Buchan quite frightens one by what he says of his version, II, 314: “It is altogether a political piece, and I do not wish to interfere much with it.” * * * * * A Herd’s MSS, I, 148. 1 Our king he has a secret to tell, And ay well keepit it must be: The English lords are coming down To dance and win the victory. 2 Our king has cry’d a noble cry, And ay well keepit it must be: ‘Gar saddle ye, and bring to me The bonny lass of Anglesey.’ 3 Up she starts, as white as the milk, Between him and his company: What is the thing I hae to ask, If I sould win the victory?’ 4 ‘Fifteen ploughs but and a mill I gie thee till the day thou die, And the fairest knight in a’ my court To chuse thy husband for to be.’ 5 She’s taen the fifteen lord[s] by the hand, Saying, ‘Will ye come dance with me?’ But on the morn at ten o’clock They gave it oer most shamefully. 6 Up then rais the fifteenth lord— I wat an angry man was he— Laid by frae him his belt and sword, And to the floor gaed manfully. 7 He said, ‘My feet shall be my dead Before she win the victory;’ But before ’twas ten o’clock at night He gaed it oer as shamefully. * * * * * B Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 63. 1 Word has gane thro a’ this land, And O well noticed it maun be! The English lords are coming down To dance and gain the victorie. 2 The king has made a noble cry, And well attended it maun be: ‘Come saddle ye, and bring to me The bonny lass o Englessie.’ 3 She started up, a’ dress’d in white, Between him and his companie; Said, What will ye gie, my royal liege, If I will dance this dance for thee? 4 ‘Five good ploughs but and a mill I’ll give you till the day ye die; The bravest knight in all my court, I’ll give, your husband for to be.’ 5 She’s taen the first lord by the hand, Says, ‘Ye’ll rise up and dance wi me;’ But she made a’ these lords fifeteen To gie it up right shamefullie. 6 Then out it speaks a younger lord, Says, ‘Fye for shame! how can this be?’ He loosd his brand frae aff his side, Likewise his buckler frae his knee. 7 He sware his feet should be his dead Before he lost the victorie; He danc’d full fast, but tired at last, And gae it up as shamefullie. * * * * * #A.# 1^2, 2^2. we’ll keep it must and be. 221 KATHARINE JAFFRAY #A. a.# ‘Katharine Jaffray,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 61, II, 56. #b.# The Aldine edition of Burns, 1839, III, 181, four stanzas. #B.# ‘The Laird of Laminton,’ Herd’s MSS, I, 164, II, 58.