Battle of Philiphaugh/The Battle of Loudon-Hill

THE BATTLE OF LOUDON-HILL.

You'l marvel when I tell ye o’
Our noble Burly, and his train;
When last he march’d up thro’ the land,
Wi’ sax-and-twenty westland men.

Than they I ne’er o’ braver heard,
For they had a’ baith wit and skill;
They proved right well, as I heard tell,
As they cam’ up o’er Loudon-hill.

Weel prosper a’ the gospel lads,
That are into the west countrie;
Ay wicked Claver’se to demean,
And ay an ill dead may he die!

For he’s drawn up i’battle rank.
An’ that baith soon and hastilie;
But they wha live till simmer come,

Some bludie days for this will see.

But up spak’ cruel Claver’se then,
Wi’ hastie wit, an’ wicked skill;
“Gi’e fire on yon westlan’ men;
I think it is my sov’reign’s will."

But up bespake his cornet, then,
“It’s be wi’ nae consent o’ me!
I ken I’ll ne’er come back again,
An’ mony mae as weel as me.

“There is not ane of a’ yon men,
But wha is worthy other three;
There is na ane amang them a’,
That in his cause will stap to die.

“An’ as for Burly, him I knaw;
He’s a man of honour, birth, an’ fame;
Gi’e him a sword into his hand,
He’ll fight thysel’ an’ other ten."

But up spake wicked Claver’se then,
I wat his heart it raise fu’ hie!
And he has cry’d that a’ might hear,
“ Man, ye ha’e sair deceived me.

“I never ken’d the like afore,
Na, never since I came frae hame,
That you sae cowardly here suld prove,
An’ yet come of a noble Graeme.”

But up bespake his cornet, then,
“Since that it is your honour’s will,
Mysel’ shall be the foremost man,

That shall gi’e fire on Loudon-hill.

“At your command I’ll lead them on,
But yet wi’ nae consent o’ me;
For weel I ken I’ll ne’er return,
And mony mae as weel as me.”

Then up he drew in battle rank;
I wat he had a bonnie train!
But the first time that bullets flew,
Ay he lost twenty o’ his men.

Then back he came the way he gaed,
I wat right soon and suddenly!
He gave command amang his men,
And sent them back, and bade them flee.

Then up came Burly, bauld an’ stout,
Wi’s little train o’ Westland men;
Wha mair than either aince or twice
In Edinburgh confined had been.

They ha’e been up to London sent,
An’ yet they’re a’ come safely down;
Sax troop o’ horsemen they ha’e beat,
And chased them into Glasgow town.