[The following is the Garland referred to at pages 300 and 332, in connexion with the novel of Guy Mannering. The ballad was taken down from the recitation of Mrs Young of Castle-Douglas, who, as her family informed Mr Train, had long been in the habit of repeating it over to them once in the year, in order that it might not escape from her memory. No copy of the printed broadside has as yet been recovered.]
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1.
A worthy Lord of birth and state,
Who did in Durham live of late—
But I will not declare his name,
By reason of his birth and fame.
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2.
This Lord he did a hunting go,
If you the truth of all would know,
He had indeed a noble train,
Of Lords and Knights and Gentlemen.
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3.
This noble Lord he left the train
Of Lords and Knights and Gentlemen;
And hearing not the horn to blow,
He could not tell which way to go.
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| 406 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
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4.
But he did wander to and fro,
Being weary, likewise full of woe:
At last Dame Fortune was so kind
That he the Keeper’s house did find.
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5.
He went and knocked at the door,
He thought it was so late an hour.
The Forester did let him in,
And kindly entertained him.
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6.
About the middle of the night,
When as the stars did shine most bright,
This Lord was in a sad surprise,
Being wakened by a fearful noise.
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7.
Then he did rise and call with speed,
To know the reason then indeed,
Of all that shrieking and those cries
Which did disturb his weary eyes.
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8.
“I’m sorry, Sir,” the Keeper said—
“That you should be so much afraid;
But I do hope all will be well,
For my Wife she is in travail.”
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9.
The noble Lord was learned and wise,
To know the Planets in the skies.
He saw one evil Planet reign,
He called the Forester again.
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10.
He gave him then to understand,
He’d have the Midwife hold her hand;
But he was answered by the maid,
“My Mistress is delivered.”
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| THE DURHAM GARLAND. | 407 |
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11.
At one o’clock that very morn,
A lovely infant there was born;
It was indeed a charming boy,
Which brought the man and wife much joy.
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12.
The Lord was generous, kind, and free,
And proffered Godfather to be;
The Goodman thanked him heartily
For his goodwill and courtesy.
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13.
A Parson was sent for with speed,
For to baptize the child indeed;
And after that, as I heard say,
In mirth and joy they spent the day.
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14.
This Lord did noble presents give,
Which all the servants did receive.
They prayed God to enrich his store,
For they never had so much before.
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15.
And likewise to the child he gave
A present noble, rich, and brave;
It was a charming cabinet,
That was with pearls and jewels set.
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16.
And within it was a chain of gold,
Would dazzle eyes for to behold;
A richer gift, as I may say,
Was not beheld this many a day.
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17.
He charged his father faithfully,
That he himself would keep the key,
Until the child could write and read—
And then to give him it indeed;—
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| 408 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
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18.
“Pray do not open it at all
Whatever should on you befall;
For it may do my godson good,
If it be rightly understood.”
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19.
This Lord did not declare his name,
Nor yet the place from whence he came,
But secretly he did depart,
And left them grieved to the heart.
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I.
The second part I now unfold,
As true a story as e’er was told,
Concerning of a lovely child,
Who was obedient, sweet, and mild.
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2.
This child did take his learning so,
If you the truth of all would know,
At eleven years of age indeed,
Both Greek and Latin he could read.
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3.
Then thinking of his cabinet,
That was with pearls and jewels set,
He asked his father for the key,
Which he gave him right speedily;
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4.
And when he did the same unlock,
He was with great amazement struck
When he the riches did behold,
And likewise saw the chain of Gold.
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5.
But searching farther he did find
A paper which disturbed his mind,
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| THE DURHAM GARLAND. | 409 |
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That was within the cabinet,
In Greek and Latin it was writ.
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6.
My child, serve God that is on high,
And pray to him incessantly;
Obey your parents, love your king,
That nothing may your conscience sting.
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7.
At seven years hence your fate will be,
You must be hanged upon a tree;
Then pray to God both night and day,
To let that hour pass away.
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8.
When he these woeful lines did read,
He with a sigh did say indeed,
“If hanging be my destiny,
My parents shall not see me die;
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9.
“For I will wander to and fro,
I’ll go where I no one do know;
But first I’ll ask my parents’ leave,
In hopes their blessing to receive.”
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10.
Then locking up his cabinet,
He went from his own chamber straight
Unto his only parents dear,
Beseeching them with many a tear
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11.
That they would grant what he would have—
“But first your blessing I do crave,
And beg you’ll let me go away,
’Twill do me good another day.”
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12.
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
“And if I live I will return,
When seven years are past and gone.”
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| 410 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
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13.
Both man and wife did then reply,
“I fear, my son, that we shall die,
If we should yield to let you go,
Our aged hearts would break with woe.
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14.
But he entreated eagerly,
While they were forced to comply,
And give consent to let him go,
But where, alas! they did not know.
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15.
In the third part you soon shall find,
That fortune was to him most kind,
And after many dangers past,
He came to Durham at the last.
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1.
He went by chance, as I heard say,
To that same house that very day,
In which his Godfather did dwell;
But mind what luck to him befel:—
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2.
This child did crave a service there,
On which came out his Godfather,
And seeing him a pretty youth,
He took him for his Page in truth.
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3.
Then in this place he pleased so well,
That ’bove the rest he bore the bell;
This child so well the Lord did please,
He raised him higher by degrees.
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4.
He made him Butler sure indeed,
And then his Steward with all speed,
Which made the other servants spite,
And envy him both day and night.
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| THE DURHAM GARLAND. | 411 |
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5.
He was never false unto his trust,
But proved ever true and just;
And to the Lord did hourly pray
To guide him still both night and day.
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6.
In this place, plainly it appears,
He lived the space of seven years;
His parents then he thought upon,
And of his promise to return.
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7.
Then humbly of his Lord did crave,
That he his free consent might have
To go and see his parents dear,
He had not seen this many a year.
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8.
Then having leave away he went,
Not dreaming of the false intent
That was contrived against him then
By wicked, false, deceitful men.
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9.
They had in his portmanteau put
This noble Lord’s fine golden cup;
That when the Lord at dinner was,
The cup was missed as come to pass.
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10.
“Where can it be?” this Lord did say,
“We had it here but yesterday.”—
The Butler then replied with speed,
“If you will hear the truth indeed,
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11.
“Your darling Steward which is gone,
With feathered nest away is flown;
I’ll warrant you he has that, and more
That doth belong unto your store.”
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| 412 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
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12.
“No,” says this Lord, “that cannot be,
For I have tried his honesty;”
“Then,” said the Cook, “my Lord, I die
Upon a tree full ten feet high.”
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13.
Then hearing what these men did say,
He sent a messenger that day,
To take him with a hue and cry,
And bring him back immediately.
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14.
They searched his portmanteau with speed,
In which they found the cup indeed;
Then was he struck with sad surprise,
He could not well believe his eyes.
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15.
The assizes then were drawing nigh,
And he was tried and doomed to die;
And his injured innocence
Could nothing say in his defence.
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16.
But going to the gallows tree,
On which he thought to hanged be,
He clapped his hands upon his breast,
And thus in tears these words exprest:—
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17.
“Blind Fortune will be Fortune still
I see, let man do what he will;
For though this day I needs must die,
I am not guilty—no, not I.”
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18.
This noble Lord was in amaze,
He stood and did with wonder gaze;
Then he spoke out with words so mild,—
“What mean you by that saying, Child?”
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| THE DURHAM GARLAND. | 413 |
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19.
“Will that your Lordship,” then said he,
“Grant one day’s full reprieve for me,
A dismal story I’ll relate,
Concerning of my wretched fate.”
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20.
“Speak up, my child,” this Lord did say,
“I say you shall not die this day—
And if I find you innocent,
I’ll crown your days with sweet content.”
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21.
He told him all his dangers past,
He had gone through from first to last,
He fetched the chain and cabinet,
Likewise the paper that was writ.
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22.
When that this noble Lord did see,
He ran to him most eagerly,
And in his arms did him embrace,
Repeating of those words in haste.—
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23.
“My Child, my Child, how blessed am I
Thou art innocent, and shall not die;
For I’m indeed thy Godfather,
And thou was’t born in fair Yorkshire.
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24.
“I have indeed one daughter dear,
Which is indeed my only heir;
And I will give her unto thee,
And crown you with felicity.”
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25.
So then the Butler and the Cook
(’Twas them that stole the golden cup)
Confessed their faults immediately,
And for it died deservedly.
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| 414 | LIFE OF SIR WALTER SCOTT. |
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26.
This goodly youth, as I do hear,
Thus raised, sent for his parents dear,
Who did rejoice their Child to see—
And so I end my Tragedy.
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