Kinloch Manuscripts, VII, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47, 49.
| 1 |
Johnie is up to London gane,
Three quarters o the year,
And he is up to London gane,
The king's banner for to bear. |
| 2 |
He had na been in fair London
A twalmonth and a day,
Till the king's ae daughter
To Johnie gangs wi child. |
| 3 |
O word is to the kitchen gane,
And word is to the ha,
And word is to the king himsel
Amang his nobles a'.
* * * * * |
| 4 |
She has wrote a braid letter,
She has wrote it tenderly,
And she's wrote a braid letter,
To lat her Johnie see |
| 5 |
That her bower is very high,
It's aw weel walled about;
Her feet are in the fetters strang,
Her body looking out. |
| 6 |
Her garters are of cauld iron,
And they are very cold;
Her breist-plate is o the sturdy steel,
Instead o the beaten gold. |
| 7 |
Whan he lookit the letter on,
A licht lauch gaed he;
But eer he read it til an end,
The tear blindit his ee. |
| 8 |
'I maun up to London gang,
Whatever me betide,
And louse that lady out o prison strang;
She lay last by my side.' |
| 9 |
Up spak Johnie's ae best man,
That stood by Johnie's knie:
Ye'll get twenty four o my best men,
To bear ye companie. |
| 10 |
When Johnie was in his saddle set,
A pleasant sicht to see,
There was na ae married man
In Johnie's companie. |
| 11 |
The first toun that he cam till,
He made the mass be sung;
The niest toun that he cam till,
He made the bells be rung. |
| 12 |
When he cam to fair London,
He made the drums gae round;
The king and his nobles aw
They marvelld at the sound. |
| 13 |
'Is this the Duke of Winesberry,
For James, the Scotish king;
Or is it a young gentleman,
That wants for to be in?' |
| 14 |
'It's na the Duke of Winesberry,
Nor James, the Scotish king;
But it is a young gentleman,
Buneftan is his name.' |
| 15 |
Up spak the king himsel,
An angry man was he:
The morn eer I eat or drink
Hie hangit sall he be. |
| 16 |
Up spak Johnie's ae best man,
That stood by Johnie's knie:
Afore our master he be slain
We'll aw fecht till we die. |
| 17 |
Up spak the king himsel,
And up spak he:
I have an Italian in my court
That will fecht ye manifullie. |
| 18 |
'If ye hae an Italian in your court,
Fu fain wad I him see;
If ye hae an Italian in your court,
Ye may bring him here to me.' |
| 19 |
The king and his nobles aw
Went tripping doun the plain,
Wi the queen and her maries aw,
To see fair Johnie slain. |
| 20 |
Even anent the prison-door
The battle did begin;
. . . .
. . . . |
| 21 |
They foucht up, and they foucht doun,
Wi swerds o tempered steel,
Til Johnie wi his gude braidswerd
Made the Italian for to yield. |
| 22 |
He has kickd him with his foot,
And he has kickd him oure the plain:
'Onie mair Italians in your court
Ye want for to be slain?' |
| 23 |
'A clerk, a clerk,' the king cried,
'To sign her tocher-fee;'
'A priest, a priest,' young Johnie said,
'To marry her and me. |
| 24 |
'For I want nane o your gowd,
Nor nane o your weel won fee;
I only want your fair dochter,
I have won her mannfullie.' |
