Unto his uncle then He rode with might and main, Who with a welcome and good cheer Did Barnwell entertain.
One fortnight's space he stayed, 125 Until it chanced so, His uncle with his cattle did Unto a market go.
His kinsman rode with him, Where he did see right plain, 130 Great store of money he had took: When, coming home again,
Sudden within a wood, He struck his uncle down, And beat his brains out of his head; 135 So sore he crackt his crown.
Then seizing fourscore pound, To London straight he hyed, And unto Sarah Millwood all The cruell fact descryed. 140
"Tush, 'tis no matter, George, So we the money have To have good cheer in jolly sort, And deck us fine and brave."
Thus lived in filthy sort, 145 Until their store was gone: When means to get them any more, I-wis poor George had none.
Therefore in railing sort, She thrust him out of door; 150 Which is the just reward of those, Who spend upon a whore.
"O do me not disgrace In this my need," quoth he: She called him thief and murderer, 155 With all the spight might be.
To the constable she sent, To have him apprehended; And shewed how far, in each degree, He had the laws offended. 160
When Barnwell saw her drift, To sea he got straightway; Where fear and sting of conscience Continually on him lay.
Unto the lord mayor then, 165 He did a letter write, In which his own and Sarah's fault He did at large recite.
Whereby she seized was, And then to Ludlow sent, 170 Where she was judg'd, condemn'd, and hang'd, For murder incontinent.
There dyed this gallant quean, Such was her greatest gains; For murder in Polonia, 175 Was Barnwell hang'd in chains.
Lo! here's the end of youth That after harlots haunt, Who in the spoil of other men About the streets do flaunt. 180
120. i.e. for stopping and apprehending him at his father's. P.
From Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 23. Annexed is a less perfect copy from Kinloch's collection. A fragment of this piece is printed in Cromek's _Select Scottish Songs by R. Burns_, (ii. 196,) with some stanzas of _Willy's drowned in Yarrow_, (vol. ii. p. 181, of this collection.) Mr. Aytoun has made up a very good ballad from several copies; _Ballads of Scotland_, 2, 236.
As I gaed in yon greenwood side, I heard a fair maid singing; Her voice was sweet, she sang sae complete, That all the woods were ringing.