No. 239: Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie
[There are no known US or Canadian traditional versions of this ballad. Flanders, for one, gives three versions of Johnny Doyle and says "possibly related to Child 239." The story line is similar and Johnny Doyle could be listed as an appendix, however, I do not plan to include Johnny Doyle here.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A-B (Changes for the texts A b and B b are found in End-Notes. Another newly discovered version is found in Recordings & Info and also will be in English & Other Versions. Added later is B c 'Gordon of Auchanachie,' "The Old Lady's Collection," No 29.)
5. End-notes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 239. Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie
A. Roud No. 102: Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie (15 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 239. Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie (Bronson gives two music examples and texts)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A a-b and B a-b with additional notes)
Child's Narrative: 239. Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie
A. 'Lord Salton and Auchanachie.'
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 133.
b. Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 10; Buchan's Gleanings, p. 161.
B. a. 'Young Annochie,' Murison Manuscript, p. 76.
b. 'Lord Saltoun and Annachie,' Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 10.
[c. 'Gordon of Auchanachie,' "The Old Lady's Collection," No 29.]
A. Jeanie Gordon loves Auchanachie, who is bonny and braw, but she is forced by her father to wed Saltoun, who is bowed in the back and thrawin in the knee; and all for Saltoun's lands. Jeanie refuses to be bedded; her maidens, at her father's order, loose off her gown (they cut her gown and stays); she falls in a swoon and dies. Auchanachie comes home from the sea the same day, learns what has happened, asks to be taken to the chamber where Jeanie lies, kisses her cold lips, and dies.
In B we have Gordon of Annachie in Buchan, instead of Gordon of Auchanachie in Strathbogie as in A. Christie, on very slight grounds, suggests that one Garden of Annachie was the proper hero: I, 287, 294.
There can hardly be a doubt that this ballad is Mrs. Brown of Falkland's 'Lass o Philorth' (see note, p. 309). Philorth is the seat of the Erasers of Saltoun, near Fraserburgh, in the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire.
As to A a 21,2, b 1, B 21,2, see note † to the preceding ballad, p. 339.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
There can hardly be a doubt that this is one of five ballads mentioned by Mrs. Brown in a letter of Dec. 23, 1800, and called by her 'The Lass o Philorth.' Philorth is the seat of the Frasers of Saltoun, near Fraserburg, in the extreme northeast corner of Aberdeenshire.
Child's Ballad Texts
'Lord Salton and Auchanachie'- Version A; Child 239 Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie
a. Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 133, 1828.
b. Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 10, 1824; Buchan's Gleanings, p. 161, 1825.
1 'Auchanachie Gordon is bonny and braw,
He would tempt any woman that ever he saw;
He would tempt any woman, so has he tempted me,
And I'll die if i getna my love Auchanachie.'
2 In came her father, tripping on the floor,
Says, Jeanie, ye're trying the tricks o a whore;
Ye're caring for them that cares little for thee;
Ye must marry Salton, leave Auchanachie.
3 'Auchanachie Gordon, he is but a man;
Altho he be pretty, where lies his free land?
Salton's lands they lie broad, his towers they stand hie,
Ye must marry Salton, leave Auchanachie.
4 . . . . .
. . . . .
'Salton will gar you wear silk gowns fring'd to thy knee,
But ye'll never wear that wi your love Auchanachie.'
5 'Wi Auchanachie Gordon I would beg my bread
Before that wi Salton I'd wear gowd on my head,
Wear gowd on my head, or gowns fring'd to the knee;
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.
6 'O Salton's [a] valley lies low by the sea,
He's bowed on the back, and thrawin on the knee;'
. . . . .
. . . . .
7 'O Salton's a valley lies low by the sea;
Though he's bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee,
Though he's bowed on the back and thrawin on the knee,
The bonny rigs of Salton they're nae thrawin tee.'
8 'O you that are my parents to church may me bring,
But unto young Salton I'll never bear a son;
For son or for daughter, I'll never bow my knee,
And I'll die if I getna my love Auchanachie.'
9 When Jeanie was married, from church was brought hame,
When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been,
When she wi her maidens sae merry shoud hae been,
She's called for a chamber, to weep there her lane.
10 'Come to your bed, Jeanie, my honey and my sweet,
For to stile you mistress I do not think it meet:'
'Mistress or Jeanie, it is a' ane to me,
It's in your bed, Salton, I never will be.'
11 Then out spake her father, he spake wi renown;
Some of you that are maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown;
Some of you that are maidens, ye'll loose aff her gown,
And I'll mend the marriage wi ten thousand crowns.
12 Then ane of her maidens they loosed aff her gown,
But bonny Jeanie Gordon she fell in a swoon;
She fell in a swoon low down by their knee;
Says, Look on, I die for my love Auchanachie!
13 That very same day Miss Jeanie did die,
And hame came Auchanachie, hame frae the sea;
Her father and mither welcomd him at the gate;
He said, Where's Miss Jeanie, that she's nae here yet?
14 Then forth came her maidens, all wringing their hands,
Saying, Alas for your staying sae lang frae the land!
Sae lang frae the land, and sae lang on the fleed!
They've wedded your Jeanie, and now she is dead.
15 'Some of you, her maidens, take me by the hand,
And show me the chamber Miss Jeanie died in;'
He kissd her cold lips, which were colder than stane,
And he died in the chamber that Jeanie died in.
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'Young Annochie'- Version B; Child 239 Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie
a. Murison Manuscript, p. 76.
b. Christie's Traditional Ballad Airs, I, 10.
1 'Buchan, it's bonnie, an there lies my love,
My heart is fixt on him, it winna remove;
It winna remove for a' at I can dee,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.'
2 Her father cam trippin, cam trippin ben the floor,
Says, Jeannie, ye hae but the tricks o a whore;
Ye care little for the man that cares muckle for thee,
But I'll cause you marry Saltoun, let Annochie be.
3 'Ye may marry me to Saltoun before that I go home,
But it is to Lord Saltoun I'll never bear a son;
A son nor a daughter I'll never bear to he,
An I never will frosake him Young Annochie.'
4 'All you that is her maidens, ye'll tak her by the han,
An I will inheft her o five thousan poun;
She'll wear silk to her heel and gowd to her knee,
An I'll cause her to forsake him Young Annochie.'
5 'All you that is my maidens winna tak me by the han,
I winna be inhefted o five thousan poun;
I'll nae wear silk to my heal nor wear gowd to my knee,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.'
6 'All you that is her maidens, ye'll show her to her bed;
The blankets they are ready, the sheets are comely spread;
She shall lie in my airms till twelve o the day,
An I'll cause her to forsake him Young Annochie.'
7 'All you that is my maidens winna show me to my bed,
Tho the blankets they be ready, the sheets be comely spread;
I'll nae lie in your airms till twelve o the day,
An I never will forsake him Young Annochie.'
8 It's that day they wedded her, an that day she died,
An that day Young Annochie cam in on the tide;
. . . . .
. . . . .
9 Her maidens did meet him, a' wringin their hans,
Sayin, It's a' for your stayin so long on the sans!
They've wedded your Jeannie, an now she is dead,
An it's a' for your stayin sae long on the fleed.
10 'All you that is her maidens ye'll tak me by the han,
Ye'll show me the bower that Jeannie lies in:'
He kissed her cold lips, they were both white an red,
And for bonnie Jeannie Gordon Young Annochie died.
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End-Notes
A. a. 4-6 are disarranged, and an attempt has been made at a better grouping. 43,4, 51,2, are 4; 53,4 are 51,2; 61,2 are 53,4. 142. The reading of b is better: on the sands.
143. frae the fleed: b reads, rightly, on the flood (fleed).
b. Printed by Maidment in stanzas of four short lines; by Buchan, in long lines, not properly grouped.
1 Ben came her father, skipping on the floor,
Said, Jeanie, you 're trying the tricks of a whore.
2 'You're caring for him that cares not for thee;
And I pray you take Salton, let Auchanachie be.'
3 'I will not have Salton, it lies low by the sea;
He is bowed in the back, he's thrawen in the knee;
And I'll die if I get not my brave Auchanachie.'
4 'I am bowed in the back, lassie, as ye see,
But the bonny lands of Salton are no crooked tee.'
5 And when she was married she would not lie down,
But they took out a knife, and cuttit her gown.
6 Likewise of her stays the lacing in three;
And now she lies dead for her Auchanachie.
7 Out comes her bower-woman, wringing her hands,
Says, Alas for the staying so long on the sands.'
8 'Alas for the staying so long on the flood!
For Jeanie was married, and now she is dead.'
B. a. 8, 9 are written together.
94, on the sans: cf. A a 141, b 81, B b.
b. Some trivial variations are not noticed.
Printed in six stanzas of eight long lines.
11. lives.
14. Oh, never will I forget my love Annachie.
After 1:
'For Annachie Gordon is honnie and braw,
He'd entice any woman that ever him saw;
He'd entice any woman, and sae he has done me,
And I'll die if I getna my love Annachie.'
21,2. As in A a.
23. care meikle: cares little.
24. Saltoun and leave Annachie.
After 2:
'For Annachie Gordon is nothing but a man;
Although he be brave, he has little free Ian;
His towns a' lie waste, and his lands a' lie lea,
And I'll cause you marry Saltoun, let Annachie be.'
31. wed me: before he goes home.
32. neer hae.
33,4. 'A son or a daughter, it's a' ane to me,
For I'll cause you marry Saltoun and leave Annachie.'
After 3:
He wed her to Saltoun before he gaed home,
But unto Lord Saltoun she neer had a son;
For, instead of being merry her maidens among,
She gaed to her bower and wept there alone.
41. Some of you her.
42. infeft her in houses and land.
43. shall wear silk and satin, wi red goud.
44. to forget him the.
51,2. Oh you, my maidens, you shall not take my hand,
Nor will I be infefted in houses and land.
53. Nor will I wear silk nor red goud.
54. For never will I forget my love A.
After 5:
'Wi Annachie Gordon I would beg my bread
Before wi Lord Saltoun I would wear goud red;
For he's bowd on the back and he's thrawn in the knee:'
'But the bonnie rigs o Saltoun are nae thrawn tee.'
6, 7. Wanting.
8. The day she was married, that same day she died,
While Annachie Gordon was waiting for the tide;
He waited for the tide to tak him oer the fleed,
But he little thought his Jeanie Gordon was deed.
91. Then out cam her maidens.
92. Wae for: frae the.
93. hae married.
94. Oh, wae for: on the fleed.
101. Some of you her maidens: me ben.
102. the chamber where.
103. were colder than clay.
104. And he died in the chamber where his Jeanie lay.
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Additions and Corrections
P. 349. A b. Now collated with a Manuscript of Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe's and another copy of the same pieces in "North Country Ballads," Miscellanea Curiosa, Abbotsford Library. Stanzas mostly of four lines. Sharpe, p. 10.
11. stepping on.
12. ye're.
21. caren.
22. Achanachie (and always).
31. not take; it wanting.
32. and he's thrawn.
41. I'm bown: you.
42. not.
52. out wanting: and they cutit.
71. came.
81. fleed.
82. Jeanie is.
350. B c. From "The Old Lady's Collection," No 29. We have here Gordon of Auchanachie, though the scene is in Buchan.
1 Buchan is bonny an ther lays my love,
My fance is fixed on him, it winne remove;
[It winne remove] for a' I cane dee,
Achanace Gordon is my love an sail be.
2 Ben came her father, steps on the floor,
Says, Jeanie, ye 'r acting the part of a hour;
Ye 'r leaking ane that cares na for ye;
Wed Salton, an latt Achenecy be.
3 'Achainace Gordon is a pritty man,
Bat Acchanace Gordon has na free land;
For his land is laying wast, an his castell faaen doun,
So ye man take Salton, latt Achennecy be.'
4 'My friends may case me we Salton to wed,
Bat my friends sail na case me we him to bed;
I ill never bear to him dother nor sin till the day I sail deei,
For Achannace Gordon is my love an sail be.'
5 Her friends they have cassed her we Salton to wed,
Bat they never got her we him to bed;
She never bare dother nor sin till the day that she dead deei,
For Achainace Gordon was her love and sud be.
6 'Ye that are her madins, ye take aff her goun,
An I will infeft her in five thousand pound;
She sail werr silk till her heel and goud till her kneee,
An she man forget him young Achanice.'
7 'Ye that are my madins sanna take aff my goon,
Nor will I be infefted in five thousand pound;
I winne wer goud on my head nor silk to my knee,
Nor will I forsake young Achanice.'
8 'Ye that are her madins bring her to my bed,
The bed is made ready an the shits doun spread;
She sail lay in her bed till tuall in the day,
An sin forget him young Achanace.'
9 'Ye that are my madins sanna ha me to his bed,
Tho the bed be made ready an the shits doun spread;
Nor will I lay in his bed till tuall of the day,
Nor forsake him young Achanicy.
10 'For rather then have wedded Salton to wear goud to my knee,
I rather wedded Achanicy trailed fait fish fraa the sea;
Or I had weded Salton an wore robes of read,
I rader wead Achanace, we him begg my b[r]ead.'
11 Achanicy Gordon came fra the sea,
We a gallant regment an brave companie;
He sought out his Jeanie we doll an we care,
An Achanice Gordon is leak to dispear.
12 Doun came her handmaid, wringen her hands:
'Alass for your staying sa lang in strang lands!
For Jeanie is marred, an nou she is dead.
Alass for your staying sae lang on the flood!'
13 . . .
'Take me to the room far my love lays in;'
He has kessed her comly lips, they wer paill an wan,
An he dyed for his Jeanie that very same night.
13. came.
53. she deaded.
122. staying.
124. on doubtful.