181THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY
A.‘The Bonny Earl of Murray,’ Ramsay’s Tea-Table Miscellany, 11th ed., London, 1750, p. 356 (vol. iv).
B.‘The Bonnie Earl o Murray,’ Finlay’s Scottish Ballads, II, 11.
Ais not in the ninth edition of the Tea-Table Miscellany, 1733, but may be in the tenth (1736? 1740?), which I have not seen. It is printed in Percy’s Reliques, 1765, II, 210, and in many subsequent collections: Herd’s Scots Songs, 1769, p. 32; Ritson’s Scottish Songs, 1794, II, 29; Johnson’s Museum, No 177; etc.
James Stewart, son of Sir James Stewart of Doune, became Earl of Murray in consequence of his marriage with the oldest daughter and heiress of the Regent Murray. “He was a comely personage, of a great stature, and strong of body like a kemp.”[289]There was a violent hostility between Murray and the Earl of Huntly. The occurrence which is the subject of the ballad may be narrated in the least space by citing the account given by Spottiswood. After his assault on Holyrood House in December (or September), 1591, “Bothwell went into the north, looking to be supplied by the Earl of Murray, his cousin-german; which the king suspecting, Andrew Lord Ochiltrie was sent to bring Murray unto the south, of purpose to work a reconcilement betwixt him and Huntly. But a rumor being raised in the mean while that the Earl of Murray was seen in the palace with Bothwell on the night of the enterprise, the same was entertained by Huntly (who waited then at court) to make him suspected of the king, and prevailed so far as he did purchase a commission to apprehend and bring Murray to his trial. The nobleman, not fearing that any such course should be used, was come to Donibristle, a house situated on the north side of Forth, and belonging to his mother the lady Doune. Huntly, being advertised of his coming, and how he lay there secure, accompanied only with the Sheriff of Murray and a few of his own retinue, went thither and beset the house, requiring him to render. The Earl of Murray refusing to put himself in the hands of his enemy, after some defence made, wherein the sheriff was killed, fire was set to the house, and they within forced by the violence of the smoke and flame to come forth. The earl staid a great space after the rest, and, the night falling down, ventured among his enemies, and, breaking through the midst of them, did so far outrun them all as they supposed he was escaped; yet searching him among the rocks, he was discovered by the tip of his head-piece, which had taken fire before he left the house, and unmercifully slain. The report went that Huntly’s friends, fearing he should disclaim the fact (for he desired rather to have taken him alive), made him light from his horse and give some strokes to the dead corpse.... The death of the nobleman was universally lamented, and the clamors of the people so great ... that the king, not esteeming it safe to abide at Edinburgh, removed with the council to Glasgow, where he remained until Huntly did enter himself in ward in Blackness, as he was charged. But he staid not there many days, being dimitted, upon caution, to answer before the justice whensoever he should be called. The corpses of the Earl and Sheriff of Murray were brought to the church of Leith in two coffins, and there lay divers months unburied, their friends refusing to commit their bodies to the earth till the slaughter was punished. Nor did anyman think himself so much interested in that fact as the Lord Ochiltrie, who had persuaded the Earl of Murray to come south; whereupon he fell afterwards away to Bothwell, and joined with him for revenge of the murder.”
This outrage was done in the month of February, 1592. Huntly sheltered himself under the king’s commission, and was not punished. He was no doubt a dangerous man to discipline, but the king, perhaps because he believed Murray to be an abettor of Bothwell, showed no disposition that way.
According to Sir James Balfour, “the queen, more rashly than wisely, some few days before had commended” Murray, “in the king’s hearing, with too many epithets of a proper and gallant man.” Balfour may have had gossip, or he may have had a ballad, for his authority (seeA5); the suggestion deserves no attention.[290]
InBthe Countess of Murray is treated as the sister of Huntly.
Ais translated by Grundtvig, Engelske og skotske Folkeviser, No 8, p. 52; by Herder, II, 71.Bby Arndt, Blütenlese, p. 196.
Ramsay’s Tea-Table Miscellany, 1763, p. 356.
1Ye Highlands, and ye Lawlands,Oh where have you been?They have slain the Earl of Murray,And they layd him on the green.2‘Now wae be to thee, Huntly!And wherefore did you sae?I bade you bring him wi you,But forbade you him to slay.’3He was a braw gallant,And he rid at the ring;And the bonny Earl of Murray,Oh he might have been a king!4He was a braw gallant,And he playd at the ba;And the bonny Earl of MurrayWas the flower amang them a’.5He was a braw gallant,And he playd at the glove;And the bonny Earl of Murray,Oh he was the Queen’s love!6Oh lang will his ladyLook oer the castle Down,Eer she see the Earl of MurrayCome sounding thro the town!Eer she, etc.
1Ye Highlands, and ye Lawlands,Oh where have you been?They have slain the Earl of Murray,And they layd him on the green.2‘Now wae be to thee, Huntly!And wherefore did you sae?I bade you bring him wi you,But forbade you him to slay.’3He was a braw gallant,And he rid at the ring;And the bonny Earl of Murray,Oh he might have been a king!4He was a braw gallant,And he playd at the ba;And the bonny Earl of MurrayWas the flower amang them a’.5He was a braw gallant,And he playd at the glove;And the bonny Earl of Murray,Oh he was the Queen’s love!6Oh lang will his ladyLook oer the castle Down,Eer she see the Earl of MurrayCome sounding thro the town!Eer she, etc.
1Ye Highlands, and ye Lawlands,Oh where have you been?They have slain the Earl of Murray,And they layd him on the green.
1
Ye Highlands, and ye Lawlands,
Oh where have you been?
They have slain the Earl of Murray,
And they layd him on the green.
2‘Now wae be to thee, Huntly!And wherefore did you sae?I bade you bring him wi you,But forbade you him to slay.’
2
‘Now wae be to thee, Huntly!
And wherefore did you sae?
I bade you bring him wi you,
But forbade you him to slay.’
3He was a braw gallant,And he rid at the ring;And the bonny Earl of Murray,Oh he might have been a king!
3
He was a braw gallant,
And he rid at the ring;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he might have been a king!
4He was a braw gallant,And he playd at the ba;And the bonny Earl of MurrayWas the flower amang them a’.
4
He was a braw gallant,
And he playd at the ba;
And the bonny Earl of Murray
Was the flower amang them a’.
5He was a braw gallant,And he playd at the glove;And the bonny Earl of Murray,Oh he was the Queen’s love!
5
He was a braw gallant,
And he playd at the glove;
And the bonny Earl of Murray,
Oh he was the Queen’s love!
6Oh lang will his ladyLook oer the castle Down,Eer she see the Earl of MurrayCome sounding thro the town!Eer she, etc.
6
Oh lang will his lady
Look oer the castle Down,
Eer she see the Earl of Murray
Come sounding thro the town!
Eer she, etc.
Finlay’s Scottish Ballads, II, 11; from recitation.
1‘Open the gates,and let him come in;He is my brother Huntly,he’ll do him nae harm.’2The gates they were opent,they let him come in,But fause traitor Huntly,he did him great harm.3He’s ben and ben,and ben to his bed,And with a sharp rapierhe stabbed him dead.4The lady came down the stair,wringing her hands:‘He has slain the Earl o Murray,the flower o Scotland.’5But Huntly lap on his horse,rade to the king:‘Ye’re welcome hame, Huntly,and whare hae ye been?6‘Whare hae ye been?and how hae ye sped?’‘I’ve killed the Earl o Murray,dead in his bed.’7‘Foul fa you, Huntly!and why did ye so?You might have taen the Earl o Murray,and saved his life too.’8‘Her bread it’s to bake,her yill is to brew;My sister’s a widow,and sair do I rue.9‘Her corn grows ripe,her meadows grow green,But in bonny DinnibristleI darena be seen.’
1‘Open the gates,and let him come in;He is my brother Huntly,he’ll do him nae harm.’2The gates they were opent,they let him come in,But fause traitor Huntly,he did him great harm.3He’s ben and ben,and ben to his bed,And with a sharp rapierhe stabbed him dead.4The lady came down the stair,wringing her hands:‘He has slain the Earl o Murray,the flower o Scotland.’5But Huntly lap on his horse,rade to the king:‘Ye’re welcome hame, Huntly,and whare hae ye been?6‘Whare hae ye been?and how hae ye sped?’‘I’ve killed the Earl o Murray,dead in his bed.’7‘Foul fa you, Huntly!and why did ye so?You might have taen the Earl o Murray,and saved his life too.’8‘Her bread it’s to bake,her yill is to brew;My sister’s a widow,and sair do I rue.9‘Her corn grows ripe,her meadows grow green,But in bonny DinnibristleI darena be seen.’
1‘Open the gates,and let him come in;He is my brother Huntly,he’ll do him nae harm.’
1
‘Open the gates,
and let him come in;
He is my brother Huntly,
he’ll do him nae harm.’
2The gates they were opent,they let him come in,But fause traitor Huntly,he did him great harm.
2
The gates they were opent,
they let him come in,
But fause traitor Huntly,
he did him great harm.
3He’s ben and ben,and ben to his bed,And with a sharp rapierhe stabbed him dead.
3
He’s ben and ben,
and ben to his bed,
And with a sharp rapier
he stabbed him dead.
4The lady came down the stair,wringing her hands:‘He has slain the Earl o Murray,the flower o Scotland.’
4
The lady came down the stair,
wringing her hands:
‘He has slain the Earl o Murray,
the flower o Scotland.’
5But Huntly lap on his horse,rade to the king:‘Ye’re welcome hame, Huntly,and whare hae ye been?
5
But Huntly lap on his horse,
rade to the king:
‘Ye’re welcome hame, Huntly,
and whare hae ye been?
6‘Whare hae ye been?and how hae ye sped?’‘I’ve killed the Earl o Murray,dead in his bed.’
6
‘Whare hae ye been?
and how hae ye sped?’
‘I’ve killed the Earl o Murray,
dead in his bed.’
7‘Foul fa you, Huntly!and why did ye so?You might have taen the Earl o Murray,and saved his life too.’
7
‘Foul fa you, Huntly!
and why did ye so?
You might have taen the Earl o Murray,
and saved his life too.’
8‘Her bread it’s to bake,her yill is to brew;My sister’s a widow,and sair do I rue.
8
‘Her bread it’s to bake,
her yill is to brew;
My sister’s a widow,
and sair do I rue.
9‘Her corn grows ripe,her meadows grow green,But in bonny DinnibristleI darena be seen.’
9
‘Her corn grows ripe,
her meadows grow green,
But in bonny Dinnibristle
I darena be seen.’