Since the beginning of written history, there have been rhymes and jingles sung to children to amuse them. Yet, much of what we know today as nursery rhymes had their origin in subject matter intended for adults. "Bessie Bell and Mary Gray", based on a sad tale of two friends of noble family, is one such nursery poem that has found its way into folk music, and is now an endeared ballad...
The ballad tells how two young women of Perth, in order to avoid the plague of 1666, retired to a country retreat called Burnbraes, near Lynedock, which was actually the home of Mary Gray.
Now, while Bessie and Mary were reclused at Burnbraes, a young gentleman, who was dearly in love with both of the young ladies, took it upon himself to visit regularly in order to bring them provisions. Unfortunately, the young man, himself, succomed to the deadly Black Death, and brought it into Burnbraes.
Bessie and Mary soon came down with the plague and died. It was against the law to bury plague-deceased bodies in a cemetery, so Bessie and Mary were interred under a large oak tree at the foot of a hillside near the river Almond at Dornock Hough.
In actuality, this rhyme and ballad is historically based on Mary Gray, who was the daughter of one Thomas Graham, Lord of Lynedoch, and Bessie Bell, daughter of the Lord of Kinnaird. This is an important rhyme because the Grahams and Cathcarts are great historic families of Scotland.
Thomas Graham, at the age of twenty-four, became a Whig candidate in order to represent the county of Perth. He was narrowly defeated by the Duke of Athole, who married his wife's sister. In 1774, Thomas married Mary, second daughter of the ninth Earl Cathcart.
In 1787, when Mrs. Graham was visiting her sister, the Duchess of Athole, she had the wonderful opportunity to meet poet Robert Burns,who had come to see the Duke on a matter of importance.
The time of the BlackDeath spread across Asia, Europe, and Great Britian with such deadly force, that the course of human history was forever altered. The death toll was enormous, decimating entire villages.
With civilization nearly wiped out, many believed the end of the world to be near.
This is a work of fiction based on an historical event. Bessie and Mary were real people. This story may not be copied, or altered in any way to be used elsewhere without my written consent. Please respect my individuality and hard work.
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