Walter Lesly

1.

On the second of October, a Monday at noon,
In came Walter Lesly, to see his proper one;
He set a chair down by her side, and gently sat her by,
Says, " Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? "

2.

He's taen a glass into his hand, inviting her to drink,
But little knew she his meaning, or what the rogue did think;
Nor what the rogue did think, to steal the maid away;
" Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? "

3.

When they had taen a glass or two, and all were making merry,
In came Geordy Lesly, and forth he did her carry;
Then upon high horseback sae hard's he did her tye,
" Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? "

4.

Her mother she came to the door, the saut tears on her cheek,
She coudna see her daughter, it was for dust and reek;
It was for dust and reek the swords they glancd sae high.
" Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? "

5.

When they came to the ale-house, the people there were busy;
A bridal-bed it was well made, the supper well made ready;
When the supper down was set, baith plum-pudding and pie.
" And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? "

6.

When they had eaten and well drunken, and a' man bound for bed,
The laddie and the lassie in ae chamber were laid;
He quickly stript her to the smock, and gently laid her bye,
Says, " Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? "

7.

But Walter being weary, he fell fast asleep,
And then the lassie thought it fet to start up till her feet;
To start up till her feet, and her petticoats to tye,
" We'll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye. "

8.

Then over moss and over muir sae cleverly she ran,
And over hill and over dale, without stockings or shoon;
The men pursued her full fast, wi mony shout and cry,
Says, " Will ye go to Conland, the winter-time to lye. "

9.

" Wae to the dubs o Duffus land, that eer they were sae deep;
They've trachled a' our horsemen and gart our captain sleep;
And gart our captain sleep, and the lassie win away,
And she'll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye. "

10.

" I'd rather be in Duffus land, selling at the ale,
Before I was wi Lesly, for a' his auld meal;
For a' his auld meal, and sae mony comes to buy;
I'll go no more to Conland the winter-time to lye.

11.

" I'd rather be in Duffus land, dragging at the ware,
Before I was wi Lesly, for a' his yellow hair;
For a' his yellow hair, and sae well's he can it tye;
I'll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye. "

12.

It was not for her beauty, nor yet her gentle bluid,
But for her mither's dollars, of them he had great need;
Of them he had great need, now he maun do them by,
For she'll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.
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