XVII.

THE BONNY EARL OF MURRAY.

A SCOTTISH SONG.

In December, 1591, Francis Stewart, Earl of Bothwell, had made an attempt to seize on the person of his sovereign James VI., but being disappointed, had retired towards the north. The king unadvisedly gave a commission to George Gordon Earl of Huntley, to pursue Bothwell and his followers with fire and sword. Huntley, under cover of executing that commission, took occasion to revenge a private quarrel he had against James Stewart Earl of Murray, a relation of Bothwell's. In the night of Feb. 7, 1592, he beset Murray's house, burnt it to the ground, and slew Murray himself; a young nobleman of the most promising virtues, and the very darling of the people. See Robertson's _Hist._

The present Lord Murray hath now in his possession a picture of his ancestor naked and covered with wounds, which had been carried about, according to the custom of that age, in order to inflame the populace to revenge his death. If this picture did not flatter, he well deserved the name of the _bonny Earl_, for he is there represented as a tall and comely personage. It is a tradition in the family, that Gordon of Bucky gave him a wound in the face: Murray half expiring, said, "You hae spilt a better face than your awin." Upon this, Bucky pointing his dagger at Huntley's breast, swore, "You shall be as deep as I;" and forced him to pierce the poor defenceless body.

K. James, who took no care to punish the murtherers, is said by some to have privately countenanced and abetted them, being stimulated by jealousy for some indiscreet praises which his Queen had too lavishly bestowed on this unfortunate youth. See the preface to the next ballad. See also Mr. Walpole's _Catalogue of Royal Auth._ vol. i. p. 42.

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[James Stewart, son of Sir James Stewart of Doune, acquired the earldom of Murray by his marriage with Elizabeth, eldest daughter and heiress of the Regent Murray. The earl was only twenty-one years of age at the time of his murder, which was perpetrated at Dinnibrissel, the seat of his mother, where he was on a visit. Doune Castle in Menteith is now in ruins, but it is still the property of the family, and gives the title of Viscount to the eldest son of the Earl of Murray. The Earl of Huntley, instead of being punished for his crime, was created a marquis, and King James made the young earl of Murray marry the eldest daughter of his father's murderer.

There is another version of this ballad given in Finlay's _Scottish Ballads_ (ii. 21), which commences--

"Open the gates And let him come in; He is my brother Huntly, He'll do me nae harm."

The author of this seems to have supposed that Murray married a sister of Huntley.]

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Ye highlands, and ye lawlands, Oh! quhair hae ye been? They hae slaine the Earl of Murray, And hae laid him on the green.

Now wae be to thee, Huntley! 5 And quhairfore did you sae! I bade you bring him wi' you, But forbade you him to slay.

He was a braw gallant, And he rid at the ring; 10 And the bonny Earl of Murray, Oh! he might hae been a king.

He was a braw gallant, And he playd at the ba'; And the bonny Earl of Murray 15 Was the flower among them a'.

He was a braw gallant, And he playd at the gluve; And the bonny Earl of Murray, Oh! he was the Queenes luve. 20

Oh! lang will his lady Luke owre the castle downe,[667] Ere she see the Earl of Murray Cum sounding throw the towne.

FOOTNOTES:

[667] _Castle downe_ here has been thought to mean the _Castle of Downe_, a seat belonging to the family of Murray.