her heart I coudna gain,

To take her hand I’d scorn.’

13‘O had your tongue now, John,’ he says,‘You wis na what you say;For I’ve lood that bonny faceThis twelve month and a day.

‘O had your tongue now, John,’ he says,

‘You wis na what you say;

For I’ve lood that bonny face

This twelve month and a day.

14‘And tho I’ve lood her lang and sairA smile I neer coud win;Yet what I’ve got anse in my powerTo keep I think nae sin.’

‘And tho I’ve lood her lang and sair

A smile I neer coud win;

Yet what I’ve got anse in my power

To keep I think nae sin.’

15When they came to Glenlion castle,They lighted at the yate,And out it came his sisters three,Wha did them kindly greet.

When they came to Glenlion castle,

They lighted at the yate,

And out it came his sisters three,

Wha did them kindly greet.

16O they’ve taen Baby by the handsAnd led her oer the green,And ilka lady spake a word,But bonny Baby spake nane.

O they’ve taen Baby by the hands

And led her oer the green,

And ilka lady spake a word,

But bonny Baby spake nane.

17Then out it spake her bonny Jean,The youngest o the three,‘O lady, dinna look sae sad,But tell your grief to me.’

Then out it spake her bonny Jean,

The youngest o the three,

‘O lady, dinna look sae sad,

But tell your grief to me.’

18‘O wherefore should I tell my grief,Since lax I canna find?I’m stown frae a’ my kin and friends,And my love I left behind.

‘O wherefore should I tell my grief,

Since lax I canna find?

I’m stown frae a’ my kin and friends,

And my love I left behind.

19‘But had I paper, pen, and ink,Before that it were day,I yet might get a letter sentIn time to Johny Hay.’

‘But had I paper, pen, and ink,

Before that it were day,

I yet might get a letter sent

In time to Johny Hay.’

20O she’s got paper, pen, and ink,And candle that she might see,And she has written a broad letterTo Johny at Dundee.

O she’s got paper, pen, and ink,

And candle that she might see,

And she has written a broad letter

To Johny at Dundee.

21And she has gotten a bonny boy,That was baith swift and strang,Wi philabeg and bonnet blue,Her errand for to gang.

And she has gotten a bonny boy,

That was baith swift and strang,

Wi philabeg and bonnet blue,

Her errand for to gang.

22‘O boy, gin ye’d my blessing winAnd help me in my need,Run wi this letter to my love,And bid him come wi speed.

‘O boy, gin ye’d my blessing win

And help me in my need,

Run wi this letter to my love,

And bid him come wi speed.

23‘And here’s a chain of good red gowd,And gowdn guineas three,And when you’ve well your errand done,You’ll get them for your fee.’

‘And here’s a chain of good red gowd,

And gowdn guineas three,

And when you’ve well your errand done,

You’ll get them for your fee.’

24The boy he ran oer hill and dale.Fast as a bird coud flee,And eer the sun was twa hours heightThe boy was at Dundee.

The boy he ran oer hill and dale.

Fast as a bird coud flee,

And eer the sun was twa hours height

The boy was at Dundee.

25And when he came to Johny’s doorHe knocked loud and sair;Then Johny to the window came,And loudly cry’d, ‘Wha’s there?’

And when he came to Johny’s door

He knocked loud and sair;

Then Johny to the window came,

And loudly cry’d, ‘Wha’s there?’

26‘O here’s a letter I have brought,Which ye maun quickly read,And, gin ye woud your lady save,Gang back wi me wi speed.’

‘O here’s a letter I have brought,

Which ye maun quickly read,

And, gin ye woud your lady save,

Gang back wi me wi speed.’

27O when he had the letter read,An angry man was he;He says, Glenlion, thou shalt rueThis deed of villany!

O when he had the letter read,

An angry man was he;

He says, Glenlion, thou shalt rue

This deed of villany!

28‘O saddle to me the black, the black,O saddle to me the brown,O saddle to me the swiftest steedThat eer rade frae the town.

‘O saddle to me the black, the black,

O saddle to me the brown,

O saddle to me the swiftest steed

That eer rade frae the town.

29‘And arm ye well, my merry men a’.And follow me to the glen,For I vow I’ll neither eat nor sleepTill I get my love again.’

‘And arm ye well, my merry men a’.

And follow me to the glen,

For I vow I’ll neither eat nor sleep

Till I get my love again.’

30He’s mounted on a milk-white steed,The boy upon a gray,And they got to Glenlion’s castleAbout the close of day.

He’s mounted on a milk-white steed,

The boy upon a gray,

And they got to Glenlion’s castle

About the close of day.

31As Baby at her window stood,The west wind saft did bla;She heard her Johny’s well-kent voiceBeneath the castle wa.

As Baby at her window stood,

The west wind saft did bla;

She heard her Johny’s well-kent voice

Beneath the castle wa.

32‘O Baby, haste, the window jump!I’ll kep you in my arm;My merry men a’ are at the yate,To rescue you frae harm.’

‘O Baby, haste, the window jump!

I’ll kep you in my arm;

My merry men a’ are at the yate,

To rescue you frae harm.’

33She to the window fixt her sheetsAnd slipped safely down,And Johny catchd her in his arms,Neer loot her touch the ground.

She to the window fixt her sheets

And slipped safely down,

And Johny catchd her in his arms,

Neer loot her touch the ground.

34When mounted on her Johny’s horse,Fou blithely did she say,‘Glenlion, you hae lost your bride!She’s aff wi Johny Hay.’

When mounted on her Johny’s horse,

Fou blithely did she say,

‘Glenlion, you hae lost your bride!

She’s aff wi Johny Hay.’

35Glenlion and his brother JohnWere birling in the ha,When they heard Johny’s bridle ring,As first he rade awa.

Glenlion and his brother John

Were birling in the ha,

When they heard Johny’s bridle ring,

As first he rade awa.

36‘Rise, Jock, gang out and meet the priest,I hear his bridle ring;My Baby now shall be my wifeBefore the laverocks sing.’

‘Rise, Jock, gang out and meet the priest,

I hear his bridle ring;

My Baby now shall be my wife

Before the laverocks sing.’

37‘O brother, this is not the priest;I fear he’ll come oer late;For armed men with shining brandsStand at the castle-yate.’

‘O brother, this is not the priest;

I fear he’ll come oer late;

For armed men with shining brands

Stand at the castle-yate.’

38‘Haste Donald, Duncan, Dugald, Hugh!Haste, take your sword and spier!We’ll gar these traytors rue the hourThat eer they ventured here.’

‘Haste Donald, Duncan, Dugald, Hugh!

Haste, take your sword and spier!

We’ll gar these traytors rue the hour

That eer they ventured here.’

39The Highland men drew their claymores,And gae a warlike shout,But Johny’s merry men kept the yate,Nae ane durst venture out.

The Highland men drew their claymores,

And gae a warlike shout,

But Johny’s merry men kept the yate,

Nae ane durst venture out.

40The lovers rade the live-lang night,And safe gat on their way,And bonny Baby LivingstonHas gotten Johny Hay.

The lovers rade the live-lang night,

And safe gat on their way,

And bonny Baby Livingston

Has gotten Johny Hay.

41‘Awa, Glenlion! fy for shame!Gae hide ye in some den!You’ve lettn your bride be stown frae you.For a’ your armed men.’

‘Awa, Glenlion! fy for shame!

Gae hide ye in some den!

You’ve lettn your bride be stown frae you.

For a’ your armed men.’

Buchan’s MSS, I, 77.

1Bonny Barbara LivingstonWent out to take the air,When came the laird o GlenlyonAnd staw the maiden fair.2He staw her in her cloak, her cloak,He staw her in her gown;Before he let her look again,Was mony mile frae town.3So they rade over hills and dales,Through m[o]ny a wilsome way,Till they came to the head o yon hill,And showed her ewes and kye.4‘O will ye stay with me, Barbara,And get good curds and whey?Or will ye go to Glenlyon,And be a lady gay?’5‘The Highlands is nae for me, kind sir,The Highlands is nae for me,But, gin ye woud my favour win,Have me to bonny Dundee.’6‘Dundee, Barbara? Dundee, Barbara?That town ye’se never see;I’ll hae you to a finer placeThan eer was in Dundee.’7But when she came to Glenlyon,And lighted on the green,Every lady spake Earse to her,But Barbara could speak nane.8When they were all at dinner set,And placed the table round,Every one took some of it,But Barbara took nane.9She put it to her cheek, her cheek,She put it to her chin,And put it to her rosey lips,But neer a bit gaed in.10When day was gone, and night was come,And a’ man bound for bed,Glenlyon and that fair ladyTo one chamber were laid.11‘O strip, O strip, my love,’ he said,‘O strip and lay you down;’‘How can I strip? How can I strip,To bed wi an unco man?’12He’s taen out his little pen-knife,And he slit down her gown,And cut her stays behind her back,And forc’d her to lie down.13‘O day, dear sir! O day, dear sir!O dear! if it were day,And me upon my father’s steed,I soon shoud ride away.’14‘Your father’s steed is in my stable,Eating good corn and hay,And ye are in my arms twa;What needs you lang for day?’15‘If I had paper, pens, and ink,And light that I may see,I woud write a broad, broad letterTo my love in Dundee.’16They brought her paper, pen, and ink,And light that she might see,And she has written a broad letterTo her love in Dundee.17And aye she wrote, and aye she grat,The saut tear blinded her ee;And aye at every verse’s end,‘Haste, my bonny love, to me!’18‘If I had but a little wee boy,Would work for meat and fee,Would go and carry this letterTo my love in Dundee!’19‘O here am I, a little wee boyWill work for meat and fee,Will go and carry that letterTo your love in Dundee.’20Upstarts the morn, the boy he ranOer mony a hill and dale,And he wan on to bonny DundeeAbout the hour o twall.21There Geordy oer a window lay,Beholding dale and down;And he beheld a little wee boyCome running to the town.22‘What news? what news, my little wee boy,You run sae hastilie?’‘Your love is stown by Glenlyon,And langs your face to see.’23‘Gae saddle to me the black, the black,Gae saddle to me the brown;Gae saddle to me the swiftest steedWill hae me to the town.24‘Get me my hat, dyed o the black,My mourning-mantle tee,And I will on to Glenlyon,See my love ere she die.’25First he tired the black, the black,And then he tired the brown,And next he tired the swiftest steedEre he wan to the town.26But for as fast as her love rade,And as fast as he ran,Before he wan to GlenlyonHis love was dead and gane.27Then he has kissd her cheek, her cheek,And he has kissd her chin,And he has kissd her comely mouth,But no life was therein.28‘O wae mat worth you, Glenlyon,An ill death mat ye die!Ye’ve twind me and the fairest flowerMy eyes did ever see.29‘But I will kiss your cheek, Barbara,And I will kiss your chin,And I will kiss your comely mouth,But neer woman’s again.30‘Deal well, deal well at my love’s lykeThe beer but and the wine,For ere the morn at this same timeYe’ll deal the same at mine.’

1Bonny Barbara LivingstonWent out to take the air,When came the laird o GlenlyonAnd staw the maiden fair.

Bonny Barbara Livingston

Went out to take the air,

When came the laird o Glenlyon

And staw the maiden fair.

2He staw her in her cloak, her cloak,He staw her in her gown;Before he let her look again,Was mony mile frae town.

He staw her in her cloak, her cloak,

He staw her in her gown;

Before he let her look again,

Was mony mile frae town.

3So they rade over hills and dales,Through m[o]ny a wilsome way,Till they came to the head o yon hill,And showed her ewes and kye.

So they rade over hills and dales,

Through m[o]ny a wilsome way,

Till they came to the head o yon hill,

And showed her ewes and kye.

4‘O will ye stay with me, Barbara,And get good curds and whey?Or will ye go to Glenlyon,And be a lady gay?’

‘O will ye stay with me, Barbara,

And get good curds and whey?

Or will ye go to Glenlyon,

And be a lady gay?’

5‘The Highlands is nae for me, kind sir,The Highlands is nae for me,But, gin ye woud my favour win,Have me to bonny Dundee.’

‘The Highlands is nae for me, kind sir,

The Highlands is nae for me,

But, gin ye woud my favour win,

Have me to bonny Dundee.’

6‘Dundee, Barbara? Dundee, Barbara?That town ye’se never see;I’ll hae you to a finer placeThan eer was in Dundee.’

‘Dundee, Barbara? Dundee, Barbara?

That town ye’se never see;

I’ll hae you to a finer place

Than eer was in Dundee.’

7But when she came to Glenlyon,And lighted on the green,Every lady spake Earse to her,But Barbara could speak nane.

But when she came to Glenlyon,

And lighted on the green,

Every lady spake Earse to her,

But Barbara could speak nane.

8When they were all at dinner set,And placed the table round,Every one took some of it,But Barbara took nane.

When they were all at dinner set,

And placed the table round,

Every one took some of it,

But Barbara took nane.

9She put it to her cheek, her cheek,She put it to her chin,And put it to her rosey lips,But neer a bit gaed in.

She put it to her cheek, her cheek,

She put it to her chin,

And put it to her rosey lips,

But neer a bit gaed in.

10When day was gone, and night was come,And a’ man bound for bed,Glenlyon and that fair ladyTo one chamber were laid.

When day was gone, and night was come,

And a’ man bound for bed,

Glenlyon and that fair lady

To one chamber were laid.

11‘O strip, O strip, my love,’ he said,‘O strip and lay you down;’‘How can I strip? How can I strip,To bed wi an unco man?’

‘O strip, O strip, my love,’ he said,

‘O strip and lay you down;’

‘How can I strip? How can I strip,

To bed wi an unco man?’

12He’s taen out his little pen-knife,And he slit down her gown,And cut her stays behind her back,And forc’d her to lie down.

He’s taen out his little pen-knife,

And he slit down her gown,

And cut her stays behind her back,

And forc’d her to lie down.

13‘O day, dear sir! O day, dear sir!O dear! if it were day,And me upon my father’s steed,I soon shoud ride away.’

‘O day, dear sir! O day, dear sir!

O dear! if it were day,

And me upon my father’s steed,

I soon shoud ride away.’

14‘Your father’s steed is in my stable,Eating good corn and hay,And ye are in my arms twa;What needs you lang for day?’

‘Your father’s steed is in my stable,

Eating good corn and hay,

And ye are in my arms twa;

What needs you lang for day?’

15‘If I had paper, pens, and ink,And light that I may see,I woud write a broad, broad letterTo my love in Dundee.’

‘If I had paper, pens, and ink,

And light that I may see,

I woud write a broad, broad letter

To my love in Dundee.’

16They brought her paper, pen, and ink,And light that she might see,And she has written a broad letterTo her love in Dundee.

They brought her paper, pen, and ink,

And light that she might see,

And she has written a broad letter

To her love in Dundee.

17And aye she wrote, and aye she grat,The saut tear blinded her ee;And aye at every verse’s end,‘Haste, my bonny love, to me!’

And aye she wrote, and aye she grat,

The saut tear blinded her ee;

And aye at every verse’s end,

‘Haste, my bonny love, to me!’

18‘If I had but a little wee boy,Would work for meat and fee,Would go and carry this letterTo my love in Dundee!’

‘If I had but a little wee boy,

Would work for meat and fee,

Would go and carry this letter

To my love in Dundee!’

19‘O here am I, a little wee boyWill work for meat and fee,Will go and carry that letterTo your love in Dundee.’

‘O here am I, a little wee boy

Will work for meat and fee,

Will go and carry that letter

To your love in Dundee.’

20Upstarts the morn, the boy he ranOer mony a hill and dale,And he wan on to bonny DundeeAbout the hour o twall.

Upstarts the morn, the boy he ran

Oer mony a hill and dale,

And he wan on to bonny Dundee

About the hour o twall.

21There Geordy oer a window lay,Beholding dale and down;And he beheld a little wee boyCome running to the town.

There Geordy oer a window lay,

Beholding dale and down;

And he beheld a little wee boy

Come running to the town.

22‘What news? what news, my little wee boy,You run sae hastilie?’‘Your love is stown by Glenlyon,And langs your face to see.’

‘What news? what news, my little wee boy,

You run sae hastilie?’

‘Your love is stown by Glenlyon,

And langs your face to see.’

23‘Gae saddle to me the black, the black,Gae saddle to me the brown;Gae saddle to me the swiftest steedWill hae me to the town.

‘Gae saddle to me the black, the black,

Gae saddle to me the brown;

Gae saddle to me the swiftest steed

Will hae me to the town.

24‘Get me my hat, dyed o the black,My mourning-mantle tee,And I will on to Glenlyon,See my love ere she die.’

‘Get me my hat, dyed o the black,

My mourning-mantle tee,

And I will on to Glenlyon,

See my love ere she die.’

25First he tired the black, the black,And then he tired the brown,And next he tired the swiftest steedEre he wan to the town.

First he tired the black, the black,

And then he tired the brown,

And next he tired the swiftest steed

Ere he wan to the town.

26But for as fast as her love rade,And as fast as he ran,Before he wan to GlenlyonHis love was dead and gane.

But for as fast as her love rade,

And as fast as he ran,

Before he wan to Glenlyon

His love was dead and gane.

27Then he has kissd her cheek, her cheek,And he has kissd her chin,And he has kissd her comely mouth,But no life was therein.

Then he has kissd her cheek, her cheek,

And he has kissd her chin,

And he has kissd her comely mouth,

But no life was therein.

28‘O wae mat worth you, Glenlyon,An ill death mat ye die!Ye’ve twind me and the fairest flowerMy eyes did ever see.

‘O wae mat worth you, Glenlyon,

An ill death mat ye die!

Ye’ve twind me and the fairest flower

My eyes did ever see.

29‘But I will kiss your cheek, Barbara,And I will kiss your chin,And I will kiss your comely mouth,But neer woman’s again.

‘But I will kiss your cheek, Barbara,

And I will kiss your chin,

And I will kiss your comely mouth,

But neer woman’s again.

30‘Deal well, deal well at my love’s lykeThe beer but and the wine,For ere the morn at this same timeYe’ll deal the same at mine.’

‘Deal well, deal well at my love’s lyke

The beer but and the wine,

For ere the morn at this same time

Ye’ll deal the same at mine.’

Motherwell’s MS., p. 375, from the recitation of Agnes Lyle of Kilbarchan.

1Four-and-twenty ladies fairWas playing at the ba,And out cam Barbra Livingston,The flower amang them a’.2Out cam Barbra Livingston,The flower amang them a’;The lusty laird of LinlyonHas stown her clean awa.3‘The Hielands is no for me, kind sir,The Hielands is no for me;But, if you wud my favour win,You’ll tak me to Dundee.’4‘The Hielands’ll be for thee, my dear,The Hielands will be for thee;To the lusty laird o LinlyonA-married ye shall be.’5When they came to Linlyon’s yetts,And lichted on the green,Every ane spak Earse to her,The tears cam trinkling down.6When they went to bed at nicht,To Linlyon she did say,‘Och and alace, a weary nicht!Oh, but it’s lang till day!’7‘Your father’s steed in my stable,He’s eating corn and hay,And you’re lying in my twa arms;What need you long for day?’8‘If I had paper, pen, and ink,And candle for to see,I wud write a lang letterTo my love in Dundee.’9They brocht her paper, pen, and ink,And candle for to see,And she did write a lang letterTo her love in Dundee.10When he cam to Linlyon’s yetts,And lichtit on the green,But lang or he wan up the stairHis love was dead and gane.11‘Woe be to thee, Linlyon,An ill death may thou die!Thou micht hae taen anither woman,And let my lady be.’

1Four-and-twenty ladies fairWas playing at the ba,And out cam Barbra Livingston,The flower amang them a’.

Four-and-twenty ladies fair

Was playing at the ba,

And out cam Barbra Livingston,

The flower amang them a’.

2Out cam Barbra Livingston,The flower amang them a’;The lusty laird of LinlyonHas stown her clean awa.

Out cam Barbra Livingston,

The flower amang them a’;

The lusty laird of Linlyon

Has stown her clean awa.

3‘The Hielands is no for me, kind sir,The Hielands is no for me;But, if you wud my favour win,You’ll tak me to Dundee.’

‘The Hielands is no for me, kind sir,

The Hielands is no for me;

But, if you wud my favour win,

You’ll tak me to Dundee.’

4‘The Hielands’ll be for thee, my dear,The Hielands will be for thee;To the lusty laird o LinlyonA-married ye shall be.’

‘The Hielands’ll be for thee, my dear,

The Hielands will be for thee;

To the lusty laird o Linlyon

A-married ye shall be.’

5When they came to Linlyon’s yetts,And lichted on the green,Every ane spak Earse to her,The tears cam trinkling down.

When they came to Linlyon’s yetts,

And lichted on the green,

Every ane spak Earse to her,

The tears cam trinkling down.

6When they went to bed at nicht,To Linlyon she did say,‘Och and alace, a weary nicht!Oh, but it’s lang till day!’

When they went to bed at nicht,

To Linlyon she did say,

‘Och and alace, a weary nicht!

Oh, but it’s lang till day!’

7‘Your father’s steed in my stable,He’s eating corn and hay,And you’re lying in my twa arms;What need you long for day?’

‘Your father’s steed in my stable,

He’s eating corn and hay,

And you’re lying in my twa arms;

What need you long for day?’

8‘If I had paper, pen, and ink,And candle for to see,I wud write a lang letterTo my love in Dundee.’

‘If I had paper, pen, and ink,

And candle for to see,

I wud write a lang letter

To my love in Dundee.’

9They brocht her paper, pen, and ink,And candle for to see,And she did write a lang letterTo her love in Dundee.

They brocht her paper, pen, and ink,

And candle for to see,

And she did write a lang letter

To her love in Dundee.

10When he cam to Linlyon’s yetts,And lichtit on the green,But lang or he wan up the stairHis love was dead and gane.

When he cam to Linlyon’s yetts,

And lichtit on the green,

But lang or he wan up the stair

His love was dead and gane.

11‘Woe be to thee, Linlyon,An ill death may thou die!Thou micht hae taen anither woman,And let my lady be.’

‘Woe be to thee, Linlyon,

An ill death may thou die!

Thou micht hae taen anither woman,

And let my lady be.’

Campbell MSS, II, 254.

1Bonnie Annie LivingstoneWas walking out the way,By came the laird of Glendinning,And he’s stolen her away.The Highlands are no for me, kind sir,The Highlands are no for me,And, if you wad my favour win,You’d take me to Dundee.2He mounted her on a milk-white steed,Himself upon a grey,He’s taen her to the Highland hills,And stolen her quite away.3When they came to Glendinning gate,They lighted on the green;There many a Highland lord spoke free,But fair Annie she spake nane.4When bells were rung, and mass begun,And a’ men bound for bed,Bonnie Annie LivingstoneWas in her chamber laid.5‘O gin it were but day, kind sir!O gin it were but day!O gin it were but day, kind sir,That I might win away!’6‘Your steed stands in the stall, bonnie Ann,Eating corn and hay,And you are in Glendinning’s arms;What need ye long for day?’7‘O fetch me paper, pen, and ink,A candle that I may see,And I will write a long letterTo Jemmy at Dundee.’8When Jemmie looked the letter on,A loud laughter gave he;But eer he read the letter oerThe tear blinded his ee.9‘Gar saddle,’ he cried, ‘my war-horse fierce,Warn a’ my trusty clan,And I’ll away to Glendinning CastleAnd see my sister Ann.’10When he came to Glendinning yet,He lighted on the green,But ere that he wan up the stairFair Annie she was gane.11‘The Highlands were not for thee, bonnie Ann,The Highlands were not for thee,And they that would have thy favour wonShould have brought you home to me.12‘O I will kiss thy cherry cheeks,And I will kiss thy chin,And I will kiss thy rosy lips,For they will neer kiss mine.’

Bonnie Annie Livingstone

Was walking out the way,

By came the laird of Glendinning,

And he’s stolen her away.

The Highlands are no for me, kind sir,

The Highlands are no for me,

And, if you wad my favour win,

You’d take me to Dundee.

2He mounted her on a milk-white steed,Himself upon a grey,He’s taen her to the Highland hills,And stolen her quite away.

He mounted her on a milk-white steed,

Himself upon a grey,

He’s taen her to the Highland hills,

And stolen her quite away.

3When they came to Glendinning gate,They lighted on the green;There many a Highland lord spoke free,But fair Annie she spake nane.

When they came to Glendinning gate,

They lighted on the green;

There many a Highland lord spoke free,

But fair Annie she spake nane.

4When bells were rung, and mass begun,And a’ men bound for bed,Bonnie Annie LivingstoneWas in her chamber laid.

When bells were rung, and mass begun,

And a’ men bound for bed,

Bonnie Annie Livingstone

Was in her chamber laid.

5‘O gin it were but day, kind sir!O gin it were but day!O gin it were but day, kind sir,That I might win away!’

‘O gin it were but day, kind sir!

O gin it were but day!

O gin it were but day, kind sir,

That I might win away!’

6‘Your steed stands in the stall, bonnie Ann,Eating corn and hay,And you are in Glendinning’s arms;What need ye long for day?’

‘Your steed stands in the stall, bonnie Ann,

Eating corn and hay,

And you are in Glendinning’s arms;

What need ye long for day?’

7‘O fetch me paper, pen, and ink,A candle that I may see,And I will write a long letterTo Jemmy at Dundee.’

‘O fetch me paper, pen, and ink,

A candle that I may see,

And I will write a long letter

To Jemmy at Dundee.’

8When Jemmie looked the letter on,A loud laughter gave he;But eer he read the letter oerThe tear blinded his ee.

When Jemmie looked the letter on,

A loud laughter gave he;

But eer he read the letter oer

The tear blinded his ee.

9‘Gar saddle,’ he cried, ‘my war-horse fierce,Warn a’ my trusty clan,And I’ll away to Glendinning CastleAnd see my sister Ann.’

‘Gar saddle,’ he cried, ‘my war-horse fierce,

Warn a’ my trusty clan,

And I’ll away to Glendinning Castle

And see my sister Ann.’

10When he came to Glendinning yet,He lighted on the green,But ere that he wan up the stairFair Annie she was gane.

When he came to Glendinning yet,

He lighted on the green,

But ere that he wan up the stair

Fair Annie she was gane.

11‘The Highlands were not for thee, bonnie Ann,The Highlands were not for thee,And they that would have thy favour wonShould have brought you home to me.

‘The Highlands were not for thee, bonnie Ann,

The Highlands were not for thee,

And they that would have thy favour won

Should have brought you home to me.

12‘O I will kiss thy cherry cheeks,And I will kiss thy chin,And I will kiss thy rosy lips,For they will neer kiss mine.’

‘O I will kiss thy cherry cheeks,

And I will kiss thy chin,

And I will kiss thy rosy lips,

For they will neer kiss mine.’

Kinloch MSS, V, 355, in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.

1Bonny Baby LivingstoneWent out to view the hay,And by there came a Hieland lord,And he’s stown Baby away.2He’s stown her in her coat, her coat,And he’s stown her in her gown,And he let not her look back againEre she was many a mile from town.3He set her on a milk-white steed,Himself upon another,And they are on to bonny Lochell,Like sister and like brother.4The bells were rung, the mass was sung,And all men bound to bed,And Baby and her Hieland lordThey were both in one chamber laid.5‘Oh day, kind sir! Oh day, kind sir!Oh day fain would I see!I would gie a’ the lands o LivingstoneFor day-light, to lat me see.’6‘Oh day, Baby? Oh day, Baby?What needs you long for day?Your steed is in a good stable,And he’s eating baith corn and hay.7‘Oh day, Baby? Oh day, Baby?What needs you long for day?You’r lying in a good knight’s arms,What needs you long for day?’8‘Ye’ll get me paper, pen, and ink,And light to let me see,Till I write on a broad letterAnd send ‘t to Lord ...’

1Bonny Baby LivingstoneWent out to view the hay,And by there came a Hieland lord,And he’s stown Baby away.

Bonny Baby Livingstone

Went out to view the hay,

And by there came a Hieland lord,

And he’s stown Baby away.

2He’s stown her in her coat, her coat,And he’s stown her in her gown,And he let not her look back againEre she was many a mile from town.

He’s stown her in her coat, her coat,

And he’s stown her in her gown,

And he let not her look back again

Ere she was many a mile from town.

3He set her on a milk-white steed,Himself upon another,And they are on to bonny Lochell,Like sister and like brother.

He set her on a milk-white steed,

Himself upon another,

And they are on to bonny Lochell,

Like sister and like brother.

4The bells were rung, the mass was sung,And all men bound to bed,And Baby and her Hieland lordThey were both in one chamber laid.

The bells were rung, the mass was sung,

And all men bound to bed,

And Baby and her Hieland lord

They were both in one chamber laid.

5‘Oh day, kind sir! Oh day, kind sir!Oh day fain would I see!I would gie a’ the lands o LivingstoneFor day-light, to lat me see.’

‘Oh day, kind sir! Oh day, kind sir!

Oh day fain would I see!

I would gie a’ the lands o Livingstone

For day-light, to lat me see.’

6‘Oh day, Baby? Oh day, Baby?What needs you long for day?Your steed is in a good stable,And he’s eating baith corn and hay.

‘Oh day, Baby? Oh day, Baby?

What needs you long for day?

Your steed is in a good stable,

And he’s eating baith corn and hay.

7‘Oh day, Baby? Oh day, Baby?What needs you long for day?You’r lying in a good knight’s arms,What needs you long for day?’

‘Oh day, Baby? Oh day, Baby?

What needs you long for day?

You’r lying in a good knight’s arms,

What needs you long for day?’

8‘Ye’ll get me paper, pen, and ink,And light to let me see,Till I write on a broad letterAnd send ‘t to Lord ...’

‘Ye’ll get me paper, pen, and ink,

And light to let me see,

Till I write on a broad letter

And send ‘t to Lord ...’

“On the other page you will find the whole ballad of Bonny Baby Livingston. I found upon recollection that I had the whole story in my memory, and thought it better to write it out entire, as what I repeated to you was, I think, more imperfect.”Mrs Brown, MS., Appendix, p. xv.

354. firstmay befast,as inb.

12. gaed out.

21. And first.

23. in his.

31. He’s mounted her upon a.

41. oer yon hich hich hill.

42. Intilla.

43. He met.

51. And there.

52. And there were kids sae fair.

53. But sad and wae was bonny Baby.

54. was fu o.

61. He’s taen her in his arms twa.

63. I wad gie a’ my flocks and herds.

64. Ae smile frae thee to.

7.A smile frae me ye’se never win,I’ll neer look kind on thee;Ye’ve stown me awa frae a’ my kin,Frae a’ that’s dear to me.Dundee, kind sir, Dundee, kind sir,Tak me to bonny Dundee!For ye sall neer my favour winTill it ance mair I see.

7.A smile frae me ye’se never win,I’ll neer look kind on thee;Ye’ve stown me awa frae a’ my kin,Frae a’ that’s dear to me.

A smile frae me ye’se never win,

I’ll neer look kind on thee;

Ye’ve stown me awa frae a’ my kin,

Frae a’ that’s dear to me.

Dundee, kind sir, Dundee, kind sir,Tak me to bonny Dundee!For ye sall neer my favour winTill it ance mair I see.

Dundee, kind sir, Dundee, kind sir,

Tak me to bonny Dundee!

For ye sall neer my favour win

Till it ance mair I see.

83. But I will carry you.

84. Where you my bride shall be.

91. Or will ye stay at.

92. And get.

93. Or gang wi me to.

94. we’ll live.

102. I care neither for milk nor.

103. gang.

112. If I were in.

113. I’d send.

123. coudna win.

131. tongue, my brother John.

133. I hae.

134. This mony a year and day.

141. I’ve lued her lang and lued her weel.

142. But her love I.

143. And what I canna fairly gain.

144. To steal.

153. they cam, his three sisters.

154. Their brother for to greet.

161. And they have taen her bonny Baby.

173. why look ye sae.

174. Come tell.

183. I’m far frae.

192. Afore.

193. letter wrate.

194. And sent to.

After 19:

And gin I had a bonny boyTo help me in my need,That he might rin to bonny Dundee,And come again wi speed.

And gin I had a bonny boy

To help me in my need,

That he might rin to bonny Dundee,

And come again wi speed.

20.Wanting.

211. And they hae.

212. Their errand for to gang.

213. And bade him run to bonny Dundee.

214. And nae to tarry lang.

22, 23.Wanting.

241. oer muir.

242. As fast as he.

25, 26.Wanting.

27.Whan Johnie lookit the letter on,A hearty laugh leuch he;But ere he read it till an endThe tear blinded his ee.O wha is this, or what is that,Has stown my love frae me?Although he were my ae brither,An ill dead sall he die.

27.Whan Johnie lookit the letter on,A hearty laugh leuch he;But ere he read it till an endThe tear blinded his ee.

27.

Whan Johnie lookit the letter on,

A hearty laugh leuch he;

But ere he read it till an end

The tear blinded his ee.

O wha is this, or what is that,Has stown my love frae me?Although he were my ae brither,An ill dead sall he die.

O wha is this, or what is that,

Has stown my love frae me?

Although he were my ae brither,

An ill dead sall he die.

281. Gae saddle to me the black, he says.

282,3. Gae.

291. He’s called upon his merry.

292. To follow him to.

293. And he’s vowd he’d neither.

294. he got his. 301. him on.

302. And fast he rade away.

303. And he’s come to Glenlyon’s yett.

312. And the.

314. Aneath.

321. window loup.

34.Wanting.

354. As fast.

364. laverock.

371. nae the.

34. ewes.Indistinctly written.

52. fore.

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