The Duke of Gordon’s Daughter
No: 237; variant: 237A
- THE Duke of Gordon has three daughters,
Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean;
They would not stay in bonny Castle Gordon,
But they would go to bonny Aberdeen.
- They had not been in Aberdeen
A twelvemonth and a day
Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
- Word came to the Duke of Gordon,
In the chamber where he lay,
Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
- 'Go saddle to me the black horse,
And you'll ride on the grey,
And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen,
Where I have been many a day.'
- They were not a mile from Aberdeen,
A mile but only three,
Till he met with his two daughters walking,
But away was Lady Jean.
- 'Where is your sister, maidens?
Where is your sister now?
Where is your sister, maidens,
That she is not walking with you?'
- 'O pardon us, honoured father,
O pardon us,' they did say;
'Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she will gae.'
- When he came to Aberdeen,
And down upon the green,
There did he see Captain Ogilvie,
Training up his men.
- 'O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie,
And an ill death thou shalt die;
For taking to thee my daughter,
Hange:d thou shalt be.'
- Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter,
And sent it to the king,
To cause hang Captain Ogilvie
If ever he hanged a man.
- 'I will not hang Captain Ogilvie,
For no lord that I see;
But I'll cause him to put off the lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.'
- Word came to Captain Ogilvie,
In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.
- 'If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
This pennance I'll take wi;
If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
All this I will dree.'
- Lady Jean had not been married,
Not a year but three,
Till she had a babe in every arm,
Another upon her knee.
- 'O but I'm weary of wandering!
O but my fortune is bad!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a soldier-lad.
- 'O but I'm weary of wandering!
O but I think lang!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a single man.'
- When they came to the Highland hills,
Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean's shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.
- 'O wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the wind and the rain!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No further am I able to gang.
- 'Wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the frost and the snow!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No farther am I able to go.
- 'O if I were at the glens of Foudlen,
Where hunting I have been,
I would find the way to bonny Castle Gordon,
Without either stockings or shoon.'
- When she came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green,
The porter gave out a loud shout,
'O yonder comes Lady Jean!'
- 'O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon,
But away with your Captain Ogilvie.'
- Now over seas went the captain,
As a soldier under command;
A message soon followed after
To come and heir his brother's land.
- 'Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And heir your brother's land;
Come Home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Be Earl of Northumberland.'
- 'O what does this mean?' says the captain;
'Where's my brother's children three?'
'They are dead and buried,
And the lands they are ready for thee.'
- 'Then hoist up your sails, brave captain,
Let's be jovial and free;
I'll to Northumberland and heir my estate,
Then my dear Jeany I'll see.'
- He soon came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green;
The porter gave out with a loud shout,
'Here comes Captain Ogilvie!'
- You're welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Your fortune's advanced I hear;
No stranger can come unto my gates
That I do love so dear.'
- 'Sir, the last time I was at your gates,
You would not let me in;
I'm come for my wife and children,
No friendship else I claim.'
- 'Come in, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And drink of the beer and the wine;
And thou shalt have gold and silver
To count till the clock strike nine.'
- 'I'll have none of your gold or silver,
Nor none of your white-money;
But I'll have bonny Jeany Gordon,
And she shall go now with me.'
- Then she came tripping down the stair,
With the tear into her eye;
One babe was at her foot,
Another upon her knee.
- 'You're welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
With my young family;
Mount and go to Northumberland,
There a countess thou shall be.'