No. 100: Willie O Winsbury (Johnny Barbour)
[As pointed out by Child (see headnotes below) and Barry there is some similarity between this ballad and Child 99, Johnny Scot. Barry gives a stanza from Johnny Scot that is found in Johnny Barbour (see BBM, 1928 notes in US & Canada versions). The heroes name is sometimes John Barbour (See Child D and E also Macmath's version, J, in Additions and Corrections) in Great Britain and in North America John Barbour or a derivative is his only name.
In North America the ballad has been found frequently in Newfoundland, New England and almost nowhere else. The sole survival in the Appalachian region is Johnny Benbow, from West Virginia c.1924, which may be a ballad recreation from Carey Woofter.
R. Matteson 2015]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnote
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-J (J is found in "Additions and Corrections." )
5. Endnotes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 100. Willie O Winsbury
A. Roud No. 64: Willie O Winsbury (107 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 100. Willie O Winsbury (Bronson's music examples and texts)
3. US & Canadian Versions
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-J with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: Willie O' Winsbury
A. 'Willie o Winsbury,' Campbell Manuscripts, II, 38.
B. Herd's Manuscripts, I, 29; II, 98.
C. 'Lord Thomas of Winsbury,' Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 315.
D. Percy Papers, communicated by the Rev. P. Parsons, about 1775.
E. 'Johnnie Barbour,' Notes and Queries, Fifth Series, VII, 387.
F. 'Willie of Winsberye,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 404.
G. 'Lord Thomas o Winsbury,' Buchan's Manuscripts, II, 174; 'Lord Thomas of Winesberry and the King's Daughter,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 212.
H. 'Lord Thomas of Winesberrie,' Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 92.
I. 'Lord Thomas of Winsberry,'
a. stall copy;
b. stall copy;
c. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 127.
[J. 'John Barborough'; This copy, J, which resembles D, was communicated by Mr. Macmath as derived, September 13, 1886, from his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, who learned it above fifty years ago at Airds of Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, from the singing of Samuel Galloway. "Barborough may be spelt Barburgh, Barbara, or even, perhaps, Barbary."]
The main points of the story of this ballad are the same in all the copies. The king of Scotland, C, F, of France, H, I, has been away from home a considerable time, in Spain, A, C, F, G, a prisoner, A, F, a-hunting, C, H, I, and during his absence his daughter has be come with child by William or Thomas of Winsbury. The father threatens to hang the young man, but on seeing him is so struck with his beauty that he exonerates his daughter, and offers her in marriage to her lover, with a large dowry. Winsbury accepts the lady, but declines gold and land, having enough of his own. In H he says he shall be king when he goes back to Scotland; in the other copies he appears to be only a man of very good estate. From the hero turning out to be a royal person from Scotland, in H, Kinloch, Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 89, is led to imagine that the ballad may relate to James V of Scotland, who married a daughter of Francis I. His reasons are, first, that James disguised himself when he went to inspect the Duke of Vendôme's daughter (to whom he was in a way betrothed), so as not to be known to her or to her parents. Secondly, that when James, not fancying this lady, passed on, it was at a hunting-party that he met the French princess, who became so enamored of him that she would have no other husband. That the poor princess had long been sick, and "was not able to travel out of the realm to no other countrie" (on a milk-white steed, C 13), and that she died about six months after her marriage, does not come into the ballad.[1] Buchan thinks Winsbury's rank to be fixed by his version, G, as that of a chamberlain, and therefore cannot admit the plausibility of a disguised James V.
The two English copies, D, B, both imperfect, change the hero's name to Johnnie Barbary ('lately come from Spain,' cf. B 5) or Johnnie Barbour. Motherwell, in a manuscript annotation to Kinloch's Ancient Scottish Ballads, mentions that he had obtained from recitation a copy in which the name was Sweet Willie of Salisbury. The change from a king to a lady neat and trim in D 1 is a corruption that one would have hardly looked for "from the spinning-wheel."
The stanza which notes the reluctance of the young man to come at call, C 9, D 6, P 12, occurs in all copies of 'The Knight and Shepherd's Daughter.'
Footnote:
1. "A William Wynnesbury, who was yeoman of the Guard at the time of Henry VIII, used generally to act as Lord of Misrule in the years 1508-19, and he was Friar Tuck at Greenwich in May, 1515 (see Collier's Annals of the Stage, and J.S. Brewer's Letters and Papers of Henry VIII), and this, no doubt, made the name popular with the ballad-makers." Ward, Catalogue of Romances, etc., I, 532. Undeniably the Lord Winsbury of our ballad might be said to have acted as a lord of misrule, but it was hardly an English (or Scots) ballad-maker of the sixteenth century that maae this ballad; and Mr. Ward, probably, did not intend so to be understood.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
The story of this ballad is similar to that of 'Johnie Scot' (No. 99), but Willie's extreme beauty moves the king to offer his daughter to him in marriage, without a combat.
Chils Ballad Texts
'Willie o Winsberry'- Version A; Child 100; Willie o Winsberry
Campbell Manuscripts, II, 38.
1 The king he hath been a prisoner,
A prisoner lang in Spain, O
And Willie o the Winsbury
Has lain lang wi his daughter at hame. O
2 'What aileth thee, my daughter Janet,
Ye look so pale and wan?
Have ye had any sore sickness,
Or have ye been lying wi a man?
Or is it for me, your father dear,
And biding sae lang in Spain?'
3 'I have not had any sore sickness,
Nor yet been lying wi a man;
But it is for you, my father dear,
In biding sae lang in Spain.'
4 'Cast ye off your berry-brown gown,
Stand straight upon the stone,
That I may ken ye by yere shape,
Whether ye be a maiden or none.'
5 She's coosten off her berry-brown gown,
Stooden straight upo yon stone;
Her apron was short, and her haunches were round,
Her face it was pale and wan.
6 'Is it to a man o might, Janet?
Or is it to a man of fame?
Or is it to any of the rank robbers
That's lately come out o Spain?'
7 'It is not to a man of might,' she said,
'Nor is it to a man of fame;
But it is to William of Winsburry;
I could lye nae langer my lane.'
8 The king's called on his merry men all,
By thirty and by three:
'Go fetch me William of Winsbury,
For hanged he shall be.'
9 But when he cam the king before,
He was clad o the red silk;
His hair was like to threeds o gold.
And his skin was as white as milk.
10 'It is nae wonder,' said the king,
'That my daughter's love ye did win;
Had I been a woman, as I am a man,
My bedfellow ye should hae been.
11 'Will ye marry my daughter Janet,
By the truth of thy right hand?
I'll gie ye gold, I'll gie ye money,
And I'll gie ye an earldom o land.'
12 'Yes, I'll marry yere daughter Janet,
By the truth of my right hand;
But I'll hae nane o yer gold, I'll hae nane o yer money,
Nor I winna hae an earldom o land.
13 'For I hae eighteen corn-mills,
Runs all in water clear,
And there's as much corn in each o them
As they can grind in a year.'
-------------
'Willie Winchberrie'- Version B; Child 100 Willie o Winesberry
Herd's Manuscripts, I, 29; II, 98.
* * * *
'WHAT aileth ye, my dochter Dysmill,
Ye look sae pale and wan?
Hae ye had ony sair sickness,
Or ill luve wi a man?
2 'Cast aff, cast aff your bony brown goun,
And lay't down on the stane,
And I sall tell ye ay or no
Ye hae layn wi a man.'
3 She has taen aff her bony brown gown,
She has laid it on the stane;
Her waist was big, her side was round,
Her fair colour was gane.
4 'Now is it to a man of micht,
Or to a man of mean?
Or is it to the ranke robber
That robs upon the main?'
5 'O it's nor to a man of micht,
Nor to a man of mean;
But it's to Willie Winchberrie,
That came frae France and Spain.'
6 The king he's turnd him round about,
An angry man was he:
'Gar bring to me your fals leman,
Wha sall high hanged be.'
7 Then Dysmill turnd her round about,
The tear blinded her ee:
'Gin ye begin to hang, father,
Ye maun begin wi mee.'
8 When Willie he cam to the king,
His coat was o the silk;
His hair was like the thread o gowd,
His skin white as the milk.
9 'Ne wonder, ne wonder,' quoth the king,
'My dochter shoud like ye;
Gin ye were a woman, as ye're a man,
My bedfellow ye sould be.
10 'Now will ye marry my dochter Dysmill,
By the truth o your right hand?
Now will ye marry my dochter Dysmill,
And be a lord o the land?'
----------------
'Lord Thomas of Winsbury'- Version C; Child 100 Willie o Winsberry
Kinloch Manuscripts, I, 315.
1 The king has been long seven years away,
Long seven years away frae hame;
Our king has been long seven years away,
A hunting oer in Spain.
* * * * *
2 'What aileth thee, my ae daughter,
Thou lookst so pale and wan?
Hast thou had any sore sickness,
Or hast thou loved man?'
3 'I have not had any sore sickness,
To make me look sae wan;
But it is for your own majestie,
You staid sae lang in Spain.'
4 'Cast aff, cast aff thy silken gown,
And lay it on yon stane,
And I'll tell to thee if with child you be,
Or if ye be with nane.'
5 She's casten aff her costly gown,
That's made o the silk sae fine;
Her stays were sae strait she could na loot,
And her fair colour was wan.
6 'Oh is it to any mighty man?
Or any lord of fame?
Or is it to the rank robbers
That I sent out o Spain?'
7 'It is no to the rank robbers
That you sent out o Spain;
But it is to Thomas of Winsbury,
For I dought na lie my lane.'
8 'If it be to Lord Thomas,' he says,
'It's hanged shall he be:'
'If you hang Thomas of Winsbury,
You'll get na mair gude o me.'
9 The king's called up his merry men all,
By one, by two, and three;
Lord Thomas should hae been the foremost man,
But the hindmost man was he.
10 'No wonder, no wonder,' the king he said,
'My daughter loved thee;
For wert thou a woman, as thou art a man,
My bedfellow thou shouldst be.
11 'O will you marry my daughter dear,
By the faith of thy right hand?
And thou shalt reign, when I am dead,
The king over my whole land.'
12 'I will marry your daughter dear,
With my heart, yea and my hand;
But it never shall be that Lord Winsbury
Shall rule oer fair Scotland.'
13 He's mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself on a dapple-grey,
And made her a lady of as much land
She could ride in a whole summer day.
-----------
['Johnny Barbary']- Version D; Child 100 Willie o Winesberry
Communicated to Percy by the Rev. P. Parsons, of Wey, apparently in 1775. "This I had from the spinning-wheel."
1 There was a lady fine and gay,
She was so neat and trim;
She went unto her own garden-wall,
To see her own ships come in.
2 And there she spied her daughter Jane,
Who lookd so pale and wan:
'What, have you had some long sickness,
Or lain with some young man?'
3 'No, I have had no long sickness,
Nor lain with no young man:'
Her petticoats they were so short,
She was full nine months gone.
4 'Oh is it by some nobleman?
Or by some man of fame?
Or is it by Johnny Barbary,
That's lately come from Spain?'
5 'No, it is by no nobleman,
Nor by no man of fame;
But it is by Johnny Barbary,
That's lately come from Spain.'
6 Then she calld down her merry men,
By one, by two, by three;
Johnny Barbary used to be the first,
But now the last came he.
7 'Oh will you take my daughter Jane,
And wed her out of hand?
And you shall dine and sup with me,
And be heir of my land.'
8 'Yes, I will take your daughter Jane,
And wed her out of hand;
And I will dine and sup with you,
But I do not want your land.'
9 Then she calld down her merry men,
With a shrill and a pleasant voice:
'Come, let us all now mery be,
Since she has made such a happy choice.'
-----------
['Johnnie Barbour']- Version E; Child 100 Willie o Winsberry
Notes and Queries, Fifth Series, VII, 387, 1877: communicated by B. Montgomerie Ranking, as "heard sung years ago by a West Country fisherman."
* * * *
'OH daughter, oh daughter,' her father he said,
'What makes you look so pale?
. . . . .
Or are you in love with any man?'
2 . . . . .
. . . . .
'But if it be one of my own sailor lads,
High hanged he shall be.'
3 Johnnie Barbour he cam doun the stair,
His shirt was of the silk;
His two bonnie black een were rolling in his head,
And his skin was as white as milk.
4 'Oh are you ready to marry my daughter,
And take her by the hand,
And to eat and drink with me at the table,
And be heir of all my land?'
5 'Oh it's I am ready to marry your daughter,
And take her by the hand,
And to eat and drink with her at the table,
And to fight for all your land.'
-----------
['Willie of Winsberye']- Version F; Child 100 Willie o Winesberry
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 404; from the recitation of Agnes Laird, of Kilbarchan, August 24, 1825.
1 Our king hath been a poor prisoner,
And a poor prisoner in Spain; O
When seven long years was past and gone,
Our Scotish king came hame, O.
2 As he was riding along the way,
He met with his dear dochter:
'What ails thee, what ails thee, my dochter dear,
Thou looks so pale and wan?
3 'Have ye had any sore sickness,
Or have ye lovd a man?
Or is it for me, my dochter dear,
I have been so long in Spain?'
4 'I have had no sore sickness,
Nor yet have I loved a man;
But it is for you, my father dear,
Thou've been so long in Spain.'
5 'Cast aff, cast aff thy brown silk gown,
And spread it on yonder stone,
And I will tell you by and by
Whether thou art a maid or none.'
6 She's coosten off her brown silk gown,
And spread it on yonder stone,
And her belly was big, and her face pale and wan,
And she was about half gone.
7 'Is it to a man o micht?
Or to a man of fame?
Or is it to one of the rank rebels
That I sent out of Spain?'
8 'It is not to a man of micht,
Nor to a man of fame,
Nor yet to one of the rank rebels
That ye sent out o Spain;
But it is to Willie o Winsberry,
Thy very own serving-man.'
9 'If it be to Willie o Winsberry,
As I trew well it be,
Gin the morn at ten o the clock
It's hanged shall he be.'
10 As the king was riding up the gate
He met Willie clothed in scarlet red,
And his hair was as yellow as the beam, beam gold,
And his breast as white as milk.
11 'No wonder, no wonder,' quo the king,
'My dochter luvit thee;
For if thou was a woman, as thou'rt a man,
My bedfellow thou should be.'
12 The king called down his merry men all,
By one, by two, and by three;
Sweet Willie should ha been the foremost man,
But the hindmost man drew he.
13 'Will you take my dochter Jean,
By the faith of her richt hand?
And you shall sup and dine with me,
And heir the third part of my land.'
14 'I will take your dochter Jean,
By the faith of her richt hand,
And I will sup and dine with you,
But a fig for all your land;
For I've as much land in Winsberry
As we'll ride in a long summer's day.'
-----------
'Lord Thomas o Winsbury'- Version G; Child 100 Willie o Winesberry
Buchan's Manuscripts, II, 174; Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 212.
1 Seven years the king he staid
Into the land of Spain,
And seven years True Thomas was
His daughter's chamberlain.
2 But it fell ance upon a day
The king he did come home;
She baked and she benjed ben,
And did him there welcome.
3 'What aileth you, my daughter Janet,
You look sae pale and wan?
There is a dreder in your heart,
Or else you love a man.'
4 'There is no dreder in my heart,
Nor do I love a man;
But it is for your lang byding
Into the land of Spain.'
5 'Ye'll cast aff your bonny brown gown,
And lay it on a stone,
And I'll tell you, my jelly Janet,
If ever ye lovd a man.'
6 She's cast aff her bonny brown gown,
And laid it on a stone;
Her belly was big, her twa sides high,
Her colour it was quite gane.
7 'Is it to a man o the might, Janet,
Or is it till a man o the main?
Or is it to one o my poor soldiers,
That I brought hame frae Spain?'
8 'It's not till a man o the might,' she says,
'Nor yet to a man o the main;
But it's to Thomas o Winsbury,
That cannot longer len.'
9 'O where are all my wall-wight men,
That I pay meat and fee,
That will go for him True Thomas,
And bring him in to me?
For the morn, ere I eat or drink,
High hanged shall he be.'
10 She's turnd her right and round about,
The tear blinded her ee:
'If ye do any ill to True Thomas,
Ye'se never get gude o me.'
11 When Thomas came before the king
He glanced like the fire;
His hair was like the threads o gold,
His eyes like crystal clear.
12 'It was nae wonder, my daughter Janet,
Altho ye loved this man;
If he were a woman, as he is a man,
My bed-fellow he would been.
13 'O will ye marry my daughter Janet?
The truth's in your right hand;
Ye's hae some o my gold, and some o my gear,
And the twalt part o my land.'
14 'It's I will marry your daughter Janet;
The truth's in my right hand;
I'll hae nane o your gold, nor nane o your gear,
I've enough in my own land.
15 'But I will marry your daughter Janet
With thirty ploughs and three,
And four and twenty bonny breast-mills,
And a' on the water o Dee.'
----------
'Thomas of Winesberrie'- Version H; Child 100 Willie o Winesberry
Kinloch's Scottish Ballads, p. 92.
1 It fell upon a time, when the proud king of France
Went a hunting for five months and more,
That his dochter fell in love with Thomas of Winesberrie,
From Scotland newly come oer.
2 Whan her father cam hame frae hunting the deer,
And his dochter before him cam,
Her belly it was big, and her twa sides round,
And her fair colour was wan.
3 'What ails thee, what ails thee, my dochter Janet?
What makes thee to look sae wan?
Ye've either been sick, and very, very sick,
Or else ye hae lain wi a man.'
4 'Ye're welcome, ye're welcome, dear father,' she says,
'Ye're welcome hame to your ain,
For I hae been sick, and very, very sick,
Thinking lang for your coming hame.
5 'O pardon, O pardon, dear father,' she says,
'A pardon ye'll grant me:'
'Na pardon, na pardon, my dochter,' he says,
'Na pardon I'll grant thee.
6 'O is it to a man of micht,
Or to a man of mean?
Or is it to onie of thae rank robbers
That I sent hame frae Spain?'
7 'It is not to a man of micht,
Nor to a man of mean;
But it is to Thomas o Winesberrie,
And for him I suffer pain.'
8 'If it be to Thomas o' Winesberrie,
As I trust well it be,
Before I either eat or drink,
Hie hangit sall he be.'
9 When this bonnie boy was brought afore the king,
His claithing was o the silk,
His fine yellow hair hang dangling doun,
And his skin was like the milk.
10 'Na wonder, na wonder, Lord Thomas,' he says,
'My dochter fell in love wi thee,
For if I war a woman, as I am a man,
My bed-fellow ye shoud be.
11 'Then will ye marry my dochter Janet,
To be heir to a' my land?
O will ye marry my dochter Janet,
Wi the truth o your richt hand?'
12 'I will marry your dochter Janet,
Wi the truth o my richt hand;
I'll hae nane o your gowd, nor yet o your gear,
I've eneuch in fair Scotland.
13 'But I will marry your dochter Janet,
I care na for your land,
For she's be a queen, and I a king,
Whan we come to fair Scotland.'
-----------
'Lord Thomas of Winsberry'- Version I a; Child 100 Willie o Winsberry
a. A stall copy printed by M. Randall, Stirling,
b. A stall copy by C. Randall, Stirling,
c. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 127.
1 It fell upon a time that the proud king of France
Went a hunting for five months and more;
His daughter fell in love with Lord Winsberry,
Who from Scotland was newly come oer.
2 'You're welcome, welcome, dear father,' she said,
'You're welcome again to your own;
For I have been sick, and very, very sick,
Thinking long for your coming home.'
3 'Put off, put off your gown of green,' he says,
'And spread it on yonder green,
And tell them from me that in mourning you are,
Or that he have lain with a man.'
4 She's put off her gown of green,
And spread it on the strand;
Her haunches were round, and her belly was big,
From her face the colour is gone.
5 'O is it to a man of might,' he says,
'Or is it to a man that's mean?
Or is it to one of those rank rebels,
That lately from Scotland came?'
6 'O it is to a man of might,' she says,
'It is not to one that is mean;
It is to Lord Thomas of Winsberry,
And for him I must suffer pain.'
7 The king called up his merry men all,
By one, by two, and by three:
'Go fetch me Lord Thomas of Winsberry,
For tomorrow he shall die.'
8 They sought him up, they sought him down,
As fast as fast could be;
There they found Lord Thomas of Winsberry,
Sitting under an orange tree.
9 'Get up, get up, Lord Thomas,' they said,
'Get up, and bound your way;
For the king has sworn by his honoured crown
That tomorrow is thy dying-day.'
10 'O what have I robbd, or what have I stolen,
Or what have I killed or slain,
That I should be afraid to speak to your king?
For I have done him no wrong.'
11 Lord Thomas came tripping up the stair,
His cloathing was of the silk;
His fine yellow hair hung dangling down,
His skin was white as the milk.
12 And when he came before the king
He kneeled down on his knee;
Says, What is your will with me, my liege,
What is your will with me?
13 'I think no wonder, Lord Thomas,' he says,
'That my daughter fell in love with thee;
If thou wert a woman, as thou art a man,
My bed-fellow thou wouldst be.
14 'Will ye marry my daughter Jean,
By the faith of thy right hand?
Thou'se have part of my gold, part of my gear,
And a third part of my land.'
15 'Yes, I will marry thy daughter Jean,
By the faith of my right hand;
I'll have none of your gold, none of your gear;
I have enough in fair Scotland.'
16 He has mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself on a dapple-grey;
He's got as much land in fair Scotland
As they can ride in a summer's day.
----------
['John Barborough']- Version J; Child 100 Willie o Winesberry
This copy, J, which resembles D, was communicated by Mr. Macmath as derived, September 13, 1886, from his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, who learned it above fifty years ago at Airds of Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, from the singing of Samuel Galloway. "Barborough may be spelt Barburgh, Barbara, or even, perhaps, Barbary."
1 There was a lass in the North Countrie,
And her clothing it was the green,
And she's looked ower her father's castle-wa,
For to see her father's ships sail in, in,
For to see her father's ships on sea.
2 'What aileth thee, dear daughter?' he said,
'What makes thee so pale and wan?
I 'm afraid you've got some sore sickness,
Or have lain wi some young man, man,
Or have lain wi some young man.
3 'O I have got no sore sickness,
Nor I've lain with no young man;
But the thing that grieves me to the heart
Is my true-love is staying too long.'
That my true-love, etc.
4 'O is he a lord, or a duke, or a knight,
Or a man of birth or fame?
Or is he one of my own servant-men,
That is lately come from Spain?'
5 'He's neither a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight,
Nor a man of birth or fame;
But he is one of your own servant-men,
That is lately come from Spain.'
6 'O call him down, the Spanish dog,
O call him down to me,
For before eight o'clock next morning
Hanged he shall be, be,
Aye, hanged on a tree.'
7 'It's oh forbid, dear father,' she said,
'That anything there should be,
For if that you hang John Barborough,
You'll get nae mair good o me.'
8 He's called down his merry men all,
By one and by two and by three;
John Barborough was to be the first,
But the last man down came he.
9 . . .
. . .
For every pound that he laid down,
John Barborough laid down three.
End-Notes
A. O is added, in singing, to every second and fourth verse.
12. oh.
93. the reeds of, in my copy.
112. of my.
B. Quhat, ze, etc., are printed what, ye.
C. 9. Given thus in Kinloch's annotated copy of his Ancient Scottish Ballads; derived from Motherwell:
The king called doun his merry men,
By thirties and by three;
Lord Thomas, that used to be the first.
The hindmost man was he.
D. 32. altered, wrongly, to But lain with a.
92. shrrill.
F. O is added, in singing, to every second and fourth verse.
13,4. Thus in Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 27:
Seven long years was past and gone
When our Scotish king came home. O
16. Given thus in Kinloch's annotated copy of his Ancient Scottish Ballads, as the concluding verse of Mr. Motherwell's copies and that of Buchan:
He mounted her on a milk-white steed,
Himself on a dapple-grey,
And they 've as muckle land in braid Scotland
As can be rode in a lang simmer's day.
G. Some trifling changes are made by Buchan in printing.
84. ben, printed by Buchan len.
I. a. 142. of iny: so b.
161. her wanting.
b. 23. and very sick.
41,2. wanting.
52. that is.
53. these.
82. As fast as they.
93. his wanting.
113. hang.
134. should be.
c. 22. You are.
31. Put off your.
52. that is.
53. these.
74. Sitting under an orange tree.
8. wanting.
142. of my.
143. Thou'llt.
Additions and Corrections
P. 398. This copy, J, which resembles D, was communicated by Mr. Macmath as derived, September 13, 1886, from his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, who learned it above fifty years ago at Airds of Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, from the singing of Samuel Galloway. "Barborough may be spelt Barburgh, Barbara, or even, perhaps, Barbary."
1 There was a lass in the North Countrie,
And her clothing it was the green,
And she's looked ower her father's castle-wa,
For to see her father's ships sail in, in,
For to see her father's ships on sea.
2 'What aileth thee, dear daughter?' he said,
'What makes thee so pale and wan?
I 'm afraid you've got some sore sickness,
Or have lain wi some young man, man,
Or have lain wi some young man.
3 'O I have got no sore sickness,
Nor I've lain with no young man;
But the thing that grieves me to the heart
Is my true-love is staying too long.'
That my true-love, etc.
4 'O is he a lord, or a duke, or a knight,
Or a man of birth or fame?
Or is he one of my own servant-men,
That is lately come from Spain?'
5 'He's neither a lord, nor a duke, nor a knight,
Nor a man of birth or fame;
But he is one of your own servant-men,
That is lately come from Spain.'
6 'O call him down, the Spanish dog,
O call him down to me,
For before eight o'clock next morning
Hanged he shall be, be,
Aye, hanged on a tree.'
7 'It's oh forbid, dear father,' she said,
'That anything there should be,
For if that you hang John Barborough,
You'll get nae mair good o me.'
8 He's called down his merry men all,
By one and by two and by three;
John Barborough was to be the first,
But the last man down came he.
9 . . .
. . .
For every pound that he laid down,
John Barborough laid down three.
Dr. Davidson has given me a stanza, derived from Aherdeenshire, which is close to G 10.
She turned her right an round about,
Wi the saut tear in her ee:
'O gin ye hang my True Tammas,
Ye 'se never see guid o me.'
P. 398. There is a 'Lord Thomas of Wynnesbury' in the Murison Manuscript, p. 17, which was derived from recitation in Aberdeenshire, but it seems to me to have had its origin in the stalls, resembling I, which is of that source.
To be Corrected in the Print.
405 b, notes. 16 belongs to I and should be on p. 406.
The following are mostly trivial variations from the spelling of the text.
404 b, 91. Read Whan.
P. 399 ff. Manuscript of Thomas Wilkie, p. 5, in "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 34. From Mrs. Hislope, Gattonside. 1813.
1 The king calld on his merry men all,
By one, by two, and by three;
Lord Thomas should been the foremost man,
But the hindmost man was he.
2 As he came tripping down the stairs,
His stockings were of the silk,
His face was like the morning sun,
And his hand as white as milk.
3 'No wonder, no wonder, Lord Thomas,' he said,
'Then my daughter she loved thee;
For, if I had been a woman as I am a man,
Tom, I would hae loved thee.'
P. 399, note. The ballad need not be older than the 16th century. Drop "but it was hardly," etc