I

1‘Will ye go to the Hielans, my bonny lad?Will ye go to the Hielans, Geordie?Though ye tak the high road and I tak the low,I will be in the Hielans afore ye.’2He hadna been in the high HielansA month but barely twa, O,Till he was laid in prison strong,For hunting the king’s deer and rae, O.3‘O where will I get a bonny, bonny boy,That will run my errand cannie,And gae quickly on to the bonny Bog o Gight,Wi a letter to my lady?’4‘O here am I, a bonny, bonny boy,That will run your errand cannie,And will gae on to the bonny Bog o Gight,Wi a letter to your lady.’5When she did get this broad letter,A licht, licht laugh gae she, O;But before she read it to an endThe saut tear was in her ee, O.6‘O has he robbd? or has he stown?Or has he killëd ony?Or what is the ill that he has done,That he’s gaun to be hangd sae shortly?’7‘He hasna robbd, he hasna stown,He hasna killëd ony;But he has hunted the king’s deer and rae,And he will be hangëd shortly.’8‘Come saddle to me the bonny brown steed,For the black never rade sae bonny,And I will gae on to Edinboro townTo borrow the life o my Geordie.’9The first water-side that she cam to,The boatman wasna ready;She gae anither skipper half-a-crown,To boat her oer the ferry.10When she cam on to Edinboro town,The poor stood thick and mony;She dealt them money roun and roun,Bade them pray for the life o her Geordie.11When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,She saw there nobles mony,And ilka noble stood hat on head,But hat in hand stood Geordie.12Then out it spak an English lord,And vow, but he spake bonny!‘If ye pay down ten thousand crouns,Ye’ll get the life o your Geordie.’13Some gae her marks, some gae her crouns,Some gae her guineas rarely,Till she paid down ten thousand crouns,And she got the life o her Geordie.14Then out it spak an Irish lord,O wae befa his body!‘It’s a pity the knicht didna lose his head,That I micht hae gotten his lady.’15But out it spak the lady hersel,And vow, but she spak bonny!‘The pock-marks are on your Irish face,You could not compare wi my Geordie!’16When she was in the saddle set,And on ahint her Geordie,The bird on the bush neer sang sae sweet,As she sung to her love Geordie.17‘First I was mistress o bonny Auchindown,And I was lady o a’ Carnie,But now I have come to the bonny Bog o Gight,The wife o my true-love Geordie.18‘If I were in the high Hielans,I would hear the white kye lowing;But I’d rather be on the bonny banks o Spey,To see the fish-boaties rowing.’

1‘Will ye go to the Hielans, my bonny lad?Will ye go to the Hielans, Geordie?Though ye tak the high road and I tak the low,I will be in the Hielans afore ye.’

‘Will ye go to the Hielans, my bonny lad?

Will ye go to the Hielans, Geordie?

Though ye tak the high road and I tak the low,

I will be in the Hielans afore ye.’

2He hadna been in the high HielansA month but barely twa, O,Till he was laid in prison strong,For hunting the king’s deer and rae, O.

He hadna been in the high Hielans

A month but barely twa, O,

Till he was laid in prison strong,

For hunting the king’s deer and rae, O.

3‘O where will I get a bonny, bonny boy,That will run my errand cannie,And gae quickly on to the bonny Bog o Gight,Wi a letter to my lady?’

‘O where will I get a bonny, bonny boy,

That will run my errand cannie,

And gae quickly on to the bonny Bog o Gight,

Wi a letter to my lady?’

4‘O here am I, a bonny, bonny boy,That will run your errand cannie,And will gae on to the bonny Bog o Gight,Wi a letter to your lady.’

‘O here am I, a bonny, bonny boy,

That will run your errand cannie,

And will gae on to the bonny Bog o Gight,

Wi a letter to your lady.’

5When she did get this broad letter,A licht, licht laugh gae she, O;But before she read it to an endThe saut tear was in her ee, O.

When she did get this broad letter,

A licht, licht laugh gae she, O;

But before she read it to an end

The saut tear was in her ee, O.

6‘O has he robbd? or has he stown?Or has he killëd ony?Or what is the ill that he has done,That he’s gaun to be hangd sae shortly?’

‘O has he robbd? or has he stown?

Or has he killëd ony?

Or what is the ill that he has done,

That he’s gaun to be hangd sae shortly?’

7‘He hasna robbd, he hasna stown,He hasna killëd ony;But he has hunted the king’s deer and rae,And he will be hangëd shortly.’

‘He hasna robbd, he hasna stown,

He hasna killëd ony;

But he has hunted the king’s deer and rae,

And he will be hangëd shortly.’

8‘Come saddle to me the bonny brown steed,For the black never rade sae bonny,And I will gae on to Edinboro townTo borrow the life o my Geordie.’

‘Come saddle to me the bonny brown steed,

For the black never rade sae bonny,

And I will gae on to Edinboro town

To borrow the life o my Geordie.’

9The first water-side that she cam to,The boatman wasna ready;She gae anither skipper half-a-crown,To boat her oer the ferry.

The first water-side that she cam to,

The boatman wasna ready;

She gae anither skipper half-a-crown,

To boat her oer the ferry.

10When she cam on to Edinboro town,The poor stood thick and mony;She dealt them money roun and roun,Bade them pray for the life o her Geordie.

When she cam on to Edinboro town,

The poor stood thick and mony;

She dealt them money roun and roun,

Bade them pray for the life o her Geordie.

11When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,She saw there nobles mony,And ilka noble stood hat on head,But hat in hand stood Geordie.

When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,

She saw there nobles mony,

And ilka noble stood hat on head,

But hat in hand stood Geordie.

12Then out it spak an English lord,And vow, but he spake bonny!‘If ye pay down ten thousand crouns,Ye’ll get the life o your Geordie.’

Then out it spak an English lord,

And vow, but he spake bonny!

‘If ye pay down ten thousand crouns,

Ye’ll get the life o your Geordie.’

13Some gae her marks, some gae her crouns,Some gae her guineas rarely,Till she paid down ten thousand crouns,And she got the life o her Geordie.

Some gae her marks, some gae her crouns,

Some gae her guineas rarely,

Till she paid down ten thousand crouns,

And she got the life o her Geordie.

14Then out it spak an Irish lord,O wae befa his body!‘It’s a pity the knicht didna lose his head,That I micht hae gotten his lady.’

Then out it spak an Irish lord,

O wae befa his body!

‘It’s a pity the knicht didna lose his head,

That I micht hae gotten his lady.’

15But out it spak the lady hersel,And vow, but she spak bonny!‘The pock-marks are on your Irish face,You could not compare wi my Geordie!’

But out it spak the lady hersel,

And vow, but she spak bonny!

‘The pock-marks are on your Irish face,

You could not compare wi my Geordie!’

16When she was in the saddle set,And on ahint her Geordie,The bird on the bush neer sang sae sweet,As she sung to her love Geordie.

When she was in the saddle set,

And on ahint her Geordie,

The bird on the bush neer sang sae sweet,

As she sung to her love Geordie.

17‘First I was mistress o bonny Auchindown,And I was lady o a’ Carnie,But now I have come to the bonny Bog o Gight,The wife o my true-love Geordie.

‘First I was mistress o bonny Auchindown,

And I was lady o a’ Carnie,

But now I have come to the bonny Bog o Gight,

The wife o my true-love Geordie.

18‘If I were in the high Hielans,I would hear the white kye lowing;But I’d rather be on the bonny banks o Spey,To see the fish-boaties rowing.’

‘If I were in the high Hielans,

I would hear the white kye lowing;

But I’d rather be on the bonny banks o Spey,

To see the fish-boaties rowing.’

a.Buchan’s MSS, II, 143.b.Kinloch MSS, VI, 1, in the handwriting of Joseph Robertson.

1‘I choosed my love at the bonny yates of Gight,Where the birks an the flowers spring bony,But pleasures I had never one,But crosses very mony.2‘First I was mistress of PitfanAnd madam of Kincraigie,And now my name is bonny Lady Anne,And I am Gight’s own lady.3‘He does not use me as his wife,Nor cherish me as his lady,But day by day he saddles the grey,And rides off to Bignet’s lady.’4Bignet he got word of this,That Gight lay wi his lady;He swore a vow, and kept it true,To be revengd on’s body.5‘Where will I get a bonny boyWill run my errand shortly,That woud run on to the bonny yates o GightWi a letter to my lady?’6Gight has written a broad letter,And seald it soon and ready,And sent it on to Gight’s own yates,For to acquaint his lady.7The first of it she looked on,O dear! she smiled bonny;But as she read it till an endThe tears were thick an mony.8‘Come saddle to me the black,’ she says,‘Come saddle him soon and shortly,Ere I ride down to Edinburgh town,Wi a lang side sark to Geordy.’9When she came to the boat of Leith,I wad she did na tarry;She gave the boatman a guinea o goldTo boat her oer the ferry.10As she gaed oer the pier of Leith,Among the peerls many,She dealt the crowns and dukedoons,Bade them a’ pray for Geordy.11As she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,Among the nobles many,Every one sat hat on head,But hat in hand stood Geordy.12‘Has he brunt? or has he slain?Or has he robbëd any?Or has he done any other crime,That gars you head my Geordy?’13‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,He hasna robbed any;But he has done another crime,For which he will pay dearly.’14In it comes him First Lord Judge,Says, George, I’m sorry for you;You must prepare yourself for death,For there’ll be nae mercy for you.15In it comes him Second Lord Judge,Says, George I’m sorry for you;You must prepare yourself for death,For there’ll be nae mercy for you.16Out it speaks Gight’s lady herself,And vow, but she spake wordy!‘Is there not a lord among you allCan plead a word for Geordy?’17Out it speaks the first Lord Judge:‘What lady’s that amang youThat speaks to us so boldly here,And bids us plead for Geordy?’18Out then spake a friend, her own,And says, It’s Gight’s own lady,Who is come to plead her own lord’s cause,To which she’s true and steady.19The queen, looking oer her shott-window,Says, Ann, I’m sorry for you;If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns,Ye shall get home your Geordy.20She’s taen the hat out of his hand,And dear! it set her bonny;She’s beggd the red gold them among,And a’ to borrow Geordy.21She turnd her right and round aboutAmong the nobles many;Some gave her dollars, some her crowns,And some gave guineas many.22She spread her mantle on the floor,O dear! she spread it bonny,And she told down that noble sum;Says, Put on your hat, my Geordy.23But out it speaks him gleid Argyle,Says, Woe be to your body!I wish that Gight had lost his head,I should enjoyd his lady.24She looked oer her left shoulder,A proud look and a saucy;Says, Woe be to you, gleid Argyle!Ye’ll neer be like my Geordy.25‘You’ll hae me to some writer’s house,And that baith seen and shortly,That I may write down Gight’s lament,And how I borrowed Geordy.’26When she was in her saddle set,And aye behind her Geordy,Birds neer sang blyther in the bushThan she behind her Geordy.27‘O bonny George, but I love thee well,And O sae dear as I love thee!The sun and moon and firmament aboveBear witness how I love thee!’28‘O bonny Ann, but I love thee well,And O but sae dear as I love thee!The birds in the air, that fly together pair and pair,Bear witness, Ann, that I love thee!’

1‘I choosed my love at the bonny yates of Gight,Where the birks an the flowers spring bony,But pleasures I had never one,But crosses very mony.

‘I choosed my love at the bonny yates of Gight,

Where the birks an the flowers spring bony,

But pleasures I had never one,

But crosses very mony.

2‘First I was mistress of PitfanAnd madam of Kincraigie,And now my name is bonny Lady Anne,And I am Gight’s own lady.

‘First I was mistress of Pitfan

And madam of Kincraigie,

And now my name is bonny Lady Anne,

And I am Gight’s own lady.

3‘He does not use me as his wife,Nor cherish me as his lady,But day by day he saddles the grey,And rides off to Bignet’s lady.’

‘He does not use me as his wife,

Nor cherish me as his lady,

But day by day he saddles the grey,

And rides off to Bignet’s lady.’

4Bignet he got word of this,That Gight lay wi his lady;He swore a vow, and kept it true,To be revengd on’s body.

Bignet he got word of this,

That Gight lay wi his lady;

He swore a vow, and kept it true,

To be revengd on’s body.

5‘Where will I get a bonny boyWill run my errand shortly,That woud run on to the bonny yates o GightWi a letter to my lady?’

‘Where will I get a bonny boy

Will run my errand shortly,

That woud run on to the bonny yates o Gight

Wi a letter to my lady?’

6Gight has written a broad letter,And seald it soon and ready,And sent it on to Gight’s own yates,For to acquaint his lady.

Gight has written a broad letter,

And seald it soon and ready,

And sent it on to Gight’s own yates,

For to acquaint his lady.

7The first of it she looked on,O dear! she smiled bonny;But as she read it till an endThe tears were thick an mony.

The first of it she looked on,

O dear! she smiled bonny;

But as she read it till an end

The tears were thick an mony.

8‘Come saddle to me the black,’ she says,‘Come saddle him soon and shortly,Ere I ride down to Edinburgh town,Wi a lang side sark to Geordy.’

‘Come saddle to me the black,’ she says,

‘Come saddle him soon and shortly,

Ere I ride down to Edinburgh town,

Wi a lang side sark to Geordy.’

9When she came to the boat of Leith,I wad she did na tarry;She gave the boatman a guinea o goldTo boat her oer the ferry.

When she came to the boat of Leith,

I wad she did na tarry;

She gave the boatman a guinea o gold

To boat her oer the ferry.

10As she gaed oer the pier of Leith,Among the peerls many,She dealt the crowns and dukedoons,Bade them a’ pray for Geordy.

As she gaed oer the pier of Leith,

Among the peerls many,

She dealt the crowns and dukedoons,

Bade them a’ pray for Geordy.

11As she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,Among the nobles many,Every one sat hat on head,But hat in hand stood Geordy.

As she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,

Among the nobles many,

Every one sat hat on head,

But hat in hand stood Geordy.

12‘Has he brunt? or has he slain?Or has he robbëd any?Or has he done any other crime,That gars you head my Geordy?’

‘Has he brunt? or has he slain?

Or has he robbëd any?

Or has he done any other crime,

That gars you head my Geordy?’

13‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,He hasna robbed any;But he has done another crime,For which he will pay dearly.’

‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,

He hasna robbed any;

But he has done another crime,

For which he will pay dearly.’

14In it comes him First Lord Judge,Says, George, I’m sorry for you;You must prepare yourself for death,For there’ll be nae mercy for you.

In it comes him First Lord Judge,

Says, George, I’m sorry for you;

You must prepare yourself for death,

For there’ll be nae mercy for you.

15In it comes him Second Lord Judge,Says, George I’m sorry for you;You must prepare yourself for death,For there’ll be nae mercy for you.

In it comes him Second Lord Judge,

Says, George I’m sorry for you;

You must prepare yourself for death,

For there’ll be nae mercy for you.

16Out it speaks Gight’s lady herself,And vow, but she spake wordy!‘Is there not a lord among you allCan plead a word for Geordy?’

Out it speaks Gight’s lady herself,

And vow, but she spake wordy!

‘Is there not a lord among you all

Can plead a word for Geordy?’

17Out it speaks the first Lord Judge:‘What lady’s that amang youThat speaks to us so boldly here,And bids us plead for Geordy?’

Out it speaks the first Lord Judge:

‘What lady’s that amang you

That speaks to us so boldly here,

And bids us plead for Geordy?’

18Out then spake a friend, her own,And says, It’s Gight’s own lady,Who is come to plead her own lord’s cause,To which she’s true and steady.

Out then spake a friend, her own,

And says, It’s Gight’s own lady,

Who is come to plead her own lord’s cause,

To which she’s true and steady.

19The queen, looking oer her shott-window,Says, Ann, I’m sorry for you;If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns,Ye shall get home your Geordy.

The queen, looking oer her shott-window,

Says, Ann, I’m sorry for you;

If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns,

Ye shall get home your Geordy.

20She’s taen the hat out of his hand,And dear! it set her bonny;She’s beggd the red gold them among,And a’ to borrow Geordy.

She’s taen the hat out of his hand,

And dear! it set her bonny;

She’s beggd the red gold them among,

And a’ to borrow Geordy.

21She turnd her right and round aboutAmong the nobles many;Some gave her dollars, some her crowns,And some gave guineas many.

She turnd her right and round about

Among the nobles many;

Some gave her dollars, some her crowns,

And some gave guineas many.

22She spread her mantle on the floor,O dear! she spread it bonny,And she told down that noble sum;Says, Put on your hat, my Geordy.

She spread her mantle on the floor,

O dear! she spread it bonny,

And she told down that noble sum;

Says, Put on your hat, my Geordy.

23But out it speaks him gleid Argyle,Says, Woe be to your body!I wish that Gight had lost his head,I should enjoyd his lady.

But out it speaks him gleid Argyle,

Says, Woe be to your body!

I wish that Gight had lost his head,

I should enjoyd his lady.

24She looked oer her left shoulder,A proud look and a saucy;Says, Woe be to you, gleid Argyle!Ye’ll neer be like my Geordy.

She looked oer her left shoulder,

A proud look and a saucy;

Says, Woe be to you, gleid Argyle!

Ye’ll neer be like my Geordy.

25‘You’ll hae me to some writer’s house,And that baith seen and shortly,That I may write down Gight’s lament,And how I borrowed Geordy.’

‘You’ll hae me to some writer’s house,

And that baith seen and shortly,

That I may write down Gight’s lament,

And how I borrowed Geordy.’

26When she was in her saddle set,And aye behind her Geordy,Birds neer sang blyther in the bushThan she behind her Geordy.

When she was in her saddle set,

And aye behind her Geordy,

Birds neer sang blyther in the bush

Than she behind her Geordy.

27‘O bonny George, but I love thee well,And O sae dear as I love thee!The sun and moon and firmament aboveBear witness how I love thee!’

‘O bonny George, but I love thee well,

And O sae dear as I love thee!

The sun and moon and firmament above

Bear witness how I love thee!’

28‘O bonny Ann, but I love thee well,And O but sae dear as I love thee!The birds in the air, that fly together pair and pair,Bear witness, Ann, that I love thee!’

‘O bonny Ann, but I love thee well,

And O but sae dear as I love thee!

The birds in the air, that fly together pair and pair,

Bear witness, Ann, that I love thee!’

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 133.

1‘First I was lady o Black Riggs,And then into Kincraigie;Now I am the Lady o Gight,And my love he’s ca’d Geordie.2‘I was the mistress o Pitfan,And madam o Kincraigie;But now my name is Lady Anne,And I am Gight’s own lady.3‘We courted in the woods o Gight,Where birks and flowrs spring bonny;But pleasures I had never one,But sorrows thick and mony.4‘He never ownd me as his wife,Nor honourd me as his lady,But day by day he saddles the grey,And rides to Bignet’s lady.’5When Bignet he got word of that,That Gight lay wi his lady,He’s casten him in prison strong,To ly till lords were ready.6‘Where will I get a little wee boy,That is baith true and steady,That will run on to bonny Gight,And bring to me my lady?’7‘O here am I, a little wee boy,That is baith true and steady,That will run to the yates o Gight,And bring to you your lady.’8‘Ye’ll bid her saddle the grey, the grey,The brown rode neer so smartly;Ye’ll bid her come to Edinbro town,A’ for the life of Geordie.’9The night was fair, the moon was clear,And he rode by Bevany,And stopped at the yates o Gight,Where leaves were thick and mony.10The lady lookd oer castle-wa,And dear, but she was sorry!‘Here comes a page frae Edinbro town;A’ is nae well wi Geordie.11‘What news, what news, my little boy?Come tell me soon and shortly;’‘Bad news, bad news, my lady,’ he said,‘They’re going to hang your Geordie.’12‘Ye’ll saddle to me the grey, the grey,The brown rade neer so smartly;And I’ll awa to Edinbro town,Borrow the life o Geordie.’13When she came near to Edinbro town,I wyte she didna tarry,But she has mounted her grey steed,And ridden the Queen’s Ferry.14When she came to the boat of Leith,I wat she didna tarry;She gae the boatman a guinea o gowdTo boat her ower the ferry.15When she came to the pier o Leith,The poor they were sae many;She dealt the gowd right liberallie,And bade them pray for Geordie.16When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,The nobles there were many:And ilka ane stood hat on head,But hat in hand stood Geordie.17She gae a blink out-ower them a’,And three blinks to her Geordie;But when she saw his een fast bound,A swoon fell in this lady.18‘Whom has he robbd? What has he stole?Or has he killed ony?Or what’s the crime that he has done,His foes they are sae mony?’19‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,He hasna robbed ony;But he has done another crime,For which he will pay dearly.’20Then out it speaks Lord Montague,O wae be to his body!‘The day we hangd young Charles Hay,The morn we’ll head your Geordie.’21Then out it speaks the king himsell,Vow, but he spake bonny!‘Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,Let’s hear if they be mony.22‘Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,See ye be true and steady;And if your sins they be but sma,Then ye ‘se win wi your lady.’23‘Nane have I robbd, nought have I stown,Nor have I killed ony;But ane o the king’s best brave steeds,I sold him in Bevany.’24Then out it speaks the king again,Dear, but he spake bonny!‘That crime’s nae great; for your lady’s sake,Put on your hat now, Geordie.’25Then out it speaks Lord Montague,O wae be to his body!‘There’s guilt appears in Gight’s ain face,Ye’ll cross-examine Geordie.’26‘Now since it all I must confess,My crimes’ baith great and mony:A woman abused, five orphan babes,I killd them for their money.’27Out it speaks the king again,And dear, but he was sorry!‘Your confession brings confusion,Take aff your hat now, Geordie.’28Then out it speaks the lady hersell,Vow, but she was sorry!‘Now all my life I’ll wear the black,Mourn for the death o Geordie.’29Lord Huntly then he did speak out,O fair mot fa his body!‘I there will fight doublet alaneOr ony thing ails Geordie.’30Then out it speaks the king again,Vow, but he spake bonny!‘If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns,Ye’ll buy the life o Geordie.’31She spread her mantle on the ground,Dear, but she spread it bonny!Some gae her crowns, some ducadoons,And some gae dollars mony:Then she tauld down ten thousand crowns,‘Put on your hat, my Geordie.’32Then out it speaks Lord Montague,Wae be to his body!‘I wisht that Gight wanted the head;I might enjoyd his lady.’33Out it speaks the lady hersell,‘Ye need neer wish my body;O ill befa your wizzend snout!Woud ye compare wi Geordie?’34When she was in her saddle set,Riding the leys sae bonny,The fiddle and fleet playd neer sae sweetAs she behind her Geordie.35‘O Geordie, Geordie, I love you well,Nae jealousie coud move me;The birds in air, that fly in pairs,Can witness how I love you.36‘Ye’ll call for one, the best o clerks,Ye’ll call him soon and shortly,As he may write what I indite,A’ this I’ve done for Geordie.’37He turned him right and round about,And high, high looked Geordie:‘A finger o Bignet’s lady’s handIs worth a’ your fair body.’38‘My lands may a’ be masterless,My babes may want their mother;But I’ve made a vow, will keep it true,I’ll be bound to no other.’39These words they causd a great dispute,And proud and fierce grew Geordie;A sharp dagger he pulled out,And pierced the heart o ‘s lady.40The lady’s dead, and Gight he’s fled,And left his lands behind him;Altho they searched south and north,There were nane there coud find him.41Now a’ that lived into Black Riggs,And likewise in Kincraigie,For seven years were clad in black,To mourn for Gight’s own lady.

1‘First I was lady o Black Riggs,And then into Kincraigie;Now I am the Lady o Gight,And my love he’s ca’d Geordie.

‘First I was lady o Black Riggs,

And then into Kincraigie;

Now I am the Lady o Gight,

And my love he’s ca’d Geordie.

2‘I was the mistress o Pitfan,And madam o Kincraigie;But now my name is Lady Anne,And I am Gight’s own lady.

‘I was the mistress o Pitfan,

And madam o Kincraigie;

But now my name is Lady Anne,

And I am Gight’s own lady.

3‘We courted in the woods o Gight,Where birks and flowrs spring bonny;But pleasures I had never one,But sorrows thick and mony.

‘We courted in the woods o Gight,

Where birks and flowrs spring bonny;

But pleasures I had never one,

But sorrows thick and mony.

4‘He never ownd me as his wife,Nor honourd me as his lady,But day by day he saddles the grey,And rides to Bignet’s lady.’

‘He never ownd me as his wife,

Nor honourd me as his lady,

But day by day he saddles the grey,

And rides to Bignet’s lady.’

5When Bignet he got word of that,That Gight lay wi his lady,He’s casten him in prison strong,To ly till lords were ready.

When Bignet he got word of that,

That Gight lay wi his lady,

He’s casten him in prison strong,

To ly till lords were ready.

6‘Where will I get a little wee boy,That is baith true and steady,That will run on to bonny Gight,And bring to me my lady?’

‘Where will I get a little wee boy,

That is baith true and steady,

That will run on to bonny Gight,

And bring to me my lady?’

7‘O here am I, a little wee boy,That is baith true and steady,That will run to the yates o Gight,And bring to you your lady.’

‘O here am I, a little wee boy,

That is baith true and steady,

That will run to the yates o Gight,

And bring to you your lady.’

8‘Ye’ll bid her saddle the grey, the grey,The brown rode neer so smartly;Ye’ll bid her come to Edinbro town,A’ for the life of Geordie.’

‘Ye’ll bid her saddle the grey, the grey,

The brown rode neer so smartly;

Ye’ll bid her come to Edinbro town,

A’ for the life of Geordie.’

9The night was fair, the moon was clear,And he rode by Bevany,And stopped at the yates o Gight,Where leaves were thick and mony.

The night was fair, the moon was clear,

And he rode by Bevany,

And stopped at the yates o Gight,

Where leaves were thick and mony.

10The lady lookd oer castle-wa,And dear, but she was sorry!‘Here comes a page frae Edinbro town;A’ is nae well wi Geordie.

The lady lookd oer castle-wa,

And dear, but she was sorry!

‘Here comes a page frae Edinbro town;

A’ is nae well wi Geordie.

11‘What news, what news, my little boy?Come tell me soon and shortly;’‘Bad news, bad news, my lady,’ he said,‘They’re going to hang your Geordie.’

‘What news, what news, my little boy?

Come tell me soon and shortly;’

‘Bad news, bad news, my lady,’ he said,

‘They’re going to hang your Geordie.’

12‘Ye’ll saddle to me the grey, the grey,The brown rade neer so smartly;And I’ll awa to Edinbro town,Borrow the life o Geordie.’

‘Ye’ll saddle to me the grey, the grey,

The brown rade neer so smartly;

And I’ll awa to Edinbro town,

Borrow the life o Geordie.’

13When she came near to Edinbro town,I wyte she didna tarry,But she has mounted her grey steed,And ridden the Queen’s Ferry.

When she came near to Edinbro town,

I wyte she didna tarry,

But she has mounted her grey steed,

And ridden the Queen’s Ferry.

14When she came to the boat of Leith,I wat she didna tarry;She gae the boatman a guinea o gowdTo boat her ower the ferry.

When she came to the boat of Leith,

I wat she didna tarry;

She gae the boatman a guinea o gowd

To boat her ower the ferry.

15When she came to the pier o Leith,The poor they were sae many;She dealt the gowd right liberallie,And bade them pray for Geordie.

When she came to the pier o Leith,

The poor they were sae many;

She dealt the gowd right liberallie,

And bade them pray for Geordie.

16When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,The nobles there were many:And ilka ane stood hat on head,But hat in hand stood Geordie.

When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,

The nobles there were many:

And ilka ane stood hat on head,

But hat in hand stood Geordie.

17She gae a blink out-ower them a’,And three blinks to her Geordie;But when she saw his een fast bound,A swoon fell in this lady.

She gae a blink out-ower them a’,

And three blinks to her Geordie;

But when she saw his een fast bound,

A swoon fell in this lady.

18‘Whom has he robbd? What has he stole?Or has he killed ony?Or what’s the crime that he has done,His foes they are sae mony?’

‘Whom has he robbd? What has he stole?

Or has he killed ony?

Or what’s the crime that he has done,

His foes they are sae mony?’

19‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,He hasna robbed ony;But he has done another crime,For which he will pay dearly.’

‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,

He hasna robbed ony;

But he has done another crime,

For which he will pay dearly.’

20Then out it speaks Lord Montague,O wae be to his body!‘The day we hangd young Charles Hay,The morn we’ll head your Geordie.’

Then out it speaks Lord Montague,

O wae be to his body!

‘The day we hangd young Charles Hay,

The morn we’ll head your Geordie.’

21Then out it speaks the king himsell,Vow, but he spake bonny!‘Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,Let’s hear if they be mony.

Then out it speaks the king himsell,

Vow, but he spake bonny!

‘Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,

Let’s hear if they be mony.

22‘Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,See ye be true and steady;And if your sins they be but sma,Then ye ‘se win wi your lady.’

‘Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,

See ye be true and steady;

And if your sins they be but sma,

Then ye ‘se win wi your lady.’

23‘Nane have I robbd, nought have I stown,Nor have I killed ony;But ane o the king’s best brave steeds,I sold him in Bevany.’

‘Nane have I robbd, nought have I stown,

Nor have I killed ony;

But ane o the king’s best brave steeds,

I sold him in Bevany.’

24Then out it speaks the king again,Dear, but he spake bonny!‘That crime’s nae great; for your lady’s sake,Put on your hat now, Geordie.’

Then out it speaks the king again,

Dear, but he spake bonny!

‘That crime’s nae great; for your lady’s sake,

Put on your hat now, Geordie.’

25Then out it speaks Lord Montague,O wae be to his body!‘There’s guilt appears in Gight’s ain face,Ye’ll cross-examine Geordie.’

Then out it speaks Lord Montague,

O wae be to his body!

‘There’s guilt appears in Gight’s ain face,

Ye’ll cross-examine Geordie.’

26‘Now since it all I must confess,My crimes’ baith great and mony:A woman abused, five orphan babes,I killd them for their money.’

‘Now since it all I must confess,

My crimes’ baith great and mony:

A woman abused, five orphan babes,

I killd them for their money.’

27Out it speaks the king again,And dear, but he was sorry!‘Your confession brings confusion,Take aff your hat now, Geordie.’

Out it speaks the king again,

And dear, but he was sorry!

‘Your confession brings confusion,

Take aff your hat now, Geordie.’

28Then out it speaks the lady hersell,Vow, but she was sorry!‘Now all my life I’ll wear the black,Mourn for the death o Geordie.’

Then out it speaks the lady hersell,

Vow, but she was sorry!

‘Now all my life I’ll wear the black,

Mourn for the death o Geordie.’

29Lord Huntly then he did speak out,O fair mot fa his body!‘I there will fight doublet alaneOr ony thing ails Geordie.’

Lord Huntly then he did speak out,

O fair mot fa his body!

‘I there will fight doublet alane

Or ony thing ails Geordie.’

30Then out it speaks the king again,Vow, but he spake bonny!‘If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns,Ye’ll buy the life o Geordie.’

Then out it speaks the king again,

Vow, but he spake bonny!

‘If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns,

Ye’ll buy the life o Geordie.’

31She spread her mantle on the ground,Dear, but she spread it bonny!Some gae her crowns, some ducadoons,And some gae dollars mony:Then she tauld down ten thousand crowns,‘Put on your hat, my Geordie.’

She spread her mantle on the ground,

Dear, but she spread it bonny!

Some gae her crowns, some ducadoons,

And some gae dollars mony:

Then she tauld down ten thousand crowns,

‘Put on your hat, my Geordie.’

32Then out it speaks Lord Montague,Wae be to his body!‘I wisht that Gight wanted the head;I might enjoyd his lady.’

Then out it speaks Lord Montague,

Wae be to his body!

‘I wisht that Gight wanted the head;

I might enjoyd his lady.’

33Out it speaks the lady hersell,‘Ye need neer wish my body;O ill befa your wizzend snout!Woud ye compare wi Geordie?’

Out it speaks the lady hersell,

‘Ye need neer wish my body;

O ill befa your wizzend snout!

Woud ye compare wi Geordie?’

34When she was in her saddle set,Riding the leys sae bonny,The fiddle and fleet playd neer sae sweetAs she behind her Geordie.

When she was in her saddle set,

Riding the leys sae bonny,

The fiddle and fleet playd neer sae sweet

As she behind her Geordie.

35‘O Geordie, Geordie, I love you well,Nae jealousie coud move me;The birds in air, that fly in pairs,Can witness how I love you.

‘O Geordie, Geordie, I love you well,

Nae jealousie coud move me;

The birds in air, that fly in pairs,

Can witness how I love you.

36‘Ye’ll call for one, the best o clerks,Ye’ll call him soon and shortly,As he may write what I indite,A’ this I’ve done for Geordie.’

‘Ye’ll call for one, the best o clerks,

Ye’ll call him soon and shortly,

As he may write what I indite,

A’ this I’ve done for Geordie.’

37He turned him right and round about,And high, high looked Geordie:‘A finger o Bignet’s lady’s handIs worth a’ your fair body.’

He turned him right and round about,

And high, high looked Geordie:

‘A finger o Bignet’s lady’s hand

Is worth a’ your fair body.’

38‘My lands may a’ be masterless,My babes may want their mother;But I’ve made a vow, will keep it true,I’ll be bound to no other.’

‘My lands may a’ be masterless,

My babes may want their mother;

But I’ve made a vow, will keep it true,

I’ll be bound to no other.’

39These words they causd a great dispute,And proud and fierce grew Geordie;A sharp dagger he pulled out,And pierced the heart o ‘s lady.

These words they causd a great dispute,

And proud and fierce grew Geordie;

A sharp dagger he pulled out,

And pierced the heart o ‘s lady.

40The lady’s dead, and Gight he’s fled,And left his lands behind him;Altho they searched south and north,There were nane there coud find him.

The lady’s dead, and Gight he’s fled,

And left his lands behind him;

Altho they searched south and north,

There were nane there coud find him.

41Now a’ that lived into Black Riggs,And likewise in Kincraigie,For seven years were clad in black,To mourn for Gight’s own lady.

Now a’ that lived into Black Riggs,

And likewise in Kincraigie,

For seven years were clad in black,

To mourn for Gight’s own lady.

Motherwell’s MS., p. 370, as sung by Agnes Lyle’s father.

1‘I have eleven babes into the north,And the twelfth is in my body, OAnd the youngest o them’s in the nurse’s arms,He neer yet saw his daddy.’ O2Some gied her ducks, some gied her drakes,And some gied her crowns monie,And she’s paid him down five thousand pound,And she’s gotten hame her Geordie.

1‘I have eleven babes into the north,And the twelfth is in my body, OAnd the youngest o them’s in the nurse’s arms,He neer yet saw his daddy.’ O

‘I have eleven babes into the north,

And the twelfth is in my body, O

And the youngest o them’s in the nurse’s arms,

He neer yet saw his daddy.’ O

2Some gied her ducks, some gied her drakes,And some gied her crowns monie,And she’s paid him down five thousand pound,And she’s gotten hame her Geordie.

Some gied her ducks, some gied her drakes,

And some gied her crowns monie,

And she’s paid him down five thousand pound,

And she’s gotten hame her Geordie.

Cunningham’s Songs of Scotland, II, 186, 188; “from the recitation of Mrs Cunningham.”

1And soon she came to the water broad,Nor boat nor barge was ready;She turned her horse’s head to the flood,And swam through at Queensferry.2But when she to the presence came,‘Mang earls high and lordlie,There hat on head sat every man,While hat in hand stood Geordie.

1And soon she came to the water broad,Nor boat nor barge was ready;She turned her horse’s head to the flood,And swam through at Queensferry.

And soon she came to the water broad,

Nor boat nor barge was ready;

She turned her horse’s head to the flood,

And swam through at Queensferry.

2But when she to the presence came,‘Mang earls high and lordlie,There hat on head sat every man,While hat in hand stood Geordie.

But when she to the presence came,

‘Mang earls high and lordlie,

There hat on head sat every man,

While hat in hand stood Geordie.

Motherwell’s Note-Book, pp. 2, 1; from Miss Brown, sister of Dr James Brown, of Glasgow.

When he came out at the tolbooth-stair,He was baith red and rosy;But gin he cam to the gallows-fit,He was wallourt like the lily.

When he came out at the tolbooth-stair,

He was baith red and rosy;

But gin he cam to the gallows-fit,

He was wallourt like the lily.

Motherwell’s Note-Book, p. 20.

I have nine children in the west,The tenth ane’s in my bodie;The eldest o them she never knew a man,And she knows not wha’s her daddy.

I have nine children in the west,

The tenth ane’s in my bodie;

The eldest o them she never knew a man,

And she knows not wha’s her daddy.

42, 52. menzie.

B. a.

83, 93, 192, 213. &foran.

132. forstruck out beforeYour.

143. Ohas been altered fromIf,and is not very distinct.

252. wi her?

253. Tell down, tell tell down.

26.Or,

She’s put her hand to her pocket,She’s pulld out ducats many,An she’s telld down, etc.

She’s put her hand to her pocket,

She’s pulld out ducats many,

An she’s telld down, etc.

271.Var.she blessd.

283,4.No indication that this is an imperfect stanza. The last line is nearly bound in, and not easy to read.

303. Gar print, etc.

Variations written on the margin ofa.

13. The Laird of Gigh has killd a man.

23. That will gae rin to the yates of Gigh.

71. Burntisland sandsforthe water-side.

81. the water-yate.

83. dealt the red gold them amang.

14.’Twas up than spak a gentleman,Was ca’d the Laird of Logie,War Gighie’s head but on the blo[ck],If I had his fair ladie!’

14.

’Twas up than spak a gentleman,

Was ca’d the Laird of Logie,

War Gighie’s head but on the blo[ck],

If I had his fair ladie!’

211. the gude Argylefora Scottish lord.

212. He’s been a friend to many.

C. a.

“This song was taken down from a Miss Christy Robertson, Dunse, who sung it to a very pretty old tune. Being an old maid herself, she did not let it want any of the original plainture which I suppose the original air would have.”

The MS. of Thomas Wilkie is inscribed, at the beginning,Gattonside, 4th Sept., 1813;at the end,Bowden, 2d Sept., 1815.

63. goudwritten overguineas.

81,2.Var.sixforten, seventhforeleventh.

101. a kind-hearted man,wanting inb, has evidently been supplied.

121,2.Supplied: originally onlyA man spoke loud.

123. Geordie’swritten overhis; wereoverhad been.

23. shirt.

42. And they saddled to her.

63. red goud.

71. When she.

91. Geight.

101. a kind-hearted manwanting.

121,2. A man spoke loud.

134. mywanting.

142And herself.

22. goud and moneysubstituted forhose and shoonstruck out.

92. theystruck out beforewas.

183–6.Written in two lines.

E. b.

No account is given of the variations of the printed copy from the manuscript, but it is presumed that the larger ones were traditional.

13. And monie ane got broken heads.

21. she gaed.

24. To pray.

31. into.

33. And ilka ane.

After 3:

Up bespak a Norlan lord,I wat he spak na bonnie;‘If ye’ll stay here a little while,Ye’ll see Geordie hangit shortly.’

Up bespak a Norlan lord,

I wat he spak na bonnie;

‘If ye’ll stay here a little while,

Ye’ll see Geordie hangit shortly.’

41. Then up bespak.

43,4.If ye’ll pay doun five hundred crowns,Ye ‘se get your true-love Geordie.

43,4.

If ye’ll pay doun five hundred crowns,

Ye ‘se get your true-love Geordie.

After 4:

Some lent her guineas, some lent her crowns,Some lent her shillings monie,And she’s paid doun five hundred crowns,And she’s gotten her bonnie love Geordie.

Some lent her guineas, some lent her crowns,

Some lent her shillings monie,

And she’s paid doun five hundred crowns,

And she’s gotten her bonnie love Geordie.

51. hie steed.

52. ahint.

Burden, first line: My Geordie O, my Geordie O.

“Sung to a tune something similar to ‘My Nannie O.’”

103. 10000.

123. 5000.

83, 93. 500.

103. breeksis a corruption, forbouks,A143.

I. a.

103. crowns like duke o Downs:cf.b213,G313.

124. gars your.

11. I was courted a wife in the bonny woods of Fife.

12. and flowers.

13. And pleasures I’ve had never nane.

14. I’ve had mony.

21. was lady of bonny Pitfauns.

22. Then.

23. is Lady.

24. I’m even.

31. He never owns me.

32. Nor loves me.

33. But every day.

34. rides to Pilbagnet’s.

41. Pilbagnet he’s.

42. has lien wi.

43. And he’s put him in prison strang.

44.Wanting.

53. That will rin on to Ythan side.

54. Wi letters.

6.Now here am I, a bonny boy,Will rin your errand shortly,That will rin on to Ythan sideWi letters to your ladye.

Now here am I, a bonny boy,

Will rin your errand shortly,

That will rin on to Ythan side

Wi letters to your ladye.

71. But when she looked the letter on.

73. But ere: to an.

74. tears fell.

81. Ye’ll saddle: said.

82. Tho the brown should ride never so bonny.

83. I’ll go on to.

84. To see how they’re using my.

9.As she rode down by the pier of Leith,The poor met her never so mony,And she dealt the red gold right liberally,And bade them pray well for her Geordie.10.As she rode down by Edinbro town,The poor met her never so mony,And she dealt the red gold right liberallie,And bade them pray weel for her Geordie.

9.As she rode down by the pier of Leith,The poor met her never so mony,And she dealt the red gold right liberally,And bade them pray well for her Geordie.

As she rode down by the pier of Leith,

The poor met her never so mony,

And she dealt the red gold right liberally,

And bade them pray well for her Geordie.

10.As she rode down by Edinbro town,The poor met her never so mony,And she dealt the red gold right liberallie,And bade them pray weel for her Geordie.

10.

As she rode down by Edinbro town,

The poor met her never so mony,

And she dealt the red gold right liberallie,

And bade them pray weel for her Geordie.

After 10:

The king looked ower his castle-wa,And he spak seen and shortly;‘Now who is this,’ said our liege the king,‘Deals the red gold sae largely?’Then up bespak a bonny boy,Was richt nigh to her Geordie;‘I’ll wager my life and a’ my lanThat it is Gicht’s own ladye.’

The king looked ower his castle-wa,And he spak seen and shortly;‘Now who is this,’ said our liege the king,‘Deals the red gold sae largely?’

The king looked ower his castle-wa,

And he spak seen and shortly;

‘Now who is this,’ said our liege the king,

‘Deals the red gold sae largely?’

Then up bespak a bonny boy,Was richt nigh to her Geordie;‘I’ll wager my life and a’ my lanThat it is Gicht’s own ladye.’

Then up bespak a bonny boy,

Was richt nigh to her Geordie;

‘I’ll wager my life and a’ my lan

That it is Gicht’s own ladye.’

111. Then she went down the toolbooth-stair.

112. all the nobles so.

113. And every one had his hat on.

12–20.Wanting.

21.Then she went down the toolbooth-stair,Among all the nobles so many;Some gave her guineas, some gave her crowns,Some gave her dukedoons many,And she has paid down the jailor’s fee,And now she enjoys her Geordie.

21.

Then she went down the toolbooth-stair,

Among all the nobles so many;

Some gave her guineas, some gave her crowns,

Some gave her dukedoons many,

And she has paid down the jailor’s fee,

And now she enjoys her Geordie.

22–26.Wanting.

27.‘O bonnie George, I love you weel!O dear George, as I love you!The sun and the moon, go together roun and roun,Bear witness, dear George, how I love you!’28.‘O bonnie Anne, I love you weel!Oh dear Anne, how I love you!The birds of the air, fly together pair and pair,Bear witness, dear Anne, how I love you!’

27.‘O bonnie George, I love you weel!O dear George, as I love you!The sun and the moon, go together roun and roun,Bear witness, dear George, how I love you!’

27.

‘O bonnie George, I love you weel!

O dear George, as I love you!

The sun and the moon, go together roun and roun,

Bear witness, dear George, how I love you!’

28.‘O bonnie Anne, I love you weel!Oh dear Anne, how I love you!The birds of the air, fly together pair and pair,Bear witness, dear Anne, how I love you!’

28.

‘O bonnie Anne, I love you weel!

Oh dear Anne, how I love you!

The birds of the air, fly together pair and pair,

Bear witness, dear Anne, how I love you!’

134. the queen’s berry.

262. crimes.I supposecrimes isto be meant.

“Of the preceding ballad [F], Agnes Lile says she has heard her father sing a different set, all of which she forgets except this, that there was nothing said of ‘a bold bluidy wretch,’ and in place of what is given to him in this version [F10, 11], there were the two following stanzas.”Motherwell’s MS., p. 370 f.

23. 5000.

“A lamentable new ditty, made upon the death of a worthy gentleman named George Stoole, dwelling sometime on Gate-side Moore, and sometime at New-Castle in Northumberland: with his penitent end. To a delicate Scottish tune.” Roxburghe Collection, I, 186, 187. Roxburghe Ballads, ed. W. Chappell, I, 576. Previously printed by [Ritson], Northumberland Garland, Newcastle, 1793, p. 33 (p. 43 of Haslewood’s reprint, London, 1809), and in Bell’s Rhymes of Northern Bards, p. 162.

1Come, you lusty northerne lads,That are so blith and bonny,Prepare your hearts to be full sad,To hear the end of Georgey.Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bon[n]y love,Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bonny!Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my owne deare love,And God be with my Georgie!2When Georgie to his triall came,A thousand hearts were sorry;A thousand lasses wept full sore,And all for love of Georgy.3Some did say he would escape,Some at his fall did glory;But these were clownes and fickle friends,And none that lovëd Georgy.4Might friends have satisfide the law,Then Georgie would find many;Yet bravely did he plead for life,If mercy might be any.5But when this doughty carle was cast,He was full sad and sorry;Yet boldly did he take his death,So patiently dyde Georgie.6As Georgie went up to the gate,He tooke his leave of many;He tooke his leave of his lard’s wife,Whom he lovd best of any.7With thousand sighs and heavy lookes,Away from thence he partedWhere he so often blith had beene,Though now so heavy-hearted.8He writ a letter with his owne hand,He thought he writ it bravely;He sent to New-castle towne,To his belovëd lady.9Wherein he did at large bewaileThe occasion of his folly,Bequeathing life unto the law,His soule to heaven holy.10‘Why, lady, leave to weepe for me!Let not my ending grieve ye!Prove constant to the man you love,For I cannot releeve ye.11‘Out upon the, Withrington!And fie upon the, Phœnix!Thou hast put downe the doughty oneThat stole the sheepe from Anix.12‘And fie on all such cruell carlesWhose crueltie’s so fickleTo cast away a gentleman,In hatred, for so little!13‘I would I were on yonder hill,Where I have beene full merry,My sword and buckeler by my side,To fight till I be weary.14‘They well should know, that tooke me first,Though hopes be now forsaken,Had I but freedome, armes, and health,I’de dye ere I’de be taken.15‘But law condemns me to my grave,They have me in their power;Ther’s none but Christ that can mee saveAt this my dying houre.’16He calld his dearest love to him,When as his heart was sorry,And speaking thus, with manly heart,‘Deare sweeting, pray for Georgie.’17He gave to her a piece of gold,And bade her give ‘t her barnes,And oft he kist her rosie lips,And laid him into her armes.18And comming to the place of death,He never changëd colour;The more they thought he would looke pale,The more his veines were fuller.19And with a cheerefull countenance,Being at that time entreatedFor to confesse his former life,These words he straight repeated.20‘I never stole no oxe nor cow,Nor never murdered any;But fifty horse I did receiveOf a merchant’s man of Gory.21‘For which I am condemnd to dye,Though guiltlesse I stand dying;Deare gracious God, my soule receive!For now my life is flying.’22The man of death a part did actWhich grieves mee tell the story;God comfort all are comfortlesse,And did[e] so well as Georgie!Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bonny love,Heigh-ho, heigh[-ho], my bonny,Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, mine own true love,Sweet Christ receive my Georgie!

Come, you lusty northerne lads,

That are so blith and bonny,

Prepare your hearts to be full sad,

To hear the end of Georgey.

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bon[n]y love,

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bonny!

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my owne deare love,

And God be with my Georgie!

2When Georgie to his triall came,A thousand hearts were sorry;A thousand lasses wept full sore,And all for love of Georgy.

When Georgie to his triall came,

A thousand hearts were sorry;

A thousand lasses wept full sore,

And all for love of Georgy.

3Some did say he would escape,Some at his fall did glory;But these were clownes and fickle friends,And none that lovëd Georgy.

Some did say he would escape,

Some at his fall did glory;

But these were clownes and fickle friends,

And none that lovëd Georgy.

4Might friends have satisfide the law,Then Georgie would find many;Yet bravely did he plead for life,If mercy might be any.

Might friends have satisfide the law,

Then Georgie would find many;

Yet bravely did he plead for life,

If mercy might be any.

5But when this doughty carle was cast,He was full sad and sorry;Yet boldly did he take his death,So patiently dyde Georgie.

But when this doughty carle was cast,

He was full sad and sorry;

Yet boldly did he take his death,

So patiently dyde Georgie.

6As Georgie went up to the gate,He tooke his leave of many;He tooke his leave of his lard’s wife,Whom he lovd best of any.

As Georgie went up to the gate,

He tooke his leave of many;

He tooke his leave of his lard’s wife,

Whom he lovd best of any.

7With thousand sighs and heavy lookes,Away from thence he partedWhere he so often blith had beene,Though now so heavy-hearted.

With thousand sighs and heavy lookes,

Away from thence he parted

Where he so often blith had beene,

Though now so heavy-hearted.

8He writ a letter with his owne hand,He thought he writ it bravely;He sent to New-castle towne,To his belovëd lady.

He writ a letter with his owne hand,

He thought he writ it bravely;

He sent to New-castle towne,

To his belovëd lady.

9Wherein he did at large bewaileThe occasion of his folly,Bequeathing life unto the law,His soule to heaven holy.

Wherein he did at large bewaile

The occasion of his folly,

Bequeathing life unto the law,

His soule to heaven holy.

10‘Why, lady, leave to weepe for me!Let not my ending grieve ye!Prove constant to the man you love,For I cannot releeve ye.

‘Why, lady, leave to weepe for me!

Let not my ending grieve ye!

Prove constant to the man you love,

For I cannot releeve ye.

11‘Out upon the, Withrington!And fie upon the, Phœnix!Thou hast put downe the doughty oneThat stole the sheepe from Anix.

‘Out upon the, Withrington!

And fie upon the, Phœnix!

Thou hast put downe the doughty one

That stole the sheepe from Anix.

12‘And fie on all such cruell carlesWhose crueltie’s so fickleTo cast away a gentleman,In hatred, for so little!

‘And fie on all such cruell carles

Whose crueltie’s so fickle

To cast away a gentleman,

In hatred, for so little!

13‘I would I were on yonder hill,Where I have beene full merry,My sword and buckeler by my side,To fight till I be weary.

‘I would I were on yonder hill,

Where I have beene full merry,

My sword and buckeler by my side,

To fight till I be weary.

14‘They well should know, that tooke me first,Though hopes be now forsaken,Had I but freedome, armes, and health,I’de dye ere I’de be taken.

‘They well should know, that tooke me first,

Though hopes be now forsaken,

Had I but freedome, armes, and health,

I’de dye ere I’de be taken.

15‘But law condemns me to my grave,They have me in their power;Ther’s none but Christ that can mee saveAt this my dying houre.’

‘But law condemns me to my grave,

They have me in their power;

Ther’s none but Christ that can mee save

At this my dying houre.’

16He calld his dearest love to him,When as his heart was sorry,And speaking thus, with manly heart,‘Deare sweeting, pray for Georgie.’

He calld his dearest love to him,

When as his heart was sorry,

And speaking thus, with manly heart,

‘Deare sweeting, pray for Georgie.’

17He gave to her a piece of gold,And bade her give ‘t her barnes,And oft he kist her rosie lips,And laid him into her armes.

He gave to her a piece of gold,

And bade her give ‘t her barnes,

And oft he kist her rosie lips,

And laid him into her armes.

18And comming to the place of death,He never changëd colour;The more they thought he would looke pale,The more his veines were fuller.

And comming to the place of death,

He never changëd colour;

The more they thought he would looke pale,

The more his veines were fuller.

19And with a cheerefull countenance,Being at that time entreatedFor to confesse his former life,These words he straight repeated.

And with a cheerefull countenance,

Being at that time entreated

For to confesse his former life,

These words he straight repeated.

20‘I never stole no oxe nor cow,Nor never murdered any;But fifty horse I did receiveOf a merchant’s man of Gory.

‘I never stole no oxe nor cow,

Nor never murdered any;

But fifty horse I did receive

Of a merchant’s man of Gory.

21‘For which I am condemnd to dye,Though guiltlesse I stand dying;Deare gracious God, my soule receive!For now my life is flying.’

‘For which I am condemnd to dye,

Though guiltlesse I stand dying;

Deare gracious God, my soule receive!

For now my life is flying.’

22The man of death a part did actWhich grieves mee tell the story;God comfort all are comfortlesse,And did[e] so well as Georgie!Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bonny love,Heigh-ho, heigh[-ho], my bonny,Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, mine own true love,Sweet Christ receive my Georgie!

The man of death a part did act

Which grieves mee tell the story;

God comfort all are comfortlesse,

And did[e] so well as Georgie!

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, my bonny love,

Heigh-ho, heigh[-ho], my bonny,

Heigh-ho, heigh-ho, mine own true love,

Sweet Christ receive my Georgie!

1.Burden to st. 1: honnyin the second line.

103. the ney.

142. whoops.

144. dye are.

“The Life and Death of George of Oxford. To a pleasant tune, called Poor Georgy.” Roxburghe Collection, IV, 53, Pepys, II, 150, Jersey, I, 86, Huth, I, 150, according to Mr J. W. Ebsworth, Roxburghe Ballads, VII, 70, 1890. It was printed for P. Brooksby, whose time Mr Ebsworth gives as between 1671 and 1692.

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