No. 213: Sir James the Rose
[Child gives no ballad text of Sir James the Ross (also titled Sir James the Rose, see my 213A) because he considered it to be composed by Michael Bruce (see Child's Narrative, 4th paragraph). Alexander Keith from Greig's Last Leaves and others (Barry) consider Bruce's ballad to be derived also from "stall copies, broadsides, or other prints of the second half of the eighteenth century." There are two distinct versions, the first was covered by Child, while the second- 213A. Sir James the Ross- is the "Bruce" variant which has become more popular.
Another variant of the "Bruce" ballad, titled 'Elfrida and Sir James of Perth,' published in Caw's Poetical Museum, 1784, p. 290 was considered a "stark plagiarism" by Child but was probably another version based on a stall ballad, just as the "Bruce" version was.
According to Coffin: "The Child (version of the) Sir James the Rose ballad is not in America. The American texts are highly sophisticated and based on Sir James the Ross, a song Child, IV, 156 thought to have been composed by Michael Bruce." The US and Canadian versions, some titled Sir James the Rose, will be variants of the ballad Child titled after Michael Bruce's poem, Sir James the Ross.
I've listed Sir James the Ross as an appendix: 213A. The US and Canadian versions, some titled Sir James the Rose, will be found under Appendix 213 because they are variants of the "Bruce" version. Roud lumps the two ballads together- see Roud Listings attached to Recordings & Info page.
The English and Scottish versions suffer from the same errant titles. For example the Glenbuchat version, titled Sir James the Ross, matches Child's in all but two stanzas (the sixteenth and the last), and has more Scots diction than the original broadside.
R. Matteson 2012]
Sir James the Rose
Illustration from The Pictorial book of ballads: Traditional and Romantic by Moore, J.S. with this text:
[This ballad ' is said to have been written,' says Mr. Motherwell, ('Minstrelsy, Ancient and Modern,' Glasgow, 1827,)' by Michael Bruce, ' a young Scottish poet, who was born at Kinnesswood, in Kinross-shire, in 1746, and died, of consumption, in 1767. before he had completed his 22nd year. This ' consumption' of his, says Sir Walter Scott, (Life, by Lockhart, ch. 65,; 'has been the life of his verses.' His poems were first published in 1770 by his friend the Rev. Jobn Logan, author of the beautiful lines 'To the Cuckoo,' which, however, have been claimed by some of Brace's relations and friends, as his. The present ballad is one of 'two modern ballads'—the other being 'Elfrida and Sir James of Perth,'—which, according to Mr. Motherwell, 'have sprung out of an old one,' bearing the same name. 'It might be curious,' he says, 'to ascertain which of these mournful ditties is the senior, were it for nothing else than perfectly to enjoy the cool impudence with which the graceless youngster has appropriated to itself, without thanks or acknowledgment, all the best things which occur in the other.' That 'Elfrida and Sir James of Perth,' is a 'mournful ditty,' in more senses than one, few, probably, will be found to deny; but whether Bruce's ballad deserves to be so characterised, may admit of doubt. The original ballad of 'Sir James the Rose, ' as given by Motherwell, will be found in the Appendix.] The text version that follows the above quote is found in 213A. Sir James the Ross.
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes for this ballad)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Texts A a (Changes for Ab- Ag found in End-Notes)
5. End-notes
6. Additions and Corrections
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 213. Sir James the Rose
A. Roud No. 2274: Sir James the Rose/ Sir James the Rose (89 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: 213. Sir James the Rose (Bronson's music examples and texts)
3. US & Canadian Versions (based on the related ballad Sir James the Ross, see Appendix 213)
4. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A a- A g with additional notes)]
Child's Narrative: 213. Sir James the Rose
A. 'Sir James the Rose.'
a. From a stall-tract of about 1780, Abbotsford library.
b. Motherwell's Minstrelsy, p. 321.
c. Sir James the Rose's Garland, one of a volume of the like from Heber's library.
d. Motherwell's Manuscript, p. 281; from the recitation of Mrs. Gentles, of Paisley.
e. Herd's Manuscripts, I, 82.
f. The same, II, 42.
g. 'Sir James the Rose,' Pinkerton's Scottish Tragic Ballads, 1781, p. 61.
b, says Motherwell, "is given as it occurs in early stall-prints, and as it is to be obtained from the recitations of elderly people." Most of the variations are derived from d. c may have been printed earlier than a, but is astonishingly faulty, d, well remembered from print, is what Motherwell meant by "the recitations of elderly people." e was obtained by Herd, probably from recitation, as early as 1776, but must have been learned from print, f is e with a few missing lines supplied, g, says Pinkerton, "is given from a modern edition in one sheet 12mo," but was beyond question considerably manipulated by the editor. All the important variations are certainly his work.
The copy in Buchan's Gleanings, p. 9, is g. Whitelaw, in his Book of Scotish Ballads, p. 39, has combined b and g.
Half a dozen lines preserved by Burns, Cromek's Select Scotish Songs, II, 196 (see the preface to No 212), seem to belong to this ballad.
'Sir James the Ross, A Historical Ballad' (sometimes called 'The Buchanshire Tragedy'), was composed by the youthful Michael Bruce († 1767) upon the story of the popular ballad, and has perhaps enjoyed more favor with "the general" than the original. [1] 'Elfrida and Sir James of Perth,' Caw's Poetical Museum, 1784, p. 290 (probably taken, as most of the pieces are by the collector said to be, from some periodical publication), looks more like an imitation of Bruce's ballad than of its prototype. It is in fact a stark plagiarism.
Sir James the Rose has killed a squire, and men are out to take him. A nurse at the house of Marr is his leman, and he resorts to her in the hope that she may befriend him. She advises him to go to an ale-house for the night, promising to meet him there in the morning; he says he will do so, but, perhaps from distrust, which proves to be well grounded, prefers to wrap himself in his plaid and sleep under the sky. The party sent out to take him question the nurse, who at first makes a deceptive answer, then gives them a direction to his hiding-place. They find James the Rose asleep and take away his arms; he wakes and begs for mercy, and is told that he shall have such as he has given. He appeals to his servant to stay by him till death, and then to take his body to Loch Largan (Loughargan), for which service the man shall have his clothes and valuables. The avengers cut out his heart and take it to his leman at the house of Marr; she raves over her treachery, and is 'born away' bodily, to be seen no more.
e, f, it may be by accident, lack the vulgar passage 18, 19, which may be a later addition, for nothing is said of a man being in attendance when Sir James goes to his lair. The leader of the band that takes Sir James the Rose is Sir James the Graham, Sir James Graham, in c, e, f; a simple error, evidently. No motive is furnished in a-f for the woman's betraying her leman. g makes her offer in formation on condition of getting a proper reward, and she is promised Sir James's purse and brechan, but in the end is tendered his bleeding heart and his bleeding tartan, what ever that may be other than his brechan. This must be one of Pinkerton's improvements. The moral tag, st. 24, is dropped, or wanting, in c, e, f, g.
The topography of traditional ballads frequently presents difficulties, both because it is liable to be changed, wholly, or, what is more embarrassing, partially, to suit a locality to which a ballad has been transported, and again because unfamiliar names, when not exchanged, are exposed to corruption. Some of the places, also, have not a dignity which entitles them to notice in gazetteers. The first point, in the case before us, would be to settle the whereabouts of the House of Marr, in the vicinity of which the scene is laid. This I am unable to do. There is a Ballechin in Logierait Parish, Perthshire. There is said to be a Baleichan in Forfarshire.[2] It is not easy to see why the heir of either of these places (Buleighan and the rest may stand for either) should wish to have his body taken to Loch Largon in Invernesshire, if Loch Largon means Loch Laggan, as seems likely. [3]
Translated by Knortz, Schottische Balladen, p. 79, after Aytoun.
Footnotes:
1. 'Sir James the Ross' was first printed in The Weekly Magazine, or, Edinburgh Amusement, IX, 371, in 1770 (Grosart, Works of Michael Bruce, p. 257, the ballad at p. 197), and in the same year in "Poems on Several Occasions, by Michael Bruce" (p. 30), with differences, which are attributed to Logan, the editor.
2. "The older ballad, entitled 'The Young Heir of Baleichan,' or Baleighan, ... is claimed for this parish [Crimond, Aberdeenshire]; while the same ballad is said to be founded on a traditionary tale of Baleichan in Forfarshire." Smith, A New History of Aberdeenshire, 1875, p. 429.
3. Pinkerton reads Loch Lagan. He also reads 'the Hichts of Lundie,' in 104, for 'the gates of London.' Lundie is in Forfarshire. I suppose both readings to be Pinkerton's emendations.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
There are some resemblances between 'Sir James the Rose' and No. 212. 'Sir James the Ross,' composed by Michael Bruce (d. 1767) upon the story of the present ballad, has perhaps enjoyed more favor than the original.
Child's Ballad Text
'Sir James the Rose'- Version A a; Child 213 Sir James the Rose
a. From a stall-tract of about 1780, Abbotsford library.
1 O heard ye of Sir James the Rose,
The young heir of Buleighen?
For he has killd a gallant squire,
An 's friends are out to take him.
2 Now he's gone to the house of Marr,
Where the nourrice was his leman;
To see his dear he did repair,
Thinking she would befriend him.
3 'Where are you going, Sir James?' she says,
'Or where now are you riding?'
'O I am bound to a foreign land,
For now I'm under hiding.
4 'Where shall I go? Where shall I run?
Where shall I go to hide me?
For I have killd a gallant squire,
And they're seeking to slay me.'
5 'O go ye down to yon ale-house,
And I'll pay there your lawing;
And, if I be a woman true,
I'll meet you in the dawing.'
6 'I'll not go down to yon ale-house,
For you to pay my lawing;
There's forty shillings for one supper,
I'll stay in 't till the dawing.'
7 He's turnd him right and round about
And rowd him in his brechan,
And he has gone to take a sleep,
In the lowlands of Buleighen.
8 He was not well gone out of sight,
Nor was he past Milstrethen,
Till four and twenty belted knights
Came riding oer the Leathen.
9 'O have you seen Sir James the Rose,
The young heir of Buleighen?
For he has killd a gallant squire,
And we're sent out to take him.'
10 'O I have seen Sir James,' she says,
'For he past here on Monday;
If the steed be swift that he rides on,
He's past the gates of London.'
11 But as they were going away,
Then she calld out behind them;
'If you do seek Sir James,' she says,
'I'll tell you where you'll find him.
12 'You'll seek the bank above the mill,
In the lowlands of Buleighen,
And there you'll find Sir James the Rose,
Lying sleeping in his brechan.
13 'You must not wake him out of sleep,
Nor yet must you affright him,
Till you run a dart quite thro his heart,
And thro the body pierce him.'
14 They sought the bank above the mill,
In the lowlands of Buleighan,
And there they found Sir James the Rose,
A sleeping in his brechan.
15 Then out bespoke Sir John the Gra+eme,
Who had the charge a keeping;
'It's neer be said, dear gentlemen,
We'll kill him when he's sleeping.'
16 They seizd his broadsword and his targe,
And closely him surrounded;
But when he wak'd out of his sleep,
His senses were confounded.
17 'O pardon, pardon, gentlemen!
Have mercy now upon me!'
'Such as you gave, such you shall have,
And so we'll fall upon thee.'
18 'Donald my man, wait me upon,
And I'll give you my brechan,
And, if you stay here till I die,
You'll get my trews of tartan.
19 'There is fifty pounds in my pocket,
Besides my trews and brechan;
You'll get my watch and diamond ring;
And take me to Loch Largon.'
20 Now they have taken out his heart
And stuck it on a spear,
Then took it to the House of Marr,
And gave it to his dear.
21 But when she saw his bleeding heart
She was like one distracted;
She smote her breaxt, and wrung her hands,
Crying, 'What now have I acted!
22 'Sir James the Rose, now for thy sake
O but my heart's a breaking!
Curst be the day I did thee betray,
Thou brave knight of Buleighen.'
23 Then up she rose, and forth she goes,
All in that fatal hour,
And bodily was born away,
And never was seen more.
24 But where she went was never kend,
And so, to end the matter,
A traitor's end, you may depend,
Can be expect'd no better.
End-Notes
a. From "A collection of Popular Ballads and Tales," in six volumes, "formed by me," says Sir W. Scott, "when a boy, from the baskets of the travelling pedlars. ... It contains most of the pieces that were popular about thirty years since." (" 1810.") Vol. IV, No 21. In stanzas of eight lines.
b. 12. Buleighan, and always.
23. To seek (d).
52. there pay.
53. maiden true (d).
111. As they rode on, man after man.
112. she cried.
113. James the Rose.
121. Seek ye the bank abune.
133. you drive (d).
134. through his (d).
141. abune (d).
144. Lying sleeping (d).
151. Up then spake (d).
153. It shall (d).
154. We killed: when a (d).
163. And (d).
174. we fall (d). 201. they 've taen out his bleeding heart (d).
213. wrung her hands and tore her hair (d).
214. Oh, what have I.
221. It's for your sake, Sir J. the R. (d).
222. That my poor heart's (d).
233. She bodily.
244. Can never be no.
c. 11. Did you hear.
12. That young.
12, 74, 92. Belichan.
13. For wanting.
14. Who was sent out.
21. Now wanting.
22. nurse she was his layman.
32. where are you a.
33. I am going to some land.
34. For I am.
41. Where must: I turn.
42. I run.
43, 94. esquire.
44. And my friends are out to take me.
51. Go you.
52. There you'll stay till the dawning.
54. I'll come and pay your lawing.
61. down wanting.
62. To stay unto the dawning.
63. Now if you be a woman true.
64. [D]o (?) come and pay the lawning.
71. himself quite round.
73. he is.
81. not quite out.
82. wanting.
84. ore Beligham.
91. did you see.
92. That.
93. For wanting.
94. Who was sent
101. Oh yes, I seed S. J. the R.
102. He passed by here.
103. His steed was: rid.
104. And past.
111. Just as.
112. They thought no more upon him.
113. Oh if you want S. J. the R.
122. And the: Belighan.
123. And wanting.
13 as 14.
131. him from his.
132. you wanting.
133. But in his breast must run a dart.
14 as 13.
142. And lowlands.
144. Lying sleeping.
151. up bespoke Sir James the Graham.
152. charge in.
153. Letitneer: gentleman.
154. We killd a man a sleeping.
161. They have taken from him his sword and target.
163. wakened out of sleep.
164. was.
171. wanting.
172. And now have mercy on.
173. Which as.
174. And so shall fall upon you.
182. Until I be a dead man.
183. You'll get my hose, likewise my shoes.
184. Likewise my Highland brichan.
191,2. wanting.
193,4 with 201,2: 203,4 with 211,2: 213,4 with 223,4: 221,2 wanting.
193. You shall have my.
194. If you'll carry me to Loughargan.
201. tane out his bleeding heart.
202. And fetched it on a spear man.
203. And locked it to the Marr.
204. A present to.
212. She ran.
213. She wrung her hands and smote her breast.
214. Oh what have I done, what have I acted.
223. day I you betrayd.
224. of Brichan.
231. Then wanting.
232. And in.
233. Her body by.
234. never was heard tell of: more wanting.
24. wanting.
d. 12. Buleichan, and always.
14. And his.
21. Now wanting.
23. To seek.
3. wanting.
44. They 're seeking for to.
52. there I'll pay.
53. a maiden.
61. no gae.
63. thirty shillings for your.
64. And stay until the.
81. He had.
82. And past the Mill strethan.
101. S. J. the Rose.
111. But wanting.
112. She cried out.
113. S. J. the Rose.
121. Search the.
133. you drive.
134. through his.
141. They searched: abune.
144. Lying sleeping.
151. Up then spoke.
153. It shall.
154. We killed him when a.
163. And.
174. we fall.
191. There is wanting.
201. They 've taen out his bleeding.
203. And they 've gone to.
204. And gien.
211. But wanting.
213. She wrung her hands and tore her hair.
214. Crying, Now what.
221. It 's for your sake, S. J. the R.
222. That my poor heart 's.
231. Then wanting.
232. And in.
233. Bodily: She prefaced later.
241. kent.
244. Cannot expect no.
e, f. e. Another song of Sir James the Ross; this following Bruce' s ballad, which has the title (p 73) Sir James the Rose or de Ross. f. Another song of Sir James de Ross.
11. O did ye na ken Sir.
12, e. Ballachen, and always. f. 12, 74, 92, Ballachen; 122, Ballichan; 142, Ballichin; 224, Ballichen.
14, e. And they seeking, f. And they're seeking.
21. He's hy'd him: Moor.
22-4, 3. e. wanting.
32. f. O where away are.
33. f. to some.
41. O where.
42. O whither shall I hide me.
44. to kill.
51. e. gan ye. f. gang you.
52. I will pay your.
53. And gin there be.
61. gang.
63. shillings in my purse.
64. We'l stake it in the.
71. He turnd.
73. is gone.
82. Mill Strechin.
83. Ere.
84. the Rechin.
91. O saw ye.
101. O yes, I saw S. J. the R.
103. And gif: swift he: on wanting.
104. He 's near.
111. They were not well gane out o sight.
112. Ere she.
113. O gin ye seek S. J. the R.
114. ye where to.
121. Ye'll search the bush aboon the know.
131. him from his sleep.
132. Neither man you
141. the bush aboon the know.
144. Lying sleeping.
151. O then spake up Sir James Graham.
153. Let it not be.
154. We killd: while.
161. They 've tane his broadsword from his side.
162. him they have for closely him.
163. o for of his.
172. O pardon me, I pray ye.
173. ye gae, such shall ye hae.
174. There is no pardon for ye.
18, 19. Wanting.
201. they 've tane out his bleeding heart.
202. f. stickt it.
203. Then carried, e. Mure. f. Moor.
204. And shewd.
211. But wanting.
212. She rav'd.
213. And cried, Alake, a weel (well) a day.
214. Alas what have.
222. My heart it is a.
223. Wae to the day I thee betrayd.
224. Thou bold.
232. In that unhappy hour.
234. neer was heard of more.
24. wanting.
g. 12. Buleighan, and always.
14. Whase friends.
21. has gane.
22. Whar nane might seek to find him.
24. Weining.
31. said.
32. O whar awa are ye.
33. I maun be bound.
34. And now.
42. I rin to lay.
44. And his friends seek.
51. yon laigh.
52. I sail pay there.
53. And as I am your leman trew.
54. at the.
6. Wanting.
71. He turnd.
72. And laid him doun to.
83. Whan.
94. sent to.
101. Yea, I: said.
102. He past by here.
103. Gin.
104. the Hichts of Lundie.
111. as wi speid they rade awa.
112. She leudly cryd.
113. Gin ye'll gie me a worthy meid.
114. whar to.
12. 'O tell, fair maid, and, on our band,
Ye 'se get his purse and brechan:'
'He's in the bank aboon the mill,
In the lawlands o Buleighan.'
13, 14. Wanting.
151. out and spak.
153. said, my stalwart feres.
154. We killd him whan a.
163,4. O pardon, mercy, gentlemen!
He then fou loudly sounded.
173,4-19.
Sic as ye gae sic ye sail hae,
Nae grace we shaw to thee can.'
'Donald my man, wait till I fa,
And ye shall hae my brechan;
Ye'll get my purse, thouch fou o gowd,
To tak me to Loch Lagan.'
201. Syne they tuke out his bleeding heart.
202. And set
204. And shawd.
21. We cold nae gie Sir James's purse,
We cold nae gie his brechan,
But ye sail ha his bleeding heart,
Bot and his bleeding tartan.
221. O for.
222. My heart is now.
223. day I wrocht thy wae.
224. brave heir.
232,3. And in that hour o tein,
She wanderd to the dowie glen.
234. never mair was sein.
24. Wanting.
Additions and Corrections
To be Corrected in the Print.
155 a, second line after title. After library, insert P. 6.
157 a, 22. Read nourice.