Part 11

6. Then up it raise him Fa'se Footrage, While a' were fast asleep, And slew the porter in his lodge, That watch and ward did keep.

7. O four and twenty silver keys Hang hie upon a pin, And ay as a door he did unlock, He has fasten'd it him behind.

8. Then up it raise him King Honor, Says, 'What means a' this din? Now what's the matter, Fa'se Footrage, Or wha was't loot you in?'

9. 'O ye my errand well shall learn Before that I depart'; Then drew a knife baith lang and sharp And pierced him thro' the heart.

10. Then up it got the Queen hersell, And fell low down on her knee: 'O spare my life now, Fa'se Footrage! For I never injured thee.

11. 'O spare my life now, Fa'se Footrage! Until I lighter be! And see gin it be lad or lass, King Honor has left me wi'.'

12. 'O gin it be a lass,' he says, 'Weel nursed she shall be; But gin it be a lad-bairn, He shall be hanged hie.

13. 'I winna spare his tender age, Nor yet his hie, hie kin; But as soon as e'er he born is, He shall mount the gallows-pin.'

14. O four and twenty valiant knights Were set the Queen to guard, And four stood ay at her bower-door, To keep baith watch and ward.

15. But when the time drew till an end That she should lighter be, She cast about to find a wile To set her body free.

16. O she has birled these merry young men Wi' strong beer and wi' wine, Until she made them a' as drunk As any wall-wood swine.

17. 'O narrow, narrow is this window, And big, big am I grown!' Yet thro' the might of Our Ladie, Out at it she has won.

18. She wander'd up, she wander'd down, She wander'd out and in; And at last, into the very swines' stye, The Queen brought forth a son.

19. Then they cast kaivles them amang Wha should gae seek the Queen; And the kaivle fell upon Wise William, And he's sent his wife for him.

20. O when she saw Wise William's wife, The Queen fell on her knee; 'Win up, win up, madame,' she says, 'What means this courtesie?'

21. 'O out of this I winna rise, Till a boon ye grant to me, To change your lass for this lad-bairn, King Honor left me wi'.

22. 'And ye maun learn my gay gos-hawke Well how to breast a steed; And I shall learn your turtle-dow As well to write and read.

23. 'And ye maun learn my gay gos-hawke To wield baith bow and brand; And I sall learn your turtle-dow To lay gowd wi' her hand.

24. 'At kirk and market where we meet, We dare nae mair avow But--"Dame, how does my gay gose-hawk?" "Madame, how does my dow?"'

25. When days were gane, and years come on, Wise William he thought long; Out has he ta'en King Honor's son, A hunting for to gang.

26. It sae fell out at their hunting, Upon a summer's day, That they cam' by a fair castle, Stood on a sunny brae.

27. 'O dinna ye see that bonny castle Wi' wa's and towers sae fair? Gin ilka man had back his ain, Of it you shoud be heir.'

28. 'How I shoud be heir of that castle, In sooth I canna see; When it belongs to Fa'se Footrage, And he's nae kin to me.'

29. 'O gin ye shoud kill him Fa'se Footrage, You woud do what is right; For I wot he kill'd your father dear, Ere ever you saw the light.

30. 'Gin you shoud kill him Fa'se Footrage, There is nae man durst you blame; For he keeps your mother a prisoner, And she dares no take you hame.'

31. The boy stared wild like a gray gose-hawk, Says, 'What may a' this mean?' 'My boy, you are King Honor's son, And your mother's our lawful queen.'

32. 'O gin I be King Honor's son, By Our Ladie I swear, This day I will that traytour slay, And relieve my mother dear!'

33. He has set his bent bow till his breast, And lap the castle-wa'; And soon he's siesed on Fa'se Footrage, Wha loud for help gan ca'.

34. 'O haud your tongue now, Fa'se Footrage, Frae me ye shanno flee.' Syne pierced him through the foul fa'se heart, And set his mother free.

35. And he has rewarded Wise William Wi' the best half of his land; And sae has he the turtle dow Wi' the truth o' his right hand.

[Annotations: 3.1: 'kaivles,' lots. 13.4: 'gallows-pin,' the projecting beam of the gallows. 16.1: 'birled,' plied. 16.4: 'wallwood,' wild wood: a conventional ballad-phrase. 25.2: A stock ballad-phrase. 33.1: A ballad conventionality.]

FAIR ANNIE OF ROUGH ROYAL

'Ouvre ta port', Germin', c'est moi qu'est ton mari.' 'Donnez-moi des indic's de la premiere nuit, Et par la je croirai que vous et's mon mari.'

--_Germaine._

+The Text+ is Fraser Tytler's, taken down from the recitation of Mrs. Brown in 1800, who had previously (1783) recited a similar version to Jamieson. The later recitation, which was used by Scott, with others, seems to contain certain improvisations of Mrs. Brown's which do not appear in the earlier form.

+The Story.+--A mother, who feigns to be her own son and demands tokens of the girl outside the gate, turns her son's love away, and is cursed by him. Similar ballads exist in France, Germany, and Greece.

There is an early eighteenth-century MS. (Elizabeth Cochrane's _Song-Book_) of this ballad, which gives a preliminary history. Isabel of Rochroyal dreams of her love Gregory; she rises up, calls for a swift steed, and rides forth till she meets a company. They ask her who she is, and are told that she is 'Fair Isabel of Rochroyal,' seeking her true-love Gregory. They direct her to 'yon castle'; and thenceforth the tale proceeds much as in the other versions.

'Lochryan,' says Scott, 'lies in Galloway; Roch--or Rough--royal, I have not found, but there is a Rough castle in Stirlingshire' (Child).

FAIR ANNIE OF ROUGH ROYAL

1. 'O wha will shoe my fu' fair foot? And wha will glove my hand? And wha will lace my middle jimp, Wi' the new-made London band?

2. 'And wha will kaim my yellow hair, Wi' the new-made silver kaim? And wha will father my young son, Till Love Gregor come hame?'

3. 'Your father will shoe your fu' fair foot, Your mother will glove your hand; Your sister will lace your middle jimp Wi' the new-made London band.

4. 'Your brother will kaim your yellow hair, Wi' the new-made silver kaim; And the king of heaven will father your bairn, Till Love Gregor come haim.'

5. 'But I will get a bonny boat, And I will sail the sea, For I maun gang to Love Gregor, Since he canno come hame to me.'

6. O she has gotten a bonny boat, And sail'd the sa't sea fame; She lang'd to see her ain true-love, Since he could no come hame.

7. 'O row your boat, my mariners, And bring me to the land, For yonder I see my love's castle, Closs by the sa't sea strand.'

8. She has ta'en her young son in her arms, And to the door she's gone, And lang she's knock'd and sair she ca'd, But answer got she none.

9. 'O open the door, Love Gregor,' she says, 'O open, and let me in; For the wind blaws thro' my yellow hair, And the rain draps o'er my chin.'

10. 'Awa', awa', ye ill woman, You 'r nae come here for good; You 'r but some witch, or wile warlock, Or mer-maid of the flood.'

11. 'I am neither a witch nor a wile warlock, Nor mer-maid of the sea, I am Fair Annie of Rough Royal; O open the door to me.'

12. 'Gin ye be Annie of Rough Royal-- And I trust ye are not she-- Now tell me some of the love-tokens That past between you and me.'

13. 'O dinna you mind now, Love Gregor, When we sat at the wine, How we changed the rings frae our fingers? And I can show thee thine.

14. 'O yours was good, and good enneugh, But ay the best was mine; For yours was o' the good red goud, But mine o' the dimonds fine.

15. 'But open the door now, Love Gregor, O open the door I pray, For your young son that is in my arms Will be dead ere it be day.'

16. 'Awa', awa', ye ill woman, For here ye shanno win in; Gae drown ye in the raging sea, Or hang on the gallows-pin.'

17. When the cock had crawn, and day did dawn, And the sun began to peep, Then it raise him Love Gregor, And sair, sair did he weep.

18. 'O I dream'd a dream, my mother dear, The thoughts o' it gars me greet, That Fair Annie of Rough Royal Lay cauld dead at my feet.'

19. 'Gin it be for Annie of Rough Royal That ye make a' this din, She stood a' last night at this door, But I trow she wan no in.'

20. 'O wae betide ye, ill woman, An ill dead may ye die! That ye woudno open the door to her, Nor yet woud waken me.'

21. O he has gone down to yon shore-side, As fast as he could fare; He saw Fair Annie in her boat But the wind it toss'd her sair.

22. And 'Hey, Annie!' and 'How, Annie! O Annie, winna ye bide?' But ay the mair that he cried 'Annie,' The braider grew the tide.

23. And 'Hey, Annie!' and 'How, Annie! Dear Annie, speak to me!' But ay the louder he cried 'Annie,' The louder roar'd the sea.

24. The wind blew loud, the sea grew rough, And dash'd the boat on shore; Fair Annie floats on the raging sea, But her young son raise no more.

25. Love Gregor tare his yellow hair, And made a heavy moan; Fair Annie's corpse lay at his feet, But his bonny young son was gone.

26. O cherry, cherry was her cheek, And gowden was her hair, But clay cold were her rosey lips, Nae spark of life was there.

27. And first he's kiss'd her cherry cheek, And neist he's kissed her chin; And saftly press'd her rosey lips, But there was nae breath within.

28. 'O wae betide my cruel mother, And an ill dead may she die! For she turn'd my true-love frae the door, When she came sae far to me.'

[Annotations: 10.3: 'warlock,' wizard, magician. 18.2: 'gars me greet,' makes me weep.]

HIND HORN

+The Text+ is from Motherwell's MS., written from the recitation of a Mrs. King of Kilbarchan.

+The Story+ of the ballad is a mere remnant of the story told in the Gest of King Horn, preserved in three manuscripts, the oldest of which belongs to the thirteenth century. Similar stories are given in a French romance of the fourteenth century, and an English manuscript of the same date. The complete story in the Gest may be condensed as follows:--

Horn, son of Murry, King of Suddenne, was captured by Saracens, who killed his father, and turned him and his twelve companions adrift in a boat, which was eventually beached safely on the coast of Westerness, and Ailmar the king took them in and brought them up. Rymenhild his daughter, falling in love with Horn, offered herself to him. He refused, unless she would make the king knight him. She did so, and again claimed his love; but he said he must first prove his knighthood. She gave him a ring set with stones, such that he could never be slain if he looked on it and thought of her. His first feat was the slaying of a hundred heathens; then he returned to Rymenhild. Meanwhile, however, one of his companions had told the king that Horn meant to kill him and wed his daughter. Ailmar ordered Horn to quit his court; and Horn, having told Rymenhild that if he did not come back in seven years she might marry another, sailed to the court of King Thurston in Ireland, where he stayed for seven years, performing feats of valour with the aid of Rymenhild's ring.

At the end of the allotted time, Rymenhild was to be married to King Modi of Reynis. Horn, hearing of this, went back to Westerness, arrived on the marriage-morn, met a palmer (the old beggar man of the ballad), changed clothes with him, and entered the hall. According to custom, Rymenhild served wine to the guests, and as Horn drank, he dropped her ring into the vessel. When she discovered it, she sent for the palmer, and questioned him. He said Horn had died on the voyage thither. Rymenhild seized a knife she had hidden to kill King Modi and herself if Horn came not, and set it to her breast. The palmer threw off his disguise, saying, 'I am Horn.' Still he would not wed her till he had regained his father's kingdom of Suddenne, and went away and did so. Meanwhile a false friend seized Rymenhild; but on the marriage-day Horn returned, killed him, and finally made Rymenhild his wife and Queen of Suddenne.

Compare the story of Torello and the Saladin in the _Decameron_, Tenth Day, Novel 9.

HIND HORN

1. In Scotland there was a babie born, _Lill lal, etc._ And his name it was called young Hind Horn, _With a fal lal, etc._

2. He sent a letter to our king That he was in love with his daughter Jean.[A]

... ... ...

3. He's gi'en to her a silver wand, With seven living lavrocks sitting thereon.

4. She's gi'en to him a diamond ring, With seven bright diamonds set therein.

5. 'When this ring grows pale and wan, You may know by it my love is gane.'

6. One day as he looked his ring upon, He saw the diamonds pale and wan.

7. He left the sea and came to land, And the first that he met was an old beggar man.

8. 'What news, what news?' said young Hind Horn; 'No news, no news,' said the old beggar man.

9. 'No news,' said the beggar, 'no news at a', But there is a wedding in the king's ha'.

10. 'But there is a wedding in the king's ha', That has halden these forty days and twa.'

11. 'Will ye lend me your begging coat? And I'll lend you my scarlet cloak.

12. 'Will you lend me your beggar's rung? And I'll gi'e you my steed to ride upon.

13. 'Will you lend me your wig o' hair, To cover mine, because it is fair?'

14. The auld beggar man was bound for the mill, But young Hind Horn for the king's hall.

15. The auld beggar man was bound for to ride, But young Hind Horn was bound for the bride.

16. When he came to the king's gate, He sought a drink for Hind Horn's sake.

17. The bride came down with a glass of wine, When he drank out the glass, and dropt in the ring.

18. 'O got ye this by sea or land? Or got ye it off a dead man's hand?'

19. 'I got not it by sea, I got it by land, And I got it, madam, out of your own hand.'

20. 'O I'll cast off my gowns of brown, And beg wi' you frae town to town.

21. 'O I'll cast off my gowns of red, And I'll beg wi' you to win my bread.'

22. 'Ye needna cast off your gowns of brown, For I'll make you lady o' many a town.

23. 'Ye needna cast off your gowns of red, It's only a sham, the begging o' my bread.'

24. The bridegroom he had wedded the bride, But young Hind Horn he took her to bed.

[Footnote A: After stanza 2 there is a gap in the story. Other versions say that Hind Horn goes, or is sent, to sea.]

[Annotations: 10.2: The bride has lingered six weeks in hopes of Hind Horn's return. 12.1: 'rung,' staff.]

EDWARD

+The Text+ is that given by Percy in the _Reliques_ (1765), with the substitution of _w_ for initial _qu_, and _y_ for initial _z_, as in _Young Waters_ (see p. 146). In the fourth edition of the _Reliques_ Percy states that 'this curious song was transmitted to the editor by Sir David Dalrymple, Bart., late Lord Hailes.'

Percy's adoption of antique spelling in this ballad has caused some doubt to be thrown on its authenticity; but there is also a version _Son Davie_, given in his _Minstrelsy_ by Motherwell, who, in referring to the version in the _Reliques_, said there was reason for believing that Lord Hailes 'made a few slight verbal improvements in the copy he transmitted, and altered the hero's name to Edward, a name which, by the bye, never occurs in a Scottish ballad except where allusion is made to an English king.'

+The Story+ has a close parallel in Swedish, the form of the ballad remaining in dialogue.

Motherwell points out that the verses of which _Edward_ consists generally form the conclusion of the ballad of _The Twa Brothers_, and also of certain versions of _Lizie Wan_; and is inclined to regard _Edward_ as detached from one of those ballads. More probably the reverse is the case, that the story of _Edward_ has been attached to the other ballads.

The present version of the ballad exhibits an unusual amplification of the refrain. The story is told in two lines of each eight-lined stanza; but the lyrical effect added by the elaborate refrain is almost unique.

EDWARD

1. 'Why dois your brand sae drap wi' bluid, Edward, Edward? Why dois your brand sae drap wi' bluid, And why sae sad gang yee, O?' 'O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my hauke sae guid, And I had nae mair bot hee, O.'

2. 'Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, Edward, Edward. Your haukis bluid was nevir sae reid, My deir son I tell thee, O.' 'O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my reid-roan steid, That erst was sae fair and frie, O.'

3. 'Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair, Edward, Edward: Your steid was auld, and ye hae gat mair, Sum other dule ye drie, O.' 'O, I hae killed my fadir deir, Mither, mither: O, I hae killed my fadir deir, Alas! and wae is mee, O!'

4. 'And whatten penance wul ye drie for that, Edward, Edward? And whatten penance will ye drie for that. My deir son, now tell me, O, 'Ile set my feit in yonder boat, Mither, mither: Ile set my feit in yonder boat, And Ile fare ovir the sea, O.'

5. 'And what wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha', Edward, Edward? And what wul ye doe wi' your towirs and your ha', That were sae fair to see, O?' 'Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa', Mither, mither: Ile let thame stand tul they doun fa', For here nevir mair maun I bee, O.'

6. 'And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Edward, Edward? And what wul ye leive to your bairns and your wife, Whan ye gang ovir the sea, O?' 'The warldis room, late them beg thrae life, Mither, mither: The warldis room, let them beg thrae life, For thame nevir mair wul I see, O.'

7. 'And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir, Edward, Edward? And what wul ye leive to your ain mither deir? My deir son, now tell me, O.' 'The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, Mither, mither: The curse of hell frae me sall ye beir, Sic counseils ye gave to me, O.'

[Annotations: 3.4: 'dule,' grief; 'drie,' suffer. 6.5,7: _i.e._ The world is wide.]

LORD RANDAL

+The Text+ is from Scott's _Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_ (1803). Other forms give the name as _Lord Ronald_, but Scott retains _Randal_ on the supposition that the ballad originated in the death of 'Thomas Randolph, or Randal, Earl of Murray, nephew to Robert Bruce, and governor of Scotland,' who died at Musselburgh in 1332.

+The Story+ of the ballad is found in Italian tradition nearly three hundred years ago, and also occurs in Dutch, German, Swedish, Danish, Magyar, Wendish, etc.

Certain variants of the ballad bear the title of _The Croodlin Doo_, and the 'handsome young man' is changed for a child, and the poisoner is the child's step-mother. Scott suggests that this change was made 'to excite greater interest in the nursery.' In nearly all forms of the ballad, the poisoning is done by the substitution of snakes ('eels') for fish, a common method amongst the ancients of administering poison.

Child gives a collation of seven versions secured in America of late years, in each of which the name of Lord Randal has become corrupted to 'Tiranti.'

The antiphonetic form of the ballad is popular, as being dramatic and suitable for singing. Compare _Edward_, also a dialogue between mother and son.

LORD RANDAL

1. 'O where hae ye been, Lord Randal, my son? O where hae ye been, my handsome young man?' 'I hae been to the wild wood; mother, make my bed soon, For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down.'

2. 'Where gat ye your dinner, Lord Randal, my son? Where gat ye your dinner, my handsome young man?' 'I din'd wi' my true-love; mother, make my bed soon, For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down.'

3. 'What gat ye to your dinner, Lord Randal, my son? What gat ye to your dinner, my handsome young man?' 'I gat eels boil'd in broo'; mother, make my bed soon, For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down.'

4. 'What became of your bloodhounds, Lord Randal, my son? What became of your bloodhounds, my handsome young man?' 'O they swell'd and they died; mother, make my bed soon, For I'm weary wi' hunting, and fain wald lie down.'

5. 'O I fear ye are poison'd, Lord Randal, my son! O I fear ye are poison'd, my handsome young man!' 'O yes, I am poison'd; mother, make my bed soon, For I'm sick at the heart, and I fain wald lie down.'

[Annotations: 3.3: 'broo',' broth.]

LAMKIN

+The Text+ is from Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_. He obtained it from Mrs. Brown. It is by far the best version of a score or so in existence. The name of the hero varies from Lamkin, Lankin, Lonkin, etc., to Rankin and Balcanqual. I have been informed by Andrew McDowall, Esq., of an incomplete version in which Lamkin's name has become 'Bold Hang'em.'

Finlay (_Scottish Ballads_) remarks:-- 'All reciters agree that Lammikin, or Lambkin, is not the name of the hero, but merely an epithet.'

+The Story+ varies little throughout all the versions, though in some, as in one known to Percy, it lacks much of the detail here given.

LAMKIN

1. It's Lamkin was a mason good As ever built wi' stane; He built Lord Wearie's castle, But payment got he nane.

2. 'O pay me, Lord Wearie, Come, pay me my fee': 'I canna pay you, Lamkin, For I maun gang o'er the sea.'

3. 'O pay me now, Lord Wearie, Come, pay me out o' hand': 'I canna pay you, Lamkin, Unless I sell my land.'

4. 'O gin ye winna pay me, I here sail mak' a vow, Before that ye come hame again, Ye sall hae cause to rue.'

5. Lord Wearie got a bonny ship, To sail the saut sea faem; Bade his lady weel the castle keep, Ay till he should come hame.

6. But the nourice was a fause limmer As e'er hung on a tree; She laid a plot wi' Lamkin, Whan her lord was o'er the sea.

7. She laid a plot wi' Lamkin, When the servants were awa', Loot him in at a little shot-window, And brought him to the ha'.

8. 'O whare's a' the men o' this house, That ca' me Lamkin?' 'They're at the barn-well thrashing; 'Twill be lang ere they come in.'

9. 'And whare's the women o' this house, That ca' me Lamkin?' 'They're at the far well washing; 'Twill be lang ere they come in.'

10. 'And whare's the bairns o' this house, That ca' me Lamkin?' 'They're at the school reading; 'Twill be night or they come hame.'

11. 'O whare's the lady o' this house, That ca's me Lamkin?' 'She's up in her bower sewing, But we soon can bring her down.'

12. Then Lamkin's tane a sharp knife, That hung down by his gaire, And he has gi'en the bonny babe A deep wound and a sair.

13. Then Lamkin he rocked, And the fause nourice sang, Till frae ilkae bore o' the cradle The red blood out sprang.

14. Then out it spak' the lady, As she stood on the stair: 'What ails my bairn, nourice, That he's greeting sae sair?

15. 'O still my bairn, nourice, O still him wi' the pap!' 'He winna still, lady, For this nor for that.'

16. 'O still my bairn, nourice, O still him wi' the wand!' 'He winna still, lady, For a' his father's land.'