257BURD ISABEL AND EARL PATRICK

A.‘Burd Bell,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 211.

B.‘Burd Isbel and Sir Patrick,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 76.

C.‘Earl Patrick and Burd Isabel,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 440.

Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, II, 34, I, 42, says that an old woman in Buckie, Enzie, Banff, who died in 1866 at the age of nearly eighty, and whose father was a noted ballad-singer, sang him words which, so far as he could remember, were like those ofB.

A.Unmarried Burd Isabel bears a son to Earl Patrick. He has passed his word to make her his wife in case the expected bairn should be a boy, but his mother objects. He now promises to bring her home after the demise of his parents, and in the mean while builds her a gold and silver bower (which for a reason inscrutable is ‘strawn round wi sand’). Father and mother die; Patrick takes no step to fulfil his engagement, and Isabel asks why. Patrick wishes that a hundred evils may enter him, and he ‘fa oure the brim,’ if ever he marries another; nevertheless he weds a duke’s daughter. His bride has a fancy to see his son, and Patrick sends his aunt (or his grand-aunt, or his great-grand-aunt) to fetch the boy. Isabel dares any woman to take the bairn away. Patrick comes in person. Isabel repeats the words she had used to his aunt, and reminds him of the curse which he had conditionally wished himself at their last interview. The perjured man turns to go away, the hundred evils enter him, and he falls ‘oure the brim.’

Bhas nearly the same story with additional circumstances. Patrick wishes that eleven devils may attend his last day should he wed another woman. When he goes to inquire how Isabel came to refuse the request he had made through his aunt, he takes the opportunity to make over to her child the third part of his land. She has two clerks, her cousins, at her call, who see to the legal formalities pertaining to this transfer; she commits the boy to one of these, and herself goes to an unco land to drive love out of her mind. We hear of nothing worse happening to Earl Patrick for selling his precious soul than his never getting further ben the church than the door.

Cis a variety ofB, but not half so long. WhetherBhas added orComitted, no reader will much concern himself to know.

St. 7 (nearly) occurs in No 92,B17, II, 313, and something similar in various ballads.

Kinloch MSS, I, 211; “obtained in the North Country, from the recitation of Mrs Charles.”

1There is a stane in yon water,It’s lang or it grow green;It’s a maid that maks her ain fortune,It’ll never end its leen.2Burd Bell was na full fyfteenTill to service she did gae;Burd Bell was na full sixteenTill big wi bairn was scho.* * * * * *3‘Burd Bell she is a gude woman,She bides at hame wi me;She never seeks to gang to church,But bides at hame wi me.’4It fell ance upon a dayShe fell in travail-pain;He is gane to the stair-headSome ladies to call in.5‘O gin ye hae a lass-bairn, Burd Bell,A lass-bairn though it be,Twenty ploughs bot and a millWill mak ye lady free.6‘But gin ye hae a son, Burd Bell,Ye’se be my wedded wife,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .’7The knichts they knack their white fingers,The ladies sat and sang,T was a’ to cheer bonnie Burd Bell,She was far sunk in pain.* * * * * *8Earl Patrick is to his mither gane,As fast as he could hie:‘An askin, an askin, dear mither,An askin I want frae thee.9‘Burd Bell has born to me a son;What sail I do her wi?’‘Gie her what ye like, Patrick,Mak na her your ladie.’10He has gane to bonnie Burd Bell,Hir heart was pressd wi care:. . . . . . .. . . . . . .11‘My father will dee, bonnie Burd Bell,My mither will do the same,And whan ye hear that they are ganeIt’s then I’ll bring ye hame.’12Earl Patrick’s bigget to her a hour,And strawn it round wi sand;He coverd it wi silver on the outside,Wi the red gowd within.13It happened ance upon a dayShe was kaiming his yellow hair,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .14‘Your father is dead, Earl Patrick,Your mither is the same;And what is the reason, Earl Patrick,Ye winna tak me hame?’15‘I’ve bigget to you a bonnie bour,I’ve strawn it round wi sand;I’ve coverd it wi silver on the outside,Wi gude red gowd within.16‘If eer I marry anither woman,Or bring anither hame,I wish a hundred evils may enter me,And may I fa oure the brim!’17It was na very lang after thisThat a duke’s dochter he’s wed,Wi a waggon fu of gowd. . . . . . .18Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,And spied baith dale and down,And there she saw Earl Patrick’s auntCome riding to the town.19‘What want ye here, Earl Patrick’s aunt?What want ye here wi me?’‘I want Earl Patrick’s bonnie young son;His bride fain wad him see.’20‘I wad like to see that woman or man,Of high or low degree,That wad tak the bairn frae my footThat I ance for bowd my knee.’* * * * * *21‘Burd Bell, she’s the bauldest womanThat ever I did see:’‘It’s I’ll gang to bonnie Burd Bell,She was never bauld to me.’22Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,Behauding brave dale and down,And there she spied him Earl PatrickSlowly riding to the town.23‘What said ye to my great-grand-aunt. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .’24‘I said nathing to your great-grand-auntBut I will say to thee:I wad like to see the woman or man,Of high or low degree,That wad tak the bairn frae my footI ance for bowd my knee.25‘O dinna ye mind, Earl Patrick,The vows ye made to me,That a hundred evils wad enter youIf ye provd fause to me?’26He’s turnd him richt and round about,His horse head to the wind,The hundred evils enterd him,And he fell oure the brim.

1There is a stane in yon water,It’s lang or it grow green;It’s a maid that maks her ain fortune,It’ll never end its leen.

There is a stane in yon water,

It’s lang or it grow green;

It’s a maid that maks her ain fortune,

It’ll never end its leen.

2Burd Bell was na full fyfteenTill to service she did gae;Burd Bell was na full sixteenTill big wi bairn was scho.

Burd Bell was na full fyfteen

Till to service she did gae;

Burd Bell was na full sixteen

Till big wi bairn was scho.

* * * * * *

3‘Burd Bell she is a gude woman,She bides at hame wi me;She never seeks to gang to church,But bides at hame wi me.’

‘Burd Bell she is a gude woman,

She bides at hame wi me;

She never seeks to gang to church,

But bides at hame wi me.’

4It fell ance upon a dayShe fell in travail-pain;He is gane to the stair-headSome ladies to call in.

It fell ance upon a day

She fell in travail-pain;

He is gane to the stair-head

Some ladies to call in.

5‘O gin ye hae a lass-bairn, Burd Bell,A lass-bairn though it be,Twenty ploughs bot and a millWill mak ye lady free.

‘O gin ye hae a lass-bairn, Burd Bell,

A lass-bairn though it be,

Twenty ploughs bot and a mill

Will mak ye lady free.

6‘But gin ye hae a son, Burd Bell,Ye’se be my wedded wife,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .’

‘But gin ye hae a son, Burd Bell,

Ye’se be my wedded wife,

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . .’

7The knichts they knack their white fingers,The ladies sat and sang,T was a’ to cheer bonnie Burd Bell,She was far sunk in pain.

The knichts they knack their white fingers,

The ladies sat and sang,

T was a’ to cheer bonnie Burd Bell,

She was far sunk in pain.

* * * * * *

8Earl Patrick is to his mither gane,As fast as he could hie:‘An askin, an askin, dear mither,An askin I want frae thee.

Earl Patrick is to his mither gane,

As fast as he could hie:

‘An askin, an askin, dear mither,

An askin I want frae thee.

9‘Burd Bell has born to me a son;What sail I do her wi?’‘Gie her what ye like, Patrick,Mak na her your ladie.’

‘Burd Bell has born to me a son;

What sail I do her wi?’

‘Gie her what ye like, Patrick,

Mak na her your ladie.’

10He has gane to bonnie Burd Bell,Hir heart was pressd wi care:. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

He has gane to bonnie Burd Bell,

Hir heart was pressd wi care:

. . . . . . .

11‘My father will dee, bonnie Burd Bell,My mither will do the same,And whan ye hear that they are ganeIt’s then I’ll bring ye hame.’

‘My father will dee, bonnie Burd Bell,

My mither will do the same,

And whan ye hear that they are gane

It’s then I’ll bring ye hame.’

12Earl Patrick’s bigget to her a hour,And strawn it round wi sand;He coverd it wi silver on the outside,Wi the red gowd within.

Earl Patrick’s bigget to her a hour,

And strawn it round wi sand;

He coverd it wi silver on the outside,

Wi the red gowd within.

13It happened ance upon a dayShe was kaiming his yellow hair,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

It happened ance upon a day

She was kaiming his yellow hair,

. . . . . . .

14‘Your father is dead, Earl Patrick,Your mither is the same;And what is the reason, Earl Patrick,Ye winna tak me hame?’

‘Your father is dead, Earl Patrick,

Your mither is the same;

And what is the reason, Earl Patrick,

Ye winna tak me hame?’

15‘I’ve bigget to you a bonnie bour,I’ve strawn it round wi sand;I’ve coverd it wi silver on the outside,Wi gude red gowd within.

‘I’ve bigget to you a bonnie bour,

I’ve strawn it round wi sand;

I’ve coverd it wi silver on the outside,

Wi gude red gowd within.

16‘If eer I marry anither woman,Or bring anither hame,I wish a hundred evils may enter me,And may I fa oure the brim!’

‘If eer I marry anither woman,

Or bring anither hame,

I wish a hundred evils may enter me,

And may I fa oure the brim!’

17It was na very lang after thisThat a duke’s dochter he’s wed,Wi a waggon fu of gowd. . . . . . .

It was na very lang after this

That a duke’s dochter he’s wed,

Wi a waggon fu of gowd

. . . . . . .

18Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,And spied baith dale and down,And there she saw Earl Patrick’s auntCome riding to the town.

Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,

And spied baith dale and down,

And there she saw Earl Patrick’s aunt

Come riding to the town.

19‘What want ye here, Earl Patrick’s aunt?What want ye here wi me?’‘I want Earl Patrick’s bonnie young son;His bride fain wad him see.’

‘What want ye here, Earl Patrick’s aunt?

What want ye here wi me?’

‘I want Earl Patrick’s bonnie young son;

His bride fain wad him see.’

20‘I wad like to see that woman or man,Of high or low degree,That wad tak the bairn frae my footThat I ance for bowd my knee.’

‘I wad like to see that woman or man,

Of high or low degree,

That wad tak the bairn frae my foot

That I ance for bowd my knee.’

* * * * * *

21‘Burd Bell, she’s the bauldest womanThat ever I did see:’‘It’s I’ll gang to bonnie Burd Bell,She was never bauld to me.’

‘Burd Bell, she’s the bauldest woman

That ever I did see:’

‘It’s I’ll gang to bonnie Burd Bell,

She was never bauld to me.’

22Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,Behauding brave dale and down,And there she spied him Earl PatrickSlowly riding to the town.

Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,

Behauding brave dale and down,

And there she spied him Earl Patrick

Slowly riding to the town.

23‘What said ye to my great-grand-aunt. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .’

‘What said ye to my great-grand-aunt

. . . . . . .

. . . . . . .’

24‘I said nathing to your great-grand-auntBut I will say to thee:I wad like to see the woman or man,Of high or low degree,That wad tak the bairn frae my footI ance for bowd my knee.

‘I said nathing to your great-grand-aunt

But I will say to thee:

I wad like to see the woman or man,

Of high or low degree,

That wad tak the bairn frae my foot

I ance for bowd my knee.

25‘O dinna ye mind, Earl Patrick,The vows ye made to me,That a hundred evils wad enter youIf ye provd fause to me?’

‘O dinna ye mind, Earl Patrick,

The vows ye made to me,

That a hundred evils wad enter you

If ye provd fause to me?’

26He’s turnd him richt and round about,His horse head to the wind,The hundred evils enterd him,And he fell oure the brim.

He’s turnd him richt and round about,

His horse head to the wind,

The hundred evils enterd him,

And he fell oure the brim.

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 76.

1Take warning, a’ ye young women,Of low station or hie,Lay never your love upon a manAbove your ain degree.2Thus I speak by Burd Isbel;She was a maid sae fair,She laid her love on Sir Patrick,She’ll rue it for evermair.3And likewise, a’ ye sprightly youths,Of low station or hie,Lay never your love upon a maidBelow your ain degree.4And thus I speak by Sir Patrick,Who was a knight sae rare;He’s laid his love on Burd Isbel,He’ll rue it for evermair.5Burd Isbel was but ten years auld,To service she has gane;And Burd Isbel was but fifeteenWhan her young son came hame.6It fell ance upon a dayStrong travelling took she;None there was her bower withinBut Sir Patrick and she.7‘This is a wark now, Sir Patrick,That we twa neer will end;Ye’ll do you to the outer courtAnd call some women in.’8He’s done him to the outer court,And stately there did stand;Eleven ladies he’s calld in,Wi ae shake o his hand.9‘Be favourable to Burd Isbel,Deal favourable if ye may;Her kirking and her fair weddingShall baith stand on ae day.10‘Deal favourable to Burd Isbel,Whom I love as my life;Ere this day month be come and gane,She’s be my wedded wife.’11Then he is on to his father,Fell low down on his knee;Says, Will I marry Burd Isbel?She’s born a son to me.12‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,Or use her as ye like;Ye’ll gar her wear the silks sae redAnd sae may ye the white.O woud ye marry Burd Isbel,Make her your heart’s delight?13‘You want not lands nor rents, Patrick,You know your fortune’s free;But ere you’d marry Burd IsbelI’d rather bury thee.14‘Ye’ll build a bower for Burd Isbel,And set it round wi sand;Make as much mirth in Isbel’s bowerAs ony in a’ the land.’15Then he is to his mother gane,Fell low down on his knee:‘O shall I marry Burd Isbel?She’s born a son to me.’16‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,Or use her as ye like;Ye’ll gar her wear the silks sae red,And sae may ye the white.O would ye marry Burd Isbel,Make her wi me alike?17‘You want not lands and rents, Patrick,You know your fortune’s free;But ere you marry Burd IsbelI’d rather bury thee.18‘Ye’ll build a bower to Burd Isbel,And set it round wi glass;Make as much mirth in Isbel’s bowerAs ony in a’ the place.’19He’s done him down thro ha, thro ha,Sae has he in thro bower;The tears ran frae his twa grey eyes,And loot them fast down pour.20‘My father and my mother baithTo age are coming on;When they are dead and buried baith,Burd Isbel I’ll bring home.’21The words that passd atween these twaOught never to be spoken;The vows that passd atween these twaOught never to be broken.22Says he, If I another court,Or wed another wife,May eleven devils me attendAt the end-day o my life.23But his father he soon did die,His mother nae lang behind;But Sir Patrick of Burd IsbelHe now had little mind.24It fell ance upon a day,As she went out to walk,And there she saw him Sir Patrick,Going wi his hound and hawk.25‘Stay still, stay still, now Sir Patrick,O stay a little wee,And think upon the fair promiseLast year ye made to me.26‘Now your father’s dead, kind sir,And your mother the same;Yet nevertheless now, Sir Patrick,Ye’re nae bringing me hame.’27‘If the morn be a pleasant day,I mean to sail the sea,To spend my time in fair England,All for a month or three.’28He hadna been in fair EnglandA month but barely aneTill he forgot her Burd Isbel,The mother of his son.29Some time he spent in fair England,And when returnd againHe laid his love on a duke’s daughter,And he has brought her hame.30Now he’s forgot his first true loveHe ance lovd ower them a’;But now the devil did beginTo work between them twa.31When Sir Patrick he was wed,And all set down to dine,Upon his first love, Burd Isbel,A thought ran in his mind.32He calld upon his gude grand-auntTo come right speedilie;Says, Ye’ll gae on to Burd Isbel,Bring my young son to me.33She’s taen her mantle her about,Wi gowd gloves on her hand,And she is on to Burd Isbel,As fast as she coud gang.34She haild her high, she haild her low,With stile in great degree:‘O busk, O busk your little young son,For he maun gang wi me.’35‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,‘O low station or hie,Woud take the bairn frae my foot,For him I bowed my knee.36‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,‘O low station or mean,Woud take the bairn frae my footWhom I own to be mine.’37Then she has done her hame again,As fast as gang coud she;‘Present,’ said he, ‘my little young son,For him I wish to see.’38‘Burd Isbel’s a bauld woman,’ she said,‘As eer I yet spake wi;’But sighing said him Sir Patrick,She ne’er was bauld to me.39But he’s dressd in his best array,His gowd rod in his hand,And he is to Burd Isbel’s bower,As fast as he coud gang.40‘O how is this, Burd Isbel,’ he said,‘So ill ye’ve used me?What gart you anger my gude grand-aunt,That I did send to thee?’41‘If I hae angerd your gude grand-aunt,O then sae lat it be;I said naething to your gude grand-auntBut what I’ll say to thee.42‘I woud fain see the one, I said,O low station or hie,Wha woud take this bairn frae my foot,For him I bowed the knee.43‘I woud fain see the one, I said,O low station or mean,Woud take this bairn frae my footWhom I own to be mine.’44‘O if I had some counsellers here,And clerks to seal the band,I woud infeft your son this dayIn third part o my land.’45‘I hae two couzins, Scottish clerks,Wi bills into their hand,An ye’ll infeft my son this dayIn third part o your land.’46Then he calld in her Scottish clerks,Wi bills into their hand,And he’s infeft his son that dayThe third part o his land.47To ane o these young clerks she spoke,Clerk John it was his name;Says, Of my son I gie you chargeTill I return again.48‘Ye’ll take here my son, clerk John,Learn him to dance and sing,And I will to some unco land,Drive love out of my mind.49‘And ye’ll take here my son, clerk John,Learn him to hunt the roe,And I will to some unco land;Now lat Sir Patrick go.50‘But I’ll cause this knight at church-door stand,For a’ his noble train;For selling o his precious soulDare never come farther ben.’

1Take warning, a’ ye young women,Of low station or hie,Lay never your love upon a manAbove your ain degree.

Take warning, a’ ye young women,

Of low station or hie,

Lay never your love upon a man

Above your ain degree.

2Thus I speak by Burd Isbel;She was a maid sae fair,She laid her love on Sir Patrick,She’ll rue it for evermair.

Thus I speak by Burd Isbel;

She was a maid sae fair,

She laid her love on Sir Patrick,

She’ll rue it for evermair.

3And likewise, a’ ye sprightly youths,Of low station or hie,Lay never your love upon a maidBelow your ain degree.

And likewise, a’ ye sprightly youths,

Of low station or hie,

Lay never your love upon a maid

Below your ain degree.

4And thus I speak by Sir Patrick,Who was a knight sae rare;He’s laid his love on Burd Isbel,He’ll rue it for evermair.

And thus I speak by Sir Patrick,

Who was a knight sae rare;

He’s laid his love on Burd Isbel,

He’ll rue it for evermair.

5Burd Isbel was but ten years auld,To service she has gane;And Burd Isbel was but fifeteenWhan her young son came hame.

Burd Isbel was but ten years auld,

To service she has gane;

And Burd Isbel was but fifeteen

Whan her young son came hame.

6It fell ance upon a dayStrong travelling took she;None there was her bower withinBut Sir Patrick and she.

It fell ance upon a day

Strong travelling took she;

None there was her bower within

But Sir Patrick and she.

7‘This is a wark now, Sir Patrick,That we twa neer will end;Ye’ll do you to the outer courtAnd call some women in.’

‘This is a wark now, Sir Patrick,

That we twa neer will end;

Ye’ll do you to the outer court

And call some women in.’

8He’s done him to the outer court,And stately there did stand;Eleven ladies he’s calld in,Wi ae shake o his hand.

He’s done him to the outer court,

And stately there did stand;

Eleven ladies he’s calld in,

Wi ae shake o his hand.

9‘Be favourable to Burd Isbel,Deal favourable if ye may;Her kirking and her fair weddingShall baith stand on ae day.

‘Be favourable to Burd Isbel,

Deal favourable if ye may;

Her kirking and her fair wedding

Shall baith stand on ae day.

10‘Deal favourable to Burd Isbel,Whom I love as my life;Ere this day month be come and gane,She’s be my wedded wife.’

‘Deal favourable to Burd Isbel,

Whom I love as my life;

Ere this day month be come and gane,

She’s be my wedded wife.’

11Then he is on to his father,Fell low down on his knee;Says, Will I marry Burd Isbel?She’s born a son to me.

Then he is on to his father,

Fell low down on his knee;

Says, Will I marry Burd Isbel?

She’s born a son to me.

12‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,Or use her as ye like;Ye’ll gar her wear the silks sae redAnd sae may ye the white.O woud ye marry Burd Isbel,Make her your heart’s delight?

‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,

Or use her as ye like;

Ye’ll gar her wear the silks sae red

And sae may ye the white.

O woud ye marry Burd Isbel,

Make her your heart’s delight?

13‘You want not lands nor rents, Patrick,You know your fortune’s free;But ere you’d marry Burd IsbelI’d rather bury thee.

‘You want not lands nor rents, Patrick,

You know your fortune’s free;

But ere you’d marry Burd Isbel

I’d rather bury thee.

14‘Ye’ll build a bower for Burd Isbel,And set it round wi sand;Make as much mirth in Isbel’s bowerAs ony in a’ the land.’

‘Ye’ll build a bower for Burd Isbel,

And set it round wi sand;

Make as much mirth in Isbel’s bower

As ony in a’ the land.’

15Then he is to his mother gane,Fell low down on his knee:‘O shall I marry Burd Isbel?She’s born a son to me.’

Then he is to his mother gane,

Fell low down on his knee:

‘O shall I marry Burd Isbel?

She’s born a son to me.’

16‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,Or use her as ye like;Ye’ll gar her wear the silks sae red,And sae may ye the white.O would ye marry Burd Isbel,Make her wi me alike?

‘O marry, marry Burd Isbel,

Or use her as ye like;

Ye’ll gar her wear the silks sae red,

And sae may ye the white.

O would ye marry Burd Isbel,

Make her wi me alike?

17‘You want not lands and rents, Patrick,You know your fortune’s free;But ere you marry Burd IsbelI’d rather bury thee.

‘You want not lands and rents, Patrick,

You know your fortune’s free;

But ere you marry Burd Isbel

I’d rather bury thee.

18‘Ye’ll build a bower to Burd Isbel,And set it round wi glass;Make as much mirth in Isbel’s bowerAs ony in a’ the place.’

‘Ye’ll build a bower to Burd Isbel,

And set it round wi glass;

Make as much mirth in Isbel’s bower

As ony in a’ the place.’

19He’s done him down thro ha, thro ha,Sae has he in thro bower;The tears ran frae his twa grey eyes,And loot them fast down pour.

He’s done him down thro ha, thro ha,

Sae has he in thro bower;

The tears ran frae his twa grey eyes,

And loot them fast down pour.

20‘My father and my mother baithTo age are coming on;When they are dead and buried baith,Burd Isbel I’ll bring home.’

‘My father and my mother baith

To age are coming on;

When they are dead and buried baith,

Burd Isbel I’ll bring home.’

21The words that passd atween these twaOught never to be spoken;The vows that passd atween these twaOught never to be broken.

The words that passd atween these twa

Ought never to be spoken;

The vows that passd atween these twa

Ought never to be broken.

22Says he, If I another court,Or wed another wife,May eleven devils me attendAt the end-day o my life.

Says he, If I another court,

Or wed another wife,

May eleven devils me attend

At the end-day o my life.

23But his father he soon did die,His mother nae lang behind;But Sir Patrick of Burd IsbelHe now had little mind.

But his father he soon did die,

His mother nae lang behind;

But Sir Patrick of Burd Isbel

He now had little mind.

24It fell ance upon a day,As she went out to walk,And there she saw him Sir Patrick,Going wi his hound and hawk.

It fell ance upon a day,

As she went out to walk,

And there she saw him Sir Patrick,

Going wi his hound and hawk.

25‘Stay still, stay still, now Sir Patrick,O stay a little wee,And think upon the fair promiseLast year ye made to me.

‘Stay still, stay still, now Sir Patrick,

O stay a little wee,

And think upon the fair promise

Last year ye made to me.

26‘Now your father’s dead, kind sir,And your mother the same;Yet nevertheless now, Sir Patrick,Ye’re nae bringing me hame.’

‘Now your father’s dead, kind sir,

And your mother the same;

Yet nevertheless now, Sir Patrick,

Ye’re nae bringing me hame.’

27‘If the morn be a pleasant day,I mean to sail the sea,To spend my time in fair England,All for a month or three.’

‘If the morn be a pleasant day,

I mean to sail the sea,

To spend my time in fair England,

All for a month or three.’

28He hadna been in fair EnglandA month but barely aneTill he forgot her Burd Isbel,The mother of his son.

He hadna been in fair England

A month but barely ane

Till he forgot her Burd Isbel,

The mother of his son.

29Some time he spent in fair England,And when returnd againHe laid his love on a duke’s daughter,And he has brought her hame.

Some time he spent in fair England,

And when returnd again

He laid his love on a duke’s daughter,

And he has brought her hame.

30Now he’s forgot his first true loveHe ance lovd ower them a’;But now the devil did beginTo work between them twa.

Now he’s forgot his first true love

He ance lovd ower them a’;

But now the devil did begin

To work between them twa.

31When Sir Patrick he was wed,And all set down to dine,Upon his first love, Burd Isbel,A thought ran in his mind.

When Sir Patrick he was wed,

And all set down to dine,

Upon his first love, Burd Isbel,

A thought ran in his mind.

32He calld upon his gude grand-auntTo come right speedilie;Says, Ye’ll gae on to Burd Isbel,Bring my young son to me.

He calld upon his gude grand-aunt

To come right speedilie;

Says, Ye’ll gae on to Burd Isbel,

Bring my young son to me.

33She’s taen her mantle her about,Wi gowd gloves on her hand,And she is on to Burd Isbel,As fast as she coud gang.

She’s taen her mantle her about,

Wi gowd gloves on her hand,

And she is on to Burd Isbel,

As fast as she coud gang.

34She haild her high, she haild her low,With stile in great degree:‘O busk, O busk your little young son,For he maun gang wi me.’

She haild her high, she haild her low,

With stile in great degree:

‘O busk, O busk your little young son,

For he maun gang wi me.’

35‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,‘O low station or hie,Woud take the bairn frae my foot,For him I bowed my knee.

‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,

‘O low station or hie,

Woud take the bairn frae my foot,

For him I bowed my knee.

36‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,‘O low station or mean,Woud take the bairn frae my footWhom I own to be mine.’

‘I woud fain see the one,’ she said,

‘O low station or mean,

Woud take the bairn frae my foot

Whom I own to be mine.’

37Then she has done her hame again,As fast as gang coud she;‘Present,’ said he, ‘my little young son,For him I wish to see.’

Then she has done her hame again,

As fast as gang coud she;

‘Present,’ said he, ‘my little young son,

For him I wish to see.’

38‘Burd Isbel’s a bauld woman,’ she said,‘As eer I yet spake wi;’But sighing said him Sir Patrick,She ne’er was bauld to me.

‘Burd Isbel’s a bauld woman,’ she said,

‘As eer I yet spake wi;’

But sighing said him Sir Patrick,

She ne’er was bauld to me.

39But he’s dressd in his best array,His gowd rod in his hand,And he is to Burd Isbel’s bower,As fast as he coud gang.

But he’s dressd in his best array,

His gowd rod in his hand,

And he is to Burd Isbel’s bower,

As fast as he coud gang.

40‘O how is this, Burd Isbel,’ he said,‘So ill ye’ve used me?What gart you anger my gude grand-aunt,That I did send to thee?’

‘O how is this, Burd Isbel,’ he said,

‘So ill ye’ve used me?

What gart you anger my gude grand-aunt,

That I did send to thee?’

41‘If I hae angerd your gude grand-aunt,O then sae lat it be;I said naething to your gude grand-auntBut what I’ll say to thee.

‘If I hae angerd your gude grand-aunt,

O then sae lat it be;

I said naething to your gude grand-aunt

But what I’ll say to thee.

42‘I woud fain see the one, I said,O low station or hie,Wha woud take this bairn frae my foot,For him I bowed the knee.

‘I woud fain see the one, I said,

O low station or hie,

Wha woud take this bairn frae my foot,

For him I bowed the knee.

43‘I woud fain see the one, I said,O low station or mean,Woud take this bairn frae my footWhom I own to be mine.’

‘I woud fain see the one, I said,

O low station or mean,

Woud take this bairn frae my foot

Whom I own to be mine.’

44‘O if I had some counsellers here,And clerks to seal the band,I woud infeft your son this dayIn third part o my land.’

‘O if I had some counsellers here,

And clerks to seal the band,

I woud infeft your son this day

In third part o my land.’

45‘I hae two couzins, Scottish clerks,Wi bills into their hand,An ye’ll infeft my son this dayIn third part o your land.’

‘I hae two couzins, Scottish clerks,

Wi bills into their hand,

An ye’ll infeft my son this day

In third part o your land.’

46Then he calld in her Scottish clerks,Wi bills into their hand,And he’s infeft his son that dayThe third part o his land.

Then he calld in her Scottish clerks,

Wi bills into their hand,

And he’s infeft his son that day

The third part o his land.

47To ane o these young clerks she spoke,Clerk John it was his name;Says, Of my son I gie you chargeTill I return again.

To ane o these young clerks she spoke,

Clerk John it was his name;

Says, Of my son I gie you charge

Till I return again.

48‘Ye’ll take here my son, clerk John,Learn him to dance and sing,And I will to some unco land,Drive love out of my mind.

‘Ye’ll take here my son, clerk John,

Learn him to dance and sing,

And I will to some unco land,

Drive love out of my mind.

49‘And ye’ll take here my son, clerk John,Learn him to hunt the roe,And I will to some unco land;Now lat Sir Patrick go.

‘And ye’ll take here my son, clerk John,

Learn him to hunt the roe,

And I will to some unco land;

Now lat Sir Patrick go.

50‘But I’ll cause this knight at church-door stand,For a’ his noble train;For selling o his precious soulDare never come farther ben.’

‘But I’ll cause this knight at church-door stand,

For a’ his noble train;

For selling o his precious soul

Dare never come farther ben.’

Motherwell’s MS., p. 440.

1All young maidens fair and gay,Whatever your station be,Never lay your love upon a manAbove your own degree.2I speak it all by Bird Isabel;She was her father’s dear,She laid her love on Earl Patrick,Which she rues ever mair.3‘Oh, we began a wark, Patrick,That we two cannot end;Go you unto the outer stairAnd call some women in.’4He’s gone unto the outer stair,And up in it did stand,And did bring in eleven ladies,With one sign of his hand.5He did him to the doctor’s shop,As fast as he could gang,But ere the doctor could get thereBird Isabel bore a son.6But he has courted a duke’s daughter,Lived far beyont the sea;Burd Isabel’s parents were but mean,They had not gear to gie.7He has courted a duke’s daughter,Lived far beyond the foam;Burd Isabel was a mean woman,And tocher she had none.8Now it fell once upon a dayHis wedding day was come;He’s hied him to his great-grand-aunt,As fast as he could gang.9Says, Will you go this errand, aunt?Go you this errand for me,And if I live and bruick my lifeI will go as far for thee.10‘Go and bring me Bird Isbel’s son,Dressed in silks so fine,And if he live to be a manHe shall heir all my land.’11Now she went hailing to the door,And hailing ben the floor,And Isabel styled her madame,And she, her Isabel dear.12‘I came to take Earl Patrick’s son,To dress in silks so fine;For if he live to be a manHe is to heir his land.’13‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,‘Of high station or mean,Daur take this bairn from my knee?For he is called mine.14‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,‘Of mean station or hie,Daur tak this bairn frae my foot?For him I bowed my knee.’15His aunt went hailing to his door,And hailing ben the floor,And she has styled him, Patrick,And [he] her, aunty dear.16She says, I have been east and west,And far beyond the sea,But Isabel is the boldest womanThat ever my eyes did see.17‘You surely dream, my aunty dear,For that can never be;Burd Isabel’s not a bold woman,She never was bold to me.’18Now he went hailing to her door,And hailing ben the floor,And she has styled him, Patrick,And he her, Isabel dear.19‘O ye have angered my great-grand-aunt;You know she’s a lady free;’‘I said naught to your great-grand-auntBut what I’ll say to thee.20‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,Of high station or mean,Daur tak this bairn from my knee?For he is called mine.21‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,Of mean station or hie,Daur tak this bairn from my foot?For him I bowed my knee.22‘But I’ll cause you stand at good church-door,For all your noble train;For selling of your precious soul,You shall not get further ben.’

1All young maidens fair and gay,Whatever your station be,Never lay your love upon a manAbove your own degree.

All young maidens fair and gay,

Whatever your station be,

Never lay your love upon a man

Above your own degree.

2I speak it all by Bird Isabel;She was her father’s dear,She laid her love on Earl Patrick,Which she rues ever mair.

I speak it all by Bird Isabel;

She was her father’s dear,

She laid her love on Earl Patrick,

Which she rues ever mair.

3‘Oh, we began a wark, Patrick,That we two cannot end;Go you unto the outer stairAnd call some women in.’

‘Oh, we began a wark, Patrick,

That we two cannot end;

Go you unto the outer stair

And call some women in.’

4He’s gone unto the outer stair,And up in it did stand,And did bring in eleven ladies,With one sign of his hand.

He’s gone unto the outer stair,

And up in it did stand,

And did bring in eleven ladies,

With one sign of his hand.

5He did him to the doctor’s shop,As fast as he could gang,But ere the doctor could get thereBird Isabel bore a son.

He did him to the doctor’s shop,

As fast as he could gang,

But ere the doctor could get there

Bird Isabel bore a son.

6But he has courted a duke’s daughter,Lived far beyont the sea;Burd Isabel’s parents were but mean,They had not gear to gie.

But he has courted a duke’s daughter,

Lived far beyont the sea;

Burd Isabel’s parents were but mean,

They had not gear to gie.

7He has courted a duke’s daughter,Lived far beyond the foam;Burd Isabel was a mean woman,And tocher she had none.

He has courted a duke’s daughter,

Lived far beyond the foam;

Burd Isabel was a mean woman,

And tocher she had none.

8Now it fell once upon a dayHis wedding day was come;He’s hied him to his great-grand-aunt,As fast as he could gang.

Now it fell once upon a day

His wedding day was come;

He’s hied him to his great-grand-aunt,

As fast as he could gang.

9Says, Will you go this errand, aunt?Go you this errand for me,And if I live and bruick my lifeI will go as far for thee.

Says, Will you go this errand, aunt?

Go you this errand for me,

And if I live and bruick my life

I will go as far for thee.

10‘Go and bring me Bird Isbel’s son,Dressed in silks so fine,And if he live to be a manHe shall heir all my land.’

‘Go and bring me Bird Isbel’s son,

Dressed in silks so fine,

And if he live to be a man

He shall heir all my land.’

11Now she went hailing to the door,And hailing ben the floor,And Isabel styled her madame,And she, her Isabel dear.

Now she went hailing to the door,

And hailing ben the floor,

And Isabel styled her madame,

And she, her Isabel dear.

12‘I came to take Earl Patrick’s son,To dress in silks so fine;For if he live to be a manHe is to heir his land.’

‘I came to take Earl Patrick’s son,

To dress in silks so fine;

For if he live to be a man

He is to heir his land.’

13‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,‘Of high station or mean,Daur take this bairn from my knee?For he is called mine.

‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,

‘Of high station or mean,

Daur take this bairn from my knee?

For he is called mine.

14‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,‘Of mean station or hie,Daur tak this bairn frae my foot?For him I bowed my knee.’

‘Oh is there ever a woman,’ she said,

‘Of mean station or hie,

Daur tak this bairn frae my foot?

For him I bowed my knee.’

15His aunt went hailing to his door,And hailing ben the floor,And she has styled him, Patrick,And [he] her, aunty dear.

His aunt went hailing to his door,

And hailing ben the floor,

And she has styled him, Patrick,

And [he] her, aunty dear.

16She says, I have been east and west,And far beyond the sea,But Isabel is the boldest womanThat ever my eyes did see.

She says, I have been east and west,

And far beyond the sea,

But Isabel is the boldest woman

That ever my eyes did see.

17‘You surely dream, my aunty dear,For that can never be;Burd Isabel’s not a bold woman,She never was bold to me.’

‘You surely dream, my aunty dear,

For that can never be;

Burd Isabel’s not a bold woman,

She never was bold to me.’

18Now he went hailing to her door,And hailing ben the floor,And she has styled him, Patrick,And he her, Isabel dear.

Now he went hailing to her door,

And hailing ben the floor,

And she has styled him, Patrick,

And he her, Isabel dear.

19‘O ye have angered my great-grand-aunt;You know she’s a lady free;’‘I said naught to your great-grand-auntBut what I’ll say to thee.

‘O ye have angered my great-grand-aunt;

You know she’s a lady free;’

‘I said naught to your great-grand-aunt

But what I’ll say to thee.

20‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,Of high station or mean,Daur tak this bairn from my knee?For he is called mine.

‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,

Of high station or mean,

Daur tak this bairn from my knee?

For he is called mine.

21‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,Of mean station or hie,Daur tak this bairn from my foot?For him I bowed my knee.

‘Oh is there ever a woman, I said,

Of mean station or hie,

Daur tak this bairn from my foot?

For him I bowed my knee.

22‘But I’ll cause you stand at good church-door,For all your noble train;For selling of your precious soul,You shall not get further ben.’

‘But I’ll cause you stand at good church-door,

For all your noble train;

For selling of your precious soul,

You shall not get further ben.’

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