The Child Ballads: 296. Walter Lesly

296A.1 On the second of October, a Monday at noon, In came Walter Lesly, to see his proper one; He sent a chair down by her side, and gently sat her by, Says, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? 296A.2 He’s taen a glass into his hand, inviting her to drink, But little knew she his meaning, or what the rogue did think; Nor what the rogue did think, to steal the maid away; ‘Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.3 When they had taen a glass or two, and all were making merry, In came Geordy Lesly, and forth he did her carry; Then upon high horseback sae hard’s he did her tye, ‘Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.4 Her mother she came to the door, the saut tears on her cheek, She coudna see her daughter, it was for dust and reek; It was for dust and reek, the swords they glancd sae high; ‘And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.5 When they came to the ale-house, the people there were busy; A bridal-bed it was well made, and supper well made ready; When the supper down was set, baith plum-pudding and pie, ‘And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.6 When they had eaten and well drunken, and a’ man bound for bed, The laddie and the lassie in ae chamber were laid; He quickly stript her to the smock, and gently laid her bye, Says, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? 296A.7 But Walter being weary, he fell fast asleep, And then the lassie thought it fit to start up till her feet; To start up till her feet, and her petticoats to tye, ‘We’ll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.’ 296A.8 Then over moss and over muir sae cleverly she ran, And over hill and over dale, without stockings or shoon; The men pursued her full fast, wi mony shout and cry, Says, Will ye go to Conland, the winter-time to lye. 296A.9 ‘Wae to the dubs o Duffus land, that eer they were sae deep; They’ve trachled a’ our horsemen and gart our captain sleep; And gart our captain sleep, and the lassie win away, And she’ll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.’ 296A.10 ‘I’d rather be in Duffus land, selling at the ale, Before I was wi Lesly, for a’ his auld meal; For a’ his auld meal, and sae mony comes to buy; I’ll go no more to Conland the winter-time to lye. 296A.11 ‘I’d rather be in Duffus land, draggin at the ware, Before I was wi Lesly, for a’ his yellow hair; For a’ his yellow hair, and sae well’s he can it tye; I’ll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.’ 296A.12 It was not for her beauty, nor yet her gentle bluid, But for her mither’s dollars, of them he had great need; Of them he had great need, now he maun do them by, For she’ll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.