The Bonnie Earl Of Moray

Melody -

Ye Hielan's an' ye Lowlan's
O, where have ye been
They hae slain the Earl of Moray
And lain him on the green
He was a braw gallant
And he rode at the ring
An' the bonnie Earl of Moray
O, he micht hae been the king!
O, lang may his lady
Look frae the castle Doune
Ere she see the Earl of Moray
Come soundin' through the toun.

2. Now way be to thee, Huntly
And wherefore did ye sae?
I bade you bring him wi' you
But forbade you him to slay
He was a braw gallant
And he play'd at the ball
An' the Bonnie Earl of Moray
Was a flower among them all
Lang may his lady
Look from the Castle Doune
Ere she see the Earl of Moray
Come soundin' through the toun.

3. Ye Hielan's and ye Lowlan's
O where hae ye been?
They have slain the Earl of Moray
An' laid him on the green
He was a braw gallant
And he rode at the gluve
An' the Bonnie Earl of Moray
O, he was the Queens' true love
Lang will his lady
Look frae the Castle Doune
Ere she see the Earl of Moray
Come soundin' through the toun.

Huntly had a commission to apprehend the Earl, who was in the disgrace of James VI. Huntly, as an ally of Bothwell, asked him to surrender at Donibristle, in Fife; he would not yield to his private enemy, the house was burned, and Murray was slain, Huntly gashing his face. "You have spoiled a better face than your own," said the dying Earl (1592). James Melville mentions contemporary ballads on the murder.

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