The Scotch Lover's Lamentation: OR, GILDEROY's Last FAREWEL.

Title

The Scotch Lover's Lamentation: OR, GILDEROY's Last FAREWEL.

Synopsis

Woman laments execution of her lover Gilderoy

Digital Object

Image / Audio Credit

Magdalene College - Pepys Library, Pepys Ballads 5.354; EBBA 22181

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Gilderoy

Transcription

GIlderoy was a bonny Boy, had roses tull his shun,
His stockins made of the finest silk, his garters hanging duwn:
It was a comely sight to see, he were so trim a Boy;
He was my Joy and Heart's Delight, my handsom Gilderoy.

Oh, sick a charming eyen he had, a breath as sweet as rose,
He never wore a Highland-plad, but costly silken cloaths:
He gain'd the love of Ladies gay, there's none to him was coy;
Ah, way's me, Ise mourn this day for my dear Gilderoy.

My Gilderoy and I was born both in one Town together,
Not passing seven years ago, since one did love each other:
Our Daddies and our Mammies both, were cloath'd with mickle joy,
To think upon the bridal-day, betwixt I and my Gilderoy.

For Gilderoy, that Love of mine, geud faith Ise freely bought
A wedding-sark of Holland fine, with silk in flowers wrought;
And he gave me a wedding-ring, which I receiv'd with joy;
No Lads or Lasses e'er could sing, like my sweet Gilderoy.

In mickle joy we spent our time, till we was both fifteen,
Then gently he did lay me down, amongst the leaves so green;
When he had done what he could do, he rose and gang'd his woy,
But ever since I lov'd the Man, my handsom Gilderoy.

While we did both together play, he kiss'd me o're and o're;
Geud faith it was as blith a day,
as e'er I saw before;
He fill'd my heart in e'ry vein, with love and mickle joy;
But when shall I behold again, mine own sweet Gilderoy?

'Tis pity Men should e'er be hang'd, that takes up Womens geer,
Or for their pelfering sheep or calves,
or stealing cow or mare;
Had not our laws been made so strict, I'd never lost my Joy,
Who was my Love and Heart's Delight, my handsom Gilderoy.

'Cause Gilderoy had done amiss, must he be punish'd then?
What kind of cruelty is this,
to hang such handsom Men?
The Flower of the Scotish Land, a sweet and lively Boy,
He likewise had a Lady's hand, my handsom Gilderoy.

At Leith they took my Gilderoy, and there, God wot, they bang'd him,
Carry'd him to fair Edenburgh,
and there, God wot, they hang'd him,
They hang'd him up above the rest, he was so trim a Boy,
My only Love and Heart's Delight, my handsom Gilderoy.

Thus having yielded up his breath, in cyprus he was laid;
Then for my Dearest, after death, a funeral I made;
Over his grave a marble-stone I fixed for my Joy;
Now I am left to weep alone, for my dear Gilderoy.

Method of Punishment

hanging

Crime(s)

poaching

Gender

Execution Location

Edinburgh

Printing Location

LONDON: Printed for C. Bates, at the Sun and Bible, in Pye-corner.

Tune Data

Gilderoy (Simpson 1966, pp. 252-54)

Files

Pepys_5_0354_XL_iBase.jpg

Citation

“The Scotch Lover's Lamentation: OR, GILDEROY's Last FAREWEL.,” Execution Ballads, accessed March 29, 2024, https://omeka.cloud.unimelb.edu.au/execution-ballads/items/show/967.

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