The Bonny Earl of Murray
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"The Bonny Earl of Murray" is a popular Scottish ballad, probably written as far back as the 17th century, and has been catalogued as Child Ballad No. 181.
The ballad touches on a true story stemming from the rivalry of James Stewart, Earl of Murray (or Moray), and the Earl of Huntly, in 1592. The exact circumstances that led to Murray's murder by Huntly are not known for certain, but in his notes on the ballad Francis James Child relates how Huntly, eager to prove that Murray was plotting with the Earl of Bothwell against King James VI, received a commission to bring Murray to trial. In the attempt to apprehend Murray, a sheriff was killed and Murray's castle was set afire. He fled, but was hunted down and killed at Donibristle in Fife. Murray's last words, according to the (probably apocryphal) story, deserve special mention. Huntly slashed him across the face with his sword, and as he lay dying Murray said "Ye hae spoilt a better face than yer ain" (You have spoiled a better face than your own). The killing was very widely condemned, a painting was made of Murray's dead body, showing his multiple wounds, with the words "God avenge my cause".
The king's reaction in the ballad does not condone Huntly's action:
- "Now wae be to thee, Huntly!
- And wherefore did you sae?
- I bade you bring him wi you,
- But forbade you him to slay."
Nevertheless, the king did not punish Huntly, and some believe the king was complicit in the murder. The ballad, which praises Murray as "a braw gallant", was most likely composed by his supporters. It is possible that the clear inclusion of the king's condemnation of Huntly's acts (whether they were expressed by the king or not) was an effort to keep the ballad from being seen as treasonous. However, we can discount the ballad's claims that Murray was the Queen's lover, or that he might have become king.
It is from the first verse of "The Bonny Earl of Murray" that the term mondegreen, meaning misheard lyric, has come into popular use.
- Ye Highlands, and ye Lawlands
- Oh where have you been?
- They have slain the Earl of Murray,
- And they layd him on the green.
The final two lines had been heard as "they have slain the Earl of Murray, and Lady Mondegreen."
