{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch209.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch209.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch209.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 209A: Geordie\n \n \n 209A.1 THERE was a battle in the north,\n And nobles there was many,\n And they hae killd Sir Charlie Hay,\n And they laid the wyte on Geordie.\n 209A.2 O he has written a lang letter,\n He sent it to his lady:\n \u2018Ye maun cum up to Enbrugh town,\n To see what word\u2019s o Geordie.\u2019\n 209A.3 When first she lookd the letter on,\n She was baith red and rosy;\n But she had na read a word but twa\n Till she wallowt like a lily.\n 209A.4 \u2018Gar get to me my gude grey steed,\n My menyie a\u2019 gae wi me,\n For I shall neither eat nor drink\n Till Enbrugh town shall see me.\u2019\n 209A.5 And she has mountit her gude grey steed,\n Her menyie a\u2019 gaed wi her,\n And she did neither eat nor drink\n Till Enbrugh town did see her.\n 209A.6 And first appeard the fatal block,\n And syne the aix to head him,\n And Geordie cumin down the stair,\n And bands o airn upon him.\n 209A.7 But tho he was chaind in fetters strang,\n O airn and steel sae heavy,\n There was na ane in a\u2019 the court\n Sae bra a man as Geordie.\n 209A.8 O she\u2019s down on her bended knee,\n I wat she\u2019s pale and weary:\n \u2018O pardon, pardon, noble king,\n And gie me back my dearie!\n 209A.9 \u2018I hae born seven sons to my Geordie dear,\n The seventh neer saw his daddie;\n O pardon, pardon, noble king,\n Pity a waefu lady!\u2019\n 209A.10 \u2018Gar bid the headin-man mak haste,\u2019\n Our king reply\u2019d fu lordly:\n \u2018O noble king, tak a\u2019 that\u2019s mine,\n But gie me back my Geordie!\u2019\n 209A.11 The Gordons cam, and the Gordons ran,\n And they were stark and steady,\n And ay the word amang them a\u2019\n Was, Gordons, keep you ready!\n 209A.12 An aged lord at the king\u2019s right hand\n Says, Noble king, but hear me;\n Gar her tell down five thousand pound,\n And gie her back her dearie.\n 209A.13 Some gae her marks, some gae her crowns,\n Some gae her dollars many,\n And she\u2019s telld down five thousand pound,\n And she\u2019s gotten again her dearie.\n 209A.14 She blinkit blythe in her Geordie\u2019s face,\n Says, Dear I\u2019ve bought thee, Geordie;\n But there sud been bluidy bouks on the green\n Or I had tint my laddie.\n 209A.15 He claspit her by the middle sma,\n And he kist her lips sae rosy:\n \u2018The fairest flower o woman-kind\n Is my sweet, bonie lady!\u2019\n \n \n \n 209B: Geordie\n \n \n 209B.1 \u2018THERE was a battle i the north\n Amang our nobles many,\n And they have killed Sir Charles Hay,\n And they\u2019ve taen thrae me my Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.2 \u2018O where\u2019ll I gett a wi bit boy,\n A bonnie boy that\u2019s ready,\n That will gae in to my biggin\n With a letter to my ladie?\u2019\n 209B.3 Then up and startit a wi bit boy,\n An a bonnie boy was ready:\n \u2018It\u2019s I\u2019ll gae in to your biggin\n Wi a letter to your ladie.\u2019\n 209B.4 When the day was fair an the way was clear,\n An the wi bit boy was ready,\n An he\u2019s gane in to his biggin,\n Wi a letter to his ladie.\n 209B.5 When she lookd the letter on,\n She was no a wearit ladie;\n But when she lookit the other side,\n She mourned for her Geordie.\n 209B.6 \u2018Gar sadle to me the black,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018For the brown rade neer sey bonnie,\n An I\u2019ll gae down to Enbro town,\n An see my true-love Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.7 When she cam to the water-side,\n The cobles war na ready;\n She\u2019s turnd her horse\u2019s head about,\n An in by the Queen\u2019s Ferry.\n 209B.8 When she cam to the West Port,\n There war poor folks many;\n She dealt crowns an the ducatdowns,\n And bade them pray for Geordie.\n 209B.9 When she cam to the Parliament Closs,\n There amang our nobles many,\n Cravats an caps war standing there,\n But low, low lay her Geordie.\n 209B.10 When she gaed up the tolbooth-stairs,\n Amang our nobles manie,\n The napkin\u2019s tyed oer Geordie\u2019s face,\n And the gallows makin ready.\n 209B.11 \u2018O wad ye hae his lands or rents?\n Or wad ye hae his monie?\n Take a\u2019, a\u2019 frae him but his sark alone,\n Lesve me my true-love Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.12 The captain pu\u2019d her on his knee,\n An ca\u2019d her heart an honey:\n \u2018An ye wad wait se\u2019en years for me,\n Ye wad never jump for Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.13 \u2018O hold your tongue, you foolish man,\n Your speech it\u2019s a\u2019 but folly;\n For an ye wad wait till the day ye die,\n I wad neer take John for Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.14 \u2018Twas up and spak the Lord Corstarph,\n The ill gae wi his body!\n \u2018O Geordie\u2019s neck it war on a block,\n Gif I had his fair ladie!\u2019\n 209B.15 \u2018O haud yer tongue, ye foolish man,\n Yer speech is a\u2019 but folly;\n For if Geordie\u2019s neck war on a block,\n Ye soud neer enjoy his ladie.\n 209B.16 \u2018It\u2019s I hae se\u2019en weel gawn mills,\n I wait they a\u2019 gang daily;\n I\u2019ll gie them a\u2019 an amang ye a\u2019\n For the sparin o my Geordie.\n 209B.17 \u2018I hae ele\u2019en bairns i the wast,\n I wait the\u2019re a\u2019 to Geordie;\n I\u2019d see then a\u2019 streekit afore mine eyes\n Afore I lose my Geordie.\n 209B.18 \u2018I hae ele\u2019en bairns i the wast,\n The twalt bears up my body;\n The youngest\u2019s on his nurse\u2019s knee,\n An he never saw his dadie.\n 209B.19 \u2018I hae se\u2019en uncles in the north,\n They gang baith proud an lordly;\n I\u2019d see them a\u2019 tread down afore my eyes\n Afore I lose my Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.20 Then out an spak an English lord,\n The ill gae wi his bodie!\n \u2018It\u2019s I gard hang Sir Francie Grey,\n An I\u2019ll soon gar hang your Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.21 It\u2019s out an spak than a Scottish lord,\n May the weel gae wi his body!\n \u2018It\u2019s I\u2019ll cast of my coat an feght\n Afore ye lose your Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.22 It\u2019s out then spak an English lord,\n May the ill gae wi his bodie!\n \u2018Before the morn at ten o\u2019clock,\n I\u2019s hae the head o Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.23 Out then spak the Scottish lord,\n May the weel gae wi his body!\n \u2018I\u2019ll fight i bluid up to the knees\n Afore ye lose your Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.24 But out an spak the royal king,\n May the weel gae wi his body!\n \u2018There\u2019s be bluidie heads amang us a\u2019\n Afore ye lose your Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.25 \u2018Twas up than spak the royal queen,\n \u2018May the weel gae wi his body!\n Tell down, tell down five hunder pound,\n An ye\u2019s get wi you yer Geordie.\u2019\n 209B.26 Some gae her gold, some gae her crowns,\n Some gae her ducats many,\n An she\u2019s telld down five hundred pound,\n An she\u2019s taen away her Geordie.\n 209B.27 An ay she praisd the powers above,\n An a\u2019 the royal family,\n An ay she blessed the royal queen,\n For sparin o her Geordie.\n 209B.28 . . . .\n . . . .\n Nae bird sang sweeter in the bush\n Than she did wi her Geordie.\n 209B.29 \u2018It\u2019s wo be to my Lord Costorph,\n It\u2019s wo be to him daily!\n For if Geordie\u2019s neck had been on the block\n He had neer enjoyd his ladie.\n 209B.30 \u2018Gar print me ballants weel,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Gar print me ballants many,\n Gar print me ballants weel,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018That I am a worthy ladie.\u2019\n \n \n \n 209C: Geordie\n \n \n 209C.1 THERE was a battle in the north,\n Among the nobles many;\n The Laird of Geight he\u2019s killd a man,\n And there\u2019s nane to die but Geordie.\n * * * * *\n 209C.2 \u2018What news? what news, my bonny boy?\n What news hae ye frae Geordie?\u2019\n \u2018He bids ye sew his linen shirts,\n For he\u2019s sure he\u2019ll no need many.\u2019\n 209C.3 \u2018Go saddle the black, go saddle the brown,\n Go saddle to me the bonny;\n For I will neither eat nor drink\n Until I see my Geordie.\u2019\n 209C.4 They\u2019ve saddled the black, they\u2019ve saddled the brown,\n They\u2019ve saddled her the bonny,\n And she is away to Edinborough town,\n Straight away to see her Geordie.\n 209C.5 When she came to the sea-side,\n The boats they were nae ready;\n She turned her horse\u2019s head about,\n And swimd at the Queen\u2019s Ferry.\n 209C.6 And when she came to the prison-door,\n There poor folks they stood many;\n She dealt the red guineas them among,\n And bade them pray weel for Geordie.\n 209C.7 And when she came into the hall,\n Amang the nobles many,\n The napkin\u2019s tied on Geordie\u2019s face,\n And the head\u2019s to gae frae Geordie.\n 209C.8 \u2018I have born ten bonny sons,\n And the eleventh neer sa his dadie,\n And I will bear them all oer again\n For the life o bonny Geordie.\n 209C.9 \u2018I have born the Laird of Gight,\n And the Laird of bonny Pernonnie;\n And I will gie them all to thee\n For the life of my bonny Geordie.\u2019\n 209C.10 Up then spoke [a kind-hearted man],\n Wha said, He\u2019s done good to many;\n If ye\u2019ll tell down ten hundred crowns\n Away ye shall hae yer Geordie.\n 209C.11 Some telld shillings, and some telld crowns,\n But she telld the red guineas many,\n Till they\u2019ve telld down ten hundred crowns,\n And away she\u2019s got her Geordie.\n 209C.12 [It\u2019s up then spoke an Irish lord,\n And O but he spoke bauldly!]\n \u2018I wish his head had been on the block,\n That I might hae got his fair lady.\u2019\n 209C.13 She turned about . .\n And O but she spoke boldly!\n \u2018A pox upon your nasty face!\n Will ye eer be compared to my Geordie?\u2019\n 209C.14 She set him on a milk-white steed,\n Herself upon another;\n The thrush on the briar neer sang so clear\n As she sang behind her Geordie.\n \n \n \n 209D: Geordie\n \n \n 209D.1 THERE was a battle i the north\n Among the nobles many,\n The Laird of Gigh he\u2019s killd a man,\n The brother of his lady.\n 209D.2 \u2018Where will I get a man or boy,\n That will win both goud and money,\n That will run into the north,\n And fetch to me my lady?\u2019\n 209D.3 Up then spake a bonny boy,\n He was both blythe and merry;\n \u2018O I will run into the north,\n And fetch to you your lady.\u2019\n 209D.4 \u2018You may tell her to sew me a gude side shirt,\n She\u2019ll no need to sew me mony;\n Tell her to bring me a gude side shirt,\n It will be the last of any.\u2019\n 209D.5 He has written a broad letter,\n And he\u2019s seald it sad and sorry;\n He\u2019s gaen it to that bonny boy,\n To take to his fair lady.\n 209D.6 Away the bonny boy he\u2019s gaen,\n He was both blythe and merrie;\n He\u2019s to that fair lady gane,\n And taen her word frae Geordie.\n 209D.7 When she looked the letter on,\n She was both sad and sorrie:\n \u2018O I\u2019ll away to fair Edinburgh town\n Myself and see my Geordie.\n 209D.8 \u2018Gar saddle to me the black,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018The brown was neer sae bonny;\n And I\u2019ll straight to Edinburgh\n Myself and see my Geordie.\u2019\n 209D.9 When she came to that wan water,\n The boats was not yet ready;\n She wheeld her horse\u2019s head around,\n And swimd at the Queen\u2019s Ferry.\n 209D.10 When she came to the Parliament Close,\n Amang the poor folks many,\n She dealt the crowns with duckatoons,\n And bade them pray for Geordy.\n 209D.11 When she came to the Parliament House,\n Among the nobles many,\n The rest sat all wi hat on head,\n But hat in hand sat Geordie.\n 209D.12 Up bespake an English lord,\n And he spake blythe and merrie;\n \u2018Was Geordie\u2019s head upon the block,\n I am sure I would have his lady.\u2019\n 209D.13 Up bespake that lady fair,\n And O but she was sorrie!\n \u2018If Geordie\u2019s head were on the block,\n There\u2019s never a man gain his lady.\n 209D.14 \u2018I have land into the north,\n And I have white rigs many,\n And I could gie them a\u2019 to you\n To save the life of Geordie.\n 209D.15 \u2018I have seven children in the north,\n And they seem very bonnie,\n And I could bear them a\u2019 over again\n For to win the life o Geordie.\u2019\n 209D.16 Up bespake the gude Argyle;\n He has befriended many;\n \u2018If ye\u2019ll tell down ten hundred crowns,\n Ye\u2019s win the life o Geordie.\u2019\n 209D.17 Some gaed her shillings, some her crowns,\n And some gaed her guineas many,\n And she\u2019s telld down ten hundred crowns,\n And she\u2019s wone the life o Geordie.\n 209D.18 When she came down through Edinborough,\n And Geordie in her hand, O,\n \u2018Where will I get a writer\u2019s [house],\n A writer\u2019s house so ready,\n That I may write into the north\n I have wone the life o Geordie\u2019?\n \n \n \n 209E: Geordie\n \n \n 209E.1 THERE was a battle in the north,\n And rebels there were many,\n And they were a\u2019 brought before the king,\n And taken was my geordie.\n My Geordie O, O my Geordie O,\n O the love I bear to Geordie!\n For the very ground I walk upon\n Bears witness I love Geordie.\n 209E.2 As she went up the tolbooth-stair,\n The cripples there stood many,\n And she dealt the red gold them among,\n For to pray for her love Geordie.\n 209E.3 And when she came unto the hall\n The nobles there stood many,\n And every one stood hat on head,\n But hat in hand stood Geordie.\n 209E.4 O up bespoke a baron bold,\n And O but he spoke bonnie!\n \u2018Such lovers true shall not parted be,\u2019\n And she\u2019s got her true-love Geordie.\n 209E.5 When she was mounted on her high horse,\n And on behind her Geordie,\n Nae bird on the brier eer sang sae clear\n As the young knight and his lady.\n O my Geordie O, O my Geordie O,\n O the love I bear to Geordie!\n The very stars in the firmament\n Bear tokens I love Geordie.\n \n \n \n 209F: Geordie\n \n \n 209F.1 \u2018GEORDIE Lukely is my name,\n And many a one doth ken me; O\n Many an ill deed I hae done,\n But now death will owrecome me. O\n 209F.2 \u2018I neither murdered nor yet have I slain,\n I never murdered any;\n But I stole fyfteen o the king\u2019s bay horse,\n And I sold them in Bohemia.\n 209F.3 \u2018Where would I get a pretty little boy,\n That would fain win gold and money,\n That would carry this letter to Stirling town,\n And give it to my lady?\u2019\n 209F.4 \u2018Here am I, a pretty little boy,\n That wud fain win gold and money;\n I\u2019ll carry your letter to Stirling town,\n And give it to your lady.\u2019\n 209F.5 As he came in by Stirling town\n He was baith weet and weary;\n The cloth was spread, and supper set,\n And the ladies dancing merry.\n 209F.6 When she read the first of it,\n She was baith glad and cheery;\n But before she had the half o\u2019t read,\n She was baith sad and sorry.\n 209F.7 \u2018Come saddle to me the bonnie dapple gray,\n Come saddle to me the wee poney;\n For I\u2019ll awa to the king mysell,\n And plead for my ain love Geordie.\u2019\n 209F.8 She gaed up the Cannogate,\n Amang the puir folk monie;\n She made the handfus o red gold fly,\n And bade them pray for Geordie,\n And aye she wrang her lily-white hands,\n Saying, I am a wearyd lady!\n 209F.9 Up and spoke the king himsell,\n And oh, but he spok bonnie!\n \u2018It\u2019s ye may see by her countenance\n That she is Geordie\u2019s lady.\u2019\n 209F.10 Up and spoke a bold bluidy wretch,\n And oh, but he spoke boldly!\n \u2018Tho [thou] should pay ten thousand pounds,\n Thou\u2019ll never get thy own love Geordie.\n 209F.11 \u2018For I had but ae brother to mysell,\n I loved him best of any;\n They cutted his head from his fair bodie,\n And so will they thy love Geordie.\u2019\n 209F.12 Up and spoke the king again,\n And oh, but he spak bonnie!\n \u2018If thou\u2019ll pay me five thousand pound,\n I\u2019ll gie thee hame thy love Geordie.\u2019\n 209F.13 She put her hand in her pocket,\n She freely paid the money,\n And she\u2019s awa to the Gallows Wynd,\n To get her nain love Geordie.\n 209F.14 As she came up the Gallows Wynd,\n The people was standing many;\n The psalms was sung, and the bells was rung,\n And silks and cords hung bonnie.\n 209F.15 The napkin was tyed on Geordie\u2019s face,\n And the hangman was just readie:\n \u2018Hold your hand, you bluidy wretch!\n O hold it from my Geordie!\n For I\u2019ve got a remit from the king,\n That I\u2019ll get my ain love Geordie.\u2019\n 209F.16 When he heard his lady\u2019s voice,\n He was baith blythe and merry:\n \u2018There\u2019s many ladies in this place,\n Have not I a worthy ladie?\u2019\n 209F.17 She mounted him on the bonnie dapple grey,\n Herself on the wee poney,\n And she rode home on his right hand,\n All for the pride o Geordie.\n \n \n \n 209G: Geordie\n \n \n 209G.1 THE weather it is clear, and the wind blaws fair,\n And yonder a boy rins bonnie,\n And he is awa to the gates of Hye,\n With a letter to my dear ladie.\n 209G.2 The first line that she lookit on,\n She was baith red and rosy;\n She droppit down, and she dropt in a swoon,\n Crys, Och and alace for Geordie!\n 209G.3 \u2018Gar saddle to me the black, black horse;\n The brown is twice as bonnie;\n But I will neither eat nor drink\n Till I relieve my Geordie.\u2019\n 209G.4 When she cam to the canny Cannygate,\n Amang the puir folk many,\n She made the dollars flee amang them a\u2019,\n And she bade them plead for Geordie.\n 209G.5 When she came to the tolbooth-gate,\n Amang the nobles many,\n She made the red gold flee amang them a\u2019,\n And she bade them plead for Geordie.\n 209G.6 Out and spoke the king himsell,\n \u2018Wha\u2019s aught this weary lady?\u2019\n Out and spoke a pretty little page,\n \u2018She\u2019s the Earl o Cassilis lady.\u2019\n 209G.7 \u2018Has he killed? or has he slain?\n Or has he ravishd any?\u2019\n \u2018He stole three geldings out o yon park,\n And sold them to Balleny.\u2019\n 209G.8 \u2018Pleading is idle,\u2019 said the king,\n \u2018Pleading is idle with any;\n But pay you down five hundred pund,\n And tak you hame your Geordie.\u2019\n 209G.9 Some gave marks, and som gave crowns,\n Some gave dollars many;\n She\u2019s paid down the five hundred pund,\n And she\u2019s relieved her Geordie.\n 209G.10 The lady smiled in Geordie\u2019s face:\n \u2018Geordie, I have bocht thee;\n But down in yon green there had been bluidy breeks\n Or I had parted wi thee.\u2019\n \n \n \n 209H: Geordie\n \n \n 209H.1 \u2018WILL ye go to the Hielans, my bonny lad?\n Will ye go to the Hielans, Geordie?\n Though ye tak the high road and I tak the low,\n I will be in the Hielans afore ye.\u2019\n 209H.2 He hadna been in the high Hielans\n A month but barely twa, O,\n Till he was laid in Prison strong,\n For hunting the king\u2019s deer and rae, O.\n 209H.3 \u2018O where will I get a bonny, bonny boy,\n That will run my errand cannie,\n And gae quickly on to the bonny Bog o Gight,\n Wi a letter to my lady?\u2019\n 209H.4 \u2018O here am I, a bonny, bonny boy,\n That will run your errand cannie,\n And will gae on to the bonny Bog o Gight,\n Wi a letter to your lady.\u2019\n 209H.5 When she did get this broad letter,\n A licht, licht laugh gae she, O;\n But before she read it to an end\n The saut tear was in her ee, O.\n 209H.6 \u2018O has he robbd? or has he stown?\n Or has he kill d ony?\n Or what is the ill that he has done,\n That he\u2019s gaun to be hangd sae shortly?\u2019\n 209H.7 \u2018He hasna robbd, ha hasna stown,\n He hasna kill d ony;\n But he has hunted the king\u2019s deer and rae,\n And he willl be hang d shortly.\u2019\n 209H.8 \u2018Come saddle to me the bonny brown steed,\n For the black never rade sae bonny,\n And I will gae on to Edinboro town\n To borrow the life o my Geordie.\u2019\n 209H.9 The first water-side that she cam to,\n The boatman wasna ready;\n She gae anither skipper half-a-crown,\n To boat her oer the ferry.\n 209H.10 When she cam on to Edinboro town,\n The poor stood thick and mony;\n She dealt them money roun and roun,\n Bade them pray for the life o her Geordie.\n 209H.11 When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,\n She saw there nobles mony,\n And ilka noble stood hat on head,\n But hat in hand stood Geordie.\n 209H.12 Then out it spak an English lord,\n And vow, but he spake bonny!\n \u2018If ye pay down ten thousand crouns,\n Ye\u2019ll get the life o your Geordie.\u2019\n 209H.13 Some gae her marks, some gae her crouns,\n Some gae her guineas rarely,\n Till she paid down ten thousand crouns,\n And she got the life o her Geordie.\n 209H.14 Then out it spak an Irish lord,\n O wae befa his body!\n \u2018It\u2019s a pity the knicht didna lose his head,\n That I micht hae gotten his lady.\u2019\n 209H.15 But out it spak the lady hersel,\n And vow, but she spak bonny!\n \u2018The pock-marks are on your Irish face,\n You could not compare wi my Geordie!\u2019\n 209H.16 When she was in the saddle set,\n And on ahint her Geordie,\n The bird on the bush neer sang sae sweet,\n As she sung to her love Geordie.\n 209H.17 \u2018First I was mistress o bonny Auchindown,\n And I was lady o a\u2019 Carnie,\n But now I have come to the bonny Bog o Gight,\n The wife o my true-love Geordie.\n 209H.18 If I were in the high Hielans,\n I would hear the white kye lowing;\n But I\u2019d rather be on the bonny banks o Spey,\n To see the fish-boaties rowing.\u2019\n \n \n \n 209I: Geordie\n \n \n 209I.1 \u2018I choosed my love at the bonny yates of Gight,\n Where the birks an the flowers spring bony,\n But pleasures I had never one,\n But crosses very mony.\n 209I.2 \u2018First I was mistress of Pitfan\n And madam of Kincraigie,\n And now my name is bonny Lady Anne,\n And I am Gight\u2019s own lady.\n 209I.3 \u2018He does not use me as his wife,\n Nor cherish me as his lady,\n But day by day he saddles the grey,\n And rides off to Bignet\u2019s lady.\u2019\n 209I.4 Bignet he got word of this,\n That Gight lay wi his lady;\n He swore a vow, and kept it true,\n To be revengd on \u2019s body.\n 209I.5 \u2018Where will I get a bonny boy\n Will run my errand shortly,\n That woud run on to the bonny yates o Gight\n Wi a letter to my lady?\u2019\n 209I.6 Gight has written a broad letter,\n And seald it soon and ready,\n And sent it on to Gight\u2019s own yates,\n For to acquaint his lady.\n 209I.7 The first of it she looked on,\n O dear! she smiled bonny;\n But as she read it till an end\n The tears were thick an mony.\n 209I.8 \u2018Come saddle to me the black,\u2019 she says,\n \u2018Come saddle him soon and shortly,\n Ere I ride down to Edinburgh town,\n Wi a lang side sark to Geordy.\u2019\n 209I.9 When she came to the boat of Leith,\n I wad she did na tarry;\n She gave the boatman a guinea o gold\n To boat her oer the ferry.\n 209I.10 As she gaed oer the pier of Leith,\n Among the peerls many,\n She dealt the crowns and dukedoons,\n Bade them a\u2019 pray for Geordy.\n 209I.11 As she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,\n Among the nobles many,\n Every one sat hat on head,\n But hat in hand stood Geordy.\n 209I.12 \u2018Has he brunt? or has he slain?\n Or has he robb d any?\n Or has he done any other crime,\n That gars you head my Geordy?\u2019\n 209I.13 \u2018He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,\n He hasna robbed any;\n But he has done another crime,\n For which he will pay dearly.\u2019\n 209I.14 In it comes First Lord Judge,\n Says, George, I\u2019m sorry for you;\n You must prepare yourself for death,\n For there\u2019ll be nae mercy for you.\n 209I.15 In it comes his Second Lord Judge,\n Says, George I\u2019m sorry for you;\n You must prepare yourself for death,\n For there\u2019ll be nae mercy for you.\n 209I.16 Out it speaks Gight\u2019s lady herself,\n And vow, but she spake wordy!\n \u2018Is there not a lord among you all\n Can plead a word for Geordy?\u2019\n 209I.17 Out it speaks the first Lord Judge:\n \u2018What lady\u2019s that amang you\n That speaks to us so boldly here,\n And bids us plead for Geordy?\u2019\n 209I.18 Out then spake a friend, her own,\n And says, It\u2019s Gight\u2019s own lady,\n Who is come to plead her own lord\u2019s cause,\n To which she\u2019s true and steady.\n 209I.19 The queen, looking oer her shott-window,\n Says, Ann, I\u2019m soory for you;\n If ye\u2019ll tell down ten thousand crowns,\n Ye shall get home your Geordy.\n 209I.20 She\u2019s taen the hat out of his hand,\n And dear! it set her bonny;\n She\u2019s beggd the red gold them among,\n And a\u2019 to borrow Geordy.\n 209I.21 She turnd her right and round about\n Among the nobles many;\n Some gave her dollars, some her crowns,\n And some gave guineas many.\n 209I.22 She spread her mantle on the floor,\n O dear! she spread it bonny,\n And she told down that noble sum;\n Says, Put on your hat, my Geordy.\n 209I.23 But out it speaks him gleid Argyle,\n Says, Woe be to your body!\n I wish that Gight had lost his head,\n I should enjoyd his lady.\n 209I.24 She looked oer her left shoulder,\n A proud look and a saucy;\n Says, Woe be to you, gleid Argyle!\n Ye\u2019ll neer be like my Geordy.\n 209I.25 \u2018You\u2019ll hae me to some writer\u2019s house,\n And that baith seen and shortly,\n That I may write down Gight\u2019s lament,\n And how I borrowed Geordy.\u2019\n 209I.26 When she was in her saddle set,\n And aye behind her Geordy,\n Birds neer sang blyther in the bush\n Than she behind her Geordy.\n 209I.27 \u2018O bonny George, but I love thee well,\n And O sae dear as I love thee!\n The sun and moon and firmament above\n Bear witness how I love thee!\u2019\n 209I.28 \u2018O bonny Ann, but I love thee well,\n And O but sae dear as I love thee!\n The birds in the air, that fly together pair and pair,\n Bear witness, Ann, that I love thee!\u2019\n \n \n \n 209J: Geordie\n \n \n 209J.1 \u2018FIRST I was lady o Black Riggs,\n And then into Kincraigie;\n Now I am the Lady o Gight,\n And my love he\u2019s ca\u2019d Geordie.\n 209J.2 \u2018I was the mistress o Pitfan,\n And madam o Kincraigie;\n But now my name is Lady Anne,\n And I am Gight\u2019s own lady.\n 209J.3 \u2018We courted in the woods o Gight,\n Where birks and flowrs spring bonny;\n But pleasures I had never one,\n But sorrows thick and mony.\n 209J.4 \u2018He never ownd me as his wife,\n Nor honourd me as his lady,\n But day by day he saddles the grey,\n And rides to Bignet\u2019s lady.\u2019\n 209J.5 When Bignet he got word of that,\n That Gight lay wi his lady,\n He\u2019s casten him in prison strong,\n To ly till lords were ready.\n 209J.6 \u2018Where will I get a little wee boy,\n That is baith true and steady,\n That will run on to bonny Gight,\n And bring to me my lady?\u2019\n 209J.7 \u2018O here am I, a little wee boy,\n That is baith true and steady,\n That will run to the yates of Gight,\n And bring to you your lady.\u2019\n 209J.8 \u2018Ye\u2019ll bid her saddle the grey, the grey,\n The brown rode neer so smartly;\n Ye\u2019ll bid her come to Edinbro town,\n A\u2019 for the life of Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.9 The night was fair, the moon was clear,\n And he rode by Bevany,\n And stopped at the yates o Gight,\n Where leaves were thick and mony.\n 209J.10 The lady lookd oer castle-wa,\n And dear, but she was sorry!\n \u2018Here comes a page frae Edinbro town;\n A\u2019 is nae well wi Geordie.\n 209J.11 \u2018What news, what news, my little boy?\n Come tell me soon and shortly;\u2019\n \u2018Bad news, bad news, my lady,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018They\u2019re going to hang your Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.12 \u2018Ye\u2019ll saddle to me the grey, the grey,\n The brown rade neer so smartly;\n And I\u2019ll awa to Edinbro town,\n Borrow the life o Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.13 When she came near to Edinbro town,\n I wyte she didna tarry,\n But she has mounted her grey steed,\n And ridden the Queen\u2019s Ferry.\n 209J.14 When she came to the boat of Leith,\n I wat she didna tarry;\n She gae the boatman a guinea o gowd\n To boat her ower the ferry.\n 209J.15 When she came to the pier o Leith,\n The poor they were sae many;\n She dealt the gowd right liberallie,\n And bade them pray for Geordie.\n 209J.16 When she gaed up the tolbooth-stair,\n The nobles there were many:\n And ilka ane stood hat on head,\n But hat in hand stood Geordie.\n 209J.17 She gae a blink out-ower them a\u2019,\n And three blinks to her Geordie;\n But when she saw his een fast bound,\n A swoon fell in this lady.\n 209J.18 \u2018Whom has he robbd? What has he stole?\n Or has he killed ony?\n Or what\u2019s the crime that he has done,\n His foes they are sae mony?\u2019\n 209J.19 \u2018He hasna brunt, he hasna slain,\n He hasna robbed ony;\n But he has done another crime,\n For which he will pay dearly.\u2019\n 209J.20 Then out it speaks Lord Montague,\n O wae be to his body!\n \u2018The day we hangd young Charles Hay,\n The morn we\u2019ll head your Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.21 Then out it speaks the king himsell,\n Vow, but he spake bonny!\n \u2018Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,\n Let\u2019s hear if they be mony.\n 209J.22 \u2018Come here, young Gight, confess your sins,\n See ye be true and steady;\n And if your sins they be but sma,\n Then ye\u2019se win wi your lady.\u2019\n 209J.23 \u2018Nane have I robbd, nought have I stown,\n Nor have I killed ony;\n But ane of the king\u2019s best brave steeds,\n I sold him in Bevany.\u2019\n 209J.24 Then out it speaks the king again,\n Dear, but he spake bonny!\n \u2018That crime\u2019s nae great; for your lady\u2019s sake,\n Put on your hat now, Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.25 Then out it speaks Lord Montague,\n O wae be to his body!\n \u2018There\u2019s guilt appears in Gight\u2019s ain face,\n Ye\u2019ll cross-examine Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.26 \u2018Now since it all I must confess,\n My crimes\u2019 baith great and mony:\n A woman abused, five orphan babes,\n I killd them for their money.\u2019\n 209J.27 Out it speaks the king again,\n And dear, but he was sorry!\n \u2018Your confession brings confusion,\n Take aff your hat now, Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.28 Then out it speaks the lady hersell,\n Vow, but she was sorry!\n \u2018Now all my life I\u2019ll wear the black,\n Mourn for the death o Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.29 Lord Huntly then he did speak out,\n O fair mot fa his body!\n \u2018I there will fight doublet alane\n Or ony thing ails Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.30 Then out it speaks the king again,\n Vow, but he spake bonny!\n \u2018If ye\u2019ll tell down ten thousand crowns,\n Ye\u2019ll buy the life o Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.31 She spread her mantle on the ground,\n Dear, but she spread it bonny!\n Some gae her crowns, some ducadoons,\n And some gae dollars mony:\n Then she tauld down ten thousand crowns,\n \u2018Put on your hat, my Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.32 Then out it speaks Lord Montague,\n Wae be to his body!\n \u2018I wisht that Gight wanted the head;\n I might enjoyd his lady.\u2019\n 209J.33 Out it speaks the lady hersell,\n \u2018Ye need neer wish my body;\n O ill befa your wizzend snout!\n Woud ye compare wi Geordie?\u2019\n 209J.34 When she was in her saddle set,\n Riding the leys sae bonny,\n The fiddle and fleet playd neer sae sweet\n As she behind her Geordie.\n 209J.35 \u2018O Geordie, Geordie, I love you well,\n Nae jealousie coud move me;\n The birds in air, that fly in pairs,\n Can witness how I love you.\n 209J.36 \u2018Ye\u2019ll call for one, the best o clerks,\n Ye\u2019ll call him soon amd shortly,\n As he may write what I indite,\n A\u2019 this I\u2019ve done for Geordie.\u2019\n 209J.37 He turned him right and round about,\n And high, high looked Geordie:\n \u2018A finger o Bignet\u2019s lady\u2019s hand\n Is worth a\u2019 your fair body.\u2019\n 209J.38 \u2018My lands may a\u2019 be masterless,\n My babes may want their mother;\n But I\u2019ve made a vow, will keep it true,\n I\u2019ll be bound to no other.\u2019\n 209J.39 These words they causd a great dispute,\n And proud and fierce grew Geordie;\n A sharp dagger he pulled out,\n And pierced the heart o \u2019s lady.\n 209J.40 The lady\u2019s dead, and Gight he\u2019s fled,\n And left his lands behind him;\n Altho they searched south and north,\n There were nane there coud find him.\n 209J.41 Now a\u2019 that lived into Black Riggs,\n And likewise in Kincraigie,\n For seven years were clad in black,\n To mourn for Gight\u2019s own lady.\n \n \n \n 209K: Geordie\n \n \n 209K.1 \u2018I HAVE eleven babes into the north,\n And the twelfth is in my body,O\n And the youngest o them\u2019s in the nurse\u2019s arms,\n He neer yet saw his daddy.\u2019 O\n 209K.2 Some gied her ducks, some gied her drakes,\n And some gied her crowns monie,\n And she\u2019s paid him down five thousand pound,\n And she\u2019s gotten hame her Geordie.\n \n \n \n 209L: Geordie\n \n \n 209L.1 AND soon she came to the water broad,\n Nor boat nor barge was ready;\n She turned her horse\u2019s head to the flood,\n And swam through at Queensferry.\n 209L.2 But when she to the presence came,\n \u2018Mang earls high and lordlie,\n There hat on head sat every man,\n While hat in hand stood Geordie.\n \n \n \n 209M: Geordie\n \n \n 209M.1 WHEN he came out at the tolbooth-stair,\n He was baith red and rosy;\n But gin he cam to the gallows-fit,\n He was wallourt like the lily.\n \n \n \n 209N: Geordie\n \n \n 209N.1 I HAVE nine children in the west,\n The tenth ane\u2019s in my bodie;\n The eldest o them she never knew a man,\n And she knows not wha\u2019s her daddy.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 210. Bonnie James Campbell","title":"The Child Ballads: 209. Geordie","type":"page"}