"The following fragment," says Sharpe in his preface (he had not then recovered the second stanza), "I cannot illustrate either from history or tradition." Very soon after the publication of the Ballad Book, full particulars of the carrying off of the Lady of Arngosk were procured for him by David Webster, the bookseller. Webster addressed himself to Mrs. Isobell Dow, otherwise Mrs. Mac Leish, of Newburgh, Fife, whose mother, he had learned, was waiting-maid to the lady at the time of the rape. "In my very early years," he wrote, July 4, 1823, "I have listened with great delight to my mother when she sung me a song the first stanza of which was this:
"Now Miss Finlay informs me that Isobel Stewart, your mother, was waiting-maid to the 'bonny lass' at the time she was 'stowen awa,' and that you are the most likely person now alive who will be able to recollect the song, or the particulars that gave rise to it. My reason for requesting this favour from a lady I have not the pleasure to know is, some gentlemen, my acquaintance, are making a collection of old Scots songs, which is print ing, and they are anxious to have it as full as possible. We therefore wish a copy of the song entire, if you can recollect it, and the name of the lady who was the 'bonny lass,'" etc. Mrs. Dow replied, July 8, through John Masterton, that she was " sorrow " to say that she could not recollect more of the song than Webster was already in possession of, but the story she could never forget, having heard her mother repeat it so often: and this story Masterton proceeds to give in Mrs. Dow's own words. Although Mrs. Dow was liberal of details, Webster seems to have wanted to hear more, and accordingly Masterton writes at greater length July 30, repeating what had been said before, with "some particular incidents" omitted in the former letter, but nothing very material except that Miss Gibb was rich, and that Isobell Dow had "brought to her recolection another verse of the song" (st. 2). The earlier letter even is somewhat out of proportion to so meagre a relic of verse, an intolerable deal of bread to a half-penny worth of sack; but it is very readable, and has some value as a chapter from domestic life in Scotland in the first half of the last century.[foot-note]
Newburgh, 8 July, 1823.
Dear Sir. I am directed by Isobell Dow to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, and to write you an answer to your request respecting the stealing awa the Lady of Arngosk. She is sorrow to say she cannot recolect any more of the song than what you are in possession off already. As for the truth of the story, she can never forget, having heard her mother repeat it so often. I will therefore give you it in her own words.
Yours, &c., Jn Masterton.
My mother was waiting-maid to the Lady of Arngask, whose name was Miss Margret Gibb, at which time two gentlemen paid addresses to her; the one a Mr. Jamieson, a writer in Strathmiglo, the other a Mr. Graham, of Bracko Castle, who was the subject of the story; but his love did not meet with a return suitable to his wishes; he therefore came to the strong resolution of taking her away by force. It will be proper to mention that he came two nights previous, when my mother was in the barn dighting corn, and accosted her thus: Tiby, I want to see Margret She answerd: I doubt, Mr. Graham, you canna see her the night, but I'll gang an tell her. She went and was orderd to tell him that he could not see her; which put him in such a frenzy that he ran up and down the barn through chaff and corn up to the middle; however, he forced in to her company, but what passed be twixt them my mother did not know. But on the second night after, at midnight, when in bed (my mother alway sleeping with Miss Gibb),[foot-note] a very sharp knock was heard at the door, which alarmd them very much, it being a lonely place. My mother went and called, who was there; she was answered, Open the door, Tiby, and see. She said: Keep me! Mr. Graham, what way are you here at this time? Ye canna won in the night. She drew the bar, and was almost frighted out of her sences by the appearance of above thirty Hillandmen on horseback, all armed with swords and dirks, &c. She atempted to shut the door again, but Mr. Graham pressed his knee in and forced his way. He went ben, and ordered them to put on their clothes an go along with him. Miss Gibb insisted on stoping ere daylight, and she would go with good will; but he would admit of no delay, but ordered her to dress herself imediately, otherwise he would do it by force. She then said she would not go unless Tiby acompanied her, which he said he intended to propose had she not mentioned it; but my mother would not go, she said, to ride behind none of these Hillandmen. Mr. Graham then proposed to take her behind himself. They did then all mount; he at the same time used the precaution of placing sentries on the houses where the other servants lodged, to prevent them giving the alarm, and also three stout men at the bell of the church, to prevent it being rung. They kept their posts till they thought them a sufficient distance on the way, Mr. Graham always joking to my mother about something or other, asuring her so soon as he had all over he would make her happy and comfortable all the days of her life. They rode on over hill and dale till within sight of Bracko Castle, when all of a sudden the Hillanmen dispersed, or deserted them, excepting his own imediate servants; which my mother thought was because he had deceived them, saying that the lady was willing to marry him but her friends would not alow, which by this time they must have found out. He told my mother that a minister was waiting them at Bracko, but he must have been disappointed, for the minister never appeared; else, she always thought, they would been married. Report said that Mr. Jamieson had so contrived to stop his arrival. My mother and Miss Margret were then secured in an uper room in the castle till the next day, when there appeared mostly all the men of the parishes of Arngask and Strathmiglo, demanding their lady; my father among the rest, demanding my mother as his intended wife. It seemed so soon as the Hillan sentries were gone from the houses and church-bell of Arngask, that the servants ran to the bell, and rang such a peal as made all the Ochles resound wi the sad news that their lady was stowen awa by Graham an his clan. Mr. Jamieson was no less busy in alarming and rousing the indignation of the good folk of Strathmiglo, who were much atached to her interest, so that both parishes rose to a man, and armed themselves with whatever came in the way, and marched in a body to make an attack on the castle, and rescue their much esteemed lady. But on their making their appearance before the castle in such formidable array, Mr. Graham thought it prudent to surender rather than sustain the attack of such a body of desperate men. Mr. Graham conducted them down stairs with his cap in hand (the gentlemen in those days wore velvet caps), and addressed her thus: I shall see you on your horse, Margret, for a' the ill you 've done me, and bade her a long and last ing farewell; at which she stamped with her foot and recommended him to the devil. They all came home in safety, and the bells, that so lately rang to alarm and spread the dismal news, were again rung to proclaim the happy return of the lady that was stowen awa. Bonelires were also erected on the highest of the Ochles. She was married that same year to Mr. Jamieson, and I suppose some of their children are alive to this day. It was generaly reported that Mr. Graham was so much affronted at the dissapointment that he left the country soon after.
Such, sir, is the story that gave rise to the song you are so much in request off, which I have gathered from Isobell Dow, and put in order according to my weak capacity, knowing it will fall into better and abler hands, and that, altho the song be a wanting, there is ample mater for composition. I remain your most Obedt Hle Servt,
John Masterton, for Isobell Dow.
P.S. I had almost forgot to mention as to the period of time when it happened, which cannot be less than 87 years, which Isobell makes out in the following mauer; it being two years before her father and mother was married, and that they lived together fifty-one years, it being now thirty-four years since her mother died, which makes it to have been about the year 1736.
J.M.
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