the five carlins

an election ballad.

tune—“chevy chase.”

there was five carlins in the south,

they fell upon a scheme,

to send a lad to london town,

to bring them tidings hame.

nor only bring them tidings hame,

but do their errands there,

and aiblins gowd and honor baith

might be that laddie's share.

there was maggy by the banks o' nith,

a dame wi' pride eneugh;

and marjory o' the mony lochs,

a carlin auld and teugh.

and blinkin bess of annandale,

that dwelt near solway-side;

and whisky jean, that took her gill,

in galloway sae wide.

and auld black joan frae crichton peel,

o' gipsy kith an' kin;

five wighter carlins were na found

the south countrie within.

to send a lad to london town,

they met upon a day;

and mony a knight, and mony a laird,

this errand fain wad gae.

o mony a knight, and mony a laird,

this errand fain wad gae;

but nae ane could their fancy please,

o ne'er a ane but twae.

the first ane was a belted knight,

bred of a border band;

and he wad gae to london town,

might nae man him withstand.

and he wad do their errands weel,

and meikle he wad say;

and ilka ane about the court

wad bid to him gude-day.

the neist cam in a soger youth,

who spak wi' modest grace,

and he wad gae to london town,

if sae their pleasure was.

he wad na hecht them courtly gifts,

nor meikle speech pretend;

but he wad hecht an honest heart,

wad ne'er desert his friend.

now, wham to chuse, and wham refuse,