Broadside entitled 'Elegy'

Commentary

This memorial notice begins: 'ELEGY On the deplorable Death of Elizabeth Murray Sister to Sir William Murray of Newtoun barb'rously murdered by her Husband Thomas Kincaid younger of Gogar-Mains, March 29th 1723.' The elegy begins: 'As there are fatal Times when Nature's sighs, / And noxious Reeks from Earth eclipse the Skies'. An epitaph has also been included at the bottom of the page.

Interestingly, there is a handwritten note along the edge of the sheet that reads: 'Lord give me wisdom to direct my ways / David Robin'. This does not appear to be related in any way to the elegy, and was possibly written by the purchaser. The National Library of Scotland's broadside collection includes a large number of elegies. Whilst some lament the passing of high-profile figures, who are still remembered in the history books of today, a large proportion remember those who, with the passing of years, have since been forgotten.

Broadsides are single sheets of paper, printed on one side, to be read unfolded. They carried public information such as proclamations as well as ballads and news of the day. Cheaply available, they were sold on the streets by pedlars and chapmen. Broadsides offer a valuable insight into many aspects of the society they were published in, and the National Library of Scotland holds over 250,000 of them.

previous