Recordings & Info 198. Bonny John Seton
[There are no known recordings listed in the Child Collection.]
CONTENTS:
1) Alternative Titles
2) Traditional Ballad Index
ATTACHED PAGES: (see left hand column)
1) Roud No. 3908: Bonny John Seton (9 Listings)
Alternative Titles
Bonnie John Seton
Major Middleton
Traditional Ballad Index: Bonny John Seton [Child 198]
NAME: Bonnie John Seton [Child 198]
DESCRIPTION: Forces from north and south prepare for battle at the Brig o' Dee. John Seton, with great foresight, makes his will. He is killed in the battle, and the highlanders routed by cannon. The leaders of the enemy forces despoil Seton's body
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST_DATE: c, 1818 (GlenbuchatBallads)
KEYWORDS: battle death nobility
HISTORICAL_REFERENCES: Junw 18, 1639 - Montrose's attack on the Bridge of Dee
FOUND_IN: Britain(Scotland(Aber))
REFERENCES: (4 citations)
Child 198, "Bonnie John Seton" (2 texts)
GlenbuchatBallads pp. 171-172, "Major Middleton" (1 text)
Leach, pp. 535-536, "Bonnie John Seton" (1 text)
DBuchan 36, "Bonny John Seton" (1 text)
Roud #3908
NOTES: Were it not for the mention of Montrose in the final stanzas of Child's "B" version, it would be almost impossible to connect this with historical events. As it is, the ballad focuses entirely on Seton; the setting of the battle is entirely ignored. It relates to a minor incident of the English Civil Wars, but this is rather trivial in context. Child provides such additional background as is available. The notes on pp. 243-244 of GlenbuchatBallads are also very full and quite useful. - RBW