A NEW BOOK OK OLD BALLADS EDITED BY JAMES MAIDMENT. \ EDINBURGH 1891. 8 CI CLIO * J A NEW BOOK OLD B ALL ADS. "*" A NEW BOOK OF OLD BALLADS EDITED BY JAMES MAIDMENT. I DINBUl Tf Original |)nfaa. The chief attraction of the present Col- lection consists in the recovery of early versions of two or three popular Scotish Ballads, which, passing through the barber- ous hands of Allan Ramsay or other re- novators of ancient garments, have, like the silk stocking of Sir John Cutlar, retained very few portions of their original texture. Thus " Scornful," (termed by Ramsay " Bonny ") Nancy, is essentially different from the song introduced to the notice of W the public in the Tea-Table Miscellany, """^ and the recovery of the original ballad -'- establishes, in spite of Mr Stenhouse's observations to the contrary,* that the lady had not escaped intact from the poet's embraces. It is singular that the dialect * See page 9. vi (Drtginof (preface. u ied in the original is peculiar to Aber- deenshire, a circumstance which would tend to fix the locality there, and lead to an inference that the author belonged to that district of country. The modern edition of " No Dominies for me Lady," has not more than three or four lines of the one here printed, and it may be noticed that it also differs very essentially from an original, perhaps unique, broadside of the Ballad, in possession of the Editor. It has been suggested that the word should be Laddie, not Lady— but as the latter occurs in the MS. as well as in the broadside, it was not deemed expedient to adopt the emendation, however ingenious. It is proper, however, to give some account of the MS. whence the first ten Ballads have been taken. It is in the hand-writing of William Hamilton, younger of Airdrie, and forms a few leaves, prefixed to a small oblong duodecimo, containing almost entirely Notes of Lectures on Physic by Professor Tran of the University of Glasgow, from (Drigtnaf (preface, vii 1699 t0 1700 ; the remaining two or three leaves consisting of " a Catalogue of Books left at Airdrie by W. H." and a memorandum of books lent. The manuscript is now in possession of the great-grandson of the former owner, Sir William Hamilton of Preston, Bart., who kindly gave the uncontrolled use of it to the Editor. The Ballads were evi- dently written down by Mr Hamilton when at College, and probably when recording them, he little imagined that they would eventually turn out to be the more interesting portion of his MS. The rest of the Collection consists of a few Ballads and Fragments, two or three of which were taken down from recitation, and the remainder from scarce broadsides. It may here be remarked that the "Car- dinal's Coach Couped" refers to the Tolera- tion Act, by which the persecuted Episcopal Clergy got some relief. The case of the Reverend Mr. Greenshields, which had been determined in favour of the Presbyterian viii (Drtgtnaf (preface. Inquisition by the Court of Session, was taken by appeal to the House of Lords, and there reversed. The disclosures attendant upon the discussion of this suit revealed to those in England the intolerable hardships to which their brethren in Scotland were exposed, and the Legislature interfered in their behalf. For an account of the whole proceedings, the Reader may be referred to the valuable History of the Scottish Episcopal Church from the Revolution, by John Parker Lawson, M.A. Edinburgh, 1843, p. 196. By the Cardinal, Principal Carstairs, the head of the Presbyterian party is meant ; it was the soubriquet usually applied to him by the Jacobites. Some of the lines may shock the fas- tidious, but as the volume is intended for private circulation, any apology for giving the different versions without castration seems unnecessary. jr. m.. 3 London Street, November 1843. Wif<4~~*£*£2iz3&, nil A NEW BOOK OF OLD BALLADS. Blyth Jockie young and gay, He's all my heart's delight — He's all my thoughts by day, And in my dreams by night. If from the lad I be, Its winter then with me ; But while he's with me here, Its summer all the year. When Jockie and I did meet First in the shady grove, How kindly he did me treat, And sweetly talk't of love. * Blyth Jocky is given in Johnson's Scotish Musical Museum, vol. i. No. 24, with different and very inferior words. In the notes, p. 23, it is said both "the air and words of this Anglo-Scotish Song are comparatively modern." It was inserted in the first edition of Horsfield's Songster's Companion. 2 vols. I2mo. London, 1 770. A Nczv Book Ye arc the lass, said he, That stoll my heart from me. Come case me of my pain, And doe not me disdain. I'm blyth when Jockie comes, Sad when he goes away ; It's night when Jockie gloums, But when he smiles it's clay. Where e're we meet I pant, I colour, sigh, and faint, What lass that would be kind, Can better tell her mind. He was a bonnie lad As ever I did see, He made a heart soe glad, When first he courted me. I could not well deny, But soon I did comply. Soe Jockie promis'd me That he would faithful be. Jockie did promise me That he would still prove true But to my grief, I fear, He hath bid me adieu. Jockie and I did play, And pass the time av/ay ; But now he's false, forsworn, And left me here to mourn. of Old Ballads. Now Jockie hath a love, That is more rich than I, He doth soe cruel prove, To shun my company, And if I chance to meet, My Jockie in the street, He will not stop nor stay But proudly goes away. My heart is like to break, Since he is so unkind, What course, then, shall I take To ease my troubled mind. I sigh, I sob, I mourn, I dayly rage and burn, But yet this cruel he Laughs at my misery. Once in a month, he sends A letter unto me Vowing he still intends To love me heartily. But when I come in place, And doe behold his face, Then he noe notice takes, Which makes my heart to break. A Nczv Book II. %a^ Hrrol'e lament/ When I'm absent from the lass that I love, I fain would resolve to love noe more ; My reason would my flames remove, But my love-sick heart doth still adore. My weak endeavours are all in vain, They vanish so soon as she returns ; And with a sigh relapse again, Into a raging fever burns. To the rocks and the hills I make my moan, To whom my passion I doe tell, — I fancied that I heard her moan Her echoes back I lov'd so well, — Leave off your passion, and do not pursue, Lest it should end in misery ; For she is in love, but not with you, Why should ye then despair and dye. * This Ballad is not to be found in any of the Collections. Who the Lady Arrol (Errol) may be is not very easy to say. There was a very naughty lady of the Carnegie family that married the Earl of Errol, and attempted his life. Her cause of dislike will be found in a note prefixed to a ballad on the subject, printed by C. K. Sharpe, Esq., in his Ballad Book. of Old Ballads. « We may change countrey, and not move Our constancy and fervent love, Though ye see ourselves ye know not our minde, We may be absent and yet kind ; But I vow to thee, and (the) world shall see, That absence shall never alter me, My dearest dear doe ye the same, We're parted, but we'll meet again. My dearest let nothing trouble your heart, For here I am returned again, In order to cure that killing smart, Whereof ye often did complain, It's true I was banish'd from my love, Which was great sorrow and grief to me, But now I shall ever loyal prove, Soe long as I keep my liberty. Thou art my true and entire friend, My chamber and all I have is thine, There is noe bad thoughts shall me offend, Thy love hath win this heart of mine. Dry up your sighs and tears shee says, And bid all sorrows and cares adieu, Though fortune a while did us divide, Vet I fancy none in th: world but you. 6 A New Book III. IRo Dominies for me Xab\y No Dominies for me Lady, no Dominies for me, For books and gouns will all go doun, No Dominies for me, They can court and complement, But they ne're conquer me Lady, I'le keep the fifth commandement ; No Dominies for me Lady. My parents will not give consent, To match with Dominies Lady, Soe I 'le keep the fifth commandement ; No Dominies for me Lady. * In Johnson's Musical Museum, vol. v. 504, there is a copy of a ballad entitled "No Dominies for me, Laddie," said to be taken from Yair's Charmer, vol. ii. p. 347. Edin. 1751. Ritson, who inserted it in his collection, was unable to discover the tune ; but the late James Balfour, Esq., Accountant in Edin burgh, communicated the original melody, and it [ha been given in the first named publication. It is said to have been written by the late Rev. Nathaniel Mackie, Minister of Cross-Michael, who died on the 26th January 1781, aged 66, but the Editor has a broadside of the original ballad, printed of Old Ballads. Stipends are uncertain rents For lady's conjunct fee Lady. Ministers make poor testaments ; No Dominies for me Lady. Lairds will take the place Lady, Both at dore and mass Lady. Lairds must sit, chaiplains must stand, And bow and say the grace Lady. To lairds ye seem to bear respect, And Dominies disdain Lady ; But a Dominie may chance to be Your glory and your gain Lady. Phisisians they your pulse can feel — Your fever can allay Lady ; But a Dominie can give a peil That can your heart betray Lady. certainly not later than 1700, and the copy from the Hamilton MS. is at least as early in date. In Buchan's Gleanings of Scarce Old Ballads, the Rev. John Forbes, Minister of Deer, is said to be the author. He died in 1769, in the 80th year of his age. He must therefore have been eleven years of age in 1700 — the date of the Hamilton MS. — a fact which militates against the claim of authorship set up for him. Perhaps one or other of those reverend gentlemen may have had a hand in altering the original ballad, which is now for the first time printed. ■S A New Book Stipends are uncertain rents I grant For lady's conjunct fees lady ; 1 * \ 1 1 ministers scarce ever want Or theirs, and what would ye have Lady. If revolutions they doe come, Into the ministry Lady ; Then Kirklands will goe back to Rome, And your Lairds to poverty Lady. Your parents may perhaps give consent, To match with Dominies Lady : Then ye the fifth commandement May keep, and not despise Lady. P.ut if some other things fall in, That they will still gainsay, Lady; Yet constancy will bear the gree, And true Love keep alway Lady. When Lairds and Gentlemen do fall Into some heinous crime Lady, Ye'll sigh and wring these pleasant hands ; I3ut alace its out of time Lady.* * The printed broadside noticed in the former note, differs essentially from the copy of the ballad now printed. of Old Ballads. IV. Bonnie 1Ranc\>.* Nancy's to the Greenwood gain To hear the gowdspink shattering And Shamy followed her amain To court her with his flattering. But a' his flattering wad nae dee, She scornfuly reshect him ; And fan he tid pekin to woo, She speert fa tid begett him. * This ballad occurs in Ramsay's Tea-Table Mis- cellany, (i 3th Edition), 1762, p. 17. The version is the same as that given by Herd and Ritson. The present copy is entirely different, and as the earliest one known, is now for the first time printed. Ramsay calls the lady slig/ued Nancy, to the tunc of "The Kirk wad let me be." Why she is designated "slighted" in place of scornful, as Herd and Ritson have it, or "Bonny" as the Hamilton MS. gives it, is not easy to see; for in place of being "slighted," she is the party who slights her would-be spouse. It is included in the " Orpheus Calcdonius," and in Johnson's Scottish Musical Museum, vol. I, No. 50, under the name of "Scornful" Nancy. Mr C. K. Sharpe, in a note, observes, he has an ancient MS. subjoined to an early transcript of Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel, which has a better reading. The last line of stanza 3, makes "Shamy's" father ride "on li io A New Book Fatt ails thee at my dade, quoth hee, My minny or my auntie, With croudy moudy they fed me, Lang kail and ranty tanty ; And bannocks of guide gredden meal, Of that we had great plenty ; And noganes full of hacket kaile, And fow kan that was dainty. Although my faither was nae laird, I speak it without bantrey ; He kcepit ay a guid kail yeard, A ha hous and a pantry. He ware a ponet on hims head, Ane ourlar bout hims craigie ; And to hims very dying day, He rade ane ambling naigie. And fatt although my minny baik A bannock in here mister ; She had a girdle and a baick-bord, That she lent to her syster. guid shanks nagie," whereas In his MS., (in like manner with the version now printed,) the line stands : — "He rode an ambling naigie," Mr Stenhouse, says (Scotish Musical Museum, p. 54.) — "This is one of the fine old and exquisitely humorous Scottish songs which has escaped the polish- ing file of Ramsay, and happily reached us in its simple and native garb." of Old Ballads. 1 1 Her callour body ys a clean, And fite as any linnen [Tilly ?] ; And a green plaid, it may be seen, Sae shee's nae gilter jilly. On her side there is great pride, Of that I think nae wondra ; She busks hersell twice in the week, And three times in the Sunday. With pity coat and mantay coat, And jampy coat like lilly ; And a green scarf to cover all, Sae she's baith fair and comely. Then Nancy turn'd here round about With great disdain and scorn ; And Shamie stood her in great doubt, As hee had been forlorn. Wae and vondra light on thee, Wad thow have bony Nancy : Wad thow compare thyself to me, — A cow's turd to a trancy ? I bid thee then goe hame, Gibb Glaicks, John Jillets, or some other ; Or els 1 fear thow gelt thy paiks, Goe ge be wall your father. For I have a yonker of my own, They call him souple Sandy ; And well I wot he kens the gate To play at hough-ma-gandy. 1 2 A New Book V. Zbe gfoepfoerfc of Bona;* Tin Shepherd of Dona being wearied with spurt, To find some repose, to the woods did resort; He threw by his pipe, and he laid hmself down, lie envy'd noe monarch, he wished for noe crown. He drank of the brook, and did eat of the tree, Injoying himself, from all trouble was free; He call'd for noe nymph, were she never soe fair, He'd noe love, noe ambition, and therfor noe care. But as he lay thus, in ane evening soe cleare, A pleasant sweet voyce outreached his eare ; Which came from Arcadia, that old ancient grove, Where the fair nymph Elreda frequented that cove. * Termed the "Shepherd Adonis" in Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany, p. 115, (13th Edition), who has interpolated and altered, to suit his own fancy, almost every stanza. It is now given from the Hamilton MS. It is inserted in Johnson's Musical Museum, and in the notes, vol. ii. p. 148, has been attributed to Sir Gilbert Elliot of Minto, Bart. This, it is presumed, must mean the first Baronet, the founder of the family, as the third Baronet, the author of the cele- brated song, — "My sheep I neglected— I broke my sheep hook." was not born for twenty years after the date of the Hamilton MS. of Old Ballads. I 3 As he lay thus, [reposing] and found she was there, He was quite confounded to see her soe fair ; He stood like a ston, not a foot he could move, He knew not what ail'd him, but fear'd it was love. That nymph she beheld him with a modest grace, Seeing somewhat majestick appear in his face ; Till with blushing a little, to him she did say, Oh, good shepherd what mean you, how came ye this way. With reviving of spirits unto her he said, I was ne'r soe surpris'd at the sight of a maid ; Ay until I beheld thee of love I was free, but now I'me ta'en captive my faire love by thee. VI. Mill£ ant) flDarie/ Say's Willy, my uncle lie beat, I'le trip his heels over the doore ; Says Mary, brother's a cheat, And beside he's the son of a whore. * This Jacobite production, which has considerable merit, appeared originally in a coarser, but perhaps wittier form, which was reprinted in the Aungcvyle Society's Reprints, Series I., p. . It is hardly necessary to mention that it is a violent attack on William III. and his ()ueen for putting on their heads the Crown of James II. !4 A New Book Wei banish religion and nature, For these be noe friends in the case, But still we will cover the matter With vizours and masks of grace. Says Willie, I'le be a King, Says Mary, I'le be a Queen; My uncle, said hee, My dady, said shee, We'l banish, and soe we shall rcigne. The traytcrous party that murder'd Our Grandfather Charle de Bonn, Shall be rewarded and honour'd For helping to banish his sone. Thanks be to knavery and knaves, Thanks be to presbitry and treason, For these be the sanctified means That gain'd us a croun, in good season. Says Willie, I'le be a King, Says Marie I'le be a Queen ; My Uncle, said he, My Dady, said shee, We'le banish, and soe we will reigne. Blest be these Independants, That took off our Grandfather's head, Let them be still our defendants And our support in our need. of Old Ballads. 1 5 For Presbitry hatched the egg, Independants the cockatrice nourish A crown, though begott with a plague, We care not soe longe as we flourish. Says Willie, Tie be a King, Says Mary, Tie be a Queen; My Uncle, said he, My Dady, said she, We'le banish, and soe we shall reigne. Says Mary, our father we'll honnour, It's true said the Marmaiden elfe, Before that a crown hurts his head, I'le dethron him and wear it myself; For he is old and weak, And we are young and souple, And fitter than he for to reigne. [The Devil] take the couple, Says good old Jamy the King, Says good old Jamy the King. The heir of the crown, Though depriv'd [of his own], Is fitter than thee for to reigne. 16 A New Book VII. Zo Danton inc.* WHEN I was wanton, yourig, and free, I thought nothing could danton me ; Bui the eighty-eight and eighty-nine, And all the dreary years since sine ; Retention, sess, and pole money, Have done enough to danton mee. To danton me, to danton nice, I thought noe thing could danton mee ; But the abdication of our King, And Prelacy that sacred thing, Usurping Prince and Presbytry, Have done right much for to danton me. To danton me, to danton me, I thought noe thing could danton me ; The abjuration of the test, Apostles 9 creed and all the rest; Lord's Prayer and doxology. Have done enough for to danton me. * The tune taken from the first volume of Oswald's Caledonian Pocket Companion, printed in 1 740, occurs in Johnson's Musical Museum, vol. ii. No. clxxxii., p. 176, with words by Burns. In the notes, p. 176, the old ballad is given, extracted from what is termed "a very rare and curious little book," entitled a Collection of Loyal Songs and Poem3 printed in the year 1 750. There are only three stanza3 of it. It occurs also in Ritson. of Old Ballads. But to wanton me, to wanton me, There is yet something would wanton me ; Our Hogen King he must goe owt, With all his Hogen Mogen rowt, And all the race of Presbytry, And that I trow would wanton me. Would wanton me, would wanton me, There's yet a thing would wanton me; Our King restor'd to all his three In health, peace, and prosperity; No cess nor press, nor Presbytry, And that I trow would wanton me. Would wanton me, would wanton me, There is yet something would wanton me; To see good corn grow on the riggs Of persecution on the whiggs; And a Synod sett for Assemblies, And that truly would wanton me. 1 8 A New Book VIII. Bool for mv> £ye\\.* Dooi. for my eyen that ever I have seen Such a parcel of rogues in a nation, Who's only designe is to plot and combine For opposing a true reformation. But the Pope and the Turk Might find some easier work, To establish their formes amang them, Than these who take care Such abuses to repair, Such knaves 'twere no pity to hang them. When the Tories and the Teagues Had the charge of our craigs, When the fox had the lambe in protection; When tyrannical power Did our statutes devour, When our Court from a Priest took direction. * In Hogg's Jacobite Relics, vol. i. p. 66, will be found a Ballad on the Stewart side of the question, entitled "Such a Parcel of Rogues in a Nation," which consists of three Stanzns, and has considerable merit. The present appears to be the Whig retaliation, and bating one or two faulty lines, is not inferior to the Tory song. of Old Ballads. 1 9 When our coyn and our pow'r Wer consign'd upon a whore, When Hell, France, and Rome had intended To make us their slaves, And our houses our graves, They'r zealots wer ne'er discontented. But our Prince who withstood To his fortune, and blood, Our laws and religion defending, They defame, they oppose, They'r the worst of his foes, They'r traytours, though loyal pretending. They have settled theyr hope On the Turke and the Pope, With the Devil and the French to assist them ; But though theyr strength made them boast, They shall feel to theyr cost, That he's too great a power to resist them. Let them bragg what they got From the English and Scott, Att Aloyne, or at Agrim, or Deep too, Or at Landau itself, Though the fols fairy elf, Had intended to catch them asleep too. 20 A New Book Could our armys fairly meet, As it faired with the fleet, Perhaps ye should see some disaster ; They should lead such a dance, To that Hector in France, As our King at Aloyn did their master. IX. Xove is tbe cause of m\> flDourning/ When first my poor heart, unacquainted with love, Cupide with his bow and his arrow did move; Soc sweet was the wound, and soe gentle did prove, While as yet my poor heart was a bleeding. I knew not what ailed me, yet something I found, Which I ne'er found before, still the more did abound ; [For] Strcphon, I knew, [kept] watch on theground, Where his milky white flocks were a feeding. * In Johnson's Musical Museum, Vol. ii. No. 109, will be found the tune of "Love is the cause of my Mourning," — the words are entirely different from those now printed. The Version given in the Orpheus Caledonius, (1725), Ramsay's Tea-Table Miscellany and Johnson, has been attributed to President Forbes. of Old Ballads. 21 O Strephon the brave, the gallant, and gay, Soe sharp are his notes, and soe sweet he doth play, That he charms all the nymphs in the plains all the day, And at night he doth keep my heart burning. O cruel that custom that forbids to reveal, A passion soe strong and soe hard to conceal, To the deserts I'le goe, to the plains bid farewell, Since love is the cause of my mourning, Where the sweet nightingale With dolful notes doth quell, My longsome funeral As shee's flying ; Caus tell the woods the secret Strephon tell, The direful account of my dying.* X. ftfoouobtlcss (Tlora.t Cloras full of harmless thoughts, beneath yon well she lay, Had love a youthful shepherd brought to pass the time away ; * There is evidently something wrong here, but the Editor has given the verse as it occurs in the MS. omitting one word before Strephon in the last line but one, which is illegible. f Thoughtless Clora is the worst in the Collection, and hardly merits preservation. 22 A Nrzv Book- She blessed to be encounter'd so by that ena- moured .swain ; But when she rose and strove to go, he pul'd her back again. A sudden passion siezed her then, and spite of her disdain, She found a pulse in every place, and love in every vein ; What passions this that youth betrays, in spite of all surprise — Don't lett me fall unless you please, and leave me power to rise. She fainting stood and tremblingly, for fear he should comply; Her lovely eyes her heart betray'd, and made her heart to lye; And she who Princes had deny'd, with all their pomp and train, In that unlucky minute was betray'd unto the [lucky ?] swaine. of Old Ballads. 23 XI. TLbc flDarqufs of "fcunflte's IRetveat from tbe Battle of 5beviffmuit\* From Bogie side to Bogie Gight, The Gordons all conveen'd, man, With all their might, to battle weight, Together close they join'd man, To set their King upon the throne, And to protect the church, man ; But fy for shame! they soon ran hame, And left him in the lurch, man. Vow as the Marquis ran, Coming from Dumblane, man ; Strabogie did bes — t itself, And Enzie was not clean, man. Vow, &c. Their chieftain was a man of fame, And doughty deeds had wrought, man, Which future ages still shall name, And tell how well he fought, man. * This very clever and spirited Ballad has been introduced by Hogg in the second volume of his Jacobite Relics from a very imperfect manuscript copy. rhe present one is taken from the original broadside, which is supposed to be unique, and belonged to Mr. David Haig of the Advocates' Library. 24 Jl Nfw Book For when the battle did begin, Immediately his Grace, man, Put spurs to Florance,* and so ran By all, and wan the race, man. Vow, &c. The Marquis' horse was first sent forth, Glcnbucket's foot to back them, To give a proof what they were worth, If rebels durst attack them. With loud huzzas to Huntly's praise, They near'd Dunfermline Green, Man But fifty horse, and de'il ane mair, Turn'd many a Highland clan, man. Vow, &c. The second chieftain of that elan, For tear that he should die, man, To gain the honour of his name, Raised first the mutinie, man. And then he wrote unto his Grace, The great Duke of Argyle, man, And swore if he would grant him peace, The Tories he'd beguile, man. * His horse so called from having been a present from the Grand Duke of Tuscany. of Old Ballads. 25 The Master* with the bullie's face, And with the coward's heart, man. Who never fails, to his disgrace, To act a traitor's part, man. He join \1 Drumboig, the greatest knave In all the shire of Fife, man. He was the first the cause did leave, By council of his wife, man. Vow, &C. A member of the tricking trade, An Ogilvie by name, man ; Consulter of the grumbler club, To his eternal shame, man. Who would have thought, when he came out, That ever he would fail, man; And like a fool, did eat the cow, And worried on the tail, man. Vow, &c. * Master of Sinclair, whose Court-Martial has been printed with an exceedingly interesting preface by Sir Walter Scott, as his contribution to the Roxburgh Club, — it is one of the most curious of the Club Books. The Memoirs of the Master were under the Editorship of David Laing and James Macnight, published by the Abbotsford Club in 1838. 26 A New Book MefTan Smith,* at Sheriff Muir, Gart folk believe he fought, man ; But well its known, that all he did, That day it scrv'd for nought, man. For towards night, when Mar march'd off, Smith was put in the rere, man ; He curs'd, he swore, he bauld out, He would not stay for fear, man. Vow, &c. But at the first he seemed to be A man of good renown, man ; But when the grumbling work began, He prov'd an arrant lown, man. Against Mar, and a royal war, A letter he did forge, man ; Against his Prince, he wrote nonsense, And swore by Royalt George, man. Vow, &.c. At Poineth boat, Mr. FrancisJ Stewart, A valiant hero stoocr; man ; * David Smith was then proprietor of Methven, an estate in Perthshire. He died in 1735. Douglas, in his Baronage, terms him, "a man of good parts, great sagacity, and economy." f Altered in MS. to "German." % Brother to Charles, fifth Earl of Moray. Upon his brother's death, 7th October 1735, he became the sixth Earl. He died in the 66th year of his age, on the nth December 1739- of Old Ballads. 27 In acting of a royal part, Cause of the royal blood, man. But when at Sheriff Moor he found, That bolting would not do it, He, brother like, did quite his ground, And ne'er came back unto it. Vow, &c. Brunstane said it was not fear That made him stay behind, man ; But that he had resolv'd that day To sleep in a whole skin, man. The gout, he said, made him take, When battle first began, man; But when he heard his Marquis fled, He took his heels and ran, man. Vow, Sec. Sir James of Park, he left his horse In the middle of a wall, man; And durst not stay to take him out, For fear a knight should fall, man; And Maien he let such a crack, And shewed a pantick fear, man; And Craigieheads swore he was shot, And curs'd the chance of war, man. Vow, &c. When they march'd on the Sheriff Moor, With courage stout and keen, man; Who would have thought the Gordons gay That day should quite the green, man. 28 A New Book Auchleacher and Auchanachie, And all the Gordon tribe, man ; Like their great Marquis, they could not The smell of powder bide, man. Vow, &c. Glenbuicket cryed, plague on you all, For Gordons do no good, man ; For all that fled this day, it is Them of the Seaton blood, man. Clashtirim said it was not so, And that he'd make appear, man ; For he a Seaton stood that day, When Gordons ran for fear, man. Vow, &c. The Gordons they are kittle flaws, They'll fight with heart and hand, mr..i. When they met in Strathbogie raws On Thursday afternoon, man ; But when the Grants came doun the brae, Their Enzie shook for fear, man; And all the lairds rode up themselves, With horse and riding gear, man. Vow, &c. Cluny* plays his game of chess, As sure as any thing, man ; * This seems rather Gordon of Cluny than Cluny Macpherson. The estate of Cluny has passed from the ancient race, though still possessed by a Gordon. of Old Ballads. 29 And like the royal Gordons race, Gave check unto the King, man. Without a Queen, its clearly seen, This game cannot recover ; I'd do my best, then in great haste Play up the rook Hanover. Vow as the Marquis ran, Coming from Uumblain, man ; Strathbogie did bes — t itself, And Enzie was not clean, man. Vow, &c. XII. Zhc Cheat £>ctcctefc> ; or a Ibtnt to jpocts.* To the Tune of " King John and (lie Abbot of Canterbury." I'll tell you a story, pray gentles draw near, Of Graeme and his ball for the future beware ; * "By Miss Anne Keith, daughter (youngest) of Mr. Keith, late Envoy at Russia, on the stupid ingratitude of Edinburgh to Colonel Graham, who gave the finest and most magnificent ball ever known in Scotland, and got no notice taken of it." MS. note on a copy of the original broadside, formerly in the possession of the late William Boswcll, Estjuire, Sheriff of Berwickshire. Those verses are from the pen of the lady who is so 3al>e "That we've gotten in our play." 4* A New Book " O ! tell to mc, Tomlin," she said, " And tell it to me soon ; " Was you ever at a good church door, " Or got you Christendom ?" " O ! I have been at a good church door, *■ And oft her* yetts within ; " I was the laird of Foulis's son, " The heir of all his land. " But it fell once upon a day, " As hunting I did ride ; " As I rode east and west yon hill, " There woe did me betide. "O! drowsy, drowsy as I was, " Dead sleep upon me fell; " The Queen of fairies she was there, ' ' And took me to hersel. " The morn at even is Hallowe'en, " Our fairy court will ride "Through England and Scotland both, " Through all the world wide; " And if that ye would me borrow, " At Rides Cross ye may bide. " You may go into the Miles Moss, " Between twelve hours and one ; " Take holy water in your hand, " And cast a compass round. * Sic, of Old Ballads. 43 "The first court that comes along, " You'll let them all pass by ; " The next court that comes along, "Salute them reverently. " The next court that comes along, " Is clad in robes of green; " And its the head court of them all, " For in it rides the Queen. " And I upon a milk-white steed, " With a gold star in my crown ; " Because I am an earthly man, " I'm next the Queen in renown. "Then seize upon me with a spring, " Then to the ground I'll fa'; "And then you'll hear a rueful cry, " That Tomlin is awa'. " Then I'll grow in your arms two, " Like to a savage wild; " But hold me fast, let me not go, " I'm father of your child. "I'll grow into your arms two, " Like an adder, or a snake; " But hold me fast, let me not go, " I'll be your earthly maik. " I'll grow into your arms two, " Like ice on frozen lake; " But hold me fast, let me not go, " Or from your goupen break. 44 A New Book " I'll grow into your arms two, " Like iron in strong fire; " But hold me fast, let me not go, " Then you'll have your desire." And its next night into Miles Moss, Fair Margaret has gone ; When lo she stands beside Rides Cross, Between twelve hours and one. There's holy water in her hand, She casts a compass round; And presently a fairy band Comes riding o'er the mound. XVII. Zhc TLntye Complaint/ A Lady made a great complaint, A little while ago; She seemed to be in great despair About a cook or two. But what's a nasty chreeshy cook, To fill a heart with woe ? When folks complain they never think What others undergo. * Written by Lord Binning, as to whom, see Wai pole's Royal and Noble Authors. of Old Ballads. 45 These many years I've rid about, And never had a skirt ; So you may guess my petticoats Have aye been in the dirt. And dirt's a thing I cannot thole, Yet dirt I must go thro'; I kenna how to get a skirt, Or what to make it o'. I fain wad wear a camblet skirt, My petticoats aboon; But camblet's an untasty thing, And it would wear out soon. If I should make a washing thing, It soon would flimsy be; And all the laughing loons would make A laughing stock of me. For any one who's making wabs, It would be little work To add some five or six plies Of good Turk upon Turk. 'Twould last me a' my days, I'm sure, And would look very douse; But then, I fear, I'd be a lump, An