This edition of the ballad obtained is composed of verses selected from three MS. copies, and two from recitation.  Two of the copies are in Herd’s MSS.; the third in that of Mrs Brown of Falkland.

A fragment of the original song, which is sometimes denominated Lord Gregory, or Love Gregory, was published in Mr Herd’s Collection, 1774, and, still more fully, in that of Laurie and Symington, 1792.  The story has been celebrated both by Burns and Dr Wolcott.

THE LASS OF LOCHROYAN.

  “O wha will shoe my bonny foot? 
   “And wha will glove my hand? 
  “And wha will lace my middle jimp
   “W’ a lang lang linen band?

  “O wha will kame my yellow hair
   “With a new made silver kame? 
  “And wha will father my young son
   “Till Lord Gregory come hame?”

  “Thy father will shoe thy bonny foot,
   “Thy mother will glove thy hand,
  “Thy sister will lace thy middle jimp,
   “Till Lord Gregory come to land.

  “Thy brother will kame thy yellow hair
    “With a new made silver kame,
  “And God will be thy bairn’s father
    “Till Lord Gregory come hame.”

  “But I will get a bonny boat,
    “And I will sail the sea;
  “And I will gang to Lord Gregory,
    “Since he canna come hame to me.”

  Syne she’s gar’d build a bonny boat,
    To sail the salt salt sea: 
  The sails were o’ the light-green silk,
    The tows[A] o’ taffety.

  She hadna sailed but twenty leagues,
    But twenty leagues and three,
  When she met wi’ a rank robber,
    And a’ his company.

  “Now whether are ye the queen hersell,
    “(For so ye weel might be)
  “Or are ye the lass of Lochroyan,
    “Seekin’ Lord Gregory?”

  “O I am neither the queen,” she said,
    “Nor sic I seem to be;
  “But I am the lass of Lochroyan,
    “Seekin’ Lord Gregory.”

  “O see na thou yon bonny bower? 
    “Its a’ covered o’er wi’ tiu: 
  “When thou hast sailed it round about,
    “Lord Gregory is within.”

  And when she saw the stately tower
    Shining sae clear and bright,
  Whilk stood aboon the jawing[B] wave,
    Built on a rock of height;

  Says—­“Row the boat, my mariners,
    “And bring me to the land! 
  “For yonder I see my love’s castle
    “Close by the salt sea strand.”

  She sailed it round, and sailed it round,
    And loud, loud, cried she—­
  “Now break, now break, ye Fairy charms,
    “And set my true love free!”

  She’s ta’en her young son in her arms,
   And to the door she’s gane;
  And long she knocked, and sair she ca’d,
   But answer got she nane.

  “O open the door, Lord Gregory! 
   “O open, and let me in! 
  “For the wind blaws through my yellow hair,
   “And the rain drops o’er my chin.”