And so was seen full many a time;
For the summer flowers did
never spring,
But every Graham, in armour bright,
Would then appear before the
king.
They all were dressed in armour sheen,
Upon the pleasant banks of
Tay;
Before a king they might be seen,
These gallant Grahams in their
array.
At the Goukhead our camp we set,
Our leaguer down there for
to lay;
And, in the bonnie summer light,
We rode our white horse and
our gray.
Our false commander sold our king
Unto his deadly enemie,
Who was the traitor Cromwell, then;
So I care not what they do
with me.
They have betrayed our noble prince,
And banish’d him from
his royal crown;
But the gallant Grahams have ta’en
in hand,
For to command those traitors
down.
In Glen-Prosen[A] we rendezvoused,
March’d to Glenshie
by night and day,
And took the town of Aberdeen,
And met the Campbells in their
array.
Five thousand men, in armour strong.
Did meet the gallant Grahams
that day
At Inverlochie, where war began,
And scarce two thousand men
were they.
Gallant Montrose, that chieftain bold,
Courageous in the best degree,
Did for the king fight well that day;
The lord preserve his majestie!
Nathaniel Gordon, stout and bold,
Did for king Charles wear
the blue;
But the cavaliers they all were sold,
And brave Harthill, a cavalier
too.
And Newton Gordon, burd-alone
And Dalgatie, both stout and
keen,
And gallant Veitch upon the field,
A braver face was never seen.
Now, fare ye weel, sweet Ennerdale!
Countrie and kin I quit ye
free;
Chear up your hearts, brave cavaliers,
For the Grahams are gone to
high Germany.
Now brave Montrose he went to France,
And to Germany, to gather
fame;
And bold Aboyne is to the sea,
Young Huntly is his noble
name.
Montrose again, that chieftain bold,
Back unto Scotland fair he
came,
For to redeem fair Scotland’s land,
The pleasant, gallant, worthy
Graham!
At the water of Carron he did begin,
And fought the battle to the
end;
Where there were killed, for our noble
king,
Two thousand of our Danish
men.
Gilbert Menzies, of high degree,
By whom the king’s banner
was borne;
For a brave cavalier was he,
But now to glory he is gone.
Then woe to Strachan, and Hacket baith!
And, Lesly, ill death may
thou die!
For ye have betrayed the gallant Grahams,
Who aye were true to majestic.
And the laird of Assint has seized Montrose,
And had him into Edinburgh
town;
And frae his body taken the head,
And quartered him upon a trone.