English and Scottish Ballads Volume IV Part 32

"Now whar's the lady?" says Jock o' Noth, "Sae fain I would her see;"

"She's lock'd up in her ain chamber, The king he keeps the key."

So they hae gane before the king, 145 With courage bauld and free; Their armour bright cast sic a light, That almost dim'd his e'e.

"O whar's the lady," says Jock o' Noth, "Sae fain as I wou'd her see; 150 For we are come to her wedding, Frae the foot o' Benachie."

"O take the lady," said the king, "Ye welcome are for me; I never thought to see sic men 155 Frae the foot o' Benachie."

"If I had ken'd," said Jock o' Noth, "Ye'd wonder'd sae muckle at me, I wou'd hae brought ane larger far By sizes three times three." 160

"Likewise if I had thought I'd been Sic a great fright to thee, I'd brought Sir John o' Erskine park; He's thretty feet and three."

"Wae to the little boy," said the King, 165 "Brought tidings unto thee; Let all England say what they will, High hanged shall he be."

"O if ye hang the little wee boy Brought tidings unto me, 170 We shall attend his burial, And rewarded ye shall be."

"O take the lady," said the king, "And the boy shall be free:"

"A priest, a priest," then Johnny cried, 175 "To join my love and me."

"A clerk, a clerk," the king replied, "To seal her tocher wi' thee."

Out it speaks auld Johnny then, These words p.r.o.nounced he: 180

"I wantnae lands and rents at hame, I'll ask nae gowd frae thee; I am possess'd o' riches great, Hae fifty ploughs and three; Likewise fa's heir to ane estate 185 At the foot o' Benachie.

"Hae ye ony masons in this place, Or ony at your call, That ye may now send some of them, To build your broken wall?" 190

"Yes, there are masons in this place, And plenty at my call; But ye may gang frae whence ye came, Never mind my broken wall."

They've ta'en the lady by the hand, 195 And set her prison free; Wi' drums beating, and fifes playing, They spent the night wi' glee.

Now auld Johnny Moir, and young Johnny Moir, And Jock o' Noth, a' three, 200 The English lady, and little wee boy, Went a' to Benachie.

LIZIE BAILLIE. See p. 73.

From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 173.

It fell about the Lammas time, When flowers were fresh and green, Lizie Baillie to Gartartan went, To see her sister Jean.

She meant to go unto that place, 5 To stay a little while; But mark what fortune her befell, When she went to the isle.[L8]

It fell out upon a day, Sheep-shearing at an end, 10 Lizie Baillie she walk'd out, To see a distant friend.

But going down in a low glen, She met wi' Duncan Graeme, Who courted her along the way, 15 Likewise convoyed her hame.

"My bonny Lizie Baillie, I'll row you in my plaidie, If ye'll gang ower the hills wi' me, And be a Highland ladie." 20

"I winna gang alang wi' you; Indeed I maun confess, I can neither milk cow nor ewe, Nor yet can I speak Ea.r.s.e."

"O never fear, Lizie," he said, 25 "If ye will gang wi' me, All that is into my place, Can speak as gude Scotch as thee.

"But for a time we now maun part; I hinna time to tarry; 30 Next when we twa meet again, Will be in Castlecarry."

When Lizie tarried out her time, Unto her father's came, The very first night she arrived, 35 Wha comes but Duncan Graeme.

Says, "Bonny Lizie Baillie, A gude deed mat ye die; Altho' to me ye brake your tryst, Now I am come for thee." 40

"O stay at hame," her father said, "Your mither cannot want thee; And gin ye gang awa' this night, We'll hae a Killycrankie."

"My bonny Lizie Baillie, 45 O come to me without delay; O wou'd ye hae sae little wit, As mind what odd folks wad say?"

She wou'dna hae the Lowlandman, That wears the coat sae blue; 50 But she wou'd hae the Highlandman, That wears the plaid and trews.

Out it spake her mother then, A sorry heart had she; Says, "Wae be to his Highland face, 55 That's taen my la.s.s frae me!"

8. The island of Inchmahome, in the Lake of Menteith.

THE RARE BALLAD OF JOHNNIE FAA AND THE COUNTESS O'Ca.s.sILIS. See p.

114.

From Sheldon's _Minstrelsy of the English Border_, p. 329. The editor (or author, as he styles himself, indifferently) of that audacious work, a.s.serts that he has "heard this ballad sung repeatedly by Willie Faa," and has "endeavored to preserve as much of his version as recollection would allow."

There were seven Gipsies in a gang, They were both brisk and bonny O, They rode till they came to the Earl of Castle's house, And there they sung so sweetly O.

The Earl of Castle's lady came down, 5 With her waiting maid beside her O; As soon as her handsome face they saw, They cast the glamour o'er her O.

They gave to her a nutmeg brown, Which was of the belinger O; 10 She gave to them a far better thing, The ring from off her finger O.

The Earl he flang his purse to them, For wow! but they sung bonny O; Gied them red wine and manchet cake, 15 And all for the Gipsy laddie O.

The Earl wad gae hunt in Maybole woods, For blythsome was the morning O, To hunt the deer wi' the yelping curs, Wi' the huntsman bugle sounding O. 20

The Countess went doun to the ha', To hae a crack at them fairly O; "And och," she cried, "I wad follow thee, To the end o' the world or nearly O."

He kist the Countess lips sae red, 25 And her jimp white waist he cuddled O; She smoothed his beard wi' her luvely hand, And a' for her Gipsy laddie O.

"And och," she cried, "that I should love thee, And ever wrong my Earlie O; 30 I ken there's glamour in mine e'ee, To follow a Gipsy laddie O."

Quo he, "Thou art ane Earl's ladye, And that is kent fu' fairly O; But if thou comest awa wi' me, 35 Thou'lt be a queen so rarely O.

"I'm Johnny Faa o' Yetholm town,[L37]