Bothwell

As Bothwell was walking in the lowlands alane,Hey down, and a down,He met six ladies sae gallant and fine,Hey down, and a down.

He cast his lot amang them a',And on the youngest his lot did fa'.

He's brought her frae her mother's bower,Unto his strongest castle and tower.

But ay she cry'd and made great moan,And ay the tear came trickling down.

"Come up, come up," said the foremost man,"I think our bride comes slowly on."

"O lady, sits your saddle awry,Or is your steed for you owre high?"

"My saddle is not set awry,Nor carries me my steed owre high;

"But I am weary of my life,Since I maun be Lord Bothwell's wife."

He's blawn his horn sae sharp and shrill,Up start the deer on every hill;

He's blawn his horn sae lang and loud,Up start the deer in gude green wood.

His lady mother lookit owre the castle wa',And she saw them riding ane and a'.

She's called upon her maids by seven,To mak his bed baith saft and even:

She's called upon her cooks by nine,To make their dinner fair and fine.

When day was gane and night was come,"What ails my love on me to frown?

"Or does the wind blow in your glove,Or runs your mind on another love?"

"Nor blows the wind within my glove,Nor runs my mind on another love;"

"But I not maid nor maiden am,For I'm wi' bairn to another man."

"I thought I'd a maiden sae meek and sae mild,But I've nought but a woman wi' child."

His mother's taen her up to a tower,And lockit her in her secret bower:

"Now doughter mine, come tell to me,Wha's bairn this is that you are wi'."

"O mother dear, I canna learnWha is the father of my bairn.

"But as I walk'd in the lowlands my lane,I met a gentleman gallant and fine;

"He keepit me there sae late and sae lang,Frae the ev'ning late till the morning dawn;

"And a' that he gied me to my propine,Was a pair of green gloves, and a gay gold ring,

"Three lauchters of his yellow hair,In case that we shou'd meet nae mair."

His lady mother went down the stair:"Now son, now son, come tell to me,Where's the green gloves I gave to thee?"

"I gied to a lady sae fair and so fine,The green gloves and a gay gold ring:

"But I wad gie my castles and towers,I had that lady within my bowers:

"But I wad gie my very life,I had that lady to be my wife."

"Now keep, now keep your castles and towers,You have that lady within your bowers:

"Now keep, now keep your very life,You have that lady to be your wife."

"O row my lady in sattin and silk,And wash my son in the morning milk."