Part 36

5 He set her on his bonnie black horse, He set himsel on his gude gray naigie, And they have ridden oer hills and dales, And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggie.

6 They have ridden oer hills and dales, They have ridden oer mountains many, Until they cam to a low, low glen, And there he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.

7 Up then spak the Earl of Argyle, Dear wow! but he spak wondrous sorrie; ‘The bonniest lass in a’ Scotland Is off and awa wi a Highland fellow!’

8 Their bed was of the bonnie green grass, Their blankets war o the hay sae bonnie; He folded his philabeg below her head, And he’s lain down wi his bonnie Peggie.

9 Up then spak the bonny Lowland lass, And wow! but she spak wondrous sorrie; ‘I’se warrant my mither wad hae a gay sair heart To see me lien here wi you, my Willie.’

10 ‘In my father’s house there’s feather-beds, Feather-beds, and blankets mony; They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine, And what needs your mither be sae sorrie, Peggie?

11 ‘Dinna you see yon nine score o kye, Feeding on yon hill sae bonnie? They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine, And what needs your mither be sorrie, Peggie?

12 ‘Dinna ye see yon nine score o sheep, Feeding on yon brae sae bonnie? They’re a’ mine, and they’ll sune be thine, And what needs your mither be sorrie for ye?

13 ‘Dinna ye see yon bonnie white house, Shining on yon brae sae bonnie? And I am the Earl of the Isle of Skye, And surely my Peggie will be ca’d a lady.’

* * * * *

B

#a.# Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 174; from recitation, #b.# Kinloch MSS, VII, 259; “from Mrs K.’s recitation.” #c.# Aytoun’s Ballads of Scotland, 1859, II, 230.

1 The Lawland lads think they are fine, But the Hieland lads are brisk and gaucy, And they are awa, near Glasgow toun, To steal awa a bonnie lassie.

2 ‘I wad gie my gude brown steed, And sae wad I my gude grey naigie, That I war fifty miles frae the toun, And nane wi me but my bonnie Peggy.’

3 But up then spak the auld gudman, And vow! but he spak wondrous saucie; ‘Ye may steal awa our cows and ewes, But ye sanna get our bonnie lassie.’

4 ‘I have got cows and ewes anew, I’ve got gowd and gear already; Sae I dinna want your cows nor ewes, But I will hae your bonnie Peggy.’

5 ‘I’ll follow you oure moss and muir, I’ll follow you oure mountains many, I’ll follow you through frost and snaw, I’ll stay na langer wi my daddie.’

6 He set her on a gude brown steed, Himself upon a gude grey naigie; They’re oure hills, and oure dales, And he’s awa wi his bonnie Peggy.

7 As they rade out by Glasgow toun, And doun by the hills o Achildounie, There they met the Earl of Hume, And his auld son, riding bonnie.

8 Out bespak the Earl of Hume, And O! but he spak wondrous sorry; ‘The bonniest lass about a’ Glasgow toun This day is awa wi a Hieland laddie!’

9 As they rade bye auld Drymen toun, The lasses leuch and lookit saucy, That the bonniest lass they ever saw Sud be riding awa wi a Hieland laddie.

10 They rode on through moss and muir, And so did they owre mountains many, Until that they cam to yonder glen, And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.

11 Gude green hay was Peggy’s bed, And brakens war her blankets bonnie, Wi his tartan plaid aneath her head; And she’s lain doun wi her Hieland laddie.

12 ‘There’s beds and bowsters in my father’s house, There’s sheets and blankets, and a’ thing ready, And wadna they be angry wi me, To see me lie sae wi a Hieland laddie!’

13 ‘Tho there’s beds and beddin in your father’s house, Sheets and blankets, and a’ made ready, Yet why sud they be angry wi thee, Though I be but a Hieland laddie?

14 ‘It’s I hae fifty acres of land, It’s a’ plowd and sawn already; I am Donald, the Lord of Skye, And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?

15 ‘I hae fifty gude milk kye, A’ tied to the staws already; I am Donald, the Lord of Skye, And why sud na Peggy be calld a lady?

16 ‘See ye no a’ yon castles and towrs? The sun sheens owre them a sae bonnie; I am Donald, the Lord of Skye, I think I’ll mak ye as blythe as onie.’

17 A’ that Peggy left behind Was a cot-house and a wee kail-yardie; Now I think she is better by far Than tho she had got a Lawland lairdie.

* * * * *

C

#a.# Motherwell’s MS., p. 89; from recitation. #b.# “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 116, and Sharpe’s Ballad Book, ed. 1880, p. 137, the last stanza.

* * * * *

1 ‘He set her on his bonnie black horse, He set himsel on his good gray naigie; He has ridden over hills, he has ridden over dales, And he’s quite awa wi my bonny Peggy.

2 ‘Her brow it is brent and her middle it is jimp, Her arms are long and her fingers slender; One sight of her eyes makes my very heart rejoice, And wae’s my heart that we should sunder!’

3 His sheets were of the good green hay, His blankets were of the brackens bonnie; He’s laid his trews beneath her head, And she’s lain down wi her Highland laddie.

4 ‘I am my mother’s ae daughter, And she had nae mair unto my daddie, And this night she would have a sore, sore heart For to see me lye down with a Highland laddie.’

5 ‘Ye are your mother’s ae daughter, And she had nae mae unto your daddie; This night she need not have a sore, sore heart For to see you lie down with a Highland laddie.

6 ‘I have four-and-twenty acres of land, It is ploughed, it is sown, and is always ready, And you shall have servants at your command; And why should you slight a Highland laddie?

7 ‘I have four-and-twenty good milk-kye, They are feeding on yon meadow bonnie; Besides, I have both lambs and ewes, Going low in the haughs o Galla water.

8 ‘My house it stands on yon hill-side, My broadsword, durk, and bow is ready, And you shall have servants at your command; And why may not Peggy be called a lady?’

* * * * *

D

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 155.

1 A bonny laddie brisk and gay, A handsome youth sae brisk and gaddie, And he is on to Glasgow town, To steal awa his bonny Peggy.

2 When he came into Glasgow town, Upon her father’s green sae steady, ‘Come forth, come forth, old man,’ he says, ‘For I am come for bonny Peggy.’

3 Out it spake her father then; ‘Begone from me, ye Highland laddie; There’s nane in a’ the West Country Dare steal from me my bonny Peggy.’

4 ‘I’ve ten young men all at my back, That ance to me were baith true and steady; If ance I call, they’ll soon be nigh, And bring to me my bonny Peggy.’

5 Out it spake her mother then, Dear! but she spake wondrous saucy; Says, Ye may steal my cow or ewe, But I’ll keep sight o my ain lassie.

6 ‘Hold your tongue, old woman,’ he says, ‘Ye think your wit it is fu ready; For cow nor ewe I ever stole, But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’

7 Then all his men they boldly came, That was to him baith true and steady, And thro the ha they quickly went, And forth they carried bonny Peggy.

8 Her father gae mony shout and cry, Her mother cursed the Highland laddie; But he heard them as he heard them not, But fixd his eye on bonny Peggy.

9 He set her on his milk-white steed, And he himsell on his grey naigie; Still along the way they rode, And he’s awa wi bonny Peggy.

10 Says, I wad gie baith cow and ewe, And sae woud I this tartan plaidie, That I was far into the north, And alang wi me my bonny Peggy.

11 As they rode down yon pleasant glen, For trees and brambles were right mony, There they met the Earl o Hume, And his young son, were riding bonny.

12 Then out it spake the young Earl Hume, Dear! but he spake wondrous gaudie; ‘I’m wae to see sae fair a dame Riding alang wi a Highland laddie.’

13 ‘Hold your tongue, ye young Earl Hume, O dear! but ye do speak right gaudie; There’s nae a lord in a’ the south Dare eer compete wi a Highland laddie.’

14 Then he rade five miles thro the north, Thro mony hills sae rough and scroggie, Till they came down to a low glen, And he lay down wi bonny Peggy.

15 Then he inclosed her in his arms, And rowd her in his tartan plaidie: ‘There are blankets and sheets in my father’s house, How have I lien down wi a Highland laddie!’

16 Says he, There are sheep in my father’s fauld, And every year their wool is ready; By the same our debts we pay, Altho I be but a Highland laddie.

17 ‘There are fifty cows in my father’s byre, That all are tyed to the stakes and ready; Five thousand pounds I hae ilk year, Altho I be but a Highland laddie.

18 ‘My father has fifty well shod horse, Besides your steed and my grey naigie; I’m Donald o the Isle o Sky, Why may not you be ca’d a lady?

19 ‘See ye not yon fine castle, On yonder hill that stands sae gaudie? And there we’ll win this very night, Where ye’ll enjoy your Highland laddie.’

* * * * *

E

Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 70, as sang by an old woman living near Keith, Banffshire.

1 The Hielan lads sae brisk and braw, The Hielan lads sae brisk and gaudie, Hae gane awa to Glasgow town, To steal awa the bonny Peggy.

2 As they cam on to Glasgow town, And passd the banks and braes sae bonny, There they espied the weel-faurd may, And she said to them her name was Peggy.

3 Their chief did meet her father soon, And O! but he was wondrous angry; Says, Ye may steal my owsen and kye, But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.

4 ‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man, For I’ve got cows and ewes already; I come na to steal your owsen and kye, But I will steal your bonny Peggy.’

5 He set her on a milk-white steed, And he himsel rode a gude grey naigie, And they are on mony miles to the north, And nane wi them but the bonny Peggy.

6 ‘I hae fifty acres o gude red lan, And a’ weel ploughd and sawn already, And why should your father be angry wi me, And ca me naething but a Hielan laddie?

7 ‘I hae twenty weel mounted steeds, Black and brown and grey, already; And ilk ane o them is tended by a groom, Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.

8 ‘I hae now ten thousand sheep, A’ feeding on yon braes sae bonny, And ilka hundred a shepherd has, Altho I be but a Hielan laddie.

9 ‘I hae a castle on yonder hill, It’s a’ set roun wi windows many; I’m Lord M’Donald o the whole Isle of Skye; And why shouldna Peggy be ca’d my Lady?’

10 Now a’ that Peggy had before Was a wee cot-house and a little kail-yairdie, But now she is lady o the whole Isle of Skye, And now bonny Peggy is ca’d my Lady.

* * * * *

F

Alexander Laing’s MS., 1829, p. 5.

1 The young Maclean is brisk an bauld, The young Maclean is rash an ready. An he is to the Lowlands gane, To steal awa a bonnie ladye.

* * * * * *

2 Out an spak her auld father, An O! but he spak wondrous angry; ‘Ye may steal my cows an ewes, But ye shall not steal my dochter Peggie.’

3 ‘O haud your tongue, ye gude auld man, For I hae gear enough already; I cum na for your cows an ewes, But I cum for your dochter Peggie.’

4 He set her on a milk-white steed, Himsel upon a gude gray naggie, An they are to the Highlands gane, The young Maclean an his bonnie ladye.

* * * * *

#B. b.#

_Stanzas_ 7, 3, 12^2, 6, 4.

3. And then out and spak her father dear, And oh! but he was wondrous angrie; ‘It’s ye may steal my cows and ews, But ye maunna steal my bonnie Peggy.’

4. ‘Hold your tongue, you silly auld man, For ye’ve said eneuch already; I’ll neither steal your cows nor ews, But I wat I’ll steal your bonnie Peggy.’

6^1. He’s mounted her on a milk-white.

6^2. are ouer hill and they’re ouer dale.

6^4. he’s clean awa.

7^1. As I cam in by.

7^3. I met.

7^4. son, war.

12^2. Feather beds and bowsters many. (A, 10.^2)

#c.#

“I have carefully collated these [_Kinloch’s copy_, #B a#, _and Sharpe’s_, #A#] with another _copy_, giving, for the most part, the preference to the version of Mr Kinloch.” _Readings (quite unimportant) which do not occur in_ #B a#, #A#:

1^3. they hae come doun to Glasgow toun.

2^1. O I.

2^3. were a hundred.

4^3. or.

_After 4_, _cf._ #A# 4^{1,2}:

But up then spak the auld gudewife, And wow! but she lookd wondrous yellow.

5^{1–3}. follow him.

5^4. I’ll bide.

7^1. out frae.

7^2. And by the side o Antermony.

7^4. Wi him his.

8^2. sadly _for_ sorry.

10^1. It’s they.

11^4. wi the.

12^1. There’s mair than ae bed in.

16^2. on them.

16^3. It’s I.

#C.# #b.#

8. _In a letter of John Hamilton’s to Sir W. Scott, dated August 17, 1803 (“Scotch Ballads,” etc., No 116), this stanza is given thus_:

My palace stands on yon burn-brae, My bow is bent an arrows ready; My name is Donald, in the Isle of Sky, Although I be but a Highland laddie.

_Scott probably trusted to his memory when making the following note to a, printed in Sharpe’s Ballad Book, ed. 1880_:

‘I have a dirk and a gude claymore, My bow is bent and my arrow ready; My castle stands in the Isle of Skye, Although I am but a Highland laddie.’

“The above stanza, which I got from the late Mr Hamilton, music-seller in Edinburgh, seems to belong to ‘Glasgow Peggie.’”

229

EARL CRAWFORD

#A. a.# ‘Earl Crawford,’ Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 290, from recitation. #b.# From recitation.

#B.# ‘Earl Crawford,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 61. Abridged, in Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 68.

#A.# One of seven handsome sisters makes a great match with the Earl of Crawford. In a fit of jealousy at the fondness which he shows his young son, Ladie Lillie addresses to her husband a quip on that head, to which the earl replies in the same tone. But the matter does not end there. The earl sets his wife on a horse, with her son, and sends her home to her father at Stobhall, never to enter his gates again. Her father is surprised that she should come without notice or attendants; she tells him that a word from her merry mouth has parted her and her lord. The father offers to make a better match for her; she would not give a kiss of Crawford’s for all her father’s gold. She sends a messenger to the earl to see whether he retains affection for her; word is brought back that she is to stay with her father and never enter Crawford’s gates again. Her heart breaks. Her father puts on black, rides to Crawford’s, and finds the earl just setting forth with a party to bring Lady Lillie home. Upon learning that his wife is dead, the earl declares that the sun shall nevermore shine on him.

#B.# Lady Crawford rides to her husband’s castle in person to see if the earl will pity her. He shuts his gates and steeks his doors, and will neither come down to speak with her himself nor send his man. She retires weeping. The earl in turn now goes to the castle where his lady is lying, to see if she will pity him. She shuts the gates and steeks the doors, and will neither come down to speak with him nor send her waiting-maid. Not the less she takes to her bed, both she and Crawford die before morning, and both are buried in one tomb.

The late Earl of Crawford recognized an agreement with fact in some of the details of this story: Christie, I, 289. David, eleventh earl of Crawford, who succeeded his father in 1574, married Lilias Drummond, daughter of David, second Lord Drummond, the Laird of Stobhall. This was considered so great a match for the lady that a tocher was given with her “far beyond what was customary in those times, to wit, ten thousand merks.” Although the peerages mention no children by this marriage, there is evidence that Earl David had by Lilias “an only child, David, who died in infancy.” “These collateral verities” seemed to Earl Crawford “to found a presumption in favor of the truth of the main incident of the ballad.” Crawford did not live at Crawford Castle, as the ballad has it. “That place had ceased to be the family residence for a long while. Earl David lived at Finhaven Castle, in Angus; not too far from Stobhall to be in keeping with the riding to and fro recorded in the ballad.”

The first lines of the ballad are probably borrowed from ‘Gil Brenton:’ see No 5, #A# 43, #B# 34, #C# 1, #D# 1, #H# 1, 2. #A# 11, 12, #B# 15, 16, is a commonplace: see most of the versions of ‘Jamie Douglas,’ No 204, and of ‘The Braes o Yarrow,’ No 214, and ‘Clerk Saunders,’ No 69, #E# 15, #G# 27.

#B# is translated by Gerhard, p. 108.

* * * * *

A

#a.# Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 290, as taken down 1867–73, from the recitation of Mrs Mary Robertson, wife of James Robertson, shoemaker, Bogmoor, near Fochabers. #b.# Obtained by Mr Macmath, March 25, 1890, from the daughter of Mrs Robertson, Mrs Mary Thomson, wife of James Thomson, gardener at Gordon Castle gardens, Fochabers.

1 O we were sisters, sisters seven, We were a comely crew to see, And some got lairds, and some got lords, And some got knichts o hie degree; And I mysel got the Earl o Crawford, And wasna that a great match for me!

2 It was at fifteen that I was married, And at sixteen I had a son; And wasna that an age ower tender For a lady to hae her first-born! And wasna, etc.

3 But it fell ance upon a day I gaed into the garden green, And naebody was therein walking But Earl Crawford and his young son.

4 ‘I wonder at you, ye Earl Crawford, I wonder at you wi your young son; Ye daut your young son mair than your Lillie; [I’m sure you got na him your lane.’]

5 [He turned about upon his heel, I wite an angry man was he; Says, If I got nae my young son my lane, Bring me here the one that helpet me.]

6 [‘O hold your tongue, my Earl Crawford, And a’ my folly lat it be; There was nane at the gettin o oor son, Nae body only but you and me.’]

7 He set her on a milk-white steed, Her little young son her before; Says, Ye maun gae to bonny Stobha, For ye will enter my yates no more.

8 When she cam to her father’s bowers, She lichtit low down on the stane, And wha sae ready as her auld father To welcome Lady Lillie in?

9 ‘O how’s a’ wi you, my daughter Lillie, That ye come here sae hastilie? And how’s a’ wi’ the Earl o Crawford, That he didna send a boy wi thee?’

10 ‘O haud your tongue now, my old father, And ye’ll lat a’ your folly be; For ae word that my merry mou spak Has parted my good lord and me.’

11 ‘O haud your tongue, my daughter Lillie, And a’ your follies lat them be; I’ll double your portion ten times ower, And a better match I’ll get for thee.’

12 ‘O haud your tongue now, my old father, And a’ your folly lat it be; I wouldna gie ae kiss o Crawford For a’ the goud that ye can gie.

13 ‘Whare will I get a bonny boy, That’s willin to win meat and fee, Wha will gae on to Earl Crawford An see an’s heart be fawn to me?’

14 When he cam to the yates o Crawford, They were a’ sitting down to dine: ‘How comes it now, ye Earl Crawford, Ye arena takin Lady Lillie hame?’

15 ‘Ye may gae tell her Lady Lillie, And ye maun neither lee nor len, She may stay in her father’s bowers, For she’ll not enter my yates again.’

16 When he cam back to her father’s yates, He lichtit low down on his knee: ‘What news, what news, my bonny boy? What news, what news hae ye to me ?’

17 ‘I’m bidden tell you, Lady Lillie— I’m bidden neither to lee nor len— She may stay in her father’s bowers, For she’ll not enter my yates again.’

18 She stretched out her lily hand, Says, ‘Adieu, adieu to ane and a! Adieu, adieu to Earl Crawford!’ Wi that her sair heart brak in twa.

19 Then dowie, dowie her father raise up, And dowie, dowie the black put on, And dowie, dowie he mounted the brown, And dowie, dowie sat thereon.

20 And dowie rade to the yates o Crawford, And when to Crawford’s yates he came, They were a’ dressd in the robes o scarlet, Just gaun to tak Lady Lillie hame.

21 ‘Ye may cast aff your robes o scarlet— I wyte they set you wondrous weel— And now put on the black sae dowie, And come and bury your Lady Lill.’

22 He took his hat into his hand, And laid it low down by his knee: ‘An it be true that Lillie’s dead, The sun shall nae mair shine on me.’

* * * * *

B

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 61.

1 O we were seven bonny sisters, As fair women as fair could be, And some got lairds, and some got lords, And some got knights o high degree: When I was married to Earl Crawford, This was the fate befell to me.

2 When we had been married for some time, We walked in our garden green, And aye he clappd his young son’s head, And aye he made sae much o him.

3 I turnd me right and round about, And aye the blythe blink in my ee: ‘Ye think as much o your young son As ye do o my fair body.

4 ‘What need ye clap your young son’s head? What need ye make so much o him? What need ye clap your young son’s head? I’m sure ye gotna him your lane.’

5 ‘O if I gotna him my lane, Show here the man that helpëd me; And for these words your ain mouth spoke Heir o my land he neer shall be.’

6 He calld upon his stable-groom To come to him right speedilie: ‘Gae saddle a steed to Lady Crawford, Be sure ye do it hastilie.

7 ‘His bridle gilt wi gude red gowd, That it may glitter in her ee; And send her on to bonny Stobha, All her relations for to see.’

8 Her mother lay oer the castle wa, And she beheld baith dale and down, And she beheld her Lady Crawford, As she came riding to the town.

9 ‘Come here, come here, my husband dear, This day ye see not what I see; For here there comes her Lady Crawford, Riding alane upon the lee.’

10 When she came to her father’s yates, She tirled gently at the pin: ‘If ye sleep, awake, my mother dear, Ye’ll rise lat Lady Crawford in.’

11 ‘What news, what news, ye Lady Crawford, That ye come here so hastilie?’ ‘Bad news, bad news, my mother dear, For my gude lord’s forsaken me.’

12 ‘O wae’s me for you, Lady Crawford, This is a dowie tale to me; Alas! you were too young married To thole sic cross and misery.’

13 ‘O had your tongue, my mother dear, And ye’ll lat a’ your folly be; It was a word my merry mouth spake That sinderd my gude lord and me.’

14 Out it spake her brither then, Aye as he stept ben the floor: ‘My sister Lillie was but eighteen years When Earl Crawford ca’ed her a whore.

15 ‘But had your tongue, my sister dear, And ye’ll lat a’ your mourning bee; I’ll wed you to as fine a knight, That is nine times as rich as hee.’

16 ‘O had your tongue, my brither dear, And ye’ll lat a’ your folly bee; I’d rather yae kiss o Crawford’s mouth Than a’ his gowd and white monie.

17 ‘But saddle to me my riding-steed, And see him saddled speedilie, And I will on to Earl Crawford’s, And see if he will pity me.’