236THE LAIRD O DRUM

A. a.Kinloch MSS, V, 9.b. ‘Laird of Drum,’ Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 199.

B.‘The Laird of Doune’ [miswritten for Drum], Skene MS., p. 78.

C.MS. copy formerly in the possession of Sir Walter Scott.

D. a.Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 194.b. ‘The Laird of Drum,’ Buchan’s MSS, II, 101; Dixon, Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads, p. 53, Percy Society, vol. xvii.c. The New Deeside Guide, by James Brown, [1832,] p. 11.d. Gibb MS., p. 21.

E.‘The Laird of Drum,’ MS., inserted in Dr Joseph Robertson’s interleaved copy of The New Deeside Guide, Aberdeen [1832].

F. a.‘The Ladye o the Drum,’ Loudon MS., p. 7.b. ‘The Laird o the Drum,’ Macmath MS., p. 13.

First taken into a collection by Kinloch, 1827, who remarks that the ballad had been printed as a broadside in the North, and was extremely popular.B, the oldest version that has been recovered, was written down in 1802–3. There are verbal agreements betweenB, especially, and a fragment in Herd’s MSS (I, 55, II, 187, Herd’s Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 6), and there has been borrowing from one side or the other. Herd’s fragment belongs to a ballad of a shepherd’s daughter and an earl which is preserved in two copies in Motherwell’s MS. (I, 37, 252). No 397 of The Musical Museum, communicated to Johnson, says Stenhouse, by Burns, [1792,] and probably in a large measure his work, begins with stanzas which may have been suggested by the ballad before us or by the other. See an appendix.

The copy in Christie, I, 24, was epitomized fromA b, with some alterations. That in The Deeside Guide, 1889, p. 17, is Aytoun’s, compounded ofA bandD a.

Alexander Irvine, the young laird of Drum, says Spalding, was married to the lady Mary Gordon on December 7, 1643: Memorials of the Trubles in Scotland, etc., II, 296. Lady Mary Gordon was fourth daughter to George the second Marquis of Huntly, and niece to the Marquis of Argyll. The Laird of Drum suffered extremely in his worldly fortunes through his fidelity to the cause of the Stuarts. This would have been a natural reason for his declining a peerage offered him at the Restoration, and for his marrying, the second time, to win and not to spend. He took for his second wife Margaret Coutts (A9), “a woman of inferior birth and manners, which step gave great offence to his relations.” (Kinloch.) He died in 1687. After the death of Irvine of Drum, Margaret Coutts married Irvine of Cults. She died in 1710, at the age of only forty-five.[137]

Drum is ten miles west of Aberdeen.[138]

For the commonplace inA a3,B8,C5, etc., see II, 181b.

Knortz, Lieder und Romanzen Alt-Englands, No 29, p. 105, translates Allingham’s ballad.

a.Kinloch MSS, V, 9, in the handwriting of James Beattie.b.Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 199; “from recitation.”

1O it fell out upon a day,When Drums was going to ride, OAnd there he met with a well-far’d may,Keeping her flocks on yon side. O2‘O fair may, O rare may,Can not you fancy me?Of a’ the lasses here aboutI like nane so well as thee.’3‘Set your love on another, kind sir,Set it not on me,For I’m not fit to be your bride,And your whore I’ll never be.’4Drums is to her father gane,Keeping his flocks on yon hill,And he has gotten his consent,And the maid was at his will.5‘My daughter can neither read nor write,She was neer brought up at school;But well can she milk cow and ewe,And make a kebbuck well.6‘She’ll winn in your barn at bear-seed time,Cast out your muck at Yule;She’ll saddle your steed in time o need,Draw aff your boots hersell.’7‘Have not I no clergymen?Pay I no clergy fee?I’ll school her as I think fit,And as I think fit to be.’8Drums is to the Highlands ganeFor to be made ready,And a’ the gentry thereaboutSays, Yonder comes Drums and his lady.]9‘Peggy Coutts is a very bonnie bride,And Drums is a wealthy laddie;But Drums might hae chosen a higher matchThan any shepherd’s daughter.’10Then up bespake his brother John,Says, Brother you’ve done us wrong;You’ve married ane below our degree,A stain to a’ our kin.11‘Hold your tongue, my brother John,I have done you no wrong;For I’ve married ane to wirk and win,And ye’ve married ane to spend.12‘The last time that I had a wife,She was above my degree;I durst not come in her presenceBut with my hat on my knee.’13There was four-and-twenty gentlemenStood at the yetts o Drum;There was na ane amang them a’That welcomd his lady in.14He’s taen her by the milk-white handAnd led her in himsell,And in thro ha’s and in thro bowers,‘And you’re welcome, Lady o Drum.’15Thrice he kissd her cherry cheek,And thrice her cherry chin,And twenty times her comely mouth,‘And you’re welcome, Lady o Drum.’16‘Ye shall be cook in my kitchen,Butler in my ha;Ye shall be lady at my commandWhen I ride far awa.’17‘But what will I do when auld Drum dies,When auld Drum dies and leaves me?Then I’ll tak back my word again,And the Coutts will come and see me.’* * * * * *

1O it fell out upon a day,When Drums was going to ride, OAnd there he met with a well-far’d may,Keeping her flocks on yon side. O

O it fell out upon a day,

When Drums was going to ride, O

And there he met with a well-far’d may,

Keeping her flocks on yon side. O

2‘O fair may, O rare may,Can not you fancy me?Of a’ the lasses here aboutI like nane so well as thee.’

‘O fair may, O rare may,

Can not you fancy me?

Of a’ the lasses here about

I like nane so well as thee.’

3‘Set your love on another, kind sir,Set it not on me,For I’m not fit to be your bride,And your whore I’ll never be.’

‘Set your love on another, kind sir,

Set it not on me,

For I’m not fit to be your bride,

And your whore I’ll never be.’

4Drums is to her father gane,Keeping his flocks on yon hill,And he has gotten his consent,And the maid was at his will.

Drums is to her father gane,

Keeping his flocks on yon hill,

And he has gotten his consent,

And the maid was at his will.

5‘My daughter can neither read nor write,She was neer brought up at school;But well can she milk cow and ewe,And make a kebbuck well.

‘My daughter can neither read nor write,

She was neer brought up at school;

But well can she milk cow and ewe,

And make a kebbuck well.

6‘She’ll winn in your barn at bear-seed time,Cast out your muck at Yule;She’ll saddle your steed in time o need,Draw aff your boots hersell.’

‘She’ll winn in your barn at bear-seed time,

Cast out your muck at Yule;

She’ll saddle your steed in time o need,

Draw aff your boots hersell.’

7‘Have not I no clergymen?Pay I no clergy fee?I’ll school her as I think fit,And as I think fit to be.’

‘Have not I no clergymen?

Pay I no clergy fee?

I’ll school her as I think fit,

And as I think fit to be.’

8Drums is to the Highlands ganeFor to be made ready,And a’ the gentry thereaboutSays, Yonder comes Drums and his lady.]

Drums is to the Highlands gane

For to be made ready,

And a’ the gentry thereabout

Says, Yonder comes Drums and his lady.]

9‘Peggy Coutts is a very bonnie bride,And Drums is a wealthy laddie;But Drums might hae chosen a higher matchThan any shepherd’s daughter.’

‘Peggy Coutts is a very bonnie bride,

And Drums is a wealthy laddie;

But Drums might hae chosen a higher match

Than any shepherd’s daughter.’

10Then up bespake his brother John,Says, Brother you’ve done us wrong;You’ve married ane below our degree,A stain to a’ our kin.

Then up bespake his brother John,

Says, Brother you’ve done us wrong;

You’ve married ane below our degree,

A stain to a’ our kin.

11‘Hold your tongue, my brother John,I have done you no wrong;For I’ve married ane to wirk and win,And ye’ve married ane to spend.

‘Hold your tongue, my brother John,

I have done you no wrong;

For I’ve married ane to wirk and win,

And ye’ve married ane to spend.

12‘The last time that I had a wife,She was above my degree;I durst not come in her presenceBut with my hat on my knee.’

‘The last time that I had a wife,

She was above my degree;

I durst not come in her presence

But with my hat on my knee.’

13There was four-and-twenty gentlemenStood at the yetts o Drum;There was na ane amang them a’That welcomd his lady in.

There was four-and-twenty gentlemen

Stood at the yetts o Drum;

There was na ane amang them a’

That welcomd his lady in.

14He’s taen her by the milk-white handAnd led her in himsell,And in thro ha’s and in thro bowers,‘And you’re welcome, Lady o Drum.’

He’s taen her by the milk-white hand

And led her in himsell,

And in thro ha’s and in thro bowers,

‘And you’re welcome, Lady o Drum.’

15Thrice he kissd her cherry cheek,And thrice her cherry chin,And twenty times her comely mouth,‘And you’re welcome, Lady o Drum.’

Thrice he kissd her cherry cheek,

And thrice her cherry chin,

And twenty times her comely mouth,

‘And you’re welcome, Lady o Drum.’

16‘Ye shall be cook in my kitchen,Butler in my ha;Ye shall be lady at my commandWhen I ride far awa.’

‘Ye shall be cook in my kitchen,

Butler in my ha;

Ye shall be lady at my command

When I ride far awa.’

17‘But what will I do when auld Drum dies,When auld Drum dies and leaves me?Then I’ll tak back my word again,And the Coutts will come and see me.’

‘But what will I do when auld Drum dies,

When auld Drum dies and leaves me?

Then I’ll tak back my word again,

And the Coutts will come and see me.’

* * * * * *

Skene MS., p. 78; taken down from recitation in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1There was a knight, [an a gallant knight,]An a gallant knight was he,An he’s faen in loveWi his shepherd’s daghterie.2. . . . . . .He could neither gang nor ride,He fell so deep in her fancy,Till his nose began to bleed.3‘Bonny may, an bra may,Canna ye on me rue?By a’ the maid[s] I ever saw,There is nane I loo by you.’4‘Ye’r a shepherd’s ae daghter,An I’m a barron’s son;An what pleasure I wad haeTo see ye gae out an in!’5‘I’m a shepherd’s ae dochter,An ye’r a barron’s son;An there is nae pleasure I could haTo see ye gae out or in.6. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘For I wadna gie the fancy of my bonny loveFor na love nor favour o you.’7‘Bonny may, an bra may,Canna ye on me rue?By a’ the maids I ever sawThere is nane I loo by you.’8‘Lay na yer fancy, sir, on me,’ she says,‘Lay na yer fancy on me;For I’m our low to be yer bride,An yer quine I’ll never be.9‘For I will wear nane o yer silks,Nor nane o yer scarlet claes;For the hue o the whin shall be my gown,An I will gae as I pleas.’10. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘Ye’r na our laigh to be my bride,An my quine ye’s never be.11‘Bonny may, and bra may,Winna ye on me rue?By a’ the maids I ever see,There’s nane I loo but you.’12‘Gin ye ha faen so deep in my fancyYe can neither gan[g] nor ride,Gae tak me to the middle o the ring,An bring me guid companie.’13He has taen her by the milk-white handAnd led her thro haas an bowers:‘Ye’r the choice of my heart,An a’ I hae is yours.’14He took her by the milk-white handAnd led her out and in:‘Ye’r the choice o my heart,My dear, ye’r welcome in.’15Out spake his brither John,‘Brither, ye ha done great wrong;Ye hae married a wife this nightDisdained by a’ yer kin.’16‘Hold yer tong, my brither John,For I hae don na wrong;For I ha married a wife to ...,An ye ha ane to spend.’

1There was a knight, [an a gallant knight,]An a gallant knight was he,An he’s faen in loveWi his shepherd’s daghterie.

There was a knight, [an a gallant knight,]

An a gallant knight was he,

An he’s faen in love

Wi his shepherd’s daghterie.

2. . . . . . .He could neither gang nor ride,He fell so deep in her fancy,Till his nose began to bleed.

. . . . . . .

He could neither gang nor ride,

He fell so deep in her fancy,

Till his nose began to bleed.

3‘Bonny may, an bra may,Canna ye on me rue?By a’ the maid[s] I ever saw,There is nane I loo by you.’

‘Bonny may, an bra may,

Canna ye on me rue?

By a’ the maid[s] I ever saw,

There is nane I loo by you.’

4‘Ye’r a shepherd’s ae daghter,An I’m a barron’s son;An what pleasure I wad haeTo see ye gae out an in!’

‘Ye’r a shepherd’s ae daghter,

An I’m a barron’s son;

An what pleasure I wad hae

To see ye gae out an in!’

5‘I’m a shepherd’s ae dochter,An ye’r a barron’s son;An there is nae pleasure I could haTo see ye gae out or in.

‘I’m a shepherd’s ae dochter,

An ye’r a barron’s son;

An there is nae pleasure I could ha

To see ye gae out or in.

6. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘For I wadna gie the fancy of my bonny loveFor na love nor favour o you.’

. . . . . . .

‘For I wadna gie the fancy of my bonny love

For na love nor favour o you.’

7‘Bonny may, an bra may,Canna ye on me rue?By a’ the maids I ever sawThere is nane I loo by you.’

‘Bonny may, an bra may,

Canna ye on me rue?

By a’ the maids I ever saw

There is nane I loo by you.’

8‘Lay na yer fancy, sir, on me,’ she says,‘Lay na yer fancy on me;For I’m our low to be yer bride,An yer quine I’ll never be.

‘Lay na yer fancy, sir, on me,’ she says,

‘Lay na yer fancy on me;

For I’m our low to be yer bride,

An yer quine I’ll never be.

9‘For I will wear nane o yer silks,Nor nane o yer scarlet claes;For the hue o the whin shall be my gown,An I will gae as I pleas.’

‘For I will wear nane o yer silks,

Nor nane o yer scarlet claes;

For the hue o the whin shall be my gown,

An I will gae as I pleas.’

10. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘Ye’r na our laigh to be my bride,An my quine ye’s never be.

. . . . . . .

‘Ye’r na our laigh to be my bride,

An my quine ye’s never be.

11‘Bonny may, and bra may,Winna ye on me rue?By a’ the maids I ever see,There’s nane I loo but you.’

‘Bonny may, and bra may,

Winna ye on me rue?

By a’ the maids I ever see,

There’s nane I loo but you.’

12‘Gin ye ha faen so deep in my fancyYe can neither gan[g] nor ride,Gae tak me to the middle o the ring,An bring me guid companie.’

‘Gin ye ha faen so deep in my fancy

Ye can neither gan[g] nor ride,

Gae tak me to the middle o the ring,

An bring me guid companie.’

13He has taen her by the milk-white handAnd led her thro haas an bowers:‘Ye’r the choice of my heart,An a’ I hae is yours.’

He has taen her by the milk-white hand

And led her thro haas an bowers:

‘Ye’r the choice of my heart,

An a’ I hae is yours.’

14He took her by the milk-white handAnd led her out and in:‘Ye’r the choice o my heart,My dear, ye’r welcome in.’

He took her by the milk-white hand

And led her out and in:

‘Ye’r the choice o my heart,

My dear, ye’r welcome in.’

15Out spake his brither John,‘Brither, ye ha done great wrong;Ye hae married a wife this nightDisdained by a’ yer kin.’

Out spake his brither John,

‘Brither, ye ha done great wrong;

Ye hae married a wife this night

Disdained by a’ yer kin.’

16‘Hold yer tong, my brither John,For I hae don na wrong;For I ha married a wife to ...,An ye ha ane to spend.’

‘Hold yer tong, my brither John,

For I hae don na wrong;

For I ha married a wife to ...,

An ye ha ane to spend.’

From a MS. copy formerly in possession of Sir Walter Scott; communicated by the Rev. W. Forbes-Leith, through Mr Macmath.

1There was a shepherd’s daughterSheering at the bear,And by cam the Laird o Drum,On an evening clear.2‘O will ye fancy me, fair maid?O will ye fancy me?O will ye fancy me, fair maid,An lat the sheering be?’3‘O say na sae again, kind sir,O say na sae again;I’m owr low to be your bride,Ye’r born owr high a man.’4Said, Fair maid, O rare maid,Will ye on me rue?Amang a’ the lasses o the landI fancy nane but you.5‘Lay your love on another,’ she said,‘And lay it not on me,For I’m owr low to be your bride,Your miss I’ll never be.6‘Yonder is my father dear,Wi hogs upon yon hill;Gif ye get but his consent,I shall be at your will.’7He’s taen him to her father dear,Keeps hogs upon yon hill,An he has gotten his consent,The may was at his will.8‘My daughter canna read or write,She never was at school;Weel can she milk cow and ewe,An serve your house fu weel.9‘Weel can she shack your barnsAn gae to mill an kill,Saddle your steed in time o need,And draw your boots hirsel.10‘She canna wear your silk sae fine,Nor yet your silver clear;The hue o the ewe man be her weed,Altho she was your dear.’11He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,An he has taen her hame;He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,An led her on to Drum.12There were four an twenty bold baronsStood at the yet o Drum;There was na ane amang them a’That welcomd his lady hame.13Out then spak his brother dear,Says, Ye’v done mickel wrong;Ye’v wedded a mean woman,The lack o a’ our kin.14‘I never did thee wrong, brother,I never did thee wrong;I’ve wedded a woman to work an win,An ye hae ane to spen.15‘The last woman I weddedWas aboon my degree;I could na sit in her presenceBut wi hat upon my knee.’16He’s taen her by the milk-white handAn led her but an ben,An in the ha, amang them a’,He’s hailed her Lady Drum.17‘Now I’ve wedded the shepherd’s daughter,An I hae brought her hame,In the ha, amang ye a’,She is welcome hame to Drum.’

1There was a shepherd’s daughterSheering at the bear,And by cam the Laird o Drum,On an evening clear.

There was a shepherd’s daughter

Sheering at the bear,

And by cam the Laird o Drum,

On an evening clear.

2‘O will ye fancy me, fair maid?O will ye fancy me?O will ye fancy me, fair maid,An lat the sheering be?’

‘O will ye fancy me, fair maid?

O will ye fancy me?

O will ye fancy me, fair maid,

An lat the sheering be?’

3‘O say na sae again, kind sir,O say na sae again;I’m owr low to be your bride,Ye’r born owr high a man.’

‘O say na sae again, kind sir,

O say na sae again;

I’m owr low to be your bride,

Ye’r born owr high a man.’

4Said, Fair maid, O rare maid,Will ye on me rue?Amang a’ the lasses o the landI fancy nane but you.

Said, Fair maid, O rare maid,

Will ye on me rue?

Amang a’ the lasses o the land

I fancy nane but you.

5‘Lay your love on another,’ she said,‘And lay it not on me,For I’m owr low to be your bride,Your miss I’ll never be.

‘Lay your love on another,’ she said,

‘And lay it not on me,

For I’m owr low to be your bride,

Your miss I’ll never be.

6‘Yonder is my father dear,Wi hogs upon yon hill;Gif ye get but his consent,I shall be at your will.’

‘Yonder is my father dear,

Wi hogs upon yon hill;

Gif ye get but his consent,

I shall be at your will.’

7He’s taen him to her father dear,Keeps hogs upon yon hill,An he has gotten his consent,The may was at his will.

He’s taen him to her father dear,

Keeps hogs upon yon hill,

An he has gotten his consent,

The may was at his will.

8‘My daughter canna read or write,She never was at school;Weel can she milk cow and ewe,An serve your house fu weel.

‘My daughter canna read or write,

She never was at school;

Weel can she milk cow and ewe,

An serve your house fu weel.

9‘Weel can she shack your barnsAn gae to mill an kill,Saddle your steed in time o need,And draw your boots hirsel.

‘Weel can she shack your barns

An gae to mill an kill,

Saddle your steed in time o need,

And draw your boots hirsel.

10‘She canna wear your silk sae fine,Nor yet your silver clear;The hue o the ewe man be her weed,Altho she was your dear.’

‘She canna wear your silk sae fine,

Nor yet your silver clear;

The hue o the ewe man be her weed,

Altho she was your dear.’

11He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,An he has taen her hame;He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,An led her on to Drum.

He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,

An he has taen her hame;

He’s wedded the shepherd’s daughter,

An led her on to Drum.

12There were four an twenty bold baronsStood at the yet o Drum;There was na ane amang them a’That welcomd his lady hame.

There were four an twenty bold barons

Stood at the yet o Drum;

There was na ane amang them a’

That welcomd his lady hame.

13Out then spak his brother dear,Says, Ye’v done mickel wrong;Ye’v wedded a mean woman,The lack o a’ our kin.

Out then spak his brother dear,

Says, Ye’v done mickel wrong;

Ye’v wedded a mean woman,

The lack o a’ our kin.

14‘I never did thee wrong, brother,I never did thee wrong;I’ve wedded a woman to work an win,An ye hae ane to spen.

‘I never did thee wrong, brother,

I never did thee wrong;

I’ve wedded a woman to work an win,

An ye hae ane to spen.

15‘The last woman I weddedWas aboon my degree;I could na sit in her presenceBut wi hat upon my knee.’

‘The last woman I wedded

Was aboon my degree;

I could na sit in her presence

But wi hat upon my knee.’

16He’s taen her by the milk-white handAn led her but an ben,An in the ha, amang them a’,He’s hailed her Lady Drum.

He’s taen her by the milk-white hand

An led her but an ben,

An in the ha, amang them a’,

He’s hailed her Lady Drum.

17‘Now I’ve wedded the shepherd’s daughter,An I hae brought her hame,In the ha, amang ye a’,She is welcome hame to Drum.’

‘Now I’ve wedded the shepherd’s daughter,

An I hae brought her hame,

In the ha, amang ye a’,

She is welcome hame to Drum.’

a.Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 194.b.Buchan’s MSS, II, 101.c.The New Deeside Guide, by James Brown [Joseph Robertson], [1832], p. 11.d.Gibb MS., p. 21, No 4, from the recitation of a schoolfellow at Auchinblae, Kincardineshire, about 1851.

1The laird o Drum is a hunting gane,All in a morning early,And he did spy a well-far’d may,Was shearing at her barley.2‘O will ye fancy me, fair may,And let your shearing be, OAnd gang and be the lady o Drum?O will ye fancy me?’ O3‘I winna fancy you,’ she says,‘Nor let my shearing be;For I’m ower low to be Lady Drum,And your miss I’d scorn to be.’4‘But ye’ll cast aff that gown o grey,Put on the silk and scarlet;I’ll make a vow, and keep it true,You’ll neither be miss nor harlot.’5‘Then dee you to my father dear,Keeps sheep on yonder hill;To ony thing he bids me doI’m always at his will.’6He has gane to her father dear,Keeps sheep on yonder hill:‘I’m come to marry your ae daughter,If ye’ll gie me your gude will.’7‘She’ll shake your barn, and winna your corn,And gang to mill and kill;In time of need she’ll saddle your steed;And I’ll draw your boots mysell.’8‘O wha will bake my bridal bread,And wha will brew my ale,And wha will welcome my lady hame,It’s mair than I can tell.’9Four an twenty gentle knightsGied in at the yetts o Drum;But nae a man lifted his hatWhan the lady o Drum came in.10But he has taen her by the hand,And led her but and ben;Says, You’r welcome hame, my lady Drum,For this is your ain land.11For he has taen her by the hand,And led her thro the ha;Says, You’r welcome hame, my lady Drum,To your bowers ane and a’.12Then he [’s] stript her o the robes o grey,Drest her in the robes o gold,And taen her father frae the sheep-keeping,Made him a bailie bold.13She wasna forty weeks his wifeTill she brought hame a son;She was as well a loved ladyAs ever was in Drum.14Out it speaks his brother dear,Says, You’ve dune us great wrang;You’ve married a wife below your degree,She’s a mock to all our kin.15Out then spake the Laird of Drum,Says, I’ve dune you nae wrang;I’ve married a wife to win my bread,You’ve married ane to spend.16‘For the last time that I was married,She was far abeen my degree;She wadna gang to the bonny yetts o DrumBut the pearlin abeen her ee,And I durstna gang in the room where she wasBut my hat below my knee.’17When they had eaten and well drunken,And all men bound for bed,The Laird o Drum and his lady gayIn ae bed they were laid.18‘Gin ye had been o high renown,As ye are o low degree,We might hae baith gane down the streetsAmang gude companie.’19‘I tauld you ere we were wedYou were far abeen my degree;But now I’m married, in your bed laid,And just as gude as ye.20‘Gin ye were dead, and I were dead,And baith in grave had lain,Ere seven years were at an end,They’d not ken your dust frae mine.’

1The laird o Drum is a hunting gane,All in a morning early,And he did spy a well-far’d may,Was shearing at her barley.

The laird o Drum is a hunting gane,

All in a morning early,

And he did spy a well-far’d may,

Was shearing at her barley.

2‘O will ye fancy me, fair may,And let your shearing be, OAnd gang and be the lady o Drum?O will ye fancy me?’ O

‘O will ye fancy me, fair may,

And let your shearing be, O

And gang and be the lady o Drum?

O will ye fancy me?’ O

3‘I winna fancy you,’ she says,‘Nor let my shearing be;For I’m ower low to be Lady Drum,And your miss I’d scorn to be.’

‘I winna fancy you,’ she says,

‘Nor let my shearing be;

For I’m ower low to be Lady Drum,

And your miss I’d scorn to be.’

4‘But ye’ll cast aff that gown o grey,Put on the silk and scarlet;I’ll make a vow, and keep it true,You’ll neither be miss nor harlot.’

‘But ye’ll cast aff that gown o grey,

Put on the silk and scarlet;

I’ll make a vow, and keep it true,

You’ll neither be miss nor harlot.’

5‘Then dee you to my father dear,Keeps sheep on yonder hill;To ony thing he bids me doI’m always at his will.’

‘Then dee you to my father dear,

Keeps sheep on yonder hill;

To ony thing he bids me do

I’m always at his will.’

6He has gane to her father dear,Keeps sheep on yonder hill:‘I’m come to marry your ae daughter,If ye’ll gie me your gude will.’

He has gane to her father dear,

Keeps sheep on yonder hill:

‘I’m come to marry your ae daughter,

If ye’ll gie me your gude will.’

7‘She’ll shake your barn, and winna your corn,And gang to mill and kill;In time of need she’ll saddle your steed;And I’ll draw your boots mysell.’

‘She’ll shake your barn, and winna your corn,

And gang to mill and kill;

In time of need she’ll saddle your steed;

And I’ll draw your boots mysell.’

8‘O wha will bake my bridal bread,And wha will brew my ale,And wha will welcome my lady hame,It’s mair than I can tell.’

‘O wha will bake my bridal bread,

And wha will brew my ale,

And wha will welcome my lady hame,

It’s mair than I can tell.’

9Four an twenty gentle knightsGied in at the yetts o Drum;But nae a man lifted his hatWhan the lady o Drum came in.

Four an twenty gentle knights

Gied in at the yetts o Drum;

But nae a man lifted his hat

Whan the lady o Drum came in.

10But he has taen her by the hand,And led her but and ben;Says, You’r welcome hame, my lady Drum,For this is your ain land.

But he has taen her by the hand,

And led her but and ben;

Says, You’r welcome hame, my lady Drum,

For this is your ain land.

11For he has taen her by the hand,And led her thro the ha;Says, You’r welcome hame, my lady Drum,To your bowers ane and a’.

For he has taen her by the hand,

And led her thro the ha;

Says, You’r welcome hame, my lady Drum,

To your bowers ane and a’.

12Then he [’s] stript her o the robes o grey,Drest her in the robes o gold,And taen her father frae the sheep-keeping,Made him a bailie bold.

Then he [’s] stript her o the robes o grey,

Drest her in the robes o gold,

And taen her father frae the sheep-keeping,

Made him a bailie bold.

13She wasna forty weeks his wifeTill she brought hame a son;She was as well a loved ladyAs ever was in Drum.

She wasna forty weeks his wife

Till she brought hame a son;

She was as well a loved lady

As ever was in Drum.

14Out it speaks his brother dear,Says, You’ve dune us great wrang;You’ve married a wife below your degree,She’s a mock to all our kin.

Out it speaks his brother dear,

Says, You’ve dune us great wrang;

You’ve married a wife below your degree,

She’s a mock to all our kin.

15Out then spake the Laird of Drum,Says, I’ve dune you nae wrang;I’ve married a wife to win my bread,You’ve married ane to spend.

Out then spake the Laird of Drum,

Says, I’ve dune you nae wrang;

I’ve married a wife to win my bread,

You’ve married ane to spend.

16‘For the last time that I was married,She was far abeen my degree;She wadna gang to the bonny yetts o DrumBut the pearlin abeen her ee,And I durstna gang in the room where she wasBut my hat below my knee.’

‘For the last time that I was married,

She was far abeen my degree;

She wadna gang to the bonny yetts o Drum

But the pearlin abeen her ee,

And I durstna gang in the room where she was

But my hat below my knee.’

17When they had eaten and well drunken,And all men bound for bed,The Laird o Drum and his lady gayIn ae bed they were laid.

When they had eaten and well drunken,

And all men bound for bed,

The Laird o Drum and his lady gay

In ae bed they were laid.

18‘Gin ye had been o high renown,As ye are o low degree,We might hae baith gane down the streetsAmang gude companie.’

‘Gin ye had been o high renown,

As ye are o low degree,

We might hae baith gane down the streets

Amang gude companie.’

19‘I tauld you ere we were wedYou were far abeen my degree;But now I’m married, in your bed laid,And just as gude as ye.

‘I tauld you ere we were wed

You were far abeen my degree;

But now I’m married, in your bed laid,

And just as gude as ye.

20‘Gin ye were dead, and I were dead,And baith in grave had lain,Ere seven years were at an end,They’d not ken your dust frae mine.’

‘Gin ye were dead, and I were dead,

And baith in grave had lain,

Ere seven years were at an end,

They’d not ken your dust frae mine.’

From Dr Joseph Robertson’s interleaved and annotated copy of The New Deeside Guide, [nominally] by James Brown [but written by Joseph Robertson], Aberdeen [1832]; inserted at p. 12.

1The Laird of Drum is a wooing gane,All in a morning early,And there he spied a weel-far’d may,She was shearing at her barley.2‘Will you fancy me, my bonny may,And will you fancy me? OAnd will you come and be Lady Drum,And let your shearing a be?’ O3‘It’s I winna fancy you, kind sir,I winna fancy thee;For I’m too low to be lady o Drum,And your whore I would scorn to be.’4‘Ye’ll cast aff the robes of gray,And put on the silk and the scarlet,And here to you I’ll make a vowYe’se neither be whore nor harlot.’5‘I winna cast aff the robes o gray,To put on the silk and the scarlet,But I’ll wear the colour of the ewe,For they set me better than a’ that.6‘But ye’ll do you doun to my father dear,Keeping sheep on yonder hill,And the first ae thing that he bids me I’ll do,For I wirk aye at his will.’7He’s done him doun to her father dear,Keeping sheep on yonder hill:‘Ye hae a pretty creature for your daughter;Dear me! but I like her well.’8‘It’s she can neither read nor write,She was never brought up at the squeel;She canna wash your china cups,Nor yet mak a dish o tea.9‘But well can she do a’ ither thing,For I learnt the girly mysell;She’ll fill in your barn, and winnow your corn,She’ll gang to your kill and your mill,And, time o need, she’ll saddle your steed,And draw your boots hersell.’10‘Wha will bake my bridal bread,And wha will brew my ale?Wha will welcome my lady in?For it’s more than I can tell.’11There was four-and-twenty gentlemenStood a’ in the yetts o Drum,But there was nane o them lifted their hatsTo welcome the young lady in.12But up spake his ae brither,Says, Brither, ye hae done wrang;Ye have married a wife this dayA lauch to a’ our kin.13‘I’ve married ane to win my bread,But ye married ane to spend;But as lang’s I’m able to walk to the yetts o DrumOn me she may depend.14‘The last lady that I did wedWas far above my command;I durst not enter the bower where she wasBut my hat low in my hand.’15When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a’ man bound for bed,The Laird o Drum and the shepherd’s dotherIn one bed they were laid.16‘If ye were come o noble bleedAn were as high as me,We could gang to the yetts o DrumAmangst gueed companie.’17‘I tald you ere we was wedI was oer low for thee,But now we are wedd and in ae bed laid,And you must be content wi me.18‘For an ye were dead, an I were dead,And laid in the dust low down,When we were baith turnd up againWha could ken your mould frae mine?’

1The Laird of Drum is a wooing gane,All in a morning early,And there he spied a weel-far’d may,She was shearing at her barley.

The Laird of Drum is a wooing gane,

All in a morning early,

And there he spied a weel-far’d may,

She was shearing at her barley.

2‘Will you fancy me, my bonny may,And will you fancy me? OAnd will you come and be Lady Drum,And let your shearing a be?’ O

‘Will you fancy me, my bonny may,

And will you fancy me? O

And will you come and be Lady Drum,

And let your shearing a be?’ O

3‘It’s I winna fancy you, kind sir,I winna fancy thee;For I’m too low to be lady o Drum,And your whore I would scorn to be.’

‘It’s I winna fancy you, kind sir,

I winna fancy thee;

For I’m too low to be lady o Drum,

And your whore I would scorn to be.’

4‘Ye’ll cast aff the robes of gray,And put on the silk and the scarlet,And here to you I’ll make a vowYe’se neither be whore nor harlot.’

‘Ye’ll cast aff the robes of gray,

And put on the silk and the scarlet,

And here to you I’ll make a vow

Ye’se neither be whore nor harlot.’

5‘I winna cast aff the robes o gray,To put on the silk and the scarlet,But I’ll wear the colour of the ewe,For they set me better than a’ that.

‘I winna cast aff the robes o gray,

To put on the silk and the scarlet,

But I’ll wear the colour of the ewe,

For they set me better than a’ that.

6‘But ye’ll do you doun to my father dear,Keeping sheep on yonder hill,And the first ae thing that he bids me I’ll do,For I wirk aye at his will.’

‘But ye’ll do you doun to my father dear,

Keeping sheep on yonder hill,

And the first ae thing that he bids me I’ll do,

For I wirk aye at his will.’

7He’s done him doun to her father dear,Keeping sheep on yonder hill:‘Ye hae a pretty creature for your daughter;Dear me! but I like her well.’

He’s done him doun to her father dear,

Keeping sheep on yonder hill:

‘Ye hae a pretty creature for your daughter;

Dear me! but I like her well.’

8‘It’s she can neither read nor write,She was never brought up at the squeel;She canna wash your china cups,Nor yet mak a dish o tea.

‘It’s she can neither read nor write,

She was never brought up at the squeel;

She canna wash your china cups,

Nor yet mak a dish o tea.

9‘But well can she do a’ ither thing,For I learnt the girly mysell;She’ll fill in your barn, and winnow your corn,She’ll gang to your kill and your mill,And, time o need, she’ll saddle your steed,And draw your boots hersell.’

‘But well can she do a’ ither thing,

For I learnt the girly mysell;

She’ll fill in your barn, and winnow your corn,

She’ll gang to your kill and your mill,

And, time o need, she’ll saddle your steed,

And draw your boots hersell.’

10‘Wha will bake my bridal bread,And wha will brew my ale?Wha will welcome my lady in?For it’s more than I can tell.’

‘Wha will bake my bridal bread,

And wha will brew my ale?

Wha will welcome my lady in?

For it’s more than I can tell.’

11There was four-and-twenty gentlemenStood a’ in the yetts o Drum,But there was nane o them lifted their hatsTo welcome the young lady in.

There was four-and-twenty gentlemen

Stood a’ in the yetts o Drum,

But there was nane o them lifted their hats

To welcome the young lady in.

12But up spake his ae brither,Says, Brither, ye hae done wrang;Ye have married a wife this dayA lauch to a’ our kin.

But up spake his ae brither,

Says, Brither, ye hae done wrang;

Ye have married a wife this day

A lauch to a’ our kin.

13‘I’ve married ane to win my bread,But ye married ane to spend;But as lang’s I’m able to walk to the yetts o DrumOn me she may depend.

‘I’ve married ane to win my bread,

But ye married ane to spend;

But as lang’s I’m able to walk to the yetts o Drum

On me she may depend.

14‘The last lady that I did wedWas far above my command;I durst not enter the bower where she wasBut my hat low in my hand.’

‘The last lady that I did wed

Was far above my command;

I durst not enter the bower where she was

But my hat low in my hand.’

15When bells were rung, and mass was sung,And a’ man bound for bed,The Laird o Drum and the shepherd’s dotherIn one bed they were laid.

When bells were rung, and mass was sung,

And a’ man bound for bed,

The Laird o Drum and the shepherd’s dother

In one bed they were laid.

16‘If ye were come o noble bleedAn were as high as me,We could gang to the yetts o DrumAmangst gueed companie.’

‘If ye were come o noble bleed

An were as high as me,

We could gang to the yetts o Drum

Amangst gueed companie.’

17‘I tald you ere we was wedI was oer low for thee,But now we are wedd and in ae bed laid,And you must be content wi me.

‘I tald you ere we was wed

I was oer low for thee,

But now we are wedd and in ae bed laid,

And you must be content wi me.

18‘For an ye were dead, an I were dead,And laid in the dust low down,When we were baith turnd up againWha could ken your mould frae mine?’

‘For an ye were dead, an I were dead,

And laid in the dust low down,

When we were baith turnd up again

Wha could ken your mould frae mine?’

a.Manuscript of David Louden, Morham, Haddington, p. 7, 1873; from Mrs Dickson, Rentonhall, derived from her great-grandmother.b.Macmath MS., p. 13; from Mr William Traquair, S. S. C., Edinburgh, obtained originally in Perthshire.

1‘Oh, will ye fancy me, fair maid?Oh, will ye fancy me? OOr will ye go to be ladye o the Drum,An let a’ your shearin abe? OAn let a’ your shearin abe? OAn let a’ your shearin abe ?’ O2‘I can neither read nor write,Nor neer been brocht up at schule;But I can do all other things,An keep a hoose richt weel.3‘My faither he’s a puir shepherd-man,Herds his hogs on yonder hill;Gin ye will go get his consent,Then I’ll be at your call.’4He has gane to her father,That herds hogs on yonder hill;He said, ‘You’ve got a pretty daughter,I’d fain tak her to my sel.’5‘She can neither read nor write,Was neer brocht up at schule;But she can do all other things,An I learnt aye the lassie my sel.6‘She’ll milk your cows, she’ll carry your corn,She’ll gang to the mill or the kiln;She’ll saddle your steed at any time of need,And she’ll brush up your boots hersel.’7‘It’s who will bake my bridal bread?Or who will brew my ale?Or who will welcome this bonnie lassie in?For it’s more than I can tell.’8There’s four-and-twenty gentlemenStand doun at the gate o the Drum;Not one of them all would take off his hatFor to welcome the bonnie lassie in.9. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘Oh, brother, you’ve married a wife this dayA disgrace to all our kin.’10‘Oh, brother, I’ve married a wife to win,And ye’ve got one to spen,And as long as the bonnie lassie walks out and inShe shall aye be the ladye o the Drum.’11When all was done, and no bells rung,And all men bound for their bed,The laird and the shepherd’s bonnie daughterIn one bed they were laid.12‘Though I’m not of as noble blood,Nor yet of as high degree,Now I lie locked in your arms two,And you must be contented wi me.13‘If you were dead, and I were dead,And baith laid in one grave,If we were baith to be raised up again,Wha would ken your dust frae mine?

1‘Oh, will ye fancy me, fair maid?Oh, will ye fancy me? OOr will ye go to be ladye o the Drum,An let a’ your shearin abe? OAn let a’ your shearin abe? OAn let a’ your shearin abe ?’ O

‘Oh, will ye fancy me, fair maid?

Oh, will ye fancy me? O

Or will ye go to be ladye o the Drum,

An let a’ your shearin abe? O

An let a’ your shearin abe ?’ O

2‘I can neither read nor write,Nor neer been brocht up at schule;But I can do all other things,An keep a hoose richt weel.

‘I can neither read nor write,

Nor neer been brocht up at schule;

But I can do all other things,

An keep a hoose richt weel.

3‘My faither he’s a puir shepherd-man,Herds his hogs on yonder hill;Gin ye will go get his consent,Then I’ll be at your call.’

‘My faither he’s a puir shepherd-man,

Herds his hogs on yonder hill;

Gin ye will go get his consent,

Then I’ll be at your call.’

4He has gane to her father,That herds hogs on yonder hill;He said, ‘You’ve got a pretty daughter,I’d fain tak her to my sel.’

He has gane to her father,

That herds hogs on yonder hill;

He said, ‘You’ve got a pretty daughter,

I’d fain tak her to my sel.’

5‘She can neither read nor write,Was neer brocht up at schule;But she can do all other things,An I learnt aye the lassie my sel.

‘She can neither read nor write,

Was neer brocht up at schule;

But she can do all other things,

An I learnt aye the lassie my sel.

6‘She’ll milk your cows, she’ll carry your corn,She’ll gang to the mill or the kiln;She’ll saddle your steed at any time of need,And she’ll brush up your boots hersel.’

‘She’ll milk your cows, she’ll carry your corn,

She’ll gang to the mill or the kiln;

She’ll saddle your steed at any time of need,

And she’ll brush up your boots hersel.’

7‘It’s who will bake my bridal bread?Or who will brew my ale?Or who will welcome this bonnie lassie in?For it’s more than I can tell.’

‘It’s who will bake my bridal bread?

Or who will brew my ale?

Or who will welcome this bonnie lassie in?

For it’s more than I can tell.’

8There’s four-and-twenty gentlemenStand doun at the gate o the Drum;Not one of them all would take off his hatFor to welcome the bonnie lassie in.

There’s four-and-twenty gentlemen

Stand doun at the gate o the Drum;

Not one of them all would take off his hat

For to welcome the bonnie lassie in.

9. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘Oh, brother, you’ve married a wife this dayA disgrace to all our kin.’

. . . . . . .

‘Oh, brother, you’ve married a wife this day

A disgrace to all our kin.’

10‘Oh, brother, I’ve married a wife to win,And ye’ve got one to spen,And as long as the bonnie lassie walks out and inShe shall aye be the ladye o the Drum.’

‘Oh, brother, I’ve married a wife to win,

And ye’ve got one to spen,

And as long as the bonnie lassie walks out and in

She shall aye be the ladye o the Drum.’

11When all was done, and no bells rung,And all men bound for their bed,The laird and the shepherd’s bonnie daughterIn one bed they were laid.

When all was done, and no bells rung,

And all men bound for their bed,

The laird and the shepherd’s bonnie daughter

In one bed they were laid.

12‘Though I’m not of as noble blood,Nor yet of as high degree,Now I lie locked in your arms two,And you must be contented wi me.

‘Though I’m not of as noble blood,

Nor yet of as high degree,

Now I lie locked in your arms two,

And you must be contented wi me.

13‘If you were dead, and I were dead,And baith laid in one grave,If we were baith to be raised up again,Wha would ken your dust frae mine?

‘If you were dead, and I were dead,

And baith laid in one grave,

If we were baith to be raised up again,

Wha would ken your dust frae mine?

A. a.

13. wellfar’d May.

21. fair May: rare May.

24. as thee May.

17.This stanza looks like a spurious addition.

b.Kinloch has taken fourteen of the seventeen stanzas ofa(all but 1, 2, 17) into his printed copy, with a change of a word here and there (not here noticed), as was his way. The remaining ten stanzas must be from recitation, if Kinloch is to be understood strictly.

1.The laird o Drum is a-wooing gane;It was on a morning early;And he has fawn in wi a bonnie may,A-shearing at her barley.2.‘My bonnie may, my weel-faurd may,O will ye fancy me, OAnd gae and be the lady o Drum,And lat your shearing abee?’ O3.‘It’s I canna fancy thee, kind sir,I winna fancy thee;I winna gae and be lady o Drum,And lat my shearing abee.’After 3.My father he is a shepherd mean,Keeps sheep on yonder hill,And ye may gae and spier at him,For I am at his will.

1.The laird o Drum is a-wooing gane;It was on a morning early;And he has fawn in wi a bonnie may,A-shearing at her barley.

The laird o Drum is a-wooing gane;

It was on a morning early;

And he has fawn in wi a bonnie may,

A-shearing at her barley.

2.‘My bonnie may, my weel-faurd may,O will ye fancy me, OAnd gae and be the lady o Drum,And lat your shearing abee?’ O

‘My bonnie may, my weel-faurd may,

O will ye fancy me, O

And gae and be the lady o Drum,

And lat your shearing abee?’ O

3.‘It’s I canna fancy thee, kind sir,I winna fancy thee;I winna gae and be lady o Drum,And lat my shearing abee.’

‘It’s I canna fancy thee, kind sir,

I winna fancy thee;

I winna gae and be lady o Drum,

And lat my shearing abee.’

After 3.My father he is a shepherd mean,Keeps sheep on yonder hill,And ye may gae and spier at him,For I am at his will.

After 3.

My father he is a shepherd mean,

Keeps sheep on yonder hill,

And ye may gae and spier at him,

For I am at his will.

4. Drum:and always.

After 7:

‘I’ll learn your lassie to read and write,And I’ll put her to the scheel;She’ll neither need to saddle my steed,Nor draw aff my boots hersell.‘But wha will bake my bridal bread,Or brew my bridal ale,And wha will welcome my bonnie bride,Is mair than I can tell.’

‘I’ll learn your lassie to read and write,And I’ll put her to the scheel;She’ll neither need to saddle my steed,Nor draw aff my boots hersell.

‘I’ll learn your lassie to read and write,

And I’ll put her to the scheel;

She’ll neither need to saddle my steed,

Nor draw aff my boots hersell.

‘But wha will bake my bridal bread,Or brew my bridal ale,And wha will welcome my bonnie bride,Is mair than I can tell.’

‘But wha will bake my bridal bread,

Or brew my bridal ale,

And wha will welcome my bonnie bride,

Is mair than I can tell.’

104. lakeforstain,and so entered in pencil in the MS.

After 12:

‘The first wife that I did wed,She was far abeen my degree;She wadna hae walkd to the yetts o DrumBut the pearls abeen her bree.‘But an she was adord for as much goldAs Peggie’s for beautie,She micht walk to the yetts o DrumAmang gueed companie.’

‘The first wife that I did wed,She was far abeen my degree;She wadna hae walkd to the yetts o DrumBut the pearls abeen her bree.

‘The first wife that I did wed,

She was far abeen my degree;

She wadna hae walkd to the yetts o Drum

But the pearls abeen her bree.

‘But an she was adord for as much goldAs Peggie’s for beautie,She micht walk to the yetts o DrumAmang gueed companie.’

‘But an she was adord for as much gold

As Peggie’s for beautie,

She micht walk to the yetts o Drum

Amang gueed companie.’

163. in my command,a plausible reading.

After 16:

‘But I told ye afore we war wedI was owre low for thee;But now we are wed, and in ae bed laid,And ye maun be content wi me.‘For an I war dead, and ye war dead,And baith in ae grave laid,And ye and I war tane up again,Wha could distan your mouls frae mine?’

‘But I told ye afore we war wedI was owre low for thee;But now we are wed, and in ae bed laid,And ye maun be content wi me.

‘But I told ye afore we war wed

I was owre low for thee;

But now we are wed, and in ae bed laid,

And ye maun be content wi me.

‘For an I war dead, and ye war dead,And baith in ae grave laid,And ye and I war tane up again,Wha could distan your mouls frae mine?’

‘For an I war dead, and ye war dead,

And baith in ae grave laid,

And ye and I war tane up again,

Wha could distan your mouls frae mine?’

Ois added to the second and fourth lines except when the rhyme is in two syllables, as in1.

Title.The Laird o Doune.So written twice:at p. 75 by anticipation,again at p. 78.

14. daighterie (iundotted): daghter he?

31. May:and always.

44, 114. Mayadded,for singing.

64. Siradded for singing.

No division into stanzas, and no indication of gaps. The deficiency at the end of 163is noted by ...

D. a.

Ois added (for singing) to the second and fourth verse of every stanza except1, 4,which have two-syllable rhyme.

19 is by mistake printed twice.

b.Oadded as ina.

21. me, bonny lassie.

23. O will ye fancy me, bonny lassie.

24. And lat your shearing be.

34, 44. whoreformiss.

41. ye cast.

74. Andwanting.

12, 13.Wanting.

162,4, 192. aboveforabeen.

165. durst not.

172. all man.

19.Repeated, as ina.

202. in your grave: lien.

Dixon made changes in printing this copy.

Ois not added as ina.

13. he has spied.

21. you.

33. lady o.

51. go you.

71. winn.

72. mill or.

94. Drum was come.

104. is a’ your ain.

122. in robes.

144. all your.

191. you weel ere.

20.Gin we were dead, and in grave laid,And then taen up again,I doubt they would look wi a gay clear eeThat would ken your dust frae mine.

20.

Gin we were dead, and in grave laid,

And then taen up again,

I doubt they would look wi a gay clear ee

That would ken your dust frae mine.

In Robertson’s annotated and interleaved copy, besides some readings fromE, there are noted in the margin the following:

72. to your mill and your kill.

93. But there was nae ane did lift.

173. and the herd’s dochter.

191. you before that we.This stanza twice, as ina.

20 as ina.

O is not added as ina,b.

12. Upon a.

13. he has spied.

22. O will you fancy me.

24. An let your shearin abee.

31. said.

32. abee.

33. Forwanting. I’m far ower: lady o.

34. your whore I winna.

4, 5.Wanting.

61. her auld faither.

62. Kept sheep upon the.

63.Wanting.

64. That the may was at his will.

7.But my daughter can neither read nor write,She was never at the schule;But she’ll saddle your steed in time of need,An draw aff your boots hersel.

But my daughter can neither read nor write,

She was never at the schule;

But she’ll saddle your steed in time of need,

An draw aff your boots hersel.

83. my bonny bride.

84. Is more.

91. gentlemen.

92. Stood at.

93. There was na ane that lifted.

94. Drum was come.

103. lady o.

104. is a’ your ain.

11–13.Wanting.

141. Out an spake his brither John.

144. a’ your.

151. Out an.

153. to save my gear.

161. the first time I had a wife.

163,4. I durstna,etc.,5,6come before3,4.

172. to bed.

173. an the weel-faured may.

191. afore we.

193. we are: in ae.

194. An I’m: as thee.

202. in ae grave lain.

203. were come an gane.

204. Wha could ken your mools.

Ois appended, as inD a,b,except in1, 4, 5.

F. a.

“Mrs Dickson says her mother used to say she has heard her (her mother’s) grandmother sing the following ballad with great glee. Air, Boyne Water.”

93,4, 10are given as one stanza, the last two lines“instead of repeat.”

Ois appended throughout.

Variations given only in part.

Ois appended as inD,E.

Begins:

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