198BONNY JOHN SETON

A.‘Bonny John Seton,’ Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 15; Buchan’s Gleanings, p. 161; Maidment’s Scotish Ballads and Songs, Historical and Traditionary, I, 280.

B.‘The Death of John Seton,’ Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 136.

Buchan had another copy, sent him in manuscript by a young lady in Aberdeen, in which the Earl Marischal was made prominent: Ballads, II, 321. Aytoun, I, 139, had a copy which had been annotated by C. K. Sharpe, and from this he seems to have derived a few variations. The New Deeside Guide [1832], p. 5 (nominally by James Brown, but written by Dr Joseph Robertson), givesA, with a few trifling improvements which seem to be editorial.

A, B, 1–8.The ballad is accurate as to the date, not commonly a good sign for such things. On Tuesday, the eighteenth of June, 1639, Montrose began an attack on the bridge of Dee, which had been fortified and manned by the royalists of Aberdeen to stop his advance on the city. The bridge was bravely defended that day and part of the next by Lieutenant-Colonel Johnston (not Middleton; Middleton was of the assailants). The young Lord of Aboyne, just made the king’s lieutenant in the north, had a small body of horse on the north side of the river. Montrose’s cavalry were sent up the south side as if to cross (though there was no ford), and Aboyne’s were moved along the opposite bank to resist a passage. This exposed the latter to Montrose’s cannon, and the Covenanters let fly some shot at them, one of which killed “a gallant gentleman, John Seton of Pitmeddin, most part of his body above the saddle being carried away.” Johnston’s leg was crushed by stones brought down from one of the turrets of the bridge by a cannon-shot, and he had to be carried off. The loss of their commander and the disappearance of Aboyne’s horse discouraged the now small party who were holding the bridge, and they abandoned it. Aboyne rode off, and left Aberdeen to to shift for itself.[32]

A 9–12, B 9–13.The spoiling of John Seton by order of Sir William Forbes of Craigievar is not noticed by Gordon and Spalding, though other matters of not greater proportion are.

A 13–15.The reference is to the affair called the Raid of Stonehaven, June 15, three days before that of the Bridge of Dee. Aboyne’s Highlanders, a thousand or more, were totally unused to artillery, and a few shots from Montrose’s cannon lighting among them so frightened them that “they did run off, all in a confusion, never looking behind them, till they were got into a moss.”[33]

B 14–17.“When Montrose entered Aberdeen,” says James Gordon, “the Earl Marischal and Lord Muchall pressed him to burn the town, and urged him with the Committee of Estates’ warrant for that effect. He answered that it were best to advise a night upon it, since Aberdeen was the London of the north, and would prejudice themselves by want of it. So it was taken to considerationfor that night, and next day the Earl Marischal and Lord Muchall came protesting he would spare it. He answered he was desirous so to do, but durst not except they would be his warrant. Whereupon they drew up a paper, signed with both their hands, declaring that they had hindered it, and promising to interpose with the Committee of Estates for him. Yet the next year, when he was made prisoner and accused, this was objected to Montrose, that he had not burned Aberdeen, as he had orders from the Committee of Estates. Then he produced Marischal and Muchall’s paper, which hardly satisfied the exasperated committee.”[34]

Maidment’s North Countrie Garland, p. 15.

1Upon the eighteenth day of June,A dreary day to see,The southern lords did pitch their campJust at the bridge of Dee.2Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin,A bold baron was he,He made his testament ere he went out,The wiser man was he.3He left his land to his young son,His lady her dowry,A thousand crowns to his daughter Jean,Yet on the nurse’s knee.4Then out came his lady fair,A tear into her ee;Says, Stay at home, my own good lord,O stay at home with me!5He looked over his left shoulder,Cried, Souldiers, follow me!O then she looked in his face,An angry woman was she:‘God send me back my steed again,But neer let me see thee!’6His name was Major MiddletonThat manned the bridge of Dee,His name was Colonel HendersonThat let the cannons flee.7His name was Major MiddletonThat manned the bridge of Dee,And his name was Colonel HendersonThat dung Pitmeddin in three.8Some rode on the black and grey,And some rode on the brown,But the bonny John SetonLay gasping on the ground.9Then bye there comes a false Forbes,Was riding from Driminere;Says, Here there lies a proud Seton;This day they ride the rear.10Cragievar said to his men,‘You may play on your shield;For the proudest Seton in all the lanThis day lies on the field.’11‘O spoil him! spoil him!’ cried Cragievar,‘Him spoiled let me see;For on my word,’ said Cragievar,‘He had no good will at me.’12They took from him his armour clear,His sword, likewise his shield;Yea, they have left him naked there,Upon the open field.13The Highland men, they’re clever menAt handling sword and shield,But yet they are too naked menTo stay in battle field.14The Highland men are clever menAt handling sword or gun,But yet they are too naked menTo bear the cannon’s rung.15For a cannon’s roar in a summer nightIs like thunder in the air;There’s not a man in Highland dressCan face the cannon’s fire.

1Upon the eighteenth day of June,A dreary day to see,The southern lords did pitch their campJust at the bridge of Dee.

Upon the eighteenth day of June,

A dreary day to see,

The southern lords did pitch their camp

Just at the bridge of Dee.

2Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin,A bold baron was he,He made his testament ere he went out,The wiser man was he.

Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin,

A bold baron was he,

He made his testament ere he went out,

The wiser man was he.

3He left his land to his young son,His lady her dowry,A thousand crowns to his daughter Jean,Yet on the nurse’s knee.

He left his land to his young son,

His lady her dowry,

A thousand crowns to his daughter Jean,

Yet on the nurse’s knee.

4Then out came his lady fair,A tear into her ee;Says, Stay at home, my own good lord,O stay at home with me!

Then out came his lady fair,

A tear into her ee;

Says, Stay at home, my own good lord,

O stay at home with me!

5He looked over his left shoulder,Cried, Souldiers, follow me!O then she looked in his face,An angry woman was she:‘God send me back my steed again,But neer let me see thee!’

He looked over his left shoulder,

Cried, Souldiers, follow me!

O then she looked in his face,

An angry woman was she:

‘God send me back my steed again,

But neer let me see thee!’

6His name was Major MiddletonThat manned the bridge of Dee,His name was Colonel HendersonThat let the cannons flee.

His name was Major Middleton

That manned the bridge of Dee,

His name was Colonel Henderson

That let the cannons flee.

7His name was Major MiddletonThat manned the bridge of Dee,And his name was Colonel HendersonThat dung Pitmeddin in three.

His name was Major Middleton

That manned the bridge of Dee,

And his name was Colonel Henderson

That dung Pitmeddin in three.

8Some rode on the black and grey,And some rode on the brown,But the bonny John SetonLay gasping on the ground.

Some rode on the black and grey,

And some rode on the brown,

But the bonny John Seton

Lay gasping on the ground.

9Then bye there comes a false Forbes,Was riding from Driminere;Says, Here there lies a proud Seton;This day they ride the rear.

Then bye there comes a false Forbes,

Was riding from Driminere;

Says, Here there lies a proud Seton;

This day they ride the rear.

10Cragievar said to his men,‘You may play on your shield;For the proudest Seton in all the lanThis day lies on the field.’

Cragievar said to his men,

‘You may play on your shield;

For the proudest Seton in all the lan

This day lies on the field.’

11‘O spoil him! spoil him!’ cried Cragievar,‘Him spoiled let me see;For on my word,’ said Cragievar,‘He had no good will at me.’

‘O spoil him! spoil him!’ cried Cragievar,

‘Him spoiled let me see;

For on my word,’ said Cragievar,

‘He had no good will at me.’

12They took from him his armour clear,His sword, likewise his shield;Yea, they have left him naked there,Upon the open field.

They took from him his armour clear,

His sword, likewise his shield;

Yea, they have left him naked there,

Upon the open field.

13The Highland men, they’re clever menAt handling sword and shield,But yet they are too naked menTo stay in battle field.

The Highland men, they’re clever men

At handling sword and shield,

But yet they are too naked men

To stay in battle field.

14The Highland men are clever menAt handling sword or gun,But yet they are too naked menTo bear the cannon’s rung.

The Highland men are clever men

At handling sword or gun,

But yet they are too naked men

To bear the cannon’s rung.

15For a cannon’s roar in a summer nightIs like thunder in the air;There’s not a man in Highland dressCan face the cannon’s fire.

For a cannon’s roar in a summer night

Is like thunder in the air;

There’s not a man in Highland dress

Can face the cannon’s fire.

Buchan’s Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 136.

1It fell about the month of June,On Tuesday, timouslie,The northern lords hae pitchd their campsBeyond the brig o Dee.2They ca’ed him Major MiddletonThat mand the brig o Dee;They ca’ed him Colonel HendersonThat gard the cannons flee.3Bonny John Seton o Pitmedden,A brave baron was he;He made his tesment ere he gaed,And the wiser man was he.4He left his lands unto his heir,His ladie her dowrie;Ten thousand crowns to Lady Jane,Sat on the nourice knee.5Then out it speaks his lady gay,‘O stay my lord wi me;For word is come, the cause is wonBeyond the brig o Dee.’6He turned him right and round about,And a light laugh gae he;Says, I wouldna for my lands sae broadI stayed this night wi thee.7He’s taen his sword then by his side,His buckler by his knee,And laid his leg in oer his horse,Said, Sodgers, follow me!8So he rade on, and further on,Till to the third mile corse;The Covenanters’ cannon ballsDang him aff o his horse.9Up then rides him Cragievar,Said, Wha’s this lying here?It surely is the Lord o Aboyne,For Huntly was not here.10Then out it speaks a fause Forbes,Lived up in Druminner;‘My lord, this is a proud Seton,The rest will ride the thinner.’11‘Spulyie him, spulyie him,’ said Craigievar,‘O spulyie him, presentlie;For I could lay my lugs in pawnHe had nae gude will at me.’12They’ve taen the shoes frae aff his feet,The garters frae his knee,Likewise the gloves upon his hands;They’ve left him not a flee.13His fingers they were sae sair swelldThe rings would not come aff;They cutted the grips out o his ears,Took out the gowd signots.14Then they rade on, and further on,Till they came to the Crabestane,And Craigievar, he had a mindTo burn a’ Aberdeen.15Out it speaks the gallant Montrose,Grace on his fair body!‘We winna burn the bonny burgh,We’ll even laet it be.’16Then out it speaks the gallant Montrose,‘Your purpose I will break;We winna burn the bonny burgh,We’ll never build its make.17‘I see the women and their childrenClimbing the craigs sae hie;We’ll sleep this night in the bonny burgh,And even lat it be.’

1It fell about the month of June,On Tuesday, timouslie,The northern lords hae pitchd their campsBeyond the brig o Dee.

It fell about the month of June,

On Tuesday, timouslie,

The northern lords hae pitchd their camps

Beyond the brig o Dee.

2They ca’ed him Major MiddletonThat mand the brig o Dee;They ca’ed him Colonel HendersonThat gard the cannons flee.

They ca’ed him Major Middleton

That mand the brig o Dee;

They ca’ed him Colonel Henderson

That gard the cannons flee.

3Bonny John Seton o Pitmedden,A brave baron was he;He made his tesment ere he gaed,And the wiser man was he.

Bonny John Seton o Pitmedden,

A brave baron was he;

He made his tesment ere he gaed,

And the wiser man was he.

4He left his lands unto his heir,His ladie her dowrie;Ten thousand crowns to Lady Jane,Sat on the nourice knee.

He left his lands unto his heir,

His ladie her dowrie;

Ten thousand crowns to Lady Jane,

Sat on the nourice knee.

5Then out it speaks his lady gay,‘O stay my lord wi me;For word is come, the cause is wonBeyond the brig o Dee.’

Then out it speaks his lady gay,

‘O stay my lord wi me;

For word is come, the cause is won

Beyond the brig o Dee.’

6He turned him right and round about,And a light laugh gae he;Says, I wouldna for my lands sae broadI stayed this night wi thee.

He turned him right and round about,

And a light laugh gae he;

Says, I wouldna for my lands sae broad

I stayed this night wi thee.

7He’s taen his sword then by his side,His buckler by his knee,And laid his leg in oer his horse,Said, Sodgers, follow me!

He’s taen his sword then by his side,

His buckler by his knee,

And laid his leg in oer his horse,

Said, Sodgers, follow me!

8So he rade on, and further on,Till to the third mile corse;The Covenanters’ cannon ballsDang him aff o his horse.

So he rade on, and further on,

Till to the third mile corse;

The Covenanters’ cannon balls

Dang him aff o his horse.

9Up then rides him Cragievar,Said, Wha’s this lying here?It surely is the Lord o Aboyne,For Huntly was not here.

Up then rides him Cragievar,

Said, Wha’s this lying here?

It surely is the Lord o Aboyne,

For Huntly was not here.

10Then out it speaks a fause Forbes,Lived up in Druminner;‘My lord, this is a proud Seton,The rest will ride the thinner.’

Then out it speaks a fause Forbes,

Lived up in Druminner;

‘My lord, this is a proud Seton,

The rest will ride the thinner.’

11‘Spulyie him, spulyie him,’ said Craigievar,‘O spulyie him, presentlie;For I could lay my lugs in pawnHe had nae gude will at me.’

‘Spulyie him, spulyie him,’ said Craigievar,

‘O spulyie him, presentlie;

For I could lay my lugs in pawn

He had nae gude will at me.’

12They’ve taen the shoes frae aff his feet,The garters frae his knee,Likewise the gloves upon his hands;They’ve left him not a flee.

They’ve taen the shoes frae aff his feet,

The garters frae his knee,

Likewise the gloves upon his hands;

They’ve left him not a flee.

13His fingers they were sae sair swelldThe rings would not come aff;They cutted the grips out o his ears,Took out the gowd signots.

His fingers they were sae sair swelld

The rings would not come aff;

They cutted the grips out o his ears,

Took out the gowd signots.

14Then they rade on, and further on,Till they came to the Crabestane,And Craigievar, he had a mindTo burn a’ Aberdeen.

Then they rade on, and further on,

Till they came to the Crabestane,

And Craigievar, he had a mind

To burn a’ Aberdeen.

15Out it speaks the gallant Montrose,Grace on his fair body!‘We winna burn the bonny burgh,We’ll even laet it be.’

Out it speaks the gallant Montrose,

Grace on his fair body!

‘We winna burn the bonny burgh,

We’ll even laet it be.’

16Then out it speaks the gallant Montrose,‘Your purpose I will break;We winna burn the bonny burgh,We’ll never build its make.

Then out it speaks the gallant Montrose,

‘Your purpose I will break;

We winna burn the bonny burgh,

We’ll never build its make.

17‘I see the women and their childrenClimbing the craigs sae hie;We’ll sleep this night in the bonny burgh,And even lat it be.’

‘I see the women and their children

Climbing the craigs sae hie;

We’ll sleep this night in the bonny burgh,

And even lat it be.’

111,2. Spulzie.

Readings in Aytoun which may have been derived from Sharpe:

42. The tear stood in.

83. But bonny John Seton o Pitmeddin.

83. And there the Covenanters’ shot.

84. It dang him frae his.

102. Was riding frae D.

103. This is the proudest Seton of a’.

143. And wha sae ready as Craigievar.

151. Then up and spake the gude.

162. As he rade owre the field.

163. Why should we burn the bonny.

164. When its like we couldna build.

Readings in The New Deeside Guide:

13. lords their pallions pitched.

22. A baron bold.

31. To his.

41. and came.

55. your steed.

114. He bore: to me.

154. cannon’s rair.

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