{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch206.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch206.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch206.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 206A: Bothwell Bridge\n \n \n 206A.1 \u2018O BILLIE, billie, bonny billie,\n Will ye go to the wood wi me?\n We\u2019ll ca our horse hame masterless,\n An gar them trow slain men are we.\u2019\n 206A.2 \u2018O no, O no!\u2019 says Earlstoun,\n \u2018For that\u2019s the thing that maunna be;\n For I am sworn to Bothwell Hill,\n Where I maun either gae or die.\u2019\n 206A.3 So Earlstoun rose in the morning,\n An mounted by the break o day,\n An he has joind our Scottish lads,\n As they were marching out the way.\n 206A.4 \u2018Now, farewell, father! and farewell, mother!\n An fare ye weel, my sisters three!\n An fare ye well, my Earlstoun!\n For thee again I\u2019ll never see.\u2019\n 206A.5 So they\u2019re awa to Bothwell Hill,\n An waly, they rode bonnily!\n When the Duke o Monmouth saw them comin,\n He went to view their company.\n 206A.6 \u2018Ye\u2019re welcome, lads,\u2019 then Monmouth said,\n Ye\u2019re welcome, brave Scots lads, to me;\n And sae are you, brave Earlstoun,\n The foremost o your company.\n 206A.7 \u2018But yield your weapons ane an a\u2019,\n O yield your weapons, lads, to me;\n For, gin ye\u2019ll yield your weapons up,\n Ye\u2019se a\u2019 gae hame to your country.\u2019\n 206A.8 Out then spak a Lennox lad,\n And waly, but he spoke bonnily!\n \u2018I winna yield my weapons up,\n To you nor nae man that I see.\u2019\n 206A.9 Then he set up the flag o red,\n A\u2019 set about wi bonny blue:\n \u2018Since ye\u2019ll no cease, and be at peace,\n See that ye stand by ither true.\u2019\n 206A.10 They stelld their cannons on the height,\n And showrd their shot down in the how,\n An beat our Scots lads even down;\n Thick they lay slain on every know.\n 206A.11 As eer you saw the rain down fa,\n Or yet the arrow frae the bow,\n Sae our Scottish lads fell even down,\n An they lay slain on every know.\n 206A.12 \u2018O hold your hand,\u2019 the Monmouth cry\u2019d,\n \u2018Gie quarters to yon men for me;\u2019\n But wicked Claverhouse swore an oath\n His cornet\u2019s death revengd sud be.\n 206A.13 \u2018O hold your hand,\u2019 Monmouth cry\u2019d,\n \u2018If ony thing you\u2019ll do for me;\n Hold up your hand, you cursed Gra+eme,\n Else a rebel to our king ye\u2019ll be.\u2019\n 206A.14 Then wicked Claverhouse turnd about-+--+-\n I wot an angry man was he-+--+-\n And he has lifted up his hat,\n And cry\u2019d, God bless his Majesty!\n 206A.15 Than he\u2019s awa to London town,\n Ay een as fast as he can dree;\n Fause witnesses he has wi him taen,\n An taen Monmouth\u2019s head frae his body.\n 206A.16 Alang the brae beyond the brig,\n Mony brave man lies cauld and still;\n But lang we\u2019ll mind, and sair we\u2019ll rue,\n The bloody battle of Bothwell Hill.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 207. Lord Delamere","title":"The Child Ballads: 206. Bothwell Bridge","type":"page"}