The Merry Muses of Caledonia/Act Sederunt of the Court of Session

by Robert Burns

ACT SEDERUNT OF THE COURT OF SESSION.

Tune—"O'er the Muir amang the Heather."

Burns wrote to Robert Cleghorn, under date October 25, 1793:—"I have just bought a quire of post, and I am determined, my dear Cleghorn, to give you the maidenhead of it. Indeed, that is all my reason for, and all that I can propose to give you by, the present scrawl. From my late hours last night, and the dripping fogs and damn'd east wind of this stupid day, I have left me as little soul as an oyster.—'Sir John, you are so fretful, you cannot live long.'—'Why, there is it! Come, sing me a b——dy song to make me merry!!'

"Act Sederunt o' the Session.

"Tune—'O'er the muir amang the heather.'

"Well, the Law is good for something, since we can make a b——dy song out of it. (N.B.—I never made anything of it any other way.) There is, there must be some truth in original sin. My violent propensity to b—dry convinces me of it. Lack a day! if that species of composition be the special sin, never-to-be-forgiven in this world nor in that which is to come, I am the most offending soul alive."

In Embro' town they've made a law,
In Embro' at the Court o' Session,
That standin' p——s are fautor's a',
And guilty o' a high transgression.

Decreet o' the Court o' Session,
Act Sederunt o' the Session,
That standin' p——s are fautor's a',
And guilty o' a high transgression.

And they've provided dungeons deep,
Ilk lass has ane in her possession,
Until the fautors wail and weep,
There they shall lie for their transgression.

Decreet o' the Court o' Session,
Act Sederunt o' the Session.
The rogues in pouring tears shall weep,
By Act Sederunt o' the Session.