[Annotations: 5.2: 'bully,' = billie, brother. See page 75. 24.2: 'belive,' soon. 26.2: 'farleys,' wonders, novelties. 48.1: 'moudie-hill,' mole-hill.]
+The Text+ is from Motherwell's _Minstrelsy_. He received the ballad from Charles Kirkpatrick Sharp. In Maidment's _North Countrie Garland_ there is a similar version with a number of small verbal differences.
+The Story.+--Frendraught in Aberdeenshire, and Rothiemay in Banffshire, lie on opposite sides of the Deveron, which separates the counties. A feud began (as the result of a dispute over fishing rights) between Crichton of Frendraught and Gordon of Rothiemay, and in a fight on the first day of the year 1630, Rothiemay and others were killed. Kinsmen of both parties were involved; and though the broil was temporarily settled, another soon sprang up. The Lord John of the ballad was Viscount Melgum, the second son of the Marquis of Huntly, who was appealed to as a peacemaker between the factions of Leslie and Crichton. Lord John and Rothiemay were sent by the Marquis to escort Frendraught to his home, a precaution rendered necessary by the knowledge that the Leslies were in ambuscade. Arrived at Frendraught, the laird and lady entreated the two young men to remain the night, and eventually prevailed on them to do so.
However (though it was long disputed whether the fire was an accident or not), it seems that the ancient grudge against Rothiemay moved Frendraught to sacrifice 'a great quantity of silver, both coined and uncoined,' in the firing of his house for the sake of burning Rothiemay.
Sophia Hay (25.1) was the daughter of the Earl of Erroll, and Viscount Melgum's wife. The last two lines of the ballad are not easily explained, as the lady is recorded to have been deeply attached to her husband; but it is possible that they have been inserted from a similar stanza in some other ballad.
1. The eighteenth of October, A dismal tale to hear How good Lord John and Rothiemay Was both burnt in the fire.
2. When steeds was saddled and well bridled, And ready for to ride, Then out it came her false Frendraught, Inviting them to bide.
3. Said, 'Stay this night untill we sup, The morn untill we dine; 'Twill be a token of good 'greement 'Twixt your good Lord and mine.'