James MacPherson (3)
I was relating the story of James MacPherson, the famous freebooter.
The day of his hanging came in Banff.
A messenger was on the way to Banff on horseback. He had a reprieve
from a higher court in Aberdeen.
The sheriff ordered the clock in the middle of Banff to be put forward
a quarter of an hour. Thus, the time of the hanging arrived before the
messenger reached the middle of the town. Many people were horrified
about it.
While he was in prison, James created a song. He sang it, playing the
fiddle at the same time, before going on the gibbet. Here is one
version of it.
Fareweel ye dungeons dark and strang, fareweel, fareweel tae ye,
MacPherson’s time will nae be lang on yonder gallows tree
Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, sae dauntinly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced it aroon below the gallows tree
It was by a woman’s treacherous hand I was condemned tae dee
Aboon a ledge at a window she sat, a blanket she threw ow’r me
There’s some come here tae see me hang, and some tae buy my fiddle
But before that I wid part wi’ her I'd brak her through the middle
He took the fiddle intae baith o his hands and he brak it ower a stane
Sayin, nay ither hand shall play on thee when I am dead and gane
The reprieve was comin’ ow’r the Brig o Banff tae set MacPherson free,
But they pit the clock a quarter afore, and they hanged him frae the
tree.
In the song, James broke the fiddle on a stone. But some people
reported that he asked if anyone would take it – on condition that they
play the same tune on it at his wake. Nobody was willing to take the
fiddle because many of James’s enemies were present. So James broke the
fiddle over his knee. He shouted that nobody else would play it. And he
went on the gibbet.
One of James’s relatives took the broken fiddle back to Badenoch. It’s now
in the Clan MacPherson Museum in Newtonmore.
Seumas Mac a’ Phearsain (3)
Bha mi ag innse eachdraidh Sheumais Mhic a’ Phearsain, an ceatharnach
ainmeil. Thàinig latha a chrochaidh ann am Banbh.
Bha teachdaire air an rathad a Bhanbh air muin-eich. Bha stad-breith aige
bho chùirt nas àirde ann an Obar Dheathain.
Dh’òrdaich an siorram an cloc ann am meadhan Bhanbh a chur air adhart
cairteal na h-uarach. Mar sin, thàinig uair a’ chrochaidh mus do ràinig an
teachdaire meadhan a’ bhaile. Bha mòran daoine air an tàmailteachadh mu
dheidhinn.
Fhad ʼs a bha e sa phrìosan, chruthaich Seumas òran. Ghabh e e, agus e a’
seinn na fìdhle aig an aon àm mus deach e air a’ chroich. Seo aon dreach
dheth:
Fareweel ye dungeons dark and strang, fareweel, fareweel tae ye,
MacPherson’s time will nae be lang on yonder gallows tree
Sae rantinly, sae wantonly, sae dauntinly gaed he
He played a tune and he danced it aroon below the gallows tree
It was by a woman’s treacherous hand I was condemned tae dee
Aboon a ledge at a window she sat, a blanket she threw ow’r me
There’s some come here tae see me hang, and some tae buy my fiddle
But before that I wid part wi’ her I'd brak her through the middle
He took the fiddle intae baith o his hands and he brak it ower a stane
Sayin, nay ither hand shall play on thee when I am dead and gane
The reprieve was comin’ ow’r the Brig o Banff tae set MacPherson free,
But they pit the clock a quarter afore, and they hanged him frae the
tree.
Anns an òran, bhris Seumas fhidheall air clach. Ach dh’aithris cuid gun do
dh’fhaighnich e an gabhadh duine i – air a’ chùmhnant ʼs gum biodh iad a’
cluich an aon phuirt oirre aig taigh-aire dha. Cha robh duine deònach an
fhidheall a ghabhail oir bha tòrr nàimhdean aig Seumas an làthair. Mar sin,
bhris Seumas an fhidheall thairis air a ghlùin. Dh’èigh e nach cluicheadh
duine eile i. Agus chaidh e air a’ chroich.
Thug fear de chàirdean Sheumais an fhidheall bhriste air ais a Bhàideanach.
Tha i a-nise ann an Taigh-tasgaidh Clann Mhic a’ Phearsain ann am Baile Ùr
an t-Slèibh.
