The Border Ballads.

The Scottish Borders during the 16th Century is known as a place where life was brutal and often tragically short. However, from this desolate wasteland emerged a tradition of ballads, many of which survive today and some of which are reproduced below. The history of the Borderland has also inspired later writers and some of their works are also to be found below.

Original Ballads.

1) The Dowie Dens O' Yarrow

3) Tam Lin

5) The Border Widow's Lament.

7) Kinmont Willie

 2) The Twa Corbies.

4) The Battle of Otterburn

6) Lord Maxwell's Last Goodnight.

8) Johnnie Armstrong.

Later Works.

1) The Fray of Elibank by James Hogg

3) The Raiders by W.H. Ogilvy

 2) Jock O' Hazeldean by Walter Scott

4) The Mosstroopers by R.S Craig.

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