O Johnny was as brave a knight

As ever sail'd the sea,

An he's done him to the English court,

To serve for meat and fee.

He had na been in England

But yet a little while

Until the king's ae daughter

To Johnny proves wi' chil'.

O word's come to the king himsel'

In his chair where he sat

That his ae daughter was wi' bairn

To Jack, the Little Scott.

Gin this be true that I do hear,

As I trust well it be,

Ye put her into prison strong,

An' starve her till she die.

O Johnny's on to fair Scotland,

I wot, he went wi' speed,

And he has left the king's court,

I wot, good was his need.

O it fell once upon a day

That Johnny he thought lang;

An hes gane to the good green wood,

As fast as he could gang.

O where will I get a bonny boy,

To rin my errand soon;

That will rin into fair England,

An' haste him back again?

O up it starts a bonny boy,

Gold yellow was his hair,

I wish his mither mickle joy,

His bonny love mickle mair.

O here am I, a bonny boy,

Will rin your errand soon;

I will gang into fair England,

An' come right soon again.

O when he came to broken briggs

He bent his bow and swam,

An when he came to the green grass growing

He slaiked his shoon an' ran.

When he came to yon high castle,

He ran it round about;

An' there he saw the king's daughter

At the window looking out.

"O here's a sark o' silk, lady,

Your ain hand sew'd the sleeve,

You're bidden come to fair Scotland,

Speer nane o' your parents' leave.

"Ha, take this sark o' silk, lady,

Your ain hand sew'd the gare;

You're bidden come to good green wood,

Love Johnny waits you there."

She's turned her right and round about

The tear was in her ee:

"How can I come to my true-love

Except I had wings to flee?

"Here am I kept wi' bars and bolts,

Most grievous to behold;

My breast-plate's o' the sturdy steel,

Instead of the beaten gold.

(slaiked, loosened, i.e. took off. sark, shirt.

gare, hem.

Johnny Scott ss'

"But take this purse, my bonny boy,

Ye well deserve a fee,

And bear this letter to my love,

An' tell him what you see."

Then quickly ran the bonny boy,

Again to Scotland fair,

An soon he reached Pitnachton's towrs,

An' soon found Johnny there.

He put the letter in his han,

An' told him what he saw,

But ere he half the letter read,

He loot the tears doun fa'.

O I will gae back to fair England,

Tho' death should me betide,

An I will relieve the damsel

That lay last by my side.

Then out it spake his father dear:

"My son, you are to blame;

An' gin you're catched on English ground,

I fear you'll ne'er win hame."

Then out it spake a valiant knight,

Johnny's best friend was he:

"I can command five hunder men,

An' I'll his surety be."

The firstin town that they came till,

They gar'd the bells be rung;

An' the nextin town that they came till,

They gar'd the mass be sung.

The thirdin town that they came till,

They gar'd the drums beat round,

The king but an' his nobles a'

Was startled at the sound.

When they came to the king's palace,

They rade it round about;

An' there they saw the king himsel',

At the window looking out.

"Is this the Duke o' Albany,

Or James, the Scottish king?

Or are ye some great foreign lord,

That's come a visiting?"

"I'm na the Duke of Albany,

Nor James, the Scottish king;

But I'm a valiant Scottish knight;

Pitnachton is my name."

"O if Pitnachton be your name,

As I trust well it be;

The morn, or I taste meat or drink,

You shall be hanged hi'."

Then out it spake the valiant knight,

That came brave Johnny wi':

"Behold five hunder bowmen bold,

Will die to set him free."

Then out it spake the king again,

An' a scornfu' laugh laugh he:

"I have an Italian i' my house,

Will fight you three by three."

"O grant me a boon," brave Johnny cried,

"Bring your Italian here;

Then if he fall beneath my sword,

I've won your daughter dear."

Then out it came, that Italian,

An' a curious ghost was he;

Upon the point o' Johnny's sword,

This Italian did die.

Out has he drawn his lang, lang bran',

Struck it across the plain:

"Is there any more o' your English dogs,

That you want to be slain?"

"A clerk, a clerk," the king then cried,

"To write her tocher free;"

"A priest, a priest," says love Johnny,

"To marry my love and me.

"I'm seeking nane o' your gold," he says,

"Nor of your silver clear;

I only seek your daughter fair,

Whose love hast cost her dear."