This song is a true story written as a tribute to Lady Agnes Randolph, wife of the Scottish War Lord Lord Randolph. In 1338 The English were once again at war with the Scots. Following the death of King Robert the country was in a state of disarray and the English attempted to exploit the situation. The Scottish army was led by Lord Randolph. King Edward ordered Montague, Earl of Salisbury,(senior commander) to capture Randolph's wife and to capture his defenceless castle at Dunbar. Salisbury arrived at Dunbar with a huge army and expected Lady Agnes to surrender, given that the castle was occupied by mainly ladies in waiting. He was enraged when the lady refused.
In the early days of the seige the english attacked with catapults and rams. At the end of the bombardment, Lady Agnes ordered all her ladies to dress in their finest gowns and out to the walls to repair the damage. They then used one of the English missiles to destroy the main battering ram. Salisbury then dragged her captured brother to the gates and threatened to put him to the sword. Agnes decided to call his bluff and told Salisbury that by doing so he would make her a rich woman and that she would inherit all his estates. Unknown to the English, the castle was being secretly supplied from the seaward side and at one stage towards the end of the seige she sent gifts of food to the English just to show how well stocked they were. Eventually a small releif force sneaked into the castle by cover of dark then attacked the English forces the following night. The small force killed several in their beds and retreated safely to the castle before the alarm was raised. This was the last straw and a red faced Salisbury was forced to withdraw and endure the anger of his king. I wrote this wee ditty as a tribute to her.
Black Agnes of Dunbar
By Kenny McDonald June 2010
Chorus:
She was tall and dark and comely, and shone out like a star
Aye, she defied the English might, Black Agnes o Dunbar,
In thirteen hundred an thirty eight, the English cam again,
Wi thirst for blood an vengeance some Scottish land to claim,
The Kings man, Earl of Salisbury, had travelled long and far,
Marched up wi a great army tae the castle o Dunbar.
It should hae been sae simple or so the great earl thought,
The castle was near empty and defenders all been caught,
He was fair astonished as he saw the castle wall,
The Lady Agnes Randolph would not let the castle fall
First they cam wi catapults and great boulders struck the walls
The ground it fairly shuddered as they battered at the halls,
As the dust was settled, Agnes and her ladies fair,
Strolled oot in their finery the great walls to repair.
Salisbury was cunning though and tried a different tack,
They brought out the ladies brother wi his hands behind his back,
Upon the high wall Agnes stood wi a smile upon her face,
Slay him if you wish milord, I'll inherit in his place.
She would not thole surrender nor flinch before the foe,
She telt the mighty general to pack his bags and go,
Dear Lady you must be starving now the English leader said,
Agnes lowered a basket with gifts of fresh baked bread.
Agnes held the castle for five months and three days,
She mocked the English army in so many different ways,
The English earl was fuming when he knew he must concede,
He left the castle in disgrace the kings mercy he would plead.
Chorus:
She was tall and dark and comely, and shone out like a star
Aye, she defied the English might, Black Agnes o Dunbar,
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This is one of my first songs and I know it is very simple and a bit twee however I still enjoy singing it. I have long enjoyed the Hills and I still curse the intrusion by the A702 City Bypass. Peter and I had some good fun up the hills on hikes with the Boys Brigade and later when we were involved in fell running many years and several stone ago.
Bonnie Pentland Hills
By Kenny McDonald
I have travelled near and far to mystic distant lands
From the Great Wall of China to where Machu Piccu stands,
It's true I love the beauty, the majesty that thrills,
In the end I return to my Bonnie Pentland Hills.
Chorus
You can see from the Southern uplands to the Ochills far away,
From the burning towers of Grangemouth to the Misty Isle of May,
When sat on top of Allermuir as morning sunlight spills,
It's one of our great treasures, the bonnie Pentland Hills.
From the stately Rocky mountains to the Andes of Peru,
Their presence and their grandeur fair made my heart brim fu,
when I'm back at home again as the evening breezes still,
I gaze out of my window at the bonnie Pentland Hills.
Chorus
I remember as a laddie a trip to CastleLaw,
We hiked up to the Roman Fort, It really was quite braw,
An we all ate half cooked sausages until we had oor fill,
That was my first adventure in the bonnie Pentland Hills.
Chorus
From Hillend to the West Kip, Carnethy to Bleak Law,
Throughout my youth and child hood I must have climbed them all,
I never seem to tire of them and when my spirit wills,
Theres every chance youll find me among my Pentland Hills
Chorus
End