Motherwell'a Manuscript, p. 75. from the recitation of Mrs.
Thomson, an old woman of Kilbarchan.
| 1 |
There was a lass, as I heard say,
Lived low down in a glen;
Her name was Catharine Johnson,
Weel known to many men. |
| 2 |
Doun cam the laird o Lamingtoun,
Doun frae the South Countrie,
And he is for this bonnie lass,
Her bridegroom for to be. |
| 3 |
He's askd her father and mother,
The chief of a' her kin,
And then he askd the bonnie lass,
And did her favour win. |
| 4 |
Doun cam an Ehglish gentleman,
Doun frae the English border;
He is for this bonnie lass,
To keep his house in order. |
| 5 |
He askd her father and mother,
As I do them say,
But he never askd the lass hersell,
Till on her wedding-day. |
| 6 |
But she has wrote a lang letter,
And sealed it wi her hand,
And sent it to Lord Lamington,
To let him understand. |
| 7 |
The first line o the letter he read,
He was baith glad and fain;
But or he read the letter owre
He was baith pale and wan. |
| 8 |
Then he has sent a messenger,
And out through all his land,
And four-and-twenty armed men
Was all at his command. |
| 9 |
But he has left his merry men,
Left them on the lea;
And he's awa to the wedding-house,
To see what he could see. |
| 10 |
But when he came to the wedding-house,
As I do understand,
There were four-and-twenty belted knights
Sat at a table round. |
| 11 |
They rose all for to honour him,
For he was of high renown;
They rose all for to welcome him,
And bade him to sit doun. |
| 12 |
O meikle was the good red wine
In silver cups did flow,
But aye she drank to Lamingtoun,
For with him would she go. |
| 13 |
O meikle was the good red wine
In silver cups gaed round,
At length they began to whisper words,
None could them understand. |
| 14 |
'O came ye here for sport, young man?
Or cam ye here for play?
Or cam ye for our bonnie bride,
On this her wedding-day?' |
| 15 |
'I came not here for sport,' he said,
'Neither did I for play;
But for one word o your bonnie bride
I'll mount and ride away.' |
| 16 |
They set her maids behind her,
To hear what they would say,
But the first question he askd at her
Was always [answered] nay;
The next question he askd at her
Was, 'Mount and come away.' |
| 17 |
It's up the Couden bank,
And doun the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
'It's a weel won play.' |
| 18 |
O meikle was the blood was shed
Upon the Couden brae;
And aye she made the trumpet sound,
'It's a' fair play.' |
| 19 |
Come, all ye English gentlemen,
That is of England born,
Come nae doun to Scotland,
For fear ye get the scorn. |
| 20 |
They'll feed ye up wi flattering words,
And that's fair play;
And they'll dress ye frogs instead o fish,
Just on your wedding-day. |
