X.
THE GABERLUNYIE MAN.
A SCOTTISH SONG.
Tradition informs us that the author of this song was King James V. of Scotland. This prince (whose character for wit and libertinism bears a great resemblance to that of his gay successor, Charles II.) was noted for strolling about his dominions in disguise,[349] and for his frequent gallantries with country girls. Two adventures of this kind he hath celebrated with his own pen, viz. in this ballad of _The Gaberlunyie Man_; and in another intitled _The Jolly Beggar_, beginning thus:
"Thair was a jollie beggar, and a begging he was boun, And he tuik up his quarters into a land'art toun. Fa, la, la," &c.
It seems to be the latter of these ballads (which was too licentious to be admitted into this collection) that is meant in the _Catalogue of Royal and Noble Authors_,[350] where the ingenious writer remarks, that "there is something very ludicrous in the young woman's distress when she thought her first favour had been thrown away upon a beggar."
Bishop Tanner has attributed to James V. the celebrated ballad of _Christ's Kirk on the Green_, which is ascribed to King James I. in Bannatyne's MS. written in 1568: and, notwithstanding that authority, the editor of this book is of opinion that Bishop Tanner was right.
King James V. died Dec. 13th, 1542, aged 33.
* * * * *
[James V. was called the _King of the Commons_, from his popular manners and vagrant habit, and many stories are told of his adventures when in disguise. One of these is worth relating here. On a certain occasion he heard himself abused by a country lad as a tyrant and a man odious in every respect, until, unable to restrain himself, he threw off his disguise, and told his accuser that he was the king. "Are you really the king?" said the lad, retaining his self-possession; "weel, ye'll maybe hae heard o' my father: he gaed daft three days regularly every year, and in a' that time spoke naething but lies and nonsense: now I'm exactly the same way, and this is _one of my three days_." There is no authority for attributing the present song to James V., except ancient and universal tradition. The word _gaberlunyie_ is compounded of _gaber_, a wallet, and _lunyie_, the loins: hence a travelling tinker or beggar carrying a wallet by his side, was called a "gaberlunyie man." Scott has sketched a vivid portrait of one of these privileged beggars in his _Antiquary_, Edie Ochiltree, to wit. The _Jolly Beggar_ is printed in Herd's _Scottish Songs_, ii. 164, and in Ritson's _Scottish Songs_, i. 168. Competent authorities are not willing to take the credit of the authorship of _Christ's Kirk on the Green_ from James I. and give it to James V.]
* * * * *
The pauky auld Carle[351] came ovir the lee Wi' mony good-eens and days to mee, Saying, Goodwife, for your courtesie, Will ye lodge a silly[352] poor man? The night was cauld, the carle was wat, 5 And down ayont the ingle[353] he sat; My dochters shoulders he gan to clap, And cadgily[354] ranted and sang.
O wow![355] quo he, were I as free, As first when I saw this countrie, 10 How blyth and merry wad I bee! And I wad nevir think lang. He grew canty,[356] and she grew fain;[357] But little did her auld minny ken[358] What thir slee twa[359] togither were say'n, 15 When wooing they were sa thrang.[360]
And O! quo he, ann ye were as black, As evir the crown of your dadyes hat, Tis I wad lay thee by my back, And awa wi' me thou sould gang. 20 And O! quoth she, ann I were as white, As evir the snaw lay on the dike, Ild clead me braw,[361] and lady-like, And awa with thee Ild gang.
Between the twa was made a plot; 25 They raise a wee before the cock, And wyliely they shot the lock, And fast to the bent are they gane. Up the morn the auld wife raise,[362] And at her leisure put on her claiths, 30 Syne to the servants bed she gaes To speir for the silly poor man.
She gaed to the bed, whair the beggar lay, The strae was cauld, he was away, She clapt her hands, cryd, Dulefu' day! 35 For some of our geir will be gane. Some ran to coffer, and some to kist,[363] But nought was stown[364] that could be mist. She dancid her lane,[365] cryd, Praise be blest, I have lodgd a leal poor man. 40
Since naithings awa, as we can learn, The kirns to kirn,[366] and milk to earn, Gae butt the house,[367] lass, and waken my bairn, And bid her come quickly ben.[368] The servant gaed where the dochter lay, 45 The sheets was cauld, she was away, And fast to her goodwife can say, Shes aff with the gaberlunyie-man.
O fy gar ride, and fy gar rin, And hast ye, find these traitors agen; 50 For shees be burnt, and hees be slein, The wearyfou[369] gaberlunyie-man. Some rade upo horse, some ran a fit, The wife was wood,[370] and out o' her wit; She could na gang, nor yet could she sit, 55 But ay did curse and did ban.
Mean time far hind out owre the lee, For snug in a glen, where nane could see, The twa, with kindlie sport and glee, Cut frae a new cheese a whang.[371] 60 The priving[372] was gude, it pleas'd them baith, To lo'e her for ay, he gae her his aith. Quo she, to leave thee, I will be laith, My winsome gaberlunyie-man.
O kend my minny I were wi' you, 65 Illfardly[373] wad she crook her mou,[374] Sic a poor man sheld nevir trow, Aftir the gaberlunyie-mon. My dear, quo he, yee're yet owre yonge; And hae na learnt the beggars tonge, 70 To follow me frae toun to toun, And carrie the gaberlunyie on.
Wi' kauk and keel,[375] Ill win your bread, And spindles and whorles[376] for them wha need, Whilk is a gentil trade indeed 75 The gaberlunyie to carrie--o. Ill bow my leg and crook my knee, And draw a black clout owre my ee, A criple or blind they will cau me: While we sail sing and be merrie--o. 80
FOOTNOTES:
[349] Sc. of a tinker, beggar, &c. Thus he used to visit a smith's daughter at Niddry, near Edinburgh.
[350] Vol. ii. p. 203.
[351] [sly old man.]
[352] [simple or poor.]
[353] [beyond the fire.]
[354] [merrily.]
[355] [exclamation of admiration or surprise.]
[356] [merry.]
[357] [fond.]
[358] [mother know.]
[359] [these sly two.]
[360] [so close.]
[361] [clad me handsomely.]
[362] Ver. 29. The carline, other copies.
[363] [chest.]
[364] [stolen.]
[365] [alone by herself.]
[366] [churns to churn.]
[367] [go to the outer apartment.]
[368] [in.]
[369] [troublesome.]
[370] [mad.]
[371] [slice.]
[372] [proof.]
[373] [ill-favouredly.]
[374] [mouth.]
[375] [chalk and ruddle.]
[376] [instruments used for spinning in Scotland.]