Series 1 > Loyall dissuasive

VANITIE EXPOSED
^31
whom (sayes he, speaking then of Shaw Corriachklach’s seven
sones) his second son Farquhar coming over to Marr, took
possession of the brayes therof,” etc. These are his very words,
and can be understood of nothing but Braymarr, called so
then and to this day, to distinguish it from Marr itself, and
was it not more noble to be designated Farquharson of Bray¬
marr, than of Invercald, that is but a scantling or a small
portion on’t, but this scribbler had forgot himself and must
be excused to contradict what he did not call to mind.
10.
“Finlay, and by ane adjunct, more, (says this author) id est
great by reason of his extraordinary stature and strength, he
married Beatrix Gairden, daughter of Gairden of Bauchrie, and
about the age of sixty years, leaving behind him six sones, he
accompanied the Earle of Huntlie to the battle of Pinkie near
Musselburgh, who procuring him the banner Royall to carry,
and as the army descended towards the seaside, he was killed
with the same in his hand by a cannon ball from the Enemie’s
ships. His body (says he) lyes interred in the Church-yard of
Inveresk; the place is known to this day by the name of the
Long Highlandman’s Grave.1 It is from him that the Far-
quharsons are called in Irish Clan eundla, id est, the children
of Finlay.”
Here may be some truth, but it seems mixed with falsehood.
That Finlay may have been at the battle of Pinkie, in the
quality of a sentinell or common soldier, I have some time
heard, but that he hade the bearing of the Royall Standard,
except that upon the Standard bearer’s fall, happening to be
next to him, he may have snatched it up, as any other common
soldier might have done, is not very probable. First, because
it was never yet known that such a mark of favour was con¬
ferred on any private person, except he hade before that time
made himself remarkable by some extraordinary service, which
was never pretended to in behalf of Findlay. 2dly. All along
1 The editor has seen more than one long Highlandman’s grave in Scotland,
the length being due to the necessity of making a mound long enough to cover
many Highlandmen.