Earl Brand
No: 7; variant: 7[H]
- Did you ever hear of good Earl Brand,
Aye lally an lilly lally
And the king's daughter of fair Scotland?
And the braw knights o Airly
- She was scarce fifteen years of age
When she came to Earl Brand's bed.
Wi the braw knights o Airly
- 'O Earl Brand, I fain wad see
Our grey hounds run over the lea.'
Mang the braw bents o Airly
- 'O,' says Earl Brand, 'I've nae steads but one,
And you shall ride and I shall run.'
Oer the braw heights o Airly
- 'O,' says the lady, 'I hae three,
And ye shall hae yeer choice for me.'
Of the braw steeds o Airly
- So they lap on, and on they rade,
Till they came to auld Carle Hood.
Oer the braw hills o Airly
- Carl Hood's aye for ill, and he's no for good,
He's aye for ill, and he's no for good.
Mang the braw hills o Airly
- 'Where hae ye been hunting a' day,
And where have ye stolen this fair may?'
I' the braw nights sae airly
- 'She is my sick sister dear,
New comd home from another sister.'
I the braw nights sae early
- 'O,' says the lady, 'if ye love me,
Gie him a penny fee and let him gae.'
I the braw nights sae early
- He's gane home to her father's bower,
. . . . . .
. . . . .
- 'Where is the lady o this ha?'
'She's out wi the young maids, playing at the ba.'
I the braw nights so early
- 'No,' says another, 'She's riding oer the moor,
And a' to be Earl Brand's whore.'
I the braw nights so early
- The king mounted fifteen weel armed men,
A' to get Earl Brand taen.
I the braw hills so early
- The lady looked over her white horse mane:
'O Earl Brand, we will be taen.'
In the braw hills so early
- He says, If they come one by one,
Ye'll no see me so soon taen.
In the braw hills so early
- So they came every one but one,
And he has killd them a' but ane.
In the braw hills so early
- And that one came behind his back,
And gave Earl Brand a deadly stroke.
In the braw nights of Airly
- For as sair wounded as he was,
He lifted the lady on her horse.
In the braw nights so early
- 'O Earl Brand, I see thy heart's bluid!'
'It's but the shadow of my scarlet robe.'
I the braw nights so early
- He came to his mother's home;
. . . . . .
. . . . .
- She looked out and cryd her son was gone,
And a' for the sake [of] an English loon.
. . . . .
- 'What will I do wi your lady fair?'
'Marry her to my eldest brother.'
The brawest knight i Airly