Edom o Gordon or Captain Car (Child #178, Roud #80) is a traditional Scottish ballad that exists in several versions. The ballad recounts the gruesome events of Gordon's (or, in some versions, Car's) burning down of his enemy's castle that killed the lady of the house, her children and most of the servants.[1]
Edom o Gordon (or Captain Car) and his men need shelter from the cold weather of Martinmas and decide to seek it at the house of the Rodes. When the lady of the castle sees the troops arriving, she is disappointed that they are not those of her returning husband, but his enemy's. She climbs to the top of the tower and tries to negotiate with Gordon (or Car), but he demands that she open up the castle and, worse still, sleep with him. After she refuses, he vows to burn down the building with her three children still inside. To achieve this, he offers one of the servants, Jock, a fee for his help. He agrees and the fire is started. Attempting to save the youngest daughter, the lady throws some sheets down so that the besiegers might catch the baby but, instead, when she is thrown from the blaze, Gordon (or Car) impales her on the end of his spear.
While these grisly events are unfolding, the lord of the manor arrives and rushes over to the castle to save his wife and children but he is too late – they are all dead. He sets his own troops to battle those of his enemy and, from the ensuing battle, only five of Gordon's (or Car's) original fifty men return home.
Commentaryedit
The first printing of "Edom o Gordon" was in 1755 by Robert and Andrew Foulis.[2] The story is thought to document a real historical event of 1571 as told in The Diurnall of Occurents (1755), although some of the details are speculative. Edom o Gordon is usually identified as Adam Gordon of Auchindoun, supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, Captain Car as Captain Kerr, one of his lieutenants, and the lady of the castle as Margaret Forbes (née Campbell) of the Forbes clan (supporters of James VI and the Gordon clan's arch-enemies). The castle is thought not to be Rhodes Castle but the House of Towie (Toway) at Corgarff.[3]
^. Archived from the original on 2007-05-17. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
^. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-04-22.
April 30, 2024
edom, gordon, captain, child, roud, traditional, scottish, ballad, that, exists, several, versions, ballad, recounts, gruesome, events, gordon, some, versions, burning, down, enemy, castle, that, killed, lady, house, children, most, servants, contents, synopsi. Edom o Gordon or Captain Car Child 178 Roud 80 is a traditional Scottish ballad that exists in several versions The ballad recounts the gruesome events of Gordon s or in some versions Car s burning down of his enemy s castle that killed the lady of the house her children and most of the servants 1 Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Commentary 3 See also 4 Recordings 5 ReferencesSynopsis editEdom o Gordon or Captain Car and his men need shelter from the cold weather of Martinmas and decide to seek it at the house of the Rodes When the lady of the castle sees the troops arriving she is disappointed that they are not those of her returning husband but his enemy s She climbs to the top of the tower and tries to negotiate with Gordon or Car but he demands that she open up the castle and worse still sleep with him After she refuses he vows to burn down the building with her three children still inside To achieve this he offers one of the servants Jock a fee for his help He agrees and the fire is started Attempting to save the youngest daughter the lady throws some sheets down so that the besiegers might catch the baby but instead when she is thrown from the blaze Gordon or Car impales her on the end of his spear While these grisly events are unfolding the lord of the manor arrives and rushes over to the castle to save his wife and children but he is too late they are all dead He sets his own troops to battle those of his enemy and from the ensuing battle only five of Gordon s or Car s original fifty men return home Commentary editThe first printing of Edom o Gordon was in 1755 by Robert and Andrew Foulis 2 The story is thought to document a real historical event of 1571 as told in The Diurnall of Occurents 1755 although some of the details are speculative Edom o Gordon is usually identified as Adam Gordon of Auchindoun supporter of Mary Queen of Scots Captain Car as Captain Kerr one of his lieutenants and the lady of the castle as Margaret Forbes nee Campbell of the Forbes clan supporters of James VI and the Gordon clan s arch enemies The castle is thought not to be Rhodes Castle but the House of Towie Toway at Corgarff 3 See also editWillie MacIntosh or The Burning of Auchindoun Clan Forbes Clan Gordon Corgarff Castle Lord Saltoun and Auchanachie or Auchanachie Gordon Poetry of Scotland Towie CastleRecordings editMalinky recorded Edom o Gordon on their 2005 album The Unseen Hours References edit Captain Car or Edom o Gordon A Bundle Of Ballads by Henry Morley Archived from the original on 2007 05 17 Retrieved 2008 04 22 Corryhoul Archived from the original on 2008 05 10 Retrieved 2008 04 22 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edom o Gordon amp oldid 1210203292, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
