No LVIII.

TAM LIN.

Perhaps some information may be collected from the following extract from the Records of Justiciary in Scotland, respecting the popular superstition on which this ballad is founded. I have made some considerable alterations in the tale itself." Alison Pearson, of Byre-hill, confest, that she had "haunted, and repaired with the gude neighbours, (i, e. Fairies) and the "Queen of Elfland, divers years by past, and that she had friends in that court, whilk were of her own blude. Item, that it was the gude neigh"bours, that cured her of her disease, when she was twelve years old, and "that she saw them making their salves, with pans and fyres; that they gathered the herbs before the sun was up; and that Mr. William Sympson was with him, who was her cousin. When he was about eight years of age, he was taken away to Egypt, by an Egyptian, who was a "giant, and with him he remained twelve years, and then came home. He

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was a young man, not six years older than herself; and, it was he, who "taught her what herbs were fit to cure every disease, and particularly "taught her to make a posset, which she gave to the Bishop of St. Andrews, "when sick; and, Mr. William Sympson told her that he had been carried away by the gude neighbours, and bade her sign herself, that she might 66 not be taken away for the tiend of them who are taken to hell every "year."

The sole evidence against this poor creature, was her own confession, on the strength of which she was burned alive, in 1588.

-"ON! I forbid maidens all,

you,

"That wear gold in your hair, "To come or go by Kerton-hall,

"For young Tam Lin, is there!

"To the maid who goes by Kerton-hall, "Some foul trick still is play'd;

"She loses her ring, or her mantle of green, "Or returns not thence a maid."

Janet has belted her kirtle of green,
A little above her knee,
And she's away to Kerton-hall,
As fast as go can she.

And when she came to Kerton-hall,

Tam Lin was at the well;

There she found his milk-white steed,

But he was away himsel.

And near her was a bonny bush

Of roses, red and white,

And tempting did those roses seem,

And no one was in sight.

She pull'd a white, she pull'd a red,

And ask'd no owner's leave;

When lo! from the bush sprang young Tam Lin, And caught her by the sleeve,

"Now Janet, say, who gave to thee, "Yon roses in thy hand,

"And why comest thou to Kerton-hall,

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Against my strict command?

"Who stole a rose from

young

Tam Lin,

"Its price hath ever paid;

"And the maid who came to Kerton-hall,

"Never yet return'd a maid."

He fix'd on her his witching eye,
He muttered elfin charms;

Her head grew light, her heart beat quick,
And she sank into his arms.

Janet has kilted her kirtle of green,
A little above her knee,

And she's away to her father's tower,
As fast as go can she.

Four and twenty ladies fair,
Were seen to play at ball,

And out then came fair Janet once,
The flower among them all.

Four and twenty ladies fair,

To play at chess were seen,

And out fair Janet came, her face
As any grass was green.

Out then spake an old

grey knight,

As he lay on the castle wall,

And says" Alas! fair Janet, for thee,

"Shall we now be blamed all."

"Father my bairn whoever will,

"I'll father none on thee !"

Out then, spake her father dear,

And he spake so meek and mild; -"And ever, alas! sweet Janet," he says, "I think thou art with child!".

"If that I be with child, father,

"Myself must bear the blame;

"There's never a laird about

your hall,

"Shall bear my leman's name.

"But if my love were an earthly knight,

"For never a laird in the land, would I

"Is lighter than the wind;

"With silver he is shod before,

"With burning gold behind.".

Janet has kilted her kirtle of green,
A little above her knee,
And she's away to Kerton-hall,
As fast as go can she.

And first she pull'd a white rose,

And next she pull'd a red,

And then from the bush sprang young Tam Lin,

And thus to her he said.

-"Now Janet, say, who gave to thee

"Yon roses in thy hand?

"And why comest thou to Kerton-hall