Ancient Scottish Ballads; Recovered From Tradition and Never Before Published With Notes, Historical and Explanatory and an Appendix Containing the Airs of Several of the Ballads

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1827 Excerpt: ...resort to the trial of those on board, by casting lots; and the individual upon whom the lot falls is declared the criminal, it being believed that Divine Providence interposes in this manner to point out the guilty person. He made his love a coffin off the Goats of Yerrow--p. 126, v. 8. It would be difficult to ascertain where Yerrow is situated; it would seem, however, to be on the seacoast, as " Goats" signifies inlets where the sea enters. THE DUKE OF ATHOL'S NOURICE. As I cam in by Athol's yetts, I heard a fair maid singing;--" I am the Duke o' Athol's nourice, And I wat it weel does set me; And I wad gie a' my half-year's fee, For ae sicht o' my Johnie."--" Keep weel, keep weel, your half-year's fee, For ye'll soon get a sicht o' your Johnie; But anither woman has my heart, And I am sorry for to leave ye." " Ye'll dow ye dounf to yon change-house, % And drink till the day be dawing; At ilka pint's end ye'll drink the lass' health, That's coming to pay the lawing."§ yetts--gates. f Dow ye doun--go your way. Change-house--tavern. § Laming--tavern bill. He hied him loun to yon change-house, And he drank till the day was dawing; And at ilka pint's end he drank the lass' health, That was coming to pay for his lawing. Aye he ranted, and aye he sang, And drank till the day was dawing; And aye he drank the bonnie lass' health, That was coming to pay the lawing. He spared na the sack, though it was dear, The wine, nor the sugar-candy; # # # He has dune him to the shot-window, f To see gin she war coming; There he saw the duke and a' his merry men, That oure the hill cam rinning. He has dune him to the landlady, To see gin she wad protect him,--Dune--pret. of dow. + Shot-window--a projecting window. She buskit h...