Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 159; Motherwell’s MS., p. 615; Motherwell’s Minstrelsy, Appendix, p. ix. 1 John Thomson fought against the Turks Three years into a far country, And all that time, and something more, Was absent from his gay lady. 2 But it fell ance upon a time, As this young chieftain sat alane, He spied his lady in rich array, As she walkd oer a rural plain. 3 ‘What brought you here, my lady gay, So far awa from your own country? I’ve thought lang, and very lang, And all for your fair face to see.’ 4 For some days she did with him stay, Till it fell ance upon a day, ‘Farewell for a time,’ she said, ‘For now I must bound home away.’ 5 He’s gien to her a jewel fine, Was set with pearl and precious stone; Says, My love, beware of these savages bold, That’s on your way as ye go home. 6 Ye’ll take the road, my lady fair, That leads you fair across the lee; That keeps you from wild Hind Soldan, And likewise from base Violentrie. 7 With heavy heart these two did part, And minted as she would go home; Hind Soldan by the Greeks was slain, But to base Violentrie she’s gone. 8 When a twelvemonth had expired, John Thomson he thought wondrous lang, And he has written a broad letter, And seald it well with his own hand. 9 He sent it along with a small vessel That there was quickly going to sea, And sent it on to fair Scotland, To see about his gay ladie. 10 But the answer he received again, The lines did grieve his heart right sair; None of her friends there had her seen For a twelvemonth and something mair. 11 Then he put on a palmer’s weed, And took a pikestaff in his hand; To Violentrie’s castle he hied, But slowly, slowly he did gang. 12 When within the hall he came, He joukd and couchd out-oer his tree: ‘If ye be lady of this hall, Some of your good bountieth give me.’ 13 ‘What news, what news, palmer?’ she said, ‘And from what countrie came ye?’ ‘I’m lately come from Grecian plains, Where lys some of the Scots army.’ 14 ‘If ye be come from Grecian plains, Some more news I will ask of thee; Of one of the chieftains that lies there, If he have lately seen his gay ladie.’ 15 ‘It is twelve months and something more Since we did part in yonder plain; And now this knight has begun to fear One of his foes he has her taen.’ 16 ‘He has not taen me by force nor might, It was all by my own free will; He may tarry in the fight, For here I mean to tarry still. 17 ‘And if John Thomson ye do see, Tell him I wish him silent sleep; His head was not so cozelie Nor yet so well as lies at my feet.’