To stop each poor man's breath,
Than with famine you should see
Your subjects starve to death." 20
Up starts a Dutch lord,
Who to Delaware did say,
"Thou deservest to be stabb'd!"
Then he turned himself away:
"Thou deservest to be stabb'd, 25
And the dogs have thine ears,
For insulting our king
In this parliament of peers."
Up sprang a Welsh lord,
The brave Duke of Devonshire, 30
"In young Delaware's defence, I'll fight
This Dutch lord, my Sire.
"For he is in the right,
And I'll make it so appear:
Him I dare to single combat, 35
For insulting Delaware."
A stage was soon erected,
And to combat they went,
For to kill, or to be kill'd,
It was either's full intent. 40
But the very first flourish,
When the heralds gave command,
The sword of brave Devonshire
Bent backward on his hand;
In suspense he paused awhile, 45
Scann'd his foe before he strake,
Then against the king's armour,
His bent sword he brake.
Then he sprang from the stage,
To a soldier in the ring, 50
Saying, "Lend your sword, that to an end
This tragedy we bring:
Though he's fighting me in armour,
While I am fighting bare,
Even more than this I'd venture 55
For young Lord Delaware."
Leaping back on the stage,
Sword to buckler now resounds,
Till he left the Dutch lord
A bleeding in his wounds: 60
This seeing, cries the King
To his guards without delay,
"Call Devonshire down,--
Take the dead man away!"
"No," says brave Devonshire, 65
"I've fought him as a man;
Since he's dead, I will keep
The trophies I have won.
For he fought me in your armour,
While I fought him bare, 70
And the same you must win back, my Liege,
If ever you them wear."
God bless the Church of England,
May it prosper on each hand,
And also every poor man 75
Now starving in this land;
And while I pray success may crown
Our king upon his throne,
I'll wish that every poor man
May long enjoy his own. 80
THE BATTLE OF HARLAW. (See p. 180.)
Traditionary Version, from Aytoun's _Scottish Ballads_, i. 75.
"I am indebted to the kindness of Lady John Scott for the following
extremely spirited ballad, which was taken down some years ago in
Aberdeenshire, where it is still very popular. It is sung to a
beautiful air, with the following refrain to each stanza:--
"_Wi' a drie, drie, dredidronilie drie._"
As I cam in by Garioch land,
And doun by Netherha',
There was fifty thousand Hielandmen,
A' marching to Harlaw.
As I cam on, and further on, 5
And doun and by Balquhaim,
O there I met Sir James the Ross,
Wi' him Sir John the Græme.
"O cam ye frae the Highlands, man?
O cam ye a' the way? 10
Saw ye Mac Donnell and his men,
As they cam frae the Skye?"
"Yes, we cam frae the Highlands, man,
And we cam a' the way,
And we saw Mac Donnell and his men, 15
As they cam in frae Skye."
"O was ye near Mac Donnell's men?
Did ye their number see?
Come, tell to me, John Hielandman,
What might their numbers be?" 20
"Yes, we was near, and near eneugh,
And we their number saw;
There was fifty thousand Hielandmen,
A' marching to Harlaw."
"Gin that be true," said James the Ross, 25
"We'll no come meikle speed;
We'll cry upon our merry men,
And turn our horses' head."
"O na, O na!" says John the Græme,
"That thing maun never be; 30
The gallant Græmes were never beat,
We'll try what we can dee."
As I cam on, and further on,
And doun and by Harlaw,
They fell fu' close on ilka side, 35
Sic straiks ye never saw.
They fell fu' close on ilka side,
Sic straiks ye never saw;
For ilka sword gaed clash for clash,
At the battle o' Harlaw. 40
The Hielandmen wi' their lang swords,
They laid on as fu' sair,
And they drave back our merry men,
Three acres breadth and mair.
Brave Forbés to his brother did say, 45
"O brother, dinna ye see?
They beat us back on ilka side,
And we'll be forced to flee."
"O na! O na! my brother dear,
O na! that mauna be! 50
You'll tak your gude sword in your hand,
And ye'll gang in wi' me."
Then back to back the brothers brave
Gaed in amang the thrang,
And they swept doun the Hielandmen, 55
Wi' swords baith sharp and lang.
The first ae straik that Forbés strack,
He gar'd Mac Donnell reel;
And the neist ae straik that Forbés strack,
The brave Mac Donnell fell. 60
And siccan a Pitlarichie
I'm sure ye never saw,
As was amang the Hielandmen,
When they saw Mac Donnell fa'.
And when they saw that he was dead, 65
They turn'd and ran awa',
And they buried him in Legate's Den,
A large mile frae Harlaw.
Some rade, some ran, and some did gang,
They were o' sma' record, 70
But Forbés and his merry men
They slew them a' the road.
On Mononday at morning,
The battle it began;
On Saturday at gloamin', 75
Ye'd scarce ken'd wha had wan.
And sic a weary buryin'
I'm sure ye never saw,
As was the Sunday after that,
On the muirs aneath Harlaw. 80
Gin onybody speer at ye
For them we took awa',
Ye may tell them plain, and very plain,
They're sleeping at Harlaw.
GLOSSARY.
[right pointing hand]Figures placed after words denote the pages in
which they occur.
a, _of_.
abien, aboun, _above_.
aboyding, _abiding_.
accompany, 308, _keep the company of_.
ae, _one_.
affected, _enamored_.
all and sum, _all and several_, _one and all_.
allangst, 182, _along_.
ancyents, 63, _ensigns_.
anent, _over against_.
aneughe, _enough_.
aras, _arrows_.
arminge-sword, _a two-handed sword_.
austerne, 99, _austere_.
avowe, _vow_.
awin, _own_.
bade, _abode_.
bald, _bold_.
bale, _sorrow_;
ballys bete, 42, _better_, _amend_, _our evils_.
bandoun, _command_, _orders_.
banket, _banquet_.
barne, (A. Sax. _beorn_,) _chief_, _man_.
basnites, bassonetts, _helmets_.
battellis, 225, _divisions of the army_, or, _the armies_.
be, _by_, _at_, _by the time that_.
bearing arrow, 65, "an arrow that carries well:" Percy, who also suggests
birring, i.e. _whirring_, _whizzing_.
See Boucher's _Glossary_.
bed, 224, 229, _abode_, _remained_.
bedeen, 265, _in numbers_, _one after another_?
beild, _shelter_;
224, _position of safety_.
ben, _in_.
bende-bow, _bent bow_.
bended, 182, _bounded_?
bent, _coarse grass_, _ground on which this grass grows_, _field_.
berne (A. Sax. _beorn_), _chief_, _man_.
ber, _bare_.
beth, 98, _is_.
be-west, _to the west of_.
biggingis, _buildings_.
bille, see sworne.
billie, _comrade_.
bla', _blow_.
blaithe, _blithe_.
blan, blane, _ceased_, _stopped_.
blate, _silly_, _stupid_.
bleid, _blood_.
bodward, 182, _message_.
borrowe, _security_, _hostage_, _ransom_;
borowed, 18, _ransomed_.
bouk, _body_, _carcase_.
bowne, bowyn, _ready_, _prepared_;
235, _going_;
bound, bowynd, 19, 5, 6, _made ready_, _went_.
brace, 260, same as breeze, _hurry_?
bracken, braken, _fern_.
brae, _side of a hill_.
braid, _broad_.
bra'ly, _bravely_.
branken, branking, _prancing_, _capering_.
braveries, _displays_.
braw, _brave_, _handsome_.
bread, 59, _breadth_;
bred, _broad_.
breeks, _breeches_.
brent, _burned_.
brim, _fierce_.
bronde, _brand_, _sword_.
brook, _enjoy_;
186, _take_ (_possession of_).
brose, 261, _pottage_.
brouine, brown, _brewed_.
broust, _brewage_.
bruch, brugh, _burgh_, _city_.
bryttlynge, _cutting up_ (_of game_.)
buft, _buffeted_, _beat_.
burd-alone, _alone_.
burn, _brook_.
but, _without_, 221;
but bed, _before we sleep_.
butter-box, 154, "Dutchmen." Ritson.
byckarte, 30, _moved quickly, rattling their weapons_.
byddys, _abides_.
byears, _biers_.
byll, _halbert_, _battle-axe_.
ca', _call_;
265, _drive_, _beat_.
caliver, 116, _large pistol_, or _blunderbuss_.
can, could, used as auxiliaries to form the past tenses.
canty, _merry_.
carefull, _anxious_.
carpe, _tell_, _discourse_.
cast, _propose_, _intend_.
cawte, _cautious_.
chafts, _chaps_.
chess, _chace_.
chessit, _chased_.
cheverons, _gloves_.
christiantè, _Christendom_.
claw, _scratch_, _fight_.
clinkum clankum, a phrase for _smart blows_.
cogue, _wooden pail_.
cold bee, 100, _was_;
see can.
collayne, _Cologne_, i. e. _steel, or manufacture_:
see i. 357.
cor, core, _corps_.
corpes, 287, _living body_.
cors, _curse_.
corynoch, _lamentation for the dead_.
cowde dye, 16, _did die_;
see can.
crouse, 169, _brisk_, _brave_.
crowdie, _gruel_, _porridge_.
cryand, _crying_.
daft, _mad_.
dandering, _an epithet expressing the noise of drums_, like tantara,
p. 124.
de, _die_;
deid, dead, _death_.
decay, _destruction_, _death_.
dee, _do_.
deemedst, _doomedst_.
demean, _punish_, _put down_.
deputed, 103, used of a fugitive _carried back for trial_.
diel, _devil_.
dight, dicht;
61, _furnished_;
37, 189, to deth, "_done_," _wounded_;
22, _dispose of_, _handle_, _encounter_.
ding, pr. dung, _strike_, _knock_, _beat_, _overcome_.
dinne, _noise_.
discord, _quarrel_.
doghtie, _doughty_.
door, 154? dorlach, which Jamieson says is a short-sword, means a
_wallet_.
douted, _redoubtable_, _feared_.
doutsum, _doubtful_.
drede, _doubt_.
dre, drye, _endure_, _bear_;
drie, 98, as noun, _suffering_.
dulesum, _doleful_.
dunted, _beat_.
durk, _dirk_.
dyne, garre, 10, _give one his fill of fighting_.
dyne, 228, _valley_.
dynte, _blow_, _stroke_.
eathe, _easy_.
ee, _eye_.
edicang, _aide-de-camp_.
eme, _uncle_.
endlongis, _along_.
enewch, _enough_.
ensenzie, enzie, _ensign_.
envye (to do), _ill-will_, _injury_.
ewill, 229; qy, eve, or vigil?
fa', _fall_;
162, _share_, _portion_.
fach, _fetch_.
fallows, _fellows_, _equals_.
fare, _go_.
fay, 219, _on the verge of death_, _doomed_.
fayne, _glad_.
feale, _fail_.
fearit, _feared_.
fecht, _fight_.
fee, _property_, _reward_.
feck, maist, _greatest part_.
feid, _feud_, _enmity_.
feingit, _feigned_.
feirdness, _cowardice_.
fell, _hide_.
fells, _hills_, also, _moors_.
fend, _keep_, _support_.
fett, _fetched_.
fiery-fairy, _confusion and consternation_.
filabeg, _kilt, or short petticoat, worn by Highlanders instead of
breeches_.
firstin, _first_.
fit, _song_, _division of a song_, _story_.
flegs, _frights_.
flinders, _fragments_.
flyte, _scold_, _remonstrate_;
95, _rally_.
forder, _further_.
forefend, _forbid_.
forgatherit, _met together_.
forwarde, _van_.
fou, _full_.
fourugh, see furich.
frame, 133, _succeed_.
freck, freke, freyke (A. S. _one who is bold_) _warrior_, _man_.
fun', _found_.
furich, furichinish, Gaelic;
fuirich means _wait_, _stop_;
fearach is an old Irish warcry. "Fy, furich, Whigs, awa'!" was a
Jacobite pipe air, says Chambers.
free, frie, _noble_;
20, of metal, _precious_ (?)
gade, _went_.
galliards, _quick and lively dances_.
gare, _gore_.
See Glossary to vol. 2.
garre, _make_;
gart, _garde_, _made_.
gate, _way_.
geed, _went_.
geere, 64, _business_, _affair_.
gettyng, 9, _plunder_.
gled, _gladden_.
glede, _live coal_.
glent, _glanced_, _passed swiftly_.
gloamin', _dusk_, _night-fall_.
glove, 121; to claim a glove worn as a lady's favor, was a form of
challenge,--which is perhaps the reference here.
graif, _grave_.
graithed, grathed, _prepared_, _dressed_, _armed_;
183, _laid_, or _laid out_.
gree, bear the, _bore the palm_.
gresse, _grass_.
grevis, _groves_, _bushes_.
grite, _weep_.
grysely, _dreadfully_.
guide, _good_.
habershoune, _coat of mail_.
hach-borde, 60, 63, 68, (MS. has in one place, "archborde,") seems to be
used for the _side of the ship_.
hached, _inlaid_ or _gilded_.
hagbutis, _a kind of muskets_.
halched, _greeted_.
hale, _whole_.
hard, _heard_.
harneis, _armor_.
haryed, _plundered_.
haws, _low grounds on the border of a river_.
haylde, _hauled_.
haylle, 10, _healthy_.
he, _high_.
heal, _hail_.
heidit, _beheaded_.
heidin, _beheading_.
hernainsell, see note p. 154.
hich, _high_.
hight, _promise_, _be called_.
hinde, _gentle_.
hing, _hang_.
his, _has_.
Hogan Dutch, 155?
holtes, 8, _woods_.
hoved, 9, _hovered_, _hung about_, _tarried_.
howe, _hollow_, _valley_.
husbonds, _husbandmen_.
hye, hyght, (on,) _on high_, _aloud_.
hyght, _promised_.
ilk, ilkay, _each_.
into, _in_.
is, _has_.
i-wis, _certainly_.
jack, _a coat of mail_, _a leather jacket_.
jouk, _avoid a blow by bending the body forward_.
kain, 180, _rent paid in kind_;
here, paid the kain is _suffered sorely_.
kaithe, _appear_, _come_.
ken, _know_;
kenna, _know not_.
kindly, 23, _native born_.
kith, _acquaintance_.
kittle flaws, _variable winds_, i.e. not to be depended on for courage.
knop, _knob_.
knowe, _knoll_.
lair, 239, _place where they were lying_.
lang, _long_.
lap, _leapt_.
layne, _deceive_;
13, _break word_.
leaguer, _camp_.
leath, _loath_.
leeve, _dear_, _pleasant_;
lever, _rather_.
lesse, 10, _lying_.
let, _prevent_.
lift, _air_.
lifting, _stealing_.
liges, _lieges_.
liklie, _handsome_, _promising_.
lilye, 23, lilly, 179, _covered with lilies_?
lilting, _singing cheerfully_.
linking, _walking quickly_.
list, _please_.
lithe, _list_.
liverance, 95, "_money for delivering up._" Percy.
logeying, _lodging_.
lope, _leapt_.
lucetts, 14, _luces_, _pikes_.
lurdane, _a heavy, stupid fellow_.
luves, _palms_, _hands_.
maker, makys, _mates_.
march-man, _warden of the Marches_.
march-perti, 40, _the Border parts or region_.
marke hym to the Trenité, 13, _commit himself to God by making the sign
of the cross_? marked, 14, _fixed their eyes on_, _took aim at_?
maugre, _spite_.
may, _maid_.
meany, _company_.
merchand, _marching_.
mickle, _great_.
mind, _remember_.
miss, 264, _evil_, _fault_, _trouble_.
moe, moo, _more_, _greater_.
mome, _fool_.
mort, _death_ (_of the deer_.)
mowes, mowis, (_mouths_,) _joke_.
muir, _moor_.
mykel, _great_.
myllàn, 36, _Milan_, i. e. _steel or manufacture_.
myne-allaine, _alone by myself_.
myneyeple, 35, _maniple_ (i. e. _many folds_), _a name for a close dress
with sleeves worn under the armor_.
nare, _nor_.
naye, _denial_.
near, _nearer_.
neist ae, _next_.
nixtin, _next_.
northen, be, _to the north of_.
oh'on a ri, Gaelic, _oh, my heart!_ oh' rig in di, 155?
one, _on_.
ones, _once_.
outrake, 100, _riding out_, _excursion_.
oware, _hour_.
owermaskit, _overcast_.
paiks, 154, _drubbing_.
palione, 222, pallion, _pavilion_, _tent_.
pall, _a rich cloth_.
parti, _part_.
paw, pa', 158, _swift motion_;
one's _part_ in a performance, 154;
of the _contortions_ of a person hanged, 162;
of the _movement of weapons_, 163.
peart, _pert_.
perseiued, _pursued_.
philibeg, _kilt, or short petticoat_, worn by Highlanders instead of
breeches.
Pitlarichie, 319?
pleadis, _prayers_.
polititious, _politic_, _ingenious_.
pompous, 278, _proud_, _magnificent_.
pra, 173, _brave_, _fine_.
presumand, _presuming_.
prycked, _rode_.
pyght, _pitched_.
quaint, _acquaint_.
quat, _quit_.
quhat, &c. _what_, _&c._
quhill, _while_, _until_.
quhois, _whose_.
quite, _quit_.
quyrry, _quarry_, _slaughtered game_.
quyt, _paid_, _repaid_.
race, 184, _course_.
raid, _a predatory incursion_.
rais, _rose_.
raking, 242, _running_, _scouring along_.
rave, _bereave_.
raw, _row_, _rank_;
upo' the raw, _in rank of battle_.
rax, _reach_, _stretch_;
265, _beat_?
rear, ride the, 233, _ride behind_, _have the worse_.
recks, 23, _matters_.
rede, _advise_;
15, _guessed_.
red, _rode_.
Reidswire, see vol. vi. p. 131.
remeid, _remedy_.
rent, _rend_.
rewyth, _regrets_.
riggings, 154, _backs_?
rinnes, _runs_.
rise on anchor, 206?
roke, _reek_, _steam_.
rout, _company_, _crowd_.
rowght, _rout_, _strife_.
rowynde, _round_.
rung, _cudgel_;
canon's, _figuratively_, _for shot_?
ryall, _royal_.
ryght, 7, _straight_.
rynde, 13, _flayed_? rinde, _to destroy_, Halliwell's _Dict._
saw, _saying_, _statement_.
say, _saw_.
say, _assay_.
sayne, _say_.
scale, 262, 178, _scatter_, _spread_.
schapped, 15, apparently should be "swapped;"
see _post_.
schoote, 12, _shot_, _let go_.
sen, _since_.
sene, 189, _skilled_, _experienced_.
shear, 30, 31, _quickly_, _at once_. (?) Halliwell.
she, used of _Highlanders in general_.
siccan, _such_.
sinsyne, _since_.
sith, _since_.
skelps, _blows_.
silver wand, 100?
slaydis, 228;
the passage is corrupt.
slicht, _slight_.
sloughe, _slew_.
smirkling, _smirking_, _smiling_.
smored, _smothered_.
snell, 269, _sharp_, _loud_.
snood, _a band with which a young woman ties up her hair_.
sould, _should_.
souters, _cobblers_.
spear, speir, _ask_.
spendyd, 96, probably the same as spanned, _grasped_.
splenderis, _splinters_.
spole, _shoulder_.
spuente, 36, _spirited_, _sprung out_.
spurne, _kick_; 42, _retaliation_?
stain, _outdo_, _excel_.
stalwurthlye, _stoutly_, _boldly_.
stane'd, _stationed_.
stank, 154, _pool_.
stead, 65, _place_, _post_.
stell'd, _placed_.
stent, _stop_.
stounde, _time_.
stour, stowre, (_turmoil of_) _fight_.
straiks, _strokes_.
stynttyde, _stopped_.
styrande, 6, see note: according to Percy's reading, _driving_ the deer
_from their retreats_;
but adopting Motherwell's, _prancing_, _spirited_.
suar, 35, 38, _sure_, _trusty_.
suthe, _true_.
swakked, 23, swapped, swapte, 15, 24, 36, _struck_, _smote_.
swat, _sweat_.
sweirand, _swearing_.
sworne into my bille, 95, "_I have delivered a promise in writing,
confirmed by an oath._" Percy.
syne, _since_, _then_, _afterward_.
tackes, _takes_.
tald, 227, _tall_?
talent, 310, seems to be used for property in general.
tear, 42, possibly the same as dere, _injury_.
teene, tene, _injury_.
tenne, _taken_.
tent, _heed_.
the, _thee_, _they_.
thi, _the_.
thir, _these_, _those_.
thought long, _found the time drag_.
thrang, _throng_.
thraw, _twist_.
thrysse, _thrice_.
thuds, 169, sound of blows, _noises_, _strokes_.
tinkler, played the, 161, _played the coward_.
tint, _lost_.
tockin, _token_.
ton, tone, the, _the one_.
tooke, 39; supply an omitted word, as "rest."
toom, _empty_.
top-castle, 62, _a kind of turret built round the mast-head_.
topsail, to cast, _a kind of salute_.
tre-trip for hay, 131; tray-trip was a _game at dice_.
tree, 226, _spear-shaft_? _cudgel_?
trews, 155, _Highland pantaloons_, consisting of breeches and stockings
in one piece;
here used for Highlanders.
trone, 143, _pillory_.
trows, 156, see trews.
touk, tuick, _beat_.
tyll, _to_.
tyne, _lose_.
uds-doyns, an oath.
uncouth, _unknown_.
uttermost, _outmost_.
valziant, _valiant_.
verament, _truly_.
vow, 169, _exclamation of admiration or surprise_.
vowit, _vowed_.
wae, _sad_, _sorry_.
wald, _would_.
waly, _interjection of lamentation_.
wane, 36?
war, _worse_;
verb, _to worst_, _overcome_.
war, _aware_.
ward, _word_.
waryson, _reward_.
wast, _west_.
wat, _know_.
weal, 41 (of hands), to _wring_?
weale, 64, qy, _well_? or _good luck_! The word is probably corrupted.
weapon-shaw, _inspection of arms_, _military review_.
wed, _would_.
wede, 72, _shorn_?
weir, _war_.
well, 226, qy. mell, _meddle or fight with_.
weme, 98, _belly_, _hollow_.
wend, _go_.
whigging, _moving fast_, _marching briskly_.
whilk, _which_.
whyll, 15, _till_.
wid, _would_.
wight, 102, _strong_, _quick_.
win, _go_, _get_.
win (hay), _make_, _get in_.
winna, _will not_.
wis, 214, _wish_.
woned unto the dead, 222, qy. vowed? _devoted themselves to death_?
wood, _mad_, _furious_.
worried, 270, _choked at_.
worthe, woe, _woe be to_.
wouche, _injury_.
wraithe, _wroth_.
writhe, _twisted_.
wyld, 30, seems to be used absolutely for _deer_.
wynn, (hay), _make_, _get in_.
ychone, _each one_.
yebent, _bent_.
yee, _eye_.
ye-feth, _i-faith_.
yender, _yonder_.
yerlle, _earl_.
yerly, _early_.
ye'se, _ye shall_.
yestreen, _yesterday_.
yill, _ale_.
yth' _in the_.
zield, _yield_.
zit, _yet_.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
Page 39, line 101: changed "strenght" to "strength" (Many hade no
strength for to stande,)
Page 108: line note anchor moved from line 67 to line 68.
Page 157, line 11: changed "orher" to "order" (Lord Roxburgh was
there, in order to share)
Page 191, line 9-12: changed indentation of this verse to be
consistent with the rest of the ballad.