Part 18

9 When she cam to the Parliament Closs, There amang our nobles many, Cravats an caps war standing there, But low, low lay her Geordie.

10 When she gaed up the tolbooth-stairs, Amang our nobles manie, The napkin’s tyed oer Geordie’s face, And the gallows makin ready.

11 ‘O wad ye hae his lands or rents? Or wad ye hae his monie? Take a’, a’ frae him but his sark alone, Leave me my true-love Geordie.’

12 The captain pu’d her on his knee, An ca’d her heart an honey: ‘An ye wad wait se’en years for me, Ye wad never jump for Geordie.’

13 ‘O hold your tongue, you foolish man, Your speech it’s a’ but folly; For an ye wad wait till the day ye die, I wad neer take John for Geordie.’

14 ’Twas up an spak the Lord Corstarph, The ill gae wi his body! ‘O Geordie’s neck it war on a block, Gif I had his fair ladie!’

15 ‘O haud yer tongue, ye foolish man, Yer speech is a’ but folly; For if Geordie’s neck war on a block, Ye sould neer enjoy his ladie.

16 ‘It’s I hae se’en weel gawn mills, I wait they a’ gang daily; I’ll gie them a’ an amang ye a’ For the sparin o my Geordie.

17 ‘I hae ele’en bairns i the wast, I wait the’re a’ to Geordie; I’d see them a’ streekit afore mine eyes Afore I lose my Geordie.

18 ‘I hae ele’en bairns i the wast, The twalt bears up my body; The youngest’s on his nurse’s knee, An he never saw his dadie.

19 ‘I hae se’en uncles in the north, They gang baith proud an lordly; I’d see them a’ tread down afore my eyes Afore I lose my Geordie.’

20 Then out an spak an English lord, The ill gae wi his bodie! ‘It’s I gard hang Sir Francie Grey, An I’ll soon gar hang your Geordie.’

21 It’s out an spak than a Scottish lord, May the weel gae wi his body! ‘It’s I’ll cast of my coat an feght Afore ye lose your Geordie.’

22 It’s out then spak an English lord, May the ill gae wi his bodie! ‘Before the morn at ten o’clock, I’s hae the head o Geordie.’

23 Out then spak the Scottish lord, May the weel gae wi his body! ‘I’ll fight i bluid up to the knees Afore ye lose your Geordie.’

24 But out an spak the royal king, May the weel gae wi his body! ‘There’s be bluidie heads among us a’ Afore ye lose your Geordie.’

25 ’Twas up than spak the royal queen, ‘May the weel gae wi his body! Tell down, tell down five hunder pound, An ye’s get wi you yer Geordie.’

26 Some gae her gold, some gae her crowns, Some gae her ducats many, An she’s telld down five hundred pound, An she’s taen away her Geordie.

27 An ay she praisd the powers above, An a’ the royal family, An ay she blessed the royal queen, For sparin o her Geordie.

28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nae bird sang sweeter in the bush Than she did wi her Geordie.

29 ‘It’s wo be to my Lord Costorph, It’s wo be to him daily! For if Geordie’s neck had been on the block He had neer enjoyd his ladie.

30 ‘Gar print me ballants weel,’ she said, ‘Gar print me ballants many, Gar print me ballants weel,’ she said, ‘That I am a worthy ladie.’

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C

#a.# “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” Abbotsford, No 38, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, 1813–15, p. 16; taken down from the singing of Miss Christy Robertson, Dunse. #b.# “Scotch Ballads,” etc., No 108, in a lady’s hand, and perhaps obtained directly from Miss Robertson.

1 There was a battle in the north, Among the nobles many; The Laird of Geight he’s killd a man, And there’s nane to die but Geordie.

* * * * * *

2 ‘What news? what news, my bonny boy? What news hae ye frae Geordie?’ ‘He bids ye sew his linen shirts, For he’s sure he’ll no need many.’

3 ‘Go saddle the black, go saddle the brown, Go saddle to me the bonny; For I will neither eat nor drink Until I see my Geordie.’

4 They’ve saddled the black, they’ve saddled the brown, They’ve saddled her the bonny, And she is away to Edinborough town, Straight away to see her Geordie.

5 When she came to the sea-side, The boats they were nae ready; She turned her horse’s head about, And swimd at the Queen’s Ferry.

6 And when she came to the prison-door, There poor folks they stood many; She dealt the red guineas them among, And bade them pray weel for Geordie.

7 And when she came into the hall, Amang the nobles many, The napkin’s tied on Geordie’s face, And the head’s to gae frae Geordie.

8 ‘I have born ten bonny sons, And the eleventh neer sa his dadie, And I will bear them all oer again For the life o bonny Geordie.

9 ‘I have born the Laird of Gight, And the Laird of bonny Pernonnie; And I will gie them all to thee For the life of my bonny Geordie.’

10 Up then spoke [a kind-hearted man], Wha said, He’s done good to many; If ye’ll tell down ten hundred crowns Away ye shall hae yer Geordie.

11 Some telld shillings, and some telld crowns, But she telld the red guineas many, Till they’ve telld down ten hundred crowns, And away she’s got her Geordie.

12 [It’s up then spoke an Irish lord, And O but he spoke bauldly!] ‘I wish his head had been on the block, That I might hae got his fair lady.’

13 She turned about . . . . And O but she spoke boldly! ‘A pox upon your nasty face! Will ye eer be compared to my Geordie?’

14 She set him on a milk-white steed, Herself upon another; The thrush on the briar neer sang so clear As she sang behind her Geordie.

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D

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 64, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, 1813–15, p. 50, Abbotsford. “I took this down from the recitation of Janet Scott, Bowden, who sung it to a beautiful plaintive old air.”

1 There was a battle i the north Among the nobles many, The Laird of Gigh he’s killd a man, The brother of his lady.

2 ‘Where will I get a man or boy, That will win both goud and money, That will run into the north, And fetch to me my lady?’

3 Up then spake a bonny boy, He was both blythe and merry; ‘O I will run into the north, And fetch to you your lady.’

4 ‘You may tell her to sew me a gude side shirt, She’ll no need to sew me mony; Tell her to bring me a gude side shirt, It will be the last of any.’

5 He has written a broad letter. And he’s seald it sad and sorry; He’s gaen it to that bonny boy, To take to his fair lady.

6 Away the bonny boy he’s gaen, He was both blythe and merrie; He’s to that fair lady gane, And taen her word frae Geordie.

7 When she looked the letter on, She was both sad and sorrie: ‘O I’ll away to fair Edinburgh town Myself and see my Geordie.

8 ‘Gar saddle to me the black,’ she says, ‘The brown was neer sae bonny; And I’ll straight to Edinburgh Myself and see my Geordie.’

9 When she came to that wan water, The boats was not yet ready; She wheeld her horse’s head around, And swimd at the Queen’s Ferry.

10 When she came to the Parliament Close, Amang the poor folks many, She dealt the crowns with duckatoons, And bade them pray for Geordy.

11 When she came to the Parliament House, Among the nobles many, The rest sat all wi hat on head, But hat in hand sat Geordie.

12 Up bespake an English lord, And he spake blythe and merrie; ‘Was Geordie’s head upon the block, I am sure I would have his lady.’

13 Up bespake that lady fair, And O but she was sorrie! ‘If Geordie’s head were on the block, There’s never a man gain his lady.

14 ‘I have land into the north, And I have white rigs many, And I could gie them a’ to you To save the life of Geordie.

15 ‘I have seven children in the north, And they seem very bonnie, And I could bear them a’ over again For to win the life o Geordie.’

16 Up bespake the gude Argyle; He has befriended many; ‘If ye’ll tell down ten hundred crowns, Ye’s win the life o Geordie.’

17 Some gaed her shillings, and some her crowns, And some gaed her guineas many, And she’s telld down ten hundred crowns, And she’s wone the life o Geordie.

18 When she came down through Edinborough, And Geordie in her hand, O, ‘Where will I get a writer’s [house], A writer’s house so ready, That I may write into the north I have wone the life o Geordie’?

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E

#a.# Kinloch MSS, V, 130; in the handwriting of James Beattie. #b.# Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 192.

1 There was a battle in the north, And rebels there were many, And they were a’ brought before the king, And taken was my Geordie. My Geordie O, O my Geordie O, O the love I bear to Geordie! For the very ground I walk upon Bears witness I love Geordie.

2 As she went up the tolbooth-stair, The cripples there stood many, And she dealt the red gold them among, For to pray for her love Geordie.

3 And when she came unto the hall The nobles there stood many, And every one stood hat on head, But hat in hand stood Geordie.

4 O up bespoke a baron bold, And O but he spoke bonnie! ‘Such lovers true shall not parted be,’ And she’s got her true-love Geordie.

5 When she was mounted on her high horse, And on behind her Geordie, Nae bird on the brier eer sang sae clear As the young knight and his lady. O my Geordie O, O my Geordie O, O the love I bear to Geordie! The very stars in the firmament Bear tokens I love Geordie.

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F

Motherwell’s MS., p. 367; from the recitation of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan.

1 ‘Geordie Lukely is my name, And many a one doth ken me; O Many an ill deed I hae done, But now death will owrecome me. O

2 ‘I neither murdered nor yet have I slain, I never murdered any; But I stole fyfteen o the king’s bay horse, And I sold them in Bohemia.

3 ‘Where would I get a pretty little boy, That would fain win gold and money, That would carry this letter to Stirling town, And give it to my lady?’

4 ‘Here am I, a pretty little boy, That wud fain win gold and money; I’ll carry your letter to Stirling town, And give it to your lady.’

5 As he came in by Stirling town He was baith weet and weary; The cloth was spread, and supper set, And the ladies dancing merry.

6 When she read the first of it, She was baith glad and cheery; But before she had the half o ‘t read, She was baith sad and sorry.

7 ‘Come saddle to me the bonnie dapple gray, Come saddle to me the wee poney; For I’ll awa to the king mysell, And plead for my ain love Geordie.’

8 She gaed up the Cannogate, Amang the puir folk monie; She made the handfus o red gold fly, And bade them pray for Geordie, And aye she wrang her lily-white hands, Saying, I am a wearyd lady!

9 Up and spoke the king himsell, And oh, but he spok bonnie! ‘It’s ye may see by her countenance That she is Geordie’s lady.’

10 Up and spoke a bold bluidy wretch, And oh, but he spoke boldly! ‘Tho [thou] should pay ten thousand pounds, Thou’ll never get thy own love Geordie.

11 ‘For I had but ae brother to mysell, I loved him best of any; They cutted his head from his fair bodie, And so will they thy love Geordie.’

12 Up and spoke the king again, And oh, but he spak bonnie! ‘If thou’ll pay me five thousand pound, I’ll gie thee hame thy love Geordie.’

13 She put her hand in her pocket, She freely paid the money, And she’s awa to the Gallows Wynd, To get her nain love Geordie.

14 As she came up the Gallows Wynd, The people was standing many; The psalms was sung, and the bells was rung, And silks and cords hung bonnie.

15 The napkin was tyed on Geordie’s face, And the hangman was just readie: ‘Hold your hand, you bluidy wretch! O hold it from my Geordie! For I’ve got a remit from the king, That I’ll get my ain love Geordie.’

16 When he heard his lady’s voice, He was baith blythe and merry: ‘There’s many ladies in this place; Have not I a worthy ladie?’

17 She mounted him on the bonnie dapple grey, Herself on the wee poney, And she rode home on his right hand, All for the pride o Geordie.

* * * * *

G

Motherwell’s Note-Book, p. 17, p. 10; from Mrs Rule, Paisley, August 16, 1825. Apparently learned from a blind aunt, pp. 1, 3.

1 The weather it is clear, and the wind blaws fair, And yonder a boy rins bonnie, And he is awa to the gates of Hye, With a letter to my dear ladie.

2 The first line that she lookit on, She was baith red and rosy; She droppit down, and she dropt in a swoon, Crys, Och and alace for Geordie!

3 ‘Gar saddle to me the black, black horse; The brown is twice as bonnie; But I will neither eat nor drink Till I relieve my Geordie.’

4 When she cam to the canny Cannygate, Amang the puir folk many, She made the dollars flee amang them a’, And she bade them plead for Geordie.

5 When she came to the tolbooth-gate, Amang the nobles many, She made the red gold flee amang them a’, And she bade them plead for Geordie.

6 Out and spoke the king himsell, ‘Wha’s aught this weary lady?’ Out and spoke a pretty little page, ‘She’s the Earl o Cassilis lady.’

7 ‘Has he killed? or has he slain? Or has he ravishd any?’ ‘He stole three geldings out o yon park, And sold them to Balleny.’

8 ‘Pleading is idle,’ said the king, ‘Pleading is idle with any; But pay you down five hundred pund, And tak you hame your Geordie.’

9 Some gave marks, and som gave crowns, Some gave dollars many; She’s paid down the five hundred pund, And she’s relieved her Geordie.

10 The lady smiled in Geordie’s face: ‘Geordie, I have bocht thee; But down in yon green there had been bluidy breeks Or I had parted wi thee.’

* * * * *

H

Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, II, 44; “long favorite in the counties of Aberdeen and Banff.”

1 ‘Will ye go to the Hielans, my bonny lad? Will ye go to the Hielans, Geordie? Though ye tak the high road and I tak the low, I will be in the Hielans afore ye.’

2 He hadna been in the high Hielans A month but barely twa, O, Till he was laid in prison strong, For hunting the king’s deer and rae, O.

3 ‘O where will I get a bonny, bonny boy, That will run my errand cannie, And gae quickly on to the bonny Bog o Gight, Wi a letter to my lady?’

4 ‘O here am I, a bonny, bonny boy, That will run your errand cannie, And will gae on to the bonny Bog o Gight, Wi a letter to your lady.’

5 When she did get this broad letter, A licht, licht laugh gae she, O; But before she read it to an end The saut tear was in her ee, O.

6 ‘O has he robbd? or has he stown? Or has he killëd ony? Or what is the ill that he has done, That he’s gaun to be hangd sae shortly?’

7 ‘He hasna robbd, he hasna stown, He hasna killëd ony; But he has hunted the king’s deer and rae, And he will be hangëd shortly.’

8 ‘Come saddle to me the bonny brown steed, For the black never rade sae bonny, And I will gae on to Edinboro town To borrow the life o my Geordie.’

9 The first water-side that she cam to, The boatman wasna ready; She gae anither skipper half-a-crown, To boat her oer the ferry.

10 When she cam on to Edinboro town, The poor stood thick and mony; She dealt them money roun and roun, Bade them pray for the life o her Geordie.

11 When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair, She saw there nobles mony, And ilka noble stood hat on head, But hat in hand stood Geordie.

12 Then out it spak an English lord, And vow, but he spake bonny! ‘If ye pay down ten thousand crouns, Ye’ll get the life o your Geordie.’

13 Some gae her marks, some gae her crouns, Some gae her guineas rarely, Till she paid down ten thousand crouns, And she got the life o her Geordie.

14 Then out it spak an Irish lord, O wae befa his body! ‘It’s a pity the knicht didna lose his head, That I micht hae gotten his lady.’

15 But out it spak the lady hersel, And vow, but she spak bonny! ‘The pock-marks are on your Irish face, You could not compare wi my Geordie!’

16 When she was in the saddle set, And on ahint her Geordie, The bird on the bush neer sang sae sweet, As she sung to her love Geordie.

17 ‘First I was mistress o bonny Auchindown, And I was lady o a’ Carnie, But now I have come to the bonny Bog o Gight, The wife o my true-love Geordie.

18 ‘If I were in the high Hielans, I would hear the white kye lowing; But I’d rather be on the bonny banks o Spey, To see the fish-boaties rowing.’

* * * * *

I

#a.# Buchan’s MSS, II, 143. #b.# Kinloch MSS, VI, 1, in the handwriting of Joseph Robertson.

1 ‘I choosed my love at the bonny yates of Gight, Where the birks an the flowers spring bony, But pleasures I had never one, But crosses very mony.

2 ‘First I was mistress of Pitfan And madam of Kincraigie, And now my name is bonny Lady Anne, And I am Gight’s own lady.

3 ‘He does not use me as his wife, Nor cherish me as his lady, But day by day he saddles the grey, And rides off to Bignet’s lady.’

4 Bignet he got word of this, That Gight lay wi his lady; He swore a vow, and kept it true, To be revengd on’s body.

5 ‘Where will I get a bonny boy Will run my errand shortly, That woud run on to the bonny yates o Gight Wi a letter to my lady?’

6 Gight has written a broad letter, And seald it soon and ready, And sent it on to Gight’s own yates, For to acquaint his lady.

7 The first of it she looked on, O dear! she smiled bonny; But as she read it till an end The tears were thick an mony.

8 ‘Come saddle to me the black,’ she says, ‘Come saddle him soon and shortly, Ere I ride down to Edinburgh town, Wi a lang side sark to Geordy.’

9 When she came to the boat of Leith, I wad she did na tarry; She gave the boatman a guinea o gold To boat her oer the ferry.

10 As she gaed oer the pier of Leith, Among the peerls many, She dealt the crowns and dukedoons, Bade them a’ pray for Geordy.

11 As she gaed up the tolbooth-stair, Among the nobles many, Every one sat hat on head, But hat in hand stood Geordy.

12 ‘Has he brunt? or has he slain? Or has he robbëd any? Or has he done any other crime, That gars you head my Geordy?’

13 ‘He hasna brunt, he hasna slain, He hasna robbed any; But he has done another crime, For which he will pay dearly.’

14 In it comes him First Lord Judge, Says, George, I’m sorry for you; You must prepare yourself for death, For there’ll be nae mercy for you.

15 In it comes him Second Lord Judge, Says, George I’m sorry for you; You must prepare yourself for death, For there’ll be nae mercy for you.

16 Out it speaks Gight’s lady herself, And vow, but she spake wordy! ‘Is there not a lord among you all Can plead a word for Geordy?’

17 Out it speaks the first Lord Judge: ‘What lady’s that amang you That speaks to us so boldly here, And bids us plead for Geordy?’

18 Out then spake a friend, her own, And says, It’s Gight’s own lady, Who is come to plead her own lord’s cause, To which she’s true and steady.

19 The queen, looking oer her shott-window, Says, Ann, I’m sorry for you; If ye’ll tell down ten thousand crowns, Ye shall get home your Geordy.

20 She’s taen the hat out of his hand, And dear! it set her bonny; She’s beggd the red gold them among, And a’ to borrow Geordy.

21 She turnd her right and round about Among the nobles many; Some gave her dollars, some her crowns, And some gave guineas many.

22 She spread her mantle on the floor, O dear! she spread it bonny, And she told down that noble sum; Says, Put on your hat, my Geordy.

23 But out it speaks him gleid Argyle, Says, Woe be to your body! I wish that Gight had lost his head, I should enjoyd his lady.

24 She looked oer her left shoulder, A proud look and a saucy; Says, Woe be to you, gleid Argyle! Ye’ll neer be like my Geordy.

25 ‘You’ll hae me to some writer’s house, And that baith seen and shortly, That I may write down Gight’s lament, And how I borrowed Geordy.’

26 When she was in her saddle set, And aye behind her Geordy, Birds neer sang blyther in the bush Than she behind her Geordy.

27 ‘O bonny George, but I love thee well, And O sae dear as I love thee! The sun and moon and firmament above Bear witness how I love thee!’

28 ‘O bonny Ann, but I love thee well, And O but sae dear as I love thee! The birds in the air, that fly together pair and pair, Bear witness, Ann, that I love thee!’

* * * * *

J

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 133.

1 ‘First I was lady o Black Riggs, And then into Kincraigie; Now I am the Lady o Gight, And my love he’s ca’d Geordie.

2 ‘I was the mistress o Pitfan, And madam o Kincraigie; But now my name is Lady Anne, And I am Gight’s own lady.

3 ‘We courted in the woods o Gight, Where birks and flowrs spring bonny; But pleasures I had never one, But sorrows thick and mony.

4 ‘He never ownd me as his wife, Nor honourd me as his lady, But day by day he saddles the grey, And rides to Bignet’s lady.’

5 When Bignet he got word of that, That Gight lay wi his lady, He’s casten him in prison strong, To ly till lords were ready.

6 ‘Where will I get a little wee boy, That is baith true and steady, That will run on to bonny Gight, And bring to me my lady?’

7 ‘O here am I, a little wee boy, That is baith true and steady, That will run to the yates o Gight, And bring to you your lady.’

8 ‘Ye’ll bid her saddle the grey, the grey, The brown rode neer so smartly; Ye’ll bid her come to Edinbro town, A’ for the life of Geordie.’

9 The night was fair, the moon was clear, And he rode by Bevany, And stopped at the yates o Gight, Where leaves were thick and mony.

10 The lady lookd oer castle-wa, And dear, but she was sorry! ‘Here comes a page frae Edinbro town; A’ is nae well wi Geordie.

11 ‘What news, what news, my little boy? Come tell me soon and shortly;’ ‘Bad news, bad news, my lady,’ he said, ‘They’re going to hang your Geordie.’

12 ‘Ye’ll saddle to me the grey, the grey, The brown rade neer so smartly; And I’ll awa to Edinbro town, Borrow the life o Geordie.’

13 When she came near to Edinbro town, I wyte she didna tarry, But she has mounted her grey steed, And ridden the Queen’s Ferry.

14 When she came to the boat of Leith, I wat she didna tarry; She gae the boatman a guinea o gowd To boat her ower the ferry.

15 When she came to the pier o Leith, The poor they were sae many; She dealt the gowd right liberallie, And bade them pray for Geordie.

16 When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair, The nobles there were many: And ilka ane stood hat on head, But hat in hand stood Geordie.

17 She gae a blink out-ower them a’, And three blinks to her Geordie; But when she saw his een fast bound, A swoon fell in this lady.