Kinloch's Manuscripts, VII, 69; apparently from the recitation
of Mrs. Charles of Torry, Aberdeen, born in Mearnshire.
| 1 |
There was a shepherd's dochter
Kept sheep on yonder hill;
Bye cam a knicht frae the High College,
And he wad hae his will. |
| 2 |
Whan he had got his wills o her,
His will as he has taen:
'Wad ye be sae gude and kind
As tell to me your name?' |
| 3 |
'Some ca's me Jock, some ca's me John,
Some disna ken my name,
But whan I'm into the king's court,
Mitchcock is my name.' |
| 4 |
'Mitchcock! hey!' the lady did say,
And spelt it oure again;
'If that's your name in the Latin tongue,
Earl Richard is your name!' |
| 5 |
O jumpt he upon his horse,
And said he wad go ride;
Kilted she her green claithing,
And said she wad na bide. |
| 6 |
The knicht rade on, the lady ran,
A live-lang simmer's day,
Till they cam to a wan water
Was calld the river Tay. |
| 7 |
'Jump on behind, ye weill-faurd may,
Or do ye chuse to ride?'
'No thank ye, sir,' the lady said,
'I rather chuse to wade;'
And afore that he was mid-water,
She was at the ither side. |
| 8 |
'Turn back, turn back, ye weill-faurd may,
My heart will brak in three:'
'And sae did mine in yon bonny hill-side,
Whan ye wad [na] lat me be.' |
| 9 |
'Whare gat ye that gay claithing
This day I see on thee?'
'My mither was a gude milk-nurse,
And a gude nourice was she;
She nursd the Earl of Stockford's daughter,
And gat aw this to me.' |
| 10 |
Whan she cam to the king's court,
She rappit wi a ring;
Sae ready as the king himsel
Was to let the lady in! |
| 11 |
'There is a knicht into your court
This day has robbed me:'
'O has he taen your gowd,' he says,
'Or has he taen your fee?' |
| 12 |
'He has na taen my gowd,' she says,
'Nor yet has he my fee;
But he has taen my maiden-head,
The flowr o my fair bodie.' |
| 13 |
Then out bespak the queen hersel,
Wha sat by the king's knee:
There's na a knicht in aw our court
Wad hae dune that to thee,
Unless it war my brither, Earl Richard,
And forbid it it war he! |
| 14 |
Wad ye ken your love,
Amang a hunder men?
'I wad,' said the bonnie ladie,
'Amang five hunder and ten.' |
| 15 |
The king made aw his merry men pass,
By ane, by twa, and three;
Earl Richard us'd to be the first man,
But he was hinmost man that day. |
| 16 |
He cam hauping on ane foot,
And winking with ae ee;
But 'Ha! ha!' said the bonnie ladie,
'That same young man are ye.' |
| 17 |
He's taen her up to a hie towr-head
And offerd her hunder punds in a glove:
'Gin ye be a courteous maid,
Ye'll choice anither love.' |
| 18 |
'What care I for your hunder pund?
Na mair than ye wad for mine;
What's a hunder pund to me,
To a marriage wi a king!' |
| 19 |
Whan the marriage it was oure,
And ilk ane took them horse,
'It never set a beggar's brat
At nae knicht's back to be.' |
| 20 |
The ladie met wi a beggar-wife,
And gied her half o crown:
'Tell aw your neebours, whan ye gang hame,
That Earl Richard's your gude-son.' |
| 21 |
'O hold your tongue, ye beggar's brat,
My heart will brak in three;'
'And sae did mine on yon bonny hill-side,
Whan ye wad na let me be.' |
| 22 |
Whan she cam to yon nettle-dyke,
. . . . .
'An my auld mither she was here,
Sae weill as she wad ye pu. |
| 23 |
'She wad boil ye weill, and butter ye weill,
And sup till she war fu,
And lay her head upon her dish-doup,
And sleep like onie sow.' |
| 24 |
Whan she cam to Earl Richard's house,
The sheets war holland fine:
'O haud awa thae linen sheets,
And bring to me the linsey clouts
I hae been best used in.' |
| 25 |
['Awa, awa wi your siller spoons,
Haud them awa frae me;
It would set me better to feed my flocks
Wi the brose-cap on my knee:
Sae bring to me the gude ram's horn,
The spoons I've been used wi.'] |
| 26 |
'Hold your tongue, ye beggar's brat,
My heart will brak in three;'
'And sae did mine on yon bonnie hillside,
Whan ye wadna lat me be.' |
| 27 |
'I wish I had drank the well-water
Whan first I drank the wine!
Never a shepherd's dochter
Wad hae been a love o mine. |
| 28 |
'O I wish I'd drank the well-water
Whan first I drank the beer,
That ever a shepherd's dochter
Shoud hae been my only dear!'
* * * * * |
| 29 |
'Ye'll turn about, Earl Richard,
And mak some mair o me;
An ye mak me lady o ae puir plow,
I can mak ye laird o three.' |
| 30 |
'If ye be the Earl of Stockford's dochter,
As I've taen some thouchts ye be,
Aft hae I waited at your father's yett,
But your face I coud never see.' |
