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Sir William's pilgrimage to the Highlands: a heroic ballad, in three cantos
A satirical and allegorical story of a knight and his squire who go on a pilgrimage to the Highlands in order to free them from the dread giant of Orthodoxy. The two heretical figures, clad in the armor of ‘heresy’ and Arian and Unitarian faith…
The Yule feast, with songs of the lass of Aberdeen, and The Forlorn shepherd
This is an interesting chapbook in that it contains songs within a larger ballad narrative describing the events, food, and music played at a Christmas celebration. The chapbook begins with a short little rhyme on the theme of Christmas, introducing…
Auld Ronald: a well-known local character, and other rhymes
A collection of four ballads, mostly humorous. The first is a satirical ballad about a local figure named Auld Ronald who appears to be well-known around Aberdeen. He is humorously portrayed as scantily clad, poor, and possibly a bit crazy, although…
The burning of Frendraught, a ballad, as sung in Aberdeenshire; and Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, a ballad, as commonly sung in the North Countrie
The chapbook contains two ballads. The first describes the burning of Frendraught house in 1630 after a boundary dispute led to bloodshed between the Crichtons and the Gordons. While the actual cause of the fire had never been proven, the poem…
A dream prophetic: or, Bacchus dethroned. A temperance poem by a Working Man
The chapbook begins with a “Publisher’s Preface” describing the evils intemperance and alcohol in this troubled time, and supporting the author in his desire for a society governed by temperance and the absence of drink. In the verses of the…
A brig to Torry
This song is a political action piece written to urge the population and politicians of Aberdeen to build a bridge to the district of Torry within the city following a ferry disaster which killed 32 people. Ferries and boats had previously been the…
