Voices of the Good Road

I wrote this ballad as a troubador/wandering minstrel style, trying to have some elements of the 15 and 16th century, but also trying to be intelligible to the modern listener. It celebrates Cresswel Pele or tower, built for defense against the Reivers, raiders of the English Scottish borderlands who lived by raiding, stealing cattle and women and holding folk for ransom. Since I wrote the ballad, I put a version of me in as a hero. Hope you Enjoy!

The ballad of the Cresswell Raid- Poem/Ballad

And set to Music:

This is young Master Randulf as the 15th century artist pictured him going out to face the Reivers.

This is the older Lord Randulf, matured, and burdened with his responsibilities towards his minions, considering their safety and wellbeing.