Chapter C: K. Sharpe’s Letters, ed. Allardyce, I, 180 ff; written down from

the recitation of Violet Roddick, a woman living near Hoddam Castle,
1803. Sharpe’s Ballad Book, 1823, p. 89.

1
O Errol it’s a bonny place,
It stands in yonder glen;
The lady lost the rights of it
The first night she gaed hame.
A waly and a waly!
According as ye ken,
The thing we ca the ranting o ‘t,
Our lady lies her lane, O.

2
‘What need I wash my apron,
Or hing it on yon door?
What need I truce my petticoat?
It hangs even down before.’

3
Errol’s up to Edinburgh gaen,
That bonny burrows-town;
He has chusit the barber’s daughter,
The top of a’ that town.

4
He has taen her by the milk-white hand,
He has led her through the room,
And twenty times he’s kisst her,
Before his lady’s een.

5
‘Look up, look up now, Peggy,
Look up, and think nae shame,
For I’ll gie thee five hundred pound,
To buy to thee a gown.

6
‘Look up, look up, now, Peggy,
Look up, and think nae shame,
For I’ll gie thee five hundred pound
To bear to me a son.

7
‘As thou was Kate Carnegie,
And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I’ll gar your father sell his lands,
Your tocher-gude to pay.

8
‘Now he may take her back again,
Do wi her what he can,
For Errol canna please her,
Nor ane o a’ his men.’

9
‘Go fetch to me a pint of wine,
Go fill it to the brim,
That I may drink my gude lord’s health,
Tho Errol be his name.’

10
She has taen the glass into her hand,
She has putten poison in,
She has signd it to her dorty lips,
But neer a drop went in.

11
Up then spake a little page,
He was o Errol’s kin;
‘Now fie upon ye, lady gay,
There’s poison there within.

12
‘It’s hold your hand now, Kate,’ he says,
‘Hold it back again,
For Errol winna drink on ‘t,
Nor none o a’ his men.’

13
She has taen the sheets into her arms,
She has thrown them oer the wa:
‘Since I maun gae maiden hame again,
Awa, Errol, awa!’

14
She’s down the back o the garden,
And O as she did murne!
‘How can a workman crave his wage,
When he never wrought a turn?’

* * * * *

F

Kinloch MSS, III, 133.

1
O Errol is a bonny place,
And stands upon yon plane,
But the lady lost the rights o it
Yestreen or she came hame.

2
O Erroll is a bonny place,
And lyes forenent the sun,
And the apples they grow red and white,
And peers o bonny green.

3
‘I nedna wash my apron,
Nor hing it on the door;
But I may tuck my petticoat,
Hangs even down before.

4
‘Oh, Erroll, Erroll,
Oh, Erroll if ye ken,
Why sh_oul_d I love Erroll,
Or any of his men?’

5
She’s turned her right and round about,
Poured out a glass o wine;
Says, I will drink to my true love,
He’ll drink to me again.

6
O Erroll stud into the fleer,
He was an angry man:
‘See here it is a good gray-hun,
We’ll try what is the run.’

7
Then Erroll stud into the fleer,
Steered neither ee nor bree,
Till that he saw his good gray-hun
Was burst and going free.

8
‘But ye are Kate Carnegie,’ he said,
‘And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;
I’se gar your father sell Kinnaird,
Your tocher-good to pay.’

9
Now she is on to Edinburgh,
A’ for to use the law,
And brave Erroll has followed her,
His yellow locks to sheu.

10
Out and spak her sister Jean,
And an angry woman was she;
‘If I were lady of Erroll,
And hed as fair a face,
I w_oul_d no go to Edinburgh,
My good lord to disgrace.’

* * * * *

#A. a.#

23^4. toucher one.

26. _May have been a burden._

#b.#

Ballad of Gilbert, Earl of Errol, and Lady Catherine Carnegie

. . . . . . .

13
Up spake Lord Carnegie,
’ O Kate, what do you think?
We’ll beguile the Earl of Errol,
As long as he’s in drink.’

14
‘O what need you beguile him?
Or what would you do than?
For I can easy vow and testify
Lord Errol’s not a man.

12
‘You need not wash my petticoat
And hang it at the door;
For it’s baith side and wide enough,
And hangs even down before.

11
‘You need not wash my apron
And hang it on a pin;
For I’m as leil a maiden
As first when I went in.’

15
Down came the Earl of Errol,
As swift as any roe:
‘Come harness me my Irish coach,
To Edinburgh I go.’

16
And when he came to Edinburgh,
A ganging through the green,
Full four-and-twenty maidens
A’ dancing there were seen.

17
And there were fifteen maidens
All dancing in a row,
And the fairest and the fattest
To prove that she must go.

18
He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,
And led her through the green,
And twenty times he’s kissed her,
Before his lady’s een.

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

He’s taen his Peggy by the hand,
And led her to a room,
And gave her a cup of claret wine,
And syne a bed of down.

20^{1,2}
‘Stand up, stand up, my Peggy,
Stand up, and think na shame,
Na hide your face within your hand,
On me be all the blame.

‘For you shall have a thousand pounds
As soon as it is won,
20^{3,4}
And you shall have ten thousand pounds
If you bear to me a son.’

21
He kept his Peggy in a room
Full nine months and a day,
And at the very nine months’ end
She bore a son so gay.

As they were all at dinner sat,
And merrily went the can,
Up spake the noble Earl of Perth,
‘Kate, what ails you at your man?’

‘Oh, all the lands and earldom
Are now to ruin gone,
For I can easy vow and testify
He’ll never get a son.’

24^{1–4}
‘Ye lie, ye lie, you filthy jade,
So loud I hear you lie!
For there sits Lord Errol’s son,
Upon his mither’s knee.’

22
‘As you are Kate Carnegie
And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I’ll gar your father sell his land
Your tocher for to pay.’

23
‘To gar my father sell his land
I’m sure would be a sin,
For to tocher any John Sheephead
Who could neer a tocher win.’

25^{1–4}
‘You may take hame your daughter Kate,
And set her in a glen,
For Lord Errol cannot please her,
Nor none of Errol’s men.

‘You may provide a knife and fork,
A trencher and a spoon,
A little boy to call her,
Come to your dinner, dame;
A little boy to call her
Till seven years are done.’

#B.#

_Written in long lines, without division into stanzas; carelessly
and in a bad hand, like other transcripts by Skene. The frequent
gaps (of which only one is indicated, 5^4) make the division
here adopted doubtful in some cases._

_The burden is given at the end only, and is badly corrupted._ 1.
the Darton all. 3. Pearting?

7^4. hir all. _Corrupted?_ hir, _or_ him, at?

10^1. tour end: _see_ 24^{1–2}.

15^3, 16^3. Earl.

20^2. gay ladies.

23^4. _Corrupted? some malediction on the lady?_

27^2. gaire is, _I suppose_, gear.

#D.# #b.#

_Burden._
1. The wally o ‘t, the wally o ‘t.
3. the ranting o ‘t.
4. Our lady lies alane.

1^3. at it.

3^1. It’s I.

4^1. As sure as you’re Jean.

4^2. And I am.

4^3. I’ll cause.

5^1. To cause.

5^2. I think would be.

5^3. give to such a rogue as you.

5^4. Who never could it win.

6^1. So he must go.

6^2. Amang the nobles a’.

6^3. And there before good witnesses.

7^2. was called Miss Anne.

9^3. she says _wanting_.

8–12
A servant girl there was found out,
On whom to show his skill;
He gave to her a hundred pounds,
To purchase her good-will.

And still he cried, Look up, Peggy,
Look up, and think no shame,
And you shall have your hundred pounds
Before I lay you down.

Now he has lain him down wi her,
A hundred pounds in pawn,
And all the noblemen cried out
That Errol is a man.

‘Tak hame your daughter,’ Errol said,
‘And tak her to a glen,
For Errol canna pleasure her,
Nor can no other man.’

#c.#

_Burden._
1. And the.
3. And the thing we.
4. Is, Errol’s na a man.

1^1, 2^1. O Errol is.

1^2. Into the simmer time.

1^3. The apples they grow.

1^4. And the pears they grow green.

3^4. bore the.

4^1. Tho your name be Dame Cathrine Carnegie.

4^2. mine Sir Gilbert.

4^3. sell Kinnaird.

4^4. tocher gude to.

5^1. If ye gar my father sell Kinnaird.

5^2. ‘T will be a crying.

5^{3,4}. To tocher onie weary dwrf, That canna tocher win.

6^1. The lady is.

6^2. A’ for.

6^4. His ainsell.

7^1. O up bespak.

7^2. Lady Ann.

7^3. she says _wanting_.

_After 7, two stanzas which are clearly a spurious interpolation._

8^1. Errol has got (But _wanting_).

8^3. has chosen a weel-faurd may.

8^4. Come. _After 8_ (==10):

‘Look up, look up, my weel-faurd may,
Look up, and think na shame;
I’ll gie to thee five hundred merk
To bear to me a son.’

9^1. He’s tane the lassie by the han.

9^3. there _wanting_.

9^4. Afore.

_After 9_:

When they war laid in the proof-bed,
And a’ the lords looking on,
Then a’ the fifteen vowd and swore
That Errol was a man.

11^1. But they hae keepit this lassie.

11^3. And at the end o nine lang months.

11^4. A son to him she bare.

_After 11_:

And there was three thairbut, thairbut,
And there was three thairben,
And three looking oure the window hie,
Crying, Errol’s provd a man!

And whan the word gaed thro the toun,
The sentry gied a cry,
‘O fair befa you, Errol, now!
For ye hae won the day.’

‘O I’ll tak off my robes o silk,
And fling them oure the wa,
And I’ll gae maiden hame again,
Awa, Errol, awa!’

12^1. Sir Carnegie.

12^2. till the glen.

12^3. he _wanting_.

12^4. nane o Errol’s.

(_12 is found in Kinloch’s MSS,_ VII, 95, _with_ Sir Carnegie
_beginning the line._)

_After 12_:

And ilka day her plate was laid,
Bot an a siller spune,
And three times cried oure Errol’s yett,
‘Lady Errol, come and dine.’

_Kinloch gives the following as a variant. It is found in
Kinloch’s MSS_, VII, 95:

Seven years the trencher sat,
And seven years the spune;
Seven years the servant cried,
‘Lady Errol, come and dine.’

_Burden, at the end._ 3. ye ca. 4. Lady Errol lies her leen.

#E.#

_Sharpe made these changes in his Ballad Book_:

3^4. the toss.

4^2. He’s led her oer the green.

4^3. he kist.

7^1. Your name is.

7^2. And I’m.

12^3. shall not.

#F.#

1^1, 2^1, 6^1. Oh.

232

RICHIE STORY

#A.# ‘Ritchie Storie,’ Motherwell’s MS., p. 426.

#B.# Skene MS., p. 96.

#C. a.# ‘Richie Story,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border
Minstrelsy,” No 65, MS. of Thomas Wilkie, 1813–15, p. 53,
Abbotsford. #b.# ‘Ritchie’s Tory Laddie,’ Campbell MSS, II, 116.

#D.# ‘Richy Story,’ the late Mr Robert White’s papers.

E. ‘Richard Storie,’ “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border
Minstrelsy,” No 76, Abbotsford.

#F. a.# ‘Richie Storie,’ Sharpe’s Ballad Book, 1823, p. 95. #b.#
‘Richie Storrie,’ Nimmo, Songs and Ballads of Clydesdale, 1882, p.
211.

#G. a.# ‘Richard Storry,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 203. #b.# ‘Richie Tory,’
Gibb MS., p. 77. #c.# ‘Ritchie’s Lady,’ Murison MS., p. 82. #d.#
‘Richie’s Lady,’ Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 72. #e.#
Kinloch MSS, VII, 263, a fragment. #f.# ‘The Earl of Winton’s
Daughter,’ Buchan’s MSS, I, 87.

#H.# The Scots Magazine, 1803, LXV, 253, one stanza.

The youngest (eldest, #A#) and fairest of the daughters of the Earl of Wigton, #A#, #F# (bonniest of his sisters, #E#), has fallen in love with her footman, Richie Story (Tory). Richie brings her a letter from a nobleman who desires to be her suitor; the Earl of Hume, #A#, #B#, #F#, #G a#, #d#, #e#; the Earl of Hume’s son, #D#; the Earl of Aboyne, #E#; of Cumbernauld, #G b#; of Mohun, #G c#; of Wemyss, #G f# and a variant of #E#; the Earls of Hume and Skimmerjim, Skimmerham (Kimmerghame), #C#. The lady has made a vow, and will keep it, to marry none but Richie. Richie deprecates; he has nothing to maintain her with; she is ready to descend to the lowest fortune. (In several versions she has enough of her own. Hunten Tour and Tillebarn and the House of Athol are hers, #B#; Musselburgh, #C#; the House of Athol and Taranadie, #G d#; Blair-in-Athol and Dunkeld, #H#.) Asked by her sister, by Richie, or by some one else, whether she is not sorry to have left Cumbernauld (Castle Norry, #G f#) to follow a footman, she answers that there is no reason, she has her heart’s desire and the lot that was ordained her. As she goes up the Parliament close, rides through Edinburgh town, Glasgow city (London city, #C b#, absurdly), she is greeted by many a lord, but few or none of them thought she was a footman’s lady. Arrived at the domicile of the Storys, her good-mother bids her, gars her, kilt up her coats and muck the byres with Richie.

#F#, #G#, are not satisfied with this conclusion. The footman is really a lover in disguise, the Earl of Hume or of Cumbernauld, #F#, #G a b#. (#G b 2# spoils the plot by making the Earl of Hume write to the lady that he will be her footman-laddie.) Four-and-twenty gentlemen welcome the bride at Ritchie’s gates, or elsewhere, and she blesses the day that she was Richie’s lady. This is incontestably a later invention.

#G f#, which is otherwise embellished, goes a good step beyond #G a-e#. Richie is an Englishman and takes the lady to London. ‘Madam’ has left her kindred to gang with a servant; he has ‘left the sceptre and the crown’ her servant for to be; little she knew that her waiting-man was England’s royal king.

“Lillias Fleming, second daughter of John, Earl of Wigton by his wife Jane Drummond (a daughter of the Earl of Perth), did elope with and marry one of her father’s servants, named Richard Storry. In 1673, she, with consent of her husband, resigned her portion, consisting of the five-merk land of Smythson, etc., in the barony of Lenzie, into the hands of her brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Fleming. The Fleming family afterwards procured for Richie a situation in the Custom-House.” So Hunter, Biggar and the House of Fleming, p. 555, and, in part, Douglas’s Peerage, where, however, Lady Lillias is said to have married Richard Storry, “Esq.:” ed. Wood, II, 616.

Douglas notes that “John, third Earl of Wigton, ... had a charter of the lordship of Cumbernauld, 1st February, 1634.” This place (Comarnad, Campernadie, etc., #B#, #D#, #G a#, #c#, #d#) is in Dumbartonshire. In #F 11# it is attributed to the young Earl of Hume, and the disguised lover is the Earl of Cumbernauld in #G b#.

The lady, ready for any extremity, says in #F 6# that she will lie ayont a dyke (on the other side of a wall), in #E 6# sit below the dyke, in #D 5# sit aneath the duke, and that she will be at Richie’s command at all times. This matter was not understood by the reciter of #B#, and in #B 7# the lady is made to say, We will go to sea, I’ll sit upon the _deck_ (and be your servant, as in the other cases). In #A# the difficulty, such as it is, seems to have been evaded, and we read, #6#, I’ll live whereer you please (and be ready at your call late or early).

For the relation of this ballad to ‘Huntingtower’ and ‘The Duke of Athol,’ see an appendix.

* * * * *

A

Motherwell’s MS., p. 426; from the recitation of Mrs ——, of
Kilbarchan, January 3, 1826.

1
The Earl of Wigton had three daughters,
Oh and a waly, but they were unco bonnie!
The eldest of them had the far brawest house,
But she’s fallen in love with her footman-laddie.

2
As she was a walking doun by yon river-side,
Oh and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
There she espied her own footman,
With ribbons hanging over his shoulders sae bonnie.

3
‘Here’s a letter to you, madame,
Here’s a letter to you, madame;
The Earl of Hume is waiting on,
And he has his service to you, madame.’

4
‘I’ll have none of his service,’ says she,
‘I’ll have none of his service,’ says she,
‘For I’ve made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
That I’ll marry none but you, Ritchie.’

5
‘O say not so again, madame,
O say not so again, madame;
For I have neither lands nor rents
For to keep you on, madam.’

6
‘I’ll live where eer you please, Ritchie,
I’ll live where eer you please, [Ritchie,]
And I’ll be ready at your ca’,
Either late or early, Ritchie.’

7
As they went in by Stirling toun,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
A’ her silks were sailing on the ground,
But few of them knew of Ritchie Story.

8
As they went in by the Parliament Close,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
All the nobles took her by the hand,
But few of them knew she was Ritchie’s lady.

9
As they came in by her goodmother’s yetts,
O and a wally, but she was unco bonnie!
Her goodmother bade her kilt her coats,
And muck the byre with Ritchie Storie.

10
‘Oh, may not ye be sorry, madame,
Oh, may not ye be sorry, madame,
To leave a’ your lands at bonnie Cumbernaud,
And follow home your footman-laddie?’

11
‘What need I be sorry?’ says she,
‘What need I be sorry?’ says she,
‘For I’ve gotten my lot and my heart’s desire,
And what Providence has ordered for me.’

* * * * *

B

Skene MS., p. 96; taken down in the north of Scotland, 1802–3.

1
Comarnad is a very bonny place,
And there is ladies three, madam,
But the fairest and rairest o them a’
Has married Richard Storry.

2
‘O here is a letter to ye, madam,
Here is a letter to ye, madam;
The Earle of Hume, that gallant knight,
Has fallen in love wi ye, madam.’

3
‘There is a letter to ye, madam,
[There is a letter to ye, madam;]
That gallant knight, the Earl of Hume,
Desires to be yer servan true, madam.

4
‘I’ll hae nane o his letters, Richard,
I’ll hae nane o his letters, [Richard;]
I hae voued, and will keep it true,
I’ll marry nane but ye, Richie.’

5
‘Say ne sae to me, lady,
Say ne sae to me, [lady,]
For I hae neither lands nor rents
To mentain ye, lady.’

6
‘Hunten Tour and Tillebarn,
The House o Athol is mine, Richie,
An ye sal hae them a’
Whan ere ye incline, Richie.

7
‘For we will gae to sea, Richie,
I’ll sit upon the deck, Richie,
And be your servant ere and late,
At any hour ye like, [Richie.’]

8
‘O manna ye be sad, sister,
An mann ye be sae sorry,
To leave the house o bonny Comarnad,
An follow Richard Storry?’

9
‘O what neads I be sad, sister,
An how can I be sorry?
A bonny lad is my delit,
And my lot has been laid afore me.’

10
As she went up the Parliament Close,
Wi her laced shoon so fine,
Many ane bad the lady good day,
But few thought o Richard’s lady.

11
As she gaed up the Parliament Close,
Wi her laced shoon so fine,
Mony ane hailed that gay lady,
But few hailed Richard Storry.

* * * * *

C

#a.# “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 65, MS.
of Thomas Wilkie, 1813–15, p. 53, from the singing or recitation of
Miss Euphemia Hislope. #b.# Campbell MSS, II, 116.

1
There are three white hens i the green, madam,
There are three white hens i the green, madam,
But Richie Story he’s comd by,
And he’s stollen away the fairest of them.

2
‘O are’int ye now sad, sister,
O are’in[t] ye now sad, sister,
To leave your bowers and your bony Skimmerknow,
And follow the lad they call Richie Story?’

3
‘O say not that again, sister,
O say not that again, sister,
For he is the lad that I love best,
And he is the lot that has fallen to me.’

4
‘O there’s a letter to thee, madam,
O there’s a letter to thee, madam;
The Earl of Hume and Skimmerjim,
For to be sweethearts to thee, madam.’

5
‘But I’ll hae none of them, Richie,
But I’ll hae none of them, Richie,
For I have made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
I’ll have none but Ric[h]ie Story.’

6
‘O say not that again, madam,
O say not that again, madam,
For the Earl of Hume and Skimmerjim,
They are men of high renown.’

7
‘Musslebury’s mine, Richie,
Musslebury’s mine, Richie,
And a’ that’s mine it shall be thine,
If you will marry me, Richie.’

8
As she went up through Glasgow city,
Her gold watch was shining pretty;
Many [a] lord bade her good day,
But none thought she was a footman’s lady.

9
As she went up through London city,
There she met her scolding minny:
‘Cast off your silks and kilt your coats,
And muck the byre wi Richie Story.’

10
‘Hold your tongue, my scolding minnie,
Hold your tongue, my scolding minnie;
For I’ll cast of my silks and kilt my coats,
And muck the byres wi Richie Story.’

* * * * *

D

The late Mr Robert White’s papers.

1
As I came in by Thirlwirl Bridge,
A coming frae the land of fair Camernadie,
There I met my ain true love,
Wi ribbons at her shoulders many.

2
‘Here is a letter to you, madam;
[Here is a letter to you, madam;]
The Earl of Hume’s eldest son
Sent this letter to you, madam.

3
‘I’ll have none of his [letters], Richy,
I’ll have none of his letters, Richy;
I made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
I’ll wed wi nane but you, Richy.’

4
‘Say not so again, madam,
Say not so again, madam;
I have neither lands nor rents
To maintain you on, madam.’

5
‘I’ll sit aneath the duke, Richy,
I’ll sit aneath the duke, Richy;
I’ll sit on hand, at your command
At ony time ye like, Richy.’

6
As they came in by Thirlewirle bridge,
A coming frae fair Cummernadie,
She brak the ribbons that tied her shoon
Wi following after the footman-laddie.

7
‘O but ye be sad, sister,
O but ye be sad and sorry,
To leave the lands o bonnie Cummernad,
To gang alang wi a footman-laddie!’

8
‘How can I be sad, sister?
How can I be sad or sorry?
I have gotten my heart’s delight;
And what can ye get mair?’ says she.

9
To the house-end Richy brought his lady,
To the house-end Richy brought his lady;
Her mother-in-law gart her kilt her coats,
And muck the byre wi Richy Story.

* * * * *

E

“Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 76,
Abbotsford.

1
The Earl of Wigton has seven sisters,
And O but they be wondrous bonnie!
And the bonniest lass amang them a’
Has fallen in love wi Richie Storie.

2
As I came down by yon river-side,
And down by the banks of Eache bonnie,
There I met my own true-love,
Wi ribbons on her shoulders bonnie.

3
‘Here is a letter for you, madam,
Here is a letter for you, madam;
The Earl of Aboyne has a noble design
To be a suitor to you, madam.’

4
‘I’ll hae nane of his letters, Richie,
I’ll hae nane of his letters, Richie,
For I’ve made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
That I’ll hae nane but you, Richie.’

5
‘Take your word again, madam,
Take your word again, madam,
For I have neither land nor rents
For to mentain you on, madam.’

6
‘I’ll sit below the dyke, Richie,
I’ll sit below the dyke, Richie,
And I will be at your command
At ony time you like, Richie.

7
‘Ribbons you shall wear, Richie,
Ribbons you shall wear, Richie,
A cambric band about your neck,
And vow but ye’ll be braw, Richie!’

8
As they came in by the West Port,
The naps of gold were bobbing bonnie;
Many a one bade this lady gude-day,
But neer a one to Richie Storie.

9
As they came up the Parliament Close,
Naps of gold were bobbing bonnie;
Many a gentleman lifted his cap,
But few kennd she was Richie’s lady.

10
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . .
And ay methinks we’ll drink the night
In Cambernauld sae bonnie.

11
‘It’s are not you sick, sister,
Are not you very sorrie,
To leave the lands of bonnie Cambernauld,
And run awae wi Richie Storie?’

12
‘Why should I be sick, sister,
O why should I be any sorrie,
When I hae gotten my heart’s delight?
I hae gotten the lot was laid afore me.’

* * * * *

F

#a.# Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 95, 1823. #b#. Nimmo, Songs and
Ballads of Clydesdale, p. 211, 1882.

1
The Erle o Wigton had three daughters,
O braw wallie, but they were bonnie!
The youngest o them, and the bonniest too,
Has fallen in love wi Richie Storie.

2
‘Here’s a letter for ye, madame,
Here’s a letter for ye, madame;
The Erle o Home wad fain presume
To be a suitor to ye, madame.’

3
‘I’l hae nane o your letters, Richie;
I’l hae nane o your letters, Richie;
For I’ve made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
That I’l have none but you, Richie.’

4
‘O do not say so, madame;
O do not say so, madame;
For I have neither land nor rent,
For to maintain you o, madame.

5
‘Ribands ye maun wear, madame,
Ribands ye maun wear, madame;
With the bands about your neck
O the goud that shines sae clear, madame.’

6
‘I’l lie ayont a dyke, Richie,
I’l lie ayont a dyke, Richie;
And I’l be aye at your command
And bidding, whan ye like, Richie.’

7
O he’s gane on the braid, braid road,
And she’s gane through the broom sae bonnie,
Her silken robes down to her heels,
And she’s awa wi Richie Storie.

8
This lady gade up the Parliament stair,
Wi pendles in her lugs sae bonnie;
Mony a lord lifted his hat,
But little did they ken she was Richie’s lady.

9
Up then spak the Erle o Home’s lady;
‘Was na ye richt sorrie, Annie,
To leave the lands o bonnie Cumbernauld
And follow Richie Storie, Annie?’

10
‘O what need I be sorrie, madame?
O what need I be sorrie, madame?
For I’ve got them that I like best,
And war ordained for me, madame.’

11
‘Cumbernauld is mine, Annie,
Cumbernauld is mine, Annie;
And a’ that’s mine, it shall be thine,
As we sit at the wine, Annie.’

* * * * *

G

#a.# Kinloch MSS, I, 203, from Alexander Kinnear, of Stonehaven.
#b.# Gibb MS., p. 77, from Mrs Gibb, senior. #c.# Murison MS., p.
82. #d#. Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 72, from the
recitation of a native of Buchan. #e.# Kinloch MSS, VII, 263 (a
fragment). #f.# Buchan’s MSS, I, 87.

1
There were five ladies lived in a bouer,
Lived in a bouer at Cumbernaldie;
The fairest and youngest o them a’
Has fa’n in love wi her footman-laddie.

2
‘Here is a letter to you, ladye,
Here is a letter to you, ladye;
The Earl o Hume has written doun
That he will be your footman-laddie.’

3
‘I want nane o his service, Ritchie,
I want nane o his service, Ritchie;
For I’ve made a vow, and I’ll keep it true,
That I’ll wed nane but thee, Ritchie.’

4
‘O that canna be, ladye,
O that canna be, ladye;
For I’ve neither house nor land,
Nor ought suiting ye, ladye.’

5
‘Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
Livd ye on yonder hill, Ritchie,
There’s my hand, I’m at your command,
Marry me whan ye will, Ritchie!’

6
This boy he went to his bed,
It was a’ to try this fair ladye;
But she went up the stair to him:
‘Ye maun leave your comrades, Ritchie.

7
‘To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
To the Borders we maun gang, Ritchie,
For an my auld father he get word,
It’s you he will cause hang, Ritchie.’

8
‘To the Borders we’ll na gang, ladye,
To the Borders we’ll na gang, ladye;
For altho your auld father got word,
It’s me he dare na hang, ladye.’

9
As they passed by her mither’s bouer,
O but her sisters they were sorry!
They bade her tak aff the robes o silk,
And muck the byres wi Ritchie Storry.

10
Whan they cam to yon hie hill,
Dear vow, but the lady she was sorry!
She looked oure her left showther—
‘O an I war in bonny Cumbernaldie!’

11
‘O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
O are na ye sorry now, ladye,
For to forsake the Earl o Hume,
And follow me, your footman-laddie?’

12
‘How could I be sorry, Ritchie,
How could I be sorry, Ritchie?
Such a gudely man as you,
And the lot that lies afore me, Ritchie.’

13
As they rode up through Edinburgh toun,
Her gowd watch hang doun sae gaudie;
Monie a lord made her a bow,
But nane o them thoucht she was Ritchie’s ladye.

14
Whan they cam to Ritchie’s yetts,
Dear vow, but the music playd bonnie!
There were four-and-twenty gay ladies
To welcome hame Richard Storry’s ladye.

15
He called for a priest wi speed,
A priest wi speed was soon ready,
And she was na married to the Earl of Hume,
But she blesses the day she got Richard Storry.

16
A coach and six they did prepare,
A coach and six they did mak ready,
A coach and six they did prepare,
And she blesses the day made her Ritchie’s lady.

* * * * *

H

The Scots Magazine, LXV, 253, 1803, James Hogg.

Blair-in-Athol’s mine, Ritchie,
Blair-in-Athol’s mine, Ritchie,
And bonny Dunkeld, where I do dwell,
And these shall a’ be thine, Ritchie.

* * * * *

#A.#

5^1. Oh.

7^4. Ritchie’s story.

#B.#

7^4. ye lake, _or_ take.

8^2. manna ye be sorry?

9^2. An who.

#C. a.#

_The air is said in the MS. to be beautiful and very plaintive._

5^{1,2}. madam _instead of_ Richie. _Richie in_ #b#.

6^3. Skimmerjim _is glossed in the margin_ Kimmerghame.

8^1. _Written twice._

8^2. hining. shining _in_ #b#.

#b.#

2^{1,2}, 3^{1,2}, 4^{1,2}, 5^{1,2}, 6^{1,2}, _are written in one
line_.

10^2. _is indicated by_ &c.

1^{1,2}. There’s.

1^3. And Richies tory he’s come by.

2^{1,2}. O care ye not sad.

2^3. Skimmer knowes.

2^4. And go wi the lad they ca Richies tory.

3^{1,2}. not so again.

4^{1,2}. O _wanting_.

4^2. madam _wanting_.

4^3. For the: Skimmerham.

4^4. They will be: to you.

5^{1,2}. Richie, _for_ madam _of_ #a#.

5^4. none but thee, Richie.

6. _Wanting._

7^2. Richie _wanting_.

8^1. London city.

8^2. shining.

8^3. Many a.

8^4. But few thought her a.

9^2. mammy.

9^4. Richies Torry.

10^{1,2}. Now hold: mammy.

10^3. and cast (_wrongly_).

10^4. And I’ll muck the byre wi Richies Torry.

#D.#

1^4. At his? _The ribbons seem more likely to belong to the
footman_: _see_ #A# 2, #G f# 1. _But compare_ #E 2#, #G d#,
_after_ 1.

#E.#

1^4. _Var._: wi her brother’s foot-boy.

2^3. On his?

3^3. _Var._: Earl Wemyss.

11^3. _Marginal note_: Lady Hume, whose son was suitor to the
runnaway lady.

#F. b.#

_Evidently furbished, and therefore not collated. After 6 is
inserted this stanza, corresponding to 11_:

Fair Powmoodie is mine, dear Richie,
And goud and pearlins too;
Gin ye’ll consent to be mine, dear Richie,
I will gie them a’ to you.

#G.#

_Trivial variations are not noticed._

#a#,

15^{3,4}. _It is certain from 16 and from other copies of G that
she was married to the_ Earl of Hume, _but I have let the text
stand as delivered._

#b.#

_Stanzas_ 1, 9^{3,4}, 2, 7, 8, 10–14, 15^{3,4} (?), 16: _four
marked as wanting_.

1^{1,2}. Theres seven bonny ladies in yonder ha (_twice_).

1^3. The youngest an bonniest amon.

2^{3,4}. It’s from the Earl o Cumbernauld, An he is seekin you,
lady.

7^1. we will go, Richie.

7^2. go, laddie.

9^3. Ye’ll cast aff your gowns o silk.

9^4. wi your Richie Tory.

10^{1,2}. As they gaed down by yon bonny waterside, O but the sma
birds they sang bonnie!

11^2. sorry, lassie.

11^3. To leave the Earl o Cumbernauld.

12^2. sorry, laddie.

12^{3,4}. The thing that’s afore us we maun endure, So what need I
be sorry, laddie?

13^{1,2}. As they gaed down by yon bonny waterside, O but her gold
watch it hung bonny!

13^3. #a# ane gaed her a low bow.

13^4. But few kent she.

14^{1,2}. As she gaed doun by yon bonny ha-house, Oh but the
pibrochs they sang bonny!

14^3. f. an t. belted knichts.

15^{3,4}. Says, I’m the Earl o Cumbernauld, That for your sake was
a footman-laddie.

16^{3,4}. Now she rides in her coach-an-six, An blesses the day
she saw Richie Tory.

#c.#

11 _stanzas_: 1, 6–9, 13, 10, 14, 16, _and_ 11, 12 _as a “chorus”
to each of the others_.

1^{1,2}. Seven sisters in yonder ha, Seven sisters in Campernadie.

6^{1–3}. Ritchie he went up the stair, Thinking for to meet his
lady; But sae quick as she turnëd round.

7^{1,2}. we will go.

8^{1,2}. I’ll nae go.

9^1. they rode up by her sisters’ bowers.

9^3. Says, Ye mann tak aff the goons.

9^4. byres, nor wi Ritchie tarry.

10^2. lady grew unco weary.

10^4. were back at Campernadie.

11^3. the yerl o Mohun.

11^4. And wed wi me but.

12^{3,4}.
What is before me must nae I endure?
An why should I be sorry, Ritchie?

13^2. O but her gowd it was shinin bonnie!

13^3. Monie ane gae her a low bow.

13^4. But few o.

14^1. As they rode doon by yonder glen.

14^2. the organs they.

14^{3,4}. Four-an-twenty gentlemen Cam a’.

16^3. An now she rides in her coach-an-six.

#d.#

16 _stanzas_: 1; _a stanza corresponding to_ #A# 2, #D# 1, 2–9,
13, 10–12, 14, 16.

1^{1,2}. There were ladies in yon ha, Seven ladies in
Cumbernaudie. _After 1_: He gaed down the garden green, In amang
the birks sae bonnie, And there he saw his lady gay, Wi ribbons
on her shoulders mony.

2^{3,4}. With Earl Hume’s humble desire Your servant for to be.

3^1. I’ll hae nane o his letters.

3^2. Nane from Earl Hume.

3^{3,4}. But I’ll hae him that I like best, And I’ll hae nane but
you, Richie.

4^{1,2}. Say na that to me.

4^3. lands nor rents.

4^4. For to maintain you wi.

5^{1,2}. Say na that again, Richie.

5^{3,4}. The House o Athole it is mine, Taranadie shall be thine,
Richie.

6^{1,2}. He gaed from the garden green, Thinking he would shun his
lady.

6^3. But quickly she followed after him.

7^2. I’ll gae to them wi thee, Richie.

8^{1,2}. To the Borders we will gae, We will to them gang, lady.

9^1. rode by her sister’s bowers.

9^4. And gang and beg wi her Richard Storie: _editorial nicety_.

10^2. she grew wondrous weary.

12^{3,4}. When I get him that I like best, And what is laid before
me, Richie.

13^1. rode thro yon burrow-town.

14^1. As they rode by yon bonny House.

14^{3,4}. And four-and-twenty gallant knichts Came.

16^3. And now she rides in her coach-and-four. _Christie touched
up his text here and there._

#e.#

11^{3,4}, 12, 14, 16^{3,4}. _Wanting._

12^4. What wad make me sorry?

14^1. yonder gates.

14^2. playd pretty.

14^3. four-and-twenty noble knichts.

14^4. welcome in Ritchie Torry’s lady.

16^{3,4}. Now she rides in her coach-and-six, She blesses the day
she got Ritchie Torry.

#f.#

_18 stanzas. Much manipulated, and not entitled to confidence._

1.
As I came in yon bonny burn-side,
And down below the bloom sae bonny,
There _I_ espied a handsome lad,
Wi ribbons on his shoulders mony.

(_Cf._ A 2.)

2^{3,4}. Here’s a letter frae the Earl o Wemyss, That he’s in suit
o thee, madam.

11.
Out it speaks her mother then;
O daughter, may not you be sorry
To gang alang wi a servant-man,
And lose the rights o Castle Norry?

12^{3,4}. I’m sure I’ve chosen a bonny lad, The lot has just been
laid afore me.

14.
When they gaed through the Parliament Closs,
The silver loops hang down sae bonny;
Then four-and-twenty noble lords
Came hat in hand to Richard Storry.