Lady Grizel Baillie

Scottish poet

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History

Lady Grizel Baillie (born December 25, 1665, Redbraes Castle, Berwickshire, Scotland—died December 6, 1746) was a Scottish poet remembered for her simple and sorrowful songs.

The eldest daughter of Sir Patrick Hume (Home), later earl of Marchmont, she carried letters from her father to the imprisoned Scottish conspirator Robert Baillie of Jerviswood. After Baillie’s execution (1684) the family fled to Holland, where they remained until it was safe to return to Scotland. In 1692 Lady Grizel married George Baillie, Robert Baillie’s son.

Although Lady Grizel wrote several songs, only two are extant. “The ewe-buchtin’s bonnie” may have been inspired by her father’s hiding in Polwarth church after he had spoken in Baillie’s defense; the well-known “And werena my heart licht I wad dee” first appeared in Orpheus Caledonius (1725) and was included in Allan Ramsay’s Tea Table Miscellany, 4 vol. (1724–37).