P.398. This copy, J, which resemhles D, was
communicated by Mr. Macmath as derived, September 13, 1886, from
his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, who learned it above fifty years ago
at Airds of Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, from the singing of Samuel
Galloway. "Barborough may be spelt Barburgh, Barbara, or even,
perhaps, Barbary."
| 1 |
There was a lass in the North Countrie,
And her clothing it was the green,
And she's looked ower her father's castle-wa,
For to see her father's ships sail in, in,
For to see her father's ships on sea. |
| 2 |
'What aileth thee, dear daughter?' he said,
'What makes thee so pale and wan?
I 'm afraid you've got some sore sickness,
Or have lain wi some young man, man,
Or have lain wi some young man. |
| 3 |
'O I have got no sore sickness,
Nor I've lain with no young man;
But the thing that grieves me to the heart
Is my true-love is staying too long.'
That my true-love, etc. |
| 4 |
'O is he a lord, or a duke, or a knight,
Or a man of birth or fame?
Or is he one of my own servant-men,
That is lately come from Spain?' |
| 5 |
'He's neither a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight,
Nor a man of birth or fame;
But he is one of your own servant-men,
That is lately come from Spain.' |
| 6 |
'O call him down, the Spanish dog,
O call him down to me,
For before eight o'clock next morning
Hanged he shall be, be,
Aye, hanged on a tree.' |
| 7 |
'It's oh forbid, dear father,' she said,
'That anything there should be,
For if that you hang John Barborough,
You'll get nae mair good o me.' |
| 8 |
He's called down his merry men all,
By one and by two and by three;
John Barborough was to be the first,
But the last man down came he. |
| 9 |
...
...
For every pound that he laid down,
John Barborough laid down three. |
Dr. Davidson has given me a stanza, derived from Aherdeenshire,
which is close to G 10.
