Chapter XXI: Appendix: The Lovely Northerne Lasse (5)

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.’

18
Earl Crawford lay o’er castle wa,
And he beheld baith dale and down,
And he beheld her Lady Crawford,
As she came riding to the town.

19
He called ane o his livery men
To come to him right speedilie:
‘Gae shut my yates, gae steek my doors,
Keep Lady Crawford out frae me.’

20
When she came to Earl Crawford’s yates,
She tirled gently at the pin:
‘O sleep ye, wake ye, Earl Crawford,
Ye’ll open, lat Lady Crawford in.

21
‘Come down, come down, O Earl Crawford,
And speak some comfort unto me;
And if ye winna come yoursell,
Ye’ll send your gentleman to me.’

22
‘Indeed I winna come mysell,
Nor send my gentleman to thee;
For I tauld you when we did part
Nae mair my spouse ye’d ever bee.’

23
She laid her mouth then to the yates,
And aye the tears drapt frae her ee;
Says, Fare ye well, Earl Crawford’s yates,
You again I’ll nae mair see.

24
Earl Crawford calld on his stable-groom
To come to him right speedilie,
And sae did he his waiting-man,
That did attend his fair bodie.

25
‘Ye will gae saddle for me my steed,
And see and saddle him speedilie,
And I’ll gang to the Lady Crawford,
And see if she will pity me.’

26
Lady Crawford lay oer castle-wa,
And she beheld baith dale and down,
And she beheld him Earl Crawford,
As he came riding to the town.

27
Then she has calld ane o her maids
To come to her right speedilie:
‘Gae shut my yates, gae steek my doors,
Keep Earl Crawford out frae me.’

28
When he came to Lady Crawford’s yates,
He tirled gently at the pin:
‘Sleep ye, wake ye, Lady Crawford,
Ye’ll rise and lat Earl Crawford in.

29
‘Come down, come down, O Lady Crawford,
Come down, come down, and speak wi me;
And gin ye winna come yoursell,
Ye’ll send your waiting-maid to me.’

30
‘Indeed I winna come mysell,
Nor send my waiting-maid to thee;
Sae take your ain words hame again
At Crawford castle ye tauld me.

31
‘O mother dear, gae make my bed,
And ye will make it saft and soun,
And turn my face unto the west,
That I nae mair may see the sun.’

32
Her mother she did make her bed,
And she did make it saft and soun;
True were the words fair Lillie spake,
Her lovely eyes neer saw the sun.

33
The Earl Crawford mounted his steed,
Wi sorrows great he did ride hame;
But ere the morning sun appeard
This fine lord was dead and gane.

34
Then on ae night this couple died,
And baith were buried in ae tomb:
Let this a warning be to all,
Their pride may not bring them low down.

#A. a.#

4^4, 5, 6. _Omitted; supplied from #b#. Dean Christie notes that
the lines omitted will be found in a copy which, with other
things of the kind, he had destined for use in this collection.
Unfortunately, and quite unaccountably, these pieces never came
to hand._

19^2. put on the black.

#b.#

_Of #b#, which was obtained some twenty years after #a# was
written down, Mrs Thomson says_: Enclosed is the whole of the
ballad, as I had it from my mother.... She never sang those two
verses to us [5, 6]. She only repeated them to me when Dean
Christie wanted the ballad. _We may, perhaps, infer from these
last words that the ballad was originally taken down by the
daughter from her mother’s recitation, and not by Dean Christie.
It is to be observed that the mother was still living in 1890,
but when #b# was committed to paper is not said._

#a#

8^{3, 4}, 9^{1, 2}, are wanting in #b#; #b# _has a stanza, an
inevitable one, which #a# lacks, in answer to_ 13.

1^1. It’s we were sisters and.

1^3. Some got dukes.

1^4. got men.

1^5. But I: Earl Crawford.

1^6. a meet.

2^1. Fifteen years that.

2^2. And sixteen years I.

2^3. that a tender age.

3^2. We were walking in yon.

3^3. There was nae body walking there.

3^4. But the earl himself and.

4^1. you, Earl.

4^2. You mak sae much o your.

4^3. I wonder at you, Earl Crawford.

4^4, 5, 6. _Inserted in_ #a#.

7^2. little son he set her.

7^3. gee on to your father’s bowers.

8^2. down on her knee.

8^{3, 4}, 9^{1, 2}, _wanting_.

9^3. Hoo’s a’, hoo’s a.

9^4. thee wi.

10^1. now _wanting_.

10^2. And a’ my folly lat it.

10^3. For one: mouth.

11^1. my Lady.

11^2. And I’ll lat a’ your folly.

11^3. portion oer again.

11^4. I’ll provide for.

12^1. now _wanting_.

12^2. And speak nae mair o this to me.

12^3. For I wad nae.

12^4. ye could.

13^3. That will: Crawford’s.

13^4. see gin’s hairt be faen tae.

_After 13_:

‘O here am I, a bonny boy,
That’s willin to win meat and fee,
That will go on to Earl Crawford’s,
And see an’s hairt be faen to thee.’

14^1. to Earl Crawford’s gates.

14^2. He lighted low down on a stane.

14^3. Says, I wonder at you, E. C.

14^4. You’r nae gaun to tak.

15^1. tell to Lady.

15^2. Ye may neither.

15^3. stay weel in.

15^4. she’ll never.

16^1. came to her father’s bowers.

17^1. tell to Lady.

17^3. You’r bidden stay well in your.

17^4. For yu’ll never enter his.

18^1. lily-white.

18^3. to the Earl himsell.

18^4. And wi that her bonny hairt did brack.

19^1. Dowie, dowie raise up her father.

19^2. And _wanting_: the black put on.

19^3. And _wanting_: his steed he mounted.

20^1. When he came to Earl Crawford’s gates.

20^2. They were all going to dine.

20^3. And were all drest in robes of white.

21^1. He says, You may put aff the robes o white.

21^3. And ye’ll put on the dowie black.

22^1. Earl Crawford took his hat in’s hand.

22^3. Says, If this be true that L[ady] L[illie’s].

22^4. sin shall never shine.

230

THE SLAUGHTER OF THE LAIRD OF MELLERSTAIN

In a folio volume with the title “Miscellanies,” the last piece in
the volume, Abbotsford.

Birrel’s Diary has this entry under date of January 3, 1603: “The 3 of Januar Johne Hai[t]lie of Millstanes slaine at the Salt Tron be Williame Home hes guidfather. This William of Ball[int]a wes of the hous of Cowdenknowis.” P. 57. In a proclamation of the Privy Council against reset of criminals, 20th January, 1603, the list of cases begins with “the reset of the persons who lately most shamefully and barbarously slew the Laird of Mellestanes.” Register, VI, 525 f. There is nothing to show that these persons were ever brought to justice, and the efforts made by the public authorities to stop hostilities between the families concerned were, as usual, not readily successful. April 28, 1608, the parties to the “feud between James Haitlie, now of Mellirstanes [son of John], and Mr James Home of Eccles, on account of the slaughter of John Haitlie of Mellirstanes,” are ordered to appear before the Council on the 12th of May following, to be reconciled and to chop hands together. Register, VIII, 81 f.

An entry of the 4th of December, 1599, censures Sir George Home, sheriff of Berwick, for not proceeding against “William Home, younger, called of Coldenknowis and now of Ballinta, who slew within the said shire Mr Alexander Dicksoun,” and was denounced therefor 29th December, 1596. This William we may presume to have been the undegenerate son of the William whom Birrel calls Mellerstain’s “guidfather.” Register, VI, 57.

The lady of st. 1 was Marion Lumsden (otherwise Mariot, Margaret), “Lady Mellirstanes,” “relicta Joannis Haitlie de Mellerstanes.” Register P. C., VIII, 101; 366, Register of the Great Seal, VI, 722. Mellerstain stands on a rising ground near the right bank of the Eden, 1^2. Cowdenknows in 3^1 may have been Sir John Home of Cowdenknows, named as one of the curators of James Haitlie (a minor in 1607). Earlstoun is not determinate. Bemerside is an alternative reading for Earlstoun. The laird of Bemerside at the date of the slaughter was the turbulent James Haig. The lady in st. 4 is looking in several directions for the arrival of her husband’s body. (I have not found Fieldiesha and Yirdandstane.) The Salt Tron is a locality of much note in the history of Edinburgh: see Wilson’s Memorials, p. 249.

This fragment appears to have come into Sir Walter Scott’s hands through Mr W. Yellowlees, who filled out two of the defective stanzas, and appended some remarks under the date of 29th October, 1828.[129]

* * * * *

1
. . . . . . .
As they came in by the Eden side,
They heard a lady lamenting sair,
Bewailing the time she was a bride.

2
. . . . . . .
A stately youth of blude and lane,
. . . . . . .
John Hately, the laird of Mellerstain.

3
‘Cowdenknows, had ye nae lack?
And Earlstoun, had ye nae shame?
Ye took him away beside my back,
But ye never saw to bring him hame.’

4
And she has lookit to Fieldiesha,
So has she through Yirdandstane;
She lookit to Earlstoun, and she saw the Fans,
But he’s coming hame by West Gordon.

5
And she staggerd and she stood,

6
’ . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . wude;
How can I keep in my wits,
When I look on my husband’s blood?’

7
‘Had we been men as we are women,
And been at his back when he was slain,
It should a been tauld for mony a lang year,
The slaughter o the laird of Mellerstain.’

* * * * *

2^4 [James/John]Hately

3^2 [Earlstoun/Bemerside] had.

_Between 3 and 4 are two half stanzas which belong to_ ‘James
Hatley,’ No. 241, _and are there given_.

4^1. Fieldies ha.

4^2. yird and stane.

231

THE EARL OF ERROL

#A. a.# ‘Kate Carnegie,’ Campbell MSS, II, 94. #b.# The Edinburgh
Magazine, or Literary Miscellany, June, 1803, p. 458.

#B.# Skene MS., p. 113.

#C.# ‘The Countess of Erroll,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of
Scotland, II, 176.

#D. a.# ‘Lord and Lady Errol,’ Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 158. #b.#
‘Errol’s Place,’ Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 31. #c.#
‘Earl of Errol,’ Kinloch’s Ballad Book, p. 31.

#E.# Letters from and to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, edited by
Alexander Allardyce, I, 180; Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 89, No. 31.

#F.# ‘The Earl of Erroll,’ Kinloch MSS, III, 133.

Sir Gilbert Hay, tenth Earl of Errol, was married to Lady Catherine Carnegy, younger daughter of James, second Earl of Southesk, January 7, 1658, and had no children by her. He died in 1674. The ballad, says the person who communicated #A b# to the Edinburgh Miscellany, was “founded, it would seem, on some attempt to withhold from the Earl of Errol his consort’s portion.” It will be observed that the father proposes a beguiling to his daughter, and that she is ready to assent, in #A#, 12, 13.

It appears from a letter cited by Sharpe in his Ballad Book that the matters treated in the ballad were agitating, and had even “come to public hearing,” in February, 1659.

Sir John Hay of Killour, as the nearest male heir, became the eleventh Earl of Errol. His wife was Lady Anne Drummond, only daughter of James, third Earl of Perth, so that the Earl of Perth might seem to have an interest in this affair of Errol’s. She, however, was not born till January, 1656. Perth is actually made the other party in legal proceedings in #A a# 1, but in #A b# seems to espouse Errol’s side.

Carnegy’s other daughter, who in most of the versions censures her sister’s conduct, is called Jean in #A# 5, #D a# 7, #F# 10, Anne in #D b c#. These are stock ballad-names, and we need not suppose that Anne comes from Lady Anne Drummond. The older daughter’s name was Elizabeth.

Errol is in the Carse of Gowrie, a tract noted for its fertility; which accounts for #B# 2, #D a# 1, #D c# 1, #F# 2.

#E#, #F# go the length of imputing to Lady Errol an attempt to poison her husband with wine which she offers him. A page, of Errol’s kin, exposes her in #E#; in #F# Errol gives the drink to a greyhound, and the dog bursts.

The last stanza of #A b#, #C#, #D c# has reference to “the ancient separate maintenance of a lady dissatisfied with or apart from her husband.” (Edinburgh Magazine, as above.)

#E# is introduced in Sharpe’s letter by some pages of mild pleasantry in the form of a preface to “a specimen of the fourth volume of the Border Minstrelsy, speedily to be published.”

* * * * *

A

#a.# Campbell MSS., II, 94. #b.# The Edinburgh Magazine, or Literary
Miscellany, June, 1803, p. 458.

1
There was a jury sat at Perth,
In the merry month of May,
Betwixt the noble Duke of Perth
But and Sir Gilbert Hay.

2
My lord Kingside has two daughters,
They are proper, straight and tall;
But my lord Carnegie he has two
That far excells them all.

3
Then Errol he has dressd him,
As very well he could;
I’m sure there was not one cloth-yard
But what was trimmd with gold.

4
‘Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,
Ane asking I’ve to thee;
I’m come to court your daughter Jean,
My wedded wife to be.’

5
‘My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,
To one of high degree,
But where Jean got one guinea of gold
With Kate I’ll give thee three.

6
‘Full fifteen hundred pounds
Had Jean Carnegie,
But three fifteen hundred pounds
With Kate I’ll gie to thee.’

7
Then Errol he has wed her,
And fairly brought her hame;
There was nae peace between them twa
Till they sundered oer again.

8
When bells were rung, and mess was sung,
And a’ man bound to bed,
The Earl of Errol and his countess
In one chamber was laid.

9
Early in the morning
My lord Carnegie rose,
The Earl of Errol and his countess,
And they’ve put on their clothes.

10
Up spake my lord Carnegie;
‘Kate, is your toucher won?’
‘Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,
If he be your good-son.

11
‘What need I wash my petticoat
And hing it on a pin?
For I am as leal a maid yet
As yestreen when I lay down.

12
‘What need I wash my apron
And hing it on the door?
It’s baith side and wide enough,
Hangs even down before.’

13
Up spake my lord Carnegie;
‘O Kate, what do ye think ?
We’ll beguile the Earl of Errol
As lang as he’s in drink.’

14
‘O what will ye beguile him wi?
Or what will ye do than?
I’ll swear before a justice-court
That he’s no a sufficient man.’

15
Then Errol he cam down the stair,
As bold as oney rae:
‘Go saddle to me my Irish coach,
To Edinbro I’ll go.’

16
When he came to Edinbro,
He lighted on the green;
There were four-and-twenty maidens
A’ dancing in a ring.

17
There were four-and-twenty maidens
A’ dancing in a row;
The fatest and the fairest
To bed wi him must go.

18
He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,
And he led her thro the green,
And twenty times he kissd her there,
Before his ain wife’s een.

19
He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,
And he’s led her thro the hall,
And twenty times he’s kissd her there,
Before his nobles all.

20
‘Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,
Look up, and think nae shame;
Ten hundred pounds I’ll gie to you
To bear to me a son.’

21
He’s keepit his Peggy in his room
Three quarter of a year,
And just at the nine months’ end
She a son to him did bear.

22
‘Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,
And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I’ll make your father sell his lands
Your toucher for to pay.’

23
‘To make my father sell his lands,
It wad be a great sin,
To toucher oney John Sheephead
That canna toucher win.’

24
‘Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,
Sae loud as I hear ye lie!
For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,
Upon his mother’s knee;
For yonder sits Lord Errol’s son,
Altho he’s no by thee.’

25
‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,
And set her on the glen;
For Errol canna please her,
Nor nane o Errol’s men;
For Errol canna please her,
Nor twenty of his men.’

26
The ranting and the roving,
The thing we a’ do ken,
The lady lost her right that night,
The first night she lay down;
And the thing we ca the ranting o’t,
The lady lies her lane.

* * * * *

B

Skene MS., p. 113; taken down from recitation in the north of
Scotland, 1802–3.

1
Earell is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
The greatest faut about the place
Earell’s no a man.
What ye ca the danting o’t,
According as ye ken,
For the pearting...
Lady Earell lyes her lane.

2
Earell is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
The roses they graw red an white,
An apples they graw green.

3
‘What need I my apron wash
An hing upon yon pin?
For lang will I gae out an in
Or I hear my bairnie’s din.

4
‘What need I my apron wash
An hing upo yon door?
For side and wide is my petticoat,
An even down afore.

5
‘But I will lace my stays again,
My middle jimp an sma;
I’l gae a’ my days a maiden.
[Awa], Earell, awa!’

6
It fell ance upon a day Lord Earell
Went to hunt him lane,
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

7
He was na a mile fra the town,
Nor yet sae far awa,
Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,
To try hir all the law.

8
Little did Lord Earell think,
Whan he sat down to dine,
That his lady was on to Edinburgh,
Nor what was in her mind.

9
Till his best servant came
For to lat him ken
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .

10
She was na in at the toun-end,
Nor yet sae far awa,
Till Earell was at her back,
His gaudy locks to sha.

11
She was na in at the loan-head,
Nor just at the end,
Till Earell he was at her back,
Her errand for to ken.

12
‘As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,
An me Sir Gilbert Hay,
I’s gar yer father sell Kinaird,
Yer tocher for to pay.’

13
‘For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,
It wad be a sin,
To gee it to ony naughty knight
That a tocher canna win.’

14
Out spak the first lord,
The best amang them a’;
‘I never seed a lady come
Wi sick matters to the law.’

15
Out spak the neest lord,
The best o the town;
‘Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,
An put them in a roun,
An Earell in the midst o them,
An lat him chuse out ane.’

16
They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,
An pit them in a roun,
An Earell in the mids o them,
An bad him chuse out ane.

17
He viewed them a’ intill a raw,
Even up an down,
An he has chosen a well-fared may,
An Meggie was her name.

18
He took her by the hand,
Afore the nobles a’,
An twenty times he kissed her mou,
An led her thro the ha.

19
‘Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,
[Look up,] an think na shame;
As lang as ye see my gaudy locks,
Lady Earell’s be yer name.’

20
There were fifteen noblemen,
An as mony ladies gay,
To see Earell proven a man
. . . . . . .

21
‘Ye tak this well-fared may,
And keep her three roun raiths o a year,
An even at the three raiths’ end
I sall draw near.’

22
They hae taen that well-fared may,
An keepd her three roun raiths o a year,
And even at the three raiths’ end
Earell’s son she bare.

23
The gentlemen they ga a shout,
The ladies ga a caa,
Fair mat fa him Earell!
But ran to his lady.

24
He was na in at the town-head,
Nor just at the end,
Till the letters they were waiting him
That Earell had a son.

25
‘Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,
[Look up,] an think na shame;
As lang as ye see my bra black hat,
Lady Earell’s be yer name.

26
‘I will gie my Meggie a mill,
But an a piece o land,
. . . . . . .
To foster my young son.

27
‘Faur is a’ my merry men a’,
That I pay meat an gaire,
To convey my Meggy hame,
. . . . . . .?’

28
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
Even in Lord Earell’s coach
They conveyed the lassie hame.

29
‘Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,
An take her to the glen,
For Earell canna pleas her,
Earell nor a’ his men.’

30
‘Had I ben Lady Earell,
Of sic a bonny place,
I wad na gaen to Edinburgh
My husband to disgrace.’

* * * * *

C

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 176.

1
Erroll it’s a bonny place,
It stands upon a plain;
A bad report this ladie’s raisd,
That Erroll is nae a man.

2
But it fell ance upon a day
Lord Erroll went frae hame,
And he is on to the hunting gane,
Single man alane.

3
But he hadna been frae the town
A mile but barely twa,
Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,
To gain him at the law.

4
O Erroll he kent little o that
Till he sat down to dine,
And as he was at dinner set
His servant loot him ken.

5
‘Now saddle to me the black, the black,
Go saddle to me the brown,
And I will on to Edinburgh,
Her errands there to ken.’

6
She wasna well thro Aberdeen,
Nor passd the well o Spa,
Till Erroll he was after her,
The verity to shaw.

7
She wasna well in Edinburgh,
Nor even thro the town,
Till Erroll he was after her,
Her errands there to ken.

8
When he came to the court-house,
And lighted on the green,
This lord was there in time enough
To hear her thus compleen:

9
‘What needs me wash my apron,
Or drie ‘t upon a door?
What needs I eek my petticoat,
Hings even down afore?

10
‘What needs me wash my apron,
Or hing it upon a pin?
For lang will I gang but and ben
Or I hear my young son’s din.’

11
‘They ca you Kate Carnegie,’ he says,
‘And my name’s Gilbert Hay;
I’ll gar your father sell his land,
Your tocher down to pay.’

12
‘To gar my father sell his land
For that would be a sin,
To such a noughtless heir as you,
That canno get a son.’

13
Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,
The best an lord ava;
‘I never saw a lady come
Wi sic matters to the law.’

14
Then out it speaks another lord,
The best in a’ the town;
‘Ye’ll wyle out fifeteen maidens bright
Before Lord Erroll come:’
And he has chosen a tapster lass,
And Meggie was her name.

15
They kept up this fair maiden
Three quarters of a year,
And then at that three quarters’ end
A young son she did bear.

16
They hae gien to Meggie then
Five ploughs but and a mill,
And they hae gien her five hundred pounds,
For to bring up her chill.

17
There was no lord in Edinburgh
But to Meggie gae a ring;
And there was na a boy in a’ the town
But on Katie had a sang.

18
‘Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,
And set her to the glen,
For Erroll canna pleasure her,
Nor nane o Erroll’s men.’

19
Seven years on Erroll’s table
There stand clean dish and speen,
And every day the bell is rung,
Cries, Lady, come and dine.

* * * * *

D

#a.# Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 158. #b.# Maidment’s North Countrie
Garland, p. 31. #c.# Kinloch’s Ballad Book, p. 31.

1
O Errol’s place is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
The flowers on it grow red and white,
The apples red and green.
The ranting o ‘t and the danting o ‘t,
According as ye ken,
The thing they ca the danting o ‘t,
Lady Errol lies her lane.

2
O Errol’s place is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
But what’s the use of Errol’s place?
He’s no like other men.

3
‘As I cam in by yon canal,
And by yon bowling-green,
I might hae pleased the best Carnegy
That ever bore that name.

4
‘As sure’s your name is Kate Carnegy,
And mine is Gibbie Hay,
I’ll gar your father sell his land,
Your tocher for to pay.’

5
‘To gar my father sell his land,
Would it not be a sin,
To give it to a naughtless lord
That couldna get a son?’

6
Now she is on to Edinburgh,
For to try the law,
And Errol he has followed her,
His manhood for to shaw.

7
Then out it spake her sister,
Whose name was Lady Jane;
‘Had I been Lady Errol,’ she says,
‘Or come of sic a clan,
I would not in this public way
Have sham’d my own gudeman.’

8
But Errol got it in his will
To choice a maid himsel,
And he has taen a country-girl,
Came in her milk to sell.

9
He took her by the milk-white hand,
And led her up the green,
And twenty times he kissd her there,
Before his lady’s een.

10
He took her by the milk-white hand,
And led her up the stair;
Says, Thrice three hundred pounds I’ll gie
To you to bear an heir.

11
He kept her there into a room
Three quarters of a year,
And when the three quarters were out
A braw young son she bear.

12
‘Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,
And put her till a man,
For Errol he cannot please her,
Nor any of his men.’

* * * * *

E