The New Statistical Account of Scotland, V, 846, Parish
of Loudoun, by Rev. Norman Macleod: "known among the
peasantry from time immemorial."
| 1 |
It fell about the Martinmas time,
When the wind blew snell and cauld,
That Adam o Gordon said to his men,
Where will we get a hold? |
| 2 |
See [ye] not where yonder fair castle
Stands on yon lily lee?
The laird and I hae a deadly feud,
The lady fain would I see. |
| 3 |
As she was up on the househead,
Behold, on looking down,
She saw Adam o Gordon and his men,
Coming riding to the town. |
| 4 |
The dinner was not well set down,
Nor the grace was scarcely said,
Till Adam o Gordon and his men
About the walls were laid. |
| 5 |
'It's fause now fa thee, Jock my man!
Thou might a let me be;
Yon man has lifted the pavement-stone,
An let in the low unto me.' |
| 6 |
'Seven years I served thee, fair ladie,
You gave me meat and fee;
But now I am Adam o Gordon's man,
An maun either do it or die.' |
| 7 |
'Come down, come down, my lady Loudoun,
Come down thou unto me!
I'll wrap thee on a feather-bed,
Thy warrand I shall be.' |
| 8 |
'I'll no come down, I'll no come down,
For neither laird no[r] loun;
Nor yet for any bloody butcher
That lives in Altringham town. |
| 9 |
'I would give the black,' she says,
'And so would I the brown,
If that Thomas, my only son,
Could charge to me a gun.' |
| 10 |
Out then spake the lady Margaret,
As she stood on the stair;
The fire was at her goud garters,
The lowe was at her hair. |
| 11 |
'I would give the black,' she says,
'And so would I the brown,
For a drink of yon water,
That runs by Galston Town.' |
| 12 |
Out then spake fair Annie,
She was baith jimp and sma
'O row me in a pair o sheets,
And tow me down the wa!' |
| 13 |
'O hold the tongue, thou fair Annie,
And let thy talkin be;
For thou must stay in this fair castle,
And bear thy death with me.' |
| 14 |
'O mother,' spoke the lord Thomas,
As he sat on the nurse's knee,
'O mother, give up this fair castle,
Or the reek will worrie me.' |
| 15 |
'I would rather be burnt to ashes sma,
And be cast on yon sea-foam,
Before I'd give up this fair castle,
And my lord so far from home. |
| 16 |
'My good lord has an army strong,
He's now gone oer the sea;
He bad me keep this gay castle,
As long as it would keep me. |
| 17 |
'I've four-and-twenty brave milk kye,
Gangs on yon lily lee;
I'd give them a' for a blast of wind,
To blaw the reek from me.' |
| 18 |
O pittie on yon fair castle,
That's built with stone and lime!
But far mair pittie on Lady Loudoun,
And all her children nine! |
