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BONNY JOHN SBTON. |
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lieutenant for the King. The murder and pillage perpetrated in the town by the Irish after the defeat of Lord Burleigh, in 1644, have been made the subject of violent reproach by his enemies, but it may perhaps be said, that for all that exceeded the usual horrors of war, the heroic commander was not responsible. In Buchan's version of the present ballad, the clemency shown by Montrose on taking possession of the city in 1639 is commemorated in three stanzas worthy of preservation. The Covenanters were " resolved to have sacked it orderly."
Out it speeks the gallant Montrose,
(Grace on his fair body!) " We winna burn the bonny burgh,
We'll even lat it be."
Then out it speaks the gallant Montrose,
" Your purpose I will break; We winna burn the bonny burgh,
We'll never build its make.
i " I see the women and their children
Climbing the craigs sae hie; We'll sleep this night.in the bonny burgh,
And even lat it be."
Upon the eighteenth day of June,
A dreary day to see, The Southern lords did pitch their camp
Just at the bridge of Dee. Bonny John Seton of Pitmeddin,
A bold baron was he, |
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