Johnny Scot- Moses (NH) 1942 Flanders C
[From Flanders, Ancient Ballads II, 1963. Notes by Coffin follow.
R. Matteson 2015]
Johnny Scot
(Child 99)
A document by the Rev. Andrew Hall, Interesting Roman Antiquities, etc., 1823, 216 (quoted by Child, II, 378), tells a story of the court of Charles II in which one James Macgill, a Scot, fought a professional Italian gladiator who leaped over him as if to "swallow him" and who was "spitted" in mid-air. This may be the incident behind the romantic story of "Johnny Scot," with its "Italiant man" whom Johnny fights and defeats. Phillips Barry, British Ballads from Maine, 221-224, has analyzed the American versions of the song and comes to the conclusion there are two plot types-one in which Johnny, a servant in the English court, flees to Scotland after beguiling the King's daughter; and one in which he goes hunting in the English woods, where he seduces a noble lady. Barry's New Brunswick finds and the three Flanders texts are of the second Type (Child C, D, G, L) and show the minor variations found in those four related versions. A and B open with the woods scene. C is abbreviated and involves a letter from the seduced girl rather than from the king. A, with its mention of a "battle man," may be like Child Q and R in lacking the Italian champion, although it is possible the word "Italian" could be varied to "battle" over the years. All three Flanders texts lack the gymnastics performed by the Italian in many texts.
The song is rare in America, being found only in scattered areas- particularly in New England, the Maritimes, and the Southeastern hills. See Coffin, 99-100 (American), and Greig and Keith, 74-75 (Scottish), for bibliographical material and discussion. Dean-smith does not list the song, though Child had twenty versions.
C. Johnny Scot. As sung by Jonathan Moses of Orford, New Hampshire. Printed, in Ballads Migrant in New England, 101. H. H. F., Collector; June 26, 1942. Structure: A B C D C D (2,2,2,2,2,2); Rhythm C; Contour: generally descending; Scale: hexatonic; t. c. D. For mel. rel., see Sharp 1, 216; possibly BES, 217.
Johnny Scott
Young Johnny wrote a broad letter
And sealed it with his hand;
He sent it to his own true love
In spite of Old England.
He sent it to his own true love
In spite of Old England.
This fair maid wrote a broad letter
And sealed it with her ring.
She sent it to her Johnny Scott
In Scotland where he's been.
(repeat last two lines)
When young John received this broad letter,
A sorry man was he.
He says, "I must go to old England again
To relieve that fair lady."
Then up speaks one of Johnny's men,
Lie low at Johnny's knee.
"Five hundred of my faith-life guards
Shall bear you companee."
The very first town that they rode through
The trumpet they did sound;
The very next town that they rode through,
The drums did beat all 'round.
Then he rode up to the king's door
And wheeled his horses about.
And who did he spy but his own true love
At the window looking out.
"Come down, come down, my dear," he says,
"And talk awhile with me."
"I can't come down, my dear," she says,
"For the King has bolted me."
"My doors they are all bolted up
My window 'round about;
My feet they are in fetters strong,
My dear, I can't get out."
Then he rode up to the King's door
And knocked so loud at the ring;
And none but so ready as the King himself
For to rise and let him in.
"Oh, are you the Duke of Cumbritland,
Or aught, the British King,
Or are You now my bastard son
Who late-lie has stepped in?"
"I'm not the Duke of Cumbritland
Nor aught the British King,
But I am a son of the worthy knight,
And Johnny Scott is my name."
"Then if Your name be Johnny Scott,
As I suppose it be,
Tomorrow morning 'fore the clock strikes eight,
You shall hang upon a tree."
Then the king prepared a tellyant[1] man
And a bloody stout fellow was he,
He wore two sprands acrost his breast
And betwixt his shoulders, three.
Then up speaks one of Johnny's men
Lie-low at Johnny's knee,
"Before we'll see our master slain,
We'll fight all manfully."
Then the King with all his merry men
Went down upon the plain;
The Queen with all her merry maids
For to see fair Johnny slain.
Young John saluted this tellyant man,
Jumped on him and explained,
"Is there any more of your English dogs
That you vain-lie would have slain?"
"Oh, I'll give you half of my gold
And half of my gear,
If you'll return to old Scotland green
And leave my daughter here."
"I wants none of your gold," he says,
"I wants none of your gear,
But I will have my own true love
For I think I've bought her dear."
1. Italian