Lord Dingwall- Anon (N. Scot) 1828 Buchan
[From: Buchan's "Ancient Ballads of the North of Scotland," I, 204, 1828. Peter Buchan's note follow,
R. Matteson 2018]
LORD DINGWALL. Page 204.
This ballad has all the insignia of antiquity stamped upon it; and records one of those romantic fashions said to exist in the Highlands of Scotland some hundred years ago. I am not inclined to think that the hero of the piece was any of the Lords Dingwall, although its name would imply as much; but rather a Highland chieftain, or Laird of Dingwall, a royal borough in Ross-shire; if such be the real name of the ballad; of which I am dubious, for Sir Richard Preston was created Lord Dingwall by King James, in 1607, by patent, to the heirs of his body. His only daughter and heir, Lady Elizabeth, married James, the great Duke of Ormond. His grandson, James, second and last Duke, claimed, in 1710, the Scotch honour of Dingwall; for which he was allowed to vote at the election of the sixteen peers the same year. This title was forfeited by his attainder, in 1715. From this we may see, that none of the Lords of Dingwall resided in the Highlands, but most part in England, which confirms my opinion.
In an imperfect copy of a ballad somewhat similar in incident to this one, the hero of the piece is called “Lord Bothwell;” but which of the two is the true title, I am not determined to say.
'Lord Dingwall'- Version D; Child 5, Gil Brenton
Buchan's Ancient Ballads and Songs of the North of Scotland, I, 204.
1 We were sisters, sisters seven,
Bowing down, bowing down
The fairest women under heaven.
And aye the birks a-bowing
2 They kiest kevels them amang,
Bowing down, bowing down
Wha woud to the grenewood gang.
And aye the birks a-bowing
3 The kevels they gied thro the ha,
Bowing down, bowing down
And on the youngest it did fa.
And aye the birks a-bowing
4 Now she must to the grenewood gang,
Bowing down, bowing down
To pu the nuts in grenewood hang.
And aye the birks a-bowing
5 She hadna tarried an hour but ane
Bowing down, bowing down
Till she met wi a highlan groom.
And aye the birks a-bowing
6 He keeped her sae late and lang
Bowing down, bowing down
Till the evening set and birds they sang.
And aye the birks a-bowing
7 He gae to her at their parting
Bowing down, bowing down
A chain o gold and gay gold ring;
And aye the birks a-bowing
8 And three locks o his yellow hair;
Bowing down, bowing down
Bade her keep them for evermair.
And aye the birks a-bowing
9 When six lang months were come and gane.
Bowing down, bowing down
A courtier to this lady came.
And aye the birks a-bowing
10 Lord Dingwall courted this lady gay,
Bowing down, bowing down
And so he set their wedding-day.
And aye the birks a-bowing
11 A little boy to the ha was sent,
Bowing down, bowing down
To bring her horse was his intent.
And aye the birks a-bowing
12 As she was riding the way along,
Bowing down, bowing down
She began to make a heavy moan.
And aye the birks a-bowing
13 'What ails you, lady,' the boy said,
Bowing down, bowing down
'That ye seem sae dissatisfied?
And aye the birks a-bowing
14 'Are the bridle reins for you too strong?
Bowing down, bowing down
Or the stirrups for you too long?'
And aye the birks a-bowing
15 'But, little boy, will ye tell me
Bowing down, bowing down
The fashions that are in your countrie?'
And aye the birks a-bowing
16 'The fashions in our ha I'll tell,
Bowing down, bowing down
And o them a' I'll warn you well.
And aye the birks a-bowing
17 'When ye come in upon the floor,
Bowing down, bowing down
His mither will meet you wi a golden chair.
And aye the birks a-bowing
18 'But be ye maid or be ye nane,
Bowing down, bowing down
Unto the high seat make ye boun.
And aye the birks a-bowing
19 'Lord Dingwall aft has been beguild
Bowing down, bowing down
By girls whom young men hae defiled.
And aye the birks a-bowing
20 'He's cutted the paps frae their breast-bane,
Bowing down, bowing down
And sent them back to their ain hame.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
21 When she came in upon the floor,
Bowing down, bowing down
His mother met her wi a golden chair.
And aye the birks a-bowing
22 But to the high seat she made her boun:
Bowing down, bowing down
She knew that maiden she was nane.
And aye the birks a-bowing
23 When night was come, they went to bed,
Bowing down, bowing down
And ower her breast his arm he laid.
And aye the birks a-bowing
24 He quickly jumped upon the floor,
Bowing down, bowing down
And said, 'I've got a vile rank whore.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
25 Unto his mother he made his moan,
Bowing down, bowing down
Says, 'Mother dear, I am undone.
And aye the birks a-bowing
26 'Ye've aft tald, when I brought them hame,
Bowing down, bowing down
Whether they were maid or nane.
And aye the birks a-bowing
27 'I thought I'd gotten a maiden bright;
Bowing down, bowing down
I've gotten but a waefu wight.
And aye the birks a-bowing
28 'I thought I'd gotten a maiden clear,
Bowing down, bowing down
But gotten but a vile rank whore.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
29 'When she came in upon the floor,
Bowing down, bowing down
I met her wi a golden chair.
And aye the birks a-bowing
30 'But to the high seat she made her boun,
Bowing down, bowing down
Because a maiden she was nane.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
31 'I wonder wha's tauld that gay ladie
Bowing down, bowing down
The fashion into our countrie.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
32 'It is your little boy I blame,
Bowing down, bowing down
Whom ye did send to bring her hame.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
33 Then to the lady she did go,
Bowing down, bowing down
And said, 'O Lady, let me know
And aye the birks a-bowing
34 'Who has defiled your fair bodie:
Bowing down, bowing down
Ye're the first that has beguiled me.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
35 'O we were sisters, sisters seven,
Bowing down, bowing down
The fairest women under heaven.
And aye the birks a-bowing
36 'And we kiest kevels us amang,
Bowing down, bowing down
Wha woud to the grenewood gang;
And aye the birks a-bowing
37 'For to pu the finest flowers,
Bowing down, bowing down
To put around our summer bowers.
And aye the birks a-bowing
38 'I was the youngest o them a';
Bowing down, bowing down
The hardest fortune did me befa.
And aye the birks a-bowing
39 'Unto the grenewood I did gang,
Bowing down, bowing down
And pu'd the nuts as they down hang.
And aye the birks a-bowing
40 'I hadna stayd an hour but ane
Bowing down, bowing down
Till I met wi a highlan groom.
And aye the birks a-bowing
41 'He keeped me sae late and lang
Bowing down, bowing down
Till the evening set and birds they sang.
And aye the birks a-bowing
42 'He gae to me at our parting
Bowing down, bowing down
A chain of gold and gay gold ring;
And aye the birks a-bowing
43 'And three locks o his yellow hair;
Bowing down, bowing down
Bade me keep them for evermair.
And aye the birks a-bowing
44 'Then for to show I make nae lie,
Bowing down, bowing down
Look ye my trunk, and ye will see.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
45 Unto the trunk then she did go,
Bowing down, bowing down
To see if that were true or no.
And aye the birks a-bowing
46 And aye she sought, and aye she flang,
Bowing down, bowing down
Till these four things came to her hand.
And aye the birks a-bowing
47 Then she did to her ain son go,
Bowing down, bowing down
And said, 'My son, ye'll let me know,
And aye the birks a-bowing
48 'Ye will tell to me this thing:
Bowing down, bowing down
What did you wi my wedding-ring?'
And aye the birks a-bowing
49 'Mother dear, I'll tell nae lie:
Bowing down, bowing down
I gave it to a gay ladie.
And aye the birks a-bowing.
50 'I would gie a' my ha's and towers,
Bowing down, bowing down
I had this bird within my bowers.'
And aye the birks a-bowing.
51 'Keep well, keep well your lands and strands;
Bowing down, bowing down
Ye hae that bird within your hands.
And aye the birks a-bowing
52 'Now, my son, to your bower ye'll go:
Bowing down, bowing down
Comfort your ladie, she's full o woe.'
And aye the birks a-bowing
53 Now when nine months were come and gane,
Bowing down, bowing down
The lady she brought hame a son.
And aye the birks a-bowing.
54 It was written on his breast-bane
Bowing down, bowing down
Lord Dingwall was his father's name.
And aye the birks a-bowing.
55 He's taen his young son in his arms,
Bowing down, bowing down
And aye he praisd his lovely charms.
And aye the birks a-bowing.
56 And he has gien him kisses three,
Bowing down, bowing down
And doubled them ower to his ladie.
And aye the birks a-bowing