{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch198.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch198.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch198.htm","text":"198A.1 UPON the eighteenth day of June,\nA dreary day to see,\nThe southern lords did pitch their camp\nJust at the bridge of Dee.\n198A.2 Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin,\nA bold baron was he,\nHe made his testament ere he went out,\nThe wiser man was he.\n198A.3 He left his land to his young son,\nHis lady her dowry,\nA thousand crowns to his daughter Jean,\nYet on the nurse\u2019s knee.\n198A.4 Then out came his lady fair,\nA tear into her ee;\nSays, Stay at home, my own good lord,\nO stay at home with me!\n198A.5 He looked over his left shoulder,\nCried, Souldiers, follow me!\nO then she looked in his face,\nAn angry woman was she:\n\u2018God send me back my steed again,\nBut neer let me see thee!\u2019\n198A.6 His name was Major Middleton\nThat manned the bridge of Dee,\nHis name was Colonel Henderson\nThat let the cannons flee.\n198A.7 His name was Major Middleton\nThat manned the bridge of Dee,\nAnd his name was Colonel Henderson\nThat dung Pitmeddin in three.\n198A.8 Some rode on the black and grey,\nAnd some rode on the brown,\nBut the bonny John Seton\nLay gasping on the ground.\n198A.9 Then bye there comes a false Forbes,\nWas riding from Driminere;\nSays, Here there lies a proud Seton;\nThis day they ride the rear.\n198A.10 Cragievar said to his men,\n\u2018You may play on your shield;\nFor the proudest Seton in all the lan\nThis day lies on the field.\u2019\n198A.11 \u2018O spoil him! spoil him!\u2019 cried Cragievar,\n\u2018Him spoiled let me see;\nFor on my word,\u2019 said Cragievar,\n\u2018He had no good will at me.\u2019\n198A.12 They took from him his armour clear,\nHis sword, likewise his shield;\nYea, they have left him naked there,\nUpon the open field.\n198A.13 The Highland men, they\u2019re clever men\nAt handling sword and shield,\nBut yet they are too naked men\nTo stay in battle field.\n198A.14 The Highland men are clever men\nAt handling sword or gun,\nBut yet they are too naked men\nTo bear the cannon\u2019s rung.\n198A.15 For a cannon\u2019s roar in a summer night\nIs like thunder in the air;\nThere\u2019s not a man in Highland dress\nCan face the cannon\u2019s fire.\n198B: Bonny John Seton\n198B.1 IT fell about the month of June,\nOn Tuesday, timouslie,\nThe northern lords hae pitchd their camps\nBeyond the brig o Dee.\n198B.2 They ca\u2019ed him Major Middleton\nThat mand the brig o Dee;\nThey ca\u2019ed him Colonel Henderson\nThat gard the cannons flee.\n198B.3 Bonny John Seton o Pitmedden,\nA brave baron was he;\nHe made his tesment ere he gaed,\nAnd the wiser man was he.\n198B.4 He left his lands unto his heir,\nHis ladie her dowrie;\nTen thousand crowns to Lady Jane,\nSat on the nourice knee.\n198B.5 Then out it speaks his lady gay,\n\u2018O stay my lord wi me;\nFor word is come, the cause is won\nBeyond the brig o Dee.\u2019\n198B.6 He turned him right and round about\nAnd a light laugh hae he;\nSays, I wouldna for my lands sae broad\nI stayed this night wi thee.\n198B.7 He\u2019s taen his sword then by his side,\nHis buckler by his knee,\nAnd laid his leg in oer his horse,\nSaid, Sodgers, follow me!\n198B.8 So he rade on, and further on,\nTill to the third mile corse;\nThe Covenanters\u2019 cannon balls\nDang him aff o his horse.\n198B.9 Up then rides him Cragievar,\nSaid, Wha\u2019s this lying here?\nIt surely is the Lord o Aboyne,\nFor Huntly was not here.\n198B.10 Then out is speaks a fause Forbes,\nLived up in Druminner;\n\u2018My lord, this is a proud Seton,\nThe rest will ride the thinner.\u2019\n198B.11 \u2018Spulyie him, spulyie him,\u2019 said Craigievar,\n\u2018O spulyie him, presentlie;\nFor I could lay my lugs in pawn\nHe had nae gude will at me.\u2019\n198B.12 They\u2019ve taen the shoes frae aff his feet,\nThe garters frae his knee,\nLikewise the gloves upon his hands;\nThey\u2019ve left him not a flee.\n198B.13 His fingers they were sae sair swelld\nThe rings would not come aff;\nThey cutted the grips out o his ears,\nTook out the gowd signots.\n198B.14 Then they rade on, and further on,\nTill they came to the Crabestane,\nAnd Craigievar, he had a mind\nTo burn a\u2019 Aberdeen.\n198B.15 Out is speaks the gallnt Montrose,\nGrace on his fair body!\n\u2018We winna burn the bonny burgh,\nWe\u2019ll even laet it be.\u2019\n198B.16 Then out it speaks the gallant Montrose,\n\u2018Your purpose I will break;\nWe winna burn the bonny burgh,\nWe\u2019ll nevver build its make.\n198B.17 \u2018I see the women and their children\nClimbing the craigs sae hie;\nWe\u2019ll sleep this night in the bonny burgh,\nAnd even lat it be.\u2019","title":"The Child Ballads: 198. Bonny John Seton","type":"page"}