Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

 

The statue of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Derby, in memory of the march south during the Jacobite rising of 1745. 

Walter Scott featured the song a Blue Bonnets over the Border in his historical novel "The Monastery", published in 1820, and which was set during the early Scottish Reformation, 1560. The Blue Bonnets referred to in the song are woollen hats worn by the Scots as a form of identification during battle.  In this version featured here, the army is marching for the Queen, whilst other versions such as those sung by the folk group The Corries refer to the King - Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. 

The tune and melody, although the lyrics and context are different, was inspired by "Lesley's March", a song about the Scots Covenanter army under  Alexander Leslie  (c.1580-1661) which invaded England in 1640 and defeated an English army at the Battle of Newburn.

Blue Bonnets over the Border, by Walter Scott

March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why, my lads dinna ye march forward in order?
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are over the border.

1 Many a banner spread flutters above your head,
Many a crest that is famous in story!
Mount and make ready then sons of the mountain glen;
Fight for your Queen and the old Scottish glory!

2 Come from the hills where your hirsels are grazing,
Come from the glen of the buck and the roe,
Come to the crag where the beacon is blazing
Come with the buckler, the lance and the bow.

3 Trumpets are sounding, war steeds are bounding,
Stand to your arms and march in good order
England shall many a day tell of the bloody fray,
When the Blue Bonnets came over the border!

 Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border

 is an anthology of Border ballads, together with some from north-east Scotland. It was edited by Walter Scott and first published in Edinburgh (1802), and expanded in several later editions, reaching its final form in 1830, two years before Scott's death. 

John Armstrong  (1480-1530) of Langholm and Staplegorton, known as Johnnie of Gilnockie, was a border reiver during the reigns of James IV and James V. He would become a famous outlaw and folk-hero like Robin Hood, who raided on both sides of the lawless border, riding with up to 100 men. He became a menace to the authority of Henry VIII of England in the north, and it was claimed he levied blackmail or protection money for as far south as Newcastle. He would be outlawed in Scotland and the Bishop of Glasgow became so angered by Johnnie's exploits he excommunicated him. James V sought from 1529 to exert his power on the lawless border, but to do so he needed to make an example of Johnnie. James led a large body of armed men towards the border, an expedition where game was hunted for sport, and rebels and outlaws were arrested and tried. According to the ballad a 'loving' letter by James V, to Johnnie promising a pardon if he would meet him and join him in a hunt. Johnnie agreed, and dressed up in his finest clothing. He and around thirty men rode to Castlerig, they were surrounded and outnumbered by the king's men, then speedily hung from trees. Johnnie would offer money to the king but was rebuffed causing him to say that 'I am a fool to expect grace from a graceless face.' The Armstrongs would not forget this betrayal and would take vengeance whenever the opportunities would offer itself. The Ballad of Johnnie Armstrong would be a form of revenge, putting to words and music the memory of the coldblooded  treachery of a king. 

The Ballad of Johnnie Armstrong

1. Sum speikis of Lords,

sum speikis of Lairds,
Of a gentleman I sing a sang,
Sum time called Laird of Gilnockie.

2. The King he wrytes a luving letter,
With his ain hand sae tenderly,
And he hath sent it to Johnie Armstrang,
To cum and speik with him speidily.

3. The Eliots and Armstrangs did convene,
They were a gallant cumpanie—
“We’ll ride and meit our lawful King,
And bring him safe to Gilnockie.”

4. “Make kinnen and capon ready then,
And venison in great plentie,
We’ll wellcome here our Royal King,
I hope he’ll dine at Gilnockie!”

5. They ran their horse on the Langhome howm,
And brak their speirs wi’ mickle main;
The Ladies lukit frae their loft windows—
“God bring our men weel back agen!”

6. When Johnie came before the King,
Wi’ a’ his men sae brave to see,
The King he movit his bonnet to him,
He ween’d he was a King as well as he.

7. “May I find grace, my Sovereign Leige,
Grace for my loyal men and me?
For my name it is Johnie Armstrang,
And subject of your’s, my Liege,” said he.

8. “Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight soon may’st thou be!
I grantit never a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin wi’ thee.”—

9. “Grant me my life, my Liege, my King!
And a bonny gift I’ll gie to thee—
Full four and twenty milk-white steids,
Were a’ foaled in a year to me.

10. “I’ll gie thee a’ these milk-white steids,
That prance and nicker at a speir;
And as mickle gude Inglish gilt,
As four of their braid backs dow bear.”—

11. “Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight soon may’st thou be!
I grantit nevir a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin wi’ thee!”—

12. “Grant me my life, my Liege, my King!
And a bonny gift I’ll gie to thee—
Gude four and twenty ganging mills,
That gang thro’ a’ the year to me.

13. “These four and twenty mills complete,
Shall gang for thee thro’ a’ the yeir;
And as meikle of gude reid wheit,
As a’ thair happers dow to bear.”—

14. “Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight sune may’st thou be!
I grantit nevir a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin wi’ thee.”—

15. “Grant me my life, my Liege, my King!
And a great gift I’ll gie to thee—
Bauld four and twenty sister’s sons,
Shall for thee ficht, tho’ all should flee!”

16. “Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight sune may’st thou be!
I grantit nevir a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin wi’ thee.”—

17. “Grant me my life, my Liege, my King!
And a brave gift I’ll gie to thee—
All between heir and Newcastle town,
Shall pay their yeirly rent to thee.”—

18. “Away, away, thou traitor strang!
Out of my sight sune may’st thou be!
I grantit nevir a traitor’s life,
And now I’ll not begin wi’ thee.”—

19. “Ye leid, ye leid, now King,” he says,
Altho’ a King and Prince ye be!
For I’ve luved naething in my life,
I weel dare say it, but honesty—

20. “Save a fat horse, and a fair woman,
Twa bonny dogs to kill a deir;
But England suld have found me meal and mault,
Gif I had lived this hundred yeir!

21. “Sche suld have found me meil and mault,
And beif and mutton in all plentie;
But never a Scots wyfe could have said,
That e’er I skaithed her a pure flee.

22. “To seik het water beneith cauld ice,
Surely it is a greit folie—
I have asked grace at a graceless face,
But there is nane for my men and me!

23. “But, had I kenn’d ere I cam frae hame,
How thou unkind wadst been to me!
I wad have keepit the Border side,
In spite of all thy force and thee.

24. “Wist England’s King that I was ta’en,
O gin a blythe man he wad be!
For anes I slew his sister’s son,
And on his breist bane brake a trie.”—

25. John wore a girdle about his middle,
Imbroidered ower wi’ burning gold;
Bespangled wi’ the same metal,
Maist beautiful was to behold.

26. There hang nine targats at Johnie’s hat,
And ilk ane worth three hundred pound—
“What wants that knave that a King suld have,
But the sword of honour, and the crown?

27. “O whair gat thou these targats, Johnie,
That blink sae brawly abune thy brie?”
“I gat them in the field fechting,
Where, cruel King, thou durst not be.

28. “Had I my horse, and harness gude,
And riding as I wont to be,
It suld have been tald this hundred yeir,
The meeting of my King and me!

29. “God be with thee, Kirsty, my brother,
Lang live thou Laird of Mangertoun;
Lang mayst thou live on the Border syde,
Ere thou see thy brother ride up and down!

30. “And God be with thee, Kirsty, my son!
Where thou sits on thy nurse’s knee;
But and thou live this hundred yeir,
Thy father’s better thoul’t never be.

31. “Farewell! my bonny Gilnock-hall,
Where on Eske side thou standest stout!
Gif I had lived but seven years mair,
I wad hae gilt thee round about.”

32. John murdered was at Carlinrigg,
And all his gallant cumpanie;
But Scotland’s heart was near sae wae,
To see sae mony brave men die—

33. Because they saved their country deir,
Frae Englishmen! Nane were sae bauld,
Whyle Johnie lived on the Border syde,
Nane of them durst cum near his hauld.

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832)

Portrait by Thomas Lawrence c.1820

Proud Maisie  is a poem included in Walter Scott’s novel Heart of Midlothian. Maisie is a young woman who walks into the woods and asks a robin when she is going to be wed. The robin replies that it will happen “when six braw’ gentlemen/Kirkward shall carry ye”. Not understanding the cryptic meaning she asks who is going to make the bridal bed, and the answer is even more grim. According to the Robin, six gentlemen will be her pallbearers, carrying her body to her last resting place the grave, with the glowworm lighting the way and the owl singing the welcome song.

Proud Maisie

Proud Maisie is in the wood,

Walking so early;

Sweet Robin sits on the bush,

Singing so rarely.

"Tell me, thou bonny bird,

When shall I marry me?"—

"When six braw gentlemen

Kirkward shall carry ye."

"Who makes the bridal bed,

Birdie, say truly?"—

"The gray-headed sexton

That delves the grave duly.

"The glowworm o'er grave and stone

Shall light thee steady;

The owl from the steeple sing,

'Welcome, proud lady.'"

Bonnie Dundee is the title of a poem and a song written by Walter Scott in 1825 in honour of John Graham, 7th Laird of Claverhouse, who was created 1st Viscount Dundee in November 1688. In 1689 he led a Jacobite army against the forces of William III, and led them to victory at the Battle of Killiecrankie, although he was slain on that day.  John Graham would became a legend. 

Bonnie Dundee

To the Lords of Convention 'twas Clavers who spoke.
'Ere the King's crown shall fall there are crowns to be broke;
So let each Cavalier who loves honour and me,
Come follow the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can,
Come saddle your horses, and call up your men;
Come open the West Port and let me gae free,
And it's room for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!

Dundee he is mounted, he rides up the street,
The bells are rung backward, the drums they are beat;
But the Provost, douce man, said, "Just e'en let him be,
The Gude Town is weel quit of that De'il Dundee."

Come fill up my cup, etc.

As he rode down the sanctified bends of the Bow,
Ilk carline was flyting and shaking her pow;
But the young plants of grace they looked couthie and slee,
Thinking luck to thy bonnet, thou Bonny Dundee!

Come fill up my cup, etc.

With sour-featured Whigs the Grass-market was crammed,
As if half the West had set tryst to be hanged;
There was spite in each look, there was fear in each e'e,
As they watched for the bonnets of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, etc.

These cowls of Kilmarnock had spits and had spears,
And lang-hafted gullies to kill cavaliers;
But they shrunk to close-heads and the causeway was free,
At the toss of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, etc.

He spurred to the foot of the proud Castle rock,
And with the gay Gordon he gallantly spoke;
"Let Mons Meg and her marrows speak twa words or three,
For the love of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee."

Come fill up my cup, etc.

The Gordon demands of him which way he goes?
"Where'er shall direct me the shade of Montrose!
Your Grace in short space shall hear tidings of me,
Or that low lies the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, etc.

"There are hills beyond Pentland and lands beyond Forth,
If there's lords in the Lowlands, there's chiefs in the North;
There are wild Duniewassals three thousand times three,
Will cry hoigh! for the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, etc.

"There's brass on the target of barkened bull-hide;
There's steel in the scabbard that dangles beside;
The brass shall be burnished, the steel shall flash free,
At the toss of the bonnet of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, etc.

"Away to the hills, to the caves, to the rocks
Ere I own an usurper, I'll couch with the fox;
And tremble, false Whigs, in the midst of your glee,
You have not seen the last of my bonnet and me!"

Come fill up my cup, etc.

He waved his proud hand, the trumpets were blown,
The kettle-drums clashed and the horsemen rode on,
Till on Ravelston's cliffs and on Clermiston's lee
Died away the wild war-notes of Bonny Dundee.

Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can,
Come saddle the horses, and call up the men,
Come open your gates, and let me gae free,
For it's up with the bonnets of Bonny Dundee!

St George's Square, Glasgow

MacGregor's Gathering

(The following poem describes the plight of the MacGregor clan in the 16th and 17th century, who had their name and clan outlawed by the government, and were forced to move from place to place for shelter, and to fight for their survival)

MacGregor's Gathering

The moon's on the lake, and the mist's on the brae,
And the clan has a name that is nameless by day—
⁠Then gather, gather, gather, Grigalach!

Our signal for fight, which from monarchs we drew,
Must be heard but by night, in our vengeful halloo—
⁠Then halloo, halloo, halloo, Grigalach!

Glenorchy's proud mountains, Calchuirn and her towers,
Glenstrae, and Glenlyon, no longer are ours—
⁠We're landless, landless, landless, Grigalach!

But, doomed and devoted by vassal and lord,
Macgregor has still both his heart and his sword—
⁠Then courage, courage, courage, Grigalach!

If they rob us of name, and pursue us with beagles,
Give their roof to the flames, and their flesh to the eagles—
⁠Then vengeance, vengeance, vengeance, Grigalach!

​While there's leaves on the forest, or foam on the river,
Macgregor, despite them, shall flourish for ever!
⁠Then gather, gather, gather, Grigalach!

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), poet, novelist and critic. Scott used history as source material for his novels, and is widely credited as having popularised romantic fiction. He wrote novels of themes of Scottish History such as Waverley (1814) and Rob Roy (1818), and his England based novel Ivanhoe (1820) stimulated an interest in medieval history.  He wrote 25 novels, and he also was a accomplished poet, writing several volumes of poetry between 1805 to 1817. He also wrote plays, wrote critical reviews, and books of literary and historical interest such as a History of Scotland and a biography of Napoleon.

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