Chapter 106

1There lived a lord into the South,An he had daughters three;The youngest o them’s gaen to the king’s court,To learn some courtesie.2She had na been in the king’s courtA twelvemonth an a day,When word is thro the kitchen gaen,An likewise thro the ha,That Mary Moil was gane wi childTo the highest steward of a’.3She rowd it into a basketAn flang’t into the sea,Saying, Sink ye soon, my bonny babe,Ye’se neer get mair o me.4She rowd it into a basketAn flang’t into the faem,Saying, Sink ye soon, my bonny babe,I’se gang a maiden hame.5O whan the news cam to the kingAn angry man was he;He has taen the table wi his foot,An in flinders gart it flie.6‘O woe be to you, ye ill woman,An ill death may ye die!Gin ye had spared the sweet baby’s life,It might have been an honour to thee.7‘O busk ye, busk ye, Mary Moil,O busk, an gang wi me,For agen the morn at ten o clockA rare sight ye sall see.’8She wadna put on her gown o black,Nor yet wad she o brown,But she wad put on her gown o gowd,To glance thro Embro town.9O whan she cam to the Netherbow PortShe gied loud laughters three,But whan she cam to the gallows-footThe tear blinded her ee.10Saying, O ye mariners, mariners,That sail upon the sea,Let not my father nor mother to witThe death that I maun die.11‘For little did father or mother wit,The day they cradled me,What foreign lands I should travel in,Or what death I should die.12‘Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Mary Seton, an Mary Beaton,An Mary Carmichael, an me.’

1There lived a lord into the South,An he had daughters three;The youngest o them’s gaen to the king’s court,To learn some courtesie.

There lived a lord into the South,

An he had daughters three;

The youngest o them’s gaen to the king’s court,

To learn some courtesie.

2She had na been in the king’s courtA twelvemonth an a day,When word is thro the kitchen gaen,An likewise thro the ha,That Mary Moil was gane wi childTo the highest steward of a’.

She had na been in the king’s court

A twelvemonth an a day,

When word is thro the kitchen gaen,

An likewise thro the ha,

That Mary Moil was gane wi child

To the highest steward of a’.

3She rowd it into a basketAn flang’t into the sea,Saying, Sink ye soon, my bonny babe,Ye’se neer get mair o me.

She rowd it into a basket

An flang’t into the sea,

Saying, Sink ye soon, my bonny babe,

Ye’se neer get mair o me.

4She rowd it into a basketAn flang’t into the faem,Saying, Sink ye soon, my bonny babe,I’se gang a maiden hame.

She rowd it into a basket

An flang’t into the faem,

Saying, Sink ye soon, my bonny babe,

I’se gang a maiden hame.

5O whan the news cam to the kingAn angry man was he;He has taen the table wi his foot,An in flinders gart it flie.

O whan the news cam to the king

An angry man was he;

He has taen the table wi his foot,

An in flinders gart it flie.

6‘O woe be to you, ye ill woman,An ill death may ye die!Gin ye had spared the sweet baby’s life,It might have been an honour to thee.

‘O woe be to you, ye ill woman,

An ill death may ye die!

Gin ye had spared the sweet baby’s life,

It might have been an honour to thee.

7‘O busk ye, busk ye, Mary Moil,O busk, an gang wi me,For agen the morn at ten o clockA rare sight ye sall see.’

‘O busk ye, busk ye, Mary Moil,

O busk, an gang wi me,

For agen the morn at ten o clock

A rare sight ye sall see.’

8She wadna put on her gown o black,Nor yet wad she o brown,But she wad put on her gown o gowd,To glance thro Embro town.

She wadna put on her gown o black,

Nor yet wad she o brown,

But she wad put on her gown o gowd,

To glance thro Embro town.

9O whan she cam to the Netherbow PortShe gied loud laughters three,But whan she cam to the gallows-footThe tear blinded her ee.

O whan she cam to the Netherbow Port

She gied loud laughters three,

But whan she cam to the gallows-foot

The tear blinded her ee.

10Saying, O ye mariners, mariners,That sail upon the sea,Let not my father nor mother to witThe death that I maun die.

Saying, O ye mariners, mariners,

That sail upon the sea,

Let not my father nor mother to wit

The death that I maun die.

11‘For little did father or mother wit,The day they cradled me,What foreign lands I should travel in,Or what death I should die.

‘For little did father or mother wit,

The day they cradled me,

What foreign lands I should travel in,

Or what death I should die.

12‘Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Mary Seton, an Mary Beaton,An Mary Carmichael, an me.’

‘Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,

The night she’ll hae but three;

There was Mary Seton, an Mary Beaton,

An Mary Carmichael, an me.’

33, 43.We should readSink ye, soom ye,as in A 33, U 143, X 43, and other copies.

Communicated to Sir Walter Scott by Mrs Christiana Greenwood, London, 21st February and 27th May, 1806, from the recitation of her mother and her aunt, who learned the ballad above fifty years before from Kirstan Scot, then an old woman, at Longnewton, near Jedburgh: Letters at Abbotsford, I, Nos 173, 189.

1There was a duke, and he dwelt in York,And he had daughters three;One of them was an hostler-wife,And two were gay ladies.2O word’s gane to Queen Mary’s court,As fast as it coud gee,That Mary Hamilton’s born a bairn,And the baby they coud na see.3Then came the queen and a’ her maids,Swift tripping down the stair:‘Where is the baby, Mary,That we heard weep sae sair?’4‘O say not so, Queen Mary,Nor bear ill tales o me,For this is but a sore sicknessThat oft times troubles me.’5They sought it up, they sought it down,They sought it below the bed,And there the[y] saw the bonny wee babe,Lying wallowing in its bluid.6‘Now busk ye, busk ye, Mary Hamilton,Busk ye and gang wi me,For I maun away to Edinbro town,A rich wedding to see.’7Mary wad na put on the black velvet,Nor yet wad put on the brown,But she’s put on the red velvet,To shine thro Edinbro town.8When she came unto the town,And near the Tolbooth stair,There stood many a lady gay,Weeping for Mary fair.9‘O haud yeer tongue[s], ye ladys a’,And weep na mair for me!O haud yeer tongues, ye ladys a’,For it’s for my fault I dee.10‘The king he took me on his kneeAnd he gae three drinks to me,And a’ to put the babie back,But it wad na gang back for me.11‘O ye mariners, ye mariners a’,That sail out-owr the sea,Let neither my father nor mother get witWhat has become o me!12‘Let neither my father nor mother ken,Nor my bauld brethren three,For muckle wad be the gude red bluidThat wad be shed for me.13‘Aft hae I laced Queen Mary’s back,Aft hae I kaimed her hair,And a’ the reward she’s gein to me’sThe gallows to be my heir.14‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,The night she’l hae but three;There was Mary Seatoun, and Mary Beatoun,An Mary Carmichal, an me.’

1There was a duke, and he dwelt in York,And he had daughters three;One of them was an hostler-wife,And two were gay ladies.

There was a duke, and he dwelt in York,

And he had daughters three;

One of them was an hostler-wife,

And two were gay ladies.

2O word’s gane to Queen Mary’s court,As fast as it coud gee,That Mary Hamilton’s born a bairn,And the baby they coud na see.

O word’s gane to Queen Mary’s court,

As fast as it coud gee,

That Mary Hamilton’s born a bairn,

And the baby they coud na see.

3Then came the queen and a’ her maids,Swift tripping down the stair:‘Where is the baby, Mary,That we heard weep sae sair?’

Then came the queen and a’ her maids,

Swift tripping down the stair:

‘Where is the baby, Mary,

That we heard weep sae sair?’

4‘O say not so, Queen Mary,Nor bear ill tales o me,For this is but a sore sicknessThat oft times troubles me.’

‘O say not so, Queen Mary,

Nor bear ill tales o me,

For this is but a sore sickness

That oft times troubles me.’

5They sought it up, they sought it down,They sought it below the bed,And there the[y] saw the bonny wee babe,Lying wallowing in its bluid.

They sought it up, they sought it down,

They sought it below the bed,

And there the[y] saw the bonny wee babe,

Lying wallowing in its bluid.

6‘Now busk ye, busk ye, Mary Hamilton,Busk ye and gang wi me,For I maun away to Edinbro town,A rich wedding to see.’

‘Now busk ye, busk ye, Mary Hamilton,

Busk ye and gang wi me,

For I maun away to Edinbro town,

A rich wedding to see.’

7Mary wad na put on the black velvet,Nor yet wad put on the brown,But she’s put on the red velvet,To shine thro Edinbro town.

Mary wad na put on the black velvet,

Nor yet wad put on the brown,

But she’s put on the red velvet,

To shine thro Edinbro town.

8When she came unto the town,And near the Tolbooth stair,There stood many a lady gay,Weeping for Mary fair.

When she came unto the town,

And near the Tolbooth stair,

There stood many a lady gay,

Weeping for Mary fair.

9‘O haud yeer tongue[s], ye ladys a’,And weep na mair for me!O haud yeer tongues, ye ladys a’,For it’s for my fault I dee.

‘O haud yeer tongue[s], ye ladys a’,

And weep na mair for me!

O haud yeer tongues, ye ladys a’,

For it’s for my fault I dee.

10‘The king he took me on his kneeAnd he gae three drinks to me,And a’ to put the babie back,But it wad na gang back for me.

‘The king he took me on his knee

And he gae three drinks to me,

And a’ to put the babie back,

But it wad na gang back for me.

11‘O ye mariners, ye mariners a’,That sail out-owr the sea,Let neither my father nor mother get witWhat has become o me!

‘O ye mariners, ye mariners a’,

That sail out-owr the sea,

Let neither my father nor mother get wit

What has become o me!

12‘Let neither my father nor mother ken,Nor my bauld brethren three,For muckle wad be the gude red bluidThat wad be shed for me.

‘Let neither my father nor mother ken,

Nor my bauld brethren three,

For muckle wad be the gude red bluid

That wad be shed for me.

13‘Aft hae I laced Queen Mary’s back,Aft hae I kaimed her hair,And a’ the reward she’s gein to me’sThe gallows to be my heir.

‘Aft hae I laced Queen Mary’s back,

Aft hae I kaimed her hair,

And a’ the reward she’s gein to me’s

The gallows to be my heir.

14‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,The night she’l hae but three;There was Mary Seatoun, and Mary Beatoun,An Mary Carmichal, an me.’

‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,

The night she’l hae but three;

There was Mary Seatoun, and Mary Beatoun,

An Mary Carmichal, an me.’

‘Lament of the Queen’s Marie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 92, Abbotsford. Communicated to Scott, 7th January, 1804, by Rev. George Paxton, Kilmaurs, near Kilmarnock, Ayrshire (afterwards professor of divinity at Edinburgh); from the mouth of Jean Milne, his “aged mother, formerly an unwearied singer of Scotish songs.”

1‘My father was the Duke of York,My mother a gay ladye,And I myself a daintie dame;The queen she sent for me.2‘But the queen’s meat it was sae sweet,And her clothing was sae rare,It made me long for a young man’s bed,And I rued it evermair.’3But word is up, and word is down,Amang the ladyes a’,That Marie’s born a babe sin yestreen,That babe it is awa.4But the queen she gat wit of this,She calld for a berry-brown gown,And she’s awa to Marie’s bower,The bower that Marie lay in.5‘Open your door, my Marie,’ she says,‘My bonny and fair Marie;They say you have born a babe sin yestreen,That babe I fain wad see.’6‘It is not sae wi me, madam,It is not sae wi me;It is but a fit of my sair sickness,That oft times troubles me.’7‘Get up, get up, my Marie,’ she says,‘My bonny and fair Marie,And we’ll away to Edinburgh town,And try the verity.’8Slowly, slowly, gat she up,And slowly pat she on,And slowly went she to that milk-steed,To ride to Edinburgh town.9But when they cam to Edinburgh,And in by the Towbooth stair,There was mony a virtuous ladyeLetting the tears fa there.10‘Why weep ye sae for me, madams?Why weep ye sae for me?For sin ye brought me to this townThis death ye gar me die.’11When she cam to the Netherbow Port,She gae loud laughters three;But when she cam to the gallows-footThe tear blinded her ee.12‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beatoun,And Marie Carmichael, and me.13‘My love he was a pottinger,Mony drink he gae me,And a’ to put back that bonnie babe,But alas! it wad na do.14‘I pat that bonny babe in a box,And set it on the sea;O sink ye, swim ye, bonny babe!Ye’s neer get mair o me.15‘O all ye jolly sailors,That sail upon the sea,Let neither my father nor mother kenThe death that I maun die.16‘But if my father and mother kendThe death that I maun die,O mony wad be the good red guineasThat wad be gien for me.’

1‘My father was the Duke of York,My mother a gay ladye,And I myself a daintie dame;The queen she sent for me.

‘My father was the Duke of York,

My mother a gay ladye,

And I myself a daintie dame;

The queen she sent for me.

2‘But the queen’s meat it was sae sweet,And her clothing was sae rare,It made me long for a young man’s bed,And I rued it evermair.’

‘But the queen’s meat it was sae sweet,

And her clothing was sae rare,

It made me long for a young man’s bed,

And I rued it evermair.’

3But word is up, and word is down,Amang the ladyes a’,That Marie’s born a babe sin yestreen,That babe it is awa.

But word is up, and word is down,

Amang the ladyes a’,

That Marie’s born a babe sin yestreen,

That babe it is awa.

4But the queen she gat wit of this,She calld for a berry-brown gown,And she’s awa to Marie’s bower,The bower that Marie lay in.

But the queen she gat wit of this,

She calld for a berry-brown gown,

And she’s awa to Marie’s bower,

The bower that Marie lay in.

5‘Open your door, my Marie,’ she says,‘My bonny and fair Marie;They say you have born a babe sin yestreen,That babe I fain wad see.’

‘Open your door, my Marie,’ she says,

‘My bonny and fair Marie;

They say you have born a babe sin yestreen,

That babe I fain wad see.’

6‘It is not sae wi me, madam,It is not sae wi me;It is but a fit of my sair sickness,That oft times troubles me.’

‘It is not sae wi me, madam,

It is not sae wi me;

It is but a fit of my sair sickness,

That oft times troubles me.’

7‘Get up, get up, my Marie,’ she says,‘My bonny and fair Marie,And we’ll away to Edinburgh town,And try the verity.’

‘Get up, get up, my Marie,’ she says,

‘My bonny and fair Marie,

And we’ll away to Edinburgh town,

And try the verity.’

8Slowly, slowly, gat she up,And slowly pat she on,And slowly went she to that milk-steed,To ride to Edinburgh town.

Slowly, slowly, gat she up,

And slowly pat she on,

And slowly went she to that milk-steed,

To ride to Edinburgh town.

9But when they cam to Edinburgh,And in by the Towbooth stair,There was mony a virtuous ladyeLetting the tears fa there.

But when they cam to Edinburgh,

And in by the Towbooth stair,

There was mony a virtuous ladye

Letting the tears fa there.

10‘Why weep ye sae for me, madams?Why weep ye sae for me?For sin ye brought me to this townThis death ye gar me die.’

‘Why weep ye sae for me, madams?

Why weep ye sae for me?

For sin ye brought me to this town

This death ye gar me die.’

11When she cam to the Netherbow Port,She gae loud laughters three;But when she cam to the gallows-footThe tear blinded her ee.

When she cam to the Netherbow Port,

She gae loud laughters three;

But when she cam to the gallows-foot

The tear blinded her ee.

12‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beatoun,And Marie Carmichael, and me.

‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,

The night she’ll hae but three;

There was Marie Seton, and Marie Beatoun,

And Marie Carmichael, and me.

13‘My love he was a pottinger,Mony drink he gae me,And a’ to put back that bonnie babe,But alas! it wad na do.

‘My love he was a pottinger,

Mony drink he gae me,

And a’ to put back that bonnie babe,

But alas! it wad na do.

14‘I pat that bonny babe in a box,And set it on the sea;O sink ye, swim ye, bonny babe!Ye’s neer get mair o me.

‘I pat that bonny babe in a box,

And set it on the sea;

O sink ye, swim ye, bonny babe!

Ye’s neer get mair o me.

15‘O all ye jolly sailors,That sail upon the sea,Let neither my father nor mother kenThe death that I maun die.

‘O all ye jolly sailors,

That sail upon the sea,

Let neither my father nor mother ken

The death that I maun die.

16‘But if my father and mother kendThe death that I maun die,O mony wad be the good red guineasThat wad be gien for me.’

‘But if my father and mother kend

The death that I maun die,

O mony wad be the good red guineas

That wad be gien for me.’

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 9, Abbotsford; in the handwriting of William Laidlaw.

1‘My father was the Duke of York,My mother the gay ladie,An I myself a maiden bright,An the queen desired me.’2But there word gane to the kitchen,There’s word gane to the ha,That Mary mild she gangs wi childTo the uppermost stewart of a’.3Than they sought but, and they sou[ght] ben,They sought aneath the bed,An there the fand the bonnie lad-bairn,Lyin lappin in his blood.4‘Gae buss ye, Marie Hamilton,Gae buss ye, buss ye bra,For ye maun away to Edin[brough] town,The queen’s birthday ...’5She wadna put on her black, bla[ck] silk,Nor wad she put on the brown,But she pat on the glisterin stufs,To glister in Edinbrough town.6An whan she cam to the water-gateLoud laughters gae she three,But whan she cam to the Netherbow PortThe tear blinded Marie’s ee.7’Twas up than spak Queen Marie’s nurse,An a sorry woman was she:‘Whae sae clever o fit and ready o witHas telld sic news o thee!’8‘Oft have I Queen Marie’s headOft have I caimd her hair,An a’ the thanks I’ve gotten for thatIs the gallows to be my heir!9‘Oft have I dressd Queen Marie’s head,An laid her in her bed,An a’ the thanks I’ve gotten for thatIs the green gallows-tree to tread!10‘O spare, O spare, O judge,’ she cried,‘O spair a day for me!’‘There is nae law in our land, ladie,To let a murderer be.’11‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Marie Seaton, and Ma[rie] Bea[ton],An Marie Carmichael, an me.12‘O if my father now but kendThe death that I’m to die,O muckle, muckle wad be the red gowdThat he wad gie for me.13‘An if my brothers kend the deathThat I am now to die,O muckle, muckle wad be the red bloodThat wad be shed for me.’

1‘My father was the Duke of York,My mother the gay ladie,An I myself a maiden bright,An the queen desired me.’

‘My father was the Duke of York,

My mother the gay ladie,

An I myself a maiden bright,

An the queen desired me.’

2But there word gane to the kitchen,There’s word gane to the ha,That Mary mild she gangs wi childTo the uppermost stewart of a’.

But there word gane to the kitchen,

There’s word gane to the ha,

That Mary mild she gangs wi child

To the uppermost stewart of a’.

3Than they sought but, and they sou[ght] ben,They sought aneath the bed,An there the fand the bonnie lad-bairn,Lyin lappin in his blood.

Than they sought but, and they sou[ght] ben,

They sought aneath the bed,

An there the fand the bonnie lad-bairn,

Lyin lappin in his blood.

4‘Gae buss ye, Marie Hamilton,Gae buss ye, buss ye bra,For ye maun away to Edin[brough] town,The queen’s birthday ...’

‘Gae buss ye, Marie Hamilton,

Gae buss ye, buss ye bra,

For ye maun away to Edin[brough] town,

The queen’s birthday ...’

5She wadna put on her black, bla[ck] silk,Nor wad she put on the brown,But she pat on the glisterin stufs,To glister in Edinbrough town.

She wadna put on her black, bla[ck] silk,

Nor wad she put on the brown,

But she pat on the glisterin stufs,

To glister in Edinbrough town.

6An whan she cam to the water-gateLoud laughters gae she three,But whan she cam to the Netherbow PortThe tear blinded Marie’s ee.

An whan she cam to the water-gate

Loud laughters gae she three,

But whan she cam to the Netherbow Port

The tear blinded Marie’s ee.

7’Twas up than spak Queen Marie’s nurse,An a sorry woman was she:‘Whae sae clever o fit and ready o witHas telld sic news o thee!’

’Twas up than spak Queen Marie’s nurse,

An a sorry woman was she:

‘Whae sae clever o fit and ready o wit

Has telld sic news o thee!’

8‘Oft have I Queen Marie’s headOft have I caimd her hair,An a’ the thanks I’ve gotten for thatIs the gallows to be my heir!

‘Oft have I Queen Marie’s head

Oft have I caimd her hair,

An a’ the thanks I’ve gotten for that

Is the gallows to be my heir!

9‘Oft have I dressd Queen Marie’s head,An laid her in her bed,An a’ the thanks I’ve gotten for thatIs the green gallows-tree to tread!

‘Oft have I dressd Queen Marie’s head,

An laid her in her bed,

An a’ the thanks I’ve gotten for that

Is the green gallows-tree to tread!

10‘O spare, O spare, O judge,’ she cried,‘O spair a day for me!’‘There is nae law in our land, ladie,To let a murderer be.’

‘O spare, O spare, O judge,’ she cried,

‘O spair a day for me!’

‘There is nae law in our land, ladie,

To let a murderer be.’

11‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Marie Seaton, and Ma[rie] Bea[ton],An Marie Carmichael, an me.

‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,

The night she’ll hae but three;

There was Marie Seaton, and Ma[rie] Bea[ton],

An Marie Carmichael, an me.

12‘O if my father now but kendThe death that I’m to die,O muckle, muckle wad be the red gowdThat he wad gie for me.

‘O if my father now but kend

The death that I’m to die,

O muckle, muckle wad be the red gowd

That he wad gie for me.

13‘An if my brothers kend the deathThat I am now to die,O muckle, muckle wad be the red bloodThat wad be shed for me.’

‘An if my brothers kend the death

That I am now to die,

O muckle, muckle wad be the red blood

That wad be shed for me.’

23,4. Or:

That Mary Hamilton’s born a bairnAn murderd it at the wa.

That Mary Hamilton’s born a bairn

An murderd it at the wa.

31, 113.Edge bound in.

81. caimdwritten,but struck out.

83. & I the.

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 85, Abbotsford.

1There lived a man in the North CountreeAnd he had doghters three;The youngest o them’s to Edinbourgh gaen,Ane o the queen’s Marys to be.2Queen Mary’s bread it was sae white,And her wine it ran sae clear,It shewed her the way to the butler’s bed,And I wait she’s bought dear.3For Mary’s to the garden gaen,To eat o the saven tree,And a’ ‘s to pit her young son back,But back he wad na be.4So Mary’s to her chamber gaen,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .5Queen Mary she came down the stair,And a’ her maids afore her:‘Oh, Mary Miles, where is the childThat I have heard greet sae sore O?’6‘There is no child with me, madam,There is no child with me;It was only a bit of a cholick I took,And I thought I was gawen to dee.’7So they looked up, and they looked down,And they looked beneath the bed-foot,And there they saw a bonnie boy,Lying weltering in his blood.8. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘Since that you have killed your own dear child,The same death you shall dee.’9When Mary came afore the court,A loud laugh laughed she;But when she came to the [gallows-]fitThe tear blinded her ee.* * * * * *10‘O wha will comb Queen Mary’s heed?Or wha will brade her hair?And wha will lace her middle sae jimpWhan [I] am nae langer there?11‘Yestreen the queen [had] four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Mary Seaten, and Mary Beaten,And Mary Carmichal, and me.* * * * * *12‘I’ll not put on my robes of black,Nor yet my robes of brown,But I’ll put on a shining braw garb,That will shine thro Edinbourgh town.’* * * * * *13Oh, whan she came to the Cannongate,The Cannongate sae hee,There mony a lord and belted knightWas grieved for her beautee.* * * * * *14And whan she came to [the] Hee Town,The Hee Town sae hee,* * * * * *

1There lived a man in the North CountreeAnd he had doghters three;The youngest o them’s to Edinbourgh gaen,Ane o the queen’s Marys to be.

There lived a man in the North Countree

And he had doghters three;

The youngest o them’s to Edinbourgh gaen,

Ane o the queen’s Marys to be.

2Queen Mary’s bread it was sae white,And her wine it ran sae clear,It shewed her the way to the butler’s bed,And I wait she’s bought dear.

Queen Mary’s bread it was sae white,

And her wine it ran sae clear,

It shewed her the way to the butler’s bed,

And I wait she’s bought dear.

3For Mary’s to the garden gaen,To eat o the saven tree,And a’ ‘s to pit her young son back,But back he wad na be.

For Mary’s to the garden gaen,

To eat o the saven tree,

And a’ ‘s to pit her young son back,

But back he wad na be.

4So Mary’s to her chamber gaen,. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .

So Mary’s to her chamber gaen,

. . . . . . .

5Queen Mary she came down the stair,And a’ her maids afore her:‘Oh, Mary Miles, where is the childThat I have heard greet sae sore O?’

Queen Mary she came down the stair,

And a’ her maids afore her:

‘Oh, Mary Miles, where is the child

That I have heard greet sae sore O?’

6‘There is no child with me, madam,There is no child with me;It was only a bit of a cholick I took,And I thought I was gawen to dee.’

‘There is no child with me, madam,

There is no child with me;

It was only a bit of a cholick I took,

And I thought I was gawen to dee.’

7So they looked up, and they looked down,And they looked beneath the bed-foot,And there they saw a bonnie boy,Lying weltering in his blood.

So they looked up, and they looked down,

And they looked beneath the bed-foot,

And there they saw a bonnie boy,

Lying weltering in his blood.

8. . . . . . .. . . . . . .‘Since that you have killed your own dear child,The same death you shall dee.’

. . . . . . .

‘Since that you have killed your own dear child,

The same death you shall dee.’

9When Mary came afore the court,A loud laugh laughed she;But when she came to the [gallows-]fitThe tear blinded her ee.

When Mary came afore the court,

A loud laugh laughed she;

But when she came to the [gallows-]fit

The tear blinded her ee.

* * * * * *

10‘O wha will comb Queen Mary’s heed?Or wha will brade her hair?And wha will lace her middle sae jimpWhan [I] am nae langer there?

‘O wha will comb Queen Mary’s heed?

Or wha will brade her hair?

And wha will lace her middle sae jimp

Whan [I] am nae langer there?

11‘Yestreen the queen [had] four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Mary Seaten, and Mary Beaten,And Mary Carmichal, and me.

‘Yestreen the queen [had] four Maries,

The night she’ll hae but three;

There was Mary Seaten, and Mary Beaten,

And Mary Carmichal, and me.

* * * * * *

12‘I’ll not put on my robes of black,Nor yet my robes of brown,But I’ll put on a shining braw garb,That will shine thro Edinbourgh town.’

‘I’ll not put on my robes of black,

Nor yet my robes of brown,

But I’ll put on a shining braw garb,

That will shine thro Edinbourgh town.’

* * * * * *

13Oh, whan she came to the Cannongate,The Cannongate sae hee,There mony a lord and belted knightWas grieved for her beautee.

Oh, whan she came to the Cannongate,

The Cannongate sae hee,

There mony a lord and belted knight

Was grieved for her beautee.

* * * * * *

14And whan she came to [the] Hee Town,The Hee Town sae hee,

And whan she came to [the] Hee Town,

The Hee Town sae hee,

* * * * * *

101. Oh.

111,2.Added in a different hand.

123. shinning.

‘The Queen’s Maries,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 91, Abbotsford.

1There livd a lord in the West Country,And he had daughters three;The youngest o them’s to the queen’s court,To learn some courtesy.2She hadna been at the queen’s courtA year but and a dayTill she has fa’n as big wi child,As big as she coud gae.3She’s gane into the gardenTo pu the sycamore tree,And taen the bony bairn in her armsAnd thrown it in the sea.4She rowd it in her apronAnd threw it in the sea:‘Gae sink or soom, my bony sweet babe,Ye’ll never get mair o me.’5Then in an came Queen Mary,Wi gowd rings on her hair:‘O Mary mild, where is the childThat I heard greet sae sair?’6‘It wasna a babe, my royal liege,Last night that troubled me,But it was a fit o sair sickness,And I was lyken to dee.’7‘O hold yere tongue, Mary Hamilton,Sae loud as I hear ye lee!For I’ll send you to Enbro town,The verity to see.’8She wadna put on the ribbons o black,Nor yet wad she the brown,But she wad put on the ribbons o gowd,To gae glittring through Enbro town.9As she rade up the Sands o Leith,Riding on a white horse,O little did she think that dayTo die at Enbro Corss!10As she rade up the Cannongate,She leugh loud laughters three,And mony a lord and lady said,‘Alas for that lady!’11‘Ye needna say Oh, ye needna cry Eh,Alas for that lady!Ye’ll neer see grace in a graceless face,As little ye’ll see in me.’12When she came to the Netherbow Port,She leugh loud laughters three,But ere she came to the gallows-footThe tear blinded her eie;Saying, Tye a white napkin owr my face,For that gibbet I downa see.13‘O hold yere hand, Lord Justice!O hold it a little while!I think I see my ain true-loveCome wandring mony a mile.14‘O have ye brought me ony o my gowd?Or ony o my weel-won fee?Or are ye come to see me hangd,Upon this gallows-tree?’15‘O I hae brought ye nane o yere gowd,Nor nane o yere weel-won fee,But I am come to see ye hangd,And hangit ye shall be.’16‘O all ye men and mariners,That sail for wealth or fame,Let never my father or mother get witBut what I’m coming hame.17‘O all ye men and mariners,That sail upon the sea,Let never my father or mother get witThe death that I maun dee.18‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Mary Seaton, and Mary Beaton,And Mary Carmichael, and me.’

1There livd a lord in the West Country,And he had daughters three;The youngest o them’s to the queen’s court,To learn some courtesy.

There livd a lord in the West Country,

And he had daughters three;

The youngest o them’s to the queen’s court,

To learn some courtesy.

2She hadna been at the queen’s courtA year but and a dayTill she has fa’n as big wi child,As big as she coud gae.

She hadna been at the queen’s court

A year but and a day

Till she has fa’n as big wi child,

As big as she coud gae.

3She’s gane into the gardenTo pu the sycamore tree,And taen the bony bairn in her armsAnd thrown it in the sea.

She’s gane into the garden

To pu the sycamore tree,

And taen the bony bairn in her arms

And thrown it in the sea.

4She rowd it in her apronAnd threw it in the sea:‘Gae sink or soom, my bony sweet babe,Ye’ll never get mair o me.’

She rowd it in her apron

And threw it in the sea:

‘Gae sink or soom, my bony sweet babe,

Ye’ll never get mair o me.’

5Then in an came Queen Mary,Wi gowd rings on her hair:‘O Mary mild, where is the childThat I heard greet sae sair?’

Then in an came Queen Mary,

Wi gowd rings on her hair:

‘O Mary mild, where is the child

That I heard greet sae sair?’

6‘It wasna a babe, my royal liege,Last night that troubled me,But it was a fit o sair sickness,And I was lyken to dee.’

‘It wasna a babe, my royal liege,

Last night that troubled me,

But it was a fit o sair sickness,

And I was lyken to dee.’

7‘O hold yere tongue, Mary Hamilton,Sae loud as I hear ye lee!For I’ll send you to Enbro town,The verity to see.’

‘O hold yere tongue, Mary Hamilton,

Sae loud as I hear ye lee!

For I’ll send you to Enbro town,

The verity to see.’

8She wadna put on the ribbons o black,Nor yet wad she the brown,But she wad put on the ribbons o gowd,To gae glittring through Enbro town.

She wadna put on the ribbons o black,

Nor yet wad she the brown,

But she wad put on the ribbons o gowd,

To gae glittring through Enbro town.

9As she rade up the Sands o Leith,Riding on a white horse,O little did she think that dayTo die at Enbro Corss!

As she rade up the Sands o Leith,

Riding on a white horse,

O little did she think that day

To die at Enbro Corss!

10As she rade up the Cannongate,She leugh loud laughters three,And mony a lord and lady said,‘Alas for that lady!’

As she rade up the Cannongate,

She leugh loud laughters three,

And mony a lord and lady said,

‘Alas for that lady!’

11‘Ye needna say Oh, ye needna cry Eh,Alas for that lady!Ye’ll neer see grace in a graceless face,As little ye’ll see in me.’

‘Ye needna say Oh, ye needna cry Eh,

Alas for that lady!

Ye’ll neer see grace in a graceless face,

As little ye’ll see in me.’

12When she came to the Netherbow Port,She leugh loud laughters three,But ere she came to the gallows-footThe tear blinded her eie;Saying, Tye a white napkin owr my face,For that gibbet I downa see.

When she came to the Netherbow Port,

She leugh loud laughters three,

But ere she came to the gallows-foot

The tear blinded her eie;

Saying, Tye a white napkin owr my face,

For that gibbet I downa see.

13‘O hold yere hand, Lord Justice!O hold it a little while!I think I see my ain true-loveCome wandring mony a mile.

‘O hold yere hand, Lord Justice!

O hold it a little while!

I think I see my ain true-love

Come wandring mony a mile.

14‘O have ye brought me ony o my gowd?Or ony o my weel-won fee?Or are ye come to see me hangd,Upon this gallows-tree?’

‘O have ye brought me ony o my gowd?

Or ony o my weel-won fee?

Or are ye come to see me hangd,

Upon this gallows-tree?’

15‘O I hae brought ye nane o yere gowd,Nor nane o yere weel-won fee,But I am come to see ye hangd,And hangit ye shall be.’

‘O I hae brought ye nane o yere gowd,

Nor nane o yere weel-won fee,

But I am come to see ye hangd,

And hangit ye shall be.’

16‘O all ye men and mariners,That sail for wealth or fame,Let never my father or mother get witBut what I’m coming hame.

‘O all ye men and mariners,

That sail for wealth or fame,

Let never my father or mother get wit

But what I’m coming hame.

17‘O all ye men and mariners,That sail upon the sea,Let never my father or mother get witThe death that I maun dee.

‘O all ye men and mariners,

That sail upon the sea,

Let never my father or mother get wit

The death that I maun dee.

18‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,The night she’ll hae but three;There was Mary Seaton, and Mary Beaton,And Mary Carmichael, and me.’

‘Yestreen the queen had four Maries,

The night she’ll hae but three;

There was Mary Seaton, and Mary Beaton,

And Mary Carmichael, and me.’

‘The Queen’s Marys,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 144, Abbotsford.

1‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,The night she’ll hae but three;She had Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton,And Mary Carmichael, and me.2‘My feather was the Duke of York,My mother a gay lady,And I mysell a bonnie young may,And the king fell in love we me.3‘The king’s kisses they were so sweet,And his wine it was so strong,That I became a motherBefore fifteen years old.’4‘O tell the truth now, Mary,And sett this matter right;What hae ye made o the babeyWas greeting yesternight?’5‘O I will tell you, madam the queen,I winna tell a lie;I put it in a bottomless boatAnd bad it sail the sea.’6‘Ye lie, ye lie now, Mary,Sae loud’s I hear you lie!You wasnae out o the palace,So that coud never be.’7‘Weel I will tell you, madam,Though it should gar me weep;I stabbd it we my little pen-knife,And bad it take a sleep.’8When she came up the Netherbow,She geed loud laughters three;But when she came out o the Parliament CloseThe tear blinded her ee.9‘O little does my feather kenThe death I am to die,Or muckel wad be the red, red gouldWad be payed doun for me.10‘O little does my mother thinkThe death that I am to die,Or monie wad be the saut, saut tearsThat she wad shed for me.11‘O never lett my brothers kenThe death that I am to die,For muckel wad be the red, red bloodThat wad be shed for me.12‘Aft hae I washd the king’s bonnie face,Kaimd doun his yellow hair,And this is a’ the reward he’s geen me,The gallows to be my share.’

1‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,The night she’ll hae but three;She had Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton,And Mary Carmichael, and me.

‘Yestreen the queen had four Marys,

The night she’ll hae but three;

She had Mary Beaton, and Mary Seaton,

And Mary Carmichael, and me.

2‘My feather was the Duke of York,My mother a gay lady,And I mysell a bonnie young may,And the king fell in love we me.

‘My feather was the Duke of York,

My mother a gay lady,

And I mysell a bonnie young may,

And the king fell in love we me.

3‘The king’s kisses they were so sweet,And his wine it was so strong,That I became a motherBefore fifteen years old.’

‘The king’s kisses they were so sweet,

And his wine it was so strong,

That I became a mother

Before fifteen years old.’

4‘O tell the truth now, Mary,And sett this matter right;What hae ye made o the babeyWas greeting yesternight?’

‘O tell the truth now, Mary,

And sett this matter right;

What hae ye made o the babey

Was greeting yesternight?’

5‘O I will tell you, madam the queen,I winna tell a lie;I put it in a bottomless boatAnd bad it sail the sea.’

‘O I will tell you, madam the queen,

I winna tell a lie;

I put it in a bottomless boat

And bad it sail the sea.’

6‘Ye lie, ye lie now, Mary,Sae loud’s I hear you lie!You wasnae out o the palace,So that coud never be.’

‘Ye lie, ye lie now, Mary,

Sae loud’s I hear you lie!

You wasnae out o the palace,

So that coud never be.’

7‘Weel I will tell you, madam,Though it should gar me weep;I stabbd it we my little pen-knife,And bad it take a sleep.’

‘Weel I will tell you, madam,

Though it should gar me weep;

I stabbd it we my little pen-knife,

And bad it take a sleep.’

8When she came up the Netherbow,She geed loud laughters three;But when she came out o the Parliament CloseThe tear blinded her ee.

When she came up the Netherbow,

She geed loud laughters three;

But when she came out o the Parliament Close

The tear blinded her ee.

9‘O little does my feather kenThe death I am to die,Or muckel wad be the red, red gouldWad be payed doun for me.

‘O little does my feather ken

The death I am to die,

Or muckel wad be the red, red gould

Wad be payed doun for me.

10‘O little does my mother thinkThe death that I am to die,Or monie wad be the saut, saut tearsThat she wad shed for me.

‘O little does my mother think

The death that I am to die,

Or monie wad be the saut, saut tears

That she wad shed for me.

11‘O never lett my brothers kenThe death that I am to die,For muckel wad be the red, red bloodThat wad be shed for me.

‘O never lett my brothers ken

The death that I am to die,

For muckel wad be the red, red blood

That wad be shed for me.

12‘Aft hae I washd the king’s bonnie face,Kaimd doun his yellow hair,And this is a’ the reward he’s geen me,The gallows to be my share.’

‘Aft hae I washd the king’s bonnie face,

Kaimd doun his yellow hair,

And this is a’ the reward he’s geen me,

The gallows to be my share.’

‘The Queen’s Marie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 90 a, Abbotsford; in the handwriting of John Leyden.

1‘Buss ye, bonny Marie Hamilton,Buss and gae wi me,For ye maun gae to Edinborough,A great wedding to see.’2‘Ride hooly, hooly, gentlemen,Ride hooly now wi me,For never, I’m sure, a wearier brideRode in your cumpany.’3Little wist Marie Hamilton,When she rode on the brown,That she was gawn to Edinborough,And a’ to be put down.4When she came to the Council stairs,She ga loud laughters three;But or that she came down againShe was condemmd to dee.5‘O ye mariners, mariners, mariners,When ye sail oer the faem,Let never my father nor mother to witBut I’m just coming hame.6‘Let never my father nor mother to wit,Nor my bauld brether[en] three,Or meckle wad be the red, red gowdThis day be gien for me.7‘Let never my father or mother to wit,Nor my bauld brethren three,Or meckle war the red, red bludeThis day wad fa for me.’

1‘Buss ye, bonny Marie Hamilton,Buss and gae wi me,For ye maun gae to Edinborough,A great wedding to see.’

‘Buss ye, bonny Marie Hamilton,

Buss and gae wi me,

For ye maun gae to Edinborough,

A great wedding to see.’

2‘Ride hooly, hooly, gentlemen,Ride hooly now wi me,For never, I’m sure, a wearier brideRode in your cumpany.’

‘Ride hooly, hooly, gentlemen,

Ride hooly now wi me,

For never, I’m sure, a wearier bride

Rode in your cumpany.’

3Little wist Marie Hamilton,When she rode on the brown,That she was gawn to Edinborough,And a’ to be put down.

Little wist Marie Hamilton,

When she rode on the brown,

That she was gawn to Edinborough,

And a’ to be put down.

4When she came to the Council stairs,She ga loud laughters three;But or that she came down againShe was condemmd to dee.

When she came to the Council stairs,

She ga loud laughters three;

But or that she came down again

She was condemmd to dee.

5‘O ye mariners, mariners, mariners,When ye sail oer the faem,Let never my father nor mother to witBut I’m just coming hame.

‘O ye mariners, mariners, mariners,

When ye sail oer the faem,

Let never my father nor mother to wit

But I’m just coming hame.

6‘Let never my father nor mother to wit,Nor my bauld brether[en] three,Or meckle wad be the red, red gowdThis day be gien for me.

‘Let never my father nor mother to wit,

Nor my bauld brether[en] three,

Or meckle wad be the red, red gowd

This day be gien for me.

7‘Let never my father or mother to wit,Nor my bauld brethren three,Or meckle war the red, red bludeThis day wad fa for me.’

‘Let never my father or mother to wit,

Nor my bauld brethren three,

Or meckle war the red, red blude

This day wad fa for me.’

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 142, Abbotsford; in the handwriting of James Hogg.

‘Oft hae I kaimd Queen Mary’s head,An oft hae I curld her hair,An now I hae gotten for my rewardA gallows to be heir.’

‘Oft hae I kaimd Queen Mary’s head,

An oft hae I curld her hair,

An now I hae gotten for my reward

A gallows to be heir.’

P. 426, note *. This history borrows from Sir Robert Gordon. See what he says, p. 166 f., and also previously, p. 164 ff.

428 a.F,G. “I have a manuscript where the whole scene is transferred to Ayrshire, and the incendiary is called Johnnie Faa.” Note of Sir W. Scott in Sharpe’s Ballad Book, ed. 1880, p. 142.

This copy has not as yet been recovered, but there is another at Abbotsford, a fine fragment, in which Lady Campbell is the heroine. As to Adam McGordon, the c of Mac is often dropped, so that Adam MaGordon and Adam o Gordon are of pretty much the same sound (a remark of Mr Macmath). The Andrew Watty of 133is noted on the last page of the MS. to be “a riding man.”

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 75, Abbotsford. Communicated to Scott November 6, 1803, by Brace Campbell, Sornbeg, Galston, Ayrshire, through David Boyle, Advocate, afterwards Lord Justice General of Scotland.

1It fell about the Martinmass time,When the wind blew shill and cald,That Adam McGordon said to his men,Where will we get a hall?2‘There is a hall here near by,Well built with lime and stone;There is a lady there withinAs white as the . . bone.’3‘Seven year and more this lord and IHas had a deadly feud,And now, since her good lord’s frae hame,His place to me she’ll yield.’4She looked oer her castle-wall,And so she looked down,And saw Adam McGordon and his menApproaching the wood-end.5‘Steik up, steik up my yett,’ she says,‘And let my draw-bridge fall;There is meickle treacheryWalking about my wall.’6She had not the sentence past,Nor yet the word well said,When Adam McGordon and his menAbout the walls were laid.7She looked out at her window,And then she looked down,And then she saw Jack, her own man,Lifting the pavement-stane.8‘Awa, awa, Jack my man!Seven year I paid you meat and fee,And now you lift the pavement-staneTo let in the low to me.’9‘I yield, I yield, O lady fair,Seven year ye paid me meat and fee;But now I am Adam McGordon’s man,I must either do or die.’10‘If ye be Adam McGordon’s man,As I true well ye be,Prove true unto your own master,And work your will to me.’11‘Come down, come down, my lady Campbell,Come down into my hand;Ye shall lye all night by my side,And the morn at my command.’12‘I winna come down,’ this lady says,‘For neither laird nor lown,Nor to no bloody butcher’s son,The Laird of Auchindown.13‘I wald give all my kine,’ she says,‘So wald I fifty pound,That Andrew Watty he were here;He would charge me my gun.14‘He would charge me my gun,And put in bullets three,That I might shoot that cruel traitorThat works his wills on me.’15He shot in, and [s]he shot out,The value of an hour,Until the hall Craigie NorthWas like to be blawn in the air.16He fired in, and she fired out,The value of houris three,Until the hall Craigie NorthThe reik went to the sea.17‘O the frost, and ae the frost,The frost that freezes fell!I cannot stay within my bower,The powder it blaws sae bald.’18But then spake her oldest son,He was both white and red;‘O mither dear, yield up your house!We’ll all be burnt to deed.’19Out then spake the second son,He was both red and fair;‘O brother dear, would you yield up your house,And you your father’s heir!’20Out then spake the little babe,Stood at the nurse’s knee;‘O mither dear, yield up your house!The reik will worry me.’21Out then speaks the little nurse,The babe upon her knee;‘O lady, take from me your child!I’ll never crave my fee.’22‘Hold thy tongue, thou little nurse,Of thy prating let me bee;For be it death or be it life,Thou shall take share with me.23‘I wald give a’ my sheep,’ she says,‘T[hat] . . yon . . s[ha],I had a drink of that wan waterThat runs down by my wa.’

1It fell about the Martinmass time,When the wind blew shill and cald,That Adam McGordon said to his men,Where will we get a hall?

It fell about the Martinmass time,

When the wind blew shill and cald,

That Adam McGordon said to his men,

Where will we get a hall?

2‘There is a hall here near by,Well built with lime and stone;There is a lady there withinAs white as the . . bone.’

‘There is a hall here near by,

Well built with lime and stone;

There is a lady there within

As white as the . . bone.’

3‘Seven year and more this lord and IHas had a deadly feud,And now, since her good lord’s frae hame,His place to me she’ll yield.’

‘Seven year and more this lord and I

Has had a deadly feud,

And now, since her good lord’s frae hame,

His place to me she’ll yield.’

4She looked oer her castle-wall,And so she looked down,And saw Adam McGordon and his menApproaching the wood-end.

She looked oer her castle-wall,

And so she looked down,

And saw Adam McGordon and his men

Approaching the wood-end.

5‘Steik up, steik up my yett,’ she says,‘And let my draw-bridge fall;There is meickle treacheryWalking about my wall.’

‘Steik up, steik up my yett,’ she says,

‘And let my draw-bridge fall;

There is meickle treachery

Walking about my wall.’

6She had not the sentence past,Nor yet the word well said,When Adam McGordon and his menAbout the walls were laid.

She had not the sentence past,

Nor yet the word well said,

When Adam McGordon and his men

About the walls were laid.

7She looked out at her window,And then she looked down,And then she saw Jack, her own man,Lifting the pavement-stane.

She looked out at her window,

And then she looked down,

And then she saw Jack, her own man,

Lifting the pavement-stane.

8‘Awa, awa, Jack my man!Seven year I paid you meat and fee,And now you lift the pavement-staneTo let in the low to me.’

‘Awa, awa, Jack my man!

Seven year I paid you meat and fee,

And now you lift the pavement-stane

To let in the low to me.’

9‘I yield, I yield, O lady fair,Seven year ye paid me meat and fee;But now I am Adam McGordon’s man,I must either do or die.’

‘I yield, I yield, O lady fair,

Seven year ye paid me meat and fee;

But now I am Adam McGordon’s man,

I must either do or die.’

10‘If ye be Adam McGordon’s man,As I true well ye be,Prove true unto your own master,And work your will to me.’

‘If ye be Adam McGordon’s man,

As I true well ye be,

Prove true unto your own master,

And work your will to me.’

11‘Come down, come down, my lady Campbell,Come down into my hand;Ye shall lye all night by my side,And the morn at my command.’

‘Come down, come down, my lady Campbell,

Come down into my hand;

Ye shall lye all night by my side,

And the morn at my command.’

12‘I winna come down,’ this lady says,‘For neither laird nor lown,Nor to no bloody butcher’s son,The Laird of Auchindown.

‘I winna come down,’ this lady says,

‘For neither laird nor lown,

Nor to no bloody butcher’s son,

The Laird of Auchindown.

13‘I wald give all my kine,’ she says,‘So wald I fifty pound,That Andrew Watty he were here;He would charge me my gun.

‘I wald give all my kine,’ she says,

‘So wald I fifty pound,

That Andrew Watty he were here;

He would charge me my gun.

14‘He would charge me my gun,And put in bullets three,That I might shoot that cruel traitorThat works his wills on me.’

‘He would charge me my gun,

And put in bullets three,

That I might shoot that cruel traitor

That works his wills on me.’

15He shot in, and [s]he shot out,The value of an hour,Until the hall Craigie NorthWas like to be blawn in the air.

He shot in, and [s]he shot out,

The value of an hour,

Until the hall Craigie North

Was like to be blawn in the air.

16He fired in, and she fired out,The value of houris three,Until the hall Craigie NorthThe reik went to the sea.

He fired in, and she fired out,

The value of houris three,

Until the hall Craigie North

The reik went to the sea.

17‘O the frost, and ae the frost,The frost that freezes fell!I cannot stay within my bower,The powder it blaws sae bald.’

‘O the frost, and ae the frost,

The frost that freezes fell!

I cannot stay within my bower,

The powder it blaws sae bald.’

18But then spake her oldest son,He was both white and red;‘O mither dear, yield up your house!We’ll all be burnt to deed.’

But then spake her oldest son,

He was both white and red;

‘O mither dear, yield up your house!

We’ll all be burnt to deed.’

19Out then spake the second son,He was both red and fair;‘O brother dear, would you yield up your house,And you your father’s heir!’

Out then spake the second son,

He was both red and fair;

‘O brother dear, would you yield up your house,

And you your father’s heir!’

20Out then spake the little babe,Stood at the nurse’s knee;‘O mither dear, yield up your house!The reik will worry me.’

Out then spake the little babe,

Stood at the nurse’s knee;

‘O mither dear, yield up your house!

The reik will worry me.’

21Out then speaks the little nurse,The babe upon her knee;‘O lady, take from me your child!I’ll never crave my fee.’

Out then speaks the little nurse,

The babe upon her knee;

‘O lady, take from me your child!

I’ll never crave my fee.’

22‘Hold thy tongue, thou little nurse,Of thy prating let me bee;For be it death or be it life,Thou shall take share with me.

‘Hold thy tongue, thou little nurse,

Of thy prating let me bee;

For be it death or be it life,

Thou shall take share with me.

23‘I wald give a’ my sheep,’ she says,‘T[hat] . . yon . . s[ha],I had a drink of that wan waterThat runs down by my wa.’

‘I wald give a’ my sheep,’ she says,

‘T[hat] . . yon . . s[ha],

I had a drink of that wan water

That runs down by my wa.’

21. hall there.

24.An illegible word ending seemingly inhie.

31. this lord and Ibegins the second line.

33. has good: hascaught from the line above.

34. shallaltered toshe’ll;butshe shallis clearly meant.

74, 114, 154, 163, 211. ye.

141. would: wald,perhaps.

162. valuue,or, valaue,or, valuae.

163.A preposition seems to be wanting.Hallhere and in153is troublesome. Perhaps the reading should be in153that all, in163that through all.

232.The paper is folded here, and the line has been so much rubbed as to be illegible.

“An old ballad upon the burning of an old castle of Loudoun by the Kennedys of Auchruglan.” Bruce Campbell.

P. 447. Add to the citation from Spottiswood: History of the Church of Scotland, 1655, p. 387.

P. 449.Awas first published in the second edition of Scott’s Minstrelsy, 1803, I, 243.

Bwas repeated in the first edition of Scott’s Minstrelsy, I, 220, 1802, ‘The Laird of Ochiltree.’

452. The following is the original, unimproved copy ofA. There is a transcript of this, in William Laidlaw’s hand, “Scotch Ballads,” etc., No 23, which is somewhat retouched, but by no means with the freedom exercised by the editor of the Minstrelsy. Some of Laidlaw’s changes were adopted by Scott.

‘The Laird of Logie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 3 a, Abbotsford. Sent Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw; received by him from Mr Bartram of Biggar.

1I will sing, if ye will harken,An ye wad listen unto me;I’ll tell ye of a merry passageOf the wanton laird of Young Logie.2Young Logie’s laid in Edinboroughchapel,Carmichaell’s keeper of the key;I heard a may lamenting sair,All for the laird of Young Logie.3‘Lament, lament na, May Margret,And o your weeping let me be;For ye maun to the king your sell,And ask the life of Young Logie.’4May Margaret has kilted her green cleeding,And she’s currld back her yellow hair,And she’s away to the king hersell,And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!5When she came before the king,She fell low down on her knee:‘It’s what’s your will wi me, May Margret,And what makes all this courtesey?’‘Naething, naething, my sovreign liege,But grant me the life of Young Logie.’6‘O no, O no, May Margret,No, in sooth it maun na be;For the morn, or I taste meat or drink,Hee hanged shall Young Logie be.’7She has stolen the king’s reeding-comb,But an the queen her wedding-knife,And she has sent it to Carmichaell,To cause Young Logie come by life.8She sent him a purse of the red gold,Another of the white money,And sent him a pistol into each hand,And bade him shoot when he got fra.9When he came to the Tolbooth stair,There he loot his volley flee,Whichmade the king in his chamber start,Even in the chamber where he lay.10‘Gae out, gae out, my merrie men,And gar Carmichael come speake wi me,For I’ll lay my life the pledge of that,That yon’s the volley of Young Logie.’11When Carmichael came before the king,He fell low down on his knee;The very first word that the king spake,‘How dois the laird o Young Logie?’12Carmichael turnd him round about,A wait the salt tear blint his eye:‘There came a tacken frae the kingHas tean the laird awa frae me.’13‘Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?Hast thou playd me that?’ quo he;‘The morn the Justice Court’s to stand,And Logie’s place ye maun supply.’14Carmichal’s awa to May Margr[e]t’s bower,Een as fast as he may dree:‘It’s if Young Logie be within,Tell him to come speak to me.’15May Margret’s turnd her round about,A wait a loud laughter gae she:‘The egg is cheeped and the bird is flown,And seek ye the laird of Young Logie.’16The one is sheppd at the pier o Leith,The other at the Queen’s Ferry,And she has gotten a father to her bairn,The wanton laird of Young [Logie].

1I will sing, if ye will harken,An ye wad listen unto me;I’ll tell ye of a merry passageOf the wanton laird of Young Logie.

I will sing, if ye will harken,

An ye wad listen unto me;

I’ll tell ye of a merry passage

Of the wanton laird of Young Logie.

2Young Logie’s laid in Edinboroughchapel,Carmichaell’s keeper of the key;I heard a may lamenting sair,All for the laird of Young Logie.

Young Logie’s laid in Edinboroughchapel,

Carmichaell’s keeper of the key;

I heard a may lamenting sair,

All for the laird of Young Logie.

3‘Lament, lament na, May Margret,And o your weeping let me be;For ye maun to the king your sell,And ask the life of Young Logie.’

‘Lament, lament na, May Margret,

And o your weeping let me be;

For ye maun to the king your sell,

And ask the life of Young Logie.’

4May Margaret has kilted her green cleeding,And she’s currld back her yellow hair,And she’s away to the king hersell,And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!

May Margaret has kilted her green cleeding,

And she’s currld back her yellow hair,

And she’s away to the king hersell,

And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!

5When she came before the king,She fell low down on her knee:‘It’s what’s your will wi me, May Margret,And what makes all this courtesey?’‘Naething, naething, my sovreign liege,But grant me the life of Young Logie.’

When she came before the king,

She fell low down on her knee:

‘It’s what’s your will wi me, May Margret,

And what makes all this courtesey?’

‘Naething, naething, my sovreign liege,

But grant me the life of Young Logie.’

6‘O no, O no, May Margret,No, in sooth it maun na be;For the morn, or I taste meat or drink,Hee hanged shall Young Logie be.’

‘O no, O no, May Margret,

No, in sooth it maun na be;

For the morn, or I taste meat or drink,

Hee hanged shall Young Logie be.’

7She has stolen the king’s reeding-comb,But an the queen her wedding-knife,And she has sent it to Carmichaell,To cause Young Logie come by life.

She has stolen the king’s reeding-comb,

But an the queen her wedding-knife,

And she has sent it to Carmichaell,

To cause Young Logie come by life.

8She sent him a purse of the red gold,Another of the white money,And sent him a pistol into each hand,And bade him shoot when he got fra.

She sent him a purse of the red gold,

Another of the white money,

And sent him a pistol into each hand,

And bade him shoot when he got fra.

9When he came to the Tolbooth stair,There he loot his volley flee,Whichmade the king in his chamber start,Even in the chamber where he lay.

When he came to the Tolbooth stair,

There he loot his volley flee,

Whichmade the king in his chamber start,

Even in the chamber where he lay.

10‘Gae out, gae out, my merrie men,And gar Carmichael come speake wi me,For I’ll lay my life the pledge of that,That yon’s the volley of Young Logie.’

‘Gae out, gae out, my merrie men,

And gar Carmichael come speake wi me,

For I’ll lay my life the pledge of that,

That yon’s the volley of Young Logie.’

11When Carmichael came before the king,He fell low down on his knee;The very first word that the king spake,‘How dois the laird o Young Logie?’

When Carmichael came before the king,

He fell low down on his knee;

The very first word that the king spake,

‘How dois the laird o Young Logie?’

12Carmichael turnd him round about,A wait the salt tear blint his eye:‘There came a tacken frae the kingHas tean the laird awa frae me.’

Carmichael turnd him round about,

A wait the salt tear blint his eye:

‘There came a tacken frae the king

Has tean the laird awa frae me.’

13‘Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?Hast thou playd me that?’ quo he;‘The morn the Justice Court’s to stand,And Logie’s place ye maun supply.’

‘Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?

Hast thou playd me that?’ quo he;

‘The morn the Justice Court’s to stand,

And Logie’s place ye maun supply.’

14Carmichal’s awa to May Margr[e]t’s bower,Een as fast as he may dree:‘It’s if Young Logie be within,Tell him to come speak to me.’

Carmichal’s awa to May Margr[e]t’s bower,

Een as fast as he may dree:

‘It’s if Young Logie be within,

Tell him to come speak to me.’

15May Margret’s turnd her round about,A wait a loud laughter gae she:‘The egg is cheeped and the bird is flown,And seek ye the laird of Young Logie.’

May Margret’s turnd her round about,

A wait a loud laughter gae she:

‘The egg is cheeped and the bird is flown,

And seek ye the laird of Young Logie.’

16The one is sheppd at the pier o Leith,The other at the Queen’s Ferry,And she has gotten a father to her bairn,The wanton laird of Young [Logie].

The one is sheppd at the pier o Leith,

The other at the Queen’s Ferry,

And she has gotten a father to her bairn,

The wanton laird of Young [Logie].

42. yerforher.

64. YeaforHee. Hiein Laidlaw’s transcript. Taking into account the apparentyerforherin 42, it looks as ifhea,her were intended.

84. free?

122. blintmay beblent.

453.B.‘The Winsome Laird of Young Logie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 137 a, “sung by Lady A. Lindsay,” closely resembles Herd’s version, but in one passage approachesC, and Young Logie displaces Ochiltrie. This copy will be treated asB b.

11. Owanting.

12. To the tale I tell.

18. How the.

14. The winsom laird of Young Logie.

21. Whan the queen did hear the same.

28. Alas for poor Lady Margaret.

32, 82. aswanting.

34. Or never kend.

41. Fye, oh no, said: that maunna bewanting.

42. Fy, O no, thus (partly altered tothis).

43. find out some cunning way.

44. To loose and let Young Logie free.

Back to Index Next