"The Dreadful Wind and Rain"
Analysis of A 400-Year-Old Murder Ballad - Page 4
Notes
(1) Minstrels
Minstrels performed songs that told stories of distant places and of existing or imaginary historical events. Although minstrels created their own tales, often they would memorize and embellish the works of others. Frequently they were retained by royalty and high society. As the courts became more sophisticated, minstrels were eventually replaced at court by the troubadours, and many became wandering minstrels, performing in the streets; a decline in their popularity began in the late 15th century.
In Anglo-Saxon England before the Norman Conquest, the professional poet was known as a scop ("shaper" or "maker"), who composed poems and sang them to the accompaniment of a harp. In a rank much beneath the scop were the gleemen, who had no settled abode, but roamed about from place to place, earning what they could from their performances. Late in the 13th century (1200AD), the term minstrel began to be used to designate a performer who amused his lord with music and song.
"By the 11th and 12th centuries (1,000AD and 1,100AD), medieval Fools fell into the general category of Minstrels or 'Little Servants. The term covered a whole range of entertainers besides jesters, including acrobats, musicians, and singers."
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(2) Medieval Knights and Knighthood
Knights in the Middle Ages were mounted soldiers who held land in exchange for military service.
Originally, the title of knight could only be obtained through military achievements, and some knights came from the lower classes of medieval society. However, knights would eventually become only male descendants of knighted men, while knightly families were regarded as nobles. Regardless, the title of knight could not be inherited, and each noble had to go through a lengthy process before becoming a knight.
The process of becoming a knight began in early childhood, typically around the age of 7 or 8 years, when a boy was sent to his lord's household to begin his training to become a knight. From the age of 7 to 14, the boy worked as a page, a type of waiter, and a personal servant to his elders. A page was also taught knightly virtues and behaviour, as well as battle tactics. When a page reached the age of 14, he or she became a squire, the knight's personal servant, and when old enough, he or she joined the knight in battle. Some squires were knighted for outstanding battlefield performances, but they were usually knighted by their lord when the latter considered the training to be completed, which was usually at the age of 21.
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(3) Child's Song Versions that mention Binnorie.
Version C
Name: 'The Cruel Sister'
Note: Scott's Minstrelsy, 1802, II 143. Compounded from B b
and a fragment of fourteen stanzas transcribed from the
recitation of an old woman by Miss Charlotte Brooke
1 THERE were two sisters sat in a bour;
Binnorie, 0 Binnorie
There came a knight to be their wooer.
By the bonny mill-dams of Binnorie
2 He courted the eldest with glove and ring,
But he loed the youngest aboon a' thing.
3 He courted the eldest with broach and knife,
But he loed the youngest aboon his life.
4 The eldest she was vexed sair,
And sore envied her sister fair.
5 The eldest said to the youngest ane,
'Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?'
6 She's taen her by the lilly hand,
And led her down to the river strand.
7 The youngest stude upon a stane,
The eldest came and pushed her in.
8 She took her by the middle sma,
And dashed her bonnie back to the jaw.
9 '0 sister, sister, reach your hand,
And ye shall be heir of half my land.'
10 '0 sister, I'll not reach my hand,
And I 'll be heir of all your land.
11 'Shame fa (for) the hand that I should take,
It 's twin'd (between) me and my world's make.'
12 '0 sister, reach me but your glove,
And sweet William shall be your love.'
13 'Sink on, nor hope for hand or glove,
And sweet William shall better be my love.
14 'Your cherry cheeks and your yellow hair
Garrd me gang maiden evermair.'
15 Sometimes she sunk, and sometimes she swam,
Until she came to the miller's dam.
16 '0 father, father, draw your dam,
There's either a mermaid or a milk-white swan.'
17 The miller hasted and drew his dam,
And there he found a drowned woman.
18 You could not see her yellow hair,
For gowd and pearls that were sae rare.
19 You could na see her middle sma,
Her gowden girdle was sae bra.
20 A famous harper passing by,
'The sweet pale face he chanced to spy.
21 And when he looked that ladye on,
He sighed and made a heavy moan.
22 He made a harp of her breast-bone,
Whose sounds would melt a heart of stone,
23 The strings he framed of her yellow hair,
Whose notes made sad the listening ear.
24 He brought it to her father's hall,
And there was the court assembled all
25 He laid this harp upon a stone,
And straight it began to play alone.
26 '0 yonder sits my father, the king,
And yonder sits my mother, the queen.
27 'And yonder stands my brother Hugh,
And by him my William, sweet and true.'
28 But the last tune that the harp playd then,
Was 'Woe to my sister, false Helen!'
Version D
Name: 'The Bonnie Milldams of Binnorie'
Note: Kinloch's MSS, ir, 40. Prom the recitation of Mrs Johnston,
a North-country lady.
1 THERE lived three sisters in a bouer,
Edinbruch, Edinbruch
There lived three sisters in a bouer,
Stirling for aye
There lived three sisters in a bouer,
The youngest was the sweetest flowr.
Bonnie St Johnston stands upon Tay
2 There cam a knicht to see them a',
And on the youngest his love did fa.
3 He brought the eldest ring and glove,
But the youngest was his ain true-love.
4 He brought the second sheath and knife,
But the youngest was to be his wife.
5 The eldest sister said to the youngest ane,
'Will ye go and see our father's ships come in?'
6 And as they walked by the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.
7 '0 sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye 'll be heir to a' my land.'
8 'Foul fa the hand that I wad take,
To twin me o my warld's make.'
9 '0 sister, sister, tak my glove,
And yese get Willie, my true-love.'
10 ' Sister, sister, I '11 na tak your glove,
For I'll get Willie, your true-love.'
11 Aye she swittert, and aye she swam,
Till she cam to yon bonnie mill-dam.
12 The miller's dochter cam out wi speed,
It was for water, to bake her bread.
13 '0 father, father, gae slack your dam;
There's in 't a lady or a milk-white swan.'
14 They could na see her coal-black eyes
For her yellow locks hang oure her brees.
15 They could na see her wed-made middle
For her braid gowden girdle.
16 And by there cam an auld blind fiddler,
And took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.
17 The first spring that the bonnie fiddle playd,
'Hang my cruel sister, Alison,' it said.
Version I
Name: 'Bonnie Milldams o Binnorie'
Note: Kinloch MSS, v, 425. From the recitation of M. Kinnear,
23d August, 1826.
1 THERE war twa sisters lived in a bouer,
Binnorie and Binnorie
There cam a squire to court them baith.
At the bonnie mill-streams o Binnorie
2 He courted the eldest with jewels and rings,
But he lovd the youngest the best of all things.
3 He courted the eldest with a penknife,
He lovd the youngest as dear as his life.
4 It fell ance upon a day
That these twa sisters hae gane astray.
5 It was for to meet their father's ships that had
* * * * *
6 As they walked up the linn,
The eldest dang the youngest in.
7 ' 0 sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye 'll hae Lud John and aw his land.'
8 With a silver wand she pushd her in,
* * * * *
9 '0 sister, sister, tak my glove,
And ye sail hae my am true love.'
10 The miller's dochter cam out wi speed.
It was for a water to bake her bread.
11 '0 father, father, gae slack your dam;
There 's either a white fish or a swan.'
12 Bye cam a blind fiddler that way,
And he took three tets o her bonnie yellow hair.
* * * * *
13 And the first spring that he playd,
It said, 'It was my sister threw me in.'
Version K
Name: 'Binnorie'
Note: Mr G. B. Kinlucli's papers, Kinloch MSS, II, 59. From
Mrs Lindores.
1 '0 SISTER, sister, gie me your hand,
Binnorie and Binnorie
And I'll give you half of my fallow-land,
By the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.'
* * * * *
2 The first time the bonnie fiddle played,
' Hang my sister, Alison,' it said,
'At the bonnie mill-dams of Binnorie.'
Version M
Name: 'Binorie, O an Binorie'
Note: Taken down from recitation at Old Deir, 1876, by Mrs.
A. F. Murison. MS., p. 79.
1 THERE lived twa sisters in yonder ha,
Bindrie 0 an Binorie
They hadna but ae lad atween them twa,
He 's the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
2 It feil oot upon a day,
The auldest ane to the youngest did say,
At the bonnie mill-dams o Binorie,
3 '0 sister, 0 sister, will ye go to the dams,
To hear the blackbird thrashin oer his songs?
4 '0 sister, 0 sister, will ye go to the dams?
To see oor father's fish-boats come safe to dry lan?
An the bonnie miller lad o Binonie.'
At the, etc.
5 They hadna been an oor at the damns, I the,' etc.
Till they heard the blackbird thrashin oer his tune,
At the, etc.
6 They hadna been an oor at the damns
Till they saw their father's fish-boats come safe
But they sawna the bonnie miller laddie.
7 They stood baith up upon a stane,
An the eldest ane dang the youncrest in,
At the, etc.
8 She swam up, an she swam doon,
An she swam back to her sister again,
I the, etc.
9 '0 sister, 0 sister, len me your han,
An yes be heir to my true love,
He's the bonnie miller lad o Binorie.
10 'It was not for that love at I dang you in,
But ye was fair and I was din,
And yes droon i the dams of Binorie
11 The miller's daughter she cam oot,
For water to wash her father's hans,
Frae the, etc.
12 '0 father, 0 father, ye will fish your dame,
An ye '11 get a white fish or a swan,
I the, etc.
13 They fished up and they fished doon,
But they got nothing but a droonet woman,
I the, etc.
14 Some o them kent by her skin sae fair,
But weel kent he by her bonnie yallow hair
She 's the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie.
15 Some o them kent by her goons o silk,
But wed kent he by her middle sae jimp,
She's the bonnie miller's lass o Binorie
16 Mony ane was at her oot-takin,
ut mony ane mair at her green grave makin,
At the bonny mill-dams o Binorie.
Version N
Name: 'Binorie'
Note: [Pinkerton's] Scottish Tragic Ballads, p. 72.
1 THERE were twa sisters livd in a bouir,
Binnorie, 0 Binnorie
Their father was a baron of pouir.
By the bonnie mildams of Binnorie
2 The youngest was meek, and fair as the may
Whau she springs in the east in die gowden day.
3 The eldest austerne as the winter cauld,
Ferce was her saul, and her seiming was bauld.
4 A gallant squire cam sweet Isabel to wood;
Her sister had naething to love I trow.
5 But filld was she wi dolour and ire,
To see that to her the comlie squire
6 Preferd the debonair Isabel:
Their hevin of lure of spyte was her hell.
7 Till ae em she to her sister can say,
'Sweit sister, cum let us wauk and play.
8 They wauked up, aud they wauked down,
Sweit sang the birdis in the vallie bun.
9 When they cam to the roaring bin,
She drave unweiting Isabel in.
10 '0 sister, sister, tak my hand,
And ye sall hae my silver fan.
11 ' 0 sister, sister, tak my middle,
And ye sall hae my gowden girdle.'
12 Sumtimes she sank, sumtimes she swam,
Till she cam to the miller's dam.
13 The miller s dochtor was out that ein,
And saw her rowing down the streim.
14 '0 father deir, in your mil-dam
There is either a lady or a milk-white swan!'
15 Twa days were gane, whan to her deir
Her wraith at deid of nicht cold appeir.
16 'My luve, my deir, how can ye sleip,
Whan your Isabel lyes in the deip!
17 'My deir, how can ye sleip bot pain
Whan she by her cruel sister is slain!'
18 Up raise he sune, in frichtfu mude:
'Bask ye, my meiny, and seik the flude.'
19 They socht her up and they socht her doun,
And spyd at last her glisterin gown
20 They raisd her wi richt meikle care;
Pale was her cheik and grein was her hair.
Mr. Jamieson's version of Binnorie
BINNORIE.
[The following is printed almost verbatim from Mr. Jamieson's version, which was taken down from the recitation of a lady in Fifeshire. The tale and ballad were popular in England before 1656. Pinkerton gives a version among his tragic ballads; and several parodies are well known, one of them is reprinted by Mr. Jamieson.]
There were twa sisters lived in a bower;
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
There cam a knight to be their wooer,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
He courted the eldest wi' glove and ring,
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
But he lo'ed the youngest abune a' thing,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
The eldest she was vexed sair,
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And sair envied her sister fair,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
The eldest said to the youngest ane,
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
"Will ye see our father's ships come in?"
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
She's ta'en her by the lily hand
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And led her down to the river strand,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
The youngest stood upon a stane:
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
The eldest cam and pushed her in,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
She took her by the middle sma;
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
And dashed her bonny back to the jaw,
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
"O sister, sister, reach out your hand,"
Binnorie, O Binnorie;
"And ye shall be heir o' half my land;"
By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Binnorie, O Binnorie; By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Binnorie, O Binnorie; By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Binnorie, O Binnorie; By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Binnorie, O Binnorie; By the bonnie mill-dams o' Binnorie.
Child's 21 versions of The Twa Sisters
(4) The House of Brionne
Here's more about the Brionne family from the www.geni.com website. I'm particularly interested in Gilbert de Brionne's son Baldwin FitzGilbert's three daughters listed below in bold type. I don't want to accuse any family living or dead of anything so I must admit that this possible connection is merely conjecture unless some solid evidence comes forth.
Baudouin FitzGilbert de Brionne (de Meules), Lord of Okehampton,
Sheriff of Devon Also Known As: "Baldwin"
Birthdate: circa 1022 (1018 - 1027)
Birthplace: Meules, Normandy, France
Death: February 1090 (age 63-72)
Father of:
Robert Clare (fitzBaldwin);
William FitzBaldwin;
Richard FitzBaldwin, Lord Of Okehampton;
Emme (Emma) de Brionne
Birthdate: estimated between 1036 and 1096 (circa 1066)
Birthplace: Brionne, Eure, Normandy, France
Death: August 24, 1142 (age 46 - 106), Oakhampton, Devonshire, England
Wife of William Avenal and Hugh de Waft
Note: With her father born no earlier than 1018, that would make him 18 years old if Emme was born in 1036. If Emme was born in 1096, it was 6 years after her father died, so not possible. With a death at the age of 106, the birthdate of 1036 seems to be early. Many researchers believe that Emme is one of Baudouin FitzGilbert's wives mistaken for his daughter in the records. Some of this information may relate to Adelise below.
Adelise (Adela, Adelicia, or Alice) FitzBaldwin;
Birthdate: circa 1066 (1062 - 1071) Birthplace: Meules, Normandy, France
Death: August 24, 1142 (age 71-80) Exeter, Devonshire, England
Note: This daughter of Baudouin FitzGilbert de Brionne is nearly identical to Emme (Emma) de Brionne who may have actually been one of Baudouin's wives. I think this daughter may be the real one of these two. Also, Alison, similar to Alice, is used twice in Child's list as the older sister.
Mathilde FitzBaldwin
Birthdate: estimated between 1047 and 1055 (circa 1051)
Death: Unknown
Wife of (Lord Sir) William fitzWimund d'Avranches of Okehampton
(born 1037 Avranches, Normandy died 1087 Okehampton, Devon) Married 1066
Note: Mathilde, the half sister, was no older than 19 when she married William in 1066 who was 29 years old, the age of a well established knight. Based on the circa ages of the sisters, she is the oldest.
Daughter (Name Unknown) Fitzbaldwin
Birthdate: circa 1062
Birthplace: Meules, Normandy, France
Death: Unknown
Note: I found no other record of this daughter and have no idea why the birthdate is circa 1062. It's possible she died shortly after birth. If this sister was a few years younger than Mathilde, she whould have been born around 1050. If born on the circa date of 1062 she would have been 4 years old when William and Mathilde were married.
So there were three sisters in this family. A sister with no name, an uncertain birth date and no place or date of death who might be the younger sister. Mathilde who married lord Sir William the year of the Norman Conquest. She could be the older sister who was courted by a knight. Adelise (or Emme), a third sister, who may have married a man named Hugh, making him the unnamed sister's brother-in-law. These details that line up with the ballad, including the similarity of the names Brionne and Binnorie, form the basis of my conclusions of the place, time and family involved in this story.
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