228GLASGOW PEGGIE

A.‘Glasgow Peggie,’ Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 40.

B.a.‘Glasgow Peggy,’ Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 174. b. Kinloch MSS, VII, 259. c. ‘Glasgow Peggie,’ Aytoun’s Ballads of Scotland, 1859, II, 230.

C.a.‘Galla Water,’ ‘Bonny Peggy,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 89. b. ‘Glasgow Peggie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 116, and Sharpe’s Ballad Book, ed. 1880, p. 137, one stanza.

D.‘Donald of the Isles,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 155.

E.‘Glasgow Peggy,’ Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 70.

F.‘The Young Maclean,’ Alexander Laing’s MS., p. 5.

“Common in stalls,” says Motherwell, “under this title [‘Glasgow Peggie’], or that of the ‘Earl of Hume,’ or ‘The Banks of Omey:’” Minstrelsy, p. xciii, note 133. In his MS., p. 90, the stall-copy is said to be better than the imperfectC a.

A young Highlander comes to Glasgow and is smitten with bonnie Peggie. Her father says the Highlander may steal cow or ewe, but not Peggie; and her mother asks in disgust whether her daughter, so long the object of her care, would end with going off in such company. For all that, Peggie goes. The Earl of Argyle, or the Earl of Hume, or the young Earl of Hume, takes this much to heart. The pair ride to a low glen in the north country, and lie down on the grass. The Lowland lass has some compunctions, stimulated by the lack of the good beds at home. The captivating Highlander reassures her. He has the same comforts which she misses; they are his, and will soon be hers. He points out a fine castle which is his too, and he himself is Donald, Earl of Skye, and she will be a lady.BandE, to make the contrast of her two homes the greater, maintain that, despite her regrets for the comforts of her father’s mansion, all that Peggie left was a wee cot-house and a wee kail-yairdie.

In the fragmentF, Maclean replaces Macdonald.

Sharpe’s Ballad Book, No XV, p. 40.

1‘As I cam in by Glasgow town,The Highland troops were a’ before me,And the bonniest lass that eer I saw,She lives in Glasgow, they ca her Peggie.2‘I wad gie my bonnie black horse,So wad I my gude grey naigie,If I were twa hundred miles in the north,And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggie.’3Up then spak her father dear,Dear wow! but he was wondrous sorrie;‘Weel may ye steal a cow or a yowe,But ye dare nae steal my bonnie Peggie.’4Up then spak her mother dear,Dear wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie;Now since I have brought ye up this length,Wad ye gang awa wi a Highland fellow?’5He set her on his bonnie black horse,He set himsel on his gude gray naigie,And they have ridden oer hills and dales,And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggie.6They have ridden oer hills and dales,They have ridden oer mountains many,Until they cam to a low, low glen,And there he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.7Up then spak the Earl of Argyle,Dear wow! but he spak wondrous sorrie;‘The bonniest lass in a’ ScotlandIs off and awa wi a Highland fellow!’8Their bed was of the bonnie green grass,Their blankets war o the hay sae bonnie;He folded his philabeg below her head,And he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.9Up then spak the bonny Lowland lass,And wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie;‘I’se warrant my mither wad hae a gay sair heartTo see me lien here wi you, my Willie.’10‘In my father’s house there’s feather-beds,Feather-beds, and blankets mony;They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,And what needs your mither be sae sorrie, Peggie?11‘Dinna you see yon nine score o kye,Feeding on yon hill sae bonnie?They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,And what needs your mither be sorrie, Peggie?12‘Dinna ye see yon nine score o sheep,Feeding on yon brae sae bonnie?They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,And what needs your mither be sorrie for ye?13‘Dinna ye see yon bonnie white house,Shining on yon brae sae bonnie?And I am the Earl of the Isle of Skye,And surely my Peggie will be ca’d a lady.’

1‘As I cam in by Glasgow town,The Highland troops were a’ before me,And the bonniest lass that eer I saw,She lives in Glasgow, they ca her Peggie.

‘As I cam in by Glasgow town,

The Highland troops were a’ before me,

And the bonniest lass that eer I saw,

She lives in Glasgow, they ca her Peggie.

2‘I wad gie my bonnie black horse,So wad I my gude grey naigie,If I were twa hundred miles in the north,And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggie.’

‘I wad gie my bonnie black horse,

So wad I my gude grey naigie,

If I were twa hundred miles in the north,

And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggie.’

3Up then spak her father dear,Dear wow! but he was wondrous sorrie;‘Weel may ye steal a cow or a yowe,But ye dare nae steal my bonnie Peggie.’

Up then spak her father dear,

Dear wow! but he was wondrous sorrie;

‘Weel may ye steal a cow or a yowe,

But ye dare nae steal my bonnie Peggie.’

4Up then spak her mother dear,Dear wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie;Now since I have brought ye up this length,Wad ye gang awa wi a Highland fellow?’

Up then spak her mother dear,

Dear wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie;

Now since I have brought ye up this length,

Wad ye gang awa wi a Highland fellow?’

5He set her on his bonnie black horse,He set himsel on his gude gray naigie,And they have ridden oer hills and dales,And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggie.

He set her on his bonnie black horse,

He set himsel on his gude gray naigie,

And they have ridden oer hills and dales,

And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggie.

6They have ridden oer hills and dales,They have ridden oer mountains many,Until they cam to a low, low glen,And there he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.

They have ridden oer hills and dales,

They have ridden oer mountains many,

Until they cam to a low, low glen,

And there he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.

7Up then spak the Earl of Argyle,Dear wow! but he spak wondrous sorrie;‘The bonniest lass in a’ ScotlandIs off and awa wi a Highland fellow!’

Up then spak the Earl of Argyle,

Dear wow! but he spak wondrous sorrie;

‘The bonniest lass in a’ Scotland

Is off and awa wi a Highland fellow!’

8Their bed was of the bonnie green grass,Their blankets war o the hay sae bonnie;He folded his philabeg below her head,And he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.

Their bed was of the bonnie green grass,

Their blankets war o the hay sae bonnie;

He folded his philabeg below her head,

And he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.

9Up then spak the bonny Lowland lass,And wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie;‘I’se warrant my mither wad hae a gay sair heartTo see me lien here wi you, my Willie.’

Up then spak the bonny Lowland lass,

And wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie;

‘I’se warrant my mither wad hae a gay sair heart

To see me lien here wi you, my Willie.’

10‘In my father’s house there’s feather-beds,Feather-beds, and blankets mony;They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,And what needs your mither be sae sorrie, Peggie?

‘In my father’s house there’s feather-beds,

Feather-beds, and blankets mony;

They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,

And what needs your mither be sae sorrie, Peggie?

11‘Dinna you see yon nine score o kye,Feeding on yon hill sae bonnie?They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,And what needs your mither be sorrie, Peggie?

‘Dinna you see yon nine score o kye,

Feeding on yon hill sae bonnie?

They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,

And what needs your mither be sorrie, Peggie?

12‘Dinna ye see yon nine score o sheep,Feeding on yon brae sae bonnie?They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,And what needs your mither be sorrie for ye?

‘Dinna ye see yon nine score o sheep,

Feeding on yon brae sae bonnie?

They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine,

And what needs your mither be sorrie for ye?

13‘Dinna ye see yon bonnie white house,Shining on yon brae sae bonnie?And I am the Earl of the Isle of Skye,And surely my Peggie will be ca’d a lady.’

‘Dinna ye see yon bonnie white house,

Shining on yon brae sae bonnie?

And I am the Earl of the Isle of Skye,

And surely my Peggie will be ca’d a lady.’

a.Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 174; from recitation,b.Kinloch MSS, VII, 259; “from Mrs K.’s recitation.”c.Aytoun’s Ballads of Scotland, 1859, II, 230.

1The Lawland lads think they are fine,But the Hieland lads are brisk and gaucy,And they are awa, near Glasgow toun,To steal awa a bonnie lassie.2‘I wad gie my gude brown steed,And sae wad I my gude grey naigie,That I war fifty miles frae the toun,And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggy.’3But up then spak the auld gudman,And vow! but he spak wondrous saucie;‘Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes,But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie.’4‘I have got cows and ewes anew,I’ve got gowd and gear already;Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes,But I will hae your bonnie Peggy.’5‘I’ll follow you oure moss and muir,I’ll follow you oure mountains many,I’ll follow you through frost and snaw,I’ll stay na langer wi my daddie.’6He set her on a gude brown steed,Himself upon a gude grey naigie;They’re oure hills, and oure dales,And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggy.7As they rade out by Glasgow toun,And doun by the hills o Achildounie,There they met the Earl of Hume,And his auld son, riding bonnie.8Out bespak the Earl of Hume,And O! but he spak wondrous sorry;‘The bonniest lass about a’ Glasgow tounThis day is awa wi a Hieland laddie!’9As they rade bye auld Drymen toun,The lasses leuch and lookit saucy,That the bonniest lass they ever sawSud be riding awa wi a Hieland laddie.10They rode on through moss and muir,And so did they owre mountains many,Until that they cam to yonder glen,And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.11Gude green hay was Peggy’s bed,And brakens war her blankets bonnie,Wi his tartan plaid aneath her head;And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.12‘There’s beds and bowsters in my father’s house,There’s sheets and blankets, and a’ thing ready,And wadna they be angry wi me,To see me lie sae wi a Hieland laddie!’13‘Tho there’s beds and beddin in your father’s house,Sheets and blankets, and a’ made ready,Yet why sud they be angry wi thee,Though I be but a Hieland laddie?14‘It’s I hae fifty acres of land,It’s a’ plowd and sawn already;I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?15‘I hae fifty gude milk kye,A’ tied to the staws already;I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?16‘See ye no a’ yon castles and towrs?The sun sheens owre them a sae bonnie;I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,I think I’ll mak ye as blythe as onie.’17A’ that Peggy left behindWas a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie;Now I think she is better by farThan tho she had got a Lawland lairdie.

1The Lawland lads think they are fine,But the Hieland lads are brisk and gaucy,And they are awa, near Glasgow toun,To steal awa a bonnie lassie.

The Lawland lads think they are fine,

But the Hieland lads are brisk and gaucy,

And they are awa, near Glasgow toun,

To steal awa a bonnie lassie.

2‘I wad gie my gude brown steed,And sae wad I my gude grey naigie,That I war fifty miles frae the toun,And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggy.’

‘I wad gie my gude brown steed,

And sae wad I my gude grey naigie,

That I war fifty miles frae the toun,

And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggy.’

3But up then spak the auld gudman,And vow! but he spak wondrous saucie;‘Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes,But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie.’

But up then spak the auld gudman,

And vow! but he spak wondrous saucie;

‘Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes,

But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie.’

4‘I have got cows and ewes anew,I’ve got gowd and gear already;Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes,But I will hae your bonnie Peggy.’

‘I have got cows and ewes anew,

I’ve got gowd and gear already;

Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes,

But I will hae your bonnie Peggy.’

5‘I’ll follow you oure moss and muir,I’ll follow you oure mountains many,I’ll follow you through frost and snaw,I’ll stay na langer wi my daddie.’

‘I’ll follow you oure moss and muir,

I’ll follow you oure mountains many,

I’ll follow you through frost and snaw,

I’ll stay na langer wi my daddie.’

6He set her on a gude brown steed,Himself upon a gude grey naigie;They’re oure hills, and oure dales,And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggy.

He set her on a gude brown steed,

Himself upon a gude grey naigie;

They’re oure hills, and oure dales,

And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggy.

7As they rade out by Glasgow toun,And doun by the hills o Achildounie,There they met the Earl of Hume,And his auld son, riding bonnie.

As they rade out by Glasgow toun,

And doun by the hills o Achildounie,

There they met the Earl of Hume,

And his auld son, riding bonnie.

8Out bespak the Earl of Hume,And O! but he spak wondrous sorry;‘The bonniest lass about a’ Glasgow tounThis day is awa wi a Hieland laddie!’

Out bespak the Earl of Hume,

And O! but he spak wondrous sorry;

‘The bonniest lass about a’ Glasgow toun

This day is awa wi a Hieland laddie!’

9As they rade bye auld Drymen toun,The lasses leuch and lookit saucy,That the bonniest lass they ever sawSud be riding awa wi a Hieland laddie.

As they rade bye auld Drymen toun,

The lasses leuch and lookit saucy,

That the bonniest lass they ever saw

Sud be riding awa wi a Hieland laddie.

10They rode on through moss and muir,And so did they owre mountains many,Until that they cam to yonder glen,And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.

They rode on through moss and muir,

And so did they owre mountains many,

Until that they cam to yonder glen,

And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.

11Gude green hay was Peggy’s bed,And brakens war her blankets bonnie,Wi his tartan plaid aneath her head;And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.

Gude green hay was Peggy’s bed,

And brakens war her blankets bonnie,

Wi his tartan plaid aneath her head;

And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.

12‘There’s beds and bowsters in my father’s house,There’s sheets and blankets, and a’ thing ready,And wadna they be angry wi me,To see me lie sae wi a Hieland laddie!’

‘There’s beds and bowsters in my father’s house,

There’s sheets and blankets, and a’ thing ready,

And wadna they be angry wi me,

To see me lie sae wi a Hieland laddie!’

13‘Tho there’s beds and beddin in your father’s house,Sheets and blankets, and a’ made ready,Yet why sud they be angry wi thee,Though I be but a Hieland laddie?

‘Tho there’s beds and beddin in your father’s house,

Sheets and blankets, and a’ made ready,

Yet why sud they be angry wi thee,

Though I be but a Hieland laddie?

14‘It’s I hae fifty acres of land,It’s a’ plowd and sawn already;I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?

‘It’s I hae fifty acres of land,

It’s a’ plowd and sawn already;

I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,

And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?

15‘I hae fifty gude milk kye,A’ tied to the staws already;I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?

‘I hae fifty gude milk kye,

A’ tied to the staws already;

I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,

And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?

16‘See ye no a’ yon castles and towrs?The sun sheens owre them a sae bonnie;I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,I think I’ll mak ye as blythe as onie.’

‘See ye no a’ yon castles and towrs?

The sun sheens owre them a sae bonnie;

I am Donald, the Lord of Skye,

I think I’ll mak ye as blythe as onie.’

17A’ that Peggy left behindWas a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie;Now I think she is better by farThan tho she had got a Lawland lairdie.

A’ that Peggy left behind

Was a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie;

Now I think she is better by far

Than tho she had got a Lawland lairdie.

a.Motherwell’s MS., p. 89; from recitation.b.“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 116, and Sharpe’s Ballad Book, ed. 1880, p. 137, the last stanza.

1‘He set her on his bonnie black horse,He set himsel on his good gray naigie;He has ridden over hills, he has ridden over dales,And he’s quite awa wi my bonny Peggy.2‘Her brow it is brent and her middle it is jimp,Her arms are long and her fingers slender;One sight of her eyes makes my very heart rejoice,And wae’s my heart that we should sunder!’3His sheets were of the good green hay,His blankets were of the brackens bonnie;He’s laid his trews beneath her head,And she’s lain down wi her Highland laddie.4‘I am my mother’s ae daughter,And she had nae mair unto my daddie,And this night she would have a sore, sore heartFor to see me lye down with a Highland laddie.’5‘Ye are your mother’s ae daughter,And she had nae mae unto your daddie;This night she need not have a sore, sore heartFor to see you lie down with a Highland laddie.6‘I have four-and-twenty acres of land,It is ploughed, it is sown, and is always ready,And you shall have servants at your command;And why should you slight a Highland laddie?7‘I have four-and-twenty good milk-kye,They are feeding on yon meadow bonnie;Besides, I have both lambs and ewes,Going low in the haughs o Galla water.8‘My house it stands on yon hill-side,My broadsword, durk, and bow is ready,And you shall have servants at your command;And why may not Peggy be called a lady?’

1‘He set her on his bonnie black horse,He set himsel on his good gray naigie;He has ridden over hills, he has ridden over dales,And he’s quite awa wi my bonny Peggy.

‘He set her on his bonnie black horse,

He set himsel on his good gray naigie;

He has ridden over hills, he has ridden over dales,

And he’s quite awa wi my bonny Peggy.

2‘Her brow it is brent and her middle it is jimp,Her arms are long and her fingers slender;One sight of her eyes makes my very heart rejoice,And wae’s my heart that we should sunder!’

‘Her brow it is brent and her middle it is jimp,

Her arms are long and her fingers slender;

One sight of her eyes makes my very heart rejoice,

And wae’s my heart that we should sunder!’

3His sheets were of the good green hay,His blankets were of the brackens bonnie;He’s laid his trews beneath her head,And she’s lain down wi her Highland laddie.

His sheets were of the good green hay,

His blankets were of the brackens bonnie;

He’s laid his trews beneath her head,

And she’s lain down wi her Highland laddie.

4‘I am my mother’s ae daughter,And she had nae mair unto my daddie,And this night she would have a sore, sore heartFor to see me lye down with a Highland laddie.’

‘I am my mother’s ae daughter,

And she had nae mair unto my daddie,

And this night she would have a sore, sore heart

For to see me lye down with a Highland laddie.’

5‘Ye are your mother’s ae daughter,And she had nae mae unto your daddie;This night she need not have a sore, sore heartFor to see you lie down with a Highland laddie.

‘Ye are your mother’s ae daughter,

And she had nae mae unto your daddie;

This night she need not have a sore, sore heart

For to see you lie down with a Highland laddie.

6‘I have four-and-twenty acres of land,It is ploughed, it is sown, and is always ready,And you shall have servants at your command;And why should you slight a Highland laddie?

‘I have four-and-twenty acres of land,

It is ploughed, it is sown, and is always ready,

And you shall have servants at your command;

And why should you slight a Highland laddie?

7‘I have four-and-twenty good milk-kye,They are feeding on yon meadow bonnie;Besides, I have both lambs and ewes,Going low in the haughs o Galla water.

‘I have four-and-twenty good milk-kye,

They are feeding on yon meadow bonnie;

Besides, I have both lambs and ewes,

Going low in the haughs o Galla water.

8‘My house it stands on yon hill-side,My broadsword, durk, and bow is ready,And you shall have servants at your command;And why may not Peggy be called a lady?’

‘My house it stands on yon hill-side,

My broadsword, durk, and bow is ready,

And you shall have servants at your command;

And why may not Peggy be called a lady?’

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 155.

1A bonny laddie brisk and gay,A handsome youth sae brisk and gaddie,And he is on to Glasgow town,To steal awa his bonny Peggy.2When he came into Glasgow town,Upon her father’s green sae steady,‘Come forth, come forth, old man,’ he says,‘For I am come for bonny Peggy.’3Out it spake her father then;‘Begone from me, ye Highland laddie;There’s nane in a’ the West CountryDare steal from me my bonny Peggy.’4‘I’ve ten young men all at my back,That ance to me were baith true and steady;If ance I call, they’ll soon be nigh,And bring to me my bonny Peggy.’5Out it spake her mother then,Dear! but she spake wondrous saucy;Says, Ye may steal my cow or ewe,But I’ll keep sight o my ain lassie.6‘Hold your tongue, old woman,’ he says,‘Ye think your wit it is fu ready;For cow nor ewe I ever stole,But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’7Then all his men they boldly came,That was to him baith true and steady,And thro the ha they quickly went,And forth they carried bonny Peggy.8Her father gae mony shout and cry,Her mother cursed the Highland laddie;But he heard them as he heard them not,But fixd his eye on bonny Peggy.9He set her on his milk-white steed,And he himsell on his grey naigie;Still along the way they rode,And he’s awa wi bonny Peggy.10Says, I wad gie baith cow and ewe,And sae woud I this tartan plaidie,That I was far into the north,And alang wi me my bonny Peggy.11As they rode down yon pleasant glen,For trees and brambles were right mony,There they met the Earl o Hume,And his young son, were riding bonny.12Then out it spake the young Earl Hume,Dear! but he spake wondrous gaudie;‘I’m wae to see sae fair a dameRiding alang wi a Highland laddie.’13‘Hold your tongue, ye young Earl Hume,O dear! but ye do speak right gaudie;There’s nae a lord in a’ the southDare eer compete wi a Highland laddie.’14Then he rade five miles thro the north,Thro mony hills sae rough and scroggie,Till they came down to a low glen,And he lay down wi bonny Peggy.15Then he inclosed her in his arms,And rowd her in his tartan plaidie:‘There are blankets and sheets in my father’s house,How have I lien down wi a Highland laddie!’16Says he, There are sheep in my father’s fauld,And every year their wool is ready;By the same our debts we pay,Altho I be but a Highland laddie.17‘There are fifty cows in my father’s byre,That all are tyed to the stakes and ready;Five thousand pounds I hae ilk year,Altho I be but a Highland laddie.18‘My father has fifty well shod horse,Besides your steed and my grey naigie;I’m Donald o the Isle o Sky,Why may not you be ca’d a lady?19‘See ye not yon fine castle,On yonder hill that stands sae gaudie?And there we’ll win this very night,Where ye’ll enjoy your Highland laddie.’

1A bonny laddie brisk and gay,A handsome youth sae brisk and gaddie,And he is on to Glasgow town,To steal awa his bonny Peggy.

A bonny laddie brisk and gay,

A handsome youth sae brisk and gaddie,

And he is on to Glasgow town,

To steal awa his bonny Peggy.

2When he came into Glasgow town,Upon her father’s green sae steady,‘Come forth, come forth, old man,’ he says,‘For I am come for bonny Peggy.’

When he came into Glasgow town,

Upon her father’s green sae steady,

‘Come forth, come forth, old man,’ he says,

‘For I am come for bonny Peggy.’

3Out it spake her father then;‘Begone from me, ye Highland laddie;There’s nane in a’ the West CountryDare steal from me my bonny Peggy.’

Out it spake her father then;

‘Begone from me, ye Highland laddie;

There’s nane in a’ the West Country

Dare steal from me my bonny Peggy.’

4‘I’ve ten young men all at my back,That ance to me were baith true and steady;If ance I call, they’ll soon be nigh,And bring to me my bonny Peggy.’

‘I’ve ten young men all at my back,

That ance to me were baith true and steady;

If ance I call, they’ll soon be nigh,

And bring to me my bonny Peggy.’

5Out it spake her mother then,Dear! but she spake wondrous saucy;Says, Ye may steal my cow or ewe,But I’ll keep sight o my ain lassie.

Out it spake her mother then,

Dear! but she spake wondrous saucy;

Says, Ye may steal my cow or ewe,

But I’ll keep sight o my ain lassie.

6‘Hold your tongue, old woman,’ he says,‘Ye think your wit it is fu ready;For cow nor ewe I ever stole,But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’

‘Hold your tongue, old woman,’ he says,

‘Ye think your wit it is fu ready;

For cow nor ewe I ever stole,

But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’

7Then all his men they boldly came,That was to him baith true and steady,And thro the ha they quickly went,And forth they carried bonny Peggy.

Then all his men they boldly came,

That was to him baith true and steady,

And thro the ha they quickly went,

And forth they carried bonny Peggy.

8Her father gae mony shout and cry,Her mother cursed the Highland laddie;But he heard them as he heard them not,But fixd his eye on bonny Peggy.

Her father gae mony shout and cry,

Her mother cursed the Highland laddie;

But he heard them as he heard them not,

But fixd his eye on bonny Peggy.

9He set her on his milk-white steed,And he himsell on his grey naigie;Still along the way they rode,And he’s awa wi bonny Peggy.

He set her on his milk-white steed,

And he himsell on his grey naigie;

Still along the way they rode,

And he’s awa wi bonny Peggy.

10Says, I wad gie baith cow and ewe,And sae woud I this tartan plaidie,That I was far into the north,And alang wi me my bonny Peggy.

Says, I wad gie baith cow and ewe,

And sae woud I this tartan plaidie,

That I was far into the north,

And alang wi me my bonny Peggy.

11As they rode down yon pleasant glen,For trees and brambles were right mony,There they met the Earl o Hume,And his young son, were riding bonny.

As they rode down yon pleasant glen,

For trees and brambles were right mony,

There they met the Earl o Hume,

And his young son, were riding bonny.

12Then out it spake the young Earl Hume,Dear! but he spake wondrous gaudie;‘I’m wae to see sae fair a dameRiding alang wi a Highland laddie.’

Then out it spake the young Earl Hume,

Dear! but he spake wondrous gaudie;

‘I’m wae to see sae fair a dame

Riding alang wi a Highland laddie.’

13‘Hold your tongue, ye young Earl Hume,O dear! but ye do speak right gaudie;There’s nae a lord in a’ the southDare eer compete wi a Highland laddie.’

‘Hold your tongue, ye young Earl Hume,

O dear! but ye do speak right gaudie;

There’s nae a lord in a’ the south

Dare eer compete wi a Highland laddie.’

14Then he rade five miles thro the north,Thro mony hills sae rough and scroggie,Till they came down to a low glen,And he lay down wi bonny Peggy.

Then he rade five miles thro the north,

Thro mony hills sae rough and scroggie,

Till they came down to a low glen,

And he lay down wi bonny Peggy.

15Then he inclosed her in his arms,And rowd her in his tartan plaidie:‘There are blankets and sheets in my father’s house,How have I lien down wi a Highland laddie!’

Then he inclosed her in his arms,

And rowd her in his tartan plaidie:

‘There are blankets and sheets in my father’s house,

How have I lien down wi a Highland laddie!’

16Says he, There are sheep in my father’s fauld,And every year their wool is ready;By the same our debts we pay,Altho I be but a Highland laddie.

Says he, There are sheep in my father’s fauld,

And every year their wool is ready;

By the same our debts we pay,

Altho I be but a Highland laddie.

17‘There are fifty cows in my father’s byre,That all are tyed to the stakes and ready;Five thousand pounds I hae ilk year,Altho I be but a Highland laddie.

‘There are fifty cows in my father’s byre,

That all are tyed to the stakes and ready;

Five thousand pounds I hae ilk year,

Altho I be but a Highland laddie.

18‘My father has fifty well shod horse,Besides your steed and my grey naigie;I’m Donald o the Isle o Sky,Why may not you be ca’d a lady?

‘My father has fifty well shod horse,

Besides your steed and my grey naigie;

I’m Donald o the Isle o Sky,

Why may not you be ca’d a lady?

19‘See ye not yon fine castle,On yonder hill that stands sae gaudie?And there we’ll win this very night,Where ye’ll enjoy your Highland laddie.’

‘See ye not yon fine castle,

On yonder hill that stands sae gaudie?

And there we’ll win this very night,

Where ye’ll enjoy your Highland laddie.’

Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 70, as sang by an old woman living near Keith, Banffshire.

1The Hielan lads sae brisk and braw,The Hielan lads sae brisk and gaudie,Hae gane awa to Glasgow town,To steal awa the bonny Peggy.2As they cam on to Glasgow town,And passd the banks and braes sae bonny,There they espied the weel-faurd may,And she said to them her name was Peggy.3Their chief did meet her father soon,And O! but he was wondrous angry;Says, Ye may steal my owsen and kye,But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.4‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,For I’ve got cows and ewes already;I come na to steal your owsen and kye,But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’5He set her on a milk-white steed,And he himsel rode a gude grey naigie,And they are on mony miles to the north,And nane wi them but the bonny Peggy.6‘I hae fifty acres o gude red lan,And a’ weel ploughd and sawn already,And why should your father be angry wi me,And ca me naething but a Hielan laddie?7‘I hae twenty weel mounted steeds,Black and brown and grey, already;And ilk ane o them is tended by a groom,Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.8‘I hae now ten thousand sheep,A’ feeding on yon braes sae bonny,And ilka hundred a shepherd has,Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.9‘I hae a castle on yonder hill,It’s a’ set roun wi windows many;I’m Lord M’Donald o the whole Isle of Skye;And why shouldna Peggy be ca’d my Lady?’10Now a’ that Peggy had beforeWas a wee cot-house and a little kail-yairdie,But now she is lady o the whole Isle of Skye,And now bonny Peggy is ca’d my Lady.

1The Hielan lads sae brisk and braw,The Hielan lads sae brisk and gaudie,Hae gane awa to Glasgow town,To steal awa the bonny Peggy.

The Hielan lads sae brisk and braw,

The Hielan lads sae brisk and gaudie,

Hae gane awa to Glasgow town,

To steal awa the bonny Peggy.

2As they cam on to Glasgow town,And passd the banks and braes sae bonny,There they espied the weel-faurd may,And she said to them her name was Peggy.

As they cam on to Glasgow town,

And passd the banks and braes sae bonny,

There they espied the weel-faurd may,

And she said to them her name was Peggy.

3Their chief did meet her father soon,And O! but he was wondrous angry;Says, Ye may steal my owsen and kye,But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.

Their chief did meet her father soon,

And O! but he was wondrous angry;

Says, Ye may steal my owsen and kye,

But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.

4‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,For I’ve got cows and ewes already;I come na to steal your owsen and kye,But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’

‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,

For I’ve got cows and ewes already;

I come na to steal your owsen and kye,

But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’

5He set her on a milk-white steed,And he himsel rode a gude grey naigie,And they are on mony miles to the north,And nane wi them but the bonny Peggy.

He set her on a milk-white steed,

And he himsel rode a gude grey naigie,

And they are on mony miles to the north,

And nane wi them but the bonny Peggy.

6‘I hae fifty acres o gude red lan,And a’ weel ploughd and sawn already,And why should your father be angry wi me,And ca me naething but a Hielan laddie?

‘I hae fifty acres o gude red lan,

And a’ weel ploughd and sawn already,

And why should your father be angry wi me,

And ca me naething but a Hielan laddie?

7‘I hae twenty weel mounted steeds,Black and brown and grey, already;And ilk ane o them is tended by a groom,Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.

‘I hae twenty weel mounted steeds,

Black and brown and grey, already;

And ilk ane o them is tended by a groom,

Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.

8‘I hae now ten thousand sheep,A’ feeding on yon braes sae bonny,And ilka hundred a shepherd has,Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.

‘I hae now ten thousand sheep,

A’ feeding on yon braes sae bonny,

And ilka hundred a shepherd has,

Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.

9‘I hae a castle on yonder hill,It’s a’ set roun wi windows many;I’m Lord M’Donald o the whole Isle of Skye;And why shouldna Peggy be ca’d my Lady?’

‘I hae a castle on yonder hill,

It’s a’ set roun wi windows many;

I’m Lord M’Donald o the whole Isle of Skye;

And why shouldna Peggy be ca’d my Lady?’

10Now a’ that Peggy had beforeWas a wee cot-house and a little kail-yairdie,But now she is lady o the whole Isle of Skye,And now bonny Peggy is ca’d my Lady.

Now a’ that Peggy had before

Was a wee cot-house and a little kail-yairdie,

But now she is lady o the whole Isle of Skye,

And now bonny Peggy is ca’d my Lady.

Alexander Laing’s MS., 1829, p. 5.

1The young Maclean is brisk an bauld,The young Maclean is rash an ready.An he is to the Lowlands gane,To steal awa a bonnie ladye.* * * * * *2Out an spak her auld father,An O! but he spak wondrous angry;‘Ye may steal my cows an ewes,But ye shall not steal my dochter Peggie.’3‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,For I hae gear enough already;I cum na for your cows an ewes,But I cum for your dochter Peggie.’4He set her on a milk-white steed,Himsel upon a gude gray naggie,An they are to the Highlands gane,The young Maclean an his bonnie ladye.

1The young Maclean is brisk an bauld,The young Maclean is rash an ready.An he is to the Lowlands gane,To steal awa a bonnie ladye.

The young Maclean is brisk an bauld,

The young Maclean is rash an ready.

An he is to the Lowlands gane,

To steal awa a bonnie ladye.

* * * * * *

2Out an spak her auld father,An O! but he spak wondrous angry;‘Ye may steal my cows an ewes,But ye shall not steal my dochter Peggie.’

Out an spak her auld father,

An O! but he spak wondrous angry;

‘Ye may steal my cows an ewes,

But ye shall not steal my dochter Peggie.’

3‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,For I hae gear enough already;I cum na for your cows an ewes,But I cum for your dochter Peggie.’

‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man,

For I hae gear enough already;

I cum na for your cows an ewes,

But I cum for your dochter Peggie.’

4He set her on a milk-white steed,Himsel upon a gude gray naggie,An they are to the Highlands gane,The young Maclean an his bonnie ladye.

He set her on a milk-white steed,

Himsel upon a gude gray naggie,

An they are to the Highlands gane,

The young Maclean an his bonnie ladye.

B. b.

Stanzas7, 3, 122, 6, 4.

3.And then out and spak her father dear,And oh! but he was wondrous angrie;‘It’s ye may steal my cows and ews,But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.’4.‘Hold your tongue, you silly auld man,For ye’ve said eneuch already;I’ll neither steal your cows nor ews,But I wat I’ll steal your bonnie Peggy.’

3.And then out and spak her father dear,And oh! but he was wondrous angrie;‘It’s ye may steal my cows and ews,But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.’

And then out and spak her father dear,

And oh! but he was wondrous angrie;

‘It’s ye may steal my cows and ews,

But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.’

4.‘Hold your tongue, you silly auld man,For ye’ve said eneuch already;I’ll neither steal your cows nor ews,But I wat I’ll steal your bonnie Peggy.’

‘Hold your tongue, you silly auld man,

For ye’ve said eneuch already;

I’ll neither steal your cows nor ews,

But I wat I’ll steal your bonnie Peggy.’

61. He’s mounted her on a milk-white.

62. are ouer hill and they’re ouer dale.

64. he’s clean awa.

71. As I cam in by.

73. I met.

74. son, war.

122. Feather beds and bowsters many. (A, 10.2)

“I have carefully collated these [Kinloch’s copy,B a,and Sharpe’s,A] with anothercopy, giving, for the most part, the preference to the version of Mr Kinloch.”Readings (quite unimportant) which do not occur inB a,A:

13. they hae come doun to Glasgow toun.

21. O I.

23. were a hundred.

43. or.

After 4,cf.A41,2:

But up then spak the auld gudewife,And wow! but she lookd wondrous yellow.

But up then spak the auld gudewife,

And wow! but she lookd wondrous yellow.

51–3. follow him.

54. I’ll bide.

71. out frae.

72. And by the side o Antermony.

74. Wi him his.

82. sadlyforsorry.

101. It’s they.

114. wi the.

121. There’s mair than ae bed in.

162. on them.

163. It’s I.

C.b.

8.In a letter of John Hamilton’s to Sir W. Scott, dated August 17, 1803 (“Scotch Ballads,” etc., No 116), this stanza is given thus:

My palace stands on yon burn-brae,My bow is bent an arrows ready;My name is Donald, in the Isle of Sky,Although I be but a Highland laddie.

My palace stands on yon burn-brae,

My bow is bent an arrows ready;

My name is Donald, in the Isle of Sky,

Although I be but a Highland laddie.

Scott probably trusted to his memory when making the following note to a, printed in Sharpe’s Ballad Book, ed. 1880:

‘I have a dirk and a gude claymore,My bow is bent and my arrow ready;My castle stands in the Isle of Skye,Although I am but a Highland laddie.’

‘I have a dirk and a gude claymore,

My bow is bent and my arrow ready;

My castle stands in the Isle of Skye,

Although I am but a Highland laddie.’

“The above stanza, which I got from the late Mr Hamilton, music-seller in Edinburgh, seems to belong to ‘Glasgow Peggie.’”

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