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The Book of Scottish Song/The Braes of Mar

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The Book of Scottish Song (1843)
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2269142The Book of Scottish Song — The Braes of Mar1843Alexander Whitelaw
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The Braes of Mar.

[Alex. Laing of Brechin.—This song was published (without, however, the illustrative notes here given,) in the Scottish Minstrel, Edinburgh, 1824, edited by R. A. Smith. The air, called "The Braes of Mar," is old and excellent, and is said to have been played on all occasions when the Earl assembled his clan, as it was on their march to the battle of Sherriffmuir, which was fought Nov. 13, 1715.]

The standard[1] on the braes o' Mar,
Is up and streaming rarely;
The gath'ring pipe on Loch-na-gar,
Is sounding lang and sairly.
The Highlandmen
Frae hill and glen,
In martial hue,
With bonnets blue,
With belted plaids,
And burnish'd blades,
Are coming late and eaily.

Wha wadna join our noble chief,[2]
The Drummond[3] and Glengary,[4]
Macgregor,[5] Murray,[6] Rollo,[7] Keith,[8]
Panmure,[9] and gallant Harry?[10]
​Macdonald's men,
Clan-Ranald's[11] men,
Mackenzie's[12] men,
Macgillvary's[13] men,
Strathallan's[14] men.
The Lowlan' men,
Of Callender[15] and Airly.[16]

Fy! Donald, up and let's awa',
We canna langer parley,
When Jamie's back is at the wa',
The lad we lo'e sae dearly.
We'll go—we'll go
And meet the foe
And fling the plaid,
And swing the blade,
And forward dash,
And hack and slash—
And fleg the German Carlie.



  1. ↑ This standard is supposed to have been made by the Earl's lady, and was very elegant; the colour was blue, having on the one side the Scottish arms wrought in gold, and on the other the Scottish thistle, with these words beneath, "No Union," and on the top the ancient motto "Nemo me impune lacessit." It had pendants of white ribbon, one of which had these words written upon it, "For our wronged king, and oppressed country;" the other ribbon had, "For our lives and liberties."
  2. ↑ Erskine, Earl of Mar, commander-in-chief of the Chevalier's army. He proclaimed James the eighth, and raised his standard at Castletoun of Brae-Mar, September 6th, 1715. He died in France, 1732.
  3. ↑ Drummond, marquis of Drummond, lieutenant-general of James's army, "a nobleman of great spirit, honour, and abilities." He died in France about 1717.
  4. ↑ Macdonald of Glengary, "a brave and spirited chief," attainted.
  5. ↑ Macgregor—Rob Roy Macgregor, brother to the laird of Macgregor, and hero of the novel which bears his name.
  6. ↑ Murray, marquis of Tullibardine: died in the Tower of London, 1746.
  7. ↑ Rollo—lord Rollo, "a man of singular merit and great integrity," he died in 1758.
  8. ↑ Keith, earl marischal of Scotland: died in Switzerland, 1771.
  9. ↑ Maule, earl of Panmure: died in Paris, 1723.
  10. ↑ Harry Maule, brother to the earl of Panmure, "who with every personal accomplishment, possessed great intrepidity, military skill," &c. died about 1740.
  11. ↑ Ranald Macdonald, captain of clan-Ranald. "He was the most gallant and generous young gentleman among the clan:" he fell in the field of battle.
  12. ↑ Mackenzie, earl of Seaforth: died 1740.
  13. ↑ Macgillvary: a name applied to the clans in general.
  14. ↑ Strathallan—viscount Strathallan: he was taken prisoner at Sherriffinuir; pardoned; joined Prince Charles Stuart, and fell in the battle of Culloden, 1746.
  15. ↑ Callender—Livingston earl of Callender and Linlithgow; attainted.
  16. ↑ Airly, Ogilvie, eldest son of the earl of Airly; attainted, but afterwards pardoned.
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