#a.# ‘The Song of Bewick and Grahame,’ a stall-copy, in octavo,
British Museum, 11621. e. 1. (4.) #b.# ‘A Remarkable and Memorable
Song of Sir Robert Bewick and the Laird Graham,’ broadside,
Roxburghe Ballads, III, 624. #c.# ‘A Remarkable and Memorable Song
of Sir Robert Bewick and the Laird Graham,’ broadside, Percy papers.
#d.# ‘Bewick and Graham’s Garland,’ M. Angus and Son, Newcastle,
Bell Ballads, Abbotsford Library, P. 5, vol. i, No 60. #e.#
Broadside, in “A Jolly Book of Garlands collected by John Bell in
Newcastle,” No 29, Abbotsford Library, E. 1. #f.# ‘Bewick and
Graham,’ chapbook, Newcastle, W. Fordyce. #g.# “Scotch Ballads,
Materials for Border Minstrelsy,” No 145, Abbotsford. #h.# ‘Chirstie
Græme,’ the same, No 89.
No copy of this ballad earlier than the last century is known to me. The
Museum Catalogue gives a conjectural date of 1740 to #a# and of 1720 to
#b#, and, conjecturally again, assigns both to Newcastle. #c#, #d#, #e#
are also without date. #c# may be as old as #b#; #d#, #e# are at least
not old, and #f# is of this century. The ballad was given under the
title ‘Græme and Bewick,’ in Scott’s Minstrelsy, 1803, III, 93, “from
the recitation of a gentleman” who remembered it but imperfectly. In a
succeeding edition, III, 66, 1833, deficiencies were partly supplied and
some different readings adopted “from a copy obtained by the recitation
of an ostler in Carlisle.” The first copy (entitled ‘Chirstie Græme’)
was sent Scott by William Laidlaw, January 3, 1803 (Letters, vol. i, No
78), as taken down by him from the singing of Mr Walter Grieve, in
Craik, on Borthwick Water. It is preserved in “Scotch Ballads, Materials
for Border Minstrelsy,” No 89, Abbotsford (#h#); and in the same volume,
No 145, is what is shown by internal evidence to be the ostler’s copy
(#g#). Both copies were indisputably derived from print, though #h# may
have passed through several mouths. #g# agrees with #b-f# closely as to
minute points of phraseology which it is difficult to believe that a
reciter would have retained. It looks more like an immediate, though
faulty, transcript from print. Of many deviations, though most may be
charge-able to a bad copyist, or, if one pleases, a bad memory, others
indicate an original which differed in some particulars from #b-f#; and
the same may perhaps be true of #h#, which is, however, of only very
trifling value.[92]
‘The Brothers-in-Arms,’ Maidment, Scotish Ballads and Songs, 1868, II,
150, is Scott’s later copy.
Old Graham and old Bewick are drinking together at Carlisle. Graham
proposes the health of their respective sons. Bewick demurs. Young
Graham is no peer for young Bewick, who is good at both books and arms,
whereas Graham is no scholar. Old Graham goes home mortified and angry,
repeats to his son Christy what Bewick had said, and bids him, as he
would have his blessing, prove that he can at least hold his own in a
fight with young Bewick. Christy is ‘faith and troth,’ or sworn-brother,
to young Bewick, and begs his father to forbear. The father insists;
Christy may make his choice, to fight with young Bewick or with himself.
Christy, upon reflection, concludes that it would be a less crime to
kill his sworn-brother than to kill his father, but swears that, should
it be his lot to kill his friend, he will never come home alive. He arms
himself and goes to seek his comrade. Bewick, who has been teaching his
five scholars their fence, and apparently also their psalms, is walking
in his father’s close, with his sword under his arm, and sees a man in
armor riding towards him. Recognizing Graham, he welcomes him
affectionately. Graham informs him that he has come to fight with him,
rehearses the scene with old Graham, and puts by all his friend’s
remonstrances and the suggestion that the fathers may be reconciled
through arbitrators. Forced to fight, Bewick vows, as Graham had done,
that, if it be his fortune to kill his brother, he will never go home
alive. Graham throws off his armor that he may have no advantage; they
fight two hours with no result, and then Graham gives Bewick one of
those ‘ackward’ strokes which have determined several duels in foregoing
ballads. The wound is deadly; Bewick intreats Graham to fly the country;
Graham swears that his vow shall be kept, leaps on his sword and is the
first to die. Old Bewick comes up and is disposed to congratulate his
son on his victory. Young Bewick begs him to make one grave for both,
and to lay young Graham on the sunny side, for he had been the better
man. The two fathers indulge in exclamations of grief.
I am persuaded that there was an older and better copy of this ballad
than those which are extant. The story is so well composed, proportion
is so well kept, on the whole, that it is reasonable to suppose that
certain passages (as stanzas 3, 4, 50) may have suffered some injury.
There are also phrases which are not up to the mark of the general
style, as the hack-rhymester lines at 7^3, 19^2. But it is a
fine-spirited ballad as it stands, and very infectious.
“The ballad is remarkable,” observes Sir Walter Scott, “as containing
probably the very latest allusion to the institution of brotherhood in
arms.” And he goes on to say: “The quarrel of the two old chieftains
over their wine is highly in character. Two generations have not elapsed
[1803] since the custom of drinking deep and taking deadly revenge for
slight offences produced very tragical events on the border; to which
the custom of going armed to festive meetings contributed not a little.”
Scott’s later edition is translated by Loève-Veimars, p. 323; by Rosa
Warrens, Schottische Volkslieder der Vorzeit, p. 99, No 22.
* * * * *
1
Old Grahame [he] is to Carlisle gone,
Where Sir Rob_ert_ Bewick there met he;
In arms to the wine they are gone,
And drank till they were both merry.
2
Old Grahame he took up the cup,
And said, ‘Brother Bewick, here’s to thee;
And here’s to our two sons at home,
For they live best in our country.’
3
‘Nay, were thy son as good as mine,
And of some books he could but read,
With sword and buckler by his side,
To see how he could save his head,
4
‘They might have been calld two bold brethren
Where ever they did go or ride;
They might [have] been calld two bold brethren,
They might have crackd the Border-side.
5
‘Thy son is bad, and is but a lad,
And bully to my son cannot be;
For my son Bewick can both write and read,
And sure I am that cannot he.’
6
‘I put him to school, but he would not learn,
I bought him books, but he would not read;
But my blessing he’s never have
Till I see how his hand can save his head.’
7
Old Grahame called for an account,
And he askd what was for to pay;
There he paid a crown, so it went round,
Which was all for good wine and hay.
8
Old Grahame is into the stable gone,
Where stood thirty good steeds and three;
He’s taken his own steed by the head,
And home rode he right wantonly.
9
When he came home, there did he espy,
A loving sight to spy or see,
There did he espy his own three sons,
Young Christy Grahame, the foremost was he.
10
There did he espy his own three sons,
Young Christy Grahame, the foremost was he:
‘Where have you been all day, father,
That no counsel you would take by me?’
11
‘Nay, I have been in Carlisle town,
Where Sir Robert Bewick there met me;
He said thou was bad, and calld thee a lad,
And a baffled man by thou I be.
12
‘He said thou was bad, and calld thee a lad,
And bully to his son cannot be;
For his son Bewick can both write and read,
And sure I am that cannot thee.
13
‘I put thee to school, but thou would not learn.
I bought thee books, but thou would not read;
But my blessing thou’s never have
Till I see with Bewick thou can save thy head.’
14
‘Oh, pray forbear, my father dear;
That ever such a thing should be!
Shall I venture my body in field to fight
With a man that’s faith and troth to me?’
15
‘What’s that thou sayst, thou limmer loon?
Or how dare thou stand to speak to me?
If thou do not end this quarrel soon,
Here is my glove thou shalt fight me.’
16
Christy stoopd low unto the ground,
Unto the ground, as you’ll understand:
‘O father, put on your glove again,
The wind hath blown it from your hand.’
17
‘What’s that thou sayst, thou limmer loon?
Or how dare thou stand to speak to me?
If thou do not end this quarrel soon,
Here is my hand thou shalt fight me.’
18
Christy Grahame is to his chamber gone,
And for to study, as well might be,
Whether to fight with his father dear,
Or with his bully Bewick he.
19
‘If it be [my] fortune my bully to kill,
As you shall boldly understand,
In every town that I ride through,
They’ll say, There rides a brotherless man!
20
‘Nay, for to kill my bully dear,
I think it will be a deadly sin;
And for to kill my father dear,
The blessing of heaven I neer shall win.
21
‘O give me your blessing, father,’ he said,
‘And pray well for me for to thrive;
If it be my fortune my bully to kill,
I swear I’ll neer come home alive.’
22
He put on his back a good plate-jack,
And on his head a cap of steel,
With sword and buckler by his side;
O gin he did not become them well!
23
‘O fare thee well, my father dear!
And fare thee well, thou Carlisle town!
If it be my fortune my bully to kill,
I swear I’ll neer eat bread again.’
24
Now we’ll leave talking of Christy Grahame,
And talk of him again belive;
But we will talk of bonny Bewick,
Where he was teaching his scholars five.
25
Now when he had learnd them well to fence,
To handle their swords without any doubt,
He’s taken his own sword under his arm,
And walkd his father’s close about.
26
He lookd between him and the sun,
To see what farleys he coud see;
There he spy’d a man with armour on,
As he came riding over the lee.
27
‘I wonder much what man yon be
That so boldly this way does come;
I think it is my nighest friend,
I think it is my bully Grahame.
28
‘O welcome, O welcome, bully Grahame!
O man, thou art my dear, welcome!
O man, thou art my dear, welcome!
For I love thee best in Christendom.’
29
‘Away, away, O bully Bewick,
And of thy bullyship let me be!
The day is come I never thought on;
Bully, I’m come here to fight with thee.’
30
‘O no! not so, O bully Grahame!
That eer such a word should spoken be!
I was thy master, thou was my scholar:
So well as I have learnëd thee.’
31
‘My father he was in Carlisle town,
Where thy father Bewick there met he;
He said I was bad, and he calld me a lad,
And a baffled man by thou I be.’
32
‘Away, away, O bully Grahame,
And of all that talk, man, let us be!
We’ll take three men of either side
To see if we can our fathers agree.’
33
‘Away, away, O bully Bewick,
And of thy bullyship let me be!
But if thou be a man, as I trow thou art,
Come over this ditch and fight with me.’
34
‘O no! not so, my bully Grahame!
That eer such a word should spoken be!
Shall I venture my body in field to fight
With a man that’s faith and troth to me?’
35
‘Away, away, O bully Bewick,
And of all that care, man, let us be!
If thou be a man, as I trow thou art,
Come over this ditch and fight with me.’
36
‘Now, if it be my fortune thee, Grahame, to kill,
As God’s will’s, man, it all must be;
But if it be my fortune thee, Grahame, to kill,
’Tis home again I’ll never gae.’
37
‘Thou art of my mind then, bully Bewick,
And sworn-brethren will we be;
If thou be a man, as I trow thou art,
Come over this ditch and fight with me.’
38
He flang his cloak from [off] his shoulders,
His psalm-book out of his hand flang he,
He clapd his hand upon the hedge,
And oer lap he right wantonly.
39
When Grahame did see his bully come,
The salt tear stood long in his eye:
‘Now needs must I say that thou art a man,
That dare venture thy body to fight with me.
40
‘Now I have a harness on my back;
I know that thou hath none on thine;
But as little as thou hath on thy back,
Sure as little shall there be on mine.’
41
He flang his jack from off his back,
His steel cap from his head flang he;
He’s taken his sword into his hand,
He’s tyed his horse unto a tree.
42
Now they fell to it with two broa[d swords],
For two long hours fought Bewick [and he];
Much sweat was to be seen on them both,
But never a drop of blood to see.
43
Now Grahame gave Bewick an ackward stroke,
An ackward stroke surely struck he;
He struck him now under the left breast,
Then down to the ground as dead fell he.
44
‘Arise, arise, O bully Bewick,
Arise, and speak three words to me!
Whether this be thy deadly wound,
Or God and good surgeons will mend thee.’
45
‘O horse, O horse, O bully Grahame,
And pray do get thee far from me!
Thy sword is sharp, it hath wounded my heart,
And so no further can I gae.
46
‘O horse, O horse, O bully Grahame,
And get thee far from me with speed!
And get thee out of this country quite!
That none may know who’s done the deed.’
47
‘O if this be true, my bully dear,
The words that thou dost tell to me,
The vow I made, and the vow I’ll keep;
I swear I’ll be the first that die.
48
Then he stuck his sword in a moody-hill,
Where he lap thirty good foot and three;
First he bequeathed his soul to God,
And upon his own sword-point lap he.
49
Now Grahame he was the first that died,
And then came Robin Bewick to see;
‘Arise, arise, O son!’ he said,
‘For I see thou’s won the victory.
50
‘Arise, arise, O son!’ he said,
‘For I see thou’s won the victory:’
‘[Father, co]uld ye not drunk your wine at home,
[And le]tten me and my brother be?
51
‘Nay, dig a grave both low and wide,
And in it us two pray bury;
But bury my bully Grahame on the sun-side,
For I’m sure he’s won the victory.’
52
Now we’ll leave talking of these two brethren,
In Carlisle town where they lie slain,
And talk of these two good old men,
Where they were making a pitiful moan.
53
With that bespoke now Robin Bewick:
‘O man, was I not much to blame?
I have lost one of the liveliest lads
That ever was bred unto my name.’
54
With that bespoke my good lord Grahame:
‘O man, I have lost the better block;
I have lost my comfort and my joy,
I have lost my key, I have lost my lock.
55
‘Had I gone through all Ladderdale,
And forty horse had set on me,
Had Christy Grahame been at my back,
So well as he woud guarded me.’
56
I have no more of my song to sing,
But two or three words to you I’ll name;
But ‘twill be talk’d in Carlisle town
That these two [old] men were all the blame.
* * * * *
#a.#
The Song of Bewick and Grahame: containing an account how the Lord
Grahame met with Sir Robert Bewick in the town of Carlisle, and,
going to the tavern, a dispute happened betwixt them which of
their sons was the better man; how Grahame rode away in a
passion, and, meeting with his son, persuaded him to go and
fight young Bewick, which he did accordingly; and how it prov’d
both their deaths.
Licensd and enterd according to order.
2^4. love, #b-g# _have_ live; #h#, like us.
11^4. thou. _Cf._ 31^4.
13^4. you can.
18^2. might he.
25^1, 36^1, 40^1, 42^1, 43^1, 49^1. Nay _for_ Now.
37^1. art in mind then. #b#, #c#, #e#, #f#. art then of my mind.
40^{2,4}. of _for_ on.
41^3. spear _for_ sword: so #b-f#, _but_ #g#, #k#, sword.
42^{1,2}, 50^{3,4}. _The top corner is torn off: cf._ #b-f#.
#b-f.#
A remarkable and memorable Song [#f#, Remarkable and memorable
History] of Sir Robert Bewick and the Laird Graham, giving an
account of Laird Graham’s meeting with Sir Robert Bewick in the
town of Carlisle, and, they going to a tavern, a dispute
happened betwixt them which of their sons was the best man. How
Graham rode home in a passion, and caused his son to fight young
Bewick, which proved their deaths.
1^1. #b#, #c#, #d#, #e#. he is. #f.# he has.
1^4. #b.# drink.
2^1. #d.# he _wanting_.
2^4. live best.
3^4. #b.# safe.
4^2. do go.
4^3. might have.
5^1. he is. 5^{3,4}. _Wanting_.
6^4. how he can.
7^1. he calld.
7^2. what there was to.