"O for a man of micht and power
To wear the Scottish crown;
O for a King well worth the name
To haud the English down!
"Nae pleasure takes our King in war
Or in his armour bricht,
And for the tilt and tournament
He scunners at the sicht.
"He shuns his nobles, spends the time
Wi' men of low degree;
A tailor and a cunning smith
Are his best companie.
"Whar is fair Scotland's honour gane?
What is the Stuart pride?
A mason and a fiddler reign,
And we are set aside."
* * * * * * * * * * *
To Lauder cam' the Scottish king
He and his proud array;
Atween the river and the town
His valiant army lay.
"Twas they wad meet the English host
To humble Edward's pride;
But James, a laggard in the war,
Did lang at Lauder bide.
Said did the warlike nobles fret,
Their discontent grew loud,
Till 'gainst the fav'rites of the King
An evil death they vowed.
In Lauder Kirk the nobles met
To lay their vengeful plan;
The oath they swore, and frae the kirk
On murder bent they ran.
They huntit high, they huntit low,
They huntit round and round,
Until their victims ane by ane
They unrelenting found.
And they have hanged the mason bold,
Cochran sae braw and trig;
With the tailor and smith for companie
Ower the middle of Lauder Brig.
The fiddler's gane the self-same gate;
And the rest of low degree
Are butchered some, and hangit some,
For nane had time to flee.
Then out spake Angus Bell-the-Cat,
As in the camp he stood
Aleaning on his weighty sword
That dreepit down red blood.
:My lords, this is a glorious day,
And well it has begun;
But James maun be our prisoner
Before our task is done.
"We'll tak' him on to Edinbruch,
And that richt speedilie,
That Scotland from her silken bonds
Shall ance and aye be free.
"The Monarch shall be prisoner
In Embruch Castel hie,
And we shall teach him how to reign
Butt men of low degree.
"Then onward to the royal tent
To seize a royal prey,
For now we maun be uppermost
Else shall we rue this day."
Swift at the word the nobles rushed
With a rude following,
And haughty Angus at their head,
To beard the' unconscious King.
Lo! as they hastened through the Camp
To glut their flaming wrath,
A youthful fav'rite of the King
Did chance to cross their path.
A youthful fav'rite of the King,
John Ramsey of Balmain;
And when the rabble spied the lad
They yelled with micht and main.
The frichtened lad they huntit fast,
On instant murder bent,
Until they brocht Balmain to bay
Before the Monarch's tent.
There stood the King, "Back, back, my lords,
Let one and all obey me,"
And the puir youth despairing cried--
"Oh dinna let them slay me."
Then haughty Douglas forward rushed,
His weapon raised on high,
"In presence of the King himsel'
Young Ramsey thou shalt die."
But Ramsey at the Monarch's feet
Swift cast himself adown,
Then sudden clasped the royal robe
As he knelt upon the groun'.
O but he was a bonnie youth,
His eyes were of the blue'
And his rich brown hair in clusters rare
Fell o'er his snowy brow.
He raised his eyes beseechingly,
But spake he ne'er a word;
Stern Angus pitied as he gazed,
And sheathed his bloody sword.
"Enough of blood," the Douglas said,
Filled with unwonted ruth;
"Thy face is like thy father's, lad,
And I spare thee for thy youth.
"Think not I hesitate to strike
Before the King's ain face;
But I spare thee for thy youth, Balmain,
And for thy noble race.
"Thy minions, King, are put to death--
'Tis thou shalt gang wi' me,
And I shall teach thee how to reign,
Butt men of low degree.
"Thy minions, ane and a' this day
To their account are gane;
Saving this boy now at thy feet,
John Ramsey of Balmain.
"And now, my lad, a word wi' thee--
I was thy father's friend;
I wad advise they father's son
His silly ways to mend.
"Abandon woman's work, nor dance
Attendance on a king;
But learn to back thy gallant steed,
And ride at gluve and ring.
"Disdain to sit in silken tents
Clad in a silken suit,
And leave to fingers feminine
To strum upon the lute.
"Wear harness on thy back, O boy,
Rise in the early morn,
And let thy sweetest music be
The merrie hound and horn.
"Go, study war; uncreasing strive
A worthy name to gain
'Mong Scotland's noblest, for the House
Of Ramsay of Balmain."
I'd love to have you drop by!--Barbara
