with critical observations and biographical notices, by Robert Burns

189
searching her house to apprehend him for being an
adherent to the solemn league and covenant.— The
pious imman had put M'Xadijs night-cap on him,
and had laid him a-bed with her ozcn daughter, and
passed him to the soldiery as a lady, her daughter's
bed-fellozi).—A mutilated stanza or two are to be
found in Herd's collection, but the original song
consists offive or six stanzas, and were their delicacy
equal to their wit a7id humor, they would merit a
place in any collection.— The first stanza is,—
Being pursued by the dragoons.
Within my bed he was laid down
And well I wat he was worth his room.
For he was my daintie Davie.
Ramsay s song, Luckie Nansie, though he calls it an
old song with additions, seems to be all his own, ex-
cept the chorus, which 1 should conjecture to be
part of a song, prior to the affair of Williamson.^
* The Editor has been honoured with the following communi-
cation respecting this song from Lord Woodhouselee.
" I have reason to believe that no part of the words of this
song was written by Ramsay. I have been informed by good
authority, that the words, as printed in Ramsay's Collection,
were written by the Hon. Duncan Forbes, Lord President of
the Court of Session. The words of another Scots air, which
have much merit, ' Merry may the Maid be that marries the
Miller j' were written by Sir John Clerk, of Pennicuik, Baron of
Exchequer in Scotland,"
;
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