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A Person of Qualitie

from Tales of Auld Reekie by Dancing with Ghosts

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about

Back in the 17th century, Corstorphine Castle was home to one James Forrester. This laird was charming and popular - though known for his rather "relaxed" approach to the morality of the time. One of Forrester's lovers was Lady Christian Nimmo who was not only married but also his niece.

It was a custom of Forrester to meet his secret lovers by the old dovecote. One night the Lady Christian arrived for such a clandestine meeting only to find no-one there. Since she knew Forrester's habits well, the Lady sent one of her servants to fetch him from the local inn where he was usually to be found.

When James Forrester finally arrived, he was drunk and rude. An argument began between the two. We don't know exactly how the argument started but we do know how it ended; Lady Christian grabbed Forrester's sword and killed him in a fit of rage.

James Forester was described as 'a person of qualitie'

The Lady was caught and executed. Her ghost, dressed in purest white, has since then haunted the scene of her crime. Those who have seen her say she still holds the sword in her spectral hand and that it can be seen dripping with blood.

lyrics

Person of Qualitie Karl Robins & Andy Waterhouse


December 1653 chosen by his peers to be Lord Protector, Cromwell ruled the day
Wales and Ireland, England too, all would feel his iron rule - past royalists in Scotland had to pay
The fines imposed were most severe, Parliament’s message - crystal clear:
“Your king is dead, the Commonwealth will stay”

Since summer 1633 James Baillie, man of property, he had been the Laird at Corstophine
But lands were lost through harder days, there always was a price to pay with public fines and other debts unseen
He sought solace in a bottomless glass, at the Black Bull Inn he did relax
With the feminine charms of a sympathetic quean

Lord Forrester was known at Corstophine
Beyond the castle walls that couldn’t keep him in
That titled man was common born James Baillie:
A noted laird, a ‘person of qualitie’

He’d always had a roving eye, a scoundrel’s charm, a ready lie and women to amuse him as he pleased
With morals of a dubious kind and scornful of the ties that bind, his latest mistress was his married niece
Christian Hamilton was her name, their baby daughter called the same
James swore that his old ways would surely cease

Late August 1679, by the doocot they’d arranged a time, for meeting underneath the sycamore
And the lady standing so severe, saw that James would not appear, just as he’d done so many times before
She sent her maid to The Black Bull Inn, where she knew James would bide within
In the arms of Bessie Ritchie she was sure

Lord Forrester’s behaviour - bound to shock
At one kirk session they started taking stock
Though took no action against James Baillie:
Such a noted laird, a ‘person of qualitie’

The Laird now summoned, staggered back, with the lady’s maid all dressed in black, to Christian by the doocot where she’d stayed
He stood his ground, he called her ‘whoor’, in anger she could stand no more, she swore that for this insult he would pay
In time a dreadful row ensued, she grabbed his sword, she ran him through
And there he died, cut down by his own blade

At the trial Christian so contrite, there within the judge’s sight, she pitifully pleaded for her life
Her fate she couldn’t reconcile, the lady claimed she was with child, soon to be a mother and a wife
Found guilty though, the axe did wait, the death of James had sealed her fate
Her long robe bloodied by the headsman’s knife

Now the White Lady’s ghost can be seen they say
By the doocot where she dwelt that fateful day
Tired of waiting for her James Baillie:
That lamented gentleman, a ‘person of qualitie’

credits

from Tales of Auld Reekie, released September 14, 2017
Karl Robins guitar and vocal
Sheree Hemingway vocal
Andy Waterhouse vocal
Gary Hetherington instrumentation

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Dancing with Ghosts Berwick Upon Tweed, UK

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