The Battle of Prestonpans (1824, Stirling)/The Battle of Prestonpans
For other versions of this work, see The Battle of Prestonpans.
THE BATTLE OF PRESTONPANS.
The Chevalier being void of fear,
did march up Drisile brae man;
And through Tranent e'er he did stent
as fast as he could gae man,
While general Cope did taunt and mock
wi' mony a loud huzza man:
But e'er next morn proclaimed the cock
we heard anither c aw man.
did march up Drisile brae man;
And through Tranent e'er he did stent
as fast as he could gae man,
While general Cope did taunt and mock
wi' mony a loud huzza man:
But e'er next morn proclaimed the cock
we heard anither c aw man.
The brave Lochiel as I heard tell,
Ian Camerons on is clouds man,
The morning fair did clear the air,
they looked with devlish thuds man,
Down guns they threw and swords they drew,
and soon soon did chace them aff man;
On (illegible text) crafts they built their chafts,
and gart them rin like daft man.
Ian Camerons on is clouds man,
The morning fair did clear the air,
they looked with devlish thuds man,
Down guns they threw and swords they drew,
and soon soon did chace them aff man;
On (illegible text) crafts they built their chafts,
and gart them rin like daft man.
The bluff dragoons swore blood and (illegible text)
they'd make the rebels run man:
And yet they flee when them they see
and widna fire a gun man,
They turn'd their back the foot hay brake,
such terror seized them a' man,
Some wet their cheeks some fyl'd their breeks,
and some for fear did fa' man.
they'd make the rebels run man:
And yet they flee when them they see
and widna fire a gun man,
They turn'd their back the foot hay brake,
such terror seized them a' man,
Some wet their cheeks some fyl'd their breeks,
and some for fear did fa' man.
The volunteer: prick'd up their ears,
and vow but they were crouse man;
But when the bairns saw't turn to earn'st;
they were not worth a louse man.
Maist feck gaes hame, O fy for shame,
they'd better staid awa man;
Than wi' cockade to made parade
and do nae good at a' man.
and vow but they were crouse man;
But when the bairns saw't turn to earn'st;
they were not worth a louse man.
Maist feck gaes hame, O fy for shame,
they'd better staid awa man;
Than wi' cockade to made parade
and do nae good at a' man.
Monteath the great when hersel' shot
un wares did ding him o'er man,
Yet wa nae stand to bear a hand,
but aff old flee like stour man;
w'er South a did o'er he stood still,
before he tasted meat man;
(illegible text)droth he may brag of his sweet wag,
that bare him aff sae sleet man.
un wares did ding him o'er man,
Yet wa nae stand to bear a hand,
but aff old flee like stour man;
w'er South a did o'er he stood still,
before he tasted meat man;
(illegible text)droth he may brag of his sweet wag,
that bare him aff sae sleet man.
And Seaton keen to clear the een,
of rebels far is wrang man;
did nerer strive wi' pistols five,
but gallop'd with the thrang man:
He turn'd his back and in a crack,
was cleanly out of sight man;
and thought it best it was nae jest,
wi' Highlanders to fight man.
of rebels far is wrang man;
did nerer strive wi' pistols five,
but gallop'd with the thrang man:
He turn'd his back and in a crack,
was cleanly out of sight man;
and thought it best it was nae jest,
wi' Highlanders to fight man.
'Mung a' the gang nane bade the bang,
but twa ane was tan man;
For Campbell rade, but Morie staid,
and sair he paid the skin man,
Fell skelps he got was waur than shot,
frae the sharp-edged claymore man,
Frae mony a spout came rushing out.
his reeking red hot gore man
but twa ane was tan man;
For Campbell rade, but Morie staid,
and sair he paid the skin man,
Fell skelps he got was waur than shot,
frae the sharp-edged claymore man,
Frae mony a spout came rushing out.
his reeking red hot gore man
But Gard'ner brave did still behave,
like to a hero bright man,
His courage true like him were few,
that still despise fight man:
For king and laws and country's cause,
in honour's bed he lay man,
His life, but not his courage fled
while le bad breath to draw man.
like to a hero bright man,
His courage true like him were few,
that still despise fight man:
For king and laws and country's cause,
in honour's bed he lay man,
His life, but not his courage fled
while le bad breath to draw man.
And Major Boyle that worthy soul,
was brought down to the ground man,
His horse being shot, it was his lot,
for to get many a wound man:
Lieutenant Smith of Irish birth,
frae whom he call'd for ain man
Being full of dread, lap o'er his head,
sad wou'd not be gainsaid man.
was brought down to the ground man,
His horse being shot, it was his lot,
for to get many a wound man:
Lieutenant Smith of Irish birth,
frae whom he call'd for ain man
Being full of dread, lap o'er his head,
sad wou'd not be gainsaid man.
He made such haste, sae spurr'd his beast,
'twas little there he saw, man;
To Berwick rade and falsely said,
the Scots ate rebels a' man:
But let that end for well 'ti kend,
his use and wont lo lie man;
The league is nought he never sought,
when he had room to flee man.
'twas little there he saw, man;
To Berwick rade and falsely said,
the Scots ate rebels a' man:
But let that end for well 'ti kend,
his use and wont lo lie man;
The league is nought he never sought,
when he had room to flee man.
But gallant Rodger, like a sodger,
stood and bravely fought man:
I'm wae to tell at last he fell,
but mae down wi' him brought man:
At point of death, wi' his last breath
(some standing round in ring man)
On's back lying flat he waved his hat,
and cried God save the king man.
stood and bravely fought man:
I'm wae to tell at last he fell,
but mae down wi' him brought man:
At point of death, wi' his last breath
(some standing round in ring man)
On's back lying flat he waved his hat,
and cried God save the king man.
Some Highland rogues like hungry dogs,
neglecting to pursue man,
About they fac'd and in great haste
upon the booty flew man.
And they as gain, for all their pain
are deck'd wi' spoils o' war man;
Fu' bauld I can tell how her nainsel',
wat ne'er sae pra' pefore man.
neglecting to pursue man,
About they fac'd and in great haste
upon the booty flew man.
And they as gain, for all their pain
are deck'd wi' spoils o' war man;
Fu' bauld I can tell how her nainsel',
wat ne'er sae pra' pefore man.
At the thorn tree, which you may see,
bewest the Meadow-mill man,
There mony slain lay on the plain;
the clans pursuing still man;
Sic unco' backs, and deadly whacks,
I never saw the like man,
Lost hands and heads, cost them their deeds,
that fell at Preston-Dyke man.
bewest the Meadow-mill man,
There mony slain lay on the plain;
the clans pursuing still man;
Sic unco' backs, and deadly whacks,
I never saw the like man,
Lost hands and heads, cost them their deeds,
that fell at Preston-Dyke man.
That afternoon when a' was done,
I gade to see the fray man;
But I had wist what after past,
I'd better staid awa man:
On Seaton sands wi' nimble hands,
they pick'd my pockets bare man:
But I wish ne'er to prie sic fear,
for a' the sum and mair man.
I gade to see the fray man;
But I had wist what after past,
I'd better staid awa man:
On Seaton sands wi' nimble hands,
they pick'd my pockets bare man:
But I wish ne'er to prie sic fear,
for a' the sum and mair man.