Page:The Book of Scottish Song.djvu/578

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[ is an old song—at least the burthen of it is as old as the time of the Commonwealth, when the restoration of king Charles II. was so ardently longed for by the loyalists. In 1822, on the occasion of king George the fourth's visit to Scotland, Sir Walter Scott wrote a long ballad, in two parts, to the tune of "Carle, an the king come."]

, an the king come,

Carle, an the king come,

Thou shalt dance and I will sing,

Carle, an the king come.

An somebody were come again,

Then some body maun cross the main;

And every man shall ha'e his ain,

Carle, an the king come.

I trow we swappit for the worse;

We ga'e the boot and better horse;

And that we'll tell them at the corse,

Carle, an the king come.

When yellow corn grows on the rigs,

And gibbets stand to hang the Whigs,

O, then we'll a' dance Scottish jigs,

Carle, an the king come.

Nae mair wi' pinch and drouth we'll dine,

As we ha'e done—a dog's propine—

But quaff our draughts o' rosy wine,

Carle, an the king come.

Cogie, an the king come,

Cogie, an the king come,

I'se be fou' and thou'se be toom.

Cogie, an the king come.

['s "Gentle Shepherd."]

, now the king's come,

Peggy, now the king's come,

Thou may dance and I shall sing,

Peggy, since the king's come.

Nae mair the hawkies shalt thou milk,

But change thy plaiding-coat for silk,

And be a lady of that ilk,

Now, Peggy, since the king's come.

[, (a corruption of the Gaelic gille roy, "red-haired boy,") was one of the proscribed clan Gregor, and a notorious freebooter, or lifter of cattle, in the highlands of Perthshire for some time before the year 1638. In February of that year, seven of his accomplices were taken, tried, condemned, and executed at Edinburgh. They were apprehended chiefly through the exertions of the Stewarts of Athol, and in revenge Gilderoy burned several houses belonging to the Stewarts. This proved his ruin. A reward of a thousand pounds was offered for his apprehension; and he was ultimately taken, along with five more accomplices, all of whom were hanged at the Gallowlee, between Leith and Edinburgh, in the month of July, 1638. As a mark of unenviable distinction, Gilderoy was hung on a gallows higher than the rest. This is alluded to in the ballad. The ballad itself is said to have been originally composed by his mistress, a young woman belonging to the higher ranks of life, who had become attached to this noted freebooter, and was induced to live with him. It is to be found in black-letter broadsides at least as old as 1650. The present version is an amended copy by, in which she has retained some of the old verses, expunged others, and added verses of her own. Lady Wardlaw was the wife of Sir Henry Wardlaw of Pitreavie and Balmule, near Dumfermline, and was authoress of the well-known ballad called "Hardyknute." She was born in 1677, married in 1696, and died in 1727. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Halket, her father being Sir Charles Halket of Pitferran. The name has probably led to the mistake in some collections of attributing the song here given to Sir Alexander Halket. The tune of "Gilderoy" is attached to several Scottish songs.]

was a bonnie boy

Had roses tull his shoon;

His stockings were of silken soy,

Wi' gartars hanging downe: