Maidment's North Countrie Garland, p. 15.
| 1 |
Upon the eighteenth day of June,
A dreary day to see,
The southern lords did pitch their camp
Just at the bridge of Dee. |
| 2 |
Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin,
A bold baron was he,
He made his testament ere he went out,
The wiser man was he. |
| 3 |
He left his land to his young son,
His lady her dowry,
A thousand crowns to his daughter Jean,
Yet on the nurse's knee. |
| 4 |
Then out came his lady fair,
A tear into her ee;
Says, Stay at home, my own good lord,
O stay at home with me! |
| 5 |
He looked over his left shoulder,
Cried, Souldiers, follow me!
O then she looked in his face,
An angry woman was she:
'God send me back my steed again,
But neer let me see thee!' |
| 6 |
His name was Major Middleton
That manned the bridge of Dee,
His name was Colonel Henderson
That let the cannons flee. |
| 7 |
His name was Major Middleton
That manned the bridge of Dee,
And his name was Colonel Henderson
That dung Pitmeddin in three. |
| 8 |
Some rode on the black and grey,
And some rode on the brown,
But the bonny John Seton
Lay gasping on the ground. |
| 9 |
Then bye there comes a false Forbes,
Was riding from Driminere;
Says, Here there lies a proud Seton;
This day they ride the rear. |
| 10 |
Cragievar said to his men,
'You may play on your shield;
For the proudest Seton in all the lan
This day lies on the field.' |
| 11 |
'O spoil him! spoil him!' cried Cragievar,
'Him spoiled let me see;
For on my word,' said Cragievar,
'He had no good will at me.' |
| 12 |
They took from him his armour clear,
His sword, likewise his shield;
Yea, they have left him naked there,
Upon the open field. |
| 13 |
The Highland men, they're clever men
At handling sword and shield,
But yet they are too naked men
To stay in battle field. |
| 14 |
The Highland men are clever men
At handling sword or gun,
But yet they are too naked men
To bear the cannon's rung. |
| 15 |
For a cannon's roar in a summer night
Is like thunder in the air;
There's not a man in Highland dress
Can face the cannon's fire. |
