Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Jacobite minstrelsy

MINSTRELSY. 239
BAULDY FRASER.'
My name is Bauldy Fraser, man ;
I'm puir, an' auld, an' pale, an' wan,
I brak my shin, an' tint a han',
Upon Culloden lee, man :
Our Highlan' clans were pauld an' stout,
An' thought to gie te loons a clout,
An' laith were they to turn about,
An' owre the hills to flee, man.
But sic a hurly-burly raise,
Te fery lift was in a plaze,
As a' te teils had won ter ways,
On Highlandmen to flee, man :
Te cannon an' te pluff tragoon,
Sae proke our ranks, an' pore us town,
Her nainsell ne'er cot sic a stoun,
Sin' she was porn to tee, man.
Pig Satan sent te plan frae hell,
Or pat our chiefs peside hersel',
To plant her in te open fell,
In pase artillery's ee, man :
obloquy which he incurred, may be laid to the account of his arbitrary
manner, which the Highland officers could ill brook in a commander ;
and not a little, perhaps, was owing to the high offence which he
gave to the pride of the Macdonalds at Culloden, by changing their
position from the right to the left of the line. This insult was never
forgotten by that clan, and it is still urged by the race as an apology
for their besotted conduct, in refusing to advance with the brave
Keppoch their chief, and seeing him sacrificed before their eyes,
without drawing a sword in his defence.
* This is one of the Ettrick Shepherd's compositions, and quite
characteristic of his genius. The two last stanzas are worthy alike
of the kind heart, and the shrewd judgment of the author.