"Given from the chanting of an old woman. It has never been before printed." Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_, p. 307. Other versions may be seen in that careless publication of the Percy Society, _Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient Ballads_, vol. xvii. p. 57, _Lord William_, and in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 57, _Lord Lundy_. Sweet William's gane over seas, Some unco lair to learn, And our gude Bailie's ae dochter Is awa to learn the same. In ae braid buik they learned baith, 5 In ae braid bed they lay; But when her father cam to know, He gart her come away. "It's you must marry that Southland lord, His lady for to be; 10 It's ye maun marry that Southland lord, Or nocht ye'll get frae me." "I must marry that Southland lord, Father, an it be your will; But I'd rather it were my burial day, 15 My grave for to fill." She walked up, she walked down, Had nane to mak her moan, Nothing but the pretty bird Sat on the causey stone. 20 "If thou could speak, wee bird," she says, "As weel as thou can flee, I would write a lang letter To Will ayont the sea." "What thou wants wi' Will," it says, 25 "Thou'll seal it wi' thy ring; Tak a thread o' silk, and anither o' twine, And about my neck it hing." What she wanted wi' Willie She sealed it wi' a ring; 30 Took a thread o' silk, anither of twine, About its neck did hing. This bird flew high, this bird flew low, This bird flew owre the sea, Until it entered the same chamber 35 Wherein was sweet Willie. This bird flew high, this bird flew low,-- Poor bird, it was mista'en,-- It loot the letter fa' on Baldie's breast, Instead of sweet William. 40 "Here's a letter, William," he says, "I'm sure it's not to me; And gin the morn gin twelve o'clock Your love shall married be." "Come saddle to me my horse," he said, 45 "The brown and a' that's speedie, And I'll awa' to Old England, To bring hame my ladie." Awa he gade, awa he rade, Awa wi' meikle speed; 50 He lichtit at every twa miles' end, Lichtit and changed his steed. When she entered the church style, The tear was in her e'e; But when she entered the church door, 55 A blythe sight did she see. "O hold your hand, you minister, Hold it a little wee, Till I speak wi' the bonnie bride, For she's a friend to me. 60