13. In a sally which was made by the garrison towards the end of April, the Duke of Berwick is said to have received a slight wound in the back.21. The Rev. George Walker, rector of the parish of Donaghmore, the hero of the defence. His statue now stands on a lofty pillar, rising from a bastion which for a long time sustained the heaviest fire of the besiegers.
13. In a sally which was made by the garrison towards the end of April, the Duke of Berwick is said to have received a slight wound in the back.
21. The Rev. George Walker, rector of the parish of Donaghmore, the hero of the defence. His statue now stands on a lofty pillar, rising from a bastion which for a long time sustained the heaviest fire of the besiegers.
From Johnson'sMuseum, p. 105.
Grahamius notabilis coegerat montanos,Qui clypeis et gladiis fugarunt Anglicanos;Fugerant Vallicolæ, atque Puritani,Cacavere Batavi et Cameroniani.Grahamius mirabilis, fortissimus Alcides,Cujus regi fuerat intemerata fides,Agiles monticolas marte inspiravit,Et duplicatum numerum hostium profligavit.Nobilis apparuit Fermilodunensis,Cujus in rebelles stringebatur ensis;Nobilis et sanguine, nobilior virtute,Regi devotissimus intus et in cute.Pitcurius heroicus, Hector Scoticanus,Cui mens fidelis fuerat et invicta manus,Capita rebellium, is excerebravit,Hostes unitissimos ille dimicavit.Glengarius magnanimus atque bellicosus,Functus ut Eneas, pro rege animosus,Fortis atque strenuus, hostes expugnavit,Sanguine rebellium campos coloravit.Surrexerat fideliter Donaldus Insulanus,Pugnaverat viriliter, cum copiis Skyanis,Pater atque filii non dissimularunt,Sed pro rege proprio unanimes pugnarunt.Macleanius, circumdatus tribo martiali,Semper, devinctissimus familiæ regali,Fortiter pugnaverat, more atavorum,Deinde dissipaverat turmas Batavorum.Strenuus Lochielius, multo Camerone,Hostes ense peremit, et abrio pugione;Istos et intrepidos Orco dedicavit,Impedimenta hostium Blaro reportavit.Macneillius de Bara, Glencous Kepochanus,Ballechinus, cum fratre, Stuartus Apianus,Pro Jacobo Septimo fortiter gessere,Pugiles fortissimi, feliciter vicere.Canonicus clarissimus Gallovidianus,Acer et indomitus, consilioque sanus,Ibi dux adfuerat, spectabilis persona,Nam pro tuenda patria, hunc peperit Bellona.Ducalidoni dominum spreverat gradivus,Nobilis et juvenis, fortis et activus:Nam cum nativum principem exulem audiret,Redit ex Hungaria ut regi inserviret.Illic et adfuerat tutor Ranaldorum,Qui strenue pugnaverat cum copiis virorum;Et ipse Capetaneus, aetate puerili,Intentus est ad pr[oe]lium, spiritu virili.Glenmoristonus junior, optimus bellatorSubito jam factus, hactenus venator,Perduelles Whiggeos ut pecora prostravit,Ense et fulmineo Mackaium fugavit.Regibus et legibus, Scotici constantes,Vos clypeis et gladiis pro principe pugnantes,Vestra est victoria, vestra est et gloria,In cantis et historia perpes est memoria!
Grahamius notabilis coegerat montanos,Qui clypeis et gladiis fugarunt Anglicanos;Fugerant Vallicolæ, atque Puritani,Cacavere Batavi et Cameroniani.Grahamius mirabilis, fortissimus Alcides,Cujus regi fuerat intemerata fides,Agiles monticolas marte inspiravit,Et duplicatum numerum hostium profligavit.
Nobilis apparuit Fermilodunensis,Cujus in rebelles stringebatur ensis;Nobilis et sanguine, nobilior virtute,Regi devotissimus intus et in cute.Pitcurius heroicus, Hector Scoticanus,Cui mens fidelis fuerat et invicta manus,Capita rebellium, is excerebravit,Hostes unitissimos ille dimicavit.
Glengarius magnanimus atque bellicosus,Functus ut Eneas, pro rege animosus,Fortis atque strenuus, hostes expugnavit,Sanguine rebellium campos coloravit.Surrexerat fideliter Donaldus Insulanus,Pugnaverat viriliter, cum copiis Skyanis,Pater atque filii non dissimularunt,Sed pro rege proprio unanimes pugnarunt.
Macleanius, circumdatus tribo martiali,Semper, devinctissimus familiæ regali,Fortiter pugnaverat, more atavorum,Deinde dissipaverat turmas Batavorum.Strenuus Lochielius, multo Camerone,Hostes ense peremit, et abrio pugione;Istos et intrepidos Orco dedicavit,Impedimenta hostium Blaro reportavit.
Macneillius de Bara, Glencous Kepochanus,Ballechinus, cum fratre, Stuartus Apianus,Pro Jacobo Septimo fortiter gessere,Pugiles fortissimi, feliciter vicere.Canonicus clarissimus Gallovidianus,Acer et indomitus, consilioque sanus,Ibi dux adfuerat, spectabilis persona,Nam pro tuenda patria, hunc peperit Bellona.
Ducalidoni dominum spreverat gradivus,Nobilis et juvenis, fortis et activus:Nam cum nativum principem exulem audiret,Redit ex Hungaria ut regi inserviret.Illic et adfuerat tutor Ranaldorum,Qui strenue pugnaverat cum copiis virorum;Et ipse Capetaneus, aetate puerili,Intentus est ad pr[oe]lium, spiritu virili.
Glenmoristonus junior, optimus bellatorSubito jam factus, hactenus venator,Perduelles Whiggeos ut pecora prostravit,Ense et fulmineo Mackaium fugavit.Regibus et legibus, Scotici constantes,Vos clypeis et gladiis pro principe pugnantes,Vestra est victoria, vestra est et gloria,In cantis et historia perpes est memoria!
This momentous battle was fought on the 1st of July, 1690. James had a strong position and thirty thousand men, two thirds of whom were a worthless rabble. William had thirty-six thousand splendid soldiers. The loss on neither side was great. Of James's troops there fell fifteen hundred, the flower of his army; of the conqueror's not more than five, but with them the great Duke of Schomberg. The present version of this ballad is from Croker'sHistorical Songs of Ireland, p. 60, given from a MS. copy in the editor's possession.
July the first, inOldbridgetown,There was a grievous battle,Where many a man lay on the ground,By the cannons that did rattle,King James he pitched his tents between5The lines for to retire;But King William threw his bomb-balls in,And set them all on fire.Thereat enraged, they vow'd revenge,Upon King William's forces;10And often did cry vehemently,That they would stop their courses.A bullet from the Irish came,Which grazed King William's arm;They thought his majesty was slain,15Yet it did him little harm.Duke Schomberg then, in friendly care,His king would often cautionTo shun the spot where bullets hotRetain'd their rapid motion.20But William said—"He don't deserveThe name of Faith's defender,That would not venture life and limbTo make a foe surrender."When we the Boyne began to cross,25The enemy they descended;But few of our brave men were lost,So stoutly we defended.The horse was the first that marchéd o'er,The foot soon followed a'ter,30But brave Duke Schomberg was no more,By venturing over the water.When valiant Schomberg he was slain,King William thus accostedHis warlike men, for to march on,35And he would be the foremost."Brave boys," he said, "be not dismayedFor the losing of one commander;For God will be our king this day,And I'll be general under."40Then stoutly we the Boyne did cross,To give our enemies battle;Our cannon, to our foes great cost,Like thundering claps did rattle,In majestic mien our prince rode o'er,45His men soon followed a'ter;With blows and shouts put our foes to the route,The day we crossed the water.The Protestants of DroghedaHave reasons to be thankful,50That they were not to bondage brought,They being but a handful.First to the Tholsel they were brought,And tied at Milmount a'ter,But brave King William set them free,55By venturing over the water.The cunning French, near to DuleekHad taken up their quarters,And fenced themselves on every side,Still waiting for new orders.60But in the dead time of the night,They set the field on fire;And long before the morning light,To Dublin they did retire.Then said King William to his men,65After the French departed,"I'm glad," said he, "that none of yeSeeméd to be faint-hearted.So sheath your swords, and rest awhile,In time we'll follow a'ter:"70These words he uttered with a smile,The day he crossed the water.Come, let us all, with heart and voice,Applaud our lives' defender,Who at the Boyne his valour shewed,75And made his foes surrender,To God above the praise we'll give,Both now and ever a'ter,And bless the glorious memory79Of King William that crossed the Boyne water.
July the first, inOldbridgetown,There was a grievous battle,Where many a man lay on the ground,By the cannons that did rattle,King James he pitched his tents between5The lines for to retire;But King William threw his bomb-balls in,And set them all on fire.
Thereat enraged, they vow'd revenge,Upon King William's forces;10And often did cry vehemently,That they would stop their courses.A bullet from the Irish came,Which grazed King William's arm;They thought his majesty was slain,15Yet it did him little harm.
Duke Schomberg then, in friendly care,His king would often cautionTo shun the spot where bullets hotRetain'd their rapid motion.20But William said—"He don't deserveThe name of Faith's defender,That would not venture life and limbTo make a foe surrender."
When we the Boyne began to cross,25The enemy they descended;But few of our brave men were lost,So stoutly we defended.The horse was the first that marchéd o'er,The foot soon followed a'ter,30But brave Duke Schomberg was no more,By venturing over the water.
When valiant Schomberg he was slain,King William thus accostedHis warlike men, for to march on,35And he would be the foremost."Brave boys," he said, "be not dismayedFor the losing of one commander;For God will be our king this day,And I'll be general under."40
Then stoutly we the Boyne did cross,To give our enemies battle;Our cannon, to our foes great cost,Like thundering claps did rattle,In majestic mien our prince rode o'er,45His men soon followed a'ter;With blows and shouts put our foes to the route,The day we crossed the water.
The Protestants of DroghedaHave reasons to be thankful,50That they were not to bondage brought,They being but a handful.First to the Tholsel they were brought,And tied at Milmount a'ter,But brave King William set them free,55By venturing over the water.
The cunning French, near to DuleekHad taken up their quarters,And fenced themselves on every side,Still waiting for new orders.60But in the dead time of the night,They set the field on fire;And long before the morning light,To Dublin they did retire.
Then said King William to his men,65After the French departed,"I'm glad," said he, "that none of yeSeeméd to be faint-hearted.So sheath your swords, and rest awhile,In time we'll follow a'ter:"70These words he uttered with a smile,The day he crossed the water.
Come, let us all, with heart and voice,Applaud our lives' defender,Who at the Boyne his valour shewed,75And made his foes surrender,To God above the praise we'll give,Both now and ever a'ter,And bless the glorious memory79Of King William that crossed the Boyne water.
1. The Dutch guards first entered the river Boyne at a ford opposite to the little village of Oldbridge.—Croker.54. "After the battle of the Boyne, the Popish garrison of Drogheda took the Protestants out of prison, into which they had thrown them, and carried them to the Mount; where they expected the cannon would play, if King William's forces besieged the town.They tied them together, and set them to receive the shot; but their hearts failed them who were to defend the place, and so it pleased God to preserve the poor Protestants."—Memoirs of Ireland, &c., cited by Croker.57. "When, in the course of the day, the battle approached James's position on the hill of Donore, the warlike prince retired to a more secure distance at Duleek, where he soon put himself at the head of his French allies, and led the retreat; the King and the French coming off without a scar."—O'Driscol, cited by Croker.
1. The Dutch guards first entered the river Boyne at a ford opposite to the little village of Oldbridge.—Croker.
54. "After the battle of the Boyne, the Popish garrison of Drogheda took the Protestants out of prison, into which they had thrown them, and carried them to the Mount; where they expected the cannon would play, if King William's forces besieged the town.They tied them together, and set them to receive the shot; but their hearts failed them who were to defend the place, and so it pleased God to preserve the poor Protestants."—Memoirs of Ireland, &c., cited by Croker.
57. "When, in the course of the day, the battle approached James's position on the hill of Donore, the warlike prince retired to a more secure distance at Duleek, where he soon put himself at the head of his French allies, and led the retreat; the King and the French coming off without a scar."—O'Driscol, cited by Croker.
Who liv'd in Cow-Cross, near West-Smithfield; who, changing her apparel, entered herself on board in quality of a soldier, and sailed to Ireland, where she valiantly behaved herself, particularly at the siege of Cork, where she lost her toes, and received a mortal wound in her body, of which she since died in her return to London.
Who liv'd in Cow-Cross, near West-Smithfield; who, changing her apparel, entered herself on board in quality of a soldier, and sailed to Ireland, where she valiantly behaved herself, particularly at the siege of Cork, where she lost her toes, and received a mortal wound in her body, of which she since died in her return to London.
From Durfey'sPills to Purge Melancholy, v. 8.
Cork was taken September 27-29, 1690, by the Duke (then Earl) of Marlborough, with the coöperation of the Duke of Wirtemberg. The Duke of Grafton, then serving as a volunteer, was mortally wounded while advancing to the assault. Croker suggests that this lamentation for the heroine of Cow-Cross, "the Mary Ambree of her age," was one of the many indirect efforts made to bring the military skill of Marlborough into popular notice.
Let the females attendTo the lines which are penn'd,For here I shall give a relationOf a young marry'd wife,Who did venture her life,5For a soldier, a soldier she went from the nation.She her husband did leave,And did likewise receiveHer arms, and on board she did enter,And right valiantly went,10With a resolution bentTo the ocean, the ocean, her life there to venture.Yet of all the ship's crew,Not a seaman that knewThey then had a woman so near 'em;15On the ocean so deepShe her council did keep,Ay, and therefore, and therefore she never did fear 'em.She was valiant and bold,And would not be controul'd20By any that dare to offend her;If a quarrel arose,She would give him dry blows,And the captain, the captain did highly commend her.For he took her to be25Then of no mean degree,A gentleman's son, or a squire;With a hand white and fair,There was none could compare,Which the captain, the captain did often admire.On the Irish shore,31Where the cannons did roar,With many stout lads she was landed;There her life to expose,She lost two of her toes,35And in battle, in battle was daily commended.Under Grafton she foughtLike a brave hero stout,And made the proud Tories retire;She in field did appear40With a heart void of fear,And she bravely, she bravely did charge and give fire.While the battering ballsDid assault the strong wallsOf Cork, and sweet trumpets sounded,45She did bravely advanceWhere by unhappy chanceThis young female, young female, alas! she was wounded.At the end of the frayStill she languishing lay,50Then over the ocean they brought her,To her own native shore:Now they ne'er knew beforeThat a woman, a woman had been in that slaughter.What she long had conceal'd55Now at length she reveal'd,That she was a woman that ventur'd;Then to London with careShe did straitways repair,But she dy'd, oh she dy'd, e'er the city she enter'd.60When her parents beheld,They with sorrow was fill'd,For why, they did dearly adore her;In her grave now she lies,Tis not watery eyes,65No, nor sighing, nor sighing that e'er can restore her.
Let the females attendTo the lines which are penn'd,For here I shall give a relationOf a young marry'd wife,Who did venture her life,5For a soldier, a soldier she went from the nation.
She her husband did leave,And did likewise receiveHer arms, and on board she did enter,And right valiantly went,10With a resolution bentTo the ocean, the ocean, her life there to venture.
Yet of all the ship's crew,Not a seaman that knewThey then had a woman so near 'em;15On the ocean so deepShe her council did keep,Ay, and therefore, and therefore she never did fear 'em.
She was valiant and bold,And would not be controul'd20By any that dare to offend her;If a quarrel arose,She would give him dry blows,And the captain, the captain did highly commend her.
For he took her to be25Then of no mean degree,A gentleman's son, or a squire;With a hand white and fair,There was none could compare,Which the captain, the captain did often admire.
On the Irish shore,31Where the cannons did roar,With many stout lads she was landed;There her life to expose,She lost two of her toes,35And in battle, in battle was daily commended.
Under Grafton she foughtLike a brave hero stout,And made the proud Tories retire;She in field did appear40With a heart void of fear,And she bravely, she bravely did charge and give fire.
While the battering ballsDid assault the strong wallsOf Cork, and sweet trumpets sounded,45She did bravely advanceWhere by unhappy chanceThis young female, young female, alas! she was wounded.
At the end of the frayStill she languishing lay,50Then over the ocean they brought her,To her own native shore:Now they ne'er knew beforeThat a woman, a woman had been in that slaughter.
What she long had conceal'd55Now at length she reveal'd,That she was a woman that ventur'd;Then to London with careShe did straitways repair,But she dy'd, oh she dy'd, e'er the city she enter'd.60
When her parents beheld,They with sorrow was fill'd,For why, they did dearly adore her;In her grave now she lies,Tis not watery eyes,65No, nor sighing, nor sighing that e'er can restore her.
(Seep. 156. From Ritson'sScottish Songs, ii. 67.)
W.Pray came you here the fight to shun,Or keep the sheep with me, man?Or was you at the Sheriff-moor,And did the battle see, man?Pray tell whilk of the parties won?5For well I wat I saw them run,Both south and north, when they begun,To pell and mell, and kill and fell,With muskets snell, and pistols knell,And some to hell10Did flee, man.T.But, my dear Will, I kenna still,Whilk o' the twa did lose, man;For well I wat they had good skillTo set upo' their foes, man:15The red-coats they are train'd, you see,The clans always disdain to flee,Wha then should gain the victory?But the Highland race, all in a brace,With a swift pace, to the Whigs disgrace,20Did put to chaceTheir foes, man.W.Now how diel, Tam, can this be true?I saw the chace gae north, man.T.But well I wat they did pursue25Them even unto Forth, man.Frae Dumblain they ran in my own sight,And got o'er the bridge with all their might,And those at Stirling took their flight;Gif only ye had been wi' me,30You had seen them flee, of each degree,For fear to dieWi' sloth, man.W.My sister Kate came o'er the hill,Wi' crowdie unto me, man;35She swore she saw them running stillFrae Perth unto Dundee, man.The left wing gen'ral had na skill,The Angus lads had no good willThat day their neighbours blood to spill;40For fear by foes that they should loseTheir cogues of brose, all crying woes—Yonder them goes,D'ye see, man?T.I see but few like gentlemen45Amang yon frighted crew, man;I fear my Lord Panmure be slain,Or that he's ta'en just now, man:For tho' his officers obey,His cowardly commons run away,50For fear the red-coats them should slay;The sodgers hail make their hearts fail;See how they scale, and turn their tail,And rin to flailAnd plow, man.55W.But now brave Angus comes againInto the second fight, man;They swear they'll either dye or gain,No foes shall them affright, man:Argyle's best forces they'll withstand,60And boldly fight them sword in hand,Give them a general to command,A man of might, that will but fight,And take delight to lead them right,And ne'er desire65The flight, man.ButFlandrekinsthey have no skillTo lead a Scotish force, man;Their motions do our courage spill,And put us to a loss, man.70You'll hear of us far better news,When we attack like Highland trews,To hash, and slash, and smash and bruise,Till the field, tho' braid, be all o'erspread,But coat or plaid, wi' corpse that's dead75In their cold bed,That's moss, man.T.Twa gen'rals frae the field did run,Lords Huntley and Seaforth, man;They cry'd and run grim death to shun,80Those heroes of the North, man;They're fitter far for book or pen,Than under Mars to lead on men;Ere they came there they might well kenThat female hands could ne'er gain lands;85'Tis Highland brands that countermandsArgathlean bandsFrae Forth, man.W.The Camerons scow'r'd as they were mad,Lifting their neighbours cows, man,90M'Kenzie and the Stewart fled,Without phil'beg or trews, man:Had they behav'd like Donald's core,And kill'd all those came them before,Their king had gone to France no more:95Then each Whig saint wad soon repent,And strait recant his covenant,And rentIt at the news, man.T.M'Gregors they far off did stand,100Badenach and Athol too, man;I hear they wanted the command,For I believe them true, man.Perth, Fife, and Angus, wi' their horse,Stood motionless, and some did worse,105For, tho' the red-coats went them cross,They did conspire for to admireClans run and fire, left wings retire,While rights intirePursue, man.110W.But Scotland has not much to say,For such a fight as this is,Where baith did fight, baith run away;The devil take the miss isThat every officer was not slain115That run that day, and was not ta'en,Either flying from or to Dumblain;When Whig and Tory, in their 'fury,'Strove for glory, to our sorrow,The sad story120Hush is.
W.Pray came you here the fight to shun,Or keep the sheep with me, man?Or was you at the Sheriff-moor,And did the battle see, man?Pray tell whilk of the parties won?5For well I wat I saw them run,Both south and north, when they begun,To pell and mell, and kill and fell,With muskets snell, and pistols knell,And some to hell10Did flee, man.
T.But, my dear Will, I kenna still,Whilk o' the twa did lose, man;For well I wat they had good skillTo set upo' their foes, man:15The red-coats they are train'd, you see,The clans always disdain to flee,Wha then should gain the victory?But the Highland race, all in a brace,With a swift pace, to the Whigs disgrace,20Did put to chaceTheir foes, man.
W.Now how diel, Tam, can this be true?I saw the chace gae north, man.T.But well I wat they did pursue25Them even unto Forth, man.Frae Dumblain they ran in my own sight,And got o'er the bridge with all their might,And those at Stirling took their flight;Gif only ye had been wi' me,30You had seen them flee, of each degree,For fear to dieWi' sloth, man.
W.My sister Kate came o'er the hill,Wi' crowdie unto me, man;35She swore she saw them running stillFrae Perth unto Dundee, man.The left wing gen'ral had na skill,The Angus lads had no good willThat day their neighbours blood to spill;40For fear by foes that they should loseTheir cogues of brose, all crying woes—Yonder them goes,D'ye see, man?
T.I see but few like gentlemen45Amang yon frighted crew, man;I fear my Lord Panmure be slain,Or that he's ta'en just now, man:For tho' his officers obey,His cowardly commons run away,50For fear the red-coats them should slay;The sodgers hail make their hearts fail;See how they scale, and turn their tail,And rin to flailAnd plow, man.55
W.But now brave Angus comes againInto the second fight, man;They swear they'll either dye or gain,No foes shall them affright, man:Argyle's best forces they'll withstand,60And boldly fight them sword in hand,Give them a general to command,A man of might, that will but fight,And take delight to lead them right,And ne'er desire65The flight, man.
ButFlandrekinsthey have no skillTo lead a Scotish force, man;Their motions do our courage spill,And put us to a loss, man.70You'll hear of us far better news,When we attack like Highland trews,To hash, and slash, and smash and bruise,Till the field, tho' braid, be all o'erspread,But coat or plaid, wi' corpse that's dead75In their cold bed,That's moss, man.
T.Twa gen'rals frae the field did run,Lords Huntley and Seaforth, man;They cry'd and run grim death to shun,80Those heroes of the North, man;They're fitter far for book or pen,Than under Mars to lead on men;Ere they came there they might well kenThat female hands could ne'er gain lands;85'Tis Highland brands that countermandsArgathlean bandsFrae Forth, man.
W.The Camerons scow'r'd as they were mad,Lifting their neighbours cows, man,90M'Kenzie and the Stewart fled,Without phil'beg or trews, man:Had they behav'd like Donald's core,And kill'd all those came them before,Their king had gone to France no more:95Then each Whig saint wad soon repent,And strait recant his covenant,And rentIt at the news, man.
T.M'Gregors they far off did stand,100Badenach and Athol too, man;I hear they wanted the command,For I believe them true, man.Perth, Fife, and Angus, wi' their horse,Stood motionless, and some did worse,105For, tho' the red-coats went them cross,They did conspire for to admireClans run and fire, left wings retire,While rights intirePursue, man.110
W.But Scotland has not much to say,For such a fight as this is,Where baith did fight, baith run away;The devil take the miss isThat every officer was not slain115That run that day, and was not ta'en,Either flying from or to Dumblain;When Whig and Tory, in their 'fury,'Strove for glory, to our sorrow,The sad story120Hush is.
67. By Flanderkins are meant Lieutenant-General Fanderbeck and Colonels Rantzaw and Cromstrom.—Hogg.
67. By Flanderkins are meant Lieutenant-General Fanderbeck and Colonels Rantzaw and Cromstrom.—Hogg.
From Herd'sScotish Songs, ii. 234. The same in Ritson'sScotish Songs, ii. 73. Burns furnished a somewhat different version to Johnson'sMuseum(p. 195, also in Cromek'sSelect Scotish Songs, ii. 29), which he obtained from one Tom Neil, a carpenter in Edinburgh, who was famous for his singing of Scottish songs. The title and burden to this version isUp and warn a', Willie, an allusion, says Burns, to thecrantara, or warning of a Highland clan to arms, which the Lowlanders, not understanding, have corrupted. There is another copy in Hogg'sJacobite Relics, ii. 18, which is nearly the same as the following.
When the Earl of Mar first raised his standard, and proclaimed the Chevalier, the ornamental ball on the top of the staff fell off, and the superstitious Highlanders interpreted the circumstance as ominous of ill for their cause. This is the incident referred to in the third stanza.
When we went to the field of war,And to the weapon-shaw, Willie,With true design to stand our ground,And chace our faes awa', Willie,Lairds and lords came there bedeen,5And vow gin they were pra', Willie:Up and war 'em a', Willie,War 'em, war 'em a', Willie.And when our army was drawn up,The bravest e'er I saw, Willie,10We did not doubt to rax the rout,And win the day and a', Willie;Pipers play'd frae right to left,"Fy, fourugh Whigs awa'," Willie.Up and war, &c.15But when our standard was set up,So fierce the wind did bla', Willie,The golden knop down from the topUnto ground did fa', Willie:Then second-sighted Sandy said,20"We'll do nae good at a', Willie."Up and war, &c.When bra'ly they attack'd our left,Our front, and flank, and a', Willie,Our bald commander on the green,Our faes their left did ca', Willie,25And there the greatest slaughter madeThat e'er poor Tonald saw, Willie.Up and war, &c.First when they saw our Highland mob,They swore they'd slay us a', Willie;And yet ane fyl'd his breiks for fear,30And so did rin awa', Willie:We drave him back to Bonnybrigs,Dragoons, and foot, and a', Willie.Up and war, &c.But when their gen'ral view'd our lines,And them in order saw, Willie,35He straight did march into the town,And back his left did draw, Willie:Thus we taught them the better gate,To get a better fa', Willie.Up and war, &c.And then we rally'd on the hills,40And bravely up did draw, Willie;But gin ye spear wha wan the day,I'll tell you what I saw, Willie:We baith did fight, and baith were beat,And baith did run awa', Willie.45So there's my canty Highland sangAbout the thing I saw, Willie.
When we went to the field of war,And to the weapon-shaw, Willie,With true design to stand our ground,And chace our faes awa', Willie,Lairds and lords came there bedeen,5And vow gin they were pra', Willie:Up and war 'em a', Willie,War 'em, war 'em a', Willie.
And when our army was drawn up,The bravest e'er I saw, Willie,10We did not doubt to rax the rout,And win the day and a', Willie;Pipers play'd frae right to left,"Fy, fourugh Whigs awa'," Willie.Up and war, &c.15
But when our standard was set up,So fierce the wind did bla', Willie,The golden knop down from the topUnto ground did fa', Willie:Then second-sighted Sandy said,20"We'll do nae good at a', Willie."Up and war, &c.
When bra'ly they attack'd our left,Our front, and flank, and a', Willie,Our bald commander on the green,Our faes their left did ca', Willie,25And there the greatest slaughter madeThat e'er poor Tonald saw, Willie.Up and war, &c.
First when they saw our Highland mob,They swore they'd slay us a', Willie;And yet ane fyl'd his breiks for fear,30And so did rin awa', Willie:We drave him back to Bonnybrigs,Dragoons, and foot, and a', Willie.Up and war, &c.
But when their gen'ral view'd our lines,And them in order saw, Willie,35He straight did march into the town,And back his left did draw, Willie:Thus we taught them the better gate,To get a better fa', Willie.Up and war, &c.
And then we rally'd on the hills,40And bravely up did draw, Willie;But gin ye spear wha wan the day,I'll tell you what I saw, Willie:We baith did fight, and baith were beat,And baith did run awa', Willie.45So there's my canty Highland sangAbout the thing I saw, Willie.
Seep. 156. FromA New Book of Old Ballads, p. 30.
Hogg inserted this ballad in theJacobite Relics, ii. 13, using, says Maidment, the editor of the publication cited above, a very imperfect manuscript copy. The following version was taken from the original broad-side, supposed to be unique. There are very considerable variations in the language of the two copies, and the order of the stanzas is quite different. This says Hogg, "is exclusively a party song, made by some of the Grants, or their adherents, in obloquy of their more potent neighbours, the Gordons. It is in a great measure untrue; for, though the Marquis of Huntley was on the left wing at the head of a body of horse, and among the gentlemen that fled, yet two battalions of Gordons, or at least of Gordon's vassals, perhaps mostly of the Clan Chattan, behaved themselves as well as any on the field, and were particularly instrumental in breaking the Whig cavalry, or the left wing of their army, and driving them back among their foot. On this account, as well as that of the bitter personalities that it contains, the "song is only curious as an inveterate party song, and not as a genuine humorous description of the fight that the Marquis and his friends were in. The latter part ofthe [third] stanza seems to allude to an engagement that took place at Dollar, on the 24th October, a fortnight previous to the battle of Sheriffmuir. Mar had despatched a small body of cavalry to force an assessment from the town of Dunfermline, of which Argyle getting notice, sent out a stronger party, who surprised them early in the morning before daylight, and arrested them, killing some and taking seventeen prisoners, several of whom were Gordons. The last stanza [but one] evidently alludes to the final submission of the Marquis and the rest of the Gordons to King George's government, which they did to the Grants and the Earl of Sutherland. The former had previously taken possession of Castle Gordon; of course, the malicious bard of the Grants, with his ill-scraped pen, was not to let that instance of the humiliation of his illustrious neighbours pass unnoticed.—Jacobite Relics, vol. ii. p. 255.
From Bogie side to Bogie Gight,The Gordons all conveen'd, man,With all their might, to battlewight,Togetherclosethey join'd, man,To set their king upon the throne,5And to protect the church, man;But fy for shame! they soon ran hame,And left him in the lurch, man.Vow as the Marquis ran,Coming from Dumblane, man!Strabogie did b—t itself,And Enzie was not clean, man.Their chieftain was a man of fame,And doughty deeds had wrought, man,10Which future ages still shall name,And tell how well he fought, man.For when the battle did begin,Immediately his Grace, man,Put spurs toFlorance, and so ran15By all, and wan the race, man.Vow, &c.The Marquis' horse was first sent forth,Glenbucket's foot to back them,To give a proof what they were worth,If rebels durst attack them.20With loud huzzas to Huntly's praise,They near'd Dumfermling Green, man,But fifty horse, and de'il ane mair,Turn'd many a Highland clan, man.Vow, &c.The second chieftain of that clan,25For fear that he should die, man,To gain the honour of his name,Rais'd first the mutinie, man.And then he wrote unto his Grace,The great Duke of Argyle, man,30And swore, if he would grant him peace,The Tories he'd beguile, man.Vow, &c.The Master with the bullie's face,And with the coward's heart, man,Who never fails, to his disgrace,35To act a traitor's part, man,He join'd Drumboig, the greatest knaveIn all the shire of Fife, man.He was the first the cause did leave,By council of his wife, man.40Vow, &c.A member of the tricking trade,An Ogilvie by name, man,Consulter of the grumbling club,To his eternal shame, man,Who would have thought, when he came out,45That ever he would fail, man?And like a fool, did eat the cow,And worried on the tail, man.Vow, &c.Meffan Smith, at Sheriff Muir,Gart folk believe he fought, man;50But well it's known, that all he did,That day it serv'd for nought, man.For towards night, when Mar march'd off,Smith was put in the rere, man;He curs'd, he swore, he baul[lè]d out,55He would not stay for fear, man.Vow, &c.But at the first he seem'd to beA man of good renown, man;But when the grumbling work began,He prov'd an arrant lown, man.60Against Mar, and a royal war,A letter he did forge, man;Against his Prince, he wrote nonsense,And swore byRoyal George, man.Vow, &c.At Poineth boat,Mr. Francis Stewart,65A valiant hero stood, man,In acting of a royal part,Cause of the royal blood, man.But when at Sheriff Moor he foundThat bolting would not do it,70He, brother like, did quite his ground,And ne're came back unto it.Vow, &c.Brunstane said it was not fearThat made him stay behind, man;But that he had resolv'd that day75To sleep in a whole skin, man.The gout, he said, made him take [bed],When battle first began, man;But when he heard his Marquis fled,He took his heels and ran, man.80Vow, &c.Sir James of Park, he left his horseIn the middle of a wall, man;And durst not stay to take him out,For fear a knight should fall, man;And Maien he let such a crack,85And shewed a pantick fear, man;And Craigieheads swore he was shot,And curs'd the chance of wear, man.Vow, &c.When they march'd on the Sheriff Moor,With courage stout and keen, man;90Who would have thought the Gordons gayThat day should quite the green, man?Auchleacher and Auchanachie,And all the Gordon tribe, man,Like their great Marquis, they could not95The smell of powder bide, man.Vow, &c.Glenbuicket cryed, "Plague on you all,For Gordons do no good, man;For all that fled this day, it isThem of the Seaton blood, man."100Clashtirim said it was not so,And that he'd make appear, man;For he, a Seaton, stood that day,When Gordons ran for fear, man.Vow, &c.The Gordons they are kittle flaws,105They'll fight with heart and hand, man;When they met in Strathbogie rawsOn Thursday afternoon, man;But when the Grants came doun the brae,Their Enzie shook for fear, man;110And all the lairds rode up themselves,With horse and riding gear, man.Vow, &c.Clunyplays his game of chess,As sure as any thing, man;And like the royal Gordons race,115Gave check unto the king, man.Without a queen, its clearly seen,This game cannot recover;I'd do my best, then in great hastePlay up the rook Hanover.120Vow, &c.
From Bogie side to Bogie Gight,The Gordons all conveen'd, man,With all their might, to battlewight,Togetherclosethey join'd, man,To set their king upon the throne,5And to protect the church, man;But fy for shame! they soon ran hame,And left him in the lurch, man.Vow as the Marquis ran,Coming from Dumblane, man!Strabogie did b—t itself,And Enzie was not clean, man.
Their chieftain was a man of fame,And doughty deeds had wrought, man,10Which future ages still shall name,And tell how well he fought, man.For when the battle did begin,Immediately his Grace, man,Put spurs toFlorance, and so ran15By all, and wan the race, man.Vow, &c.
The Marquis' horse was first sent forth,Glenbucket's foot to back them,To give a proof what they were worth,If rebels durst attack them.20With loud huzzas to Huntly's praise,They near'd Dumfermling Green, man,But fifty horse, and de'il ane mair,Turn'd many a Highland clan, man.Vow, &c.
The second chieftain of that clan,25For fear that he should die, man,To gain the honour of his name,Rais'd first the mutinie, man.And then he wrote unto his Grace,The great Duke of Argyle, man,30And swore, if he would grant him peace,The Tories he'd beguile, man.Vow, &c.
The Master with the bullie's face,And with the coward's heart, man,Who never fails, to his disgrace,35To act a traitor's part, man,He join'd Drumboig, the greatest knaveIn all the shire of Fife, man.He was the first the cause did leave,By council of his wife, man.40Vow, &c.
A member of the tricking trade,An Ogilvie by name, man,Consulter of the grumbling club,To his eternal shame, man,Who would have thought, when he came out,45That ever he would fail, man?And like a fool, did eat the cow,And worried on the tail, man.Vow, &c.
Meffan Smith, at Sheriff Muir,Gart folk believe he fought, man;50But well it's known, that all he did,That day it serv'd for nought, man.For towards night, when Mar march'd off,Smith was put in the rere, man;He curs'd, he swore, he baul[lè]d out,55He would not stay for fear, man.Vow, &c.
But at the first he seem'd to beA man of good renown, man;But when the grumbling work began,He prov'd an arrant lown, man.60Against Mar, and a royal war,A letter he did forge, man;Against his Prince, he wrote nonsense,And swore byRoyal George, man.Vow, &c.
At Poineth boat,Mr. Francis Stewart,65A valiant hero stood, man,In acting of a royal part,Cause of the royal blood, man.But when at Sheriff Moor he foundThat bolting would not do it,70He, brother like, did quite his ground,And ne're came back unto it.Vow, &c.
Brunstane said it was not fearThat made him stay behind, man;But that he had resolv'd that day75To sleep in a whole skin, man.The gout, he said, made him take [bed],When battle first began, man;But when he heard his Marquis fled,He took his heels and ran, man.80Vow, &c.
Sir James of Park, he left his horseIn the middle of a wall, man;And durst not stay to take him out,For fear a knight should fall, man;And Maien he let such a crack,85And shewed a pantick fear, man;And Craigieheads swore he was shot,And curs'd the chance of wear, man.Vow, &c.
When they march'd on the Sheriff Moor,With courage stout and keen, man;90Who would have thought the Gordons gayThat day should quite the green, man?Auchleacher and Auchanachie,And all the Gordon tribe, man,Like their great Marquis, they could not95The smell of powder bide, man.Vow, &c.
Glenbuicket cryed, "Plague on you all,For Gordons do no good, man;For all that fled this day, it isThem of the Seaton blood, man."100Clashtirim said it was not so,And that he'd make appear, man;For he, a Seaton, stood that day,When Gordons ran for fear, man.Vow, &c.
The Gordons they are kittle flaws,105They'll fight with heart and hand, man;When they met in Strathbogie rawsOn Thursday afternoon, man;But when the Grants came doun the brae,Their Enzie shook for fear, man;110And all the lairds rode up themselves,With horse and riding gear, man.Vow, &c.
Clunyplays his game of chess,As sure as any thing, man;And like the royal Gordons race,115Gave check unto the king, man.Without a queen, its clearly seen,This game cannot recover;I'd do my best, then in great hastePlay up the rook Hanover.120Vow, &c.