This battle was fought on the third of October, 1594. The action is called the Battle of Glenlivet, or of Balrinnes, and also of Strath-aven.--See the 38th chapter of Sir W. Scott's _History of Scotland_, and the contemporary narrative in Dalzell's _Scotish Poems of the Sixteenth Century_, i. 136.
The ballad which follows is taken from the publication of Dalzell just mentioned, vol. ii. p. 347. There is a copy in the Pepys Collection, and another in the Advocates' Library, printed at Edinburgh in 1681. The ballad is also printed, undoubtedly from a stall copy, in _Scarce Ancient Ballads_, p. 29. The first four stanzas had previously been given in Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, ii. 144. The older version of Dalzell is somewhat defective, and abounds in errors, which, as well as the vitiated orthography, are attributed to the ignorance of an English transcriber. The omissions are here supplied in the margin from the other copies.
Betuixt Dunother and Aberdein, I rais and tuik the way, Beleiuing weill it had not beine Nought halff ane hour to day. The lift was clad with cloudis gray, 5 And owermaskit was the moone, Quhilk me deceaued whair I lay, And maid me ryss ouer soone.
On Towie Mounth I mett a man, Weill grathed in his gear: 10 Quoth I, "Quhat neues?" then he begane To tell a fitt of warre. Quoth he, "Of lait I heir,[L13] Ane bloodie broust there was brouine, Zesterday, withouten moir, 15 Upone ane hill at Strathdoune."
Then I, as any man wold be, 25 Desyrous for to know Mair of that taill he told to me, The quhilk he said he sawe-- Be then the day began to daw, And back with him I red; 30 Then he began the soothe to schaw, And on this wayis he said.
Macallenmore cam from the wast With many a bow and brand; To wast the Rinnes he thought best, 35 The Earll of Huntlies land.[L36] He swore that none should him gainestand, Except that he war fay; Bot all sould be at his comand That dwelt be northen Tay. 40
Then Huntlie, for to prevent that perrill, Directit hastilie Unto the noble Erll of Erroll, Besought him for supplie. Quha said, "It is my deutie 45 For to giue Huntlie support; For if he lossis Strabolgie, My Slaines will be ill hurt.
"Thairfoir I hald the subject vaine, Wold rave us of our right; 50 First sall one of us be slaine, The uther tak the flight. Suppose Argyll be muche of might, Be force of Heigheland men; We's be a motte into his sight, 55 Or he pas hame againe.