1.

1.⁴ ‘blee,’ complexion.

Kinge Arthur liues in merry Carleile,

& seemely is to see,

& there he hath with him Queene Genever,

That bride soe bright of blee.

2.

2.⁴ Perhaps we should read ‘stiff in stowre,’ a constant expression in ballads, ‘sturdy in fight.’

And there he hath with [him] Queene Genever,

That bride soe bright in bower,

& all his barons about him stoode,

That were both stiffe and stowre.

3.

The king kept a royall Christmasse,

Of mirth and great honor,

And when ...

 .....

 *****

4.

‘And bring me word what thing it is

That a woman [will] most desire;

This shalbe thy ransome, Arthur,’ he sayes,

‘For I’le haue noe other hier.’

5.

King Arthur then held vp his hand,

According thene as was the law;

He tooke his leaue of the baron there,

& homward can he draw.

6.

And when he came to merry Carlile,

To his chamber he is gone,

& ther came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine

As he did make his mone.

7.

And there came to him his cozen Sir Gawaine

That was a curteous knight;

‘Why sigh you soe sore, vnckle Arthur,’ he said,

‘Or who hath done thee vnright?’

8.

‘O peace, O peace, thou gentle Gawaine,

That faire may thee beffall!

For if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,

Thou wold not meruaile att all;

9.

‘Ffor when I came to Tearne Wadling,

A bold barron there I fand,

With a great club vpon his backe,

Standing stiffe and strong;

10.

‘And he asked me wether I wold fight,

Or from him I shold begone,

Or else I must him a ransome pay

& soe depart him from.

11.

11. Arthur’s customary bravery and chivalry are not conspicuous in this ballad.

‘To fight with him I saw noe cause,

Methought it was not meet,

For he was stiffe & strong with-all,

His strokes were nothing sweete;

12.

‘Therefor this is my ransome, Gawaine,

I ought to him to pay:

I must come againe, as I am sworne,

Vpon the Newyeer’s day.

13.

‘And I must bring him word what thing it is

 .....

 .....

 .....

 *****

14.

Then King Arthur drest him for to ryde

In one soe rich array

Toward the fore-said Tearne Wadling,

That he might keepe his day.

15.

And as he rode over a more,

Hee see a lady where shee sate

Betwixt an oke & a greene hollen;

She was cladd in red scarlett.

16.

Then there as shold haue stood her mouth,

Then there was sett her eye,

The other was in her forhead fast

The way that she might see.

17.

Her nose was crooked & turnd outward,

Her mouth stood foule a-wry;

A worse formed lady than shee was,

Neuer man saw with his eye.

18.

18.¹ ‘halch upon,’ salute.

To halch vpon him, King Arthur,

This lady was full faine,

But King Arthur had forgott his lesson,

What he shold say againe.

19.

‘What knight art thou,’ the lady sayd,

‘That will not speak to me?

Of me be thou nothing dismayd

Tho’ I be vgly to see;

20.

‘For I haue halched you curteouslye,

& you will not me againe;

Yett I may happen, Sir Knight,’ shee said,

‘To ease thee of thy paine.’

21.

21.¹ ‘Giue,’ If.

‘Giue thou ease me, lady,’ he said,

‘Or helpe me any thing,

Thou shalt have gentle Gawaine, my cozen,

& marry him with a ring.’

22.

‘Why, if I help thee not, thou noble King Arthur,

Of thy owne heart’s desiringe,

Of gentle Gawaine ...

 .....

 *****

23.

And when he came to the Tearne Wadling

The baron there cold he finde,

With a great weapon on his backe,

Standing stiffe and stronge.

24.

And then he tooke King Arthur’s letters in his hands,

& away he cold them fling,

& then he puld out a good browne sword,

& cryd himselfe a king.

25.

And he sayd, ‘I haue thee & thy land, Arthur,

To doe as it pleaseth me,

For this is not thy ransome sure,

Therfore yeeld thee to me.’

26.

And then bespoke him noble Arthur,

& bad him hold his hand;

‘& giue me leaue to speake my mind

In defence of all my land.’

27.

27.³ ‘hollen,’ holly.

He said, ‘As I came over a more,

I see a lady where shee sate

Betweene an oke & a green hollen;

She was clad in red scarlett;

28.

28.³ ‘sckill,’ reason, judgment.

‘And she says a woman will haue her will,

& this is all her cheef desire:

Doe me right, as thou art a baron of sckill,

This is thy ransome & all thy hyer.’

29.

He sayes, ‘An early vengeance light on her!

She walkes on yonder more;

It was my sister that told thee this;

& she is a misshappen hore!

30.

‘But heer He make mine avow to God

To doe her an euill turne,

For an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,

In a fyer I will her burne.’

 *****

The 2d Part

31.

Sir Lancelott & Sir Steven bold

They rode with them that day,

And the formost of the company

There rode the steward Kay.

32.

Soe did Sir Bauier and Sir Bore,

Sir Garrett with them soe gay,

Soe did Sir Tristeram that gentle knight,

To the forrest fresh & gay.

33.

And when he came to the greene fforrest,

Vnderneath a greene holly tree

Their sate that lady in red scarlet

That vnseemly was to see.

34.

34.² ‘swire,’ neck: the Folio reads smire.

Sir Kay beheld this ladys face,

& looked vppon her swire;

‘Whosoeuer kisses this lady,’ he sayes,

‘Of his kisse he stands in feare.’

35.

Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,

& looked vpon her snout;

‘Whosoeuer kisses this lady,’ he saies,

‘Of his kisse he stands in doubt.’

36.

‘Peace, cozen Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,

‘Amend thee of thy life;

For there is a knight amongst vs all

That must marry her to his wife.’

37.

37.⁴ ‘slaine’: the Folio gives shaine.

‘What! wedd her to wiffe!’ then said Sir Kay,

‘In the diuells name, anon!

Gett me a wiffe whereere I may,

For I had rather be slaine!’

38.

Then some tooke vp their hawkes in hast,

& some tooke vp their hounds,

& some sware they wold not marry her

For citty nor for towne.

39.

And then bespake him noble King Arthur,

& sware there by this day:

‘For a litle foule sight & misliking

 .....

 *****

40.

Then shee said, ‘Choose thee, gentle Gawaine,

Truth as I doe say,

Wether thou wilt haue me in this liknesse

In the night or else in the day.’

41.

41.² ‘was’ (Child’s suggestion): the Folio reads with.

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine,

Was one soe mild of moode,

Sayes, ‘Well I know what I wold say,

God grant it may be good!

42.

‘To haue thee fowle in the night

When I with thee shold play;

Yet I had rather, if I might,

Haue thee fowle in the day.’

43.

43.¹ ‘feires,’ = feres, mates: the Folio reads seires.

‘What! when Lords goe with ther feires,’ shee said,

‘Both to the ale & wine?

Alas! then I must hyde my selfe,

I must not goe withinne.’

44.

44.² Folio: but a skill: see note on 28.³.

And then bespake him gentle Gawaine;

Said, ‘Lady, thats but skill;

And because thou art my owne lady,

Thou shalt haue all thy will.’

45.

Then she said, ‘Blessed be thou, gentle Gawaine,

This day that I thee see,

For as thou see[st] me att this time,

From hencforth I wil be:

46.

‘My father was an old knight,

& yett it chanced soe

That he marryed a younge lady

That brought me to this woe.

47.

‘Shee witched me, being a faire young lady,

To the greene forrest to dwell,

& there I must walke in womans likness,

Most like a feend of hell.

48.

48.¹ ‘carlish,’ churlish.

‘She witched my brother to a carlish b .....

 .....

 .....

 .....

 *****

49.

 .....

 .....

That looked soe foule, & that was wont

On the wild more to goe.

50.

‘Come kisse her, brother Kay,’ then said Sir Gawaine,

‘& amend thé of thy liffe;

I sweare this is the same lady

That I marryed to my wiffe.’

51.

Sir Kay kissed that lady bright,

Standing vpon his ffeete;

He swore, as he was trew knight,

The spice was neuer soe sweete.

52.

‘Well, cozen Gawaine,’ sayes Sir Kay,

‘Thy chance is fallen arright,

For thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids

I euer saw with my sight.’

53.

‘It is my fortune,’ said Sir Gawaine;

‘For my Vnckle Arthur’s sake

I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,

Great ioy that I may take.’

54.

Sir Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,

Sir Kay tooke her by the tother,

They led her straight to King Arthur

As they were brother & brother.

55.

King Arthur welcomed them there all,

& soe did lady Geneuer his queene,

With all the knights of the round table

Most seemly to be seene.

56.

King Arthur beheld that lady faire

That was soe faire and bright,

He thanked Christ in Trinity

For Sir Gawaine that gentle knight;

57.

Soe did the knights, both more and lesse;

Reioyced all that day

For the good chance that hapened was

To Sir Gawaine & his lady gay.

1.

In the third day of May

to Carleile did come

A kind curteous child

that cold much of wisdome.

2.

2.³ ‘brauches,’ brooches.

A kirtle & a mantle

this child had vppon,

With brauches and ringes

full richelye bedone.

3.

He had a sute of silke,

about his middle drawne;

Without he cold of curtesye,

he thought itt much shame.

4.

‘God speed thee, King Arthur,

sitting at thy meate!

& the goodly Queene Gueneuer!

I canott her fforgett.

5.

5.² ‘hett,’ bid; ‘heede,’ MS. heate.

‘I tell you lords in this hall,

I hett you all heede,

Except you be the more surer,

is you for to dread.’

6.

6.¹ ‘potewer.’ Child says:— Read potener, French pautonnière, pouch, purse.

He plucked out of his potewer,

& longer wold not dwell,

He pulled forth a pretty mantle,

betweene two nut-shells.

7.

‘Haue thou here, King Arthure,

haue thou heere of mee;

Give itt to thy comely queene,

shapen as itt is alreadye.

8.

8.⁴ Perhaps the line should end with ‘his,’ but ‘wiffe’ is the last word in the manuscript.

‘Itt shall neuer become that wiffe

that hath once done amisse’:

Then euery knight in the King’s court

began to care for his wiffe.

9.

9.³ ‘new-fangle,’ desirous of novelties.

Forth came dame Gueneuer,

to the mantle shee her bid;

The ladye shee was new-fangle,

but yett shee was affrayd.

10.

When shee had taken the mantle,

shee stoode as she had beene madd;

It was ffrom the top to the toe

as sheeres had itt shread.

11.

11.¹ ‘gaule,’ perhaps = gules, i.e. red.

11.³ ‘wadded,’ woad-coloured, i.e. blue.

One while was itt gaule,

another while was itt greene;

Another while was itt wadded;

ill itt did her beseeme.

12.

Another while was it blacke,

& bore the worst hue;

‘By my troth,’ quoth King Arthur,

‘I thinke thou be not true.’

13.

13.² ‘blee,’ colour.

13.³ ‘rudd,’ complexion.

Shee threw downe the mantle,

that bright was of blee,

Fast with a rudd redd

to her chamber can shee flee.

14.

14.¹ ‘walker,’ fuller.

Shee curst the weauer and the walker

that clothe that had wrought,

& bade a vengeance on his crowne

that hither hath itt brought.

15.

‘I had rather be in a wood,

vnder a greene tree,

Then in King Arthurs court,

shamed for to bee.’

16.

Kay called forth his ladye,

& bade her come neere;

Saies, ‘Madam, & thou be guiltye,

I pray thee hold thee there.’

17.

Forth came his ladye

shortlye and anon,

Boldlye to the mantle

then is shee gone.

18.

When shee had tane the mantle,

& cast it her about,

Then was shee bare

all aboue the buttocckes.

19.

Then euery knight

that was in the Kings court

Talked, laug[h]ed, & showted,

full oft att that sport.

20.

Shee threw downe the mantle,

that bright was of blee,

Ffast with a red rudd

to her chamber can shee flee.

21.

Forth came an old knight,

pattering ore a creede,

& he proferred to this litle boy

20 markes to his meede,

22.

& all the time of the Christmasse

willinglye to ffeede;

For why this mantle might

doe his wiffe some need.

23.

When shee had tane the mantle,

of cloth that was made,

Shee had no more left on her

but a tassell and a threed:

Then euery knight in the Kings court

bade euill might shee speed.

24.

She threw downe the mantle,

that bright was of blee,

& fast with a redd rudd

to her chamber can shee flee.

25.

25.⁴ ‘dinne,’ trouble.

Craddocke called forth his ladye,

& bade her come in;

Saith, ‘Winne this mantle, ladye,

with a litle dinne.

26.

‘Winne this mantle, ladye,

& it shalbe thine

If thou neuer did amisse

since thou wast mine.’

27.

Forth came Craddockes ladye

shortlye & anon,

But boldlye to the mantle

then is shee gone.

28.

28.⁴ ‘crowt,’ pucker.

When shee had tane the mantle,

& cast itt her about,

Vpp att her great toe

itt began to crinkle & crowt;

Shee said, ‘Bowe downe, mantle,

& shame me not for nought.

29.

‘Once I did amisse,

I tell you certainlye,

When I kist Craddockes mouth

vnder a greene tree,

When I kist Craddockes mouth

before he marryed mee.’

30.

When shee had her shreeuen,

& her sines shee had tolde,

The mantle stoode about her

right as shee wold,

31.

Seemelye of coulour,

glittering like gold;

Then euery knight in Arthurs court

did her behold.

32.

Then spake dame Gueneuer

to Arthur our king:

‘She hath tane yonder mantle,

not with wright but with wronge.

33.

‘See you not yonder woman

that maketh her selfe soe cleane?

I haue seene tane out of her bedd

of men fiueteene;

34.

34.² ‘by-deene,’ one after another.

‘Preists, clarkes, & wedded men,

from her by-deene;

Yett shee taketh the mantle,

& maketh her selfe cleane!’

35.

Then spake the litle boy

that kept the mantle in hold;

Sayes, ‘King, chasten thy wiffe;

of her words shee is to bold.

36.

‘Shee is a bitch & a witch,

& a whore bold;

King, in thine owne hall

thou art a cuchold.’

37.

37 and 38: Evidently some lines have been lost here, and the rhymes are thereby confused.

A litle boy stoode

looking ouer a dore;

He was ware of a wyld bore,

wold haue werryed a man.

38.

He pulld forth a wood kniffe,

fast thither that he ran;

He brought in the bores head,

& quitted him like a man.

39.

He brought in the bores head,

and was wonderous bold;

He said there was neuer a cucholds kniffe

carue itt that cold.

40.

Some rubbed their k[n]iues

vppon a whetstone;

Some threw them vnder the table,

& said they had none.

41.

King Arthur & the child

stood looking them vpon;

All their k[n]iues edges

turned backe againe.

42.

42.³ ‘birtled,’ cut up.

Craddoccke had a litle kniue

of iron & of steele;

He birtled the bores head

wonderous weele,

That euery knight in the Kings court

had a morssell.

43.

43.² ‘ronge,’ rang.

The litle boy had a horne,

of red gold that ronge;

He said, ‘There was noe cuckolde

shall drinke of my horne,

But he shold itt sheede,

either behind or beforne.’

44.

Some shedd on their shoulder,

& some on their knee;

He that cold not hitt his mouth

put it in his eye;

& he that was a cuckold,

euery man might him see.

45.

Craddoccke wan the horne

& the bores head;

His ladye wan the mantle

vnto her meede;

Euerye such a louely ladye,

God send her well to speede!

1.

O Johney was as brave a knight

As ever sail’d the sea,

An’ he’s done him to the English court,

To serve for meat and fee.

2.

He had nae been in fair England

But yet a little while,

Untill the kingis ae daughter

To Johney proves wi’ chil’.

3.

O word’s come to the king himsel’,

In his chair where he sat,

That his ae daughter was wi’ bairn

To Jack, the Little Scott.

4.

‘Gin this be true that I do hear,

As I trust well it be,

Ye pit her into prison strong,

An’ starve her till she die.’

5.

5.^2,4 ‘A wot’ = I wis.

O Johney’s on to fair Scotland,

A wot he went wi’ speed,

An’ he has left the kingis court,

A wot good was his need.

6.

6.² See Young Bekie, 16.⁴; Brown Adam, 5.².

O it fell once upon a day

That Johney he thought lang,

An’ he’s gane to the good green wood,

As fast as he coud gang.

7.

‘O whare will I get a bonny boy,

To rin my errand soon,

That will rin into fair England,

An’ haste him back again?’

8.

O up it starts a bonny boy,

Gold yallow was his hair,

I wish his mother meickle joy,

His bonny love mieckle mair.

9.

‘O here am I, a bonny boy,

Will rin your errand soon;

I will gang into fair England,

An’ come right soon again.’

10.

10. See Lady Maisry, 21; Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet, 12, etc.: a stock ballad-phrase.

O whan he came to broken briggs,

He bent his bow and swam;

An’ whan he came to the green grass growan,

He slaikid his shoone an’ ran.

11.

Whan he came to yon high castèl,

He ran it roun’ about,

An’ there he saw the king’s daughter,

At the window looking out.

12.

12.¹ ‘sark,’ shift.

12.⁴ ‘Speer’ (speir), ask.

‘O here’s a sark o’ silk, lady,

Your ain han’ sew’d the sleeve;

You’r bidden come to fair Scotlan’,

Speer nane o’ your parents’ leave.

13.

13.² ‘gare,’ gore: see Brown Robin, 10.⁴.

‘Ha, take this sark o’ silk, lady,

Your ain han’ sew’d the gare;

You’re bidden come to good green wood,

Love Johney waits you there.’

14.

She’s turn’d her right and roun’ about,

The tear was in her ee:

‘How can I come to my true-love,

Except I had wings to flee?

15.

‘Here am I kept wi’ bars and bolts,

Most grievous to behold;

My breast-plate’s o’ the sturdy steel,

Instead of the beaten gold.

16.

‘But tak’ this purse, my bonny boy,

Ye well deserve a fee,

An’ bear this letter to my love,

An’ tell him what you see.’

17.

Then quickly ran the bonny boy

Again to Scotlan’ fair,

An’ soon he reach’d Pitnachton’s tow’rs,

An’ soon found Johney there.

18.

18.⁴ ‘loote,’ let.

He pat the letter in his han’

An’ taul’ him what he sa’,

But eer he half the letter read,

He loote the tears doun fa’.

19.

‘O I will gae back to fair Englan’,

Tho’ death shoud me betide,

An’ I will relieve the damesel

That lay last by my side.’

20.

Then out it spake his father dear,

‘My son, you are to blame;

An’ gin you’r catch’d on English groun’,

I fear you’ll ne’er win hame.’

21.

Then out it spake a valiant knight,

Johny’s best friend was he;

‘I can commaun’ five hunder men,

An’ I’ll his surety be.’

22.

22.⁴ ‘mess,’ mass.

The firstin town that they came till,

They gard the bells be rung;

An’ the nextin town that they came till,

They gard the mess be sung.

23.

The thirdin town that they came till,

They gard the drums beat roun’;

The king but an’ his nobles a’

Was startl’d at the soun’.

24.

Whan they came to the king’s palace

They rade it roun’ about,

An’ there they saw the king himsel’,

At the window looking out.

25.

‘Is this the Duke o’ Albany,

Or James, the Scottish king?

Or are ye some great foreign lord,

That’s come a visiting?’

26.

‘I’m nae the Duke of Albany,

Nor James, the Scottish king;

But I’m a valiant Scottish knight,

Pitnachton is my name.’

27.

27.³ ‘or,’ ere.

‘O if Pitnachton be your name,

As I trust well it be,

The morn, or I tast meat or drink,

You shall be hanged hi’.’

28.

Then out it spake the valiant knight

That came brave Johney wi’;

‘Behold five hunder bowmen bold,

Will die to set him free.’

29.

29.² The second ‘laugh’ is the past tense of the verb.

Then out it spake the king again,

An’ a scornfu’ laugh laugh he;

‘I have an Italian in my house

Will fight you three by three.’

30.

‘O grant me a boon,’ brave Johney cried;

‘Bring your Italian here;

Then if he fall beneath my sword,

I’ve won your daughter dear.’

31.

31.² ‘gurious,’ grim, ugly.

Then out it came that Italian,

An’ a gurious ghost was he;

Upo’ the point o’ Johney’s sword

This Italian did die.

32.

Out has he drawn his lang, lang bran’,

Struck it across the plain:

‘Is there any more o’ your English dogs

That you want to be slain?’

33.

33.² ‘tocher,’ dowry.

‘A clark, a clark,’ the king then cried,

‘To write her tocher free’;

‘A priest, a priest,’ says Love Johney,

‘To marry my love and me.

34.

‘I’m seeking nane o’ your gold,’ he says,

‘Nor of your silver clear;

I only seek your daughter fair,

Whose love has cost her dear.’

1.

1.⁴ ‘honour’: Motherwell printed bonheur.

Lord Ingram and Chiel Wyet

Was baith born in one bower;

Laid baith their hearts on one lady,

The less was their honour.

2.

Chiel Wyet and Lord Ingram

Was baith born in one hall;

Laid baith their hearts on one lady,

The worse did them befall.

3.

Lord Ingram woo’d her Lady Maisery

From father and from mother;

Lord Ingram woo’d her Lady Maisery

From sister and from brother.

4.

Lord Ingram woo’d her Lady Maisery

With leave of a’ her kin;

And every one gave full consent,

But she said no to him.

5.

Lord Ingram woo’d her Lady Maisery

Into her father’s ha’;

Chiel Wyet woo’d her Lady Maisery

Amang the sheets so sma’.

6.

6.³ ‘ben,’ in.

Now it fell out upon a day

She was dressing her head,

That ben did come her father dear,

Wearing the gold so red.

7.

He said, ‘Get up now, Lady Maisery,

Put on your wedding gown;

For Lord Ingram he will be here,

Your wedding must be done.’

8.

8.² ‘sell’: Motherwell gave kill.

‘I’d rather be Chiel Wyet’s wife,

The white fish for to sell,

Before I were Lord Ingram’s wife,

To wear the silk so well.

9.

‘I’d rather be Chiel Wyet’s wife,

With him to beg my bread,

Before I were Lord Ingram’s wife,

To wear the gold so red.

10.

‘Where will I get a bonny boy,

Will win gold to his fee,

And will run unto Chiel Wyet’s,

With this letter from me?’

11.

‘O here I am, the boy,’ says one,

‘Will win gold to my fee,

And carry away any letter

To Chiel Wyet from thee.’

12.

12. Cp. Lady Maisry, 21.

And when he found the bridges broke

He bent his bow and swam;

And when he found the grass growing,

He hastened and he ran.

13.

And when he came to Chiel Wyet’s castle,

He did not knock nor call,

But set his bent bow to his breast,

And lightly leaped the wall;

And ere the porter open’d the gate,

The boy was in the hall.

14.

The first line he looked on,

A grieved man was he;

The next line he looked on,

A tear blinded his ee:

Says, ‘I wonder what ails my one brother,

He’ll not let my love be!

15.

‘But I’ll send to my brother’s bridal—

The bacon shall be mine—

Full four and twenty buck and roe,

And ten tun of the wine;

And bid my love be blythe and glad,

And I will follow syne.’

16.

16.⁴ ‘neen,’ none, not.

There was not a groom about that castle,

But got a gown of green,

And all was blythe, and all was glad,

But Lady Maisery she was neen.

17.

There was no cook about that kitchen,

But got a gown of gray;

And all was blythe, and all was glad,

But Lady Maisery was wae.

18.

18.² ‘garl,’ gravel.

Between Mary Kirk and that castle

Was all spread ower with garl,

To keep Lady Maisery and her maidens

From tramping on the marl.

19.

From Mary Kirk to that castle

Was spread a cloth of gold,

To keep Lady Maisery and her maidens

From treading on the mold.

20.

When mass was sung, and bells was rung,

And all men bound for bed;

Then Lord Ingram and Lady Maisery

In one bed they were laid.

21.

When they were laid into their bed,

It was baith saft and warm,

He laid his hand over her side,

Says, ‘I think you are with bairn.’

22.

‘I told you once, so did I twice,

When ye came me to woo,

That Chiel Wyet, your only brother,

One night lay in my bower.

23.

‘I told you twice, I told you thrice,

Ere ye came me to wed,

That Chiel Wyet, your one brother,

One night lay in my bed.’

24.

‘O will you father your bairn on me,

And on no other man?

And I’ll give him to his dowry

Full fifty ploughs of land.’

25.

‘I will not father my bairn on you,

Nor on no wrongeous man,

Though ye would give him to his dowry

Five thousand ploughs of land.’

26.

26.¹ Motherwell gives did stand.

Then up did start him Chiel Wyet,

Shed by his yellow hair,

And gave Lord Ingram to the heart

A deep wound and a sair.

27.

Then up did start him Lord Ingram,

Shed by his yellow hair,

And gave Chiel Wyet to the heart,

A deep wound and a sair.

28.

28.⁴ ‘brain,’ mad.

There was no pity for that two lords,

Where they were lying slain;

But all was for her Lady Maisery,

In that bower she gaed brain.

29.

There was no pity for that two lords,

When they were lying dead;

But all was for her Lady Maisery,

In that bower she went mad.

30.

30.² ‘tree,’ wood.

Said, ‘Get to me a cloak of cloth,

A staff of good hard tree;

If I have been an evil woman,

I shall beg till I dee.

31.

31.¹ ‘a’ = ae, each.

‘For a bit I’ll beg for Chiel Wyet,

For Lord Ingram I’ll beg three;

All for the good and honourable marriage,

At Mary Kirk he gave me.’