Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
The Knicht o Archerdale / Proud Lady Margaret (Child No. 47) - A traditional folk tale told by renowned storyteller, ballad singer and piper Stanley Robertson (1940-2009) of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Stanley was born into a Traveller family in Aberdeen and he was the nephew of famous Scottish traditional singer Jeannie Robertson. Recorded by Barbara McDermitt on February 13th, 1982.
The original recording can be heard here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/50136?l=en
Note by Kevin W.:
Stanley Robertson learned this folk tale from his aunt Margaret (Maggie) Stewart of Banchory, Kincardineshire whom he regarded as his adoptive grandmother.
Lizzie Higgins (Elizabeth Ann Youlden, 1929-1993) of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, can be heard singing the ballad of Proud Lady Margaret (Child 47) in a recording made by Stephanie Smith Perrin in 1973:
youtu.be/FxipakKhT8o
Lizzie was the daughter of settled Travellers, the famous Scottish traditional singer Jeannie Robertson and Donald "Donty" Higgins, an accomplished piper. She learned the ballad from her father, who in turn had it from his mother, Christine Stewart.
Can this really be a ballad that survived in Traveller tradition? The last time it was collected was twice in fragmentary form in Aberdeenshire around the turn of the 20th century by Gavin Greig from the prolific Mrs. Bell Robertson of New Pitsligo who knew hundreds of ballads but did not sing tunes and from a Mrs. Gordon of New Deer.
Story transcription (to be added):
Proud Lady Margaret opened the door to a knight who said he had crossed the Seven Rivers of Hell for her. She allowed herself to be carried away. With each river they crossed, the water reached higher. The knight revealed himself as a former suitor whose death she had caused. For her punishment he drowned her in the seventh river and carried her down to the Seventh League of Hell. Her pride was her downfall.
The Knicht o Archerdale / Proud Lady Margaret (Child No. 47) - A traditional folk tale told by renowned storyteller, ballad singer and piper Stanley Robertson (1940-2009) of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Stanley was born into a Traveller family in Aberdeen and he was the nephew of famous Scottish traditional singer Jeannie Robertson. Recorded by Barbara McDermitt on February 13th, 1982.
The original recording can be heard here:
tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/50136?l=en
Note by Kevin W.:
Stanley Robertson learned this folk tale from his aunt Margaret (Maggie) Stewart of Banchory, Kincardineshire whom he regarded as his adoptive grandmother.
Lizzie Higgins (Elizabeth Ann Youlden, 1929-1993) of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, can be heard singing the ballad of Proud Lady Margaret (Child 47) in a recording made by Stephanie Smith Perrin in 1973:
youtu.be/FxipakKhT8o
Lizzie was the daughter of settled Travellers, the famous Scottish traditional singer Jeannie Robertson and Donald "Donty" Higgins, an accomplished piper. She learned the ballad from her father, who in turn had it from his mother, Christine Stewart.
Can this really be a ballad that survived in Traveller tradition? The last time it was collected was twice in fragmentary form in Aberdeenshire around the turn of the 20th century by Gavin Greig from the prolific Mrs. Bell Robertson of New Pitsligo who knew hundreds of ballads but did not sing tunes and from a Mrs. Gordon of New Deer.
Story transcription (to be added):
Proud Lady Margaret opened the door to a knight who said he had crossed the Seven Rivers of Hell for her. She allowed herself to be carried away. With each river they crossed, the water reached higher. The knight revealed himself as a former suitor whose death she had caused. For her punishment he drowned her in the seventh river and carried her down to the Seventh League of Hell. Her pride was her downfall.
