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FAUSE FOODRAGE.

NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

THIS ballad has been popular in many parts of Scotland. It is chiefly given from Mrs Brown of Falkland's MSS.The expression,

"The boy stared wild, like a gray goss hawk." Verse 31. strongly resembles that in Hardyknute,

"Norse e'en like gray goss hawk stared wild."

A circumstance, which led the editor to make the strictest enquiry into the authenticity of the song. But every doubt was removed by the evidence of a lady of high rank, who not only recollected the ballad, as having amused her infancy, but could repeat many of the verses; particularly those beautiful stanzas, from the 20th to the 25th. The editor is therefore compelled to believe, that the author of Hardyknute copied the old ballad; if the coincidence be not altogether accidental.

FAUSE FOODRAGE.

KING Easter has courted her for her lands,

King Wester for her fee;

King Honour for her comely face,

And for her fair bodie.

They had not been four months married,
As I have heard them tell,

Until the nobles of the land
Against them did rebel.

And they cast kevils* them amang,
And kevils them between;

And they cast kevils them amang,
Wha suld gae kill the king.

*Kevils-Lots.

O some said yea, and some said nay;
Their words did not agree;

Till up and got him, Fause Foodrage,
And swore it suld be he.

When bells were rung, and mass was sung, And a' men bound to bed,

King Honour and his gaye ladye

In a hie chamber were laid.

Then up and raise him, Fause Foodrage,

When a' were fast asleep,

And slew the porter in his lodge,

That watch and ward did keep.

O four and twenty silver keys

Hang hie upon a pin;
And aye, as ae door he did unlock,
He has fastened it him behind.

Then up and raise him, King Honour, Says-" What means a' this din? "Or what's the matter, Fause Foodrage, "Or wha has loot you in?"

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