"For I've met wi' mony a gentle knicht, That gae me sic a fill; But never before wi' a curteis knicht, That gae me a' my will." 90
This ballad, which is still very popular, is known under various other names, as _Bothwell_, _Child Brenton_, _Lord Dingwall_, _We were Sisters_, _We were Seven_, &c. Scott's version was derived principally from recitation, but some of the concluding stanzas were taken from Herd's. Herd's copy, which must be regarded as a fragment, is given in connection with the present, and Buchan's in the Appendix to this volume. Another edition, of a suspicious character, may be seen in Cromek's _Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song_, (p. 205.) All the principal incidents of the story are found in _Ingefred og Gudrune, Danske Viser_, No. 194, translated by Jamieson, _Illustrations_ p. 340. More or less imperfect versions of the same are _Riddar Olle, Svenska Folk-Visor_, ii. p. 217, 59, 56, 215, and _Herr Äster och Fröken Sissa_, p. 50. The substitution of the maid-servant for the bride, occurs also in _Torkild Trundesön, Danske V._, No. 200, or _Thorkil Troneson_, Arwidsson, No. 36. This idea was perhaps derived from _Tristan and Isold_: see Scott's _Sir Tristrem_, II. 54, 55.
Cospatrick has sent o'er the faem; Cospatrick brought his ladye hame; And fourscore ships have come her wi', The ladye by the grene-wood tree.
There were twal' and twal' wi' baken bread, 5 And twal' and twal' wi' gowd sae reid, And twal' and twal' wi' bouted flour, And twal' and twal' wi' the paramour.
Sweet Willy was a widow's son, And at her stirrup he did run; 10 And she was clad in the finest pall, But aye she let the tears down fall.
"O is your saddle set awrye? Or rides your steed for you ower high? Or are you mourning, in your tide, 15 That you suld be Cospatrick's bride?"
"I am not mourning, at this tide, That I suld be Cospatrick's bride; But I am sorrowing in my mood, That I suld leave my mother good. 20
"But, gentle boy, come tell to me, What is the custom of thy countrie?"-- "The custom thereof, my dame," he says, "Will ill a gentle laydye please.
"Seven king's daughters has our lord wedded, 25 And seven king's daughters has our lord bedded; But he's cutted their breasts frae their breast-bane, And sent them mourning hame again.