The appearance
of the "True Love," just at her lover's wedding, is common in the
Marchen of the world, and occurs in a Romaic ballad, as well as in
many from Northern Europe. The "local colour"--the Moor or
Saracen--is derived from Crusading times, perhaps. Motherwell
found the ballad recited with intervals of prose narrative, as in
Aucassin and Nicolette. The notes to Cruikshank's Loving Ballad
are, obviously, by Thackeray.
THE BONNY HOUSE O' AIRLY
Lord Airly's houses were destroyed by Argyll, representing the
Covenanters, and also in pursuance of a private feud, in 1639, or
1640. There are erroneous versions of this ballad, in which
Lochiel appears, and the date is, apparently, transferred to 1745.
Montrose, in his early Covenanting days, was not actually concerned
in the burning of the Bonnie House, which he, when a Royalist,
revenged on the possessions of "gleyed Argyll." The reference to
"Charlie" is out of keeping; no one, perhaps, ever called Charles
I. by that affectionate name. Lady Ogilvie had not the large
family attributed to her: her son, Lord Ogilvie, escaped from
prison in the Castle of St. Andrews, after Philiphaugh. A Lord
Ogilvie was out in 1745; and, later, had a regiment in the French
Service. Few families have a record so consistently loyal.
ROB ROY
The abductors of the widowed young heiress of Edenhelly were Rob's
sons, Robin Oig, who went through a form of marriage with the girl,
and James Mohr, a good soldier, but a double-dyed spy and
scoundrel.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166