The Five Carlins: An Election Ballad

5Nor only bring them tidings hame,

6 But do their errands there,

7And aiblins gowd and honor baith

8 Might be that laddie’s share.

9There was Maggy by the banks o’ Nith,

10 A dame wi’ pride eneugh;

11And Marjory o’ the mony Lochs,

12 A Carlin auld and teugh.

13And blinkin Bess of Annandale,

14 That dwelt near Solway-side;

15And whisky Jean, that took her gill,

16 In Galloway sae wide.

17And auld black Joan frae Crichton Peel, 1

18 O’ gipsy kith an’ kin;

19Five wighter Carlins were na found

20 The South countrie within.

21To send a lad to London town,

22 They met upon a day;

23And mony a knight, and mony a laird,

24 This errand fain wad gae.

25O mony a knight, and mony a laird,

26 This errand fain wad gae;

27But nae ane could their fancy please,

28 O ne’er a ane but twae.

29The first ane was a belted Knight,

30 Bred of a Border band; 2

31And he wad gae to London town,

32 Might nae man him withstand.

33And he wad do their errands weel,

34 And meikle he wad say;

35And ilka ane about the court

36 Wad bid to him gude-day.

37The neist cam in a Soger youth, 3

38 Who spak wi’ modest grace,

39And he wad gae to London town,

40 If sae their pleasure was.

41He wad na hecht them courtly gifts,

42 Nor meikle speech pretend;

43But he wad hecht an honest heart,

44 Wad ne’er desert his friend.

45Now, wham to chuse, and wham refuse,

46 At strife thir Carlins fell;

47For some had Gentlefolks to please,

48 And some wad please themsel’.

49Then out spak mim-mou’d Meg o’ Nith,

50 And she spak up wi’ pride,

51And she wad send the Soger youth,

52 Whatever might betide.

53For the auld Gudeman o’ London court 4

54 She didna care a pin;

55But she wad send the Soger youth,

56 To greet his eldest son. 5

57Then up sprang Bess o’ Annandale,

58 And a deadly aith she’s ta’en,

59That she wad vote the Border Knight,

60 Though she should vote her lane.

61“For far-off fowls hae feathers fair,

62 And fools o’ change are fain;

63But I hae tried the Border Knight,

64 And I’ll try him yet again.”

65Says black Joan frae Crichton Peel,

66 A Carlin stoor and grim.

67“The auld Gudeman or young Gudeman,

68 For me may sink or swim;

69For fools will prate o’ right or wrang,

70 While knaves laugh them to scorn;

71But the Soger’s friends hae blawn the best,

72 So he shall bear the horn.”

73Then whisky Jean spak owre her drink,

74 “Ye weel ken, kimmers a’,

75The auld gudeman o’ London court,

76 His back’s been at the wa’;

77“And mony a friend that kiss’d his caup

78 Is now a fremit wight;

79But it’s ne’er be said o’ whisky Jean—

80 We’ll send the Border Knight.”

81Then slow raise Marjory o’ the Lochs,

82 And wrinkled was her brow,

83Her ancient weed was russet gray,

84 Her auld Scots bluid was true;

85“There’s some great folk set light by me,

86 I set as light by them;

87But I will send to London town

88 Wham I like best at hame.”

89Sae how this mighty plea may end,

90 Nae mortal wight can tell;

91God grant the King and ilka man

92 May look weel to himsel.

93 Note 1. Sanquhar. [back]

94Note 2. Sir James Johnston of Westerhall. [back]

95Note 3. Captain Patrick Millar of Dalswinton. [back]

96Note 4. The King. [back]

97Note 5. The Prince of Wales. [back]