Classic Poem

[ Johnny Scot ]

Johnny 's into England gane
Three quarters of a year;
Johnny's into England gane
The King's banner to bear.

He had na been in England lang
But and a little while,
Untill the King [is ae] Daughter
To Johnny gaes wi' child.

Word is to the Kitchin gane
And word is to the Ha',
And word is to the King's palace
Amang the nobles a'.

Word's gane to the King's palace,
The palace where [he] sat,
That his ae Daughter gaes wi' child
To Jock the little Scot.

If she be wi' child, he says,
As I trow well she be,
I'll put her into strang prison
And hang her till she die.

But up and spak young Johnny,
And O he spak in time:
Is there never a bony Boy here
Will rin my errand soon?

That will gae to yon Castle
And look it round about?
And there he'll see a fair lady
The window looking out.

Up then spak a bony Boy,
And a bony Boy was he:
I'll run thy errand, Johnny, he said,
Untill the day I die.

Put on your gown o' silk, Madam,
And on your hand a glove,
And gang into the good Green-wood
To Johnny your true love.

The fetters they are on my feet,
And O but they are cauld;
My bracelets they are sturdy steel
Instead of beaten gold.

But I will write a lang letter
And seal it tenderlie,
And I will send to my true love
Before that I do die.

The first look that Johnny look'd,
A loud laughter ga'e he;
But the next look that Johnny ga'e,
The tear blinded his e'e.

He says, I'll into England gae
Whatever may betide,
And a' to seek a fair woman
That sud hae been my bride.

But up and speaks his Father,
And O he spak in time:
If that ye into England gae
I'm feer'd ye ne'er come hame.

But up then speaks our gude Scotch King,
And a brisk young man was he:
He's hae five hunder o' my Life-guard
To bear him companie.

When Johnny was on Saddle set
And seemly for to see,
There was not a married man
Into his companie.

When Johnny sat on Saddle-seat
And seemly to behold,
The hair that hang on Johnny's head
Was like the threads o' gold.

When he cam to [fair London]
He gar'd the Bells a' ring,
Untill the King and a' his Court
Did marvel at the thing.

Is this the brave Argyle, he said,
That's landed and come hame?
Is this the brave Argyle, he said,
Or James, our Scottish King?

It's no the brave Argyle, they said,
That's landed and come hame;
But it is a brave young Scotch Knight,
McNaughtan is his name.

If McNaughtan be his name, he says,
As I trow weel it be,
The fairest Lady in a' my Court
Gangs wi' child to thee.

If that she be wi' child, he says,
As I wat weel she be,
I'll mak it Lord o' a' my land
And her my gay Lady.

I have a Champion in my Court
Will fight you a' by three:
But up then speaks a brisk young man,
And a brisk young man was he:
I will fight to my life's end
Before poor Johnny die.

The King but and his Nobles a'
Went out into the plain,
The Queen but and her maidens a',
To see young Johnny slain.

The first wound that Johnny ga'e the Champion
Was a deep wound and [a] sair;
The next wound that he ga'e the Champion
He never spak mair.

A priest, a priest, young Johnny cries,
To wed me and my love;
A clerk, a clerk, the King he cries,
To sign her tocher gude.

I'll hae nane o' your goud, he says,
I'll hae nane o' your gear,
But a' I want is my true love
For I hae bought her dear.

He took out a little Goat-horn
And blew baith loud and shill;
The vict'ry 's into Scotland gane,
Tho' sair against their will.