Following on from the last post. It is at least possible that the ballad could be based on real people and events. In John Marsden's book of the Border Ballads he says that according to Stenhouse's Musical Museum tradtion has it that the bishop in question was Robert Aldridge. Marsden states that Aldridge was bishop between 1537 and 1555. Scrope was warden of the West March between 1542 and 1547 so if the events involve these figures then it dates to the 1540s. The most infamous Johnny Armstrong (Black Jock of Gilnockie) was executed in 1530 so Hughie couldn't ask him for revenge but there were other infamous John Amrmstrongs. Marsden suggests it could have been a reference to Jock o' the Side who was contemporary and named in a petition made to the Scottish Queen by the said bishop. He named various Grahams too but no Hughie - however he only names a few of the leading reivers but complains that there are 400 or so malefactors. There is no contemporary mention of a Hugh Graham. However one of the Grahams listed as being transported from the Borders to Ireland after James VI becomes King of England is a "Hugh's Francie". In other words a Francis Graham who's father was called Hugh. Of course it doesn't prove anything other than there were people called Hugh Graham living on the border in the 16thC.