Then to his bags he flew wi' speed, Meg up and wallop'd o'er the green, Weel done! quo' he-play up! quo' she; Weel hae ye play'd your part, quo' Meg, There's nane in Scotland plays sae weel, the Editor, that when a boy (not more than twenty years ago) he was greatly struck with the sight of many of these old Highland Pipers, straying, solitary, from parish to parish, reciting the deeds of the clans. In every parish there were houses which the open-heartedness – of their possessors made welcome nightly habitations to these vagrant remnants of ancient chivalry. The piper's arrival spread like wild-fire among the little country villages. The old decayed men, the lads and lasses, with their rocks and knitting apparatus, flocked around the old piper, who, seated next the gudeman, on the lang-settle, in the intervals of his tunes touched on the tales of other times. The barbarity of William, in the vale of Glencoe; the Rade of Mar; or the year 1715; and the awful sufferings of misguided Catholic loyalty in 1745, were told with the exquisite mastery of native eloquence. * The celebrated Piper of Kilbarchan. I've liv'd in Fife, baith maid and wife, TRANENT-MUIR. Tune-GILLICRANKIE. “ TRANENT-MUIR" was composed by a Mr. Skirvin, a very worthy respectable farmer, near Haddington. I have heard the anecdote often, that Lieut. Smith, whom he mentions in the ninth stanza, came to Haddington after the publication of the song, and sent a challenge to Skirvin to meet him at Haddington, and answer for the unworthy manner in which he had noticed him in his song. Gang awa back," said the honest farmer, “and tell Mr. Smith that I hae na leisure to come to Haddington; but tell him to come here; and I'll tak a look o' him; and if I think I'm fit to fecht him, I'll fecht him; and if no-I'll do as he did, I'll rin awa." TRANENT MUIR.* The Chevalier, being void of fear, The brave Lochiel,+ as I heard tell, The morning fair, and clear the air, * A field of battle, better known by the name of Prestonpans, where prince Charles Stewart, commonly called the Young Chevalier, at the head of his Highland army, completely routed the English forces, under the command of Sir John Cope, who was afterward tryed by a court-martial for his conduct in this battle, and acquitted. He is said to have left the field in such haste that he never once stopped his horse, nor looked back, till he got to Haddington, which is seven or eight miles off. This action happened Sep. 22, 1745. + Printed from Ritson's copy. ‡ Donald Cameron of Lochiel, chief of the Clan Cameron, gentleman of great bravery, and of the most amiable disposi tion. Down guns they threw, and swords they drew, The bluff dragoons swore blood and 'oons, They turn'd their back, the foot they brake, Some wet their cheeks, some fyl'd their breeks, The volunteers prick'd up their ears, Than wi' cockade to make parade, tion. He was wounded at the battle of Culloden, and died in France colonel of a regiment, which his grateful master had procured him, as a small reward and compensation for his great services and misfortunes, ..... 1748. Menteith the great, when hersell sh-t, Yet wad nae stand to bear a hand, And Simpson+ keen, to clear the een But gallop'd with the thrang, man: 'Mangst a' the gang nane bade the bang * The minister of Longformacus, a volunteer; who, happening to come the night before the battle, upon a Highland gelding, easing nature at Preston, threw him over, and carried his gun as a trophy to Cope's camp. + Another volunteer Presbyterian minister, who said he would convince the rebels of their error by the dint of his pistols'; having, for that purpose, two in his pockets, two in his holsters, and one in his belt. |