J. F. Campbell Collection > Popular rhymes of Scotland

SJ98 POPULAR RHYMES OF SCOTLAND.
me in a form not the most satisfactory to an antiquary, but
the best that circumstances admitted of — namely, with a
number of verses composed as much from imagination as
from memory, to make out something like the whole piece.
These are marked with a dagger (t). It is obvious that
* Queen Mary' is a corruption for the name of the blessed
Virgin.
This night it is guid New'r E'en's night,
We're a' here Queen Mary's men ;
And we're come here to crave our right,
And that's before our lady.
The very first thing which we do crave,
We're a' here Queen Mary's men ;
A bonny white candle we must have,
And that's before om- lady.
Goodwife, gae to your butter ark,
And weigh us here ten mark.
Ten mark, ten pund.
Look that ye grip weel to the grand.*
Goodwife, gae to your geelin vat,
And fetch us here a skeel o' that.
tGang to your awTurie, gm ye please,
And bring frae there a yow-milk cheese.
And syne bi-ing here a sharping-stane,
We'll sharp om* whittles ilka ane.
Ye'll cut the cheese, and eke the round,
But aye take care ye cutna your thoom.
fGae fill the three-pint cog o' ale.
The maut maun be aboon the meal.
f We houp your ale is stark and stout,
For men to drink the auld year out.
Ye ken the weather's snaw and sleet,
Stir up the fire to wann our feet.
Om- shoon's made o' mare's skin,
Come open the door, and let's in.
The inner door being opened, a tremendous rush took place
towards the interior. The inmates furnished a long table
* In stooping into a deep ark, or chest, there is of course a danger of falling
in, unless the feet be kept firm to the ground.