Johnie Scott
No: 99; variant: 99M
- LORD JOHNNIE'S up to England gane,
Three quarters of an year;
Lord Johnnie's up to England gone,
The king's banner to bear.
- He had not been in fair England,
Three quarters he was not,
Till the king's eldest daughter
Goes with child to Lord Johnnie Scott.
- Word has to the kitchen gone,
And word's gone to the hall,
And word's gone to the high, high room,
Among the nobles all.
- And word has gaen to the king himsel,
In his chamber where he sat,
That his eldest daughter goes wi child
To good Lord Johnnie Scott.
- 'Gin that be true,' the king replied,
'As I suppose it be,
I'll put her in a prison strong,
And starve her till she die.'
- 'O where will I get a little page,
That will win baith hose and shoon,
And run into fair Scotland,
And tell my love to come?'
- 'What news, what news, my little page?
What news hae ye brought to me?'
'Bad news, bad news, my master dear,
The king's daughter maun die.
- 'Here is a shirt, O master dear,
Her ain hand sewd the sleeve;
She bad me run and tell ye this,
And ask nae person's leave.
- 'They have her in a prison strong,
And in a dungeon deep;
Her feet are in the fetters strong,
And they've left her to weep.
- 'Her feet are in the cold, cold iron,
Instead of beaten gold;
Her garters are of the cauld, cauld iron,
And O but they are cold!'
- 'A clerk, a clerk,' the king did cry,
'To cry the toucher-fee;'
'A priest, a priest,' Lord Johnnie cry'd,
'To join my love and me.
- 'I want none of your gold,' he said,
'Nor as little want I a fee;
But I do want your daughter dear,
My wedded wife to be.'