225ROB ROY

A.Skene MS., p. 44.

B.‘Rob Roy,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 343.

C.‘Rob Roy MacGregor,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 93.

D.‘Rob Roy,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 147, Abbotsford.

E.‘Rob Roy,’ Pitcairn’s MSS, III, 41.

F.‘Rob Roy,’ Campbell MSS, II, 229.

G.‘Rob Roy,’ Cromek’s Select Scotish Songs, 1810, II, 199.

H.Sir Walter Scott’s Introduction to “Rob Roy,” Appendix, No V.

I.‘Rob Roy,’ Campbell’s MSS, II, 58.

J.‘Rob Oig,’ A Garland of Old Historical Ballads, p. 10, Aungervyle Society, 1881.

K.‘Rob Roy,’ Laing’s Thistle of Scotland, p. 93.

The hero of this ballad was the youngest of the five sons of the Rob Roy who has been immortalized by Sir Walter Scott, and was known as Robert Oig, young, or junior. When a mere boy (only twelve years old, it is said) he shot a man mortally whom he considered to have intruded on his mother’s land, and for not appearing to underlie the law for this murder he was outlawed in 1736. He had fled to the continent, and there he enlisted in the British army, and was wounded and made prisoner at Fontenoy in 1745. He was exchanged, returned to Scotland and obtained a discharge from service, and, though still under ban, was able to effect a marriage with a woman of respectable family. She lived but a few years, and after her death, whether spontaneously or under the influence of his brother James, a man of extraordinary hardihood, Rob Oig formed a plan of bettering his own fortune, and incidentally that of his kin, by a marriage of the Sabine fashion with awoman of means. The person selected was Jean Key, who had been two months the widow of John Wright. She was but nineteen years of age, and was living with her mother at Edinbelly, in Stirlingshire, and her property is said to have been, not the twenty thousand pounds of some of the ballads, but some sixteen or eighteen thousand marks.

On the night of December 8, 1750, Rob Oig, accompanied by his brothers James and Duncan and others, first placing guards at the door and windows, to prevent escape from within and help from without, entered the house of Jean Key, and not finding her, because she had taken alarm and hidden herself in a closet, obliged the mother to produce her daughter, under threats “to murder every person in the family, or to burn the house and every person in it alive.” Jean Key, on being brought out, was told by James MacGregor that the party had come to marry her to Robert, his brother.” Upon her desiring to be allowed till next morning, or some few hours, to deliberate upon the answer she was to give to so unexpected and sudden a proposal as a marriage betwixt her, then not two months a widow, and a man with whom she had no manner of acquaintance,” after some little expostulation, they laid hands upon her, dragged her out of doors, tied her on the back of a horse, and carried her first to a house at Buchanan, six miles from Edinbelly, thence to Rowerdennan, “thence, by water, to some part of the Highlands about the upper part of Loch Lomond, out of the reach of her friends and relations, where she was detained in captivity and carried from place to place for upwards of three months.” At Rowerdennan, or further north, a priest read the marriage-service while the resolute James held up the young woman before him, and declared Rob Oig and her to be man and wife.

The rest of the story does not come into the ballad, but it may be added that both the military and the civil power took the matter in hand; that the MacGregors found it necessary to release their captive (who died, but not of the violence she had undergone, ten months after she was taken away); that James MacGregor was brought to trial in July, 1752, for hamesucken (invasion of a private house), forcible abduction of a woman, and constraining her to a marriage, was convicted of a part of the charge but not of the last count, and while the court had the verdict under consideration made his escape from Edinburgh castle; that Rob Oig was apprehended the following year, tried and condemned to death, and was executed in February, 1754.[126]

We may easily believe that, as Scott says, the imagination of half-civilized Highlanders was not much shocked at the idea of winning a wife in a violent way. It had been common, and they may naturally have wondered why it should seem so particular in their instance. It is certain that Jean Key did not receive the sympathy of all of her own sex. A lady of much celebrity has told us that it is safest in matrimony to begin with a little aversion, and there were those in Jean Key’s day, and after, who thought it mere silliness to make a coil about a little compulsion. “It is not a great many years,” Sir Walter Scott testifies, “since a respectable woman, above the lower rank of life, expressed herself very warmly to the author on his taking the freedom to censure the behaviour of the MacGregors on the occasion in question. She said, ‘that there was no use in giving a bride too much choice upon such occasions; that the marriages were happiest lang syne which had been done off hand.’ Finally, she averred that her ‘own mother had never seen her father till the night he brought her up fromthe Lennox with ten head of black cattle, and there had not been a happier couple in the country.’”

The ballad adheres to fact rather closely; indeed a reasonably good “dittay” could be made out of it. The halt at Buchanan is mentionedB8,C10,K14; the road would be through Drymen, as inC10,K13; and Balmaha,H2, is a little beyond Buchanan. Ballyshine is substituted for Buchanan inE6,J4. At Buchanan, or Ballyshine (‘as they came in by Drimmen town, and in by Edingarry,’K13), a cloak and gown are bought (fetched) for the young woman to be married in,B8,C10,F4. It is a cotton gown,E6, coat and gown,A8; in cotton gown she is married,J4; meaning probably that she was married in a night-gown, having been roused from her bed. It is at Buchanan, or Ballyshine, that she is married. Four held her up to the priest,A,C,F(two,D,I,K, three,E,J, six,B), four laid her in bed,A,B,E,F,I,J,K(two,C,D).

Rob Roy is said to come from Drunkie (the home of his first wife),J1; to come over the Loch of Lynn,G2. Jean Key’s abode seems to be called White House (Wright?) inA2, but Blackhills,C2, and inK2 Jean Key is called Blackhill’s daughter. Blackhill is apparently a corruption of Mitchell, Jean’s mother’s maiden name. The mother is called Jean Mitchell inJ2.

InA8, Rob Roy’s party are wrongly said to tarry at Stirling. InJ2, Glengyle is said to go with him to steal Jean Mitchell’s daughter. Glengyle, Rob Oig’s cousin, and chief of his immediate family was, for a MacGregor, an orderly man,[127]and did not countenance the proceeding.J6, 7 belong to the ballad of ‘Eppie Morrie,’ No 223.

Rob Oig puts Jean Key’s fortune at £20,000,A13,C19; 50,000 merks,D14; 30,000,K23; 20,000, which was not very far from right,E10. The reading inB15 is a manifest corruption of thirty thousand merks.

Old Rob Roy is in several copies spoken of as still alive. Though the time both of his birth and death is not accurately known, this was certainly not the case.

His translated by Fiedler, Geschichte der schottischen Liederdichtung, I, 52.

Skene MS., p. 44; from recitation in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1Rob Roy, frae the high Highlands,Came to the Lawlan border;It was to steel a lady away,To keep his Highland house in order.2As he came in by White House,He sent nae ane before him;She wad hae secured the house,For she did ay abhor him.3Twenty men surrount the house, an twenty they went in,They found her wi her mither;Wi sighs an cries an watery eyesThey parted frae ane anither.4‘O will ye be my dear?’ he says,‘Or will ye be my honnie?O will ye be my wedded wife?I lee you best of ony.’5‘I winna be your dear,’ [she says,]‘Nor will I be your honnie,Nor will I be your wedded wife;Ye lee me for my money.’6. . . . by the way,This lady aftimes fainted;Says, Woe be to my cursed gold,This road for me’s invented!7He gave her no time for to dressLike ladies when they’re ridin,But set her on hie horseback,Himsel was ay beside her.8Whan they came to the Black House,And at Stirling tarried,There he bought her coat an gown,But she would not [be] married.9Four men held her to the priest,An four they did her bed,Wi sighs an cries an watery eyesWhan she by him was laid.10‘Be content, be content,Be content wi me, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUntill the day ye die, lady.11‘My father was a Highlan laird,McGrigor was his name, lady;A’ the country roun aboutThey dreadit his great fame, lady.12‘He kept a hedge about his lands,A prickle to his foes, lady,An every ane that did him wrang,He took him by the nose, lady.13‘My father he delights in nout and goats,An me in horse and sheep, lady;You an twenty thousan poundsMakes me a man complete, lady.14‘You’re welcome to this Highlan lan,It is my native plain, lady;Think nae mair of gauin back,But tak it for your hame, lady.15‘I’m gauin, [I’m gauin,]I’m gauin to France, lady;Whan I come backI’ll learn ye a dance, lady.16‘Set your foot, [set your foot,]Set your foot to mine, lady;Think nae mair of gauin back,But tak it for your hame, lady.’

1Rob Roy, frae the high Highlands,Came to the Lawlan border;It was to steel a lady away,To keep his Highland house in order.

Rob Roy, frae the high Highlands,

Came to the Lawlan border;

It was to steel a lady away,

To keep his Highland house in order.

2As he came in by White House,He sent nae ane before him;She wad hae secured the house,For she did ay abhor him.

As he came in by White House,

He sent nae ane before him;

She wad hae secured the house,

For she did ay abhor him.

3Twenty men surrount the house, an twenty they went in,They found her wi her mither;Wi sighs an cries an watery eyesThey parted frae ane anither.

Twenty men surrount the house, an twenty they went in,

They found her wi her mither;

Wi sighs an cries an watery eyes

They parted frae ane anither.

4‘O will ye be my dear?’ he says,‘Or will ye be my honnie?O will ye be my wedded wife?I lee you best of ony.’

‘O will ye be my dear?’ he says,

‘Or will ye be my honnie?

O will ye be my wedded wife?

I lee you best of ony.’

5‘I winna be your dear,’ [she says,]‘Nor will I be your honnie,Nor will I be your wedded wife;Ye lee me for my money.’

‘I winna be your dear,’ [she says,]

‘Nor will I be your honnie,

Nor will I be your wedded wife;

Ye lee me for my money.’

6. . . . by the way,This lady aftimes fainted;Says, Woe be to my cursed gold,This road for me’s invented!

. . . . by the way,

This lady aftimes fainted;

Says, Woe be to my cursed gold,

This road for me’s invented!

7He gave her no time for to dressLike ladies when they’re ridin,But set her on hie horseback,Himsel was ay beside her.

He gave her no time for to dress

Like ladies when they’re ridin,

But set her on hie horseback,

Himsel was ay beside her.

8Whan they came to the Black House,And at Stirling tarried,There he bought her coat an gown,But she would not [be] married.

Whan they came to the Black House,

And at Stirling tarried,

There he bought her coat an gown,

But she would not [be] married.

9Four men held her to the priest,An four they did her bed,Wi sighs an cries an watery eyesWhan she by him was laid.

Four men held her to the priest,

An four they did her bed,

Wi sighs an cries an watery eyes

Whan she by him was laid.

10‘Be content, be content,Be content wi me, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUntill the day ye die, lady.

‘Be content, be content,

Be content wi me, lady;

Now ye are my wedded wife

Untill the day ye die, lady.

11‘My father was a Highlan laird,McGrigor was his name, lady;A’ the country roun aboutThey dreadit his great fame, lady.

‘My father was a Highlan laird,

McGrigor was his name, lady;

A’ the country roun about

They dreadit his great fame, lady.

12‘He kept a hedge about his lands,A prickle to his foes, lady,An every ane that did him wrang,He took him by the nose, lady.

‘He kept a hedge about his lands,

A prickle to his foes, lady,

An every ane that did him wrang,

He took him by the nose, lady.

13‘My father he delights in nout and goats,An me in horse and sheep, lady;You an twenty thousan poundsMakes me a man complete, lady.

‘My father he delights in nout and goats,

An me in horse and sheep, lady;

You an twenty thousan pounds

Makes me a man complete, lady.

14‘You’re welcome to this Highlan lan,It is my native plain, lady;Think nae mair of gauin back,But tak it for your hame, lady.

‘You’re welcome to this Highlan lan,

It is my native plain, lady;

Think nae mair of gauin back,

But tak it for your hame, lady.

15‘I’m gauin, [I’m gauin,]I’m gauin to France, lady;Whan I come backI’ll learn ye a dance, lady.

‘I’m gauin, [I’m gauin,]

I’m gauin to France, lady;

Whan I come back

I’ll learn ye a dance, lady.

16‘Set your foot, [set your foot,]Set your foot to mine, lady;Think nae mair of gauin back,But tak it for your hame, lady.’

‘Set your foot, [set your foot,]

Set your foot to mine, lady;

Think nae mair of gauin back,

But tak it for your hame, lady.’

Kinloch MSS, I, 343.

1Rob Roy frae the Hielands camUnto the Lawland border,And he has stown a ladie fair,To hand his house in order.2He guarded the house round about,Himsel went in and found her out,She hung close by her mither;Wi dolefu cries and watery eyesThey parted frae each ither.3‘Gang wi me, my dear,’ he says,‘Gang and be my honey;Gang and be my wedded wife,I loe ye best o onie.’4‘I winna gang wi you,’ she says,‘I winna be your honey;I winna be your wedded wife;Ye loe me for my money.’5He gied na her na time to dressAs ladies whan they’re brides,But hurried her awa wi speed,And rowd her in his plaids.6He gat her up upon a horse,Himsel lap on ahind her;And they’re awa to the Hieland hills;Her friends they canna find her.7As they gaed oure the Hieland hills,This lady aften fainted,Saying, Wae be to my cursed gowd,This road to me invented!8As they gaed oure the Hieland hills,And at Buchanan tarried,He bought to her baith cloak and goun,Yet she wadna be married.9Six held her up afore the priest,Four laid her in a bed, O;Maist mournfully she wept and criedWhan she bye him was laid, O.10‘O be content, be content,Be content to stay, ladie;For now ye are my wedded wifeUnto your dying day, ladie.11‘Rob Roy was my father calld,M’Gregor was his name, ladie;And in a’ the country whare he dwaltHe exceeded ae in fame, ladie.12‘He was a hedge unto his friends,A heckle to his faes, ladie;And ilka ane that did him wrang,He beat him on the neis, ladie.13‘I’m as bold, I am as boldAs my father was afore, ladie;Ilka ane that does me wrangSall feel my gude claymore, ladie.14‘There neer was frae Lochlomond westThat eer I did him fear, ladie;For, if his person did escape,I seizd upon his gear, ladie.15‘My father delights in horse and kye,In sheep and goats and a’, ladie,And thee wi me and thirty merksWill mak me a man fu braw, ladie.16‘I hae been in foreign lands,And servd the king o France, ladie;We will get the bagpipes,And we’ll hae a dance, ladie.’

1Rob Roy frae the Hielands camUnto the Lawland border,And he has stown a ladie fair,To hand his house in order.

Rob Roy frae the Hielands cam

Unto the Lawland border,

And he has stown a ladie fair,

To hand his house in order.

2He guarded the house round about,Himsel went in and found her out,She hung close by her mither;Wi dolefu cries and watery eyesThey parted frae each ither.

He guarded the house round about,

Himsel went in and found her out,

She hung close by her mither;

Wi dolefu cries and watery eyes

They parted frae each ither.

3‘Gang wi me, my dear,’ he says,‘Gang and be my honey;Gang and be my wedded wife,I loe ye best o onie.’

‘Gang wi me, my dear,’ he says,

‘Gang and be my honey;

Gang and be my wedded wife,

I loe ye best o onie.’

4‘I winna gang wi you,’ she says,‘I winna be your honey;I winna be your wedded wife;Ye loe me for my money.’

‘I winna gang wi you,’ she says,

‘I winna be your honey;

I winna be your wedded wife;

Ye loe me for my money.’

5He gied na her na time to dressAs ladies whan they’re brides,But hurried her awa wi speed,And rowd her in his plaids.

He gied na her na time to dress

As ladies whan they’re brides,

But hurried her awa wi speed,

And rowd her in his plaids.

6He gat her up upon a horse,Himsel lap on ahind her;And they’re awa to the Hieland hills;Her friends they canna find her.

He gat her up upon a horse,

Himsel lap on ahind her;

And they’re awa to the Hieland hills;

Her friends they canna find her.

7As they gaed oure the Hieland hills,This lady aften fainted,Saying, Wae be to my cursed gowd,This road to me invented!

As they gaed oure the Hieland hills,

This lady aften fainted,

Saying, Wae be to my cursed gowd,

This road to me invented!

8As they gaed oure the Hieland hills,And at Buchanan tarried,He bought to her baith cloak and goun,Yet she wadna be married.

As they gaed oure the Hieland hills,

And at Buchanan tarried,

He bought to her baith cloak and goun,

Yet she wadna be married.

9Six held her up afore the priest,Four laid her in a bed, O;Maist mournfully she wept and criedWhan she bye him was laid, O.

Six held her up afore the priest,

Four laid her in a bed, O;

Maist mournfully she wept and cried

Whan she bye him was laid, O.

10‘O be content, be content,Be content to stay, ladie;For now ye are my wedded wifeUnto your dying day, ladie.

‘O be content, be content,

Be content to stay, ladie;

For now ye are my wedded wife

Unto your dying day, ladie.

11‘Rob Roy was my father calld,M’Gregor was his name, ladie;And in a’ the country whare he dwaltHe exceeded ae in fame, ladie.

‘Rob Roy was my father calld,

M’Gregor was his name, ladie;

And in a’ the country whare he dwalt

He exceeded ae in fame, ladie.

12‘He was a hedge unto his friends,A heckle to his faes, ladie;And ilka ane that did him wrang,He beat him on the neis, ladie.

‘He was a hedge unto his friends,

A heckle to his faes, ladie;

And ilka ane that did him wrang,

He beat him on the neis, ladie.

13‘I’m as bold, I am as boldAs my father was afore, ladie;Ilka ane that does me wrangSall feel my gude claymore, ladie.

‘I’m as bold, I am as bold

As my father was afore, ladie;

Ilka ane that does me wrang

Sall feel my gude claymore, ladie.

14‘There neer was frae Lochlomond westThat eer I did him fear, ladie;For, if his person did escape,I seizd upon his gear, ladie.

‘There neer was frae Lochlomond west

That eer I did him fear, ladie;

For, if his person did escape,

I seizd upon his gear, ladie.

15‘My father delights in horse and kye,In sheep and goats and a’, ladie,And thee wi me and thirty merksWill mak me a man fu braw, ladie.

‘My father delights in horse and kye,

In sheep and goats and a’, ladie,

And thee wi me and thirty merks

Will mak me a man fu braw, ladie.

16‘I hae been in foreign lands,And servd the king o France, ladie;We will get the bagpipes,And we’ll hae a dance, ladie.’

‘I hae been in foreign lands,

And servd the king o France, ladie;

We will get the bagpipes,

And we’ll hae a dance, ladie.’

Motherwell’s MS., p. 93.

1Rob Roy’s from the Hielands comeUnto our Lowland border,And he has stolen a lady away,To keep his house in order.2Rob Roy’s come to Blackhill’s gate,Twenty men his arms did carry,And he has stolen a lady away,On purpose her to marry.3None knew till he surrounded the house,No tidings came before him,Or else she had been gone away,For she did still abhor him.4All doors and windows guarded were,None could the plot discover;Himself went in and found her out,Professing how he loved her.5‘Come go with me, my dear,’ he said,‘Come go with me, my honey,And you shall be my wedded wife,I love you best of onie.’6‘I will not go with you,’ she said,‘Nor will I be your honey;I neer shall be your wedded wife,You love me for my money.’7But he her drew amongst his crew,She holding by her mother;With mournful cries and watery eyesThey parted from each other.8No time they gave her to be dressedAs ladies when they’re brides, O,But hurried her away in haste;They rowed her in their plaids, O.9As they went over hills and rocks,The lady often fainted;Says, Wae may it be, my cursed money,This road to me invented!10They passed away by Drymen town,And at Buchanan tarried;They bought to her a cloak and gown,Yet she would not be married.11But without consent they joined their hands;By law ought not to carry;The priest his zeal it was so hotOn her will he would not tarry.12Four held her up before the priest,Two laid her in the bed, O;Och, mournfully she weeped and criedWhen she by him was laid, O.13‘Now you’re come to the Highland hills,Out of your native clime, lady,Never think of going back,But take this for your hame, lady.14‘Be content, be content,Be content to stay, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUnto your dying day, lady.15‘O Rob Roy was my father called,But McGregor was his name, lady;In all the country far and nearNone did exceed his fame, lady.16‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,I’m as bold as he, lady;In France and Ireland I’ll dance and fight,And from them take the gree, lady.17‘He was a hedge about his friends,But a heckle to his faes, lady,And every one that did him wrong,He took them owre the nose, lady.18‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,I’m as bold, and more, lady;Every one that does me wrongShall feel my good claymore, lady.19‘My father he has stots and ewes,And he has goats and sheep, lady,But you and twenty thousand pundsMakes me a man complete, lady.’

1Rob Roy’s from the Hielands comeUnto our Lowland border,And he has stolen a lady away,To keep his house in order.

Rob Roy’s from the Hielands come

Unto our Lowland border,

And he has stolen a lady away,

To keep his house in order.

2Rob Roy’s come to Blackhill’s gate,Twenty men his arms did carry,And he has stolen a lady away,On purpose her to marry.

Rob Roy’s come to Blackhill’s gate,

Twenty men his arms did carry,

And he has stolen a lady away,

On purpose her to marry.

3None knew till he surrounded the house,No tidings came before him,Or else she had been gone away,For she did still abhor him.

None knew till he surrounded the house,

No tidings came before him,

Or else she had been gone away,

For she did still abhor him.

4All doors and windows guarded were,None could the plot discover;Himself went in and found her out,Professing how he loved her.

All doors and windows guarded were,

None could the plot discover;

Himself went in and found her out,

Professing how he loved her.

5‘Come go with me, my dear,’ he said,‘Come go with me, my honey,And you shall be my wedded wife,I love you best of onie.’

‘Come go with me, my dear,’ he said,

‘Come go with me, my honey,

And you shall be my wedded wife,

I love you best of onie.’

6‘I will not go with you,’ she said,‘Nor will I be your honey;I neer shall be your wedded wife,You love me for my money.’

‘I will not go with you,’ she said,

‘Nor will I be your honey;

I neer shall be your wedded wife,

You love me for my money.’

7But he her drew amongst his crew,She holding by her mother;With mournful cries and watery eyesThey parted from each other.

But he her drew amongst his crew,

She holding by her mother;

With mournful cries and watery eyes

They parted from each other.

8No time they gave her to be dressedAs ladies when they’re brides, O,But hurried her away in haste;They rowed her in their plaids, O.

No time they gave her to be dressed

As ladies when they’re brides, O,

But hurried her away in haste;

They rowed her in their plaids, O.

9As they went over hills and rocks,The lady often fainted;Says, Wae may it be, my cursed money,This road to me invented!

As they went over hills and rocks,

The lady often fainted;

Says, Wae may it be, my cursed money,

This road to me invented!

10They passed away by Drymen town,And at Buchanan tarried;They bought to her a cloak and gown,Yet she would not be married.

They passed away by Drymen town,

And at Buchanan tarried;

They bought to her a cloak and gown,

Yet she would not be married.

11But without consent they joined their hands;By law ought not to carry;The priest his zeal it was so hotOn her will he would not tarry.

But without consent they joined their hands;

By law ought not to carry;

The priest his zeal it was so hot

On her will he would not tarry.

12Four held her up before the priest,Two laid her in the bed, O;Och, mournfully she weeped and criedWhen she by him was laid, O.

Four held her up before the priest,

Two laid her in the bed, O;

Och, mournfully she weeped and cried

When she by him was laid, O.

13‘Now you’re come to the Highland hills,Out of your native clime, lady,Never think of going back,But take this for your hame, lady.

‘Now you’re come to the Highland hills,

Out of your native clime, lady,

Never think of going back,

But take this for your hame, lady.

14‘Be content, be content,Be content to stay, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUnto your dying day, lady.

‘Be content, be content,

Be content to stay, lady;

Now ye are my wedded wife

Unto your dying day, lady.

15‘O Rob Roy was my father called,But McGregor was his name, lady;In all the country far and nearNone did exceed his fame, lady.

‘O Rob Roy was my father called,

But McGregor was his name, lady;

In all the country far and near

None did exceed his fame, lady.

16‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,I’m as bold as he, lady;In France and Ireland I’ll dance and fight,And from them take the gree, lady.

‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,

I’m as bold as he, lady;

In France and Ireland I’ll dance and fight,

And from them take the gree, lady.

17‘He was a hedge about his friends,But a heckle to his faes, lady,And every one that did him wrong,He took them owre the nose, lady.

‘He was a hedge about his friends,

But a heckle to his faes, lady,

And every one that did him wrong,

He took them owre the nose, lady.

18‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,I’m as bold, and more, lady;Every one that does me wrongShall feel my good claymore, lady.

‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,

I’m as bold, and more, lady;

Every one that does me wrong

Shall feel my good claymore, lady.

19‘My father he has stots and ewes,And he has goats and sheep, lady,But you and twenty thousand pundsMakes me a man complete, lady.’

‘My father he has stots and ewes,

And he has goats and sheep, lady,

But you and twenty thousand punds

Makes me a man complete, lady.’

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 147, Abbotsford; in a handwriting of the early part of this century.

1Rob Roy from the Highlands cameUnto the Lowland border;It was to steal a ladie away,To keep his house in order.2He gae her nae time to dress herselfLike a lady that was to be married,But he hoisd her out among his crew,And rowd her in his plaidie.3‘Will ye go wi me, my dear?’ he says,‘Will ye go wi me, my honey?Will ye go wi me, my dear?’ he says,‘For I love you best of ony.’4‘I winna be your dear,’ she says,‘Nor I’ll never be your honey;I’ll never be your wedded wife,For you love me but for my money.’5He hoisd her out among his crew,She holding by her mother;Wi watry eyes and mournfu criesThey parted from each other.6As they gaed oer yon high hill,The ladie often fainted;‘Oh, wae be to my gold,’ she said,‘This road for me invented!’7Two held her up before the priest,And two put her to bed,Wi mournful cries and watry eyesAs she lay by his side.8‘Be content, be content,Be content wi me, ladie,For now you are my wedded wifeUntil the day ye die, ladie.9‘Rob Roy was my father calld,McGrigor was his name, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.10‘You do not think yourself a matchFor such a one as I, ladie;But I been east and I been west,And saird the king of France, ladie.11‘And now we hear the bag-pipe play,And we maun hae a dance, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.12‘Shake your foot, shake your foot,Shake your foot wi me, ladie,For now you are my wedded brideUntil the day ye die, ladie.13‘My father dealt in cows and ewes,Likewise in goats and sheep, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.14‘And ye have fifty thousand marks,Makes me a man compleat, ladie;Why mayn’t I maidMay I not ride in state, ladie?15‘My father was a Highland laird,Altho he be now dead, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.’

1Rob Roy from the Highlands cameUnto the Lowland border;It was to steal a ladie away,To keep his house in order.

Rob Roy from the Highlands came

Unto the Lowland border;

It was to steal a ladie away,

To keep his house in order.

2He gae her nae time to dress herselfLike a lady that was to be married,But he hoisd her out among his crew,And rowd her in his plaidie.

He gae her nae time to dress herself

Like a lady that was to be married,

But he hoisd her out among his crew,

And rowd her in his plaidie.

3‘Will ye go wi me, my dear?’ he says,‘Will ye go wi me, my honey?Will ye go wi me, my dear?’ he says,‘For I love you best of ony.’

‘Will ye go wi me, my dear?’ he says,

‘Will ye go wi me, my honey?

Will ye go wi me, my dear?’ he says,

‘For I love you best of ony.’

4‘I winna be your dear,’ she says,‘Nor I’ll never be your honey;I’ll never be your wedded wife,For you love me but for my money.’

‘I winna be your dear,’ she says,

‘Nor I’ll never be your honey;

I’ll never be your wedded wife,

For you love me but for my money.’

5He hoisd her out among his crew,She holding by her mother;Wi watry eyes and mournfu criesThey parted from each other.

He hoisd her out among his crew,

She holding by her mother;

Wi watry eyes and mournfu cries

They parted from each other.

6As they gaed oer yon high hill,The ladie often fainted;‘Oh, wae be to my gold,’ she said,‘This road for me invented!’

As they gaed oer yon high hill,

The ladie often fainted;

‘Oh, wae be to my gold,’ she said,

‘This road for me invented!’

7Two held her up before the priest,And two put her to bed,Wi mournful cries and watry eyesAs she lay by his side.

Two held her up before the priest,

And two put her to bed,

Wi mournful cries and watry eyes

As she lay by his side.

8‘Be content, be content,Be content wi me, ladie,For now you are my wedded wifeUntil the day ye die, ladie.

‘Be content, be content,

Be content wi me, ladie,

For now you are my wedded wife

Until the day ye die, ladie.

9‘Rob Roy was my father calld,McGrigor was his name, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.

‘Rob Roy was my father calld,

McGrigor was his name, ladie,

And a’ the country round about

Has heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.

10‘You do not think yourself a matchFor such a one as I, ladie;But I been east and I been west,And saird the king of France, ladie.

‘You do not think yourself a match

For such a one as I, ladie;

But I been east and I been west,

And saird the king of France, ladie.

11‘And now we hear the bag-pipe play,And we maun hae a dance, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.

‘And now we hear the bag-pipe play,

And we maun hae a dance, ladie,

And a’ the country round about

Has heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.

12‘Shake your foot, shake your foot,Shake your foot wi me, ladie,For now you are my wedded brideUntil the day ye die, ladie.

‘Shake your foot, shake your foot,

Shake your foot wi me, ladie,

For now you are my wedded bride

Until the day ye die, ladie.

13‘My father dealt in cows and ewes,Likewise in goats and sheep, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.

‘My father dealt in cows and ewes,

Likewise in goats and sheep, ladie,

And a’ the country round about

Has heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.

14‘And ye have fifty thousand marks,Makes me a man compleat, ladie;Why mayn’t I maidMay I not ride in state, ladie?

‘And ye have fifty thousand marks,

Makes me a man compleat, ladie;

Why mayn’t I maid

May I not ride in state, ladie?

15‘My father was a Highland laird,Altho he be now dead, ladie,And a’ the country round aboutHas heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.’

‘My father was a Highland laird,

Altho he be now dead, ladie,

And a’ the country round about

Has heard of Roy’s fame, ladie.’

Pitcairn’s MSS, III, 41; “from tradition (Widow Stevenson).”

1Rob Roy from the Highlands camUnto our Scottish border,And he has stown a lady fair,To hand his house in order.2And when he cam he surrounded the house;Twenty men their arms did carry;And he has stown this lady fair,On purpose her for to marry.3And whan he cam he surrounded the house;No tidings there cam before him,Or else the lady would have been gone,For still she did abhor him.4Wi murnfu cries and watery eyes,Fast hauding by her mother,Wi murnfu cries and watery eyesThey parted frae each other.5Nae time he gied her to be dressedAs ladys do when they’re bride, O,But he hastened and hurried her awa,And he rowd her in his plaid, O.6They rade till they cam to Ballyshine,At Ballyshine they tarried;He bought to her a cotton gown,Yet would she never be married.7Three held her up before the priest,Four carried her to bed, O,Wi watery eyes and murnfu sighsWhen she behind was laid, O.8‘O be content, be content,Be content to stay, lady,For you are my wedded wifeUnto my dying day, lady.Be content,etc.9‘My father is Rob Roy called,MacGregor is his name, lady;In all the country whare he dwells,He does succeed the fame, lady.Be content,etc.10‘My father he has cows and ewes,And goats he has anew, lady,And you and twenty thousand merksWill mak me a man complete, lady.’Be content,etc.

1Rob Roy from the Highlands camUnto our Scottish border,And he has stown a lady fair,To hand his house in order.

Rob Roy from the Highlands cam

Unto our Scottish border,

And he has stown a lady fair,

To hand his house in order.

2And when he cam he surrounded the house;Twenty men their arms did carry;And he has stown this lady fair,On purpose her for to marry.

And when he cam he surrounded the house;

Twenty men their arms did carry;

And he has stown this lady fair,

On purpose her for to marry.

3And whan he cam he surrounded the house;No tidings there cam before him,Or else the lady would have been gone,For still she did abhor him.

And whan he cam he surrounded the house;

No tidings there cam before him,

Or else the lady would have been gone,

For still she did abhor him.

4Wi murnfu cries and watery eyes,Fast hauding by her mother,Wi murnfu cries and watery eyesThey parted frae each other.

Wi murnfu cries and watery eyes,

Fast hauding by her mother,

Wi murnfu cries and watery eyes

They parted frae each other.

5Nae time he gied her to be dressedAs ladys do when they’re bride, O,But he hastened and hurried her awa,And he rowd her in his plaid, O.

Nae time he gied her to be dressed

As ladys do when they’re bride, O,

But he hastened and hurried her awa,

And he rowd her in his plaid, O.

6They rade till they cam to Ballyshine,At Ballyshine they tarried;He bought to her a cotton gown,Yet would she never be married.

They rade till they cam to Ballyshine,

At Ballyshine they tarried;

He bought to her a cotton gown,

Yet would she never be married.

7Three held her up before the priest,Four carried her to bed, O,Wi watery eyes and murnfu sighsWhen she behind was laid, O.

Three held her up before the priest,

Four carried her to bed, O,

Wi watery eyes and murnfu sighs

When she behind was laid, O.

8‘O be content, be content,Be content to stay, lady,For you are my wedded wifeUnto my dying day, lady.Be content,etc.

‘O be content, be content,

Be content to stay, lady,

For you are my wedded wife

Unto my dying day, lady.

Be content,etc.

9‘My father is Rob Roy called,MacGregor is his name, lady;In all the country whare he dwells,He does succeed the fame, lady.Be content,etc.

‘My father is Rob Roy called,

MacGregor is his name, lady;

In all the country whare he dwells,

He does succeed the fame, lady.

Be content,etc.

10‘My father he has cows and ewes,And goats he has anew, lady,And you and twenty thousand merksWill mak me a man complete, lady.’Be content,etc.

‘My father he has cows and ewes,

And goats he has anew, lady,

And you and twenty thousand merks

Will mak me a man complete, lady.’

Be content,etc.

Campbell MSS, II, 229.

1Rob Roy frae the Highlands cameUnto the Lawland border,And he has stolen a lady away,To hand his house in order.2He’s pu’d her out amang his men,She holding by her mother;With mournfu cries and watery eyesThey parted frae each other.3When they came to the heigh hill-gate,O it’s aye this lady fainted:‘O wae! what has that cursed monieThat’s thrown to me invented?’4When they came to the heigh hill-gate,And at Buchanan tarried,They fetchd to her a cloak and gown,Yet wad she not be married.5Four held her up before the priest,Four laid her on her bed,With mournfu cries and watery eyesWhen she by him was laid.6‘I’ll be kind, I’ll be kind,I’ll be kind to thee, lady,And all the country for thy sakeShall surely favoured be, lady.7‘Be content, be content,Be content and stay, lady;Now ye are my weded wifeUntil your dying-day, ladie.8‘Rob Roy was my father called,McGregor was his name, lady;In every country where he was,He did exceed the fame, lady.9‘He was a hedge about his friends,A terror to his foes, lady,And every one that did him wrong,He hit them oer the nose, lady.10‘Be content, be content,Be content and stay, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUntil your dying-day, lady.11‘We will go, we will go,We will go to France, lady,Where I before for safety fled,And there wee’l get a dance, lady.12‘Shake a fit, shake a fit,Shake a fit to me, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUntil your dying-day, lady.

1Rob Roy frae the Highlands cameUnto the Lawland border,And he has stolen a lady away,To hand his house in order.

Rob Roy frae the Highlands came

Unto the Lawland border,

And he has stolen a lady away,

To hand his house in order.

2He’s pu’d her out amang his men,She holding by her mother;With mournfu cries and watery eyesThey parted frae each other.

He’s pu’d her out amang his men,

She holding by her mother;

With mournfu cries and watery eyes

They parted frae each other.

3When they came to the heigh hill-gate,O it’s aye this lady fainted:‘O wae! what has that cursed monieThat’s thrown to me invented?’

When they came to the heigh hill-gate,

O it’s aye this lady fainted:

‘O wae! what has that cursed monie

That’s thrown to me invented?’

4When they came to the heigh hill-gate,And at Buchanan tarried,They fetchd to her a cloak and gown,Yet wad she not be married.

When they came to the heigh hill-gate,

And at Buchanan tarried,

They fetchd to her a cloak and gown,

Yet wad she not be married.

5Four held her up before the priest,Four laid her on her bed,With mournfu cries and watery eyesWhen she by him was laid.

Four held her up before the priest,

Four laid her on her bed,

With mournfu cries and watery eyes

When she by him was laid.

6‘I’ll be kind, I’ll be kind,I’ll be kind to thee, lady,And all the country for thy sakeShall surely favoured be, lady.

‘I’ll be kind, I’ll be kind,

I’ll be kind to thee, lady,

And all the country for thy sake

Shall surely favoured be, lady.

7‘Be content, be content,Be content and stay, lady;Now ye are my weded wifeUntil your dying-day, ladie.

‘Be content, be content,

Be content and stay, lady;

Now ye are my weded wife

Until your dying-day, ladie.

8‘Rob Roy was my father called,McGregor was his name, lady;In every country where he was,He did exceed the fame, lady.

‘Rob Roy was my father called,

McGregor was his name, lady;

In every country where he was,

He did exceed the fame, lady.

9‘He was a hedge about his friends,A terror to his foes, lady,And every one that did him wrong,He hit them oer the nose, lady.

‘He was a hedge about his friends,

A terror to his foes, lady,

And every one that did him wrong,

He hit them oer the nose, lady.

10‘Be content, be content,Be content and stay, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUntil your dying-day, lady.

‘Be content, be content,

Be content and stay, lady;

Now ye are my wedded wife

Until your dying-day, lady.

11‘We will go, we will go,We will go to France, lady,Where I before for safety fled,And there wee’l get a dance, lady.

‘We will go, we will go,

We will go to France, lady,

Where I before for safety fled,

And there wee’l get a dance, lady.

12‘Shake a fit, shake a fit,Shake a fit to me, lady;Now ye are my wedded wifeUntil your dying-day, lady.

‘Shake a fit, shake a fit,

Shake a fit to me, lady;

Now ye are my wedded wife

Until your dying-day, lady.

Cromek, Select Scotish Songs, 1810, II, 194, 199; sent by Burns to William Tytler, in a letter.

1Rob Roy from the Highlands camUnto the Lawlan border,To steal awa a gay ladie,To hand his house in order.2He cam owre the Lock o Lynn,Twenty men his arms did carry;Himsel gaed in an fand her out,Protesting he would marry.3‘O will ye gae wi me’? he says,‘Or will ye be my honey?Or will ye be my wedded wife?For I love you best of any.’4‘I winna gae wi you,’ she says,‘Nor will I be your honey,Nor will I be your wedded wife;You love me for my money.’* * * * * *5But he set her on a coal-black steed,Himsel lap on behind her,An he’s awa to the Highland hills,Whare her friens they canna find her.* * * * * *6‘Rob Roy was my father ca’d,MacGregor was his name, ladie;He led a band o heroes bauld,An I am here the same, ladie.7‘Be content, be content,Be content to stay, ladie;For thou art my wedded wifeUntil thy dying day, ladie.8‘He was a hedge unto his friens,A heckle to his foes, ladie,Every one that durst him wrang,He took him by the nose, ladie.9‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,I’m as bold, an more, ladie;He that daurs dispute my wordShall feel my guid claymore, ladie.’

1Rob Roy from the Highlands camUnto the Lawlan border,To steal awa a gay ladie,To hand his house in order.

Rob Roy from the Highlands cam

Unto the Lawlan border,

To steal awa a gay ladie,

To hand his house in order.

2He cam owre the Lock o Lynn,Twenty men his arms did carry;Himsel gaed in an fand her out,Protesting he would marry.

He cam owre the Lock o Lynn,

Twenty men his arms did carry;

Himsel gaed in an fand her out,

Protesting he would marry.

3‘O will ye gae wi me’? he says,‘Or will ye be my honey?Or will ye be my wedded wife?For I love you best of any.’

‘O will ye gae wi me’? he says,

‘Or will ye be my honey?

Or will ye be my wedded wife?

For I love you best of any.’

4‘I winna gae wi you,’ she says,‘Nor will I be your honey,Nor will I be your wedded wife;You love me for my money.’

‘I winna gae wi you,’ she says,

‘Nor will I be your honey,

Nor will I be your wedded wife;

You love me for my money.’

* * * * * *

5But he set her on a coal-black steed,Himsel lap on behind her,An he’s awa to the Highland hills,Whare her friens they canna find her.

But he set her on a coal-black steed,

Himsel lap on behind her,

An he’s awa to the Highland hills,

Whare her friens they canna find her.

* * * * * *

6‘Rob Roy was my father ca’d,MacGregor was his name, ladie;He led a band o heroes bauld,An I am here the same, ladie.

‘Rob Roy was my father ca’d,

MacGregor was his name, ladie;

He led a band o heroes bauld,

An I am here the same, ladie.

7‘Be content, be content,Be content to stay, ladie;For thou art my wedded wifeUntil thy dying day, ladie.

‘Be content, be content,

Be content to stay, ladie;

For thou art my wedded wife

Until thy dying day, ladie.

8‘He was a hedge unto his friens,A heckle to his foes, ladie,Every one that durst him wrang,He took him by the nose, ladie.

‘He was a hedge unto his friens,

A heckle to his foes, ladie,

Every one that durst him wrang,

He took him by the nose, ladie.

9‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,I’m as bold, an more, ladie;He that daurs dispute my wordShall feel my guid claymore, ladie.’

‘I’m as bold, I’m as bold,

I’m as bold, an more, ladie;

He that daurs dispute my word

Shall feel my guid claymore, ladie.’

Sir Walter Scott’s Introduction to his novel “ Rob Roy,” Appendix, No V, Waverley Novels, Cadell, 1846, VII, cxxxiii; “from memory.”

1Rob Roy is frae the Hielands comeDown to the Lowland border,And he has stolen that lady away,To haud his house in order.2He set her on a milk-white steed,Of none he stood in awe,Untill they reached the Hieland hills,Aboon the Balmaha.3Saying, Be content, be content,Be content with me, lady;Where will ye find in Lennox landSae braw a man as me, lady?4‘Rob Roy he was my father called,MacGregor was his name, lady;A’ the country, far and near,Have heard MacGregor’s fame, lady.5‘He was a hedge about his friends,A heckle to his foes, lady;If any man did him gainsay,He felt his deadly blows, lady.6‘I am as bold, I am as bold,I am as bold, and more, lady;Any man that doubts my wordMay try my gude claymore, lady.7‘Then be content, be content,Be content with me, lady,For now you are my wedded wifeUntil the day ye die, lady.’

1Rob Roy is frae the Hielands comeDown to the Lowland border,And he has stolen that lady away,To haud his house in order.

Rob Roy is frae the Hielands come

Down to the Lowland border,

And he has stolen that lady away,

To haud his house in order.

2He set her on a milk-white steed,Of none he stood in awe,Untill they reached the Hieland hills,Aboon the Balmaha.

He set her on a milk-white steed,

Of none he stood in awe,

Untill they reached the Hieland hills,

Aboon the Balmaha.

3Saying, Be content, be content,Be content with me, lady;Where will ye find in Lennox landSae braw a man as me, lady?

Saying, Be content, be content,

Be content with me, lady;

Where will ye find in Lennox land

Sae braw a man as me, lady?

4‘Rob Roy he was my father called,MacGregor was his name, lady;A’ the country, far and near,Have heard MacGregor’s fame, lady.

‘Rob Roy he was my father called,

MacGregor was his name, lady;

A’ the country, far and near,

Have heard MacGregor’s fame, lady.

5‘He was a hedge about his friends,A heckle to his foes, lady;If any man did him gainsay,He felt his deadly blows, lady.

‘He was a hedge about his friends,

A heckle to his foes, lady;

If any man did him gainsay,

He felt his deadly blows, lady.

6‘I am as bold, I am as bold,I am as bold, and more, lady;Any man that doubts my wordMay try my gude claymore, lady.

‘I am as bold, I am as bold,

I am as bold, and more, lady;

Any man that doubts my word

May try my gude claymore, lady.

7‘Then be content, be content,Be content with me, lady,For now you are my wedded wifeUntil the day ye die, lady.’

‘Then be content, be content,

Be content with me, lady,

For now you are my wedded wife

Until the day ye die, lady.’

Campbell MSS, II, 58.

1Rob Roy is frae the Highlands comeUnto the Scottish border,And he has stolen a lady gay,To keep his house in order.2He and his crew surrounded the house;No tidings came before him,Or else I’m sure she wad been gone,For she did still abhore him.3He drew her thro amang his crew,She holding by her mother;With watery eyes and mournfu criesThey parted from each other.4He’s set her on a milk-white steed,Himself jumped on behind her,And he’s awa to the Highland hills,And her friends they couldna find her.5‘O be content, be content,O be content and stay, lady,And never think of going backUntil your dying day, lady.’6As they went over hills and dales,This lady oftimes fainted;Cries, Wae be to that cursed moneyThis road to me invented!7‘O dinna think, O dinna think,O dinna think to ly, lady;O think na ye yersell weel matchdOn sic a lad as me, lady?8‘What think ye o my coal-black hair,But and my twinkling een, lady,A little bonnet on my head,And cocket up aboon, lady?9‘O dinna think, O dinna think,O dinna think to ly, lady;O think nae ye yersell weel matchdOn sic a lad as me, lady?10‘Rob Roy was my father calld,But Gregory was his name, lady;There was neither duke nor lordCould eer succeed his fame, lady.11‘O may not I, may not I,May not I succeed, lady?My old father did so design;O now but he is dead, lady.12‘My father was a hedge about his friends,A heckle to his foes, lady,And every one that did him wrang,He hit them oer the nose, lady.13‘I [’m] as bold, I [’m] as bold,I [’m] as bold, and more, lady,And every one that does me wrongShall feel my good claymore, lady.14‘You need not fear our country cheer,Ye’se hae good entertain, lady;For ye shall hae a feather-bed,Both lang and broad and green, lady.15‘Come, be content, come, be content,Come, be content and stay, lady,And never think of going backUntil yer dying day, lady.’16Twa held her up before the priest,Four laid her in her bed,And sae mournfully she weeping cry’dWhen she by him was laid!17‘Come, dinna think, come, dinna think,Come, dinna think to ly, lady;You’ll surely think yersell weel matchdOn sic a lad as me, lady.18‘Come, be content, come, be content,Come, be content and stay, lady,And never think of going backUntil your dying day, lady.’

1Rob Roy is frae the Highlands comeUnto the Scottish border,And he has stolen a lady gay,To keep his house in order.

Rob Roy is frae the Highlands come

Unto the Scottish border,

And he has stolen a lady gay,

To keep his house in order.

2He and his crew surrounded the house;No tidings came before him,Or else I’m sure she wad been gone,For she did still abhore him.

He and his crew surrounded the house;

No tidings came before him,

Or else I’m sure she wad been gone,

For she did still abhore him.

3He drew her thro amang his crew,She holding by her mother;With watery eyes and mournfu criesThey parted from each other.

He drew her thro amang his crew,

She holding by her mother;

With watery eyes and mournfu cries

They parted from each other.

4He’s set her on a milk-white steed,Himself jumped on behind her,And he’s awa to the Highland hills,And her friends they couldna find her.

He’s set her on a milk-white steed,

Himself jumped on behind her,

And he’s awa to the Highland hills,

And her friends they couldna find her.

5‘O be content, be content,O be content and stay, lady,And never think of going backUntil your dying day, lady.’

‘O be content, be content,

O be content and stay, lady,

And never think of going back

Until your dying day, lady.’

6As they went over hills and dales,This lady oftimes fainted;Cries, Wae be to that cursed moneyThis road to me invented!

As they went over hills and dales,

This lady oftimes fainted;

Cries, Wae be to that cursed money

This road to me invented!

7‘O dinna think, O dinna think,O dinna think to ly, lady;O think na ye yersell weel matchdOn sic a lad as me, lady?

‘O dinna think, O dinna think,

O dinna think to ly, lady;

O think na ye yersell weel matchd

On sic a lad as me, lady?

8‘What think ye o my coal-black hair,But and my twinkling een, lady,A little bonnet on my head,And cocket up aboon, lady?

‘What think ye o my coal-black hair,

But and my twinkling een, lady,

A little bonnet on my head,

And cocket up aboon, lady?

9‘O dinna think, O dinna think,O dinna think to ly, lady;O think nae ye yersell weel matchdOn sic a lad as me, lady?

‘O dinna think, O dinna think,

O dinna think to ly, lady;

O think nae ye yersell weel matchd

On sic a lad as me, lady?

10‘Rob Roy was my father calld,But Gregory was his name, lady;There was neither duke nor lordCould eer succeed his fame, lady.

‘Rob Roy was my father calld,

But Gregory was his name, lady;

There was neither duke nor lord

Could eer succeed his fame, lady.

11‘O may not I, may not I,May not I succeed, lady?My old father did so design;O now but he is dead, lady.

‘O may not I, may not I,

May not I succeed, lady?

My old father did so design;

O now but he is dead, lady.

12‘My father was a hedge about his friends,A heckle to his foes, lady,And every one that did him wrang,He hit them oer the nose, lady.

‘My father was a hedge about his friends,

A heckle to his foes, lady,

And every one that did him wrang,

He hit them oer the nose, lady.

13‘I [’m] as bold, I [’m] as bold,I [’m] as bold, and more, lady,And every one that does me wrongShall feel my good claymore, lady.

‘I [’m] as bold, I [’m] as bold,

I [’m] as bold, and more, lady,

And every one that does me wrong

Shall feel my good claymore, lady.

14‘You need not fear our country cheer,Ye’se hae good entertain, lady;For ye shall hae a feather-bed,Both lang and broad and green, lady.

‘You need not fear our country cheer,

Ye’se hae good entertain, lady;

For ye shall hae a feather-bed,

Both lang and broad and green, lady.

15‘Come, be content, come, be content,Come, be content and stay, lady,And never think of going backUntil yer dying day, lady.’

‘Come, be content, come, be content,

Come, be content and stay, lady,

And never think of going back

Until yer dying day, lady.’

16Twa held her up before the priest,Four laid her in her bed,And sae mournfully she weeping cry’dWhen she by him was laid!

Twa held her up before the priest,

Four laid her in her bed,

And sae mournfully she weeping cry’d

When she by him was laid!

17‘Come, dinna think, come, dinna think,Come, dinna think to ly, lady;You’ll surely think yersell weel matchdOn sic a lad as me, lady.

‘Come, dinna think, come, dinna think,

Come, dinna think to ly, lady;

You’ll surely think yersell weel matchd

On sic a lad as me, lady.

18‘Come, be content, come, be content,Come, be content and stay, lady,And never think of going backUntil your dying day, lady.’

‘Come, be content, come, be content,

Come, be content and stay, lady,

And never think of going back

Until your dying day, lady.’

A Garland of Old Historical Ballads, p. 10, Aungervyle Society, 1881, from a manuscript which had belonged to Maidment.

1From Drunkie in the Highlands,With four and twenty men,Rob Oig is cam, a lady fairTo carry from the plain.2Glengyle and James with him are cam,To steal Jean Mitchell’s dauchter,And they have borne her far away,To haud his house in order.3And he has taen Jean Key’s white hand,And torn her grass-green sleeve,And rudely tyed her on his horse,At her friends asked nae leave.4They rode till they cam to Ballyshine,At Ballyshine they tarried;Nae time he gave her to be dressed,In cotton gown her married.5Three held her up before the priest,Four carried her to bed, O;Wi watery eyes and mournfu sighsShe in bed wi Rob was laid, O.6‘Haud far awa from me, Rob Oig,Haud far awa from me!Before I lose my maidenhead,I’ll try my strength with thee.’7She’s torn the cap from off her headAnd thrown it to the way,But ere she lost her maidenheadShe fought with him till day.8‘Wae fa, Rob Oig, upon your head!For you have ravished me,And taen from me my maidenhead;O would that I could dee!’9‘My father he is Rob Roy called,And he has cows and ewes,And you are now my wedded wife,And can nae longer chuse.’

1From Drunkie in the Highlands,With four and twenty men,Rob Oig is cam, a lady fairTo carry from the plain.

From Drunkie in the Highlands,

With four and twenty men,

Rob Oig is cam, a lady fair

To carry from the plain.

2Glengyle and James with him are cam,To steal Jean Mitchell’s dauchter,And they have borne her far away,To haud his house in order.

Glengyle and James with him are cam,

To steal Jean Mitchell’s dauchter,

And they have borne her far away,

To haud his house in order.

3And he has taen Jean Key’s white hand,And torn her grass-green sleeve,And rudely tyed her on his horse,At her friends asked nae leave.

And he has taen Jean Key’s white hand,

And torn her grass-green sleeve,

And rudely tyed her on his horse,

At her friends asked nae leave.

4They rode till they cam to Ballyshine,At Ballyshine they tarried;Nae time he gave her to be dressed,In cotton gown her married.

They rode till they cam to Ballyshine,

At Ballyshine they tarried;

Nae time he gave her to be dressed,

In cotton gown her married.

5Three held her up before the priest,Four carried her to bed, O;Wi watery eyes and mournfu sighsShe in bed wi Rob was laid, O.

Three held her up before the priest,

Four carried her to bed, O;

Wi watery eyes and mournfu sighs

She in bed wi Rob was laid, O.

6‘Haud far awa from me, Rob Oig,Haud far awa from me!Before I lose my maidenhead,I’ll try my strength with thee.’

‘Haud far awa from me, Rob Oig,

Haud far awa from me!

Before I lose my maidenhead,

I’ll try my strength with thee.’

7She’s torn the cap from off her headAnd thrown it to the way,But ere she lost her maidenheadShe fought with him till day.

She’s torn the cap from off her head

And thrown it to the way,

But ere she lost her maidenhead

She fought with him till day.

8‘Wae fa, Rob Oig, upon your head!For you have ravished me,And taen from me my maidenhead;O would that I could dee!’

‘Wae fa, Rob Oig, upon your head!

For you have ravished me,

And taen from me my maidenhead;

O would that I could dee!’

9‘My father he is Rob Roy called,And he has cows and ewes,And you are now my wedded wife,And can nae longer chuse.’

‘My father he is Rob Roy called,

And he has cows and ewes,

And you are now my wedded wife,

And can nae longer chuse.’

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