A collection of ancient and modern Scottish ballads, etc

93
THE YOUNG LAIRD OF OCHILTRIE.
fThh ballad, it is conjectured, is founded on the following
circumstance, which took place in 1592, when Both well
was carrying on his schemes against the person of James
VI. The name of the hero has been changed by reciters
from Bogie, as in the story, to Ochiltrie, for what reason
has not been discovered.—
*' At the same time^ John Weymis^ younger of Bogie, gen-
tleman of his majesty's chamber, and in great favour both
with the king and queen, was discovered to have tlie like
dealing with Bothwell ; and, being committed to the
keeping of the guard, escaped by the policy of one of the
Putch maids, with whom he entertained a secret love.
The gentlewoman, named Mistress Margaret Twinslace,
coming one night, whilst the king and the queen were in
bed, to his keepers, shewed that the king called for the
prisoner, to ask of him some question. The keepers,
suspecting nothing, for they knew her to be the princi^
pal maid iu the chamber, conveighed him to the door of
the bed-chamber; and, making a stay without, as they
were commanded, the gentlewoman did let him down at
a window, by a cord that she had prepared. The keep-
ers, waiting upon his return, stayed there till the morn-
ing, and then found themselves deceived. This, with
the manner of the escape, ministered great occasion of
laughter; and, not many days after, the king being pad-