182. The Laird O Logie
[There are no known US or Canadian versions of this ballad.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (Found at the end of Child's Narrative)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-E (A* and B b are from Additions and Corrections as is Buchan's original Manuscript p. 216 ff., 'The Laird o Logie.'
5. Endnotes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 182. The Laird O Logie
A. Roud No. 81: The Laird O Logie (29 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 182. The Laird O Logie (Bronson's gives three music examples)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child version A with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: 182. The Laird of Logie
A. 'The Laird o Logie,' Scott's Minstrelsy, 1833, III, 128. The same, with the insertion of one stanza from recitation, Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 56.
[A*. 'The Laird of Logie,' Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy, No. 8 a, Abbotsford. Sent to Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw; received by him from Mr. Bartram of Biggar.]
B. a. 'The young Laird of Ochiltrie,' Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 240; ed. 1776, I, 21. Repeated in Campbell Manuscripts, I, 142.
[b. 'The Winsome Laird of Young Logie,' "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 137 a, "sung by Lady A. Lindsay," closely resembles Herd's version, but in one passage approaches C, and Young Logie displaces Ochiltrie. ]
C. 'The Laird of Logie,' a stall-copy printed by M. Randall, Stirling. The same in Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 504, and in Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs, p. 8, 'The young Laird of Logie.'
D. 'Young Logie,' Harris Manuscript, fol. 16.
E. 'The Laird o Logie, or, May Margaret,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 56, one stanza.
Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, a madcap cousin of the king, had been guilty of a violent assault upon Holyrood House in December (or September), 1591, and in June, 1592, had " conspired the apprehension of the king's person " while James was residing at Falkland. In August following he attempted to force himself into the king's presence to "make his reconciliation."
"The lairds of Burlie and Logie, delated to [have] had intelligence with the Earl Bothwell, were taken and apprehended by the Duke of Lennox the ninth day of August, 1592, and committed to ward within Dalkeith; where being examined they both confessed the same. Burley gat his life for telling the truth, but Logie, being a great courtier with the king, and dealer with the Earl Bothwell in Bothwell's enterprise which should [have] been done at Dalkeith, to wit, that they should come in at the back gate through the yard and [have] gotten the king in their hands, the said laird of Logie was ordained to be tried by an assize and executed to the death. But the same night that he was examined, he escaped out by the means of a gentlewoman whom he loved, a Dane, who conveyed him out of his keepers' hands, through the queen's chamber, where his Majesty and the queen were lying in their beds, to a window in the backside of the place, where he went down upon a tow [rope], and shot three pistols in token of his onlouping [mounting his horse] where some of his servants, with the laird of Niddry, were awaiting him." (Moysie's Memoirs, p. 95.)
Another account may be added, from The Historie of King James the Sext (p. 253 f.):
"It fortuned that a gentleman called Wemyss of Logie, being also in credence at court, was delated as a trafficker with Francis Earl Bothwell; and he, being examined before king and council, confessed his accusation to be of verity; that sundry times he had spoken with him, expressly against the king's inhibition proclaimed in the contrary; which confession he subscribed with his hand...
"Queen Anne, our noble princess, was served with divers gentlewomen of her own country, and namely with one called Mistress Margaret Twynstoun, to whom this gentleman, Wemyss of Logie, bore great honest affection, tending to the godly band of marriage; the which was honestly requited by the said gentlewoman, yea, even in his greatest mister (need). For how soon she understood the said gentleman to be in distress, and apparently by his confession, to be punisht to the death, and she having privilege to lie in the queen's chamber that same very night of his accusation, where the king was also reposing that same night, she came forth of the door privily, both the princes being then at quiet rest, and past to the chamber where the said gentleman was put in custody to certain of the guard, and commanded them that immediately he should be brought to the king and queen; whereunto they giving sure credence obeyed. But how soon she was come back to the chamber-door, she desired the watches to stay till he should come forth again; and so she closed the door and conveyed the gentleman to a window, where she ministered a long cord unto him to convey himself down upon, and so, by her good charitable help, he happily escaped, by the subtlety of love."
Calderwood gives the following account: "Upon Monday the seventh of August, the king being in Dalkeith, the young laird of Logie and Burlie promised to Bothwell to bring him in before the king to seek his pardon. The king was forewarned, and Bothwell, howbeit brought in quietly within the castle, was conveyed out again. Burlie was accused and confessed; Logie denied, and therefore would have suffered trial. The night before, one of the queen's dames, Mistress Margaret, a Dutchwoman, came to the guard and desired that he might be suffered to come to the queen, who had something to inquire of him. Two of the guard brought him to the king's chamber-door, and staid upon his coming forth, but she conveyed him in the mean time out at a window in a pair of sheets. ... Logie married the gentlewoman after, when he was received into the king's favor again."[1] Logie, according to Calderwood, was "a varlet of the king's chamber."
Spottiswood says: John Weymis younger of Logie, gentleman of his Majesty's chamber, and in great favor both with the king and queen, was discovered to have the like dealing with Bothwell, and, being committed to the keeping of the guard, escaped by the policy of one of the Dutch maids, with whom he entertained a secret love. The gentlewoman, named Mistress Margaret Twinslace, coming one night, whilst the king and queen were in bed, to his keepers, shewed that the king called for the prisoner, to ask of him some question. The keepers, suspecting nothing, for they knew her to be the principal maid in the chamber, conveyed him to the door of the bed-chamber, and making a stay without, as they were commanded, the gentlewoman did let him down at a window, by a cord that she had prepared. The keepers, waiting upon his return, staid there till the morning, and then found themselves deceived. This, with the manner of the escape, ministered great occasion of laughter; and not many days after, the king being pacified by the queen's means, he was pardoned, and took to wife the gentlewoman who had in this sort hazarded her credit for his safety.[2]
The lady, called by Calderwood and Spottiswood a Dutchwoman, but rightly by Moysie a Dane, was one of a train of her country-women who attended Queen Anne when she came to Scotland in May, 1590. She is called Mistress Margaret Vinstar in a letter of Robert Bowes to Lord Burghley of August 12, 1592;[3] Margaret Weiksterne in a charter dated 25th December, 1594.[4]
Young Logie cannot have received a complete pardon within a few days of his escape. At a council meeting, September 14, 1592, it is ordered that Wernyss of Logie the younger, having failed to appear this day to answer touching the 'intercommuning and having intelligence with Francis, sometime Earl Bothwell,' be denounced rebel.[5]
A. Young Logie is a prisoner, in Carmichael's[6] keeping, and May Margaret, who is enamored of him, is weeping for his expected death. The queen can do nothing, and tells her that she must go to the king himself to beg the life of her lover. She goes, accordingly, but gets an ill answer: all the gold in Scotland shall not save Young Logie. In this strait she steals the king's comb and the queen's knife, and sends them to Carmichael as tokens that Logie is to be discharged. She provides the young man with money, and gives him a pair of pistols, which he is to fire in sign that he is at liberty. The king hears the 'volley' from his bed, and by his peculiar sagacity recognizes the shot of Young Logie. He sends for Carmichael, and learning that the prisoner was set free in virtue of a royal token, says, You will make his place good tomorrow. Carmichael hurries to Margaret, and wants a word with Logie. Margaret, with a laugh, tells him that the bird is flown. The young pair severally take ship and are married.
In B, the queen, instead of referring Margaret to the king as the only resource, herself undertakes to save the young man's life. She asks it of her consort as her first boon; the king makes her the same answer which he gives Margaret in A, All the gold in Scotland will not buy mercy. Margaret, in desperation, wishes to kill herself, but the queen will put her in a better way to save her lover. The queen steals the prison-keys, and the story proceeds as before. The king threatens to hang all his gaolers, to the number of thirty and three. The gaolers plead that they received the keys (which are also thirty and three) with a strict command to enlarge the prisoner. The queen says that, if the gaolers are to hang, a beginning must be made with her.
B substitutes Ochiltrie for Logie. Andrew Stewart, Lord of Ochiltrie, was an active partisan of Bothwell (see the preceding ballad), and at a council-meeting on May 2, 1594 (the same meeting at which a caution of three hundred merks was required for Young Logie), was ordered to be denounced rebel for not appearing to answer touching his "tressounable attemptattis"; that is, for having been Bothwell's main helper in the Raid of Leith, April 3 preceding.[7] So far his case resembles Young Logie's, and it may be that the two became confounded in tradition earlier than the middle of the eighteenth century, about which time B was taken down. But an interchange of names is of the commonest occurrence in traditional ballads, and perhaps Ochiltrie's appearance here no more requires to be accounted for than his figuring, as he does, in one of the versions of 'The Broom of Cowdenknows.'
Although the queen had no hand in the freeing of Young Logie, and is not known even to have winked at it, she stood by Mistress Margaret, and refused to give her up when requested.[8]
C agrees with B as to the part taken by the queen in the rescue. There are but three keepers, and presumably but three keys to steal from under the king's head, and the queen sends her wedding-ring with the keys, as a warrant to the keepers. In 5, Anne is queen of England as well as queen of Scotland; but we cannot expect that a stall-ballad of this century should be nice about a matter of eleven years.
The offence for which Young Logie is to die in D is the stealing of a kiss "from the queen's marie," which shows a high appreciation of the discipline at James's court.
The queen counterfeits the king's hand and steals his right glove, and sends the forged paper and the glove to "Pitcairn's walls" as authority for the liberation of the prisoner. The king, looking over his castle-wall, sees Young Logie approaching, and his exclamation at the sight brings the queen to an instantaneous confession of what she has done. The king very good-naturedly overlooks the offence and absolves the lover for whom it was committed.
Translated from Motherwell by Wolff, Halle der Völker, I, 73.
Footnotes:
1. History of the Church of Scotland, published by the Wodrow Society, Edinburgh, 1844, V, 173; in Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Sonjrs, 1859, p. 8.
2. History of the Church of Scotland, ed. 1666, p. 389.
3. Calendar of the State Papers relating to Scotland, Thorpe, II, 611.
4. Carta Ioanni, filio natu maximo et heredi Andrew Weymis de Myrecarny, et Margarete Weiksterne, sue sponse, Terrarum de Myrecarny, etc. Fife, 25 Dec, 1594. Weymis de Myrecarny and Wemys de Logy are one, as appears by a charter of July 25, 1564. Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, Index, in the Signet Library, noted for me by Mr. Macmath.
5. Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, V, 11. And again: 1594, April 13. Caution in £2000 by — Wemys, apparent of that Ilk, for Johnne Wemyss, apparent of Logy, that he shall remain in ward with David Wemys of that Ilk till relieved.
May 2. Caution in 300 merks by Johnne Wemys, younger of that Ilk, for Johnne Wemys of Logy, that he shall answer before the Privy Council at Edinburgh upon 22d instant "to sic thingis as salbe inquirit of him."
September 27. Sir Johnne Wemys of Tullibrek, Michaell Balfour of Monquhaine, and Andro Wemyss of Myrecairny, for Johnne Wemyss, son and apparent heir of Andro, £20,000, to go abroad by the 15th October next and not return without licence. Deleted by warrant subscribed by the king and treasurer-depute at Haliruidhous 20th February, 1594. ib., pp 141 f., 144, 638. The entries in 1594 may have reference to later offences.
6. Sir John Carmichael was appointed captain of the king's guard in 1588, and usually had the keeping of state criminals of rank. Scott.
7. The Historic of King James the Sext, p. 303 f.; Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, V, 144.
8. Calendar of State Papers relating to Scotland, Thorpe, II, 611, No 6.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, a madcap cousin of James VI, had been guilty of a violent assault upon Holy rood House in December (or September), 1591, and in June, 1592, had "conspired the apprehension of the king's person" while James was residing at Falkland. A confederate, Wemyss of Logie, was arrested and "ordained to be tried by an assize and executed to the death. But the same night that he was examined, he escaped out by the means of a gentlewoman whom he loved, a Dane, who conveyed him out of his keepers' hands, through the queen's chamber, where his Majesty and the queen were lying in their beds, to a window in the backside of the place, where he went down upon a tow [rope], and shot three pistols in token of his onlouping [mounting his horse] where some of his servants, with the laird of Niddry, were awaiting him." (Moysie's Memoirs, p. 95.) According to another account, the gentlewoman got Logie out of his keepers' hands by pretending that the king wished to speak with him, and they, "suspecting nothing, for they knew her to be the principal maid in the chamber, conveyed him to the door of the bedchamber" and waited there while she was letting him down at a window. Though the queen had no hand in the freeing of Young Logie, she stood by her Danish attendant, and appears to have pacified the king. Logie was pardoned and married the gentlewoman. Her name was really Margaret, as in the ballad.
Child's Ballad Texts
'The Laird o Logie'- Version A; Child 182 The Laird of Logie
Scott's Minstrelsy, 1833,111, 128, "as recited by a gentlemail residing near Biggar."
1 I will sing, if ye will hearken,
If ye will hearken unto me;
The king has taen a poor prisoner,
The wanton laird o Young Logie.
2 Young Logie's laid in Edinburgh chapel,
Carmichael's the keeper o the key;
And May Margaret's lamenting sair,
A' for the love of Young Logie.
3 'Lament, lament na, May Margaret,
And of your weeping let me be;
For ye maun to the king himsell,
To seek the life of Young Logie.'
4 May Margaret has kilted her green cleiding,
And she has curld back her yellow hair:
'If I canna get Young Logie's life,
Farewell to Scotland for evermair!'
5 When she came before the king,
She knelit lowly on her knee:
'O what's the matter, May Margaret?
And what needs a' this courtesie?'
6 'A boon, a boon, my noble liege,
A boon, a boon, I beg o thee,
And the first boon that I come to crave
Is to grant me the life of Young Logie.'
7 'O na, O na, May Margaret,
Forsooth, and so it mauna be;
For a' the gowd o fair Scotland
Shall not save the life of Young Logie.'
8 But she has stown the king's redding-kaim,
Likewise the queen her wedding knife,
And sent the tokens to Carmichael,
To cause Young Logie get his life.
9 She sent him a purse o the red gowd,
Another o the white monie;
She sent him a pistol for each hand,
And bade him shoot when he gat free.
10 When he came to the Tolbooth stair,
There he let his volley flee;
It made the king in his chamber start,
Een in the bed where he might be.
11 'Gae out, gae out, my merrymen a',
And bid Carmichael come speak to me;
For I'll lay my life the pledge o that
That yon's the shot o Young Logie.'
12 When Carmichael came before the king,
He fell low down upon his knee;
The very first word that the king spake
Was, Where's the laird of Young Logie?
13 Carmichael turnd him round about,
I wot the tear blinded his ee:
'There came a token frae your Grace
Has taen away the laird frae me.'
14 'Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?
And hast thou playd me that?' quoth he;
'The morn the Justice Court's to stand,
And Logie's place ye maun supplie.'
15 Carmichael's awa to Margaret's bower,
Even as fast as he may dree:
'O if Young Logie be within,
Tell him to come and speak with me.'
16 May Margaret turnd her round about,
I wot a loud laugh laughed she:
'The egg is chippd, the bird is flown,
Ye'll see nae mair of Young Logie.'
17 The tane is shipped at the pier of Leith,
The tother at the Queen's Ferrie,
And she's gotten a father to her bairn,
The wanton laird of Young Logie.
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'The Laird of Logie'- Version A*;Child 182 The Laird of Logie
'The Laird of Logie,' Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy, No. 8 a, Abbotsford. Sent to Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw; received by him from Mr. Bartram of Biggar.
1 I will sing, if ye will harken,
An ye wad listen unto me;
I'll tell ye of a merry passage
Of the wanton laird of Young Logie.
2 Young Logie's laid in Edinborough chapel,
Carmichaell's keeper of the key;
I heard a may lamenting sair,
All for the laird of Young Logie.
3 'Lament, lament na, May Margret,
And o your weeping let me be;
For ye maun to the king your sell,
And ask the life of Young Logie.'
4 May Margaret has kilted her green deeding,
And she's currld back her yellow hair,
And she's away to the king hersell,
And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!
5 When she came before the king,
She fell low down on her knee:
'It's what's your will wi me, May Margret,
And what makes all this courtesey?'
'Naething, naething, my sovreign liege,
But grant me the life of Young Logie.'
6 'O no, O no, May Margret,
No, in sooth it maun na be;
For the morn, or I taste meat or drink,
Hee hanged shall Young Logie be.'
7 She has stolen the king's reeding-comb,
But an the queen her wedding-knife,
And she has sent it to Carmichaell,
To cause Young Logie come by life.
8 She sent him a purse of the red gold,
Another of the white money,
And sent him a pistol into each hand,
And bade him shoot when he got fra.
9 When lie came to the Tolbooth stair,
There he loot his volley flee,
Which made the king in his chamber start,
Even in the chamber where he lay.
10 'Gae out, gae out, my merrie men,
And gar Carmichael come speake wi me,
For I'll lay my life the pledge of that,
That yon's the volley of Young Logie.'
11 When Carmichael came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee;
The very first word that the king spake,
'How dois the laird o Young Logie?'
12 Carmichael turnd him round about,
A wait the salt tear blint his eye:
'There came a tacken frae the king
Has tean the laird awa frae me.'
13 'Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?
Hast thou playd me that?' quo he;
'The morn the Justice Court's to stand,
And Logie's place ye maun supply.'
14 Carmichal's awa to May Margr[e]t's bower,
Een as fast as he may dree:
'It's if Young Logie be within,
Tell him to come speak to me.'
15 May Margret's turnd her round about,
A wait a loud laughter gae she:
'The egg is cheeped and the bird is flown,
And seek ye the laird of Young Logie'
16 The one is sheppd at the pier o Leith,
The other at the Queen's Ferry,
And she has gotten a father to her bairn,
The wanton laird of Young [Logie].
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'The Young Laird of Ochiltrie,' Version B; Child 182 The Laird of Logie
'The young Laird of Ochiltrie,' Herd, The Ancient and Modern Scots Songs, 1769, p. 240; ed. 1776, I, 21. Repeated in Campbell Manuscripts, I, 142.
1 O LISTEN, gude peopell, to my tale,
Listen to what I tel to thee;
The king has taiken a poor prisoner,
The wanton laird of Ochiltrie.
2 When news came to our guidly queen,
Sche sicht, and said right mournfullie,
‘O what will cum of Lady Margret!
Wha beirs sick luve to Ochiltrie.’
3 Lady Margret tore hir yellow hair
When as the queen tald hir the saim:
‘I wis that I had neir bin born,
Nor neir had knawn Ochiltrie’s naim!’
4 ‘Fie, na!’ quoth the queen, ’That maunna be;
Fie, na! that maunna be;
I’ll fynd ye out a better way
To saif the lyfe of Ochiltrie.’
5 The queen sche trippit up the stair,
And lowlie knielt upon hir knie:
‘The first boon which I cum to craive
Is the life of gentel Ochiltrie.’
6 ‘O iff you had askd me castels or towirs,
I wad hae gin thaim, twa or thrie;
Bot a’ the monie in fair Scotland
Winna buy the lyfe of Ochiltrie.’
7 The queen sche trippit down the stair,
And down she gade richt mournfullie:
‘It’s a’ the monie in fair Scotland
Winna buy the lyfe of Ochiltrie!’
8 Lady Margaret tore her yellow hair
When as the queen tald hir the saim:
‘I’ll tak a knife and end my lyfe,
And be in the grave as soon as him!’
9 ‘Ah, na! Fie, na!’ quoth the queen,
‘Fie, na! Fie, na! this maunna be;
I’ll set ye on a better way
To loose and set Ochiltrie frie.’
10 The queen sche slippit up the stair,
And sche gaid up richt privatlie,
And sche has stoun the prison-keys,
And gane and set Ochiltrie frie.
11 And sche’s gien him a purse of gowd,
And another of whyt monie;
Sche’s gien him twa pistoles by’s syde,
Saying to him, Shute, when ye win frie.
12 And when he cam to the queen’s window,
Whaten a joyfou shute gae he!
‘Peace be to our royal queen,
And peace be in her companie!’
13 ‘O whaten a voyce is that?’ quoth the king,
‘Whaten a voyce is that?’ quoth he;
‘Whaten a voyce is that?’ quoth the king;
‘I think it’s the voyce of Ochiltrie.
14 ‘Call to me a’ my gaolours,
Call thaim by thirtie and by thrie;
Whairfoir the morn, at twelve a clock,
It’s hangit schall they ilk ane be.’
15 ‘O didna ye send your keyis to us?
Ye sent thaim be thirtie and be thrie,
And wi thaim sent a strait command
To set at lairge young Ochiltrie.’
16 ‘Ah, na! Fie, na!’ quoth the queen,
‘Fie, my dear luve, this maunna be!
And iff ye’re gawn to hang thaim a’,
Indeed ye maun begin wi me.’
17 The tane was schippit at the pier of Leith,
The ither at the Queen’s Ferrie,
And now the lady has gotten hir luve,
The winsom laird of Ochiltrie.
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'The Laird of Logie'- Version C; Child 182 The Laird of Logie
'The Laird of Logie,' a stall-copy printed by M. Randall, Stirling. The same in Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 504, and in Maidment's Scotish Ballads and Songs, p. 8, 'The young Laird of Logie.'
1 THE young laird of Logie is to prison cast;
Carmichael’s the keeper of the key;
Lady Margaret, the queen’s cousin, is very sick,
And it’s all for love of Young Logie.
2 She’s into the queen’s chamber gone,
She has kneeld low down on her knee;
Says she, You must go to the king yourself;
It’s all for a pardon to Young Logie.
3 The queen is unto the king’s chamber gone,
She has kneeld low down on her knee:
‘O what is the matter, my gracious queen?
And what means all this courtesie?
4 ‘Have not I made thee queen of fair Scotland?
The queen of England I trow thou be;
Have I not made thee my wedded wife?
Then what needs all this courtesie?’
5 ‘You have made me queen of [fair] Scotland,
The queen of England I surely be;
Since you have made me your wedded wife,
Will you grant a pardon for Young Logie?’
6 The king he turned him right round about,
I think an angry man was he:
‘The morrow, before it is twelve o’clock,
O hangd shall the laird of Logie be.’
7 The queen she’s into her chamber gone,
Amongst her maries, so frank and free;
‘You may weep, you may weep, Margaret,’ she says,
‘For hanged must the laird of Logie be.’
8 She has torn her silken scarf and hood,
And so has she her yellow hair:
‘Now fare you well, both king and queen,
And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!’
9 She has put off her goun of silk,
And so has she her gay clothing:
‘Go fetch me a knife, and I’ll kill myself,
Since the laird of Logie is not mine.’
10 Then out bespoke our gracious queen,
And she spoke words most tenderlie;
‘Now hold your hand, Lady Margaret,’ she said,
‘And I’ll try to set Young Logie free.’
11 She’s up into the king’s chamber gone,
And among his nobles so free;
‘Hold away, hold away!’ says our gracious king,
‘No more of your pardons for Young Logie.
12 ‘Had you but askd me for houses and land,
I would have given you castles three;
Or anything else shall be at your command,
But only a pardon for Young Logie.’
13 ‘Hold your hand now, my sovereign liege,
And of your anger let it be;
For the innocent blood of Lady Margret
It will rest on the head of thee and me.’
14 The king and queen are gone to their bed,
But as he was sleeping so quietly,
She has stole the keys from below his head,
And has sent to set Young Logie free.
15 Young Logie he’s on horseback got,
Of chains and fetters he’s got free;
As he passd by the king’s window,
There he has fired vollies three.
16 The king he awakend out of his sleep,
Out of his bed came hastilie;
Says, I’ll lay all my lands and rents
That yonder’s the laird of Logie free.’
17 The king has sent to the prison strong,
He has calld for his keepers three;
Says, How does all your prisoners?
And how does the young laird of Logie?
18 ‘Your Majesty sent me your wedding-ring,
With your high command to set him free;’
‘Then tomorrow, before that I eat or drink,
I surely will hang you keepers three.’
19 Then out bespoke our gracious queen,
And she spoke words most tenderlie;
‘If ever you begin to hang a man for this,
Your Majesty must begin with me.’
20 The one took shipping at [the pier of] Leith,
The other at the Queen’s Ferrie;
Lady Margaret has gotten the man she loves,
I mean the young laird of Logie.
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'Young Logie'- Version D; Child 182: The Laird of Logie
'Young Logie,' Harris Manuscript, fol. 16.
1 PRETTY is the story I hae to tell,
Pretty is the praisin o itsel,
An pretty is the prisner oor king’s tane,
The rantin young laird o Logie.
2 Has he brunt? or has he slain?
Or has he done any injurie?
Oh no, no, he’s done nothing at all,
But stown a kiss frae the queen’s marie.
3 Ladie Margaret cam doon the stair,
Wringin her hands an tearin her hair;
Cryin, Oh, that ever I to Scotland cam,
Aye to see Young Logie dee!
4 ‘Had your tongue noo, Lady Margaret,
An a’ your weepin lat a bee!
For I’ll gae to the king my sell,
An plead for life to Young Logie.’
5 ‘First whan I to Scotland cam,
You promised to gie me askens three;
The first then o these askens is
Life for the young laird o Logie.’
6 ‘If you had asked house or lands,
They suld hae been at your command;
But the morn, ere I taste meat or drink,
High hanged sall Young Logie be.’
7 Lady Margaret cam doon the stair,
Wringin her hands an tearin her hair;
Cryin, Oh, that ever I to Scotland cam,
A’ to see Young Logie dee!
8 ‘Haud your tongue noo, Lady Margaret,
An a’ your weepin lat a bee!
For I’ll counterfiet the king’s hand-write,
An steal frae him his right-hand gloe,
An send them to Pitcairn’s wa’s,
A’ to lat Young Logie free.’
9 She counterfieted the king’s hand-write,
An stole frae him his richt hand gloe,
An sent them to Pitcairn’s wa’s,
A’ to let Young Logie free.
10 The king luikit owre his castle-wa,
Was luikin to see what he cald see:
‘My life to wad an my land to pawn,
Yonder comes the young laird o Logie!’
11 ‘Pardon, oh pardon! my lord the king,
Aye I pray you pardon me;
For I counterfieted your hand-write,
An stole frae you your richt hand gloe,
An sent them to Pitcairn’s wa’s,
A’ to set Young Logie free.’
12 ‘If this had been done by laird or lord,
Or by baron of high degree,
I’se mak it sure, upon my word,
His life suld hae gane for Young Logie.
13 ‘But since it is my gracious queen,
A hearty pardon we will gie,
An for her sake we’ll free the loon,
The rantin young laird o Logie.’
--------------------
'The Laird o Logie, or, May Margaret'- Version E; Child 182: The Laird of Logie
'The Laird o Logie, or, May Margaret,' Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 56, one stanza.
1 MAY MARGARET sits in the queen’s bouir,
Knicking her fingers ane be ane,
Cursing the day that she ere was born,
Or that she ere heard o Logie’s name.
End-Notes
A*. 42. yer for her.
64. Yea for Hee. Hie in Laidlaw's transcript. Taking into account the apparent yer for her in 42, it looks as if hea, her were intended.
84. free?
122. blint may be blent.
B. 61. and towirs in ed. 1776.
Qu in what, etc., is rendered by w, and zi ze, etc., by y.
C. Maidment's copy has some slight variations, such as often occur in different issues of stall-prints.
13. very very.
14. the love.
31. into.
42. you be.
64. It 's hanged.
71. her own.
72. and so free.
73. Lady Margret.
81. tore.
82, 92. she has.
83. ye.
111. up to.
142. beds.
182. commands.
193. you do hang.
201. at the pier of.
D. 21. Perhaps brent.
61. Perhaps houses.
102. Perhaps culd.
Additions and Corrections
P. 449. 'Young Logie' is among the ballads taken down by Mrs. Murison in Aberdeenshire, p. 88 of the collection. The copy is imperfect, and extremely corrupted. Lady Margaret is the daughter of the king (who is not called by that name), but is confused with her mother, who counterfeits her consort's han-write and steals his right-han glove, as is done in D. Three ships at the pier of Leith, and three again at Queen's Ferry.
P. 449. A was first published in the second edition of Scott's Minstrelsy, 1803, I, 243.
B was repeated in the first edition of Scott's Minstrelsy, I, 220, 1802, 'The Laird of Ochiltree.'
452. The following is the original, unimproved copy of A. There is a transcript of this, in William Laidlaw's hand, "Scotch Ballads," etc., No 23, which is somewhat retouched, but by no means with the freedom exercised by the editor of the Minstrelsy. Some of Laidlaw's changes were adopted by Scott.
A. [listed as A*] 'The Laird of Logie,' "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 3 a, Abbotsford. Sent Scott September 11, 1802, by William Laidlaw; received by him from Mr. Bartram of Biggar.
1 I will sing, if ye will barken,
An ye wad listen unto me;
I'll tell ye of a merry passage
Of the wanton laird of Young Logie.
2 Young Logie's laid in 'Edinbowugh chapel,
Carmichaell's keeper of the key;
I heard a may lamenting sair,
All for the laird of Young Logie.
3 'Lament, lament na, May Margret,
And o your weeping let me be;
For ye maun to the king your sell,
And ask the life of Young Logie.'
4 May Margaret has kilted her green deeding,
And she's currld back her yellow hair,
And she's away to the king hersell,
And adieu to Scotland for ever mair!
5 When she came before the king,
She fell low down on her knee:
'It's what's your will wi me, May Margret,
And what makes all this courtesey?'
'Naething, naething, my sovreign liege,
But grant me the life of Young Logie.'
6 'O no, O no, May Margret,
No, in sooth it maun na be;
For the morn, or I taste meat or drink,
Hee hanged shall Young Logie be.'
7 She has stolen the king's reeding-comb,
But an the queen her wedding-knife,
And she has sent it to Carmichaell,
To cause Young Logie come by life.
8 She sent him a purse of the red gold,
Another of the white money,
And sent him a pistol into each hand,
And bade him shoot when he got fra.
9 When he came to the Tolbooth stair,
There he loot his volley flee,
Which made the king in his chamber start,
Even in the chamber where he lay.
10 'Gae out, gae out, my merrie men,
And gar Carmichael come speake wi me,
For I'll lay my life the pledge of that,
That yon's the volley of Young Logie.'
11 When Carmichael came before the king,
He fell low down on his knee;
The very first word that the king spake,
'How dois the laird o Young Logie?'
12 Carmichael turnd him round about,
A wait the salt tear blint his eye:
'There came a tacken frae the king
Has tean the laird awa frae me.'
13 'Hast thou playd me that, Carmichael?
Hast thou playd me that?' quo he;
'The morn the Justice Court's to stand,
And Logie's place ye maun supply.'
14 Carmichal's awa to May Margr[e]t's bower,
Een as fast as he may dree:
'It's if Young Logie be within,
Tell him to come speak to me.'
15 May Margret's turnd her round about,
A wait a loud laughter gae she:
'The egg is cheeped and the bird is flown,
And seek ye the laird of Young Logie.'
16 The one is sheppd at the pier o Leith,
The other at the Queen's Ferry,
And she has gotten a father to her bairn,
The wanton laird of Young [Logie].
42. yer for her.
64. Yea for Hee. Hie in Laidlaw's transcript. Taking into account the apparent yer for her in 42, it looks as if hea, her were intended.
84. free?
122. blint may be blent.
453. B. 'The Winsome Laird of Young Logie,' "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 137 a, "sung by Lady A. Lindsay," closely resembles Herd's version, but in one passage approaches C, and Young Logie displaces Ochiltrie. This copy will be treated as B b.
b. 11. O wanting.
12. To the tale I tell.
13. How the.
14. The winsom laird of Young Logie.
21. Whan the queen did hear the same.
23. Alas for poor Lady Margaret.
32, 82. as wanting.
34. Or never kend.
41. Fye, oh no, said: that maunna be wanting.
42. Fye, O no, thus (partly altered to this).
43. find out some cunning way.
44. To loose and let Young Logie free.
Between 52 and 53:
The king he's risen and taen her up,
Says, What means a' this curtesy. (As 5 3,4.)
When you took me to be your queen,
You promisd me favours twa or three. (As 61,2.)[1]
53,4.
The first ane that I ask of yow
Is to loose and let Young Logie free. (As 63,4.)
61. O wanting: of me.
62. would hae granted.
64, 74. Winna save.
71. queen than she came.
72. And she came down.
83,4.
I wish that I had neer been born,
Or never kend Young Logie's name. (As in 3.)
91. Fye, oh no, said.
92. Fye, O no, this maun ne.
93. I'll find out some other.
94. To save the life o.
101. she triped.
111. She gae to.
113. And twa.
114. And bade him shoot as he gaed by.
121. And wanting.
123. O peace: our gudely.
131. O wanting.
141. Gae bring to.
142. Gae bring them.
143. Before the: by ten.
144. they each ane.
15. Wanting.
161. Fye, O no, said.
162. Fye, O no, this maun ne.
163. hang at a'.
171. Lady Marg' took shiping.
172. Young Logie at.
173. the lass: her lad.
Tune of Logan Water.
To be Corrected in the Print.
448 a, A, heading. Read 1750.
P. 456. Buchan's original Manuscript p. 216 ff., 'The Laird o Logie.'
1 Lady Margaret carries the keys o the cellar,
I wyte she carries them carefullie;
Nae other ane her favour coud gain
But the winsome laird o young Logie.
2 When the king gat word o that,
I wat an angry man was he;
He's casten him into prison strong,
And sware high hanged he shoud be.
3 Lady Margaret tore her yellow hair,
She's torn it out locks three by three;
Says, 'Wae to the day I eer was born,
Or knew the young laird o Logie.'
4 'Now hold your tongue,' the queen she said,
'And ye'll let a' your folly be;
I hae minded me on a wyle
Will gain the life o young Logie.'
5 Then she has done her up the stairs,
And she fell low down on her knee;
'Win up, win up, my dame the queen,
What makes ye bow sae low to me?'
6 'O do you mind when we were wed,
Ye promisd askings three by three?
And a' the boun that I now crave
Is, Save the life o young Logie.
7 'If ye had asked lands, my dame,
Ye might had askings three by three;
But a' the lands in fair Scotland
Winna save the life o young Logie.'
8 Then she has done her down the stairs,
But nae gude tidings brought her wi;
The king has sworn a solemn oath,
And broken it can never be.
9 'Hold your tongue, Margaret,' said the queen,
And ye'll lat a' your folly be;
I'll mind me on another wyle
To gain the life o young Logie.'
10 She's counterfeit the king's hand write,
And she has stole his right glove tee;
And sent the jailors strict command
To loose and set young Logie free.
11 She sent him a bag o gude red gowd,
Another bag o white monie;
Likewise a pistol by his side,
And bade him shoot when he wan free.
12 As he passd by the queen's window,
He fell low down upon his knee;
Says, Peace be wi the queen hersell,
And joy be in her companie.'
13 As he passd by the king's window,
There a proud volley then gae he;
Says, ' Hang your dogs when ye think time,
For ye'se neer hang him, young Logie.'
14 Out then speaks the king himsell,
I wyte a solemn oath sware he;
'I'll wad my head an my crown baith,
I hear the voice o young Logie.'
15 The king he calld his jailors all,
He called them then three by three;
Says, ' How are the prisoners ane and a'?
Where is the laird o young Logie?'
16 'Did you not send your ain hand write?
Did you not send your right glove tee?
We took the keys o the jail-house door,
And loosd and set young Logie free.'
17 Then out it speaks the king again,
I wyte an angry man was he;
'The morn, before I eat or drink,
High hanged shall you jailors be.'
18 Then out it speaks the queen hersell,
I wyte a light laugh then gae she;
'If ye're to hang them ane and a',
I fear ye will begin wi me.
19 'Did I not steal your ain hand write?
Did I not steal your right glove tee?
Then sent the jailors strict command
To loose an' set young Logie free.'
To be Corrected in the Print.
516 a, B b, 42. Read that for thus.
Trivial Corrections of Spelling.
516 a, B, between 52 and 53. Read yow took, Yow promisd.