No. 237. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter
[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 Text A a (Changes for the texts A b- A h are found in End-Notes. Another version of a (designated a1) from a copy in a collection of folio sheet ballads, British Museum, 1346. m. 8, with the date September 8th, 1775 is found in Additions and Corrections.)
5. End-notes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 237. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter
A. Roud No. 342: The Duke of Gordon's Daughter (51 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 237. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter (Bronson gives two music examples and texts)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A a-h with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: 237. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter
A. a. 'The Duke of Gordon's Daughter,' The Duke of Gordon's Garland, Percy Papers, and another edition in a volume of garlands formerly in Heber's library.
b. 'The Duke of Gordon's Daughters,' a stall-copy, printed for John Sinclair, Dumfries.
c. 'The Duke of Gordon's Daughters,' Stirling, printed by M. Randall.
d. 'The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters,' Peterhead, printed by P. Buchan.
e. 'The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters,' Kinloch Manuscripts, 1, 125.
f. 'The Duke o Gordon's Daughters,' Murison Manuscript, p. 90, Aberdeenshire.
g. 'The Duke o Gordon's Daughter,' Gibb Manuscript, p. 13, No 3, from the recitation of Mrs. Gibb, senior.
h. 'The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters,' Macmath Manuscript, p. 31, a fragment recited by Mrs. Macmath, senior, in 1874, and learned by her fifty years before.
A copy of a was reprinted by Ritson, Scotish Songs, 1794, II, 169. (There are three slight variations in Ritson, two of which are misprints.) Fifteen stanzas are given from Ritson in Johnson's Musical Museum, 'The Duke of Gordon has three daughters,' No 419, p. 431, 1797 (with a single variation and the correction of a misprint). Smith's Scotish Minstrel, IV, 98, repeats the stanzas in the Museum, inserting a few words to fill out lines for singing. Christie, Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 2, has made up a ballad from three "traditional" copies. A fragment of four stanzas in Notes and Queries, Second Series, VII, 418, requires no notice.
Burns gave the first stanza as follows (Cromek's Reliques, p. 229, ed, 1817; Cromek's Select Scotish Songs, I, 86, 1810):
The lord o Gordon had three dochters,
Mary, Marget, and Jean;
They wad na stay at bonie Castle Gordon,
But awa to Aberdeen.
The first sister's name is given as Mary in e also.
It is very likely that the recited copies were originally learned from print, e and g have two stanzas which do not appear in a-d, but these may occur in some other stall-copy, or have been borrowed from some other ballad.
Ritson pointed out that George Gordon, the fourth Earl of Huntly, killed at Corrichie in 1562, had three daughters, named Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean, and that Jean, the youngest, married Alexander Ogilvie, Laird of Boyne. These facts, however, can have no relevancy to this ballad. Ogilvie was Lady Jean Gordon's third husband, and at the death of the second, in 1594, she was in her fiftieth year, or near to that. Her marriage with the Laird of Boyne was "for the utility and profit of her children," of which she had a full quiver.[1]
Jean, one of the three daughters of the Duke of Gordon (there was no Duke of Gordon before 1684, but that is early enough for our ballad), falls in love with Captain Ogilvie at Aberdeen. Her father threatens to have the captain hanged, and writes to the king to ask that favor. The king refuses to hang Ogilvie, but reduces him to the ranks, makes him a 'single' man. The pair lead a wandering life for three years, and are blessed with as many children. At the end of that time they journey afoot to the Highland hills, and present themselves at Castle Gordon in great destitution. Lady Jean is welcomed; the duke will have nothing to do with Ogilvie. Ogilvie goes over seas as a private soldier, but is soon after sent for as heir to the earldom of Northumberland. The duke is now eager to open Castle Gordon to the Captain. Ogilvie wants nothing there but Jean Gordon, whom, with her three children, he takes to Northumberland to enjoy his inheritance.
Nothing in the story of the ballad is known to have even a shadow of foundation in fact.
Footnote:
1. Lady Jean Gordon was divorced from the Earl of Bothwell in 1567, "being then twenty years of age," says Sir Robert Gordon. His continuator puts her death at 1629, in her eighty-fourth year. Genealogy of the Earls of Sutherland, pp. 143, 145, 169, 469.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
Nothing in the story of the ballad is known to have even a shadow of foundation in fact.
Child's Ballad Text
'The Duke of Gordon's Daughter'- Version A a; Child 237 The Duke of Gordon's Daughter
a. 'The Duke of Gordon's Daughter,' The Duke of Gordon's Garland, Percy Papers, and another edition in a volume of garlands formerly in Heber's library.
1 The Duke of Gordon has three daughters,
Elizabeth, Margaret, and Jean;
They would not stay in bonny Castle Gordon,
But they would go to bonny Aberdeen.
2 They had not been in Aberdeen
A twelvemonth and a day
Till Lady Jean fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
3 Word came to the Duke of Gordon,
In the chamber where he lay,
Lady Jean has fell in love with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she would gae.
4 'Go saddle to me the black horse,
And you'll ride on the grey,
And I will ride to bonny Aberdeen,
Where I have been many a day.'
5 They were not a mile from Aberdeen,
A mile but only three,
Till he met with his two daughters walking,
But away was Lady Jean.
6 'Where is your sister, maidens?
Where is your sister now?
Where is your sister, maidens,
That she is not walking with you?'
7 'O pardon us, honoured father,
O pardon us,' they did say;
'Lady Jean is with Captain Ogilvie,
And away with him she will gae.'
8 When he came to Aberdeen,
And down upon the green,
There did he see Captain Ogilvie,
Training up his men.
9 'O wo to you, Captain Ogilvie,
And an ill death thou shalt die;
For taking to thee my daughter,
Hang d thou shalt be.'
10 Duke Gordon has wrote a broad letter,
And sent it to the king,
To cause hang Captain Ogilvie
If ever he hanged a man.
11 'I will not hang Captain Ogilvie,
For no lord that I see;
But I'll cause him to put off the lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.'
12 Word came to Captain Ogilvie,
In the chamber where he lay,
To cast off the gold lace and scarlet,
And put on the single livery.
13 'If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
This pennance I'll take wi;
If this be for bonny Jeany Gordon,
All this I will dree.'
14 Lady Jean had not been married,
Not a year but three,
Till she had a babe in every arm,
Another upon her knee.
15 'O but I'm weary of wandering!
O but my fortune is bad!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a soldier-lad.
16 'O but I'm weary of wandering!
O but I think lang!
It sets not the Duke of Gordon's daughter
To follow a single man.'
17 When they came to the Highland hills,
Cold was the frost and snow;
Lady Jean's shoes they were all torn,
No farther could she go.
18 'O wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the wind and the rain!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No further am I able to gang.
19 'Wo to the hills and the mountains!
Wo to the frost and the snow!
My feet is sore with going barefoot,
No farther am I able to go.
20 'O if I were at the glens of Foudlen,
Where hunting I have been,
I would find the way to bonny Castle Gordon,
Without either stockings or shoon.'
21 When she came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green,
The porter gave out a loud shout,
'O yonder comes Lady Jean!'
22 'O you are welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
You are dear welcome to me;
You are welcome, dear Jeany Gordon,
But away with your Captain Ogilvie.'
23 Now over seas went the captain,
As a soldier under command;
A message soon followed after
To come and heir his brother's land.
24 'Come home, you pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And heir your brother's land;
Come Home, ye pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Be Earl of Northumberland.'
25 'O what does this mean?' says the captain;
'Where's my brother's children three?'
'They are dead and buried,
And the lands they are ready for thee.'
26 'Then hoist up your sails, brave captain,
Let's be jovial and free;
I'll to Northumberland and heir my estate,
Then my dear Jeany I'll see.'
27 He soon came to Castle Gordon,
And down upon the green;
The porter gave out with a loud shout,
'Here comes Captain Ogilvie!'
28 You're welcome, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
Your fortune's advanced I hear;
No stranger can come unto my gates
That I do love so dear.'
29 'Sir, the last time I was at your gates,
You would not let me in;
I'm come for my wife and children,
No friendship else I claim.'
30 'Come in, pretty Captain Ogilvie,
And drink of the beer and the wine;
And thou shalt have gold and silver
To count till the clock strike nine.'
31 'I'll have none of your gold or silver,
Nor none of your white-money;
But I'll have bonny Jeany Gordon,
And she shall go now with me.'
32 Then she came tripping down the stair,
With the tear into her eye;
One babe was at her foot,
Another upon her knee.
33 'You're welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
With my young family;
Mount and go to Northumberland,
There a countess thou shall be.'
-------------
End-Notes
a. The Duke of Gordon's Garland, composed of several excellent New Songs.
I. The Duke of Gordon's Daughter.
II. A new song calld Newcastle Ale.
Licensed and enterd according to order.
Heber's copy differs in a few places from Percy's, and generally for the worse.
42. on wanting.
74. she woud.
103. cause wanting.
134. will not.
162. think it.
182. and rain.
243. you.
244. And be.
322. tears in her eyes.
Ritson's. 93. wants thee.
133. wants for.
311. gold and.
b Two copies, one in the British Museum, 1078. i. 20 (7), Printed at the St. Michael Press, by C. M'Lachlan, Dumfries, dated in the catalogue 1785?
c. British Museum, 11621. b. 12 (28), dated 1810?
A beautiful old song, entitled the Duke of Gordon's three Daughters. To which is added The Challenge. Stirling: Printed by M. Randall.
d. British Museum, 1078. k. 4 (5), dated 1820?
The Duke of Gordon's Three Daughters. To which is added Mrs. Burns Lament for Burns. Peterhead: Printed by P. Buchan.
b, c, d. 11. had.
13. stay at.
14. they went to.
21. in bonny.
23. Till Jean.
24. b. him went she. c, d. And from him she would not stay.
31. come.
33,4. How Lady Jean fell in love with a captain, And from him she would not stay.
41. to me: horse, he cry'd.
42. My servant shall ride on.
43. will go.
44. Forthwith to bring her away.
52. only one.
53. walking wanting.
61,3. O where.
64. c, d. not along with.
71. b. us, they did say.
74. And from him she would (c, d, will) not stay.
81. to bonny.
84. b. A training of. c, d. A training his gallant.
91. woe be to thee.
94. High hanged, b. shalt thou.
101. b. The Duke he wrote, c, d. The D. of G. wrote a letter.
102. b. he sent.
103. Desiring him to hang.
104. b. eer he causd hang any. c, d. For marrying his daughter Jean.
111. b. O no I. c, d. Said the king, I'll not.
112. b. For any (c, d, all the) offence that.
113. him put off the scarlet.
121. Now word.
123. To strip off.
131,3. b. Jean.
133. c, d. for my true-love.
134. this and more I'll.
142. c, d. Not wanting, b, c, d. but only.
144. And another.
151. b. weary, weary wandering, c, d. weary wandering.
16 O hold thy tongue, bonny Jean Gordon,
O hold your tongue, my lamb!
(c, d. thy)
For once I was a noble captain,
Now for thy sake a single man.
171. b. O high is the hills and the mountains. c, d. high were: and mountains.
172. b. and the.
18, 19. Wanting.
201. b. was in. c, d. were in.
203. I could go. b. Jean for Castle, wrongly.
19-21 of b are displaced, and come after b 26: or, 23-27 of a follow a 20, and then come this stanza (not in a) and a 21, 22.
After 20. b:
~~ O hold thy tongue, bonny Jean (c, d. your) Gordon,
O hold your tongue, my dow!
I've but one half-crown in the world,
I'll buy hose and shoon (c, d. And I'll) to you.
211. b. Then, wrongly, b, c, d. to bonny.
212. And coming over the green.
213. b. porter cried out with a cry. c, d. called out very loudly.
214. b. O wanting, b, c, d. comes our.
221. b. O wanting, b, c, d. Jean.
222. b. dearly, c, d. Her father he did say.
223. Thou art: Jean.
224. Captain wanting.
231. over the.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which caused a countermand.
241. b. home now pretty, c, d. home now brave.
242. To enjoy your.
243. b. home now pretty, c, d. O come home gallant.
244. You'r the heir of.
251. c, d. O wanting.
253. they. b. are all.
254. The lands, b. all ready.
262. And let's.
263. I'll go home and have my.
264. And then.
271. honny Castle.
272. b. And then at the gate stood he. c, d. he stood, wrongly.
273. b. porter cry'd out. c, d. cry'd with a loud voice.
274. c, d. here. b. comes the.
281. c, d. you're welcome now, Captain.
283. b. come to. c, d. come within.
291. b. at wrongly omitted, b, c, d. gate.
293. c, d. Now I'm.
30, 31. Wanting.
321. c, d. Then Jean came.
322. c, d. The salt tear in.
323. babe she had at every foot.
324. c, d. And one in her arms did ly.
33. b. You 're welcome, bonny Jean Gordon,
You are dearly welcome to me;
You 're welcome, bonny Jeany Gordon,
Countess of Cumberland to be.
c, d. The Captain took her straight in his arms,
O a happy man was he!
Saying, Welcome, etc., as in b.
334. c, d. Northumberland.
After 33. b.
So the captain came off (c, d. The captain) with his lady,
And also his sweet babes three;
(c, d. And his lovely babies three)
Saying, I'm as good blood by descent,
Tho the great Duke o Gordon you be.
e-h. are but partially collated.
e. 11. had.
12. Lady Mary, Margret, and Jean.
14. they wadna bide.
74. From him she will not stay.
8. Wanting.
94. Hie hangit shalt thou be.
103. Desiring to hang.
104. For marrying his dochter Jean.
112. For a' the offence I see.
113. gar him throw aff his broad scarlet.
134. A' this and mair I'll dree.
142. A year but only three.
151. weary wandering.
16. As in b, c, d.
171. High war the hills and the mountains.
18, 19. Wanting.
203. I could ga.
After 20:
'O an I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
. . .
an I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
There I'd get hose and sheen.'
'Though ye war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
Your father is sae hard-hearted a man
He wad na lat you in.'
'If I war at bonnie Castle Gordon,
And standing on the green,
My mither's a tender-hearted woman,
She wad rise and lat me in.'
Then: O haud your tongue — I'll buy hose and sheen to you, as in b, c, d.
224. awa wi your Ogilvie.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which causd a countermand.
244. Ye 're the heir of.
263. I'll gae hame and heir my estate.
After 26:
'Then hoist up your sail,' said the Captain,
'And we'll gae oure the sea,
And I'll gae to bonnie Castle Gordon,
There my dear Jeanie to see.'
272. And whan in sicht cam he.
Between 28, 29:
'The last time I cam to your yetts
Ye wadna let me in,
But now I 'm again at your yetts,
And in I will not gang.'
30, 31. Wanting.
322. Wi the saut tear in her ee.
323. A babe she held in every arm.
324. Anither gaun at her knee.
33. As in c, d, and a concluding stanza as in b, c, d.
f. 11. had.
22. Months but barely three.
24, 34, 74. fae him she winna stay.
31. Word's come.
62. sister Jean.
64. ye are walkin alane.
94. High hanged.
104. If ever he hanged ane.
132,4. A' this I'll dee an mair.
14. Wanting.
151. weary wanrin.
154. a single sodger lad.
16. As in b, c, d.
18, 19. Wanting.
202. Fa monie merry day I hae been.
After 20 a stanza as in b, c, d, and then this silly one:
'O they would be bad stockins,
they would be worse sheen,
O they would be bad stockins
Ye'd get for half a crown.'
211. they cam to bonnie Aberdeen.
224. awa wi your Ogilvie.
233. Bat a messenger.
234. Which proved a counterman.
244. You 're the heir o.
26, 30, 31. Wanting.
322. Wi the saut tear in her ee.
323. She had a babe in ilka airm.
324. An a third whar nane could see.
332. Ye're welcome, thrice welcome to me.
333,4. Ye're welcome, bonnie Jeannie Gordon,
Countess o Northumberlan to be.
g. 11. had.
22. A month but only one.
34. from him she wald not stay.
42. My servant shall ride on.
44. An forthwith bring her away.
52. only one.
64. she's not along with you.
74. from him she will not stay.
84. Training his gallant men.
94. It's high hangit ye sail.
103. It was to hang.
104. For marrying his daughter Jean.
112. For all the offence I can see.
114. 124. Put on but the.
13. 'A' this I will do for your sake, Jeanie Gordon,
A' this I will do for thee;
I will cast aff the gold lace an scarlet,
Put on but the single livery.'
142. Ae year but only three.
154. a single soldier-lad.
16. 'O haud your tongue, Jeannie Gordon,
An dinna ye lichtlie me;
I was tane frae a captain's commission
An made low for lyin wi thee.'
(17 as 15.)
171. High were the hills an the mountains.
18, 19. Wanting.
Before 20:
'Haud your tongue, Jeannie Gordon,
Ye needna gloom on me;
I hae but ae half-crown in the warld,
I'll buy stockings an shoon to thee.'
201. If I were in the bonny glens o Ourdlie.
202. Where mony bonny days I hae been.
After 20:
'If ye were at bonny Castle Gordon,
An lichtit on the green,
Your faither is a hard-hearted man,
He wald na let you in.'
'If I were at bonny Castle Gordon,
An lichtit on the green,
My mother's a good-hearted woman,
She wald open an lat me in.'
22. The Duke o Gordon cam trippin doun stairs
Wi the saut tear in his ee: (cf. 322)
'Ye're welcome here, Jeannie Gordon,
Wi a' your young family, (cf. 332)
Ye're welcome here, Jeannie Gordon,
But awa wi your Ogilvie.'
231,2. The Captain took ship an sailed,
He sailed from the land.
233. But a messenger.
234. Which caused a countermand.
241,3. Come back, come back, C. O.
244. You are earl.
25. Wanting.
263. I will gae hame an.
272. An lichtit on the green.
274. Says, Here's Captain Ogilvie again.
After 27:
The Duke o Gordon cam trippin doun stairs,
Wi his hat into his hand:
'Ye're welcome hame, Captain Ogilvie,
The heir o Northumberland.'
After 28:
'Put up your hat, Duke o Gordon,
An do not let it fa;
It never set the noble Duke o Gordon
To bow to a single soldier-lad.'
294. No ither favour I claim.
30, 31. Wanting.
322. the saut tear in her ee.
323,4. You're welcome hame, Captain Ogilvie,
You 're dearly welcome to me.
33. Wanting.
After 33:
The Captain went aff with his lady, nearly as in b-e.
The order of stanzas is deranged. Some of the variations are clearly misremembrances.
h. Nine stanzas only.
11. had.
14. wud awa.
22. A month but barely twa.
24. from him she wudna stay.
34. from him she will not stay.
112. For any offence that.
151. weary, weary wanderin.
After 15:
Had yer tongue — I'll buy hose and shoon for you, Had yer tongue — For your sake I'm a single man.
224. awa wi your Ogilvie.
Christie's ballad has many of the readings of a, and a few of the editor's. Of "two verses, as sung in the counties of Banff and Moray, hitherto unpublished," one is in all copies except a; the other is the inept stanza (see f):
'Oh, coarse, coarse would be the stockings,
And coarser would be the shoon,
Oh, coarse, coarse would they baith be,
You would buy for ae siller crown.'
Additions and Corrections
P. 332. There is a copy in a collection of folio sheet ballads, British Museum, 1346. m. 8, with the date September 8th, 1775, at the end; earlier, therefore, than any of those I had before me excepting a, and worth collating.
14. they wanting.
24, 34. she did.
32. the wanting.
33. Jean's fallen in.
44. mony.
53. with wanting.
54. Jeanny.
64. she's no.
73. Lady Jean's fallen in love with.
74. she would.
82. upon yon.
83. he did.
84. a training of.
91. O woe be.
92. And wanting: death shall you.
94. shalt thou.
101. Duke of.
104. he did such a thing.
113. him put off his gold lace.
114. the wanting.
134. will I.
142. a yer but only three.
143. babe on.
151. O I 'm weary with.
16 comes before 15.
161. O I am weary wandering.
162. think it lang.
173. sheen: all wanting.
174. she could.
18, 19, wanting.
201. I was: glen of Foudland.
204. either house or sheen.
211. When they: to bonny C. G.
213. out wanting.
221. O wanting: dear Jeannie G.
222. welcome dear.
224. Captain wanting.
231. over the.
232. As wanting.
241. ye.
251. what means this.
253. are all dead.
262. drink, be jovial.
273. out with wanting.
281. pretty wanting.
283. can enter my.
30-32 wanting.
332. you 're welcome dear to me.
333. You 're welcome, bonny Jeanny Gordon.
334. With my young family.