English and Scottish Ballads Volume VI Part 33

The king he writt an a letter then A letter which was large and long, He signed it with his owne hand, 15 And he promised to doe him no wrong.

When this letter came Jonne untill, His heart it was as blythe as birds on the tree; "Never was I sent for before any king, My father, my grandfather, nor none but mee. 20

"And if wee goe the king before, I would we went most orderly; Every man of you shall have his scarlet cloak, Laced with silver laces three.

"Every won of you shall have his velvett coat, 25 Laced with sillver lace so white; O the golden bands an about your necks, Black hatts, white feathers, all alyke."

By the morrow morninge at ten of the clock, Towards Edenburough gon was hee, 30 And with him all his eight score men, Good lord, it was a goodly sight for to see!

When Jonne came befower the king, He fell downe on his knee; "O pardon my soveraine leige," he said, 35 "O pardon my eight score men and mee!"

"Thou shalt have no pardon, thou traytor strong, For thy eight score men nor thee; For to-morrow morning by ten of the clock, Both thou and them shall hang on the gallow tree." 40

But Jonne looked over his left shoulder, Good Lord, what a grevious look looked hee!

Saying, "Asking grace of a graceles face-- Why there is none for you nor me."

But Jonne had a bright sword by his side, 45 And it was made of the mettle so free, That had not the king stept his foot aside, He had smitten his head from his fair bodde.

Saying, "Fight on, my merry men all, And see that none of you be taine; 50 For rather then men shall say we were hanged, Let them report how we were slaine."

Then, G.o.d wott, faire Eddenburrough rose, And so besett poore Jonne [a] rounde, That fowerscore and tenn of Jonnes best men, 55 Lay gasping all upon the ground.

Then like a mad man Jonne laide about, And like a mad man then fought hee, Untill a falce Scot came Jonne behinde, And runn him through the faire boddee. 60

Saying, "Fight on, my merry men all, And see that none of you be taine; For I will stand by and bleed but a while, And then will I come and fight againe."

Newes then was brought to young Jonne Armestrong, 65 As he stood by his nurses knee, Who vowed if er'e he lived for to be a man, O th' the treacherous Scots reveng'd hee'd be.

11. syke.

LOUDOUN CASTLE. (See p. 149.)

From _The Ballads and Songs of Ayrs.h.i.+re_, First Series, p. 74, where it is taken from a _Statistical Account of the Parish of Loudoun_. The writer of the _Statistical Account_ states that the old castle of Loudoun is supposed to have been destroyed by fire about 350 years ago.

"The current tradition," he adds, "ascribes that event to the Clan Kennedy, and the remains of an old tower at Auchruglen, on the Galston side of the valley, is still pointed out as having been their residence."

It fell about the Martinmas time, When the wind blew snell and cauld, That Adam o' Gordon said to his men, "When will we get a hold?

"See [ye] not where yonder fair castle 5 Stands on yon lily lee?

The laird and I hae a deadly feud, The lady fain would I see."

As she was up on the househead, Behold, on looking down, 10 She saw Adam o' Gordon and his men, Coming riding to the town.

The dinner was not well set down, Nor the grace was scarcely said, Till Adam o' Gordon and his men 15 About the walls were laid.

"It's fause now fa' thee, Jock my man, Thou might a let me be; Yon man has lifted the pavement stone, An' let in the loun to me." 20

"Seven years I served thee, fair ladie, You gave me meat and fee; But now I am Adam o' Gordon's man, An' maun either do it or die."

"Come down, come down, my Lady Loudoun, 25 Come thou down unto me;[L26]

I'll wrap thee on a feather bed, Thy warrand I shall be."

"I'll no come down, I'll no come down, For neither laird nor loun, 30 Nor yet for any b.l.o.o.d.y butcher That lives in Altringham town.

"I would give the black," she says, "And so would I the brown, If that Thomas, my only son, 35 Could charge to me a gun."

Out then spake the Lady Margaret, As she stood on the stair,-- The fire was at her goud garters, The lowe was at her hair. 40

"I would give the black," she says, "And so would I the brown, For a drink of yon water, That rins by Galston Town."

Out then spake fair Anne, 45 She was baith jimp and sma', "O row me in a pair o' sheets, And tow me down the wa'."

"O hold thy tongue, thou fair Anne, And let thy talkin' be, 50 For thou must stay in this fair castle, And bear thy death with me."

"O mother," spoke the Lord Thomas, As he sat on the nurse's knee, "O mother, give up this fair castle, 55 Or the reek will worrie me."

"I would rather be burnt to ashes sma', And be cast on yon sea foam, Before I'd give up this fair castle, And my lord so far from home. 60

"My good lord has an army strong, He's now gone o'er the sea; He bade me keep this gay castle, As long as it would keep me.

"I've four-and-twenty brave milk kye 65 Gangs on yon lily lee, I'd give them a' for a blast of wind, To blaw the reek from me."

O pitie on yon fair castle, That's built with stone and lime, 70 But far mair pitie on Lady Loudoun, And all her children nine.

26. down thou.

ROB ROY. (See p. 203.)

From _Select Scottish Songs, Ancient and Modern_, by Robert Burns, edited by Cromek, ii. 199.

Rob Roy from the Highlands cam, Unto the Lawlan' border, To steal awa a gay ladie To haud his house in order.

He cam owre the lock o' Lynn, 5 Twenty men his arms did carry; Himsel gaed in, an' fand her out, Protesting he would marry.

"O will ye gae wi' me," he says, "Or will ye be my honey? 10 Or will ye be my wedded wife?

For I love you best of any."

"I winna gae wi' you," she says, "Nor will I be your honey, Nor will I be your wedded wife; 15 You love me for my money."

But he set her on a coal-black steed, Himsel lap on behind her, An' he's awa to the Highland hills, Whare her frien's they canna find her. 20 * * * * *