Minstrelsy of the Scottish border - National Library of Scotland

52 MINSTRELSY OF
COSPATRICK.
NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.
A copy of this Ballad, materially different from that whichfol-
lows, appeared in " Scottish Songs," 2 vols. Edinburgh, il 92,
under the title of Lord Bothwell. Some stanzas Imve been
transferred from thence to the present copy, which is taken
down from the recitation of a Lady, nearly related to the
Editor. Some readings have been also adoptedfrom a third
copy, in Mrs Brown's MS., under the title o/" Child Bren-
ton. Cospatrick (Comes Patricius) was the designation of
the Earl of Dunbar, in the days o/" Wallace and Bruce.
Cospatrick has sent o'er the faem ;
Cospatrick brought his ladye hame ;
And fourscore ships have come her Avi"
The ladye by the grene-wood tree.