"I am obliged for a copy of the ballad to Mr. Livingston of Airds, who took it down from the recitation of an old woman residing on his estate.
"The gallant Grahams, mentioned in the text, are Graham of Claverhouse's horse." SCOTT.
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.
Betwixt Dumfries town and Argyle, 5 The lads they marched mony a mile; Souters and tailors unto them drew, Their covenants for to renew.
The Whigs, they, wi' their merry cracks, Gar'd the poor pedlars lay down their packs; 10 But aye sinsyne they do repent The renewing o' their Covenant.
At the Mauchline muir, where they were review'd, Ten thousand men in armour show'd; But, ere they came to the Brockie's burn, 15 The half of them did back return.
General Dalyell, as I hear tell, Was our lieutenant-general; And Captain Welsh, wi' his wit and skill, Was to guide them on to the Pentland hill. 20
General Dalyell held to the hill, Asking at them what was their will; And who gave them this protestation, To rise in arms against the nation?
"Although we all in armour be, 25 It's not against his majesty; Nor yet to spill our neighbour's bluid, But wi' the country we'll conclude."
"Lay down your arms, in the King's name, And ye shall a' gae safely hame;" 30 But they a' cried out wi' ae consent, "We'll fight for a broken Covenant."
"O well," says he, "since it is so, A wilfu' man never wanted woe:" He then gave a sign unto his lads, 35 And they drew up in their brigades.
The trumpets blew, and the colours flew, And every man to his armour drew; The Whigs were never so much aghast, As to see their saddles toom sae fast. 40
The cleverest men stood in the van, The Whigs they took their heels and ran; But such a raking was never seen, As the raking o' the Rullien Green.
Several companies, principally Irish, belonging to the army of King James, and stationed at Reading, had quitted the town in consequence of a report that the Prince of Orange was advancing in that direction with the main body of his forces. On the departure of the garrison, the people of Reading at once invited the Prince to take possession of the place, and secure them against the Irish. But the King's troops, having learned that it was only a small detachment of William's soldiers, and not the main army, by whom they were threatened, returned and reoccupied their post. Here they were attacked by two hundred and fifty of the Dutch, and though numbering six hundred, were soon put to flight, with the loss of their colors and of fifty men, the assailants losing but five. This skirmish occurred on Sunday, the 9th of December, 1688.