True Tammas- James Telfer; Early 1800s, Child 8. Erlinton; Versions Ba and Bb
[From James Telfer's collection, c. 1820s; probably collected in Liddesdale, the valley of the Liddel Water, in the County of Roxburgh, southern Scotland. According to Child, "B is a manuscript copy, furnished by the late Mr. Robert White of Newcastle, and was probably taken down from recitation by Mr. James Telfer early in the century." A second version titled "Sir Thamas" is given below (changes only). Whether the reference is to Thomas the Rhymer, Sir Thomas More or another Thomas is unknown.
R. Matteson 2014, 2018]
Ba. TRUE TAMMAS James Telfer; c. early 1800s; Child 8: Version B
1 There was a knight, an he had a daughter,
An he wad wed her, wi muckle sin;
Sae he has biggit a bonnie bower, love,
An a' to keep his fair daughter in.
2 But she hadna been in the bonnie bower, love,
And no twa hours but barely ane,
Till up started Tammas, her ain true lover,
And O sae fain as he wad been in.
3 'For a' sae weel as I like ye, Tammas,
An for a' sae weel as I like the gin,
I wadna for ten thousand pounds, love,
Na no this night wad I let thee in.
4 'But yonder is a bonnie greenwud,
An in the greenwud there is a wauk,
An I'll be there an sune the morn, love,
It's a' for my true love's sake.
5 'On my right hand I'll have a glove, love,
An on my left ane I'll have nane;
I'll have wi' me my sisters six, love,
An we will wauk the wuds our lane.'
6 They hadna waukd in the bonnie greenwud,
Na no an hour but barely ane,
Till up start Tammas, her ain true lover,
He's taen her sisters her frae mang.
7 An he has kissed her sisters six, love,
An he has sent them hame again,
But he has keepit his ain true lover,
Saying, 'We will wauk the wuds our lane.'
8 They hadna waukd in the bonnie greenwud
Na no an hour but barely ane,
Till up start fifteen o the bravest outlaws
That ever bure either breath or bane.
9 An up bespake the foremost man, love,
An O but he spake angrily:
'Either your life – or your lady fair, sir,
This night shall wauk the wuds wi me.'
10 'My lady fair, O I like her weel, sir,
An O my life, but it lies me near!
But before I lose my lady fair, sir,
I'll rather lose my life sae dear.'
11 Then up bespak the second man, love,
An aye he spake mair angrily,
Saying, 'Baith your life, and your lady fair, sir,
This night shall wauk the wuds wi me.'
12 'My lady fair, O I like her weel, sir,
An O my life, but it lies me near!
But before I lose my lady fair, sir,
I'll rather lose my life sae dear.
13 'But if ye'll be men to your manhood,
As that I will be unto mine,
I'll fight ye every ane man by man,
Till the last drop's blude I hae be slain.
14 'O sit ye down, my dearest dearie,
Sit down and hold my noble steed,
And see that ye never change your cheer
Until ye see my body bleed.'
15 He's feughten a' the fifteen outlaws,
The fifteen outlaws every ane,
He's left naething but the auldest man
To go and carry the tidings hame.
16 An he has gane to his dearest dear,
An he has kissed her, cheek and chin,
Saying, 'Thou art mine ain, I have bought thee dear,
An we will wauk the wuds our lane.'
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There is another copy of B among Mr. White's papers, with the title 'Sir Thamas,' which I have no doubt has been "revised," whether by Telfer, or by Mr. White himself, it is impossible to say. The principal variations are here given, that others may be satisfied.
1[2], wed her mang his ain kin.
1[4], this fair.
2[3]. Till up cam Thamas her only true love.
3[2]. O tirl nae langer at the pin.
3[3]. I wadna for a hundred pounds, love. 34. can I.
4[3]. fu soon.
4[4]. And by oursels we twa can talk.
5[1,2]. I '11 hae a glove on my right hand, love,
And on my left I shall hae nane.
6[2-4]. Beyond an hour, or scarcely twa,
When up rode Thamas, her only true love,
And he has tane her frae mang them a'.
7[1]. He kissed her sisters, a' the six, love.
7[3]. his winsome true love.
7[4] . That they might walk.
8[1]. didna walk.
8[2-4]. Beyond two hours, or barely three,
Till up cam seven[foot-note] stalwart outlaws,
The bauldest fellows that ane could see.
9[8]. We'll take your life, for this lady fair, sir.
10[1]. My lady 's fair, I like her weel, sir.
11[2-3]. And he spak still mair furiously;
'Flee, or we'll kill ye, because your lady.
12. 'My lady fair, I shall part na frae thee,
And for my life, I did never fear;
Sae before I lose my winsome lady,
My life I '11 venture for ane sae dear.
13. 'But if ye 're a' true to your manhood,
As I shall try to be true to mine,
I'll fight ye a', come man by man then,
Till the last drop o my bloud I tine.'
14[2]. my bridled steed.
14[3]. And mind ye never change your colour.
15. He fought against the seven outlaws,
And he has beat them a' himsel;
But he left the auldest man amang them
That he might gae and the tidings tell.
16. Then he has gane to his dearest dearie,
And he has kissed her oer and oer;
'Though thou art mine, I hae bought thee dearly,
Now we shall sunder never more.'