Jamiesou adopted the "Binnorie" burden without saying distinctly where it came from. We have selected the version in Allingham's collection as the best and probably the most authentic. Opinions differ as to the pronunciation of Binnorie. Lockhart and Aytoun say the accent should be on the first syllable; other and equally good authorities say Binno'rie.

There were twa sisters sat in a bow'r;
(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

A knight cam' there, a noble wooer,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

But he loved the youngest aboon a' thing, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The eldest she was vexéd sair,

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And sair envíed her sister fair,

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

Upon a morning fair and clear (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

She cried upon her sister dear,

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, sister, tak' my hand," (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

"And let's go down to the river-strand, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie."

She's talen her by the lily hand, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And down they went to the river-strand, By the bouny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The youngest stood upon a stane,

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

The eldest cam' and pushed her in,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, sister, reach your hand!" (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

"And ye sall be heir o' half my land". By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O sister, reach me but your glove!" (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) "And sweet William sall be your love"By the bonny mill-dams o' Biunorie.

Sometimes she sank, sometimes she swam, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

Till she cam' to the mouth o' yon mill-dam, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

Out then cam' the miller's son

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And saw the fair maid soummin' in, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

"O father, father, draw your dam!" (Binnorie, O Binnorie!) "There's either a mermaid or a swan,"

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

The miller quickly drew the dam,

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And there he found a drowned womán, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie. Round about her middle sma'

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

There went a gowden girdle bra',

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

All amang her yellow hair

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

A string o' pearls was twisted rare,
By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

On her fingers, lily-white,

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!) The jewel-rings were shining bright, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And by there cam' a harper fine,

(Binnorie, O Binnorie!) Harpéd to nobles when they dine,

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And when he looked that lady on, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

He sighed and made a heavy moan,

By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He's ta'en three locks o' her yellow hair, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And wi' them strung his harp sae rare, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

He went into her father's hall, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

And played his harp before them all, By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

And sune the harp sang loud and clear, (Binnorie, O Binnorie!)

"Fareweel, my father and mither dear!" By the bonny mill-dams o' Binnorie.

Long while thou hast been tarrying here,
And fain thou wouldst me kill;
But i' faith, dull care,

Thou never shalt have thy will.

Too much care

Will make a young man gray; Too much care

Will turn an old man to clay.

My wife shall dance, and I will sing,
So merrily pass the day;

For I hold it is the wisest thing
To drive dull care away.

Hence, dull care!

I'll none of thy company; Hence, dull care!

Thou art no pair for me.

We'll hunt the wild boar through the wold,
So merrily pass the day;

And then at night, o'er a cheerful bowl,
We'll drive dull care away.

MAN'S MORTALITY.

SIMON WASTELL (1560-1630).

Like as the damask rose you see,
Or like the blossom on the tree,
Or like the dainty flower in May,
Or like the morning of the day,
Or like the sun, or like the shade,
Or like the gourd which Jonas had;-
Even such is man, whose thread is spun,
Drawn out and cut, and so is done.

The rose withers, the blossom blasteth;
The flower fades, the morning hasteth;
The sun sets, the shadow flies;

The gourd consumes, and man he dies.

Like to the grass that's newly sprung,
Or like a tale that's new begun,
Or like the bird that's here to-day,
Or like the pearléd dew of May,
Or like an hour, or like a span,
Or like the singing of a swan ;
Even such is man, who lives by breath,
Is here, now there, in life and death.

The grass withers, the tale is ended;
The bird is flown, the dew's ascended;
The hour is short, the span not long;
The swan near death; man's life is done.

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN-A-DALE.
ANONYMOUS.

Come, listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that love mirth for to hear,
And I will tell you of a bold outlaw
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the greenwood tree,

There he was aware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay;

And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood
Amongst the leaves so gay,

There did he espy the same young man

Come drooping along the way. The scarlet he wore the day before

It was clean cast away;

And at every step he fetched a sigh"Alack, and a well-a-day!"

Then stepped forth brave Little John,

And Midge, the miller's son,

Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he saw them come.

"Stand off, stand off!" the young man said;
"What is your will with me?"
"You must come before our master straight,
Under yon greenwood tree."

And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin asked him courteously,
"Oh, hast thou any money to spare

For my merry men and me?"
"I have no money," the young man said,
"But five shillings and a ring;

And that I have kept this seven long years, To have it at my wedding.

"Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she soon from me was ta'en,
And chosen to be an old knight's delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain."

"What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood;
"Come, tell me without any fail."

"By the faith of my body," then said the young

man,

"My name it is Allin-a-Dale."

"What wilt thou give me," said Robin Hood,

"In ready gold or fee,