Sae Argyle's boast it was in vain, (He thought sure not to tyne) That if he durst cum to the plain, 315 He would gar every nine Of his lay hold upon ilk man Huntly and Errol had: But yet for all his odds he ran[L319] To tell how ill he sped. 320
This ballad is taken from Maidment's _North Countrie Garland_, p. 15. There is another version in Buchan's _Ballads of the North of Scotland_, ii. 136 (_The Death of John Seton_).
John Seton of Pitmedden, a young and brave cavalier, was shot through the middle by a cannon ball, during the skirmish at the Bridge of Dee, while engaged, under the Viscount of Aboyne, in resisting the advance of Montrose upon the town of Aberdeen, in June, 1639. It was the hard fate of Aberdeen to suffer from the arms of Montrose, first, when he was general of the Covenanters, and again while he was lieutenant for the King. The murder and pillage perpetrated in the town by the Irish after the defeat of Lord Burleigh, in 1644, have been made the subject of violent reproach by his enemies, but it may perhaps be said, that for all that exceeded the usual horrors of war, the heroic commander was not responsible. In Buchan's version of the present ballad, the clemency shown by Montrose on taking possession of the city in 1639 is commemorated in three stanzas worthy of preservation. The Covenanters were "resolved to have sacked it orderly."
Out it speeks the gallant Montrose, (Grace on his fair body!) "We winna burn the bonny burgh, We'll even lat it be."
Then out it speaks the gallant Montrose, "Your purpose I will break; We winna burn the bonny burgh, We'll never build its make.
"I see the women and their children Climbing the craigs sae hie; We'll sleep this night in the bonny burgh, And even lat it be."
Upon the eighteenth day of June, A dreary day to see, The Southern lords did pitch their camp Just at the bridge of Dee. Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin, 5 A bold baron was he, He made his testament ere he went out, The wiser man was he.
He left his land to his young son, His lady her dowry, 10 A thousand crowns to his daughter Jean, Yet on the nurse's knee.
Then out came his lady fair, A tear into her e'e; Says "Stay at home, my own good lord, 15 O stay at home with me!"