When they came to the Shaw burn,
Said he, “Sae weel we
frame,
“I think it is convenient,
“That we should sing
a psalm."[A]
When they came to the Lingly burn,
As day-light did appear,
They spy’d an aged father,
And he did draw them near.
“Come hither, aged father!”
Sir David he did cry,
“And tell me where Montrose lies,
“With all his great
army.”
“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.”
“No, we are nane o’ Montrose’s
men,
“Nor e’er intend
to be;
“I am sir David Lesly,
“That’s speaking
unto thee.”
“If you’re sir David Lesly,
“As I think weel ye
be,
“I’m sorry ye hae brought
so few
“Into your company.
“There’s fifteen thousand
armed men,
“Encamped on yon lee;
“Ye’ll never be a bite to
them,
“For aught that I can
see.
“But, halve your men in equal parts,
“Your purpose to fulfil;
“Let ae half keep the water side,
“The rest gae round
the hill.
“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.
“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’.”
“O were ye ever a soldier?”
Sir David Lesly said;
“O yes; I was at Solway flow,
“Where we were all betray’d.
“Again I was at curst Dunbar,
“And was a pris’ner
ta’en;
“And many weary night and day,
“In prison I hae lien.”
“If ye will lead these men aright,
“Rewarded shall ye be;
“But, if that ye a traitor prove,
“I’ll hang thee
on a tree.”
“Sir, I will not a traitor prove;
“Montrose has plundered
me;
“I’ll do my best to banish
him
“Away frae this country.”
He halv’d his men in equal parts,
His purpose to fulfill;
The one part kept the water side,
The other gaed round the hill.
The nether party fired brisk,
Then turn’d and seem’d
to rin;
And then they a’ came frae the trench,
And cry’d, “the
day’s our ain!”
The rest then ran into the trench,
And loos’d their cannons
a’:
And thus, between his armies twa,
He made them fast to fa’.
Now, let us a’ for Lesly pray,
And his brave company!
For they hae vanquish’d great Montrose,
Our cruel enemy.
[Footnote A: Various reading; “That we should take a dram.”]
NOTES ON THE BATTLE OF PHILIPHAUGH.
When they came to the Shaw burn.—P. 27. v. 1. A small stream, that joins the Ettrick, near Selkirk, on the south side of the river.