The Ballads & Songs of Derbyshire: With Illustrative Notes, and Examples of the Original Music, etc

In Short

This volume serves as a repository for the ballads, songs, and lyrical traditions of Derbyshire, many of which had been left uncollected and endangered by the passage of time. By gathering these disparate pieces—ranging from historical accounts of local lords and tragic romances to humorous, absurd tall tales—the editor seeks to secure the county's place in England's broader literary history. The work endures as a vital archive, capturing the spirit of a community that found its history, humor, and morality reflected in the verses sung at its firesides.

The Story

The arc of this collection is not a single narrative but a tapestry of the county's life, unfolding through the lenses of history, myth, and local pride. It opens with the grand, shifting allegiances of the medieval era, specifically highlighting the influence of the powerful Stanley family. Through ballads of courtly intrigue and the "comlye queene," the reader is introduced to a world where politics were dictated by poets and prophecies. These early sections establish the book's preoccupation with legacy, showing how the lives of the great—and those who served them—were mythologized into song.

As the collection moves forward, the focus narrows to the rugged, distinct landscape of Derbyshire itself. It explores the darker, more visceral stories, such as the brutal murder of a young couple in the Winnats Pass and the treacherous, high-stakes dueling culture of the 17th century. We see the "Long Armed Duke" stepping onto a battlefield of honor, a symbol of the period’s obsession with aristocratic prowess and physical eccentricity. Interspersed with these tales of blood and status are the lighter, often bizarre traditions that define the local character, most notably the legend of the "Derby Ram"—a creature of such impossible proportions that his wool touches the clouds and his belly drags upon the earth.

The narrative arc reaches its emotional core in the legends surrounding Robin Hood and his companion, Little John. These are not merely stories of outlaws but deeply personal accounts of friendship, loss, and the finality of death. Little John, depicted as a man of immense stature and gentle temperament, dies of a broken heart in his native Hathersage, asking only to be buried where his bow might hang as a reminder of a life spent in the greenwood. The collection concludes with a series of domestic and satirical pieces, tracking the transition from the heroic age to a more mundane, yet no less vibrant, provincial life. It moves from the high-flown laments of exiles and martyrs to the earthy, infectious energy of local reels and tavern music. The final impression is one of a land that is constantly singing to itself—recounting its own history with a mix of reverence, irony, and enduring affection.

How It Unfolds

The invocation of lineage The collection opens by establishing the historical gravity of the region, emphasizing the influence of noble houses and the necessity of documenting a fading oral culture. It presents ballads as the primary vehicles for preserving the names, deeds, and moral lessons of the past.

The shift toward local myth The focus transitions to the folklore that defines the Derbyshire identity, detailing the lives of figures like Little John and the legendary, oversized Derby Ram. These stories blend the heroic with the hyperbolic, rooting the county's character in its own unique landscape.

The intrusion of tragedy and conflict The middle section confronts the reader with the harsh realities of historical violence, including political feuds and the visceral, lingering trauma of unsolved crimes in the countryside. These songs serve as collective memories, transforming local tragedies into community warnings.

The conclusion of the social calendar The work ends on a note of communal gathering, emphasizing the role of music and dance in maintaining social bonds. By documenting the "merriment" of local reels and the everyday struggles of the peasantry, the text grounds the reader in the tangible, rhythmic life of the village.

The People

The cast is as varied as the landscape itself. The Stanley family and the various Dukes of Devonshire appear as the anchors of power, representing the intersection of historical duty and aristocratic ego. They are often defined by their titles and their rapier-wielding bravado. In contrast, Little John stands out as the most sympathetic figure; he represents the "mild and gentle" soul of the folklore, whose immense physical strength is subordinate to his capacity for devotion and his eventual decline into grief.

Then there is the "Celestial Bard," a self-appointed observer who gives voice to the common, often absurd, plight of the region, and the various squires and hunters, like 'Squire Vernon, who represent the vigor and restless energy of the rural upper class. Finally, there are the nameless "lads and lasses" who inhabit the reels and dances. They want nothing more than to "cuddle and clasp" and to chase away the "forerunner of sorrow." They are the heartbeat of the collection, and while the lords may occupy the verses of history, these ordinary people define the spirit of the songs.

In Its Own Voice

God that is moste of myghte, / And born was of a mayden free, / Save and kepe our comlye queene, / And also the poore comynalitie.

(The opening lines of a medieval ballad reflecting the deep integration of religious reverence and civic concern.)

The Wool upon his back, Sir, / Reached up unto the sky, / The Eagles made their nests there, Sir, / For I heard the young ones cry.

(A stanza from "The Derby Ram," illustrating the bold, humorous exaggeration typical of local tall tales.)

Care, the forerunner of sorrow, / Was kick'd out of door till to-morrow, / Not one in his spirit was narrow.

(A description of the revelry found in the "Cocktail Reel," capturing the communal spirit of the region’s music.)

What It's Really About

At its heart, this book is an argument for the dignity of the local. It posits that history is not solely the property of the throne or the capital but resides in the specific, idiosyncratic memories of the county. It interrogates the tension between the "formal" history recorded by the state and the "lived" history preserved in the vernacular. The book asks what becomes of a community when it stops singing its own songs and whether the preservation of such folklore is a duty of culture or merely a sentimental exercise. It finds that by honoring the "Ram" alongside the Duke, the county asserts that all its stories are essential to its survival.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate the grit and cadence of early English verse will find this volume deeply rewarding. It offers an unfiltered look at a world that feels both distant and startlingly familiar, where the boundaries between heroism and domesticity are blurred. It is not a polished, modern narrative; it is a raw, occasionally difficult collection that requires the reader to navigate archaic spelling and complex, sometimes brutal, period attitudes.

However, the experience is immersive. You are not just reading about history; you are listening to the echoes of a lost oral tradition. Those who enjoy the intersection of music, landscape, and local legend will be particularly moved by the sections on Hathersage and the Peak District, which still feel haunted by the figures described in these pages. What stays with you is the sheer tenacity of these songs—the way they survived, often against all odds, in the memories of the people of Derbyshire. It is a book that encourages you to listen more closely to the stories of your own place, reminding you that every hill and town carries a song, provided there is someone left to sing it.