231THE EARL OF ERROL

A. a.‘Kate Carnegie,’ Campbell MSS, II, 94.b.The Edinburgh Magazine, or Literary Miscellany, June, 1803, p. 458.

B.Skene MS., p. 113.

C.‘The Countess of Erroll,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 176.

D. a.‘Lord and Lady Errol,’ Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 158.b.‘Errol’s Place,’ Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 31.c.‘Earl of Errol,’ Kinloch’s Ballad Book, p. 31.

E.Letters from and to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, edited by Alexander Allardyce, I, 180; Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 89, No. 31.

F.‘The Earl of Erroll,’ Kinloch MSS, III, 133.

Sir Gilbert Hay, tenth Earl of Errol, was married to Lady Catherine Carnegy, younger daughter of James, second Earl of Southesk, January 7, 1658, and had no children by her. He died in 1674. The ballad, says the person who communicatedA bto the Edinburgh Miscellany, was “founded, it would seem, on some attempt to withhold from the Earl of Errol his consort’s portion.” It will be observed that the father proposes a beguiling to his daughter, and that she is ready to assent, inA, 12, 13.

It appears from a letter cited by Sharpe in his Ballad Book that the matters treated in the ballad were agitating, and had even “come to public hearing,” in February, 1659.

Sir John Hay of Killour, as the nearest male heir, became the eleventh Earl of Errol. His wife was Lady Anne Drummond, only daughter of James, third Earl of Perth, sothat the Earl of Perth might seem to have an interest in this affair of Errol’s. She, however, was not born till January, 1656. Perth is actually made the other party in legal proceedings inA a1, but inA bseems to espouse Errol’s side.

Carnegy’s other daughter, who in most of the versions censures her sister’s conduct, is called Jean inA5,D a7,F10, Anne inD b c. These are stock ballad-names, and we need not suppose that Anne comes from Lady Anne Drummond. The older daughter’s name was Elizabeth.

Errol is in the Carse of Gowrie, a tract noted for its fertility; which accounts forB2,D a1,D c1,F2.

E,Fgo the length of imputing to Lady Errol an attempt to poison her husband with wine which she offers him. A page, of Errol’s kin, exposes her inE; inFErrol gives the drink to a greyhound, and the dog bursts.

The last stanza ofA b,C,D chas reference to “the ancient separate maintenance of a lady dissatisfied with or apart from her husband.” (Edinburgh Magazine, as above.)

Eis introduced in Sharpe’s letter by some pages of mild pleasantry in the form of a preface to “a specimen of the fourth volume of the Border Minstrelsy, speedily to be published.”

a.Campbell MSS., II, 94.b.The Edinburgh Magazine, or Literary Miscellany, June, 1803, p. 458.

1There was a jury sat at Perth,In the merry month of May,Betwixt the noble Duke of PerthBut and Sir Gilbert Hay.2My lord Kingside has two daughters,They are proper, straight and tall;But my lord Carnegie he has twoThat far excells them all.3Then Errol he has dressd him,As very well he could;I’m sure there was not one cloth-yardBut what was trimmd with gold.4‘Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,Ane asking I’ve to thee;I’m come to court your daughter Jean,My wedded wife to be.’5‘My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,To one of high degree,But where Jean got one guinea of goldWith Kate I’ll give thee three.6‘Full fifteen hundred poundsHad Jean Carnegie,But three fifteen hundred poundsWith Kate I’ll gie to thee.’7Then Errol he has wed her,And fairly brought her hame;There was nae peace between them twaTill they sundered oer again.8When bells were rung, and mess was sung,And a’ man bound to bed,The Earl of Errol and his countessIn one chamber was laid.9Early in the morningMy lord Carnegie rose,The Earl of Errol and his countess,And they’ve put on their clothes.10Up spake my lord Carnegie;‘Kate, is your toucher won?’‘Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,If he be your good-son.11‘What need I wash my petticoatAnd hing it on a pin?For I am as leal a maid yetAs yestreen when I lay down.12‘What need I wash my apronAnd hing it on the door?It’s baith side and wide enough,Hangs even down before.’13Up spake my lord Carnegie;‘O Kate, what do ye think ?We’ll beguile the Earl of ErrolAs lang as he’s in drink.’14‘O what will ye beguile him wi?Or what will ye do than?I’ll swear before a justice-courtThat he’s no a sufficient man.’15Then Errol he cam down the stair,As bold as oney rae:‘Go saddle to me my Irish coach,To Edinbro I’ll go.’16When he came to Edinbro,He lighted on the green;There were four-and-twenty maidensA’ dancing in a ring.17There were four-and-twenty maidensA’ dancing in a row;The fatest and the fairestTo bed wi him must go.18He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And he led her thro the green,And twenty times he kissd her there,Before his ain wife’s een.19He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And he’s led her thro the hall,And twenty times he’s kissd her there,Before his nobles all.20‘Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,Look up, and think nae shame;Ten hundred pounds I’ll gie to youTo bear to me a son.’21He’s keepit his Peggy in his roomThree quarter of a year,And just at the nine months’ endShe a son to him did bear.22‘Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,And I Sir Gilbert Hay,I’ll make your father sell his landsYour toucher for to pay.’23‘To make my father sell his lands,It wad be a great sin,To toucher oney John SheepheadThat canna toucher win.’24‘Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,Sae loud as I hear ye lie!For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,Upon his mother’s knee;For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,Altho he’s no by thee.’25‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,And set her on the glen;For Errol canna please her,Nor nane o Errol’s men;For Errol canna please her,Nor twenty of his men.’26The ranting and the roving,The thing we a’ do ken,The lady lost her right that night,The first night she lay down;And the thing we ca the ranting o’t,The lady lies her lane.

1There was a jury sat at Perth,In the merry month of May,Betwixt the noble Duke of PerthBut and Sir Gilbert Hay.

There was a jury sat at Perth,

In the merry month of May,

Betwixt the noble Duke of Perth

But and Sir Gilbert Hay.

2My lord Kingside has two daughters,They are proper, straight and tall;But my lord Carnegie he has twoThat far excells them all.

My lord Kingside has two daughters,

They are proper, straight and tall;

But my lord Carnegie he has two

That far excells them all.

3Then Errol he has dressd him,As very well he could;I’m sure there was not one cloth-yardBut what was trimmd with gold.

Then Errol he has dressd him,

As very well he could;

I’m sure there was not one cloth-yard

But what was trimmd with gold.

4‘Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,Ane asking I’ve to thee;I’m come to court your daughter Jean,My wedded wife to be.’

‘Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,

Ane asking I’ve to thee;

I’m come to court your daughter Jean,

My wedded wife to be.’

5‘My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,To one of high degree,But where Jean got one guinea of goldWith Kate I’ll give thee three.

‘My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,

To one of high degree,

But where Jean got one guinea of gold

With Kate I’ll give thee three.

6‘Full fifteen hundred poundsHad Jean Carnegie,But three fifteen hundred poundsWith Kate I’ll gie to thee.’

‘Full fifteen hundred pounds

Had Jean Carnegie,

But three fifteen hundred pounds

With Kate I’ll gie to thee.’

7Then Errol he has wed her,And fairly brought her hame;There was nae peace between them twaTill they sundered oer again.

Then Errol he has wed her,

And fairly brought her hame;

There was nae peace between them twa

Till they sundered oer again.

8When bells were rung, and mess was sung,And a’ man bound to bed,The Earl of Errol and his countessIn one chamber was laid.

When bells were rung, and mess was sung,

And a’ man bound to bed,

The Earl of Errol and his countess

In one chamber was laid.

9Early in the morningMy lord Carnegie rose,The Earl of Errol and his countess,And they’ve put on their clothes.

Early in the morning

My lord Carnegie rose,

The Earl of Errol and his countess,

And they’ve put on their clothes.

10Up spake my lord Carnegie;‘Kate, is your toucher won?’‘Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,If he be your good-son.

Up spake my lord Carnegie;

‘Kate, is your toucher won?’

‘Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,

If he be your good-son.

11‘What need I wash my petticoatAnd hing it on a pin?For I am as leal a maid yetAs yestreen when I lay down.

‘What need I wash my petticoat

And hing it on a pin?

For I am as leal a maid yet

As yestreen when I lay down.

12‘What need I wash my apronAnd hing it on the door?It’s baith side and wide enough,Hangs even down before.’

‘What need I wash my apron

And hing it on the door?

It’s baith side and wide enough,

Hangs even down before.’

13Up spake my lord Carnegie;‘O Kate, what do ye think ?We’ll beguile the Earl of ErrolAs lang as he’s in drink.’

Up spake my lord Carnegie;

‘O Kate, what do ye think ?

We’ll beguile the Earl of Errol

As lang as he’s in drink.’

14‘O what will ye beguile him wi?Or what will ye do than?I’ll swear before a justice-courtThat he’s no a sufficient man.’

‘O what will ye beguile him wi?

Or what will ye do than?

I’ll swear before a justice-court

That he’s no a sufficient man.’

15Then Errol he cam down the stair,As bold as oney rae:‘Go saddle to me my Irish coach,To Edinbro I’ll go.’

Then Errol he cam down the stair,

As bold as oney rae:

‘Go saddle to me my Irish coach,

To Edinbro I’ll go.’

16When he came to Edinbro,He lighted on the green;There were four-and-twenty maidensA’ dancing in a ring.

When he came to Edinbro,

He lighted on the green;

There were four-and-twenty maidens

A’ dancing in a ring.

17There were four-and-twenty maidensA’ dancing in a row;The fatest and the fairestTo bed wi him must go.

There were four-and-twenty maidens

A’ dancing in a row;

The fatest and the fairest

To bed wi him must go.

18He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And he led her thro the green,And twenty times he kissd her there,Before his ain wife’s een.

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,

And he led her thro the green,

And twenty times he kissd her there,

Before his ain wife’s een.

19He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And he’s led her thro the hall,And twenty times he’s kissd her there,Before his nobles all.

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,

And he’s led her thro the hall,

And twenty times he’s kissd her there,

Before his nobles all.

20‘Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,Look up, and think nae shame;Ten hundred pounds I’ll gie to youTo bear to me a son.’

‘Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,

Look up, and think nae shame;

Ten hundred pounds I’ll gie to you

To bear to me a son.’

21He’s keepit his Peggy in his roomThree quarter of a year,And just at the nine months’ endShe a son to him did bear.

He’s keepit his Peggy in his room

Three quarter of a year,

And just at the nine months’ end

She a son to him did bear.

22‘Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,And I Sir Gilbert Hay,I’ll make your father sell his landsYour toucher for to pay.’

‘Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,

And I Sir Gilbert Hay,

I’ll make your father sell his lands

Your toucher for to pay.’

23‘To make my father sell his lands,It wad be a great sin,To toucher oney John SheepheadThat canna toucher win.’

‘To make my father sell his lands,

It wad be a great sin,

To toucher oney John Sheephead

That canna toucher win.’

24‘Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,Sae loud as I hear ye lie!For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,Upon his mother’s knee;For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,Altho he’s no by thee.’

‘Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,

Sae loud as I hear ye lie!

For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,

Upon his mother’s knee;

For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,

Altho he’s no by thee.’

25‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,And set her on the glen;For Errol canna please her,Nor nane o Errol’s men;For Errol canna please her,Nor twenty of his men.’

‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,

And set her on the glen;

For Errol canna please her,

Nor nane o Errol’s men;

For Errol canna please her,

Nor twenty of his men.’

26The ranting and the roving,The thing we a’ do ken,The lady lost her right that night,The first night she lay down;And the thing we ca the ranting o’t,The lady lies her lane.

The ranting and the roving,

The thing we a’ do ken,

The lady lost her right that night,

The first night she lay down;

And the thing we ca the ranting o’t,

The lady lies her lane.

Skene MS., p. 113; taken down from recitation in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1Earell is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;The greatest faut about the placeEarell’s no a man.What ye ca the danting o’t,According as ye ken,For the pearting...Lady Earell lyes her lane.2Earell is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;The roses they graw red an white,An apples they graw green.3‘What need I my apron washAn hing upon yon pin?For lang will I gae out an inOr I hear my bairnie’s din.4‘What need I my apron washAn hing upo yon door?For side and wide is my petticoat,An even down afore.5‘But I will lace my stays again,My middle jimp an sma;I’l gae a’ my days a maiden.[Awa], Earell, awa!’6It fell ance upon a day Lord EarellWent to hunt him lane,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .7He was na a mile fra the town,Nor yet sae far awa,Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,To try hir all the law.8Little did Lord Earell think,Whan he sat down to dine,That his lady was on to Edinburgh,Nor what was in her mind.9Till his best servant cameFor to lat him ken. . . . . . .. . . . . . .10She was na in at the toun-end,Nor yet sae far awa,Till Earell was at her back,His gaudy locks to sha.11She was na in at the loan-head,Nor just at the end,Till Earell he was at her back,Her errand for to ken.12‘As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,An me Sir Gilbert Hay,I’s gar yer father sell Kinaird,Yer tocher for to pay.’13‘For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,It wad be a sin,To gee it to ony naughty knightThat a tocher canna win.’14Out spak the first lord,The best amang them a’;‘I never seed a lady comeWi sick matters to the law.’15Out spak the neest lord,The best o the town;‘Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,An put them in a roun,An Earell in the midst o them,An lat him chuse out ane.’16They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,An pit them in a roun,An Earell in the mids o them,An bad him chuse out ane.17He viewed them a’ intill a raw,Even up an down,An he has chosen a well-fared may,An Meggie was her name.18He took her by the hand,Afore the nobles a’,An twenty times he kissed her mou,An led her thro the ha.19‘Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,[Look up,] an think na shame;As lang as ye see my gaudy locks,Lady Earell’s be yer name.’20There were fifteen noblemen,An as mony ladies gay,To see Earell proven a man. . . . . . .21‘Ye tak this well-fared may,And keep her three roun raiths o a year,An even at the three raiths’ endI sall draw near.’22They hae taen that well-fared may,An keepd her three roun raiths o a year,And even at the three raiths’ endEarell’s son she bare.23The gentlemen they ga a shout,The ladies ga a caa,Fair mat fa him Earell!But ran to his lady.24He was na in at the town-head,Nor just at the end,Till the letters they were waiting himThat Earell had a son.25‘Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,[Look up,] an think na shame;As lang as ye see my bra black hat,Lady Earell’s be yer name.26‘I will gie my Meggie a mill,But an a piece o land,. . . . . . .To foster my young son.27‘Faur is a’ my merry men a’,That I pay meat an gaire,To convey my Meggy hame,. . . . . . .?’28. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Even in Lord Earell’s coachThey conveyed the lassie hame.29‘Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,An take her to the glen,For Earell canna pleas her,Earell nor a’ his men.’30‘Had I ben Lady Earell,Of sic a bonny place,I wad na gaen to EdinburghMy husband to disgrace.’

1Earell is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;The greatest faut about the placeEarell’s no a man.What ye ca the danting o’t,According as ye ken,For the pearting...Lady Earell lyes her lane.

Earell is a bonny place,

It stands upon yon plain;

The greatest faut about the place

Earell’s no a man.

What ye ca the danting o’t,

According as ye ken,

For the pearting...

Lady Earell lyes her lane.

2Earell is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;The roses they graw red an white,An apples they graw green.

Earell is a bonny place,

It stands upon yon plain;

The roses they graw red an white,

An apples they graw green.

3‘What need I my apron washAn hing upon yon pin?For lang will I gae out an inOr I hear my bairnie’s din.

‘What need I my apron wash

An hing upon yon pin?

For lang will I gae out an in

Or I hear my bairnie’s din.

4‘What need I my apron washAn hing upo yon door?For side and wide is my petticoat,An even down afore.

‘What need I my apron wash

An hing upo yon door?

For side and wide is my petticoat,

An even down afore.

5‘But I will lace my stays again,My middle jimp an sma;I’l gae a’ my days a maiden.[Awa], Earell, awa!’

‘But I will lace my stays again,

My middle jimp an sma;

I’l gae a’ my days a maiden.

[Awa], Earell, awa!’

6It fell ance upon a day Lord EarellWent to hunt him lane,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

It fell ance upon a day Lord Earell

Went to hunt him lane,

. . . . . . .

7He was na a mile fra the town,Nor yet sae far awa,Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,To try hir all the law.

He was na a mile fra the town,

Nor yet sae far awa,

Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,

To try hir all the law.

8Little did Lord Earell think,Whan he sat down to dine,That his lady was on to Edinburgh,Nor what was in her mind.

Little did Lord Earell think,

Whan he sat down to dine,

That his lady was on to Edinburgh,

Nor what was in her mind.

9Till his best servant cameFor to lat him ken. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

Till his best servant came

For to lat him ken

. . . . . . .

10She was na in at the toun-end,Nor yet sae far awa,Till Earell was at her back,His gaudy locks to sha.

She was na in at the toun-end,

Nor yet sae far awa,

Till Earell was at her back,

His gaudy locks to sha.

11She was na in at the loan-head,Nor just at the end,Till Earell he was at her back,Her errand for to ken.

She was na in at the loan-head,

Nor just at the end,

Till Earell he was at her back,

Her errand for to ken.

12‘As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,An me Sir Gilbert Hay,I’s gar yer father sell Kinaird,Yer tocher for to pay.’

‘As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,

An me Sir Gilbert Hay,

I’s gar yer father sell Kinaird,

Yer tocher for to pay.’

13‘For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,It wad be a sin,To gee it to ony naughty knightThat a tocher canna win.’

‘For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,

It wad be a sin,

To gee it to ony naughty knight

That a tocher canna win.’

14Out spak the first lord,The best amang them a’;‘I never seed a lady comeWi sick matters to the law.’

Out spak the first lord,

The best amang them a’;

‘I never seed a lady come

Wi sick matters to the law.’

15Out spak the neest lord,The best o the town;‘Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,An put them in a roun,An Earell in the midst o them,An lat him chuse out ane.’

Out spak the neest lord,

The best o the town;

‘Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,

An put them in a roun,

An Earell in the midst o them,

An lat him chuse out ane.’

16They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,An pit them in a roun,An Earell in the mids o them,An bad him chuse out ane.

They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,

An pit them in a roun,

An Earell in the mids o them,

An bad him chuse out ane.

17He viewed them a’ intill a raw,Even up an down,An he has chosen a well-fared may,An Meggie was her name.

He viewed them a’ intill a raw,

Even up an down,

An he has chosen a well-fared may,

An Meggie was her name.

18He took her by the hand,Afore the nobles a’,An twenty times he kissed her mou,An led her thro the ha.

He took her by the hand,

Afore the nobles a’,

An twenty times he kissed her mou,

An led her thro the ha.

19‘Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,[Look up,] an think na shame;As lang as ye see my gaudy locks,Lady Earell’s be yer name.’

‘Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,

[Look up,] an think na shame;

As lang as ye see my gaudy locks,

Lady Earell’s be yer name.’

20There were fifteen noblemen,An as mony ladies gay,To see Earell proven a man. . . . . . .

There were fifteen noblemen,

An as mony ladies gay,

To see Earell proven a man

. . . . . . .

21‘Ye tak this well-fared may,And keep her three roun raiths o a year,An even at the three raiths’ endI sall draw near.’

‘Ye tak this well-fared may,

And keep her three roun raiths o a year,

An even at the three raiths’ end

I sall draw near.’

22They hae taen that well-fared may,An keepd her three roun raiths o a year,And even at the three raiths’ endEarell’s son she bare.

They hae taen that well-fared may,

An keepd her three roun raiths o a year,

And even at the three raiths’ end

Earell’s son she bare.

23The gentlemen they ga a shout,The ladies ga a caa,Fair mat fa him Earell!But ran to his lady.

The gentlemen they ga a shout,

The ladies ga a caa,

Fair mat fa him Earell!

But ran to his lady.

24He was na in at the town-head,Nor just at the end,Till the letters they were waiting himThat Earell had a son.

He was na in at the town-head,

Nor just at the end,

Till the letters they were waiting him

That Earell had a son.

25‘Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,[Look up,] an think na shame;As lang as ye see my bra black hat,Lady Earell’s be yer name.

‘Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,

[Look up,] an think na shame;

As lang as ye see my bra black hat,

Lady Earell’s be yer name.

26‘I will gie my Meggie a mill,But an a piece o land,. . . . . . .To foster my young son.

‘I will gie my Meggie a mill,

But an a piece o land,

. . . . . . .

To foster my young son.

27‘Faur is a’ my merry men a’,That I pay meat an gaire,To convey my Meggy hame,. . . . . . .?’

‘Faur is a’ my merry men a’,

That I pay meat an gaire,

To convey my Meggy hame,

. . . . . . .?’

28. . . . . . .. . . . . . .Even in Lord Earell’s coachThey conveyed the lassie hame.

. . . . . . .

Even in Lord Earell’s coach

They conveyed the lassie hame.

29‘Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,An take her to the glen,For Earell canna pleas her,Earell nor a’ his men.’

‘Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,

An take her to the glen,

For Earell canna pleas her,

Earell nor a’ his men.’

30‘Had I ben Lady Earell,Of sic a bonny place,I wad na gaen to EdinburghMy husband to disgrace.’

‘Had I ben Lady Earell,

Of sic a bonny place,

I wad na gaen to Edinburgh

My husband to disgrace.’

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 176.

1Erroll it’s a bonny place,It stands upon a plain;A bad report this ladie’s raisd,That Erroll is nae a man.2But it fell ance upon a dayLord Erroll went frae hame,And he is on to the hunting gane,Single man alane.3But he hadna been frae the townA mile but barely twa,Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,To gain him at the law.4O Erroll he kent little o thatTill he sat down to dine,And as he was at dinner setHis servant loot him ken.5‘Now saddle to me the black, the black,Go saddle to me the brown,And I will on to Edinburgh,Her errands there to ken.’6She wasna well thro Aberdeen,Nor passd the well o Spa,Till Erroll he was after her,The verity to shaw.7She wasna well in Edinburgh,Nor even thro the town,Till Erroll he was after her,Her errands there to ken.8When he came to the court-house,And lighted on the green,This lord was there in time enoughTo hear her thus compleen:9‘What needs me wash my apron,Or drie ‘t upon a door?What needs I eek my petticoat,Hings even down afore?10‘What needs me wash my apron,Or hing it upon a pin?For lang will I gang but and benOr I hear my young son’s din.’11‘They ca you Kate Carnegie,’ he says,‘And my name’s Gilbert Hay;I’ll gar your father sell his land,Your tocher down to pay.’12‘To gar my father sell his landFor that would be a sin,To such a noughtless heir as you,That canno get a son.’13Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,The best an lord ava;‘I never saw a lady comeWi sic matters to the law.’14Then out it speaks another lord,The best in a’ the town;‘Ye’ll wyle out fifeteen maidens brightBefore Lord Erroll come:’And he has chosen a tapster lass,And Meggie was her name.15They kept up this fair maidenThree quarters of a year,And then at that three quarters’ endA young son she did bear.16They hae gien to Meggie thenFive ploughs but and a mill,And they hae gien her five hundred pounds,For to bring up her chill.17There was no lord in EdinburghBut to Meggie gae a ring;And there was na a boy in a’ the townBut on Katie had a sang.18‘Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,And set her to the glen,For Erroll canna pleasure her,Nor nane o Erroll’s men.’19Seven years on Erroll’s tableThere stand clean dish and speen,And every day the bell is rung,Cries, Lady, come and dine.

1Erroll it’s a bonny place,It stands upon a plain;A bad report this ladie’s raisd,That Erroll is nae a man.

Erroll it’s a bonny place,

It stands upon a plain;

A bad report this ladie’s raisd,

That Erroll is nae a man.

2But it fell ance upon a dayLord Erroll went frae hame,And he is on to the hunting gane,Single man alane.

But it fell ance upon a day

Lord Erroll went frae hame,

And he is on to the hunting gane,

Single man alane.

3But he hadna been frae the townA mile but barely twa,Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,To gain him at the law.

But he hadna been frae the town

A mile but barely twa,

Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,

To gain him at the law.

4O Erroll he kent little o thatTill he sat down to dine,And as he was at dinner setHis servant loot him ken.

O Erroll he kent little o that

Till he sat down to dine,

And as he was at dinner set

His servant loot him ken.

5‘Now saddle to me the black, the black,Go saddle to me the brown,And I will on to Edinburgh,Her errands there to ken.’

‘Now saddle to me the black, the black,

Go saddle to me the brown,

And I will on to Edinburgh,

Her errands there to ken.’

6She wasna well thro Aberdeen,Nor passd the well o Spa,Till Erroll he was after her,The verity to shaw.

She wasna well thro Aberdeen,

Nor passd the well o Spa,

Till Erroll he was after her,

The verity to shaw.

7She wasna well in Edinburgh,Nor even thro the town,Till Erroll he was after her,Her errands there to ken.

She wasna well in Edinburgh,

Nor even thro the town,

Till Erroll he was after her,

Her errands there to ken.

8When he came to the court-house,And lighted on the green,This lord was there in time enoughTo hear her thus compleen:

When he came to the court-house,

And lighted on the green,

This lord was there in time enough

To hear her thus compleen:

9‘What needs me wash my apron,Or drie ‘t upon a door?What needs I eek my petticoat,Hings even down afore?

‘What needs me wash my apron,

Or drie ‘t upon a door?

What needs I eek my petticoat,

Hings even down afore?

10‘What needs me wash my apron,Or hing it upon a pin?For lang will I gang but and benOr I hear my young son’s din.’

‘What needs me wash my apron,

Or hing it upon a pin?

For lang will I gang but and ben

Or I hear my young son’s din.’

11‘They ca you Kate Carnegie,’ he says,‘And my name’s Gilbert Hay;I’ll gar your father sell his land,Your tocher down to pay.’

‘They ca you Kate Carnegie,’ he says,

‘And my name’s Gilbert Hay;

I’ll gar your father sell his land,

Your tocher down to pay.’

12‘To gar my father sell his landFor that would be a sin,To such a noughtless heir as you,That canno get a son.’

‘To gar my father sell his land

For that would be a sin,

To such a noughtless heir as you,

That canno get a son.’

13Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,The best an lord ava;‘I never saw a lady comeWi sic matters to the law.’

Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,

The best an lord ava;

‘I never saw a lady come

Wi sic matters to the law.’

14Then out it speaks another lord,The best in a’ the town;‘Ye’ll wyle out fifeteen maidens brightBefore Lord Erroll come:’And he has chosen a tapster lass,And Meggie was her name.

Then out it speaks another lord,

The best in a’ the town;

‘Ye’ll wyle out fifeteen maidens bright

Before Lord Erroll come:’

And he has chosen a tapster lass,

And Meggie was her name.

15They kept up this fair maidenThree quarters of a year,And then at that three quarters’ endA young son she did bear.

They kept up this fair maiden

Three quarters of a year,

And then at that three quarters’ end

A young son she did bear.

16They hae gien to Meggie thenFive ploughs but and a mill,And they hae gien her five hundred pounds,For to bring up her chill.

They hae gien to Meggie then

Five ploughs but and a mill,

And they hae gien her five hundred pounds,

For to bring up her chill.

17There was no lord in EdinburghBut to Meggie gae a ring;And there was na a boy in a’ the townBut on Katie had a sang.

There was no lord in Edinburgh

But to Meggie gae a ring;

And there was na a boy in a’ the town

But on Katie had a sang.

18‘Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,And set her to the glen,For Erroll canna pleasure her,Nor nane o Erroll’s men.’

‘Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,

And set her to the glen,

For Erroll canna pleasure her,

Nor nane o Erroll’s men.’

19Seven years on Erroll’s tableThere stand clean dish and speen,And every day the bell is rung,Cries, Lady, come and dine.

Seven years on Erroll’s table

There stand clean dish and speen,

And every day the bell is rung,

Cries, Lady, come and dine.

a.Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 158.b.Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 31.c.Kinloch’s Ballad Book, p. 31.

1O Errol’s place is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;The flowers on it grow red and white,The apples red and green.The ranting o ‘t and the danting o ‘t,According as ye ken,The thing they ca the danting o ‘t,Lady Errol lies her lane.2O Errol’s place is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;But what’s the use of Errol’s place?He’s no like other men.3‘As I cam in by yon canal,And by yon bowling-green,I might hae pleased the best CarnegyThat ever bore that name.4‘As sure’s your name is Kate Carnegy,And mine is Gibbie Hay,I’ll gar your father sell his land,Your tocher for to pay.’5‘To gar my father sell his land,Would it not be a sin,To give it to a naughtless lordThat couldna get a son?’6Now she is on to Edinburgh,For to try the law,And Errol he has followed her,His manhood for to shaw.7Then out it spake her sister,Whose name was Lady Jane;‘Had I been Lady Errol,’ she says,‘Or come of sic a clan,I would not in this public wayHave sham’d my own gudeman.’8But Errol got it in his willTo choice a maid himsel,And he has taen a country-girl,Came in her milk to sell.9He took her by the milk-white hand,And led her up the green,And twenty times he kissd her there,Before his lady’s een.10He took her by the milk-white hand,And led her up the stair;Says, Thrice three hundred pounds I’ll gieTo you to bear an heir.11He kept her there into a roomThree quarters of a year,And when the three quarters were outA braw young son she bear.12‘Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,And put her till a man,For Errol he cannot please her,Nor any of his men.’

O Errol’s place is a bonny place,

It stands upon yon plain;

The flowers on it grow red and white,

The apples red and green.

The ranting o ‘t and the danting o ‘t,

According as ye ken,

The thing they ca the danting o ‘t,

Lady Errol lies her lane.

2O Errol’s place is a bonny place,It stands upon yon plain;But what’s the use of Errol’s place?He’s no like other men.

O Errol’s place is a bonny place,

It stands upon yon plain;

But what’s the use of Errol’s place?

He’s no like other men.

3‘As I cam in by yon canal,And by yon bowling-green,I might hae pleased the best CarnegyThat ever bore that name.

‘As I cam in by yon canal,

And by yon bowling-green,

I might hae pleased the best Carnegy

That ever bore that name.

4‘As sure’s your name is Kate Carnegy,And mine is Gibbie Hay,I’ll gar your father sell his land,Your tocher for to pay.’

‘As sure’s your name is Kate Carnegy,

And mine is Gibbie Hay,

I’ll gar your father sell his land,

Your tocher for to pay.’

5‘To gar my father sell his land,Would it not be a sin,To give it to a naughtless lordThat couldna get a son?’

‘To gar my father sell his land,

Would it not be a sin,

To give it to a naughtless lord

That couldna get a son?’

6Now she is on to Edinburgh,For to try the law,And Errol he has followed her,His manhood for to shaw.

Now she is on to Edinburgh,

For to try the law,

And Errol he has followed her,

His manhood for to shaw.

7Then out it spake her sister,Whose name was Lady Jane;‘Had I been Lady Errol,’ she says,‘Or come of sic a clan,I would not in this public wayHave sham’d my own gudeman.’

Then out it spake her sister,

Whose name was Lady Jane;

‘Had I been Lady Errol,’ she says,

‘Or come of sic a clan,

I would not in this public way

Have sham’d my own gudeman.’

8But Errol got it in his willTo choice a maid himsel,And he has taen a country-girl,Came in her milk to sell.

But Errol got it in his will

To choice a maid himsel,

And he has taen a country-girl,

Came in her milk to sell.

9He took her by the milk-white hand,And led her up the green,And twenty times he kissd her there,Before his lady’s een.

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And led her up the green,

And twenty times he kissd her there,

Before his lady’s een.

10He took her by the milk-white hand,And led her up the stair;Says, Thrice three hundred pounds I’ll gieTo you to bear an heir.

He took her by the milk-white hand,

And led her up the stair;

Says, Thrice three hundred pounds I’ll gie

To you to bear an heir.

11He kept her there into a roomThree quarters of a year,And when the three quarters were outA braw young son she bear.

He kept her there into a room

Three quarters of a year,

And when the three quarters were out

A braw young son she bear.

12‘Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,And put her till a man,For Errol he cannot please her,Nor any of his men.’

‘Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,

And put her till a man,

For Errol he cannot please her,

Nor any of his men.’

C. K. Sharpe’s Letters, ed. Allardyce, I, 180 ff; written down from the recitation of Violet Roddick, a woman living near Hoddam Castle, 1803. Sharpe’s Ballad Book, 1823, p. 89.

1O Errol it’s a bonny place,It stands in yonder glen;The lady lost the rights of itThe first night she gaed hame.A waly and a waly!According as ye ken,The thing we ca the ranting o ‘t,Our lady lies her lane, O.2‘What need I wash my apron,Or hing it on yon door?What need I truce my petticoat?It hangs even down before.’3Errol’s up to Edinburgh gaen,That bonny burrows-town;He has chusit the barber’s daughter,The top of a’ that town.4He has taen her by the milk-white hand,He has led her through the room,And twenty times he’s kisst her,Before his lady’s een.5‘Look up, look up now, Peggy,Look up, and think nae shame,For I’ll gie thee five hundred pound,To buy to thee a gown.6‘Look up, look up, now, Peggy,Look up, and think nae shame,For I’ll gie thee five hundred poundTo bear to me a son.7‘As thou was Kate Carnegie,And I Sir Gilbert Hay,I’ll gar your father sell his lands,Your tocher-gude to pay.8‘Now he may take her back again,Do wi her what he can,For Errol canna please her,Nor ane o a’ his men.’9‘Go fetch to me a pint of wine,Go fill it to the brim,That I may drink my gude lord’s health,Tho Errol be his name.’10She has taen the glass into her hand,She has putten poison in,She has signd it to her dorty lips,But neer a drop went in.11Up then spake a little page,He was o Errol’s kin;‘Now fie upon ye, lady gay,There’s poison there within.12‘It’s hold your hand now, Kate,’ he says,‘Hold it back again,For Errol winna drink on ‘t,Nor none o a’ his men.’13She has taen the sheets into her arms,She has thrown them oer the wa:‘Since I maun gae maiden hame again,Awa, Errol, awa!’14She’s down the back o the garden,And O as she did murne!‘How can a workman crave his wage,When he never wrought a turn?’

O Errol it’s a bonny place,

It stands in yonder glen;

The lady lost the rights of it

The first night she gaed hame.

A waly and a waly!

According as ye ken,

The thing we ca the ranting o ‘t,

Our lady lies her lane, O.

2‘What need I wash my apron,Or hing it on yon door?What need I truce my petticoat?It hangs even down before.’

‘What need I wash my apron,

Or hing it on yon door?

What need I truce my petticoat?

It hangs even down before.’

3Errol’s up to Edinburgh gaen,That bonny burrows-town;He has chusit the barber’s daughter,The top of a’ that town.

Errol’s up to Edinburgh gaen,

That bonny burrows-town;

He has chusit the barber’s daughter,

The top of a’ that town.

4He has taen her by the milk-white hand,He has led her through the room,And twenty times he’s kisst her,Before his lady’s een.

He has taen her by the milk-white hand,

He has led her through the room,

And twenty times he’s kisst her,

Before his lady’s een.

5‘Look up, look up now, Peggy,Look up, and think nae shame,For I’ll gie thee five hundred pound,To buy to thee a gown.

‘Look up, look up now, Peggy,

Look up, and think nae shame,

For I’ll gie thee five hundred pound,

To buy to thee a gown.

6‘Look up, look up, now, Peggy,Look up, and think nae shame,For I’ll gie thee five hundred poundTo bear to me a son.

‘Look up, look up, now, Peggy,

Look up, and think nae shame,

For I’ll gie thee five hundred pound

To bear to me a son.

7‘As thou was Kate Carnegie,And I Sir Gilbert Hay,I’ll gar your father sell his lands,Your tocher-gude to pay.

‘As thou was Kate Carnegie,

And I Sir Gilbert Hay,

I’ll gar your father sell his lands,

Your tocher-gude to pay.

8‘Now he may take her back again,Do wi her what he can,For Errol canna please her,Nor ane o a’ his men.’

‘Now he may take her back again,

Do wi her what he can,

For Errol canna please her,

Nor ane o a’ his men.’

9‘Go fetch to me a pint of wine,Go fill it to the brim,That I may drink my gude lord’s health,Tho Errol be his name.’

‘Go fetch to me a pint of wine,

Go fill it to the brim,

That I may drink my gude lord’s health,

Tho Errol be his name.’

10She has taen the glass into her hand,She has putten poison in,She has signd it to her dorty lips,But neer a drop went in.

She has taen the glass into her hand,

She has putten poison in,

She has signd it to her dorty lips,

But neer a drop went in.

11Up then spake a little page,He was o Errol’s kin;‘Now fie upon ye, lady gay,There’s poison there within.

Up then spake a little page,

He was o Errol’s kin;

‘Now fie upon ye, lady gay,

There’s poison there within.

12‘It’s hold your hand now, Kate,’ he says,‘Hold it back again,For Errol winna drink on ‘t,Nor none o a’ his men.’

‘It’s hold your hand now, Kate,’ he says,

‘Hold it back again,

For Errol winna drink on ‘t,

Nor none o a’ his men.’

13She has taen the sheets into her arms,She has thrown them oer the wa:‘Since I maun gae maiden hame again,Awa, Errol, awa!’

She has taen the sheets into her arms,

She has thrown them oer the wa:

‘Since I maun gae maiden hame again,

Awa, Errol, awa!’

14She’s down the back o the garden,And O as she did murne!‘How can a workman crave his wage,When he never wrought a turn?’

She’s down the back o the garden,

And O as she did murne!

‘How can a workman crave his wage,

When he never wrought a turn?’

Kinloch MSS, III, 133.

1O Errol is a bonny place,And stands upon yon plane,But the lady lost the rights o itYestreen or she came hame.2O Erroll is a bonny place,And lyes forenent the sun,And the apples they grow red and white,And peers o bonny green.3‘I nedna wash my apron,Nor hing it on the door;But I may tuck my petticoat,Hangs even down before.4‘Oh, Erroll, Erroll,Oh, Erroll if ye ken,Why should I love Erroll,Or any of his men?’5She’s turned her right and round about,Poured out a glass o wine;Says, I will drink to my true love,He’ll drink to me again.6O Erroll stud into the fleer,He was an angry man:‘See here it is a good gray-hun,We’ll try what is the run.’7Then Erroll stud into the fleer,Steered neither ee nor bree,Till that he saw his good gray-hunWas burst and going free.8‘But ye are Kate Carnegie,’ he said,‘And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;I’se gar your father sell Kinnaird,Your tocher-good to pay.’9Now she is on to Edinburgh,A’ for to use the law,And brave Erroll has followed her,His yellow locks to sheu.10Out and spak her sister Jean,And an angry woman was she;‘If I were lady of Erroll,And hed as fair a face,I would no go to Edinburgh,My good lord to disgrace.’

1O Errol is a bonny place,And stands upon yon plane,But the lady lost the rights o itYestreen or she came hame.

O Errol is a bonny place,

And stands upon yon plane,

But the lady lost the rights o it

Yestreen or she came hame.

2O Erroll is a bonny place,And lyes forenent the sun,And the apples they grow red and white,And peers o bonny green.

O Erroll is a bonny place,

And lyes forenent the sun,

And the apples they grow red and white,

And peers o bonny green.

3‘I nedna wash my apron,Nor hing it on the door;But I may tuck my petticoat,Hangs even down before.

‘I nedna wash my apron,

Nor hing it on the door;

But I may tuck my petticoat,

Hangs even down before.

4‘Oh, Erroll, Erroll,Oh, Erroll if ye ken,Why should I love Erroll,Or any of his men?’

‘Oh, Erroll, Erroll,

Oh, Erroll if ye ken,

Why should I love Erroll,

Or any of his men?’

5She’s turned her right and round about,Poured out a glass o wine;Says, I will drink to my true love,He’ll drink to me again.

She’s turned her right and round about,

Poured out a glass o wine;

Says, I will drink to my true love,

He’ll drink to me again.

6O Erroll stud into the fleer,He was an angry man:‘See here it is a good gray-hun,We’ll try what is the run.’

O Erroll stud into the fleer,

He was an angry man:

‘See here it is a good gray-hun,

We’ll try what is the run.’

7Then Erroll stud into the fleer,Steered neither ee nor bree,Till that he saw his good gray-hunWas burst and going free.

Then Erroll stud into the fleer,

Steered neither ee nor bree,

Till that he saw his good gray-hun

Was burst and going free.

8‘But ye are Kate Carnegie,’ he said,‘And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;I’se gar your father sell Kinnaird,Your tocher-good to pay.’

‘But ye are Kate Carnegie,’ he said,

‘And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;

I’se gar your father sell Kinnaird,

Your tocher-good to pay.’

9Now she is on to Edinburgh,A’ for to use the law,And brave Erroll has followed her,His yellow locks to sheu.

Now she is on to Edinburgh,

A’ for to use the law,

And brave Erroll has followed her,

His yellow locks to sheu.

10Out and spak her sister Jean,And an angry woman was she;‘If I were lady of Erroll,And hed as fair a face,I would no go to Edinburgh,My good lord to disgrace.’

Out and spak her sister Jean,

And an angry woman was she;

‘If I were lady of Erroll,

And hed as fair a face,

I would no go to Edinburgh,

My good lord to disgrace.’

A. a.

234. toucher one.

26.May have been a burden.

Ballad of Gilbert, Earl of Errol, and Lady Catherine Carnegie

. . . . . . .13Up spake Lord Carnegie,’ O Kate, what do you think?We’ll beguile the Earl of Errol,As long as he’s in drink.’14‘O what need you beguile him?Or what would you do than?For I can easy vow and testifyLord Errol’s not a man.12‘You need not wash my petticoatAnd hang it at the door;For it’s baith side and wide enough,And hangs even down before.11‘You need not wash my apronAnd hang it on a pin;For I’m as leil a maidenAs first when I went in.’15Down came the Earl of Errol,As swift as any roe:‘Come harness me my Irish coach,To Edinburgh I go.’16And when he came to Edinburgh,A ganging through the green,Full four-and-twenty maidensA’ dancing there were seen.17And there were fifteen maidensAll dancing in a row,And the fairest and the fattestTo prove that she must go.18He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And led her through the green,And twenty times he’s kissed her,Before his lady’s een.19He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And led her through the hall,And twenty times he’s kissed her,Before the nobles all.He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And led her to a room,And gave her a cup of claret wine,And syne a bed of down.201,2‘Stand up, stand up, my Peggy,Stand up, and think na shame,Na hide your face within your hand,On me be all the blame.‘For you shall have a thousand poundsAs soon as it is won,203,4And you shall have ten thousand poundsIf you bear to me a son.’21He kept his Peggy in a roomFull nine months and a day,And at the very nine months’ endShe bore a son so gay.As they were all at dinner sat,And merrily went the can,Up spake the noble Earl of Perth,‘Kate, what ails you at your man?’‘Oh, all the lands and earldomAre now to ruin gone,For I can easy vow and testifyHe’ll never get a son.’241–4‘Ye lie, ye lie, you filthy jade,So loud I hear you lie!For there sits Lord Errol’s son,Upon his mither’s knee.’22‘As you are Kate CarnegieAnd I Sir Gilbert Hay,I’ll gar your father sell his landYour tocher for to pay.’23‘To gar my father sell his landI’m sure would be a sin,For to tocher any John SheepheadWho could neer a tocher win.’251–4‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,And set her in a glen,For Lord Errol cannot please her,Nor none of Errol’s men.‘You may provide a knife and fork,A trencher and a spoon,A little boy to call her,Come to your dinner, dame;A little boy to call herTill seven years are done.’

. . . . . . .

13Up spake Lord Carnegie,’ O Kate, what do you think?We’ll beguile the Earl of Errol,As long as he’s in drink.’

Up spake Lord Carnegie,

’ O Kate, what do you think?

We’ll beguile the Earl of Errol,

As long as he’s in drink.’

14‘O what need you beguile him?Or what would you do than?For I can easy vow and testifyLord Errol’s not a man.

‘O what need you beguile him?

Or what would you do than?

For I can easy vow and testify

Lord Errol’s not a man.

12‘You need not wash my petticoatAnd hang it at the door;For it’s baith side and wide enough,And hangs even down before.

‘You need not wash my petticoat

And hang it at the door;

For it’s baith side and wide enough,

And hangs even down before.

11‘You need not wash my apronAnd hang it on a pin;For I’m as leil a maidenAs first when I went in.’

‘You need not wash my apron

And hang it on a pin;

For I’m as leil a maiden

As first when I went in.’

15Down came the Earl of Errol,As swift as any roe:‘Come harness me my Irish coach,To Edinburgh I go.’

Down came the Earl of Errol,

As swift as any roe:

‘Come harness me my Irish coach,

To Edinburgh I go.’

16And when he came to Edinburgh,A ganging through the green,Full four-and-twenty maidensA’ dancing there were seen.

And when he came to Edinburgh,

A ganging through the green,

Full four-and-twenty maidens

A’ dancing there were seen.

17And there were fifteen maidensAll dancing in a row,And the fairest and the fattestTo prove that she must go.

And there were fifteen maidens

All dancing in a row,

And the fairest and the fattest

To prove that she must go.

18He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And led her through the green,And twenty times he’s kissed her,Before his lady’s een.

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,

And led her through the green,

And twenty times he’s kissed her,

Before his lady’s een.

19He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And led her through the hall,And twenty times he’s kissed her,Before the nobles all.

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,

And led her through the hall,

And twenty times he’s kissed her,

Before the nobles all.

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,And led her to a room,And gave her a cup of claret wine,And syne a bed of down.

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,

And led her to a room,

And gave her a cup of claret wine,

And syne a bed of down.

201,2‘Stand up, stand up, my Peggy,Stand up, and think na shame,Na hide your face within your hand,On me be all the blame.

201,2

‘Stand up, stand up, my Peggy,

Stand up, and think na shame,

Na hide your face within your hand,

On me be all the blame.

‘For you shall have a thousand poundsAs soon as it is won,203,4And you shall have ten thousand poundsIf you bear to me a son.’

‘For you shall have a thousand pounds

As soon as it is won,

203,4

And you shall have ten thousand pounds

If you bear to me a son.’

21He kept his Peggy in a roomFull nine months and a day,And at the very nine months’ endShe bore a son so gay.

He kept his Peggy in a room

Full nine months and a day,

And at the very nine months’ end

She bore a son so gay.

As they were all at dinner sat,And merrily went the can,Up spake the noble Earl of Perth,‘Kate, what ails you at your man?’

As they were all at dinner sat,

And merrily went the can,

Up spake the noble Earl of Perth,

‘Kate, what ails you at your man?’

‘Oh, all the lands and earldomAre now to ruin gone,For I can easy vow and testifyHe’ll never get a son.’

‘Oh, all the lands and earldom

Are now to ruin gone,

For I can easy vow and testify

He’ll never get a son.’

241–4‘Ye lie, ye lie, you filthy jade,So loud I hear you lie!For there sits Lord Errol’s son,Upon his mither’s knee.’

241–4

‘Ye lie, ye lie, you filthy jade,

So loud I hear you lie!

For there sits Lord Errol’s son,

Upon his mither’s knee.’

22‘As you are Kate CarnegieAnd I Sir Gilbert Hay,I’ll gar your father sell his landYour tocher for to pay.’

‘As you are Kate Carnegie

And I Sir Gilbert Hay,

I’ll gar your father sell his land

Your tocher for to pay.’

23‘To gar my father sell his landI’m sure would be a sin,For to tocher any John SheepheadWho could neer a tocher win.’

‘To gar my father sell his land

I’m sure would be a sin,

For to tocher any John Sheephead

Who could neer a tocher win.’

251–4‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,And set her in a glen,For Lord Errol cannot please her,Nor none of Errol’s men.

251–4

‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,

And set her in a glen,

For Lord Errol cannot please her,

Nor none of Errol’s men.

‘You may provide a knife and fork,A trencher and a spoon,A little boy to call her,Come to your dinner, dame;A little boy to call herTill seven years are done.’

‘You may provide a knife and fork,

A trencher and a spoon,

A little boy to call her,

Come to your dinner, dame;

A little boy to call her

Till seven years are done.’

Written in long lines, without division into stanzas; carelessly and in a bad hand, like other transcripts by Skene. The frequent gaps (of which only one is indicated, 54) make the division here adopted doubtful in some cases.

The burden is given at the end only, and is badly corrupted.1. the Darton all. 3. Pearting?

74. hir all.Corrupted?hir,orhim, at?

101. tour end:see241–2.

153, 163. Earl.

202. gay ladies.

234.Corrupted? some malediction on the lady?

272. gaire is,I suppose, gear.

D.b.

Burden.1. The wally o ‘t, the wally o ‘t.3. the ranting o ‘t.4. Our lady lies alane.

Burden.

1. The wally o ‘t, the wally o ‘t.

3. the ranting o ‘t.

4. Our lady lies alane.

13. at it.

31. It’s I.

41. As sure as you’re Jean.

42. And I am.

43. I’ll cause.

51. To cause.

52. I think would be.

53. give to such a rogue as you.

54. Who never could it win.

61. So he must go.

62. Amang the nobles a’.

63. And there before good witnesses.

72. was called Miss Anne.

93. she sayswanting.

8–12A servant girl there was found out,On whom to show his skill;He gave to her a hundred pounds,To purchase her good-will.And still he cried, Look up, Peggy,Look up, and think no shame,And you shall have your hundred poundsBefore I lay you down.Now he has lain him down wi her,A hundred pounds in pawn,And all the noblemen cried outThat Errol is a man.‘Tak hame your daughter,’ Errol said,‘And tak her to a glen,For Errol canna pleasure her,Nor can no other man.’

8–12A servant girl there was found out,On whom to show his skill;He gave to her a hundred pounds,To purchase her good-will.

8–12

A servant girl there was found out,

On whom to show his skill;

He gave to her a hundred pounds,

To purchase her good-will.

And still he cried, Look up, Peggy,Look up, and think no shame,And you shall have your hundred poundsBefore I lay you down.

And still he cried, Look up, Peggy,

Look up, and think no shame,

And you shall have your hundred pounds

Before I lay you down.

Now he has lain him down wi her,A hundred pounds in pawn,And all the noblemen cried outThat Errol is a man.

Now he has lain him down wi her,

A hundred pounds in pawn,

And all the noblemen cried out

That Errol is a man.

‘Tak hame your daughter,’ Errol said,‘And tak her to a glen,For Errol canna pleasure her,Nor can no other man.’

‘Tak hame your daughter,’ Errol said,

‘And tak her to a glen,

For Errol canna pleasure her,

Nor can no other man.’

Burden.1. And the.3. And the thing we.4. Is, Errol’s na a man.

Burden.

1. And the.

3. And the thing we.

4. Is, Errol’s na a man.

11, 21. O Errol is.

12. Into the simmer time.

13. The apples they grow.

14. And the pears they grow green.

34. bore the.

41. Tho your name be Dame Cathrine Carnegie.

42. mine Sir Gilbert.

43. sell Kinnaird.

44. tocher gude to.

51. If ye gar my father sell Kinnaird.

52. ‘T will be a crying.

53,4. To tocher onie weary dwrf, That canna tocher win.

61. The lady is.

62. A’ for.

64. His ainsell.

71. O up bespak.

72. Lady Ann.

73. she sayswanting.

After 7, two stanzas which are clearly a spurious interpolation.

81. Errol has got (Butwanting).

83. has chosen a weel-faurd may.

84. Come.After 8(==10):

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