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A
NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
ii A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
iii
A
north countrie
Garland.
EDITED BY
JAMES MAIDMENT.
AND REVISED BY
EDMUND GOLDSMID, F.R.H.S.
PRIVATELY PRINTED, EDINBURGH. 1891
iv A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
This Edition is limited to seventy-five Large
Paper copies, and two hundred and seventy-five Small
Paper copies, issued only to Subscribers.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
v
INTRODUCTION.
IN issuing this reprint of Maidment's "North
Countrie Garland," I feel that no other apology
can be required of me beyond quoting the words
of Motherwell:
"A yet more slender volume* appeared in the
same year (1824), edited by James Maidment,
Esq., and, like the Ballad Book, its impression
was limited to thirty copies.....Small as is
the volume, it makes considerable addition to our
catalogue of ancient ballads." (Minstrelsy, p. xciv.)
That some of these Ballads may shock the
fastidious, I am aware; but much that is termed
agross ribaldry" in a sanctimonious, formal, and
puritanical age, has no claim to such a distinction.
Our forefathers called a spade a spade: we are
more accustomed, "under a veil of snowy white-
ness, to dally with wantonness in clean, nice, and
well-picked phrase."
Honi soit qui mal y pense!
The student of our ancient manners and customs
* The comparison is with with C. K. Sharpe's 'A Ballad
Book" (Bibliotheca Curiosa, vols. ii and iii.).
vi INTRODUCTION.
does not wish to look at the past through the rose-
coloured spectacles of the modern "Tartuffe;" he
requires to see the times and those who lived in
them, as they were, rude, unvarnished, coarse if you
will; and where will he find a truer picture of
habits that have died out, and of the generations
that have passed away, than in these primitive
and "uncontaminated" forms of ancient popular
song?
EDMUND GOLDSMID.
EDINBURGH, June 4, 1884
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
vii
PREFACE.
THE Ballads collected in this present little volume
have, with one solitary exception, been for the
first time printed.
"Lord Thomas Stuart," "The Burning of
Frendraught," "Child Vyet," Bonny John
Seton," and two or three others, of minor import-
ance, had long been preserved by tradition, in
Aberdeenshire, and were procured from an intelli-
gent individual resident in that part of Scotland.
"The Jolly Hawk," from the pen of the
amiable Lord Binning, was originally printed in a
collection of songs ("The Charmer"), Edinburgh,
1751; 2 vols, 12mo. The uncommon occurrence
of this work, and the cleverness of the song itself,
was the cause of its insertion here.
The sources from which the other Ballads were
obtained, have been for the most part mentioned
in the notice prefixed to each song.
Whatever other merit this "North Countrie
Garland" may have, it must be allowed to possess
that of
rarity. (Thirty copies only have been
printed, chiefly for the gratification of a few of the
Editor's friends — a circumstance of itself quite
sufficient to give it value in the eyes of Biblio-
maniacs.)
EDINBURGH, 17th February, 1824.
viii A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. ix
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Lord Thomas Stuart........... 11
the burning of frendraught ....... 14
lord salton and auchanachie....... 20
the young laird of craigstoun ...... 21
bonny john seton............ 2.s
mary hamilton ............. 28
burd ellen and young tamlane...... 31
Childe vyet............... 33
errol's place .............. 40
Catherine jaffery............ 43
eppie morrie............... 48
rob roy macgregor ........... 52
paul jones................ 55
the jolly hawk and the tearsel ..... 58
o what a parish............. 62
my wife shall hae her will........ 64
x A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
11
A NORTH COUNTRIE
GARLAND.
LORD THOMAS STUART.
With the circumstances which have given rise
to this Ballad the Editor is unacquainted.
THOMAS STUART was a Lord,
A Lord of mickle land,
He used to wear a coat of gold,
But now his grave is green.
Now he has wooed the young Countess,
The Countess of Balquhin,
An' given her for a morning gift
Strathboggie and Aboyne.
But woman's wit is aye willful,
Alas! that ever it was sae,
She longed to see the morning gift
That her gude Lord to her gae.
12 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
When steeds were saddled, an' weel bridled,
An' ready for to ride,
There came a pain on that gude Lord,
His back, likewise his side.
He said, "Ride on, my Lady fair,
May goodness be your guide,
For I am sick an' weary, that
No further can I ride."
Now ben did come his father dear,
Wearing a golden band,
Saying, "Is there nae leech in Edinburgh
Can cure my son from wrang?"
"O, leech is come, an' leech is gane,
Yet, father, I'm aye waur,
There's not a leech in Edinbro'
Can death from me debar.
"But be a friend to my wife, father,
Restore to her her own,
Restore to her my morning gift,
Strathboggie and Aboyne.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 13
"It had been gude for my wife, father,
To me she'd born a son,
He would have got my land an' rents,
Where they lie out an' in.
"It had been gude for my wife, father,
To me she'd born an heir,
He would have got my land and rents,
Where they lie fine and fair."
The steeds they strave into their stables,
The boys couldn't get them bound,
The hounds lay howling on the leech,
'Cause their master was behind.
"I dreamed a dream since late yestreen,
I wish it may be good,
That our chamber was full of swine,
An' our bed full of blood.
"I saw a woman come from the west,
Full sore wringing her hands,
And aye she cried, 'Ohon, alas!
My good Lord's broken bands."
14 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
"As she came by my good Lord's bower,
Saw mony black steeds and brown,
'I'm feared it be mony unco Lords,
Havin' my love from town.'
"As she came by my good Lord's bower,
Saw mony black steeds an' grey,
'I'm feared its mony unco Lords,
Havin' my love to the clay.' "
THE BURNING OF FRENDRAUGHT.
This ballad, which possesses considerable merit,
was supposed by Ritson to have been lost.*
THE eighteenth day of October,
A dismal tale to hear,
How good Lord John an' Rothiemay,
Were both burnt in the fire.
When steeds were saddled an' well bridled,
And ready for to ride,
Then out there came the false Frendraught,
Inviting them to bide.
* For a full account of the circumstances which gave
rise to this ballad, see Appendix.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 15
Said, "Stay this night until we sup,
The morn until we dine,
'Twill be token of good 'greement
'Twixt your good Lord an' mine."
"We'll turn again," said good Lord John,
"But no!" said Rothiemay,
"My steed's trapanned, my bridle's broken,
I fear the day I'm fay."
When mass was sung, and bells were rung,
And all men bound for bed,
Then good Lord John and Rothiemay
In one chamber were laid.
They had not long cast off their clothes,
And were but new asleep,
When weary smoke began to rise,
Likewise the scorching heat.
"O waken, waken, Rothiemay,
O waken, brother dear,
And turn you to your Saviour,
There is strong treason here."
16 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
When they were dressed wi' their clothes
An' ready for to boun',
The doors and windows were all secured,
The roof-tree burning doun.
He did flee to the wire window,
As fast as he could gang,
Says, "woe to the hands put in the staunchions,
For out we'll never win."
While he stood at the wire window,
Most doleful to be seen,
He did espy the Lady Frendraught,
Who stood upon the green.
"Mercy! mercy! Lady Frendraught,
Will ye not sink with sin
For first your husband killed my father,
And now you burn his son."
O then outspake the Lady Frendraught,
And loudly did she cry:
"It were great pity for good Lord John,
But none for Rothiemay;
The keys were casten in the deep draw-well,
Ye cannot win away."
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 17
While he stood in this dreadful plight,
Most piteous to be seen,
Then called out his servant Gordon,
As he had frantic been.
"O loup! O loup! my dear master,
O loup and come to me;
I'll catch you in my arms two,
One foot I will not flee.
"O loup! O loup! my dear master,
O loup and come away,
I'll catch you in my arms two,
But Rothiemay may lay."
"The fish shall ne'er swim in the flood,
Nor corn grow thro' the clay,
Nor the fiercest fire that ere was kindled,
Twin me and Rothiemay.
"I cannot loup, I cannot come,
I cannot win to thee,
My head's fast in the wire window,
My feet burning from me.
18 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
"My eyes are southering in my head,
My flesh roasting also,
My bowels are boiling with my blood,
Is not that a woeful woe?
Take here the rings from my white fingers,
Which are so long and small,
And give them to my lady fair,
Where she sits in her hall.
"I cannot loup, I cannot come,
I cannot loup to thee,
My earthly part is all consum'd,
My spirit speaks to thee."
Wringing her hands, tearing her hair,
His lady fair was seen,
Calling unto his servant Gordon,
Where he stood on the green.
"O woe be to you, George Gordon,
An ill death may you dee,
So safe and sound as you stand there,
And my Lord burned from me."
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 19
"I bade him loup, I bade him come,
I bade him come to me;
I'd catch him in my arms two,
A foot I would not flee.
'He threw me the rings from his white fingers,
Which are so long and small,
To give to you, his Lady fair,
Where you sit in your hall."
Sophia Hay, Sophia Hay,
Bonny Sophia, was her name;
Her waiting maid put on her clothes,
But she tore them off again.
And oft she cried, "Ohon, alas!
A sair heart's easy wan,
I wan a sair heart when I married him,
The day it's returned again." *
* For further particulars regarding this disastrous event,
see Gordon's "History of the Family of Gordon," vol. ii.
p. 138; the "Genealogical History of the Family of
Sutherland," p. 420; Ritson's Scottish Ballads, vol. i. p.
31, and Finlay's Ballads, vol. i. p. 59. See also the version
in Motherwell's Minstrelsy p. 167. It differs slightly from
the one given here. The student may also consult
"Delitić Poetarum Scotorum," Amsterdam, 1637 vol. i.
pp. 508, &c.
20 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
LORD SALTON AND AUCHANACHIE.
The circumstances which gave rise to this Ballad
are unknown to the Editor. *
BEN came her father,
Skipping on the floor,
Said, "Jeanie, your trying
The tricks of a whore.
"You're caring for him
That cares not for thee,
And I pray you take Salton,
Let Auchanachie be."
"I will not have Salton,
It lies low by the sea;
He is bowed in the back,
He's thrawen in the knee,
And I'll die if I get not
My brave Auchanachie."
"I am bowed in the back,
Lassie, as ye see,
But the bonny lands of Salton
Are no crooked tee."
* A more perfect copy of this ballad was recovered by
Peter Buchan.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 21
And when she was married
She would not lie down,
But they took out a knife
And cuttit her gown;
Likewise of her stays,
The lacing in three,
And now she lies dead
For her Auchanachie.
Out comes her bower woman,
Wringing her hands,
Says, "Alas! for the staying
So long on the sands.
"Alas! for the staying
So long on the flood,
For Jeanie was married,
And now she is dead."
THE YOUNG LAIRD OF CRAIGSTOUN.
The estate of Craigstoun was acquired by John
Urquhart, better known by the name of the
Tutor of Cromarty. It would appear that the
22 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
ballad refers to his grandson, who married
Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Robert Innes of that
ilk, and by her had one son. This John Urqu-
hart died November 30, 1634. Spalding (vol.
i. p. 36), after mentioning the great mortality in
the Craigstoun family, says: "Thus in three
years' space the good-sire, son, and oy died."
He adds that "the Laird of Innes (whose sister
was married to this Urquhart of Leathers, the
father), and not without her consent, as was
thought, gets the guiding of this
young boy, and
without advice of friends, shortly and quietly
marries him, upon his own eldest daughter
Elizabeth Innes." He mentions that young
Craigstoun's death was generally attributed to
melancholy, in consequence of Sir Robert Innes
refusing to pay old Craigstoun's debts: the
creditors bestowing "many maledictions, which
touched the young man's conscience, albeit he
could not mend it." The father died in Decem-
ber, 1631, and the son in 1634. The marriage
consequently must have been of short duration.
"FATHER," said she, "you have done me wrong,
For ye have me married on a childe young
man,
For ye have me married on a childe young
man,
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
23
And my bonny love is long
A growing, growing, deary,
Growing, growing, said the bonny
maid
How long my bonny love's growing.
"Daughter," said he, I have done you no
wrong,
For I have married you on a heritor of land,
He's likewise possessed of many bills and
bonds,
And he'll be daily
Growing, growing, deary," &c.
"Daughter," said he, "if you wish to do well,
Ye will send your husband away to the school,
That he of learning may gather great skill,
And he'll be daily
Growing, growing, deary," &c.
Now young Craigstoun to the college is gone,
And left his lady making great moan,
That she should be forced to lie a-bed alone,
And that he was so long,
A-growing, growing, &c.
24 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
She's dressed herself in robes of green,
They were right comely to be seen,
She was the picture of Venus' queen
And she's to the college to see
Him growing, growing, &c.
Then all the Colleginers were playing at the ba',
But the young Craigstoun was the flower of them
a';
He said, "Play on, my schoolfellows a',
For I see my sister
Coming, coming," &c.
Now down into the college park
They walked about till it was dark.
Then he lifted up her fine Holland sark,
And she had no reason to complain
Of his growing, growing, &c.
In his twelfth year he was a married man,
In his thirteenth year then he got a son; *
And in his fourteenth year his grave grew green,
And that was the end
Of his growing, growing, &c.
* By the extinction of the elder branch of the family this
son succeeded to the estate of Cromarty.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
25
BONNY JOHN SETON
John Seton of Pitmeddin is said by Douglas,
in his Baronage (p. 182), to have been "a man of
good natural parts, which were greatly improved
by a liberal education and travelling." He was a
steady loyalist, and having repaired to the Earl of
Aboyne's standard, commanded a detachment of
the cavaliers at the battle of the Bridge of Dee,
where he was unfortunately shot through the heart
with a cannon-ball, with the royal standard in his
hand, June, 1639, in the 29th year of his age. He
was father of that celebrated lawyer Sir Alexander
Seton, Bart., of Pitmeddin.
UPON the eighteenth day of June,
A dreary day to see,
The Southern Lords did pitch their camp
Just at the Bridge of Dee.
Bonny John Seton, of Pitmeddin,
A bold baron was he,
He made his testament ere he went out,
The wiser man was he.
26 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
He left his land to his young son,
His lady her dowry,
A thousand crowns to his daughter Jean,
Yet on the nurse's knee.
Then out came his lady fair,
A tear into her e'e,
Says, "Stay at home, my own good lord,
O stay at home with me!"
He looked over his left shoulder,
Cried, "Soldiers, follow me!"
O then she looked in his face,
An angry woman was she;
"God send me back my steed again,
But ne'er let me see thee."
His name was Major Middleton
That manned the Bridge of Dee;
His name was Colonel Henderson
That let the cannons flee.
His name was Major Middleton
That manned the Bridge of Dee;
And his name was Colonel Henderson
That dung Pitmeddin in three.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
27
Some rode on the black and grey,
And some rode on the brown;
But the bonny John Seton
Lay gasping on the ground.
Then bye there comes a false Forbes,
Was riding from Driminere,
Says, "Here there lies a proud Seton,
This day they ride the rear."
Craigievar said to his men,
"You may play on your shield,
For the proudest Seton in all the lan'
This day lies on the field.
"O spoil him! spoil him!" cried Craigievar,
"Him spoiled let me see,
For on my word," said Craigievar,
"He had no good will at me."
They took from him his armour clear,
His sword, likewise his shield;
Yea, they have left him naked there,
Upon the open field.
28 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
The Highland men, they're clever men
At handling sword and shield,
But yet they are too naked men
To stay in battlefield.
The Highland men, they're clever men
At handling sword or gun,
But yet they are too naked men
To bear the cannon's rung
For a cannon's roar, in a summer night,
Is like thunder in the air,
There's not a man in Highland dress
Can face the cannon's fire.*
MARY HAMILTON.
In the "Border Minstrelsy" there occurs another
Ballad on the same subject, "The Queen's
Marie." A notice is prefixed, to which reference
* William Forbes of Craigievar was, by Charles I.
created a baronet of Nova Scotia, by patent dated 20th
April, 1630. He took an active part on the side of the Par-
liament, and was made Sheriff of Aberdeen (1647), and one
of the Commissioners for selling the estates of the "malig-
nants."
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
29
is made. The present Ballad differs considerably
from that preserved by Sir Walter Scott, and appears to
be a fragment. *
THEN down cam Queen Marie,
Wi' gold links in her hair,
Saying, "Marie mild, where is the child,
That I heard greet sae sair?"
"There was nae child wi' me, madam,
There was nae child wi' me,
It was but me in a sair cholic,
When I was like to die!"
"I'm not deceived," Queen Marie said,
"No, no, indeed! not I!
So Marie mild, where is the child?
For sure I heard it cry."
She turned down the blankets fine,
Likewise the Holland sheet,
And underneath, there strangled lay,
A lovely baby sweet.
* See also a more ample version printed by the Aungervyle
Society (Series I, p. 85), and another imperfect copy in
Sharpe's Ballad Book.
30 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
"O cruel mother," said the Queen,
Some fiend possessed thee,
But I will hang thee for this deed,
My Marie tho' thou be!"
*******
When she cam to the Nether-Bow port,
She laugh't loud laughters three;
But when she cam to the gallows foot
The saut tear blinded her e'e.
"Yestreen the Queen had four Maries,
The night she'll hae but three;
There was Marie Seton and Marie Beaton,
And Marie Carmichael and me.
"Ye mariners, ye mariners,
That sail upon the sea,
Let not my father or mother wit
The death that I maun die.
"I was my parent's only hope,
They ne'er had ane but me,
They little thought when I left hame,
They should nae mair me see!
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 31
BURD ELLEN AND YOUNG TAMLANE.
The following fragment was communicated to
the Editor by his friend R. Pitcairn, Esq., who
took it down from the recitation of a female rela-
tive, who had heard it frequently sung in her
childhood, about sixty years since. To that
gentleman he is indebted for the following
notice: —
Burd Ellen, referred to the in following frag-
ment, is the
Proud Eline of the Northern min-
strels; the Burd Ellen
of the Scots; La Prude
Dame Eline of the French, and the
Gentle Lady
Eline of the English. The term Prud, which was
afterwards corrupted into
Burd, is equally appli-
cable to knights as well as to ladies, in the Danish,
Swedish, and French languages. The
Ritter hin
Prud of the Danish, the Preux Chevalier of the
French, and the
Gentle Knight of the English
ballads and romances are identically the same.
''Young Tamlane, in like manner, is a very
popular personage in our romantic ballads, and
appears under the variations of
Thorn of Lynn,
Thom-a-Lin, Tomlin, and Tom Linn, &c.
Reference may be made to the Border Min-
strelsy, where the Tale of Tamlane
is prefaced by
a very valuable dissertation on the fairies of
popular superstition; and also to Jamieson's
Collection, for many interesting particulars. "It
32 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
is highly probable that Burd Ellen, &c, may be a
popular corruption of Burd-alayn, or Burdalane,
which signifies an only child, a maiden," &c.
BURD Ellen sits in her bower windowe,
With a double laddy double, and for the double
dow,
Twisting the red silk and the blue,
With the double rose and the May-hay.
And whiles she twisted and whiles she twan,
With a double, &c,
And whiles the tears fell down amang,
With the double, &c.
Till once there by cam Young Tamlane
With a double, &c,
"Come light, oh light, and rock your young
son!"
With the double, &c.
"If you winna rock him you may let him
rair,
With a double, &c,
For I hae rockit my share and mair!
"With the double, &c."
*****
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 33
Young Tamlane to the seas he's gane,
With a double, &c,
And a woman's curse in his company's gane!
With the double, &c.
CHILDE VYET.
Mr. Jamieson, in his Ballads, vol. ii, page 265,
has published from Mr. Herd's MS. "Lord
Wa'yates and auld Ingram," in which the story
very much resembles what occurs here. The
versification of it is totally different. "Lord
Wa'yates" is, however, a fragment, and the
catastrophe is wanting. This deficiency is for-
tunately supplied by the present ballad.*
LORD INGRAM and Childe Vyet
Were both born in ane bower,
Had both their loves on one Lady,
The loss was their honour.
Child Vyet and Lord Ingram
Were both born in one hall,
Had both their loves on one Lady,
The worse did them befall.
* Peter Buchan recovered a far more perfect and beau-
tiful version than this.
34 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
Lord Ingram woo'd the Lady Maiserey
From father and from mother;
Lord Ingram woo'd the Lady Maiserey
From sister and from brother.
Lord Ingram woo'd the Lady Maiserey
With leave of all her kin;
And every one gave full consent,
But she said "No!" to him.
Lord Ingram wooed the Lady Maiserey
Into her father's ha';
Childe Vyet wooed the Lady Maiserey
Amang the sheets so sma'.
Now it fell out upon a day
She was dressing her head,
That ben did come her father dear,
Wearing the gold so red.
"Get up, now, Lady Maiserey;
Put on your wedding gown,
For Lord Ingram will be here;
Your wedding must be done!"
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND..
35
"I'd rather be Childe Vyet's wife,
The white fish for to sell,
Before I was Lord Ingram's wife,
To wear the silk so well!
"I'd rather be Childe Vyet's wife,
With him to beg my bread,
Before I'd be Lord Ingram's wife,
To wear the gold so red.
"Where will I get a bonny boy,
Will win gold to his fee,
Will run unto Childe Vyet's ha',
With this letter from me?"
"Oh, here, I am the boy," says one,
"Will win gold to my fee,
And carry away any letter
To Childe Vyet from thee."
And when he found the bridges broke,
He bent his bow and swam,
And when he found the grass growing,
He hasten'd and he ran.
36 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
And when he came to Vyet's Castle
He did not knock nor call,
But set his bent bow to his breast
And lightly leaped the wall;
And ere the porter open'd the gate
The boy was in the hall.
The first line that Childe Vyet read
A grieved man was he;
The next line that he looked on
A tear blinded his e'e.
"What ails my one brother," he says,
He'll not let my love be;
But I'll send to my brother's bridal,
The woman shall be free.
"Take four and twenty bucks and ewes,
And ten tun of the wine,
And bid my love be blythe and glad,
And I will follow syne."
There was not a groom about that castle
But got a gown of green;
And a' was blythe, and a' was glad,
But Lady Maiserey was wi' wean.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
37
There was no cook about the kitchen
But got a gown of gray,
And a' was blythe, and a' was glad,
But Lady Maisery was wae.
'Tween Mary Kirk and that castle
Was all spread o'er with gold,
To keep the Lady and her maidens
From tramping on the mould.
From Mary Kirk to that castle
Was spread a cloth of gold,
To keep the Lady and her maidens
From treading on the mould.
When mass was sung, and bells were rung,
And all men bound for bed,
Then Lord Ingram and Lady Maisery
In one bed they were laid.
When they were laid upon their bed,
It was baith soft and warm,
He laid his hand over her side,
Says he, "You are with bairn."
38 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
"I told you once, so did I twice,
When ye came as my wooer,
That Childe Vyet, your one brother,
One night lay in my bower.
"I told you twice, so did I thrice,
Ere ye came me to wed,
That Childe Vyet, your one brother,
One night lay in my bed!"
"O will you father your bairn on me,
And on no other man,
And I'll gie him to his dowry
Full fifty ploughs of land?"
"I will not father my bairn on you,
Nor on no wrongous man,
Tho' you'd gie him to his dowry
Five thousand ploughs of land.
Then up did start him Childe Vyet,
Shed by his yellow hair,
And gave Lord Ingram to the heart,
A deep wound and a sair.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 39
Then up did start him Lord Ingram,
Shed by his yellow hair,
And gave Childe Vyet to the heart,
A deep wound and a sair.
There was no pity for the two Lords,
When they were lying slain,
All was for Lady Maiserey,
In that bower she gaed brain!
There was no pity for the two Lords,,
When they were lying dead,
All was for Lady Maiserey,
In that bower she went mad!
"O get to me a coat of cloth,
A staff of good hard tree,
If I have been an evil woman,
I shall beg till I die.
"For ae bit I'll beg for Childe Vyet,
For Lord Ingram I'll beg three,
All for the honourable marriage that
At Mary Kirk he gave me."
40 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
ERROL'S PLACE
Gilbert, who succeeded in the year 1636 to the
Earldom of Errol, and who married Catherine,
daughter of James, second Earl of Southesque, is
the hero of this strange song. He died without
issue, anno 1674. There is a
South-country Ballad
on the same subject, which is considerably
longer, and in which the incidents vary materially;
particularly, Lady Errol tries to poison her hus-
band, an attempt passed over in silence in the
present copy, which is the
North-country version
of the story.
O ERROL'S place is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain,
The flowers at it grow red and white,
The apples red and green.
Chorus.
The wally o't, the wally o't,
According as you ken,
The thing they ca' the ranting o't,
Our lady lies alane!
O Errol's place is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain,
But what's the use of Errol's place,
He's no like other men?
The wally, &c.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
41
"It's I cam in by yon canal,
And by yon bowling green,
I might have pleased the best Carnegie
That ever bore that name."
The wally, &c.
"As sure as your Jean Carnegie,
And I am Gibbie Hay,
I'll cause your father to sell his land,
Your tocher for to pay."
The wally, &c.
"To cause my father to sell his land
I think would be a sin,
To give to such a rogue as you,
Who never could it win."
The wally, &c.
So he must go to Edinburgh,
Amang the nobles a',
And there before good witnesses
His manhood for to shaw.
The wally, &c.
Then out it's spoke her sister,
Whose name was called Miss Ann,
42 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
"Had I been Lady Errol,
Or come of sic a clan,
I would not in this public way
Have sham'd my own gude man."
The wally, &c.
A servant girl was there found out
On whom to show his skill,
He gave to her a hundred pounds
To purchase her goodwill.
The wally, &c.
And still he cried, "Look up, Peggy,
Look up, and think no shame,
And you shall have your hundred pounds,
Before I lay you down."
The wally, &c.
Now he has lain him down wi' her,
A hundred pounds in pawn,
And all the nobleman cried out,
"That Errol is a man."
The wally, &c.
"Tak hame your daughter," Errol said,
And tak her to a glen,
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
43
For Errol canna pleasure her,
Nor can no other man."
The wally, &c.*
CATHERINE JAFFERY.
In the "Border Minstrelsy" occurs another version
of Catherine Jaffery, much superior to the present
one in poetical merit. As a North country edition
of a Border Ballad the Editor has, however, been
induced to preserve it.
O BONNY Catherine Jaffery,
That dainty maid so fair,
Once loved the Laird of Lochinvar,
Without any compare.
Long time she loo'd him very well,
But they changed her mind away,
And now she goes another's bride,
And plays him foul play.
The bonny Laird of Lauderdale
Came from the south countrie,
And he has wooed the pretty maid,
Through presents entered he.
* The circumstances which gave rise to this ballad are
given in Sharpe's Ballad Book (Biblioteca Curiosa,
vol. iii. p. 28, foot-note).
44 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
For tocher gear he did not stand,
She was a dainty May,
He 'greed him with her friends all,
And set the wedding day.
When Lochinvar got word of this,
He knew not what to do,
For losing of a lady fair,
That he did love so true.
But if I were young Lochinvar,
I wou'd not care a fly,
To take her on her wedding day,
From all her company.
Get ye a quiet messenger,
Send him through all your land,
For a hundred and fifty brave young lads
To be at your command.
To be all at your command,
And your bidding to obey;
Yet still cause you the trumpet sound,
The voice of foul play
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 45
He got a quiet messenger,
To send thro' all his land,
And full three hundred pretty lads
Were all at his command.
Were all at his command,
And his bidding did obey:
Yet still he made the trumpet sound,
The voice of foul play.
Then he went to the bridal house,
Among the nobles a',
And when he stepped upon the floor,
He gave a loud huzza!
"Huzza! huzza! you English men,
Or Borderers who were born,
Ne'er come to Scotland for a maid,
Or else they will you scorn.
"She'll bring you on with tempting words,
Aye, till the wedding day,
Syne give you frogs instead of fish,
And play you foul play.
46 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
The gentlemen all wondered
What could be in his mind,
And asked, "If he'd a mind to fight,
Why spoke he so unkind?
"Did he e'er see such pretty men,
As were there in array?"
"O yes," said he, "a fairy court,
Were leaping on the hay.
"As I came in by Hyland banks,
And in by Hyland braes,
There I did see a fairy court,
All leaping on the leas.
"I came not here to fight," he said,
"But for good fellowship gay;
I want to drink with your bridegroom,
And then I'll boun' my way."
The glass was filled with good red wine,
And drunk between them twae;
"Give me one shake of your bonny bride's hand,
And then I'll boun' my way."
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
47
He's ta'en her by the milk-white hands,
And by the grass-green sleeve,
Pull'd her on horseback him behind,
At her friends ask'd nae leave.
Syne rode the water with great speed,
And merrily the knows,
Then fifty from the bridal came,
Indeed it was nae mows.
Thinking to take the bride again,
Thro' strength if that they may,
But still he gar't the trumpet sound,
The voice of foul play.
There were four and twenty ladies fair,
All walking on the lea,
He gave to them the bonny bride,
And bade them boun' their way.
They splintered the spears in pieces now,
And the blades flew in the sky,
But the bonny Laird of Lochinvar
Has gained the victory.
48 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
Many a wife and widow's son
Lay gasping on the ground,
But the bonny Laird of Lochinvar
He has the victory won. *
EPPIE MORRIE.
This Ballad is probably much more than a cen-
tury old, though the circumstances which have
given rise to it were, unfortunately, too common
to preclude the possibility of its being of
a later date. Although evidently founded on
fact, the Editor has not hitherto discovered the
particular circumstance out of which it has
originated.
FOUR and twenty Highland men
Came a' from Carrie side,
To steal awa' Eppie Morrie,
'Cause she would not be a bride.
Out it's came her mother,
It was a moonlight night,
She could not see her daughter,
There swords they shin'd so bright.
* Was first published in the 'Border Minstrelsy," under
the title of ''Catherine Janfarie," and a West country
version, "Catherine Johnstone," is given by Motherwell.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
49
"Haud far awa' frae me, mother,
Haud far awa' frae me,
There's not a man in a' Strathdon
Shall wedded be with me."
They have taken Eppie Morrie,
And horseback bound her on,
And then awa' to the minister,
As fast as horse could gang.
He's taken out a pistol, and
Set it to the minister's breast:
"Marry me, marry me, minister,
Or else I'll be your priest."
"Haud far awa' frae me, good Sir,
Haud far awa' frae me,
For there's not a man in all Strathdon
That shall married be with me."
"Haud far awa' frae me, Willie,
Haud far awa' frae me,
For I darna avow to marry you,
Except she's as willing as ye."
50 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
They have taken Eppie Morrie,
Since better could nae be,
And they're awa' to Carrie side,
As fast as horse could flee.
When mass was sung, and bells were rung,
And all were bound for bed,
Then Willie and Eppie Morrie,
In one bed they were laid.
"Haud far awa' frae me, Willie,
Haud far awa' frae me,
Before I lose my maidenhead,
I'll try my strength with thee."
She took the cap from off her head,
And threw it to the way,
Said, "Ere I lose my maidenhead,
I'll fight with you till day."
Then early in the morning,
Before her clothes were on,
In came the maiden of Scalletter,
Gown and shirt alone.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 51
"Get up, get up, young woman,
and drink the wine wi' me."
"Ye might have called me maiden,
I'm sure as leal as thee."
"Wally fa' you, Willie, that
Ye could nae prove a man,
And ta'en the lassie's maidenhead,
She would have hired your han'."
"Haud far awa' frae me, lady,
Haud far awa' frae me,
There's not a man in a' Strathdon,
The day shall wed wi' me."
Soon in there came Belbordlane,
With a pistol on every side,
"Came awa' hame, Eppie Morrie,
And there you'll be my bride."
"Go get to me a horse, Willie,
And get it like a man,
And send me back to my mother,
A maiden as I cam."
52 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
The sun shines o'er the westlin hills,
By the light lamp of the moon,
"Just saddle your horse, young John Forsyth,
And whistle, and I'll come soon."
ROB ROY MCGREGOR .
From a MS. collection of Ballads, &c, in the
possession of R. Pitcairn, Esq., who notes that he
took it from the recitation of Widow Stevenson.
The first part is sung to the air of "The Bonny
House of Airlie," and the latter part, "Haud
away frae me, Donald." It forms an appropriate
sequel to Eppie Morrie. *
ROB ROY from the Highlands cam,
Unto our Scottish border,
And he has stow'n a lady fair,
To haud his house in order.
And when he cam, he surrounded the house,
Twenty men their arms did carry,
And he has stow'n this lady fair,
On purpose her to marry.
* For a very curious version see Aungervyle Society's
reprints, Series I.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.. 53
And when he cam, he surrounded the house,
No tidings there cam before him,
Or else the lady would have been gone,
For still she did abhor him.
Wi' mournful cries, and wat'ry eyes,
Fast hauding by her mother,
Wi' mournful cries, and wat'ry eyes,
They were parted from each other.
Nae time he ga'ed her to be dressed,
As ladies do when they're bride O!
But he hastened and hurried her awa',
And he row'd her in his plaid O!
They rade till they came to Ballyshine,
At Ballyshine they tarried;
He bought to her a cotton gown,
Yet ne'er would she be married.
'Three held her up before the priest,
Four carried her to bed O!
Wi' wat'ry eyes, and mournfu' sighs,
When she behind was laid O!
*****
54 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND..
"O be content, be content,
Be content to stay, lady,
For you are my wedded wife,
Unto my dying day, lady!"
"My father is Rob Roy called,
Mcgregor is his name, lady,
In all the country where he dwells
He does succeed the fame, lady!
"My father he has cows and ewes,
And goats he has eneuch, lady,
And you and twenty thousand merks
Will make me a man complete, lady." *
* For an account of the circumstances founded on in the
Ballad, vide "Criminal Trials illustrative of Rob Roy," pp.
14-22. See also the very full account prefixed to the
version printed by the Aungervyle Society (Series I. No.
90). This individual's son, James, was the father of
Gregor, who dropped the name of Campbell, and assumed
that of Drummond. He was a butcher by trade, and
left a daughter, who married one Brown, a perfumer, who
having been killed by the carelessness of the driver of a
stage coach, his widow and children brought an action of
damages against the proprietors, in which they were
successful, and obtained exemplary damages. For this
valuable piece of genealogical information the Editor was
indebted to Alexander Campbell, Esq.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 55
PAUL JONES.
The following is taken from Mr. Pitcairn's MS.
Collection of Ballads, &c. It was written down
by him from the recitation of an old lady, who
gave the song the name of "Paul Jones," on which
account it is so termed here. Mr. Pitcairn remarks
that it "was much sung in Edinburgh by the
populace, on occasion of Paul Jones making his
appearance in the Firth of Forth, and also during
the strenuous opposition in Scotland, and the con-
sequent riots which took place during the discussion
of the Popish Bill. It was afterwards revived
during the threatened invasion of Britain by Buona-
parte, in ridicule of the attempt; but I have not
hitherto been able to procure either a MS. or
printed set of this curious song. This ballad is
sung to the now popular air of "We're a' noddin."
"O DEAR, Marg'et, are ye within?
When I heard the news I but to rin,
Down the gate to tell ye,
Down the gate to tell ye,
Down the gate to tell ye,
We'll no be left our skin!
"O dear, woman! O dear! O dear!
There ne'er was the like o' this since Marr's
year
56 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
And I'm a' pantin',
Pantin', pantin',
I'm a' pantin',
Frae my heart here!
"Weel kent I that a' was nae right,
For I dream'd o' red and green, a' last night
And three cats fighting,
And three cats fighting,
And three cats fighting,
I waukened wi' the fright!
"But fare ye weel, woman, for I maun gae
rin,
Do you ken if your neighbour Elspet be in?
And auld Rob the barber,
And auld Rob the barber,
And auld Rob the barber,
For I maun tell him."
"Stay a wee, woman, an' tell us a' out,
They're bringing in Popery, I doubt, an' I
doubt
And a sad reformation,
And a sad reformation,
And a sad reformation,
In a' the kirks about!
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
57
"Little do we see, but mickle do we hear,
The French and Americans are a' comin'
here
An' we'll a' be murdered,
An' we'll a' be murdered,
An' we'll a' be murdered,
Before the New Year!
"Whish't, woman, whish't! I thought I heard
a gun,"
"Hout na', Marg'et! — it's me, I'm fashed
wi' win',
An' I'm right glad when it wins awa',
An' I'm right glad when it wins awa',
An' I'm right glad when it wins awa',
Frae, frae behin'!
"But never ye fear, woman: let them a'
come,
For I'll wield my rock yet, for a' their neck's
horn
Before that I yield it,
Before that I yield it,
Before that I yield it,
To ony Frenchman born.
58 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
"For dinna ye mind, on this very floor,
How we a' reek'd out, an' a to Shirramuir,
Wi' stanes in our aprons.
Wi' stanes in our aprons.
Wi' stanes in our aprons.
And wrought straith, I'm sure."
THE JOLLY HAWK AND THE TEARSEL.
The ensuing song is the production of the
amiable Lord Binning; of whom several very inter-
esting particulars will be found in the Memoirs of
Lady Murray. A brief sketch of his life is given
in Walpole's "Royal and Noble Authors," vol.
v. p. 142, Park's Edition.
I HAD a jolly hawk, and a tearsel of my own.
Fal, &c.
Come from as good an airy as ever yet was known
Fal, &c.
He was but newly entered, when that it came to
pass
He fell in love with a Solan goose, and flew into
the Bass.
Fal, &c.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 59
When he arrived there, the goose to him did say,
I pray, good Master Tearsel, what brought you
here away?
To which the tearsel answer'd, I'm come to get an
egg
With you, sweet Mistress Goose, if you'll please to
lift your leg.
The jealous solan gander put on an angry face,
I pray, good Master Tearsel, I redd you leave
this place,
If you don't do it quickly, your stay you shall
repent
Wou'd you spoil our brood of solan geese, and vex the
President? *
To which the tearsel answered, "I dinna care
a -----
Gin ye winna len' me your wife, I'll ha'd me wi'
a scart;
Ye may keep her to ye're sel', but ye needna look
so fierce,
For I'll kiss and clap my scart, and ye may kiss
my -----.
* President Dalrymple, of North Berwick.
60 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND..
Ye're seamaws and taime nories, into my bed I'll
take,
Nor will I spare a marrot. nor yet a kittyweake,
Neither goose nor sandy lavrock, nor whaup shall
e'er gae free,
But ev'ry bird into the Bass shall lay an egg to
me!"
The solan goose, offended to hear him crack sae
crouse,
Says, "Ye're a cursed liar, sir, as I'm a solan
goose;
For if you do but touch a bird, be she either wife
or lass,
Ye shall hae cause to rue the day that e'er ye saw the
Bass!
"O sir, ye're but a stanchel, or else a ringtail'd
kite,"
Then turning round his rumple he in his face
did -----.
The hawk, in doleful dolor, did wipe his --------
e'e,
And was content to take his wing and waft him o'er
the sea.
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND. 61
He lighted on Tam Tallen, and pearch'd upon a
tow'r:
"A pox confound the solan goose, the husband of
e whore,
For he's blindit a' my eye, and he's claggit a' my
wing,
And the d---1 confound his rotten doup, his -----
it stinks o' ling!"
Meanwhile, the dolefu' master was in a deep
despair,
A capias gae to Nicoly, see what's become o'
Blair,
Gae send out little Stevenson, and see that he be
sure,
To call out Grova Nicoly, to waft about the lure.
What ail'd the careless rascal to hound him down
the wind,
I'll loose my harvest hawking, unless my hawk I
find;
Quoth Haddington, "I'm sorry;" quoth Binny,
"I could greet;"
Quoth Tarn, "My Lord, I'll seek your hawk upon
my barefoot feet."
62 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
But in came Wilkie Bower, with pleasure in his face;
"My Lord, ye're hawk's come back, — but he's in
a s----n case!"
My Lord was all in rapture to hear the gladsome
tale
"Tak that to buy ye brandy, and that to buy ye
ale!"
How fickle and uncertain are all our earthly joys,
When the losing of a hawk all our harvest hope
destroys:
But we'll thraw about each hawk's neck, and
hang each yelping hound,
And tak ourselves to tippeimy, where joys alone
abound!
O WHAT A PARISH.
Tune, "Bonny Dundee."
The Editor is ignorant of the circumstances
which gave rise to this very spirited song, no
popular tradition on the subject having reached
him.
Chorus.
O WHAT a parish, what a terrible parish!
O what a parish is that o' Dunkell!
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
63
They hae hangit the minister, drown'd the
precentor,
Dang down the steeple, an' druken the bell!
Tho' the steeple was down, the kirk was still
stannin';
They biggit a lum, * whare the bell used to
hang,
A stell-pat they gat, and they brew'd Highland
whisky,
On Sundays they drank it, an' ranted an' sang!
O what a parish, &c.
O! had you but seen how gracefu' it luikit,
To see the crammed pews so socially join;
Macdonald the piper stuck up in the pu'pit,
He made the pipes skirle sweet music divine.
O what a parish, &c.
When the heart-cheering spirit had mounted the
garret,
To a ball on the green they a' did adjourn,
Maids wi their coats kiltit, they skippit and tiltit,
When tired, the shook hands, and a' hame did
return.
O what a parish, &c.
* Lum, chimney
64 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
Wad the kirks in our Britain haud sic social
meetings,
Nae warnin' they'd need frae a tinklin' bell,
For true love and friendship wad ca' them the-
gither.
Far better than roarin' o' horrors o' hell.
O what a parish, &c.
MY WIFE SHALL HAE HER WILL.
(To be sung in its own particular tune.)
The Editor is indebted to Mr. Pitcairn's MS.
Collection for this song. He states that "it was
taken from the recitation of Miss K------, an old
lady, who mentions it as having been popular
"when she was a girl (about half a century ago),
but she did not recollect of ever seeing it in any
written or printed collection."
IF my dear wife should chance to gang,
Wi' me to Edinburgh town,
Into a shop I will her tak,
And buy her a new gown.
But if my dear wife should hain the charge
As I expect she will,
And if she says, "The auld ane will do,"
By my word she shall hae her will!
A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
65
If my dear wife should wish to gang,
To see a neighbour or a friend;
A horse or a chaise I will provide,
And a servant to attend;
But if my dear wife shall hain the charge,
As I expect she will;
And if she says, she "will walk on foot,"
By my word she shall hae her will.
If my dear wife shall bring me a son,
As I expect she will,
Cake and wine I will provide,
And a nurse to nurse the child.
But if my dear wife shall hain the charge,
As I expect she will;
And if she say, she'll nurse it hersell,
By my word she shall hae her will.
FINIS.
66 A NORTH COUNTRIE GARLAND.
APPENDIX.
THE BURNING OF FRENDRAUGHT (p. 14).
[Extract from John Spalding's "Memorialls of the Troubles
in Scotland" (vol. i. p. 13, Spalding Club Publications).]
"Upone the morne being Frydday, and aucht of
October, 1630, the Marques causit Frendracht to
brakfast lovinglie and kyndlie. Efter brakfast
the Marques directis his deir sone Johne, Viscount
of Aboyne, with sum servandis to convoy Fren-
dracht home to his awin hous, if Petcaple wes laid
for him be the way. Johne Gordoun, eldest sone to
the lait slayne Laird of Rothimay, hapint to be in
the bog, who wold go also with Aboyne. Thay
ryde but inteiruptioun to the place of Frendracht,
or sicht of Petcaple be the way. Aboyne tuke his
leive from the Laird, but upone no conditioun he
and his ladie wold not suffer him to go nor none
that wes with him that nicht, but ernestlie urgit
him (thogh aganes his will) to byd. Thay war
weill intertaynde, souppit mirrellie, and to bed
went joyfullie. The Viscount was laid in ane bed
in the old tower (going af of the hall) and standing
upone volt, quhairin thair wes ane round hoill
devysit of old just under Aboyne's bed. Robert
Gordoun borne in Sutherland his seruitour, and
Inglish Will his page, wes both laid besyde him in
APPENDIX.
67
the samen chalmer. The Laird of Rothimay with
some seruandis besyde him wes laid in ane upper
chalmer just above Aboyne's chalmer, and in
ane uther roume aboue that chalmer wes laid
George
Chalmer of Noth and George Gordoun,
ane uther of the Viscount's seruandis, with quhom
also wes laid capiten Rollok then in Frendrachtis
awin company. Thus all being at rest about mid-
nicht that dolorous towr tuke fyre in so suddant
and furious maner, yea and in ane clap, that this
noble Viscount, the Laird of Rothimay, Inglish
Will, Collein Ivat, ane uther of Aboyne's
seruitouris and uther tua being six in number,
war cruellie brynt and tormentit to the death but
help or releif, the Laird of Frendracht, his ladie,
and haill houshold looking on without moveing or
sturring to deliuer thame fra the furie of this
feirfull fyre as wes reportit.
Robert Gordoun, callit Sutherland Robert,
being in the Viscountis chalmer escaipit this fyre
with hys lyf. George Chalmer and Capitaine
Rollok being in the third roume escaipit also this
fyre, and as wes said Aboyne micht haue saiffit
himself also if he had gone out of durris, quhilk he
wold not do but suddantlie ran up stairris to
Rothimayis chalmer and walkint him to rys; and
as he is walkning him the tymber passage and
lofting of the chalmer haistellie takis fyre, so that
none of them could wyn dounstairis agane: so
they turnit to ane wyndo luiking to the clois quhair
68 APPENDIX.
they piteouslie cryit help, help, mony tymes, for
Godis caus. The Laird and the ladie with thair
seruandis all seeing and heiring this wofull crying
but maid no help nor maner of helping, whiche
thay perceaving, that cryit often tyms mercie at
Godis handis for thair synis, syne claspit in uther
armes and cheirfullie sufferit this cruell martyr-
dome. Thus deit this noble Viscount of sin-
gular expectation, Rothimay a brave youth, and
the rest be this dulefull fyre neuer aneuche to be
deplorit, to the gryt griefe and sorrow of thair
kyn, freindis, parentis, and haill countrie people,
especiallie to the noble Marques, who for his
goodwill gat this rewaird. No man can expres
the dolour of him and his ladie, nor yit the
greif of the Viscountis awin deir ladie when it
cam to her eiris, whiche scho keipit to her deing
day, disdayning euer the company of man thair-
efter in the rest of hir liftyme following the love
of the turtle dow."