THE MORELAND MEN
The song is thought to have been written by Sir Christoper Greyfield, a renowned Knight in the Army of Queen Rhiannon the Fierce. In 1501 a force of Borlanders had pushed south from the Alps and had captured the fort on the edge of Roberton. Sir Christoper's liege Lord, Duke Samuel of Rockhampton called up a levy and marched North from his home, which is now Rockhampton Royal Retreat. On the way he gathered more troops and upon reaching Roberton discovered that Duke Brandon, a popular Northern Lord, had been captured and was being held in Roberton keep by the Borlanders. Despite being made up of peasants the force were keen to attack and defeat the Borlanders.
A good sword and a trusty hand!
A merry heart and true!
Borlands's men shall understand
What Moreland lads can do!
And have they fixed the where and when?
And shall Duke Brandon die?
Here's twenty thousand Moreland men
Will know the reason why!
Chorus:
And shall Duke Brandon live?
And shall Duke Brandon die?
Here's twenty thousand Moreland men
Will know the reason why!
Out spake their Captain brave and bold:
A merry wight was he:
'If Roberton Tower were Jerkar's
[1] hold,
We'd set Lord Brandon free!
'We'll cross the Ostlake, land to land:
The River is no stay:
With "one and all," and hand in hand;
And who shall bid us nay?
Chorus:
And shall Lord Brandon live? , etc.
'And when we come to Roberton Wall,
A pleasant sight to view,
Come forth! come forth! ye cowards all:
Here's men as good as you.
'Lord Brandon he's in keep and hold;
Brandon he may die:
But twenty thousand Moreland bold
Will know the reason why!'
By the end of a two week siege Queen Rhiannon the Fierce had arrived and had brought with her seige equipment. However Red Legionnaires discovered a tunnel into the castle and the occupation ended soon afterwards. Brandon was discovered dead. Rhiannon had 200 of the captured Borlanders thrown from the keeps tower before blinding the rest.