Part 45

3 ‘O pox on thee, Jenny, for being sae slaw! Bonny Earl Ogie is promisd awa:’ This letter was like to mak her heart break, For revealing her mind to a man so ingrate.

4 ‘Come here, all my handmaids, O do this with speed, Take my gowns and my passments, and lay me to bed; Lay me to my bed, it is all that I crave; Wi my sark in my coffin, lay me in my grave.’

5 Her father beheld her with heart full of grief, And spoke these words to her, to gi her relief: Hawd your tongue, Jenny, your mourning let be, You shall have Drumfinely, who’s as good as he.

6 ‘Haud your tongue, father, your words make me sad; If I get not Earl Ogie, I still shall be bad; With his bonny streight body, and black rolling eee, If I get not Earl Ogie, for him I mun dee.’

7 Her father, king’s chaplain, and one of great skill, Did write a broad letter, and pennd it fou weel; He as writ a broad letter, and pennd it fou lang, And sent it Earl Ogie as fast as ‘t can gang.

8 ‘Bonny Earl Ogie, be courteous and kind; My daughter loves you; must she die in her prime?’ When he read the first lines, a loud laugh gave he; But or he redd the middle, the tear filld his ee.

9 ‘Come here, all my footmen, and also my groom, Go saddle my horses, and saddle them soon:’ They were not weel saddled and set on the green Or bonny Earl Ogie was twa mile his lain.

10 When he came to Bethelnie, he nothing saw there But mourning and weeping, lamentation and care: ‘O you that’s her handmaid, take me by the hand, Lead me to the chamber that Jenny lies in.’

11 When thither he came, she was pale and half dead; As soon as she saw him, her cheeks they grew red: ‘Come, turn thee, my Jenny, come, turn on thy side, I’ll be the bridegroom, you shall be the bride.’

12 Her spirit revived to hear him say sae, And thus ended luckily all her great wae; Then streight were they married, with joy most profound, And Jean of Bethelnie was sav’d from the ground.

* * * * *

G

Alexander Laing’s MS., “Ancient Ballads and Songs, etc., etc., from the Recitation of Old People,” p. 8, 1829.

1 There was mony a braw noble cum to our king’s ha, But the bonnie Glenlogie was the flower o them a’; An the young ladye Jeanye, sae gude an sae fair, She fancyd Glenlogie aboon a’ that were there.

2 She speered at his footman that rode by his side His name an his surname an whare he did bide: ‘He bides a[t] Glenlogie whan he is at hame, He is of the gay Gordons, an John is his name.’

3 ‘Oh, Logie, Glenlogie, I’ll tell you my mind; My luve is laid on you, O wad ye prove kind!’ He turned him about, as the Gordons do a’, ‘I thank [you], fair ladye, but I’m promised awa.’

4 She called on her maidens her hands for to take, An the rings on her fingers she did them a’ break: ‘Oh, Logie, Glenlogie! Oh, Logie!’ said she, ‘Gin I get na Glenlogie, I’m sure I will die.’

5 ‘O hold your tongue, daughter, an weep na sae sair, For ye’ll get Drumfindlay, his father’s young heir.’ ‘O hold your tongue, father, an let me alane, Gin I get na Glenlogie, I winna hae ane.’

6 Her father wrote a broad letter wi speed, And ordered his footman to run and ride; He wrote a broad letter, he wrote it wi skill, An sent it to Glenlogie, who had dune her the ill.

7 The first line that he read, a light laugh gae he; The next line that he read, the tear filld his ee: ‘O what a man am I, an hae I a maik, That such a fine ladye shoud die for my sake?

8 ‘Ye’ll saddle my horse, an ye’ll saddle him sune, An, when he is saddled, bring him to the green:’ His horse was na saddled an brocht to the green, When Glenlogie was on the road three miles his lane.

9 When he came to her father’s, he saw naething there But weeping an wailing an sobbing fu sair: O pale an wan was she when Logie gaed in, But red an ruddie grew she when Logie gaed ben.

10 ‘O turn, Ladye Jeany, turn ye to your side, For I’ll be the bridegroom, an ye’ll be the bride:’ It was a blythe wedding as ever I’ve seen, An bonny Jeany Melville was scarce seventeen.

* * * * *

H

Kinloch MSS, V, 431; in Kinloch’s hand.

1 Six and six nobles gaed to Belhelvie fair, But bonnie Glenlogie was flowr o a’ there; Bonnie Jean o Behelvie gaed tripping doun the stair, And fancied Glenlogie afore a’ that was there.

2 She said to his serving-man, as he stood aside, O what is that man’s name, and whare does he bide ? ‘They call him Glenlogie whan he goes frae home, But he’s come o the grand Gordons, and [h]is name is Lord John.’

3 ‘Glenlogie, Glenlogie, be constant and kind; I’ve laid my love on you, I’ll tell you my mind:’ ‘O wae’s me heart, Jeanie, your tocher’s oure sma; Lay na your love on me, for I’m promised awa.’

4 She called for the servant to show her a room, Likewise for a handmaid to mak her bed doun; Wi that Jeanie’s father cam stepping on the floor, Says, What is the matter my dochter lies here?

5 ‘Forgie, honourd father, my folly,’ said she, ‘But for the sake o Glenlogie your dochter will dee:’ ‘O cheer up, my dochter, for I’ll gie ye my hand That ye’se get young Glenforbar, w’ an earldom of land.

6 ‘O cheer up, my dochter, turn ance frae the wa, And ye’ll get Glenforbar, the flowr o them a’:’ ‘I wad rather tak Glenlogie wi his staff in his hand Afore I wad tak Glenforbar wi an earldom of land.’

7 Jeanie’s father was a scholar, and a man o grit wit, And he wrote him a letter, he thought it was fit.

8 When Glenlogie gat the letter, he was amang nobles a’, . . . . . he lute his hat fa: ‘I wonder i the warld what women see at me, For bonnie Jean o Belhelvie is a dying for me:’

9 He calld for his servant to saddle his steed, . . . . . wi speed; The horse was na saddled, but out on the green, Till bonnie Glenlogie was some miles him leen.

10 Whan he cam to Belhelvie, he rade round about, And he saw Jeanie’s father at a window look out.

11 Bonnie Jean o Belhevie lay pale and wan, But red and ruddy grew she when Glenlogie cam in: ‘Lie yont, bonnie Jeanie, and let me lie down, For ye’se be bride, and I’se be bridegroom.’

* * * * *

I

#a.# “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border-Minstrelsy,” No. 77. Written down from the recitation of Mrs Graham, of Inchbrakie, by Mrs Steuart, of Dalguise, and given, September, 1802, to Mr Robert Carlyle, by whom it was communicated to Sir Walter Scott. #b.# Smith’s Scotish Minstrel, IV, 78 (of the second edition).

1 ‘There’s fifty young nobles rides up the king’s hall And bonny Glenlogie’s the flower of them all; Wi his milk-white steed, and his black rolling ee, If I get na Glenlogie, it’s certain I’ll die.

2 ‘Where will I get a bonny boy, to win hose and shoon, To go to Glenlogie and bid Logie come?’ ‘Here am I a pretty boy, to win baith hose and shoon, To go to Glenlogie and bid Logie come.’

3 When he came to Glenlogie, it was ‘wash and go dine:’ ‘Come in, my pretty boy, wash and go dine:’ ‘It was no my father’s fashion, and I hope it’ll no be mine, To run a lady’s hasty errand, then to go dine.

4 ‘Here take this letter, Glenlogie,’ said he. The first ane line that he read, a low smile gave he; The next ane line that he read, the tear blinded his ee; But the next line that he read he garrd the table flee.

5 ‘O saddle to me the black horse, saddle to me the brown, Saddle to me the swiftest horse that eer rode frae the town:’ But lang or the horses could be brought to the green Bonie Glenlogie was twa mile his lean.

6 When he came to Glenfeldy’s gates, little mirth was there, Bonie Jean’s mother was tearing her hair: ‘You’re welcome, Glenlogie, you’re welcome to me, You’re welcome, Glenlogie, your Jeanie to see.’

7 O pale and wan was she when Logie came in, But red and rosy grew she wheneer he sat down: ‘O turn you, bonie Jeanie, O turn you to me, For, if you’ll be the bride, the bridegroom I will be.’

* * * * *

#A.# _Not divided into stanzas._

5^1. your portion’s. _Qy_, your fortune’s? (_your luck is small_).

5^2. I am promist awa, I’m promist awa, to lay your love on me that’s promist awa.

6^2. Gin I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die, I surely will die.

7^1. fathers.

9^1. your still, _which may possibly be meant_.

10^1. mothers steps.

19. Cheer up bonnie Jeannie I have laid my love on you Ye are flowr o them a’ I have laid my love on you Altho I was promist awa.

#C.# _Written in stanzas of four short lines._

#D.#

_Written, as far as the imperfect text would allow, in stanzas of eight short lines._

#E.# _In stanzas of four short lines._

#b.#

“Epitomized from Buchan’s Ballads, with a few alterations from the way the Editor has heard it sung.”

1^2. Bonnie Jean: was flower.

2^1. There were four-and-twenty nobles.

2^2. And bonnie: was flower o them there.

3^1. Bonnie Jean.

3^2. And on young G.: her eye.

4^1. and to him.

6^2. for she.

7^1. And says.

9^1. Then he.

10^1. heard his.

10^2. she’d.

28^1. and her tocher was tauld.

#H.#

_7–11 are in couplets in the MS._

#I.#

#b.# Glenogie _for_ Glenlogie.

1^1. Threescore o nobles rade.

1^2. But.

1^3. his bonny black.

1^4. Glenogie, dear mither, Glenogie for me!

_After 1_:

‘O had your tongue, dochter, ye’ll get better than he.’ ‘O say nae sae, mither, for that canna be; Tho Drumlie is richer, and greater than he, Yet, if I maun tak him, I’ll certainly dee.’

2^{2,4}. Will gae: and cum shune again.

2^3. O here: a bonny: win hose.

3^1. he gaed.

3^2. ‘T was wash ye, my.

3^3. O ‘t was neer: and it neer shall.

3^4. To gar: wait till I dine.

4^1. But there is, Glenogie, a letter to thee.

4^2. first line.

4^3. next line.

4^4. the last.

5^1. Gar saddle the: gae saddle the.

5^2. Gar saddle the swiftest steed eer rade frae a.

5^3. ere the horse was drawn and brought.

5^4. O bonny.

6^1. door _for_ gates.

6^3. (_end_) welcome, said she.

7^1. O _wanting_: Glenogie gaed ben.

7^{3,4}. _An editorial improvement_:

She turned awa her head, but the smile was in her ee: ‘O binna feared, mither, I’ll may be no dee.’

239

LORD SALTOUN AND AUCHANACHIE

#A.# ‘Lord Salton and Auchanachie.’ #a.# Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 133. #b.# Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 10; Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 161.

#B. a.# ‘Young Annochie,’ Murison MS., p. 76. #b.# ‘Lord Saltoun and Annachie,’ Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 10.

#A.# Jeanie Gordon loves Auchanachie, who is bonny and braw, but she is forced by her father to wed Saltoun, who is bowed in the back and thrawin in the knee; and all for Saltoun’s lands. Jeanie refuses to be bedded; her maidens, at her father’s order, loose off her gown (they cut her gown and stays); she falls in a swoon and dies. Auchanachie comes home from the sea the same day, learns what has happened, asks to be taken to the chamber where Jeanie lies, kisses her cold lips, and dies.

In #B# we have Gordon of Annachie in Buchan, instead of Gordon of Auchanachie in Strathbogie as in #A#. Christie, on very slight grounds, suggests that one Garden of Annachie was the proper hero: I, 287, 294.

There can hardly be a doubt that this ballad is Mrs Brown of Falkland’s ‘Lass o Philorth’ (see note, p. 309). Philorth is the seat of the Frasers of Saltoun, near Fraserburgh, in the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire.

As to #A a# 2^{1,2}, #b# 1, #B# 2^{1,2}, see note [B] to the preceding ballad, p. 339.

* * * * *

A

#a.# Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 133, 1828. #b.# Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 10, 1824; Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 161, 1825.

1 ‘Auchanachie Gordon is bonny and braw, He would tempt any woman that ever he saw; He would tempt any woman, so has he tempted me, And I’ll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.’

2 In came her father, tripping on the floor, Says, Jeanie, ye’re trying the tricks o a whore; Ye’re caring for them that cares little for thee; Ye must marry Salton, leave Auchanachie.

3 ‘Auchanachie Gordon, he is but a man; Altho he be pretty, where lies his free land? Salton’s lands they lie broad, his towers they stand hie, Ye must marry Salton, leave Auchanachie.

4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ‘Salton will gar you wear silk gowns fring’d to thy knee, But ye’ll never wear that wi your love Auchanachie.’

5 ‘Wi Auchanachie Gordon I would beg my bread Before that wi Salton I’d wear gowd on my head, Wear gowd on my head, or gowns fring’d to the knee; And I’ll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.

6 ‘O Salton’s [a] valley lies low by the sea, He’s bowed on the back, and thrawin on the knee;’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7 ‘O Salton’s a valley lies low by the sea; Though he’s bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee, Though he’s bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee, The bonny rigs of Salton they’re nae thrawin tee.’

8 ‘O you that are my parents to church may me bring, But unto young Salton I’ll never bear a son; For son or for daughter, I’ll ne’er bow my knee, And I’ll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.’

9 When Jeanie was married, from church was brought hame, When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been, When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been, She’s called for a chamber, to weep there her lane.

10 ‘Come to your bed, Jeanie, my honey and my sweet, For to stile you mistress I do not think it meet:’ ‘Mistress or Jeanie, it is a’ ane to me, It’s in your bed, Salton, I never will be.’

11 Then out spake her father, he spake wi renown; Some of you that are maidens, ye’ll loose aff her gown; Some of you that are maidens, ye’ll loose aff her gown, And I’ll mend the marriage wi ten thousand crowns.

12 Then ane of her maidens they loosed aff her gown, But bonny Jeanie Gordon she fell in a swoon; She fell in a swoon low down by their knee; Says, Look on, I die for my love Auchanachie!

13 That very same day Miss Jeanie did die, And hame came Auchanachie, hame frae the sea; Her father and mither welcomd him at the gate; He said, Where’s Miss Jeanie, that she’s nae here yet?

14 Then forth came her maidens, all wringing their hands, Saying, Alas for your staying sae lang frae the land! Sae lang frae the land, and sae lang on the fleed! They’ve wedded your Jeanie, and now she is dead.

15 ‘Some of you, her maidens, take me by the hand, And show me the chamber Miss Jeanie died in;’ He kissd her cold lips, which were colder than stane, And he died in the chamber that Jeanie died in.

* * * * *

B

#a.# Murison MS., p. 76. b. Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 10.

1 ‘Buchan, it’s bonnie, an there lies my love, My heart is fixt on him, it winna remove; It winna remove for a’ at I can dee, An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’

2 Her father cam trippin, cam trippin ben the floor, Says, Jeannie, ye hae but the tricks o a whore; Ye care little for the man that cares muckle for thee, But I’ll cause you marry Saltoun, let Annochie be.

3 ‘Ye may marry me to Saltoun before that I go home, But it is to Lord Saltoun I’ll never bear a son; A son nor a daughter I’ll never bear to he, An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’

4 ‘All you that is her maidens, ye’ll tak her by the han, An I will inheft her o five thousan poun; She’ll wear silk to her heel and gowd to her knee, An I’ll cause her to forsake him Young Annochie.’

5 ‘All you that is my maidens winna tak me by the han, I winna be inhefted o five thousan poun; I’ll nae wear silk to my heal nor wear gowd to my knee, An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’

6 ‘All you that is her maidens, ye’ll show her to her bed; The blankets they are ready, the sheets are comely spread; She shall lie in my airms till twelve o the day, An I’ll cause her to forsake him Young Annochie.’

7 ‘All you that is my maidens winna show me to my bed, Tho the blankets they be ready, the sheets be comely spread; I’ll nae lie in your airms till twelve o the day, An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.’

8 It’s that day they wedded her, an that day she died, An that day Young Annochie cam in on the tide; . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9 Her maidens did meet him, a’ wringin their hans, Sayin, It’s a’ for your stayin so long on the sans! They’ve wedded your Jeannie, an now she is dead, An it’s a’ for your stayin sae long on the fleed.

10 ‘All you that is her maidens ye’ll tak me by the han, Ye’ll show me the bower that Jeannie lies in:’ He kissed her cold lips, they were both white an red, And for bonnie Jeannie Gordon Young Annochie died.

* * * * *

#A. a.# _4–6 are disarranged, and an attempt has been made at a better grouping. 4^{3,4}, 5^{1,2}, are 4; 5^{3,4} are 5^{1,2}; 6^{1,2} are 5^{3,4}._

14^2. _The reading of_ #b# _is better_: on the sands.

14^3. frae the fleed: #b# _reads, rightly_, on the flood (fleed).

#b.#

_Printed by Maidment in stanzas of four short lines; by Buchan, in long lines, not properly grouped._

1 Ben came her father, skipping on the floor, Said, Jeanie, you’re trying the tricks of a whore.

2 ‘You’re caring for him that cares not for thee; And I pray you take Salton, let Auchanachie be.’

3 ‘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.’

4 ‘I am bowed in the back, lassie, as ye see, But the bonny lands of Salton are no crooked tee.’

5 And when she was married she would not lie down, But they took out a knife, and cuttit her gown.

6 Likewise of her stays the lacing in three; And now she lies dead for her Auchanachie.

7 Out comes her bower-woman, wringing her hands, Says, Alas for the staying so long on the sands!

8 ‘Alas for the staying so long on the flood! For Jeanie was married, and now she is dead.’

#B. a.#

_8, 9 are written together._

9^4. on the sans: _cf._ #A a# 14^1, #b# 8^1, #B b#.

#b.#

_Some trivial variations are not noticed. Printed in six stanzas of eight long lines._

1^1. lives.

1^4. Oh, never will I forget my love Annachie.

_After 1_:

‘For Annachie Gordon is bonnie and braw, He’d entice any woman that ever him saw; He’d entice any woman, and sae he has done me, And I’ll die if I getna my love Annachie.’

2^{1,2}. _As in_ #A a#.

2^3. care meikle: cares little.

2^4. Saltoun and leave Annachie.

_After 2_:

‘For Annachie Gordon is nothing but a man; Although he be brave, he has little free lan; His towns a’ lie waste, and his lands a’ lie lea, And I’ll cause you marry Saltoun, let Annachie be.’

3^1. wed me: before he goes home.

3^2. neer hae.

3^{3,4}. ‘A son or a daughter, it’s a’ ane to me, For I’ll cause you marry Saltoun and leave Annachie.’

_After 3_:

He wed her to Saltoun before he gaed home, But unto Lord Saltoun she neer had a son; For, instead of being merry her maidens among, She gaed to her bower and wept there alone.

4^1. Some of you her.

4^2. infeft her in houses and land.

4^3. shall wear silk and satin, wi red goud.

4^4. to forget him the.

5^{1,2}. Oh you, my maidens, you shall not take my hand, Nor will I be infefted in houses and land.

5^3. Nor will I wear silk nor red goud.

5^4. For never will I forget my love #A#.

_After 5_:

‘Wi Annachie Gordon I would beg my bread Before wi Lord Saltoun I would wear goud red; For he’s bowd on the back and he’s thrawn in the knee:’ ‘But the bonnie rigs o Saltoun are nae thrawn tee.’

6, 7. _Wanting._

8. The day she was married, that same day she died, While Annachie Gordon was waiting for the tide; He waited for the tide to tak him oer the fleed, But he little thought his Jeanie Gordon was deed.

9^1. Then out cam her maidens.

9^2. Wae for: frae the.

9^3. hae married.

9^4. Oh, wae for: on the fleed.

10^1. Some of you her maidens: me ben.

10^2. the chamber where.

10^3. were colder than clay.

10^4. And he died in the chamber where his Jeanie lay.

240

THE RANTIN LADDIE

#A. a.# ‘The Rantin Laddie,’ Johnson’s Museum, No 462, p. 474. #b.# ‘Lord Aboyne,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 66.

#B.# ‘The Rantin Laddie,’ Skene MS., p. 55.

#C.# ‘The Rantin Laddie,’ Laing’s Thistle of Scotland, p. 7.

#D.# ‘Bonnie Rantin Laddie,’ Murison MS., p. 74.

‘Lord Aboyne,’ in Smith’s Scotish Minstrel, IV, 6, is mostly #A a#; a few verses are from #A b.#

A young woman (Maggie in #B#) has played cards and dice with a rantin laddie till she has won a bastard baby. Slighted now by all her friends, she sends a letter to the rantin laddie, who is the Earl of Aboyne, to inform him of her uncomfortable circumstances. The Earl of Aboyne, struck with pity and indignation, sets out at once with five hundred men, #A#, #C#, or a select company of gentlemen and ladies, #B#, #D#, and brings her home as his wife.

#C# 24 is perhaps derived from ‘Geordie,’ but may be regarded as a commonplace.

* * * * *

A

#a.# Johnson’s Musical Museum, No 462, p. 474, communicated by Robert Burns; 1797. #b.# Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 66, 1828.

1 ‘Aften hae I playd at the cards and the dice, For the love of a bonie rantin laddie, But now I maun sit in my father’s kitchen-neuk And balow a bastard babie.

2 ‘For my father he will not me own, And my mother she neglects me, And a’ my friends hae lightlyed me, And their servants they do slight me.

3 ‘But had I a servant at my command, As aft times I’ve had many, That wad rin wi a letter to bonie Glenswood, Wi a letter to my rantin laddie!’

4 ‘O is he either a laird or a lord, Or is he but a cadie, That ye do him ca sae aften by name Your bonie, bonie rantin laddie?’

5 ‘Indeed he is baith a laird and a lord, And he never was a cadie, But he is the Earl o bonie Aboyne, And he is my rantin laddie.’

6 ‘O ye’se get a servant at your command, As aft times ye’ve had many, That sall rin wi a letter to bonie Glenswood, A letter to your rantin laddie.’

7 When Lord Aboyne did the letter get, O but he blinket bonie! But or he had read three lines of it I think his heart was sorry.

8 ‘O wha is [this] daur be sae bauld Sae cruelly to use my lassie ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9 ‘For her father he will not her know, And her mother she does slight her, And a’ her friends hae lightlied her, And their servants they neglect her.

10 ‘Go raise to me my five hundred men, Make haste and make them ready, With a milk-white steed under every ane, For to bring hame my lady.’

11 As they cam in thro Buchanshire, They were a company bonie, With a gude claymor in every hand, And O but they shin’d bonie!

* * * * *

B

Skene MS., p. 55; taken down in the North of Scotland, 1802–3.

1 ‘Oft have I playd at the cards an the dyce, The war so very enticin; But this is a sad an a sorrowfu seat, To see my apron risin.

2 ‘Oft hae I playd at the cards an the dice For love of my [rantin] laddie; But now I man sit in my father’s kitchie-nouk, A rokkin o my baby.