245YOUNG ALLAN

A.Skene MS., p. 33.

B.‘Young Allan,’ Buchan’s MSS, II, 182.

C.‘Young Allan,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 11.

D.‘Young Allan,’ Murison MS., p. 117.

E.‘Earl Patrick,’ Kinloch MSS, V, 395.

The copy in Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 252, is abridged fromC, with half a dozen arbitrary and insignificant changes.

Skippers (lords) of Lothain,A, of Scarsburgh,C, of Aberdeen,D, are bragging over their drink: some, absurdly enough, of their hawks and hounds,A-C, some of their ladies, young Allan of his ship, which will outsail all others but three.[147]A boy inA,C, says that his master has a boat (it is a coal-carrier inC) which will take the wind from him. A wager is laid,A,B,C. All the rest go to drinking, ‘to the tows,’ but Allan to his prayers,C8. They sail; there is a terrible storm, in the course of which the three competitors are ‘rent in nine,’A9, or two of themsink, and the topmast of the third ‘gaes in nine,’E7–9.

InAthey have sailed only a few leagues, when Allan’s ship is so racked by the storm that they see water through her sides. At this point, especially inA, Allan’s seamanship appears to very little advantage; he is more of a fair-weather yachtsman than of a skeely skipper. If he could get a bonny boy to take the helm and bring the ship in safe, the boy should have a liberal share of his gold and land, and a daughter Ann besides, whom one is surprised that Young Allan should have to offer. InAandDthe bonny boy evidently takes command of the ship, although inA18 the sailors ascribe their safety, under God, to their good master. The ballad indeed suffers almost as grievously as the comely cog.

InB-EAllan calls for a bonny boy to take the helm while he goes to the masthead to look for land. InDhe makes the same promises as inA, but the bonny boy cares only for Ann. InB,Cthe bonny boy suggests that Allan should waken his drunken men, for whom good thick shoes had been bought, though none had been given him. But in all the boy takes the helm, and in fact keeps it till the ship is in. Allan, at the masthead, can see neither day nor landmark; many feather-beds are floating on the water,B,C. The boy calls his master down; the sea can be seen through the ship’s sides,B-E.

Orders are given, by the boy or by Allan (by the boy certainly inD, and by Allan inE), to take feather-beds and canvas and lay, busk, or wrap the ship round; pitch and tar are also recommended inB,C. This done, Allan addresses the ship: Spring up, and gold shall be your hire,A; Haste to dry land, and every nail that is in you shall be a gold pin,B; For every iron nail in you, of gold there shall be ten,C; inD, indirectly, Where she wants an iron nail drive in a silver pin, and where she wants an oaken bolt beat in the gold, and the like inE. When the ship hears this, she springs from the water like sparks from the fire,A-C.

The first shore they come to is Troup,B, Howdoloot,C, Linn,D,E. The ship is kept off with cannon,B,C, with spears and bayonets,D; is towed in (wrongly),E. The next shore they come to is Lee,B,E, Howdilee,C, wanting inD; ‘they bare her to the sea,’C, ‘they turned their ship about,’D, the ship is towed in (wrongly),B,E. The third shore they come to is Lin,B, Howdilin,C, Aberdeen,D; the ship is towed in (welcomed), with drums beating and pipes playing,B,C,D.

Allan calls for the bonny boy that brought the ship safe in, that took the helm in hand, and offers him gold, land, and his daughter; the boy rejects gold and land, and takes the daughter,A,D; Allan makes over to the boy his comely cog and gives him his daughter,B; gives him his daughter,C.

Five-and-forty ships,A, three-and-fifty,C, one-and-twenty,E, went to sea, and only one came back.[148]

This ballad is mixed with that of ‘Sir Patrick Spens,’ No 58, II, 21 ff.E1–6 belong entirely to No 58, andK6–10,M1, 3, of No 58 belong to ‘Young Allan.’ The bonny boy is found in 58,B,C,E,G,I,J; the floating feather-beds occur inE-H,J,O,R; the sea is seen through the ship in 58,C15,I21; cloth is wapped into the ship’s side to keep out water,H19, 20; feather-beds and canvas (and pitch) are used as here inI22, 23.

By far the most interesting feature in this ballad is Allan’s addressing his ship and the ship’s intelligent behavior,A16, 17,B12–15,C21–22. Friðþjóf’s ship Elliða understood and obeyed the speech of its master: Fornaldar Sogur, II, 79, 443 (cited by Bugge). Ranild’s ship came to him when he blew hishorn: ‘Svend Ranild,’ Grundtvig, No 28, I, 367 (translated by Prior, I, 286). In another Danish ballad, and one of the best, the Ox when sailed by St Olav, responds to his commands as if fully endowed with consciousness; he thwacks it in the side and over the eye, and it goes faster and faster; but it is animate only for the nonce: ‘Hellig-Olavs Væddefart,’ Grundtvig, No 50, II, 134, Prior, I, 356.

The Phæacian ships have neither helmsman nor helm, and know men’s minds and the way to all cities: Odyssey, viii, 557 ff. There is a magical self-moving ship in Marie de France’s Guigemar, and elsewhere.

Skene MS., p. 33; taken down in the north of Scotland, 1802–3

1A’ the skippers of bonny Lothain,As they sat at the wine,There fell a reesin them amang,An it was in unhappy time.2Some o them reesd their hawks,An some o them their hounds,An some o them their ladies gay,Trod neatly on the ground;Young Allan he reesd his comely cog,That lay upon the strand.3‘I hae as good a ship this dayAs ever sailed our seas,Except it be the Burges Black,But an the Small Cordvine,The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;We’s lay that three bye in time.’4Out spak there a little boy,Just at Young Allan’s knee:‘Ye lie, ye lie, Young Allan,Sae loud’s I hear ye lie.5‘For my master has a little boatWill sail thrice as well as thine;For she’ll gang in at your foremast,An gae out your fore-lee,An nine times in a winter nightShe’ll tak the wind frae thee.’6‘O what will ye wad, ye Young Allan?Or what will ye wad wi me?’‘I’ll wad my head against your landTill I get more monnie.’7They had na saild a league,A league but barely three,But through an thro the bonny shipThey saw the green wall sea.8They had na saild a league,A league but barely five,But through an thro their bonny shipThey saw the green well wave.9He gaed up to the topmast,To see what he coud see,And there he saw the Burgess Black,But an the Small Cordvine,The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;The three was rent in nine.10Young Allan grat an wrang his hands,An he kent na what to dee:‘The win is loud, and the waves are proud,An we’ll a’ sink in the sea.11‘But gin I coud get a bonny boyWad tak my helm in han,That would steer my bonny ship,An bring her safe to land,12‘He shoud get the twa part o my goud,The third part o my land,An gin we win safe to shoreHe shoud get my dochter Ann.’13‘O here am I, a bonny boyThat will tak your helm in han,An will steer your bonny shipAn bring her safe to lan.14‘Ye tak four-an-twenty feather-bedsAn lay the bonny ship round,An as much of the good canvasAs mak her hale an soun.’15They took four-an-twenty feather-bedsAn laid the bonny ship roun,An as much o the good canvasAs made her hale an soun.16‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,An goud sall be your hire!’Whan the bonny ship heard o that,That goud shoud be her hire,She sprang as fast frae the sat waterAs sparks do frae the fire.17‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,And goud sall be your fee!’Whan the bonny ship heard o that,That goud shoud be her fee,She sprang as fast frae the sat waterAs the leaf does frae the tree.18The sailors stan on the shore-side,Wi their auld baucheld sheen:‘Thanks to God an our guid masterThat ever we came safe to land!’19‘Whar is the bonny boyThat took my helm in han,That steerd my bonny ship,An brought her safe to lan?20‘He’s get the twa part o my goud,The third part o my lan,An, since we’re come safe to shore,He’s get my dochter Ann.’21‘O here am I, the bonny boyThat took your helm in han,That steered your bonny ship,An brought her safe to lan.22‘I winna hae the twa part o your goud,Nor the third part o your lan,But, since we hae win safe to shore,I’ll wed your dochter Ann.’23Forty ships went to the sea,Forty ships and five,An there never came ane o a’ back,But Young Allan, alive.

1A’ the skippers of bonny Lothain,As they sat at the wine,There fell a reesin them amang,An it was in unhappy time.

A’ the skippers of bonny Lothain,

As they sat at the wine,

There fell a reesin them amang,

An it was in unhappy time.

2Some o them reesd their hawks,An some o them their hounds,An some o them their ladies gay,Trod neatly on the ground;Young Allan he reesd his comely cog,That lay upon the strand.

Some o them reesd their hawks,

An some o them their hounds,

An some o them their ladies gay,

Trod neatly on the ground;

Young Allan he reesd his comely cog,

That lay upon the strand.

3‘I hae as good a ship this dayAs ever sailed our seas,Except it be the Burges Black,But an the Small Cordvine,The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;We’s lay that three bye in time.’

‘I hae as good a ship this day

As ever sailed our seas,

Except it be the Burges Black,

But an the Small Cordvine,

The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;

We’s lay that three bye in time.’

4Out spak there a little boy,Just at Young Allan’s knee:‘Ye lie, ye lie, Young Allan,Sae loud’s I hear ye lie.

Out spak there a little boy,

Just at Young Allan’s knee:

‘Ye lie, ye lie, Young Allan,

Sae loud’s I hear ye lie.

5‘For my master has a little boatWill sail thrice as well as thine;For she’ll gang in at your foremast,An gae out your fore-lee,An nine times in a winter nightShe’ll tak the wind frae thee.’

‘For my master has a little boat

Will sail thrice as well as thine;

For she’ll gang in at your foremast,

An gae out your fore-lee,

An nine times in a winter night

She’ll tak the wind frae thee.’

6‘O what will ye wad, ye Young Allan?Or what will ye wad wi me?’‘I’ll wad my head against your landTill I get more monnie.’

‘O what will ye wad, ye Young Allan?

Or what will ye wad wi me?’

‘I’ll wad my head against your land

Till I get more monnie.’

7They had na saild a league,A league but barely three,But through an thro the bonny shipThey saw the green wall sea.

They had na saild a league,

A league but barely three,

But through an thro the bonny ship

They saw the green wall sea.

8They had na saild a league,A league but barely five,But through an thro their bonny shipThey saw the green well wave.

They had na saild a league,

A league but barely five,

But through an thro their bonny ship

They saw the green well wave.

9He gaed up to the topmast,To see what he coud see,And there he saw the Burgess Black,But an the Small Cordvine,The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;The three was rent in nine.

He gaed up to the topmast,

To see what he coud see,

And there he saw the Burgess Black,

But an the Small Cordvine,

The Comely Cog of Dornisdale;

The three was rent in nine.

10Young Allan grat an wrang his hands,An he kent na what to dee:‘The win is loud, and the waves are proud,An we’ll a’ sink in the sea.

Young Allan grat an wrang his hands,

An he kent na what to dee:

‘The win is loud, and the waves are proud,

An we’ll a’ sink in the sea.

11‘But gin I coud get a bonny boyWad tak my helm in han,That would steer my bonny ship,An bring her safe to land,

‘But gin I coud get a bonny boy

Wad tak my helm in han,

That would steer my bonny ship,

An bring her safe to land,

12‘He shoud get the twa part o my goud,The third part o my land,An gin we win safe to shoreHe shoud get my dochter Ann.’

‘He shoud get the twa part o my goud,

The third part o my land,

An gin we win safe to shore

He shoud get my dochter Ann.’

13‘O here am I, a bonny boyThat will tak your helm in han,An will steer your bonny shipAn bring her safe to lan.

‘O here am I, a bonny boy

That will tak your helm in han,

An will steer your bonny ship

An bring her safe to lan.

14‘Ye tak four-an-twenty feather-bedsAn lay the bonny ship round,An as much of the good canvasAs mak her hale an soun.’

‘Ye tak four-an-twenty feather-beds

An lay the bonny ship round,

An as much of the good canvas

As mak her hale an soun.’

15They took four-an-twenty feather-bedsAn laid the bonny ship roun,An as much o the good canvasAs made her hale an soun.

They took four-an-twenty feather-beds

An laid the bonny ship roun,

An as much o the good canvas

As made her hale an soun.

16‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,An goud sall be your hire!’Whan the bonny ship heard o that,That goud shoud be her hire,She sprang as fast frae the sat waterAs sparks do frae the fire.

‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,

An goud sall be your hire!’

Whan the bonny ship heard o that,

That goud shoud be her hire,

She sprang as fast frae the sat water

As sparks do frae the fire.

17‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,And goud sall be your fee!’Whan the bonny ship heard o that,That goud shoud be her fee,She sprang as fast frae the sat waterAs the leaf does frae the tree.

‘Spring up, spring up, my bonny ship,

And goud sall be your fee!’

Whan the bonny ship heard o that,

That goud shoud be her fee,

She sprang as fast frae the sat water

As the leaf does frae the tree.

18The sailors stan on the shore-side,Wi their auld baucheld sheen:‘Thanks to God an our guid masterThat ever we came safe to land!’

The sailors stan on the shore-side,

Wi their auld baucheld sheen:

‘Thanks to God an our guid master

That ever we came safe to land!’

19‘Whar is the bonny boyThat took my helm in han,That steerd my bonny ship,An brought her safe to lan?

‘Whar is the bonny boy

That took my helm in han,

That steerd my bonny ship,

An brought her safe to lan?

20‘He’s get the twa part o my goud,The third part o my lan,An, since we’re come safe to shore,He’s get my dochter Ann.’

‘He’s get the twa part o my goud,

The third part o my lan,

An, since we’re come safe to shore,

He’s get my dochter Ann.’

21‘O here am I, the bonny boyThat took your helm in han,That steered your bonny ship,An brought her safe to lan.

‘O here am I, the bonny boy

That took your helm in han,

That steered your bonny ship,

An brought her safe to lan.

22‘I winna hae the twa part o your goud,Nor the third part o your lan,But, since we hae win safe to shore,I’ll wed your dochter Ann.’

‘I winna hae the twa part o your goud,

Nor the third part o your lan,

But, since we hae win safe to shore,

I’ll wed your dochter Ann.’

23Forty ships went to the sea,Forty ships and five,An there never came ane o a’ back,But Young Allan, alive.

Forty ships went to the sea,

Forty ships and five,

An there never came ane o a’ back,

But Young Allan, alive.

Buchan’s MSS, II, 182

1There were four-an-twenty sailors boldSat drinking at the wine;There fell a rousing them among,In an unseally time.2Some there reasd their hawk, their hawk,And some there reasd their hound,But Young Allan reasd his comely cog,As she floats on the feam.3‘There’s not a ship amang you a’Will sail alang wi me,But the comely cog o Heckland Hawk,And Flower o Germanie,And the Black Snake o Leve London;They are all gane frae me.’4The wager was a gude wager,Of fifty tuns of wine,And as much o the gude black silkAs cleathd their lemans fine.5At midnight dark the wind up stark,The seas began to rout;Young Allan and his bonny new shipGaed three times witherlins about.6‘O faer will I get a bonny boyWill take my helm in handEre I gang up to the tapmast-headTo look for some dry land?’7‘O waken, waken your drunken men,As they lie drunk wi wine;For when ye came thro Edinburgh townYe bought them shoes o ben.8‘There was no shoe made for my feet,Nor gluve made for my hand;But nevertheless, my dear master,I’ll take your helm in handTill ye gae to the topmast headAnd look for some dry land.’9‘I cannot see no day, no day,Nor no meathe can I ken;But mony a bonny feather-bedLies floating on the faem.’10‘Come down, come down, my dear master,You see not what I see;Through an through your bonny new shipComes in the green haw sea.’11‘Take fifty ells o the canvas broadAnd wrap it in a’ roun,And as much o good pich an tarMake her go hale an soun.12‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,And haste ye to dry lan,And every nail that is in youShall be a gay gold pin.13‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,And hae me to some lan,And a firlot full o guineas redWill be dealt at the lan’s end.’14The ship she hearkend to their voiceAnd listend to their leed,And she gaed thro the green haw seaLike fire out o a gleed.15When the ship got word o that,Goud was to be her beat,She’s flowen thro the stormy seasLike sparks out o a weet.16The first an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Troup;Wi cannons an great shooting there,They held Young Allan out.17The next an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Lee;Wi piping an sweet singing there,They towed Young Allan tee.18The next an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Lin;Wi drums beating and pipers playing,They towed Young Allan in,And Allan’s lady she was there,To welcome Allan hame.19‘O faer is my little boy,’ he said,‘That I brought oer the sea?’‘I’m coming, master, running, master,At your command shall be.’20‘O take to you my comely cog,And wed my daughter free,And a’ for this ae night’s warkThat ye did wake wi me.’

1There were four-an-twenty sailors boldSat drinking at the wine;There fell a rousing them among,In an unseally time.

There were four-an-twenty sailors bold

Sat drinking at the wine;

There fell a rousing them among,

In an unseally time.

2Some there reasd their hawk, their hawk,And some there reasd their hound,But Young Allan reasd his comely cog,As she floats on the feam.

Some there reasd their hawk, their hawk,

And some there reasd their hound,

But Young Allan reasd his comely cog,

As she floats on the feam.

3‘There’s not a ship amang you a’Will sail alang wi me,But the comely cog o Heckland Hawk,And Flower o Germanie,And the Black Snake o Leve London;They are all gane frae me.’

‘There’s not a ship amang you a’

Will sail alang wi me,

But the comely cog o Heckland Hawk,

And Flower o Germanie,

And the Black Snake o Leve London;

They are all gane frae me.’

4The wager was a gude wager,Of fifty tuns of wine,And as much o the gude black silkAs cleathd their lemans fine.

The wager was a gude wager,

Of fifty tuns of wine,

And as much o the gude black silk

As cleathd their lemans fine.

5At midnight dark the wind up stark,The seas began to rout;Young Allan and his bonny new shipGaed three times witherlins about.

At midnight dark the wind up stark,

The seas began to rout;

Young Allan and his bonny new ship

Gaed three times witherlins about.

6‘O faer will I get a bonny boyWill take my helm in handEre I gang up to the tapmast-headTo look for some dry land?’

‘O faer will I get a bonny boy

Will take my helm in hand

Ere I gang up to the tapmast-head

To look for some dry land?’

7‘O waken, waken your drunken men,As they lie drunk wi wine;For when ye came thro Edinburgh townYe bought them shoes o ben.

‘O waken, waken your drunken men,

As they lie drunk wi wine;

For when ye came thro Edinburgh town

Ye bought them shoes o ben.

8‘There was no shoe made for my feet,Nor gluve made for my hand;But nevertheless, my dear master,I’ll take your helm in handTill ye gae to the topmast headAnd look for some dry land.’

‘There was no shoe made for my feet,

Nor gluve made for my hand;

But nevertheless, my dear master,

I’ll take your helm in hand

Till ye gae to the topmast head

And look for some dry land.’

9‘I cannot see no day, no day,Nor no meathe can I ken;But mony a bonny feather-bedLies floating on the faem.’

‘I cannot see no day, no day,

Nor no meathe can I ken;

But mony a bonny feather-bed

Lies floating on the faem.’

10‘Come down, come down, my dear master,You see not what I see;Through an through your bonny new shipComes in the green haw sea.’

‘Come down, come down, my dear master,

You see not what I see;

Through an through your bonny new ship

Comes in the green haw sea.’

11‘Take fifty ells o the canvas broadAnd wrap it in a’ roun,And as much o good pich an tarMake her go hale an soun.

‘Take fifty ells o the canvas broad

And wrap it in a’ roun,

And as much o good pich an tar

Make her go hale an soun.

12‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,And haste ye to dry lan,And every nail that is in youShall be a gay gold pin.

‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,

And haste ye to dry lan,

And every nail that is in you

Shall be a gay gold pin.

13‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,And hae me to some lan,And a firlot full o guineas redWill be dealt at the lan’s end.’

‘Sail on, sail on, my bonny ship,

And hae me to some lan,

And a firlot full o guineas red

Will be dealt at the lan’s end.’

14The ship she hearkend to their voiceAnd listend to their leed,And she gaed thro the green haw seaLike fire out o a gleed.

The ship she hearkend to their voice

And listend to their leed,

And she gaed thro the green haw sea

Like fire out o a gleed.

15When the ship got word o that,Goud was to be her beat,She’s flowen thro the stormy seasLike sparks out o a weet.

When the ship got word o that,

Goud was to be her beat,

She’s flowen thro the stormy seas

Like sparks out o a weet.

16The first an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Troup;Wi cannons an great shooting there,They held Young Allan out.

The first an shore that they came till,

It was the shore o Troup;

Wi cannons an great shooting there,

They held Young Allan out.

17The next an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Lee;Wi piping an sweet singing there,They towed Young Allan tee.

The next an shore that they came till,

It was the shore o Lee;

Wi piping an sweet singing there,

They towed Young Allan tee.

18The next an shore that they came till,It was the shore o Lin;Wi drums beating and pipers playing,They towed Young Allan in,And Allan’s lady she was there,To welcome Allan hame.

The next an shore that they came till,

It was the shore o Lin;

Wi drums beating and pipers playing,

They towed Young Allan in,

And Allan’s lady she was there,

To welcome Allan hame.

19‘O faer is my little boy,’ he said,‘That I brought oer the sea?’‘I’m coming, master, running, master,At your command shall be.’

‘O faer is my little boy,’ he said,

‘That I brought oer the sea?’

‘I’m coming, master, running, master,

At your command shall be.’

20‘O take to you my comely cog,And wed my daughter free,And a’ for this ae night’s warkThat ye did wake wi me.’

‘O take to you my comely cog,

And wed my daughter free,

And a’ for this ae night’s wark

That ye did wake wi me.’

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 11

1All the skippers o ScarsburghSat drinking at the wine;There fell a rousing them amang,On an unseally time.2Some there rousd their hawk, their hawk,And some there rousd their hound,But Young Allan rousd his comely cog,As she stood on dry ground.3‘There’s nae a ship in ScarsburghWill sail the seas wi mine,Except it be the Burgess Black,Or than the smack calld Twine.4‘There’s nae a ship amang you a’Will sail alang wi me,But the comely cog o Hecklandhawk,And Flower o Yermanie,And the Black Snake o Leve London;They are a’ gane frae me.’5Out it speaks a little wee boyStood by Young Allan’s knee;‘My master has a coal-carrierWill take the wind frae thee.6‘She will gae out under the leaf,Come in under the lee,And nine times in a winter nightShe’ll turn the wind wi thee.’7When they had wagerd them amangFull fifty tuns o wine,Besides as mickle gude black silkAs clathe their lemans fine,8When all the rest went to the tows,All the whole night to stay,Young Allan he went to his bower,There with his God to pray.9‘There shall nae man gang to my shipTill I say mass and dine,And take my leave o my lady;Gae to my bonny ship syne.’10Then they saild east on Saturday,On Sunday sailëd west;Likewise they sailed on MonondayTill twelve, when they did rest.11At midnight dark the wind up stark,And seas began to rout,Till Allan and his bonny new shipGaed three times witherlands about.12‘O,’ sighing says the Young Allan,‘I fear a deadly storm;For mony a heaving sinking seaStrikes sair on my ship’s stern.13‘Where will I get a little wee boyWill take my helm in handTill I gang up to my tapmastAnd see for some dry land?’14‘O waken, waken your drunken men,As they lye drunk wi wine;For when ye came thro Edinbro townYe bought them sheen o ben.15‘There was nae shoe made for my foot,Nor gluve made for my hand;But nevertheless, my dear master,I’ll take your helm in handTill ye gang to the tall tapmastAnd look for some dry land.16‘And here am I, a little wee boyWill take your helm in hanTill ye gang up to your tapmast,But, master, stay not lang.’17‘I cannot see nae day, nae day,Nor nae meathe can I ken;But mony a bonny feather-bedLyes floating on the faem,And the comely cog o Normanshore,She never will gang hame.’18The comely cog o NicklingameCame sailing by his hand;Says, Gae down, gae down, ye gude skipper,Your ship sails on the sand.19‘Come down, come down, my gude master,Ye see not what I see;For thro and thro our comely cogI see the green haw sea.’20‘Take fifty ells o gude canvasAnd wrap the ship a’ round;And pick her weell, and spare her not,And make her hale and sound.21‘If ye will sail, my bonny ship,Till we come to dry land,For ilka iron nail in you,Of gowd there shall be ten.’22The ship she listend all the while,And, hearing of her hire,She flew as swift threw the saut seaAs sparks do frae the fire.23The first an shore that they came till,They ca’d it Howdoloot;Wi drums beating and cannons shouting,They held our gude ship out.24The next an shore that they came till,They ca’d it Howdilee;Wi drums beating and fifes playing,They bare her to the sea.25The third an shore that they came till,They ca’d it Howdilin;Wi drums beating and pipes playing,They towd our gude ship in.26The sailors walkd upon the shore,Wi their auld baucheld sheen,And thanked God and their Lady,That brought them safe again.27‘For we went out o ScarsburghWi fifty ships and three;But nane o them came back againBut Young Allan, ye see.’28‘Come down, come down, my little wee boy,Till I pay you your fee;I hae but only ae daughter,And wedded to her ye’se be.’

1All the skippers o ScarsburghSat drinking at the wine;There fell a rousing them amang,On an unseally time.

All the skippers o Scarsburgh

Sat drinking at the wine;

There fell a rousing them amang,

On an unseally time.

2Some there rousd their hawk, their hawk,And some there rousd their hound,But Young Allan rousd his comely cog,As she stood on dry ground.

Some there rousd their hawk, their hawk,

And some there rousd their hound,

But Young Allan rousd his comely cog,

As she stood on dry ground.

3‘There’s nae a ship in ScarsburghWill sail the seas wi mine,Except it be the Burgess Black,Or than the smack calld Twine.

‘There’s nae a ship in Scarsburgh

Will sail the seas wi mine,

Except it be the Burgess Black,

Or than the smack calld Twine.

4‘There’s nae a ship amang you a’Will sail alang wi me,But the comely cog o Hecklandhawk,And Flower o Yermanie,And the Black Snake o Leve London;They are a’ gane frae me.’

‘There’s nae a ship amang you a’

Will sail alang wi me,

But the comely cog o Hecklandhawk,

And Flower o Yermanie,

And the Black Snake o Leve London;

They are a’ gane frae me.’

5Out it speaks a little wee boyStood by Young Allan’s knee;‘My master has a coal-carrierWill take the wind frae thee.

Out it speaks a little wee boy

Stood by Young Allan’s knee;

‘My master has a coal-carrier

Will take the wind frae thee.

6‘She will gae out under the leaf,Come in under the lee,And nine times in a winter nightShe’ll turn the wind wi thee.’

‘She will gae out under the leaf,

Come in under the lee,

And nine times in a winter night

She’ll turn the wind wi thee.’

7When they had wagerd them amangFull fifty tuns o wine,Besides as mickle gude black silkAs clathe their lemans fine,

When they had wagerd them amang

Full fifty tuns o wine,

Besides as mickle gude black silk

As clathe their lemans fine,

8When all the rest went to the tows,All the whole night to stay,Young Allan he went to his bower,There with his God to pray.

When all the rest went to the tows,

All the whole night to stay,

Young Allan he went to his bower,

There with his God to pray.

9‘There shall nae man gang to my shipTill I say mass and dine,And take my leave o my lady;Gae to my bonny ship syne.’

‘There shall nae man gang to my ship

Till I say mass and dine,

And take my leave o my lady;

Gae to my bonny ship syne.’

10Then they saild east on Saturday,On Sunday sailëd west;Likewise they sailed on MonondayTill twelve, when they did rest.

Then they saild east on Saturday,

On Sunday sailëd west;

Likewise they sailed on Mononday

Till twelve, when they did rest.

11At midnight dark the wind up stark,And seas began to rout,Till Allan and his bonny new shipGaed three times witherlands about.

At midnight dark the wind up stark,

And seas began to rout,

Till Allan and his bonny new ship

Gaed three times witherlands about.

12‘O,’ sighing says the Young Allan,‘I fear a deadly storm;For mony a heaving sinking seaStrikes sair on my ship’s stern.

‘O,’ sighing says the Young Allan,

‘I fear a deadly storm;

For mony a heaving sinking sea

Strikes sair on my ship’s stern.

13‘Where will I get a little wee boyWill take my helm in handTill I gang up to my tapmastAnd see for some dry land?’

‘Where will I get a little wee boy

Will take my helm in hand

Till I gang up to my tapmast

And see for some dry land?’

14‘O waken, waken your drunken men,As they lye drunk wi wine;For when ye came thro Edinbro townYe bought them sheen o ben.

‘O waken, waken your drunken men,

As they lye drunk wi wine;

For when ye came thro Edinbro town

Ye bought them sheen o ben.

15‘There was nae shoe made for my foot,Nor gluve made for my hand;But nevertheless, my dear master,I’ll take your helm in handTill ye gang to the tall tapmastAnd look for some dry land.

‘There was nae shoe made for my foot,

Nor gluve made for my hand;

But nevertheless, my dear master,

I’ll take your helm in hand

Till ye gang to the tall tapmast

And look for some dry land.

16‘And here am I, a little wee boyWill take your helm in hanTill ye gang up to your tapmast,But, master, stay not lang.’

‘And here am I, a little wee boy

Will take your helm in han

Till ye gang up to your tapmast,

But, master, stay not lang.’

17‘I cannot see nae day, nae day,Nor nae meathe can I ken;But mony a bonny feather-bedLyes floating on the faem,And the comely cog o Normanshore,She never will gang hame.’

‘I cannot see nae day, nae day,

Nor nae meathe can I ken;

But mony a bonny feather-bed

Lyes floating on the faem,

And the comely cog o Normanshore,

She never will gang hame.’

18The comely cog o NicklingameCame sailing by his hand;Says, Gae down, gae down, ye gude skipper,Your ship sails on the sand.

The comely cog o Nicklingame

Came sailing by his hand;

Says, Gae down, gae down, ye gude skipper,

Your ship sails on the sand.

19‘Come down, come down, my gude master,Ye see not what I see;For thro and thro our comely cogI see the green haw sea.’

‘Come down, come down, my gude master,

Ye see not what I see;

For thro and thro our comely cog

I see the green haw sea.’

20‘Take fifty ells o gude canvasAnd wrap the ship a’ round;And pick her weell, and spare her not,And make her hale and sound.

‘Take fifty ells o gude canvas

And wrap the ship a’ round;

And pick her weell, and spare her not,

And make her hale and sound.

21‘If ye will sail, my bonny ship,Till we come to dry land,For ilka iron nail in you,Of gowd there shall be ten.’

‘If ye will sail, my bonny ship,

Till we come to dry land,

For ilka iron nail in you,

Of gowd there shall be ten.’

22The ship she listend all the while,And, hearing of her hire,She flew as swift threw the saut seaAs sparks do frae the fire.

The ship she listend all the while,

And, hearing of her hire,

She flew as swift threw the saut sea

As sparks do frae the fire.

23The first an shore that they came till,They ca’d it Howdoloot;Wi drums beating and cannons shouting,They held our gude ship out.

The first an shore that they came till,

They ca’d it Howdoloot;

Wi drums beating and cannons shouting,

They held our gude ship out.

24The next an shore that they came till,They ca’d it Howdilee;Wi drums beating and fifes playing,They bare her to the sea.

The next an shore that they came till,

They ca’d it Howdilee;

Wi drums beating and fifes playing,

They bare her to the sea.

25The third an shore that they came till,They ca’d it Howdilin;Wi drums beating and pipes playing,They towd our gude ship in.

The third an shore that they came till,

They ca’d it Howdilin;

Wi drums beating and pipes playing,

They towd our gude ship in.

26The sailors walkd upon the shore,Wi their auld baucheld sheen,And thanked God and their Lady,That brought them safe again.

The sailors walkd upon the shore,

Wi their auld baucheld sheen,

And thanked God and their Lady,

That brought them safe again.

27‘For we went out o ScarsburghWi fifty ships and three;But nane o them came back againBut Young Allan, ye see.’

‘For we went out o Scarsburgh

Wi fifty ships and three;

But nane o them came back again

But Young Allan, ye see.’

28‘Come down, come down, my little wee boy,Till I pay you your fee;I hae but only ae daughter,And wedded to her ye’se be.’

‘Come down, come down, my little wee boy,

Till I pay you your fee;

I hae but only ae daughter,

And wedded to her ye’se be.’

Murison MS., p. 117; learned by Mrs Murison from her mother, Old Deer, Aberdeenshire.

1There was three lords sat drinkin wineIn bonnie Aberdeen, [O]. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .2Some o them talked o their merchandise,An some o their ladies fine, [O]But Young Allan he talked o his bonnie ship,That cost him mony a poun.* * * * * *3‘Whar will I get a bonnie wee boyThat’ll tak my helm in han, OTill I gang up to my high topmastAn look oot for some dry lan?4‘He’ll get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,An the third pairt o my lan,An gin he row me safe on shoreHe shall hae my daughter Ann.’5‘O here am I, a bonny wee boyThat’ll tak your helm in hanTill ye gang up to your high topmastAn look oot for some dry lan.6‘I’ll nae seek your gowd, nor I’ll nae seek your gear,Nor the third pairt o your lan,But gin I row you safe to shoreI shall hae your daughter Ann.7‘Come doon, come doon, Young Allan,’ he cries,‘Ye see nae what I see;For through an through your bonnie ship-sideAn I see the open sea.8‘Ye’ll tak twenty-four o your feather-beds,Ye’ll busk your bonnie ship roon,An as much o the guid canvas-claithAs gar her gang hale an soun.9‘An whar ye want an iron boltYe’ll ca a siller pin,An whar ye want an oaken boltYe’ll beat the yellow gold in.’10He’s taen twenty-four o his feather-bedsAn buskit’s bonnie ship roon,An as much o the guid canvas-claithAs gar her gang hale an soun.11An whar he’s wantit an iron boltHe’s ca’d a siller pin,An whar he’s wantit an oaken boltHe’s beat the yellow gold in.12The firstan shore that they cam till,It was the shore o Linn;They held their spears an beenits oot,An they wouldna lat Allan in.13The neistan shore that they cam tillIt was the shore o . . . ;. . . . . . .An they turned their ship aboot.14But the neistan shore that they cam till,‘T was bonnie Aberdeen;The fifes an drums they a’ did play,To welcome Allan in.15‘O where is he, the bonnie wee boyThat took my helm in hanTill I gied up to my high topmastAn lookd oot for some dry lan?16‘He’s get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,An the third pairt o my lan,An since he’s rowt me safe to shoreHe sall hae my daughter Ann.’17‘O here am I, the bonnie wee boyThat took your helm in hanTill ye gied up to your high topmastAn lookd oot for some dry lan.18‘I’ll nae seek half o your good, nor half o your gear,Nor the third pairt o your lan,But since I’ve rowt you safe to shoreI sall hae your daughter Ann.’

1There was three lords sat drinkin wineIn bonnie Aberdeen, [O]. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .

There was three lords sat drinkin wine

In bonnie Aberdeen, [O]

. . . . . . . .

2Some o them talked o their merchandise,An some o their ladies fine, [O]But Young Allan he talked o his bonnie ship,That cost him mony a poun.

Some o them talked o their merchandise,

An some o their ladies fine, [O]

But Young Allan he talked o his bonnie ship,

That cost him mony a poun.

* * * * * *

3‘Whar will I get a bonnie wee boyThat’ll tak my helm in han, OTill I gang up to my high topmastAn look oot for some dry lan?

‘Whar will I get a bonnie wee boy

That’ll tak my helm in han, O

Till I gang up to my high topmast

An look oot for some dry lan?

4‘He’ll get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,An the third pairt o my lan,An gin he row me safe on shoreHe shall hae my daughter Ann.’

‘He’ll get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,

An the third pairt o my lan,

An gin he row me safe on shore

He shall hae my daughter Ann.’

5‘O here am I, a bonny wee boyThat’ll tak your helm in hanTill ye gang up to your high topmastAn look oot for some dry lan.

‘O here am I, a bonny wee boy

That’ll tak your helm in han

Till ye gang up to your high topmast

An look oot for some dry lan.

6‘I’ll nae seek your gowd, nor I’ll nae seek your gear,Nor the third pairt o your lan,But gin I row you safe to shoreI shall hae your daughter Ann.

‘I’ll nae seek your gowd, nor I’ll nae seek your gear,

Nor the third pairt o your lan,

But gin I row you safe to shore

I shall hae your daughter Ann.

7‘Come doon, come doon, Young Allan,’ he cries,‘Ye see nae what I see;For through an through your bonnie ship-sideAn I see the open sea.

‘Come doon, come doon, Young Allan,’ he cries,

‘Ye see nae what I see;

For through an through your bonnie ship-side

An I see the open sea.

8‘Ye’ll tak twenty-four o your feather-beds,Ye’ll busk your bonnie ship roon,An as much o the guid canvas-claithAs gar her gang hale an soun.

‘Ye’ll tak twenty-four o your feather-beds,

Ye’ll busk your bonnie ship roon,

An as much o the guid canvas-claith

As gar her gang hale an soun.

9‘An whar ye want an iron boltYe’ll ca a siller pin,An whar ye want an oaken boltYe’ll beat the yellow gold in.’

‘An whar ye want an iron bolt

Ye’ll ca a siller pin,

An whar ye want an oaken bolt

Ye’ll beat the yellow gold in.’

10He’s taen twenty-four o his feather-bedsAn buskit’s bonnie ship roon,An as much o the guid canvas-claithAs gar her gang hale an soun.

He’s taen twenty-four o his feather-beds

An buskit’s bonnie ship roon,

An as much o the guid canvas-claith

As gar her gang hale an soun.

11An whar he’s wantit an iron boltHe’s ca’d a siller pin,An whar he’s wantit an oaken boltHe’s beat the yellow gold in.

An whar he’s wantit an iron bolt

He’s ca’d a siller pin,

An whar he’s wantit an oaken bolt

He’s beat the yellow gold in.

12The firstan shore that they cam till,It was the shore o Linn;They held their spears an beenits oot,An they wouldna lat Allan in.

The firstan shore that they cam till,

It was the shore o Linn;

They held their spears an beenits oot,

An they wouldna lat Allan in.

13The neistan shore that they cam tillIt was the shore o . . . ;. . . . . . .An they turned their ship aboot.

The neistan shore that they cam till

It was the shore o . . . ;

. . . . . . .

An they turned their ship aboot.

14But the neistan shore that they cam till,‘T was bonnie Aberdeen;The fifes an drums they a’ did play,To welcome Allan in.

But the neistan shore that they cam till,

‘T was bonnie Aberdeen;

The fifes an drums they a’ did play,

To welcome Allan in.

15‘O where is he, the bonnie wee boyThat took my helm in hanTill I gied up to my high topmastAn lookd oot for some dry lan?

‘O where is he, the bonnie wee boy

That took my helm in han

Till I gied up to my high topmast

An lookd oot for some dry lan?

16‘He’s get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,An the third pairt o my lan,An since he’s rowt me safe to shoreHe sall hae my daughter Ann.’

‘He’s get half o my gowd, an half o my gear,

An the third pairt o my lan,

An since he’s rowt me safe to shore

He sall hae my daughter Ann.’

17‘O here am I, the bonnie wee boyThat took your helm in hanTill ye gied up to your high topmastAn lookd oot for some dry lan.

‘O here am I, the bonnie wee boy

That took your helm in han

Till ye gied up to your high topmast

An lookd oot for some dry lan.

18‘I’ll nae seek half o your good, nor half o your gear,Nor the third pairt o your lan,But since I’ve rowt you safe to shoreI sall hae your daughter Ann.’

‘I’ll nae seek half o your good, nor half o your gear,

Nor the third pairt o your lan,

But since I’ve rowt you safe to shore

I sall hae your daughter Ann.’

Kinloch MSS, V, 395; in the handwriting of John Hill Burton, when a youth

1The king he sits in Dumfermline,Birlin at the wine,And callin for the best skipperThat ever sailed the faem.2Then out it spak a bonny boy,Sat at the king’s right knee;‘Earl Patrick is the best skipperThat ever sailed the sea.’3The king he wrote a braed letter,And sealed it wi his ring,And sent it to Earl Patrick,. . . . . .4‘Oh wha is this, or wha is that,Has tald the king o me?For I was niver a gude mariner,And niver sailed the sea.* * * * * *5‘Ye’ll eat and drink, my merry young men,The red wine you amang,For blaw it wind, or blaw it sleet,Our ship maun sail the morn.6‘Late yestreen I saw the new meenWi the auld meen in hir arm,’And sichand said him Earl Patrick,‘I fear a deadly storm.’7They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro mony a stormy stream,Till they saw the Dam o Micklengaem,When she sank amang the faem.8They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro many a stormy stream,Till they saw the Duke o Normandy,And she sank among the faem.9They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro many a stormy stream,Till they saw the Black Shater o Leve London,And her topmast gaed in nine.10‘Where will I get a bonny boyThat will tack my helm in handTill I gang up to my topmast,And spy for some dry land?’11‘Now here am I, a bonny boyWill tack yer helm in handTill ye go up to your topmastBut I fear ye’ll never see land.’12‘Cum down, cum down, my gude master,Ye see not what I see,For through and through yer bonny shipI see the raging sea.’13‘Ye’ll tak four-and-twenty fether-bedsAnd lay my bonny ship roun,And as muckle o the fine canvasAs make her haill and soun.14‘And where she wants an iron nailO silver she’s hae three,And where she wants a timmer-pinWe’ll rap the red goud in.’* * * * * *15The firsten shore that they cam till,They cad it shore the Linn;Wi heart and hand and good command,They towed their bonny ship in.16The nexten shore that they came till,They caad it shore the Lee;With heart and hand and good command,They towed the bonny ship tee.17There was twenty ships gaed to the sea,Twenty ships and ane,And there was na ane came back againBut Earl Patrick alane.

1The king he sits in Dumfermline,Birlin at the wine,And callin for the best skipperThat ever sailed the faem.

The king he sits in Dumfermline,

Birlin at the wine,

And callin for the best skipper

That ever sailed the faem.

2Then out it spak a bonny boy,Sat at the king’s right knee;‘Earl Patrick is the best skipperThat ever sailed the sea.’

Then out it spak a bonny boy,

Sat at the king’s right knee;

‘Earl Patrick is the best skipper

That ever sailed the sea.’

3The king he wrote a braed letter,And sealed it wi his ring,And sent it to Earl Patrick,. . . . . .

The king he wrote a braed letter,

And sealed it wi his ring,

And sent it to Earl Patrick,

. . . . . .

4‘Oh wha is this, or wha is that,Has tald the king o me?For I was niver a gude mariner,And niver sailed the sea.

‘Oh wha is this, or wha is that,

Has tald the king o me?

For I was niver a gude mariner,

And niver sailed the sea.

* * * * * *

5‘Ye’ll eat and drink, my merry young men,The red wine you amang,For blaw it wind, or blaw it sleet,Our ship maun sail the morn.

‘Ye’ll eat and drink, my merry young men,

The red wine you amang,

For blaw it wind, or blaw it sleet,

Our ship maun sail the morn.

6‘Late yestreen I saw the new meenWi the auld meen in hir arm,’And sichand said him Earl Patrick,‘I fear a deadly storm.’

‘Late yestreen I saw the new meen

Wi the auld meen in hir arm,’

And sichand said him Earl Patrick,

‘I fear a deadly storm.’

7They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro mony a stormy stream,Till they saw the Dam o Micklengaem,When she sank amang the faem.

They sailed up, sae did they down,

Thro mony a stormy stream,

Till they saw the Dam o Micklengaem,

When she sank amang the faem.

8They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro many a stormy stream,Till they saw the Duke o Normandy,And she sank among the faem.

They sailed up, sae did they down,

Thro many a stormy stream,

Till they saw the Duke o Normandy,

And she sank among the faem.

9They sailed up, sae did they down,Thro many a stormy stream,Till they saw the Black Shater o Leve London,And her topmast gaed in nine.

They sailed up, sae did they down,

Thro many a stormy stream,

Till they saw the Black Shater o Leve London,

And her topmast gaed in nine.

10‘Where will I get a bonny boyThat will tack my helm in handTill I gang up to my topmast,And spy for some dry land?’

‘Where will I get a bonny boy

That will tack my helm in hand

Till I gang up to my topmast,

And spy for some dry land?’

11‘Now here am I, a bonny boyWill tack yer helm in handTill ye go up to your topmastBut I fear ye’ll never see land.’

‘Now here am I, a bonny boy

Will tack yer helm in hand

Till ye go up to your topmast

But I fear ye’ll never see land.’

12‘Cum down, cum down, my gude master,Ye see not what I see,For through and through yer bonny shipI see the raging sea.’

‘Cum down, cum down, my gude master,

Ye see not what I see,

For through and through yer bonny ship

I see the raging sea.’

13‘Ye’ll tak four-and-twenty fether-bedsAnd lay my bonny ship roun,And as muckle o the fine canvasAs make her haill and soun.

‘Ye’ll tak four-and-twenty fether-beds

And lay my bonny ship roun,

And as muckle o the fine canvas

As make her haill and soun.

14‘And where she wants an iron nailO silver she’s hae three,And where she wants a timmer-pinWe’ll rap the red goud in.’

‘And where she wants an iron nail

O silver she’s hae three,

And where she wants a timmer-pin

We’ll rap the red goud in.’

* * * * * *

15The firsten shore that they cam till,They cad it shore the Linn;Wi heart and hand and good command,They towed their bonny ship in.

The firsten shore that they cam till,

They cad it shore the Linn;

Wi heart and hand and good command,

They towed their bonny ship in.

16The nexten shore that they came till,They caad it shore the Lee;With heart and hand and good command,They towed the bonny ship tee.

The nexten shore that they came till,

They caad it shore the Lee;

With heart and hand and good command,

They towed the bonny ship tee.

17There was twenty ships gaed to the sea,Twenty ships and ane,And there was na ane came back againBut Earl Patrick alane.

There was twenty ships gaed to the sea,

Twenty ships and ane,

And there was na ane came back again

But Earl Patrick alane.

182. ill buckledcorruptly for theauld baucheldofC26 (baucheld==down at the heels).

22. hind.

35. snakes o Leveland den;andsnakes o Levelanden,C45.I have not foundsnake,forship,in late English, but the A. S.snacc==Icelandicsnekkja, a fast ship,may well have come down.ForLeve LondonseeE93.

114.We should perhaps readAs make;cf.A144,D.84.

45. black snakes o Levelanden.

After 2.“A long, long gap, that I have got nobody to fill up. I learned it from my mother, but she has quite forgotten it.”

91. whar he.

133.Remark: “Not let land here either.”

173. to yon,oryou.

Ois added at the end of every second line.

63. sich and.

93. shater. Cf.B35,C45, where the texts havesnakes(corrected here tosnake).The writer ofEhad begun the word with something different fromsh,but with what I cannot make out.

114. feear.

141. whenorwher.

Back to Index Next