Transcription
Elegy on the Brave M'Kay On account of the late unfortunate Fight between the champion M'Kay, and Byrne, several great battles has been fought in the city of glasgow, with the Byrneites, and the friends of M'Kay, one of the byrneites was killed on the spot and a number most severely wounded. It is stated, in the glasgow Herald, that if Byrne had fought fair, he could not have stood M'Kay, Five minutes. Has Auld King Geordie slipp'd awa', Or Wellington, or "Peel, or wha, Sae money tears are seen tae fa', Frae ilk anes he'ad ? A better matt than ony twa? Scotch Sanday's dea . Lament in prose. lament in rhyme. Wi' saut tears trickling down like brime Our Sandie's fate, o men the prime, Is past remead, M'Kay, the bravest o' our clime Lies cauld and dead Scarce could the loss of King, or Peer, Draw frae auld Scotland, sic a tear. Or mak her, dull and dowie, wear. | The mourning weed, Bat she has lost a friend maist dear, Her Sandy's dead. Through a' braid Scotland, far and wide He was the country's honest pride, Ten thousand hearts, stood by his side, To bid him speed, But waesock for the Forth and Clyde, Their Sandy's dead. A lad o' sterling courage, he, Wha kenn'd nae what it was to flee. wha car'd na wha the man would be. That did him meet, For honour, he would strive, or dee ! But now he's dead. Still tae his country's honour true, And wearing still a bonnet blue, He strove for Scotia through and throng To fight, to bleed ! But sad's the news we've gorten noo, Poor Sandy's dead. 0 ! Scotias' valiant sons, the best. The laurels on his brow did rest, And nane frae north, south, east or west Could him impede, Sae he resolved to try the test, South o' the tweed. But time and ti le, nae man can stop, Though he was brave, and all had hope Before deep cunning he did drop, And dropt indeed. For wi' grim death he coudna cope, And Sandy's dead. He fell, hut bravely fighting fell, Sandy was to the last himsell, . And future ages, yet will tell, While hearts do bleed, Of Sandy, that they lik'd sae well, Though noo he's dead. The following Verses were sent to us, by a Gentleman, who witnessed the Fight. Mourn now ye sons of bold Scotland, for the fate of brave Sandie, who died on the plain, Fair play it was fled, and honour was dead, Or Sandie, I'm sure the victory would gain. The bold sons of Glasgow, for the hon- our of their champion. From the banks of the clyde, to the south, they did steer, They saw the soul fight, in their hearts they kept tight, And then on the Byrneites their anger lay clear. When brave Captain Barclay saw the fate of his champion, His heart filled with giief, to the byrne- ites did say, Ye're parcel of cowards for the sake of bold Sandy, I-d fight for a thousand, if I was sure of fair play. A coroner's inquest was held on the body, and returned a verdict, of Manslaughter, against Byrne in particular, and generally against all persons aiding, abetting, and encouraging the contest. Byrne has been apprehended in Liverpool, and committed to prison.
Glasgow, june, 10th 1830 __Printed by Carmichael & Graham.
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1830 shelfmark: L.C.1268
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