Volume 2 — 90 JELLON GRAME.
Reading edition
A. a. 'Jellon Grame and Lillie Flower,' A. Fraser Tytler's Brown MS., No 4. b. 'Jellon Grame,' Scott's Minstrelsy, II, 20, 1802.
B. 'Hind Henry,' Motherwell's MS., p. 443.
C. 'May-a-Row,' Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 231.
D. 'Lady Margerie,' Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, p. 222.
'Jellon Grame' was first given to the world in Scott's Minstrelsy, in 1802. The editor says of this copy, A b, "This ballad is published from tradition, with some conjectural emendations. It is corrected by a copy in Mrs Brown's MS. [A a], from which it differs in the concluding stanzas. Some verses are apparently modernized." The only very important difference between Scott's version and Mrs Brown's is its having four stanzas of its own, the four before the last two, which are evidently not simply modernized, but modern.
There is a material difference between the story furnished by A and what we learn from the three other copies. Jellon Grame sends for his love Lillie Flower to come to the wood. She is very eager to go, though warned by the messenger that she may never come back. Jellon Grame, who has already dug her grave, kills her because her father will hang him when it is discovered that she has had a child by him. He brings up the child as his sister's son. One day, when the boy asks why his mother does not take him home, Jellon Grame (very unnaturally) answers, I slew her, and there she lies: upon which the boy sends an arrow through him.
In B, C, D, the man is Henry, Hind Henry, B, C; the maid is May Margerie, B, May-a-Roe, C, Margerie, D. Margerie, in B, receives a message to come to the wood to make her love a shirt, which surprises her, for no month had passed in the year that she had not made him three. Nevertheless, she goes, though warned by her mother that there is a plot against her life. She is stopped in the wood by Hind Henry, who kills her because she loves Brown Robin. Word is carried that Margerie has been slain; her sister hastens to the wood, takes under her care the child which Margerie was going with, and calls him Brown Robin, after his father. The lad goes to the wood one day after school to pull a hollin wand, and meets Hind Henry at the place where the mother had been killed. No grass is growing just there, and the boy asks Hind Henry why this is so. Hind Henry, not less frank than Jellon Grame, says, That is the very spot where I killed your mother. The boy catches at Henry's sword and runs him through.
C has nearly the same incidents as B, diluted and vulgarized in almost twice as many verses. Brown Robin is made to be Hind Henry's brother. The sister does not appear in the action, and the child is brought up by the murderer, as in A, but is named Robin Hood, after that bold robber. On hearing from Hind Henry how his mother had come to her death, young Robin sends an arrow to his heart.
A story is supplied from the "traditions of Galloway" for the fragmentary, and perhaps heterogeneous, verses called D; I suppose by Allan Cunningham. Margerie was beloved by two brothers, and preferred the elder. Henry, the younger, forged a billet to her by which he obtained a meeting in a wood, when he reproached her for not returning his feelings: sts 1, 2. "She expostulated with him on the impropriety of bringing her into an unfrequented place for the purpose of winning affections which, she observed, were not hers to bestow;" but expostulations as to improprieties producing but slight effect in "those rude times," told him plainly that she was with child by his brother. Henry drew his sword and killed Margerie. The elder brother, who was hunting, was apprised of mischief by the omens in stanza 4. "Astonished at this singular phenomenon, he immediately flew to the bower of his mistress, where a page informed him she was gone to the 'silver wood,' agreeably to his desire. Thither he spurred his horse, and, meeting Henry with his bloody sword still in his hand, inquired what he had been killing." The other replied as in stanza 5. "A mutual explanation took place, and Henry fell by the sword of his unhappy brother."
The resemblance of this ballad at the beginning to 'Child Maurice' will not escape notice. Silver Wood, or the silver wood, is found in 'Child Maurice,' A 1, G 1. A 14, B 10, C 15, is a commonplace: see No 66, A 28, 29, B 20, 21, D 9, E 40; No 70, B 25; No 81, K 13. B 13 is found in 'Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter,' B 24: cf. A 15. The phenomenon in D 4 we have had in No 65, D 17.
'Jellon Grame,' and particularly versions B, C, D, may be regarded as a counterpart to 'Fause Foodrage,' and especially to versions B, C, of that ballad. In 'Fause Foodrage,' B, C, and 'Jellon Grame,' B, C, D, a woman has two lovers. The one who is preferred is killed by the other in 'Fause Foodrage;' in 'Jellon Grame' the woman herself is killed by the lover she has rejected. This kind of interchange is familiar in ballads. In both 'Fause Foodrage' and 'Jellon Grame' the son of the woman, before he comes to manhood, takes vengeance on the murderer.
'Jellon Grame,' as well as 'Fause Foodrage,' has certainly suffered very much in transmission. It is interesting to find an ancient and original trait preserved even in so extremely corrupted a version as C of the present ballad, a circumstance very far from unexampled. In stanza 18 we read that the child who is to avenge his mother "grew as big in ae year auld as some boys woud in three," and we have a faint trace of the same extraordinary thriving in B 15: "Of all the youths was at that school none could with him compare." So in one of the Scandinavian ballads akin to 'Fause Foodrage,' and more remotely to 'Jellon Grame,' the corresponding child grows more in two months than other boys in eight years:
Mei voks unge Ingelbrett í dei maanar tvaa hell híne smaabonni vokse paa aatte aar.
Bugge, Norske Folkeviser, No 23, st. 17, p. 113.
This is a commonplace: so again Bugge, No 5, sts 7, 8, p. 23. Compare Robert le Diable, and Sir Gowther.
In B 14 we are told that the boy was called by his father's name (C 17 is corrupted). This is a point in the corresponding Scandinavian ballads: Danske Viser, No 126, st. 21, No 127, st. 34; Levninger, No 12, st. 26, No 13, st. 18; Íslenzk fornkvæði, No 28, st. 33b; Bugge, No 23, st. 16; Kristensen, I, No 97, sts 7, 11, No 111, st. 9.
A b is translated by Schubart, p. 69; by Arndt, Blütenlese, p. 234.
A
a. A. Fraser Tytler's Brown MS., No 4. b. Scott's Minstrelsy, II, 20, 1802.
1 O Jellon Grame sat in Silver Wood, He whistled and he sang, And he has calld his little foot-page, His errand for to gang. 2 'Win up, my bonny boy,' he says, 'As quick as eer you may; For ye maun gang for Lillie Flower, Before the break of day.' 3 The boy he's buckled his belt about, And thro the green-wood ran, And he came to the ladie's bower-door, Before the day did dawn. 4 'O sleep ye, or wake ye, Lillie Flower? The red run's i the rain:' 'I sleep not aft, I wake right aft; Wha's that that kens my name?' 5 'Ye are bidden come to Silver Wood, But I fear you'll never win hame; Ye are bidden come to Silver Wood, And speak wi Jellon Grame.' 6 'O I will gang to Silver Wood, Though I shoud never win hame; For the thing I most desire on earth Is to speak wi Jellon Grame.' 7 She had no ridden a mile, a mile, A mile but barely three, Ere she came to a new made grave, Beneath a green oak tree. 8 O then up started Jellon Grame, Out of a bush hard bye: 'Light down, light down now, Lillie Flower, For it's here that ye maun ly.' 9 She lighted aff her milk-white steed, And knelt upon her knee: 'O mercy, mercy, Jellon Grame! For I'm nae prepar'd to die. 10 'Your bairn, that stirs between my sides, Maun shortly see the light; But to see it weltring in my blude Woud be a piteous sight.' 11 'O shoud I spare your life,' he says, 'Until that bairn be born, I ken fu well your stern father Woud hang me on the morn.' 12 'O spare my life now, Jellon Grame! My father ye neer need dread; I'll keep my bairn i the good green wood, Or wi it I'll beg my bread.' 13 He took nae pity on that ladie, Tho she for life did pray; But pierced her thro the fair body, As at his feet she lay. 14 He felt nae pity for that ladie, Tho she was lying dead; But he felt some for the bonny boy, Lay weltring in her blude. 15 Up has he taen that bonny boy, Gien him to nurices nine, Three to wake, and three to sleep, And three to go between. 16 And he's brought up that bonny boy, Calld him his sister's son; He thought nae man would eer find out The deed that he had done. 17 But it sae fell out upon a time, As a hunting they did gay, That they rested them in Silver Wood, Upon a summer-day. 18 Then out it spake that bonny boy, While the tear stood in his eye, 'O tell me this now, Jellon Grame, And I pray you dinna lie. 19 'The reason that my mother dear Does never take me hame? To keep me still in banishment Is baith a sin and shame.' 20 'You wonder that your mother dear Does never send for thee; Lo, there's the place I slew thy mother, Beneath that green oak tree.' 21 Wi that the boy has bent his bow, It was baith stout and lang, And through and thro him Jellon Grame He's gard an arrow gang. 22 Says, Lye you thare now, Jellon Grame, My mellison you wi; The place my mother lies buried in Is far too good for thee.
B
Motherwell's MS., p. 443.
1 Word has come to May Margerie, In her bower where she sat: 'You are bid come to good green-wood, To make your love a shirt.' 2 'I wonder much,' said May Margerie, 'At this message to me; There is not a month gone of this year But I have made him three.' 3 Then out did speak her mother dear, A wise woman was she; Said, Stay at home, my daughter May, They seek to murder thee. 4 'O I'll cast off my gloves, mother, And hang them up, I say; If I come never back again, They will mind you on May. 5 'Go saddle my horseback,' she said, 'It's quick as ever you may, And we will ride to good green-wood; It is a pleasant day.' 6 And when she came to good green-wood, It's through it they did ride; Then up did start him Hind Henry, Just at the lady's side. 7 Says, Stop, O stop, you May Margerie, Just stop I say to thee; The boy that leads your bridle reins Shall see you red and blue. 8 It's out he drew a long, long brand, And stroked it ower a strae, And through and through that lady's sides He made the cauld weapon gae. 9 Says, Take you that now, May Margerie, Just take you that from me, Because you love Brown Robin, And never would love me. 10 There was less pity for that lady, When she was lying dead, As was for her bony infant boy, Lay swathed amang her bleed. 11 The boy fled home with all his might, The tear into his ee: 'They have slain my lady in the wood, With fear I'm like to die.' 12 Her sister's ran into the wood, With greater grief and care, Sighing and sobbing all the way, Tearing her cloaths and hair. 13 Says, I'll take up that fair infant, And lull him on my sleeve; Altho his father should wish me woe, His mother to me was leeve. 14 Now she has taken the infant up, And she has brought him hame, And she has called him Brown Robin, That was his father's name. 15 And when he did grow up a bit, She put him to the lair, And of all the youths was at that school None could with him compare. 16 And it fell once upon a day A playtime it was come, And when the rest went from the school, Each one to their own home, 17 He hied him unto good green-wood, And leapt from tree to tree; It was to pull a hollin wand, To play his ownself wi. 18 And when he thus had passed his time, To go home he was fain, He chanced to meet him Hind Henry, Where his mother was slain. 19 'O how is this,' the youth cried out, 'If it to you is known, How all this wood is growing grass, And on that small spot grows none?' 20 'Since you do wonder, bonnie boy, I shall tell you anon; That is indeed the very spot I killed your mother in.' 21 He catched hold of Henry's brand, And stroked it ower a strae, And thro and thro Hind Henry's sides He made the cauld metal gae. 22 Says, Take you that, O Hind Henry, O take you that from me, For killing of my mother dear, And her not hurting thee.
C
Buchan's Ballads of the North of Scotland, II, 231.
1 When spring appeard in all its bloom, And flowers grew fresh and green, As May-a-Roe she set her down, To lay gowd on her seam. 2 But word has come to that lady, At evening when 't was dark, To meet her love in gude greenwood, And bring to him a sark. 3 'That's strange to me' said May-a-Roe, 'For how can a' this be? A month or twa is scarcely past Sin I sent my lovie three.' 4 Then May-a-Roe lap on her steed, And quickly rade away; She hadna ridden but hauf a mile, Till she heard a voice to say: 5 'Turn back, turn back, ye ventrous maid, Nae farther must ye go; For the boy that leads your bridle rein Leads you to your overthrow.' 6 But a' these words she neer did mind, But fast awa did ride; And up it starts him Hynde Henry, Just fair by her right side. 7 'Ye'll tarry here, perfidious maid, For by my hand ye 'se dee; Ye married my brother, Brown Robin, Whan ye shoud hae married me.' 8 'O mercy, mercy, Hynde Henry, O mercy have on me! For I am eight months gane wi child, Therefore ye'll lat me be.' 9 'Nae mercy is for thee, fair maid, Nae mercy is for thee; You married my brother, Brown Robin, Whan ye shoud hae married me.' 10 'Ye will bring here the bread, Henry, And I will bring the wine, And ye will drink to your ain love, And I will drink to mine.' 11 'I winna bring here the bread, fair maid, Nor yet shall ye the wine, Nor will I drink to my ain love, Nor yet shall ye to thine.' 12 'O mercy, mercy, Hynde Henry, Until I lighter be! Hae mercy on your brother's bairn, Tho ye hae nane for me.' 13 'Nae mercy is for thee, fair maid, Nae mercy is for thee; Such mercy unto you I'll gie As what ye gae to me.' 14 Then he's taen out a trusty brand, And stroakd it ower a strae, And thro and thro her fair body He's gart cauld iron gae. 15 Nae meen was made for that lady, For she was lying dead; But a' was for her bonny bairn, Lay spartling by her side. 16 Then he's taen up the bonny bairn, Handled him tenderlie, And said, Ye are o my ain kin, Tho your mother ill used me. 17 He's washen him at the crystal stream, And rowd him in a weed, And namd him after a bold robber Who was calld Robin Hood. 18 Then brought to the next borough's town, And gae him nurses three; He grew as big in ae year auld As some boys woud in three. 19 Then he was sent to guid squeel-house, To learn how to thrive; He learnd as muckle in ae year's time As some boys would in five. 20 But I wonder, I wonder,' said little Robin, 'Gin eer a woman bare me; For mony a lady spiers for the rest, But nae ane spiers for me. 21 'I wonder, I wonder,' said little Robin, 'Were I of woman born; Whan ladies my comrades do caress, They look at me wi scorn.' 22 It fell upon an evening-tide, Was ae night by it lane, Whan a' the boys frae guid squeel-house Were merrily coming hame, 23 Robin parted frae the rest, He wishd to be alane; And when his comrades he dismist, To guid greenwood he's gane. 24 When he came to guid greenwood, He clamb frae tree to tree, To pou some o the finest leaves, For to divert him wi. 25 He hadna pu'd a leaf, a leaf, Nor brake a branch but ane, Till by it came him Hynde Henry, And bade him lat alane. 26 'You are too bauld a boy,' he said, 'Sae impudent you be, As pu the leaves that's nae your ain, Or yet to touch the tree.' 27 'O mercy, mercy, gentleman, O mercy hae on me! For if that I offence hae done, It was unknown to me.' 28 'Nae boy comes here to guid greenwood But pays a fine to me; Your velvet coat, or shooting-bow, Which o them will ye gie?' 29 'My shooting-bow arches sae well, Wi it I canno part; Lest wer't to send a sharp arrow To pierce you to the heart.' 30 He turnd him right and round about, His countenance did change: 'Ye seem to be a boy right bauld; Why can ye talk sae strange? 31 'I'm sure ye are the bauldest boy That ever I talkd wi; As for your mother, May-a-Roe, She was neer sae bauld to me.' 32 'O, if ye knew my mother,' he said, 'That's very strange to me; And if that ye my mother knew, It's mair than I coud dee.' 33 'Sae well as I your mother knew, Ance my sweet-heart was she; Because to me she broke her vow, This maid was slain by me.' 34 'O, if ye slew my mother dear, As I trust ye make nae lie, I wyte ye never did the deed That better paid shall be.' 35 'O mercy, mercy, little Robin, O mercy hae on me!' 'Sic mercy as ye pae my mother, Sic mercy I'll gie thee. 36 'Prepare yourself, perfidious man, For by my hand ye 'se dee; Now come's that bluidy butcher's end Took my mother frae me.' 37 Then he hae chosen a sharp arrow, That was baith keen and smart, And let it fly at Hynde Henry, And piercd him to the heart. 38 These news hae gaen thro Stirling town, Likewise thro Hunting-ha; At last it reachd the king's own court, Amang the nobles a'. 39 When the king got word o that, A light laugh then gae he, And he's sent for him little Robin, To come right speedilie. 40 He's putten on little Robin's head A ribbon and gowden crown, And made him ane o's finest knights, For the valour he had done.
D
Cromek's Remains of Nithsdale and Galloway Song, p. 222.
* * * * * 1 'D'ye mind, d'ye mind, Lady Margerie, When we handed round the beer? Seven times I fainted for your sake, And you never dropt a tear. 2 'D'ye mind, d'ye mind, Lady Margerie, When we handed round the wine? Seven times I fainted for your sake, And you never fainted once for mine.' * * * * * 3 And he's taen the baby out of her womb And thrown it upon a thorn: 'Let the wind blow east, let the wind blow west, The cradle will rock its lone.' * * * * * 4 But when brother Henry's cruel brand Had done the bloody deed, The silver-buttons flew off his coat, And his nose began to bleed. * * * * * 5 'O I have been killing in the silver wood What will breed mickle woe; I have been killing in the silver wood A dawdy and a doe.' * * * * *
A. a.
104. piteouus.
b.
12. he sharpd his broad-sword lang.
14. An errand.
22. quickly as ye.
31. boy has.
33. ladye's bower.
41. or omitted.
42. red sun's on.
43, 4. wanting.
51, 2. as 43, 4: I doubt ye'll.
53, 4. wanting.
6. wanting.
71. had na.
82. there bye.
94. no.
112. were born.
113. Full weel I ken your auld.
122. ye need na.
123. babe in gude.
131. on Lillie Flower.
141. for Lillie Flower.
142. Where she.
143. bonny bairn.
144. That lay.
153. Three to sleep and three to wake.
161. he bred.
163. And he thought no eye could ever see.
171. O so it fell upon a day.
172. When hunting they might be.
173. That omitted.
174. Beneath that green aik tree.
18-20. And mony were the green wood flowers Upon the grave that grew, And marvelld much that bonny boy To see their lovely hue. 'What's paler than the prymrose wan? What's redder than the rose? What's fairer than the lilye flower On this wee know that grows?' O out and answered Jellon Grame, And he spake hastilie; 'Your mother was a fairer flower, And lies beneath this tree. 'More pale she was, when she sought my grace, Than prymrose pale and wan, And redder than rose her ruddy heart's blood, That down my broad-sword ran.'
221. Lie ye.
222. gang you wi.
B.
121. sisters ran: into altered to unto.