X.

THE GA BERLUNZIE MA N.

A SCOTTISH SONG.

Tradition affures us that the author of this fong was K. JAMES V. of Scotland. This prince (whofe character for wit and libertinism bears a great refemblance to that of his gay fucceffor Charles II.) was noted for ftrolling about his dominions in difguife†, and for his frequent gallantries with country girls. Two adventures of this kind he hath celebrated with his own pen, viz. in this ballad of THE GABERLUNZIE MAN; and in another intitled THE JOLLY BEGGAR, beginning thus,

Thair was a jollie beggar, and a begging he was boun,
And he tuik up his quarters into a land'art toun.
Fa, la, la, &c.

It Seems to be the latter of these ballads (which was · too licentious to be admitted into this collection) that is meant in the Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors*, where the ingenious writer remarks, That there is fomething very ludicrous in the young woman's distress when he thought her firft favour had been thrown away upon a beggar.

Bp. Tanner has attributed to James V. the celebrated Ballad of CHRIST'S KIRK ON THE GREEN, which is afcribed to K. James I. in Bannatyne's MS, written in 1568: And notwithstanding that authority, the Editor of this Book is of opinion that Bp. Tanner was right.

K. JAMES V. died Dec. 13th, 1542, aged 33.

+ fc. of a tinker, beggar, &c. Thus be used to vifit a fmith's daughter at Niddry near Edinburgh.

*Vol. 2. p. 203.

THE

HE pauky auld Carle came ovir the lee

TH

Wi' mony good-eens and days to mee,
Saying, Goodwife, for zour courtefie,
Will ze lodge a filly poor man ?

The night was cauld, the carle was wat,
And down azont the ingle he fat;
My dochters shoulders he gan to clap,
And cadgily ranted and fang.

O wow! quo he, were I as free,
As first when I faw this countrie,
How blyth and merry wad I bee!
And I wad nevir think lang.
He grew canty, and she grew fain;
But little did her auld minny ken
What thir flee twa togither were say'n,
When wooing they were fa thrang.

And O! quo he, ann ze were as black,
As evir the crown of your dadyes hat,
Tis I wad lay thee by my back,

And awa wi' me thou fould gang.
And O! quoth the, ann I were as white,
As evir the fnaw lay on the dike,

Ild clead me braw, and lady-like,

And awa with thee Ild

gang.

Between the twa was made a plot;
They raise a wee before the cock,
And wyliely they shot the lock,

And

And fast to the bent are they gane. Up the morn the auld wife raife,

And at her leifure put on her claiths,

Syne to the fervants bed the gaes

To fpeir for the filly poor man.

She gaed to the bed, whair the beggar lay,
The ftrae was cauld, he was away,

She clapt her hands, cryd, dulefu' day!

gane,

For fome of our geir will be
Some ran to coffers, and fome to kifts,

But nought was ftown that could be mist,
She dancid her lane, cryd, praise be bleft,
I have lodgd a leal poor man.

30

35

40

Since naithings awa, as we can learn,

The kirns to kirn, and milk to earn,

Gae butt the house, lafs, and waken my bairn,

And bid her come quickly ben.

The fervant gaed where the dochter lay,

45

The fheets was cauld, fhe was away,

And faft to her goodwife can fay,

Shes aff with the gaberlunzie-man.

O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin,

And haft ze, find these traitors agen;

50

For fhees be burnt, and hees be flein.

The

Ver. 29, The Carline. Other copies.

The wearyfou gaberlunzie man.
Some rade upo horse, fome ran a fit,
The wife was wood, and out o' her wit;
She could na gang, nor yet could she fit,
But ay did curfe and did ban.

Mean time far hind out owre the lee,
Fou fnug in a glen, where nane could fee,
The twa, with kindlie sport and glee,

Cut frae a new cheese a whang.

The priving was gude, it pleas'd them baith,
To lo'e her for ay,
he gae her his aith.
Quo fhe, to leave thee, I will be laith,
My winfome gaberlunzie man.

O kend my minny I were wi' zou,
Illfardly wad she crook her mou,

Sic a poor man fheld nevir trow,

Aftir the gaberlunzie-mon.

My dear, quo he, zee're zet owre zonge;

And hae na learnt the beggars tonge,

To follow me frae toun to toun,

And carrie the gaberlunzie on.

1

Wi' kauk and keel, Ill win zour bread,
And spindles and whorles for them wha need,

Whilk is a gentil trade indeed

55

60

65

70

75

The

The gaberlunzie to carrie----0.

Ill bow my leg and crook my knee,
And draw a black clout owre my ee,

A criple or blind they will cau me:

While we fall fing and be merrie--o.

80

XI.

ON THOMAS LORD CROMWELL.

We

It is ever the fate of a difgraced minifter to be forfaken by his friends, and infulted by his enemies, always reckoning among the latter the giddy inconftant multitude. bave here a Spurn at falien greatnefs from fome angry partifan of declining popery, who could never forgive the downfall of their Diana, and loss of their craft. The ballad feems to have been composed between the time of Cromwell's commitment to the tower, June 11. 1540, and that of his being beheaded July 28. following. A short interval! but Henry's paffion for Catharine Howard would admit of no delay. Notwithstanding our libeller, Cromwell had many excellent qualities; his great fault was too much, obfequioufnefs to the arbitrary wILL of his mafter; but let it be confidered that this mafter had raised him from obfcurity, and that the high-born nobility had fhewn him the way in every kind of mean and fervile compliance. The original copy printed at London in 1540, is intitled, "A nerve ballade "made of Thomas Crum-wel, called TROLLE ON AWAY.” To it is prefixed this diflich by way of burthen,

Trolle on away, trolle on awaye.

Synge heave and howe rombelowe trolle on away.

BOTH