"Geordie, an old Ballad," was first printed in Johnson's _Museum_, from a copy furnished by Burns. The occasion of the ballad has not been satisfactorily determined. In the opinion of Mr. Kinloch, it is to be found in the factions of the family of Huntly during the reign of Queen Mary. George Gordon, Earl of Huntly, having been sent by the Queen to apprehend a notorious robber, was thought not to have been faithful to his trust. He returned without accomplishing the object of his expedition, and was committed to prison because of his failure. Some of the Queen's council were in favor of banishing him to France, others of putting him to death, but he was released, on condition of paying a fine and performing certain other stipulations. Motherwell states that there is much variation in the recited copies of this piece, and mentions one styled _Geordie Luklie_. Kinloch prints a version not materially different from that of the _Museum_. Allan Cunningham has reprinted the Museum copy with less change than is customary with him; _Songs of Scotland_, ii. 186. We give in the Appendix a ballad from Buchan, called _Gight's Lady_, which contains a story widely diverse from that which follows. In Ritson's _Northumberland Garland_, p. 43, there is a "lamentable ditty" on the death of one George Stoole, which appears to be an imitation of the Scottish ballad. There was a battle in the north, And nobles there was many, And they hae kill'd Sir Charlie Hay, And they laid the wyte on Geordie. O he has written a lang letter, 5 He sent it to his lady; "Ye maun cum up to Enbrugh town, To see what word's o' Geordie." When first she look'd the letter on She was baith red and rosy, 10 But she had na read a word but twa, Till she wallow't like a lily. "Gar get to me my gude grey steed, My menzie a' gae wi' me, For I shall neither eat nor drink, 15 Till Enbrugh town shall see me." And she has mountit her gude grey steed Her menzie a' gaed wi' her; And she did neither eat nor drink, Till Enbrugh town did see her.[L20] 20 And first appear'd the fatal block, And syne the aix to head him, And Geordie cumin down the stair, And bands o' airn upon him. But tho' he was chain'd in fetters strang, 25 O' airn and steel sae heavy, There was na ane in a' the court, Sae bra' a man as Geordie. O she's down on her bended knee, I wat she's pale and weary,-- 30 "O pardon, pardon, noble king, And gie me back my dearie. "I hae born seven sons to my Geordie dear, The seventh ne'er saw his daddie; O pardon, pardon, noble king, 35 Pity a waefu' lady!"