{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch257.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch257.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch257.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 257A: Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick\n \n \n 257A.1 THERE is a stane in yon water,\n It\u2019s lang or it grow green;\n It\u2019s a maid that maks her ain fortune,\n It\u2019ll never end its leen.\n 257A.2 Burd Bell was na full fyfteen\n Till to service she did gae;\n Burd Bell was na full sixteen\n Till big wi bairn was scho.\n * * * * *\n 257A.3 \u2018Burd Bell she is a gude woman,\n She bides at hame wi me;\n She never seeks to gang to church,\n But bides at hame wi me.\u2019\n 257A.4 It fell ance upon a day\n She fell in travail-pain;\n He is gane to the stair-head\n Some ladies to call in.\n 257A.5 \u2018O gin ye hae a lass-bairn, Burd Bell,\n A lass-bairn though it be,\n Twenty ploughs bot and a mill\n Will mak ye lady free.\n 257A.6 \u2018But gin ye hae a son, Burd Bell,\n Ye\u2019se be my wedded wife,\n . . . .\n . . . .\u2019\n 257A.7 The knichts they knack their white fingers,\n The ladies sat and sang,\n Twas a\u2019 to cheer bonnie Burd Bell,\n She was far sunk in pain.\n * * * * *\n 257A.8 Earl Patrick is to his mither gane,\n As fast as he could hie:\n \u2018An askin, an askin, dear mither,\n An askin I want frae thee.\n 257A.9 \u2018Burd Bell has born to me a son;\n What sall I do her wi?\u2019\n \u2018Gie her what ye like, Patrick,\n Mak na her your ladie.\u2019\n 257A.10 He has gane to bonnie Burd Bell,\n Hir heart was pressd wi care:\n . . . .\n . . . .\n 257A.11 \u2018My father will dee, bonnie Burd Bell,\n My mither will do the same,\n And whan ye hear that they are gane\n It\u2019s then I\u2019ll bring ye hame.\u2019\n 257A.12 Earl Patrick\u2019s bigget to her a bour,\n And strawn it round wi sand;\n He coverd it wi silver on the outside,\n Wi the red gowd within.\n 257A.13 It happened ance upon a day\n She was kaiming his yellow hiar,\n . . . .\n . . . .\n 257A.14 \u2018Your father is dead, Earl Patrick,\n Your mither is the same;\n And what is the reason, Earl Patrick,\n Ye winna tak me hame?\u2019\n 257A.15 \u2018I\u2019ve bigget to you a bonnie bour,\n I\u2019ve strawn it round wi sand;\n I\u2019ve coverd it wi silver on the outside,\n Wi gude red gowd within.\n 257A.16 \u2018If eer I marry anither woman,\n Or bring anither hame,\n I wish a hundred evils may enter me,\n And may I fa oure the brim!\u2019\n 257A.17 It was na very lang after this\n That a duke\u2019s dochter he\u2019s wed,\n Wi a waggon fu of gowd\n . . . .\n 257A.18 Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,\n And spied baith dale and down,\n And there she saw Earl Patrick\u2019s aunt\n Come riding to the town.\n 257A.19 \u2018What want ye here, Earl Patrick\u2019s aunt?\n What want ye here wi me?\u2019\n \u2018I want Earl Patrick\u2019s bonnie young son;\n His bride fain wad him see.\u2019\n 257A.20 \u2018I wad like to see that woman or man,\n Of high or low degree,\n That wad tak the bairn frae my foot\n That I ance for bowd my knee.\u2019\n * * * * *\n 257A.21 \u2018Burd Bell, she\u2019s the bauldest woman\n That ever I did see:\u2019\n \u2018It\u2019s I\u2019ll gang to bonnie Burd Bell,\n She was never bauld to me.\u2019\n 257A.22 Burd Bell lookit oure her castle-wa,\n Behauding brave dale and down,\n And there she spied him Earl Patrick\n Slowly riding to the town.\n 257A.23 \u2018What said ye to my great-grand-aunt\n . . . .\n . . . .\n . . . .\u2019\n 257A.24 \u2018I said nathing to your great-grand-aunt\n But I will say to thee:\n I wad like to see the woman or man,\n Of high or low degree,\n That wad tak the bairn frae my foot\n I ance for bowd my knee.\n 257A.25 \u2018O dinna ye mind, Earl Patrick,\n The vows ye made to me,\n That a hundred evils was enter you\n If ye provd fause to me?\u2019\n 257A.26 He\u2019s turnd him richt and round about,\n His horse head to the wind,\n The hundred evils enterd him,\n And he fell oure the brim.\n \n \n \n 257B: Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick\n \n \n 257B.1 TAKE warning, a\u2019 ye young women,\n Of low station or hie,\n Lay never your love upon a man\n Above your ain degree.\n 257B.2 Thus I speak by Burd Isbel;\n She was a maid sae fair,\n She laid her love on Sir Patrick,\n She\u2019ll rue it for evermair.\n 257B.3 And likewise, a\u2019 ye sprightly youths,\n Of low station or hie,\n Lay never your love upon a maid\n Below your ain degree.\n 257B.4 And thus I speak by Sir Patrick,\n Who was a knight sae rare;\n He\u2019s laid his love on Burd Isbel,\n He\u2019ll rue it for evermair.\n 257B.5 Burd Isbel was but ten years auld,\n To service she has gane;\n And Burd Isbel was but fifeteen\n Whan her young son came hame.\n 257B.6 It fell ance upon a day\n Strong travelling took she;\n None there was her bower within\n But Sir Patrick and she.\n 257B.7 \u2018This is a wark now, Sir Patrick,\n That we twa neer will end;\n Ye\u2019ll do you to the outer court\n And call some women in.\u2019\n 257B.8 He\u2019s done him to the outer court,\n And stately there did stand;\n Eleven ladies he\u2019s calld in,\n Wi ae shake o his hand.\n 257B.9 \u2018Be favourable to Burd Isbel,\n Deal favourable if ye may;\n Her kirking and her fair wedding\n Shall baith stand on ae day.\n 257B.10 \u2018Deal favourable to Burd Isbel,\n Whom I love as my life;\n Ere this day month be come and gane,\n She\u2019s be my wedded wife.\u2019\n 257B.11 Then he is on to his father,\n Fell low down on his knee;\n Says, Will I marry Burd Isbel?\n She\u2019s born a son to me.\n 257B.12 \u2018O marry, marry Burd Isbel,\n Or use her as you like;\n Ye\u2019ll gar her wear the silks sae red\n And sae may ye the white.\n O woud ye marry Burd Isbel,\n Make her your heart\u2019s delight?\n 257B.13 \u2018You want not lands nor rents, Patrick,\n You know your fortune\u2019s free;\n But ere you\u2019d marry Burd Isbel\n I\u2019d rather bury thee.\n 257B.14 \u2018Ye\u2019ll build a bower for Burd Isbel,\n And set it round wi sand;\n Make as much mirth in Isbel\u2019s bower\n As ony in a\u2019 the land.\u2019\n 257B.15 Then he is to his mother gane,\n Fell low down on his knee:\n \u2018O shall I marry Burd Isbel?\n She\u2019s born a son to me.\u2019\n 257B.16 \u2018O marry, marry Burd Isbel,\n Or use her as you like;\n Ye\u2019ll gar her wear the silks sae red,\n And sae may ye the white.\n O would ye marry Burd Isbel,\n Make her wi me alike?\n 257B.17 \u2018You want not lands nor rents, Patrick,\n You know your fortune\u2019s free;\n But ere you marry Burd Isbel\n I\u2019d rather bury thee.\n 257B.18 \u2018Ye\u2019ll build a bower to Burd Isbel,\n And set it round wi glass;\n Make as much mirth in Isbel\u2019s bower\n An ony in a\u2019 the place.\u2019\n 257B.19 He\u2019s done him down thro ha, thro ha,\n Sae has he in thro bower;\n The tears ran frae his twa grey eyes,\n And loot them fast down pour.\n 257B.20 \u2018My father and my mother baith\n To age are coming on;\n When they are dead and buried baith,\n Burd Isbel I\u2019ll bring home.\u2019\n 257B.21 The words that passd atween these twa\n Ought never to be spoken;\n The vows that passd atween these twa\n Ought never to be broken.\n 257B.22 Says he, If I another court,\n Or wed another wife,\n May eleven devils me attend\n At the end-day o my life.\n 257B.23 But his father he soon did die,\n His mother nae lang behind;\n Sir Patrick of Burd Isbel\n He now had little mind.\n 257B.24 It fell ance upon a day,\n As she went out to walk,\n And there she saw him Sir Patrick,\n Going wi his hound and hawk.\n 257B.25 \u2018Stay stikl, stay still, now Sir Patrick,\n O stay a little wee,\n And think upon the fair promise\n Last year ye made to me.\n 257B.26 \u2018Now your father\u2019s dead, kind sir,\n And your mother the same;\n Yet nevertheless now, Sir Patrick,\n Ye\u2019re nae bringing me hame.\u2019\n 257B.27 \u2018If the morn be a pleasant day,\n I mean to sail the sea,\n To spend my time in fair England,\n All for a month or three.\u2019\n 257B.28 He hadna been in fair England\n A month but barely ane\n Till he forgot her Burd Isbel,\n The mother of his son.\n 257B.29 Some time he spent in fair England,\n And when returnd again\n He laid his love on a duke\u2019s daughter,\n And he has brought her hame.\n 257B.30 Now he\u2019s forgot his first true love\n He ance lovd ower them a\u2019;\n But now the devil did begin\n To work between them twa.\n 257B.31 When Sir Patrick he was wed,\n And all set down to dine,\n Upon his first love, Burd Isbel,\n A thought ran in his mind.\n 257B.32 He calld upon his gude grand-aunt\n To come right speedilie;\n Says, Ye\u2019ll gae on to Burd Isbel,\n Bring my young son to me.\n 257B.33 She\u2019s taen her mantle her about,\n Wi gowd gloves on her hand,\n And she is on to Burd Isbel,\n As fast as she coud gang.\n 257B.34 She haild her high, she haild her low,\n With stile in great degree:\n \u2018O busk, O busk your little young son,\n For he maun gang wi me.\u2019\n 257B.35 \u2018I woud fain see the one,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018O low station or hie,\n Woud take the bairn frae my foot,\n For him I bowed my knee.\n 257B.36 \u2018I woud fain see the one,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018O low station or mean,\n Woud take the bairn frae my foot\n Whom I own to be mine.\u2019\n 257B.37 Then she has done her hame again,\n As fast as gang coud she;\n \u2018Present,\u2019 said he, \u2019My little young son,\n For him I wish to see.\u2019\n 257B.38 \u2018Burd Isbel\u2019s a bauld woman,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018As eer I yet spake wi;\u2019\n But sighing said him Sir Patrick,\n She ne\u2019er was bauld to me.\n 257B.39 But he\u2019s dressd in his best array,\n His gowd rod in his hand,\n And he is to Burd Isbel\u2019s bower,\n As fast as he coud gang.\n 257B.40 \u2018O how is this, Burd Isbel,\u2019 he said,\n \u2018So ill ye\u2019ve used me?\n What gart you anger my gude grand-aunt,\n That I did send to thee?\u2019\n 257B.41 \u2018If I hae angerd your gude grand-aunt,\n O then sae lat it be;\n I said naething to your gude grand-aunt\n But what I\u2019ll say to thee.\n 257B.42 \u2018I woud fain see the one, I said,\n O low station or hie,\n Wha woud take this bairn frae my foot,\n For him I bowed the knee.\n 257B.43 \u2018I woud fain see the one, I said,\n O low station or mean,\n Woud take this bairn frae my foot\n Whom I own to be mine.\u2019\n 257B.44 \u2018O if I had some counsellers here,\n And clerks to seal the band,\n I woud infeft your son this day\n In third part o my land.\u2019\n 257B.45 \u2018I hae two couzins, Scottish clerks,\n Wi bills into their hand,\n An ye\u2019ll infeft my son this day\n In third part o your land.\u2019\n 257B.46 Then he calld in her Scottish clerks,\n Wi bills into their hand,\n And he\u2019s infeft his son that day\n The third part o his land.\n 257B.47 To ane o these young clerks she spoke,\n Clerk John it was his name;\n Says, Of my son I gie you charge\n Till I return again.\n 257B.48 \u2018Ye\u2019ll take here my son, clerk John,\n Learn him to dance and sing,\n And I will to some unco land,\n Drive love out of my mind.\n 257B.49 \u2018And ye\u2019ll take here my son, clerk John,\n Learn him to hunt the roe,\n And I will to some unco land;\n Now lat Sir Patrick go.\n 257B.50 \u2018But I\u2019ll cause this knight at church-door stand,\n For a\u2019 his noble train;\n For selling o his precious soul\n Dare never come farther ben.\u2019\n \n \n \n 257C: Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick\n \n \n 257C.1 ALL young maidens fair and gay,\n Whatever your station be,\n Never lay your love upon a man\n Above your own degree.\n 257C.2 I speak it all by Bird Isabel;\n She was her father\u2019s dear,\n She laid her love on Earl Patrick,\n Which she rues ever mair.\n 257C.3 \u2018Oh, we began a wark, Patrick,\n That we two cannot end;\n Go you unto the outer stair\n And call some women in.\u2019\n 257C.4 He\u2019s gone unto the outer stair,\n And up in it did stand,\n And did bring in eleven ladies,\n With one sign of his hand.\n 257C.5 He did him to the doctor\u2019s shop,\n As fast as he could gang,\n But ere the doctor could get there\n Bird Isabel bore a son.\n 257C.6 But he has courted a duke\u2019s daughter,\n Lived far beyont the sea;\n Burd Isabel\u2019s parents were but mean,\n That had not gear to gie.\n 257C.7 He has courted a duke\u2019s daughter,\n Lived far beyond the foam;\n Burd Isabel was a mean woman,\n And tocher she had none.\n 257C.8 Now it fell once upon a day\n His wedding day was come;\n He\u2019s hied him to his great-grand-aunt,\n As fast as he could gang.\n 257C.9 Says, Will you go this errand, aunt?\n Go you this errand for me,\n And if I live and bruick my life\n I will go as far for thee.\n 257C.10 \u2018Go and bring me Bird Isbel\u2019s son,\n Dressed in silks so fine,\n And if he live to be a man\n He shall heir all my land.\u2019\n 257C.11 Now she went hailing to the door,\n And hailing ben the floor,\n And Isabel styled her madame,\n And she, her Isabel dear.\n 257C.12 \u2018I came to take Earl Patrick\u2019s son,\n To dress in silks so fine;\n For if he live to be a man\n He is to heir his land.\u2019\n 257C.13 \u2018Oh is there ever a woman,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Of high station or mean,\n Daur take this bairn from my knee?\n For he is called mine.\n 257C.14 \u2018Oh is there ever a woman,\u2019 she said,\n \u2018Of mean station or hie,\n Daur tak this bairn frae my foot?\n For him I bowed my knee.\u2019\n 257C.15 His aunt went hailing to his door,\n And hailing ben the floor,\n And she has styled him, Patrick,\n And [he] her, aunty dear.\n 257C.16 She says, I have been east and west,\n And far beyond the sea,\n But Isabel is the boldest woman\n That ever my eyes did see.\n 257C.17 \u2018You surely dream, my aunty dear,\n For that can never be;\n Burd Isabel\u2019s not a bold woman,\n She never was bold to me.\u2019\n 257C.18 Now he went hailing to her door,\n And hailing ben the floor,\n And she has styled him, Patrick,\n And he her, Isabel dear.\n 257C.19 \u2018O ye have angered my great-grand-aunt;\n You know she\u2019s a lady free;\u2019\n \u2018I said naught to your great-grand-aunt\n But what I\u2019ll say to thee.\n 257C.20 \u2018Oh is there ever a woman, I said,\n Of high station or mean,\n Daur tak this bairn from my knee?\n For he is called mine.\n 257C.21 \u2018Oh is there ever a woman, I said,\n Of mean station or hie,\n Daur tak this bairn from my foot?\n For him I bowed my knee.\n 257C.22 \u2018But I\u2019ll cause you stand at good church-door,\n For all your noble train;\n For selling of your precious soul,\n You shall not get further ben.\u2019\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 258. Broughty Wa's","title":"The Child Ballads: 257. Burd Isabel and Earl Patrick","type":"page"}