John Bushby's Lamentation

In March the three-and-twentieth morn,

The sun raise clear and bright;

But oh I was a waefu' man

Ere to-fa' o' the night.

Yerl Galloway lang did rule this land,

Wi' equal right and fame,

And thereto was his kinsman joined

The Murray's noble name.

Yerl Galloway lang did rule the land,

Made me the judge o' strife;

But now Yerl Galloway's sceptre's broke,

And eke my hangman's knife.

'Twas by the banks o' bonie Cree,

Beside Kirkcudbright's towers,

The Stewart and the Murray there

Did muster a' their powers.

The Murray, on the auld gray yaud,

Wi' winged spurs did ride,

That auld gray yaud, yea, Nidsdale rade,

He staw upon Nidside.

An' there had na been the yerl himsel',

O there had been nae play;

But Garlies was to London gane,

And sae the kye might stray.

And there was Balmaghie, I ween,

In front rank he wad shine;

But Balmaghie had better been

Drinking Madeira wine.

Frae the Glenkens came to our aid,

A chief o' doughty deed;

In case that worth should wanted be,

O' Kenmure we had need.

And by our banners marched Muirhead,

And Buittle was na slack;

Whase haly priesthood nane can stain,

For wha can dye the black?

And there sae grave Squire Cardoness,

Looked on till a' was done;

Sae, in the tower o' Cardoness,

A howlet sits at noon.

And there led I the Bushby clan,

My gamesome billie Will;

And my son Maitland, wise as brave,

My footsteps followed still.

The Douglas and the Heron's name

We set nought to their score;

The Douglas and the Heron's name

Had felt our weight before.

But Douglasses o' weight had we,

The pair o' lusty lairds,

For building cot-houses sae famed,

And christening kail-yards.

And there Redcastle drew his sword,

That ne'er was stained wi' gore,

Save on a wanderer lame and blind,

To drive him frae his door.

And last came creeping C———l———n,

Was mair in fear than wrath;

Ae knave was constant in his mind,

To keep that knave frae scaith.