No. 231: The Earl of Errol
[There are no known US or Canadian traditional versions of this ballad.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-F (Changes for A b and D b, D c are given in End-notes. A second version of B (I've designated B b) is given from "The Old Lady's Collection," No 26. 'Airlie,' from Miss Butchart, Arbroath appears in Additions and Corrections as does an untitled version from Bell Harris, Muirside of Kinnell, Forfarshire.)
5. End-notes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 231. The Earl of Errol
A. Roud No. 96: The Earl of Errol (31 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 231. The Earl of Errol (Bronson gives three music groups and texts)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-F with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: 231. The Earl of Errol
A. a. 'Kate Carnegie,' Campbell Manuscripts, II, 94.
b. The Edinburgh Magazine, or Literary Miscellany, June, 1803, p. 458.
B. a. Skene Manuscript, p. 113.
b. "The Old Lady's Collection," No 26.
C. 'The Countess of Erroll,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 176.
D. a. 'Lord and Lady Errol,' Buchan's Gleanings, p. 158.
b. 'Errol's Place,' Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 31.
c. 'Earl of Errol,' Kinloch's Ballad Book, p. 31.
E. Letters from and to Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, edited by Alexander Allardyce, I, 180; Sharpe's Ballad Book, p. 89, No. 31.
F. 'The Earl of Erroll,' Kinloch Manuscripts, III, 133.
Sir Gilbert Hay, tenth Earl of Errol, was married to Lady Catherine Carnegy, younger daughter of James, second Earl of Southesk, January 7, 1658, and had no children by her. He died in 1674. The ballad, says the person who communicated A b to the Edinburgh Miscellany, was "founded, it would seem, on some attempt to withhold from the Earl of Errol his consort's portion." It will be observed that the father proposes a beguiling to his daughter, and that she is ready to assent, in A, 12, 13.
It appears from a letter cited by Sharpe in his Ballad Book that the matters treated in the ballad were agitating, and had even "come to public hearing," in February, 1659.
Sir John Hay of Killour, as the nearest male heir, became the eleventh Earl of Errol. His wife was Lady Anne Drummond, only daughter of James, third Earl of Perth, so that the Earl of Perth might seem to have an interest in this affair of Errol's. She, however, was not born till January, 1656. Perth is actually made the other party in legal proceedings in A a 1, but in A b seems to espouse Errol's side.
Carnegy's other daughter, who in most of the versions censures her sister's conduct, is called Jean in A 5, D a 7, F 10, Anne in D b, c. These are stock ballad-names, and we need not suppose that Anne comes from Lady Anne Drummond. The older daughter's name was Elizabeth.
Errol is in the Carse of Gowrie, a tract noted for its fertility; which accounts for B 2, D a 1, D c 1, F 2.
E, F go the length of imputing to Lady Errol an attempt to poison her husband with wine which she offers him. A page, of Errol's kin, exposes her in E; in F Errol gives the drink to a greyhound, and the dog bursts.
The last stanza of A b, C, D c has reference to "the ancient separate maintenance of a lady dissatisfied with or apart from her husband." (Edinburgh Magazine, as above.)
E is introduced in Sharpe's letter by some pages of mild pleasantry in the form of a preface to "a specimen of the fourth volume of the Border Minstrelsy, speedily to be published."
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
Sir Gilbert Hay, tenth Earl of Errol, was married to Lady Catherine Carnegy, younger daughter of James, second Earl of Southesk, January 7, 1655, and had no children by her. He died in 1674. The ballad, says the person who communicated A b to the Edinburgh Miscellany, was "founded, it would seem, on some attempt to withhold from the Earl of Errol his consort's portion." It will be observed that the father proposes a beguiling to his daughter, and that she is ready to assent, in A, 12, 13. It appears from a letter cited by Sharpe in his Ballad Book that the matters treated in the ballad were agitating, and had even "come to public hearing," in February, 1659.
Child's Ballad Texts
'Kate Carnegie'- Version A a; Child 231 The Earl of Errol
a. Campbell Manuscripts, II, 94.
1 There was a jury sat at Perth,
In the merry month of May,
Betwixt the noble Duke of Perth
But and Sir Gilbert Hay.
2 My lord Kingside has two daughters,
They are proper, straight and tall;
But my lord Carnegie he has two
That far excells them all.
3 Then Errol he has dressd him,
As very well he could;
I'm sure there was not one cloth-yard
But what was trimmed with gold.
4 'Ane asking, ane asking, my lord Carnegie,
Ane asking I've to thee;
I'm come to court your daughter Jean,
My wedded wife to be.'
5 'My daughter Jean was wed yestreen,
To one of high degree,
But where Jean got one guinea of gold
With Kate I'll give thee three.
6 'Full fifteen hundred pounds
Had Jean Carnegie,
But three fifteen hundred pounds
With Kate I'll gie to thee.'
7 Then Errol he has wed her,
And fairly brought her hame;
There was nae peace between them twa
Till they sundered oer again.
8 When bells were rung, and mess was sung,
And a' man bound to bed,
The Earl of Errol and his countess
In one chamber was laid.
9 Early in the morning
My lord Carnegie rose,
The Earl of Errol and his countess,
And they've put on their clothes.
10 Up spake my lord Carnegie;
'Kate, is your toucher won?'
'Ye may ask the Earl of Errol,
If he be your good-son.
11 'What need I wash my petticoat
And hing it on a pin?
For I am as leal a maid yet
As yestreen when I lay down.
12 'What need I wash my apron
And hing it on the door?
It's baith side and wide enough,
Hangs even down before.'
13 Up spake my lord Carnegie;
'O Kate, what do ye think?
We'll beguile the Earl of Errol
As lang as he's in drink.'
14 'O what will ye beguile him wi?
Or what will ye do than?
I'll swear before a justice-court
That he's no a sufficient man.'
15 Then Errol he cam down the stair,
As bold as oney rae:
'Go saddle to me my Irish coach,
To Edinbro I'll go.'
16 When he came to Edinbro,
He lighted on the green;
There were four-and-twenty maidens
A' dancing in a ring.
17 There were four-and-twenty maidens
A' dancing in a row;
The fatest and the fairest
To bed wi him must go.
18 He's taen his Peggy by the hand,
And he led her thro the green,
And twenty times he kissd her there,
Before his ain wife's een.
19 He's taen his Peggy by the hand,
And he's led her thro the hall,
And twenty times he's kissd her there,
Before his nobles all.
20 'Look up, look up, my Peggy lass,
Look up, and think nae shame;
Ten hundred pounds I'll gie to you
To bear to me a son.'
21 He's keepit his Peggy in his room
Three quarter of a year,
And just at the nine months' end
She a son to him did bear.
22 'Now if ye be Kate Carnegie,
And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I'll make your father sell his lands
Your toucher for to pay.'
23 'To make my father sell his lands,
It wad be a great sin,
To toucher oney John Sheephead
That canna toucher win.'
24 'Now hold your tongue, ye whorish bitch,
Sae loud as I hear ye lie!
For yonder sits Lord Errol's son,
Upon his mother's knee;
For yonder sits Lord Errol's son,
Altho he's no by thee.'
25 'You may take hame your daughter Kate,
And set her on the glen;
For Errol canna please her,
Nor nane o Errol's men;
For Errol canna please her,
Nor twenty of his men.'
26 The ranting and the roving,
The thing we a' do ken,
The lady lost her right that night,
The first night she lay down;
And the thing we ca the ranting o 't,
The lady lies her lane.
-----------
'Lord Earell'- Version B; Child 231 The Earl of Errol
Skene Manuscript, p. 113; taken down from recitation in the north of Scotland, 1802-3.
1 Earell is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
The greatest faut about the place
Earell's no a man.
What ye ca the danting o 't,
According as ye ken,
For the pearting . . .
Lady Earell lyes her lane.
2 Earell is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
The roses they graw red an white,
An apples they graw green.
3 'What need I my apron wash
An hing upon yon pin?
For lang will I gae out an in
Or I hear my bairnie's din.
4 'What need I my apron wash
An hing upo yon door?
For side and wide is my petticoat,
An even down afore.
5 'But I will lace my stays again,
My middle jimp an sma;
I'l gae a' my days a maiden,
[Awa], Earell, awa!'
6 It fell ance upon a day Lord Earell
Went to hunt him lane,
. . . .
. . .
7 He was na a mile fra the town,
Nor yet sae far awa,
Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,
To try hir all the law.
8 Little did Lord Earell think,
Whan he sat down to dine,
That his lady was on to Edinburgh,
Nor what was in her mind.
9 Till his best servant came
For to lat him ken
. . . .
. . .
10 She was na in at the toun-end,
Nor yet sae far awa,
Till Earell was at her back,
His gaudy locks to sha.
11 She was na in at the loan-head,
Nor just at the end,
Till Earell he was at her back,
Her errand for to ken.
12 As lang as they ca ye Kate Carnegie,
An me Sir Gilbert Hay,
I's gar yer father sell Kinaird,
Yer tocher for to pay.'
13 'For to gar my father sell Kinnaird,
It wad be a sin,
To gee it to ony naughty knight
That a tocher canna win.'
14 Out spak the first lord,
The best amang them a';
'I never seed a lady come
Wi sick matters to the law.'
15 Out spak the neest lord,
The best o the town;
'Ye get fifteen well-fared maids,
An put them in a roun,
An Earell in the midst o them,
An lat him chuse out ane.'
16 They ha gotten fifteen well-fared maids,
An pit them in a roun,
An Earell in the mids o them,
An bad him chuse out ane.
17 He viewed them a' intill a raw,
Even up and down,
An he has chosen a well-fared may,
An meggie was her name.
18 He took her by the hand,
Afore the nobles a',
An twenty times he kissed her mou,
An led her thro the ha.
19 'Look up, Megie, look up, Megie,
[Look up,] an think na shame;
As lang as ye see my gaudy locks,
Lady Earell's be yer name.'
20 There were fifteen noblemen,
An as mony laides gay,
To see Earell proven a man
. . . .
21 'Ye tak this well-fared may,
And keep her three roun raiths o a year,
An even at the three raiths' end
I sall draw near.'
22 They hae taen that well-fared may,
An keepd her three roun raiths o a year,
And even at the three raiths' end
Earell's son she bare.
23 The gentlemen they ga a shout,
The ladies ga a caa,
Fair mat fa him Earell!
But ran to his lady.
24 He was na in at the town-head,
Nor just at the end,
Till the letters they were waiting him
That Earell had a son.
25 'Look up, Meggie, look up, Meggie,
[Look up,] an think na shame;
As lang as ye see my bra black hat,
Lady Earell's be yer name.
26 'I will gie my Meggie a mill,
But an a piece o land,
. . . .
To foster my young son.
27 'Faur is a' my merry men a',
That I pay meat an gaire,
To convey my Meggy hame,
. . . ?'
28 . . .
. . .
Even in Lord Earell's coach
They conveyed the lassie hame.
29 'Take hame yer daughter, Lord Kinnaird,
An take her to the glen,
For Earell canna pleas her,
Earell nor a' his men.'
30 'Had I ben Lady Earell,
Of sic a bonny place,
I wad na gaen to Edinburgh
My husband to disgrace.'
-----------
'The Countess of Erroll'- Version C; Child 231 The Earl of Errol
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 176.
1 Erroll it's a bonny place,
It stands upon a plain;
A bad report this ladie's raisd,
That Erroll is nae a man.
2 But it fell ance upon a day
Lord Erroll went frae hame,
And he is on to the hunting gane,
Single man alane.
3 But he hadna been frae the town
A mile but barely twa,
Till his lady is on to Edinburgh,
To gain him at the law.
4 O Erroll he kent little o that
Till he sat down to dine,
And as he was at dinner set
His servant loot him ken.
5 'Now saddle to me the black, the black,
Go saddle to me the brown,
And I will on to Edinburgh,
Her errands there to ken.'
6 She wasna well thro Aberdeen,
Nor passd the well o Spa,
Till Erroll he was after her,
The verity to shaw.
7 She wasna well in edinburgh,
Nor even thro the town,
Till Erroll he was after her,
Her errands there to ken.
8 When he came to the court-house,
And lighted on the green,
This lord was there in time enough
To hear her thus compleen:
9 'What needs me wash my apron,
Or drie 't upon a door?
What needs I eek my petticoat,
Hings even down afore?
10 'What needs me wash my apron,
Or hing it upon a pin?
For lang will gang but and ben
Or I hear my young son's din.'
11 'They ca you Kate Carnegie,' he says,
'And my name's Gilbert Hay;
I'll gar your father sell his land,
Your tocher down to pay.'
12 'To gar my father sell his land
For that would be a sin,
To such a noughtless heir as you,
That canno get a son.'
13 Then out it speaks him Lord Brechen,
The best an lord ava;
'I never saw a lady come
Wi sic matters to the law.'
14 Then out it speaks another lord,
The best in a' the town;
'Ye'll wyle out fifeteen maidens bright
Before Lord Erroll come:'
And he has chosen a tapster lass,
And Meggie was her name.
15 They kept up this fair maiden
Three quarters of a year,
And then at that three quarters' end
A young son she did bear.
16 They hae gien to Meggie then
Five ploughs but and a mill,
And they hae gien her five hundred pounds,
For to bring up her chill.
17 There was no lord in Edinburgh
But to Meggie gae a ring;
And there was na a boy in a' the town
But on Katie had a sang.
18 'Kinnaird, take hame your daughter,
And set her to the glen,
For Erroll canna pleasure her,
Nor nane o Erroll's men.'
19 Seven years on Erroll's table
There stand clean dish and speen,
And every day the bell is rung,
Cries, Lady, come and dine.
-----------
'Lord and Lady Errol'- Version D a; Child 231 The Earl of Errol
a. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 158.
1 O Errol's place is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
The flowers on it grow red and white,
The apples red and green.
The ranting o 't and the danting o 't,
According as ye ken,
The thing they ca the danting o 't,
Lady Errol lies her lane.
2 O Errol's place is a bonny place,
It stands upon yon plain;
But what's the use of Errol's place?
He's no like other men.
3 'As I cam in by yon canal,
And by yon bowling-green,
I might hae pleased the best Carnegy
That ever bore that name.
4 'As sure 's your name is Kate Carnegy,
And mine is Gibbie Hay,
I'll gar your father sell his land,
Your tocher for to pay.'
5 'To gar my father sell his land,
Would it not be a sin,
To give it to a naughtless lord
That couldna get a son?'
6 Now she is on to Edinburgh,
For to try the law,
And Errol he has followed her,
His manhood for to shaw.
7 Then out it spake her sister,
Whose name was Lady Jane;
'Had I been Lady Errol,' she says,
'Or come of sic a clan,
I would not in the public way
Have sham'd my own gudeman.'
8 But Errol got it in his will
To choice a maid himsel,
And he has taen a country-girl,
Came in her milk to sell.
9 He took her by the milk-white hand,
And led her up the green,
And twenty times he kissd her there,
Before his lady's een.
10 He took her by the milk-white hand,
And led her up the stair;
Says, Thrice three hundred pounds I'll gie
To you to bear an heir.
11 He kept her there into a room
Three quarters of a year,
And when the three quarters were out
A braw young son she bear.
12 'Tak hame your daughter, Carnegy,
And put her till a man,
For Errol he cannot please her,
Nor any of his men.'
---------
['O Errol it's a bonny place']- Version E; Child 231 The Earl of Errol
C. K. Sharpe's Letters, ed. Allardyce, I, 180 ff; written from the recitation of Violet Roddick, a woman living Hoddam Castle, 1803. Sharpe's Ballad Book, 1823, p. 89.
1 O Errol it's a bonny place,
It stands in yonder glen;
The lady lost the rights of it
The first night she gaed hame.
A waly and a waly!
According as ye ken,
The thing we ca the ranting o 't,
Our lady lies her lane, O.
2 'What need I wash my apron,
Or hing it on yon door?
What need I truce my petticoat?
It hangs even down before.'
3 Errol's up to Edinburgh gaen,
That bonny burrows-town;
He has chusit the barber's daughter,
The top of a' that town.
4 He has taen her by the milk-white hand,
He has led her through the room,
And twenty times he's kisst her,
Before his lady's een.
5 'Look up, look up now, Peggy,
Look up, and think nae shame,
For I'll gie thee five hundred pound,
To buy to thee a gown.
6 'Look up, look up, now, Peggy,
Look up, and think nae shame,
For I'll gie thee five hundred pound
To bear to me a son.
7 'As thou was Kate Carnegie,
And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I'll gar your father sell his lands,
Your tocher-gude to pay.
8 'Now he may take her back again,
Do wi her what he can,
For Errol canna please her,
Nor ane o a' his men.'
9 'Go fetch to me a pint of wine,
Go fill it to the brim,
That I may drink my gude lord's health,
Tho Errol be his name.'
10 She has taen the glass into her hand,
She has putten poison in,
She has signd it to her dorty lips,
But neer a drop went in.
11 Up then spake a little page,
He was o Errol's kin;
'Now fie upon ye, lady gay,
There's poison there within.
12 'It's hold your hand now, Kate,' she says,
'Hold it back again,
For Errol winna drink on 't,
Nor none o a' his men.'
13 She has taen the sheets into her arms,
She has thrown them oer the wa:
'Since I maun gae maiden hame again,
Awa, Errol, awa!'
14 She's down the back o the garden,
And O as she did murne!
'How can a workman crave his wage,
When he never wrought a turn?'
-----------
'The Earl of Erroll'- Version F; Child 231 The Earl of Errol
Kinloch Manuscripts, III, 133.
1 O Erroll is a bonny place,
And stands upon yon plane,
But the lady lost the rights o it
Yestreen or she came hame.
2 O Erroll is a bonny place,
And lyes forenent the sun,
And the apples they grow red and white,
And peers o bonny green.
3 'I nedna wash my apron,
Nor hing it on the door;
But I may tuck my petticoat,
Hangs even down before.
4 'Oh, Erroll, Erroll,
Oh, Erroll if ye ken,
Why should I love Erroll,
Or any of his men?'
5 She's turned her right and round about,
Poured out a glass o wine;
Says, I will drink to my true love,
He'll drink to me again.
6 O Erroll stud into the fleer,
He was an angry man:
'See here it is a good gray-hun,
We'll try what is the run.'
7 Then Erroll stud into the fleer,
Steered neither ee nor bree,
Till that he saw his good gray-hun
Was burst and going free.
8 'But ye are Kate Carnegie,' he said,
'And I am Sir Gilbert Hay;
I'se gar your father sell Kinnaird,
Your tocher-good to pay.'
9 Now she is on to Edinburgh,
A' for to use the law,
And brave Erroll has followed her,
His yellow locks to sheu.
10 Out and spak her sister Jean,
And an angry woman was she;
'If I were lady of Erroll,
And hed as fair a face,
I would no go to Edinburgh,
My good lord to disgrace.'
End-Notes
A. a. 234. toucher one.
26. May have been a burden.
b. Ballad of Gilbert, Earl of Errol, and Lady Catherine Carnegie.
. . .
13 Up spake Lord Carnegie,
'O Kate, what do you think?
We'll beguile the Earl of Errol,
As long as he's in drink.'
14 'O what need you beguile him?
Or what would you do than?
For I can easy vow and testify
Lord Errol's not a man.
12 'You need not wash my petticoat
And hang it at the door;
For it's baith side and wide enough,
And hangs even down before.
11 'You need not wash my apron
And hang it on a pin;
For I 'm as leil a maiden
As first when I went in.'
15 Down came the Earl of Errol,
As swift as any roe:
'Come harness me my Irish coach,
To Edinburgh I go.'
16 And when he earner to Edinburgh,
A ganging through the green,
Full four-and-twenty maidens
A' dancing there were seen.
17 And there were fifteen maidens
All dancing in a row,
And the fairest and the fattest
To prove that she must go.
18 He's taen his Peggy by the hand,
And led her through the green,
And twenty times he's kissed her,
Before his lady's een.
19 He's taen his Peggy by the hand,
And led her through the hall,
And twenty times he's kissed her,
Before the nobles all.
He's taen his Peggy by the hand,
And led her to a room,
And gave her a cup of claret wine,
And syne a bed of down.
201,2 'Stand up, stand up, my Peggy,
Stand up, and think na shame,
Na hide your face within your hand,
On me be all the blame.
20 3,4 'For you shall have a thousand pounds
As soon as it is won,
And you shall have ten thousand pounds
If you bear to me a son.'
21 He kept his Peggy in a room
Full nine months and a day,
And at the very nine months' end
She bore a son so gay.
As they were all at dinner sat,
And merrily went the can,
Up spake the noble Earl of Perth,
'Kate, what ails you at your man?'
'Oh, all the lands and earldom
Are now to ruin gone,
For I can easy vow and testify
He'll never get a son.'
241-4 'Ye lie, ye lie, you filthy jade,
So loud I hear you lie!
For there sits Lord Errol's son,
Upon his mither's knee.'
22 'As you are Kate Carnegie
And I Sir Gilbert Hay,
I'll gar your father sell his land
Your tocher for to pay.'
23 To gar my father sell his land
I'm sure would be a sin,
For to tocher any John Sheephead
Who could neer a tocher win.'
251-4 'You may take hame your daughter Kate,
And set her in a glen,
For Lord Errol cannot please her,
Nor none of Errol's men.
'You may provide a knife and fork,
A trencher and a spoon,
A little boy to call her,
Come to your dinner, dame;
A little boy to call her
Till seven years are done.'
B. Written in long lines, without division into stanzas; carelessly and in a bad hand, like other transcripts by Skene. The frequent gaps (of which only one is indicated, 54) make the division here adopted doubtful in some cases.
The burden is given at the end only, and is badly corrupted.
1. the Darton all.
3. Pearting?
74. hir all. Corrupted? hir, or him, at?
101. tour end: see 241,2.
153, 163. Earl.
202. gay ladies.
234. Corrupted? some malediction on the lady?
272. gaire is, I suppose, gear.
D. b. Burden. 1. The wally o 't, the wally o 't. 3. the ranting o 't. 4. Our lady lies alane.
13. at it.
31. It's I.
41. As sure as you're Jean.
42. And I am.
43. I'll cause.
51. To cause.
52. I think would be.
53. give to such a rogue as you.
54. Who never could it win.
61. So he must go.
62. Amang the nobles a'.
63. And there before good witnesses.
72. was called Miss Anne.
93. she says wanting.
8-12 A servant girl there was found out,
On whom to show his skill;
He gave to her a hundred pounds,
To purchase her good-will.
And still he cried, Look up, Peggy,
Look up, and think no shame,
And you shall have your hundred pounds
Before I lay you down.
Now he has lain him down wi her,
A hundred pounds in pawn,
And all the noblemen cried out
That Errol is a man.
'Tak hame your daughter,' Errol said,
'And tak her to a glen,
For Errol canna pleasure her,
Nor can no other man.'
c. Burden. 1. And the. 3. And the thing we. 4. Is, Errol's na a man.
11, 21. O Errol is.
12. Into the simmer time.
13. The apples they grow.
14. And the pears they grow green.
34. bore the.
41. Tho your name be Dame Cathrine Carnegie.
42. mine Sir Gilbert.
43. sell Kinnaird.
44. tocher gude to.
51. If ye gar my father sell Kinnaird.
52. 'T will be a crying.
53,4. To tocher onie weary dwrf, That canna tocher win.
61. The lady is.
62. A' for.
64. His ainsell.
71. O up bespak.
72. Lady Ann.
73. she says wanting.
After 7, two stanzas which are clearly a spurious interpolation.
81. Errol has got (But wanting).
83. has chosen a weel-faurd may.
84. Come. After 8 (= 10):
'Look up, look up, my weel-faurd may,
Look up, and think na shame;
I'll gie to thee five hundred merk
To bear to me a son.'
91. He's tane the lassie by the han.
93. there wanting.
94. Afore.
After 9:
"When they war laid in the proof-bed,
And a' the lords looking on,
Then a' the fifteen vowd and swore
That Errol was a man.
111. But they hae keepit this lassie.
113. And at the end o nine lang months.
114. A son to him she bare.
After 11:
And there was three thairbut, thairbut,
And there was three thairben,
And three looking oure the window hie,
Crying, Errol's provd a man!
And whan the word gaed thro the toun,
The sentry gied a cry,
'O fair befa you, Errol, now!
For ye hae won the day.'
'O I'll tak off my robes o silk,
And fling them oure the wa,
And I'll gae maiden hame again,
Awa, Errol, awa!'
121. Sir Carnegie.
122. till the glen.
123. he wanting.
124. nane o Errol's.
(12 is found in KinlocKs Manuscripts, VII, 95, with Sir Carnegie beginning the line.)
After 12:
And ilka day her plate was laid,
But an a siller spune,
And three times cried oure Errol's yett,
'Lady Errol, come and dine.'
Kinloch gives the following as a variant. It is found in Kinloch' s Manuscripts, VII, 95:
Seven years the trencher sat,
And seven years the spune;
Seven years the servant cried,
'Lady Errol, come and dine.'
Burden, at the end. 3. ye ca. 4. Lady Errol lies her leen.
E. Sharpe made these changes in his Ballad Book:
34. the toss.
42. He's led her oer the green.
43. he kist.
71. Your name is.
72. And I 'm.
123. shall not.
F. 11, 21, 61. Oh.
Additions and Corrections
P. 284. B as it stands in "The Old Lady's Collection," No 26.
1 Earell is a bonny place,
Itt stands upon yon plain;
The gratest faut about the toun,
Earell's na a man.
For fat ye caa the danton o'tt,
According as ye ken,
For the pearting . . .,
Lady Earel lays her lean.
2 Eearel is a bonny place,
It stans upon yon plain;
The rosses they grou read an whit,
An the apples they grou green.
3 'Fatt nead I my apron wash
An hing upon yon pinn?
For lang will I gaa out an in
Or I hear my barn's dinn.
4 'Fatt nead I my apron wash,
Or hang upoiTyon dor?
For side an wid is my petecot,
An eaen doun afore.
5 Bat I will laice my stays agean,
My middel jump an smaa;
I ull gaa a' my days a meaden,
Awaa, Earell, awaa!'
6 It fell ance upon a day Lord Earell
Went to hunt him lean,
. . .
. . .
7 He was na a mill fra the toun,
Nor yett sae far awaa,
Till his lady is on to Edinbrugh,
To tray him att the laa.
8 Littel did Lord Earell think,
Fan he satt doun to dine,
That his lady was one to Edinbrugh,
Nor fatt was in her mind.
9 Till his best servant came
For to latt him kenn,
. . .
. . .
10 She was na in att the toun-end,
Nor yett sa far awa,
Till Earell he was att her back,
His goudy lokes to sha.
11 She was na in att the toun-head,
Nor just att the eand,
Till Earell he was att her back,
Her earent for to ken.
12 'As lang as they caa ye Kett Carnege,
An me Sir Gilbert Hay,
I us gar yer father sell Kinnerd,
Yer tougher for to pay.'
13 'For to gar my father sell Kennerd,
It wad be a sin,
To gee 't to ony naughty knight
That a toucher canna wine.'
14 Out spak the first lord,
The best among them a';
'I never seed a lady come to Edinbrugh
We sick matters to the laue.'
15 Out spak the nixt lord,
The best of the toun;
'Ye gett fiften weell-fared maids,
An pitt them in a roun,
An Earl in the midst of them,
An latt him chouss out ane.'
16 They ha gotten fiften well-fared maids,
An pat them in a roun,
An Earel in the mids of them,
An bad him chuse out ane.
17 He voued them a' intell a rau,
Even up an doun,
An he has chossen a well-fared may,
An Meggie was her name.
18 He touk her by the hand,
Afore the nobles a',
An tuenty times he kissed her moue,
An lead her throu the haa.
19 'Louk up, Meggie, luke up, Meggie,
An thinkne sham[e];
As lang as ye see my goudy loks,
Lady Earel's be yer name.'
20 Thir was fifteen nobelmen,
An as mony ladys gay,
To see Earel proven a man
. . .
21 'Ye tak this well-fared may,
An keep her three roun reaths of a year,
An even att the three raiths' end
I ull draue near.'
22 They ha tane that well-fared may,
An kepeed her three roun reaths of a year,
An even att the three raiths' end
Earel's son she bare.
23 The gentelmen they ga a shout,
The ladys gaa a caa,
Fair mat faa him Errel,
But vou to his lady!
24 He was na in at the toun-head,
Nor just att the end,
Till the letters they wer metting him
That Errol had a son.
25 'Luke up, Megie, luk up, Meggie,
An think na shame;
As lang as ye see my bra blak hat,
Lady Earrol's be yer name.
26 'I will gie my Meggie a mill,
Bat an a pice of land,
. . .
To foster my young son.
27 'Fare is a' my merry men a',
That I pay meat an gair,
For to conve my Meggie hame,
. . .
28 . . .
. . .
Even in Lord Barrel's coach
They conved the lassie hame.
29 'Tak hame yer dother, Lord Kennard,
An take her to the glen,
For Earell canno pleas her,
Ear ell nor a' his men.'
30 'Had I ben lady of Barrel,
Of sick a boony place,
I wadne gain to Edinbrugh
My husband to disgrace.'
Refrain. Given only at the end.
154, 162. roum.
202. gay ladys.
244. that that.
288. E is also in the small Manuscript volume of C.K. Sharpe's, "Songs," p. 17. The reading in 34 is "toss," "top" being a mis-copy.
289. Findlay Manuscripts, I, 135; 'Airlie,' from Miss Butchart, Arbroath.
1 Lord Airlie's courted mony a lady,
He's courted mony a ane, O
An he's awa to bonny Kinnaird,
Lady Katrine's love to win. O
2 An when he cam to bonny Kinnaird,
An on the bowlin-green,
There he saw his ain Katrine,
Was walking there alane.
3 'O will ye go to bonnie Airlie,
Alang wi me to dine?
Or will ye go to bonny Airlie,
To be my lady fine?'
4 'I winna go to bonny Airlie
Alang wi you to dine,
But I will go to bonny Airlie
To be your lady fine.'
5 He would not hae the lady gay,
That rustled in her silk,
But he would hae the country-girl,
Goin to sell her milk.
6 He took his Peggie by the hand
An led her through the ha,
An twenty times he kissed her,
Before the nobles a'.
7 He took his Peggie by the hand
An led her through the trance,
An twenty times he kissed her
Before he bade her dance.
Findlay Manuscripts, I, 153, from Bell Harris, Muirside of Kinnell, Forfarshire, "once a servant of the family of Carnegie, and now upwards of eighty years of age (1868)."
1 They hae made a marriage o 't,
An they hae made it sune, O
An they hae made a marrige o 't,
It stood at Earlstoon. O
2 When een was come, an bells were rung,
An a' men boond for bed,
The earl and his gay ladie
In ae chamber were laid.
3 It's up i the mornin the earl rose,
Went to anither room;
Up she rose an away she goes,
An to Kinnaird she came.
4 They socht her up, they socht her doon,
They socht her through a' the toon,
An she was seen walkin her lane,
An her bed-goon it was on.
5 He wissd his horse had broken's neck
When first he to Kinnaird did come.
6 There was na ane bade him come in
But John Lindsay him lane.
7 When he was at bonny Kinnaird,
An on the bowlin-green,
His hair was like the threeds o gold,
An his eyes like diamonds sheen;
He micht 'U ae served the best Carnegie,
That ever bore the name.
8 He said, Tho ye be Kate Carnegie,
I am Sir Gilbert Hay;
I'll gar your father sell Kinnaird,
Your tocher-gude he maun pay.
9 'To gar my father sell his land
I think it were a sin,
For ony silly brat like you;
Ye couldna tocher win.
10 'I may wash my apron
An hing it on the tower,
An I may kilt my petticoats,
They 're even doon afore.'
11 But the earl he's awa to Edinbro,
To prove himself a man;
The lady she fast followd him,
To swear that he was none.
12 An when they cam to Edinbro,
And into the ha,
There she saw her ain gude lord,
Amang the nobles a'.
13 He took the tapster-lass
An led her through the room,
An twenty times he kissed her mou,
Afore his lady's een.
14 She took the cocks all frae her head
An dashed them at the wa;
'Awa! awa, Lord Earl!' she says,
'Awa, Lord Earl, awa!'
15 But the earl he hae gotten leave
To choise a maid unto himsel,
An he hae choised a country-lass,
Cam butter an eggs to sell.
16 He took the lassie by the hand
An led her through the room:
'I'd gie thee three times three hundred pound,
If you'd bear to me a son.'
17 'Haud aff your hands, Lord Earl,' she said,
'Haud aff your hands frae me;
For I wad think it a great disgrate
For a' my kin an me.'
18 But he has called for a private room,
An there he laid her doun,
An there he took his will o her,
Upon a bed o down.
19 She was three quarters of a year
Confined to a room,
And bonny was the babe she bore,
Sir John Hay was his name.
20 Wae be to you, Peggie Stuart,
That ae sister o mine!
Ye 've pairted me an my gude lord,
We'll never meet again.'
21 Up spak her sister, Lady Jean,
. . .
An I could gain sick an estate,
I wad gien my husband up to disdain.
62. John Lindsay is explained to be the gardener.
113. They lady.
134. Followed by Wi twenty lookin on, perhaps an alternative verse.
141. She is explained as the tapster-lass.
201. Query by Mr. Findlay: Lady Jean?
290. D b. Now collated with a Manuscript of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, and with another copy of the same pieces in "North Country Ballads," Miscellanea Curiosa, Abbotsford Library.
Sharpe, p. 15. Burden 1, 3. of it.
Burden 3. you call: of it. 4. lies alone O.
13. at it grows.
22. upon a.
24. He's not.
41. It's sure.
63. good witness.
73. Said, Had I been the lady of Errol.
74. of such.
83. And he gave her an.
101. lien down.
102. And a.
121. Take home.
122. take.
123. cannot please her.
Scott. 74. O come.
124. No can.
To be Corrected in the Print.
288 a, E, 34. Read toss. F is in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.
290 b, line 6. Read 73.
291 b, notes, E, 34. Drop