The Laird of Logie
No: 182; variant: 182D
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
- '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.'
- '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.'
- '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.'
- 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!
- '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.'
- 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.
- 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!'
- '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.'
- '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.
- '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.'