E #a.# Kinloch MSS, V, 130; in the handwriting of James Beattie. #b.# Kinloch’s Ancient Scottish Ballads, p. 192. 1 There was a battle in the north, And rebels there were many, And they were a’ brought before the king, And taken was my Geordie. My Geordie O, O my Geordie O, O the love I bear to Geordie! For the very ground I walk upon Bears witness I love Geordie. 2 As she went up the tolbooth-stair, The cripples there stood many, And she dealt the red gold them among, For to pray for her love Geordie. 3 And when she came unto the hall The nobles there stood many, And every one stood hat on head, But hat in hand stood Geordie. 4 O up bespoke a baron bold, And O but he spoke bonnie! ‘Such lovers true shall not parted be,’ And she’s got her true-love Geordie. 5 When she was mounted on her high horse, And on behind her Geordie, Nae bird on the brier eer sang sae clear As the young knight and his lady. O my Geordie O, O my Geordie O, O the love I bear to Geordie! The very stars in the firmament Bear tokens I love Geordie. * * * * * F Motherwell’s MS., p. 367; from the recitation of Agnes Lyle, Kilbarchan. 1 ‘Geordie Lukely is my name, And many a one doth ken me; O Many an ill deed I hae done, But now death will owrecome me. O 2 ‘I neither murdered nor yet have I slain, I never murdered any; But I stole fyfteen o the king’s bay horse, And I sold them in Bohemia. 3 ‘Where would I get a pretty little boy, That would fain win gold and money, That would carry this letter to Stirling town, And give it to my lady?’ 4 ‘Here am I, a pretty little boy, That wud fain win gold and money; I’ll carry your letter to Stirling town, And give it to your lady.’ 5 As he came in by Stirling town He was baith weet and weary; The cloth was spread, and supper set, And the ladies dancing merry. 6 When she read the first of it, She was baith glad and cheery; But before she had the half o ‘t read, She was baith sad and sorry. 7 ‘Come saddle to me the bonnie dapple gray, Come saddle to me the wee poney; For I’ll awa to the king mysell, And plead for my ain love Geordie.’ 8 She gaed up the Cannogate, Amang the puir folk monie; She made the handfus o red gold fly, And bade them pray for Geordie, And aye she wrang her lily-white hands, Saying, I am a wearyd lady! 9 Up and spoke the king himsell, And oh, but he spok bonnie! ‘It’s ye may see by her countenance That she is Geordie’s lady.’ 10 Up and spoke a bold bluidy wretch, And oh, but he spoke boldly! ‘Tho [thou] should pay ten thousand pounds, Thou’ll never get thy own love Geordie.