Motherwelll’s MS., p. 470, communicated apparently by
Buchan; ‘The Gordons and the Grants,’ Buchan’s Ballads
of the North of Scotland, II, 220.
There was an implacable feud between the Grants of Ballindalloch
and the Grants of Carron, “for divers ages,” Sir Robert Gordon
says, certainly for ninety years after 1550. This fragment has
to do with the later stage of their enmity. In 1628, John Grant
of Ballindalloch killed John Grant of Carron. James Grant of
Carron, uncle of the slain man, burnt all the corn, barns, and
byres of Ballindalloch young and old, and took to the hills
(1630). The Ballindallocbs complained to Murray, the lieutenant,
and he, “to gar ane devil ding another,” set the Clanchattan
upon James Grant. They laid siege to a house where he was with a
party of his men; he made his way out, was pursued, and was
taken after receiving eleven arrow-wounds. When he was well
enough to travel, he was sent to Edinburgh, and, as everybody
supposed, to his death; but after a confinement of more than a
year he broke ward (October, 1632). Large sums were offered for
him, alive or dead; but James Grant was hard to keep and hard to
catch, and in November, 1633, he began to kythe again in the
north. A gang of the forbidden name of McGregor, who had been
brought into the country by Ballindalloch to act against James
Grant, beset him in a small house in Carron where he was
visiting his wife, having only his son and one other man with
him; but he defended himself with the spirit of another
Cloudesly, shot the captain, and got off to the bog with his
men.[29]
“The year of God one thousand six hundred thirty-six, some of
the Marquis of Huntly’s followers and servants did invade the
rebel James Grant and some of his associates, hard by
Strathbogy. They burnt the house wherein he was, but, the night
being dark and windy, he and his brother, Robert Grant,
escaped.”[30]
This last escapade of James Grant may perhaps be the one to
which this fragment has reference, though Ballindalloch was not
personally engaged in the assault on the house, and I know of no
Douglas having sheltered Grant of Carron. One almost wonders
that this mettlesome and shifty outlaw was not celebrated in a
string of ballads.
Early in 1639, James Grant got his peace from the king; later in
the year, he joined the “barons” at Aberdeen with five hundred
men, and in 1640, we are told, “he purchased his remission
orderly and went home to his own country peaceably (against all
men’s expectation, being such a blood-shedder and cruel
oppressor) after he had escaped so many dangers.”[31]
* * * * *
1
‘Away with you, away with you, James de Grant!
And, Douglas, ye’ll be slain;
For Baddindalloch’s at your gates,
With many brave Highland men.’
2
‘Baddindalloch has no feud at me,
And I have none at him;
Cast up my gates baith broad and wide,
Let Baddindalloch in.’
3
‘James de Grant has made a vaunt,
And leaped the castle-wa;
But, if he comes this way again,
He’ll no win sae well awa.
4
‘Take him, take him, brave Gordons,
O take him, fine fellows a’!
If he wins but ae mile to the Highland hills,
He’ll defy you Gordons a’.’
* * * * *
_As printed by Buchan:_
1^3, 2^{1,4}. Balnadallach.
1^4. man.
2^4 come in.
3^4. nae won.
4^3. on the Highland hill.
198