English & Other Versions 99. Johnie Scot
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Minstrelsy: Ancient and Modern, with an Historical Introduction and Notes; edited by William Motherwell, 1827
JOHNIE SCOT.
In preparing this ballad for the press, three recited copies, all obtained from people considerably advanced in years, have been used. The ballad, itself, is popular in the Shires of Renfrew, Dumbarton, and Stirling; and though the Editor has obtained no copy of it from the south of Scotland, yet, he has been assured that it is also well known there, a fact of which there can be no doubt, as the border names of Scot and Percy sufficiently identify it with that part of the country.
As is to be expected, in all poetry which depends on oral tradition for its transmission to our own times, the copies of this ballad which the Editor has recovered do not exactly correspond with each other. Numerous, though on the whole but trivial, verbal discrepancies exist among them; and in adjusting the text, he had therefore to rely on his own judgment in selecting what he conceived the best reading from each of his copies. Injustice, however, to himself, and for the satisfaction of the rigid antiquary, he begs leave explicitly to state, that not a single word or expression has been admitted into the present text, but what was duly authorised by one or other of these copies. A scrupulous regard for historic truth hath ever led him to avoid the temptation of embellishing Traditionary Song. It were a thing devoutly to be wished for, that all others who have gathered in the same vineyard could lay their hands on their hearts, and make the like sincere and honest profession. But of this more anon.
With regard to the proper names in the ballad, considerable difficulty was experienced. In the few notes subjoined, the principal variations which occur in this particular, between the different copies, in so far as relates to the minor personages of the drama, are pointed out; but as to the hero himself, it is right to mention in this place that two of the copies agree in styling him "Johnie Scot," while the third names him "Johnie M'Nauchton." In all other material points, none of the copies essentially differ, except in this, that in the copy which gives "M'Nauchton" as the hero, the champion with whom he measures blades, does not enact that marvellous feat of agility which forms so remarkable a feature in the combat scene between "Johnie Scot" and the "Tailliant"—
Who like a Swallow swift, Owre Johnie's head did flee— but like an honest Swordsman contends manfully, yea, pertinaciously for the victory, without having recourse to any strange and curious device offence.
Whether the glory of the high achievement recorded in the ballad should of right belong to the name of Scot, or to that of M'Nauchton, is a question very hard of solution. Scot, of Satchels, in that strangest of all literary curiosities, his metrical "History of the Right Honourable name of Scot," is dumb on the subject; and Buchanan, in his account of Scottish Surnames, is as profoundly silent regarding any one belonging to the ancient family of M'Nauchton, to whom the honour of this notable duel can with any degree of likelihood be attributed. For his own part, the Editor has been somewhat gravelled to make up his mind on this momentous point; but at length he has been inclined to concede the adventure perilous, even to Johnie Scot, whoever he was, not only on the account that two copies of the ballad, and these by far the most perfect in their narrative, are quite unanimous on this head, but that these likewise retain the word "Tailliant" which in the corresponding part of the third copy is changed into "Champion." This word Tailliant, he has never before met with in any ballad; but it is an evident derivative from the French verb Taillader.
Mr. Ritson, in his Historical Dissertations on Scottish Song, gives in a foot note a list of certain unedited ballads, contained in a MS. collection which belonged to the late Lord Woodhouselee. In this list occurs one, entitled "Jack, the little Scot;" and from the same critic mentioning that "many lines, and indeed stanzas" of "Gil Morris "[1] would be found in said ballad, the Editor, both from the similarity of their titles, and from their agreeing in the circumstance of having stanzas in common with some in "Gil Morris," conjectured that it might be probable that "Jack, the little Scot," and the present ballad, were one and the same. He accordingly endeavoured to procure a copy of the ballad alluded to, for the purpose of collation, but hitherto without success, as the MSS. of Lord Woodhouselee, were, after his death, dispersed among his relatives.
Perhaps, after all, it is but of little importance to ascertain this fact, and even though the ballads were the same, it is questionable whether it would suggest any substantial improvement upon the present text, As it is, "Johnie Scot" is altogether a very spirited and interesting composition, highly national in its character, and full of bustle, action, and incident It is just such a one as we would always be glad to see transferred to more imperishable records than the decaying memories of Ancient Women, and Time-crazed Men.
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1. The only true and authentic edition of this ballad as preserved by tradition in Scotland, will be given in a future number of this work. It will form rather a curious commentary on the mode in which our ancient Oral Song has been manufactured for the press by "Ingenious Hands." A pack of Impudent, Dull-witted, Ignorant, Conceited, Trashy, Poetasters and Forgers.
Johnie Scot
O Johnie Scot's to the hunting gane,
Unto the woods sae wild;
And Earl Percy's ae daughter,
To him goes big wi' child.
O word is to the kitchen gane,
And word is to the ha';
And word is to the highest towers,
Among the nobles a'.
"If she be wi' child," her father said,
"As woe forbid it be!
I'll put her into a prison Strang,
And try the veritie."
"But if she be wi' child," her mother said,
"As woe forbid it be!
I'll put her intill a dungeon dark,
And hunger her till she die."
O Johnie's called his waiting man,
His name was Germanie;
"Its thou must to fair England gae,
Bring me that gay ladie.
"And here it is a silken sark,
Her ain hand sewed the sleeve;
Bid her come to the merry green wood,
To Johnie her true love."
He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate,
He tirled at the pin;
"O wha is there," said the proud porter,
"But I daurna let thee in?"
Its he rode up, and he rode down,
He rode the castle about;
Until he spied a fair ladie,
At a window looking out.
"Here is a silken sark," he said,
"Thy ain hand sewed the sleeve;
And ye must gae to the merry green woods,
To Johnie Scot thy love."
"The castle it is high, my boy,
And walled round about;
My feet are in the fetters strong,
And how can I get out?
"My garters are o' the gude black iron,
And oh but they be cold;
My breast plate's o' the sturdy steel,
Instead of beaten gold.
"But had I paper, pen, and ink,
Wi' candle at my command;
Its I would write a lang letter,
To John in fair Scotland."
Then she has written a braid letter,
And sealed it wi' her hand;
And sent it to the merry green wood,
Wi' her own boy at command.
The first line of the letter Johnie read,
A loud, loud lauch leuch he;
But he had not read ae line but twa,
Till the saut tears did blind his ee.
"Oh I must up to England go,
Whatever me betide;
For to relieve mine own fair ladie,
That lay last by my side."
Then up and spak Johnie's auld mither,
A weel spoke woman was she:
"If you do go to England, Johnie,
I may take fareweel o' thee."
And out and spak his father then,
And he spak well in time:
"If thou unto fair England go,
I fear ye'll ne'er come hame."
But out and spak his uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie:
"Five hundred of my good life guards
Shall bear him companie."
When they were all on saddle set,
They were comely to behold;
The hair that hung owre Johnie's neck, shined
Like the links o' yellow gold.
When they were all marching away,
Most pleasant for to see;
There was not so much as a married man,
In Johnie's companie.
Johnie Scot himsell was the foremost man,
In the company that did ride;
His uncle was the second man,
Wi' his rapier by his side.
The first gude town that Johnie came to,
He made the bells be rung;
And when he rode the town all owre,
He made the psalms be sung.
The next gude town that Johnie came to,
He made the drums beat round;
And the third gude town that he came to,
He made the trumpets sound,
Till King Henry and all his merry men
A-marvelled at the sound.
And when they came to Earl Percy's yates,
They rode them round about;
And who saw he but his own true love,
At a window looking out!
"Oh! the doors are bolted with iron and steel,
So are the windows about;
And my feet they are in fetters strong;
And how can I get out?
My garters they are of the lead,
And oh! but they be cold;
My breastplate's of the hard, hard steel,
Instead of beaten gold."
But when they came to Earl Percy's yett,
They tirled at the pin;
None was so ready as Earl Percy himsell,
To open and let them in.
"Art thou the King of Aulsberry,
Or art thou the King of Spain?
Or art thou one of our gay Scots lords;
M'Nachtan be thy name?"
"I'm not the King of Aulsberry,
Nor yet the King of Spain;
But I am one of our gay Scots lords,
Johnie Scot I am called by name."
When Johnie came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee;
"If Johnie Scot be thy name," he said,
"As I trew weel it be,
Then the brawest lady in a' my court,
Gaes big wi' child to thee."
"If she be with child," fair Johnie said,
"As I trew weel she be,
I'll make it heir owre a' my land,
And her my gay ladie."
"But if she be wi' child," her father said,
"As I trew weel she be; To-morrow again eight o'clock,
High hanged thou shalt be."
Out and spoke Johnie's uncle then,
And he spak bitterlie:"Before that we see fair Johnie hanged, We'll a' fight till we die."
"But is there ever a Tailliant about your court,
That will fight duels three?
For before that I be hanged," Johnie said,
"On the Tailliant's sword I'll die."
"Say on, say on," said then the king,"
It is weel spoken of thee;
For there is a Tailliant in my court,
Shall fight you three by three."
O some is to the good green wood,
And some is to the plain;
The Queen with all her ladies fair,
The King with his merry men,
Either to see fair Johnie flee,
Or else to see him slain.
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
Wi' swords o' temper'd steel;
Until the draps o' red, red blood,
Ran trinkling down the field.
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
They fought right manfullie;
Till they left not alive in a' the King's court,
A man only but three.
And they begoud at eight of the morn,
And they fought on till three;
When the Tailliant like a swallow swift,
Owre Johnie's head did flee:
But Johnie being a clever young boy,
He wheeled him round about;
And on the point of Johnie's broad-sword,
The Tailliant he slew out.
"A priest, a priest," fair Johnie cried,
"To wed my love and me;"
"A clerk, a clerk," her father cried,
"To sum her tocher free."
"I'll hae none of your gold," fair Johnie cried,
"Nor none of your other gear;
But I will have my own fair bride,
For this day I've won her dear."
He's ta'en his true love by the hand,
He led her up the plain:
"Have you any more of your English dogs,
You want for to have slain?"
He put a little horn to his mouth,
He blew't baith loud and shrill;
And Honour is into Scotland gone,
In spite of England's Skill.
He put his little horn to his mouth,
He blew it ower again;
And aye the sound the horn cryed,
Was "Johnie and his men!"
Germanic. All the copies which mention Johnie's waiting man concur in giving this name, which is probably descriptive of his country. In one copy, he, in place of Johnie's uncle, is the person who heroically offers wager of battle. But in another copy, the whole words and actions ascribed to Johnie's uncle, who "spak so bitterlie," are transferred to "Gude King James."
Stanza 28. "Art thou the King of Aulsberry ?w &c. It may puzzle the historian to give any account of this King's reign, or to fix the limits of his dominions; being associated, however, with the King of Spain, this circumstance may afford some cue for obtaining information on these important points. One copy of the ballad has, "Art thou the Duke of Mulberry," another, "Art thou the Duke of York;" but, for the sake of Heraldic Justice, the present reading was preferred. This stanza, and that which precedes it, we give now as they occur in the three different copies of the ballad recovered by the Editor, so that the reader may have it in his power to choose the reading which hits his fancy.
JOHNIE SCOT.
"Are you the Duke of York,' he said,
"Or James our Scottish King;
Or are you one of our Scottish Lords,
From hunting new come homo?"
"I'm not the Duke of York, he said,
[ "Nor James, your Scottii Hi it
I'm one of the Scottish Lords
Earl Hector la my name."
JOHNIE SCOT.
"Art thou theKing of Aulsberry,
Or art thou the King of Spain;
Or art thou one of our gay Scots Lords,
M'Nachton be thy name?"
"I'm not the King of Aulsberry,
Nor yet the King of Spain;
But I am one of our gay Scots Lords,
Johnie Scot I am called by name."
JOHNIE M'NACHTON.
Are you the Duke of Mulberry,
Or James our Scottinh King;
Are you the Duke of Mulberry,
From Scotland new come home?"
"I'm not the Duke of Mulberry,
Nor James our Scottish King;
But I am a true Scottishman,
M'Nachton is my name."
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The Local Historian's Table Book, of Remarkable Occurences. . . , Volume 2; Dixon 1844
JOHNIE SCOT.
A Border Ballad
THE following excellent Ballad, is taken from Motherwell's "Ancient and Modern Minstrelsy." Glasgow, 1827. The editor of that work says, he "prepared it for the press, from three recited copies, all obtained from people considerably advanced in years," and that "he has been informed, that it is well known on the Border, a fact of which there is no doubt, as the Border names of Scot and Percy sufficiently identify it with that part of the country." Motherwell also says, that he "has not been able to discover any printed copy or MS. ancient or modern, but supposes it to be the ballad called by Ritson "Jack the little Scot" and contained in a MS. collection of old Ballads, which at the time Ritson wrote, was in the possession of the then Lord Woodhouselee." The MSB. alluded to by Ritson, have not been heard of since the death of Lord Woodhouselee, and there is every reason to suppose that they no longer exist; in fact that they have been fanatically destroyed.
From the general stylo and character of the Ballad, and from its mentioning King Henry of England, King James of Scotland, and the King of Spain, I consider it to be a composition of the latter portion of the reign of Henry VII, when the above three monarchs, were much mixed up in each others affairs.
Some of the phrases, and even whole verses in the Ballad, bear a striking resemblance to portions of Lord Beichan, (see page 20 vol. ii. of this work), and might lead to the conclusion, that both ballads were the production of the same author, were we not aware, that the phrases and verses in question, are to be met with in the ballads of all the Northern nations, and were evidently considered by the old minstrels as common property.
Motherwell in his book gives a few variorum readings—some of these I have adopted in preference to those of his text—in other respects the ballad, with a trifling alteration in the first, third, and fourth stanzas, is a transcript of his version.
J. H. DIXON.
[graphic]
Tollington Park, Feb. .9. 1843.
JOHNIE SCOT.
[graphic]
JOHNIE Scot's to the hunting gane,
[To chase the deer a-bonnding free;]
And Earl Percy's ae Daughter,
[I wot a weary woman is she.]
O word is to the kitchen gane,
And word is to the hall,
And word is to the highest towers
Among the nobles all.
"If she [has sinned,]" her father said
"As woe forbid it should be,
IH put her into a prison strong,
And try the veritie."
"If [it be so,]" her mother said,
As woe forbid it be!
I'll put her into a donjon dark,
And hunger her till she dee."
O Johnie's called his waiting man,
His name was Germanie;
"It's thou must to fair England hie
And bring me that gay ladie.
And here see is a silken sark,
Her ain hand sewed the glove;1
Bid her come to the merry green wood
To Johnie her true love."
He rode till he came to Earl Percy's gate,
He tirled at the pin; "O wha is there," said the proud porter,
"But I dare na let thee in?"
It's he rode up, and he rode down,
He rode the castle about;
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Until he spied a fair ladie
At a window looking out.
"Here is a silken sark," he said,
"Thy ain hand sewed the glove;
And ye must gae to the merry green wood
To Johnie Scot thy love."
"The castle it is high, my boy,
And walled round about;
My feet are in the fetters strong,
And how can I get out?
My garters are o' the black iron,
And oh! but they be cold;
My breast plate's of the sturdy steel,
Instead of the beaten gold.
But had 1 paper, pen, and ink,
Wi' lamp at my command; It's I would write a long letter,
To John in fair Scotland."
Then she has written a braid letter,
And sealed it wi' her hand;
And sent it to the merry green wood
Wi' her own boy at command.
The first line o't that Johnie read,
A loud loud laugh laugh'd he;
But he had not read a line or twa,
Till the saut tears did blind his ee.
"Oh I must up to England go,
Whatever me betide;
For to relieve mine own fair ladie,
And mak her my bonny bride."
Then up and spak Johnie's auld mither,
A weel spoke woman was she;
"If you do go to England, Johnie,
I may take fareweel o' thee."
And out and spak his father then,
And he spak weel the same; "If thou to fair England go,
I fear ye'll ne'er come name."
And ont and spak his uncle then,
And he spak bitterly; "If ye do to England go,
I will bear thee companie."
And out and spak then gude King James,
And he spak manfullie; "Five hundred of my good life guards,
Shall bear him companie."
When they were all on saddle set,
They were comely to behold; The hair that hung o'er Johnie's neck, shined
Like links o' the yellow gold.
When they all were marching away,
Most pleasant they were to see;
There was not so much as a married man,
In Johnie's companie.
Johnie Scot was the foremost man
In the company that did ride; His uncle was the second man,
Wi' his rapier by his side.
The first gude toun that Johnie came to,
He made the bells be rung;
And when he rode the toun all o'er,
He caused the mass be sung.
The next gude toun that Johnie came to,
He made the drums beat round;
And the third gude toun that he came to,
He made the trumpets sound;
Till King Henry, and all his merry men,
A-marvelled at the sound.
And when they came to Earl Percy's gates, They rode them round about,
And who saw he but his own true love,
At a window looking out!
"Oh the doors are bolted with iron and steel,
So are the windows about;
And my feet they are in fetters strong,
And how can I get out?
"My garters they are of the lead,
And oh! but they be cold;
My breast plate's of the hard hard steel,
Instead of the beaten gold."
But when they came to Earl Percy's gate,
They tirled at the pin;
None was so ready as Earl Percy,
To open, and let them in.
"Art thou the Duke of Mulberry,
Or art thou the King of Spain?
Or art thou one of the gay Scots lords,
Maybe McNachtan be thy name?"
"I'm not the duke of Mulberry,1
Nor yet the King of Spain;
But I am one of your gay Scots lords,
And Johnie Scot I am called by name."
When Johnie came before the King,
He fell low down on his knee:
"If Johnie Scot be thy name, he said,
"As I trow well it be;
Then the bravest lady in a' my court,
Has been [disgraced] by thee."
"If she be "—bold Johnie he said,
'As I trow well she be,
Her wene shall be heir owre a' my land,
And her my dear ladie."
1 The Duke of Mulberry, was in all probability, a character in some of the masques of the day.—At the time I suppose this ballad to have been written, (see introductory remarks) the name of the King of Spain, would be in every Borderer's mouth, peace between England and Scotland, having been effected through the interference and mediation of Ayala, the Spanish ambassador to Henry V Ilth's court.
"Nay," said her father, "at eight o'clock
The morrow morn thou hanged shall be."
Out and spoke Johnie's nncle then,
And he spak bitterlie;
Before that we see fair Johnie hanged,
We'll a' fight till we dee."
"But is there e'er a Tailliant2 about your court,
That will fight duels three?
For before that I be hanged," Johnie said,
"On the Tailliant's sword I'll dee."
"Say on, say on then," said the King,
"It is well spoken of thee;
For there is a Tailliant in my court,
Shall fight you three by three."
O some is to the good green wood,
And some is to the plain;
The queen with all her ladies fair,
The King with his merry men:
Either to see fair Johnie flee,
Or else to see him slain.
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
Wi' swords o' tempered steel;
Until the draps o' red red blood
Ran trinkling down the field.
They fought on, and Johnie fought on,
They fought right manfullie;
Till they left not alive in a' the king's court
A man only but three.
And they began at eight in the morn,
And they fought on till three;
1 Motherwell does not know what to make of this word, but thinks it means a Champion, and may be derived from the French verb Taillader. Is it not merely a corruption of the word "Italian?" Early English ballad literature swarmed with Translations, and Adaptations of Italian tales of Chivalry and Romance, and Italian may have been used by the Author, as synonimous with Hero, Warrior, or Champion; just as at the present day, we frequently hear the words Jew, Goth and Turk, used to designate particular individuals.
When the Tailliant like a swallow swift,
O'er Johnie's head did flee.
But Johnie being a clever young man,
He wheeled him round about;
And on the point of Johnie's broad sword,
The Tailliant he slew out.
"A priest, a priest," fair Johnie cried,
"To wed my love and me." "A clerk, a clerk," her father cried,
To sum her dower free."
"111 ha' none of yr gold," Johnie cried,
"Na none of yr other gear; But I will have my own fair bride,
For this day I've won her dear."
He's ta'en his true love by the hand,
He led her up the plain; "Have ye any more of yr English Dogs
You want for to have slain?"
He put a little horn to his mouth,
He blew it baith loud and shrill;
And Honour is unto Scotland gone
In spite of England's skill.
He put his little horn to his mouth,
He blew it o'et again;
And aye the sound that horn cried
Was "Johnie and his men."