Johnnie O’Breadisley (Johnie Cock)(Child No. 114)

Johnie arose on a May mornin
Called for watter tae wash his hands
Said, gae lowse tae me ma twa gray dugs
That lie bound in iron chains, chains
That lie bound in iron chains

Ye'll busk, ye'll busk ma twa gray dugs
Ye'll busk and mak them boun
For I'm awa tae the Broadspear Hill
Tae bring the dun deer doun, doun
Tae bring the dun deer doun

When Johnie's mither she heard o this
Her hands wi dule she wrang
Says, Johnie, for yer venison
Tae the greenwoods dinna gang, gang
Tae the greenwoods dinna gang

It's we hae plenty of guid white-breid
And plenty of guid red wine
So Johnie for yer venison
Tae the greenwoods dinna gang, gang
Tae the greenwoods dinna gang

But Johnie has breskit his guid benbow
His arraes, one by one
And he's awa tae the gay greenwoods
Tae pou the dun deer doun, doun
Tae pou the dun deer doun

Johnie shot, the dun deer lappit
She was wounded in the side
And atween the watter and the wood
The grayhoonds laid her pride, pride
The grayhoonds laid her pride

Johnie et o the venison
And the dugs drank o the bluid
And they all fell doun and fell fast asleep
Asleep as tho they'd been deid, deid
Asleep as tho they'd been deid

Then by there cam a silly auld man
And a silly auld man was he
And he's awa tae the king's forester
For tae tell on young Johnie-ie
Tae tell on young Johnie

Then up and spak the king's forester
And an angry man was he
Says, if this be Johnie O’Breadisley
A gar will mak him dee, dee
Ma faith will gar him dee

Stand oot, stand oot, ma noble dug
Stand oot and dinna flee
Stand fast, stand fast, ma guid grayhoonds
And we will mak them dee, dee
And we will mak them dee

Johnie shot the six o them
And the seeventh he has wounded sair
And he swung his [heuch] ower his horse's back
And he swore that he would hunt mair, mair
He swore that he would hunt mair