The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #172524   Message #4176151
Posted By: Bill D
05-Jul-23 - 04:31 PM
Thread Name: Origins: James Grant (Child #197)
Subject: RE: Origins: James Grant (Child #197)
Ah ha! This guy has made an attempt to make a recording of every one.

Raymond Crooke

The Grants of Ballindalloch and the Grants of Carron were feuding for at least ninety years after 1550. In 1628, John Grant of Ballindalloch killed John Grant of Carron, whose uncle, James Grant of Carron, two years later burnt all the barns and other buildings of the Ballindallochs. Their supporters, the Clanchattans, pursued him and captured him after he received eleven arrow-wounds and sent him to Edinburgh, where he was to be executed, but escaped after being held for a year. He remained at large despite large rewards being offered for him alive or dead, until a McGregor gang, brought into the country by the Ballindalochs, attacked him at a small house in Carron where he was visiting his wife. He managed to shoot the captain and escape to the bog with his men.

This ballad, of which only a fragment remains, is based on this event, though Ballindalloch was not personally involved in the attack and there is no record of a Douglas sheltering Grant of Carron. In 1639, James Grant was pardoned by the king and returned home in peace.

Lyrics and chords: G “Away with you, away with you, James de Grant! .......... D7 ...................... G And, Douglas, ye'll be slain; ................................. C For Baddindalloch's at your gates, ........... D7 ............ C ............. G With many brave Highland men.”

“Baddindalloch has no feud at me, And I have none at him; Cast up my gates baith broad and wide, Let Baddindalloch in.”

“James de Grant has made a vaunt, And leaped the castle-wa' But if he comes this way again He'll no win sae well awa'.

“Take him, take him, brave Gordons, O take him, fine fellows a'! If he wins but ae mile to the Highland hills, He'll defy you Gordons a'.”