Creator

Maggie Rae Lunam

Recipient

John Muir

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Transcription

GILDEROY Published by Percy in the Reliques (I,884) as ΓÇ£from a written copy, that seems to have received some modern corrections.ΓÇ¥ He states that there is a copy in ThompsonΓÇÖs Orpheus Caledonius (1788), ΓÇ£which though corrupt and interpolated, contains some lines that appear to be of genuine antiquity; in these he [Gilderoy] is represented as contemporary with Mary Queen of Scots.ΓÇ¥ In the edition of PercyΓÇÖs Reliques, edited by R. A. Willmott (1857), the introduction to this song is as follows: ΓÇ£Gilderoy, the Robin Hood of Scottish minstrelsy, was a noted robber who infested the Highland of Perthshire with his gang, of whom seven, being captured by the Stewarts of Athel, were executed, February, 1688. In revenge, Gilderoy burned several houses belonging to the Stewarts; but the offer of a large reward (L1000) for his apprehension caused him to be pursued from place to place; and at length, with five of his companions, he suffered for his crimes at Gallowslee, between Leith and Edinburgh, July, 1688.ΓÇ¥ Note from Old English Ballads and Folk Songs by William Dallam Armes Macmillan, 1904. Also text of first three stanzas, as follows: Gilderoy was a bonnie boy Had roses tull his shoon His stockings were of silken soy WiΓÇÖ garters hanging doun. It was, I ween, a comely sight To see so trim a boy. He was my jo and heartΓÇÖs delight My handsome Gilderoy. O sike twa charming een he had A breath as sweet as rose; He never ware a Highland plaid But costly silken clothes. He gained the luve of ladies gay. Nane eΓÇÖer tull him was coy. Ah! wae is me! I mourn the day For my dear Gilderoy. My Gilderoy and I were born Baith in one toun together; We scant were seven years, before We ΓÇÿgan to luve each other; Our daddies and our mammies, they Were filled wiΓÇÖ mickle joy To think upon the bridal day, ΓÇÿTwixt me and Gilderoy.

Location

[place unknown]

Date Original

1895 Sep

Source

Original letter dimensions: 21 x 27 cm.

Resource Identifier

MSS 048 John Muir Papers

File Identifier

muir08_1204-ad-1

Copyright Statement

Some letters written to John Muir may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Owning Institution

University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.

Page Number

1895 September Maggie Rae Lunam to jm p 3

Keywords

John Muir, correspondence, letters, author, writing, naturalist, California, correspondent, mail, message, post, exchange of letters, missive, notes, epistle

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