Volume 3 / Book 4 — BOOK IV.

There ance liv'd a king in fair Scotland, King Malcolm called by name; Whom ancient history gives record, For valour, worth, and fame. And it fell ance upon a day,5 The king sat down to dine; And then he miss'd a favourite knight, Whose name was Sir Colvin. But out it speaks another knight, Ane o' Sir Colvin's kin;10 "He's lyin' in bed, right sick in love, All for your daughter Jean." "O waes me," said the royal king, "I'm sorry for the same; She maun take bread and wine sae red,15 Give it to Sir Colvin." Then gently did she bear the bread, Her page did carry the wine, And set a table at his bed;— "Sir Colvin, rise and dine."20 "O well love I the wine, lady, Come frae your lovely hand; But better love I your fair body, Than all fair Scotland's strand." "O hold your tongue now, Sir Colvin,25 Let all your folly be; My love must be by honour won, Or nane shall enjoy me. "But on the head o' Elrick's hill, Near by yon sharp hawthorn,30 Where never a man with life e'er came, Sin our sweet Christ was born;— "O ye'll gang there and walk a' night, And boldly blaw your horn; With honour that ye do return,35 Ye'll marry me the morn." Then up it raise him, Sir Colvin, And dress'd in armour keen; And he is on to Elrick's hill, Without light of the meen.40 At midnight mark the meen upstarts; The knight walk'd up and down; While loudest cracks o' thunder roar'd, Out ower the bent sae brown. Then by the twinkling of an e'e45 He spied an armed knight; A fair lady bearing his brand, Wi' torches burning bright. Then he cried high, as he came nigh, "Coward, thief, I bid you flee!50 There is not ane comes to this hill, But must engage wi' me. "Ye'll best take road before I come, And best take foot and flee; Here is a sword baith sharp and broad,55 Will quarter you in three." Sir Colvin said, "I'm not afraid Of any here I see; You hae not ta'en your God before; Less dread hae I o' thee."60 Sir Colvin then he drew his sword, His foe he drew his brand; And they fought there on Elrick's hill Till they were bluidy men. The first an' stroke the knight he strake,65 Gae Colvin a slight wound; The next an' stroke Lord Colvin strake, Brought's foe unto the ground. "I yield, I yield," the knight he said, "I fairly yield to thee;70 Nae ane came e'er to Elrick-hill E'er gain'd such victorie. "I and my forbears here did haunt Three hundred years and more; I'm safe to swear a solemn oath,75 We were never beat before." "An asking," said the lady gay, "An asking ye'll grant me:" "Ask on, ask on," said Sir Colvin, "What may your asking be?"80 "Ye'll gie me hame my wounded knight, Let me fare on my way; And I'se ne'er be seen on Elrick's hill, By night, nor yet by day; And to this place we'll come nae mair,85 Cou'd we win safe away; "To trouble any Christian one Lives in the righteous law, We'll come nae mair unto this place, Cou'd we win safe awa'."90 "O ye'se get hame your wounded knight, Ye shall not gang alane; But I maun hae a wad o' him, Before that we twa twine." Sir Colvin being a book-learn'd man,95 Sae gude in fencing tee, He's drawn a stroke behind his hand, And followed in speedilie. Sae fierce a stroke Sir Colvin's drawn, And followed in speedilie,100 The knight's brand and sword hand In the air he gar'd them flee. It flew sae high into the sky, And lighted on the ground; The rings that were on these fingers105 Were worth five hundred pound. Up he has ta'en that bluidy hand, Set it before the king; And the morn it was Wednesday, When he married his daughter Jean.110

The reivers they wad a stealing gang, To steal sae far frae hame; And stown ha'e they the king's daughter, Fair Annie hight by name. They've carried her into fremmit lands,5 To a duke's son of high degree; And he has gie'n for Fair Annie Mickle goud and white money. And eight lang years o' love sae leal Had past atween them twae;10 And now a bonny bairntime O' seven fair sons had they. That lord he was of Meckelborg land, Of princely blood and stemme; And for his worth and curtesy15 That lord a king became. But little wist that noble king, As little his barons bald, That it was the king of England's daughter, Had sae to him been sald!20 And eight lang years sae past and gane, Fair Annie now may rue; For now she weets in fremmit lands Anither bride he'll wooe. Fair Annie's till his mither gane;25 Fell low down on her knee; "A boon, a boon, now lady mither, Ye grant your oys and me! "If ever ye kist, if ever ye blest, And bade them thrive and thee,30 O save them now frae scaith and scorn, O save your oys and me! "Their father's pride may yet relent; His mither's rede he'll hear; Nor for anither break the heart35 That ance to him was dear. "He had my love and maiden pride; I had nae mair to gi'e; He well may fa' a brighter bride, But nane that lo'es like me."40 "A brighter bride he ne'er can fa'; A richer well he may; But daughter dearer nor Fair Annie, His mither ne'er can ha'e." That princess stood her son before:45 "My lord the king," said she, "Fy on the lawless life ye lead, Dishonour'd as ye be! "Its Annie's gude, and Annie's fair, And dearly she lo'es thee;50 And the brightest gems in a' your crown Your seven fair sons wad be. "Her love, her life, her maiden fame, Wi' you she shar'd them a'; Now share wi' her your bridal bed;55 Her due she well may fa'." "To my bridal bed, my mither dear, Fair Annie ne'er can win; I coft her out of fremmit lands, Nor ken her kith or kin."60 And he's gard write a braid letter, His wedding to ordein; And to betrothe anither bride To be his noble queen. Fair Annie up at her bower window65 Heard a' that knight did say: "O God, my heavenly Father! gif My heart mat brast in twae!" Fair Annie stood at her bower window, And heard that knight sae bald:70 "O God, my heavenly Father! gif I mat my dearest hald!" That lord is to Fair Annie gane: Says, "Annie, thou winsome may, O whatten a gude gift will ye gi'e75 My bride on her bridal day?" "I'll gi'e her a gift, and a very gude gift, And a dear-bought gift to me; For I'll gi'e her my seven fair sons, Her pages for to be."80 "O that is a gift, but nae gude gift, Frae thee, Fair Annie, I ween; And ye maun gi'e some richer gift Befitting a noble queen." "I'll gi'e her a gift, and a dear, dear gift,85 And a gift I brook wi' care; For I'll gi'e her my dearest life, That I dow brook nae mair." "O that is a gift, but a dowie gift, Now, Annie, thou winsome may;90 Ye maun gi'e her your best goud girdle, Her gude will for to ha'e." "Oh na, that girdle she ne'er shall fa'; That I can never bear; The luckless morn I gave you a',95 Ye gae me that girdle to wear." That lord before his bride gan stand: "My noble bride and queen! O whatten a gift to my lemman Annie Will now by you be gi'en?"100 "I'll gi'e her a gift, and a very gude gift, My lord the king," said she; "For I'll gi'e her my auld shoe to wear, Best fitting her base degree." "O that is a gift, but nae gude gift,105 My noble bride and queen; And ye maun gi'e her anither gift, If you'll my favour win." "Then I'll gi'e her a very gude gift, My lord the king," said she;110 "I'll gie her my millers seven, that lig Sae far ayont the sea. "Well are they fed, well are they clad, And live in heal and weal; And well they ken to measure out115 The wheat, but and caneel." Fair Annie says, "My noble lord, This boon ye grant to me; Let me gang up to the bridal bower, Your young bride for to see."120 "O gangna, Annie, gangna, there, Nor come that bower within; Ye maunna come near that bridal bower, Wad ye my favour win." Fair Annie is till his mither gane:125 "O lady mither," said she, "May I gang to the bridal bower, My lord's new bride to see?" "That well ye may," his mither said; But see that ye're buskit bra',130 And clad ye in your best cleading, Wi' your bower maidens a'." Fair Annie she's gaen to the bower, Wi' heart fu' sair and sad; Wi' a' her seven sons her before,135 In the red scarlet clad. Fair Annie's taen a silver can, Afore the bride to skink; And down her cheeks the tears ay run, Upon hersell to think.140 The bride gan stand her lord before: "Now speak, and dinna spare; Whare is this fair young lady frae? Whareto greets she sae sair?" "O hear ye now, dear lady mine,145 The truth I tell to thee; It is but a bonny niece of mine, That is come o'er the sea." "O wae is me, my lord," she says, "To hear you say sic wrang;150 It can be nane but your auld lemman; God rede whare she will gang!" "Then till her sorrow, and till her wae, I'll tell the truth to thee; For she was sald frae fremmit lands,155 For mickle goud to me. "Her bairntime a' stand her before, Her seven young sons sae fair; And they maun now your pages be, That maks her heart sae sair."160 "A little sister ance I had, A sister that hight Ann; By reivers she was stown awa', And sald in fremmit land. "She was a bairn when she was stown,165 Yet in her tender years; And sair her parents mourn'd for her, Wi' mony sighs and tears. "Art thou fair Annie, sister mine, Thou noble violet flower?170 Her mither never smil'd again Frae Annie left her bower! "O thou art she! a sister's heart Wants nane that tale to tell! And there he is, thy ain true lord;175 God spare ye lang and well!" And gladness through the palace spread, Wi' mickle game and glee; And blythe were a' for fair Annie, Her bridal day to see.180 And now untill her father's land This young bride she is gane; And her sister Annie's youngest son She hame wi' her has ta'en.

"The corn is turning ripe, Lord John, The nuts are growing fu', And ye are bound for your ain countrie; Fain wad I go wi' you." "Wi me, Marg'ret, wi me, Marg'ret,5 What wad ye do wi' me? I've mair need o' a pretty little boy, To wait upon my steed." "It's I will be your pretty little boy, To wait upon your steed;10 And ilka town that we come to, A pack of hounds I'll lead." "My hounds will eat o' the bread o' wheat, And ye of the bread of bran: And then you will sit and sigh,15 That e'er ye loed a man." The first water that they cam to, I think they call it Clyde, He saftly unto her did say,— "Lady Marg'ret, will ye ride?"20 The first step that she steppit in, She steppit to the knee; Says, "Wae be to ye, waefu' water, For through ye I maun be." The second step that she steppit in,25 She steppit to the middle, And sigh'd, and said, Lady Margaret, "I've stain'd my gowden girdle." The third step that she steppit in, She steppit to the neck;30 The pretty babe within her sides, The cauld it garr'd it squake. "Lie still my babe, lie still my babe, Lie still as lang's ye may, For your father rides on horseback high,35 Cares little for us twae." It's whan she cam to the other side, She sat doun on a stane; Says, "Them that made me, help me now, For I am far frae hame.40 "How far is it frae your mither's bouer, Gude Lord John tell to me?" "It's therty miles, Lady Margaret, It's therty miles and three: And ye'se be wed to ane o' her serving men,45 For ye'se get na mair o' me." Then up bespak the wylie parrot, As it sat on the tree;— "Ye lee, ye lee, Lord John," it said, "Sae loud as I hear ye lee.50 "Ye say it's thirty miles frae your mither's bouer, Whan it's but barely three; And she'll ne'er be wed to a serving man, For she'll be your ain ladie." * * * * * * Monie a lord and fair ladie55 Met Lord John in the closs, But the bonniest face amang them a', Was hauding Lord John's horse. Monie a lord and gay ladie Sat dining in the ha',60 But the bonniest face that was there, Was waiting on them a'. O up bespak Lord John's sister, A sweet young maid was she: "My brither has brought a bonnie young page,65 His like I ne'er did see; But the red flits fast frae his cheek, And the tear stands in his ee." But up bespak Lord John's mither, She spak wi' meikle scorn:70 "He's liker a woman gret wi' bairn, Than onie waiting-man." "It's ye'll rise up, my bonnie boy, And gie my steed the hay:"— "O that I will, my dear master,75 As fast as I can gae." She took the hay aneath her arm, The corn intil her hand; But atween the stable door and the staw, Lady Marg'ret made a stand.80 * * * * * * "O open the door, Lady Margaret, O open and let me in; I want to see if my steed be fed, Or my grey hounds fit to rin." "I'll na open the door, Lord John," she said,85 "I'll na open it to thee, Till ye grant to me my ae request, And a puir ane it's to me. "Ye'll gie to me a bed in an outhouse, For my young son and me,90 And the meanest servant in a' the place, To wait on him and me." "I grant, I grant, Lady Marg'ret," he said, "A' that, and mair frae me, The very best bed in a' the place To your young son and thee:95 And my mither, and my sister dear, To wait on him and thee. "And a' thae lands, and a' thae rents, They sall be his and thine;100 Our wedding and our kirking day, They sall be all in ane." And he has tane Lady Margaret, And row'd her in the silk; And he has tane his ain young son,105 And wash'd him in the milk.

There was a shepherd's dochter Kept sheep on yonder hill; Bye cam a knicht frae the king's court, And he wad hae his will. Whan he had got his wills o' her,5 His will as he has tane; "Wad ye be sae gude and kind, As tell to me your name?" "Some ca's me Jock, some ca's me John, Some disna ken my name;10 But whan I'm in the king's court, Mitchcock is my name." "Mitchcock! hey!" the lady did say, And spelt it oure again; "If that's your name in the Latin tongue,15 Earl Richard is your name!" O jumpt he upon his horse, And said he wad gae ride; Kilted she her green claithing, And said she wad na bide.20 And he was never sae discreet, As bid her loup on and ride; And she was ne'er sae meanly bred, As for to bid him bide. And whan they cam to yon water,25 It was running like a flude; "I've learnt it in my mither's bouer, I've learnt it for my gude, That I can soum this wan water, Like a fish in a flude.30 "I've learnt it in my father's bouer, Ive learnt it for my better, And I will soum this wan water, As tho' I was ane otter." "Jump on behind, ye weill-faur'd may,35 Or do ye chuse to ride?" "No, thank ye, sir," the lady said, "I wad rather chuse to wyde;" And afore that he was 'mid-water, She was at the ither side.40 "Turn back, turn back, ye weill-faur'd may, My heart will brak in three;" "And sae did mine, on yon bonnie hill-side, Whan ye wad na let me be." "Whare gat ye that gay claithing,45 This day I see on thee?" "My mither was a gude milk-nurse, And a gude nourice was she, She nurs'd the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter, And gat a' this to me."50 Whan she cam to the king's court, She rappit wi' a ring; Sae ready was the king himsel' To lat the lady in. "Gude day, gude day, my liege the king,55 Gude day, gude day, to thee;" "Gude day," quo' he, "my lady fair, What is't ye want wi' me?" "There is a knicht into your court, This day has robbed me;"60 "O has he tane your gowd," he says, "Or has he tane your fee?" "He has na tane my gowd," she says, "Nor yet has he my fee; But he has tane my maiden-head,65 The flow'r o' my bodie." "O gin he be a single man, His body I'll gie thee; But gin he be a married man, I'll hang him on a tree."70 Then out bespak the queen hersel', Wha sat by the king's knee: "There's na a knicht in a' our court Wad hae dune that to thee, Unless it war my brither, Earl Richard,75 And forbid it, it war he!" "Wad ye ken your fause love, Amang a hundred men?" "I wad," said the bonnie ladie, "Amang five hundred and ten."80 The king made a' his merry men pass, By ane, by twa, and three; Earl Richard us'd to be the first man, But was hindmost man that day. He cam hauping on ae foot,85 And winking wi' ae ee; "Ha! ha!" cried the bonnie ladie, "That same young man are ye." He has pou'd out a hundred pounds, Weel lockit in a glove;90 "Gin ye be a courteous may, Ye'll chose anither love." "What care I for your hundred pounds? Nae mair than ye wad for mine; What's a hundred pounds to me,95 To a marriage wi' a king! "I'll hae nane o' your gowd, Nor either o' your fee; But I will hae your ain bodie, The king has grantit me."100 "O was ye gentle gotten, maid? Or was ye gentle born? Or hae ye onie gerss growin'? Or hae ye onie corn? "Or hae ye onie lands or rents105 Lying at libertie? Or hae ye onie education, To dance alang wi' me?" "I was na gentle gotten, madam, Nor was I gentle born;110 Neither hae I gerss growin', Nor hae I onie corn. "I hae na onie lands or rents, Lying at libertie; Nor hae I onie education,115 To dance along wi' thee." Whan the marriage it was oure, And ilk ane took their horse,— "It never sat a beggar's brat, At na knicht's back to be."120 He lap on ae milk-white steed, And she lap on anither, And syne the twa rade out the way Like sister and like brither. The ladie met wi' a beggar-wife,125 And gied her half o' crown— "Tell a' your neebours whan ye gae hame, That Earl Richard's your gude-son." "O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat, My heart will brak in three;"130 "And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side, Whan ye wad na lat me be." Whan she cam to yon nettle-dyke— "An my auld mither was here, Sae weill as she wad ye pou;135 She wad boil ye weill, and butter ye weill, And sup till she war fou, Syne laye her head upo' her dish doup, And sleep like onie sow." And whan she cam to Tyne's water,140 She wylilie did say— "Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water, With thee I bid gude-day. "Fareweil, ye mills o' Tyne's water, To you I bid gude-een;145 Whare monie a time I've fill'd my pock, At mid-day and at een." "Hoch! had I drank the well-water, Whan first I drank the wine, Never a mill-capon150 Wad hae been a love o' mine." Whan she cam to Earl Richard's house, The sheets war Hollan' fine; "O haud awa thae linen sheets, And bring to me the linsey clouts,155 I hae been best used in." "O haud your tongue, ye beggar's brat, My heart will brak in three;" "And sae did mine on yon bonnie hill-side, Whan ye wadna lat me be."160 "I wish I had drank the well-water, Whan first I drank the beer; That ever a shepherd's dochter Shou'd hae been my only dear!" "Ye'll turn about, Earl Richard,165 And mak some mair o' me: An ye mak me lady o' ae puir plow, I can mak you laird o' three." "If ye be the Earl o' Stockford's dochter, As I've some thouchts ye be,170 Aft hae I waited at your father's yett, But your face I ne'er could see." Whan they cam to her father's yett, She tirled on the pin; And an auld belly-blind man was sittin' there,175 As they were entering in:— "The meetest marriage," the belly-blind did cry, "Atween the ane and the ither; Atween the Earl o' Stockford's ae dochter, And the Queen o' England's brither."180