Here is another version of 'The Baron O' Brackley' - one of the greatest of all the ballads. The text is from the singing of Danny Spooner of Melbourne and it differs in significant respects from the two in the DT. As the DT note indicates, the texts of this ballad all appear to be conflated. This text has bits and pieces from the various Child texts (#203) and from other sources. However, I reckon it is the most coherent and satisfying text that I have heard for singing in a folk club setting. Like most traditional ballads, it has no preamble and assumes that the listener knows the background to the story. It is believed the incident occurred in September 1666, but what the ballad does not tell us is that it is a reprisal raid by John Farquharson of Inverey on John Gordon of Brackley for a cattle raid. This version has an interesting last stanza wherein Brackley's son indicates that the feud will continue – Child's A text only has this. 'Donnywhistle' is in brackets because I am not sure it is the right word.

THE BARON O' BRACKLEY

From Dee side came Inverey whistlin' and playin'
And he is to Brackley's yetts ere the day is dawnin'
Saying, Baron O'Brackley oh are ye within?
There are sharp swords to knock your yetts, to gar your bluid spin

Oh rise up my husband and turn back your kye
For the men frae (Donnywhistle) are driving them by
Oh how might I rise up and turn them again
For every man I ha'e I am sure he ha'e ten

Gin I had a husband the like I have nane
He'd no lie in his bed and watch his kye ta'en
Then up spake the baron, said gi'e me my sword
There's nae a man in Scotland but I'll brave at a word

Then the baron were buskit to ride o'er the close
A gallanter Gordon ne'er mounted a horse
Saying, kiss me, my Peggy, dinna think me tae blame
For I maun go oot, love, and I'll never come hame

There rode wi' false Inverey full thirty and three
But along wi' bonny Brackley just his brother and he
Twa gallanter Gordons did ne'er the sword draw
But against three and thirty, wae's me, what is twa?

Wi' swords and wi' daggers they did him surround
And they pierced bonny Brackley wi' monys a wound
Tae the banks o the Dee, tae the sides of the Spey
Oh the Gordons will mourn him and will ban Inverey

Oh came ye from Brackley's yetts, oh came ye by there?
And saw ye his Peggy a-rivin' her hair
Aye, I came by Brackley's yetts, I came by there
And I saw his bonny Peggy she was makin' good cheer

She was rantin', she was dancin', she was singin' wi' joy
And she swears ilka nicht she will feast Inverey
And she laughed wi' him danced wi' him, welcomed him ben
And lay wi' him till morning he who slew her good man

There's grief in the kitchen, there's mirth in the hall
For the Baron o Brackley lies dead and awa'
But oot spake his young son on his nurse's knee
Gin I grow to be a man 'tis revenged I'll be ^^ Traditional

Source: 'Danny Spooner and Friends' Anthology AR 002

---

Added to Digital Tradition April 2000. I'll post the Traditional Ballad Index entry below.
-Joe Offer-

---

Baron of Brackley, The [Child 203]

DESCRIPTION: Inverey comes to Brackley's gate, calling for Brackley to come forth. The baron, with few men on hand, would stay within, but his wife shames him into going out (with 4 men against 400). Brackley is killed; Lady Brackley rejoices. (His son vows revenge)
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1806 (Jamieson)
KEYWORDS: revenge death feud betrayal
HISTORICAL REFERENCES:
1666 - Reported date of the fatal feud between Brackley and Inverey.
FOUND IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber,Bord)
REFERENCES (8 citations):
Child 203, "The Baron of Brackley" (4 texts)
Bronson 203, "The Baron of Brackley" (3 versions+6 in addenda)
Leach, pp. 544-546, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
OBB 149, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
Gummere, pp. 151-154+333, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
DBuchan 23, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
HarvClass-EP1, pp. 119-121, "The Baron of Brackley" (1 text)
DT 203, BRNBRKLY* BRNBRKL2
RECORDINGS:
Ewan MacColl, "The Baron of Brackley" (ESFB1, ESFB2)
Notes: The feud between Brackley and Inverey seems to have arisen when the former raided Inverey's cattle and refused to give compensation. Inverey rode to Brackley's, and recovered both his own cattle and Brackley's own. Brackley, his brother, and two or three others rode forth and were killed.
It is worth noting that Margaret Burnet, Lady Brackley, married Brackley without her family's consent, implying that it was a love match. The rumour that she was untrue may have arisen because she later remarried. - RBW
File: C203

---

Go to the Ballad Search form
Go to the Ballad Index Instructions

The Ballad Index Copyright 2003 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.