Lady Ann
A Highland clan were in despair
Because their chief he had no heir,
And even the women of the clan,
Enchantments tried ’gainst Lady Ann.
They consulted prophets and seers,
And they at last did quell their fears;
If the clan would pilgrimage pay
To Saint Botham’s Shrine on Christmas Day.
If they but visited this shrine,
Then would a miracle divine
Make Chief and Lady happy pair,
And they would be bless’d with an heir.
The day arriv’d, it chill’d their blood,
For river was a mighty flood,
And through the storm they must trudge,
Then cross o’er a dangerous bridge.
Though great dimage the flood had made,
They reached the shrine, devotions paid;
And homeward now they wend their way
To cross again the flooded Spey.
Bridge was built of rough long plank,
Which halfway reached from bank to bank;
But while crossing this flooded stream
Lady Ann gave a sudden scream.
For Carlock push’d her in the river,
And she was borne away forever;
So at least old ruffian thought,
Though wicked schemes oft come to naught.
Superstitious was old Carlock;
He believed in witch and warlock,
And that oft times departed spirit
Would its home again inherit.
One night he sees a horrid sight,
It was Lady Ann dress’d in white;
To ruffian a deadly shock,
He flung himself from castle rock.
The chief at first o’ercome with fear,
Then to his heart press’d Lady dear,
Whom he had nivnn up for lost,
And thought at first she was a ghost.
But the kind miller of Clack Clam,
With the great flood had lost his dam;
Himself, and son, and wife and daughter,
All were working near the water.
Quite suddenly the miller’s son
Ran to the house to get his gun;
He saw what he methought was swan,
Which prov’d to be the Lady Ann.
At first they thought that she was dead,
And carried her to a warm bed;
There full soon she did recover,
And was happier than ever.
After her floating on the waters,
She gave birth to sons and daughters,
And ne’er had cause for to repine
Her pilgrimage into the shrine.