The Gallant Grahams

 

 Now, fare thee weel, sweet Ennerdale!
  Baith kith and countrie I bid adieu ;
For I maun away, and I may not stay.
  To some uncouth land which I never knew.

To wear the blue I think it best.
  Of all the colours that I see ;
And I'll wear it for the gallant Grahams,
  That are banished from their countrie.

I have no gold, I have no land,
  I have no pearl, nor precious stane;
But I wald sell my silken snood,
  To see the gallant Grahams come hame.

In Wallace days when they began,
  Sir John the Graham did bear the gree,
Through all the lands of Scotland wide;
  He was a lord of the south countrie.

And so was seen full many a time;
  For the summer flowers did never spring,
But every Graham, in armour bright.
  Would then appear before the king.

They all were dressed in armour sheen.
  Upon the pleasant banks of Tay;
Before a king they might be seen.
  These gallant Grahams in their array.

At the Goukhead our camp we set.
  Our leaguer down there for to lay;
And, in the bonnie summer light.
  We rode our white horse and our gray.

Our false commander sold our king
  Unto his deadly enemie.
Who was the traitor Cromwell, then ;
  So I care not what they do with me.

They have betrayed our noble prince,
  And banish'd him from his royal crown;
But the gallant Grahams have ta'en in hand.
  For to command those traitors down.

In Glen-Prosen we rendezvoused,
  March'd to Glenshie by night and day,
And took the town of Aberdeen,
  And met the Campbells in their array.

Five thousand men, in armour strong,
  Did meet the gallant Grahams that day
At Inverlochie where war began,
  And scarce two thousand men were they

Gallant Montrose, that chieftain bold.
  Courageous in the best degree.
Did for the king fight well that day;
  The lord preserve his majestie!

Nathaniel Gordon, stout and bold.
  Did for king Charles wear the blue;
But the cavaliers, they all were sold.
  And brave Harthill, a cavalier too.

And Newton Gordon, burd-alone.
  And Dalgatie, both stout and keen.
And gallant Veitch upon the field,
  A braver face was never seen.

Now, fare ye weel, sweet Ennerdale!
  Countrie and kin I quit ye free ;
Cheer up your hearts, brave cavaliers.
  For the Grahams are gone to high Germany.

Now brave Montrose he went to France,
  And to Germany, to gather fame;
And bold Aboyne is to the sea.
  Young Huntly is his noble name.

Montrose again, that chieftain bold.
  Back unto Scotland fair he came.
For to redeem fair Scotland's land,
  The pleasant, gallant, worthy Graham!

At the water of Carron he did begin.
  And fought the battle to the end ;
Where there were killed, for our noble king.
  Two thousand of our Danish men.

Gilbert Menzies, of high degree.
  By whom the king's banner was borne;
For a brave cavalier was he,
  But now to glory he is gone.

Then woe to Strachan, and Hacket baith!
  And, Lesly, ill death may thou die !
For ye have betrayed the gallant Grahams,
  Who aye were true to majesty.

And the laird of Assint has seized Montrose,
  And had him into Edinburgh town ;
And frae his body taken the head.
  And quartered him upon a trone.

And Huntly's gone, the self-same way,
  And our noble king is also gone ;
He suffered death for our nation,
  Our mourning tears can ne'er be done.

But our brave young king is now come home,
  King Charles the second in degree;
The lord send peace into his time.
  And God preserve his majesty !