Ballads of Mystery and Miracle and Fyttes of Mirth Part 46

2.

The friar he came to this maiden's bedside, And asking for her maidenhead.

3.

'O I would grant you your desire, If 't werena for fear o' h.e.l.l's burning fire.'

4.

'O' h.e.l.l's burning fire ye need have no doubt; Altho' you were in, I could whistle you out.'

5.

'O if I grant to you this thing, Some money you unto me must bring.'

6.

He brought her the money, and did it down tell; She had a white cloth spread over the well.

7.

Then the fair maid cried out that her master was come; 'O,' said the friar,' then where shall I run?'

8.

'O ye will go in behind yon screen, And then by my master ye winna be seen.'

9.

Then in behind the screen she him sent, But he fell into the well by accident.

10.

Then the friar cried out with a piteous moan, 'O help! O help me! or else I am gone.'

11.

'Ye said ye wad whistle me out o' h.e.l.l; Now whistle your ain sel' out o' the well.'

12.

She helped him out and bade him be gone; The friar he asked his money again.

13.

'As for your money, there is no much matter To make you pay more for jumbling our water.'

14.

Then all who hear it commend this fair maid For the nimble trick to the friar she played.

15.

The friar he walked on the street, And shaking his lugs like a well-washen sheep.

[Annotations: 1.2,4: The burden is of course repeated in each stanza.

15.2: 'lugs,' ears.]

THE KNIGHT AND THE SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER

+The Text+ is given here from Kinloch's MSS. He gives also three other versions and various fragments. The tale is also found amongst the Roxburghe Ballads, as _The Beautifull Shepherdesse of Arcadia_, in two broadsides printed about 1655 and 1680. This is the only English version extant. But earlier than any text of the ballad is a quotation from it in John Fletcher's _The Pilgrim_, iv. 2 (1621). The Scots versions, about a dozen in number, are far more lively than the broadside. Buchan printed two, of sixty and sixty-three stanzas respectively. Another text is delightfully inconsequent:--

'"Some ca' me Jack, some ca' me John, Some ca' me Jing-ga-lee, But when I am in the queen's court Earl Hitchc.o.c.k they ca' me."

"Hitchc.o.c.k, Hitchc.o.c.k," Jo Janet she said, An' spelled it ower agane, "Hitchc.o.c.k it's a Latin word; Earl Richard is your name."

But when he saw she was book-learned, Fast to his horse hied he....'

Both this version (from the Gibb MS.) and one of Buchan's introduce the domestic genius known as the 'Billy-Blin,' for whom see _Young Bekie_, First Series, p. 6, ff.; _Willie's Lady_, p. 19 of this volume; and _Cospatrick_, p. 26.

+The Story.+--The King of France's auld dochter, disguised as a shepherdess, is accosted by Sweet William, brother to the Queen of Scotland, who gives his name as Wilfu' Will, varied by Jack and John. He attempts to escape, but she follows him to court, and claims him in marriage from the king. He tries to avoid discovery by pretending to be a cripple, but she knows him, refuses to be bribed, marries him, and finally reveals herself to him.

The _denouement_ of the story is reminiscent of _The Marriage of Sir Gawain_ (First Series, pp. 107-118). A Danish ballad, _Ebbe Galt_, has similar incidents.

THE KNIGHT AND THE SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER

1.

There was a shepherd's dochter Kept sheep upon yon hill, And by cam a gay braw gentleman, And wad hae had his will.

2.

He took her by the milk-white hand, And laid her on the ground, And whan he got his will o' her He lift her up again.

3.

'O syne ye've got your will o' me, Your will o' me ye've taen, 'Tis all I ask o' you, kind sir, Is to tell to me your name.'

4.

'Sometimes they call me Jack,' he said, 'Sometimes they call me John, But whan I am in the king's court, My name is Wilfu' Will.'

5.

Than he loup on his milk-white steed, And straught away he rade, And she did kilt her petticoats, And after him she gaed.

6.

He never was sae kind as say, 'O la.s.sie, will ye ride?'

Nor ever had she the courage to say, 'O laddie, will ye bide!'

7.

Until they cam to a wan water, Which was called Clyde, And then he turned about his horse, Said, 'La.s.sie, will ye ride?'

8.

'I learned it in my father's hall, I learned it for my weel, That whan I come to deep water, I can swim as it were an eel.

9.

'I learned it in my mother's bower, I learned it for my better, That whan I come to broad water, I can swim like any otter.'

10.