English and Scottish Ballads Volume IV Part 12

"Ye've done no wrong, my bonny boy, 65 Ye've done no wrong, my caddie;"

Wi' hat in hand he bowed low, Gave the letter to the rantin' laddie.

When young Aboyne looked the letter on, O but he blinkit bonny; 70 But ere he read four lines on end, The tears came trickling mony.

"My father will no pity shew, My mother still does slight me, And a' my friends have turned from me, 75 And servants disrespect me."

"Who are they dare be so bold To cruelly use my la.s.sie?

But I'll take her to bonny Aboyne, Where oft she did caress me. 80

"Go raise to me five hundred men, Be quick and make them ready; Each on a steed, to haste their speed, To carry home my lady."

As they rode on thro' Buchans.h.i.+re, 85 The company were many, Wi' a good claymore in every hand, That glanced wondrous bonny.

When he came to her father's gate He called for his lady; 90 "Come down, come down, my bonny maid, And speak wi' your rantin' laddie."

When she was set on high horseback, Row'd in the highland plaidie, The bird i' the bush sung not so sweet, 95 As sung this bonny lady.

As they rode on thro' Buchans.h.i.+re, He cried, "Each lowland la.s.sie, Lay your love on some lowland lown, And soon will he prove fause t' ye. 100

"But take my advice, and make your choice Of some young highland laddie, Wi' bonnet and plaid, whose heart is staid, And he will not beguile ye."

As they rode on thro' Garioch land, 105 He rode up in a fury, And cried, "Fall back each saucy dame, Let the Countess of Aboyne before ye."

THE DUKE OF GORDON'S DAUGHTER.

Ritson's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 169.

"Alexander, third Earl of Huntly, was succeeded, in 1523, by his grandson Alexander, Lord Gordon, who actually had three daughters. I.

Lady Elizabeth, the eldest, married to John, Earl of Athol. II. Lady Margaret, married to John, Lord Forbes. III. Lady Jean, the youngest, married _first_, to James, Earl of Bothwell, from whom she was divorced in 1568; she married, _secondly_, Alexander, Earl of Southerland, who died in 1594; and surviving him, she married, _thirdly_, Captain Alexander Ogilvie, son and successor of Sir Walter Ogilvie of Boym, who died in 1606 without issue." STENHOUSE, _Musical Museum_, iv. 378.

The dukedom of Gordon was not created until 1684, and therefore the first line should probably run as quoted by Burns,--

"The _Lord_ of Gordon had three daughters."

The duke of Gordon has three daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean; They would not stay in bonny Castle-Gordon, But they would go to bonny Aberdeen.

They had not been in Aberdeen 5 A twelvemonth and a day, Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie, And away with him she would gae.

Word came to the duke of Gordon, In the chamber where he lay, 10 Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie, And away with him she would gae.

"Go saddle me the black horse, And you'll ride on the grey; And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen, 15 Where I have been many a day."

They were not a mile from Aberdeen, A mile but only three, Till he met with his two daughters walking, But away was Lady Jean. 20

"Where is your sister, maidens?

Where is your sister, now?

Where is your sister, maidens, That she is not walking with you?"

"O pardon us, honoured father, 25 O pardon us," they did say; "Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie, And away with him she will gae."

When he came to Aberdeen, And down upon the green, 30 There did he see Captain Ogilvie, Training up his men.

"O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie, And an ill death thou shalt die; For taking to my daughter, 35 Hanged thou shalt be."

Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter, And sent it to the king, To cause hang Captain Ogilvie, If ever he hanged a man. 40

"I will not hang Captain Ogilvie, For no lord that I see; But I'll cause him to put off the lace and scarlet, And put on the single livery."

Word came to Captain Ogilvie, 45 In the chamber where he lay, To cast off the gold lace and scarlet, And put on the single livery.

"If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon, This pennance I'll take wi'; 50 If this be bonny Jeany Gordon, All this I will dree."

Lady Jean had not been married, Not a year but three, Till she had a babe in every arm, 55 Another upon her knee.

"O but I'm weary of wandering!

O but my fortune is bad!

It sets not the duke of Gordon's daughter To follow a soldier lad. 60

"O but I'm weary of wandering!

O but I think lang!

It sets not the duke of Gordon's daughter, To follow a single man."

When they came to the Highland hills, 65 Cold was the frost and snow; Lady Jean's shoes they were all torn, No farther could she go.

"O wo to the hills and the mountains!

Wo to the wind and the rain! 70 My feet is sore with going barefoot, No further am I able to gang.

"Wo to the hills and the mountains!

Wo to the frost and the snow!

My feet is sore with going barefoot, 75 No farther am I able for to go.

"O! if I were at the glens of Foudlen, Where hunting I have been, I would find the way to bonny Castle-Gordon, Without either stockings or shoon." 80

When she came to Castle-Gordon, And down upon the green, The porter gave out a loud shout, "O yonder comes Lady Jean."

"O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon, 85 You are dear welcome to me; You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon, But away with your Captain Ogilvie."

Now over seas went the captain, As a soldier under command; 90 A message soon followed after, To come and heir his brother's land.

"Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie, And heir your brother's land; Come home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie, 95 Be earl of Northumberland."

"O what does this mean?" says the captain; "Where's my brother's children three?"

"They are dead and buried, And the lands they are ready for thee." 100