Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by DavidPrice,
by
GEORGE BORROW
London:
printed for private circulation
1913
p. 4Copyright inthe United States of America
by Houghton, Mifflin & Co. for ClementShorter.
This ballad was written in consequence of the execution ofWilliam Christian, generally called William Donn,or Brown William, from the darkness of hiscomplexion, who was shot at Hango Hill, nearCastletown, in the Isle of Man, shortly after theRestoration, for alleged treason to the Derby family,who long possessed the sovereignty of Man. . . . Theballad of “Brown William,” which givesan account of the betrayal of the poor patriot, and thevengeance taken by the hand of God upon his murderers, isthe most popular of all the wild songs of Ellan Vannin.
Let no one in greatness too confident be,
Nor trust in his kindred, though high their degree;
For envy and rage will lay any man low:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
Thou wast the Receiver of Mona’s fair state,
Thy conduct was noble, thy wisdom was great,
And ne’er of thy rule did she weariness show:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
p.6Thy right hand was Earley, and Theah thy right eye;
Thy state caused thy foemen with rage to swell high;
And envy and rage will lay any man low:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
How blest thy condition in fair Ronaldsway!
Thy mansion, how stately! thy garden, how gay!
But oh! what disasters from envy do flow:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
’Twas said at thy trial, by men void of faith,
The king, by a letter, demanded thy death;
The jury was frighten’d, and dared not say“No!”
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
The clan of wild Colcad could ne’er be at rest
Whilst the race of Christeen their own acres possess’d;
And envy and spite will bring any man low:
Thy murder Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
p.7A band of adulterers, curst and unholy,
For Ronaldsway lust, as they did for Logh Molley;
Of Naboth, the tragedy’s played here anew:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
Not one of the band but received his just meed,
Who acted a part in that damnable deed;
To dwindle away the whole band was not slow:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
To Callaghyn-doo, and to Vannyster roam,
And call on the Colcad till hoarse ye become;
Gone, gone is the name so well known long ago:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
A cripple was Robin for many years long,
Who troubled and bullied the island when strong;
His own friends of tending him weary did grow:
Thy murder, Brown William, fills Mona with woe.
p.8Sly Richard took ship with thy blood on his hand,
But God can avenge on the sea as on land;
The waves would not bear him, but whelm’d him, I trow:
Thy murder, Brown W