Chapter XXV: Appendix (1)

Herd’s MSS, I, 55, II, 187; Herd’s Scottish Songs, 1776, II, 6.

1
‘O my bonie, bonie may,
Will ye not rue upon me?
A sound, sound sleep I’ll never get
Untill I lie ayon thee.

2
‘I’ll gie ye four-and-twenty good milk-kye,
Wer a’ caft in ae year, may,
And a bonie bull to gang them by,
That blude red is his hair, may.’

3
‘I hae nae houses, I hae nae land,
I hae nae gowd or fee, sir;
I am oer low to be your bryde,
Your loon I’ll never be, sir.’

* * * * * *

Motherwell’s MS., p. 37; from the recitation of Thomas Risk, smith,
learned by him in his youth at St Ninian’s, Stirlingshire.

1
Montrose he had a poor shepherd,
And a poor shepherd was he;
He had as fair a daughter
As ever you could see,
And an earl has fallen in love wi her,
And his bride now she must be.

2
The earl he came to the shepherd’s door,
And he tirled at the pin;
Slowly rose the fair maid
For to let the earl in.

3
‘Good day, good day, fair maid,’ he says;
‘Good day, good day,’ said she;
‘Good day unto thee, noble sir,
What is thy will with me?’

4
‘I’m so possessed with love to thee,
That I cannot gang nor stand
Till you go unto yonder church,
To give me thy right hand.’

5
‘Oh, no, oh no,’ the fair maid says,
‘Oh that can never be;
For thou art a lord of good estate,
And I but of mean degree.

6
‘Oh no, oh no,’ the fair maid says,
‘Thou’rt rich and I am poor;
And I am owre mean to be thy wife,
Too good to be thy whore.

7
‘I can shape, and I can sew,
And cows and yowes can milk,
But I was neer brought up in a lady’s room,
To sew satin nor silk.

8
‘And if you had your will of me
Ye wud me soon forget;
Ye wad gar turn me doun your stairs
And bar on me your yett.’

9
‘Oh no, oh no,’ the earl says,
‘For so shall never be;
For this night or I eat or drink
My honoured bride you shall be.’

10
‘My father he’s a poor shepherd,
He’s herding on yon hill;
You may go to my old father,
And ask at him his will.’

11
The earl he went to the poor shepherd,
Who was herding on the lea;
‘Good day, good day, shepherd,’ he says;
‘Good day, good day,’ said he,
Good day unto your honour, sir;
What is your will with me?’

12
‘Oh you have a fair daughter;
Will ye give her to me,
Silk and satin she shall wear,
And, shepherd, so shall ye.’

13
‘It’s true I have a fair daughter,
But I’ll not give her to thee;
For thou art a lord of good estate,
And she but of mean degree.

14
‘The reason is, thou art too rich,
And my daughter is too poor;
She is ower mean to be thy wife,
Too good to be thy whoore.

15
‘She can shape, etc. (as verse 7).

16
‘And if you had your will of her, etc. (8).

17
‘Oh no, oh no,’ the earl says, etc. (9).

18
The earl he to the fair maid again,
Who was spinning at her wheel;
She had but one petticoat on her,
But oh she set it weel!

19
‘Cast off, cast off that petticoat
That you were wont to wear,
And put on a gown of the satin silk,
With a garland in your hair.’

20
She cast off the petticoat
That she was wont to wear,
And she put on a gown of the satin silk,
With a garland in her hair.

21
Many, many was there that night
To bear them company;
And she is the earl’s wife,
She’s thrice fairer than he.

Motherwell’s MS., p. 252; from the recitation of Mrs Crum,
Dumbarton, 7 April, 1825.

1
‘O fair maid and true maid,
Will ye not on me rue, maid?
Here’s my hand, my heart’s command,
I’ll come and go by you, maid.

2
‘I’ve four-and-twenty good milk-kye,
A’ calved in a[e] year, maid,
And a bonnie bill to eisin them,
Just as red as your hair, maid.’

3
‘Your kye go as far in my heart
As they go in my heel, sir;
And, altho I be but a shepherd’s dochter,
I love my body weel, sir.

4
‘I love my body weel, sir,
And my maidenhead far better;
And I’ll keep it to marry me,
Because I’m scarse o tocher.’

5
This knicht he turned his bridle about,
While the tear stood in his ee;
And he’s awa to her father gane,
As fast as he could dree.

6
‘Gude een, gude een, you gude auld man,’
‘Gude een, you earl’s knicht, sir;’
‘But you have a fair dochter,’ he says,
‘Will you grant her to me, sir?
O silks and satins she shall wear,
Indeed and so shall ye, sir.’

7
‘I have a fair dochter,’ he says,
‘She’s fair of blood and bane, sir;
But an ye had your will o her
Ye wud leave her alane, sir.’

8
‘Ye would steek her not your chamber-doors,
And bar her at your yett, sir;
And an ye had your will o her
Ye wud her soon forget, sir.’

9
This knicht he turned his bridle about,
While the tear stood in his ee,
And he’s awa to this fair maid gane,
As fast as he could drie.

10
‘O fair maid and true maid,
Will ye not on me rue, maid?
Here’s my hand, my heart’s command,
I’ll come and go by you, maid.

11
‘Cast aff, cast aff your gay black gowns,
Put on your gowns of silk, maid;
Cast aff, cast aff your gay black snoods,
Put the garlands on your hair, maid.’

12
‘It’s I can bake, and I can brew,
And good kye can I milk, sir;
But I was neer born in the time o the year
To wear the gowns o silk, sir.

13
‘Yestreen I was a shepherd’s dochter,
Whistling my hogs to the hill;
But the nicht I am an earl’s lady,
I may wear what I will.’

Johnson’s Museum, No 397, p. 410.

As I went out ae May morning,
A May morning it chanc’d to be,
There I was aware of a weelfar’d maid,
Cam linkin oer the lea to me.

O but she was a weelfar’d maid,
The bonniest lass that’s under the sun;
I spier’d gin she could fancy me,
But her answer was, I am too young.

‘To be your bride I am too young,
To be your loun wad shame my kin;
So therefore, pray, young man, begone,
For you never, never shall my favour win.’

237

THE DUKE OF GORDON’S DAUGHTER

#a.# ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Daughter,’ The Duke of Gordon’s Garland,
Percy Papers, and another edition in a volume of garlands formerly
in Heber’s library. #b.# ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Daughters,’ a
stall-copy, printed for John Sinclair, Dumfries. #c.# ‘The Duke of
Gordon’s Daughters,’ Stirling, printed by M. Randall. #d.# ‘The Duke
of Gordon’s Three Daughters,’ Peterhead, printed by P. Buchan. #e.#
‘The Duke of Gordon’s Three Daughters,’ Kinloch MSS, I, 125. #f.#
‘The Duke o Gordon’s Daughters,’ Murison MS., p. 90, Aberdeenshire.
#g.# ‘The Duke o Gordon’s Daughter,’ Gibb MS., p. 13, No 3, from the
recitation of Mrs Gibb, senior. #h.# ‘The Duke of Gordon’s Three
Daughters,’ Macmath MS., p. 31, a fragment recited by Mrs Macmath,
senior, in 1874, and learned by her fifty years before.

A copy of #a# was reprinted by Ritson, Scotish Songs, 1794, II, 169. (There are three slight variations in Ritson, two of which are misprints.) Fifteen stanzas are given from Ritson in Johnson’s Musical Museum, ‘The Duke of Gordon has three daughters,’ No 419, p. 431, 1797 (with a single variation and the correction of a misprint). Smith’s Scotish Minstrel, IV, 98, repeats the stanzas in the Museum, inserting a few words to fill out lines for singing. Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 2, has made up a ballad from three “traditional” copies. A fragment of four stanzas in Notes and Queries, Second Series, VII, 418, requires no notice.

Burns gave the first stanza as follows (Cromek’s Reliques, p. 229, ed, 1817; Cromek’s Select Scotish Songs, I, 86, 1810):

The lord o Gordon had three dochters,
Mary, Marget, and Jean;
They wad na stay at bonie Castle Gordon,
But awa to Aberdeen.

The first sister’s name is given as Mary in #e# also.

It is very likely that the recited copies were originally learned from print. #e# and #g# have two stanzas which do not appear in #a-d#, but these may occur in some other stall-copy, or have been borrowed from some other ballad.

Ritson pointed out that George Gordon, the fourth Earl of Huntly, killed at Corrichie in 1562, had three daughters, named Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean, and that Jean, the youngest, married Alexander Ogilvie, Laird of Boyne. These facts, however, can have no relevancy to this ballad. Ogilvie was Lady Jean Gordon’s third husband, and at the death of the second, in 1594, she was in her fiftieth year, or near to that. Her marriage with the Laird of Boyne was “for the utility and profit of her children,” of which she had a full quiver.[139]

Jean, one of the three daughters of the Duke of Gordon (there was no Duke of Gordon before 1684, but that is early enough for our ballad), falls in love with Captain Ogilvie at Aberdeen. Her father threatens to have the captain hanged, and writes to the king to ask that favor. The king refuses to hang Ogilvie, but reduces him to the ranks, makes him a ‘single’ man. The pair lead a wandering life for three years, and are blessed with as many children. At the end of that time they journey afoot to the Highland hills, and present themselves at Castle Gordon in great destitution. Lady Jean is welcomed; the duke will have nothing to do with Ogilvie. Ogilvie goes over seas as a private soldier, but is soon after sent for as heir to the earldom of Northumberland. The duke is now eager to open Castle Gordon to the Captain. Ogilvie wants nothing there but Jean Gordon, whom, with her three children, he takes to Northumberland to enjoy his inheritance.

Nothing in the story of the ballad is known to have even a shadow of foundation in fact.

* * * * *

1
The Duke of Gordon has three daughters,
Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean;
They would not stay in bonny Castle Gordon,
But they would go to bonny Aberdeen.

2
They had not been in Aberdeen
A twelvemonth and a day
Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.

3
Word came to the Duke of Gordon,
In the chamber where he lay,
Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.

4
‘Go saddle me the black horse,
And you’ll ride on the grey,
And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen,
Where I have been many a day.’

5
They were not a mile from Aberdeen,
A mile but only three,
Till he met with his two daughters walking,
But away was Lady Jean.

6
‘Where is your sister, maidens?
Where is your sister now?
Where is your sister, maidens,
That she is not walking with you?’

7
‘O pardon us, honoured father,
O pardon us,’ they did say;
‘Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she will gae.’

8
When he came to Aberdeen,
And down upon the green,
There did he see Captain Ogilvie,
Training up his men.

9
‘O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie,
And an ill death thou shalt die;
For taking to thee my daughter,
Hangëd thou shalt be.’

10
Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter,
And sent it to the king,
To cause hang Captain Ogilvie
If ever he hanged a man.

11
‘I will not hang Captain Ogilvie,
For no lord that I see;
But I’ll cause him to put off the lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.’

12
Word came to Captain Ogilvie,
In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.

13
‘If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
This pennance I’ll take wi;
If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
All this I will dree.’

14
Lady Jean had not been married,
Not a year but three,
Till she had a babe in every arm,
Another upon her knee.

15
‘O but I’m weary of wandering!
O but my fortune is bad!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon’s daughter
To follow a soldier-lad.

16
‘O but I’m weary of wandering!
O but I think lang!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon’s daughter
To follow a single man.’

17
When they came to the Highland hills,
Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean’s shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.

18
‘O wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the wind and the rain!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No further am I able to gang.

19
‘Wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the frost and the snow!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No farther am I able for to go.

20
‘O if I were at the glens of Foudlen,
Where hunting I have been,
I would find the way to bonny Castle Gordon,
Without either stockings or shoon.’

21
When she came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green,
The porter gave out a loud shout,
‘O yonder comes Lady Jean!’

22
‘O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon,
But away with your Captain Ogilvie.’

23
Now over seas went the captain,
As a soldier under command;
A message soon followed after
To come and heir his brother’s land.

24
‘Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And heir your brother’s land;
Come home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Be Earl of Northumberland.’

25
‘O what does this mean?’ says the captain;
‘Where’s my brother’s children three?’
‘They are dead and buried,
And the lands they are ready for thee.’

26
‘Then hoist up your sails, brave captain,
Let’s be jovial and free;
I’ll to Northumberland and heir my estate,
Then my dear Jeany I’ll see.’

27
He soon came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green;
The porter gave out with a loud shout,
‘Here comes Captain Ogilvie!’

28
‘You’re welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Your fortune’s advanced I hear;
No stranger can come unto my gates
That I do love so dear.’

29
‘Sir, the last time I was at your gates,
You would not let me in;
I’m come for my wife and children,
No friendship else I claim.’

30
‘Come in, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And drink of the beer and the wine;
And thou shalt have gold and silver
To count till the clock strike nine.’

31
‘I’ll have none of your gold or silver,
Nor none of your white-money;
But I’ll have bonny Jeany Gordon,
And she shall go now with me.’

32
Then she came tripping down the stair,
With the tear into her eye;
One babe was at her foot,
Another upon her knee.

33
‘You’re welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
With my young family;
Mount and go to Northumberland,
There a countess thou shall be.’

* * * * *

#a.#

The Duke of Gordon’s Garland, composed of several excellent New
Songs. I. The Duke of Gordon’s Daughter. II. A new song calld
Newcastle Ale. Licensed and enterd according to order.

_Heber’s copy differs in a few places from Percy’s, and generally
for the worse._

4^2. on _wanting_.

7^4. she woud.

10^3. cause _wanting_.

13^4. will not.

16^2. think it.

18^2. and rain.

24^3. you.

24^4. And be.

32^2. tears in her eyes.

_Ritson’s._ 9^3. wants thee. 13^3. wants for. 31^1. gold and.

#b.#

_Two copies, one in the British Museum_, 1078. i. 20 (7), Printed
at the St. Michael Press, by C. M’Lachlan, Dumfries, _dated in
the catalogue_ 1785?

#c.#

_British Museum_, 11621. b. 12 (28), _dated_ 1810?

A beautiful old song, entitled the Duke of Gordon’s three
Daughters. To which is added The Challenge. Stirling: Printed by
M. Randall.

#d.#

_British Museum_, 1078. k. 4 (5), _dated_ 1820? The Duke of
Gordon’s Three Daughters. To which is added Mrs Burns Lament for
Burns. Peterhead: Printed by P. Buchan.

#b, c, d.#

1^1. had.

1^3. stay at.

1^4. they went to.

2^1. in bonny.

2^3. Till Jean.

2^4. #b.# him went she. #c, d.# And from him she would not stay.

3^1. come.

3^{3,4}. How Lady Jean fell in love with a captain, And from him
she would not stay.

4^1. to me: horse, he cry’d.

4^2. My servant shall ride on.

4^3. will go.

4^4. Forthwith to bring her away.

5^2. only one.

5^3. walking _wanting_.

6^{2,3}. O where.

6^4. #c, d.# not along with.

7^1. #b.# us, they did say.

7^4. And from him she would (#c, d#, will) not stay.

8^1. to bonny.

8^4. #b.# A training of. #c, d.# A training his gallant.

9^1. woe be to thee.

9^4. High hanged. #b.# shalt thou.

10^1. #b.# The Duke he wrote. #c, d.# The D. of G. wrote a letter.

10^2. #b.# he sent.

10^3. Desiring him to hang.

10^4. #b.# eer he causd hang any. #c, d.# For marrying his
daughter Jean.

11^1. #b.# O no I. #c, d.# Said the king, I’ll not.

11^2. #b.# For any (#c, d#, all the) offence that.

11^3. him put off the scarlet.

12^1. Now word.

12^3. To strip off.

13^{1,3}. #b.# Jean.

13^3. #c, d.# for my true-love.

13^4. this and more I’ll.

14^2. #c, d.# Not _wanting_. #b, c, d.# but only.

14^4. And another.

15^1. #b.# weary, weary wandering. #c, d.# weary wandering.

16.
O hold thy tongue, bonny Jean Gordon,
O hold your tongue, my lamb! (#c, d.# thy)
For once I was a noble captain,
Now for thy sake a single man.

17^1. #b.# O high is the hills and the mountains. #c, d#, high
were: and mountains.

17^2. #b.# and the.

18,19. _Wanting._

20^1. #b#. was in. #c, d.# were in.

20^3. I could go. #b.# Jean _for_ Castle, _wrongly_.

_19–21 of #b#are displaced, and come after #b# 26: or, 23–27 of
#a# follow #a# 20, and then come this stanza (not in #a#) and
#a# 21, 22._

_After 20._ #b#:

O hold thy tongue, bonny Jean (#c, d.# your) Gordon,
O hold your tongue, my dow!
I’ve but one half-crown in the world,
I’ll buy hose and shoon (#c, d.# And I’ll) to you.

21^1. #b.# Then, _wrongly_. #b, c, d.# to bonny.

21^2. And coming over the green.

21^3. #b.# porter cried out with a cry. #c, d.# called out very
loudly.

21^4. #b.# O _wanting_. #b, c, d.# comes our.

22^1. #b.# O _wanting_. #b, c, d.# Jean.

22^2. #b.# dearly. #c, d.# Her father he did say.

22^3. Thou art: Jean.

22^4. Captain _wanting_.

23^1. over the.

23^3. But a messenger.

23^4. Which caused a countermand.

24^1. #b.# home now pretty. #c, d.# home now brave.

24^2. To enjoy your.

24^3. #b#. home now pretty. #c, d.# O come home gallant.

24^4. You’r the heir of.

25^1. #c, d.# O _wanting_.

25^3. O they. #b.# are all.

25^4. The lands. #b.# all ready.

26^2. And let’s.

26^3. I’ll go home and have my.

26^4. And then.

27^1. bonny Castle.

27^2. #b.# And then at the gate stood he. #c, d.# he stood,
_wrongly_.

27^3. #b.# porter cry’d out. #c, d.# cry’d with a loud voice.

27^4. #c, d.# O here. #b.# comes the.

28^1. #c, d.# O you’re welcome now, Captain.

28^3. #b.# come to. #c, d.# come within.

29^1. #b.# at _wrongly omitted_. #b, c, d.# gate.

29^3. #c, d.# Now I’m.

30, 31. _Wanting._

32^1. #c, d.# Then Jean came.

32^2. #c, d.# The salt tear in.

32^3. babe she had at every foot.

32^4. #c, d.# And one in her arms did ly.

33. #b.#
You’re welcome, bonny Jean Gordon,
You are dearly welcome to me;
You’re welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
Countess of Cumberland to be.

#c, d.#
The Captain took her straight in his arms,
O a happy man was he!
Saying, Welcome, _etc._, _as in_ #b#.

33^4. #c, d.# Northumberland.

_After 33._ #b.#
So the captain came off with his lady, (#c, d.# The captain)
And also his sweet babes three; (#c, d.# And his lovely babies
three)
Saying, I’m as good blood by descent,
Tho the great Duke o Gordon you be.

#e-h# _are but partially collated_.

#e.#

1^1. had.

1^2. Lady Mary, Margret, and Jean.

1^4. they wadna bide.

7^4. From him she will not stay.

8. _Wanting._

9^4. Hie hangit shalt thou be.

10^3. Desiring to hang.

10^4. For marrying his dochter Jean.

11^2. For a’ the offence I see.

11^3. gar him throw aff his broad scarlet.

13^4. A’ this and mair I’ll dree.

14^2. A year but only three.

15^1. weary wandering.

16. _As in_ #b#, #c#, #d#.

17^1. High war the hills and the mountains.

18, 19. _Wanting._

20^3. I could ga.

_After 20_:

‘O an I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
. . . . . . .
O an I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
There I’d get hose and sheen.’

‘Though ye war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
Your father is sae hard-hearted a man
He wad na lat you in.’

‘If I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
My mither’s a tender-hearted woman,
She wad rise and lat me in.’

_Then_: O haud your tongue—I’ll buy hose and sheen to you, _as in_
#b#, #c#, #d#.

22^4. awa wi your Ogilvie.

23^3. But a messenger.

23^4. Which causd a countermand.

24^4. Ye’re the heir of.

26^3. I’ll gae hame and heir my estate.

_After 26_:

‘Then hoist up your sail,’ said the Captain,
‘And we’ll gae oure the sea,
And I’ll gae to bonnie Castle Gordon,
There my dear Jeanie to see.’

27^2. And whan in sicht cam he.

_Between 28, 29_:

‘The last time I cam to your yetts
Ye wadna let me in,
But now I’m again at your yetts,
And in I will not gang.’

30, 31. _Wanting._

32^2. Wi the saut tear in her ee.

32^3. A babe she held in every arm.

32^4. Anither gaun at her knee.

33. _As in #c#, #d#, and a concluding stanza as in #b#, #c#, #d#._

#f.#

1^1. had.

2^2. Months but barely three.

2^4, 3^4, 7^4. fae him she winna stay.

3^1. Word’s come.

6^2. sister Jean.

6^4. ye are walkin alane.

9^4. High hangëd.

10^4. If ever he hangëd ane.

13^{2,4}. A’ this I’ll dee an mair.

14. _Wanting._

15^1. weary wanrin.

15^4. a single sodger lad.

16. _As in_ #b#, #c#, #d#.

18, 19. _Wanting._

20^2. Fa monie merry day I hae been.

_After 20 a stanza as in #b#, #c#, #d#, and then this silly one_:

‘O they would be bad stockins,
O they would be worse sheen,
O they would be bad stockins
Ye’d get for half a crown.’

21^1. they cam to bonnie Aberdeen.

22^4. awa wi your Ogilvie.

23^3. But a messenger.

23^4. Which proved a counterman.

24^4. You’re the heir o.

26, 30, 31. _Wanting._

32^2. Wi the saut tear in her ee.

32^3. She had a babe in ilka airm.

32^4. An a third whar nane could see.

33^2. Ye’re welcome, thrice welcome to me.

33^{3,4}.
Ye’re welcome, bonnie Jeannie Gordon,
Countess o Northumberlan to be.

#g.#

1^1. had.

2^2. A month but only one.

3^4. from him she wald not stay.

4^2. My servant shall ride on.

4^4. An forthwith bring her away.

5^2. only one.

6^4. she’s not along with you.

7^4. from him she will not stay.

8^4. Training his gallant men.

9^4. It’s high hangit ye sall.

10^3. It was to hang.

10^4. For marrying his daughter Jean.

11^2. For all the offence I can see.

11^4. 12^4. Put on but the.

13.
‘A’ this I will do for your sake, Jeanie Gordon,
A’ this I will do for thee;
I will cast aff the gold lace an scarlet,
Put on but the single livery.’

14^2. Ae year but only three.

15^4. a single soldier-lad.

16.
‘O haud your tongue, Jeannie Gordon,
An dinna ye lichtlie me;
I was tane frae a captain’s commission
An made low for lyin wi thee.’

(_17 as 15._) 17^1. High were the hills an the mountains.

18, 19. _Wanting._

_Before 20_:

‘Haud your tongue, Jeannie Gordon,
Ye needna gloom on me;
I hae but ae half-crown in the warld,
I’ll buy stockings an shoon to thee.’

20^1. If I were in the bonny glens o Ourdlie.

20^2. Where mony bonny days I hae been.

_After 20_:

‘If ye were at bonny Castle Gordon,
An lichtit on the green,
Your faither is a hard-hearted man,
He wald na let you in.’

‘If I were at bonny Castle Gordon,
An lichtit on the green,
My mother’s a good-hearted woman,
She wald open an lat me in.’

22.
The Duke o Gordon cam trippin doun stairs
Wi the saut tear in his ee: (_cf._ 32^2)
‘Ye’re welcome here, Jeannie Gordon,
Wi a’ your young family, (_cf._ 33^2)
Ye’re welcome here, Jeannie Gordon,
But awa wi your Ogilvie.’

23^{1,2}.
The Captain took ship an sailed,
He sailed from the land.

23^3. But a messenger.

23^4. Which caused a countermand.

24^{1,3}. Come back, come back, C. O.

24^4. You are earl.

25. _Wanting._

26^3. I will gae hame an.

27^2. An lichtit on the green.

27^4. Says, Here’s Captain Ogilvie again.

_After 27_:

The Duke o Gordon cam trippin doun stairs,
Wi his hat into his hand:
‘Ye’re welcome hame, Captain Ogilvie,
The heir o Northumberland.’

_After 28_:

‘Put up your hat, Duke o Gordon,
An do not let it fa;
It never set the noble Duke o Gordon
To bow to a single soldier-lad.’

29^4. No ither favour I claim.

30, 31. _Wanting._

32^2. the saut tear in her ee.

32^{3,4}.
You’re welcome hame, Captain Ogilvie,
You’re dearly welcome to me.

33. _Wanting._

_After 33_: The Captain went aff with his lady, _nearly as in_
#b-e#.

_The order of stanzas is deranged. Some of the variations are
clearly misremembrances._

#h.#

_Nine stanzas only._

1^1. had.

1^4. wud awa.

2^2. A month but barely twa.

2^4. from him she wudna stay.

3^4. from him she will not stay.

11^2. For any offence that.

15^1. weary, weary wanderin.

_After 15_: Had yer tongue—I’ll buy hose and shoon for you, Had
yer tongue—For your sake I’m a single man.

22^4. awa wi your Ogilvie.

_Christie’s ballad has many of the readings of #a#, and a few of
the editor’s. Of_ “two verses, as sung in the counties of Banff
and Moray, hitherto unpublished,” _one is in all copies except
#a#; the other is the inept stanza_ (_see_ #f#):

‘Oh, coarse, coarse would be the stockings,
And coarser would be the shoon,
Oh, coarse, coarse would they baith be,
You would buy for ae siller crown.’

238

GLENLOGIE, OR, JEAN O BETHELNIE

#A.# Skene MS., p. 13.

#B.# ‘Glenlogie,’ Sharpe’s Ballad Book, 1823, p. 37.

#C.# ‘Glenlogie,’ Gibb MS., No 6, p. 33.

#D.# ‘There waur aucht an forty nobles,’ Harris MS., fol. 17.

#E. a.# ‘Jean o Bethelnie’s Love for Sir G. Gordon,’ Buchan’s Ballads
of the North of Scotland, I, 188. #b.# ‘Bonnie Jean o Bethelnie,’
Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 54.

#F.# ‘Jean o Bethelnie,’ Percy Papers, communicated by R. Lambe, 1768.

#G.# ‘Glenlogie,’ Alexander Laing’s MS., p. 8.

#H.# ‘Glenlogie,’ Kinloch MSS, V, 431.

#I. a.# “Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 77,
Abbotsford. #b#. ‘Glenogie,’ Smith’s Scotish Minstrel, IV, 78, 1822.

‘Glenlogie,’ in Chambers’ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, 1826, p. 200, is a repetition of #B#. #F#, the copy earliest taken down, is not pure and unvarnished tradition. The reconstructed copy in the Ballad Minstrelsy of Scotland, Glasgow, 1871, p. 506, was “based on a MS. version communicated to Mr Buchan in a letter from Mr Alexander Laing, dated Brechin, April 9th, 1829, and there given by him as taken down from the recitation of the amiable daughter of a clergyman in the North.” #G#, from Laing’s MS., may be supposed to be the ballad sent to Buchan by Laing. #I b# has been touched up by one of “that parliament of gentle ladies,” in Motherwell’s phrase, who had charge of the literary part of Smith’s Scotish Minstrel.

Jean of Bethelnie, #A#, #C#, #E#, #F#, Jean Melville, #B#, #D#, #G#, of the age of fifteen or sixteen, scarce seventeen, #G#, falls in love at sight with Glenlogie (Earl Ogie, #F#, Glenogie, #I b#), and opens her mind to him. Glenlogie, though much flattered, is obliged to say that he is already promised.[140] Jean takes to her bed, determined to die. Her father (mother, #A#[141]), as all too frequently happens at such conjunctures, proposes the miserable comfort of another and a better match, and, as usual, is told to hold his tongue. The chaplain of the family (the father himself is a king’s chaplain in #F#) takes the business in hand, and writes a broad, long, and well-penned letter to Glenlogie, setting forth the desperate condition of the girl. Glenlogie is so much affected that he rides to Bethelnie with all haste and presents himself to Jean as her bridegroom, although promised awa.

The young lady is Jean Gordon in #C#. #H# has changed Bethelnie to Belhelvie, another Aberdeenshire town. I has Glenfeldy for Bethelnie.

Gerhard, p. 103, has translated #E a#; Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 15, Aytoun’s copy, that is, #B#.

* * * * *

A

Skene MS., p. 13; taken down from recitation in the north of
Scotland, 1802–3.

1
Four an twenty noblemen they rode thro Banchory fair,
But bonnie Glenlogie was flower [of a’] that was there.

2
Four and twenty noblemen rode from Banchory ha,
But bonnie Glenlogie he was flower of them a’.

3
‘O bonnie Glenlogie, be constant and kind,
An, bonnie Glenlogie, I’ll tell you my mind.

4
. . . . so frank and so free,
. . . and I get na Glenlogie, I’ll die.’

5
‘O bonnie Jeanie, your portion’s but sma
To lay your love on me, that’s promist awa.’

6
Her cherry cheeks grew pale an wan; with the tear in her ee,
‘Gin I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die.’

7
Ben came her father, steps to her bowr:
‘Dear Jeanie, you’r acting the part of a [whore].

8
‘You’re seeking ane that cares na for thee;
Ye’s get Lord William, let Glenlogie be.’

9
‘O had you still, father, let your folly be;
Gin I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die.’

10
Ben came her mother, steps on the floor:
‘Dear daughter Jeanie, you’re acting the [whore],

11
‘Seeking of ane that cares na for thee;
For ye’ll get Lord William, let Glenlogie be.’

12
‘O had your tongue, mother, and let me be;
An I get na Glenlogie, I surely will die.’

13
O ben came her father’s chaplain, a man of great skill,
And he has written a broad letter, and he has pennd it well.

14
H’as pennd it well, an sent it awa
To bonnie Glenlogie, the flower of them a’.

15
When he got the letter, his tears did down fa
‘She’s laid her love on me, that was promist awa.’

16
He calld on his servant wi speed, and bade him saddle his horses, and
bridle them a’:
‘For she has laid her love on me, altho I was promist awa.’

17
The horses were saddled wi speed, but ere they came he was four mile
awa,
To Jean of Bethelny, the flowr of them a’.

18
But when he came to her bowr she was pale and wan,
But she grew red and ruddy when Glenlogie came in.

19
‘Cheer up, bonnie Jeannie, ye are flowr o them a’;
I have laid my love on you, altho I was promist awa.’

20
Her beauty was charming, her tocher down tauld;
Bonnie Jean of Bethelny was scarce fifteen year auld.

* * * * *

B

Sharpe’s Ballad Book, p. 37, 1823.

1
Four and twenty nobles sits in the king’s ha,
Bonnie Glenlogie is the flower among them a’.

2
In came Lady Jean, skipping on the floor,
And she has chosen Glenlogie ‘mong a’ that was there.

3
She turned to his footman, and thus she did say:
Oh, what is his name? and where does he stay?

4
‘His name is Glenlogie, when he is from home;
He is of the gay Gordons, his name it is John.’

5
‘Glenlogie, Glenlogie, an you will prove kind,
My love is laid on you; I am telling my mind.’

6
He turned about lightly, as the Gordons does a’:
‘I thank you, Lady Jean, my loves is promised awa.’

7
She called on her maidens her bed for to make,
Her rings and her jewels all from her to take.

8
In came Jeanie’s father, a wae man was he;
Says, I’ll wed you to Drumfendrich, he has mair gold than he.

9
Her father’s own chaplain, being a man of great skill,
He wrote him a letter, and indited it well.

10
The first lines he looked at, a light laugh laughed he;
But ere he read through it the tears blinded his ee.

11
Oh, pale and wan looked she when Glenlogie cam in,
But even rosy grew she when Glenlogie sat down.

12
‘Turn round, Jeanie Melville, turn round to this side,
And I’ll be the bridegroom, and you’ll be the bride.’

13
Oh, ‘t was a merry wedding, and the portion down told,
Of bonnie Jeanie Melville, who was scarce sixteen years old.

* * * * *

C

Gibb MS., No 6, p. 33, from the recitation of Mrs Gibb, senior;
traced to Mrs E. Lindsay, about 1800.

1
There was three score o nobles sat at the king’s dine,
An bonny Glenlogie was flower o thrice nine.

* * * * * *

2
. . . . cam trippin downstair,
An she fancied Glenlogie ower a’ that was there.

3
She called on the footman that ran by his side,
Says, What is that man’s name, an where does he bide?

4
‘His name is Glenlogie when he goes from home.
But he’s of the great Gordons, an his name is Lord John.’

5
‘Glenlogie! Glenlogie! Glenlogie!’ said she,
‘An for bonnie Glenlogie I surely will die.’

6
She called on her maidens to make her her bed,
. . . . . . . . .

* * * * * *

7
When Glenlogie got the letter, amang noble-men,
‘Dear me,’ said Glenlogie, ‘what does young women mean!’

8
Then up spake his father, Let it never be said
That such a fine lady should die for your sake.

9
‘Go saddle my black horse, go saddle him soon,
Till I go to Bethelnie, to see Lady Jean.’

10
When he got to Bethelnie, there was naebody there
But was weeping an wailing an tearing their hair.

* * * * * *

11
‘Turn round, Jeanie Gordon, turn round to this side;
I’ll be the bridegroom, an ye’s be the bride.’

* * * * *

D

Harris MS., fol. 17; learned from Mrs Harris before 1832.

1
There waur aucht an forty nobles rade to the king’s ha,
But bonnie Glenlogie was the flour o them a’.

2
There waur aucht an forty nobles rade to the king’s dine,
But bonnie Glenlogie was the flour o thrice nine.

3
Bonnie Jeanie Melville cam trippin doun the stair,
An whan she saw Glenlogie her hairt it grew sair.

4
. . . . . . . . .
‘He’s of the gay Gordons, his name it is John.’

5
‘Oh, Logie! Oh, Logie! Oh, Logie!’ said she,
‘If I get na Glenlogie, I surely will dee.’

6
He turned him aboot, as the Gordons do a’,
Says, I thank you, Lady Jeanie, but I’m promised awa.

7
She called on her maidens her hands for to take,
An the rings from her fingers she did them a’ break.

8
‘Oh, what is my lineage, or what is my make.
That such a fine lady suld dee for my sake?’

9
Such a pretty wedding, as I have been told,
An bonnie Jeanie Melville was scarce sixteen years old.

* * * * *

E

#a.# Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, I, 188. #b.#
Christie’s Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 54.

1
There were four-and-twenty ladies dined i the Queen’s ha,
And Jean o Bethelnie was the flower o them a’.

2
Four-and-twenty gentlemen rode thro Banchory fair,
But bonny Glenlogie was the flower that was there.

3
Young Jean at a window she chanced to sit nigh,
And upon Glenlogie she fixed an eye.

4
She calld on his best man, unto him did say,
O what is that knight’s name? or where does he stay?

5
‘He’s of the noble Gordons, of great birth and fame;
He stays at Glenlogie, Sir George is his name.’

6
Then she wrote a broad letter, and wrote it in haste;
To send to Glenlogie, she thought it was best.

7
Says, O brave Glenlogie, unto me be kind;
I’ve laid my love on you, and told you my mind.

8
Then reading the letter, as he stood on the green,
Says, I leave you to judge, sirs; what does women mean?

9
Then turnd about sprightly, as the Gordons do a’:
‘Lay not your love on me, I’m promisd awa.’

10
When she heard this answer, her heart was like to break,
That she laid her love on him, and him so ungrate.

11
Then she calld on her maidens to lay her to bed,
And take her fine jewels and lay them aside.

12
‘My seals and my signets, no more shall I crave;
But linen and trappin, a chest and a grave.’

13
Her father stood by her, possessëd with fear
To see his dear daughter possessëd with care.

14
Says, Hold your tongue, Jeannie, let all your folly be;
I’ll wed you to Dumfedline, he is better than he.

15
‘O hold your tongue, father, and let me alane;
If I getna Glenlogie, I ‘ll never have ane.

16
‘His bonny jimp middle, his black rolling eye,
If I getna Glenlogie, I’m sure I shall die.’

17
But her father’s old chaplain, a man of great skill,
He wrote a broad letter, and pennëd it well.

18
Saying, O brave Glenlogie, why must it be so?
A maid’s love laid on you, shall she die in her woe?

19
Then reading the letter, his heart was like to break
That such a leal virgin should die for his sake.

20
Then he calld on his footman, and likewise his groom,
Says, Get my horse saddled and bridlëd soon.

21
Before the horse was saddled and brought to the yate,
Bonnie Glenlogie was five miles on foot.

22
When he came to Bethelnie, he saw nothing there
But weeping and wailing, vexation and care.

23
Then out spake her father, with the tear in his ee,
You’re welcome, Glenlogie, you’re welcome to me.

24
‘If ye make me welcome, as welcome’s ye say,
Ye’ll show me the chamber where Jeannie does lay.’

25
Then one o her maidens took him by the hand,
To show him the chamber where Jeannie lay in.

26
Before that she saw him, she was pale and wan;
But when she did see him, she grew ruddy again.

27
‘O turn, bonny Jeannie, turn you to your side;
For I’ll be the bridegroom, and ye’ll be the bride.’

28
When Jeannie was married, her tocher down tauld,
Bonny Jean o Bethelnie was fifteen years auld.

* * * * *

F

Communicated to Percy by Robert Lambe, of Norham, August 17, 1768;
dated April, 1768.

1
Fourscore nobles ride in the king’s court,
And bonny Earl Ogie’s the flower of the rout;
Fourscore lean oer the castle-wa,
But Jean of Bethelnie’s the flower of em a’.

2
She writ a broad letter, and pennd it fou lang,
And sent it Earl Ogie as fast as ‘t can gang:
‘Bonny Earl Ogie, be courteous and kind;
I’ve laid my love on thee; maun I die in my prime?’

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.