296A: Walter Lesly

296A.1 On the second of October, a Monday at noon,

In came Walter Lesly, to see his proper one;

He sent a chair down by her side, and gently sat her by,

Says, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? 296A.2 He’s taen a glass into his hand, inviting her to drink,

But little knew she his meaning, or what the rogue did think;

Nor what the rogue did think, to steal the maid away; ‘Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.3 When they had taen a glass or two, and all were making merry,

In came Geordy Lesly, and forth he did her carry;

Then upon high horseback sae hard’s he did her tye, ‘Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.4 Her mother she came to the door, the saut tears on her cheek,

She coudna see her daughter, it was for dust and reek;

It was for dust and reek, the swords they glancd sae high; ‘And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.5 When they came to the ale-house, the people there were busy;

A bridal-bed it was well made, and supper well made ready;

When the supper down was set, baith plum-pudding and pie, ‘And will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye?’ 296A.6 When they had eaten and well drunken, and a’ man bound for bed,

The laddie and the lassie in ae chamber were laid;

He quickly stript her to the smock, and gently laid her bye,

Says, Will ye go to Conland, this winter-time to lye? 296A.7 But Walter being weary, he fell fast asleep,

And then the lassie thought it fit to start up till her feet;

To start up till her feet, and her petticoats to tye, ‘We’ll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.’ 296A.8 Then over moss and over muir sae cleverly she ran,

And over hill and over dale, without stockings or shoon;

The men pursued her full fast, wi mony shout and cry,

Says, Will ye go to Conland, the winter-time to lye. 296A.9 ‘Wae to the dubs o Duffus land, that eer they were sae deep;

They’ve trachled a’ our horsemen and gart our captain sleep;

And gart our captain sleep, and the lassie win away,

And she’ll go no more to Conland, the winter-time to lye.’ 296A.10 ‘I’d rather be in Duffus land, selling at the ale,

Before I was wi Lesly, for a’ his auld meal;

For a’ his auld meal, and sae mony comes to buy;

I’ll go no more to Conland the winter-time to lye. 296A.11 ‘I’d rather be in Duffus land, draggin at the ware,

Before I was wi Lesly, for a’ his yellow hair;

For a’ his yellow hair, and sae well’s he can it tye;

I’ll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.’ 296A.12 It was not for her beauty, nor yet her gentle bluid,

But for her mither’s dollars, of them he had great need;

Of them he had great need, now he maun do them by,

For she’ll go no more to Conland, this winter-time to lye.