Chapter XXXVI The Laird o’ Logie
In 1592, the Earl of Bothwell, Francis Stuart, failed in an attempt against King James VI., whom he tried to surprise in the palace of Falkland. Amongst his adherents, whom he sought about the King’s person, was the hero of this ballad, the Laird of Logie, who was taken prisoner and laid in Edinburgh chapel in the keeping of Sir John Carmichael, the hero of the ballad called the “Raid of Reidswire.” Carmichael was at this time captain of the King’s Guard, and had the keeping of State criminals.
I will sing, if ye will hearken,
If ye will hearken unto me;
The King has ta’en a poor prisoner,
The wanton laird o’ young Logie.
Young Logie’s laid in Edinburgh chapel,
Carmichael’s the keeper o’ the key;
And may Margaret’s lamenting sair,
A’ for the love of young Logie.
“Lament, lament na, may Margaret,
And of your weeping let me be;
For ye maun to the King himsell,
To seek the life of young Logie.”
May Margaret has kilted her green cleiding,[#]
And she has curl’d back her yellow hair—
“If I canna get young Logie’s life,
Farewell to Scotland for evermair.”
[#] Clothing.
When she came before the King,
She kneelit lowly on her knee—
“O what’s the matter, may Margaret?
And what needs a’ this courtesie?”
“A boon, a boon, my noble liege,
A boon, a boon, I beg o’ thee!
And the first boon that I come to crave,
Is to grant me the life of young Logie.”
“O na, O na, may Margaret,
Forsooth, and so it mauna be;
For a’ the gowd o’ fair Scotland
Shall not save the life of young Logie.”
But she has stown[#] the King’s redding kaim,[#]
Likewise the Queen her wedding knife,
And sent the tokens to Carmichael,
To cause young Logie get his life.
[#] Stolen.
[#] Dressing comb.
She sent him a purse of the red gowd,
Another o’ the white monie;
She sent him a pistol for each hand,
And bade him shoot when he gat free.
When he came to the Tolbooth stair,
There he let his volley flee;
It made the King in his chamber start,
E’en in the bed where he might be.
“Gae out, gae out, my merrymen a’,
And bid Carmichael come speak to me;
For I’ll lay my life the pledge o’ that,
That yon’s the shot o’ young Logie.”
When Carmichael came before the King,
He fell low down upon his knee;
The very first word that the King spake,
Was—“Where’s the laird of young Logie?”
Carmichael turn’d him round about
(I wot the tear blinded his ee),
“There came a token frae your grace,
Has ta’en away the laird frae me.”
“Hast thou play’d me that, Carmichael?
And hast thou play’d me that?” quoth he;
“The morn the justice-court’s to stand,
And Logie’s place ye maun supplie.”
Carmichael’s awa to Margaret’s bower,
Even as fast as he may dree—
“O if young Logie be within,
Tell him to come and speak with me!”
May Margaret turn’d her round about
(I wot a loud laugh laughed she),
“The egg is chipp’d, the bird is flown,
Ye’ll see nae mair of young Logie.”