Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, III, 153, 1803, II, 166, 1833
"preserved by tradition in Selkirkshire."
| 1 |
On Philiphaugh a fray began,
At Hairheadwood it ended;
The Scots outoer the Gra+emes they ran,
Sae merrily they bended. |
| 2 |
Sir David frae the Border came,
Wi heart an hand came he;
Wi him three thousand bonny Scots,
To bear him company. |
| 3 |
Wi him three thousand valiant men,
A noble sight to see!
A cloud o mist them weel conceald,
As close as eer might be. |
| 4 |
When they came to the Shaw burn,
Said he, Sae weel we frame,
I think it is convenient
That we should sing a psalm. |
| 5 |
When they came to the Lingly burn,
As daylight did appear,
They spy'd an aged father,
And he did draw them near. |
| 6 |
'Come hither, aged father,'
Sir David he did cry,
'And tell me where Montrose lies,
With al his great army.' |
| 7 |
'But first you must come tell to me,
If friends or foes you be;
I fear you are Montrose's men,
Come frae the north country.' |
| 8 |
'No, we are nane o Montrose's men,
Nor eer intend to be;
I am Sir David Lesly,
That's speaking unto thee.' |
| 9 |
"[If you're Sir David Lesly,
As I think weel ye be,
I am sorry ye hae brought so few
Into your company. |
| 10 |
'There's fifteen thousand armed men
Encamped on yon lee;
Ye'll never be a bite to them,
For aught that I can see. |
| 11 |
'But halve your men in equal parts,
Your purpose to fulfill;
Let ae half keep the water-side,
The rest gae round the hill. |
| 12 |
'Your nether party fire must,
Then beat a flying drum;
And then they'll think the day's their ain,
And frae the trench they'll come. |
| 13 |
'Then, those that are behind them maun
Gie shot, baith grit and sma;
And so, between your armies twa,
Ye may make them to fa.' |
| 14 |
'O were ye ever a soldier?'
Sir David Lesly said;
'O yes; I was at Solway Flow,
Where we were all betrayd. |
| 15 |
'Again I was at curst Dunbar,
And was a prisner taen,
And many weary night and day
In prison I hae lien.' |
| 16 |
'If ye will lead these men aright,
Rewarded shal ye be;
But, if that ye a traitor prove,
I'll hang thee on a tree.' |
| 17 |
'Sir, I will not a traitor prove;
Montrose has plunderd me;
I'll do my best to banish him
Away frae this country.' |
| 18 |
He halvd his men in equal parts,
His purpose to fulfill;
The one part kept the water-side,
The other gaed round the hill. |
| 19 |
The nether party fired brisk,
Then turnd and seemd to rin;
And then they a' came frae the trench,
And cry'd The day's our ain! |
| 20 |
The rest then ran into the trench,
And loosd their cannons a':
And thus, between his armies twa,
He made them fast to fa. |
| 21 |
Now let us a' for Lesly pray
And his brave company,
For they hae vanquishd great Montrose,
Our cruel enemy. |
