Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 635; "from the recitation of Margaret Black,
wife of Archie Black, sailor in Ayr, a native of Aberdeenshire."
| 1 |
The Earl of Aboyne is to London gane,
And a' his nobles with him;
He's left his lady him behin,
He's awa, to remain in Lundon. |
| 2 |
She's called upon her waiting-maid
To busk her in her claithin;
Her sark was o cambrick very fine,
And her bodice was the red buckskin. |
| 3 |
Her stockings were o silk sae fine,
And her shoon o the fine cordan;
Her coat was o the guid green silk,
Turnit up wi a siller warden. |
| 4 |
Her goun was also o the silk,
Turned up wi a siller warden,
And stately tripped she doun the stair,
As she saw her gude lord comin. |
| 5 |
She gaed thro the close and grippit his horse,
Saying, Ye're welcome hame frae London!
'Gin that be true, come kiss me now,
Come kiss me for my coming. |
| 6 |
'For blythe and cantie may ye be,
And thank me for my comin,
For the morn would hae been my wedding-day
Had I remained in London.' |
| 7 |
She turnd her richt and round about,
She was a waefu woman:
'Gin the morn would hae been your weddin-day,
Gae kiss your whores in London.' |
| 8 |
He turned him richt and round about,
He was sorry for his comin:
'Loup on your steeds, ye nobles a',
The morn we'll dine in London.' |
| 9 |
She lived a year in meikle wae,
And the doctors dealin wi her;
At lang and last her heart it brast
And the letters gade to London. |
| 10 |
And when he saw the seals o black,
He fell in a deadly weeping;
He said, She's dead whom I loed best,
And she had my heart in keeping. |
| 11 |
'Loup on your steeds, ye nobles a',
I'm sorry for our comin;
Frae our horse to our hat, we'll gae in black,
And we'll murn for Peggy Irwine.' |
| 12 |
They rade on but stap or stay
Till they came to her father's garden,
Whare fifty o the bravest lords
Were convoying Peggy Irwine. |
