252THE KITCHIE-BOY

A.Skene MS., p. 89.

B.‘Earl Richard’s Daughter,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 145.

C.‘Bonny Foot-Boy,’ Alexander Fraser Tytler’s Brown MS., No 7.

D.‘The Kitchie-Boy,’ Harris MS., fol. 21.

E.‘Willie, the Kitchie-Boy,’ Joseph Robertson’s Note-Book, ‘Adversaria,’ p. 88.

A lady of birth falls in love with her father’s kitchen-boy (foot-boy,C). She makes her passion known to him. He begs for secrecy, for her father would hang him; this is quite too likely, and she would be sent to a nunnery. The danger quickens her wits: she will send him off in a fine ship, and he can come back ‘like some earl or baron’s son’ and marry her (C). Being well provided with gold, her mother’s legacy, she has no difficulty in carrying out her plan; a very noble ship is provided, and she gives Willie (B,C,E) a ring to mind him of her. She warns him,C8,E13, that there are pressing reasons why he should not stay away very long. After a voyage of from three weeks to twelve months, Willie lands at London,A,E; in Spain,B,C,D. A lady, looking over her castle-wall, sees the ship coming in, and goes down to the shore with her maries to invite the master to dine. The master excuses himself; she asks him if he can fancy her; the woman he loves is far over the sea; the fairest woman in Scotland would break her heart if he should not return to her. The Spanish (or English) lady offers him a rich ring, to wear for her sake; he has a ring on his finger which is far dearer than any she could give him. He sails homeward; the lady’s father sees the ship coming in, and is as much impressed as his daughter could desire; he thinks some man of mark must be aboard, and tells his daughter to busk herself, for he means to ask the squire or lord to dine; he would give all his rents to have this same marry his daughter. Willie blackens or paints or masks or veils his face, and goes with the father to the castle. He asks the lady if she can fancy him; her father asks her if she will marry this lord,C. The man is far over seathat shall have her love, she replies. Willie hands her the ring which she had given him. Gat ye that by sea? or gat ye that by land? or gat ye it on the Spanish coast upon a dead man’s hand? He gat it on a drowned man’s hand. Alas! she cries, my true-love Willie! Upon this, Willie reveals himself. The father calls for a priest, little knowing that this lord was his own kitchen-boy.

The ballad is a modern “adaptation” of ‘King Horn,’ No 17, from whichA33, 34,B47,D7, 8, are taken outright. In the particular of the hero’s having his choice of two women it is more like thegestof ‘King Horn,’ or ‘Horn Childe and Maiden Rimnild;’ but an independent invention of the Spanish lady is not beyond the humble ability of the composer of ‘The Kitchie-Boy.’

Skene MS., p. 89; taken down in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1There was a lady fair,An een a lady of birth an fame,She eyed her father’s kitchen-boy,The greater was her shame.2She could never her love reveal,Nor to him talk,But in the forest wide an brade,Where they were wont to walk.3It fell ance upon a dayHer father gaed frae home,And she sent for the kitchen-boyTo her own room.4‘Canna ye fancy me, Willie?Canna ye fancy me?By a’ the lords I ever sawThere is nane I loo but ye.’5‘O latna this be kent, lady,O latna this be . . . ,For gin yer father got word of thisI vou he’d gar me die.’6‘Yer life shall no be taen, Willie,Yer life sal na be taen;I wad er loss my ain heart’s bloodOr thy body gat wrang.’7Wi her monny fair speechesShe made the boy bold,Till he began to kiss an clap,An on her sine lay hold.8They hadna kissed an love claped,As lovers whan they meet,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .9‘The master-cook he will on me call,An answered he man be;An it wer kent I war in bower wi thee,I fear they wad gar me die.’10‘The master-cook may on ye call,But answerd he will never be,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .11‘For I hae three coffers fu o goud,Yer eyen did never see,An I will build a bonny ship for my love,An set her to the sea,And sail she east or sail she wastThe ship sal be fair to see.’12She has built a bonny ship,And set her to the sea;The topmasts war o the red goud,The sails of tafetie.13She gae him a gay goud ring,. . . . . . .To mind him on a gay ladyThat ance bear love to him.14The day was fair, the ship was rare,Whan that swain set to sea;Whan that day twal-moth came and gaed,At London landed he.15A lady looked our the castle-wa,Beheld the day gae down,And she beheld that bonny shipCome hailing to the town.16‘Come here, come here, my maries a’,Ye see na what I see;The bonniest ship is come to landYer eyes did ever see.17‘Gae busk ye, busk ye, my maries a’,Busk ye unco fine,Till I gae down to yon shore-side,To invite yon squar to dine.18‘O ye come up, gay young squar,An take wi me a dine;Ye sal eat o the guid white loaf,An drink the claret wine.’19‘I thank ye for yer bread,I thank ye for yer wine,I thank ye for yer courticie,But indeed I hanna time.’20‘Canna ye fancy me?’ she says,‘Canna ye fancy me?O a’ the lords an lairds I seeThere’s nane I fancy but ye.’21‘The’r far awa fra me,’ he says,‘The’r clean ayont the sea,That has my heart in hand,An my love ae sal be.’22‘Here is a guid goud ring,. . . . . .It will mind ye on a gay ladyThat ance bare love to ye.’23‘I ha a ring on my fingerI loe thrice as well as thine,Tho yours were o the guid red goudAn mine but simple tin.’24The day was fair, the ship was rare,Whan that squar set to sea;Whan that day twal-month came an gaed,At hame again landed he.25The lady’s father looked our castle-wa,To see the day gae down,An he beheld that bonny shipCome hailing to the town.26‘Come here, my daughter,Ye see na what I see;The bonniest ship is come to landMy eyes did ever see.27‘Gae busk ye, my dochter,G[a]e busk ye unco fine,An I’ll gae down to yon shore-side,To invite the squar to dine;I wad gie a’ my rentsTo hae ye married to him.’28‘The’r far awa frae me,’ she says,‘Far ayont the sea,That has my heart in handAn my love ai sal be.’29‘O will ye come, ye gay hine squar,An take wi me a dine?Ye sal eat o the guid white bread,And drink the claret wine.’30‘I thank ye for yer bread,I thank ye for yer wine,I thank ye for yer courticie,For indeed I hanna grait time.31‘O canna ye fancy me?’ he says,‘O canna ye fancy me?O a’ the ladys I eer did seeThere’s nane I loo by ye.’32‘They are far awa fra me,’ she says,‘The’r far ayont the sea,That has my heart in hand,An my love ay sall be.’33‘Here it is, a gay goud ring,. . . . . .It will mind ye on a gay hin chilThat ance bare love to ye.’34‘O gat ye that ring on the sea sailing?Or gat ye it on the land?O gat ye it on the shore laying,On a drowned man’s hand?’35‘I got na it on the sea sailing,I got na it on the land,But I got it on the shore lying,On a drowned man’s hand.36‘O bonny was his cheek,An lovely was his face!’‘Allas!’ says she, ‘it is my true-love Willie,’. . . . . .37He turned him round about,An sweetly could he smile;She turned her round, says, My love Willie,How could ye me beguile?38‘A priest! a priest!’ the old man cries,‘An lat this twa married be:’Little did the old man kinIt was his ain kitchen-boy.

1There was a lady fair,An een a lady of birth an fame,She eyed her father’s kitchen-boy,The greater was her shame.

There was a lady fair,

An een a lady of birth an fame,

She eyed her father’s kitchen-boy,

The greater was her shame.

2She could never her love reveal,Nor to him talk,But in the forest wide an brade,Where they were wont to walk.

She could never her love reveal,

Nor to him talk,

But in the forest wide an brade,

Where they were wont to walk.

3It fell ance upon a dayHer father gaed frae home,And she sent for the kitchen-boyTo her own room.

It fell ance upon a day

Her father gaed frae home,

And she sent for the kitchen-boy

To her own room.

4‘Canna ye fancy me, Willie?Canna ye fancy me?By a’ the lords I ever sawThere is nane I loo but ye.’

‘Canna ye fancy me, Willie?

Canna ye fancy me?

By a’ the lords I ever saw

There is nane I loo but ye.’

5‘O latna this be kent, lady,O latna this be . . . ,For gin yer father got word of thisI vou he’d gar me die.’

‘O latna this be kent, lady,

O latna this be . . . ,

For gin yer father got word of this

I vou he’d gar me die.’

6‘Yer life shall no be taen, Willie,Yer life sal na be taen;I wad er loss my ain heart’s bloodOr thy body gat wrang.’

‘Yer life shall no be taen, Willie,

Yer life sal na be taen;

I wad er loss my ain heart’s blood

Or thy body gat wrang.’

7Wi her monny fair speechesShe made the boy bold,Till he began to kiss an clap,An on her sine lay hold.

Wi her monny fair speeches

She made the boy bold,

Till he began to kiss an clap,

An on her sine lay hold.

8They hadna kissed an love claped,As lovers whan they meet,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

They hadna kissed an love claped,

As lovers whan they meet,

. . . . . . .

9‘The master-cook he will on me call,An answered he man be;An it wer kent I war in bower wi thee,I fear they wad gar me die.’

‘The master-cook he will on me call,

An answered he man be;

An it wer kent I war in bower wi thee,

I fear they wad gar me die.’

10‘The master-cook may on ye call,But answerd he will never be,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

‘The master-cook may on ye call,

But answerd he will never be,

. . . . . . .

11‘For I hae three coffers fu o goud,Yer eyen did never see,An I will build a bonny ship for my love,An set her to the sea,And sail she east or sail she wastThe ship sal be fair to see.’

‘For I hae three coffers fu o goud,

Yer eyen did never see,

An I will build a bonny ship for my love,

An set her to the sea,

And sail she east or sail she wast

The ship sal be fair to see.’

12She has built a bonny ship,And set her to the sea;The topmasts war o the red goud,The sails of tafetie.

She has built a bonny ship,

And set her to the sea;

The topmasts war o the red goud,

The sails of tafetie.

13She gae him a gay goud ring,. . . . . . .To mind him on a gay ladyThat ance bear love to him.

She gae him a gay goud ring,

. . . . . . .

To mind him on a gay lady

That ance bear love to him.

14The day was fair, the ship was rare,Whan that swain set to sea;Whan that day twal-moth came and gaed,At London landed he.

The day was fair, the ship was rare,

Whan that swain set to sea;

Whan that day twal-moth came and gaed,

At London landed he.

15A lady looked our the castle-wa,Beheld the day gae down,And she beheld that bonny shipCome hailing to the town.

A lady looked our the castle-wa,

Beheld the day gae down,

And she beheld that bonny ship

Come hailing to the town.

16‘Come here, come here, my maries a’,Ye see na what I see;The bonniest ship is come to landYer eyes did ever see.

‘Come here, come here, my maries a’,

Ye see na what I see;

The bonniest ship is come to land

Yer eyes did ever see.

17‘Gae busk ye, busk ye, my maries a’,Busk ye unco fine,Till I gae down to yon shore-side,To invite yon squar to dine.

‘Gae busk ye, busk ye, my maries a’,

Busk ye unco fine,

Till I gae down to yon shore-side,

To invite yon squar to dine.

18‘O ye come up, gay young squar,An take wi me a dine;Ye sal eat o the guid white loaf,An drink the claret wine.’

‘O ye come up, gay young squar,

An take wi me a dine;

Ye sal eat o the guid white loaf,

An drink the claret wine.’

19‘I thank ye for yer bread,I thank ye for yer wine,I thank ye for yer courticie,But indeed I hanna time.’

‘I thank ye for yer bread,

I thank ye for yer wine,

I thank ye for yer courticie,

But indeed I hanna time.’

20‘Canna ye fancy me?’ she says,‘Canna ye fancy me?O a’ the lords an lairds I seeThere’s nane I fancy but ye.’

‘Canna ye fancy me?’ she says,

‘Canna ye fancy me?

O a’ the lords an lairds I see

There’s nane I fancy but ye.’

21‘The’r far awa fra me,’ he says,‘The’r clean ayont the sea,That has my heart in hand,An my love ae sal be.’

‘The’r far awa fra me,’ he says,

‘The’r clean ayont the sea,

That has my heart in hand,

An my love ae sal be.’

22‘Here is a guid goud ring,. . . . . .It will mind ye on a gay ladyThat ance bare love to ye.’

‘Here is a guid goud ring,

. . . . . .

It will mind ye on a gay lady

That ance bare love to ye.’

23‘I ha a ring on my fingerI loe thrice as well as thine,Tho yours were o the guid red goudAn mine but simple tin.’

‘I ha a ring on my finger

I loe thrice as well as thine,

Tho yours were o the guid red goud

An mine but simple tin.’

24The day was fair, the ship was rare,Whan that squar set to sea;Whan that day twal-month came an gaed,At hame again landed he.

The day was fair, the ship was rare,

Whan that squar set to sea;

Whan that day twal-month came an gaed,

At hame again landed he.

25The lady’s father looked our castle-wa,To see the day gae down,An he beheld that bonny shipCome hailing to the town.

The lady’s father looked our castle-wa,

To see the day gae down,

An he beheld that bonny ship

Come hailing to the town.

26‘Come here, my daughter,Ye see na what I see;The bonniest ship is come to landMy eyes did ever see.

‘Come here, my daughter,

Ye see na what I see;

The bonniest ship is come to land

My eyes did ever see.

27‘Gae busk ye, my dochter,G[a]e busk ye unco fine,An I’ll gae down to yon shore-side,To invite the squar to dine;I wad gie a’ my rentsTo hae ye married to him.’

‘Gae busk ye, my dochter,

G[a]e busk ye unco fine,

An I’ll gae down to yon shore-side,

To invite the squar to dine;

I wad gie a’ my rents

To hae ye married to him.’

28‘The’r far awa frae me,’ she says,‘Far ayont the sea,That has my heart in handAn my love ai sal be.’

‘The’r far awa frae me,’ she says,

‘Far ayont the sea,

That has my heart in hand

An my love ai sal be.’

29‘O will ye come, ye gay hine squar,An take wi me a dine?Ye sal eat o the guid white bread,And drink the claret wine.’

‘O will ye come, ye gay hine squar,

An take wi me a dine?

Ye sal eat o the guid white bread,

And drink the claret wine.’

30‘I thank ye for yer bread,I thank ye for yer wine,I thank ye for yer courticie,For indeed I hanna grait time.

‘I thank ye for yer bread,

I thank ye for yer wine,

I thank ye for yer courticie,

For indeed I hanna grait time.

31‘O canna ye fancy me?’ he says,‘O canna ye fancy me?O a’ the ladys I eer did seeThere’s nane I loo by ye.’

‘O canna ye fancy me?’ he says,

‘O canna ye fancy me?

O a’ the ladys I eer did see

There’s nane I loo by ye.’

32‘They are far awa fra me,’ she says,‘The’r far ayont the sea,That has my heart in hand,An my love ay sall be.’

‘They are far awa fra me,’ she says,

‘The’r far ayont the sea,

That has my heart in hand,

An my love ay sall be.’

33‘Here it is, a gay goud ring,. . . . . .It will mind ye on a gay hin chilThat ance bare love to ye.’

‘Here it is, a gay goud ring,

. . . . . .

It will mind ye on a gay hin chil

That ance bare love to ye.’

34‘O gat ye that ring on the sea sailing?Or gat ye it on the land?O gat ye it on the shore laying,On a drowned man’s hand?’

‘O gat ye that ring on the sea sailing?

Or gat ye it on the land?

O gat ye it on the shore laying,

On a drowned man’s hand?’

35‘I got na it on the sea sailing,I got na it on the land,But I got it on the shore lying,On a drowned man’s hand.

‘I got na it on the sea sailing,

I got na it on the land,

But I got it on the shore lying,

On a drowned man’s hand.

36‘O bonny was his cheek,An lovely was his face!’‘Allas!’ says she, ‘it is my true-love Willie,’. . . . . .

‘O bonny was his cheek,

An lovely was his face!’

‘Allas!’ says she, ‘it is my true-love Willie,’

. . . . . .

37He turned him round about,An sweetly could he smile;She turned her round, says, My love Willie,How could ye me beguile?

He turned him round about,

An sweetly could he smile;

She turned her round, says, My love Willie,

How could ye me beguile?

38‘A priest! a priest!’ the old man cries,‘An lat this twa married be:’Little did the old man kinIt was his ain kitchen-boy.

‘A priest! a priest!’ the old man cries,

‘An lat this twa married be:’

Little did the old man kin

It was his ain kitchen-boy.

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 145.

1Earl Richard had but ae daughter,A maid o birth and fame;She loved her father’s kitchen-boy,The greater was her shame.2But she could neer her true-love see,Nor with him could she talk,In towns where she had wont to go,Nor fields where she could walk.3But it fell ance upon a dayHer father went from home;She’s calld upon the kitchen boyTo come and clean her room.4‘Come sit ye down by me, Willie,Come sit ye down by me;There ‘s nae a lord in a’ the northThat I can love but thee.’5‘Let never the like be heard, lady,Nor let it ever be;For if your father get word o thisHe will gar hang me hie.’6‘O ye shall neer be hangd, Willie,Your blude shall neer be drawn;I’ll lay my life in pledge o thineYour body’s neer get wrang.’7‘Excuse me now, my comely dame,No langer here I’ll stay;You know my time is near expir’d,And now I must away.8‘The master-cook will on me call,And answered he must be;If I am found in bower with thee,Great anger will there be.’9‘The master-cook will on you call,But shall not answerd be;I’ll put you in a higher placeThan any cook’s degree.10‘I have a coffer full of gold,Another of white monie,And I will build a bonny ship,And set my love to sea.11‘Silk shall be your sailing-clothes,Gold yellow is your hair,As white like milk are your twa hands,Your body neat and fair.’12This lady, with her fair speeches,She made the boy grow bold,And he began to kiss and clap,And on his love lay hold.13And she has built a bonny ship,Set her love to the sea,Seven score o brisk young menTo bear him companie.14Then she’s taen out a gay gold ring,To him she did it gie:‘This will mind you on the ladie, Willie,That’s laid her love on thee.’15Then he’s taen out a piece of gold,And he brake it in two:‘All I have in the world, my dame,For love I give to you.’16Now he is to his bonny ship,And merrily taen the sea;The lady lay oer castle-wa,The tear blinded her ee.17They had not saild upon the seaA week but barely threeWhen came a prosperous gale of wind,On Spain’s coast landed he.18A lady lay oer castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,And she beheld the bonny shipCome sailing to the town.19‘Come here, come here, my maries a’,Ye see not what I see;For here I see the bonniest shipThat ever saild the sea.20‘In her there is the bravest squireThat eer my eyes did see;All clad in silk and rich attire,And comely, comely’s he.21‘O busk, O busk, my maries all,O busk and make ye fine;And we will on to yon shore-side,Invite yon squire to dine.22‘Will ye come up to my castleWi me and take your dine?And ye shall eat the gude white bread,And drink the claret wine.’23‘I thank you for your bread, lady,I thank you for your wine;I thank you for your kind offer,But now I have not time.’24‘I would gie all my land,’ she says,‘Your gay bride were I she;And then to live on a small portionContented I would be.’25‘She’s far awa frae me, lady,She’s far awa frae meThat has my heart a-keeping fast,And my love still she’ll be.’26‘But ladies they are unconstant,When their loves go to sea,And she’ll be wed ere ye gae back;My love, pray stay wi me.’27‘If she be wed ere I go back,And prove sae false to me,I shall live single all my life;I’ll neer wed one but she.’28Then she’s taen out a gay gold ring,And gae him presentlie:‘'T will mind you on the lady, young man,That laid her love on thee.’29‘The ring that’s on my mid-fingerIs far dearer to me,Tho yours were o the gude red gold,And mine the metal free.’30He viewd them all, baith neat and small,As they stood on the shore,Then hoist the mainsail to the wind,Adieu, for evermore!31He had not saild upon the seaA week but barely threeUntil there came a prosperous gale,In Scotland landed he.32But he put paint upon his face,And oil upon his hair,Likewise a mask above his brow,Which did disguise him sair.33Earl Richard lay oer castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,And he beheld the bonny shipCome sailing to the town.34‘Come here, come here, my daughter dear,Ye see not what I see;For here I see the bonniest shipThat ever saild the sea.35‘In her there is the bravest squireThat eer my eyes did see;O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,Come here, come here, to me.36‘O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,O busk, and make ye fine,And we will on to the shore-side,Invite yon squire to dine.’37‘He’s far awa frae me, father,He’s far awa frae meWho has the keeping o my heart,And I’ll wed nane but he.’38‘Whoever has your heart in hand,Yon lad’s the match for thee,And he shall come to my castleThis day and dine wi me.39‘Will ye come up to my castleWith me and take your dine?And ye shall eat the gude white bread,And drink the claret wine.’40‘Yes, I’ll come up to your castleWith you and take my dine,For I would give my bonny shipWere your fair daughter mine.’41‘I would give all my lands,’ he said,‘That your bride she would be;Then to live on a small portionContented would I be.’42As they gaed up from yon sea-strandAnd down the bowling-green,He drew the mask out-oer his face,For fear he should be seen.43He’s done him down from bower to bower,Likewise from bower to ha,And there he saw that lady gay,The flower out-oer them a’.44He’s taen her in his arms twa,And haild her courteouslie:‘Excuse me, sir, there’s no strange manSuch freedom use with me.’45Her father turnd him round about,A light laugh then gave he:‘Stay, I’ll retire a little while,Perhaps you may agree.’46Now Willie’s taen a gay gold ring,And gave her presentlie;Says, Take ye that, ye lady fair,A love-token from me.47‘O got ye’t on the sea sailing?Or got ye’t on the sand?Or got ye’t on the coast of Spain,Upon a dead man’s hand?’48‘Fine silk it was his sailing-clothes,Gold yellow was his hair;It would hae made a hale heart bleedTo see him lying there.49‘He was not dead as I passd by,But no remeid could be;He gave me this token to bearUnto a fair ladie.50‘And by the marks he has descryvdI’m sure that you are she;So take this token of free will,For him you’ll never see.’51In sorrow she tore her mantle,With care she tore her hair:‘Now since I’ve lost my own true-love,I’ll neer love young men mair.’52He drew the mask from off his face,The lady sweetly smiled:‘Awa, awa, ye fause Willie!How have you me beguiled?’53Earl Richard he went thro the ha,The wine-glass in his hand,But little thought his kitchen-boyWas heir oer a’ his land.54But this she kept within her heart,And never told to oneUntil nine months they were expir’d,That her young son came home.55She told it to her father dear;He said, Daughter, well won;You’ve married for love, not for gold,Your joys will neer be done.

1Earl Richard had but ae daughter,A maid o birth and fame;She loved her father’s kitchen-boy,The greater was her shame.

Earl Richard had but ae daughter,

A maid o birth and fame;

She loved her father’s kitchen-boy,

The greater was her shame.

2But she could neer her true-love see,Nor with him could she talk,In towns where she had wont to go,Nor fields where she could walk.

But she could neer her true-love see,

Nor with him could she talk,

In towns where she had wont to go,

Nor fields where she could walk.

3But it fell ance upon a dayHer father went from home;She’s calld upon the kitchen boyTo come and clean her room.

But it fell ance upon a day

Her father went from home;

She’s calld upon the kitchen boy

To come and clean her room.

4‘Come sit ye down by me, Willie,Come sit ye down by me;There ‘s nae a lord in a’ the northThat I can love but thee.’

‘Come sit ye down by me, Willie,

Come sit ye down by me;

There ‘s nae a lord in a’ the north

That I can love but thee.’

5‘Let never the like be heard, lady,Nor let it ever be;For if your father get word o thisHe will gar hang me hie.’

‘Let never the like be heard, lady,

Nor let it ever be;

For if your father get word o this

He will gar hang me hie.’

6‘O ye shall neer be hangd, Willie,Your blude shall neer be drawn;I’ll lay my life in pledge o thineYour body’s neer get wrang.’

‘O ye shall neer be hangd, Willie,

Your blude shall neer be drawn;

I’ll lay my life in pledge o thine

Your body’s neer get wrang.’

7‘Excuse me now, my comely dame,No langer here I’ll stay;You know my time is near expir’d,And now I must away.

‘Excuse me now, my comely dame,

No langer here I’ll stay;

You know my time is near expir’d,

And now I must away.

8‘The master-cook will on me call,And answered he must be;If I am found in bower with thee,Great anger will there be.’

‘The master-cook will on me call,

And answered he must be;

If I am found in bower with thee,

Great anger will there be.’

9‘The master-cook will on you call,But shall not answerd be;I’ll put you in a higher placeThan any cook’s degree.

‘The master-cook will on you call,

But shall not answerd be;

I’ll put you in a higher place

Than any cook’s degree.

10‘I have a coffer full of gold,Another of white monie,And I will build a bonny ship,And set my love to sea.

‘I have a coffer full of gold,

Another of white monie,

And I will build a bonny ship,

And set my love to sea.

11‘Silk shall be your sailing-clothes,Gold yellow is your hair,As white like milk are your twa hands,Your body neat and fair.’

‘Silk shall be your sailing-clothes,

Gold yellow is your hair,

As white like milk are your twa hands,

Your body neat and fair.’

12This lady, with her fair speeches,She made the boy grow bold,And he began to kiss and clap,And on his love lay hold.

This lady, with her fair speeches,

She made the boy grow bold,

And he began to kiss and clap,

And on his love lay hold.

13And she has built a bonny ship,Set her love to the sea,Seven score o brisk young menTo bear him companie.

And she has built a bonny ship,

Set her love to the sea,

Seven score o brisk young men

To bear him companie.

14Then she’s taen out a gay gold ring,To him she did it gie:‘This will mind you on the ladie, Willie,That’s laid her love on thee.’

Then she’s taen out a gay gold ring,

To him she did it gie:

‘This will mind you on the ladie, Willie,

That’s laid her love on thee.’

15Then he’s taen out a piece of gold,And he brake it in two:‘All I have in the world, my dame,For love I give to you.’

Then he’s taen out a piece of gold,

And he brake it in two:

‘All I have in the world, my dame,

For love I give to you.’

16Now he is to his bonny ship,And merrily taen the sea;The lady lay oer castle-wa,The tear blinded her ee.

Now he is to his bonny ship,

And merrily taen the sea;

The lady lay oer castle-wa,

The tear blinded her ee.

17They had not saild upon the seaA week but barely threeWhen came a prosperous gale of wind,On Spain’s coast landed he.

They had not saild upon the sea

A week but barely three

When came a prosperous gale of wind,

On Spain’s coast landed he.

18A lady lay oer castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,And she beheld the bonny shipCome sailing to the town.

A lady lay oer castle-wa,

Beholding dale and down,

And she beheld the bonny ship

Come sailing to the town.

19‘Come here, come here, my maries a’,Ye see not what I see;For here I see the bonniest shipThat ever saild the sea.

‘Come here, come here, my maries a’,

Ye see not what I see;

For here I see the bonniest ship

That ever saild the sea.

20‘In her there is the bravest squireThat eer my eyes did see;All clad in silk and rich attire,And comely, comely’s he.

‘In her there is the bravest squire

That eer my eyes did see;

All clad in silk and rich attire,

And comely, comely’s he.

21‘O busk, O busk, my maries all,O busk and make ye fine;And we will on to yon shore-side,Invite yon squire to dine.

‘O busk, O busk, my maries all,

O busk and make ye fine;

And we will on to yon shore-side,

Invite yon squire to dine.

22‘Will ye come up to my castleWi me and take your dine?And ye shall eat the gude white bread,And drink the claret wine.’

‘Will ye come up to my castle

Wi me and take your dine?

And ye shall eat the gude white bread,

And drink the claret wine.’

23‘I thank you for your bread, lady,I thank you for your wine;I thank you for your kind offer,But now I have not time.’

‘I thank you for your bread, lady,

I thank you for your wine;

I thank you for your kind offer,

But now I have not time.’

24‘I would gie all my land,’ she says,‘Your gay bride were I she;And then to live on a small portionContented I would be.’

‘I would gie all my land,’ she says,

‘Your gay bride were I she;

And then to live on a small portion

Contented I would be.’

25‘She’s far awa frae me, lady,She’s far awa frae meThat has my heart a-keeping fast,And my love still she’ll be.’

‘She’s far awa frae me, lady,

She’s far awa frae me

That has my heart a-keeping fast,

And my love still she’ll be.’

26‘But ladies they are unconstant,When their loves go to sea,And she’ll be wed ere ye gae back;My love, pray stay wi me.’

‘But ladies they are unconstant,

When their loves go to sea,

And she’ll be wed ere ye gae back;

My love, pray stay wi me.’

27‘If she be wed ere I go back,And prove sae false to me,I shall live single all my life;I’ll neer wed one but she.’

‘If she be wed ere I go back,

And prove sae false to me,

I shall live single all my life;

I’ll neer wed one but she.’

28Then she’s taen out a gay gold ring,And gae him presentlie:‘'T will mind you on the lady, young man,That laid her love on thee.’

Then she’s taen out a gay gold ring,

And gae him presentlie:

‘'T will mind you on the lady, young man,

That laid her love on thee.’

29‘The ring that’s on my mid-fingerIs far dearer to me,Tho yours were o the gude red gold,And mine the metal free.’

‘The ring that’s on my mid-finger

Is far dearer to me,

Tho yours were o the gude red gold,

And mine the metal free.’

30He viewd them all, baith neat and small,As they stood on the shore,Then hoist the mainsail to the wind,Adieu, for evermore!

He viewd them all, baith neat and small,

As they stood on the shore,

Then hoist the mainsail to the wind,

Adieu, for evermore!

31He had not saild upon the seaA week but barely threeUntil there came a prosperous gale,In Scotland landed he.

He had not saild upon the sea

A week but barely three

Until there came a prosperous gale,

In Scotland landed he.

32But he put paint upon his face,And oil upon his hair,Likewise a mask above his brow,Which did disguise him sair.

But he put paint upon his face,

And oil upon his hair,

Likewise a mask above his brow,

Which did disguise him sair.

33Earl Richard lay oer castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,And he beheld the bonny shipCome sailing to the town.

Earl Richard lay oer castle-wa,

Beholding dale and down,

And he beheld the bonny ship

Come sailing to the town.

34‘Come here, come here, my daughter dear,Ye see not what I see;For here I see the bonniest shipThat ever saild the sea.

‘Come here, come here, my daughter dear,

Ye see not what I see;

For here I see the bonniest ship

That ever saild the sea.

35‘In her there is the bravest squireThat eer my eyes did see;O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,Come here, come here, to me.

‘In her there is the bravest squire

That eer my eyes did see;

O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,

Come here, come here, to me.

36‘O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,O busk, and make ye fine,And we will on to the shore-side,Invite yon squire to dine.’

‘O busk, O busk, my daughter dear,

O busk, and make ye fine,

And we will on to the shore-side,

Invite yon squire to dine.’

37‘He’s far awa frae me, father,He’s far awa frae meWho has the keeping o my heart,And I’ll wed nane but he.’

‘He’s far awa frae me, father,

He’s far awa frae me

Who has the keeping o my heart,

And I’ll wed nane but he.’

38‘Whoever has your heart in hand,Yon lad’s the match for thee,And he shall come to my castleThis day and dine wi me.

‘Whoever has your heart in hand,

Yon lad’s the match for thee,

And he shall come to my castle

This day and dine wi me.

39‘Will ye come up to my castleWith me and take your dine?And ye shall eat the gude white bread,And drink the claret wine.’

‘Will ye come up to my castle

With me and take your dine?

And ye shall eat the gude white bread,

And drink the claret wine.’

40‘Yes, I’ll come up to your castleWith you and take my dine,For I would give my bonny shipWere your fair daughter mine.’

‘Yes, I’ll come up to your castle

With you and take my dine,

For I would give my bonny ship

Were your fair daughter mine.’

41‘I would give all my lands,’ he said,‘That your bride she would be;Then to live on a small portionContented would I be.’

‘I would give all my lands,’ he said,

‘That your bride she would be;

Then to live on a small portion

Contented would I be.’

42As they gaed up from yon sea-strandAnd down the bowling-green,He drew the mask out-oer his face,For fear he should be seen.

As they gaed up from yon sea-strand

And down the bowling-green,

He drew the mask out-oer his face,

For fear he should be seen.

43He’s done him down from bower to bower,Likewise from bower to ha,And there he saw that lady gay,The flower out-oer them a’.

He’s done him down from bower to bower,

Likewise from bower to ha,

And there he saw that lady gay,

The flower out-oer them a’.

44He’s taen her in his arms twa,And haild her courteouslie:‘Excuse me, sir, there’s no strange manSuch freedom use with me.’

He’s taen her in his arms twa,

And haild her courteouslie:

‘Excuse me, sir, there’s no strange man

Such freedom use with me.’

45Her father turnd him round about,A light laugh then gave he:‘Stay, I’ll retire a little while,Perhaps you may agree.’

Her father turnd him round about,

A light laugh then gave he:

‘Stay, I’ll retire a little while,

Perhaps you may agree.’

46Now Willie’s taen a gay gold ring,And gave her presentlie;Says, Take ye that, ye lady fair,A love-token from me.

Now Willie’s taen a gay gold ring,

And gave her presentlie;

Says, Take ye that, ye lady fair,

A love-token from me.

47‘O got ye’t on the sea sailing?Or got ye’t on the sand?Or got ye’t on the coast of Spain,Upon a dead man’s hand?’

‘O got ye’t on the sea sailing?

Or got ye’t on the sand?

Or got ye’t on the coast of Spain,

Upon a dead man’s hand?’

48‘Fine silk it was his sailing-clothes,Gold yellow was his hair;It would hae made a hale heart bleedTo see him lying there.

‘Fine silk it was his sailing-clothes,

Gold yellow was his hair;

It would hae made a hale heart bleed

To see him lying there.

49‘He was not dead as I passd by,But no remeid could be;He gave me this token to bearUnto a fair ladie.

‘He was not dead as I passd by,

But no remeid could be;

He gave me this token to bear

Unto a fair ladie.

50‘And by the marks he has descryvdI’m sure that you are she;So take this token of free will,For him you’ll never see.’

‘And by the marks he has descryvd

I’m sure that you are she;

So take this token of free will,

For him you’ll never see.’

51In sorrow she tore her mantle,With care she tore her hair:‘Now since I’ve lost my own true-love,I’ll neer love young men mair.’

In sorrow she tore her mantle,

With care she tore her hair:

‘Now since I’ve lost my own true-love,

I’ll neer love young men mair.’

52He drew the mask from off his face,The lady sweetly smiled:‘Awa, awa, ye fause Willie!How have you me beguiled?’

He drew the mask from off his face,

The lady sweetly smiled:

‘Awa, awa, ye fause Willie!

How have you me beguiled?’

53Earl Richard he went thro the ha,The wine-glass in his hand,But little thought his kitchen-boyWas heir oer a’ his land.

Earl Richard he went thro the ha,

The wine-glass in his hand,

But little thought his kitchen-boy

Was heir oer a’ his land.

54But this she kept within her heart,And never told to oneUntil nine months they were expir’d,That her young son came home.

But this she kept within her heart,

And never told to one

Until nine months they were expir’d,

That her young son came home.

55She told it to her father dear;He said, Daughter, well won;You’ve married for love, not for gold,Your joys will neer be done.

She told it to her father dear;

He said, Daughter, well won;

You’ve married for love, not for gold,

Your joys will neer be done.

Alexander Fraser Tytler’s Brown MS., No 7.

1O there was a ladie, a noble ladie,She was a ladie of birth and fame,But she fell in love wi her father’s foot-boy,I wis she was the mair to blame.2A word of him she neer could getTill her father was a hunting gone;Then she calld on the bonny foot-boyTo speak wi her in her bower alone.3Says, Ye ken you are my love, Willie,And that I am a ladie free,And there’s naething ye can ask, Willie,But at your bidding I maun be.4O the loving looks that ladie gaveSoon made the bonny boy grow bold,And the loving words that ladie spakeAs soon on them he did lay hold.5She has taen a ring frae her white finger,And unto him she did it gie;Says, Wear this token for my sake,And keep it till the day you die.6‘But shoud my father get word of thisI fear we baith will have cause to rue,For to some nunnery I shoud be sent,And I fear, my love, he would ruin you.7‘But here is a coffer of the good red gowd,I wot my mother left it to me;And wi it you’ll buy a bonny ship,And ye maun sail the raging sea;Then like some earl or baron’s sonYou can come back and marrie me.8‘But stay not lang awa, Willie,O stay not lang across the fame,For fear your ladie shoud lighter be,Or your young son shoud want a name.’9He had not been o the sea saillingBut till three months were come and gane,Till he has landed his bonny ship;It was upon the coast of Spain.10There was a ladie of high degreeThat saw him walking up and down;She fell in love wi sweet Willie,But she wist no how to make it known.11She has calld up her maries a’,Says, Hearken well to what I say;There is a young man in yon shipThat has been my love this many a day.12‘Now bear a hand, my maries a’,And busk me brave and make me fine,And go wi me to yon shore-sideTo invite that noble youth to dine.’13O they have buskit that ladie gayIn velvet pall and jewels rare;A poor man might have been made richWi half the pearles they pat in her hair.14Her mantle was of gowd sae red,It glaned as far as ane coud see;Sweet Willie thought she had been the queen,And bowd full low and bent his knee.15She’s gard her maries step aside,And on sweet Willie sae did smile;She thought that man was not on earthBut of his heart she could beguile.16Says, Ye maun leave your bonny shipAnd go this day wi me and dine,And you shall eat the baken meat,And you shall drink the Spanish wine.17‘I canna leave my bonny ship,Nor go this day to dine wi thee,For a’ my sails are ready bentTo bear me back to my ain countrie.’18‘O gin you’d forsake your bonny shipAnd wed a ladie of this countrie,I would make you lord of a’ this town,And towns and castles twa or three.’19‘Should I wed a ladie of this countrie,In sooth I woud be sair to blame,For the fairest ladie in fair ScotlandWoud break her heart gin I gaed na hame.’20‘That ladie may choose another lord,And you another love may choose;There is not a lord in this countrieThat such a proffer could refuse.’21‘O ladie, shoud I your proffer take,You’d soon yoursell have cause to rue,For the man that his first love forsakesWoud to a seccond neer prove true.’22She has taen a ring frae her white finger,It might have been a prince’s fee;Says, Wear this token for my sake,And give me that which now I see.23‘Take back your token, ye ladie fair;This ring you see on my right handWas gien me by my ain true-love,Before I left my native land.24‘And tho yours woud buy it nine times oerI far more dearly prize my ain;Nor woud I make the niffer,’ he says,‘For a’ the gowd that is in Spain.’25The ladie turnd her head awayTo dry the sat tears frae her eyne;She naething more to him did sayBut, I wish your face I neer had seen!26He has set his foot on good ship-board,The ladie waved her milk-white hand,The wind sprang up and filld his sails,And he quickly left the Spanish land.27He soon came back to his native strand,He langd his ain true-love to see;Her father saw him come to land,And took him some great lord to be.28Says, Will ye leave your bonny shipAnd come wi me this day to dine?And you shall eat the baken meat,And you shall drink the claret wine.29‘O I will leave my bonny ship,And gladly go wi you to dine,And I woud gie thrice three thousand poundsThat your fair daughter were but mine.’30‘O gin ye will part wi your bonny shipAnd wed a ladie of this countrie,I will gie you my ae daughter,Gin she’ll consent your bride to be.’31O he has blaket his bonny faceAnd closs tuckd up his yellow hair;His true-love met them at the yate,But she little thought her love was there.32‘O will you marrie this lord, daughter,That I’ve brought hame to dine wi me?You shall be heir of a’ my lands,Gin you’ll consent his bride to be.’33She looked oer her left shoulder,I wot the tears stood in her eye;Says, The man is on the sea saillingThat fair wedding shall get of me.34Then Willie has washd his bonny face,And he’s kaimd down his yellow hair;He took his true-love in his arms,And kindly has he kissd her there.35She’s looked in his bonny face,And thro her tears did sweetly smile,Then sayd, Awa, awa, Willie!How could you thus your love beguile?36She kept the secret in her breast,Full seven years she’s kept the same,Till it fell out at a christning-feast,And then of it she made good game.37And her father laughd aboon the rest,And said, My daughter, you’r nae to blame;For you’ve married for love, and no for land,So a’ my gowd is yours to claim.

1O there was a ladie, a noble ladie,She was a ladie of birth and fame,But she fell in love wi her father’s foot-boy,I wis she was the mair to blame.

O there was a ladie, a noble ladie,

She was a ladie of birth and fame,

But she fell in love wi her father’s foot-boy,

I wis she was the mair to blame.

2A word of him she neer could getTill her father was a hunting gone;Then she calld on the bonny foot-boyTo speak wi her in her bower alone.

A word of him she neer could get

Till her father was a hunting gone;

Then she calld on the bonny foot-boy

To speak wi her in her bower alone.

3Says, Ye ken you are my love, Willie,And that I am a ladie free,And there’s naething ye can ask, Willie,But at your bidding I maun be.

Says, Ye ken you are my love, Willie,

And that I am a ladie free,

And there’s naething ye can ask, Willie,

But at your bidding I maun be.

4O the loving looks that ladie gaveSoon made the bonny boy grow bold,And the loving words that ladie spakeAs soon on them he did lay hold.

O the loving looks that ladie gave

Soon made the bonny boy grow bold,

And the loving words that ladie spake

As soon on them he did lay hold.

5She has taen a ring frae her white finger,And unto him she did it gie;Says, Wear this token for my sake,And keep it till the day you die.

She has taen a ring frae her white finger,

And unto him she did it gie;

Says, Wear this token for my sake,

And keep it till the day you die.

6‘But shoud my father get word of thisI fear we baith will have cause to rue,For to some nunnery I shoud be sent,And I fear, my love, he would ruin you.

‘But shoud my father get word of this

I fear we baith will have cause to rue,

For to some nunnery I shoud be sent,

And I fear, my love, he would ruin you.

7‘But here is a coffer of the good red gowd,I wot my mother left it to me;And wi it you’ll buy a bonny ship,And ye maun sail the raging sea;Then like some earl or baron’s sonYou can come back and marrie me.

‘But here is a coffer of the good red gowd,

I wot my mother left it to me;

And wi it you’ll buy a bonny ship,

And ye maun sail the raging sea;

Then like some earl or baron’s son

You can come back and marrie me.

8‘But stay not lang awa, Willie,O stay not lang across the fame,For fear your ladie shoud lighter be,Or your young son shoud want a name.’

‘But stay not lang awa, Willie,

O stay not lang across the fame,

For fear your ladie shoud lighter be,

Or your young son shoud want a name.’

9He had not been o the sea saillingBut till three months were come and gane,Till he has landed his bonny ship;It was upon the coast of Spain.

He had not been o the sea sailling

But till three months were come and gane,

Till he has landed his bonny ship;

It was upon the coast of Spain.

10There was a ladie of high degreeThat saw him walking up and down;She fell in love wi sweet Willie,But she wist no how to make it known.

There was a ladie of high degree

That saw him walking up and down;

She fell in love wi sweet Willie,

But she wist no how to make it known.

11She has calld up her maries a’,Says, Hearken well to what I say;There is a young man in yon shipThat has been my love this many a day.

She has calld up her maries a’,

Says, Hearken well to what I say;

There is a young man in yon ship

That has been my love this many a day.

12‘Now bear a hand, my maries a’,And busk me brave and make me fine,And go wi me to yon shore-sideTo invite that noble youth to dine.’

‘Now bear a hand, my maries a’,

And busk me brave and make me fine,

And go wi me to yon shore-side

To invite that noble youth to dine.’

13O they have buskit that ladie gayIn velvet pall and jewels rare;A poor man might have been made richWi half the pearles they pat in her hair.

O they have buskit that ladie gay

In velvet pall and jewels rare;

A poor man might have been made rich

Wi half the pearles they pat in her hair.

14Her mantle was of gowd sae red,It glaned as far as ane coud see;Sweet Willie thought she had been the queen,And bowd full low and bent his knee.

Her mantle was of gowd sae red,

It glaned as far as ane coud see;

Sweet Willie thought she had been the queen,

And bowd full low and bent his knee.

15She’s gard her maries step aside,And on sweet Willie sae did smile;She thought that man was not on earthBut of his heart she could beguile.

She’s gard her maries step aside,

And on sweet Willie sae did smile;

She thought that man was not on earth

But of his heart she could beguile.

16Says, Ye maun leave your bonny shipAnd go this day wi me and dine,And you shall eat the baken meat,And you shall drink the Spanish wine.

Says, Ye maun leave your bonny ship

And go this day wi me and dine,

And you shall eat the baken meat,

And you shall drink the Spanish wine.

17‘I canna leave my bonny ship,Nor go this day to dine wi thee,For a’ my sails are ready bentTo bear me back to my ain countrie.’

‘I canna leave my bonny ship,

Nor go this day to dine wi thee,

For a’ my sails are ready bent

To bear me back to my ain countrie.’

18‘O gin you’d forsake your bonny shipAnd wed a ladie of this countrie,I would make you lord of a’ this town,And towns and castles twa or three.’

‘O gin you’d forsake your bonny ship

And wed a ladie of this countrie,

I would make you lord of a’ this town,

And towns and castles twa or three.’

19‘Should I wed a ladie of this countrie,In sooth I woud be sair to blame,For the fairest ladie in fair ScotlandWoud break her heart gin I gaed na hame.’

‘Should I wed a ladie of this countrie,

In sooth I woud be sair to blame,

For the fairest ladie in fair Scotland

Woud break her heart gin I gaed na hame.’

20‘That ladie may choose another lord,And you another love may choose;There is not a lord in this countrieThat such a proffer could refuse.’

‘That ladie may choose another lord,

And you another love may choose;

There is not a lord in this countrie

That such a proffer could refuse.’

21‘O ladie, shoud I your proffer take,You’d soon yoursell have cause to rue,For the man that his first love forsakesWoud to a seccond neer prove true.’

‘O ladie, shoud I your proffer take,

You’d soon yoursell have cause to rue,

For the man that his first love forsakes

Woud to a seccond neer prove true.’

22She has taen a ring frae her white finger,It might have been a prince’s fee;Says, Wear this token for my sake,And give me that which now I see.

She has taen a ring frae her white finger,

It might have been a prince’s fee;

Says, Wear this token for my sake,

And give me that which now I see.

23‘Take back your token, ye ladie fair;This ring you see on my right handWas gien me by my ain true-love,Before I left my native land.

‘Take back your token, ye ladie fair;

This ring you see on my right hand

Was gien me by my ain true-love,

Before I left my native land.

24‘And tho yours woud buy it nine times oerI far more dearly prize my ain;Nor woud I make the niffer,’ he says,‘For a’ the gowd that is in Spain.’

‘And tho yours woud buy it nine times oer

I far more dearly prize my ain;

Nor woud I make the niffer,’ he says,

‘For a’ the gowd that is in Spain.’

25The ladie turnd her head awayTo dry the sat tears frae her eyne;She naething more to him did sayBut, I wish your face I neer had seen!

The ladie turnd her head away

To dry the sat tears frae her eyne;

She naething more to him did say

But, I wish your face I neer had seen!

26He has set his foot on good ship-board,The ladie waved her milk-white hand,The wind sprang up and filld his sails,And he quickly left the Spanish land.

He has set his foot on good ship-board,

The ladie waved her milk-white hand,

The wind sprang up and filld his sails,

And he quickly left the Spanish land.

27He soon came back to his native strand,He langd his ain true-love to see;Her father saw him come to land,And took him some great lord to be.

He soon came back to his native strand,

He langd his ain true-love to see;

Her father saw him come to land,

And took him some great lord to be.

28Says, Will ye leave your bonny shipAnd come wi me this day to dine?And you shall eat the baken meat,And you shall drink the claret wine.

Says, Will ye leave your bonny ship

And come wi me this day to dine?

And you shall eat the baken meat,

And you shall drink the claret wine.

29‘O I will leave my bonny ship,And gladly go wi you to dine,And I woud gie thrice three thousand poundsThat your fair daughter were but mine.’

‘O I will leave my bonny ship,

And gladly go wi you to dine,

And I woud gie thrice three thousand pounds

That your fair daughter were but mine.’

30‘O gin ye will part wi your bonny shipAnd wed a ladie of this countrie,I will gie you my ae daughter,Gin she’ll consent your bride to be.’

‘O gin ye will part wi your bonny ship

And wed a ladie of this countrie,

I will gie you my ae daughter,

Gin she’ll consent your bride to be.’

31O he has blaket his bonny faceAnd closs tuckd up his yellow hair;His true-love met them at the yate,But she little thought her love was there.

O he has blaket his bonny face

And closs tuckd up his yellow hair;

His true-love met them at the yate,

But she little thought her love was there.

32‘O will you marrie this lord, daughter,That I’ve brought hame to dine wi me?You shall be heir of a’ my lands,Gin you’ll consent his bride to be.’

‘O will you marrie this lord, daughter,

That I’ve brought hame to dine wi me?

You shall be heir of a’ my lands,

Gin you’ll consent his bride to be.’

33She looked oer her left shoulder,I wot the tears stood in her eye;Says, The man is on the sea saillingThat fair wedding shall get of me.

She looked oer her left shoulder,

I wot the tears stood in her eye;

Says, The man is on the sea sailling

That fair wedding shall get of me.

34Then Willie has washd his bonny face,And he’s kaimd down his yellow hair;He took his true-love in his arms,And kindly has he kissd her there.

Then Willie has washd his bonny face,

And he’s kaimd down his yellow hair;

He took his true-love in his arms,

And kindly has he kissd her there.

35She’s looked in his bonny face,And thro her tears did sweetly smile,Then sayd, Awa, awa, Willie!How could you thus your love beguile?

She’s looked in his bonny face,

And thro her tears did sweetly smile,

Then sayd, Awa, awa, Willie!

How could you thus your love beguile?

36She kept the secret in her breast,Full seven years she’s kept the same,Till it fell out at a christning-feast,And then of it she made good game.

She kept the secret in her breast,

Full seven years she’s kept the same,

Till it fell out at a christning-feast,

And then of it she made good game.

37And her father laughd aboon the rest,And said, My daughter, you’r nae to blame;For you’ve married for love, and no for land,So a’ my gowd is yours to claim.

And her father laughd aboon the rest,

And said, My daughter, you’r nae to blame;

For you’ve married for love, and no for land,

So a’ my gowd is yours to claim.

Harris MS., fol. 21; from the recitation of Mrs Harris and others.

1There lived a lady in the northO muckle birth an fame;She’s faun in love wi her kitchie-boy,The greater was her shame.* * * * * *2‘Maister cook, he will cry oot,An answered he maun be;’. . . . . . .. . . . . . .3‘I hae a coffer o ried gowdMy mither left to me,An I will build a bonnie ship,And send her ower the sea,An you’ll come hame like lord or squire,An answered you maun be.’4She has biggit a bonnie ship,Sent her across the main,An in less than sax months an a dayThat ship cam back again.5‘Go dress, go dress, my dochter Janet,Go dress, an mak you fine,An we’ll go doun to yon shore-sideAn bid yon lords to dine.’6He’s pued the black mask ower his face,Kaimed doun his yellow hair,A’ no to lat her father kenThat ere he had been there.* * * * * *7‘Oh, got you that by sea sailin?Or got you that by land?Or got you that on Spanish coast,Upon a died man’s hand?’8‘I got na that by sea sailin,I got na that by land;But I got that on Spanish coast,Upon a died man’s hand.’9He’s pued the black mask aff his face,Threw back his yellow hair,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .10‘A priest, a priest,’ the lady she cried,‘To marry my love an me;’‘A clerk, a clerk,’ her father cried,‘To sign her tocher free.’

1There lived a lady in the northO muckle birth an fame;She’s faun in love wi her kitchie-boy,The greater was her shame.

There lived a lady in the north

O muckle birth an fame;

She’s faun in love wi her kitchie-boy,

The greater was her shame.

* * * * * *

2‘Maister cook, he will cry oot,An answered he maun be;’. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

‘Maister cook, he will cry oot,

An answered he maun be;’

. . . . . . .

3‘I hae a coffer o ried gowdMy mither left to me,An I will build a bonnie ship,And send her ower the sea,An you’ll come hame like lord or squire,An answered you maun be.’

‘I hae a coffer o ried gowd

My mither left to me,

An I will build a bonnie ship,

And send her ower the sea,

An you’ll come hame like lord or squire,

An answered you maun be.’

4She has biggit a bonnie ship,Sent her across the main,An in less than sax months an a dayThat ship cam back again.

She has biggit a bonnie ship,

Sent her across the main,

An in less than sax months an a day

That ship cam back again.

5‘Go dress, go dress, my dochter Janet,Go dress, an mak you fine,An we’ll go doun to yon shore-sideAn bid yon lords to dine.’

‘Go dress, go dress, my dochter Janet,

Go dress, an mak you fine,

An we’ll go doun to yon shore-side

An bid yon lords to dine.’

6He’s pued the black mask ower his face,Kaimed doun his yellow hair,A’ no to lat her father kenThat ere he had been there.

He’s pued the black mask ower his face,

Kaimed doun his yellow hair,

A’ no to lat her father ken

That ere he had been there.

* * * * * *

7‘Oh, got you that by sea sailin?Or got you that by land?Or got you that on Spanish coast,Upon a died man’s hand?’

‘Oh, got you that by sea sailin?

Or got you that by land?

Or got you that on Spanish coast,

Upon a died man’s hand?’

8‘I got na that by sea sailin,I got na that by land;But I got that on Spanish coast,Upon a died man’s hand.’

‘I got na that by sea sailin,

I got na that by land;

But I got that on Spanish coast,

Upon a died man’s hand.’

9He’s pued the black mask aff his face,Threw back his yellow hair,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

He’s pued the black mask aff his face,

Threw back his yellow hair,

. . . . . . .

10‘A priest, a priest,’ the lady she cried,‘To marry my love an me;’‘A clerk, a clerk,’ her father cried,‘To sign her tocher free.’

‘A priest, a priest,’ the lady she cried,

‘To marry my love an me;’

‘A clerk, a clerk,’ her father cried,

‘To sign her tocher free.’

Joseph Robertson’s Note-Book “Adversaria,” p. 88; from tradition.

* * * * * *1And she has built a lofty ship,And set her to the main;The masts o her were o gude reed gowd,And the sails o silver clear.2‘Ye winna bide three months awaWhen ye’ll return again,In case your lady lichter be,And your baby want the name.’3But the wind blew high,The mariners they did land at Lundin soon.4A lady sat on the castell-wa,Beheld baith dale and down,And there she saw this lofty ship,Comin sailin in the Downs.5‘Look out, look out, my maidens a’,Ye seena what I see;For I do see as bonny a shipAs ever sailed the sea,And the master o her’s the bonniest boyThat ever my eyes did see.’6She’s taen her mantell her about,Her cane intill her han,And she’s away to the shore-side,Till invite the square to dine.7‘O will ye come to our castell?Or will ye sup or dine?’‘O excuse me, madam,’ he said,‘For I hae but little time.’* * * * * *8The wind blew high,The mariners they did land at home again.9The old man sat in the castell-wa,Beholding dale and down,And there he spied this goodly shipCome sailin to the town.10‘Look out, look out, my dauchter dear,Ye see not what I see;For I do see as bonny a shipAs ever sailed the sea.11‘And the master o her’s the bonniest boyThat my eyes did ever see,And if I were a woman as I’m a manMy husband he should be.’12‘Haud far awa frae me, fader,Haud far awa frae me,For I never had a lad but ane,And he’s far awa at sea.13‘There is a love-token atween us twa,It’ll be mair ere it be less,An aye the langer he bides awaIt will the mair encreass.’14He’s taen his mantell him about,His cane intil his hand,And he’s awa to the shore-side,To invite the square to dine.15‘O will ye come to our castle?Or will ye sup or dine?’‘Indeed I will, kind sir,’ he said,‘Tho I’ve but little time.’16The lady sat on castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,But he’s put his veil upon his face,That she might not him ken.* * * * * *

* * * * * *

1And she has built a lofty ship,And set her to the main;The masts o her were o gude reed gowd,And the sails o silver clear.

And she has built a lofty ship,

And set her to the main;

The masts o her were o gude reed gowd,

And the sails o silver clear.

2‘Ye winna bide three months awaWhen ye’ll return again,In case your lady lichter be,And your baby want the name.’

‘Ye winna bide three months awa

When ye’ll return again,

In case your lady lichter be,

And your baby want the name.’

3But the wind blew high,The mariners they did land at Lundin soon.

But the wind blew high,

The mariners they did land at Lundin soon.

4A lady sat on the castell-wa,Beheld baith dale and down,And there she saw this lofty ship,Comin sailin in the Downs.

A lady sat on the castell-wa,

Beheld baith dale and down,

And there she saw this lofty ship,

Comin sailin in the Downs.

5‘Look out, look out, my maidens a’,Ye seena what I see;For I do see as bonny a shipAs ever sailed the sea,And the master o her’s the bonniest boyThat ever my eyes did see.’

‘Look out, look out, my maidens a’,

Ye seena what I see;

For I do see as bonny a ship

As ever sailed the sea,

And the master o her’s the bonniest boy

That ever my eyes did see.’

6She’s taen her mantell her about,Her cane intill her han,And she’s away to the shore-side,Till invite the square to dine.

She’s taen her mantell her about,

Her cane intill her han,

And she’s away to the shore-side,

Till invite the square to dine.

7‘O will ye come to our castell?Or will ye sup or dine?’‘O excuse me, madam,’ he said,‘For I hae but little time.’

‘O will ye come to our castell?

Or will ye sup or dine?’

‘O excuse me, madam,’ he said,

‘For I hae but little time.’

* * * * * *

8The wind blew high,The mariners they did land at home again.

The wind blew high,

The mariners they did land at home again.

9The old man sat in the castell-wa,Beholding dale and down,And there he spied this goodly shipCome sailin to the town.

The old man sat in the castell-wa,

Beholding dale and down,

And there he spied this goodly ship

Come sailin to the town.

10‘Look out, look out, my dauchter dear,Ye see not what I see;For I do see as bonny a shipAs ever sailed the sea.

‘Look out, look out, my dauchter dear,

Ye see not what I see;

For I do see as bonny a ship

As ever sailed the sea.

11‘And the master o her’s the bonniest boyThat my eyes did ever see,And if I were a woman as I’m a manMy husband he should be.’

‘And the master o her’s the bonniest boy

That my eyes did ever see,

And if I were a woman as I’m a man

My husband he should be.’

12‘Haud far awa frae me, fader,Haud far awa frae me,For I never had a lad but ane,And he’s far awa at sea.

‘Haud far awa frae me, fader,

Haud far awa frae me,

For I never had a lad but ane,

And he’s far awa at sea.

13‘There is a love-token atween us twa,It’ll be mair ere it be less,An aye the langer he bides awaIt will the mair encreass.’

‘There is a love-token atween us twa,

It’ll be mair ere it be less,

An aye the langer he bides awa

It will the mair encreass.’

14He’s taen his mantell him about,His cane intil his hand,And he’s awa to the shore-side,To invite the square to dine.

He’s taen his mantell him about,

His cane intil his hand,

And he’s awa to the shore-side,

To invite the square to dine.

15‘O will ye come to our castle?Or will ye sup or dine?’‘Indeed I will, kind sir,’ he said,‘Tho I’ve but little time.’

‘O will ye come to our castle?

Or will ye sup or dine?’

‘Indeed I will, kind sir,’ he said,

‘Tho I’ve but little time.’

16The lady sat on castle-wa,Beholding dale and down,But he’s put his veil upon his face,That she might not him ken.

The lady sat on castle-wa,

Beholding dale and down,

But he’s put his veil upon his face,

That she might not him ken.

* * * * * *

Written in long couplets.

81. hadne.

224, 324. ance hane?Cf.34.

232. I lee. 352. got no.

112. yellow in.

142. glaned. Glant, glentis probably intended. Glancdis less likely.

204. could.MS. possiblywould.

Before1: “A lady falls in love with her father’s kitchie-boy when her father is absent, and to conceal him from him procures a ship and puts him to sea. Her father thinks he has run away.”

After 7: She kills herself.

After 16: Continued on page [ ]:but not continued.

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