{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch231.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch231.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch231.htm","text":"231A.1 THERE was a jury sat at Perth,\nIn the merry month of May,\nBetwixt the noble Duke of Perth\nBut and Sir Gilbert Hay.\n231A.2 My lord Kingside has two daughters,\nThey are proper, straight and tall;\nBut my lord Carnegie he has two\nThat far excells them all.\n231A.3 Then Errol he has dressd him,\nAs very well he could;\nI\u2019m sure there was not one cloth-yard\nBut what was trimmed with gold.\n231A.4 \u2018Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,\nAne asking I\u2019ve to thee;\nI\u2019m come to court your daughter Jean,\nMy wedded wife to be.\u2019\n231A.5 \u2018My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,\nTo one of high degree,\nBut where Jean got one guinea of gold\nWith Kate I\u2019ll give thee three.\n231A.6 \u2018Full fifteen hundred pounds\nHad Jean Carnegie,\nBut three fifteen hundred pounds\nWith Kate I\u2019ll gie to thee.\u2019\n231A.7 Then Errol he has wed her,\nAnd fairly brought her hame;\nThere was nae peace between them twa\nTill they sundered oer again.\n231A.8 When bells were rung, and mess was sung,\nAnd a\u2019 man bound to bed,\nThe Earl of Errol and his countess\nIn one chamber was laid.\n231A.9 Early in the morning\nMy lord Carnegie rose,\nThe Earl of Errol and his countess,\nAnd they\u2019ve put on their clothes.\n231A.10 Up spake my lord Carnegie;\n\u2018Kate, is your toucher won?\u2019\n\u2018Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,\nIf he be your good-son.\n231A.11 \u2018What need I wash my petticoat\nAnd hing it on a pin?\nFor I am as leal a maid yet\nAs yestreen when I lay down.\n231A.12 \u2018What need I wash my apron\nAnd hing it on the door?\nIt\u2019s baith side and wide enough,\nHangs even down before.\u2019\n231A.13 Up spake my lord Carnegie;\n\u2018O Kate, what do ye think?\nWe\u2019ll beguile the Earl of Errol\nAs lang as he\u2019s in drink.\u2019\n231A.14 \u2018O what will ye beguile him wi?\nOr what will ye do than?\nI\u2019ll swear before a justice-court\nThat he\u2019s no a sufficient man.\u2019\n231A.15 Then Errol he cam down the stair,\nAs bold as oney rae:\n\u2018Go saddle to me my Irish coach,\nTo Edinbro I\u2019ll go.\u2019\n231A.16 When he came to Edinbro,\nHe lighted on the green;\nThere were four-and-twenty maidens\nA\u2019 dancing in a ring.\n231A.17 There were four-and-twenty maidens\nA\u2019 dancing in a row;\nThe fatest and the fairest\nTo bed wi him must go.\n231A.18 He\u2019s taen his Peggy by the hand,\nAnd he led her thro the green,\nAnd twenty times he kissd her there,\nBefore his ain wife\u2019s een.\n231A.19 He\u2019s taen his Peggy by the hand,\nAnd he\u2019s led her thro the hall,\nAnd twenty times he\u2019s kissd her there,\nBefore his nobles all.\n231A.20 \u2018Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,\nLook up, and think nae shame;\nTen hundred pounds I\u2019ll gie to you\nTo bear to me a son.\u2019\n231A.21 He\u2019s keepit his Peggy in his room\nThree quarter of a year,\nAnd just at the nine months\u2019 end\nShe a son to him did bear.\n231A.22 \u2018Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,\nAnd I Sir Gilbert Hay,\nI\u2019ll make your father sell his lands\nYour toucher for to pay.\u2019\n231A.23 \u2018To make my father sell his lands,\nIt wad be a great sin,\nTo toucher oney John Sheephead\nThat canna toucher win.\u2019\n231A.24 \u2018Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,\nSae loud as I hear ye lie!\nFor yonder sits Lord Errol\u2019s son,\nUpon his mother\u2019s knee;\nFor yonder sits Lord Errol\u2019s son,\nAltho he\u2019s no by thee.\u2019\n231A.25 \u2018You may take hame your daughter Kate,\nAnd set her on the glen;\nFor Errol canna please her,\nNor nane o Errol\u2019s men;\nFor Errol canna please her,\nNor twenty of his men.\u2019\n231A.26 The ranting and the roving,\nThe thing we a\u2019 do ken,\nThe lady lost her right that night,\nThe first night she lay down;\nAnd the thing we ca the ranting o \u2019t,\nThe lady lies her lane.\n231B: The Earl of Errol\n231B.1 EARELL is a bonny place,\nIt stands upon yon plain;\nThe greatest faut about the place\nEarell\u2019s no a man.\nWhat ye ca the danting o \u2019t,\nAccording as ye ken,\nFor the pearting . . .\nLady Earell lyes her lane.\n231B.2 Earell is a bonny place,\nIt stands upon yon plain;\nThe roses they graw red an white,\nAn apples they graw green.\n231B.3 \u2018What need I my apron wash\nAn hing upon yon pin?\nFor lang will I gae out an in\nOr I hear my bairnie\u2019s din.\n231B.4 \u2018What need I my apron wash\nAn hing upo yon door?\nFor side and wide is my petticoat,\nAn even down afore.\n231B.5 \u2018But I will lace my stays again,\nMy middle jimp an sma;\nI\u2019l gae a\u2019 my days a maiden,\n[Awa], Earell, awa!\u2019\n231B.6 It fell ance upon a day Lord Earell\nWent to hunt him lane,\n. . . .\n. . .\n231B.7 He was na a mile fra the town,\nNor yet sae far awa,\nTill his lady is on to Edinburgh,\nTo try hir all the law.\n231B.8 Little did Lord Earell think,\nWhan he sat down to dine,\nThat his lady was on to Edinburgh,\nNor what was in her mind.\n231B.9 Till his best servant came\nFor to lat him ken\n. . . .\n. . .\n231B.10 She was na in at the toun-end,\nNor yet sae far awa,\nTill Earell was at her back,\nHis gaudy locks to sha.\n231B.11 She was na in at the loan-head,\nNor just at the end,\nTill Earell he was at her back,\nHer errand for to ken.\n231B.12 As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,\nAn me Sir Gilbert Hay,\nI\u2019s gar yer father sell Kinaird,\nYer tocher for to pay.\u2019\n231B.13 \u2018For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,\nIt wad be a sin,\nTo gee it to ony naughty knight\nThat a tocher canna win.\u2019\n231B.14 Out spak the first lord,\nThe best amang them a\u2019;\n\u2018I never seed a lady come\nWi sick matters to the law.\u2019\n231B.15 Out spak the neest lord,\nThe best o the town;\n\u2018Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,\nAn put them in a roun,\nAn Earell in the midst o them,\nAn lat him chuse out ane.\u2019\n231B.16 They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,\nAn pit them in a roun,\nAn Earell in the mids o them,\nAn bad him chuse out ane.\n231B.17 He viewed them a\u2019 intill a raw,\nEven up and down,\nAn he has chosen a well-fared may,\nAn meggie was her name.\n231B.18 He took her by the hand,\nAfore the nobles a\u2019,\nAn twenty times he kissed her mou,\nAn led her thro the ha.\n231B.19 \u2018Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,\n[Look up,] an think na shame;\nAs lang as ye see my gaudy locks,\nLady Earell\u2019s be yer name.\u2019\n231B.20 There were fifteen noblemen,\nAn as mony laides gay,\nTo see Earell proven a man\n. . . .\n231B.21 \u2018Ye tak this well-fared may,\nAnd keep her three roun raiths o a year,\nAn even at the three raiths\u2019 end\nI sall draw near.\u2019\n231B.22 They hae taen that well-fared may,\nAn keepd her three roun raiths o a year,\nAnd even at the three raiths\u2019 end\nEarell\u2019s son she bare.\n231B.23 The gentlemen they ga a shout,\nThe ladies ga a caa,\nFair mat fa him Earell!\nBut ran to his lady.\n231B.24 He was na in at the town-head,\nNor just at the end,\nTill the letters they were waiting him\nThat Earell had a son.\n231B.25 \u2018Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,\n[Look up,] an think na shame;\nAs lang as ye see my bra black hat,\nLady Earell\u2019s be yer name.\n231B.26 \u2018I will gie my Meggie a mill,\nBut an a piece o land,\n. . . .\nTo foster my young son.\n231B.27 \u2018Faur is a\u2019 my merry men a\u2019,\nThat I pay meat an gaire,\nTo convey my Meggy hame,\n. . . ?\u2019\n231B.28 . . .\n. . .\nEven in Lord Earell\u2019s coach\nThey conveyed the lassie hame.\n231B.29 \u2018Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,\nAn take her to the glen,\nFor Earell canna pleas her,\nEarell nor a\u2019 his men.\u2019\n231B.30 \u2018Had I ben Lady Earell,\nOf sic a bonny place,\nI wad na gaen to Edinburgh\nMy husband to disgrace.\u2019\n231C: The Earl of Errol\n231C.1 ERROLL it\u2019s a bonny place,\nIt stands upon a plain;\nA bad report this ladie\u2019s raisd,\nThat Erroll is nae a man.\n231C.2 But it fell ance upon a day\nLord Erroll went frae hame,\nAnd he is on to the hunting gane,\nSingle man alane.\n231C.3 But he hadna been frae the town\nA mile but barely twa,\nTill his lady is on to Edinburgh,\nTo gain him at the law.\n231C.4 O Erroll he kent little o that\nTill he sat down to dine,\nAnd as he was at dinner set\nHis servant loot him ken.\n231C.5 \u2018Now saddle to me the black, the black,\nGo saddle to me the brown,\nAnd I will on to Edinburgh,\nHer errands there to ken.\u2019\n231C.6 She wasna well thro Aberdeen,\nNor passd the well o Spa,\nTill Erroll he was after her,\nThe verity to shaw.\n231C.7 She wasna well in edinburgh,\nNor even thro the town,\nTill Erroll he was after her,\nHer errands there to ken.\n231C.8 When he came to the court-house,\nAnd lighted on the green,\nThis lord was there in time enough\nTo hear her thus compleen:\n231C.9 \u2018What needs me wash my apron,\nOr drie \u2019t upon a door?\nWhat needs I eek my petticoat,\nHings even down afore?\n231C.10 \u2018What needs me wash my apron,\nOr hing it upon a pin?\nFor lang will gang but and ben\nOr I hear my young son\u2019s din.\u2019\n231C.11 \u2018They ca you Kate Carnegie,\u2019 he says,\n\u2018And my name\u2019s Gilbert Hay;\nI\u2019ll gar your father sell his land,\nYour tocher down to pay.\u2019\n231C.12 \u2018To gar my father sell his land\nFor that would be a sin,\nTo such a noughtless heir as you,\nThat canno get a son.\u2019\n231C.13 Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,\nThe best an lord ava;\n\u2018I never saw a lady come\nWi sic matters to the law.\u2019\n231C.14 Then out it speaks another lord,\nThe best in a\u2019 the town;\n\u2018Ye\u2019ll wyle out fifeteen maidens bright\nBefore Lord Erroll come:\u2019\nAnd he has chosen a tapster lass,\nAnd Meggie was her name.\n231C.15 They kept up this fair maiden\nThree quarters of a year,\nAnd then at that three quarters\u2019 end\nA young son she did bear.\n231C.16 They hae gien to Meggie then\nFive ploughs but and a mill,\nAnd they hae gien her five hundred pounds,\nFor to bring up her chill.\n231C.17 There was no lord in Edinburgh\nBut to Meggie gae a ring;\nAnd there was na a boy in a\u2019 the town\nBut on Katie had a sang.\n231C.18 \u2018Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,\nAnd set her to the glen,\nFor Erroll canna pleasure her,\nNor nane o Erroll\u2019s men.\u2019\n231C.19 Seven years on Erroll\u2019s table\nThere stand clean dish and speen,\nAnd every day the bell is rung,\nCries, Lady, come and dine.\n231D: The Earl of Errol\n231D.1 O ERROLRR\u2019rrS place is a bonny place,\nIt stands upon yon plain;\nThe flowers on it grow red and white,\nThe apples red and green.\nThe ranting o \u2019t and the danting o \u2019t,\nAccording as ye ken,\nThe thing they ca the danting o \u2019t,\nLady Errol lies her lane.\n231D.2 O Errol\u2019s place is a bonny place,\nIt stands upon yon plain;\nBut what\u2019s the use of Errol\u2019s place?\nHe\u2019s no like other men.\n231D.3 \u2018As I cam in by yon canal,\nAnd by yon bowling-green,\nI might hae pleased the best Carnegy\nThat ever bore that name.\n231D.4 \u2018As sure \u2019s your name is Kate Carnegy,\nAnd mine is Gibbie Hay,\nI\u2019ll gar your father sell his land,\nYour tocher for to pay.\u2019\n231D.5 \u2018To gar my father sell his land,\nWould it not be a sin,\nTo give it to a naughtless lord\nThat couldna get a son?\u2019\n231D.6 Now she is on to Edinburgh,\nFor to try the law,\nAnd Errol he has followed her,\nHis manhood for to shaw.\n231D.7 Then out it spake her sister,\nWhose name was Lady Jane;\n\u2018Had I been Lady Errol,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Or come of sic a clan,\nI would not in the public way\nHave sham\u2019d my own gudeman.\u2019\n231D.8 But Errol got it in his will\nTo choice a maid himsel,\nAnd he has taen a country-girl,\nCame in her milk to sell.\n231D.9 He took her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd led her up the green,\nAnd twenty times he kissd her there,\nBefore his lady\u2019s een.\n231D.10 He took her by the milk-white hand,\nAnd led her up the stair;\nSays, Thrice three hundred pounds I\u2019ll gie\nTo you to bear an heir.\n231D.11 He kept her there into a room\nThree quarters of a year,\nAnd when the three quarters were out\nA braw young son she bear.\n231D.12 \u2018Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,\nAnd put her till a man,\nFor Errol he cannot please her,\nNor any of his men.\u2019\n231E: The Earl of Errol\n231E.1 O ERROL it\u2019s a bonny place,\nIt stands in yonder glen;\nThe lady lost the rights of it\nThe first night she gaed hame.\nA waly and a waly!\nAccording as ye ken,\nThe thing we ca the ranting o \u2019t,\nOur lady lies her lane, O.\n231E.2 \u2018What need I wash my apron,\nOr hing it on yon door?\nWhat need I truce my petticoat?\nIt hangs even down before.\u2019\n231E.3 Errol\u2019s up to Edinburgh gaen,\nThat bonny burrows-town;\nHe has chusit the barber\u2019s daughter,\nThe top of a\u2019 that town.\n231E.4 He has taen her by the milk-white hand,\nHe has led her through the room,\nAnd twenty times he\u2019s kisst her,\nBefore his lady\u2019s een.\n231E.5 \u2018Look up, look up now, Peggy,\nLook up, and think nae shame,\nFor I\u2019ll gie thee five hundred pound,\nTo buy to thee a gown.\n231E.6 \u2018Look up, look up, now, Peggy,\nLook up, and think nae shame,\nFor I\u2019ll gie thee five hundred pound\nTo bear to me a son.\n231E.7 \u2018As thou was Kate Carnegie,\nAnd I Sir Gilbert Hay,\nI\u2019ll gar your father sell his lands,\nYour tocher-gude to pay.\n231E.8 \u2018Now he may take her back again,\nDo wi her what he can,\nFor Errol canna please her,\nNor ane o a\u2019 his men.\u2019\n231E.9 \u2018Go fetch to me a pint of wine,\nGo fill it to the brim,\nThat I may drink my gude lord\u2019s health,\nTho Errol be his name.\u2019\n231E.10 She has taen the glass into her hand,\nShe has putten poison in,\nShe has signd it to her dorty lips,\nBut neer a drop went in.\n231E.11 Up then spake a little page,\nHe was o Errol\u2019s kin;\n\u2018Now fie upon ye, lady gay,\nThere\u2019s poison there within.\n231E.12 \u2018It\u2019s hold your hand now, Kate,\u2019 she says,\n\u2018Hold it back again,\nFor Errol winna drink on \u2019t,\nNor none o a\u2019 his men.\u2019\n231E.13 She has taen the sheets into her arms,\nShe has thrown them oer the wa:\n\u2018Since I maun gae maiden hame again,\nAwa, Errol, awa!\u2019\n231E.14 She\u2019s down the back o the garden,\nAnd O as she did murne!\n\u2018How can a workman crave his wage,\nWhen he never wrought a turn?\u2019\n231F: The Earl of Errol\n231F.1 O ERROLL is a bonny place,\nAnd stands upon yon plane,\nBut the lady lost the rights o it\nYestreen or she came hame.\n231F.2 O Erroll is a bonny place,\nAnd lyes forenent the sun,\nAnd the apples they grow red and white,\nAnd peers o bonny green.\n231F.3 \u2018I nedna wash my apron,\nNor hing it on the door;\nBut I may tuck my petticoat,\nHangs even down before.\n231F.4 \u2018Oh, Erroll, Erroll,\nOh, Erroll if ye ken,\nWhy should I love Erroll,\nOr any of his men?\u2019\n231F.5 She\u2019s turned her right and round about,\nPoured out a glass o wine;\nSays, I will drink to my true love,\nHe\u2019ll drink to me again.\n231F.6 O Erroll stud into the fleer,\nHe was an angry man:\n\u2018See here it is a good gray-hun,\nWe\u2019ll try what is the run.\u2019\n231F.7 Then Erroll stud into the fleer,\nSteered neither ee nor bree,\nTill that he saw his good gray-hun\nWas burst and going free.\n231F.8 \u2018But ye are Kate Carnegie,\u2019 he said,\n\u2018And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;\nI\u2019se gar your father sell Kinnaird,\nYour tocher-good to pay.\u2019\n231F.9 Now she is on to Edinburgh,\nA\u2019 for to use the law,\nAnd brave Erroll has followed her,\nHis yellow locks to sheu.\n231F.10 Out and spak her sister Jean,\nAnd an angry woman was she;\n\u2018If I were lady of Erroll,\nAnd hed as fair a face,\nI would no go to Edinburgh,\nMy good lord to disgrace.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 231. The Earl of Errol","type":"page"}