Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 654; "from the recitation of the
wife of Charles Drain, sow-gelder, etc., Kilmarnock."
| 1 |
There was a fause knicht in the court,
And he was fu o treacherie,
And he staw the queen's jewels in the nicht,
And left the wyte on Jamie O'Lee. |
| 2 |
The king he wrate a braid letter,
And sealed it richt tenderlie,
And he sent it to his only son,
To come and speak to him speedilie. |
| 3 |
When he cam afore the king,
He kneeled low down on his knee:
'What is your will, my sovereign leige?
What is your will? cum tell to me.' |
| 4 |
'Jamie O'Lee has my jewels stown,
As the English lord tells unto me,
And out o Scotland he shall be sent,
And sent awa to Germanie.' |
| 5 |
'O no, O no,' then said the prince,
'Sic things as that can never be;
But get me a man that will take on hand
The morn to fecht young Jamie O'Lee.' |
| 6 |
Syne out and spak the fause Phenix,
And oh, he spak richt spitefullie;
'I am the man will tak on han
To fecht and conquer Jamie O'Lee.' |
| 7 |
'Oh no, oh no,' syne said the prince,
'Sic things as that can never bee,
For Jamie O'Lee's no fifteen years auld,
And ye, fause Phenix, are thretty three.' |
| 8 |
The prince he mounted then wi speed,
He's aff wi tidings to Jamie O'Lee,
Saying, The morn's morning ye maun fecht,
Or out o England banisht bee. |
| 9 |
When Jamie O'Lee the tidings heard,
Fast the saut tear blindit his ee;
'I'm saikless o thae jewels,' he said,
'As the bairn that sits on the nourice knee.' |
| 10 |
Then Phenix munted a scaffold hie,
A' for to shaw his veritie;
Whilk gart the nobles a' to cry
'A dead man are ye, Jamie O'Lee!' |
| 11 |
The first straik the fause Phenix gied,
He gart the blude rin speedilie;
It gart the prince's heart to ache,
And cry, Oh, alace for my Jamie O'Lee! |
| 12 |
Jamie O'Lee he stepped back,
Waiting for opportunitie,
And wi his sword baith lang and sharp
He ran it thro Phenix fause bodie. |
| 13 |
'O haud your hand, Jamie O'Lee,' he said,
'And let the breath remain in me,
And skail nae mair o my noble blude,
'Tis a great disgrace to my loyaltie.' |
| 14 |
'Confess, confess, ye fause Phenix,
Confess your faults this day to me;
Were there nae mair men in a' England,
My ain twa hands your death suld be.' |
| 15 |
'Ye were sae great wi king and queen,
I thocht I wuld hae banisht thee,
And I staw the queen's jewels in the nicht,
And left the wyte on Jamie O'Lee.' |
| 16 |
Syne out and spak the king himsell,
Saying, Jamie O'Lee, come hame wi me,
And there's no a knicht in a' my court
But what at your command sall be. |
| 17 |
Syne out and spak the queen hersell,
Saying, Jamie O'Lee, come hame wi me,
And there's no a month in a' the year
But changed a brothered ye sall be. |
| 18 |
Syne out and spak the prince himsell,
Saying, Jamie O'Lee, come hame wi me,
I hae free lands in a' Scotland,
And at your command they a' sall be. |
| 19 |
'I thank ye, king, and I thank ye, queen,
I thank ye a' nobilitie,
But a prince's page I was a' my life,
And a prince's page I yet will be.' |
| 20 |
The king gied him a silk waistcoat,
And it was lined wi the taffetie,
Wi a band o gowd around his neck,
And a prince's page he seems to be. |
