THE HAUGHS OF CROMDALE

(Traditional)

05/01/1690

(Jacobite victory at the Haughs of Cromdale, Scotland.)

 

As I came in by Achindoon

Just a wee bit frae the toun

When to the Highlands I was bound

To view the haughs of Cromdale

I met a man in tartan trews,

I spiered at him what was the news,

Quo' he, "The Highland army rues

That e'er we came to Cromdale."

"We in bed, sir, every man

When the English host upon us came;

A bloody battle then began

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The English horse they were so rude,

They bathed their hoofs in Highland blood,

But our brave clans, they boldly stood

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

"But, alas! We could no longer stay,

For o'er the hills we came away,

And sore we do lament the day

That e'er we came to Cromdale."

Thus the great Montrose did say:

"Can you direct the nearest way?

For I will o'er the hills this day

And view the haughs of Cromdale."

"Alas, my lord, you're not so strong,

You scarcely have two thousand men,

And there's twenty thousand on the plain,

Stand rank and file on Cromdale."

Thus the great Montrose did say:

"I say, direct the nearest way?

For I will o'er the hills this day

And see the haughs of Cromdale."

They were at dinner, every man,

When the great Montrose upon them came;

A second battle then began

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The Grant, Mackenzie and Macki,

Soon as Montrose they did espy,

O then they fought most valiantly

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The MacDonalds they returned again,

The Camerons did their standard join,

MacIntosh played a bloody game

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The M'Gregors fought like lions bold,

MacPhersons, none could them control,

MacLaughlins fought, like loyal souls

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

MacLeans, MacDougals, and MacNeils,

So boldly as they took the field,

And made their enemies to yield

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The Gordons boldly did advance,

The Frasers fought with sword and lance,

The Grahams they made their heads to dance

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

The loyal Stewarts, with Montrose,

So boldly set upon their foes,

And brought them down with Highland blows

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.

Of twenty thousand of Cromwell's men,

Five hundred fled to Aberdeen,

The rest of them lie on the plain,

Upon the haughs of Cromdale.