Now, Johnnie, be as good's your word ; When Johnnie Cope he heard of this, Fie now, Johnnie, get up and rin, When Johnnie Cope to Dunbar came, For I left them a' in the morning. Now, Johnnie, troth ye are na blate Sae early in the morning. Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c. Oh, faith! quo' Johnnie, I got sic flegs Hey, Johnnie Cope, &c. This highly popular song was written when the Highlanders were in full and joyous excitement at the defeat of the king's forces at Prestonpans, by Prince Charles, on the 22d of September, 1745. The battle has been sometimes called the battle of Tranent Muir, and of Gladsmuir. Sir John Cope, it will be remembered, was tried by a court-martial for his sudden retreat on this occasion, and acquitted. The author of this song was a farmer in Haddingtonshire. CARLE, AN THE KING COME. ANONYMOUS. Air-" Carle, an the king come." CARLE, an the king come, Carle, an the king come, Thou shalt dance and I will sing, An somebody were come again, I trow we swappit for the worse, When yellow corn grows on the rigs, Nae mair wi' pinch and drouth we'll dine, Cogie, an the king come, Cogie, an the king come, I'se be fou, and thou'se be toom, The chorus of this song, known to have been sung in the time of Cromwell, has served on several occasions, not only in the Parliamentary struggles of Charles I., but in the rebellions of 1715 and 1745. Sir Walter Scott wrote a parody or imitation of it, entitled, "Carle, now the king's come," on occasion of the visit of George IV. to his Scottish dominions. THE BLACK BIRD. From the "Tea-Table Miscellany," 1724. UPON a fair morning, for soft recreation, My thoughts they deceive me, reflections do grieve me, Yet if death should blind me, as true love inclines me, My black bird I'll seek out wherever he be. Once into fair England my black bird did flourish, But since that false fortune, which still is uncertain, The birds of the forest all met together; He's all my heart's treasure, my joy and my pleasure, In England my black bird and I were together, In England he seemeth a stranger to be; What if the fowler my black bird has taken! And hope yet to see him in May or in June. It is not the ocean can fright me wi' danger, I pray Heaven, so spacious, to Britain be gracious, My black bird with honour, wherever he be ! The "black bird" was a name given to the "Chevalier" for his black complexion. It has often excited surprise that Allan Ramsay should have admitted so dangerous a song into his harmless and loyal collection. The allegory can scarcely be said to have been obscure and complicated enough to have deceived him as to its real meaning. LEWIS GORDON. DR. ALEXANDER GEDDES, born 1737, died 1802. Он, send Lewie Gordon hame, This lovely youth of whom I sing On his breast he wears a star,- Oh, to see this princely one Then begins the jub❜lee year. The "Lewis Gordon" of this song was a son of the Duke of Gordon. He was implicated in the affair of 1745, but fled to France after the defeat of Culloden. WHAT'S A' THE STEER? ANONYMOUS. 1745. WHAT'S a' the steer, kimmer? Charlie he is landed, An', haith, he'll soon be here. I'm right glad to hear't, kimmer, We hae nae mair to fear; |