The Slaughter of the Laird of Mellerstain
No: 230; variant: 230A
- . . . .
As they came in by the Eden side,
They heard a lady lamenting sair,
Bewailing the time she was a bride.
- . . . .
A stately youth of blude and lane,
. . . .
John Hately, the laird of Mellerstain.
- 'Cowdenknows, had ye nae lack?
And Earlstoun, had ye nae shame?
Ye took him away beside my back,
But ye never saw to bring him hame.'
- And she has lookit to Fieldiesha,
So has she through Yirdandstane;
She lookit to Earlstoun, and she saw the Fans,
But he's coming hame by West Gordon.
- And she staggerd and she stood,
- . . . . . . .
. . . . . wude;
How can I keep in my wits,
When I look on my husband's blood?'
- 'Had we been men as we are women,
And been at his back when he was slain,
It should a been tauld for mony a lang year,
The slaughter o the laird of Mellerstain.'