Hi,

Here are some historic events and dates from which I think the ballad was made (see also on my site):

1) John Urquhart of Cragiston (b. 1611) married Elizabeth Innes (b. 1613- ref. Brad Verity) in 1632.

2) They had issue in 1633 one child, Sir John Urquhart d. 1678 who was the heir of Craigston (also Craigstoun).

3) On Nov. 30, 1634 John died leaving a son[17].

4) In 1632 Alexander Brodie returned from King's College[18] in England because of the death of his father. After the funeral he returned to King's College where he matriculated during the years 1632, 1633 and possibly 1634. I assume he came home when classes were not in session, and during this time or shortly after the death of John Urquhart, he met Elizabeth Innes. The meeting was likely through an introduction from her father or mother Grizel, the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Murray(Morey). At the request from her father but not without her permission, Elizabeth Innes married Alexander when he was underage--a boy, the age of 17. It's possible, as in the ballad, that she may have gone to his college to see him.

5) For whatever the reason, probably because of his young age, Brodie was "shortly and quietly" married to Robert Innes' "own eldest daughter Elizabeth Innes" [see Spalding] who was about 4 years older than him. Sir Robert was married to Grizel Stewart, the daughter of the 2nd Earl of Murray (Morey) in 1611. They had eight children--Elizabeth was the eldest of five daughters and married first. She was born about 1613 and Brodie was born in 1617. Because Elizabeth married less than a year after her husband died, it brings into question the actual length of the relationship with Alexander Brodie and also the nature and circumstances surrounding John Urquhart's "consuming seikness."

6) After the death of her first husband (John Urquhart of Craigston) it was possible that her father, Sir Robert Innes, obliged her to marry young Alexander, although Spalding says it was "not without her consent, as was thought[19]." John Urquhart died of a "consuming seikness" at the Place of Innes on November 30, 1634. It is rumored that his death was caused by the debt associated with estate he inherited from his grandfather in 1631. His grandfather, John Urquhart-- the Tutor of Cromarty, bought the Estate of Craigston in Aberdeenshire which would normally go to his son, John Urquhart of Laithers. His son died a month later(also 1631) but was a poor manager and was not in line to inherit the estate anyway so it went to his grandson.

Richie