# The English and Scottish Popular Ballads/Part 7/Chapter 225

A
ROB ROY, frae the high Highlands, Came to the Lawlan border; It was to steel a lady away, To keep his Highland house in order. As he came in by White House, He sent nae ane before him; She wad hae secured the house, For she did ay abhor him. Twenty men surrount the house, an twenty they went in, They found her wi her mither; Wi sighs and cries an watery eyes They parted frae ane anither. 'O will ye be my dear?' he says, 'Or will ye be my honnie? O will ye be my wedded wife? I lee you best of ony.' 'I winna be your dear,' [she says,] 'Nor will I be your honnie, Nor will I be your wedded wife; Ye lee me for my money.' . . by the way, This lady aftimes fainted; Says, Woe be to my cursed gold, This road for me's invented! He gave her no time for to dress Like ladies when they're ridin, But set her on hie horseback, Himsel was ay beside her. Whan they came to the Black House, And at Stirling tarried, There he bought her coat and gown, But she would not [be] married. Four men held her to the priest, An four they did her bed, Wi sighs and cries an watery eyes Whan she by him was laid. 'Be content, be content, Be content wi me, lady; Now ye are my wedded wife Untill the day ye die, lady. 'My father was a Highlan laird, McGrigor was his name, lady; A' the country roun about They dreadit his great fame, lady. 'He kept a hedge about his lands, A prickle to his foes, lady, An every ane that did him wrang, He took him by the nose, lady. 'My father he delights in nout and goats, An me in horse and sheep, lady; You an twenty thousan pounds Makes me a man complete, lady. 'You're welcome to this Highlan lan, It is my native plain, lady; Think nae mair of gauin back, But tak it for your hame, lady. 'I'm gauin, [I'm gauin,] I'm gauin to France, lady; Whan I come back I'll learn ye a dance, lady. 'Set your foot, [set your foot,] Set your foot to mine, lady; Think nae mair of gauin back, But tak it for your hame, lady.'
B
ROB ROY frae the Hielands cam Unto the Lawland border, And he has stown a ladie fair, To haud his house in order. He guarded the house round about, Himsel went in and found her out, She hung close by her mither; Wi dolefu cries and watery eyes They parted frae each ither. 'Gang wi me, my dear,' he says, 'Gang and be my honey; Gang and be my wedded wife, I loe ye best o onie.' 'I winna gang wi you,' she says, 'I winna be your honey; I winna be your wedded wife; Ye loe me for my money.' He gied na her na time to dress As ladies when they're brides, But hurried her awa wi speed, And rowd her in his plaids. He gat her up upon a horse, Himsel lap on ahind her; And they're awa to the Hieland hills; Her friends they canna find her. As they gaed oure the Hieland hills, This lady aften fainted, Saying, Wae be to my cursed gowd, This road to me invented! As they gaed oure the Hieland hills, And at Buchanan tarried, He bought to her baith cloak and goun, Yet she wadna be married. Six held her up afore the priest, Four laid her in a bed, O; Maist mournfully she wept and cried Whan she bye him was laid, O. 'O be content, be content, Be content to stay, ladie; For now ye are my wedded wife Unto your dying day, ladie. 'Rob Roy was my father calld, M'Gregor was his name, ladie; And in a' the country whare he dwalt He exceeded ae in fame, ladie. 'He was a hedge unto his friends, A heckle to his faes, ladie; And ilka ane that did him wrang, He beat him on the neis, ladie. 'I'm as bold, I am as bold As my father was afore, ladie; Ilka ane that does me wrang Sall feel my gude claymore, ladie. 'There neer was frae Lochlomond west That eer I did him fear, ladie; For, if his person did escape, I seizd upon his gear, ladie. 'My father delights in horse and kye, In sheep and goats and a', ladie, And thee wi me and thirty merks Will mak me a man fu braw, ladie. 'I hae been in foreign lands, And servd the king o France, ladie; We will get the bagpipes, And we'll hae a dance, ladie.'
C
ROB ROYRR'rrS from the Hielands come Unto our Lowland border, And he has stolen a lady away, To keep his house in order. Rob Roy's come to Blackhill's gate, Twenty men his arms did carry, And he has stolen a lady away, On purpose her to marry. None knew till he surrounded the house, No tidings came before him, Or else she had been gone away, For she did still abhor him. All doors and windows guarded were, None could the plot discover; Himself went in and found her out, Professing how he loved her. 'Come go with me, my dear,' he said, 'Come go with me, my honey, And you shall be my wedded wife, I love you best of onie.' 'I will not go with you,' she said, 'Nor will I be your honey; I neer shall be your wedded wife, You love me for my money.' But he her drew amongst his crew, She holding by her mother; With mournful cries and watery eyes They parted from each other. No time they gave her to be dressed As ladies when they're brides, O, But hurried her away in haste; They rowed her in their plaids, O. As they went over hills and rocks, The lady often fainted; Says, Wae may it be, my cursed money, This road to me invented! They passed away by Drymen town, And at Buchanan tarried; They bought to her a cloak and gown, Yet she would not be married. But without consent they joined their hands; By law ought not to carry; The priest his zeal it was so hot On her will he would not tarry. Four held her up before the priest, Two laid her in the bed, O; Och, mournfully she weeped and cried When she by him was laid, O. 'Now you're come to the Highland hills, Out of your native clime, lady, Never think of going back, But take this for your hame, lady. 'Be content, be content, Be content to stay, lady; Now ye are my wedded wife Unto your dying day, lady. 'O Rob Roy was my father called, But McGregor was his name, lady; In all the country far and near None did exceed his fame, lady. 'I'm as bold, I'm as bold, I'm as bold as he, lady; In France and Ireland I'll dance and fight, And from them take the gree, lady. 'He was a hedge about his friends, But a heckle to his faes, lady, And every one that did him wrong, He took them owre the nose, lady. 'I'm as bold, I'm as bold, I'm as bold, and more, lady; Every one that does me wrong Shall feel my good claymore, lady. 'My father he has stots and ewes, And he has goats and sheep, lady, But you and twenty thousand punds Makes me a man complete, lady.'
D
ROB ROY from the Highlands came Unto the Lowland border; It was to steal a ladie away, To keep his house in order. He gae her nae time to dress herself Like a lady that was to be married, But he hoisd her out among his crew, And rowd her in his plaidie. 'Will ye go wi me, my dear?' he says, 'Will ye go wi me, my honey? Will ye go wi me, my dear?' he says, 'For I love you best of ony.' 'I winna be your dear,' she says, 'Nor I'll never be your honey; I'll never be your wedded wife, For you love me but for my money.' He hoisd her out among his crew, She holding by her mother; Wi watry eyes and mournfu cries They parted from each other. As they gaed oer yon high hill, The ladie often fainted; 'Oh, wae be to my gold,' she said, 'This road for me invented!' Two held her up before the priest, And two put her to bed, Wi mournful cries and watry eyes As she lay by his side. 'Be content, be content, Be content wi me, ladie, For now you are my wedded wife Until the day ye die, ladie. 'Rob roy was my father calld, McGrigor was his name, ladie, And a' the country round about Has heard of Roy's fame, ladie. 'You do not think yourself a match For such a one as I, ladie; But I been east and I been west, And saird the king of France, ladie. 'And now we hear the bag-pipe play, And we maun hae a dance, ladie, And a' the country round about Has heard of Roy's fame, ladie. 'Shake your foot, shake your foot, Shake your foot wi me, ladie, For now you are my wedded bride Until the day ye die, ladie. 'My father dealt in cows and ewes, Likewise in goats and sheep, ladie, And a' the country round about Has heard of Roy's fame, ladie. 'And ye have fifty thousand marks, Makes me a man compleat, ladie. Why mayn't I maid May I not ride in state, ladie? 'My father was a Highland laird, Altho he be now dead, ladie, And a' the country round about Has heard of Roy's fame, ladie.'
E
ROB ROY from the Highlands cam Unto our Scottish border, And he has stown a lady fair, To haud his house in order. And when he cam he surrounded the house; Twenty men their arms did carry; And he has stown this lady fair, On purpose her for to marry. And whan he cam he surrounded the house; No tidings there cam before him, Or else the lady would have been gone, For still she did abhor him. Wi murnfu cries and watery eyes, Fast hauding by her mother, Wi murnfu cries and watery eyes They parted frae each other. Nae time he gied her to be dressed As ladys do when they're bride, O, But he hastened and hurried her awa, And he rowd her in his plaid, O. They rade till they cam to Ballyshine, At Ballyshine they tarried; He bought to her a cotton gown, Yet would she never be married. Three held her up before the priest, Four carried her to bed, O, Wi watery eyes and murnfu sighs When she behind was laid, O. 'O be content, be content, Be content to stay, lady, For you are my wedded wife Unto my dying day, lady. Be content, etc. 'My father is Rob Roy called, MacGregor is his name, lady; In all the country whare he dwells, He does succeed the fame, lady. Be content, etc. 'My father he has cows and ewes, And goats he has anew, lady, And you and twenty thousand merks Will mak me a man complete, lady.' Be content, etc.
F
ROB ROY frae the Highlands came Unto the Lawland border, And he has stolen a lady away, To haud his house in order. He's pu'd her out amang his men, She holding by her mother; With mournfu cries and watery eyes They parted frae each other. When they came to the heigh hill-gate, O it's aye this lady fainted: 'O wae! what has that cursed monie That's thrown to me invented?' When they came to the heigh hill-gate, And at Buchanan tarried, They fetchd to her a cloak and gown, Yet wad she not be married. Four held her up before the priest, Four laid her on her bed, With mournfu cries and watery eyes When she by him was laid. 'I'll be kind, I'll be kind, I'll be kind to thee, lady, And all the country for thy sake Shall surely favoured be, lady. 'Be content, be content, Be content and stay, lady; Now ye are my weded wife Until your dying-day, ladie. 'Rob Roy was my father called, McGregor was his name, lady; In every country where he was, He did exceed the fame, lady. 'He was a hedge about his friends, A terror to his foes, lady, And every one that did him wrong, He hit them oer the nose, lady. 'Be content, be content, Be content and stay, lady; Now ye are my wedded wife Until your dying-day, lady. 'We will go, we will go, We will go to France, lady, Where I before for safety fled, And there wee'l get a dance, lady. 'Shake a fit, shake a fit, Shake a fit to me, lady; Now ye are my wedded wife Until your dying-day, lady.
G
ROB ROY from the Highlands cam Unto the Lawlan border, To steal awa a gay ladie, To haud his house in order. He cam owre the Lock o Lynn, Twenty men his arms did carry; Himsel gaed in an fand her out, Protesting he would marry. 'O will ye gae wi me? he says, 'Or will ye be my honey? Or will ye be my wedded wife? For I love you best of any.' 'I winna gae wi you,' she says, 'Nor will I be your honey, Nor will I be your wedded wife; You love me for my money.'
But he set her on a coal-black steed, Himsel lap on behind her, An he's awa to the Highland hills, Whare her friens they canna find her.
'Rob Roy was my father ca'd, MacGregor was his name, ladie; He led a band o heroes bauld, An I am here the same, ladie. 'Be content, Be content, Be content to stay, ladie; For thou art my wedded wife Until thy dying day, ladie. 'He was a hedge unto his friens, A heckle to his foes, ladie, Every one that durst him wrang, He took him by the nose, ladie. 'I'm as bold, I'm as bold, I'm as bold, an more, ladie; He that daurs dispute my word Shall feel my guid claymore, ladie.'
H
ROB ROY is frae the Hielands come Down to the Lowland border, And he has stolen that lady away, To haud his house in order. He set her on a milk-white steed, Of none he stood in awe, Untill they reached the Hieland hills, Aboon the Balmaha. Saying, Be content, Be content, Be content with me, lady; Where will ye find in Lennox land Sae braw a man as me, lady? 'Rob Roy he was my father called, MacGregor was his name, lady; A' the country, far and near, Have heard MacGregor's fame, lady. 'He was a hedge about his friends, A heckle to his foes, lady; If any man did him gainsay, He felt his deadly blows, lady. 'I am as bold, I am as bold, I am as bold, and more, lady; Any man that doubts my word May try my gude claymore, lady. 'Then be content, be content, Be content with me, lady, For now ye are my wedded wife Until the day ye die, lady.'
I
ROB ROY is frae the Highlands come Unto the Scottish border, And he has stolen a lady gay, To keep his house in order. He and his crew surrounded the house; No tidings came before him, Or else I'm sure she wad been gone, For she did still abhore him. He drew her thro amang his crew, She holding by her mother; With watery eyes and mournfu cries They parted from each other. He's set her on a milk-white steed, Himself jumped on behind her, And he's awa to the Highland hills, And her friends they couldna find her. 'O be content, be content, O be content and stay, lady, And never think of going back Until your dying day, lady.' As they went over hills and dales, This lady oftimes fainted; Cries, Wae be to that cursed money This road to me invented! 'O dinna think, O dinna think, O dinna think to ly, lady; O think na ye yersell weel matchd On sic a lad as me, lady? 'What think ye o my coal-black hair, But and my twinkling een, lady, A little bonnet on my head, And cocket up aboon, lady? 'O dinna think, O dinna think, O dinna think to ly, lady; O think nae ye yersell weel matchd On sic a lad as me, lady? 'Rob Roy was my father calld, But Gregory was his name, lady; There was neither duke nor lord Could eer succeed his fame, lady. 'O may not I, may not I, May not I succeed, lady? My old father did so design; O now but he is dead, lady. 'My father was a hedge about his friends, A heckle to his foes, lady, And every one that did him wrang, He hit them oer the nose, lady. 'I['m] as bold, I['m] as bold, I['m] as bold, and more, lady, And every one that does me wrong Shall feel my good claymore, lady. 'You need not fear our country cheer, Ye'se hae good entertain, lady; For ye shall hae a feather-bed, Both lang and broad and green, lady. 'Come, be content, come, be content, Come, be content and stay, lady, And never think of going back Until yer dying day, lady.' Twa held her up before the priest, Four laid her in her bed, And sae mournfully she weeping cry'd When she by him was laid! 'Come, dinna think, come dinna think, Come, dinna think to ly, lady; You'll surely think yersell weel matchd On sic a lad as me, lady. 'Come, be content, come, be content, Come, be content and stay, lady, And never think of going back Until your dying day, lady.'
J
FROM Drunkie in the Highlands, With four and twenty men, Rob Oig is cam, a lady fair To carry from the plain. Glengyle and James with him are cam, To steal Jean Mitchell's dauchter, And they have borne her far away, To haud his house in order. And he has taen Jean Key's white hand, And torn her grass-green sleeve, And rudely tyed her on his horse, At her friends asked nae leave. They rode till they cam to Ballyshine, At Ballyshine they tarried; Nae time he gave her to be dressed, In cotton gown her married. Three held her up before the priest, Four carried her to bed, O; Wi watery eyes and mournfu sighs She in bed wi Rob was laid, O. 'Haud far awa from me, Rob Oig, Haud far awa from me! Before I lose my maidenhead, I'll try my strength with thee.' She's torn the cap from off her head And thrown it to the way, But ere she lost her maidenhead She fought with him till day. 'Wae fa, Rob Oig, upon your head, For you have ravished me, And taen from me my maidenhead; O would that I could dee!' 'My father he is Rob Roy called, And he has cows and ewes, And you are now my wedded wife, And can nae longer chuse.'
K
ROB ROY frae the Highlands came Doun to our Lowland border; It was to steal a lady away, To haud his house in order. With four-and-twenty Highland men, His arms for to carry, He came to steal Blackhill's daughter, That lady for to marry. Nae ane kend o his comming, Nae tiddings came before him, Else the lady woud hae been away, For still did she abhore him. They guarded doors and windows round, Nane coud their plot discover; Rob Roy enterd then alane, Expressing how he lovd her. 'Come go with me, my dear,' he said, 'Come go with me, my honey, And ye shall be my wedded wife, For I love you best of any.' 'I will not go with you,' she said, 'I'll never be your honey; I will not be your wedded wife, Your love is for my money.' They woud not stay till she was drest As ladies when thei'r brides, O, But hurried her awa in haste, And rowd her in their plaids, O. He drew her out among his crew, She holding by her mother; With mournful cries and watry eyes They parted from each other. He placed her upon a steed, Then jumped on behind her, And they are to the Highlands gone, Her friends they cannot find her. With many a heavy sob and wail, They saw, as they stood by her, She was so guarded round about Her friends could not come nigh her. Her mournful cries were often heard, But no aid came unto her; They guarded her on every side That they could not resc&#;e her. Over rugged hills and dales They rode; the lady fainted; Cried, Woe be to my cursed gold That has such roads invented! As they came in by Drimmen town And in by Edingarry, He bought to her both cloak and gown, Still thinking she would marry. As they went down yon bonny burn-side, They at Buchanan tarried; He clothed her there as a bride, Yet she would not be married. Without consent they joind their hands, Which law ought not to carry; His passion waxed now so hot He could no longer tarry. Two held her up before the priest, Four laid her in the bed then, With sighs and cries and watery eyes When she was laid beside him. 'Ye are come to our Highland hills, Far frae thy native clan, lady; Never think of going back, But take it for thy home, lady. 'I'll be kind, I'll be kind, I'll be kind to thee, lady; All the country, for thy sake, Shall surely favourd be, lady. 'Rob Roy was my father calld, MacGregor was his name, lady, And all the country where he dwelt He did exceed for fame, lady. 'Now or then, now or then, Now or then deny, lady; Don't you think yourself well of With a pretty man like I, lady? 'He was a hedge about his friends, A heckle to his foes, lady, And all that did him any wrong, He took them by the nose, lady. 'Don't think, don't think, Don't think I lie, lady, Ye may know the truth by what Was done in your country, lad'y. 'My father delights in cows and horse, Likewise in goats and sheep, lady, And you with thirty thousand marks Makes me a man complete, lady. 'Be content, be content, Be content and stay, lady; Now ye are my wedded wife Untill your dying day, lady. 'Your friends will all seek after me, But I'll give them the scorn, lady; Before dragoons come oer the Forth, We shall be doun by Lorn, lady. 'I am bold, I am bold, But bolder than before, lady; Any one dare come this way Shall feel my good claymore, lady. 'We shall cross the raging seas, We shall go to France, lady; There we'll gar the piper play, And then we'll have a dance, lady. 'Shake a foot, shake a foot, Shake a foot wi me, lady, And ye shall be my wedded wife Until the day ye die, lady.'
L
Rob Roy's from the Highlands come Down to the Lowland border, An there he's stole a fair lady away, To keep his house in order. As he came in by Blackhill gate, Twenty men his arms did carry, And he has stole a fair lady away, On purpose hir to marry. No tidings came unto the house, Nor none went in before him, Or else she had been run away, For she did still abhor him. But with his men he surunded the house, Himself went in unto hir, And when that he had found her out He profest how much he lovt hir. 'O wilt thou be my dear?' he says, 'O wilt thou be my hony? O wilt thou be my wedded wife? For I love you far better than ony.' 'I will not be your dear,' she says, 'I will not be your honey, I will not be your wedded wife; You love me for my money.' But he hir drew amongst his crew, She holding by hir mother; With doleful cries and watry eyes The parted from each other. He gave hir no time for to dress As brides do when the marry, But fast he hurried hir away, And rowd hir in his plaidy. He set hir on a milk-white steed, Himslef lept on behind hir, And he has carried hir away, Hir friends the could not find hir. The lady's cries were oftimes heard, But none durst venture to hir; She gaurded was on every side, Hir friends could not rescue hir. As the went over hills and rocks, The lady oftimes fainted; Cries, Wo be to my curst mony, These roads to me invented. As the came in by Drummond town And at Bachannan tarried, He bought to her a cloak and gown, Yet wad she not be married. And when she came the priest before He askd if she would marry, But the parson's zeal it was so hot For her will he did not tarry. Four held hir up before the priest, Tow laid hir in hir bed, O, But still she cried, with watry eyes, When she was by him laid O. 'Now you'r to the Highlands come, Out of your native clime, lady, Never think of going back, But tak it for your hame, lady. 'Be content, be content, Be content to stay, lady, Now you are my wedded wife, Until your dying day, lady. 'Rob Roy was my father calld, McGregor was his name, lady, And all the country where he dwelt None could exceed his fame, lady. 'I'll be kind, I'll be kind, I'll be kind to thee, lady, A' thy kindred for thy sake Shall truly favoured be, lady. 'My father reignd as Highland king, And ruled at his will, lady, There was nether lord nor duke Durst do him ony ill, lady. 'Ay through time, ay through time, Ay through time was he, lady, Filled was w[ith] sweet revenge On a' his enemys, lady. 'He was a hedge about his friends, A heckle till his foes, lady, And every ane that did him rang, He took them oer the nose, lady. 'I'm as bold, I'm as bold, [As bold] as forest boar, lady, Every ane that does thee rang Shall feell my stell claymore, lady. 'Neer a man from Highlands came That ever did him dare, lady, But if those persons did escape He sized upon there gear, lady. Ay through time, etc. 'My father dealt in horse and cows, But thou in goats and sheep, lady, Thre and twenty thousand merk Makes me a man complete, lady. Be content, etc. 'Of all the exploits my father did I do him now outshine, lady; He never took a prize in 's life With sic a face as thine, lady.'