False Knight- Jane Webster (Gall) c1835 Child C
[My date (Webster learned most of her ballads by 1836, Bronson has c. 1830). From English and Scottish Popular Ballads, "Additions and Corrections" Volume 1, 1882. This was added as version C to Volume 1 after the Headnotes were written.
R. Matteson 2018]
"The False Knight." Obtained by Mr Macmath c. 1882 from the recitation of his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, formerly of Airds of Kells, now in Dairy, in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, Galloway, who learned it many years ago from the wife of Peter McGuire, then cotman at Airds. Child C
1 ‘O whare are ye gaun?’
Says the false knight upon the road:
‘I am gaun to the schule,’
Says the wee boy, and still he stood.
2 ‘What’s that ye hae on your back?’
‘It’s my dinner and my book.’
3 ‘Wha’s aught the sheep on yonder hill,’
‘They are my papa’s and mine.’
4 ‘How many of them’s mine?’
‘A’ them that has blue tails.’
5 ‘I wish you were in yonder well:’
‘And you were down in hell.’