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The Bonny Earl of Moray

[ Roud 334 ; Child 181 ; Ballad Index C181 ; Mudcat 92002 ; trad.]

Ancient and Modern Scottish Songs, Heroic Ballads, etc. The Oxford Book of Ballads

Ewan MacColl sang The Bonny Earl of Murray in 1956 on his and A.L. Lloyd’s Riverside anthology The English and Scottish Popular Ballads (The Child Ballads) Volume IV, in 1961 on his Folkways album The English and Scottish Popular Ballads: Vol. 1—Child Ballads, and in 1986 on his Blackthorne album with Peggy Seeger, Blood & Roses Volume 4. The Folkways album’s notes commented:

James Stewart, Earl of Murray, was murdered by the Earl of Huntly in 1592, after having been accused of conspiring with Bothwell against the king. The death of this very popular figure provoked a public outcry but Huntly was never punished for his part in the deed.

Child published only 2 texts of the ballad.

Learned by the singer from Private MacDonald, a soldier in the British Army, who learned it at school.

and MacColl wrote in the Blackthorne album’s booklet:

James Stewart, son of Sir James Stewart of Doune, became the Earl of Murray when he married the daughter of the Regent Murray. A contemporary chronicle describes him as “a comely personage of great stature, and strong of body like a kemp [a professional fighter, a champion]”. He was rumoured to have been one of Bothwell’s party in the assault on the King’s palace at Holyrood in December 1591. When the King gave orders for his apprehension, he took flight, pursued by a party of the King’s supporters, led by Huntly, who (taking advantage of the situation) killed him.

Rory and Alex McEwen sang The Bonny Earl o’ Moray in 1958 on their His Master’s Voice album with Isla Cameron, Folksong Jubilee.

Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor with The Galliards sang The Bonny Earl o’ Moray in 1961 on their Decca album Scottish Choice.

The Ian Campbell Folk Group sang Earl of Moray in 1966 on their Transatlantic EP Four Highland Songs. This recording was also included in 2003 on Dave Swarbrick’s Free Reed anthology Swarb!. Ian Campbell commented in the original album’s sleeve notes:

On 7 February 1592 the Earl of Moray was cruelly killed by the Earl of Huntly at Dunibrissle in Fife to satisfy King James VI’s jealousy of Moray, whom the Queen, more rashly than wisely had commended in the Kings hearing with too many epithets of a proper and gallant man (Sir James Balfours History of Scotland).

The Norwegian band Folque sang Jarlen av Murray (Earl of Murray) in 1975 on their album Kjempene på Dovrefjell (The Giants in the Dovre Mountains).

Five Hand Reel sang The Bonnie Earl o’ Moray as the title track of their 1978 album Earl o’ Moray.

Old Blind Dogs sang The Bonnie Earl o Moray in 1995 on their Lochshore album Legacy and in their 2007 CD Four on the Flour. Ian F. Benzie noted:

On 7 February 1592 the Earl of Moray was cruelly murdered by the Earl of Huntly at Dunibrissel in Fifeshire to satisfy King James VI jealousy of Moray whom the Queen, more rashly than wisely, had commended in the King’s hearing with too many epiphets of a proper and gallant man. (Sir James Balfour’s History of Scotland) The tune is my own.

Isla St Clair sang The Bonnie Earl of Moray in 2000 on her CD Royal Lovers & Scandals. She commented in her album notes:

Sung to a very old tune, probably written by Purcell, this ballad is set in 1592 between the feudings Earls of Huntly and Moray. Huntly persuaded King James IV that Moray was in league against the king with the Earl of Bothwell. Huntly was given a royal warrant to arrest Moray but murdered him instead. Moray was very popular with the people and it was generally believed the king was implicated in his death.

Jock Tamson’s Bairns sang The Bonnie Earl o’ Moray in 2005 on their Greentrax CD Rare.

Ross Kennedy sang The Earl o’ Moray in 2007 on his Greentrax CD Scottish Voice and Acoustic Guitar. He noted:

A haunting Scottish ballad which I first heard sung by Bobby Eaglesham of Five Hand Reel.

Jim Malcolm sang The Bonnie Earl o’ Moray on his 2014 album The Corncrake. He noted:

I always loved the Old Blind Dogs’ version of this song but never performed it with them. It tells of the murder of the popular cousin of the equally ill-fated Mary, Queen of Scots. This song is the source of the expression ‘mondegreen’ meaning a missheard phrase from a song. “They hae slain the Earl o’ Moray and Lady Mondegreen” (or rather “laid him on the green”). Gasp…not her as well…

Said the Maiden sang The Bonnie Earl o’ Moray on their 2017 CD Here’s a Health. They noted:

A Scottish ballad telling the story of the murder of James Stewart, 2^nd Earl of Moray, who was accused of plotting against the king. But who is Lady Mondegreen?!

Lyrics

Ewan MacColl sings The Bonnie Earl of Murray (Folkways)

Ye Hielan’s and ye Lawlan’s,
O, whaure hae ye been?
They hae ta’en the Earl o’ Murray
And laid him on the green.

He was a braw callant
And he played at the ring,
And the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
He might hae been a king.

O, lang will his ladie
Look frae the castle doon,
Ere the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
Comed soondin’ through the toon.

O, wae betide ye Huntly
And whaurfore did ye sae?
I bade ye bring him tae me
And forbade ye him to slay.

He was a braw callant
And he played at the ba’,
And the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
Was the flooer amang them a’.

Ewan MacColl sings The Bonnie Earl of Murray (Blood & Roses)

Ye Hielan’s and ye Lawlan’s,
O whaur hae ye been?
They hae ta’en the Earl o’ Murray
And laid him on the green.
    He was a braw callant
    And he played at the ba’
    And the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
    Was the floo’er amang them a’.

Chorus (after each verse):
Lang will his lady
Look frae the castle doon,
Ere the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
Come soundin’ through the toon.

O, wae betide ye, Huntly,
And whaurfor did ye sae?
I bade ye bring him tae me
And forbade ye him to slay.
    He was a braw callant
    And he played at the glove,
    And the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
    He was the Queen’s love.

Ye Hielan’s and ye Lawlan’s,
O whaur hae ye been?
They hae ta’en the Earl o’ Murray
And laid him on the green.
    He was a braw callant
    And he played at the ring,
    And the bonnie Earl o’ Murray
    He micht hae been a king.