{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch203.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch203.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch203.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 203A: The Baron of Brackley\n \n \n 203A.1 Inverey cam doun Deeside, whistlin and playin,\n He was at brave Braikley\u2019s yett ere it was dawin.\n 203A.2 He rappit fu loudly and wi a great roar,\n Cried, Cum doun, cum doun, Braikley, and open the door.\n 203A.3 \u2018Are ye sleeping, Baronne, or are ye wakin?\n Ther\u2019s sharpe swords at your yett, will gar your blood spin.\n 203A.4 \u2018Open the yett, Braikley, and lat us within,\n Till we on the green turf gar your bluid rin.\u2019\n 203A.5 Out spak the brave baronne, owre the castell-wa:\n \u2018Are ye cum to spulyie and plunder mi ha?\n 203A.6 \u2018But gin ye be gentlemen, licht and cum in:\n Gin ye drink o my wine, ye\u2019ll nae gar my bluid spin.\n 203A.7 \u2018Gin ye be hir\u2019d widifus, ye may gang by,\n Ye may gang to the lawlands and steal their fat ky.\n 203A.8 \u2018Ther spulyie like rievers o wyld kettrin clan,\n Who plunder unsparing baith houses and lan.\n 203A.9 \u2018Gin ye be gentlemen, licht an cum [in],\n Ther\u2019s meat an drink i my ha for every man.\n 203A.10 \u2018Gin ye bir\u2019d widifus, ye may gang by,\n Gang doun to the lawlands, and steal horse and ky.\u2019\n 203A.11 Up spak his ladie, at his bak where she lay,\n \u2018Get up, get up, Braikley, and be not afraid;\n The\u2019r but young hir\u2019d widifus wi belted plaids.\u2019\n 203A.12 \u2018Cum kiss me, mi Peggy, I\u2019le nae langer stay,\n For I will go out and meet Inverey.\n 203A.13 \u2018But haud your tongue, Peggy, and mak nae sic din,\n For yon same hir\u2019d widifus will prove themselves men.\u2019\n 203A.14 She called on her marys, they cam to her hand;\n Cries, Bring me your rocks, lassies, we will them command.\n 203A.15 \u2018Get up, get up, Braikley, and turn bak your ky,\n Or me an mi women will them defy.\n 203A.16 \u2018Cum forth then, mi maidens, and show them some play;\n We\u2019ll ficht them, and shortly the cowards will fly.\n 203A.17 \u2018Gin I had a husband, whereas I hae nane,\n He woud nae ly i his bed and see his ky taen.\n 203A.18 \u2018Ther\u2019s four-and-twenty milk-whit calv5s, tw1l o them ky,\n In the woods o Glentanner, it\u2019s ther thei a\u2019 ly.\n 203A.19 \u2018Ther\u2019s goat i the Etnach, and sheep o the brae,\n An a\u2019 will be plunderd by young Inverey.\u2019\n 203A.20 \u2018Now haud your tongue, Peggy, and gie me a gun,\n Ye\u2019ll see me gae furth, but I\u2019ll never cum in.\n 203A.21 \u2018Call mi brother William, mi unkl also,\n Mi cousin James Gordon; we\u2019ll mount and we\u2019ll go.\u2019\n 203A.22 When Braikley was ready and stood i the closs,\n He was the bravest baronne that eer mounted horse.\n 203A.23 Whan all wer assembld o the castell green,\n No man like brave Braikley was ther to be seen\n 203A.24 . . . . .\n \u2018Turn bak, brother William, ye are a bridegroom;\n 203A.25 \u2018Wi bonnie Jean Gordon, the maid o the mill;\n O sichin and sobbin she\u2019ll soon get her fill.\u2019\n 203A.26 \u2018I\u2019m no coward, brother, \u2019tis kend I\u2019m a man;\n I\u2019ll ficht i your quarral as lang\u2019s I can stand.\n 203A.27 \u2018I\u2019ll ficht, my dear brother, wi heart and gude will,\n And so will young Harry that lives at the mill.\n 203A.28 \u2018But turn, mi dear brother, and nae langer stay:\n What\u2019ll cum o your ladie, gin Braikley thei slay?\n 203A.29 \u2018What\u2019ll cum o your ladie and bonnie young son?\n O what\u2019ll cum o them when Braikley is gone?\u2019\n 203A.30 \u2018I never will turn: do you think I will fly?\n But here I will ficht, and here I will die.\u2019\n 203A.31 \u2018Strik dogs,\u2019 crys Inverey, a+end ficht till ye\u2019re slayn,\n For we are four hundered, ye are but four men.\n 203A.32 \u2018Strik, strik, ye proud boaster, your honour is gone,\n Your lands we will plunder, your castell we\u2019ll burn.\u2019\n 203A.33 At the head o the Etnach the battel began,\n At Little Auchoilzie thei killd the first man.\n 203A.34 First thei killd ane, and soon they killd twa,\n Thei killd gallant Braikley, the flour o them a\u2019.\n 203A.35 Thei killd William Gordon, and James o the Knox,\n And brave Alexander, the flour o Glenmuick.\n 203A.36 What sichin and moaning was heard i the glen,\n For the Baronne o Braikley, who basely was slayn!\n 203A.37 \u2018Cam ye bi the castell, and was ye in there?\n Saw ye pretty Peggy tearing her hair?\u2019\n 203A.38 \u2018Yes, I cam by Braikley, and I gaed in there,\n And there [saw] his ladie braiding her hair.\n 203A.39 \u2018She was rantin, and dancin, and singin for joy,\n And vowin that nicht she woud feest Inverey.\n 203A.40 \u2018She eat wi him, drank wi him, welcomd him in,\n Was kind to the man that had slayn her baronne.\u2019\n 203A.41 Up spake the son on the nourice\u2019s knee,\n \u2018Gin I live to be a man, revenged I\u2019ll be.\u2019\n 203A.42 Ther\u2019s dool i the kitchin, and mirth i the ha,\n The Baronne o Braikley is dead and awa.\n \n \n \n 203B: The Baron of Brackley\n \n \n 203B.1 \u2018Baron of Brackley, are ye in there?\n The\u2019re sharp swords at yer yetts, winna ye spear.\u2019\n 203B.2 If they be gentlemen, lat them cum in;\n But if they be reavers, we\u2019ll gar them be taen.\u2019\n 203B.3 It is na gentlemen, nor yet pretty lads,\n But a curn hir\u2019d widdifus, wears belted plaids.\u2019\n 203B.4 She called on her women and bade them come in:\n \u2018Tack a\u2019 yer rocks, lasses, and we\u2019ll them coman.\n 203B.5 \u2018We\u2019ll fecht them, we\u2019ll slight them, we\u2019ll do what we can,\n And I vow we will shoot them altho we shod bang.\n 203B.6 \u2018Rise up, John,\u2019 she said, a+end turn in yer kye,\n For they\u2019ll hae them to the Hielands, and you they\u2019l defie.\u2019\n 203B.7 \u2018Had your still, Catharine, and still yer young son,\n For ye\u2019ll get me out, but I\u2019ll never cum in.\u2019\n 203B.8 \u2018If I had a man, as I hae na nane,\n He wudna lye in his bed and see his kye tane.\u2019\n 203B.9 \u2018Ye\u2019ll cum kiss me, my Peggy, and bring me my gun,\n For I\u2019m gaing out, but I\u2019ll never cum in.\u2019\n 203B.10 There was twenty wi Invery, twenty and ten;\n There was nane wi the baron but his brother and him.\n 203B.11 At the head of Reneeten the battle began;\n Ere they wan Auchoilzie, they killed mony a man.\n 203B.12 They killed Harry Gordon and Harry of the Knock,\n The mullertd\u2019s four sons up at Glenmuick.\n 203B.13 They killed Harry Gordon and Harry of the Knock,\n And they made the brave baron like kail to a pot.\n 203B.14 First they killed ane, and then they killed twa,\n Then they killed the brave baron, the flower o them a\u2019.\n 203B.15 Then up came Craigievar, and a party wi him[\n If he had come an hour sooner, Brackley had not been slain.\n 203B.16 \u2018Came ye by Brackley? and was ye in there?\n Or say ye his lady, was making great care?\u2019\n 203B.17 \u2018I came by Brackley, and I was in there,\n But I saw his lady no making great care.\n 203B.18 \u2018For she eat wi them, drank wi them, welcomed them in;\n She drank to the villain that killed her guid man.\n 203B.19 \u2018Woe to ye, Kate Fraser! sorry may yer heart be,\n To see yer brave baron\u2019s blood cum to yer knee.\u2019\n 203B.20 There is dule in the kitchen, and mirth i the ha,\n But the Baron o B[r]ackley is dead and awa.\n \n \n \n 203C: The Baron of Brackley\n \n \n 203C.1 O Inverey came down Dee side, whistling and playing;\n He\u2019s landed at Braikly\u2019s yates at the day dawing.\n 203C.2 Says, Baron of Braikly, are ye within?\n There\u2019s sharp swords at the yate will gar your blood spin.\n 203C.3 The lady raise up, to the window she went;\n She heard her kye lowing oer hill and oer bent.\n 203C.4 \u2018O rise up, John,\u2019 she says, \u2019Turn back your kye;\n They\u2019re oer the hills rinning, they\u2019re skipping away.\u2019\n 203C.5 \u2018Come to your bed, Peggie, and let the kye rin,\n For were I to gang out, I would never get in.\u2019\n 203C.6 Then she\u2019s cry\u2019d on her women, they quickly came ben:\n \u2018Take up your rocks, lassies, and fight a\u2019 like men.\n 203C.7 \u2018Though I\u2019m but a woman, to head you I\u2019ll try,\n Nor let these vile Highland-men steal a\u2019 our kye.\u2019\n 203C.8 Then up gat the baron, and cry\u2019d for his graith;\n Says, Lady, I\u2019ll gang, tho to leave you I\u2019m laith.\n 203C.9 \u2018Come, kiss me, my Peggie, nor think I\u2019m to blame;\n For I may well gang out, but I\u2019ll never win in.\u2019\n 203C.10 When the Baron of Braikly rade through the close,\n A gallanter baron neer mounted a horse.\n 203C.11 Tho there came wi Inverey thirty and three,\n There was nane wi bonny Braikly but his brother and he.\n 203C.12 Twa gallanter Gordons did never sword draw;\n But against four and thirty, wae\u2019s me, what was twa?\n 203C.13 Wi swords and wi daggers they did him surround,\n And they\u2019ve pierc\u2019d bonny Braikly wi mony a wound.\n 203C.14 Frae the head of the Dee to the banks of the Spey,\n The Gordons may mourn him, and bann Inverey.\n 203C.15 \u2018O came ye by Braikly, and was ye in there?\n Or saw ye his Peggy dear riving her hair?\u2019\n 203C.16 \u2018O I came by Braikly, and I was in there,\n But I saw not his Peggy dear riving her hair.\u2019\n 203C.17 \u2018O fye on ye, lady! how could ye do sae?\n You opend your yate to the faus Inverey.\u2019\n 203C.18 She eat wi him, drank wi him, welcomd him in;\n She welcomd the villain that slew her baron.\n 203C.19 She kept him till morning, syne bad him be gane,\n And showd him the road that he woud na be tane.\n 203C.20 \u2018Thro Birss and Aboyne,\u2019 she says, \u2019lyin in a tour,\n Oer the hills of Glentanor you\u2019ll skip in an hour.\u2019\n 203C.21 There is grief in the kitchen, and mirth in the ha,\n But the Baron of Braikly is dead and awa.\n \n \n \n 203D: The Baron of Brackley\n \n \n 203D.1 \u2018Baron o Breachell, are ye within?\n The sharp souerd is at yer gate, Breachell, we\u2019ll gar yer blood spin.\u2019\n 203D.2 \u2018Thei\u2019r at yer gate, Breachel, the\u2019r neither men nor lads,\n But fifty heard widifas, wi belted plaids.\u2019\n 203D.3 \u2018O if I had a man,\u2019 she says, a+es it looks I had nane,\n He widna sit in the house and see my kye tane.\n 203D.4 \u2018But lasses tak down yer rocks, and we will defend\n . . . . . . . .\n 203D.5 \u2018O kiss me, dear Peggy, and gee me down my gun,\n I may well ga out, but I\u2019ll never come in.\u2019\n 203D.6 Out spak his brither, says, Gee me yer hand;\n I\u2019ll fight in yer cause sae lang as I may stand.\n 203D.7 Whan the Baron o Breachell came to the closs,\n A braver baron neir red upon horse.\n 203D.8 . . . . . . . .\n I think the silly heard widifas are grown fighten men.\n 203D.9 First they killed ane, and syen they killed twa,\n And the Baron o Breachell is dead and awa.\n 203D.10 They killed Sandy Gordon, Sandy Gordon o the Knock,\n The miller and his three sons, that lived at Glenmuick.\n 203D.11 First they killed ane, and seyn they killed twa,\n And the Baron o Breachell is dead and awa.\n 203D.12 Up came Crigevar and a\u2019 his fighten men:\n \u2018Had I come an hour soonur, he sudna been slain.\u2019\n 203D.13 For first they killed ane, and seyn they killed twa,\n And the Baron o Breachell is dead and awa.\n 203D.14 \u2018O came ye by Breachell, lads? was ye in their?\n Saw ye Peggy Dann riving her hair?\u2019\n 203D.15 \u2018We cam by Breachell, lads, we was in there,\n And saw Eggie Dann cairling her hair.\n 203D.16 \u2018She eat wi them, drank wi them, bad them come in\n To her house an bours that had slain her baron.\n 203D.17 \u2018Come in, gentlemen, eat and drink wi me;\n Tho ye ha slain my baron, I ha na a wite at ye.\u2019\n 203D.18 \u2018O was [ye] at Glenmuik, lads? was ye in theire?\n Saw ye Cathrin Gordon rivin her hair?\u2019\n 203D.19 \u2018We was at Glenmuik, lads, we was in there,\n We saw Cathrin Gordon rivin her hair.\n 203D.20 \u2018Wi the tear in her eye, seven bairns at her foot,\n The eighth on her knee . . .\n 203D.21 The killed Peter Gordon, Peter Gordon of the Knock,\n The miller and his three sons, that lived at Glenmuik.\n 203D.22 First they killed ane, and syn they killed twa,\n And the Baron of Breachell is dead and awa.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 204. Jamie Douglas","title":"The Child Ballads: 203. The Baron of Brackley","type":"page"}