No. 235: The Earl of Aboyne
[There are no known US or Canadian traditional versions of this ballad.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-L (Changes for the text B b are found in End-Notes. Another version of C (designated C1) from "The Old Lady's Collection," No. 8 is found in Additions and Corrections. Also 'The Yerle o Aboyne,' from Mrs. Main, Inchmarlo, Kincardineshire and a short fragement from Miss Butchart, Arbroath are given in Additions and Corrections. A print copy titled, Peggy Irvine is given.)
5. End-notes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 235. The Earl of Aboyne
A. Roud No. 99: The Earl of Aboyne (46 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 235. The Earl of Aboyne (Bronson gives two music examples and texts)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A-L with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: 235. The Earl of Aboyne
A. 'The Earl of Aboyne,' Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 351.
B. 'The Earl of Aboyne.'
a. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 71.
b. Gibb Manuscript, p. 29, No 5.
C. Skene Manuscript, p. 58.
C1. 'The Earl of Aboyn,' from "The Old Lady's Collection," No. 8
D. 'The Earl o Boyn,' "Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 17, Abbotsford.
E. 'Earl of Aboyne,' Harris Manuscript, fol. 21 b.
F. 'The Earl of Aboyne,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 635.
G. Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 131.
H. 'Bonny Peggy Irvine,' Campbell Manuscripts, II, 105.
I. 'Earl of Aboyne,' or, 'Bonny Peggy Irvine,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 128.
J. 'Earl of Aboyne,' or, 'Bonny Peggy Irvine,' Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 135.
K. From the recitation of Miss Fanny Walker, two stanzas.
L. 'Earl of Aboyne,' Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 54, one stanza.
The copy in The New Deeside Guide, by James Brown [Joseph Robertson], Aberdeen, 1832, p. 26, is B a with a few editorial changes. It is repeated in The Deeside Guide, Aberdeen, 1889, with slight variations. The copy in Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 22, is "given from the way the editor has heard it sung, assisted by Mr. Buchan's copy in his Gleanings;" in fact, it is B a with unimportant variations, which must be treated as arbitrary. Smith's New History of Aberdeenshire, I, 207, repeats Aytoun, nearly, and Aytoun, II, 309, 1859, B a, nearly.
None of the versions here given go beyond 1800. Mrs. Brown of Falkland, in an unprinted letter to Alexander Fraser Tytler, December 23, 1800, offers him 'The Death of the Countess of Aboyne,' which she had heard sung when a child: see p. 309, note.
A-I. The Earl of Aboyne (who is kind but careless, E) goes to London without his wife, and stays overlong. Information comes by letter that he has married there, B, or that he is in love with another woman, D. Word is brought that he is on his way home, and very near. His lady orders stable-grooms, minstrels, cooks, housemaids, to bestir themselves, A-E, I, K, makes a handsome toilet, A, B, D, E, F, and calls for wine to drink his health, B, C, D, G. She comes down to the close to take him from his horse, B, C, D, F, and bids him thrice welcome. "Kiss me then for my coming," says the earl, and surprises his wife, and all of us, by adding that the morrow would have been his wedding-day, if he had stayed in London. The lady gives him an angry and disdainful answer. This he resents, and orders his men to mount again; he will go first to the Bog of Gight to see the Marquis of Huntly, and then return to London. The lady attempts, through a servant, to get permission to accompany him, but is repulsed, A, B, C, D (misplaced in G). According to A, C, D 24, F, the countess languished for about a twelvemonth, and then died of a broken heart; but D 25, G, H, make her death ensue before or shortly after the earl's arrival at the Bog o Gight. Aboyne is very much distressed at the tidings; he would rather have lost all his lands than Margaret Irvine, C, D, E, G, H. He goes to the burial with a train of gentlemen, all in black from the hose to the hat, A, C (horse to the hat, B, E, F).
J. No Earl of Aboyne ever married an Irvine, and no Earl of Aboyne would have meditated open bigamy, and have informed his wife while receiving her welcome home how near he had come to perpetrating the same. The historical difficulty and the practical absurdity are removed by assuming that J alone has preserved (or restored) the true and original story, and that all the other copies, beginning with Mrs. Brown's, which calls the lady the Countess of Aboyne, have gone wrong. In J, Peggy Irvine is only Aboyne's love, I 3, and Aboyne is her true lover, 83. Aboyne was careless and kind, and kind to every woman, and Aboyne staid over long in London, A, and the ladies they did invite him, H. Under these circumstances, some Aboyne may have been on the brink of deserting a Peggy Irvine to whom he was engaged.
Aboyne is Boyn, D, Boon, H; Irvine is Harboun, Harvey, D, Ewan, B, K; Bog o Gight is Bogs o the Geich, D, Bogs o the Gay, G, Bughts o the Gight, H, Bogo Keith, J. The Bog o Gight is made Aboyne's property in D, G, H. The Marquis of Huntly is blamed by Aboyne for inciting him to unkindness, D 28, G 11.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
Charles, first Earl of Aboyne, married for his first wife Margaret Irvine of Drum, who died in 1662. The story of the ballad, so far as is known, is an absolute fiction.
Child's Ballad Texts
'The Earl of Aboyne'- Version A; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 351; in the handwriting of John Hill Burton.
1 The Earl of Aboyne he's courteous and kind,
He's kind to every woman,
And the Earl of Aboyne he's courteous and kind,
But he stays ower lang in London.
2 The ladie she stood on her stair-head,
Beholding his grooms a coming;
She knew by their livery and raiment so rare
That their last voyage was from London.
3 'My grooms all, ye'll be well in call,
Hold all the stables shining;
With a bretther o degs ye'll clear up my nags,
Sin my gude lord Aboyne is a coming.
4 'My minstrels all, be well in call,
Hold all my galleries ringing;
With music springs ye'll try well your strings,
Sin my gude lord's a coming.
5 'My cooks all, be well in call,
Wi pots and spits well ranked;
And nothing shall ye want that ye call for,
Sin my gude Lord Aboyne's a coming.
6 'My chamber-maids, ye'll dress up my beds,
Hold all my rooms in shining;
With Dantzic waters ye'll sprinkle my walls,
Sin my good lord's a coming.'
7 Her shoes was of the small cordain,
Her stockings silken twisting;
Cambrick so clear was the pretty lady's smock,
And her stays o the braided sattin.
8 Her coat was of the white sarsenent,
Set out wi silver quiltin,
And her gown was o the silk damask,
Set about wi red gold walting.
9 Her hair was like the threads of gold,
Wi the silk and sarsanet shining,
Wi her fingers sae white, and the gold rings sae grite,
To welcome her lord from London.
10 Sae stately she steppit down the stair,
And walkit to meet him coming;
Said, O ye'r welcome, my bonny lord,
Ye'r thrice welcome home from London!
11 'If this be so that ye let me know,
Ye'll come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my bonny wedding-day
Had I stayed the night in London.'
12 Then she turned her about wi an angry look,
O for such a sorry woman!
'If this be so that ye let me know,
Gang kiss your ladies in London.'
13 Then he looked ower his left shoulder
To the worthie companie wi him;
Says he, Isna this an unworthy welcome
The we've got, comin from London!
14 'Get yer horse in call, my nobles all,
And I'm sorry for yer coming,
But we'll horse, and awa to the bonny Bog o Gight,
And then we'll go on to London.'
15 'If this be Thomas, as they call you,
You'll see if he'll hae me with him;
And nothing shall he be troubled with me
But myself and my waiting-woman.'
16 'I've asked it already, lady,' he says,
'And your humble servant, madam;
But one single mile he winna lat you ride
Wi his company and him to London.'
17 A year and mare she lived in care,
And docters wi her dealin,
And with a crack her sweet heart brack,
And the letters is on to London.
18 When the letters he got, they were all sealed in black,
And he fell in a grievous weeping;
He said, She is dead whom I loved best
If I had but her heart in keepin.
19 Then fifteen o the finest lords
That London could afford him,
From their hose to their hat, they were all clad in black,
For the sake of her corpse, Margaret Irvine.
20 The furder he gaed, the sorer he wept,
Come keping her corpse, Margaret Irvine.
Until that he came to the yetts of Aboyne,
Where the corpse of his lady was lying.
---------------
'The Earl of Aboyne'- Version B; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
a. Buchan's Gleanings, p. 71, 1825.
1 The Earl o Aboyne to old England's gone,
An a his nobles wi him;
Sair was the heart his fair lady had
Because she wanna wi him.
2 As she was a walking in her garden green,
Amang her gentlewomen,
Sad was rhe letter that came to her,
Her lord was wed in Lunan.
3 'Is this true, my Jean,' she says,
'My lord is wed in Lunan?'
'O no, O no, my lady gay,
For the Lord o Aboyne is comin.'
4 When she was looking oer her castell-wa,
She spied twa boys comin:
'What news, what news, my bonny boys?
What news hae ye frae Lunan?'
5 'Good news, good news, my lady gay,
The Lord o Aboyne is comin;
He's scarcely twa miles frae the place,
Ye'll hear his bridles ringin.'
6 'O my grooms all, be well on call,
An hae your stables shinin;
Of corn an hay spare nane this day,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.
7 'My minstrels all, be well on call,
And set your harps a tunin,
Wi the finest springs, spare not the strings,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.
8 'My cooks all, be well on call,
An had your spits a runnin,
Wi the best o roast, an spare nae cost,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.
9 'My maids all, be well on call,
An hae your flours a shinin;
Cover oer the stair wi herbs sweet an fair,
Cover the fours wi linen,
An dress my bodie in the finest array,
Sin the Lord o Aboyne is comin.'
10 Her gown was o the guid green silk,
Fastned wi red silk trimmin;
Her apron was o the guid black gaze,
Her hood o the finest linen.
11 Sae stately she stept down the stair,
To look gin he was comin;
She called on Kate, her chamer-maid,
An Jean, her gentlewoman,
To bring her a bottle of the best wine,
To drink his health that's comin.
12 She's gaen to the close, taen him from frae's horse,
Says, You'r thrice welcome fra Lunan!
'If I be as welcome hauf as ye say,
Come kiss me for my comin,
For tomorrow should been my wedding-day
Gin I'd staid on langer in Lunan.'
13 She turned about wi a disdainful look
To Jean, her gentlewoman:
'If tomorrow should been your wedding-day,
Go kiss your whores in Lunan.'
14 'O my nobles all, now turn your steeds,
I'm sorry for my comin;
For the night we'll alight at the bonny Bog o Gight,
Tomorrow tak horse for Lunan.'
15 'O Thomas, my man, gae after him,
An spier gin I'll win wi him;'
'Yes, madam, I hae pleaded for thee,
But a mile ye winna win wi him.'
16 Here and there she ran in care,
An doctors wi her dealin;
But in a crak her bonny heart brak,
And letters gaed to Lunan.
17 When he saw the letter sealed wi black,
He fell on 's horse weeping:
'If she be dead that I love best,
She has my heart a keepin.
18 'My nobles all, ye'll turn your steeds,
That comely face [I] may see then;
Frae the horse to the hat, a' must be black,
And mourn for bonny Peggy Irvine.'
19 When they came near to the place,
They heard the dead-bell knellin,
And aye the turnin o the bell
Said, Come bury bonny Peggy Irvine.
----------
['The Earl of Aboyne']- Version C; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Skene Manuscript, p. 58; taken down in the North of Scotland, 1802-3.
1 The Earl of Aboyne he's careless an kin,
An he is new come frae London;
He sent his man him before,
To tell o his hame-comin.
2 First she called on her chamberline,
Sin on Jeanie, her gentlewoman:
'Bring me a glass o the best claret win,
To drink my good lord's well-hame-comin.
3 'My servants all, be ready at a call,
. . . .
. . . .
For the Lord of Aboyne is comin.
4 'My cooks all, be ready at a call
. . . .
Wi the very best of meat,
For the Lord of Aboyne is comin.
5 'My maids all, be ready at a call,
. . . .
The rooms I've the best all to be dressd,
For the Lord af Aboyn is comin.'
6 She did her to the closs to take him fra his horse,
An she welcomed him frae London:
. . . .
'Ye'r welcome, my good lord, frae London!'
7 'An I be sae welcome, he says,
'Ye'll kiss me for my comin,
For the morn sud hae bin my weddin-day
Gif I had staid in London.'
8 She turned her about wi a disdainfull look,
Dear, she was a pretty woman!
'Gif the morn shud hae bin yer weddin-day,
Ye may kiss your whores in London.'
9 . . . .
. . . .
'So I shall, madam, an ye's hae na mare to sey,
For I'll dine wi the Marquis of Huntley.'
10 She did her to his servant-man,
I wat they caed him Peter Gordon:
'Ye will ask my good lord if he will let me
Wi him a single mile to ride [to London].'
11 'Ye need not, madam, . .
I have asked him already;
He will not let ye a single mile ride,
For he is to dine with the Marquis o Huntly.'
12 She called on her chamber-maid,
Sin on Jean, her gentlewoman:
'Ge make my bed, an tye up my head,
Woe's me for his hame-comin!'
13 She lived a year and day, wi mickle grief and wae,
The doctors were wi her dealin;
Within a crack, her heart it brack,
As the letters they went to London.
14 He gae the table wi his foot,
An koupd it wi his knee,
Gared silver cup an easer dish
In flinders flee.
15 . . . .
. . . .
'I wad I had lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Or I had lost bonny Margat Irvine.'
16 He called on his best serving-man,
I wat the caed him Peter Gordon:
'Gae get our horses sadled wi speed,
Woe's me for our hame-comin!
17 . . . .
. . . .
'For we will a' be in black, fra the hose to the hat,
Woe's me for bonny Margat Irvine!
18 'We must to the North, to bury her corps,
Alas for our hame-comin!
I rather I had lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Or I had lost bonny Margat Irvine.'
-----------
'The Earl of Aboyn'- Version C1; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
"The Old Lady's Collection," No 8.
1 The Earl of Aboyn he's carrlis an kind,
An he is nou come frae Lonon;
He sent his man him befor,
To tell of his Lame-coming.
2 First she called on her chambermad,
Sayn on Jeanie, her gentelwoman:
'Bring me a glass of the best claret wine,
To drink my good lord's well-hame-coming.
3 'My sarvants all, be ready att a call,
. . .
. . .
For the Lord of Aboy[n] is coming.
4 'My cooks all, be ready at a [c]all,
. . .
We the very best of meatt,
For the Lord of Aboyn is coming.
5 'My maids all, be ready at a call,
. . .
The rooms we the best all to be drest,
For the Lord of Aboyn is coming.'
6 She did her to the closs to take him from his hors,
An she welcomed him fra London:
. . .
'Yer welcome, my gued lord, fra London!'
7 An I be saie welcom,' he says,
' Ye'll kiss me for my coming,
For the morn sud ha ben my weding-day,
Gif I had stayed att London.'
8 She turned her about we a disdanfull look,
O dear, she was a pritty woman!
' Gin the morn sud ha ben yer weding-day,
Ye may kiss yer houers at London.'
9 . . .
. . .
'So I shall, madam, an ye's ha na mare to say,
For I ill dine we the markes of Huntly.'
10 She did her to his servant-man,
I wat they caed him Peater Gordon:
' Ye will ask my good lord if he will late me
We him a singel mille to ride [to London].'
11 'You ned not, madam, . . .
I haae asked him already;
He will not lett you a singel mille ride,
For he is to dine we the markes of Huntly.'
12 She called on her chamber-maid,
Sine on Jean, her gentelwoman:
'Ye make my bed an tay up my head,
Vou's me for his hear coming!'
13 She lived a year an day, we mucell grife an wae,
The doctors were we her dealing;
Withen a crak, her heart it brack,
An the letters they went to London.
14 He gae the table we his foot,
An caped it we his knee,
Gared silver cup an easer dish
In flinders flie.
15 . . .
. . .
'I rader I had lost a' the lans of Aboyne
Or I had lost bonny Margrat Irven.'
16 He called on his best servang-man,
I wat they [caed] him Piter Gordon:
' Ye gett our bosses sadled we speed,
Vou's me for our hear coming!
17 . . .
. . .
For we'll a' be in black, fra the hose to the hat,
Vou's me for bonny Margrat Irvieen!
18 We must to the North, to burry her corps,
Aless for our hear coming!
I rather I had lost a' the lands of Aboyn
Or I had lost bonny Marg[ra]t Irvien!'
--------------
'The Earl o Boyn'- Version D; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
"Scotch Ballads, Materials for Border Minstrelsy," No 17; in the handwriting of Richard Heber.
1 The guid Earl o Boyn's awa to Lonon gone,
An a' his gallan grooms wie him,
But, for a' the ribbons that hing at her hat,
He has left his fair lady behind him.
2 He had not been in London toun
A month but barely one, O,
Till the letters an the senes they came to her hand
That he was in love with another woman.
3 'O what think ye o this, my bonny boy?' she says,
'What think ye o my lord at london?
What think ye o this, my bonny boy?' she says,
'He's in love wie another woman.'
4 That lady lookd out at her closet-window,
An saw the gallan grooms coming;
'What think ye o this, my bonny boy?' she says,
'For yonder the gallan grooms coming.'
5 Stately, stately steppit she doun
To welcome the gallan grooms from London:
'Ye're welcome, ye're welcome, gallan grooms a';
Is the guid Earl o Boyn a coming?
6 'What news, what news, my gallan grooms a'?
What news have ye from London?
What news, what news, my gallan grooms a'?
Is the guid Earl o Boyn a-coming?'
7 'No news, no news,' said they gallan grooms a',
'No news hae we from London;
No news, no news,' said the gallan grooms a',
'But the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming,
An he's not two miles from the palace-gates,
An he's fast coming hame from London.'
8 'Ye stable-grooms a', be ready at the ca,
An have a' your stables in shening,
An sprinkle them over wie some costly water,
Since the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming.
9 'Ye pretty cooks a', be ready at the ca,
An have a' your spits in turning,
An see that ye spare neither cost nor pains,
Since the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming.
10 'Ye servant-maids, ye'll trim up the beds,
An wipe a' the rooms oer wie linnen,
An put a double daisy at every stair-head,
Since the guid Earl o Boyn's a coming.
11 'Ye'll call to me my chambermaid,
An Jean, my gentlewoman,
An they'll dress me in some fine array,
Since the good Earl o Boyn's a coming.'
12 Her stockens were o the good fine silk,
An her shirt it was o the camric,
An her goun it was a' giltit oer,
An she was a' hung oer wie rubbies.
13 That lady lookd out at her closet-window,
An she thought she saw him coming:
'Go fetch to me some fine Spanish wine,
That I may drink his health that's a coming.'
14 Stately, stately steppit she doun
To welcome her lord from london,
An as she walked through the close
She's peed him from his horse.
15 'Ye're welcome, ye're welcome, my dearest dear,
Ye're three times welcome from London!'
'If I be as welcome as ye say,
Ye'll kiss my for my coming;
Come kiss me, come kiss me, my dearest dear,
Come kiss me, my bonny Peggy Harboun.'
16 O she threw her arms aroun his neck,
To kiss him for his coming:
'If I had stayed another day,
I'd been in love wie another woman.
17 She turned her about wie a very stingy look,
She was as sorry as any woman;
She threw a napkin out-oure her face,
Says, Gang kiss your whore at London.
18 'Ye'll mount an go, my gallan grooms a',
Ye'll mount and back again to London;
Had I known this to be the answer my Meggy's gein me,
I had stayed some longer at London.'
19 'Go, Jack, my livery boy,' she says,
'Go ask if he'll take me wie him;
An he shall hae nae cumre o me
But mysel an my waiting-woman.'
20 'O the laus o London the're very severe,
They are not for a woman;
And ye are too low in coach for to ride,
I'm your humble servant, madam.
21 'My friends they were a' angry at me
For marrying ane o the house o Harvey;
And ye are too low in coach for to ride,
I'm your humble servant, lady.
22 'Go saddle for me my steeds,' he says,
'Go saddle them soon and softly,
For I maun awa to the Bogs o the Geich,
An speak wi the Marquess o Huntly.'
23 The guid Earl o Boyn's awa to London gone,
An a' his gallan gro[o]ms wie him;
But his lady fair he's left behind
Both a sick an a sorry woman.
24 O many were the letter she after him did send,
A' the way back again to London,
An in less than a twelvemonth her heart it did break,
For the loss o her lord at London.
25 He was not won well to the Bogs o the Geich,
Nor his horses scarcely batit,
Till the letters and the senes they came to his hand
That his lady was newly Strickit.
26 'O is she dead? or is she sick?
O woe's me for my coming!
I'd rather lost a' the Bogs o the Geich
Or I'd lost my bonny Peggy Harboun.'
27 He took the table wi his foot,
Made a' the room to tremble:
'I'd rather a lost a' the Bogs o the Geich
Or I'd lost my bonny Peggy Harboun.
28 'Oh an alas! an O woe's me!
An wo to the Marquess o Huntly,
Wha causd the Earl o Boyn prove sae very unkin
To a true an a beautiful lady!'
29 There were fifteen o the bravest gentlemen,
An the bravest o the lords o London,
They went a' to attend her burial-day,
But the Earl o Boyn could not go wi them.
-----------
'Earl of Aboyne'- Version E; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Harris Manuscript, fol. 21 b; from the recitation of Mrs. Harris.
1 'My maidens fair, yoursels prepare.'
2 You may weel knaw by her hair, wi the diamonds sae rare,
That the Earl of Aboyne was comin.
3 'My minstrels all, be at my call,
Haud a' your rooms a ringin,
. . . .
For the Earl of Aboyne is comin.'
4 'Tomorrow soud hae been my bonnie waddin-day,
If I had staid in London.'
5 She turned her aboot wi an angry look,
An sic an angry woman!
'Gin tomorrow soud hae been your bonnie waddin-day,
Gae back to your miss in Lunnon.'
6 For mony a day an year that lady lived in care,
An doctors wi her dealin,
Till just in a crack her very heart did brak,
An her letters went on to Lunnon.
7 There waur four-and-twenty o the noblest lords
That Lonnon could aford him,
A' clead in black frae the saidle to the hat,
To convey the corpse o Peggy Ewan.
8 'I'd rather hae lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Than lost my pretty Peggy Ewan.'
-----------
'The Earl of Aboyne'- Version F; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 635; "from the recitation of Margaret Black, wife of Archie Black, sailor in Ayr, a native of Aberdeenshire."
1 The Earl of Aboyne is to London gane,
And a' his nobles with him;
He's left his lady him behin,
He's awa, to remain in Lundon.
2 She's called upon her waiting-maid
To busk her in her claithin;
Her sark was o cambrick very fine,
And her bodice was the red buckskin.
3 Her stockings were o silk sae fine,
And her shoon o the fine cordan;
Her coat was o the guid green silk,
Turnit up wi a siller warden.
4 Her goun was also o the silk,
Turned up wi a siller warden,
And stately tripped she doun the stair,
As she saw her gude lord comin.
5 She gaed thro the close and grippit his horse,
Saying, Ye're welcome hame frae London!
'Gin that be true, come kiss me now,
Come kiss me for my coming.
6 'For blythe and cantie may ye be,
And thank me for my comin,
For the morn would hae been my wedding-day
Had I remained in London.'
7 She turnd her richt and round about,
She was a waefu woman:
'Gin the morn would hae been your weddin-day,
Gae kiss your whores in London.'
8 He turned him richt and round about,
He was sorry for his comin:
'Loup on your steeds, ye nobles a',
The morn we'll dine in London.'
9 She lived a year in meikle wae,
And the doctors dealin wi her;
At lang and last her heart it brast
And the letters gade to London.
10 And when he saw the seals o black,
He fell in a deadly weeping;
He said, She's dead whom I loed best,
And she had my heart in keeping.
11 'Loup on your steeds, ye nobles a',
I'm sorry for our comin;
Frae our horse to our hat, we'll gae in black,
And we'll murn for Peggy Irwine.'
12 They rade on but stap or stay
Till they came to her father's garden,
Whare fifty o the bravest lords
Were convoying Peggy Irwine.
-------------
['Earl Aboyne']- Version G; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 131.
1 The Earl Aboyne to London has gane,
And all his nobles with him;
For a' the braw ribbands he wore at his hat,
He has left his lady behind him.
2 She's called on her little foot-page,
And Jean, her gentlewoman;
Said, Fill to me a full pint of wine,
And I'll drink it at my lord's coming.
3 'You're welcome, you're welcome, you're welcome,' she says,
'You're welcome home from London!'
'If I be as welcome as you now say,
Come kiss me, my bonnie Peggy Irvine.
4 'Come kiss me, come kiss me, my lady,' he says,
'Come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my wedding-day,
Had I staid any longer in London.'
5 She turned about with an angry look,
Said, Woe's me for your coming!
If the morn should hae been your wedding-day,
Go back to your whore in London.
6 He's called on his little foot-page,
Said, Saddle both sure and swiftly,
And I'l away to the Bogs o the Gay,
And speak wi the Marquis o Huntly.
7 She has called on her little foot-page,
Said, See if he'll take me with him;
And he shall hae nae mair cumber o me
But myself and my servant-woman.
8 'O London streets they are too strait,
They are not for a woman,
And it is too low to ride in coach wi me
With your humble servant-woman.'
9 He had not been at the Bogs o the Gay,
Nor yet his horse was baited,
Till a boy with a letter came to his hand
That his lady was lying streekit.
10 'O woe! O woe! O woe!' he says,
'O woe's me for my coming!
I had rather lost the Bogs o the Gay
Or I'd lost my bonny Peggy Irvine.
11 'O woe! O woe! O woe!' he said,
'O woe to the Marquis o Huntly,
Gard the Earl of Aboyne prove very unkind
To a good and a dutiful lady!'
-----------
'Bonny Peggy Irvine'- Version H; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Campbell Manuscripts, II, 105.
1 The Earl of Boon's to London gone,
And all his merry men with him;
For a' the ribbonds hang at his horse's main,
He has left his lady behind him.
2 He had not been a night in town,
Nor a day into the city,
Until that the letters they came to him,
And the ladies they did invite him.
3 His lady has lookit oer her left shoulder,
To see if she saw him coming,
And then she saw her ain good lord,
Just newly come from London.
4 'Come kiss me, my dear, come kiss me,' he said,
'Come kiss me for my coming,
For if I had staid another day in town
Tomorrow I would hae been married in Lunnon.'
5 She turned about wi a very saucy look,
As saucy as eer did a woman;
Says, If a' be true that I've heard of you,
You may go back and kiss your whores in Lunnon.
6 'Go call on Jack, my waiting-man,' he said,
'Go saddle and make him ready;
For I maun away to the Bughts o Gight,
To speak to the Marquess of Huntly.'
7 He had not been at the Bughts of the Gight,
Nor the horses yet weel bated,
Until that the letters came ta him
That his lady was newly streeket.
8 'Wae's me, my dear! wae's me!' he said,
'It waes me for my coming;
For I wad rather lost a' the Bughts o the Gight
Or I had lost my bonny Peggy Irvine.'
----------
'Earl of Aboyne,' or, 'Bonny Peggy Irvine'- Version I; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 128.
1 The Earl of Aboyne to London has gone,
And all his nobles with him;
For all the braw ribbands he wore at his hat,
He has left his lady behind him.
2 She has to her high castle gane,
To see if she saw him coming;
And who did she spy but her own servant Jack,
Coming riding home again from London.
3 'What news, what news, my own servant Jack?
What news have you got from London?'
'Good news, good news, my lady,' he says,
'For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.'
4 She has to her kitchen-maid gane:
'Set your pots and your pans all a boiling;
Have every thing fine for gentry to dine,
For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.
5 'Stable-grooms all, pray be well employed,
Set your stable-bells all a ringing;
Let your hecks be overlaid with the finest of good hay,
For the Earl of Aboyne he is coming.'
6 She has to her low gates gane,
To see if she saw him coming,
And long seven miles before they came to town
She heard their bridles ringing.
7 'Come kiss me, come kiss me, madam,' he says,
'Come kiss me for my coming,
For the morn should hae been my wedding-day
Had I staid any longer in London.'
8 She's turned about with an angry look,
Says, Woe's me for thy coming!
If the morn should hae been your wedding-day
Go back and kiss your whores in London.
9 They've turned their horses' heads around,
Their faces all for London;
With their hands to their hats they all rode off,
And they're all away to London.
-------------
'Earl of Aboyne,' or, 'Bonny Peggy Irvine'- Version J; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 135; from the recitation of Widow Nicol, of Paisley.
1 The Earl of Aboyne has up to London gone,
And all his nobles with him,
And three broad letters he sent into his love
He would wed another woman in London.
2 She has turned the honey month about,
To see if he was coming,
And lang three miles ere he came to the town
She heard his bridle ringing.
3 She's went down unto the close and she's taen him from his horse,
Says, Ye're welcome home from London!
'If I be as welcome, dear Peggy, as you say,
Come kiss me for my coming.
4 'Come kiss me, come kiss me, dear Peggy,' he said,
'Come kiss me for my coming,
For tomorrow should have been my wedding-day
Had I tarried any longer in London.'
5 She has turned herself round about,
And she was an angry woman:
'If tomorrow should have been your wedding-day,
You may kiss with your sweethearts in London.'
6 'Go saddle me my steed,' he said,
'Saddle and make him ready;
For I must away to the bonny Bog of Keith,
For to visit the Marquis of Huntley.'
7 'Go ask him, go ask, dear Thomas,' she said,
'Go ask if he'll take me with him;'
'I've asked him once, and I'll ask him no more,
For ye'll never ride a mile in his company.'
8 'Go make to me my bed,' she said,
'Make it soft and narrow;
For since my true lover has slighted me so,
I will die for him ere morrow.'
9 She has called her waiting-man,
And Jean her gentlewoman:
'Go bring to me a glass of red wine,
For I'm as sick as any woman.'
10 The bed it was not made nor well laid down,
Nor yet the curtains drawn on,
Till stays and gown and all did burst,
And it's alace for bonny Peggy Irvine!
11 The Earl of Aboyne was not at the Bog of Keith,
Nor met wi the Marquis of Huntley,
Till three broad etters were sent after him
That his pretty Peggy Irvine had left him.
12 He gave such a rap on the table where he sat
It made all the room for to tremble:
'I would rather I had lost all the rents of Aboyne
Than have lost my pretty Peggy Irvine.'
-----------
['The Earl o Aboyne']- Version K; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Communicated by Mr. Alexander Laing; from the recitation of Miss Fanny Walker, of Mount Pleasant, near Newburgh-on-Tay.
1 The Earl o Aboyne is awa to Lunnon gane,
An he's taen Joannan wi him,
An it ill be Yule ere he come again;
But he micht hae taen taen his bonnie Peggie Ewan.
2 Cook-maidens all, be ready at my call,
Hae a' your pats an pans a-reekin;
For the finest o flowrs, gae through your bowrs,
For the Earl o Aboyne's a comin.
----------
['The Lord Aboyn']- Version L; Child 235 The Earl of Aboyne
Motherwell's Note-Book, p. 54. "An old woman (native of Banfshire) sings 'The Earl of Aboyne,' beginning:"
1 The Lord Aboyn's to London gone,
And his hail court wi him;
Better he had staid at hame,
Or taen his lady wi him.
End-Notes
A. 33. Perhaps bretlher a: not understood by me in either case, clear may be clean.
202. keping. Glossed "meeting" in a note, but the line is not intelligible to me, and does not seem to be consistent with what follows.
B. a. 93. herbs sweet air. Robertson, New Deeside Guide, prints herbs sweet an fair.
126. Robertson prints ony langer.
b. 1 The Earl o Aboyne he's courteous an kind,
He's kind to every woman,
An he has left the castle o Aboyne
An gane to dwell in Lunan;
An sair was the heart his lady had,
Because she wan na wi him.
2 As she was walking in her garden green,
Alang wi her gentlewoman,
There was a letter brocht to her
That her lord was wed in London.
3. wanting.
42. saw twa bonny boys.
44. bring ye.
51. ye lady.
52. For the Earl o.
53,4. wanting.
61. all wanting.
64, 84, 93. Earl for Lord.
7, 82,3, 92-5, 10, 111,2. wanting.
91. maidens.
115. Gae bring me a pint o the gude red wine.
122. Says, Ye 're welcome hame.
123. welcome, he cried, as.
125. wad hae been.
123. only langer.
131. her about wi a scornfu.
133. suld hae been his.
134. He may kiss his miss in.
141. My merry men a'.
142. I'm wae at heart for.
143. The nicht we'll licht.
144. An the morn tak.
15, 161,2, 174, 182. wanting.
181. My merry men a' now turn.
191. near to bonny Aboyne.
193. the tollin.
a may have been derived from a printed copy, and b learned from the same.
C. The latter half of the Skene Manuscript is very carelessly copied. Here, as in other places, stanzas are not separated, lines are improperly divided, and there are omissions which are in no way indicated.
13. man hin | Before to, etc.
D. 44. yonder's? But yonder may = yonder are.
144. She speed.
G. 7, 8 are 2, 3 in the Manuscript.
H. 74. streeket. Manuscript, perhaps, struket.
I. 11, 34. of is of later insertion.
63. came hame, originally; hame is erased and to town written above.
J. 21. I do not understand turned the honey month.
31. taen from him.
33. as you say: originally written he says.
71. him struck out after the second ask.
Additions and Corrections
P. 314. C. Here given as it stands in "The Old Lady's Collection," No 8.
1 The Earl of Aboyn he's carrlis an kind,
An he is nou come frae Lonon;
He sent his man him befor,
To tell of his Lame-coming.
2 First she called on her chambermad,
Sayn on Jeanie, her gentelwoman:
'Bring me a glass of the best claret wine,
To drink my good lord's well-hame-coming.
3 'My sarvants all, be ready att a call,
. . .
. . .
For the Lord of Aboy[n] is coming.
4 'My cooks all, be ready at a [c]all,
. . .
We the very best of meatt,
For the Lord of Aboyn is coming.
5 'My maids all, be ready at a call,
. . .
The rooms we the best all to be drest,
For the Lord of Aboyn is coming.'
6 She did her to the closs to take him from his hors,
An she welcomed him fra London:
. . .
'Yer welcome, my gued lord, fra London!'
7 An I be saie welcom,' he says,
' Ye'll kiss me for my coming,
For the morn sud ha ben my weding-day,
Gif I had stayed att London.'
8 She turned her about we a disdanfull look,
O dear, she was a pritty woman!
' Gin the morn sud ha ben yer weding-day,
Ye may kiss yer houers at London.'
9 . . .
. . .
'So I shall, madam, an ye's ha na mare to say,
For I ill dine we the markes of Huntly.'
10 She did her to his servant-man,
I wat they caed him Peater Gordon:
' Ye will ask my good lord if he will late me
We him a singel mille to ride [to London].'
11 'You ned not, madam, . . .
I haae asked him already;
He will not lett you a singel mille ride,
For he is to dine we the markes of Huntly.'
12 She called on her chamber-maid,
Sine on Jean, her gentelwoman:
'Ye make my bed an tay up my head,
Vou's me for his hear coming!'
13 She lived a year an day, we mucell grife an wae,
The doctors were we her dealing;
Withen a crak, her heart it brack,
An the letters they went to London.
14 He gae the table we his foot,
An caped it we his knee,
Gared silver cup an easer dish
In flinders flie.
15 . . .
. . .
'I rader I had lost a' the lans of Aboyne
Or I had lost bonny Margrat Irven.'
16 He called on his best servang-man,
I wat they [caed] him Piter Gordon:
' Ye gett our bosses sadled we speed,
Vou's me for our hear coming!
17 . . .
. . .
For we'll a' be in black, fra the hose to the hat,
Vou's me for bonny Margrat Irvieen!
18 We must to the North, to burry her corps,
Aless for our hear coming!
I rather I had lost a' the lands of Aboyn
Or I had lost bonny Marg[ra]t Irvien!'
11. carliss: perhaps courtis.
82. pritty: doubtful.
318-20. Copies of G, I, J, were sent by Motherwell to C.K. Sharpe, in a letter dated December 6, 1824. In all the transcripts there are some slight changes of the Manuscript text, such as Motherwell was quite in the way of making. To I he added the following lines, which are found substantially in J. They may have been subsequently recollected by the reciter of I.
10 She has called her servant-maid,
And Jean, her gentlewoman:
'Go make me a bed and lay me down,
I 'm as sick as any woman.'
11 Word has to new London gane,
To the tavern where he was dining;
He gave such a rap on the table where he sat
Made all the house to wonder.
12 . . .
. . .
'I would rather hae lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Or I 'd lost my Peggy Irvine!'
111. Motherwell suggests: Word has now to.
321. Findlay Manuscripts, I, 120. 'The Yerle o Aboyne,' from Mrs. Main, Inchmarlo, Kincardineshire.
1 The Yerle o Aboyne's to London gane,
He met in wi a temptin woman;
For she sat an sang an birld at the wine,
An she wadna lat him hame fae Lunon.
* * *
2 'My cook-maids a', be well in ca,
Had pots an pans a boilin,
Wi the roast an the boil,
To attend my guid lord's comin.'
3 She steppit sae neatly oot the way,
She gaed, she went an met him:
'Ye're welcome home, my ain guid lord,
You'r thrice weelcome fae Lunon.'
4 'An I be welcome home,' he says,
'Ye'll kiss me for my comin,
For this very day I 'd been wedded to a maid
Gin I 'd staid langer in Lunon.'
5 She turnd her about wi a sorrowfu look,
Such a sorry an angry woman!
'An the letters be true I receivd last frae you,
Gae kiss your whores in Lunon.'
6 Haem she gaed frae . . .
. . .
But wi a crack her heart did brak,
. . .
7 Fifty letters seald wi black,
An they are on to Lunon,
An when he lookd the letters upon
He says, O wae's me for my pairtin!
* * *
8 When he cam to bonny Aboyne,
He thocht that she was sleepin,
But when he drew the sma curtain by
Then he fell oot a weepin.
9 'O dear! is she dead? and a wow I is she dead?
Ah, woe's me for our pairtin!
I rather had lost a' the lands o Aboyne
Or I'd pairted wi Peggie Irvine.
* * *
10 'A' my friends did me disdain
For marryin the name o Irvine.'
The first stanza is also given thus (p. 121):
The Earl of Aboyne he's courtous an kin,
He's kin to every woman;
He's kind when he comes, an he's kind when he gangs,
But he never brings his lady to London.
From Miss Butchart, Arbroath, p. 146.
1 The Earl o Aboyne's to London gane,
An taen Duke Huntly wi him,
* * *
2 She called on Jack, her gentleman,
An Jean, her gentlewoman:
'Gae dress my fair body in some finer dress,
For the Earl o Aboyne is comin.'
* * *
3 She's gaen doun by yon burnside,
An there she saw him comin:
'Ye're welcome, welcome, Earl o Aboyne,
Ye're welcome hame frae Lunon.
* * *
4 'Gae back, gae back then, Earl o Aboyne,
Nae thanks to you for comin;
Gin tomorrow wad hae been your fair weddin-day,
Gae kiss your dames in Lunon.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
P. 311 b, omit the paragraph beginning J, and say:
Charles, first Earl of Aboyne, married for his first wife Margaret Irvine of Drum, who died in December, 1662. (The Records of Aboyne, edited by the Marquis of Huntly, New Spalding Club, 1894, p. 552.) The story of the ballad, so far as is known, is an absolute fiction.
In vol. ii of Retours or Services of Heirs, No 4906 (Aberdeen), 17 June, 1665, there is the entry: Domina Anna Gordoun, hæres Dominæ Margaretæ Irving, sponsæ Comitis de Aboyne matris. (Mr. Walker of Aberdeen.)
311, V, 270. Mr. Macmath has sent me this stall-copy, printed by J. Morren, Cowgate, Edinburgh.
Peggy Irvine
1 Our lady stands in her chamber-door,
viewing the Grahams are a coming;
She knew by the light of their livery so red
they were new come down from London.
2 She called on her chambermaid,
and Jeany her gentlewoman:
You'll dress my body in some fine dress,
for yon is my good lord a coming.
3 Her smock was of the holland so fine,
her body round with busting;
Her shoes were of the small corded twine,
and her stockings silk and twisting.
4 Her petticoats was of the silk so fine,
set out with the silver and scolloping;
Her gown was of the red damask silk so fine,
trimmed with the red gold gold mounting.
5 'You guildery maids, come trim up my gauze,
and make them silver shining;
With strawberry flowers cover all my bowers,
and hang them round with the linen.
6 Ye minstrels all, be on our call
when you see his horses coming;
With music spring, spare not your string
when you hear his bridles ringing.'
7 She called on Meg her chamber-maid,
and Jeanny her gentlewoman:
'Go bring me a bottle of the good Spanish wine,
for to drink his health that's coming.'
8 She gently tripped down the stair,
and away to the gate to meet him:
'You are welcome, you lord of the Boyne,
you are welcome home from London.'
9 'If this be so, come let me know,
come kiss me for my coming;
For tomorrow should have been my wedding-day
if I had staid in London.'
10 She gave the glass out of her hand,
she was a woeful woman:
'If the morrow should be your wedding-day,
Go back to your whores in London,'
11 He looked oer his right shoulder,
his comely court behind him:
'This is a merry welcome' he says,
'that we have got from London.
12 'To your horse, to your horse, my nobles all,
to your horse, let us be going;
This night we'll lodge in Drummond castle,
and tomorrow we'll march to London.'
13 Now this lady has fallen sick,
and doctors we her dealing,
But at length her heart did break,
and letters sent to London.
14 He took the letter in his hand,
and loud, loud was he laughing,
But before he read it to an end,
the tears did come down rapping.
15 'To your horse, to your horse, my nobles all,
to your horse, let's be going;
To your horse, let us all go in black,
and mourn for Peggy Irvine.'
16 When he came to his own castle-gate,
the knight was weary weeping:
'Cheer up your heart, you lord of Boyne,
your lady is but sleeping.'
17 'Sleeping deary, sleeping dow,
I'm afraid she's oer sound sleeping;
It's I had rather lost all the lands of the Boyne
before I would have lost Peggy Irvine.'
42. set out out.
103. If he.
Trivial Corrections of Spelling.
312 b, 91. Read o gold.
312 b, 101,2. Read steppet, walket.