Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Ballads and songs of Ayrshire > Volume 1

THE BATTLE OF PENTLAND HILLS.
O, had I all that wealth,
Hopeton's high mountains* fill,
Insured long life and health,
And pleasure at my will;
I'd promise and fulfil,
That none but bonnie she,
The Lass of Patie's Mill,
Should share the same wi' me.
In reference to this song Burns says — " The following anecdote I had from
the present Sir William Cunningham of Robertland, who had it from the
last John, Earl of Loudoun. The then Earl of Loudoun, and father to
Earl John before-mentioned, had Ramsay at Loudoun, and one day walk-
ing together by the banks of Irvine water, near Newmiils, at a place
called Patie's Mill, they were struck with the appearance of a beautiful
country girl. His Lordship observed that she would be a fine theme for
a song. Allan lagged behind in returning to Loudoun Castle, and at din-
ner produced this identical song." As the air is older than Ramsay's day,
it has been conjectured that there was another song entitled " The Lass
of Patie's Mill ;" and it has even been said that the daughter of John An-
derson of Patie's Mill, in the parish of Keith-hall, was the original beauty
celebrated. It is possible that this may be the case, though it is rather
curious that none of the alleged old version has been shown to exist. The
truth of the anecdote related by Burns, however, cannot well be doubted.
The gallant Grahams cam' from the west,
Wi' their horses black as ony craw ;
The Lothian lads they marched fast.
To be at the Rhyns o' Gallowa.
* Thirty-three miles south-west of Edinburgh, where the Earl of Hopeton's mines
of gold and lead are. — Cromek.