echty-echt, and bluidy echty-nine, Wi’ Cess, and Press, and Presbytery, and a’ the dule sin’ syne, The Saints won free wi’ the power o’ the key, and cavaliers maun pine! It was Halyburton, Middleton, and Roy and young Dunbar, That Livingstone took on Cromdale haughs, in the last fight of the war: And they were warded in the Bass, till the time they should be slain, Where bluidy Mitchell, and Blackader, and Earlston lang had lain; Four lads alone, ’gainst a garrison, but Glory crowns their names, For they brought it to pass that they took the Bass, and they held it for King James!

p. 5

p. 6

It isna by preaching half the night, ye’ll burst a dungeon door, p. 7It wasna by dint o’ psalmody they broke the hold, they four, For lang years three that rock in the sea bade Wullie Wanbeard gae swing, And England and Scotland fause may be, but the Bass Rock stands for the King!

p. 7

There’s but ae pass gangs up the Bass, it’s guarded wi’ strong gates four, And still as the soldiers went to the sea, they steikit them, door by door, And this did they do when they helped a crew that brought their coals on shore. Thither all had gone, save three men alone: then Middleton gripped his man, Halyburton felled the sergeant lad, Dunbar seized the gunner, Swan; Roy bound their hands, in hempen bands, and the Cavaliers were free. And they trained the guns on the soldier loons that were down wi’ the boat by the sea! p. 8Then Middleton cried frae the high cliff-side, and his voice garr’d the auld rocks ring, ‘Will ye stand or flee by the land or sea, for I hold the Bass for the King?’

p. 8

They had nae desire to face the fire; it was mair than men might do, So they e’en sailed back in the auld coal-smack, a sorry and shame-faced crew, And they hirpled doun to Edinburgh toun, wi’ the story of their shames, How the prisoners bold had broken hold, and kept the Bass for King James.

King James he has sent them guns and men, and the Whigs they guard the Bass, But they never could catch the Cavaliers, who took toll of ships that pass, They fared wild and free as the birds o’ the sea, and at night they went on the wing, And they lifted the kye o’ Whigs far and nigh, and they revelled and drank to the King.

p. 9Then Wullie Wanbeard sends his ships to siege the Bass in form, And first shall they break the fortress down, and syne the Rock they’ll storm. After twa days’ fight they fled in the night, and 

 Prev. P 12/43 next