Northumbrian Minstrelsy
# Northumbrian Minstrelsy

Northumbrian Minstrelsy is a book of 18th and 19th century North East of England folk songs and pipe music, intended to be a lasting historical record. The book was edited by John Stokoe and the Rev John Collingwood Bruce LL.D., F.S.A., and published by and on behalf of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1882. It was reprinted in 1965 by Folklore Associates, Hatboro, Pennsyslvania, with a foreword by A. L. Lloyd.

## Details

Northumbrian Minstrelsy was written with the intention of providing a historical record of some of the North Country songs and music. "A book for the collection and preservation of the old music and poetry of the North of England" was what Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland had suggested.

The book is divided into two sections; the first giving the lyrics (with some music) of local, now historical songs, and the second part giving the music to many Northumbrian smallpipe tunes with very few lyrics. The book was edited by John Stokoe and the Rev John Collingwood Bruce, with the help of committee members, and published by and behalf, of the Ancient Melodies Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1882.

## Background

The project first started in 1855 after Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland, patron of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle upon Tyne expressed a desire that the Society should turn its attention to the collection and preservation of the old music and poetry of the North East of England. A committee was appointed, consisting of Robert White, John Clerevaulx Fenwick, and William Kell (1797–1862); with Bruce, a member of the society, acting in an ex-officio role.

Robert White, was a farmer's son from Kirk Yetholm, Northumberland, worked all his life in a brass foundry in Newcastle. He was an avid researcher into Northumberland legends, folk lore and folk songs, writing regularly for local newspapers on local matters. John Clerevaulx Fenwick was the son of a lay-preacher, a lawyer by profession, a lover of pipe-music and author of a small (18-page) book "A few remarks upon bagpipes and pipe music". William Kell was the first Town Clerk of Gateshead, elected 1836 to 1854, and also a pipe-music lover, and collector of music relating to the Northumbrian smallpipes. Bruce was a pillar of society: a headmaster, a Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, a founder of the Y.M.C.A., a workhouse guardian, a respected antiquary, etc., etc., and consequently gave much credence to the committee and its work. He was possibly an influence in the omission of slightly bawdy ballads from the final works.

In 1857, after two years there was still no book, and the delays caused some embarrassment to members of the committee. The reasons given in the committee’s apologies included the fact that they did not want to credit any of the work as "Northumbrian" if it were not. As time went on, Kell (1862) and White (1870) died, and Fenwick moved his law practice to London. In the meantime, John Stokoe had been appointed to the Committee. He had for many years been transcribing and copying out, by hand, many songs, lyrics and/or music, and had collected a large number.

The committee now had numerous other sources to choose from, including Joseph Ritson's Bishopric Garland and Northumberland Garland, John Bell's Rhymes of Northern Bards and Joseph Crawhall II's Tunes for the Northumbrian small Pipes. These then, together with the collected papers of its committee members, were the main sources of Northumbrian Minstrelsy, but works from other similar compilations were considered and used. There appears to have been relatively little collecting in the field.

When John Stokoe joined the team on the committee, the work moved forward. The various sources and manuscripts were sifted, collated and ordered. A final selection was made, enabling publication too occur finally in 1882.

## The publication

Northumbrian Minstrelsy is a book of Border ballads, Northumbrian folk songs and Northumbrian pipe music consisting of over 200 pages. It contains 132 song lyrics and over 100 pieces of music, and was published in 1882. It is divided into the two sections; the first song lyrics, the second pipe music where only a handful of pieces have lyrics. There is little in the way of biographies of the writers of the music or lyrics, but some information on the histories of the events and a considerable amount on the history of the music.

The selection however has been made from the point of musical and prose quality rather than the popularity of the (sometimes slightly coarse) songs of the period. In addition several of the songs have been "modified" from the original versions for inclusion in this book.

## Contents

Note – The page numbers refer to those in the 1965 reprinted edition, and may differ from the original 100+ year old edition.

| Page | Title | Songwriter | Tune | Comments | Notes | Ref |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| v | Foreword by A L Lloyd | | | | | |
| iii | copy of cover | | | | | |
| iii | Introduction | | | | | |
| iii | comment on | Thomas Doubleday | | | | |
| iv | comment on | | | the bag of the bagpipes | | |
| v | comment on | | | the reed of the bagpipes | | |
| iv | comment on | | | the drone | | |
| xii | The two Sections | | | | | |
| 1 | PART I – BALLADS & SONGS | | | | | |
| 1 | Chevy Chase – (ancient ballad of) | | | history of and comments on | | |
| 1 | Chevy Chase – (ancient ballad of) | | | | | |
| 3 | Chevy Chase – (ancient ballad of) The first Fit | | Chevy Chase | | | |
| 10 | Chevy Chase – (modern ballad of) | may be Richard Sheale | Chevy Chase | according to Mr Chappell | | |
| 10 | a mention of | William Chappell | | | | |
| 17 | Battle of Otterburn – (The) | | Chevy Chase | a variation on Chevy Chase – about a battle fought 9 August 1388 | | |
| 25 | Bewick and the Graeme, the | Transcribed by Sir Walter Scott | | taken from the "Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border" possibly 16th century | | |
| 29 | comment on | | | "The Bewick and the Graeme" and chivalry | | |
| 31 | Brave Earl Brand and the King of England's Daughter – (The) | | | | | |
| 33 | comment on | | | The close relationship between the last song and many others | | |
| 34 | Hughie the Graeme | Graeme Clan | | | | |
| 35 | short bio | Joseph Ritson | | | | |
| 36 | short bio | Graeme Clan | | | | |
| 37 | Jock o' the Syde | | | first published 1784 in the Hawick Museum, a provincial miscellany, by John Elliott, Esq., of Reidheugh | | |
| 41 | short bio | Jock o' the Syde | | maybe a nephew of the Laird of Mangerton, | | |
| 42 | Death of Parcy Reed – (The) | | | | | |
| 46 | short bio | Parcy Reed | | | | |
| 48 | Outlandish Knight – (The) | | | | | |
| 50 | short bio | Outlanders | | someone from the Outlands or Debatable Lands | | |
| 51 | Fair Flower of Northumberland – (The) | Thomas Deloney or T.D. | | The English version – there is a Scottish version by Kinlock | | |
| 55 | short bio | Thomas Deloney or T.D. | | alias the "ballading silk weaver" who died c1600 | | |
| 55 | short bio | Kinlock, | | A Scottish version of "Fair Flower of Northumberland" | | |
| 56 | Laidley Worm (The) (of Spindleston Heugh) | (this version by Robert Lamb, Vicar of Norham) | from an old MSS | | | |
| 60 | short bio | Reverend Robert Lambe | | Vicar of Norham | | |
| 60 | comment on | | | The Worm O Spindleston Heugh | | |
| 61 | Binnorie, or, the Cruel Sister, | | | first published as broadsheet by Mr. Rimbault c 1656. | | |
| 63 | a mention of | Mr. Rimbault printer | | | | |
| 63 | comment on | | | history of Binnorie | | |
| 64 | Lord Beichan | | | | | |
| 69 | comment on | | | versions of "Lord Beichan" | | |
| 71 | Derwentwater's Farewell | | | | | |
| 72 | short bio | James Radclyffe, 3rd Earl of Derwentwater | | | | |
| 73 | comment on | | | Derwentwater's Farewell | | |
| 74 | Derwentwater | | | | | |
| 75 | comment on | | | Derwentwater | | |
| 76 | Lay the Bent to the Bonny Broom | | | | | |
| 78 | comment on | | | simple melodies | | |
| 79 | Whittingham Fair | | | | | |
| 81 | Blow the Winds, I-ho | | | | | |
| 82 | Keach I' the Creel – (The) | | | | | |
| 84 | O I hae seen the Roses blaw | | | | | |
| 86 | O the Oak and the Ash and the Bonny Ivy Tree | | Goddesses * | * The tune is in Sir James Hawkins' "The Dancing Muster," 1650, under this title | | |
| 87 | comment on | | | history of song "Oak Ash and Bonny Ivy | | |
| 88 | Bonny at Morn | | | | | |
| 89 | Water of Tyne (The) | | | | | |
| 90 | Willow Tree or Rue ard Thyme – (The) | attributed to Mrs Francis Habergham, of Habergham, Lancashire (died 1703) | | according to William Chappell | | |
| 90 | Rue ard Thyme – (The) | attributed to Mrs Francis Habergham, of Habergham, Lancashire (died 1703) | | Alternative title of "Willow Tree" | | |
| 91 | short bio | William Chappell | | | | |
| 91 | comment on | | | history of "The Willow Tree" | | |
| 92 | Sair Fail'd, Hinney | | | Actually titled "Sair Fyel'd, Hinny" in the book | | |
| 93 | I Drew my Ship into a Harbour | | | | | |
| 94 | Miller and His Sons – (The) | | | | | |
| 95 | comment on | | | The Miller in poetry and satire | | |
| 96 | Shoemaker – (The) | | | | | |
| 97 | My Love is Newly Listed | | | no lyrics – music only – first published when Thomas Doubleday placed it in "Blackwood Magazine" 1821 | | |
| 97 | a mention of | Thomas Doubleday | | | | |
| 97 | comment on | | | history of My Love is newly listed | | |
| 98 | Broom, Green Broom | | | | | |
| 100 | O the Bonny Fisher Lad | | | | | |
| 102 | Hexhamshire Lass – (The) | | | | | |
| 104 | Mode o' Wooing – (The) | | | | | |
| 107 | Northumberland Bagpipes – (The) | | | | | |
| 108 | a mention of | William Chappell | | | | |
| 108 | comment on | | | pipes | | |
| 109 | Durham Old Women | | | | | |
| 110 | Aboot the Bush, Willy | | | | | |
| 111 | Christmas Day in the Morning | Traditional Carol | | | | |
| 112 | Elsie Marley | Elsie Marley | to its own tune | An Alewife at Pictree, near Chester-le-Street | | |
| 113 | short bio | Elsie (or Alice) Marley | | first published by Joseph Ritson in "Bishopric Garland" 1784 | | |
| 113 | comment on | | | short history on "Elsie Marley" | | |
| 115 | Bobby Shaftoe | Traditional | | | | |
| 116 | Up the Raw | | | | | |
| 117 | Dol Li A | | | | | |
| 118 | Broom Buzzems – (or Buy Broom Busoms) | | | | | |
| 119 | short bio | William Purvis | | | | |
| 120 | A You A, Hinny Burd | | | named as "A U Hinny Burd" in this book | | |
| 121 | Ca' Hawkie through the watter | | | The title given is "Water" in this book | | |
| 122 | Anti-Gallican Privateer (The) | | | | | |
| 123 | comment on | | | The ship, first to sail fitted and manned from Newcastle | | |
| 124 | Adam Buckham, O! | | | | | |
| 125 | Captain Bover | | | | | |
| 125 | short bio | Thomas Doubleday | | | | |
| 125 | short bio | Captain Bover | | | | |
| 126 | Here's the Tender coming | | | | | |
| 127 | Liberty for the Sailors | John Stobbs | | a Shields song for the days of the Press-gang | Tune-Br | |
| 128 | Sailors are a' at the Bar (The) | | | Actually titled "The Sailors are all at the Bar" in book | | |
| 128 | a mention of | John Bell | | | | |
| 128 | Lad wi' the Trousers on | | | | | |
| 129 | Twelve Days of Christmas – (The) | | | | | |
| 129 | comment on | | | history of "Twelve Days of Christmas" | | |
| 132 | Ma' Canny Hinny | | | Actually titled "Maw Canny Hinny" in this book | | |
| 134 | Robin Spraggon's Auld Grey Mare | | | transcribed by Mr Fairless | | |
| 135 | comment on | | | days gone by | | |
| 136 | short bio | Mr. Fairless of Hexham | | | | |
| 137 | Sword Dancers' Song – (The) | | | no lyrics – music only | | |
| 137 | Kitty Bo-bo, | | | no lyrics – music only | | |
| 138 | (Weel May) The Keel Row | Traditional | | | | |
| 139 | comment on | | | history of "The Keel Row" | | |
| 140 | Northern Minstrel's Budget – (The) | Henry Robson | | | | |
| 143 | short bio | Henry Robson | | | | |
| 144 | blank | | | | | |
| 145 | Part II – Small pipe tunes | | | | | |
| | the following tunes are music only except where a comment to the contrary is given. | the following tunes are music only except where a comment to the contrary is given. | the following tunes are music only except where a comment to the contrary is given. | the following tunes are music only except where a comment to the contrary is given. | the following tunes are music only except where a comment to the contrary is given. | the following tunes are music only except where a comment to the contrary is given. |
| 145 | Chevy Chase – (pipe tune) | | Chevy Chase | | | |
| 145 | Coquetside | | Coquetside | | | |
| 146 | Wylam Away | | Wylam Away | referred to as "Gingling Geordie" in an old ms of 1694 | | |
| 146 | Cockle Geordie | | Cockle Geordie | | | |
| 147 | I saw My Love passing by Me | | I saw My Love passing by Me | two lines of lyrics discovered | | |
| 147 | Jockey lay up in the Hay Loft | | Jockey lay up in the Hay Loft | | | |
| 148 | Pelton Lonnin' | | Pelton Lonnin' | two verses also located, Title actually given as "Felton" but verses say "Pelton" | | |
| 148 | Kye's Come Home (The) | | Pelton Lonnin' | two verses also located | | |
| 148 | a mention of | Cuthbert Sharp | | given as "Pelton Lonin" in "Bishoprick Garland" | | |
| 149 | Stay a Wee Bit, Bonnie Lad | | Stay a Wee Bit, Bonnie Lad | | | |
| 149 | Broken-legged Chicken – (The) | | The Broken-legged Chicken | | | |
| 150 | Bonny Pit Laddie – (The) | | Bonny Pit Laddie | two verses given | | |
| 150 | Bonny Keel Laddie – (The) | | Bonny Pit Laddie | three verses given | | |
| 151 | Dorrington Lads | | Dorrington Lads | | | |
| 151 | Blackett o' Wylam | | Blacket o' Wylam | erroneously spelt "Blacket" in this book | | |
| 152 | Peacock followed the hen (The) | William Midford | The Peacock followed the Hen | two verses given | Tune-Cr | |
| 152 | history of tune | | | "The Peacock followed the Hen" | | |
| 152 | Meggy's Foot | | Meggy's Foot | | | |
| 154 | Because he was a Bonny Lad | | Because he was a Bonny Lad | one chorus given | | |
| 154 | Fair Maid of Whickham – (The) | | Fair Maid of Whickham – (The) | | | |
| 155 | My Dearie Sits Ower Late Up – or My Bonnie Bay Mare and I | | My Dearie Sits Ower Late Up | four verses given | | |
| 155 | history of tune | | | "My Dearie Sits Ower Late Up" | | |
| 156 | Newburn Lads | | Newburn Lads | also known as "The Braw Lads o' Jethart" | | |
| 156 | a mention of | Thomas Doubleday | | | | |
| 156 | Cut and Dry Dolly | | Cut and Dry Dolly | | | |
| 157 | I'll have Her in Spite of Her Minnie | | I'll have Her in Spite of Her Minnie | | | |
| 157 | Lads of AInwick – (The) | | The Lads of AInwick | | | |
| 158 | Sir John Fenwick's the Flower amang them | | Sir John Fenwick's the Flower amang them | "Sir John Fenwick's the Flower amang them" | | |
| 158 | history of tune | | | | | |
| 159 | Sir John Fenwick's the Flower amang them (newer lyrics) | | Sir John Fenwick's the Flower amang them | one chorus given | | |
| 159 | Cuddie Clauder | | Cuddie Clauder | | | |
| 160 | All the Night I lay awake | | All the Night I lay awake | | | |
| 160 | Ail Hands upon Deck | | Ail Hands upon Deck | | | |
| 161 | Noble Squire Dacre | | Noble Squire Dacre | | | |
| 161 | short bio | The Dacre Family | | | | |
| 162 | Go to Berwick, Johnnie | | Go to Berwick, Johnnie | | | |
| 162 | Parks o' Yester – (The) | | Parks o' Yester – (The) | | | |
| 163 | Wedding o' Blyth – (The) – or Blue's gaen oot o' the Fashion | | Wedding o' Blyth | | | |
| 163 | Blue's gaen oot o' the Fashion | | Wedding o' Blyth | Alternative title of "The Wedding o' Blyth" | | |
| 163 | a mention of | Thomas Doubleday | | transcribed the tune "Wedding o' Blyth" with one verse | | |
| 163 | Lousy Cutter – (The) | | Wedding o' Blyth | two verses given | | |
| 164 | Black Cock of Whickham – (The) | | The Black Cock of Whickham | | | |
| 164 | Coffee and Tea – or Jamie Allen's Fancy | | Coffee and Tea | | | |
| 164 | Jamie Allen's Fancy | | | Alternative title of "Coffee and Tea" | | |
| 164 | Jamie Allen's Fancy | | Coffee and Tea | alternative name vof "Coffee and Tea" | | |
| 165 | Keelman Ower Land – (The) | | The Keelman Ower Land | | | |
| 165 | Small Coals an' Little Money | | Small Coals an' Little Money | | | |
| 166 | Shew's the Way to Wallington | | Shew's the Way to Wallington | | | |
| 166 | Shew's the Way to Wallington | Mr Anderson, a miller at Wallington | Shew's the Way to Wallington | 5 verses given | | |
| 167 | short bio | Mr Anderson, a miller at Wallington | | | | |
| 167 | Jockey stays lang at the Fair | | Jockey stays lang at the Fair | | | |
| 168 | Stagshaw Bank Fair | | Stagshaw Bank Fair | | | |
| 168 | We'll all away to Sunniside | | We'll all away to Sunniside | | | |
| 169 | Miller's Wife o' Blaydon – (The) | | The Miller's Wife o' Blaydon | three verses given | | |
| 170 | Holey Halfpenny – (The) | | The Holey Halfpenny | | | |
| 170 | Hoop Her and Gird Her | | Hoop Her and Gird Her | | | |
| 171 | Fenwick o' Bywell | | Fenwick o' Bywell | also known as "Newmarket Races" and "Galloping ower the Cow Hill" and similar to Irish air "Garryowen" | | |
| 171 | history of tune | | | Fenwick o' Bywell | | |
| 172 | Drucken Moll Knox | | Drucken Moll Knox | | | |
| 172 | Lass and the Money is all my own – (The) | | The Lass and the Money is all my own | | | |
| 173 | Canny Hobbie Elliot | | | or Canny Hobby Elliott | | |
| 173 | comment on | Thomas Doubleday | | | | |
| 173 | comment on | John Bell | | named as "Hobby Elliott" | | |
| 173 | Peacock's March | John Peacock | Peacock's March | | | |
| 174 | Peacock's Tune | John Peacock | Peacock's Tune | | | |
| 174 | short bio | John Peacock | | | | |
| 175 | Peacock's Fancy | John Peacock | Peacock's Fancy | | | |
| 175 | Footie | John Peacock | Peacock's Fancy | a mention only | | |
| 175 | Pipers' Maggot or Fancy | | Pipers' Maggot or Fancy | | | |
| 176 | Green Brechans o' Branton | | Green Brechans o' Branton | | | |
| 176 | Jackey Layton | | Jackey Layton | | | |
| 177 | Till the Tide comes in | | Till the Tide comes in | | | |
| 177 | short bio | Cuthbert Sharp | | | | |
| 177 | Till the Tide comes in | Henry Robson | Till the Tide comes in | | | |
| 177 | Lamshaw's Fancy | | Lamshaw's Fancy | | | |
| 178 | Morpeth Lasses | | Morpeth Lasses | | | |
| 178 | Major – (The) | | The Major | | | |
| 179 | Andrew Carr | | Andrew Carr | two verses given | | |
| 179 | Follow Her over the Border | | Follow Her over the Border | | | |
| 180 | Little Fishie | | Little Fishie | | | |
| 180 | Leazes Hopping | | Leazes Hopping | | | |
| 181 | Cooper o' Stannerton Heugh – (The) | | The Cooper o' Stannerton Heugh | | | |
| 181 | Mile to Ride – (A) | | A Mile to Ride | also known as Stannerton (or Stamfordham) Hopping, Stanhope, Weardale and The Fleet's a coming | | |
| 181 | Stannerton (or Stamfordham) Hopping | | A Mile to Ride | alternative name of "A Mile to Ride" | | |
| 181 | Stanhope | | A Mile to Ride | alternative name of "A Mile to Ride" | | |
| 181 | Weardale | | A Mile to Ride | alternative name of "A Mile to Ride" | | |
| 181 | Fleet's a coming – (The) | | A Mile to Ride | alternative name of "A Mile to Ride" | | |
| 182 | Sandhill Corner | | Sandhill Corner | | | |
| 182 | Lang stay'd away | | Lang stay'd away | | | |
| 183 | Blaw the Wind southerly | | Blaw the Wind southerly | one verse given – usually spelt as "Blow the Wind Southerly" | | |
| 183 | comment on | Cuthbert Sharp | | | | |
| 183 | history of tune | | | Blaw the Wind southerly | | |
| 183 | Cuckold come out o' the Amrey | | Cuckold come out o' the Amrey | | | |
| 184 | Ower the Border | | Ower the Border | | | |
| 184 | Sunderland Lasses | | Sunderland Lasses | | | |
| 185 | New Highland Laddie | | New Highland Laddie | | | |
| 186 | Little wot ye wha's coming | | Little wot ye wha's coming | | | |
| 186 | history of tune | | | | | |
| 186 | Little wot ye wha's coming | | Little wot ye wha's coming | a mention of Scottish version listing clans | | |
| 186 | Little wot ye wha's coming | | Little wot ye wha's coming | a mention of English version with two lines preserved | | |
| 187 | Fairly shot of Her | | | | | |
| 188 | Black and the Grey – (The) | | Black and the Grey – (The) | | | |
| 189 | Rantin' Roarin' Willie – or Mitford Galloway – (The) | | Rantin' Roarin' Willie – or Mitford Galloway – (The) | | | |
| 189 | Mitford Galloway (The) | | | alternative name of "Rantin' Roarin' Willie" | | |
| 189 | history of tune | | | | | |
| 189 | Mitford Galloway (The) | Thomas Whittle | Rantin' Roarin' Willie – or Mitford Galloway – (The) | | | |
| 189 | short bio | Thomas Whittle | | | | |
| 190 | Hen's March – (The) | | | | | |
| 191 | Blanchland Races | | | | | |
| 191 | FINIS | | | | | |
| 193 | Index | | | | | |
