The Five Carlins - a ballad - Tune, Chevy Chase

The Five Carlins - A Ballad - Tine, Chevy chase

1.
There was five Carlins in the South,
They fell upon a scheme,
To send a lad to London town
To bring them tidings hame. -

2.
Not only bring them tidings hame,
But do their errands there;
And aiblins gowd & honor baith
Might be that laddie's share. -

3.
There was Maggie by the banks o'Nith -- { -- D.mfr..s
A dame wi pride eneugh;
And Marj'ry o' the mony lochs -- { -- L.chm.b.n-
A Carlin auld & teugh:

4.
And blinkin Bess of Annandale -- { - Ann.n. -
That dwelt near Solway-side;
And Whisky Jean that took her gill -- {K.rkc.dbr.ght
In Galloway sae wide;

5.
And black Joan frae Crighton-peel; --{ S.nqh..r
O' gipsey kith & kin:
Five wighter-Carlins were na found
The South Countrie within. -

6.
To send a lad to London town,
They met upon a day;
And mony and knight & mony a laird
That errand fain wad gae. -

7
O mony a knight & mony a laird
That errand fain wad gae;
But nae ane could their fance please,
O ne'er a any but tway! -

8.
The first ane was a belted Knight,
Bred of a Border band,
And he wad gae to London town,
Might nae man him withstand. -

9
And he wad do their errand weel,
And meikle he wad say;
And ilka ane at London Court
Wad bid to him, Gudeday! -

10.
The neist came in a Sodger Youth
And spake wi' modest grace,
And was gae to London town,
If sae their pleasure was. -

11.
He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,
Nor meikle speech pretend;
But he was hecht an honest heart
Wad ne'er desert his friend. -

12.
Now whom to chuse & whom refuse,
At strife thir Carlins fell;
For some had Gentlefolks to please,
And some was please themsel. -

13.
Then outspak mim-maid Meg o' Nith,
And she spak out wi' pride,
And she was send the Sodger lad
Whatever might betide. -

14.
Forth auld-Gudeman o' London Court
She did na care a pin,
But she was send the Sodger-lad
To greet his eldest son. -

15
Then upsprang Bess of Annandale,
A deadly aith she's tane
That she was vode the Border Knight,
Tho' she should vote her lane. -

16
"Your far-off fowls hae feathers fair,
"And foold o' change and fain;
"But I hae try'd this Border Knight,
"I'll try him yet again. " -

17
Says black Joan frae Crighton-peel,
A Carlin stoor & grim,
The auld Gudeman or the young Gudeman
For me may sink or swim. -

18
For fools will prate o'right & wrang,
While knaves laugh them to scorn:
But the Sodger's friends hae blawn the best,
So he shall bear the horn. -

19
Then whisky Jean spak o'er her drink,
Ye weel ken, kimmers a',
The Auld Guneman o' London Court
His back's been at the wa' -

20
And mony a friend that kiss'd his caup
Is not a fremit wight;
But it's ne'er be sae wi' whisky Jean,
We'll send the Border Knight. -

21
Then slow raise Marj'ry o' the lochs,
And wrinkled was her brow

Her ancient weed was russet-gray,
Her auld Scots heart was true. -

22
"There's some Great Folk set light by me,
I set as light by them;
But I will send to London town,
Whom I loe best at hame."-

23
Sae how this weighty plea may end,
Nae mortal wight can tell:
Gor grant the king, and ilka man,
May look weel to himsel! -